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Coffey, Dennis

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Moonlight

                 



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Format: LP     Want this on CD also?

Condition: VG+ COVER / VG+ LP (cover/media)    More Info
Label: Orpheus D1-75617
Country: Us
Released: 1989
Genre: jazz
Num In Set: 1
Quantity: 1 in stock

still in shrink wrap (opened)
A guy like guitarist extraordinaire Dennis Coffey is so talented I'm going to check out pretty much anything he records.   In my eyes his recording reputation is sterling though that's not to say everything he touches it wonderful - witness some of my previous reviews.   
Released in 1989, "Under the Moonlight" marked Coffey's first new studio album in three years and served as his debut on Charles and Beau Huggins' Capitol affiliated Orpheus Records.   Based in New York City, the label specialized in urban jazz acts like Freddie Jackson, Melba Moore and Rob White.   At first it seemed a little strange to me that Coffey would sign with a New York City based label; particularly one with a urban jazz orientation, but when you listened to "Under the Moonlight" the linkage became clear.   Coffey, like everyone else, had bills to pay and you certainly couldn't fault him for being willing to throw his creative lot in with a musical niche that was raking in big money for it's purveyors.   And that's what you have here.   Exemplified by tracks like 'Sunrise and 'Yesterday's Girl' Coffey churning out a series of ten, mostly instrumental, urban jazz performances.   Featuring all original material (two tracks co-written with Mario Resnio), anyone expecting to hear Coffey's Motown-styled soul or psych influences should just turn away.   Those influences were long gone on this album.   The spotlight was obvious on Coffey's guitar work and the performances were all professional and pleasant, but sadly they were seldom exciting.   This was music as a product and it wasn't a stretch to picture all of these tunes being used on as elevator music, or on call waiting application.   If I had to pick a favorite - well tough call since none of them bowled me over, but pushed to make a decision, maybe the bouncy closer 'In The Pocket', 'Mr. Slick' or the lite-funk 'Breakout' ?   There's a market and fan base out there for this genre, but it doesn't register with me.
"Under the Moonlight" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Sunrise (instrumental) (Dennis Coffey) - 4:38 rating: *** stars
The opening instrumental served to showcase the strengths and weakness across the whole album.   Spotlightening Coffey on acoustic guitar, 'Sunrise' was a pretty ballad featuring razor clear sound.   Hearing it on a quality stereo is a treat.   It makes for excellent study music, or background music while you are waiting on a sales assistant to pick up the phone line.   The down side is the song had about the same energy and excitement as whitening your teeth.   Technically it was perfect, reflecting the kind of sound urban jazz radio stations made a fortune selling.   It just wasn't very inspiring.
2.) Where Did Love Go? (instrumental) (Dennis Coffey) - 4:47 rating: ** stars
To be honest, I found the bass line on 'Where Did Love Go?' to be more interesting than Coffey's jazzy guitar work.   Late-'80s background music ...
3.) Yesterday's Girl   (instrumental) (Dennis Coffey) - 5:13 rating: *** stars
Well the title sounded like it might have a touch of Motown in it - nah.   It was probably the album's most melodic offering with Coffey showing a touch of his lightening fast finger work, but again little more than call waiting background music.
4.) Breakout (instrumental) (Dennis Coffey) - 4:58 rating: *** stars
Lots of thumb poppin' bass work on the quasi-funky 'Breakout'.   Hum, funk for folks who finish dinner by 6:30 ...
5.) Under The Moonlight (instrumental) (Dennis Coffey - Mario Resio) - 4:59 rating: *** stars
The first of two tracks co-written with Mario Resio, the title was also the album's lone non-instrumental, though Coffey's guitar probably deserved equal billing with the anonymous female singers.   A slinky, slightly funky slinky ballad this one was okay, but again didn't really generate a great deal of energy.   Imagine The Silver Convention singing urban jazz.
(side 2)
1.) Images (instrumental) (Dennis Coffey

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