Freddie Ravel - Midnight Passion (1990)

Considering that he's jammed alongside the likes of Sergio Mendes, Osamu Kitajima, Subrumaniam, and Alex Acuña, it's no surprise that keyboard whiz Freddie Ravel injects a strong variety of world beat (especially Latin) influences into his likeable, radio-accessible debut Midnight Passion. His masterful attack on the keys is slightly more impressive than his compositional abilities, but there are still plenty of happy pop jazz gems to go around, and his production shows hipness and daring. The only drawbacks to this fine disc is a bland new age foray with koto player Osamu and a few less than peppy vocal tracks which don't do justice to singer Anjani Thomas' sweet voice.