The L.A. Chillharmonic - The L.A. Chillharmonic featuring Richard Smith (2008)

Guitarist Richard Smith has assembled an all-star cast for The L.A. Chillharmonic's self-titled first release. With the likes of Patrice Rushen, Eric Marienthal, Gary Meek, Greg Adams, Brian Bromberg, Gregg Karukas, Jeff Lorber and several other established artists aboard, you'd think it would be hard to go wrong. Unfortunately the CD doesn't break any new ground, although it does offer up a few tasty tracks. The album kicks off with two upbeat songs, the title cut and `Checkin' You Out'. An acoustic guitar floats warmly across Patrice Rushen's vocals on `Gift', but like `Ultimate X', `Being With You', and `Agrigento', the track doesn't stand out from numerous other smooth jazz cuts. A cover of Stevie Wonder's `Boogie on Reggae Woman' starts off lively enough but is missing that "something" to sustain interest. `Back in the Day' is a fun blues-y number with Smith's guitar leading the way. Brian McKnight's `What We Do Here' is treated to a spare arrangement that takes a while to get off the ground and doesn't do much to enhance the original. The CD concludes on a high note with `Alvinator', featuring a tight brass section and excellent sax and guitar solos that lift it above much of the other material. With such a talented cast, you might approach this CD with high expectations, but although the execution is as solid as ever, one can't help but feel disappointed by the music itself.