Smooth Jazz Therapy

Peter White At The 2007 Smooth Jazz Cruise

Peter White came to the stage for the late show of a The Smooth Jazz Cruise first night extravaganza to find an audience breathless with anticipation and ready to party. Thrown together into what, over four years, has evolved as the quintessential smooth jazz heaven the informed, the passionate and the merely curious gelled as one to appreciate the mastery of Whites enormously accessible brand of contemporary jazz music. He is at his very best when delving into his back catalog for songs that he then blends together or merges with some of his more recent hits. This takes work and demands total collaboration from his backing band and here with Ron Reinhardt on keys, Dwight Sills on guitar, Rayford Griffin on drums, Ronnie Gutierrez on percussion and Nate Phillips holding it down on bass the synchronicity was such that White proceeded to play what was arguably the show of his life.

Valentines Night With Cole And Colionne

You might forget the card and you might forget the roses but on no account must you forget to take the one you love to see Nick Colionne and Steve Cole perform in Chicago on Valentine's Day, February 14. They will be at Governor's State University, Sherman Recital Hall, University Park, Illinois where the doors open at 7-00 PM for a show time of 8-00 PM. The event is the latest in the Candid Jazz & Conversations (CJ & C) series that, courtesy Denise Jordan Walker, seeks to provide a unique experience for lovers of contemporary jazz in the Chicago-land area. As is usual with CJ & C the admission price includes a copy of a featured CD which, in this case, is Steve Cole’s latest ‘True’. Cole sums it up as “without question the funkiest, grooviest, most soulful album” that he has ever recorded and something that genuinely represents what he describes as the ‘Chicago Sound’.

To get your tickets you may RSVP in advance to [email protected]. For more information on up coming events or to add new email addresses to the mailing list go to www.myspace.com/candidjazzandconversation.

Ken Navarro - Meeting Place Now In Record Stores

Ken Navarro’s excellent new CD ‘The Meeting Place’ is a tight, accessible 11 song collection that includes 10 of his own new compositions plus a superb version of the Pat Metheny classic ‘Lakes’. Initially available exclusively from www.kennavarro.com it finally hit record stores across the USA on January 23. The album is replete with the melody and rhythm that helps define what contemporary jazz should be and is generously scattered with standout tracks. Any of these have the potential to make it on radio and the first contender in this category is the mid tempo and pleasing ‘Lucky’. It exemplifies Navarro’s silky production that here blends his own melodic playing with the cool sax of Rob Holmes while keeping both perfectly in scale. In fact ‘Lucky’ has found instant favor. With 24 new stations, including WVMV - Detroit, WSJT - Tampa and WJZA – Columbus, coming on board during its first week on air it rapidly became the number one most added single. Much like the CD from which it is taken ‘Lucky’ is a quality piece of music and comes highly recommended.

Greg Chambers - City Lights

Greg Chambers is a young man in a hurry. This former student of classical saxophone at San Jose State University has attended UCLA on a scholarship awarded by the American Youth Symphony and has been one of the winners of the Atwater-Kent All-Star Concerto Competition. In the process he has studied with some of the countries premier classical saxophonists, recorded at Capitol Records, participated in the Idyllwild Arts Summer Festival and taught music in Compton with the Music Partnership Program. If that wasn’t enough he has just received his B.A. in Saxophone Performance from UCLA and is currently working towards his Masters in Music Performance. Despite these classical leanings he cites David Sanborn, Dave Koz, Michael Lington, Steve Cole, Warren Hill, and Gerald Albright as some of his major influences. It’s therefore not surprising that his debut release, ‘City Lights’ is a rarified blend of the classical and the contemporary.

The Arrangements Of Greg Adams

With his excellent ‘Cool To The Touch’ now on release it’s as a recording artist that trumpeter Greg Adams has featured here of late. In a solo discography that stretches back to 1995, and includes the critically acclaimed ‘Hidden Agenda’ and ‘Firefly’, he has constantly delivered sophisticated contemporary jazz with an edge. His second solo album, the 2002 ‘Midnight Morning’, evoked memories of the legendary arrangements he fashioned during his many years with Tower Of Power and it’s this ability that betrays a side of his musical genius that many may not be aware of. In fact since 1971 he has been creating musical arrangements for a galaxy of stars that include Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond and Elton John. This extended discography, which takes in Santana’s ‘Everybody’s Everything’ and ‘Fools Paradise’ from Rufus, is overwhelming testimony to the calibre of artists he has routinely been invited to work with. Indeed everyone from the Rolling Stones to Paul Schaffer to Madonna has called on him to contribute to their projects and, in addition, Greg’s hallmark ensemble sound has made the concept of the horn section an American treasure.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2007

Fort Lauderdale FL, January 20, 2007 and the new look Smooth Jazz Cruise 2007 is underway. For the next seven days and seven nights the Holland America cruise ship Zuiderdam will be home to almost two thousand of the most passionate smooth jazz fans in the universe as they immerse themselves in what has become one of the standout annual events on the smooth jazz calendar.

This years host will be Wayman Tisdale and lined up to perform in a series of two and sometimes three shows a day are Mindi Abair, Peter White, George Duke, Jonathon Butler, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Brian Simpson, Najee, Jeff Golub and Euge Groove. In addition there will be a guest performance by the incomparable Al Jarreau. Warren Hill, without whom none of this could have been possible, will also make a special port of call appearance.

As in 2006, Smooth Jazz Therapy will be there, not only to be intoxicated by the music but also to bring you reviews of the shows and news of the artists. If you can’t be there this year, or simply want to relive the memories when you return, be sure to check back often over the coming weeks for everything you need to know about the 2007 Smooth Jazz Cruise.

For more go to www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com

Steve Quirks Top Fifty Of 2006

Deejay Steve Quirk works tirelessly to bring the best in smooth jazz to his listening public in the UK and beyond. His syndicated radio show ‘Fusion Flavours’ and his monthly slot at the Cinnamon Club in the southern suburbs of Manchester both serve as definitive showcases for the genre. His fifty top tunes for 2006 were recently featured on Smooth FM 100.4 and provided a cutting edge insight into the best of recent contemporary jazz releases. As such it is worth selecting some of the highlights of a list that is categorized by the typical Steve Quirk blend of established and emerging artists. In this respect, there can be none more so than his number one selection, ‘I Cant Help Myself’ from UK exile Chris Standring. The CD from which it comes, ‘Soul Express’, was released in May 2006 and has since catapulted the then emerging Standring into the top tier of smooth jazz performers. Steve also finds a place in his top ten for fresh new tunes like ‘Feeling Good’ by Steve Oliver and ‘Our Time’ by Bass X. In addition he includes the cut which I consider to be the best cover of the year, Gerald Albright’s ‘When The Beat Goes On’.

Good Week For Kenny G

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending January 12, 2007. During a week when it was announced that Kenny G’s syndicated weekend mid-day show has been picked up by WNUA Chicago his current radio single, ‘You’re Beautiful’ from the CD ‘I’m In The Mood For Love’ is up two places at 11. Lee Ritenour is a new entry at 27 with the title track from his current album ‘Smoke N Mirrors’. It joins the first single from the album, his cover of the Patrice Rushen classic ‘Forget Me Nots’ which is still there at 26. This week’s other new entry is from the successful, yet improbable, Corrine Bailey Rae. Taken from her self titled debut that garnered the huge 2006 hit ‘Put Your Records On’, her latest single ‘Like A Star’ is at 30. Much more our cup of tea in the vocal department is the sensational Pattie Austin and, after only two weeks on the chart, her version of ‘So Amazing’ from the ‘Forever for Always for Luther II’ CD is at 23. The George Benson Al Jarreau collaboration ‘Mornin’ remains at number one but favorite to displace it soon is ‘Give Me The Reason’. Also from the ‘Forever for Always for Luther II’ album this Kirk Whalum interpretation is looking strong at 2.

Check back here often for all the news of what is hot on American smooth jazz radio.

Incognito - Listen Now - Listen Here

‘Bees + Things + Flowers’ by Incognito was released in October 2006 and is now set to take the USA by storm. It features fresh arrangements of four Incognito classics, ‘Always There’ (like you have never heard it before), ‘Still A Friend Of Mine’, ‘Everyday’ and ‘Deep Waters’ plus covers of such great tunes as Roy Ayers' ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’, Earth Wind & Fire's ‘That's The Way Of The World’, ‘Summer In The City’ and a stunning remake of America's ‘Tin Man’. There are also three brand new compositions from leader and founder member Jean-Paul Maunick (aka Bluey). Six tracks feature a 16-piece string section and the line-up of lead vocalists is the strongest ever assembled for an Incognito album. Together with the incredible Jocelyn Brown are Celyn Brown, Carleen Anderson, Maysa Leak, Joy Rose, Imaani and Tony Momrelle. A complete review of ‘Bees + Things + Flowers’ will feature here soon but for now, and to whet your listening appetite, why not check out the following live streams of just four of the tracks.

Marion Meadows In Chicago - Venue Change

Those of you planning to attend the Candid Jazz & Conversations presentation of smooth sax man Marion Meadows in Chicago need to urgently note a change of venue for this show. It will now take place on Dr Martin Luther King’s birthday, January 15, 2006, at Governor's State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, Illinois where the doors open at 6-00 PM for a show time of 7-00 PM. The admission price of $32 will include a copy of Meadows latest CD ‘Dressed To Chill’.

To get your tickets you may RSVP in advance to [email protected]. For more information on up coming events or to add new email addresses to the mailing list go to www.myspace.com/candidjazzandconversation.

Cool To The Touch Going For Adds

The CD ‘Cool To The Touch’ by Greg Adams was one of Smooth Jazz Therapy’s gems of 2006. The track ‘Felix The Cat’ easily made it onto my ‘twenty best of the year’ list and now the second single from the album is about to go for radio adds. Listen out for the title track from January 15. This smoky crawler that Adams co-writes with James Wirrick has Wirrick on keyboards, features the ‘A Team’ horn section of Richard Elliot, Boney James, Eric Marienthal Johnnie Bamont and Mindi Abair, and includes a guitar solo from Paul Jackson Jr. Above all it’s a tune that Adams hallmark trumpet makes both hot (and cool) to the touch.

For more on Greg Adams go to www.gregadamsmusic.com

Bill McGee - Chase The Sunset

Bill McGee is a special kind of guy with a biography just waiting to be written. It’s an account that starts in the late1960’s with a group of young African Americans who, despite all the odds, believed they could be anything they wanted to be. It goes on to chronicle the evolution of black music over the last forty plus years and, in addition, reveals the remarkable story of a man who, for twenty years, gave up the music industry in order to teach in the public school system. In fact Bill is currently a school administrator with Richmond Public Schools, Richmond, VA. However, since 2002, and the release of his first solo CD ‘This Ones 4U’, this talented trumpet and flugelhorn player who at one time was musical director for Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King and has recorded with the likes of McFadden and Whitehead, The O’Jays, The Stylistics and Leon Huff has again been making his mark. With his very own project 804 Jazz Records he is harnessing the talents of some of the best musicians and singers that Virginia has to offer. He calls these special friends the 804 Jazz All-Stars and they are very much to the fore on his latest CD, the brand new for 2007, ‘Chase The Sunset’.

The Dave Koz - India.Arie Show

Smooth jazz radio top thirty most played for the seven days ending January 5, 2007. Life at the top of the radio chart starts the New Year much like it ended the old one. That classic George Benson Al Jarreau collaboration ‘Mornin’ is still at number one but elsewhere, in the lower order, things have started to stir. Mainly responsible are Dave Koz and India.Arie who both individually and collectively are finding that things are happening fast. India.Arie’s single ‘Heart Of The Matter’ is at 9 after nineteen weeks on the chart and this week picks up the biggest increase in listener audience. In addition her collaboration with Dave Koz, ‘It Might Be You’ is a big re-entry at 23. The tune, produced by Phil Ramone, is the Oscar-nominated theme from the film Tootsie and comes from Koz’s soon to be released CD ‘At The Movies’. Hitting record stores on January 30 the album is a collection of twelve timeless movie themes that, in addition to Arie’s contribution, includes collaborations with Anita Baker, Chris Botti, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, Donna Summer and Vanessa Williams.

Candid Jazz & Conversations - Marion Meadows In Chicago

The impact that Denise Jordan Walker continues to have on smooth jazz in the Chicago area can never be under-estimated and for 2007 her renowned Candid Jazz & Conversations series (CJ & C) has a brand new look. Throughout the year new co-hosts Nick Colionne and Steve Cole will rotate fronting these monthly events and first up on January 15 will be Colionne. As well as combining his funky guitar skills, his humor, and his passion for the music he will be welcoming smooth sax man Marion Meadows to town. Meadows is currently blowing the doors off with his album ‘Dressed To Chill’ and typical of all CJ & C events the admission price of $32 will include a copy of the CD.

It all kicks off on Monday January 15 at Rich South Performing Arts Theatre, 5000 Sauk Trail (I-57 & Sauk Trail), Richton Park, Illinois. The doors open at 6-00 PM for a show time of 7-00 PM and $2.00 from each ticket will be donated to Rich South Music Dept. Don’t miss out on this fabulous chance to celebrate Dr Martin Luther King’s birthday by seeing two of the finest contemporary jazz artists around and by supporting the genre in the Chicago area.

To get your tickets you may RSVP in advance to [email protected]. For more information on up coming events or to add new email addresses to the mailing list go to www.myspace.com/candidjazzandconversation.

On Valentine's Day, February 14, Denise will be featuring ‘A Sultry Evening of Sax’ with Steve Cole and Nick Colionne. More on that to follow.