Steve Tavaglione: Silent Singing

P>I barely know how to characterize the music on this album. A notch above Kenny G? Music to soothe and stroke while in a dentist's chair? Music to coax a cobra out of its wicker basket? Other? Don't misunderstand me. This music, all originals, can be pretty and melodic. There's even something close to Miles Davis' trumpet by Jeff Beal on "Arabesque". But for the most part, I found most of the CD cloying and eventually boring and depressing. Riddled with the synthetic sound strings created by synthesizers along with other electronic gimmicks, mixed with the smooth, unimaginative Steve Tavaglione tenor and soprano sax, should put this CD at number one on the smooth jazz and or new age hit list. As smooth jazz, it is seamless, hardly causing a ripple in the rhythmic stream from one track to another. This is music for those who like their "jazz" spoon fed without having to think much about what they're hearing. No doubt, this music is cleverly presented. There are all sorts of electronic and musical tricks used to create sound sensations, thunder, creaky, squeaky doors and other extraneous sound effects. All this album lacks is poetry by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Alan Ginsberg or Gary Snyder.

For those who enjoy the smooth, eerie, uninteresting approach to jazz music, this album is essential. For me, I'll pass thank you.

Tracks:Mirrors; Arabesque; Home from 17; Eclipsis; Lament; Threw Me for a Loop; Love; She Never Has a Window; Actor's Alley; Silent Singing; One