SAX FOR LOVERS.

When it comes to levels of sensuality in music, everyone on the planet knows that no instrument comes remotely close to the saxophone. It’s not even up for debate and this will never change. It’s the undisputed, undefeated champion of throbbing instruments.

So instead of people trying to compete with guitar tricks and fancy synthesizers, they should take a knee and thank the higher powers for the saxophone. Nothing hits like a rip-roaring sax lead or solo within a song. Many align the sound of the instrument to a lion’s roar and others suggest the feeling of a euphoric-climactic moment with a loved one. This goes for all genres and walks of life as we don’t discriminate when it comes to the sax. Jazz, rock, blues, classical, funk, soul, promiscuous sax, unadulterated sax, late night sax, barely legal sax, unprotected sax….it all reigns supreme in the musical landscape.

When I came across the ‘Sax for Lovers’ collections in both cassette and CD format, I obviously purchased them both immediately with no questions asked. I mean, who wouldn’t? Look at that artwork. No…really look.

Now while we just proclaimed that all forms of sax are treated equally, that realistically isn’t the case. I wish I could say that 1994’s “Sax for Lovers” volumes 1 – 3 contained the type of late-night rhythms to enhance even a mundane car ride into the office, but I’m ashamed to report that it just doesn’t deliver. The songs presented here are a collection of saxophone “covers” of sleepy songs from The Bee Gee’s, Peabo Bryson, The Beatles, Albert Morris and others. Talk about a total snooze-fest and also a missed opportunity. Aside from the stunning artwork, “Sax for Lovers” is pretty limp.

What’s surprising is this exact recipe worked so well with The John Tesh Project’s series of three CDs “Sax By The Fire”, “Sax On The Beach” and “Sax All Night” released during the same era, between 1994 to 1997. If you’re really looking to fire up the furnace and tantalize her (or him), stick to these.