The year was 1990.  Smooth Jazz, the radio format, was brand new.  The door was wide open and guys like Gerald Albright stepped in and gave us all a taste of what smooth jazz, the genre, could sound like; and it sounded good!  And listening to what's coming out in 2009 makes me wish we could all go back in time and grab this attitude again.  I miss it.

In my opinion, Gerald Albright is one of the best contemporary sax players there is.  The man can flat play that horn!  And maybe that's why he has never gotten enough airplay – he's just way too engaging.  But this is a man that deserves a place at the top.  CD after CD, he has consistently brought us great tunes, fantastic grooves, and a style all his own – recognizable in an instant.

In the fine tradition of putting your best foot forward, Albright kicks of Dream Come True with one of my favorite contemporary jazz tracks of all time – "My, My, My."  And that's exactly what I say every time I listen to it.  It just doesn't get any better than that.  "Front Street" is a little heavy on the drum programming, but it was 1990, right?  Nice sax, none-the-less.  "Say Yes" showcases Albrights many talents – songwriter, saxophonist, and bass player.  This is a really sweet (as in "swwweeeet!), soulful tune.  "Desire" – again, a lot of drum programming that will make you think "Miami Vice," but it's good.  Some really awesome sax transcends all of that, and it still sounds really good in 2009.

"Sweet Dreams" slows it all down with a beautiful love ballad featuring Albright on tenor sax and bass guitar.  Albright can get notes out of a tenor sax that almost makes the alto irrelevant!  Amazing.  "Kickin' It," as the name implies, kicks the mode back up again with a rollin' and upbeat tune with a lot of color.  Listen for the "saxophone pad" interlude.

I like to just sit back and let the sax take me on a six-minute musical journey on the title track.  What this man can do with a sax is just amazing.  Six minutes just isn't long enough.  "Can't You Feel" – another track that's firmly rooted in 1990, but it's a great groove, and you can't help getting into it.  Again, Albright on the tenor sax… transcendent. 

"Come A Little Closer" is probably my least favorite track on this CD – it's the vocals; but its great groove and great sax riffs hold it together.  Closing it out is the very soulful, uplifting, gospel/R&B "Growing With Each Other" that leaves you feeling so good that you hit replay and do it all over again.