3 Central – A Feelin’ Inside

3 Central
A Feelin’ Inside
3 Central Management (2008)
http://www.threecentral.com/

Several years ago, saxophonist Russell Moore of St. Louis recruited his multi-instrumentalist brother Everett and keyboardist Ken Anderson to perform as a wedding band. The trio began picking up more gigs, morphed into 3 Central, and in 2002 was named St. Louis’s Best Contemporary Jazz Artist.

Leaving standard wedding fare far behind, the trio now combines their estimable skills to produce gospel jazz, a new-ish genre that has planted its standard firmly on the sacred landscape.

On its debut CD, A Feelin’ Inside, 3 Central demonstrates tight musicianship, undoubtedly the result of countless hours performing together. Russ Moore leads most of the tracks, his syrupy sweet sax technique reminiscent of Kenny G and Mindi Abair. The album’s production is top-notch, the melodies are round and bright, and the overall vibe is pleasant and comforting, like a Sunday evening chill-down.

Here’s the rub: for those (like me) who think too much, what constitutes “inspirational jazz” or “gospel jazz” is challenging. One could argue that all jazz is inspirational, if it moves you in the right way.

My assessment is that the appellation best fits music that either jazzes known hymns or gospel songs, or new jazz compositions that incorporate religious lyrics.  When it comes to instrumental selections, however, it is difficult to distinguish between gospel, or inspirational, jazz and smooth jazz. It all sounds pretty much the same to me.  Vintage instrumentals with a religious theme, such as Horace Silver’s whimsical “The Preacher,” were classified as jazz, sans clarifier.

On A Feelin’ Inside, “You Are Lord” and “In Your Presence” squarely fit the above definition, as they feature an ambient chorus of females that chants prayerful phrases in hypnotic harmony. So does “I Think of You,” a lovely song about finding God in nature that features the lithe vocals of Pamela Major. Otherwise the album’s instrumentals are well-orchestrated and relaxing but sound like standard-issue smooth jazz. 
Nevertheless, whether you like smooth or inspirational jazz, you will like 3 Central’s A Feelin’ Inside.

Three of Five Stars

Picks: “I Think Of You,” “You are Lord.”

Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.