This funky Colorado-based saxman made some huge behind the scenes contributions to the smooth jazz genre prior to recording this picture-perfect breakout date that features key contributions by genre stars
Wayman Tisdale,
Jeff Lorber and
Dave Koz. In addition to playing dates as a sideman with guitarist
Tim Bowman and keyboardists
Gregg Karukas and
Brian Culbertson, his expertise as a producer led to a few of the format's biggest airplay hits of 2005-2006. He produced and played on "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" for
Tisdale, then hooked up with saxman
Eric Darius for six tracks on
Darius'
Just Getting Started album.
Darren Rahn also produced half of
Tisdale's
Way Up! album, and did a special remix of
Jonathan Butler's "Mandela Bay" for release as a radio single. The perfect balance of raucous up-tempo groovers, mid-tempo toe tappers and soothing ballads on
Once in a Lifetime ensured that Rahn would gain notoriety as an artist as well. The appropriately titled "Breakin' Out" (featuring
Lorber's trademark retro vibes on Fender Rhodes) bounces along mightily, features irrepressible multiple horn hooks, and includes a moment to show some chops. That retro vibe infuses most of the tracks here, from the thumpin' "Groove Tonight" to the seductive "Side Steppin'." And Rahn knows how to turn on the charm and turn down the lights on cuts like "A Greater Love." Fans of his work with
Tisdale gravitated to the duo's "On the Rebound," whose title is more than a sly wink to the bassist's status as an ex-NBA all-star. And speaking of duets, Rahn and
Koz tap into their gentle soprano side for the sweet, sensitive closing title track.