When Rick Braun and
Richard Elliot
formed their contemporary jazz record label, it was a sure bet that the sights and sounds heard from it would be designed to entertain and amaze the legions of fans who have followed their careers since Braun's days with
War
and
Elliot
's days with
Tower of Power
. This revelation is clearly emphasized on their first label collaboration, titled RnR. The music here is stylistically different from the songs they played back in the '70s, yet it flows from their collective musical minds like a natural extension with the same elements of spontaneity, soul, and sex appeal. Each tune is based on a particular rhythmical feel or texture: shuffle, boogaloo, Latin, funk, even 20th century cool and bebop colors. Opening with the title track, "RnR," the ensemble delivers an energetic jam filled with potent beats and horn charts that smoke in unison. "Sweet Somethin'" is a cool jazz gem that features Braun's refined trumpet talk in a conversation with
Elliot
's sensual saxophone