David Benoit must have enjoyed the recollection of his early days offered him by co-producing
Bob Mamet's simple, direct, and extremely hooky tunes on
Adventures in Jazz.
Benoit is a perfect partner/mentor for the up-and-coming
Mamet, since
Mamet specializes in the same type of angst-free "happy jazz"
Benoit began his career with -- even to the point of putting
Eric Marienthal's sax center stage on the choruses of sweet confections like the title track and the friendly "Conversation at 29th St.," on which
Benoit's synth strings enhance
Mamet's melancholy reflections. One could spend all day harping on the similarities, but, fortunately, it's a case of following in the footsteps of the best; like
Benoit,
Mamet is a masterful pianist and melody maker, as adept at traditional jazz as fluffy pop. If taken literally, the title
Adventures in Jazz seems like a misnomer until companion tracks "Six Stories 1-3" and "Six Stories 4-6," in which
Mamet swings away from the almighty hook and engages bassist Derrick Murdock and drummer
Johnny Friday on a colorful acoustic trio exploration. The solo piano closer "Nightsong" is as pure and direct as anything new age sensation
Jim Brickman has ever produced. Sure,
Mamet takes cues from other, more renowned pianists, but irresistibly so, creating one of the most enjoyable contemporary outings of 1997. ~ Jonathan Widran