Blackburst is a music and video term that describes digital silence. It is used when there is a need to record absolute quiet. In the case of this CD, with the exception of two of the thirteen tracks, absolute silence would have been an improvement. Consisting of a core duo of Marlon Saunders on vocals and Warren Rosenstein on keyboards, Jazzhole has produced the kind of sound on this album that gives smooth jazz a bad name. Most of the songs and their beats are simplistic, repetitive and downright boring. There is too much focus on electronic gimmickry and not enough attention paid to musical and vocal substance. Saunders’ singing style has been compared to that of the late Curtis Mayfield, but that’s the record company’s hype. Although, admittedly, there are similarities in their voice ranges, the mere ability to sustain a steady falsetto doesn’t justify being mentioned in the same breath as the incomparable Mayfield. And the imitation factor proliferates throughout. Rosa Russ on vocals on several of the tracks attempts to sound sultry but all she succeeds at is parroting other female vocalists who cornered the market in sultry-ness long ago, most notably Minnie Ripperton and Sylvia (Robinson). Russ’s attempt to coo Sylvia’s “Pillow Talk” falls pathetically short of the mark. Michella DeVille’s vocals on “Winter Sky” are much better and, with a light sax and strings holding up the background, this is one of the only two good tracks on this album. The other is “Wondering,” on which Saunders’ vocal style sounds more natural. This track deserves inclusion on any smooth jazz playlist.