I want to start off by saying I really wanted to love this CD. Hearing the title- Jazz for lovers- I imagined it would be sultry, full of emotion, sensual. Sadly, was none of those things! I guess I should have been able to tell from the cheesy cover and title, but I thought I'd try it out anyway. (Side note- the back cover art looked like a picture from Human Centipede. Decidedly un-sexy!)

The CD has eleven tracks for fifty minutes of music. 50% are instrumental, the rest are vocal pieces.

The majority of the music (8 of the 11 tracks) is the type you listen to while on hold, or in an elevator, or on commercials for banks. If that somehow plays into your fantasies, by all means try it out.

That being said, 3 tracks were pretty sexy and worthy of mention. Wedged between some fluff pieces, there was the George Benson classic "This Masquerade". I had never heard of "Skylark" by k.d. lang. It was great for listening and maybe setting the mood, though the beat was very slow for lovemaking. I also thought "Hourglass" was a lovely song. Together they make up about twelve minutes of music. Personally, I think you will be happier making your own selection of individual mp3s, and it will be more cost-effective as well. Or, buying this for listening purposes and not expecting something to accompany your lovemaking.

My husband loves me, but he wasn't about to make love to this ridiculous midi-esque music, and I agreed with him. While there are a couple nice tracks, the cheesy pieces in between render this CD unusable for its purpose. Next time I get a call from a creditor, I am totally asking them to "Hold for just a second", then turning this CD on while I go do some dishes.

Arrangers: Claus Ogerman; Dan Shea; Fourplay; George Duke; Jeremy Lubbock; Johnny Mandel; Paul Brown ; Quincy Jones; Robbie Buchanan; David Foster.

Personnel: George Duke (vocals, guitar, piano, Synclavier, background vocals); Nathan East, Rachelle Ferrell (vocals, background vocals); James Ingram , k.d. lang, Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan (vocals); Earl Klugh (guitar, keyboards); Lee Ritenour (guitar, guitar synthesizer); Jay Graydon, Jeff Mironov, Paul Jackson, Jr. , Ray Fuller (guitar); Marcus Miller (electric guitar, Fender Rhodes piano, bells); Phil Upchurch (electric guitar); Kwihee Shambanari, Jennifer Bellusci, Daniel Shindaryov, Karen Jones, Jay Rosen, Jacqueline Brand, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Endre Granat (violin); Dan Neufeld, Pamela Goldsmith (viola); Joshua Redman (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Lenny Price (saxophone); David Sanborn (alto saxophone); Jorge Dalto (piano, Clavinet); David Foster (piano, synthesizer); Gil Goldstein, Brad Mehldau (piano); Dan Shea, Michael Egizi, Hilary James (keyboards); David Paich, Michael Colina, Robbie Buchanan (synthesizer); Gene Dunlap , Paulinho Da Costa (drums, percussion); Harvey Mason, Sr. (drums, drum programming); Michael Baird , Peter Erskine, Ralph Penland, Steve Gadd (drums); Don Alias, Lenny Castro, Ralph MacDonald, Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Erich Bulling, Steve Porcaro (programming); Gordon Grody, Diva Gray, Hamish Stuart , Jim Gilstrap, Lani Groves, Phil Perry, Philip Bailey, Chanté Moore (background vocals).

1 Maybe Tonight
(with Earl Klugh)
2 After All
(with Al Jarreau)
3 Why Can't It Wait Till Morning
(with Fourplay)
4 All I Need Is You
5 How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
(with James Ingram)
6 This Masquerade
(with George Benson)
7 Skylark
(with K.D. Lang)
8 Between the Sheets
(with Chaka Khan, Fourplay, Nathan East)
9 Seduction
(with Boney James)
10 No Rhyme, No Reason
(with George Duke)
11 Hourglass
(with Michael Franks)

We love making love to music, but we had to turn this CD off to proceed, it was just that cheesy. However, the music is relaxing and might be better served as background music while taking a bath or reading a book.

I actually have listened to this CD again. There are a couple of OK songs, but overall it is a pass.