In what turned out to be a splendid year for Smooth Jazz Therapy we reviewed over sixty CD’s, reported on a record breaking sixteen gigs and, along the way, had an absolutely great time doing it. The way my readers keep coming back in ever increasing numbers never ceases to amaze me and it is totally down to all of you that the site remains the hottest place for contemporary jazz on the web. Thanks a million! Thanks also to the publicists, the record companies and of course the artists, both established and up and coming, who have all played a part by making their music so generously available. Therefore, accepting the self indulgence of it all, but by way of celebrating what has gone before, here are my own personal highlights of the year. In other words and in no particular order, my Smooth Jazz Therapy Top Twenty Tracks of 2011.
‘That Look On Your Face’ by Boney James from the hottest CD of the year, ‘Contact’. This dance orientated cut features dazzling vocals from Mario, a thumping beat and fabulous sax from Boney. In terms of urban jazz this is just about as good as it gets.
‘The Groove’s Alright’ by Kim Waters from his current album ‘This Heart Of Mine’. Providing a fine showcase for Waters immaculate playing, this blisteringly up tempo number has a title that just about tells you all you need to know.
Read on for the remainder of this year’s top twenty and if you have your own list of favorites from 2011 why not e-mail it to me at denis.poole@yahoo.com. Happy New Year!!
‘Ready Or Not’ by Paul Hardcastle from his ‘valentines’ album ‘Desire’. Written back in the early nineties but never previously released this immensely soulful song features co-writer Steven Dante on vocals. The result is something very special.
‘Coming On’ by Player A from the CD ‘Our Own Devices’; This pleasingly mid tempo track was the first from the album to be serviced to radio and features excellent sax from Sam Levine.
‘Touch’ by Randy Scott from his fresh new collection ‘90 Degrees At Midnight’. Engagingly mellow, this urban gem is added to in no small measure by a fine contribution on piccolo bass from Terrance Palmer.
‘Day N Night’ by Maysa from her R & B styled blockbuster ‘Motions Of Love’. High octane, retro tinged and with the ability to fill even the largest of dance floors, this shimmering song is Maysa’s own tribute to disco divas such as Linda Clifford and Thelma Houston.
‘Lifted’ by trumpeter Cindy Bradley from her 2011 breakthrough album ‘Unscripted’; This warmly inviting tune finds Thano Sahnas in great form on guitar whilst the entire piece serves as a perfect showcase for the sheer splendor of Bradley’s playing.
‘Boom Town’ by Richard Elliot from the CD ‘In The Zone’. The sort of powerhouse cut for which Elliot is famous, it enjoyed an extended stay on the charts of most played on smooth jazz radio.
‘Globetrotter’ by Westbound from the album ‘Gone For A Walk’. Italian contemporary jazz outfit Westbound is actually the exquisite pairing of Cristian Rocco and Enrico Catena. This was an album that came out of nowhere to wow the smooth jazz community and the wonderfully happy vibe of this spectacular track was one of the reasons why.
‘Going West’ by Roberto Vazquez from his brilliant new CD ‘Between Two Worlds’. A real standout of the entire collection, this easy paced tune benefits hugely from the magnificent guitar of Jose Carmelo Medina.
‘Rainforest/What's Going On’ by Paul Hardcastle from the album ‘Hardcastle 6’. This wonderful blending of his own 1984 blockbuster with what is arguably the late Marvin Gaye’s greatest song is a triumph of Hardcastle’s production genius. Not only that, with snippets and flavors from Hardcastle’s biggest hit, ‘19’, sax from Rock Hendricks and vocals provided by Maxine Hardcastle this one is out of this world.
‘Out On The Town’ by sax player Aaron Bing from his forthcoming release ‘Rebirth’.
‘Rebirth’ is due out early in 2012 and will be Bing’s third album. It follows ‘Always’ which was released in 2005 and ‘Secret Place’ that followed four years later. Although his tone exemplifies a variety of influences, he is nevertheless carving out a sound that is entirely his own.
‘Midnight And You’ by Nick Colionne from his first-rate project ‘Feel The Heat’. With Colionne’s under used vocals shining through, this sultry song checks all the right quiet storm boxes.
‘Heaven In Your Eyes’ by Elan Trotman from his album ‘Love And Sax’. The always immaculate Brian Simpson joins Trotman for this easy grooving track and in so doing contributes a glittering solo on piano.
‘Don’t Go’ by Dee Lucas from his ‘Standing Room Only’ project. Although released late in 2010 this one is worth bending the rules for. Massively seductive, it proves to be the perfect vehicle for Dee’s mellow playing and is added to by sexy vocals from Tamar Lucas.
‘Awakening’ by Keiko Matsui from her CD ‘The Road’. Standing apart as the collection’s outstanding track this is as good an example of her work as will be found anywhere.
‘The Ebor Sound Machine’ by Acoustic Alchemy from their latest CD ‘Roseland. With an understated reggae beat this is a number that shows all the signs of becoming seriously addictive. In addition, this mellifluous masterpiece draws its name from the city of York in the United Kingdom (where the CD was recorded) and which in the time of the Roman occupation (circa AD43) was known as Eboracum.
‘Mice’ by Michael Franks from ‘Time Together’ which was perhaps the most complete album of the year. As whimsical as it is beautiful this breathtaking song is brought alive by the vibraphone of Mike Mainieri and sumptuous guitar from David Spinozza.
‘Together We Stand’ by Down To The Bone from their hot new collection ‘The Main Ingredients’. With the horn section of Tim Smart on trombone, trumpeter Ryan Jacob and sax-man Tom Richards making velvety magic, the whole tune sizzles in a way that perhaps only the music of DTTB can.
‘Easy Come Easy Go’ by Paul Hardcastle from the album ‘Hardcastle 6’. It’s a measure of the quality of this collection that this is my second selection from it and a tremendous example of what Hardcastle does best.
