the Color of Context

I discovered Abair quite accidentally in 2006 upon reading that Keb Mo (one of my favorite Blues artists) appeared on her last disc Life Less Ordinary, which reached the pinnacle position on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz chart. Of course, by that time, Abair was no stranger to the charts–2004’s Come As You Are and 2003’s It Just Happens That Way hit the 5^th and 3^rd spots, respectively. She had already toured the planet with the likes of John Tesh, The Gap Band, Josh Groban, and even pop sensations Mandy Moore and the Backstreet Boys. So with so much success, what’s keeping this Berklee-educated singer/musician with model-like good looks from becoming a pop sensation herself? One could argue that the “smooth jazz” label just might be what’s holding her back. When you hear that phrase, you immediately think of Kenny G. I admit to having preconceptions that the genre is a bit bland. But Abair has set out to dispel any such myths with this, her most pop-oriented album to date.

Depending on how you look at her, Abair is either an exceptional sax player who can really sing, or an incredible singer who can play the hell out of a saxophone. No matter which outlook your tastes may dictate, Stars spotlights both her vocals and sax playing by alternating between vocal and nonvocal tracks. It opens with “Smile,” an incredibly catchy jazz tune that will put a little swing in your step. With songs like “On and On” and the title track “Stars,” Abair showcases vocals that are reminiscent of fellow adult contemporary/pop artist Donna Lewis. But with strong instrumentation during the pop selections, the album will really appeal to fans of Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch or even newcomer Sara Barielles. The R&B-infused instrumental track “Mojo” proves to be just as catchy and solid as its vocal counterparts. Abair cowrote all 11 tracks on Stars with producer/instrumentalist Matthew Hager, who has also worked with the aforementioned Moore. Having worked together on previous albums as well, their dynamic really jives on tracks like “F.L.A. Swing,” which also features John Taylor of Duran Duran. Here, Hager’s and Abair’s styles complement each other so well, creating a truly fantastic sound. Stars closes on a strong note with “Gonna Be Alright,” which builds to a conclusion that will leave you feeling as though you’ve just heard the final set of a live performance.

With such a solid outing, the only complaint I might have is the album’s strictly alternating vocal-instrumental composition, which kept me from being able to truly immerse myself into either style. As prolific as Abair is, releasing four albums in five years, one wonders if it would benefit her to maybe switch between full albums of one style or the other. Many artists, such as Elvis Costello, Nine Inch Nails, and Harry Connick Jr, have benefited from releasing albums that alter in style from one to the next. But whether you’re a fan of the jazzy instrumentals or the powerful pop vocals, Stars really shines. With a birthday just a couple weeks away, Abair may expect to celebrate her big day, again, at the top of the charts. And who knows, maybe next year one of those “nobodies” on Idol will be covering a Mindi Abair song in hopes of becoming a somebody. Just like her.