Jazz Articles about Joe Sample

About Joe Sample

Album Review

Joe Sample featuring Lalah Hathaway: The Song Lives On

by Dave Hughes
December 1, 1999

Joe Sample’s latest release, The Song Lives On , is appropriately titled. One of the CD’s finest attributes is the excellent song selection. The Peggy Lee classic "Fever" is tastefully covered here, and Sample’s own "Street Life" is reprised again, but the remainder of the program is new, at least to my ears. Most of the tunes establish an emotional connection with the listener; they’re beautiful, pensive, soulful, and often introspective. Titles such as "Living in Blue," "When ...

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Album Review

Joe Sample: Sample This

Read "Sample This" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
January 1, 1998

Though he's often fared well in the so-called “smooth jazz" and “quiet storm" markets, Joe Sample has, for the most part, maintained his integrity. Much of his work has been commercial yet creative, and on Sample This, the pianist/keyboardist revisits some of the high points of his career with generally substantial and enjoyable results. When Sample digs into both classics from his years with The Crusaders (including “Chain Reaction" and “Free As The Wind") and songs he's done on his ...

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Album Review

Joe Sample: Rainbow Seeker

Read "Rainbow Seeker" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
December 1, 1997

If you don't know what “pocket" is, listen to most any Joe Sample release, but especially Rainbow Seeker (1978, MCA). You'd think the term was invented for this collection of groove jazz. Of course when released, I'm sure it wasn't considered ground-breaking, but it is an incredible example of how compositions and solos can be built around the pocket. Unfortunately, my copy of the disc doesn't tell me who's playing on the tracks, so I gleaned the album personnel info ...