Professional Dreamer

Professional Dreamer

ASIN: B00000J7QH

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Rick Braun acted as producer for six of the tunes on Professional Dreamer, and it adds a funkier dimension to Benoit's rich keyboards and lyrical piano solos. Funky is a direction that Benoit is clearly ready for. You hear it especially on "ReJoyce," a celebration of the groove with Benoit using a Hammond B-3 organ for some deep soul. "Miles After Dark" also stands out, with Braun adding some tasty muted trumpet to the midnight mood. Benoit's style is still in evidence, though, especially on the slow tunes and the characteristic classical touches and Latin beats. "Dad's Room" is a beautiful ballad, with rays of light breaking into the slightly somber mood. It shows just what a master of shading Benoit is. --Adam Rains

From Jazziz
"My last album, American Landscape, was very heavy thematically," says David Benoit, "and I wanted this time to just have fun, keep things jamming and upbeat." To help him make the switch, the keyboardist enlisted the king of funky smooth jazz, Rick Braun, as his producer. The resulting album, Professional Dreamer (GRP), finds Benoit in the midst of thick hip-hop grooves, at times playing Hammond B-3 organ. "I'd never given an outside producer free reign like this before," say Benoit, "and there was every chance he'd obliterate my voice. Fortunately, he respected that. He said, 'Play the way you play, and I'll give you the funky environment.'"

Professional Dreamer,David Benoit,Grp Records,Contemporary Jazz,Crossover Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

Average customer rating:

David Benoit: A Man And His Magic

one of the finest

David Benoit is Back!

Best So Far

Beautiful morning music

Professional Dreamer
David Benoit
Manufacturer: Grp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music
GRP | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music
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Fuzzy Logic

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ASIN: B00000J7QH
Release Date: 1999-06-01

Tracks:

Why Not!
Miles After Dark
Something You Said
ReJoyce
Golden Gate
Gothic Jazz Dance
Jump Start
Thinkin 'Bout The Cove
Twilight March
Dad's Room

Amazon.com

Rick Braun acted as producer for six of the tunes on Professional Dreamer, and it adds a funkier dimension to Benoit's rich keyboards and lyrical piano solos. Funky is a direction that Benoit is clearly ready for. You hear it especially on "ReJoyce," a celebration of the groove with Benoit using a Hammond B-3 organ for some deep soul. "Miles After Dark" also stands out, with Braun adding some tasty muted trumpet to the midnight mood. Benoit's style is still in evidence, though, especially on the slow tunes and the characteristic classical touches and Latin beats. "Dad's Room" is a beautiful ballad, with rays of light breaking into the slightly somber mood. It shows just what a master of shading Benoit is. --Adam Rains

Customer Reviews:

David Benoit: A Man And His Magic.......2003-04-08

I've been a David Benoit fan for many years and the man has never disappointed me musically. This album is no exception. From the funky, urban chord vamps and comps of "Why Not"; to the sweet, melodious jazz/classic rendering of "Something You Said"; to the 'Brubeckish' styled "Gothic Jazz Dance", this album has it all. As an amatuer jazz pianist myself, I am completely enraptured with David's articulate and rich chord stylings on just about every song that I have heard him play. Professional Dreamer encompasses all of his seemingly infinite pianistic and compositional talents in this album. Even if you're not a dyed-in-the-wool fan of jazz, this CD has something for everyone. "Something You Said" has become a memorable, almost anthem-like song in my household, and I have used this beautiful composition extensively as background for many of my home video projects. Long live David Benoit.

one of the finest.......2001-11-14

I didn't really care for the why not.song # 1, I guess thats why they called it why not, but the rest of the c-d is truely some of the best smooth jazz that I've ever heard. the piano, percussion, horns and orchestra are totaly world renound. #1 in my collection, and now all my friends have this beautiful music.It's a must have.....

David Benoit is Back!.......2000-10-01

After a couple of releases that were just O.K. David Benoit may have just released his best collection of songs. The funk is here with songs like "Why, Not", the gorgeous ballad is here in "Golden Gate", and another one of my favotites is "Thinking Bout the Cove". I love that Fender Rhodes solo at the end of the song. Only thing is, is fades out too fast and the song itself could be longer. 7 of the 10 songs are upbeat. Rick Braun co-wrote half of the tracks, and as you probably know by this time, you can hear his trumpet on "Miles After Dark". Truly one of the finest jazz records of 1999.

Best So Far.......2000-08-13

I have at least 7 previous CDs by David Benoit, all of them are great, but this one is the best so far. The funkier rythms are a great addition to the usual David Benoit style. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. This would be a great addition to anyones Jazz library.

Beautiful morning music.......2000-07-30

Had never owned a David Benoit CD before, but coming back from Virginia , I heard a radio station playing this wonderful music. Checked with Amazon {couldn't even spell his name properly} and there it was. I ordered it and now I play it during breakfast at my bed and breakfast, Reapsome House. The guests love it!

Average customer rating:

"But You Had Such Persistence, You Wore Down My Resistance . . . I Fell And It Was Swell!"
One in every crowd
An Album for the Ages
Kenny sings standards -- beautifully!
Great!

Professional Dreamer
Kenny Rankin
Manufacturer: Private Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Song for You
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ASIN: B0000000LQ
Release Date: 1995-03-28

Tracks:

You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
The Very Thought Of You
But Not For Me
I Fall In Love Too Easily
More Than You Know
It Had To Be You
At Last
Love Is Here To Stay
I've Got A Crush On You
My One And Only Love
Blame It On My Youth
How Can I Forget (Song For Margo)
That's All

Customer Reviews:

"But You Had Such Persistence, You Wore Down My Resistance . . . I Fell And It Was Swell!" .......2007-04-04

"These are but a few of the songs my mother always told me. They are my wish list. I love these songs. But they are not mine. They belong to you." ~ Kenny Rankin ~

"I've enjoyed Kenny's friendship for many, many years. His spirit is wild and tender, impulsive and romantic - and these songs have a tremendous richness and purity. We felt that by approaching them simply, we'll create room for Kenny's expression to soar. It's a pleasure to hear his heart sing." ~ Hank Cicalo ~

This CD, Kenny Rankin's "Professional Dreamer" is one great collection of beautiful songs from the Great American Songbook - thirteen of the loveliest standards for your ears only! The choice of material is simply perfect and the arrangements by the artist himself with his creative pianists, Alan Broadbent and Mike Wafford are simply outstanding and they are some of the best arrangements for these time-tested songs. Kenny Rankin gives these evergreens "fresh-as-a-daisy" interpretations with his stylish and one-of-a-kind vocal artistry.

Each song tells a story of love and romance and each is rendered in a manner so fabulous with Mr. Rankin's sincere, dedicated and heartfelt readings of the lyrics. His music has always been pleasant to listen to. How can you not love this CD when all the songs here are innate expressions of Mr. Rankin's magnificent creativity starting off with a Cole Porter gem, "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" to the final track, a very nice, meaningful and my all-time favorite song by Alan Brandt and Bob Haymes, "That's All."

It's sooo delectable listening to this CD in its entirety for every song is a winner and there's nothing to whine about. I'm very pleased with the choice of material - they are my all-time favorites. Imagine "I've Got A Crush On You" sung in the most entrancing way with Sue Raney, a singer with a glowing voice. It's one of the most beguiling versions I could think of.

"... But you had such persistence
You wore down my resistance
I fell and it was swell ...

You're my big and brave and handsome Romeo
How I won you?
I shall never, never know ...

It's not that you're attractive
But, oh, my heart grew active
When you came into view . . .

I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
All the day and nighttime, hear me sigh
I never had the least notion
That I could fall with so much emotion."

You'll surely fall in love with this CD! So listen now . . . and have a lovely listening experience!

P.S. You may also want to check his other notable CDs out - Kenny Rankin Album, Because of You, After the Roses, Bottom Line Encore Collection, Haven't We Met? and Song for You for more enchanting listens.

One in every crowd.......2004-02-09

Once again (see Tom Rush's "Tom Rush") I'm compelled to review an album that needs no further review. ...

I've been listening to Kenny since Like A Seed. And I've been listening to this album all weekend. It's on now (You smiled at me, baby, then the spell was cast). I've owned it since it came out.

If you enjoy jazz, vocals, good music, outstanding piano, bass, sax and a little trombone thrown in to boot, then just put this on and sit back. You are in for a real treat.

And if you happen to be a bass fan, you might just be blown away by Brian Bromberg's work on this CD -- starting with his OUTSTANDING rendering on the very first track.

And as for underrated vocal artists, how about Sue Raney, who teams with Kenny for a superb duet on I've Got A Crush On You?

Cole Porter, Ray Noble, George and Ira G., Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, Billy Rose, Gus Kahn, Harry Warren, Mack Gordon, Oscar Levant, Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes -- they are all here and all are, I'm quite sure, quite pleased with Kenny's treatment of their work. Folks, THIS is as good as it gets.

Indeed, Kenny's own solo contribution is a welcome treat here. Beautifully poignant and beautifully done.

...

5 BIG stars for one of the best male vocalists of all time at the very top of his game.

And that's MY opinion.

Okay?

Double exclamation point !!

An Album for the Ages.......2003-06-27

Kenny Rankin sings the jazz of rainy Sundays by an open fire.

His intimate and highly personal style is no better exemplified than on this set, "Professional Dreamer".

In many ways it's a departure from his usual repertoire as it consists entirely of classics from the 1940s and 50s.

These offerings reflect the musical values of another era - elegant and genteel songs from a time when melody lines were strong and lyrics dripped with intelligent emotion.

These compositions lend themselves perfectly to Rankinesque interpretation

The standout cut "But Not for Me" ripples with a soft Latin undercurrent.

Rankin's vocal improvisations are gentle and deliberate as they paint a soul-sad portrait of someone love has overlooked.

Gershwin's beautiful "Our Love is Here to Stay" is another highlight of this very classy set.

So too is the cheeky and whimsical "I've Got a Crush on You" and the ultra-evocative "The Very Thought of You".

It's all exquisite grist for a very tender mill.

An album for the ages - FIVE STARS for Kenny and the jazz of rainy Sundays.

Kenny sings standards -- beautifully!.......2003-04-03

Like several other reviewers, I became a Kenny Rankin fan with Silver Morning in 1976. At that time I was more of a fan of singer/songwriters like James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. But then my tastes stared to expand into jazz with singers like Michael Franks, then Bobby McFerrin, and now Diana Krall. I developed a taste for the jazz "standards" from the tin pan alley days. So I put Kenny aside.

With the release of this album (dedictated to his mother) he took a crack at the standards. And what a crack it is. I'd give my left arm to be able to sing like Kenny. Since I can't I'm happy to plop play his CD and kick back. His is a warm voice that envelopes you. It's warm, with an incredible range, and incredibly melodic. This is music for jazz vocal fans!

Great!.......2002-07-16

Kenny has an incredible voice. At first he did a great job with pop tunes. Then he was gone for a long while. Now he's come back, singing jazz standards. I think jazz is where his voice really shines. Thanks to Kenny's mom for turning him onto these songs.

Average customer rating:

Professional Dreamer
David Benoit
Manufacturer: Japanese Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000561T1
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

Why Not!
Miles After Dark
Something You Said
Rejoyce
Golden Gate
Gothic Jazz Dance
Jump Start
Thinking 'Bout the Cove
Twilight March
Dad's Room

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music