Uptown Groove

• Artist: Zachary Breaux
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 28, 1997
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Guitarist Zachary Breaux, who tragically died just a few months after recording this CD (his debut), was a potentially great guitarist with a style coming from George Benson. In fact, his solos are generally more memorable than the purposely commercial material on this set, which largely consists of melodic, jazzy funk jams, usually with rather basic electronic rhythms. The cover versions of "All Blues" (which is given simplified harmonies) and "The Thrill Is Gone" (Breaux's one vocal) are lightweight throwaways, but most of the other selections show off the guitarist's obvious talents as a player; "After 2:00 AM on the East Coast" (a purely acoustic piece with a catchy melody) matches Breaux quite successfully with fellow guitarist Ted Dunbar. The final selection, ironically titled "I Love This Life," is quite odd, for it has Breaux interviewing Dunbar about his life over an overdubbed two-guitar quintet jam (which is sometimes too loud). Among the other guest musicians are flutist Hubert Laws, bassist Brian Bromberg and pianist Renee Rosnes. A diverse and sadly final statement from a fine player. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Breakfast at the Epiphany	Zachary Breaux	Zachary Breaux	(:16)
Cafe Reggio	Isaac Hayes	Zachary Breaux	(6:06)
I Told You	Zachary Breaux	Zachary Breaux	(4:29)
Never Can Say Goodbye	Clifton Davis	Zachary Breaux	(5:06)
The Thrill Is Gone	Arthur Benson, Dale Pettite	Zachary Breaux	(5:10)
After 2:00 Am on the West Coast	Zachary Breaux	Zachary Breaux	(4:42)
All Blues	Miles Davis	Zachary Breaux	(6:33)
Back into Time	Zachary Breaux	Zachary Breaux	(6:04)
Uptown Groove	Zachary Breaux	Zachary Breaux	(5:13)
Flavors of My Mind	Zachary Breaux	Zachary Breaux	(4:19)
The 135th St. Theme	Zachary Breaux	Zachary Breaux	(4:42)
After 2:00 Am on the East Coast	Zachary Breaux	Zachary Breaux	(5:23)
I Love This Life	Zachary Breaux	Zachary Breaux	(6:30)

Credits

Lee Oskar (Harmonica), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Jeff Lorber (Engineer), Ted Dunbar (Talking), Hubert Laws (Flute), Jeff Lorber (Keyboards), Lewis Nash (Drums), Robert Biles (Engineer), Zachary Breaux (Drum Programming), Ted Dunbar (Guitar), Alec Head (Remixing), Mark Portmann (Producer), Eric Scott (Art Direction), Jeff Lorber (Synthesizer), Tom McCauley (Engineer), Al Schmitt (Engineer), Brian Bromberg (Bass (Acoustic)), Mark Portmann (String Arrangements), Ricky Schultz (Executive Producer), Tim Latham (Remixing), Lori Perry (Vocals (Background)), Luis Enrique (Percussion), Mark Portmann (Arranger), Rob Mullins (Keyboards), Rex Rideout (Synthesizer), Jeff Lorber (Producer), Harvey Mason, Sr. (Drums), Renee Rosnes (Piano), Mark Portmann (Keyboards), Rex Rideout (Arranger), Gary Herbig (Horn), Zachary Breaux (Guitar), Alec Head (Engineer), Mark Partis (Engineer), Dominick Guillemot (Photography), Jon Russell (Digital Editing), Neil Larsen (Organ), Kenny Davis (Bass), Zachary Breaux (Keyboards), Zachary Breaux (Synthesizer), Zachary Breaux (Talking), Harry Kim (Horn), Zachary Breaux (Vocals), Doug Brown (Creative Director), Al Schmitt (Mixing), Larry Nash (Drums), Rex Rideout (Producer), Mark Portmann (Synthesizer)