Smooth Jazz Therapy

Dave Koz & Friends - The Christmas Waltz

As that revolving door of smooth jazz superstardom, The Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2023, wends its way around the USA, the fresh new line-up evokes memories of the 2022 incarnation of what remains a standout event of the smooth jazz year.

Back then it was pianist David Benoit, trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Peter White on stage with Dave while vocals came courtesy of rising star Rebecca Jade. The tour was supported by Dave’s eighth seasonal CD, ‘Dave Koz & Friends: Christmas Ballads (25^th Anniversary Collection’) so sit back, relax and enjoy a track from that album ‘The Christmas Waltz’ with Koz, Benoit, Braun and White doing Christmas like only they can.

 

 

Kenny G - Innocense

Kenny G has always been an artist to divide opinion and his twentieth album, ‘Innocence’, looks all set to divide it even more. Yet the numbers speak for themselves. He has sold more than 75 million records, owns the best-selling instrumental recording of all time with his 1992 project ‘Breathless’ and has played to sell out audiences all around the world. At the heart of what Kenny is all about is his ability to convey deep emotions and a look back to the track ‘By The Time This Night Is Over’ featuring Peabo Bryson from the ‘Breathless’ CD sums this up to perfection. Much the same can be said of ‘That Someone Was You’ featuring Toni Braxton from his 1996 album ‘The Moment’ yet ‘Innocence’ brings with it an entirely different emotional vibe.

It is his first collection of lullabies, a clutch of timeless tracks with orchestral accompaniment that include ‘Rock-a-Bye Baby’, ‘Edelweiss’, ‘Over the Rainbow’ and seven other original songs.

Indeed the title, ‘Innocence’, not only reflects the innocence of childhood but also the innocence of a lullaby itself, those sweet and simple melodies that never grow old.

As Kenny himself explains it “I’ve already made music that people get engaged to, and then I made music they get married to and then they tell me how they make babies to my music. Well, I said, now I have got to complete the circle. Let me make them a record that you can use to put them to sleep. Seriously though I think it was more about making something that people could share in their family, intimate moments.”

David Garfield - All I Want For Chrstmas Is You

When keyboard player David Garfield decided to record a new version of one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time he knew he had to do something that would stand out from the crowd. He did so and then some by enlisting the help of contemporary jazz icon Tom Scott for a version of ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ that evokes the classic California rhythms and sounds of a much remembered era.

Saxophonist and composer Tom Scott, as well as being a ‘go to’ pop and rock session player and bandleader in the 70s and 80s, was also a pioneer of what became known as smooth jazz. The cross over success he enjoyed with his own band, The LA Express, laid a platform for a succession of solo fusion tinged albums such as ‘Them Changes’ (1990), ‘Reed My Lips’ (1994) ‘Night Creatures’ (1995) and ‘New Found Freedom’ in 2002. The ‘Night Creatures’ project included the track ‘Don’t Get Any Better’ with a blistering lead vocal from Maysa Leak that firmly placed it in the Smooth Jazz Therapy Top Ten of all time.

David Garfield has enjoyed a long and illustrious career in jazz, fusion, pop, and more. He was born in Chicago in 1956, grew up in New York and has been a West Coast luminary since the '70s. He has worked with a veritable who’s who of talent including Scott, David Sanborn, Cher, Freddie Hubbard, Brandon Fields, the Rippingtons, Larry Carlton, and Hiroshima. He has performed live with the likes of Boz Scaggs, Michael Bolton, Natalie Cole, and Rick Braun. Along the way he developed a creative relationship with singer Smokey Robinson, co-writing and producing several albums with him, while since the late '80s, he has worked as the musical director for the legendary George Benson.

 

Teddy Pendergrass - This Christmas ( I'd Rather Have Love)

Now digitally available for the very first time the long out of print ‘This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love)’ is the sole holiday title and final studio album from the incomparable Teddy Pendergrass. It offers a soulful blend of original songs plus an array of festive classics, such as ‘Little Drummer Boy’, ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘The Christmas Song.’

When released, in September 1998, ‘This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love)’ made its debut at number 83 on the Billboard Top R&B Hip-Hop albums chart. In 2010, following Pendergrass’ death, it surged in popularity again, peaking at number 43 on the Holiday Albums chart. The collection, which marked Pendergrass’ 14th and final long player, was also received warmly by critics, including All Music, which proclaimed, “Pendergrass' smouldering vocals make ‘This Christmas (I'd Rather Have Love)’ one of the most romantic seasonal records on the market.”

In writing ‘This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love)’ Pendergrass worked with frequent collaborators such as the GRAMMY® winning composer and producer Reggie Calloway and songwriter and producer Jim Salamone. In doing so he injected the album with an array of original material, including ‘Happy Kwanzaa’ and the hip-hop inspired ‘Having a Christmas Party’ both of which were written by Calloway.  Other highlights include the Pendergrass-Calloway original ‘I Won’t Have Christmas’ while slow jams ‘Christmas and You’ and ‘This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love)’ blend romance with the true holiday spirit.

Available from Craft Recordings / Concord This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love) is out now.

Jef Kearns - ABC

Smooth Jazz Therapy has followed the career of flautist Jef Kearns from as far back as 2009 and his highly acclaimed CD ‘On The Level’. With it the Toronto based Kearns dispelled the myth that flute players can’t do urban jazz and truth to tell he has been spreading that message ever since.

In 2016 he released ‘Soulfisticated’ which included the soulful ‘Through The Rain’. Complete with wonderful vocals from Aria Zenua it was a song very hard to beat and he has re-united with Zenua for his latest single, a high quality re-imagining of the Jackson 5 hit ‘ABC’. Very much the meeting place where old school Motown comes face to face with an engagingly fierce yet fresh beat it is a track that has dancibility written all over it.

‘ABC’ was produced under the masterful touch of Douglas Romanow and mastered at the legendary Sterling Sound by the renowned Randy Merrill who has worked with the likes of Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift.

Check it out.

 

 

Thirsty Howell - The Sunshine Coast

Featuring Thirsty Howell on guitars and Vancouver's David Say on saxophone ‘The Sunshine Coast’ is Howell’s latest single and can be heard worldwide on nearly one hundred radio stations. It is the sort of song where the title tells you all you need to know and, as Howell himself explains it, is the perfect accompaniment for an early morning drive along the coast of British Columbia, Australia or Florida.

It was recorded at GGRP studios in Vancouver and is added to by Peter Clarke on bass, Cindy Fairbank on keys and Chris Norquist on drums.

 

 

Adam Hawley - Up Top

No sooner had I stopped eulogizing over Adam Hawley’s hot seasonal single, ‘Celebrate Me Home’ when he comes up with yet another chart buster. ‘Up Top’ is his 14^th number one as an artist and is everything one has come to expect from a performer who has his finger very much on the pulse of contemporary jazz.

As for ‘Celebrate Me Home’ it is taken from his fifth solo collection, ‘What Christmas Means To Me’ and is the sort of track that will sound great at any time of the year.

Michael Paulo - Here Is Happiness

To those who follow smooth jazz, sax-man Michael Paulo will need no introduction. He has toured and played with a veritable who’s who of contemporary jazz talent from Al Jarreau to James Ingram and Bobby Caldwell to Peter White. He is also the driving force behind the Temecula Wine & Music Festival and despite not picking up the saxophone until age 15 has gone on to make his own special imprint right across the genre.

In fact he grew up in a musical family (his mother a singer and his father a pianist). Now, with the release of ‘Here Is Happiness’, he has chosen the moment in which to honour the memory of his Dad. ‘Here Is Happiness’ was the biggest hit of Paulo Senior’s career and here, built around an enticing Latin vibe, Michael applies a compelling yet mellifluous veneer.

 

 

U-Nam - Coastline

Taken from his current hit album ‘Sunshine Of Mine’, ‘Coastline’is the latest radio single from the Billboard chart-topping and multi-platinum producer Emmanuel “U-Nam” Abiteboul. ‘Coastline’ is built around U-Nam’s impeccable playing and with regulars Frank Sitbon (Rhodes and piano), Denis Benarrosh (percussion), Fran Merante (drums), Christian Martinez (trumpet) and Joabe Reis (trombone) all lending a hand they together conjure up a track that revolves around an irresistible mid tempo groove.

Well worth looking out for.

 

 

Brian Bromberg - The Magic Of Moonlight

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 latest project, ‘The Magic Of Moonlight’, is his 27th in all and with the help of an A-List of contemporary jazz talent he delivers eleven all original high end tracks that are right up there with the best that the genre has offered all year.

‘The Magic Of Moonlight’ is quickly up and running with the brass enriched high-octane title cut that includes a notable contribution from sax-man Everette Harp.

Harp is also around for the sophisticated mid tempo ‘Last Day Of Summer’ while when Bromberg eases down the tempo for the gently meandering ‘The Third Child’, Harp’s contribution is just as good.

Later, when sax duties pass to Gary Meek his interplay with Bromberg on the hugely descriptive ‘Just Another Beautiful Day’ is a joy to behold. It has already become an instant Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite and talking of favorites ‘Nico’s Groove’ is right up there with the best that ‘The Magic Of Moonlight’ has to offer. The tune was written for smooth jazz guitarist Nick Colionne, who passed away on New Year’s Day, 2022 at the age of just 55. Colionne had worked with Bromberg on numerous occasions and Brian has always been generous in his support of his friend and colleague.