Alex Bugnon - This Time Around (1993)

The title says it all: This Time Around finds the solid keyboardist once again doing what he does best, mixing melodic magnificence with graceful funkiness that is simply too much fun to resist. On each of Bugnon's four albums to date, he lightly combines hip-hop edges with improvisation, while managing to show even a little classical training at work. The opener, "Klook Mop," is synthetic, hip, and grooving, and Bugnon's tasty key sweeps shine through even the modern effects. That and the similarly bouncy "Dasheen" sum up the more upbeat aspects of the collection, while the romantic "The Way We Used to Be" and a sweet cover of "I Will Always Love You" capture Bugnon's gentler side perfectly. The orchestral piece, "Meeting Again," comes in two parts, but adds an interesting delicacy. Overall, this is another solid and inspiring effort from one of the genre's most accomplished keyboard wizards. With each album so far, he seems to be mellowing out just a bit more, but never forsakes the magic he's firmly established as his style. ~ Jonathan Widran