The Moon, the Stars and the Setting Sun

by Chuck Loeb

Overview

Many smooth jazz artists view song titles as an afterthought, so it's refreshing to see guitarist Chuck Loeb play a romantic connect-the-dots with the names of the nine originals on The Moon, the Stars and the Setting Sun. Sure, it's a little corny to follow the sweet little tale strung together by ellipses (i.e. "...the stars...above us...shine on...while we speak...of love and the setting sun") but it gives us a glimpse into Loeb's mindset of this sharply played, generally laid-back project. Sometimes, the stroll is melancholy. Over floating synth washes, he generates a crying effect via lengthy acoustic notes, which are echoed by the subdued Sanborn-esque touches of Nelson Rangell (on the swaying James Taylor cover "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight") and Andy Snitzer. Aware that listeners probably already know the sad lyrics, Loeb cries out over gentle synth drum beats on Boyz II Men's "Water Runs Dry." One of Loeb's trademarks is his ensemble-minded approach, and deferring to a lively two-minute Bob James keyboard solo on the Brazilian-flavored piece makes perfect sense; the disc offers the same sort of gently rhythmic flavors as a James-Earl Klugh collaboration. ~ Jonathan Widran

Product Details

Release Date:	01/20/1998
Label:	SHANACHIE
UPC:	0016351503824

Tracks

1. Just Us
2. Beneath the Light
3. ...Of the Moon...
4. Hand in Hand
5. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
6. ...The Stars...
7. Above Us
8. Shine On
9. While We Speak
10. ...Of Love and the Setting Sun
11. Water Runs Dry

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chuck Loeb   Primary Artist,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards
Mel Brown   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Will Lee   Guitar (Bass),Guest Artist,Bass
Tim Lefebvre   Guitar (Bass),Bass
John Patitucci   Double Bass,Guest Artist,Bass (Acoustic)
Nelson Rangell   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Carmen Cuesta   Guest Artist,Vocals
Andy Snitzer   Guest Artist,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Rob Mathes   Guest Artist,Vocals
Dave Samuels   Guest Artist
Bob James   Guest Artist,Piano
Lionel Cordew   Drums
Jon Werking   Piano,Piano (Electric)
Jim Pugh   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone),Trombone (Bass),Trombone (Tenor)
Larry Lunetta   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Clifford Carter   Organ
Peter Gordon   French Horn
David Samuels   Marimba
Mike Ricchiuti   Keyboards
David Charles   Percussion
Wolfgang Haffner   Drums
Lawrence Feldman   Flute,Sax (Tenor),Flute (Alto)
Tony Kadleck   Flugelhorn
Mitchel Forman   Piano
Peter Valentine   Vocals
Christian Diener   Bass

Technical Credits

Chuck Loeb   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming
Babyface   Composer
Ken Freeman   Mixing,Engineer
Dennis Wall   Mixing,Engineer
Phil Magnotti   Mixing,Engineer
Andy Katz   Assistant Engineer
Andy Snitzer   Composer
James Taylor   Composer
Danny Weiss   Producer,Executive Producer
Will Lee   Composer
Dave Nurmi   Mixing Assistant
Stephanie Foxx   Photography
Greenberg Kingsley   Design
Bruce Berky   Engineer