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Jason Miles, the East Coast-based jazz keyboardist and megaproducer keeps his streak of compelling and provocative tribute projects going with this warm collection of Marvin Gaye classics. Rather than simply make a disc of familiar and obscure covers, it seems to be Miles' intent to show the relevance of Gaye's political and romantic messages to the modern day. So while his arrangement of the title track is sexy and atmospheric, it's really a showcase for the song's words, rendered with a deep and soulful urgency by newcomer Mike Mattison. Like Gaye himself, Miles proves a master at subtlety, so expect a few doses of cool funk but a lot of deep soul and dreamy vibes behind messages proving that projects like these are remarkably timeless.

Musicians

jack beckenstein : alto saxophone

herb alpert : trumpet

jason miles : keyboards, moog synthesizer, programming

marcus miller : bass guitar

Artist Bio:

Jason Miles — producer, arranger, keyboardist, and synthesizer programmer. He has crafted music for Luther Vandross and Gato Barbieri, and has helmed ambitious musical tributes to both Weather Report (CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF WEATHER REPORT) and Ivan Lins (A LOVE AFFAIR: THE MUSIC OF IVAN LINS, from which the track She Walks This Earth (Soborana Rosa) featuring Sting won a Grammy® for Best Pop Male Vocal). In 2001, Jason Miles produced TO GROVER WITH LOVE, the acclaimed and visionary tribute to saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. More recently, he masterminded the contemporary jazz collective Maximum Grooves, which released its debut COAST TO COAST in early 2004.