Smooth Jazz Therapy

Ronny Smith - Just Groovin

When, in 2007 I reviewed ‘Simply Stated’ by guitarist Ronny Smith I described him as creating a mood that is nothing short of precious. Although the album included re-imaginations of tracks from his 2002 sophomore project ‘Laid Back’ and the 2005 offering ‘Got Groove’ it was a body of work that showed off the increasing maturity of his playing. It also confirmed him as a notable songwriter and now he is back with his fifth solo CD, the appropriately titled ‘Just Groovin’.

Win A Signed Copy Of Cynthia Layne's Beautiful Soul

Vocalist Cynthia Layne has a style shimmering with jazz, R & B, and pop influences yet is one of the few singers to come close to delivering genuine vocal smooth jazz. Her 2008 CD ‘Beautiful Soul’ was a revelation and now she is offering you the chance to choose a track for her new project that is due out later this year.

All you need to do is send your idea of a ‘one hit wonder’ soul song for Cynthia to cover on the new album. Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity and artistic merit by Cynthia and her band with the winner receiving a signed copy of the ‘Beautiful Soul’ album.

The competition closes on April 15 so to be part of the process e-mail your suggestion now to stljazz@charter.net

For more on Cynthia Layne go to www.myspace.com/cynthialayne

Diana Krall - Quiet Nights

The Brazilian focus of Diana Krall’s new album ‘Quiet Nights’ represents far more than merely her celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bossa Nova music. Indeed Krall’s ever more maturing style has been sympathetic to this brand of music for some time and her 2001 CD, ‘The Look of Love’, found her leaning very much in the direction of Bossa Nova. ‘Quiet Nights’ is a sensual recording of ballads and Bossa Novas for which Diana reveals a distinctly seductive side. All ten songs are disarming in their intimacy and even those who are familiar with Krall’s breathy vocals and hallmark rhythmic lilt will be taken aback by just how far the music pushes into the realms of sweet surrender.

Nils Is Back, Up Close And Personal

Smooth Jazz Therapy has long been attracted to the sumptuous west coast groove that typifies the style of guitarist Nils. His 2005 album ‘Pacific Coast Highway’ made him an instant radio favorite and the follow up ‘Ready To Play’ only served to re-enforce his position as the preeminent purveyor of what I have described as ‘chill out funk’. In fact, even with his more up tempo numbers, Nils production is able to engender a hypnotic quality that transports the listener, trance like, to another place. Now he is back with a brand new offering ‘Up Close And Personal’.

Self produced and substantially self written, this twelve track tour de force finds Nils seeking a more live feel to his music and the fact he achieves it to perfection is due in no small part to a hand picked rhythm section that includes Ricky Lawson on drums, bass supremo’s Alex AL and Reggie McBride, Clydene Jackson on keyboards and vocals plus the percussion of Oliver Brown. The very soulful result is sure to propel Nils back to the top of the contemporary jazz charts. Be sure to check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Up Close And Personal’.

For more and to get the latest on Nils go to www.nilsmusic.com.

Mary Talbot Fee - Midwinter Night's Dream

Jazz vocalist Mary Talbot Fee describes herself as a chanteuse jazz singer and with a voice that is as clear as a bell and a brand new CD ‘Midwinter Night’s Dream’ on her hands she is out to tell the world all about it. In fact, for Talbot Fee, ‘Midwinter Night’s Dream’ is the culmination of her jazz education thus far and as such is a very intimate and fiercely personal collection. The track list reads like a page from the Great Popular Music Songbook and while carefully handling songs written by luminaries as diverse as Johnny Mercer, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and Lennon & McCartney she is aided and abetted by a stellar line up of backing musicians that include Luis Conte, Pat Kelley and Rob Whitlock. In fact Whitlock has played with the Jazz Crusaders and here, as well as providing exceptional keyboards, also contributes three original compositions.

The result, in many respects, is way outside the norm and when recently I caught up with Mary I first asked her about the wintery title of an album that was being released with Spring right around the corner. She explained that “the theme of winter is synonymous with a time of rebirth” and added that “violin, organ, accordion, percussion, flute and clarinet were all used to reflect the mood and style of the songs and the culture of the languages”. Indeed with snippets of French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese all included her reference to language is significant and truth to tell their prudent use adds hugely to the eclectic nature of the entire piece.

Nicki Richards - Nicki

‘Nicki’ is the latest album from soulful vocalist Nicki Richards and its seventeen choice tracks are way more than just an expression of quantity. In fact they recognize Nicki’s return to the recording studio fully seventeen years after the release of her 1991 debut CD ‘Naked (To The World)’. Given the seventy six mind blowing minutes that this stellar collection of edgy R & B provides one can be excused for wondering what took her so long. Not only has Nicki written, produced and arranged every song she has also gathered around her a wonderful array of guest performers that include the Tower Of Power horns, Lenny White, Marcus Miller, Will Lee and Joe Sample. The result is a genre blurring tour de force that often surprises and invariably delights.

Leela James - Lets Do It Again

‘Lets Do It Again’ by the wonderful Leela James finds her making music the old school way. With eleven of the greatest tunes ever written she is, in her own words, “taking it back as she moves forward” and paying her respects to some of the artists that have influenced her own musical development. What this means to Leela is turning back time to record live in the studio, drawing her energy from the musicians performing around her and rekindling the same excitement that back in the day characterised the output from studios such as Stax, Motown and Muscle Shoals. The result is a joyous celebration of some of the most soulful sounds of the last forty years and for those who were there it is certain to bring back glorious memories. However, for those who were not, this is a heaven sent opportunity to capture the magic of the music and of Leela James.

Wine, Jazz And The LA Chillharmonic

Whether as a solo performer, sought after session player, arranger or integral member of the sensational East Bay Soul, trumpeter Greg Adams never fails to delight. His 2006 album ‘Cool To The Touch’ garnered the outstanding radio single ‘Felix The Cat’ and now this founding member of Tower of Power is back with a new collaboration, the groove drenched L.A. Chillharmonic. Led by guitarist Richard Smith and comprising Adams, the popular keyboardist Gregg Karukas, renowned bass player Brian Bromberg plus saxophonist Michael Paulo, L.A. Chillharmonic’s self titled debut release is the subject of the latest music and wine package from the innovative Wine and Jazz.

Russ Hewitt - Bajo El Sol

With a work ethic that is surpassed only by his incredible talent Russ Hewitt is fast becoming one of the most significant protagonists of nuevo flamenco and jazz guitar around today. Equally comfortable in a live setting or the recording studio Hewitt enjoys a performance schedule that would phase the most dedicated of artists and in late 2008 released his debut album, ‘Bajo el Sol’. It has since garnered critical acclaim and delivered the first radio single (the title track) that is currently riding high on the smooth jazz indie chart.

Eliane Elias - Bossa Nova Stories

‘Bossa Nova Stories’ is album number 21 in the glittering recording career of singer, pianist and songwriter, Eliane Elias. She is an artist who is renowned both for her distinctive and immediately recognizable musical style and the way she uses her sensuous, alluring voice to blend her Brazilian roots with impressive instrumental jazz and classical skills. Consequently it is no surprise that this impressive 14 song album has been recorded as a tribute to the music of Eliane’s homeland and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bossa Nova music. It finds her leading a top-notch line-up of backing musicians all of whom are steeped in the best traditions of Bossa Nova and who include guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, drummer Paulo Braga and bassist Marc Johnson. Among the guests are harmonica legend Toots Thielemans, Brazilian singer songwriter Ivan Lins and up and coming guitarist Ricardo Vogt. The album, which was produced by Elias and Steve Rodby, features seven tracks with full orchestration that were recorded at Abbey Road Studios, in London and beautifully arranged by Rob Mathes.

Dominic Amato - Fresh From The Groove

Groove Jazz Music’s brand new smooth jazz indicator chart launched this week and an early contender for inclusion will be the latest single (and title track) from sax-man Dominic Amato’s excellent album ‘Fresh From The Groove’. Yet another in an increasing number of fine musicians to have found a niche with nuGroove Records, Amato made his name with the contemporary jazz group Turning Point and from time to time also plays with the fusion band Sacred Soul that includes long time Darren Rahn collaborator Mel Brown. ‘Fresh From The Groove’, which was produced by Grammy Award winner Michael Broening, is a delicious mixture of slow jams such as the stunning ‘My Love Sounds Just Like This’ and feisty uplifting cuts of which the new radio single is a great example. With an infectious hook and all the rhythm and melody you will ever need it is well worth checking out.

For more and to get the latest on Dominic Amato go to www.dominicamato.com.

Vail Johnson - Come Together

When, in 2005 I reviewed the CD ‘Underground’ by bass player Vail Johnson I described it as pushing out the boundaries of contemporary jazz and being guaranteed to get him noticed. Well, that was then and now he is back with his latest offering, the very different ‘Come Together’. Quite simply this is Johnson’s tribute to the music of the Beatles and with eleven Lennon and McCartney classics plus the timeless George Harrison composition ‘Something’, he is in effect delivering what, in all but name, represents the ‘great popular songbook’ of the last forty something years.

One Smooth Jazz Door Closes - Another Opens

The once renowned Radio & Records smooth jazz indicator is no more. It printed it’s last chart of most played on smooth jazz radio last week and, by virtue of the fact it was number one at the time, handed the Boney James track ‘Stop, Look And Listen (To Your Heart)’ the top spot in perpetuity. Those who produced and commented on the chart have also moved on from Radio & Records but just when it seemed a huge void would be created for those who love or make a living from the music, a new chart monitored by Mediaguide and called Groove Jazz Music has appeared to take its place.

Officially launching on Monday, March 9 Groove Jazz Music is not a new name for smooth jazz. The chart will include smooth jazz along with urban groove, smooth vocals and some urban adult orientated music. The panel from which the chart will be constructed will consist of 30 terrestrial radio ‘reporters’ from across the USA.

In the coming weeks, the site will reportedly include additional elements and further information will be provided as and when they become available.

For details of the reporting stations, and to find who you need to call to get your favorite tracks played, go to http://news-releases.theurbanmusicscene.com/

Darren Rahn - Talk Of The Town

Mega talented songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist Darren Rahn has come up huge with his latest CD ‘Talk Of The Town’. His third solo project after ‘Once In A Lifetime’ and ‘Soulful’ its nine original compositions, coupled with three of the best covers you will hear this year, are certain to enable him to seize the spotlight and further enhance the already burgeoning reputation of nuGroove Records.

Walter Duda - Notes from The Coast

I first became aware of silky smooth jazz pianist Walter Duda through his 1997 debut ‘Daylight Again’. It proved to be a cool mix of funk, contemporary jazz and soul which laid down a clear marker as to what he was all about. The follow up, ‘Sole Intention’, was released digitally in 2005 and now, replete with the mellifluous vibe that regular listeners to Duda’s music have come to expect, he is back with a brand new collection of his own material, ‘Notes From The Coast’.

Criss Starr - On The Keys

‘On The Keys’ is the brand new EP from producer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist Criss Starr. It’s a sophisticated and sumptuous tour de force that includes some of the most sensuous sounds you will hear all year and, despite the fact he has been knocking on the door for the last ten years, really marks him out as someone to watch.