Smooth Jazz Therapy

Al Green And Candi Staton At The MEN

June 29 2007. Al Green stormed into the MEN Arena, Manchester for the latest leg of his UK tour to the kind of rapturous reception befitting the reputation the north west of England has for being a hot bed of classic soul. The regions soul brothers and sisters were out in force for a show that opened with the sensational Candi Staton who proved, much like good wine, that time had done nothing to dull her magic or dim her undoubted star quality. With an extensive discography that reaches back as far as 1969, and which includes its fair share of gospel records, she had much to entice her audience and did just that with staples from way back that included her 1971 smash ‘Stand By Your Man’ and the 1977 ‘Nights On Broadway’. Bringing it back to now she turned it down for the message laden title track from her 2006 CD ‘His Hands’ before whipping the crowd into a frenzy with her 1976 anthem ‘Young Hearts Run Free’. Staton ensured the arena remained completely supercharged by closing her set with the stunning ‘You Got The Love’. This track started out on Staton’s 1990 gospel album ‘Stand Up And Be A Witness’ only to become a disco blockbuster courtesy of her collaboration with The Source. It gave her tight well drilled band, which included two of her sons plus former Style Council stalwart Mick Talbot on keys, the chance to really excel and guaranteed that the audience were totally ready for the Reverend Green.

Acoustic Alchemy - This Way

‘This Way’ is the brand new CD from the enduringly excellent Acoustic Alchemy. It is their first album under the association that Higher Octave/Narada Jazz has with Blue Note Records and those who read the recent Smooth Jazz Therapy review of the bands superb live show at the Cinnamon Club, Altrincham will have noted my comments that ‘This Way’ is without doubt destined to be one the most significant contemporary jazz releases of 2007. It marks yet another phase in the musical evolution that started in 1987 when ‘Red Dust and Spanish Lace’ provided guitarists Greg Carmichael and Nick Webb with access into the then fledgling adult contemporary market. Since then the sad passing of Webb and his replacement in 1998 by Miles Gilderdale, has, over time, led to an amalgam of influences that now extends to luscious horn driven grooves yet essentially continues to be underpinned by that hallmark combination of steel and nylon stringed guitars.

Rick Braun And Richard Elliot Plan Some R n R

What may prove to be the smooth jazz event of 2007 is scheduled to happen on August 28 when Rick Braun and Richard Elliot release their eagerly awaited duets album ‘R n R’. When the two of them launched the ARtizen Music Group it was always likely that collaboration would result and now, three years later, it’s a reality. With a stellar line-up of guest musicians that include Greg Karukas, Jeff Lorber and Chris Standring plus production input from Lorber, Philippe Saisse and Rex Rideout this is a collection that is sure to check all the right boxes. Those who have already seen Braun and Elliot perform as part of the current Jazz Attack tour have had a flavour of what’s to come and the advance radio single, ‘Sao Paulo’, is now well entrenched on the chart of thirty most played on smooth jazz radio.

Check back here at Smooth Jazz Therapy for a complete review of ‘R n R’.

Ronny Smith - Simply Stated

The fact guitarist Ronny Smith grew up listening to Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, and George Benson does much to explain the tight melodic style that categorizes his playing and which he began to develop while still in junior high school. The time he subsequently spent performing, first with various bands at University then later in the armed forces, expanded both his geographic and musical horizons and led him to a career as a sought after backing musician. Collaborations with artists as diverse as the Marvellettes Melba Moore and jazz drummer Bobby Durham all added to Smith’s reputation and he has since gone on to release four solo albums, the most recent of which is the highly accomplished ‘Simply Stated’.

Jamie WilliamS - After Hours

It was as an eleven year old schoolboy in the town of Richardson TX that Jamie WilliamS first picked up the saxophone. From that day on he began to plan his musical career and although initially anticipating a part in the kind of horn sections he had heard backing bands such as Earth, Wind, & Fire or Huey Lewis and the News he then discovered David Sanborn and knew the road to a solo career was the one that beckoned. While still at The University of Miami he played concerts with the Miami Sound Machine, Jon Secada, and Hiram Bullock. After graduating, Jamie spent time in both Memphis and Nashville where his musical horizons widened ever further but it was when he moved to Orlando, FL that things really started to happen. In late 2003, and with his band now gigging at some of the best clubs and festivals around, he was introduced to multi-platinum producer Veit Renn whose credits include work with Backstreet Boys and NSync. Veit was so impressed with Jamie that he took on the task of producing his debut CD, the independently published ‘After Hours’ that is out now.

Cindy Bradley - Just A Little Bit

Apparently from nowhere, but actually from Buffalo, NY, trumpeter Cindy Bradley has burst onto the contemporary jazz scene with her debut solo project ‘Just A Little Bit’. It’s a choice collection of eight tracks that are replete with all the rhythm and melody necessary to get her noticed and is an effective showcase for her writing, arranging and performing talents. Bradley has enjoyed a varied and impressive career in music from a young age, has toured extensively and, as a jazz educator, has conducted numerous jazz workshops. She holds a Masters Degree in jazz performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA as well as a Bachelors degree in jazz studies from Ithaca College, NY. Now, with ‘Just A Little Bit’ she is very much out front and center stage.

Paul Taylor - Ladies Choice

‘Ladies Choice’ from smooth sax superstar Paul Taylor is his fourth CD on Peak Records, his seventh in total and without doubt his most soulful ever. Starting with the concept of blending six of the most accessible instrumental smooth jazz cuts you will find anywhere with tracks featuring guest performances from four of the best female R & B singers around, this is a collection that has everything right about it. In addition, for the third album in a row, Taylor has turned to Rex Rideout and Barry J. Eastmond to variously add their legendary writing, production and performing skills for an end product that is almost indescribably good. Rideout is best known for his collaborations with Boney James, Larry Carlton and Will Downing among others while Eastmond has worked with everyone from Britney Spears to Al Jarreau, Phil Perry to Freddie Jackson and Anita Baker to Jonathan Butler. Taylor was so enthused by the excitement that each of them brought to his 2003 project ‘Steppin Out’ that he brought them back for the 2005 ‘Nightlife’ and now, with ‘Ladies Choice’, the partnership are redefining the boundaries of sumptuous ‘in the pocket’ urban jazz.

J. Dee - Tippin On The Edge Of Funk

Producer, songwriter and musician John Bolden (AKA J. Dee) is best known for his production and arrangement credits that include Grover Washington’s 1992 album, ‘Next Exit’. Now as a solo artist Bolden steps out with the stage name of J. Dee for his debut project entitled ‘Tippin' on the Edge of Funk’. Laden with true urban, jazz, funk and soul grooves it’s a hugely accomplished first outing that shows off the multiplicity of his talents. As well as writing ten of the twelve tracks he also produces and plays both sax and keyboards. In doing so he paints a lavish picture of urban jazz which pulses with a light and shade that at times is tender and at others addictively funky.

Marcus H Mitchell - R & R

Marcus H Mitchell is not only a rising saxophone star but is also CEO and President of 24th Music, a division of MHM Entertainment Group based in Maryland. The youngest independent executive to be on the voting committee for the Grammy Awards he is about to release his latest CD, the excellent ‘R & R – Rest & Relaxation’. It follows on from his 2005 debut ‘Jumpin’ and is a classy eleven track collection of fresh urban jazz sounds that is epitomized by the tune ‘Just Groovin’. With a title that pretty much sums up what Mitchell does throughout the album it is replete with his own brand of edgy smooth jazz and, although rest and relaxation may not entirely be what Mitchell is all about, the smoky title track, the chilled out ‘Deep Concentration’ and finally ‘Summer Breeze’ all demonstrate that he knows mellow urban jazz. Not to be confused with the Isley Brothers song of the same name this latter track features excellent backing vocals from Yvette Thomas and is the perfect antidote to a stressful day.

Jay Soto - Stay Awhile

When in 2005 I reviewed the debut album from award winning guitarist Jay Soto, ‘Long Time Coming’, I described it as an astonishing collection of ultra commercial smooth jazz tunes with ‘radio ready’ stamped all over several of them. As well as writing nine of the ten songs Soto also produced ‘Long Time Coming’ and was joined in the venture by sax supremo Michael Lington who featured on the tracks ‘Live It Up’ and ‘Remember The Night’. Now with ‘Stay Awhile’, his first release on the Nu Groove label, Soto has involved Lington once more but, additionally, drawn on a stellar array of talent that includes Euge Groove and Jeffrey Osborne plus the writing, performing and production talents of Paul Brown, Darren Rahn and Jeff Lorber. The CD is already creating quite a buzz and the radio single ‘Slammin’ is racing up the chart of the thirty most played on American smooth jazz radio.

Lin Rountree - Groovetree

Trumpet and flugelhorn player Lin Rountree is the latest artist to emerge from the 'new' Detroit music factory. Thankfully his 2005 release ‘Groovetree’ is just about to get a second airing and is the kind of album to restore faith in the smooth jazz genre as an instrumental medium. There is not one weak cut on it and, in the area of contemporary jazz trumpet, is one of the best albums in years. During the past few years Lin has been at the forefront of the Detroit music scene sharing the stage or studio with notables that include KEM, Chante Moore, Peter White, Tim Bowman, Carl Thomas and Steve Cole. The excellent Bowman is at his side for the CD’s first radio single ‘For Your Love’ which, despite its luscious mellow nature, always retains a controlled funky edge.

Tom Braxton - New CD In The Works

When Smooth Jazz Therapy reviewed Tom Braxton’s performance at this years Smooth Jazz Cruise it described his outstanding 2004 CD ‘Bounce’ as being highly recommended. Produced by Wayman Tisdale it is replete with gems such as ‘Bermuda Nights’ ( co-written with Tisdale) and the excellent ‘Julian’s Smile’ that he composed for his son. The title track is hugely radio friendly and his excellent interpretation of Al Green’s ‘Lets Stay Together’ really hits the spot. Consequently it’s particularly pleasing to report that Braxton has a brand new release scheduled for 2007. Titled ‘Imagine This’ it is his first for the Pacific Coast Jazz label and includes eleven choice tracks with guest performances from a galaxy of smooth jazz stars including Kirk Whalum, Kirks brother Kevin, Wayman Tisdale, the excellent Tim Bowman and the finest smooth jazz keyboard player on the planet Brian Simpson.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Imagine This’. For more go to www.tombraxton.com

Jeff Kashiwa - New Album Set For Release On July 31

Jeff Kashiwa is one of the smoothest contemporary jazz musicians around and on July 31 will release his brand new CD ‘Play’. With fourteen all original tracks and a star studded line up on board ‘Play’ is all set to put the smooth back into smooth jazz and place Kashiwa right back in the game. Not that this former Rippingtons sax player has ever been too far away. In fact Kashiwa has been a constant on the smooth jazz landscape for the past eighteen years. He remains one of Acoustic Alchemy’s ‘go to’ guest performers and, together with Steve Cole and Kim Waters, is the driving force behind the trio of artists known as the Sax Pack. Jeff’s own band Coastal Access are well known for the quality of their live performances and he is perhaps best known for the hit ‘Hyde Park’ from his 2000 album on Native Language ‘Another Door Opens’. The track (also affectionately known as the ‘The Aah Ooh Song’) still continues to enjoy extensive radio play right across the USA.
From the snippets from ‘Play’ heard so far there is little doubt that radio stations will again be clamoring to get Kashiwa’s music on the air. Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Play’.