Mindi Abair - Forever (2022)

Since 1999, saxophonist and bandleader Mindi Abair has thrown curveballs at those who would pigeonhole her. After a slew of charting smooth jazz albums, she issued the throwback soul album In Hi-Fi Stereo in 2010. She played in the house band for two seasons of American Idol and toured as Aerosmith's saxophonist. 2014's Wild Heart included her vocals and guest appearances from Booker T. Jones, Keb' Mo', and Gregg Allman, and Trombone Shorty in a collision of greasy roadhouse rock and funk. After four albums with the Boneshakers, she returns to solo recording with Forever, on her own Pretty Good for a Girl Records. Recorded in March 2020, Forever's ten tracks contain nine originals and a cover. Co-produced with Bud Harner, her core band includes drummer/backing vocalist Abe Laboriel, Jr. guitarist Tim Pierce, bassist Sean Hurley, and keyboardist Rodney Lee. Opener "Fine Wine and Vinyl" is easy-rocking Americana whose driving instrument is a slide guitar. Abair's voice is thin and reedy, but she can write a hell of a melodic hook. Its romantic lyrics nostalgically name-checks classic tunes from Carole King, Van Morrison, and the Four Tops. On the title instrumental, she breaks out the tenor and with her trademark gritty, earthy tone delivers a sparkling, souled-out groover. The band's middle-eight breakdown frames a soaring saxophone solo. "Call Me By Your Name" is a clattering roots rocker co-written with the Hooters' Eric Bazilian -- who also plays mandola on the track. The wry lyric details her life-affirming romance and marriage to Eric Guerra. The slippery Americana number "Say It with Love" is a duet with the Mavericks' Raul Malo. It's one of five tunes to feature the Rainbows, a created-on-the-spot harmony group with Steve Perry, Laboriel, and Melanie Taylor. "April" a jazz instrumental, balances Abair's tenor with Pierce's biting guitar; a ticking rim shot walks along before bringing in the entire band. "What About Love" sounds like the Tower of Power Horns playing grimy, funky, R&B-scorched blues-rock with Sly Stone. Guest Kenny Wayne Shepherd underscores that notion with a pyrotechnic solo before trading fours with Abair. "Where There's a Woman There's a Way" is a cinematic power ballad and a powerfully poignant song. Unfortunately, its bombastic (over)production almost drowns the vocal and melody. The cover is a fantastic read of James Morrison's "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You." It offers killer sax breaks, spiky guitar solos, and resonant, high-flying horns. "Midnight in San Francisco" is a gospel-tinged instrumental. Tenor sax entwines with electric guitar in a vulnerable, stirring melody. Forever contains plenty to compel fans of smooth jazz, while lovers of Wild Heart and Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers' No Good Deed have more than enough here to cement their interest. Those without preconceptions will benefit from Forever the most. It's unpretentious, funky, pop that crisscrosses roots genres with passion, craft, raw immediacy, and chops galore. © Thom Jurek