Brian Simpson | Closer Still

AllMusic Review by Jonathan Widran  [-]

The adage that many of contemporary music's most inventive and popular artists emerge from the ranks of first call session and touring musicians continues to prove precise, and indie label Noteworthy seemed committed in the mid-90s to making sure listeners didn't forget. On the simmering heels of Michael White's So Far Away arrived veteran keyboardist Brian Simpson, whose long-term association with some of the hottest icons in R&B and jazz have inspired the dynamic musings of Closer Still, one of the year's silky-smoothest and funkiest piano romps of the year. He only toured with Janet Jackson for a few months but was inspired enough to open the disc with the infectious, deliciously bouncy theme song "Because of Love," which features the tune's vocal harmony hook and several of Simpson's fellow Jackson tourists. His original material (some co-written with Oliver Wendell) ranges from the easy leanings of the breezy title cut to the sweeping romantic turn of the eloquent "April." More indicative of Simpson's potential as an urban heavyweight are the fiery, pop meets jazz jam "Someone Just Like You" and the throbbing "In Motion," which blend heavy piano and electric guitar chops with effective and soulful vocal embellishments. Three clever interludes, which feature exotic percussion and orchestral flavors, serve to tie the divergent paths into a unified and satisfying direction. It's smooth jazz's misfortune that Simpson never followed this up.

Brian Simpson Closer Still Year Of Release: 1995 Label: Noteworthy

Brian Simpson piano, keyboards Jonathan Butler vocals, guitar Brenda Kay Pierce, Jennette Clinger, Stacy Campbell, Steve Grisette vocals Allen Hinds guitar, electric guitar Ray Fuller guitar Everette Harp tenor saxophone Rex Salas keyboards Sam Sims keyboard bass
Lil' John Roberts, Michael White , Ray Griffin drums Brian Kilgore percussion

01. Because Of Love 00:00 02. Closer Still 04:34 03. April 10:02 04. Hidden Pleasures 15:40 05. Midnight Crazies (interlude) 21:10 06. Brazilia 22:11 07. Someone Just Like You 28:12 08. Your Smile (interlude) 33:27 09. In Motion 34:06 10. Morning Glories 39:01 11. Lake Shore Drive 44:04 12. Armani B (interlude) 50:09