When veteran saxophonist
Patrick Lamb
called his excellent early 2007 release with vocalist
Patsy Meyer
Don't Get No Better
, he was clearly thinking of a clever title, not a truly accurate assessment of his burgeoning solo career. While best known as a backing saxman for
Bobby Caldwell
and
Diane Schuur
, he's fully liberated as a cool and
pop
-
R&B
singer on this well titled follow-up, which was released just a few months after his dual project with
Meyer
. Relegating his tenor and soprano mostly to a sizzling four-part horn section, he focuses instead on romantic, easy
funk
songwriting and his appealing lead vocals. Off and running on the lively,
blues
brimming
"Back in Love,"
the soothing seduction
"You Are My Everything"
and the hopeful sweetness of
"I Remember,"
Lamb
seduces throughout over the rising horn harmonies and the shimmering touches of Hammond B-3 (by
Glen Holstrom
) and Rhodes (
George Mitchell
). The bubbly moments are nicely balanced by gentler, more intensely heartfelt expressions like
"Baby, Let Me See Your Smile."
It's all very vibrant and retro, and indeed will remind listeners of some of
Caldwell
's best horn-inflected tracks over the years. Checking the songwriter credits, it's no wonder that there's ample room for some serious soul patrolling; one of
's co-writers is
Lee Garrett
, who co-wrote some of
Stevie Wonder
's biggest hits. ~ Jonathan Widran