Personnel: Tamika Peoples, Darryl Ross (vocals, background vocals); Frank-Ski, Tony Joseph (vocals); Dennis Nelson (guitar, Spanish guitar); Kathleen Dyson, Peter Black (guitar); Karen Briggs (violin); Lou Taylor (flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Scott Mayo (saxophone); Paul Litterall (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jeff Bradshaw (trombone); Richard Turner (piano, vibraphone); Jeff Lorber (organ, keyboards); Richard G. Johnson, Victoria Green, Dionne Gipson (background vocals). Recording information: The Green Room, Studio City, CA. The idea of performing smooth-jazz versions of gangsta rap hits is one of those crazy strokes of genius so stunning in its simplicity that it's amazing nobody thought of it before. And, in fact, the PICKIN' ON? series has been doing this kind of thing in a country vein for over a decade, although so far rap music appears safe from being transmogrified into bluegrass. And so we have the startling spectacle of Eminem's "Lose Yourself" getting a moody reworking by violinist Karen Briggs, while, in another unlikely pairing, smooth-jazz keyboardist Jeff Lorber transforms 50 Cent's "P.I.M.P." into a Latin-tinged, downtempo after-hours fantasy. There are sinuous tribute medleys to both Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, while the Outkast hit 'The Way You Move" receives a glossy makeover courtesy of Dennis Nelson's acoustic guitar stylings. If you're a smooth jazz fan who likes a little frisson with your funk, UNWRAPPED VOL.3 is an ideal recommendation.
