Smooth Jazz Therapy

Euge Groove At Thornton Winery

June 26, 2011. It was in 2000 that sax superstar Euge Groove released his Paul Brown produced self titled debut CD. Since then, despite a leave of absence in 2008 when he toured the world with Tina Turner, Euge has occupied what at times has appeared to be an almost permanent place at the top of the contemporary jazz charts. His appearance as part of the latest chapter in the Thornton Winery 2011 Champagne Jazz Series in Temecula CA provided the perfect opportunity to showcase his latest (and seventh) album, the appropriately titled ‘S7ven Large’, which has already put him right back in the smooth jazz spotlight.

Nick Colionne At Thornton Winery

June 26, 2011. On a blistering afternoon in Temecula CA, everything, but everything, was hot. In the ninety degree temperatures of this corner of Southern California, smooth jazz superstar Nick Colionne opened up the latest installment of the Thornton Winery 2011 Champagne Jazz Series with a performance that typified the sheer energy this wonderful guitarist injects into every note of his music. It’s an element of his persona that comes right out of his home town of Chicago and he used his appearance to incorporate many of the influences that have touched his career to date.

Player A - Our Own Devices

Producer and keyboard player Eric Copeland has brought together the very best of Nashville's session musicians for his brainchild excursion into contemporary jazz that he has simply named Player A. In fact the genre is far from being new to this talented collective who also serve as a production team for other jazz artists including Creative Soul Jazz label mate Drew Davidsen. The latest CD from Player A is titled ‘Our Own Devices’ and comprises ten of Copeland’s own compositions plus two well crafted covers. It’s an eclectic body of work that shows off the immense artistry of those involved and in so doing provides several truly outstanding tunes.

Spotlight On Daniel Davis

Totally different from anything you are likely to hear this year is the zesty interpretation of Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Want You’ from the 2009 album ‘Play For Me’ by youthful violinist Daniel Davis. Of course contemporary jazz violin is hardly a novelty as artists such as Karen Briggs and Mark Cargill will attest but the fact Davis was only 18 years of age at the time the album was released makes it that bit different.

Davis originally built a fan base on YouTube through his renditions of Chris Brown’s ‘Forever’ and Soulja Boys’ ‘Kiss Me Through The Phone featuring Sammie’. He appeared before 50,000 spectators at the Obama ‘Stand for Change Rally’ in the University of South Carolina, Koger Center for the Arts and has also opened for Najee, when he performed a song including samples of Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. Much like his contemporaries in hip hop and rap, Davis has modified the traditional path of his predecessors and with ‘I Want You’ scheduled for smooth jazz radio looks set to reach out to a totally different listening audience.

Jonathan Fritzen At Spaghettini

June 24, 2011. Just a stones throw from the I-405 freeway in Seal Beach, Spaghettini Jazz Club & Grill has carved out a niche for itself as the place to be for contemporary jazz in Orange County. It continues to host some of the hottest acts the genre can provide and on making his debut at this lively venue, writer, producer and keyboard player Jonathan Fritzén demonstrated he is right up there with the best of them. Indeed despite his sojourn from the cool climes of Sweden (where he still calls Stockholm home) to the sunny disposition of Southern California, Fritzén, in the company of a tight five piece band, proved to be entirely on fire.

Smoothgrooves Keeps On Hitting The Spot

As previously reported, the SmoothGrooves Radio Show leads an impressive offensive in keeping eclectic, high quality contemporary jazz on the airwaves. Presented live at 7-00 PM every Monday from UK based Gloucester Radio on 96.6 FM, and around the globe at 11-00 AM Pacific, 2-00 PM Eastern and 8-00 PM Central European time, the show is presented by Rich Edwards and offers a range of music, both new and not so new, that is, at times, nothing short of breathtaking.

Global Noize - A Prayer For The Planet

Jason Miles is an innovator and a risk taker. His current project named ‘Global Noize’ finds him in collaboration with his friend DJ Logic and when, in April 2008, I reviewed their self titled debut album I described it as an organic, free-spirited sonic blend of some of the best elements of jazz, funk, electronica and world fusion. Never one to rest on his laurels Miles is now back with the follow up, the expansively titled ‘A Prayer For The Planet’, which will be released on August 23, 2011.

Terje Lie Returns To Radio With 'Parlophone'

The news that the album ‘Urban Vacation’ from Norwegian born saxophonist Terje Lie has just garnered it’s third radio single was all the excuse I needed to revisit this fine collection which, previously, I had described as Lie’s most commercially appealing to date.

Titled ‘Parlophone’, this infectious, brass enriched gem features Jeff Lorber on keys and has been a firm Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite since the CD was first released. In fact it was a my ‘new music’ selection on Bruce Nazarian’s Digital Guy Radio Show back in February of 2010 and now, at long last, is enjoying the solo exposure it so richly deserves.

Michael Franks - Time Together

Michael Franks is unique. His mellifluous meanderings on life and the things he holds most dear never fail to enthrall and his latest (and 18th in total) album, the entirely delicious ‘Time Together’, is right up there with his best work. Not only is it Franks’ first release since the 2006 ‘Rendezvous in Rio’ but also signals his debut on the excellent Shanachie label. As if to mark the event he has gathered some fine supporting musicians around him and amongst these both Eric Marienthal and Chuck Loeb play a significant part. In fact this sumptuous eleven song collection unfolds like a summer vacation for grown ups and there is little doubt that long after some of this years new music has come and gone ‘Time Together’ will still be a firm favorite in the Smooth Jazz Therapy CD player.

Dave Koz Adds Silk To The Nylons

With seven gold and platinum recordings, The Nylons, are well known for their great acappella sound, dazzling harmonies and smooth arrangements. They were formed thirty two years ago when four Toronto based and out of work actors got together to form a singing group. Then, as now, it all began with the voice (they have never even needed a backing band) and fifteen studio albums on they are all set to release number 16.

‘Skin Tight’ includes a high energy take on Michael McDonald’s seminal ‘What A Fool Believes’ which, as well as being the first single to be serviced to radio, also features the one and only Dave Koz with some extremely tasty sax interventions.

Michael Paulo With The Magenta Symphony Orchestra

Whether it be as an integral part of Peter White’s US touring line-up, a member of Greg Adam’s excellent East Bay Soul project or as a recording artist in his own right, sax player Michael Paulo never fails to delight. For over 25 years, Michael has added his undisputed talents to the performances of contemporary jazz luminaries such as Al Jarreau, James Ingram, Rick Braun Patti Austin, Jeff Lorber and David Benoit but now has reconnected with Benoit for his own ‘Michael Paulo With The Magenta Symphony Orchestra’.

Jef Kearns Releases Video Of 'On The Level'

Smooth Jazz Therapy has long been a champion of contemporary jazz flute and one great example, which I reviewed back in 2009, is the album ‘On The Level’ by Toronto based flautist Jef Kearns. The news that the title track from this great collection is now available as a youtube video was all the excuse I needed to revisit this fine CD and suffice to say I wasn’t disappointed.

It’s a cut that shimmers with a lovely jazz inclined funkiness and is in the fine company of several other gems with the up tempo and retro tinged ‘Givin U All I Got’ being a particular favorite.

‘On The Level’ is a CD that dispels the myth that flute players can’t do urban jazz. Check out the video now.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tlSDyZF4XI

Nicholas Cole - A Journey Of One

‘A Journey Of One’ by Nicholas Cole was released back in 2010 but somehow missed the usually reliable radar of Smooth Jazz Therapy. The album is a fine collection of keyboard driven smooth jazz that draws on influences such as Brian Culbertson and Earth Wind & Fire but is all the more remarkable for the fact that, when the CD was released, Cole was only 17 years old.

Nicholas Cole is a native of Goldsboro, NC from where he developed within a musically creative family. His father is a locally renowned vocalist while Nicholas got his own start by playing organ in church when aged only four. Despite the offers of scholarships at both Julliard and Berklee Cole has put this formal education on hold while he develops a recording and performing career.

Rodney Taylor - Passion

Smooth sax player Rodney Taylor released his debut album in 1991 but over the last twenty years has built a solid career as a tour and studio sideman. Among his credits are gigs with Marcus Johnson, Chaka Kahn, Doc Powell, and El DeBarge as well as a three year stint with the fabulous Anita Baker.

Taylor’s latest CD is the independently released ‘Can I Blow For You?’ which features Jeff Lorber, Tony Moore and Alex Al. The first single from it is the easy grooving ‘Passion!’ which offers everything you might expect from what is a gorgeous slice of contemporary jazz.

Rodney has also worked in gospel music and written movie scores but with ‘Can I Blow For You?’ looks all set to enjoy solo smooth jazz stardom. Check back here soon for a complete review but, for now, check out ‘Passion’ right here at ‘Listen Here’.

Simply select the track from the listing and enjoy.

Eliane Elias - Light My Fire

Pianist, composer and vocalist Eliane Elias is an artist 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. Her 2008 release ‘Bossa Nova Stories’ was recorded as a tribute to the music of Eliane’s homeland and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bossa Nova music. Now she is back on familiar territory with her latest offering, ‘Light My Fire’, which is out now on the Concord Picante label. A mixture of original music and cleverly selected covers the album explores both the hot and cool sides of Brazilian jazz and, much like everything that Eliane Elias does, is of the highest quality.