Love Dancin

by Scott Yanow Rodney Franklin is a fine pianist able to play both easy-listening jazz and mildly funky crossover. This CD, however, is a misfire for Franklin's electric keyboards are joined by electronic percussion (which often become quite dominant) and some throwaway r&b/pop vocalists. The tunes are forgettable and the playing is full of clichés and as r&b/crossover, the results are not original or creative enough to be of much interest. Other than a couple brief spots for Gerald Albright's tenor and a few short Franklin solos, the set is barely listenable and fairly mindless. All of these musicians (especially Rodney Franklin who has recorded much more rewarding discs since this time) are capable of much better.