Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending August 28, 2006. ‘Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship’ is the latest CD from 12 time Grammy nominee India Arie. Only released on June 27th it has already topped 500,000 copies in sales and now the radio single from it, ‘The Heart Of The Matter’ is new this week at 26. The album is the third from Arie and her two previous efforts both achieved gold and or multi platinum status. She emerged onto the music scene in 2001 with her debut ‘Acoustic Soul’ and was branded then by Newsweek Magazine as “one of the freshest talents of that year”. ‘The Heart Of The Matter’ with its heartfelt vocals and compelling beat is a very welcome chart addition. Another newcomer this week is Gregg Karukas with ‘Lady In The Red Dress’. The musical development of Karukas has in many ways ran in parallel with that smooth jazz itself and as performer, songwriter and producer he has continuously made his presence felt. As the original keyboard player for the Rippingtons way back in 1987 to his recent CD release ‘Looking Up’ Karukas has always been ‘where it’s at’
‘The Total Experience’ from Boney James and George Duke is up three to 16 and Everette Harp is a big climber, leaping five to 22 with ‘Monday Speaks’. Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite Shilts advances three to 21 with ‘Look What’s Happened’ and another UK native abroad, Oli Silk, also climbs three places with ‘Easy Does It’. Look out for Silk when he plays the Cinnamon Club in Altrincham, UK on Thursday September 7. Just in case there was any doubt about UK artists having their hooks into the smooth jazz charts, suffice to say that Paul Hardcastle is at 5, Corrine Bailey Rae at 12, Simply Red still ‘Holding Back The Years’ at 15 and of course Peter White enjoying his tenth week at number 1 with ‘What Does It Take’.
Check back next week and every week for all the news of what is hot on American smooth jazz radio.