The best smooth jazz album of 1994 is remarkable not only for
Chappell's trademark melodies, but also the energetic live interaction with touring and studio bandmates Tom Politzer (sax), Jean Michel Hure on electric and acoustic guitars, Dennis Murphy (electric bass) and drummer Jimmy Sanchez. While
Chappell played with each of these for several years, he had established himself as a minimally accompanied new age pianist and had never recorded with them before.
Over the Top gets rolling with the cool and easy rhythm of "That's Right," which features spirited bass and electric guitar and allows
Chappell to explore higher octave harmonics. The breezy "Arrival Time" perfectly reflects the band vibe, with electric guitar, sax and piano trading off melodic hooks. Throughout the rest of the disc,
Chappell and his band (later called Hearsay) vary tempos from gentle lilting ballads through swinging energetic gems like "The Happy Camper." ~ Jonathan Widran