Jimmy Sommers: Sunset Collective

To exciting ends, Jimmy Sommers covers all the bases on his 14-track CD. Sommers is a saxophonist, but this is not your typical saxophone CD. He sprays to all fields with smooth-jazz, electronica, downtempo, R&B and even classic lounge on his first project in four years. And just to throw one more element into the mix, he’s added the title track to 2003’s Lovelife into the stew. It’s a remix of the song with the baby-girl vocals of Macy Gray.

Sommers is a hit with smooth-jazz fans and has created two of the strongest tracks this year with “Happy Hour” and “Kickin’ It.” The former features the stamp of Paul Brown and the latter of Brian Culbertson, two of the hottest producers in the genre. Sexy, chilled-out vibe music is represented by “Out of Nowhere,” “Beginnings” and “The Islands,” which seems especially suited to chill-out rooms on Ibiza. Disco-fied electronica is charged up with an assist from world-famous DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold on “Vertical” and “House Party,” while classic R&B with a laidback aura is supplied by the vocals of Vikter Duplaix. As if to show that his sense of humor is intact, Sommers brings a new twist to the loungey “Besame Mucho” with his sultry burnished sax soloing.

Originally Published December 1, 2007