Back Roads (Bob Berg album)

The album was produced by Jim Beard, who also contributed on keyboards. Its title was inspired by Berg's travels around his East End home. Berg was backed by Mike Stern on guitar, Dennis Chambers on drums, and Lincoln Goines on bass. Berg decided to focus less on technique and fast tempos, instead concentrating on the tunefulness of his playing. Some of the tracks were influenced by the music of Steely Dan. ==Critical reception==

The Boston Herald called the album a "calculated crossover affair", stating that "it features the breezy blowing and bright melodies favored by fans of the Quiet Storm radio format." The Globe and Mail stated that "most of Back Roads is lighter, softer and indeed more produced than has been Berg's fashion... Chambers firms up a couple of pieces, but the rest comes perilously close to the pop-jazz of someone like Grover Washington". The Toronto Star opined that most of the tracks "are classy but typical synthesizer-inspired fusion exercises, jazz-tinged energetic rock at best and modish musing at worst". ==Track listing==

• Bob Berg – saxophones • Jim Beard – acoustic piano, synthesizers, Hammond organ, arrangements (4) • Mike Stern – guitars • Lincoln Goines – bass • Dennis Chambers – drums (1–4, 6, 7) • Ben Perowsky – drums (5) • Manolo Badrena – percussion Production • Christine Martin – executive producer, production coordinator • Kozo Watanabe – A&R • Jim Beard – producer • Phil Magnotti – recording, mixing • Kate Braudy – assistant engineer • Suzanne Dyer – assistant engineer • Matt Lane – assistant engineer • Bob Blank – digital sequencing • Hiroyuki Hosaka – mastering • Paul D'Innocenzo – cover art, photography ==References==