Dream Beat Dream [Bonus CD] - Soul Ballet

Familiar to TV viewers over the years with his roles on Nip/Tuck, Cold Case, and Days of Our Lives, Rick Kelly has also slowly become a force in the world of ambient, techno, and trance-driven smooth jazz with several popular recordings under the Soul Ballet moniker. His career as artist, producer, and mastermind of this popular outfit reaches a commercial high point with his debut for 215 Records. Kelly's approach to music fully reflects the impressionistic way he once tackled two other related creative endeavors, metal sculpting and oil painting -- a collage of soundscapes, samples, and fresh key changes over seductive grooves, with colorful melodies on top. He captivates immediately with the easy retro-soul ambience, cool grooves, and lighthearted dancing piano melody of "She Rides" before adding spacy sonic effects on the trippy "S. Beach" (which features a blend of synth melody and the trumpet harmony of Ken Ross). Ross' horn also colors "Feel This Beat," which blends exotic, romantic-minded voices with a slow-burning groove. A sizzling interplay of trumpet and piano also drives the disc's most popular radio single, "Cream." ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide