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Main Gazane is an old jazz term meaning my "main man" or my "main thing". It’s also the name under which keyboardist Mark Minchello and multi instrumentalist Bob Magnuson make their special brand of contemporary jazz music. The group’s new CD ‘Imagine’, which will be released this fall, is a choice blend of Minchello’s original compositions, two cool covers and a most welcome guest appearance from none other than Jeff Golub.
As if from nowhere, multi instrumentalist and producer Jason Carroll has burst onto the scene with his debut release ‘Cool’. Although masquerading beneath the banner of the ‘Smooth Jazz Symphony’, all twelve tracks, (plus one bonus addition), are in fact composed, produced, arranged, and performed by Carroll. The result is a smooth and refreshing collection that stands as a wonderful showcase for his work and, for an artist still only twenty one years of age, opens up endless possibilities.
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The emergence of a new contemporary jazz artist in the United Kingdom is always special and one better than most is guitarist Lee Jones. His debut album ‘Swish’, which he has both written and arranged, is a delightful blend of up tempo and tranquil rhythms that sound like they might have come right out of Southern California. More surprising therefore is that Jones hails from and makes his music in the semi rural confines of the market towns of Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester that are places a million miles away from what one would associate with a contemporary jazz groove. That not withstanding the quality of his playing, and the standard of the backing musicians he has gathered around him, leaves no doubt that Lee Jones is someone who is destined to go far.
When, in 2004, I reviewed the ‘Unsolicited Material’ CD by keyboard player Larry White I described the music that he writes with his wife Margaret as a unique blend of jazz and R&B with delightful chord changes and interesting melodies. Three years have passed since then and Larry has crammed more into them than most. He has switched bases, first from Las Vegas to Newport Beach, CA, then back again to Vegas before finally, and significantly, arriving in the wonderful city of San Diego. It’s a change that seems to have really stirred the creative juices and has resulted in his brand new release ‘Coronado Breeze’.
If there is a magic formula for making top notch smooth jazz then guitarist Les Sabler has surely found it. His brand new CD release ‘Sweet Drive’ not only features his own picture perfect playing but also includes some of the best contemporary jazz talent around. Rather than marvelling at just how Sabler has managed to assemble so many great performers in the same place at the same time, its more than enough to simply delight in the artistry on show. From the solid foundation provided by the percussion of Alex Acuna, drums from Vinnie Colaiuta and acoustic bass from Brian Bromberg (who also produces), to the soulful heart provided by a horn section to die for, everything about ‘Sweet Drive’ is just right. Those horns, billed here as the Seawind Horns, in fact come courtesy of Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, Bill Reichenbach and Dan Higgins. When the flute of Gary Meek is factored in, plus keyboards from Jeff Lorber and guest performances on sax from Mark Hollingsworth and Eric Marienthal, ‘Sweet Drive’ is an album that just can’t fail.
Mosaic Contemporary is really onto a winner. Recognizing that nearly every important artist in contemporary jazz has recorded seminal material for more than one record company they have set about licensing the most important tracks from various labels and then arranging them into chronological compilations. In this way Mosaic are, for the first time ever, delivering definitive highlights of an artist’s career and the latest addition to their flagship ‘Ultimate’ collection is sax star Kirk Whalum. ‘The Ultimate Kirk Whalum’ provides a glowing showcase of his work to date but, moreover, offers a glimpse of how smooth jazz has evolved over the last twenty years and a reminder of the outstanding producers and performers with whom Whalum has collaborated over that time.
Saxophonist Darren Rahn has been on the Smooth Jazz Therapy radar screen for some time. His input as producer writer and performer to such albums as Wayman Tisdale’s ‘Way Up’, ‘Just Getting Started’ from Eric Darius, Jay Soto’s ‘Stay While’ and the stunning ‘R & R’ from Marcus H Mitchell has identified him as having his own special vibe and this talent plus a whole lot more is perfectly displayed with his solo project, ‘Once In A Lifetime’, that hits record stores on October 17. This wonderful showcase for Rahn’s refined sense of artistry is filled with soulful vibes and features some heavyweights from the world of contemporary jazz including Dave Koz, Wayman Tisdale and Jeff Lorber.
‘Sweet Spot’ is the debut solo project from guitarist Danny Weis and when I reviewed it in January 2006 I described it as a serious collection of grown up contemporary music for listeners of many persuasions. Now, at long last, and effective from September 11, it has been officially released in the USA through Premiere Jazz Distributors. Weis started out his musical life as a founder member of the 60’s rock band Iron Butterfly and played with super group Rhinoceros. Although with ‘Sweet Spot’ Danny’s rock heritage does surface from time to time he also demonstrates a light melodic touch and an ear for a quality smooth jazz vibe.
Assisted in no small measure by Michael Fonfara’s expansive use of Hammond B3 the entire album has a deliciously retro feel about it and is well worth checking out.
As anticipation builds ahead of the new album release from keyboard maestro Alan Hewitt there has never been a better time to look back at his wonderful 2006 effort ‘Metropolis’. When I recently talked to Alan he was quick to describe his work to date as ‘vibey’ and this description fits ‘Metropolis’ to perfection. Never has the true essence of smooth jazz been better captured than with this outstanding twelve track collection that with the exception of one stunning cover is, in its entirety, written, arranged and co-produced by Hewitt. In addition, for this his fifth CD, he has enlisted a highly talented group of backing musicians who, in one way or another, all leave their mark of true quality.
Not heard Will Donato yet? Well, maybe you have. This rising sax star has appeared on the soundtrack to movies such as Thelma and Louise, The Untouchables and The Wedding Planner. Now his brand new CD, ‘Will Call’ is set to catapult him into center stage and add to the already considerable jazz credentials he has established courtesy of performing with the likes of Jeff Caruthers, Blake Aaron, Gregg Karukas, and Steve Oliver. In fact it was Donato’s signature sound which helped light up Oliver’s 2002 hit single ‘High Noon’ and its nice that for ‘Will Call’ Oliver is around to repay the favor.
