VA - Jazz For Couch Potatoes! (2004)

With a series of urban-minded cover projects, Shanachie Records has found interesting ways for one of its star performers, saxman Kim Waters, to stay busy between solo albums, and now keeps guitarist Chuck Loeb occupied beautifully with this jazzy celebration of classic television themes. Though the album title and cover concept are on the cutesy side and the arrangements are playful, many of these ditties are ripe for a mix of funk and improvisation because they have jazzy qualities to begin with. Quincy Jones' "Sanford & Son" was a soul-blues gem then and comes to life here with the swinging horn section of Waters and Randy Brecker, helped along by Loeb's crackling electric guitar. Loeb also shines on the originally jazzy theme to The Cosby Show, which chugs along like a lighthearted bebop tune. Others like "Peter Gunn" (Henry Mancini), "Taxi" (Bob James), and "M*A*S*H" (Johnny Mandel) were written by jazz-oriented composers who would appreciate these witty arrangements. Having Dave Samuels' vibes carry the early melody on "M*A*S*H" sets this tune apart from the sax and guitar-oriented pack. Samuels also provides the Latin spark over the urban moods for the one newer theme, "Sex and the City," another tune that had "jazz" written all over it. Although this disc will no doubt be marketed as a novelty, it's also notable for its gathering of East Coast musical greats (and some very solid lesser-knowns like saxman Eric Alexander and keyboardist Mike Ricchiuti). Pass the remote! ~ Jonathan Widran