Smooth Jazz Therapy

Mike Catalano - A Manhattan Affair

With a career built around creating memorable music for television’s ‘A Current Affair’, ‘Good Day New York’ and ‘Fox News’ pianist Mike Catalano re-emerged as a solo performer in 2007 with the release of the wonderful ‘A Manhattan Affair’. It put him firmly into the smooth jazz spotlight but, despite guest performances from greats such as Bob James, Chuck Loeb, Ivan Lins, Steve Gadd and Randy Brecker, the album inexplicably slipped through the Smooth Jazz Therapy net. However, as it continues to present a string of chart busting tunes to radio, there has never been a better time to evaluate the considerable merits of this superb collection.

Jamie Bonk - St Joseph Street

I first became aware of guitarist Jamie Bonk’s music by way of his excellent 2004 release ‘My World’. His third album, it had been three years in the making and at the time I commented that, in the competitive world of contemporary jazz guitar, it had all the attributes necessary to take him right to the top. The follow up, ‘5’, came along in 2007 and now he is back with an exceptional four track ‘digital only’ EP, ‘St Joseph Street’.

Hiroshima - Legacy

It was in 1974 that Dan Kuramoto and June Kuramoto formed Hiroshima. With the ground breaking convergence of eastern and western music as its fulcrum, the band quickly found success with its self titled debut CD and since then has gone on to record fourteen more spellbinding collections that demonstrate the commitment its founding members have to their own special brand of cross cultural innovation. This dedication is as strong as ever and now, in the company of Hiroshima’s current line-up of keyboard player Kimo Cornell, drummer Danny Yamamoto, percussionist Shoji Kameda and bass-man Dean Cortez, they are rolling back the years with the release of the wonderful new album ‘Legacy’. Out now on the Heads Up International label it features eleven songs from the first ten years of the bands prolific history yet, with every track having been re-recorded live in Dan Kuramoto’s home studio, this is far from being a run of the mill ‘best of’ project. In many cases the tunes are fairly similar to the originals. In others they are very different. With guest performances from Hiroshima’s ‘extended family’ of percussionist Richie Gajate Garcia and vocalists Terry Steele, Yvette Nii and Jim Gilstrap the result is as good as any contemporary jazz recording released this year.

Carlyle Barriteau - Groovin' at Sunset

Fresh on the Smooth Jazz Therapy radar screen is ‘Groovin’ at Sunset’, the excellent new album from guitar player and vocalist Carlyle Barriteau. It’s a tight predominately self penned collection from an artist who, as guitarist, is reminiscent of George Benson in style but, also like Benson, has the added advantage of a really great singing voice.

Born on Aruba, Barriteau grew up on the Caribbean island of St Maarten and relocated to California in 1980. Having attended both the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and Berklee College in Boston he has progressed to enjoy a successful career as a sought after backing musician and a performer in his own right. His CD ‘Native Sun’ was released in 2000 and he also appeared on Rod Stewart’s 2005 video ‘Great American Songbook IV’. As well as previously sharing the stage with the likes of Patti Austin and Donny Osmond, Barriteau is currently playing guitar for Paul Taylor and touring with the legendary Bobby Caldwell.

Tom Braxton - Endless Highway

Not surprising, the untimely death of the much loved Wayman Tisdale set off shock waves that were felt throughout the world of contemporary jazz. In this respect no one could have been more affected than saxophonist Tom Braxton who, as an integral member of Tisdale’s touring band, had been with him right from the start. That said, life has a way of creating opportunities and for Braxton the opportunity to pay homage to his long time friend and mentor has come in the form of his latest solo recording, the aptly titled ‘Endless Highway’. Released on the San Diego-based Pacific Coast Jazz label it is his second CD with Pacific Coast Jazz and follows the 2007 ‘Imagine This’ that at the time I described as has “having it all going on”. With an outstanding array of instrumentalists and vocalists in support, Braxton uses the ten superb tracks of ‘Endless Highway’ to take the listener on a groove-oriented excursion that, consistent with the best of the genre’s current offerings, shimmers with a delightful urban sophistication.

Anthony James Baker - Looking Ahead

Guitarist Anthony James Baker has worked with many internationally acclaimed artists and shared billing with headline performers such as Tower of Power, Michael McDonald, Norman Brown and the Neville Brothers. After many years in the USA he has now returned to his native England to form a new band and write new material. The culmination of all this is his excellent five track EP titled ‘Looking Ahead’ which not only includes some of the best contemporary jazz you will hear this year but also features sublime inputs from bass player Mel Brown, production genius Darren Rahn and the multi talented Bobby Wells.

Jesse Cook - The Rumba Foundation

A charismatic entertainer who has sold over one million albums worldwide, guitarist Jesse Cook has performed to sold-out crowds all over the map. It has led him to enjoy a truly global fan base and, despite his music being rooted in fiery flamenco rhythms, a unique following that embraces both new age music and contemporary jazz. Two of his recent CD’s, ‘Frontiers’ and ‘Nomad’ were heavily influenced by journeys that Cook made to Egypt and Spain. Both climbed to the upper echelons of the Billboard chart while the single from ‘Frontiers’, ‘Café Mocha’, figured largely on the chart of most played on smooth jazz radio. His latest release ‘The Rumba Foundation’ also stems from one of Cook’s groundbreaking expeditions, this time to Colombia and his leaving home in Toronto to record there proved to be the beginning of a cultural exchange far more challenging than he ever could have expected. It forced Cook to stretch in unimagined ways and resulted in the creation of what he believes is his finest recording to date.

Jim Peterik's Lifeforce

Jim Peterik has written some of the biggest pop anthems of the last forty years and led iconic bands such as The Ides Of March and Survivor. In the world of rock his career has been one of consummate achievement so it is perhaps doubly surprising that for his latest project Peterik has turned his attention to contemporary jazz. However, this Chicago native, who is famed for composing ‘Eye of the Tiger’ from the 1982 Stallone movie Rocky III, is not your usual smooth jazz performer and his latest CD, ‘Lifeforce’, is far from being a typical smooth jazz album. With a mega talented band making a huge contribution and the vocal talents of newcomer Lisa McClowry lighting up everything she touches this ‘rock meets contemporary jazz’ collection is as enticing as it is different and looks all set to shake the cobwebs from a genre often accused of being too predictable.

Snake Davis Band - Live

Through a career spanning three decades saxophonist Snake Davis has played with some of the best pop, R & B and jazz performers of his era. He is a perpetual ‘go to guy’ for recordings by both Acoustic Alchemy and Paul Hardcastle whilst as a solo performer he already has eight collections of funk and soul inspired jazz to his name. Now he is back with his latest release, ‘Snake Davis Band - ‘Live’, which will hit the streets on October 15. Partly a live showcase, and partly a ‘best of’ package, ‘Snake Davis Band – Live’ is a welcome addition to the discography of this outstanding player.

East Bay Soul

The mega funky East Bay Soul is the brainchild of Grammy and Emmy nominated trumpeter Greg Adams and although initially assembled with live dates in mind the band has just released its eponymously titled debut CD. This hugely talented line-up has its roots firmly grounded in the uniquely soul based genre of San Francisco’s East Bay area and as a consequence delivers tight horn filled rhythms that are both entirely timeless and totally to die for. Of course Adams is a founding member of the wonderful Tower of Power and here, as East Bay Soul, he is joined by another ex Tower of Power stalwart, trumpeter Lee Thornburg. The East Bay Soul roster is completed by Joey Navarro on keyboards, Evan Stone on drums, Brian Allen on bass, James Wirrick on guitar, Johnny Sandoval on percussion plus Johnnie Bamont, Michael Paulo and Greg Vail on alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. Suffice to say that the combination is nothing short of magical.

Melba Moore And Phil Perry - The Gift Of Love

The interplay generated between magical vocal couplings such as those of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald or even Teena Marie and Rick James has delivered some of the greatest soul music of the past forty plus years. Now, with their exciting new release ‘The Gift Of Love’, Melba Moore and Phil Perry are rekindling the fire of these incredible duets. Moore, a Tony Award-winning actress and vocalist, has topped the R&B Charts and starred on Broadway, TV and film while Perry, as well as having worked with just about everyone who is anyone, has virtually written the book on how great smooth soul should sound.

Brian Bromberg - It Is What It Is

Since 1985, acclaimed bassist and producer Brian Bromberg has been confounding the music industry with an ever increasing catalogue of straight ahead and contemporary jazz offerings that are often driven by specific sounds and themes. His 2002 ‘Wood’ was built around acoustic bass, ‘Metal’ had electric bass as its centrepiece and with ‘Jaco’ Bromberg celebrated the artistry of fretless bass pioneer Jaco Pastorius. He last tickled the sound buds with his 2007 Grammy nominated ‘Downright Upright’ and is now back with the entirely different ‘It Is What It Is’.

In fact part of Bromberg’s magic is his totally predictable unpredictability and with this decidedly funky 13 track collection he not only features what turns out to be an absolutely killer horn section but also calls upon fellow A-listers George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal, Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot and Rick Braun to lend a hand.

Galaxy Lounge - Welcome To The Party

Despite the fact that writer, arranger and producer Jon Grindstaff has spent the last twenty years creating music for commercials on radio and television, he has now emerged with his first solo project delivered under the apt guise of Galaxy Lounge. The result, ‘Welcome To The Party’, is a delicious blend of smooth jazz and lounge music with tracks that have already caught the attention of the syndicated radio show ‘Chill With Mindi Abair’ as well as smooth jazz stations across the USA.

Don Diego - A New Beginning

Blue Canoe Records is an independent label based outside of Atlanta GA with a mission to bridge the gap between creativity and commerce. With dedication, vision and determination Blue Canoe strives to endow the artists for which it is responsible with unparalleled marketing, distribution and licensing opportunities. The latest recipient of this hands on approach is contemporary jazz sax player Don Diego whose latest CD ‘A New Beginning’ is as soulful as it is smooth. For this, his fifth solo recording, Diego has fashioned eleven original compositions and is joined by vocalist and co-writer Wayne Stalling plus Al James and Tyrone Smith on keys. The result is a slice of smooth R & B the like of which a whole generation of disenfranchised soul lovers has long been searching for.

Jessy J - True Love

When in 2008 sax player Jessica Spinella, aka Jessy J, released her debut CD ‘Tequila Moon’ a range of factors combined to make it one of the most hyped events of the year. Produced by Paul Brown, who also provided a significant writing input, the album merged smooth jazz with Latin sensibilities in a way that had rarely been done before. When her good, some would say stunning, looks are taken into consideration it is hardly surprising that within the genre the project quickly elevated her to star status. Now little more than a year later she is back with her sophomore effort ‘True Love’. It moves Jessy J closer yet to her Latin heritage while again drawing heavily on Paul Brown’s talents as a writer, producer and performer. With stellar contributions from bass player Roberto Vally, keyboard maestro Gregg Karukas and drummer Sergio Gonzalez, ‘True Love’ is already well on the way to emulating the success of ‘Tequila Moon’.

Elan Trotman - This Time Around

Those who enjoy their smooth jazz exceptionally smooth should look no further than ‘This Time Around’, the brand new release from Barbadian sax-man Elan Trotman. It is Trotman’s fourth CD and the first that majors specifically on contemporary jazz yet, given his previous efforts were built around themes of Caribbean music, gospel and jazz; one wonders what took him so long to find a smooth groove. However, found it he has and with thirteen original tunes plus two covers there is more than enough on offer for Trotman to show that this is where he belongs.

Rick Braun - All It Takes

Not only is Rick Braun the leading smooth jazz trumpeter of his era, his pre-eminent position in the genre has, over the years, led to the formation of some stunning partnerships. After ushering in the millennium with Boney James and their ‘Shake It Up’ project he went on to perform with Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown under the collective name of BWB. Perhaps his most significant pairing has been with Richard Elliot with whom he founded the independent ARTizen label and recorded the critically acclaimed ‘R & R’. Now, by combining with writer, producer and keyboard player Philippe Saisse for his brand new CD ‘All It Takes’, he has done it again. In reality 2009 has already been quite a year for Saisse. His own hit album ‘At World’s Edge’ put him right back in the contemporary jazz spotlight and his extensive input to ‘Good Day’ by Peter White can only serve to elevate his reputation even further. In fact for ‘All It Takes’ Braun and Saisse together write a total of six songs and co-produce throughout. The ten track tour de force is further enhanced by a solo composition from Saisse and even at this stage it seems certain that ‘All It Takes’ will cement Braun’s position as number one in his field.

Marcin Nowakowski - Better Days

Although contemporary jazz saxophonist Marcin Nowakowski is a well known performer in his native Poland, his brand new album ‘Better Days’ is a direct result of a visit he recently made to Los Angeles. It afforded him the opportunity to work with some of the genres A-list musicians including bass player Alex Al, drummer Tony Moore and the great percussionist Lenny Castro. In so doing he has conjured up a collection of the highest quality which adds substantially to a discography that was last impacted in 2005 with the release of his superb ‘Smooth Night’. At the time I commented he was staking a serious claim to be considered as a solo artist and on the evidence of ‘Better Days’ he has achieved that and then some.