Dating back to the mid-1970s, these two unashamedly commercial albums are firmly – or silkily to be more precise – in the smooth jazz category. Not even a sax star as soulful as Sonny Criss can surmount the treacly embrace of producer Esmond Edwards’ sepulchral strings, quietly chunky rhythm-guitars and tidy brass mini-riffs. Criss takes a pretty good alto solo on Stevie Wonder's classic, ‘Don't You Worry ’Bout a Thing’, but on the smoochy ‘You Are So Beautiful’ or ‘You've Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ it could be anybody. Lurking furtively in the studio band were pianist Patrice Rushen (briefly heard on ‘Turn Me Loose’), guitarist Lee Ritenour and trumpeter Blue Mitchell, both unfeatured. Edwards, who gave himself a session fee on percussion, is also responsible for Warm and Sonny, a similarly commercial effort with an even more luscious lineup including full string section and a harp. ‘The Way We Were’, despite Sonny's agile solo, is the low point, ‘Sweet Summer Breeze’ his best, but fear not, stations like Kiss FM and Jazz FM will love it all.