N- Coded Music
2003
At Last
About This Album
Ronny Jordan's first effort for N-Coded after a pair of winners on Blue Note is a déjà vu of sorts for anyone who was interested in the initial modern-day groove jazz ushered in by George Benson with Breezin'. Not that Jordan's fine At Last sounds anything like Benson's album, or that the two have anything in common besides Wes Montgomery -- it's more vibe than anything. At Last is the album where Jordan is relaxed enough to prove he has nothing left to prove. He's not only arrived, but he's not going anywhere either. The ten tracks here are mature, progressive, and steeped in summery groove. The hip-hop evident on his forays into the genre has virtually evaporated. The harder-edged, funky sounds on the Blue Note records are largely absent and his journeys down R&B and soul paths forged by the O'Jays and others have been set aside in favor of a return to jazz. Jordan's playing here is in the tradition of Montgomery and Grant Green, to be sure, though the vibe is an update of the soul-jazz sound Benson patented. But it's a thorough update. For the most part, Jordan plays sweet, shimmering, chorded leads over keyboards and drum programming by Joel Campbell.
Track List (try track 1)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.