Blue Knights - Night Talk (1996)

Polite, agreeable, undistinguished. It's a description that could be attached to any number of smooth-jazz recordings, and it certainly applies to Night Talk from the German foursome Blue Knights, a group whose best-known member is composer-keyboarist-producer Curtis McLaw, one-half of the duo Dancing Fantasy. Pleasant to the point of innocuousness, this 59-minute package offers modest production values and minimal virtuosity, but its mid- and uptempo melodies offer just enough attractiveness that it may find its way onto smooth-jazz playlists. The brightest candidates for such recognition are "Funky Bill," peppered with Al Jarreau-like vocalizing and finger-snapping grooves, and "Vegaz Dance," a mild-mannered toe-tapper for flute and piano. The one track that offers something other than a formula smooth-jazz structure is an appealing, slow-go piano solo ("The Moon") that McLaw inserts as the disc's penultimate track. Otherwise, Night Talk is largely inoffensive, easily accessible background music for your next patio party. -- Terry Wood