Hank Crawford : After Dark
(Milestone)

Hank Crawford's 14th Milestone release since 1983 purports to be his "blusiest" yet. But the results aren't much different than most of his previous Milestones. After Dark offers solid, soulful jazz that touches on the blues (Crawford's originals, and the disc's best tunes, "Mother Nature" and "Beale Street After Dark"), blues-lite ("My Babe," "St. Louis Blues"), funk-lite ("Git Go"), sticky-sweet ballads ("Share Your Love With Me," "Our Day Will Come") and stock standards ("T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do," "Amazing Grace").

Crawford's distinctive alto is heard in a compatible quintet featuring long-time partners guitarist Melvin Sparks and drummer Bernard Purdie. Talented pianist Danny Mixon returns from Crawford's previous disc, last year's Tight (with his annoying nursery-rhyme quotes in tow). Stanley Banks and Wilbur Bascomb trade places on bass. As expected, no one other than Crawford really stands out and even Crawford stays in the comfort zone of his patented sound and swing.

It's all slick and soulful but says nothing Hank Crawford hasn't been preaching for years.

Tracks: My Babe; Share Your Love With Me; Git It!; T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do; Our Day Will Come; Mother Nature; That's All; St. Louis Blues; Beale Street After Dark; Amazing Grace.

Players: Hank Crawford: alto saxophone; Melvin Sparks: guitar; Danny Mixon: piano or organ; Stanley Banks, Wilbur Bascomb: bass; Bernard Purdie: drums.

Special thanks to Douglas Payne for this review

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