Randy Crawford and Joe Sample have Collaborated Once Again to Create an Amazing New Record Feeling Good, which is Certain to Impact the World as Did their First Collaboration Together, the International Hit "Street Life." Produced by Joe Sample and the Legendary Tommy Lipuma 'feeling Good' is the Ultimate Album of Covers with a Mix of Old Standards and Contemporary Songs, Including "All Night Long," "Everybody's Talking" and the Title Track "Feeling Good".The first thing that strikes you about Randy Crawford's performance on Feeling Good is the soulful ease with which she moves through the songs, whether sh''s bluesily channeling Nina Simone on Billie Holiday's "Tell Me More and More and Then Some" or recasting Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talking" as a bouncy confection. The second thing that impresses you is how well she plays off the spare but supple acoustic piano of Joe Sample, who contributed the lively arrangements and co-produced the album with Tommy LiPuma. Nearly 30 years since she teamed with Sample and the Crusaders on the hit, "Street Life," both artists have left any stylistic excesses behind to deliver one of their breeziest efforts. Though the material is nothing if not eclectic--the Leo Sayer hit, "When I Need You," the Newley-Bricusse Broadway classic, "Feeling Good," and the jazz standard "But Beautiful" are also in the mix--Crawford's gospel-fed strength and not-to-be-underrated jazz phrasing hold the center. In bassist Christian McBride and guitarist Anthony Wilson, she has two name jazz players behind her, in addition to studio veterans Dean Parks and Ray Parker Jr. on guitars and Steve Gadd on drums. --Lloyd Sachs
