Quiet Storm

"Slow jams" only half-describes the magic of these languid late-night grooves. Quiet Storm is known for its long cuts, stretched out like a magical sax solo or a lover's waiting body. Tracks like Earth, Wind & Fire's "Reasons" and Teddy Pendergrass' "Close the Door" retain their heat no matter how many times they're heard.

The R&B equivalent of a Shakespeare sonnet, these tracks are more effective than a dozen roses. The jazzical elements of Quiet Storm are heard in masterworks by Kool & the Gang ("Summer Madness") and Ramsey Lewis ("Sun Goddess"). If music be the food of love . . .

Like good romance, Quiet Storm has always thrived on discovery, thus its healthy respect for artists' lesser-known album cuts. For instance, dim the lights and check out Prince's "International Lover" and the live version of Patti LaBelle's "You Are My Friend."

Smokey named it — a thousand artists and DJs after him claimed it. Lush and lovely, Quiet Storm is R&B's post-midnight cognac, its mellow call to love. Soft soul and smooth jazz form its backbone, the music's sensuality providing the soundtrack for a million trysts. Fall under the spell of these mood-making sounds, from Barry White and the Isleys to D'Angelo and Maxwell.