Butler is featured right away on the opener, “Wherever You Go”. Although laid back in it’s approach, there is a lot going on as the two of them play off each other really well. Nicholas Cole adds in additional keys and programming while Darrell Crooks brings in guitar. It is fun to hear Simpson and Butler do their own individual thing here as well as play together. Rising star Elan Trotman is featured on his tenor sax for the title track. The native from Barbados sounds great, and I like how Brian goes from one passage to another. Michael Broening co-wrote and helps with the keys as well. This one you’ll be hearing a lot. Cole adds his talents once more to the lively “Emerald City.” The muted trumpet of Ron King is a nice touch.
Trotman is featured once more on “A Love Like That,” penned by both Simpson and Cole. The driving bass of Alex Al serves as an excellent platform for Brian to show off his keys and emphasize the tenor of Elan. This one is really well written as well as produced. I like how you can hear all the parts, and how they make each other sound even better. “The Girl From Ipanema” takes on more of a club feel as the instruments have more of a raw sound to them. Saxophonist Dave Koz is featured here on tenor, and the two of them sound as great as ever. He follows that one up with “D-Groove” which features another great sax artist, Gerald Albright. This one stays lively through out, and Gerald has never sounded better. “Gerald Albright and I have been friends for many years and I was finally able to get him in the studio to make some musical history with me.” Ron King keeps it going on trumpet again, while Simpson takes it to the end.
The stars keep falling as Marc Antoine plays along on “In The Rain.” The approach here is a little more direct and methodical as Simpson’s keys give way to Antoine’s acoustic. The two of them really play well together as we envision the pitter patter of rain drops falling. Brian does some of his best work here. He finishes up with the only vocal number, “You Gotta Be.” This 1994 hit is a great way to end the project on an upbeat and have a lot of fun as well.
Brian Simpson continues to grow as a musician while bringing some to the best artists available to the studio. As I said earlier, this one becomes a favorite after favorite as you listen to it. While featuring many artists here, his keyboards never take a back seat to what’s going on. Says Simpson,”I keep all the instruments that I record on my CDs as natural as possible, and that includes my piano. When I’m recording with some of the world’s greatest musicians I want to hear what they’re playing with the greatest fidelity.” I know you’ll really like this one, so be sure to head out today and get it. After all, it’s Just What You Need.