Smooth Jazz Therapy

Philippe Saisse - At Worlds Edge

Although songwriter, producer and keyboard player Philippe Saisse has spent much of his career ‘behind the scenes’ he has of late ventured beyond his familiar studio confines to become a much sought out live performer. In fact his unique knack for moulding pop classics into passable impressions of jazz standards seems to know no bounds and his tight cover of the Steely Dan hit ‘Do It Again’ turned out to be one of the surprise radio hits of 2007. It came from the 2006 album ‘The Body And Soul Sessions’ which is replete with shimmering examples of familiar, yet delightfully re-imagined favourites and now he is back with an exceptional collection of original compositions titled ‘At World’s Edge’.

Mindi Abair At The Thornton Winery

April 26, 2009. The 2009 Champagne Jazz Series at the Thornton Winery in Temecula, CA kicked off in fine style with headline artist Mindi Abair who brought her own special brand of pop-influenced sax driven jazz to this perpetually sun soaked location. In fact 2009 marks the twenty first anniversary of this summer long series. It provides an unrivalled opportunity for the jazz fans of Southern California to sit in the warm afternoon sunshine, drink champagne by the bottle and chill out to some of the best live jazz anywhere. Indeed, as afternoon blended into early evening the champagne really did flow like rivers and Mindi, ably backed by her usual touring band, put on the show of her life.

Michael Franks At Anthology

April 24, 2009: Despite almost twenty albums to his name, and the huge popularity he enjoyed throughout the 70’s and 80’s, for some inexplicable reason I came late to the music of Michael Franks. It was not until 1993 and his superb CD ‘Dragonfly Summer’ that I latched on to his incredible talent but once the discovery was made I became entirely intoxicated. His unrivalled ability as a songwriter coupled with a unique vocal style has afforded him iconic status in the world of jazz and adult contemporary music so when this San Diego native made a welcome homecoming to play back to back dates at the excellent Anthology the anticipation was colossal. In fact this up market dinner and music venue which boasts big screen projection and superb acoustics proved to be the perfect setting for Franks who, truth to tell, delivered on every front imaginable.

Joyce Cooling - Global Cooling

There is little doubt that San Francisco based guitarist Joyce Cooling has the monopoly on the kind of tight mid tempo smooth jazz that will always find an audience. Known for both her unique finger picking style and her passion for rhythm and harmony, the collaborations she has long enjoyed with writing partner Jay Wagner have signposted her career and now she is back with her brand new release, the cleverly titled ‘Global Cooling’.

The Rippingtons - Modern Art

My occasional feature ‘What’s Smooth Jazz’ delves deep into the archives to select a track or album that exemplifies all that is good within the genre. However, truth to tell, one only need to check out the brand new release from super-group The Rippingtons to perfectly capture the essence of what consummate contemporary jazz is all about. ‘Modern Art’ comes three years after the band’s sumptuous celebration ‘20th Anniversary’ and unlike this previous effort, which purposely involved alumni from the band’s illustrious past, leader Russ Freeman is once again front back and centre. He writes or co-writes ten of the eleven tracks, produces throughout and with his unmistakable guitar provides a timely reminder of why this often changing collective has withstood the test of time.

Nils - Up Close And Personal

‘Radio ready’ is a term that could well have been invented with Nils in mind. Indeed within the current crop of contemporary jazz guitarists, and with the possible exception of Peter White, no one is more assured of a place on the listings of most played on smooth jazz radio than he. His 2005 album ‘Pacific Coast Highway’ made him an instant favorite of the medium 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’. Smooth Jazz Therapy has long been attracted to the sumptuous west coast vibe that typifies his style and has watched his evolution into a ‘must see’ live performer with interest. Now, with the release of the self produced and substantially self written ‘Up Close And Personal’, his music has taken on what he describes as ‘a more live feel’. Featuring a hand picked rhythm section that includes Ricky Lawson on drums, bass supremos Alex AL and Reggie McBride, Clydene Jackson on keyboards and vocals plus the percussion of Oliver Brown, this twelve track tour de force has, even at this early stage, blasted Nils back into the contemporary jazz charts.

Cynthia Layne Contest Now Closed

Thanks to all who participated in the Smooth Jazz Therapy Cynthia Layne contest. Everyone who entered will receive a signed copy of Cynthia’s 2008 CD ‘Beautiful Soul’ together with a photograph. Check your mailbox in a couple of weeks and enjoy the music!

Meanwhile, send any questions you may have to stljazz@charter.net.

Cynthia 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. ‘Beautiful Soul’ is a revelation and comes highly recommended.

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

Noel Webb - Give It All

What do you do with a violinist that has the soul of Jimi Hendrix and the heart of Muddy Waters? Well, just as Hendrix redefined rock and Waters electrified the blues, you let Noel Webb do what he does best, in other words create music that redefines the landscape of the world around him.

Webb has shared the stage with the likes of Grover Washington, Jr, blues icon John Hammond, and rock notables such as Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Tubes and REO Speedwagon. In fact he is one of the most admired instrumental pop violinists to be heard on mainstream radio and is regarded as an innovator of the rock/jazz violin. Like most things he does, Webb presents his newest release ‘Give It All’ with style, grace and a renowned groove that places the violin front back and center of the new look adult contemporary scene.

What makes ‘Give It All’ different is that Webb has pared it back to only five carefully chosen songs. Easily accessible for fans, reflective of the intensity that he crams into every live performance and without fillers; each song is rock solid yet packed with enough energy to stand entirely alone.

For more go to www.noelwebb.com

Jay Soto - Mesmerized

Smooth Jazz Therapy has been a fan of award winning guitarist Jay Soto since 2005 and the release of his debut album ‘Long Time Coming’. At the time I described it as an astonishing collection of ultra commercial smooth jazz tunes with ‘radio ready’ stamped all over several of them and when in 2007 he followed it up with ‘Stay Awhile’ I was again totally captivated. Helped in no small part by the formidable line up of guest contributors that Soto assembled to perform with him ‘Stay Awhile’ quickly found its way into the upper echelons of the smooth jazz chart and now he is back with the highly anticipated ‘Mesmerized’. His second release on the nuGroove label, it features eleven self penned numbers and, with production credits on seven of them, is an indicator of his rapidly increasing musical maturity. Not only that, and doubly important in these stressful credit crunched times, ‘Mesmerized’ is replete with the kind of sunshine sounds that are guaranteed to put a smile back on your face.

Last Chance To Name That Tune And Win A Cynthia Layne CD

The clock is ticking on the chance to submit your idea of a ‘one hit wonder’ soul song for Cynthia Layne to cover on her new album. The competition closes on April 15 and 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.

Shimmering with jazz, R & B, and pop influences, it’s a wonderful album that showcases to perfection Layne’s vocal style and marks her out as one of the few singers to come close to delivering genuine vocal smooth jazz.

To be sure not to miss out e-mail your suggestion now to stljazz@charter.net

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

Torcuato Mariano - So Far From Home

‘So Far From Home’ by guitarist Torcuato Mariano is as surprising as it is delightful. Given his South American heritage one might have expected Mariano to use this release as his homage to the music of bossa nova that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Instead, as if from no-where and under the good guidance of nuGroove Records, he has delivered ten original smooth jazz stunners that look likely to instantly catapult him into the upper echelons of the genre.

Brian Tarquin - Brian Tarquin Collection

Despite being a prolific writer for film and television, guitarist and producer Brian Tarquin is best known by some for his ability to mix pop with elements of the acid jazz that, throughout the nineties, spiraled into a transatlantic phenomenon. It was a sound that laid the foundation for the best of what contemporary jazz was later to offer and in a concentrated period that straddled the millennium Tarquin released a sequence of albums which typified that style. Often restrained yet paradoxically bursting with latent energy his music was never far from the cutting edge and now, with the release on nuGroove Records of the outstanding retrospective ‘Brian Tarquin Collection’, there is a chance to discover his magic all over again.

Paul Brown + Marc Antoine - Foreign Exchange

‘Foreign Exchange’ by Paul Brown and Mark Antoine hits record stores across the USA on April 7 and captures the wonderful chemistry of acoustic and electric guitar in a way not seen since 1987 when George Benson and Earl Klugh got together to record the classic ‘Collaboration’. Indeed Antoine’s penchant for irresistible melodies coupled with Brown’s propensity for funk enriched smooth jazz has ensured an eclectic collection of the highest order yet the fact the album was ever made owes something to good fortune. Having performed together at ‘Paul Brown’s Guitar Night’ in 2008, two time Grammy winner Brown, who was in the early stages of producing a follow-up to his 2007 smash ‘White Sand’, invited Antoine to play on one of the songs. The initial session sparked a creative flow which developed into a dynamic new partnership and, in turn, the aptly titled ‘Foreign Exchange’. With outstanding support from some of the genre’s biggest hitters, plus top rated session men Roberto Vally, Dan Lutz and Lenny Castro, this is a project that cannot fail.

Only Nine Days Left To 'Name That Tune' And Win A Cynthia Layne CD

Time is running out for you to send your idea of a ‘one hit wonder’ soul song for Cynthia Layne to cover on her new album. The competition closes on April 15 and 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.

Shimmering with jazz, R & B, and pop influences, it’s a wonderful collection that showcases to perfection Layne's vocal style and marks her out as one of the few singers to come close to delivering genuine vocal smooth jazz.

To be sure not to miss out e-mail your suggestion now to stljazz@charter.net

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

Bob Baldwin Headed For The Charts With She's All That

When in March 2008 I reviewed ‘NewUrbanJazz.com’ from keyboard player Bob Baldwin I described it as the redefining of a genre and the legitimization of R & B tinged vocals within smooth jazz. It remains a genuine Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite and the track ‘She’s All That’ is an absolute standout. With Marion Meadows immense on sax, Ragan Whiteside adding her usual spine tingling flute and Baldwin’s keys always smooth yet often edgy this is as good an example of ‘in the pocket’ contemporary jazz as will be found anywhere. Now radio is catching on too with the single version of ‘She’s All That’ hanging just outside the Groove Jazz Indicator of most played on terrestrial smooth jazz radio. Almost certain to break into the top thirty next week, Baldwin’s success with ‘She’s All That’ is just reward for a performer, writer and producer who continues to give back generously to the music he loves.

Toni Redd - 'N' The Key Of Red

With a singing style that is a delicious amalgam of R & B, contemporary jazz, and classical soul Toni Redd is indeed the real deal. Her recording credits include the debut CD, ‘Straight from the Heart’ and a guest spot on the eponymously titled ‘Fattburger.com’. As an actor she has toured with the play ‘A Good Man Is Still Hard To Find’ and appeared in the independent film ‘Losing Grace’. Now, in the safe stewardship of nuGroove Records, Redd is back with her sophomore project ‘N The Key Of Redd’. Substantially written by Redd and urban jazz maestro Bob Baldwin (who also plays keys throughout) this sophisticated ten track collection of smooth R & B marks out Redd as a force to be reckoned with.