Sweet Surroundings is the second release as a leader for bassist Steve Clarke and the follow-up to his well-received debut, titled Kickin' It. Ten tracks exemplify his superb songwriting skills and musicality on the bass guitar, keyboards, drums, and programming. Ken Gioffre and Jonathon DuBose make outstanding contributions on the saxophone and guitars, respectively, each lending their bebop, groove, and funk stylings to such songs as "Let's Groove" and "Eccentric Dancer." The latter is a stylistic gem filled with exotic wah-wah loops punctuated by Gioffre's straight-ahead saxophone riffs. The title track, "Sweet Surroundings," is ripe with Clarke's pulsating basslines and funky programmed backbeats, and is well-structured for Jonathon DuBose's guitar solo that is both memorable and rendered with a kicking groove. Steve Clarke rounds out the program with the R&B ballad "Time for Love" intertwined with reminiscent strands of the Philly sound of the '60s. Overall, this CD surpasses Clarke's debut due to better songwriting skills and production values and tighter chemistry between bandmembers. ~ Paula Edelstein