by Scott YanowPianist Joe Sample, who has had easily the most successful solo career of any of the Crusaders, recorded a series of melodic and lightly funky sets for MCA in the 1980s. This particular outing (which is available on CD) is unfortunately quite weak due to the forgettable melodies. Sample is joined by Dean Parks, Carlos Fearing, David T. Walker and/or Barry Finnerty on guitars, either Wilton Felder, Abraham Laboriel or Nathan East on bass, drummer Ndugu, percussionist Paulinho Da Costa and occasional synthesizers and strings; he plays well enough, but the material is quite inferior. One song ("The Survivor") features Phyllis Hyman's over-the-top R&B singing. Otherwise, the program consists of lightweight instrumentals, pleasant but mundane. Get Sample's Carmel instead.