Saxophonist Charley Langer has assembled a fantastic group of accomplished musicians for his debut album Never the Same.  This is not the typical jazz compilation of artists but rather an awesome blend of classic rock, peppered with jazz with a hint of classical.  Langer himself has a Masters Degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Southern California where he studied under classical saxophonist Douglas Masek.  On the flip side, Langer currently is the arranger and wind section leader for Sacramento-based Steely Dan tribute band Steelin’ Dan.  To help combine and perfect the best possible mixture of rock and jazz, drummer Ron Wikso, who has shared the stage with numerous rock legends, produced the album.

In the title track Langer plays alto and exhibits a well-controlled medium-fast vibrato at the end of his phrases.  His bright, polished sound soars nicely over the rhythm section and his solos are crisp and not too busy.  Every note is well articulated and defined yet rounded off giving a sense of aural smoothness.  Langer switches to soprano in “Epifania” and blends extremely well with the tenor saxophone and brass.  This trio of wind instruments expertly plays every trill precisely as one.  Unlike the thin tone of Kenny G, Langer embodies a fuller sound on the soprano.  Additionally, he utilizes the full range of the instrument instead of simply sitting on the high notes.  Switching back to alto for “Once in a Lifetime” Langer this time blends nicely with the keyboards who crescendo on long tones underneath the saxophone melody, then burst out with fun little fills at the end of phrases.  Renowned salsa bandleader Michito Sanchez adds to the energy with his esteemed percussion skills.

Another prominent musician on Never the Same is guitarist Kurt Griffey.  Like Wikso, he boasts an impressive resume of rock gigs and adds a unique flavor to Langer’s songs that definitely make this jazz album stand out from the typical smooth Weather Channel tunes.  “Remember When” opens with the electric guitar and like a flower unfurling its petals, the song slowly gains momentum before it reaches its stride where Griffey and Langer share a pleasant conversation.  Griffey then expounds into a slightly overdriven solo that is dripping with sophisticated coolness.  Like Langer, his tone is clear, expertly controlled and never obnoxious.   In “City Lights” both musicians get a little more adventurous with their respective solos.  Langer displays a formidable solo, wailing out the high notes underneath Wally Minko on the Hammond organ.  Griffey’s solo is equally as awesome as he gets more tastefully raunchy than previously heard.  True musicians of course have to be adept at different styles as is evident in the following track “Gray Skies.”  This melancholy ballad displays soul-bearing musicianship, with Griffey’s playing this time oozing with sincerity as he solos with minimal effects.

The only song on the album not penned by Langer is the closer “Espressivo.”  Not to detract from anyone’s fine playing, but the blend does not seem to work as well in this tune.  Minko this time is on the piano, where he opens the number with a full minute of quiet, incidental music before the rest of the band joins in.  Langer is on soprano again, but it inadvertently tends to draw attention to itself, not due to Langer’s playing, but due to the overall mellow timbre of the rest of the musicians.  Mark Morris on guitar plays relaxed arpeggiated solos under the piano and Ed McGlaughlin on bass gets to solo – which he does a fine job at – but the soprano saxophone flourishes simply seem out of place with the rest of the song.  It is not until the coda that an aural blend finally seems to have been established with Langer playing dreamy repetitive long tones, but this mood is unfortunately interrupted by the noodling and trilling in the fade out.

Overall though, Never the Same is an excellent album and a real treat for listeners who crave something new and exciting from the same old same old “smooth jazz” genre.  Langer has made some excellent friends who will hopefully continue to collaborate and churn out more fabulous music.

Reviewed By Kelly O’Neil

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