Abraham Laboriel - Dear Friends (1993)

01.Quote, Unquote
02.And I Do
03.Holidays
04.Look at Me
05.Goyo
06.Dear Friends
07.Samba 7
08.My Joy Is You
09.Simple Self
10.Arroyo.

Alex Acuña - Percussion, Drums
Justo Almario - Saxophone, Sax (Alto)
Morgan Ames - Vocals (bckgr)
Philip Bailey - Vocals
Larry Carlton - Guitar
Bill Champlain - Vocals (bckgr)
Tamara Champlain - Vocals (bckgr)
Bill Champlin - Vocals (bckgr)
Luis Conte - Percussion
Clydene Jackson Edwards - Vocals (bckgr)
Steve Gadd - Drums
Dave Grusin - Piano
Don Grusin - Keyboards
Paul Jackson, Jr. - Guitar
Al Jarreau - Vocals
Jim Keltner - Drums
Darlene Koldenhoven - Vocals (bckgr)
Abe Laboriel Jr. - Drums
Abraham Laboriel - Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Guitar, Arranger, Vocals
Kate Markowitz - Vocals (bckgr)
Greg Mathieson - Piano, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer, Assistant Engineer
Dean Parks - Guitar
Joe Sample -Piano
Carmen Twillie - Vocals (bckgr)
Ernie Watts - Saxophone
Frank Zottolik - Keyboards.
Recorded at Ocean Way (1-5,10) and Studio 56 (6-9), Los Angeles,
additional recording at Goldmine Studio, Los Angeles, USA.

Hot on the heels of sax player Justo Almario's 'Heritage' comes Koinonia bassist Abraham Laboriel's wonderful solo debut. His dear friends include guitarists Larry Carlton and Dean Parks, drummers Alex Acuna, Steve Gadd and Jim Keltner, keyboardists Don Grusin, Greg Mathieson and Joe Sample, horn players Justo Almario and Ernie Watts, and vocalists Bill Champlain and Al Jarreau - and what a wonderful sound they make. Abe wrote or co-wrote eight of the 11 cuts and their feel is very West Coast jazz, from the funky rhythms of "Holidays" and "Goyo" to the title track and "My Joy Is You". Abe is a very generous frontman, refusing to hog the spotlight - unlike many who embark on solo projects - and ensuring his fellow musicians have lots of space to demonstrate their skills too. However, this European CD comes with a bonus the American edition doesn't have - a previously unreleased live Koinonia track, "Los Mios (My Own)", recorded in 1984 during the band's Scandinavian tour that was released as the live 'Celebration' album. Produced by drummer Bill Maxwell, "Los Mios" is a musical tour de force, an extraordinary workout by the six musicians before an enraptured Swedish audience. In many respects it is the real highlight of 'Dear Friends' and well worth tracking down. 'Dear Friends' is a consummate jazz album which complements Almario's 'Heritage' beautifully. Immaculate and quite superb.