Smooth Jazz Therapy

Jack Prybylski's 'Window Shopping' Going For Adds

A Smooth Jazz Therapy highlight of 2006 was the radio single ‘Bright Spot’ from sax-man Jack Prybylski. Taken from his current CD ‘Window Shopping’ this text book example of mid tempo contemporary jazz proved to be one of the best tunes of the year. Now Prybylski is back and pitching for airplay with the title track from the same album. With a beauty that comes courtesy of Ken Navarro’s superb guitar this mellow tune checks all the right boxes of romantic smooth jazz and has a fullness of tone that is delivered on the wave of a pleasing sax riff and cool Hammond B3 from Jay Rowe.

Listen out for it and if you don’t hear it played on your local radio station then call up to ask why.

Brian Simpson's Above The Clouds In Record Stores Today

‘Above The Clouds’, the sensational new CD from Brian Simpson, hits records stores across the USA today. Not only that, with an uncanny sense of timing, the first single from it to be selected for airplay , ‘What Cha Gonna Do’, has also burst into the chart of thirty most played on smooth jazz radio. A new entry at 28 this tight and catchy number typifies what Simpson’s music is all about. In fact the penchant he has for ‘in the pocket’ smooth jazz is demonstrated throughout the album and in a collection of memorable standouts there is none more so that the melodic ‘Fiona’s Song’. This lovely ballad written for his 11-year-old daughter finds Simpson generously sharing the spotlight with the wonderful sax of Dave Koz and the ultra distinctive bass of Wayman Tisdale yet still making the tune entirely his own. It’s a contender for best track on the album but just edging it is ‘Lets Get Close’. Anchored by a killer bass line from Larry Kimpell and replete with a vibe that oozes sensuality this is mood music of the highest order.

‘Above The Clouds’ comes highly recommended. Go out and buy it now.

Mosaic Contemporary - The Ultimate George Duke

Mosaic Records was founded in 1983 and over the years has become one of the most respected names in jazz. The renowned boxed sets for which the label is famous often evolved into much sought after collectors items and now, with the launch of Mosaic Contemporary, that same knack of reaching back for genre framing epics is being brought to the world of contemporary jazz. The concept of Mosaic Contemporary’s flagship ‘Ultimate’ collection is simple yet stunningly effective. It recognizes the fact that nearly every important artist in contemporary jazz has recorded seminal material for more than one label. Consequently, any resultant ‘best of’ collections have always been, at best, narrow and selective snapshots of an artists overall work. By licensing the most important tracks from various labels and then arranging them into chronological compilations Mosaic Contemporary can, for the first time ever, deliver definitive highlights of an artist’s career. If proof of this were needed one need look no further than the dazzling new release ‘The Ultimate George Duke’. The CD includes eleven terrific tracks taken from nine different albums that, in their time, were released by four different record companies over a period of thirty years.

Alan Hewitt - In Conversation

Despite five solo albums, recorded over an eleven year period, Alan Hewitt has often been regarded as ‘one of music’s best kept secrets’. Yet much of this time spent behind the scenes has been done so purely through choice. Although this has fuelled a creative process that continues to deliver impressive writing credits for both television and film, Alan Hewitt is at long last all set to grab the headlines. When I caught up with this multi platinum writer, producer and keyboard player at his studio in Palm Springs CA I first asked him how he would sum up his own writing process. He explained that composing music for shows such as ‘Oprah’ or ‘The Osbornes’ brought with it a discipline and a training that he has found invaluable when writing music both for himself and others.

Kenny G Joins The All Star Smooth Cruise

The new look All Star Smooth Cruise from Haven Entertainment has just got a whole lot bigger. None other than contemporary jazz superstar Kenny G has been added to the lineup and is scheduled to play as part of the highly anticipated pre-cruise show in San Diego. He is the latest addition to a roster of artists now approaching epic proportions which, in addition to host Norman Brown, includes Boney James, Paul Taylor, Acoustic Alchemy, Nick Colionne, Marion Meadows, Chieli Minucci, Larry Carlton and Shilts. That’s not all. Both Fourplay and Patti Austin are also new inclusions and when the soul sensations of Kool & The Gang, The Spinners and the Four Tops are factored in, the cliché of ‘something for everyone’ really does become a reality. Multi platinum keyboard player Alan Hewitt will be performing and handling the back stage artist interviews, Steve Oliver will be there to share his unique guitar style and, in an ironic twist, the ‘godfather’ of smooth jazz cruising, Warren Hill, will also guest.

The All Star Smooth Cruise departs San Diego on January 19, 2008. For more information on the complete line-up go to www.allstarcruise.com

Steve Cole - True

When Steve Coles current CD ‘True’ was released in November of 2006 it slipped the normally all embracing Smooth Jazz Therapy net. That notwithstanding it remains an excellent piece of feisty smooth jazz and, given Cole’s current tour schedule that finds him on the road with both The Sax Pack and Brian Culbertson, there can been no better time to provide a reminder of how good ‘True’ is. Cole has enjoyed four number 1 radio hits and ten top 5 singles since his debut in 1998 and with ‘True’ he revisits his roots with nine top notch tracks all of which, in one way or the other, reach back to the jazz funk so indicative of his home town of Chicago. He has done this by painstakingly building a platform that piece by piece, from the stellar horn section of David Mann, Barry Danelion and Dan Levine, through the drums of Khari Parker to the percussion of Lenny Castro, is designed to deliver exactly the right result. With guest performances from Jeff Golub and fellow Chicago native Mike Logan the album is, in every respect ‘True’.

Marc Antoine - Hi-Lo Split

Since his solo debut, ‘Classical Soul’, in 1994 the output of Marc Antoine been sporadic yet there is no doubt that during the last decade he has wielded a hefty influence over the development of contemporary jazz. Part of the pioneer group of musicians who through their involvement with ‘guitars and saxes’ attempted to bring smooth jazz to the United Kingdom, he is notable for his ability to blend flamenco and Latin jazz styles with an R & B groove. In doing so Antoine has forged his own special place among the ever growing ranks of smooth jazz guitarists. His brand new CD, ‘Hi Lo Split’ is now out on Peak Records. It is his first since the 2005 ‘Modern Times’ and amidst much of the vocally driven R & B tinged jazz that proliferates today is a timely reminder that high quality instrumental rhythm and melody is what the genre is really all about.

Tom Braxton - Imagine This

Tom Braxton’s new CD, ‘Imagine This’, is due to hit record stores across the USA on August 21. It’s his first on the Pacific Coast Jazz label and follows the outstanding 2004 effort ‘Bounce’ that was produced by Wayman Tisdale and which featured a plethora of top-notch tracks including the hugely radio friendly title tune. The album proved, if proof was indeed necessary, that sax-man Braxton is a master of smooth, sophisticated contemporary jazz and now with ‘Imagine This’ his status is boosted even further. This is not only by virtue of the eleven faultless cuts but also through the galaxy of smooth jazz stars, including Kirk Whalum, Kirks brother Kevin, Tim Bowman and Brian Simpson, who have clamored to collaborate with him.

Justin Young - On The Way

With a maturity of playing that belies his youthful looks, 26 year-old Justin Young has burst onto the scene with his smooth jazz debut, ‘On The Way’. It says much for the potential of this accomplished saxophonist that Paul Brown has invested his time to mix the album and play guitar on one of the twelve choice tracks yet the involvement of some other ‘A listers’ should make everyone sit up and take notice. Tom Schuman co-writes and co-produces three of the track while Gail Jhonson does just the same. Jhonson is Norman Browns musical director and is currently on the road with him as part of the extensive 2007 Summer Storm tour while Schuman , thirty one years and twenty seven albums with Spyro Gyra, brings a wealth of experience. That said some of the most commercial tracks from ‘On The Way’ are those co-written and co-produced by Young and Rod Long. In fact all the writing, producing and performing partnerships that Young has struck up are a feature throughout. Each serves to keep the vibe deliciously varied and the quality of the album at an optimum.

Jeff Kashiwa - Play

Jeff Kashiwa is a man in demand. This ‘A list’ sax player, who throughout the nineties enjoyed an extended stint with the Rippingtons, is an integral member of the Sax Pack trio where he shares the spotlight with Steve Cole and Kim Waters. In addition, as well as being an occasional member of the Acoustic Alchemy line-up, and appearing with the Rippingtons as part of their ‘20th anniversary’ project, he also tours with his own band Coastal Access. If that wasn’t enough he has just released his fourth solo CD, ‘Play’. On the Native Language label, it continues a relationship that started in 2000 with his breakthrough album ‘Another Door Opens’. As well as kick-starting Kashiwa’s energetic solo career this offering also garnered the massive hit ‘Hyde Park’ which to this day still resides on the chart of most recurrently played on smooth jazz radio. His ‘Simple Truth’ project followed in 2002 and ‘Peace Of Mind’ was released two years later. For Kashiwa ‘Play’ brings together much of what has gone before as he beckons in Coastal Access band members Allan Hinds, Melvin Davies and Dave Hooper for eight of the tracks. Further collaborations with former Rippingtons band mate Dave Kochanski plus Acoustic Alchemy mainstays Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale all add to the depth and quality of an album that is a delightful mosaic of the contemporary jazz genre.