 You probably know a lot more about Jeff Lorber and his music than you think you do. After helping to define contemporary instrumental music in the 70s, which has now evolved into smooth jazz, Lorber produced Kenny G's first album, introduced the world to singer Karyn White through his Top 10 pop hit, "Facts of Love," produced tracks for her smash debut album, discovered Dave Koz and produced his first album. As a keyboardist, composer, producer, engineer, session player and remixer, Lorber's career has impacted virtually every area of modern music including jazz, urban, pop and hip-hop. Now top contemporary artists such as Lil Kim, SWV and Jay-Z are discovering Lorber's music and incorporating it into their hit hip-hop records. Lorber's remixes yielded more hits for a variety of top rock, R&B and jazz artists. With the advent of sampling, rappers began to discover Lorber's work. A sample of "Raindance" became Lil Kim's hit, "Crush On You," which is also sampled by SWV on their latest album. Lorber's movie and TV work included the score for Tristar Films Sideout, additional production and songs for the Fox film, The Super, and programming and sequencing for such series as Hangin with Mr. Cooper, On Our Own and Family Matters. Recently, Rapper Jay-Z sampled Lorber's "Night Love" for his song, "Who Ya Wit?" on the soundtrack to Sprung. I like to make records, says Lorber. That simple declaration led to the reactivation of his recording and performing career in the early 1990s after a lengthy break. In 1993, he released, Worth Waiting For, his first album since the 1986 hit, Private Passion, and returned to the road on the highly successful "Hot Autumn Nights" national tour which also featured Art Porter. In 1994, Lorber's West Side Stories featured his biggest hit in years, "Say Love," performed by Eric Benet. Always known for his great bands, Lorber's last album, State of Grace, featured Dave Koz and Gary Meek on soprano sax, Art Porters alto sax, vocalists Eric Benet and Sue Anne Carwell, longtime associate Nate Phillips on bass, and Lorber himself on guitar along with two other guitarists Marlon McClain and Michael Landau.
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