Smooth Jazz Therapy

Oli Silk Plays His Part In Bringing Smooth Jazz Back To The UK

Keyboard star Oli Silk is one of an small band of UK based artists to have found smooth jazz fame and fortune fame whilst still living beyond the genre friendly confines of the USA. Now he is playing his part in bringing smooth jazz back to England where from January 21st - 25th 2009 he will be part of a unique musical experience at the renowned Pizza Express Jazz Club in Dean Street, London. The shows are intended to be the first in a series of ‘SKY fm Smooth Jazz Evenings’ and Silk will be performing with sax-men Jaared and Rocco Ventrella plus keyboard player Renato Falaschi.

Marcus Johnson - FLO (For The Love Of)

Writer, producer and keyboard player Marcus Johnson is also the driving force behind Three Keys Records and has used the label to launch an exciting new series of CD’s that have the common theme of ‘For The Love Of’ or ‘FLO’. Although the first three of these thematically developed musical experiences include exceptional performances from some stand-out guest artists they all benefit by having the talented Johnson left right and centre. Indeed ‘FLO (For The Love Of) Romance’, ‘FLO (For The Love Of) Chill’ and ‘FLO (For The Love Of) Standards’ are all excellent albums in their own right and are timely reminders of the sumptuous groove that Marcus Johnson has routinely generated throughout his career.

Tuck & Patti - I Remember You

‘I Remember You’ from husband and wife duo Tuck & Patti is their eleventh album in all and the first since ‘A Gift Of Love’ in 2004. Relying only on the textures of guitar and voice they have been making jazz, R&B, and crossover recordings since the release of their Windham Hill debut ‘Tears Of Joy’ in 1988. In doing so they have cultivated a happy knack of combining original music with innovative interpretations of memorable tunes and for ‘I Remember You’ they take this latter element back to the great American Songbook.

The Grammy Nominated Bob Baldwin

When I reviewed Bob Baldwin’s current CD ‘NewUrbanJazz.com’ I described it as redefining the genre and legitimizing R & B tinged vocals within smooth jazz. It has proved to be one of the highlights of the year and, with no less than five Grammy nominations, is now gaining the praise it so richly deserves.

As well as being recognized in the categories of ‘Album of The Year’ and ‘Best R & B Album’, ‘NewUrbanJazz.com’ is also being considered for three of its sixteen choice tracks. In fact the selections are a tribute to the skill that Baldwin routinely shows in involving featured artists who really deliver. In the running for ‘Best R & B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals’ is ‘Seems Like One Of Those Daze’ which features the smoky vocal of Tyrone Ellis while in the category of ‘Best Urban / Alternative Performance’ is the hip hop infused ‘Don’t Keep Me Waiting’ with a moody rap from Asoulborn. Perhaps best of all and in the category of ‘Best Traditional R & B Vocal Performance’ is the wonderful ‘Somebody Else’s Guy’ for which Jocelyn Brown provides the vocal. The nomination clearly vindicates Baldwin’s decision to take Brown’s seminal 1984 breakthrough hit, give it a New Urban Jazz makeover and then invite Brown, in enchantingly understated mode, to take the lead. Jocelyn’s sister, Annette, who co-wrote the song with her, features on backing vocals and the entire track is a joyous delight from tenderly soulful beginning to groove driven end.

For more on Bob Baldwin and his nuGroove label-mates go to www.thenugroove.com

DeNate - And Then There Were Three

There is no question that smooth jazz duo Denate has been one of the sensations of 2008. The debut album, ‘Reminsce’, from this pairing of Nate Harasima and Deborah Connors featured saxophone from Darren Rahn and has made a huge impression. The latest hot news is that, after being invited back to remix the track ‘Sweet Dreams’, Rahn has now become a full time member of DeNate.

Commenting on the obvious synergy that flows so effortlessly between these three talented musicians, President of nuGroove Records David Chackler compares the coming together with the magic that happened when he and Keith Olsen introduced Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham to Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac.

Jeff Lorber - Heard That

Perhaps keyboard maestro Jeff Lorber does tight, vibrant, in the pocket smooth jazz better than anyone else on the scene today. In production terms much the same can be said of Rex Rideout so when a project comes along on which they both collaborate then it’s certainly time to sit up and take notice. Enter Lorber’s brand new album ‘Heard That’ which, as well as being full of all the good stuff that he and Rideout are guaranteed to bring, also features a veritable clutch of breathtaking guest performances.

Of course Lorber has been on the cutting edge of contemporary jazz since the release of the self titled debut album from the Jeff Lorber Fusion in 1977. As a producer he has helped fashion the careers of jazz luminaries such as Dave Koz, Gerald Albright and Eric Marienthal while as a solo artist he has delivered a sequence of totally memorable collections of which this latest offering finds him at his fusion soaked best.

John Carridi - Come Together

To date the attentions of guitarist John Carridi have been concentrated on making others sound good. He has accompanied such artists as Patti Austin, Ricki Lee Jones, Peggy Lee and Nancy Wilson while as a composer has written music for the movies ‘Friday The 13th’ and ‘The Shining’ plus that for the TV hit series ‘House’.

Now, with the recent release of his debut solo album ‘Come Together’ he is at last stepping center stage to tell that world what the fans of his live shows in New York have known all along that, in short, he has a fine knack for picture perfect smooth jazz. He is joined in the venture by renowned producer and pianist Dennis Bell who adds three original compositions to Carridi’s six jazzy interpretations of some of the biggest hits of the last forty years.

Maysa - Metamorphosis

Out today across the USA, ‘Metamorphosis’ is the seventh solo CD from singing sensation Maysa Leak. Variously produced by Rex Rideout, Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis and the Jason Miles – DJ Logic pairing of Global Noize it offers twelve sumptuous tracks that ooze sophistication and which feature notable contributions from some of the leading contemporary jazz session players around today.

Acoustic Alchemy At Anthology

Just one of the many delights of an Acoustic Alchemy gig is the perpetual uncertainty surrounding which band will actually show up. In the recent past Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale have proffered their classic nylon and steel stringed guitar combinations as a trio in the company of drummer Greg Grainger, more usually with the addition of keyboards and bass or, sometimes, with the different vibe that a saxophone can bring. Those trusted to keyboard and bass duties have also rotated but on October 7, 2008, as ‘the Alchemy’ rolled into San Diego for two nights at the excellent Anthology, it was minus the horns of ‘Radio Contact’ and ‘American English’ days but with the welcome presence of regular band member Fred White on keys and the talented Gary Grainger on bass. Gary, who is the brother of Greg, has played with artists as diverse as John Scofield and Earth Wind & Fire. Here, switching seamlessly from the merely tight to the outrageously funky, he added immense quality to everything that the band did.

The Sax Pack At The Thornton Winery

There can no more atmospheric open air venue for smooth jazz than the Thornton Winery in Temecula CA. Deep in the California wine country, fifty miles north east of San Diego on I-15, this working winery combines the production of fine wines with a high quality restaurant and a large open space that, when the crème de la crème of smooth jazz artists come to town, converts perfectly to a concert venue. For several years now the Thornton Winery has played host to contemporary jazz greats, usually performing on lazy Sunday afternoons under the heat of the California sunshine. On October 5, as the shadows lengthened but the sun remained warm, it was the turn of Jeff Kashiwa, Kim Waters and Steve Cole (aka The Sax Pack) to take the stage. I last saw the ‘Pack’ perform live in 2004 at the Hyatt Regency in San Diego and, although individually splendid, at the time I found their collaborations to be unexceptional. Now, four years on, with a brand new CD and a well practiced stage act that in equal measures is engaging humorous and professional they have become the real entertainment deal. In addition, the music from the new album has served to add depth to what the trio has to offer and provide a counter balance to their own familiar tunes.

Spencer Brewer - Cinematic

In the United Kingdom there is an advertising slogan that describes a particular product as ‘doing exactly what it says on the tin’. In other words the content perfectly matches the description on the packaging and much the same can be said for the new album from pianist Spencer Brewer, ‘Cinematic’. This collection of sometimes tender, often dramatic but always expansive self penned tunes could easily find its way onto any movie score imaginable. In addition, the innovative marketing that packages this two CD set in a case that closely resembles a cinema ticket is a master stroke and the reason who the two discs are respectively titled ‘Technicolor’ and ‘Black & White’ quickly becomes self evident.

Kim Pensyl Releases Album # 14

‘When Katie Smiles’, the new release from pianist Kim Pensyl, is due out on October 28 and marks his return to contemporary jazz where previously he charted with four top 10 Billboard albums. Overall his melodies have been variously described as being joyous, contemplative, heartfelt and eloquent while already grabbing attention is the album’s first radio single ‘Slap Happy’. The production for ‘When Katie Smiles’ has a live feeling about it and Pensyl’s piano and keyboards are enriched (yet never out-muscled) by Andy Woodson on bass, drummer Reggie Jackson, electric and acoustic guitars from Kevin Turner and Jim Ed Cobbs on percussion.

Jeff Lorber Back With New Record

Hot news this week is all about the brand new release from pioneering composer, producer and contemporary jazz keyboard legend Jeff Lorber. ‘Heard That’ represents his debut on Peak Records and is highlighted by the first radio single, a swinging, brass infused twist on the Amy Winehouse Grammy winner ‘Rehab’. The album, which features a wonderful all-star guest list including trumpet great Rick Braun, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., sax man Gary Meek, bassist Alex Al, trumpeter Ron King, guitarist Darrell Crooks and Peak label mate Gerald Albright, maintains the soulful momentum that Philly born and bred Lorber has built up over three decades and is sure to be one of events of the smooth jazz year.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Heard That’.

The Very Best Of Acoustic Alchemy Vol 2 Available October 6

Hot new for all fans of Acoustic Alchemy is that October 6 sees the release of ‘The Very Best of Acoustic Alchemy Vol.2’. This collection of 17 great tracks from their GRP era is a special release from Universal and is made even more exclusive by the fact that it will only be available by mail order or download from the Acoustic Alchemy merchandise page at www.smoothjazz.com

The band is currently on tour in the USA so check back here soon for a complete review of ‘The Very Best of Acoustic Alchemy Vol.2’ and for a report on Acoustic Alchemy’s up coming show at Anthology, San Diego.