Smooth | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1994 | |||
Studio | Aire L.A. (Glendale, California)
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Genre | R&B, jazz | |||
Label | Atlantic [1] | |||
Producer |
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Gerald Albright chronology | ||||
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Smooth is the fourth studio album by the American musician Gerald Albright, released in 1994 on Atlantic Records. [2] [3] The album peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 2 on both the Billboard Jazz Albums and Contemporary Jazz Albums charts. [4]
Albright strove to create an R&B album; in addition to saxophone, he also played flute and keyboards. [5] [6] Vesta Williams, Lalah Hathaway, and Will Downing are among the many vocalists on the album. [7] [8] [9] Howard Hewett sang on the cover of "This Is for the Lover in You". [10] Stanley Clarke played bass on "Sedona". [11] The liner notes were written by Magic Johnson. [12]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Charlotte Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Los Angeles Times wrote that "Albright offers predictably melodic, safe solos that, for the most part, fail to engage the listener." [9] The Daily Breeze determined that Albright "turns in softly percussive, overly slick readings of soul-jazz mood pieces... He ignores chances to improvise or offer inventive ideas." [16] The Charlotte Observer deemed the album "Albright's breakthrough work," writing that "it's obvious Albright has put a lot of energy into this effort." [14] The Buffalo News considered the music "full of slinky rhythms, gossamer textures and sensuous, lazy melodies." [12]
AllMusic called the album "a tasty if somewhat typical journey through the land of quiet storm and light funk." [13]
Smooth was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for "Best Jazz Album". [17]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Don't Worry About It" | Gerald Albright | 4:33 |
2. | "I Surrender" | Albright | 5:.50 |
3. | "Sweet Baby" | Albright, Arvel McClinton | 5:11 |
4. | "This Is for the Lover in You" | Howard Hewett, Dana Meyers | 4:44 |
5. | "G & Lee" | Albright | 6:31 |
6. | "Just 2 B with You" | Albright, Chuckii Booker | 5:08 |
7. | "Anniversary" | Raphael Saadiq, Carl Wheeler | 4:33 |
8. | "Passion" | Albright, Travon Potts | 6:21 |
9. | "Sedona" | Albright, Potts | 5:36 |
10. | "Say It with Feeling" | Albright | 5:36 |
Production