On Free, Alex Bugnon continues in the direction taken on 2003's Southern Living, working in Atlanta with producer and fellow-keyboardist Phil Davis. Together they're emphasizing a lighter, spacious, more natural sound. They've continued to reduce the heavy synthesizer tracks, spotlighting Bugnon's acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes with strong melodies, light funk grooves and bright percussive detail. The band is made up of crack session players, including strong contributions from soprano saxophonist Vincent Henry, who coils in and out of the title track, and bassist Victor Bailey. Davis's production values come to the fore here, adding rhythmic insinuation with exotic world-beat detail on tracks like "Sierra Leone." As usual, Bugnon's piano sound has a special resonance. Whether it's the percolating "Fingertips," the sultry "Pillow Talk" or the deep soul groove of "Downtime," Bugnon creates some soulful, floating moods here, reaching a career high in the process. --Stuart Broomer
- Track Listings : Disc 1
- FREE
- FINGERTIPS
- PILLOW TALK
- IN YOUR EYES
- SIERRA LEONE
- DOWNTIME
- TOMORROW (BETTER YOU, BETTER ME)
- PILLOW TALK
- DON'T GO
- OUT THERE
