There is a fair amount of variety on this reasonably enjoyable but not essential release from keyboardist Joe Sample. Most of the tunes fall into the area of funky crossover with strong melodies, danceable rhythms and few chances taken…

Stanley Turrentine's stint with Creed Taylor's CTI label may not have produced any out-and-out classics on the level of the very best LPs by Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, or George Benson, but the bluesy tenorist's output was consistently strong and worthwhile for all but the most stridently anti-fusion listeners. Salt Song was Turrentine's second album for CTI, and while it's perhaps just a small cut below his debut Sugar, it's another fine, eclectic outing that falls squarely into the signature CTI fusion sound: smooth but not slick, accessible but not simplistic…

Monster is an album by American jazz organist Jimmy Smith arranged by Oliver Nelson. On the Billboard albums chart, Monster peaked at number 35, and at 5 on the top R&B albums chart…

Gloria Lynne recorded a lot of albums for Everest during the first half of the 1960s; this was her eighth release. Unfortunately, none have yet been reissued on CD. This live set finds the singer ably accompanied by pianist Herman Foster, bassist Earl May, drummer Grassella Oliphant, and guests Kenny Burrell on guitar and Ray Barretto on conga…

Fueled by the hard-pushing hit from Jarreau's previous album "Boogie Down," aproducer Jay Graydon cranks up the energy level some more and comes up with a snazzy high-tech vehicle for his converted R&B singer. The sound is hotter, stoked by greater reliance upon synthesizers and electronically goosed rhythm tracks, and Jarreau's own vocals are more hectic, though again not much in the way of individuality is required of him…

The music and singing are pleasant enough on this Montrealer's second outing. He avoids embarrassments like "Mama Coco" from the following year's Storm at Sunup, but lyrics are not his strong point. This release includes two of his stronger tunes in "People Gotta Move" and the title track. His heart is in the right place, as in a tribute to Jim Croce. Still, Vannelli should have left social commentary to others, or joined forces with a better lyricist.