New York Connection

by Alex HendersonFor New York Connection, Scott left his L.A. Express in California and ventured to the Big Apple to join forces with keyboardists Bob James and Richard Tee, guitarist Hugh McCracken, drummer Steve Gadd and others who -- like the saxman -- had decent jazz chops, but devoted much of their time to R&B/soul session work. While Scott was never in a class with Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington, Jr. or David "Fathead" Newman, gritty, down-home smokers like "Midtown Rush," "Dirty Old Man" and "Look Out for Number Seven" provide additional evidence that he was indeed a capable, enjoyable soloist who, at the time, played from the heart. Though softer pieces such as "Time and Love" and the CD's title song make for a sort of disco-ish "easy listening," they're far more substantial than the rubbish that was to come.