Alexander Zonjic - Passion (1993)

Other than a funky, hip-hoppish update of Herbie Mann's classic, "Memphis Underground," athis is an album of pleasant, easy listening music. Zonjic cites Mann as a primary influence, but there is little similarity in style. On "Progress," Zonjic sounds a lot like Tim Weisberg, elsewhere one can detect touches of Hubert Laws. Mervyn Warren's vocal arrangement highlights "People Get Ready," sounding very much like his group, Take 6, and Angela Bofill delivers a nice vocal on "Angel of the Night," a song she had previously scored with on her own. The percussion is primarily programmed, and this is not really a jazz album by any stretch of the imagination, but the melodies are catchy and the music is relaxing and unobtrusive -- sounds like the definition of "smooth jazz." ~ Jim Newsom