Down to the Bone

Down to the Bone set the stage to expand beyond their jazz-groove scene beginnings on Crazy Vibes and Things. Producer/arranger Stuart Wade leads the same tight community of musicians featured on Spread the Word, including Neil Angilley, Shilts (a best-selling artist in his own right), Paul Turner, Adrian Revell, and Tony Remy. Wade also wrote or co-wrote the CD's ten compositions with Angilley and Shilts. The recording opens with the radio hit "Electra Glide," a smooth, soulful track that features the grooving interplay of Tony Remy's wah-wah techniques and Shilts' smoky alto and tenor saxophone riffs. Neil Angilley adds the finishing touches with his strong melodic keyboard improvisations, giving the song a more soulful resonance. Top dance picks are the title track and "Searching for a Simple Groove," while "My One and All," which features Hill St. Soul vocalist Hilary Mwelwa, is a midtempo song full of energy and fresh grooves. "Searching for a Simple Groove" is fresh and fun. Every listener's choice here is a nice surprise and is ripe with Down to the Bone's trademark horn riffs, breezy guitar licks, smooth jazz, and groove. ~ Paula Edelstein, All Music Guide