People Together

A few years ago the smooth jazz / funk group Under The Lake, whose members at that time were all based in the San Diego area, were being heralded as possibly the next best thing since Spyro Gyra. For various personal reasons the band member took a hiatus, but they have returned with the 2007 release of People Together (Mind in Overdrive, Inc), a CD that will impress you as you listen to the high caliber of musicians who comprise Under The Lake. Jayson Tipp sways between funky and smooth on the keyboards; Quintin Gerard W. blows sweet notes from his saxophone and flute; Richard Sellers maintains a steady beat on the drums; David Harris pulls smooth riffs from his electric guitar; and one of my favorite bass guitarists, Nathan Brown, is his usual spectacular self.  

It is Tipp’s funky, bluesy vibes on the keys that create the groove for the title track, “People Together,” a superbly arranged song, which should be a club favorite if the band decides to tour in 2008. Brown, who has performed with Bob James, Kirk Whalum and Patrick Yandall, to name just a few, lays down the deep grooves that form the foundation for songs such as the opening track, “Redhead I Know,” and another funky tune, “Dirty But Sober.” On the latter tune, Brown’s bass is more in the forefront and a little more percussive. On tunes such as the sweet and mellow “Lost,” Quintin Gerard W.’s saxophone creates a relaxing ambience befitting a laid-back southern Californian beach. Hmmm, lay back on the warm sand, close your eyes, and--dare we say it—get lost in the music 

Percussionist Jeff McCullough joins Under The Lake for the second track, “Amazing Love,” a song that features a distinct Latin groove and up-tempo rhythm. At 5:43, it is too long to fit into most terrestrial radio station formats, but that is their loss, because satellite and internet radio stations will probably give it lots of airtime, and don’t be surprised if club patrons swamp the dance floor as the tune begins to play.    

“Diego’s Dance” appears twice on the album People Together, and I really wish they had not done that, because I am still wrestling with whether or not I prefer the lengthier 7:41 version, or the shorter, more laid-back remix which closes out this very good album. David Harris’s electric guitar rhythms complement the saxophone grooves nicely.  

For the audiophiles who are wondering about the quality of the CD, put your concerns to rest, because the recording engineers, Darrell Harvey and Valery Saifudinov, did a fine job. The five members of Under The Lake produced the album, and the mixing and mastering was handled by Jeff McCullough. This CD is a keeper