Original release date: 1992
Reissued by Warner Bros.: October 1994

Now that he is a smooth jazz icon it is hard to believe that Trust arrived in the mailboxes of radio and retail people with no fanfare or hype. It was released on an independent label that was on the verge of going under, as a lot of them were at the time. There were no promotional phone calls or big ads in the trade papers announcing the release date. It was just part of the batch of CDs that showed up in the mail and ended up on the stack that you listened to if you had time after going through the big name stuff. I am a pack rat when it comes to promotional material - press releases, bios, and tear sheets from trade publications. This is how little hype there was: I have almost everything since the late 80s, and I have exactly one piece of paper related to Trust... a bio/mini-review from a now defunct trade publication. Two years later Backbone would become his major label debut, accompanied by a press kit, full page ads, a fabulous poster, even a retail promotion that awarded prizes for prominent display in the stores. But first there was Trust, a CD that sounds just as fabulous and contemporary now as it did in 1992. It's an essential to any smooth jazz collection that some fans might have missed.

Trust was not only the debut of one of the genre's most influential artists, it showcased some of the finest work done by Paul Brown, who was destined to become the radio format's most influential producer. Brown previously produced three successful CDs for Sam Riney that were also released on Spindletop. He was the sound engineer for Bobby Caldwell's live shows when Boney was in the band. He liked what he heard and within days they were in the studio with some heavy-hitter backup musicians and Trust was in the works. Brown and this group of musicians would remain with Boney, becoming essential elements of his signature sound: Lenny Castro - percussion; Luis Conte - drums; songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jeff Carruthers - keyboards and programming; Freddie Washington - bass; and guitarists Paul Jackson Jr. and Allen Hinds.

The striking thing about Trust is the musical diversity. Even before the relaxation mandate it was rare for a sax player to deliver a series of songs that didn't sound similar. “It's A Beautiful Thing” kicks in with a deep funky groove that would become the foundation for Backbone and Seduction. “Metropolis” wraps things up in a more mellow but similar fashion. The energized “Road Runner” and “Personal Touch” have a brightness to them that was not revisited until “After The Rain” on Sweet Thing. The ballads have a completely unique sound. “Kyoto” and “Lily” are elegant and melodic with more of a pop than R'n'B flavor. Long before he would use the word to name a CD, his work on these two songs is pure and uncontrived. “Kyoto” features a beautiful harmonica passage from Tollak Olstead, who recently added an equally haunting solo to Al Jarreau's “Midnight Sun.” “Personal Touch" features flamenco-flavored acoustic guitar, another element that has not reappeared. “Trust,” the other ballad, is played with passion and power. All the songs on this project were played with passion and power. Boney cuts loose and shows his chops throughout. He doesn't tone it down but he doesn't overdo it either. That, along with the quality of the production and diversity of the songs, made this collection a standout. Thirteen years later it still does.

Those of us who really did try to listen to everything that came in were rewarded immensely. It only took a few minutes of the first track to realize that there was something special going on here. A lot of CDs have a stunning opener. Getting deeper into this one it was obvious that every song on it lived up to that standard. Program directors, music directors, and retailers were raving about it. The ones who hadn't listened yet checked it out and became equally enthusiastic. Because of this it went #1, Boney signed with Warner Brothers, and the rest is history. It was a different game in 1992. There were a lot of influential radio people who had control of their own playlists. High quality music that fit the format got played when it was released. That led others to discover it and play it too. The process is different now, which only makes one wonder if there is another future Boney out there flying low under the radar and hoping there is some way to get heard.

Trust was later picked up and re-released by Warner Brothers. By then Boney was a star and fans were picking up his new CDs as soon as they hit the stores. As he has continued to release one excellent CD after another you may have missed the chance to go back and pick this one up. With a lighter new release schedule over the next few months and Boney hitting the road to do some summer concerts, there has never been a better time to pick this one up or pull it off the shelf and rediscover it.

- Shannon West