Product description CD Review The excellent Skytown Records just keeps going from strength to strength. With the incomparable U-Nam as its primary artist the label has recently branched out to bring James Day to a wider audience and now it has repeated the feat by releasing Back To You , the sophomore album from German born sax-man Arno Haas. With only a few exceptions this tight ten track collection of all original music is written or co-written by Haas and producer Tom Saviano who also lends a hand on Fender Rhodes. The result, sometimes jazzy but always engaging, is well worth checking out. Take for example the big, brass driven title cut that makes an early statement as to what Arno Haas is all about. It is the first tune to be serviced to radio whereas the mellifluously intricate Creepin Shadows shows off a different side to Arno s musical persona. It is enriched by tremendous work on piano by Randy Waldman and elsewhere the easy grooving Wake Up Smile has a feel good vibe, which is emulated only by An Everyday Thang , that (perhaps in edited form) must surely be a contender for the next single to hit the airwaves. Sharp and punchy, Check Yourself gives Haas ample space to cut loose with some high octane playing but he is quickly back on smooth jazz message with the pleasantly understated Just Got To Do It . In fact Haas is often at his best when sliding effortlessly into a mid tempo groove and he does it again with the totally delightful Chick Flick where Waldman on piano makes another significant contribution. Yet more great piano comes from Rainer Scheitauer on the handsomely mellow and strings enriched Mr. Valerie while later, the great Al Jarreau lends his unmistakable singing voice to the free flowing, jazzy Lucky Chance . The album s other vocal number is When Love Is Real . Fronted by Evelyn Kallansee it is a song that provides even more texture to this eclectic body of work. --Denis Poole - SmoothJazz TherapySaxman Arno Haas Is Quite The Seasoned Musician, Having An International Reputation As One Who Graces The Stage Up To 250 Times A Year With Various Formations. Here On Arno HaasBack To You, His Sophomore Release (His Debut Recording, Magic Hands, Was Released Three Years Ago), Haas Works What He Terms As The Current Fusion Jazz Styles Relentlessly And With Precision. There s A Bit Of Something For Every Jazz Lover Here As The Saxman Strolls And Bounces About From The Light & Airy To The R&B/Jazz Slow Jam To The Hot & Funky Stuff C-Jazzers So Love. He Demonstrates His In-Depth Feel For All Things Jazz Via A Crystal Clear And Definitive Sax Style And Great Vision, And You Can Hear The Fun He Has With This Material. Haas Is Working With A Considerable Number Of Support Musicians On This Project And Has Even Enticed World-Renowned Vocalist Al Jarreau To Offer His Distinctive Pipes On A Snappy Little Piece Called Lucky Chance. Most Of The Tracks Here Are Penned By Haas Or Co-Penned With Keyboardist Tom Saviano. There Are Also Two Tracks Offered By His Bassist Alvin Mills. The Material Is Steady And Satisfying, And No Track Loses The Listener For One Second. When Haas Uses The Label Fusion Jazz, It Appears To Mean Only That He Has Incorporated Various Styles On The Album And Not Necessarily Within One Track. Very Big Difference There. For Example, You Can Hear The Variety Of Styles Between The Lively & Upbeat Horn-Heavy Funky Lead And Title Track, The Sedate, Rather Bluesy Creepin Shadows, The Classic Al Jarreau Jazzy Signature Bounce On Lucky Chance, And The R&B/Jazz Fusion Of When Love Is Real Featuring The Powerful Vocals Of Evelyn Kallansee...And There s Much More Of This To Enjoy On This Album. With This Diverse Album Of Jazz Styles And Feels, Haas Should Make Quite The Impression With Smooth Jazzers Everywhere. He s Certainly Made One With Me. --Ronald Jackson - Smooth Jazz Ride
