Are You In There?

Editorial Reviews
Reviewed by Jim Santella for AllAboutJazz., September 1999
Adler's compositions light fires and settle his ensemble into a groove that shines with mainstream substance and added funkiness. Yes, funk, as the titles "Listen Up," "Hipnotic Suggestion" and "Mmm Hmm!" imply. "You Don't Know What Love Is" appears suave and sexy with guest vocalist Moira Dahling, while "Look for the Silver Lining" turns a lyrical corner with Adler singing. His smooth bass voice is half singing and half speaking in a warm and mellow tone which tends to keep the arrangement both serious and sincere. While the title track takes a purist nonchalant mainstream approach, others, such as Adler's "Mysteriosa," combine a healthy riff with combined horn melodies for added variety. The saxophonist's eclectic program contains a little of something for everyone, but his look back at jazz that rocked a listener in his chair serves to put a light of recognition in today's fragmented jazz window.

Product Description
Lincoln Adler launches "Are You In There?" with a tribute to the great Eddie Harris entitled "Listen Up,". Featuring the incredible playing of Grammy nominated guitarist Anthony Wilson, this piece finds Adler winding his smoky tenor sax around the staccato keyboard harmonies of John Beasley (an incredible musician who has played with Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard). Adler slyly blends a bass clarinet harmony line around a semi-angular sax melody on the moody and seductive "Mysteriosa," which heats up at one point into a brassy salsa arrangement. After accompanying soulful vocalist Moira Dahling on the subdued late night ballad "You Don't Know What Love Is," Adler jams with Beasley and Wilson on the explosive title track, a blues, which joyfully explores the more traditional side of his playing. A world music vibe provides a cool thread through the exotic "Freedom Belly Dance," which combines a galloping percussion groove, punchy sax melody, and some riff trading between Adler's sax, Nick Lane's trombone, and Rick Musallam's eastern-influenced guitar. Adler mixes his love for a slow grind with the soulful sounds of his husky tenor sax on "Hipnotic Suggestion." "Hide and Seek" brings the energy back up with a strong melodic hook, and a beautiful wah wah guitar solo by Musallam. Then things get even funkier with the aptly titled "Mmm Hmm!," which features an incredible bass solo by Ernest Tibbs. Wrapping up the set is a playful quartet reading of the standard "Look For the Silver Lining," with Adler giving the lyrics a deep, smooth, ironic delivery.

Are You In There?

Are You In There?,Lincoln Adler,groove tonic media,Jazz-Funk fusion. Original music, strong grooves and a unique voice.

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