The most interesting and substantial pop-jazz and crossover jazz (
Grover Washington, Jr.,
David Sanborn,
Joe Sample, among others) came about when the artists were allowed to be spontaneous and make some type of personal statement. But unfortunately, today's NAC/smooth jazz formats don't encourage improvisation, experimentation or personal soloing--they expect overproduced background music, and their philosophy is that improvisation is to be avoided at any cost. That rule is one that saxman Jimmy Roberts and guitarist Peter Roberts--collectively the Roberts Brothers--are all too happy to adhere to on
Sugar and Spice. Heavy production triumphs over spontaneity, and every note is neatly in place on laid-back instrumentals like "Only for You" and "Forever Yours." While heavy production is appropriate for dance-pop, urban contemporary and rap, a pop-jazz effort like
Sugar and Spice would have been better off with less producing and more blowing. Nonetheless, this isn't a terrible album; some of the stuff that ends up on NAC/smooth jazz stations is a lot worse.
Sugar and Spice is what it is: a collection of pleasant, if generic, background music. ~ Alex Henderson