Apparently from nowhere, but actually from Buffalo, NY, trumpeter Cindy Bradley has burst onto the contemporary jazz scene with her debut solo project ‘Just A Little Bit’. It’s a choice collection of eight tracks that are replete with all the rhythm and melody necessary to get her noticed and is an effective showcase for her writing, arranging and performing talents. Bradley has enjoyed a varied and impressive career in music from a young age, has toured extensively and, as a jazz educator, has conducted numerous jazz workshops. She holds a Masters Degree in jazz performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA as well as a Bachelors degree in jazz studies from Ithaca College, NY. Now, with ‘Just A Little Bit’ she is very much out front and center stage.
The CD opens up with her own composition ‘Pay Day’. Designed to put a smile on the saddest of faces this wonderful example of uplifting smooth jazz sets a standard that is readily met by the tracks that follow. With a haunting quality that is extremely enticing ‘Afternoon Awakening’ is tight and melodic while the mid tempo title track is immediately ‘in the pocket’ and bolstered by the sparse yet effective background vocals of Letrice Cherry. The albums only cover is Bradley’s jazzy version of the Grover Washington Jr. classic ‘Mr. Magic’. Helped by the fresh new feel that the programming of Dave Lawrence provides, Bradley quickly gets to work on making it entirely her own and she stays in jazzy mood for ‘Out Of Service’. It’s a track with straight ahead tendencies but she is quickly back on contemporary jazz turf with ‘You Know What’s Next’. This chilled out stunner has a quality vibe running right through it and a luscious horn section built from Bradley’s contributions on both trumpet and trombone.
Arguably the best tracks arrive when Bradley adopts a seductively mellow mood. The incredibly beautiful ‘For Him’ is fuelled by Bradley’s soulful playing and embellished with excellent keys from Hiram Swain yet even better is the sultry smoker ‘Manhattan Rain’. Grounded by the outstanding bass of Chris Northington and drums from Paul Amorese it has a groove to die for and in every respect checks all the right boxes of how up to the minute smooth jazz should be.
Selected cuts from ‘Just A Little Bit’ can be heard at www.cindybradley.com where the album can also be purchased either digitally or in CD form.
