The list of well-known Los Angeles-based musicians who Canadian guitarist
Les Sabler employs on
Sweet Drive is impressive. Keyboardist
Jeff Lorber, saxophonists
Eric Marienthal and
Gary Meek, bassist
Brian Bromberg (who produced this 2007 release), trumpeter
Jerry Hey (of
Seawind fame), drummer
Vinnie Colaiuta, and percussionist
Alex Acuña are among the participants. With such an all-star cast,
Sweet Drive should have been excellent. But regrettably, this 60-minute CD is dominated by formulaic, radio-oriented smooth jazz that will probably appeal to NAC program directors but isn't terribly memorable. The problem with most of
Sweet Drive is not a lack of chops on
Sabler's part; the Montreal native is a capable and talented, if derivative, player whose direct or indirect influences include
George Benson,
Lee Ritenour,
Wes Montgomery,
Larry Carlton, and
Earl Klugh (among others). Rather, the problem with most of
Sweet Drive is that the more
Sabler panders to radio, the less inspired he sounds. But gratefully,
Sweet Drive does contain some tracks that show listeners what he is actually capable of.
Sabler lets loose on the assertive "Food Chain," the dusky "Struttin'," and the funky "Twenty-Two"; those tracks are closer to fusion and prove that
Sabler can be an exciting improviser when he gambles with inspiration instead of giving smooth jazz/NAC radio programmers the type of elevator music that they crave. Although frequently disappointing,
Sweet Drive definitely has its moments -- and one hopes that in the future,
Sabler will spend less time catering to smooth jazz/NAC radio and more time living up to his potential.