The Moon, the Stars and the Setting Sun

• Artist: Chuck Loeb
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 20, 1998
• Total Time: 60:41
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Many smooth jazz artists view song titles as an afterthought, so it's refreshing to see guitarist Chuck Loeb play a romantic connect-the-dots with the names of the nine originals on The Moon, the Stars and the Setting Sun. Sure, it's a little corny to follow the sweet little tale strung together by ellipses (i.e. "...the stars...above us...shine on...while we speak...of love and the setting sun") but it gives us a glimpse into Loeb's mindset of this sharply played, generally laid-back project. Sometimes, the stroll is melancholy. Over floating synth washes, he generates a crying effect via lengthy acoustic notes, which are echoed by the subdued Sanborn-esque touches of Nelson Rangell (on the swaying James Taylor cover "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight") and Andy Snitzer. Aware that listeners probably already know the sad lyrics, Loeb cries out over gentle synth drum beats on Boyz II Men's "Water Runs Dry." One of Loeb's trademarks is his ensemble-minded approach, and deferring to a lively two-minute Bob James keyboard solo on the Brazilian-flavored piece makes perfect sense; the disc offers the same sort of gently rhythmic flavors as a James-Earl Klugh collaboration. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Just Us	Chuck Loeb	Chuck Loeb	(5:22)
Beneath the Light	Chuck Loeb	Chuck Loeb	(6:02)
...Of the Moon...	Chuck Loeb	Chuck Loeb	(5:28)
Hand in Hand	Chuck Loeb	Chuck Loeb	(5:26)
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight	James Taylor	Chuck Loeb	(5:29)
...The Stars...	Will Lee, Chuck Loeb	Chuck Loeb	(6:23)
Above Us	Chuck Loeb	Chuck Loeb	(5:58)
Shine On	Chuck Loeb, Andy Snitzer	Chuck Loeb	(5:33)
While We Speak	Chuck Loeb	Chuck Loeb	(5:48)
...Of Love and the Setting Sun	Chuck Loeb	Chuck Loeb	(4:18)
Water Runs Dry	Babyface	Chuck Loeb	(4:54)

Credits

Chuck Loeb (Drums), Chuck Loeb (Drum Programming), Dave Nurmi (Mixing Assistant), Wolfgang Haffner (Drums), Tim Lefebvre (Bass), David Charles (Percussion), Jim Pugh (Trombone (Tenor)), Mitchel Forman (Piano), Lawrence Feldman (Flute (Alto)), Peter Gordon (French Horn), Peter Valentine (Vocals), Danny Weiss (Executive Producer), Christian Diener (Bass), Ken Freeman (Mixing), Nelson Rangell (Sax (Tenor)), Andy Snitzer (Sax (Alto)), Jim Pugh (Sax (Tenor)), Chuck Loeb (Producer), Jon Werking (Piano (Electric)), Lionel Cordew (Drums), Bruce Berky (Engineer), Ken Freeman (Engineer), Danny Weiss (Producer), Tony Kadleck (Flugelhorn), Carmen Cuesta (Vocals), Will Lee (Bass), David Samuels (Marimba), Chuck Loeb (Programming), Mel Brown (Bass), Rob Mathes (Vocals), Chuck Loeb (Guitar), Andy Snitzer (Sax (Soprano)), Lawrence Feldman (Sax (Tenor)), Chuck Loeb (Keyboards), Jim Pugh (Sax (Baritone)), Clifford Carter (Organ), Larry Lunetta (Trumpet), Andy Katz (Assistant Engineer), Jim Pugh (Trombone (Bass)), Bob James (Piano), Phil Magnotti (Engineer), Jon Werking (Piano), Stephanie Foxx (Photography), Phil Magnotti (Mixing), Andy Snitzer (Sax (Tenor)), Dennis Wall (Mixing), Chuck Loeb (Arranger), Lawrence Feldman (Flute), Dennis Wall (Engineer), Larry Lunetta (Flugelhorn), John Patitucci (Bass (Acoustic)), Mike Ricchiuti (Keyboards), Greenberg Kingsley (Design)