Dave Camp - Night Fall (1997)

A handful of genre artists, from 3rd Force to Rick Braun and Bryan Savage, have found success hiring Peter White to play key tracks, but sax-flute double threat Dave Camp's collaboration with the popular acoustic guitarist comes about more naturally - long before either had solo albums, they played behind singer Al Stewart. White adds a few touches of his smiling string style to Camp's Nightfall, but fortunately, is kept in a supporting role as Camp steps out as a great reed chameleon - showing equal affinity for flute, tenor and alto saxes. Unlike Nelson Rangell, who hides his flute behind more radio ready sax cuts, Camp celebrates his dual talents from the start; two of the first four tracks, "Your Eyes" and "Feelin' Good" offer hypnotic inducing grooves over which Camp invokes the gentle spirit of Tim Weisberg. On "Spy Vs. Spy," he pours blistering heartache into his tenor and it comes out like a hip hop version of Gato Barbieri. On the Brazilian flavored "Losing You," Camp subdues that same tenor into a low toned, moody Grover Washington-like vein. Later, Camp brightens up by blowing vibrant alto alongside a synth horn section ("Dave's House"). Diverse and copping a lot of licks, yes, but the fun he has jumping styles and reeds is infectious. In this carefully formatted genre, that edge of your seat quality is very refreshing once in a while. © Jonathan Widran