by Alex HendersonRonnie Laws showed considerable promise on early efforts like Pressure Sensitive and Fever, but sadly, all of the tenor & soprano saxman's albums have been motivated by commercial considerations rather than artistic ones. An especially glaring example is Identity, a contrived, radio-oriented R&B/pop effort that pretty much wastes his talents as an improviser. There are a few bright spots, including the hip-hop-ish "Street Knowledge" and the angular, Miles Davis-influenced "Palisades," but much of the CD consists of mindless, overproduced "smooth jazz." Especially disappointing is "If You Don't Know Me By Now" -- Laws could have really soared and made a statement on this Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes classic, but instead, offers a dreadfully bland note-for-note cover.