The Swan

by Alex Henderson Bob James was far from predictable in the '90s, when his albums ranged from the embarrassing Playin' Hooky to the excellent Straight Up (an unexpected return to straight-ahead jazz) and the enjoyable pop-jazz offering Grand Piano Canyon. Drawing on pop, jazz and new age, The Swan is lightweight and sleep-inducing on the whole, but it does have its moments. The CD's most substantial tunes include "Prospero" and "Ensenada Madness," which has a Spanish flavor and shows an awareness of the writing that Chick Corea did with Return to Forever. Unfortunately, too many of the other songs end up sounding like bloodless Muzak. Despite having a few bright spots, The Swan really isn't worth the price of admission.