Smooth Jazz Therapy

Pamela Williams - Elixir

When in 2005 I reviewed ‘Sweet Saxations’ by Pamela Williams I referred to her music as sitting in the slot often defined as smooth urban jazz. Somewhere between smooth jazz and R & B, ‘Sweet Saxations’ was a tight collection of original numbers coupled with one outstanding cover. It was her second release on Shanachie and in common with her previous effort on that label she had Kim Waters and David Mann variously writing, producing and performing with her. Now for her latest project, ‘Elixir’, Mann is there once more for a package of tunes that range from super smooth to earthily urban. Like before the result is a winning combination that offers up a number of radio ready standouts. Moreover it is not taking anything away from the contribution of Mann to say that the best comes when Williams is writing playing and producing.

What Does It Take From Peter White

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending May 26, 2006. Brian Simpson, after being just outside the thirty for the last two weeks, finally makes it onto the chart with ‘Saturday Cool’. It’s the latest single from his wonderful 2005 CD ‘It’s All Good’. David Pack is up three at 12 with ‘Biggest Part Of Me’ while fellow Peak / Concorde stable mate David Benoit is picking up additional plays with ‘Beat Street’. Another artist who looks certain to be back in the thirty soon is Peter White. One of the few genuine smooth jazz superstars, his latest single is a remake of the Junior Walker and the All-Stars classic ‘What Does It Take’. It comes from his soon to be released CD ‘Playin Favorites’ that features a glistening array of smooth jazz talent including Boney James Jonathon Butler, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Jeffrey Osborne and Bob James. In addition it is produced by the busy Paul Brown who this week continues his run at number 1 ‘Winelight’.

Sean Turner - Begin Again

‘Begin Again’ is the latest release from keyboard player Sean Turner and is definitely one to watch. Although born in Winnipeg Canada Sean grew up in the twin cities, in St Paul Minnesota to be precise, and it was there that he began to form his own musical identity. Influenced in his boyhood by George Benson and Earth Wind and Fire the door was really opened to him when he heard the ‘Wizard Island’ album by Jeff Lorber. The experience set him the challenge to figure out just how to play complex harmony mixed with R & B grooves and ‘Begin Again’ is a clear indication that he getting there. In addition, he admits to gravitating towards artists who have their roots in jazz but who have leaned toward more commercial sounds and music for film scores. These aspects of his music are well in evidence across many of the ten choice tracks all of which have been written arranged and performed by Turner.

Gail Jhonson's New Single Hits The Airwaves

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending May 19, 2006. This week the chart is all about what’s up and coming. With no new entries, and Paul Brown’s ‘Winelight’ firmly ensconced at number 1, the thirty has a distinctly familiar look about it. However these long-term favorites are at least in the company of others that offer a glimpse of our smooth jazz future. None more so in this respect is Wayman Tisdale. This version of the Kool And The Gang classic ‘Get Down On It’ is taken from his new album that is not scheduled for release until the summer. Up one place at 14 it is sure to be one that his fans will groove along to throughout 2006 and beyond. A welcome departure from covers is ‘Just For Kicks’, the excellent new single from LA based keyboard player Gail Jhonson.

What's Smooth Jazz? - 88 Ways To Love

Readers of last month’s inaugural ‘What’s Smooth Jazz?’ will recall that its purpose is to draw up a short list of really great smooth jazz tracks that could be used to demonstrate and explain smooth jazz to someone brand new to the genre. Last time it was the Peter White / Grover Washington Jnr. collaboration ‘Midnight In Manhattan’ and equally significant is the latest choice in our quest to identify what smooth jazz really is. It is ‘88 Ways To Love’ written and performed by Marcus Johnson and taken from his 1998 album. ‘Chocolate City Groovin.’

Brian Simpson Set To Chart Again

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending May 12, 2006. UK vocalist Corrine Bailey Rae made her very first chart entry last week at 29. Now she is up eight more places to 21with ‘Put Your Records On’ from her self titled debut album. Brian Simpson’s latest single, ‘Saturday Cool’, from his 2005 CD ‘It’s All Good’ is doing well outside the thirty while Wayman Tisdale edges up two places to 15 with the Kool And The Gang classic ‘Get Down On It’.

Peter White At The Pizza On The Park

Peter White last performed in London during October of 2005 when he appeared at the Pizza Express as part of his now annual UK mini tour. This Easter saw him return to play eight nights at The Pizza On The Park Jazz Club in London’s Knightsbridge and on April 18 Smooth Jazz Therapy was there to watch him close out the series. With his new album of retrospectives not due out until August he took the opportunity to delve generously into his back catalog for a succession of much loved favorites and his appreciative audience were not disappointed. Whites regular collaborator on sax, the DC based Jaared, was again with him and when they revisited the ‘Confidential’ CD for the Brenda Russell number ‘She’s In Love’ it was Jareed who stepped up with the vocals that on the original were sang by Christopher Cross. The remaining members of the backing band proved to be equally talented. Frank Felix, ex of Acoustic Alchemy, and Whites ‘go to guy’ whenever he is in the capital, was on bass, Dave Parnell played drums and Peters brother Danny, who is best known as leader of the band Matt Bianco, really made his mark on keyboards.

George Duke Heading For Chicago

Legendary jazz pianist George Duke is heading for Chicago and northern Indiana. He will be making back-to-back appearances at the latest Candid Jazz and Conversions (CJ & C) events that will, as always, be hosted by Denise Jordan Walker. Sharing some favorites from the past and showcasing cuts from his latest CD ‘Duke’ he will be at the Majestic Star Casino, 1 Buffington Harbor, Gary, Indiana on Monday May 22. Twenty-four hours later he will do it all over again with CJ & C at The University Of Chicago’s International House at 1414 East 59th Street. Both shows commence at 7-30 PM.

US Smooth Jazz Chart With A UK Flavor

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending May 5, 2006. As predicted last week, Simply Red, that distinctly ‘non smooth jazz’ band from the United Kingdom, has blown the chart wide open with their seminal hit ‘Holding Back The Years’. Brand new at 21 it is in the company of another new entry from another UK artist. Corrine Bailey Rae was born and raised in the city of Leeds to a West Indian father and a Yorkshire mother. Her single, the heavily pop influenced ‘Put Your Records On’, is at 29 and comes from her self titled debut album. Elsewhere Mindi Abair edges up one place to 9 with ‘True Blue’ and Wayman Tisdale is also up. His take on the Kool And The Gang classic ‘Get Down On It’ climbs three to 17.

Steve Quirk's Nights Of Smooth Jazz And Smooth Soul

Smooth FM 100.4 DJ Steve Quirk is well known for his drive and effort in promoting smooth jazz within the United Kingdom. His ear for great sounds and his ability to connect the nations niche listening market with some of the biggest stars of the genre is second to none. Now, with his latest initiative, he is doing it all over again. ‘Night Of Smooth Jazz And Smooth Soul From Fusion Flavours’ will bring soulful smooth jazz, smooth soul and the live sax of Dean Houston of D-Sax to various United Kingdom locations throughout the summer. The show is, in part, a response to listeners of Quirk’s legendary show Fusion Flavours. They asked where they could go to hear great smooth jazz and soul and now, not for the first time, Steve Quirk has posted the way. The first date is Thursday June 8, 2006 at The Cinnamon Club, Altrincham, Cheshire, a venue that has previously played host to the likes of Nelson Rangell, Acoustic Alchemy and Peter White. The series represents a huge boost to smooth jazz fans on that side of the ocean. Check back here for more dates as they become available.

RC & The Groovediggers - Right Now

RC & The Groovediggers is the creation of guitarist Royce Campbell. Their debut release, ‘Right Now’, is the first smooth jazz CD from Campbell’s own label Moon Cycle Records and the musicians he has gathered together for it add hugely to the albums overall quality. Bass man J T Brown tours with Mary Chapin Carpenter, keyboard player Butch Taylor works with the Dave Mathews Band and two of the horn players, Bobby Read and John D’Earth, play with Bruce Hornsby. These performers and others too play their part throughout yet central to it all is Campbell himself. His mainstream jazz roots and the stints he has had as sideman to Quincy Jones, Marvin Gaye, Henry Mancini and The Fifth Dimension come together and enable him to bring his vast experience to this project for which he has written and produced all ten tracks. He also plays great guitar and demonstrates this early on with the mellow and melodic title track that is the first single to be released to radio.