Smooth Jazz Therapy

Pamela Williams Shows Her Class

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending July 28, 2006. With Peter White at the top, both Mindi Abair and Wayman Tisdale close behind, and Shilts ‘boppin’ along nicely at 21 the chart has a familiar feel about it. Yet, looking to the new entries, there is a hint of something altogether more fresh and different. Pamela Williams is a vastly under rated artist who can do no wrong, a fact that is evidenced by her current CD ‘Elixir’. It’s a collection of tunes that range from super smooth to earthily urban and the title track has already enjoyed an extended stay on the smooth jazz charts. The contribution, both as writer and producer, of David Mann is considerable and he is very much to the fore on the latest track to make it onto radio. The sparky ‘Positive Vibe’, handled by Williams in fine style, is new this week at 26. Of last weeks new entries its ‘I Call It Love’ from the legendary Lionel Richie that has continued to make most progress. Up four at 26 it comes from the album ‘Coming Home’ that is due in record stores on September 12.

Nick Colionne Reaches Out To The Kids

Anyone checking out the demographic of a typical smooth jazz audience could be excused for thinking that the genre is very much the province of forty something’s. When the average age of current headline performers is factored in then this perception becomes a reality and even the mild influx of younger artists such as Eric Darius and Mindi Abair has seemingly done nothing to bring in the younger set. That’s why its so refreshing to see that Nick Colionne has recently started a newsletter for kids. Targeting all those interested in music and the music business its titled ‘Nick's Notes For Kids’ and the first issue has been sent to everyone on his email list. It is intended that future issues will go out to kids only and although adults are welcome they will need to request that they be included!

Those who know Colionne’s background will not be surprised by this great initiative. For the past 11 years he has been mentoring kids in the western suburbs of his hometown of Chicago at St. Laurence K-8 School, Elgin, IL. The newsletter is a natural extension for Colionne to reach beyond the kids he sees personally to those everywhere who love music and want to hear from somebody who has "made it."

Nick is thrilled with the early response so if you have a special kid who would like to receive this newsletter please send an email to [email protected].

Peter White Tops The Chart

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending July 21, 2006. For the second week running there is a change at the top. It’s not been around long but ‘What Does It Take’ by Peter White from the CD ‘Playin Favorites’ is at number one. It displaces Mindi Abair’s ‘True Blue’ that, in turn, drops back to 2. In fact Peter White is having a very good week. He can also be found hosting the weekday morning drive-time show on 94.7, The Wave, Los Angeles where he is standing in for the vacationing Dave Koz. Listen on line at www.947wave.com. Last week’s new entry, the title track from the Marion Meadows album ‘Dressed To Chill’, climbs three to 27 and another newcomer is from the legendary Lionel Richie. His ‘I Call It Love’ enters at 30 while UK keyboard player Oli Silk is brand new at 28 with ‘Easy Does It’. Its from his debut CD ‘So Many Ways’ that has been described as being full of “hook laden, compelling melodies” and is certainly one to watch.

Valarie King - Only Time Will Tell

The new CD from Valarie King is ‘Only Time Will Tell’ and follows closely on the heels of her Grammy nominated debut release, ‘Today, Tomorrow and Forever’. This classically trained jazz flautist is a graduate of USC and has recorded with Madonna, Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, George Benson, Natalie Cole and Grover Washington Jr. She is indeed a big talent and happy to buck the trend that has made it difficult for flautists to find their way to the metaphoric hall of contemporary jazz fame. Talking of her early career she recalls, “I grew tired of hearing that flute was not an instrument of mainstream interest. I always felt that if handled in a popular fashion it would be successful”. This is the formula that she has perfected with ‘Only Time Will Tell’, a combination of reenergized vintage hits from the 70’s, fresh new music and guest appearances by Hubert Laws, Patrice Rushen and Jeff Clayton.

What's Smooth Jazz? - Wishful Thinking

When selecting an example of classic smooth jazz for someone new to the genre there could be no finer choice than the track ‘Wishful Thinking’ by Art Porter. It comes from his 1996 album ‘Lay Your Hands On Me’.

Had it not been for his untimely death in November of 1996 Art Porter would certainly have been up there in the highest echelon of today’s smooth jazz stars. Ideal for those of us who prefer our smooth jazz not to be too smooth, Art Porters hallmark thrusting sax is perfectly demonstrated on ‘Wishful Thinking’.

Shilts - In Conversation

It was Sting who sung about an Englishman in New York but it would seem that, in smooth jazz terms, there are also quite a few in Los Angeles. Paul ‘Shilts’ Weimar is the latest to follow in the footsteps of Peter White and Chris Standring who, among others, have journeyed from England to California to seek and ultimately find smooth jazz stardom. Although he has only been resident in the LA area since 2004 Shilts is by no means new to the scene. He is in fact the face of the live incarnation of the band Down To The Bone (DTTB), an association that now extends back nine years and when I recently caught up with him at his home studio he took a break from working on new material to talk about the exciting turns that his career has recently taken.

11th Annual Old Pasadena Jazzfest. July 22-23

Yes it’s that time again. As the summer heats up so does the smooth jazz with tours and festivals all in full swing. The latest to catch the eye is the incredible line up that will be performing at the Old Pasadena Jazzfest on July 22-23. It’s the 11th anniversary of this great event and the first in its new home of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. The Arboretum, adjacent to the Santa Anita Race Track, is a spectacular 127-acre venue with lush gardens and a large, tree-lined meadow called Bauer Lawn.

Among those scheduled to appear Saturday are Jody Watley, Jeff Lorber and Chris Standring appearing as Soul Express, Rachelle Ferrell, Gerald Veasley and Candy Dulfer featuring Jason Miles. Completing the bill are Marc Antoine and Michael Lington with the Philippe Saisse Trio.

Sundays line up looks even better.

Jason Miles returns, this time in the company of Ledisi, Candy Dulfer, Mike Mattison, DJ Logic and Greg Adams, to feature ‘The Music of Motown and Marvin Gaye’ while solo performers include Nick Colionne, Eric Darius, Rick Braun and the fabulous Teena Marie.

For tickets and information go to http://www.omegaevents.com

Konstantin Klashtorni Looks Toward Radio

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending July 14, 2006. It was here that you first heard about the wonderful new CD ‘Led By You’ by Konstantin Klashtorni and now the first single from it, ‘Back It Up’, is making strides toward the chart of most played on smooth jazz radio. It’s one of several tracks from the album that has ‘radio ready’ written all over it and is sure to provide Klashtorni with much deserved recognition. Another tune that was recently featured at Smooth Jazz Therapy is also marching chart wards. ‘As Long As I Am With You’ by legendary sax-man Wilton Felder is a haunting piece of smooth R & B from the excellent CD ‘Lets Spend Some Time’. Dan Siegel plays some of the smoothest smooth jazz piano around and bubbling under the thirty is the classy ‘Street Talk’ from his sophisticated new album ‘Departure’. It is due out on July 18.

To Grover With Love - In Jason Miles' Own Words

Albums that can stand the test of time don’t come along every day but one recording that already carries the hallmarks of classic status will be re-released on July 18. The Jason Miles tribute to Grover Washington ‘To Grover With Love’ first came out in April 2001, sixteen months after Washington’s untimely death and when I recently talked to Miles I first asked him about the knack he has for turning what at first sight appears to be ‘the tribute concept’ into an art form. He was quick to stress that “these records should not be viewed as collections of covers” and anyone who has heard his Grammy winning ‘ A Love Affair : The Music Of Ivan Lins’, the nod he makes to ‘Celebrating The Music Of Weather Report’ or, more recently, his ‘What’s Going On? - Songs Of Marvin Gaye’ will wholeheartedly agree with his sentiments. “It’s all about taking the music to another place” he explains. “What I do, one of the gifts I have, is to gather together just the right group of musicians to create the collaborations that re-imagine familiar songs into something new and fresh but with the feeling and passion of the original artist.” This approach is well demonstrated with his 2005 project ‘Miles To Miles – In The Spirit Of Miles Davis’ where, with original compositions, he brings to life the spirit and creative vibe of the legendary trumpeter, expanding musical ideas into a realm that was unheard of during the halcyon days of Davis.

Joseph Patrick Moore - Decade 1996-2005

It was not long ago that ‘Soul Cloud’ from double, electric and fretless bassist Joseph Patrick Moore was riding high on the chart of most downloaded jazz CD’s at Emusic.com. It was originally issued in 2000 and for those, like me, who have allowed the music of Moore to pass them by now is the chance to catch up. His ‘best of’ collection ‘Decade 1996-2005’ that includes tracks lifted from his previous five CD’s is currently on release. For more than the ten years chronicled by the CD Joseph Patrick Moore has been touring, recording, and establishing himself as an artist with a unique voice and a diversity of talents. As well as being a skilled as bassist, composer, arranger and producer he is also the founding partner of Atlanta based Blue Canoe Records.

Good Week For The Artizen Label

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending July 7, 2006. In radio chart terms it’s been quite a week for the Artizen Label. First off Shilts, who flirted with chart success two weeks ago only to fall back out of the thirty, is back. His ‘Look What’s Happened’ from the ‘Head Boppin’ CD is a re-entry at 28. Secondly, label co-founder Richard Elliot hits the chart with the third radio single from his hugely successful album ‘Metro Blue’. The big and luscious ‘Say Its So’ is at 29. If that wasn’t enough Rick Braun who founded Artizen with Elliot continues to enjoy chart success with ‘Groove Is In The Heart’. This cool cut from the ‘Yours Truly’ CD is up two at 18. As a footnote to what’s going on at Artizen, they have stepped in to re-issue the album that Jason Miles created in 2001 as a tribute to Grover Washington Jr. ‘To Grover With Love’ will be released on July 18. Check back here soon for a complete review of this great CD and for an interview with Jason Miles.

Maurice Gainen - Jazz World Colors

Sax and flute player Maurice Gainen is a man most often found behind the scenes. For almost two decades he has produced recorded, mixed and mastered numerous CD’s in genres that range from Rock to Rap and Jazz to Broadway. With credits that include mastering twenty seven of the most recent Starbucks releases and work in this field that extends to all five major record labels he is known as someone who can always be relied upon to do a top class job. However, from time to time he does move out from the shadows of his LA studio. He performed on sax and flute for June Angela at the 2002 Sweet & Hot Jazz Festival in Los Angeles and appeared there again in 2004, this time with the Hues Corporation. He also performs around Southern California with his own group and with the Marcelo Berestovoy Quintet. Now he is making moves again, this time with his own CD ‘Jazz World Colors’.

Jill Jenson

Jill Jenson released her first and self titled CD earlier this year. In doing so she took her first steps into the world of adult contemporary music, a genre that, with only a few exceptions, has done few favors for the majority of female vocalists who have dabbled in it. Yet, in this interesting collection, there is enough to suggest that Jenson could well have a successful career ahead of her. A graduate of University of Miami where she majored in ‘Jazz Vocal’ she returned to her home of Portland Oregon and worked variously as a DJ at KMHD radio, a professional jingle singer and voiceover artist, and as a senior executive and consultant with both AT&T Wireless and Microsoft. This very untypical grounding for a fledgling singing star led to a fortunate turn when, in 2002, she hooked up with her old college friend Tim Cashion who has written and produced for the likes of Bob Seger, Robert Palmer and Grand Funk Railroad. She quit her job and starting working toward what has culminated in the release of her debut CD. Produced by Cashion, and with twelve of the fourteen tracks written or co-written by him, the album also benefits both from the executive production expertise of Matt Pierson and contributions from a stellar line up of backing musicians.

Wayman Tisdale - Way Up!

Since the release of ‘Hang Time’ in 2004 Wayman Tisdale has been working hard to confirm his status in the top flight of today’s smooth jazz talent. Aided by his growing reputation as one of the most entertaining live acts on the circuit he has carved a niche for himself as part of the Warren Hill Smooth Jazz Cruises for which he will be the official host in 2007. However, if his new CD ‘Way Up!’ is anything to go by, the passing of time has also added depth and sophistication to the brand of smooth jazz that Tisdale specializes in. Both as writer and performer ‘Way Up!’ finds him at the very top of his game. It’s an album that has its fair share of guest performers but a measure of Tisdale's overall artistic input is that his contribution is never usurped.

The Bob James Connection

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending June 30, 2006. He may not be there by name but the influence and contribution of Bob James can be found all over this week’s radio chart. Fourplay, pictured here in South Africa and of which James has been an integral part since the bands formation in 1991, have just completed their tenth studio album, ‘Fourplay X’. It is scheduled for release in US stores on August 8, 2006 and the advance single, the Steve Winwood composition ‘My Love’s Leavin’, featuring the vocals of Michael McDonald, is new in at 26. Bob James is also helping bring major success to two other brand new CD’s. ‘Playin Favorites’ by Peter White was released on June 27 and the first single from it, ‘What Does It Take’, has already turned into a runaway radio hit. This week it is at 4 but another cut from this excellent album, ‘Mr. Magic’, features the keyboards of James who infuses the tune with a delicious retro vibe. ‘Way Up’ by Wayman Tisdale also came out this week. The single ‘Get Down On It’ is already at 5 but this is an album that has more going for it than simply an old school cover. It has genuine depth and one of the tracks, the moody ‘Conversation Piece’, features the classy piano from Bob James. Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Way Up’.