Back in 1985, I was still stuck in 1978. I was still listening to pop music on easy listening stations. A friend had tried opening me up to jazz by cranking up music by Pat Metheny. My ears, not ready for that sound, rejected it and desperately longed for the familiar tunes of Barry Manilow, Air Supply, and ABBA.

Fast forward to 1991. While attending a cookout with a group of people, I began to talk to a young woman who was in a local band. It was basically a rock band, but she herself was open to all types of music. She handed me a gift, and I mean that in every sense of the word. She thought that if I gave this CD a listen, I may just find something in it that could reach a different part of me.

Freedom at Midnight did something that changed me forever. At first I thought, how could anyone enjoy music without words? But as I meandered down the path of piano, sax and percussion, my ears relaxed and took it all in. I somehow found the music lyrical. I found myself not only lost in every note, but memorizing the melodies of each song. Why hadn't I heard this before? Where can I hear more? Freedom at Midnight became my portal into the smooth jazz music that I now listen to almost exclusively, and was the first in my collection of smooth jazz CDs, which now includes 22 David Benoit solo albums.

This CD opens with the kickin' title track. Pure piano with the signature crisp Benoit sound all of his fans have come to know. This has become one of my all-time favorite Benoit songs. And thankfully it is played at many of his shows, so I can always enjoy it. The tenor sax, provided by Sam Riney, blends perfectly with David's piano virtuosity. I remember the first time I ever saw David play this song live. I kept thinking that he must have had more than ten fingers to play the piano like that.

“Along the Milky Way” is a gentle tune that features David on an electric grand piano, and introduced me to the percussion of Lenny Castro. This song is relaxing and takes your mind on a journey, provided mostly by the sound of a Koto, a kind of Japanese zither. One of the most played and beloved Benoit songs is “Kei's Song,” written for his wife. This song is more than just beautiful. It is almost exclusively David on the piano and has one of the most wonderful melodies. It is so pure and serene.

Don't get the impression, though, that this CD is quiet all the way through. The Latin-flavored “Man with the Panama Hat” makes you want to get up and dance. “Morning Sojourn” is another track that opened me up not only to the playful style of David's piano, but also to the guitar of Russ Freeman. This fun and funky track has a great sax line and drums that lead the way. “Tropical Breeze” is another tune that has a terrific give and take between piano and sax. The melody stays with you.

“Del Sasser” is definitely the jazziest tune on the CD. Originally written by Sam Jones, Benoit took it and made it his own. The big band sound and amazing piano playing makes you feel like you are in an old, smoky club. Just a dynamite track.

This CD definitely took my ears to places I never dreamed of being. I heard instruments that weren't heard on pop songs. I heard arrangements that now I was ready to absorb. Freedom at Midnight opened me up to other CDs by musicians I may have never known about, like Russ Freeman. (It prompted me to get the Rippingtons' Moonlighting.) This CD will forever hold a special place in my heart.

- Bonnie Schendell