Album: Once In A Lifetime /  Artist: Darren Rahn /  14 tracks: 55:03 /   nuGroove Records

Saxophonist Darren Rahn whose is a star that shines brightly on the smooth jazz music scene, was joined by several other noteworthy artists for his current CD Once In A Lifetime, which has to rank as one of the best instrumental smooth jazz albums for 2007. Even though Jeff Lorber appears on two tracks, “Breakin’ Out," and “Heartbreak,” Dave Koz is featured on the title track, “Once In A Lifetime,” and bassist Wayman Tisdale weaves his magic for “On The Rebound,” it is the middle two tracks of this CD that stood out for me. The songs “Side Steppin’,” and the cover of “Take My Breath Away,” (by Berlin), from the movie Top Gun, focus our ears intently upon Rahn, without anybody being able to deflect credit to the already mentioned artists.

Rahn, who now makes his home in Colorado (originally from British Columbia, Canada), is one of the premier saxophonists and arrangers in the music industry, and his original composition “Uptown,” co-written with Frank Selman, is a funky smooth jazz number, with Rahn’s alto sax, laid overtop a heavy bass groove established by bassist Mel Brown, and Selman’s sweet electric guitar riffs. The groove is deep, the rhythm funky and the vibes are delicious. Rahn’s up-tempo horn sashays between protesting and dance groove.

“Sax A La Funk,” which I think takes a backseat to “Uptown,” in terms of its funkiness, is an instrumental wonder of sorts, because literally every sound on the song was produced by a saxophone in some shape or form.

Now how about those other great artists who appear on this album? Jeff Lorber helps open this album with his masterful touch on the Fender Rhodes with his lively interpretation of Rahn’s “Breakin’ Out.” Lorber rejoins Rahn on the thirteenth track, for the elegant “Heartbreak,” a tune in which Lorber demonstrates his finesse on an acoustic piano, while the saxophonist’s tenor horn is heard lamenting. Lorber’s piano solo is gold.

“Once In A Lifetime,” is an apt name for the last track, for a lot of reasons. You will seldom here a song as pretty as this piece. The tune also features soprano voices from both Rahn and the emotive saxophonist Dave Koz. Other than Rahn and Koz’s horns, the only other instrument that you will hear is Rahn doubling up on the keys. “Once In A Lifetime,” also came from Rahn’s pen and his arrangement is reflective.  

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Reviewed December 2007