David Sanborn - The Essentials (2002)

David Sanborn's Essentials delivers what the title promises, serving up such pop-oriented jazz hits as "Chicago Song" and "Love and Happiness." Spanning lively cuts like "Slam" and "Bang Bang," and softer, more sentimental songs like "Smile," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," and "This Masquerade," the collection does a good job of presenting the different sides of Sanborn's sax. While Best of David Sanborn offers a deeper exploration of his work, that collection doesn't include any of Sanborn's '90s material, so what Essentials lacks in depth, it makes up in breadth, making it perfect for casual fans. ~ Heather Phares