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by Susan Frances

Tom Braxton
Imagine This
Pacific Coast Jazz
www.tombraxton.com

Smooth jazz saxophonist Tom Braxton took a unique approach to recording his parts on his 6th studio album Imagine This. His saxophone phrases play the role of a vocal melody creating emotive verses that dip, bend, flex, and coruscate like resonating reeds through the melodic folds. Sentiment pours through his notes like a heart-felt missive. His saxophone lines fly away with a cordial spree and enchanting twirls that wrap the listener around its web of comely motifs. Produced and arranged by Braxton, the album shimmies and shakes with the touch of an ardent jazz player who knows how to concoct a mixture that emotes pleasure in the listener.

Special guests Kevin Whalum and Kimberly Mont sing background vocals on Braxton's re-make of Steely Dan's popular single "Peg," Kirk Whalum plays the tenor saxophone on the refinely trimmed title track, pianist Brian Simpson performs reposing interludes on "Escape," and smooth jazz guitarist Tim Bowman provides glistening fragments on "Evening Drive." It's hard to select articles that stand out when each one has its own style, sheen, and special features. Some evoke a dance vibe like "Peg," "Good To Go," Kaanapali Beach," and "Haven't You Heart," while others are smoothly eloquent and gently reclining like "Downtime," "Evening Drive," "1 a.m.," and "Revelation Song."

Each song responds to a different need whether for enjoying a peaceful evening with your significant other, letting loose, or celebrating a joyous mood, Braxton covers them all. He makes music for those special occasions that have meaning in your life. Those moments when a song can express how you feel. He is a musician who lets the mood dictate the shape, patterns and contrast of the notes in the songs. The melodies seem so uncontrived and wonderfully strung together particularly Braxton's assimilation of piano and soprano saxophone motifs on the concluding track "Revelation Song." He brings out the innate beauty of the instruments with finesse for gorgeous vibrations and melodics that demonstrate the precision of a jazz virtuoso.

Braxton additionally plays the piano and keyboards on these tracks which assists in making the album well-versed and focused. He maintains a sense of peace through the shimmies and shakes in the songs as the folds and fluidity operate hand in hand, feeding off of each other's vibe. When people say that jazz music speaks to them, Braxton's album Imagine This shows you that it really does.

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