Jessie Allen Cooper - Pacific Lounge (2005)

"Fine Music for the Cultural Creatives," reads a sticker on the cover of this CD, and for those of you wondering who they are, saxophonist Jessie Allen Cooper explains in his press biography. "Sociologists have identified a segment of society they call 'Cultural Creatives,'" he says. "There are more than 50 million people who care deeply about relationships, peace, social justice, ecology, spirituality, self-actualization, self-improvement and self-expression. I feel the music on Pacific Lounge works especially well with their lifestyle and activities." Clearly, Cultural Creatives have a lot on their plate, and another self-description actually printed on the CD cover may offer them a more specific reason to pick up this album: "Sax & Piano to Chill-Out & Relax with." This is, perhaps, more to the point. Cooper, collaborating with pianist Tim Ponzek, provides 12 spare, melodic, calm, and calming performances to soothe those C.C.'s after a hard day of caring deeply about all those Important Issues. Sometimes, it seems, even the most caring among us need to kick back and care about nothing for an hour, while listening to Cooper and Ponzek noodle lazily in the background. And that's what they do. Most of these tunes don't draw attention to themselves, being content to contribute to a quiet mood, although "St. Patrick," as its title suggests, does sound like some old song that pleasantly inebriated patrons of a pub might sing, if they only knew the words. Now, if all 50 million members of Cooper's defined audience buy just one copy, Pacific Lounge will outsell Eagles/Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975).© William Ruhlmann /TiVo