Barbados native Elan Trotman offers a neatly dressed collection of tunes here on his latest release, This Time Around.  The saxophonist, whose love of sports and whose relationship with several pro athletes and teams (e.g., Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, L.A. Dodgers, and Cincinnati Reds) have led him to such opportunities as performing the National Anthem at several ballgames, as well as performing at weddings and charity events for a great many of these athletes, seizes another opportunity here as he captures one’s attention with some really slick and solid grooves.

Reminding one in spots of another notable saxman, Everette Harp (an example would be the popping title track), the passion in Trotman’s playing can be felt from deep within and with each note.  When you listen to the peppy “Me and My 22’s” and how easily and comfortably he lays into the smooth lead sax solos, you are reminded that there is so much to love about smooth jazz sax, in addition to all of its other warm and fuzzy elements.

Trotman is no newcomer, although we are treated to his first solely smooth jazz release here. His three prior releases include his debut, Memories, which features Caribbean and gospel music, as well as some pretty funky cuts; a solely gospel album, Let’s Have a Good Time, featuring Trotman’s jazz influences and improvisations on church songs along with modern harmonies; and a Christmas album called The Reggae Christmas. 

So, Trotman has definitely waded in some pools of diversity and has settled here on a generous 15-track exhibition of really handsome smooth grooves.  A variety of moods is displayed here: The stepped-up groove of the previously mentioned “Me and My 22’s,”  “Oh How We Were Meant to Be,” with its hint of gospel influence, the soulful and sensual “With You,” the mid-tempo and funky “Oh Yeah Do It,” and his tasteful covers of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” and rock group Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”

His cool and deliberate playing style and the well-conceived compositions here say to me that Elan Trotman should be easily welcomed into the ever-expanding circle of smooth jazz with open arms.
 --  Ronald Jackson