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He released He Had a Hat on Blue Note in 2007. He recorded for Verve and Zebra during the '90s then moved over to Narada in the 2000s, releasing successful smooth jazz albums like 2003's Philly Style and 2005's Flipside.
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He did not issue his first proper solo LP until 1991's Worth Waiting For, remaining both a prolific performer and producer for the rest of the decade. During the first half of the following decade, the band became one of the most popular jazz acts of the period, touring nonstop and even scoring a Best R&B Instrumental Grammy nomination for the radio hit "Pacific Coast Highway." Released in 1986, Private Passion was Lorber's most successful outing yet, but at this commercial peak he stopped recording, instead turning to production and session work. Lorber's infatuation with jazz began during his stay at the Berklee College of Music, and after forming the Jeff Lorber Fusion he issued the group's self-titled debut in 1977. After collaborating with guitarist Mike Stern on 2019's Eleven, the Jeff Lorber Fusion returned to jazz-funk with Space-Time in 2021.īorn in Philadelphia on November 4, 1952, he began playing the piano at the age of four, and as a teen performed with a variety of local R&B bands. Following an extended period as a producer, Lorber returned to regular recording in the '90s, and has since balanced his time between solo albums like 2007's He Had a Hat and productions with his fusion trio like 2017's Prototype. He scored a Grammy nomination for his 1985 song "Pacific Coast Highway," an accolade that marked his rise into more commercial crossover jazz, culminating in 1986's Private Passion. Emerging on the scene in the late '70s, Lorber quickly established himself as a leader at the forefront of the electric jazz movement, issuing albums like 1978's Soft Space (featuring Chick Corea) and 1977's Water Sign with his group the Jeff Lorber Fusion. He crossed over to the mainstream charts with seven Top 200 titles, in addition to more than a dozen with genre-specific albums including Contemporary Jazz, Dance Albums, and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. California, New York, Tennessee, 2020.Known for his smooth style of weaving together elements of funk, R&B, rock, and electric jazz, Grammy Award-winning keyboardist, composer, and producer Jeff Lorber helped pioneer the post-fusion sound of contemporary jazz. Lorber (kyb, syn, g) Bob Mintzer (ts) Gary Meek (ss) Hubert Laws (f) Paul Jackson Jr., Robben Ford (elg) Michael Landau (elg, g) Gerald Albright, Jimmy Haslip (b) Gary Novak (d) David Mann (arr). Space-Time Back Room Sun Princess Mind Reader Memorex Louisiana Curiosity Chick Day One Truth Memorex Reprise (37.38) The legacy of fusion that Lorber and his peers are a part of is present, but the album remains innovative and engaging. While there are a variety of different guests on the album, Lorber’s vision for the record is clear throughout. The track echoes Corea’s style superbly, with an excellent funk bass line from Jimmy Haslip, Lorber’s staccato electric keyboard, and a soaring lead from Gary Meek and Hubert Laws on soprano sax and flute. The eighth track is Lorber’s tribute to Chick Corea, with whom he first worked on his second album, Soft Space, in 1978. If two legendary guitarists wasn’t enough, Robben Ford also makes several appearances, lending his expertise to the fourth track Mind Reader, and the seventh, Curiosity. Veteran session guitarist Michael Landau also features on several tracks, offering subtle licks and melodic inflections throughout the powerful Sun Princess, and both electric and nylon-stringed guitar on the grooving Louisiana and laid back Day One. adds reserved, clean electric guitar vamping before a brief but tasteful solo. Setting the tone for the rest of the album, the atmosphere is rich and textured, with expert improvisation.įor the soulful second track, Back Room, David Mann provides the horn arrangement and performance, while Paul Jackson Jr. The opening track, Space-Time, is a light, upbeat piece in which Lorber plays not only keys but also synth bass and guitar, featuring some melodic unison between Lorber and Bob Mintzer on tenor sax. Having been together since 1977, the Jeff Lorber Fusion now release their 13th album, with a host of musicians joining the trio of Lorber, drummer Gary Novak and bassist and co-producer Jimmy Haslip.