JEFF LORBER

Although keyboardist Jeff Lorber has long been recognized for his flawless mix of old school R&B rhythms with jazz improvisations and bebop creativity with pop song craft, in his latest incarnation, Flipside (2005), Lorber has driven his sound down an entirely new path. With his most recent projects, Philly Style (2003) and Kickin' It (2001), Lorber relied mostly on a rhythm section and well-defined solo sections so as to stand out against countless other musicians who were centering their music around drum machines. Now that it seems the others have caught on, he wants to push his music in a different direction. Along with veteran co-writer/producer Steve Dubin and Los Angeles keyboardist Nelson Jackson, the three masterminds have crafted a disc that combines old-style swing rhythms and contemporary hip-hop production with a healthy dose of bebop era improvisation.