As We Speak

It was about this time in his career that one sensed David Sanborn was getting a bit tired of the formula he was using on his records. However, his great popularity kept him from changing direction much. As usual, the highly influential altoist blows his heart out over a lot of funky rhythms on As We Speak, but surprisingly, he switches to his less notable soprano on four of the nine tunes. Bassist Marcus Miller is a key force in the background, leading the expanded rhythm sections through some pop-oriented material that is appealing but not too substantial.

Atmospheric and serpentine, the two-disc As We Speak finds electric fretless bassist Mark Egan leading his trio through a series of enigmatic and propulsive original songs. An acolyte of the late great bassist Jaco Pastorious, Egan has a lithe touch on his instrument, and tracks such as the leadoff "Spirals" evince a hypnotic, fusion-esque aesthetic. Joining Egan here are the equally superb jazz giants guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Danny Gottlieb. These are three technical dynamos as well as artists sensitive to creative group interplay.

It was about this time in his career that one sensed David Sanborn was getting a bit tired of the formula he was using on his records. However, his great popularity kept him from changing direction much. As usual, the highly influential altoist blows his heart out over a lot of funky rhythms on As We Speak, but surprisingly, he switches to his less notable soprano on four of the nine tunes. Bassist Marcus Miller is a key force in the background, leading the expanded rhythm sections through some pop-oriented material.