Kenny Garrett

Kenny Garrett

Happy People (Warner Bros.) When Kenny Garrett, who plays alto and soprano sax, came to the fore in the mid-Eighties, he was an impressive player in some ways, but not original. He drew his style from a number of saxophonists who'd come to fame in the Fifties and Sixties, and worked with musicians who were a good deal older than he, i.e. the Duke Ellington ghost band, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey. Garrett benefited from the popularity of the young lions (young traditionalists) winning magazine readers' polls, and gained a good deal of popularity by jazz artist's standards. He originally got attention with his inspired and assured post-bop playing. Here, he's made a rather commercial funk disc that doesn't bring out the best in his skilled playing, although it's better than most of its kind. The basic unit on the album is Garrett's quartet with the excellent bassist Charnett Moffett, plus guests including vibist Bobby Hutcherson, vocalist Jane Norris, trumpeter Michael Stewart, bassist Marcus Miller, and guitarist Randy Razz. Garrett turns in gutsy, infectious solos, but they're often cliché-ridden. Hutcherson is a genuinely great musician, arguably the best vibist to emerge since Milt Jackson, and while this isn't the most challenging date he's ever played on, his thoughtful solos still highlight the disc.