Smooth Jazz Therapy

Cool Guitars - For What It's Worth

Rooted in friendship and mutual respect the massively funky reworking of the 1966 Buffalo Springfield hit ‘For What It’s Worth’ is the latest product of a concept devised in 2016 by contemporary jazz superstar U-Nam and executive producer Vernon Clark.  Titled ‘Cool Guitars’ it took its name from that well-known guitar Accessories Company of which Clark is CEO and comprised seven instrumental tracks played by some of the best guitar players in the business.   Two of those players, U-Nam and the legendary Ronny Jordan (who tragically passed away in 2014 aged fifty one), had been long time musical compadres and when U-Nam realised that a version of ‘For What It’s Worth’, although unfinished, had been one of the very last numbers Jordan ever recorded he set about tracking down the original tapes with a view to completing the song in true Cool Guitars style.

 

In his minds eye U-Nam visualised the song as being a duet between him and Jordan.  It would be the ultimate homage to a dear friend and an artistic coming together of two artists who throughout their careers had consistently been on the same page.  For them it was less about the commercial imperative and more about the joy of the music and as U-Nam began his work the virtual synergy was both instant and powerful.

Now, in the capable hands of U-Nam and Jordan, aka Cool Guitars.02, ‘For What It’s Worth’ is a high-octane funky delight that never strays from being ultra cool.  Add in the likes of Alex Al on bass and Bill Steinway on both Rhodes and Hammond B3 and this is a tune that will leave listeners longing to hear more from what is very much a musical family affair.

Indeed they may not have long to wait.  ‘For What It’s Worth’ is simply the first single from the second ‘Cool Guitars’ project that is due out later in 2021.

Les Sabler - Tranquility

Guitarist Les Sabler first found his way onto the Smooth Jazz Therapy radar in 2007 with the CD ‘Sweet Drive’.  In fact a song from it, ‘I’m Not The Same’, (with featured vocals from Toni Scruggs and Rahsaan Patterson) made it into my top twenty contemporary jazz tracks for that year.  He last made some waves in 2014 with his tribute to the music of Juan Carlos Jobim but now, with his feet firmly on smooth jazz ground, Sabler is back with the superb ‘Tranquility’.

 

Dave Koz, Brian McKnight & Shelea - A Romantic Night In

In an era that has served to define what we now consider to be ‘the new normal’ GRAMMY^®-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz is combining with R&B vocalist Brian McKnight for “A Romantic Night In,” a one-night-only live stream concert that will take place on the eve of Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 13, beginning at 5 PM PST/8 PM EST.

Joining Dave and Brian will be singer, songwriter, musician, producer and actress Sheléa and, as Koz explains, “Brian, Sheléa and I are so excited to provide the romantic soundtrack to your Valentine’s weekend celebration at home.  Pour a glass of wine, dip some strawberries in chocolate and leave it to us to provide the musical magic!”

This virtual event comes on the heels of Koz’s hugely successful 2020 live stream concerts the first of which celebrated the release of his latest album, ‘A New Day’ while the second showcased ‘Dave Koz & Friends The Greatest Hits of Christmas 2020’ with Dave and an all-star line-up of guests performing holiday favorites.

Tickets for “A Romantic Night In” are on sale now at www.davekoz.com and included in the ticket price will be an exclusive digital copy of the “A Romantic Night In” EP, a collection of Dave’s most romantic songs.  VIP experiences, including exclusive one-on-one meet & greets, are also available.  Concert venues that Koz has visited over the years are participating in bringing awareness to the show. 

‘A New Day’ was released exactly thirty years and one day after his self-titled debut album hit the streets.  It is Dave’s 20^th album overall and his first of all original material since ‘Hello Tomorrow’ in 2010.  ‘A New Day’, which was conceived and recorded entirely under the umbrella of COVID-19, reached No. 1 on numerous jazz charts, including iTunes and Amazon.  Brian McKnight is featured on the album’s opening track ‘Summertime In New York’

To date McKnight has released 15 albums, with world wide sales totaling more than 25 million copies.  He has been Grammy nominated sixteen times and as well as being a singer, songwriter and producer, is also a renowned multi-instrumentalist.

Vocalist Sheléa is known for the way she blends traditional pop, jazz, R&B and soul, to bring a contemporary edge to classics, and a classic touch to contemporary pop standards.  Shelea has twice performed at the White House; Library of Congress; Carnegie Hall; the Kennedy Center; and more The year 2020 marked her acting debut as Dorinda Clark in “The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel,” a Lifetime biopic that drew 2.7 million viewers.

Richard Elliot - Authentic Life

With an all-star lineup that bears testimony to the respect and admiration he has garnered from his peers over a solo career that has now spanned thirty five years the Grammy nominated sax-man Richard Elliot is back with his latest CD, ‘Authentic Life’, that was released January 29 on the Shanachie Entertainment label.

 

Justin Lee Schultz - Do I Do

One of the nicest surprises of 2020 was the release on the Shanachie Entertainment label of the album ‘Gruv Kid’ from the then thirteen-year-old multi-instrumentalist Justin Lee Schultz.

With featured performances from the likes of Bob James, Harvey Mason, Najee, Jonathan Butler, Gerald Albright, and Pieces Of A Dream it was every bit as good as the early hype suggested it might be with one of the standout tracks being Justin’s jazz fusion tinged take on the Stevie Wonder classic ‘Do I Do’.

Here he is performing it live with a little help from Jamie-Leigh Schultz on drums, Brandon Rose - bass guitar, Chris George – guitar, Mitch Lawrence - baritone sax, Nolan Plunkett – trombone, Johnny Cochran - tenor sax and Daniel Spearman – trumpet and horn arrangements.

The video was produced, programmed and arranged by Steve Johnson who also played keys.

 

 

Paul Hardcastle - Welcome To The Beach

When, in mid 2020, ‘Hardcastle IX’ from Paul Hardcastle hit the streets it found him in a decidedly chilled mood.  Jam packed with all the stuff Hardcastle routinely does so well the collection found instant favour with his legion of fans around the world and has now received a timely boost with the release to radio of the track ‘Welcome To The Beach’.

As light and airy as the title suggests it might be ‘Welcome To The Beach’ possesses the usual Hardcastle elements of smoky sax and seductive rhythm.

Check it out, right here right now.

 

 

Smooth Jazz Archives - JazzFusions One

In this edition of the occasional ‘Archives’ series we look back to 1994 and the release in the UK of the compilation album ‘JazzFusions One’ on the Beechwood Music label.  At that time, and despite its meteoric rise in the USA, ‘smooth jazz’ had, in England, hardly been heard of yet this release, together with companion releases that followed, did much to promote the smooth jazz genre on the ‘other side’ of the Atlantic.

Quite simply ‘JazzFusions One’ was and is an outstanding compilation and, as the first of the set, a real ground breaker.

Interestingly enough the words ‘smooth jazz’ cannot be found on either the sleeve or the notes yet there is little doubt that over fourteen well chosen and, at times, brilliantly sequenced tracks this is the music that the collection represents.

Patrick Bradley - Exhale

When, in 2017, jazz-fusion keyboard player Patrick Bradley released ‘Intangible’ on his own Song Factory label I described it as an album that was sure to find favour with fusion aficionados everywhere.  At its heart was Bradley’s collaboration with Jeff Lorber who, as well as producing throughout, combined with Bradley to co-write all ten numbers.  Now Bradley is back for 2021 with the excellent ‘Exhale’ and although he again teams with Lorber for two choice tunes the main thrust of his artistic interplay is with songwriter, producer and sax-man supreme Darren Rahn.  In fact Rahn produces and mixes nine numbers, performs on eight and co-writes seven with the first of these being ‘Completely Yours’ which is a mellifluous easy grooving concoction that proves to be the perfect showcase for Bradley’s talents.

 

Oli Silk - Hurry Up And Wait

With a string of choice albums to his name and a profile that makes him the United Kingdom’s favorite smooth jazz keyboard player, the superb Oli Silk had an excellent 2020 with his sixth solo project, the appropriately titled ‘6’.  With eleven new compositions plus one carefully crafted cover this cool twelve-track collection not only found Silk in top form but also in the company of some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz.

The first single to be serviced to radio was the ultra smooth ‘New Bounce’ that featured the always-excellent Vincent Ingala on sax while now Trippin & Rhythm is sending the extremely hip ‘Hurry Up And Wait’ to the airwaves.

Check it out.

 

 

Richard Elliot - Snapshot

That chart topping, Grammy nominated sax-man Richard Elliot is the latest smooth jazz heavy hitter to sign with the genre leading Shanachie Entertainment.  In fact his label debut, the much anticipated ‘Authentic Life’, will hit the streets on January 29 while ahead of that comes the first single to be serviced to radio, the ballsy and extremely jazzy ‘Snapshot’ that Elliott co-wrote with Jeff Lorber and which features Lorber alongside trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonists Dave Koz and David Mann.  It’s the sort of big brassy line-up that one might expect from someone who once played with the incredible Tower Of Power and gives a hint of the riches that ‘Authentic Life’ will surely offer.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Authentic Life’