Bobby Lyle - Ivory Dreams (1989)

The title says it all -- this is an absolutely dreamlike collection of tunes, both funky and straight ahead, written and performed by a masterful ivory tickler. After an illustrious career as mostly a sideman and/or musical director for R&B biggies like Anita Baker and Al Jarreau, this release established Lyle as a solo star, and rightfully so. Lyle's R&B background is more than apparent on the best of these eight cuts like Baker's "Been So Long," the funky "Loco-motion," and the airplay winner "Tropical." But you can also tell that he is a jazzman at heart. The title cut is as elegantly traditional as his lovely acoustic cover of Duke Ellington's "Lush Life," and he pretty much is at a pop/jazz impasse on the spunky "Nova." He sprinkles even the rockers with a grand command of the octaves, and many memorable improvisational interludes. Often this mix of old and new is detrimental for continuity, but Lyle carries it off quite well. Lyle has gathered the best talent he knows to help bring his dreams to life. Particularly solid are Gerald Albright (on bass rather than his usual sax), Paul Jackson, Jr. on guitar, and Kirk Whalum who adds some cooking hornwork to "Tropical." ~ Jonathan Widran