Carlos Cannon: In the Name of Love

Carlos Cannon is a young, gifted contemporary saxophonist whose debut CD,In the Name of Love, serves as a good showcase for his talents. It's an enjoyable, feel-good outing, covering many of the various styles and sub-genres of current adult contemporary jazz/R&B. Cannon displays his knack for capturing a good hooky melody and setting it against the appropriate rhythmic background as composer seven of the eleven tunes. Credit for the success of the CD must be shared with producer Michael Logan, who also performs on "all other instruments" throughout the CD. The keyboard, bass, drum, percussion, and horn section tracks are well-arranged and sound so live it's difficult to determine if they are, indeed, live or programmed. The only other performers on the CD are guitarists Alex Harris or Robert Burks, and occasional background vocalists.

Cannon has performed around Chicago for over eleven years, including winning first place in the Chicago Finlandia Vodka Talent Search in 1996, and has enjoyed occasional international exposure. Hopefully this thoroughly competent CD will advance his career and lead to wider recognition. Cannon needs to keep on doing what he's doing, while developing a more uniquely identifiable voice and style. The crowed field of contemporary jazz saxophonists is difficult to cut through. (Neros NMI7703)

Tracks: Mercy; If You Want Me to Stay; In the Name of Love; Heaven; I Wanna Be Where You Are; No Ending Love; Imagine; The Secret Garden; I Have Nothing; I Will Always Stay; Precious Lord, Take My Hand. (55:50)