Smooth Jazz Therapy

Fabio Mignola - Take Me Higher

Swiss born guitarist Fabio Mignola first appeared on the contemporary jazz radar screen in 2003 with his CD ‘Flyin Away’. With a style that has been compared to that of Peter White and Acoustic Alchemy his next project was the 2005 ‘Luna Rossa’. This collaboration with tenor sax player Mauro Bonomi raised expectations of what might follow and now he is back with ‘Take Me Higher’. It is something of a showcase for Mignola’s wide raging musical talents who, as well as delivering eleven self penned tracks, also engineers and produces throughout.

Saltman Knowles - Yesterday's Man

Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed fifth CD, ‘Return of the Composer’, bassist Mark Saltman and pianist William Knowles (aka Saltman Knowles) are back with ‘Yesterday's Man’. It is scheduled for release January 26, 2010 on the excellent Pacific Coast Jazz label and boasts ten original songs, five by each partner, that are chock full of the warm, satisfying melodious sounds that typify their work. Although grounded in traditional jazz, the music of ‘Yesterday's Man’ takes the listener on a journey that at times is swinging, at others sentimental but invariably melodic. As such it will appeal to jazz aficionados of varying complexions and is helped in this respect by sublime vocals from Lori Williams-Chisholm. In addition the combination of jazz and world music that comes courtesy of steel pan drum played by Victor Provost is yet one more reason to check out this remarkably adult body of work.

For more information about Saltman Knowles go to www.SaltmanKnowles.com

Tracy Hamlin - Better Days

Although perhaps best known for her work as lead vocalist with Heads Up recording artists, Pieces of a Dream, Tracy Hamlin has performed with musical luminaries such as Carlos Santana, Marcus Miller, Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, Wayman Tisdale, Rick Braun, Jeff Golub, Acoustic Alchemy and Richard Elliott. Her solo debut ‘Seasons’ was released in 2005 and featured both Najee and her colleagues from Pieces of a Dream. It proved to be a stellar showcase for her rich vocal tones and built the perfect bridge between jazz and R&B. Now she is back with the sophisticatedly jazzy ‘Better Days’.

Trippin n Rhythm - The Very Best Of Christmas

Now December has arrived it seems only right and proper that Smooth Jazz Therapy should slip seamlessly into Christmas mode. Indeed, the annual infatuation that smooth jazz invariably has with holiday music often makes this fruitful territory in which to wander. 2009 is no exception and ‘The Very Best Of Christmas’, the brand new seasonal compilation from Trippin n Rhythm, features ten traditional tunes that glisten with stellar performances from some of the label’s hottest acts.

Sara Wasserman - Solid Ground

Out earlier this year from debuting vocalist Sara Wasserman, ‘Solid Ground’ has been garnering interest far and wide. Released on TOL (‘That Other Label’ which is a division of the excellent Pacific Coast Jazz) it is a choice collection of substantially original music that includes some interesting collaborations with Aaron Neville, Christian McBride, Lou Reed and, her father, noted bass player Rob Wasserman.

The Dangling Success - City Life

The Dangling Success is a New York based collective with a penchant for smoky groove drenched contemporary jazz. Formed of five seasoned musicians who have played with the likes of the Isley Brothers, the Shirelles and Don Mclean, the band made it’s recording debut with the critically acclaimed ‘Chilled Champagne’. Now, brand new for 2009, they are back with ‘City Life’.

Andrew Neu - Try Something Neu

Sax player Andrew Neu is a regular member of Bobby Caldwell’s acclaimed touring band and has shared the stage with the likes of Sir Elton John, Patti Labelle, The Four Tops, and The Temptations. He made his solo debut in 2000 with the CD ‘Inspired’ but it was six more years before the follow up ‘In Clear View’ hit the streets. Produced by bassist Brian Bromberg, and with featured performances from Jeff Lorber, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta and Gerald Veasley, it was an album that really left an impression. Now he is back with the cutely titled ‘Try Something Neu’.

Brian Culbertson - Live From The Inside

Dynamic yet intimate, ‘Live From The Inside’ is the exciting new DVD-CD release from the incomparable Brian Culbertson. Out now on GRP records ‘Live From The Inside’ captures Culbertson, together with his longtime band and some terrific special guests, as they record newly-rendered versions of some of his most popular numbers. Also included on the 12 track CD is a brand new song entitled ‘Go’ while the accompanying DVD affords over 90 minutes of performance footage and special features.

Dr Sax - Take It To The Bridge

With twelve self penned tracks and a talented array of backing musicians Dr Sax (aka Paul Raymond) returns to the scene with his thoroughly decent new album ‘Take It To The Bridge’. It follows his 2007 effort ‘The Gospel According To Dr Sax’ which featured the then unknown vocalist Beth Rowley who, as part of BBC television’s Electric Proms series, went on to perform with the legendary Burt Bacharach. Raymond uses the CD to introduce four more equally great singers and although the influences that permeate ‘Take It To The Bridge’ include soul, rock, pop, funk and Latin they are invariably laced with jazzy overtones.

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.