Karl Denson
Dance Lesson #2
review = A

When Karl Denson plays saxophone, people listen. Just ask Lenny Kravitz. After a chance meeting at a recording studio, the pop chameleon invited Denson to blow a solo on the title track of what became his smash hit, "Let Love Rule." Kravitz was -so- impressed, he asked the saxman/flutist to stick around for the whole album. And then the followup tour. The pairing resulted in two more blockbuster releases, "Mama Said," and "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" From there, Denson went -his- own way as a founding member of acid jazz daddy-o’s, The Greyboy Allstars. Innovative, ultra hip, and wildly popular, the Greyboy project produced several exceptional recordings, including "West Coast Boogaloo," and "Town Called Earth," but only lasted a few years. Taking matters into his own hands, Denson put his name on the line with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. People were still listening. Lots of 'em. Denson signed a deal with Blue Note Records and his debut release on the venerable label, Dance Lesson #2, is arguably his best work to date. Fronting an all star backup band including guitarists Charlie Hunter and Melvin Sparks (Little Richard, Sam Cooke), Chris Wood (Medeski, Martin and Wood) on bass, turntable scratch master DJ Logic, and several other world class musicians, Denson’s fiery funk, soulful jazz and sexy melodicism are more potent than ever. And with Blue Note’s support, more people than ever will be listening.