Walter Beasley has been one of the best selling saxophonists in Smooth Urban Jazz for more than a decade, scoring numerous Top Ten Smooth Jazz hits along the way.

Produced by Chris "Big Dog" Davis and Phil Davis, Backatcha! delivers and entrancing mix of originals and covers. Walter's heartfelt vocal on "Ooh Child" is a special treat.

We live in challenging times. Every day, the headlines warn us of an unsettling economic upheaval, a precarious balance of world power, a life-threatening dose of nature's fury, a contentious season of political transition and more. And then there are the personal struggles - the emotional upheavals in our individual lives that may not be part of the evening news, but are no less life-changing. After a while, the cumulative effect of these and countless other concerns weighs heavy on the heart and mind.

Saxophonist/vocalist/educator Walter Beasley suggests that it may be time to let go. Free Your Mind is Beasley's attempt to make sense of recent emotionally charged events - some global, some personal - that have changed his perspective on his own life in particular and the human experience in general.

"All I wanted to do with this record was accurately reflect the times and how I felt about them," says Beasley. "I had been working so much in the past few years, and living this musical life so intensely, that I hadn't taken the time to recognize the emotional impact of some things that had been happening in my life and in the world. With the times being what they are, I think this is a record that can help people let go of their concerns for a while and just lose themselves in the moment."

There are two ways to reflect upon the passing of loved ones. We can either go deep into melancholy over the death, or reach back and celebrate the joys of the lives just ended. Two of saxman Walter Beasley's grandparents died while this album was being recorded, and Beasley thankfully chooses the wistful, optimistic route. While positive grooves abound, he's clearly got the past on his mind; "Babygirl" launches the disc with a dreamy, sensuous alto melody winding its way over a subtle retro-soul groove and the hypnotic wah-wah click of Jeff Lockhart. No doubt recalling a sweet moment in his younger years, Beasley presents a cover of the Stylistics' gentle "Sideshow" with a soprano line that pushes the boundaries of the familiar melody; he then breaks for a completely unique improvisation, as if reflecting on his youthful memory of the song while adding adult experience into the mix. With down-home acoustic guitar harmony by Kevin Barry, "Theresa" artfully blends a folk influence with straightforward rhythm and jazz, with more than a wink to Bob James's famous Taxi theme keeping the retro flavors going. A title like "Sleep Tight" might make us think sad thoughts, but Beasley actually soars his highest and comes up with his most playful improvisations here. He graces the title track--an important tune in his upbringing on the sax--with a nice enough vocal, but he uses the romance in his voice to greater effect on a thoughtful cover of Stevie Wonder's "Visions." The classic lyrics, optimistic in the face of harsh realities, float gently along a moody atmosphere before giving way to a reverberating guitar solo by Jeff Lockhart. --Jonathan Widran