Smooth Jazz Therapy

Cristophe DeVilla & Enois Scroggins - You Are My Girl

‘You Are My Girl’ by guitarist Christophe DeVilla and soulful vocalist Enois Scroggins is one the smoothest R & B cuts of the year and is currently out there on YouTube.

Find it now at www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu-GtL-PBBM

De Villa is a French jazz artist with a string of album’s to his name while, back in the day, Enois Scroggins worked with members of Cameo and The Gap Band. Together they have come up with a real gem. Check back here soon for more information the project from which this great track comes.

Mike Catalano - A Manhattan Affair

With a career built around creating memorable music for television’s ‘A Current Affair’, ‘Good Day New York’ and ‘Fox News’ pianist Mike Catalano re-emerged as a solo performer in 2007 with the release of the wonderful ‘A Manhattan Affair’. It put him firmly into the smooth jazz spotlight but, despite guest performances from greats such as Bob James, Chuck Loeb, Ivan Lins, Steve Gadd and Randy Brecker, the album inexplicably slipped through the Smooth Jazz Therapy net. However, as it continues to present a string of chart busting tunes to radio, there has never been a better time to evaluate the considerable merits of this superb collection.

Jamie Bonk - St Joseph Street

I first became aware of guitarist Jamie Bonk’s music by way of his excellent 2004 release ‘My World’. His third album, it had been three years in the making and at the time I commented that, in the competitive world of contemporary jazz guitar, it had all the attributes necessary to take him right to the top. The follow up, ‘5’, came along in 2007 and now he is back with an exceptional four track ‘digital only’ EP, ‘St Joseph Street’.

Hiroshima - Legacy

It was in 1974 that Dan Kuramoto and June Kuramoto formed Hiroshima. With the ground breaking convergence of eastern and western music as its fulcrum, the band quickly found success with its self titled debut CD and since then has gone on to record fourteen more spellbinding collections that demonstrate the commitment its founding members have to their own special brand of cross cultural innovation. This dedication is as strong as ever and now, in the company of Hiroshima’s current line-up of keyboard player Kimo Cornell, drummer Danny Yamamoto, percussionist Shoji Kameda and bass-man Dean Cortez, they are rolling back the years with the release of the wonderful new album ‘Legacy’. Out now on the Heads Up International label it features eleven songs from the first ten years of the bands prolific history yet, with every track having been re-recorded live in Dan Kuramoto’s home studio, this is far from being a run of the mill ‘best of’ project. In many cases the tunes are fairly similar to the originals. In others they are very different. With guest performances from Hiroshima’s ‘extended family’ of percussionist Richie Gajate Garcia and vocalists Terry Steele, Yvette Nii and Jim Gilstrap the result is as good as any contemporary jazz recording released this year.

Peter White 'Bright' In The UK

It’s that time of year again and as the leaves in London town begin to fall there can only be one thing on the agenda. Yes, you guessed it; Peter White is back in the UK for his now annual mini tour that this year is partly in support of his brand new CD ‘Good Day’.

‘Bright’ is the album’s first radio single and is currently sitting at number two on the Groove Jazz chart of most played on smooth jazz radio.

To hear ‘Bright’ click here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sd51nDIFkQ&feature=related

With an extended itinerary there is even more opportunities to catch him live and it all gets started on November 3 at Club One in Ascot, close to the famous horse racing track and a few miles from historic Windsor Castle. The following evening Peter will be at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh, Hampshire and will stay on the south coast to play Thirty Three restaurant in Poole, Dorset before heading back to London for seven nights at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Dean Street.

The Thirty Three event is particularly notable for the fact it is being presented by the excellent www.smoothtraxfm.com for which Chris Boyce does such a fantastic job.

The tour concludes with two shows at the Maidstone location of Pizza Express on November 13 and 14. After that it is back to the USA for White’s participation in the twenty two night Dave Koz And Friends Christmas Show which commences in Mobile, AL on November 27.

There is still time to get tickets for some of the UK dates so for more information go to www.peterwhite.com and check out ‘Concert Schedule’.

Carlyle Barriteau - Groovin' at Sunset

Fresh on the Smooth Jazz Therapy radar screen is ‘Groovin’ at Sunset’, the excellent new album from guitar player and vocalist Carlyle Barriteau. It’s a tight predominately self penned collection from an artist who, as guitarist, is reminiscent of George Benson in style but, also like Benson, has the added advantage of a really great singing voice.

Born on Aruba, Barriteau grew up on the Caribbean island of St Maarten and relocated to California in 1980. Having attended both the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and Berklee College in Boston he has progressed to enjoy a successful career as a sought after backing musician and a performer in his own right. His CD ‘Native Sun’ was released in 2000 and he also appeared on Rod Stewart’s 2005 video ‘Great American Songbook IV’. As well as previously sharing the stage with the likes of Patti Austin and Donny Osmond, Barriteau is currently playing guitar for Paul Taylor and touring with the legendary Bobby Caldwell.

Jeff Kashiwa Produces Debut Album From Hulon

Despite the increasing difficulty that new artists face in finding an outlet, one player to really strike gold is saxophonist Hulon. His fresh perspective on old-school style has been recognized by none other than Jeff Kashiwa who, between his responsibilities to super-group The Sax Pack and the demands of a successful solo career, has now produced Hulon’s debut CD.

‘First Impressions’, which is described as a mixture of hot grooves and romantic charm, is scheduled for release in early 2010. When asked about this exciting new project Kashiwa commented that "It is every producer's dream to come across an artist who has three qualities: drive to develop a unique voice, enthusiasm for creating music and a passion to perform; Hulon posses all three”.

The music of ‘First Impressions’ reflects many moods. From the retro soul of War's ‘Cisco Kid’ to the romantic ‘Follow Me’ Hulon shows he has the stuff to captivate a whole new audience. Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘First Impressions’.

Tom Braxton - Endless Highway

Not surprising, the untimely death of the much loved Wayman Tisdale set off shock waves that were felt throughout the world of contemporary jazz. In this respect no one could have been more affected than saxophonist Tom Braxton who, as an integral member of Tisdale’s touring band, had been with him right from the start. That said, life has a way of creating opportunities and for Braxton the opportunity to pay homage to his long time friend and mentor has come in the form of his latest solo recording, the aptly titled ‘Endless Highway’. Released on the San Diego-based Pacific Coast Jazz label it is his second CD with Pacific Coast Jazz and follows the 2007 ‘Imagine This’ that at the time I described as has “having it all going on”. With an outstanding array of instrumentalists and vocalists in support, Braxton uses the ten superb tracks of ‘Endless Highway’ to take the listener on a groove-oriented excursion that, consistent with the best of the genre’s current offerings, shimmers with a delightful urban sophistication.

Anthony James Baker - Looking Ahead

Guitarist Anthony James Baker has worked with many internationally acclaimed artists and shared billing with headline performers such as Tower of Power, Michael McDonald, Norman Brown and the Neville Brothers. After many years in the USA he has now returned to his native England to form a new band and write new material. The culmination of all this is his excellent five track EP titled ‘Looking Ahead’ which not only includes some of the best contemporary jazz you will hear this year but also features sublime inputs from bass player Mel Brown, production genius Darren Rahn and the multi talented Bobby Wells.

Alan Hewitt To Release New CD On nuGroove Label

Smooth Jazz Therapy has long been a fan of keyboard maestro Alan Hewitt whose vibey sound captures to perfection the true essence of what great smooth jazz should be all about. His 2006 album ‘Metropolis’ remains an item of sumptuous buried treasure and now he is set to make a spectacular return with a brand new project, ‘Retroactive’. Due for release in early 2010 it marks Hewitt’s arrival at the consistently focussed nuGroove label and will feature gusts appearances from the likes of Greg Adams, Paul Jackson, Jr., Steve Madaio and Steve Oliver.