Personnel: Chris Botti (trumpet, piano, keyboards, tambourine, programming), Edie Brickell (vocals), Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone), Morris Goldberg (African flutes), Sandra Park, Rebecca Young (violin), Paul Joseph Moore (piano, keyboards, Omnichord), Kevin Killen (Omnichord), Andy Snitzer (Rhodes, bass, programming), Mitchell Froom (Wurlitzer organ), Dominic Kanza, Larry Saltzman, Shane Fontayne, Paul Livant, Marc Shulman (guitar), Pino Palladino (bass), Steve Ferrone, Jerry Marotta (drums), Cyro Baptista (sordu, shaker), Joe Bonadio (triangle, frame drum, percussion).

Recorded at Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York in September and October 1994.

Personnel: Chris Botti (trumpet, keyboards, programming); Edie Brickell (vocals); Paul Livant, Marc Shulman, Shane Fontayne, Larry Saltzman (guitar); Rebecca Young, Sandra Park (violin); Paul Joseph Moore (piano, omnichord, keyboards); Mitchell Froom (organ); Kevin Killen (omnichord); Jerry Marotta, Steve Ferrone (drums); Joe Bonadio (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Kevin Killen.

Recording information: AGF Studios, New York, NY (09/1994/10/1994); Bearsville Sound Studios, Bearsville, NY (09/1994/10/1994).

Unknown Contributor Role: Morris Goldberg.

There may be hope for jazz fusion after all. If there were no other evidence, trumpeter Chris Botti's terrific album would be enough to give hope to even the most jaded bebop snob. This is that rarest of things: a completely unchallenging record that is also richly rewarding. Botti's approach is lyrical but spare; the production is dark, warm, and rich. A sense of deep and quiet romanticism pervades everything, and while Botti never really lets loose and wails, he manages to make his chops obvious on tunes like "Cubism" and the funky "On the Night Ride." Most of the songs are powered by a gentle funk groove, and one even features a vocal cameo by Gen-X poster girl Edie Brickell. Jazz snobs will get sucked into this delicious music despite themselves; fans of Kenny G and Najee will think it's "real" jazz and consider themselves sophisticated for liking it so much. The bottom line is that there's no reason to do anything but abandon yourself to this album. ~ Rick Anderson