'When The Smoke Clears' is perhaps best described as a generous chunk of jazz fusion forged from an amalgam of some seriously catchy rhythms and attention grabbing melodies. 'A Piece Of Mind' has a big band vibe that seems right from the soundtrack of a 50's crime thriller while 'A Tune For Levern' starts out at as a piece of mellow jazz then develops into something altogether more rhythmic. Both signal the fact that Overton has an ear for rhythm and melody and this is again well displayed on 'Latin Peach'. Complete with an engaging sax solo and yet more enchanting melody it has a groove with a funkiness that tugs at its Latin roots. More overtly Latin is the excellent 'Just Swingin'. Making subtle use of a sample from maybe the most memorable Brazilian tune of all time this is a slice of spicy Latin jazz that really fizzes.
Without being in the least outdated there is something delightfully 'late sixties' about the overall feel of the album. 'Leta's Theme' has a rather 'Wedding Bell Blues' vibe about it and the mid tempo 'Says Who?', with the hypnotic repetition that is a hallmark of Overton's best work, also brings memories of the 5th Dimension flooding back.
Although 'Pop That Koochie' and 'Bills Mood' both share an intricate and jazzy nature it's the latter of these two tracks that has caught the attention of Deejay's in the UK. That said 'When The Smoke Clears' contains several other numbers that could well be club classics in the making. The title track is underpinned by a huge pulsing beat and a catchy rhythm. It places Overton firmly into ambient territory while with the outstanding 'Cruisematic' he produces a deconstructed chiller that is ultra addictive. Despite all that the accolade of Smooth Jazz Therapy's top track goes to 'Shocked'. Already being played in the USA, this very simple yet hugely effective cut thrusts towards its sax driven climax on a massively catchy beat and a melody that dances like light on water.
'When The Smoke Clears'
