Basketball star-turned-smooth-jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale shows us the various ways the bass can be utilized as a melodic voice on Hang Time, his debut release on Rendezvous, the label cofounded by saxophonist Dave Koz.
On the laid-back “Ready to Hang” Tisdale scats along with his instrument, and his cover of McFadden & Whitehead’s “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” is a rousing outing in which the former baller’s nimble bass melody is at the center of an elaborate arrangement involving a horn section, strings and vocals on the chorus hook. Koz makes a guest appearance on the pretty ballad “Better Days,” and his soprano sax sweetly ties in with Tisdale’s bass. There’s also a quiet, thoughtfully articulated cover of the Smokey Robinson hit “Cruisin’,” while “Creative Juices” is a soulful, organ-drenched number featuring keyboardist/producer Jeff Lorber. The title track is a dusky, funky collaboration between Tisdale and Pieces of a Dream keyboardist James Lloyd, and on “Off Into It,” another Lorber collaboration, Tisdale’s funky bass is accompanied by a wah-wah-wah rhythm. The album closes with “Glory Glory,” an inspirational tune featuring Tisdale and his singer daughter Danielle that originally appeared on Presents 21 Days, a gospel CD Tisdale put out in 2003.
