Goin' All Out is saxophonist Eric Darius' fourth album since 2004, and his Blue Note debut. While the label has released smooth jazz efforts in the past, that trend slowed in the 21st century, favoring instead artists who appealed to a broader range of the ever-shrinking CD-buying market: Norah Jones, Amos Lee, the Bird and the Bee, etc. Apparently it works, since the label continues to pump out these kinds of records regularly. Darius is most decidedly a contemporary jazz artist with a twist. He spent more time listening to the grooves of saxophonists like Gene Ammons, Cannonball Adderley, and Grover Washington, Jr. as well as reggae, funk, gospel, and soul. Darius, with his big raw-toned emotionalism, sense of time, and phrasing, is capable of hanging with anyone in or out of this context. Along with fellow producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Darren Rahn, trumpeter Jason Rahn, occasional bassist Mel Brown, and guitarist Frank Selman, Darius plays his alto and tenor horns with an unrestrained passion, sounding like a young Gato Barbieri playing alto. The downside of Goin' All Out is the lack of live drums. Everything here is programmed. This is a problem because, while the groove is great, when it's lockstep there is only so far Darius can go in a solo. The other downside is that -- besides three tracks -- the bass is a keyboard-driven preprogrammed exchange as well, and if you need proof as to why it works better live, check Mel Brown on the title cut and Just for the Moment, which also features a guest solo spot by guitarist Norman Brown. The cookin' here between the double-tracked saxes and brass leaves the soloist all the room in the world to use his imagination, while keeping the groove solid. Mel Brown's basslines on these cuts are monstrously huge, dirty, and deeply funky.

1		Just Like That
2		Because Of You
3		Just For The Moment
4		Goin' All Out
5		Be Without You
6		Vibe With Me
7		Feelin' Da Rhythm
8		Ain't No Doubt About It
9		Unconditional
10		Breathe
11		Ribbon In The Sky
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