Smooth Jazz Therapy

Jack Prybylski's 'Window Shopping' Going For Adds

A Smooth Jazz Therapy highlight of 2006 was the radio single ‘Bright Spot’ from sax-man Jack Prybylski. Taken from his current CD ‘Window Shopping’ this text book example of mid tempo contemporary jazz proved to be one of the best tunes of the year. Now Prybylski is back and pitching for airplay with the title track from the same album. With a beauty that comes courtesy of Ken Navarro’s superb guitar this mellow tune checks all the right boxes of romantic smooth jazz and has a fullness of tone that is delivered on the wave of a pleasing sax riff and cool Hammond B3 from Jay Rowe.

Listen out for it and if you don’t hear it played on your local radio station then call up to ask why.

Brian Simpson's Above The Clouds In Record Stores Today

‘Above The Clouds’, the sensational new CD from Brian Simpson, hits records stores across the USA today. Not only that, with an uncanny sense of timing, the first single from it to be selected for airplay , ‘What Cha Gonna Do’, has also burst into the chart of thirty most played on smooth jazz radio. A new entry at 28 this tight and catchy number typifies what Simpson’s music is all about. In fact the penchant he has for ‘in the pocket’ smooth jazz is demonstrated throughout the album and in a collection of memorable standouts there is none more so that the melodic ‘Fiona’s Song’. This lovely ballad written for his 11-year-old daughter finds Simpson generously sharing the spotlight with the wonderful sax of Dave Koz and the ultra distinctive bass of Wayman Tisdale yet still making the tune entirely his own. It’s a contender for best track on the album but just edging it is ‘Lets Get Close’. Anchored by a killer bass line from Larry Kimpell and replete with a vibe that oozes sensuality this is mood music of the highest order.

‘Above The Clouds’ comes highly recommended. Go out and buy it now.

Mosaic Contemporary - The Ultimate George Duke

Mosaic Records was founded in 1983 and over the years has become one of the most respected names in jazz. The renowned boxed sets for which the label is famous often evolved into much sought after collectors items and now, with the launch of Mosaic Contemporary, that same knack of reaching back for genre framing epics is being brought to the world of contemporary jazz. The concept of Mosaic Contemporary’s flagship ‘Ultimate’ collection is simple yet stunningly effective. It recognizes the fact that nearly every important artist in contemporary jazz has recorded seminal material for more than one label. Consequently, any resultant ‘best of’ collections have always been, at best, narrow and selective snapshots of an artists overall work. By licensing the most important tracks from various labels and then arranging them into chronological compilations Mosaic Contemporary can, for the first time ever, deliver definitive highlights of an artist’s career. If proof of this were needed one need look no further than the dazzling new release ‘The Ultimate George Duke’. The CD includes eleven terrific tracks taken from nine different albums that, in their time, were released by four different record companies over a period of thirty years.

Alan Hewitt - In Conversation

Despite five solo albums, recorded over an eleven year period, Alan Hewitt has often been regarded as ‘one of music’s best kept secrets’. Yet much of this time spent behind the scenes has been done so purely through choice. Although this has fuelled a creative process that continues to deliver impressive writing credits for both television and film, Alan Hewitt is at long last all set to grab the headlines. When I caught up with this multi platinum writer, producer and keyboard player at his studio in Palm Springs CA I first asked him how he would sum up his own writing process. He explained that composing music for shows such as ‘Oprah’ or ‘The Osbornes’ brought with it a discipline and a training that he has found invaluable when writing music both for himself and others.

Kenny G Joins The All Star Smooth Cruise

The new look All Star Smooth Cruise from Haven Entertainment has just got a whole lot bigger. None other than contemporary jazz superstar Kenny G has been added to the lineup and is scheduled to play as part of the highly anticipated pre-cruise show in San Diego. He is the latest addition to a roster of artists now approaching epic proportions which, in addition to host Norman Brown, includes Boney James, Paul Taylor, Acoustic Alchemy, Nick Colionne, Marion Meadows, Chieli Minucci, Larry Carlton and Shilts. That’s not all. Both Fourplay and Patti Austin are also new inclusions and when the soul sensations of Kool & The Gang, The Spinners and the Four Tops are factored in, the cliché of ‘something for everyone’ really does become a reality. Multi platinum keyboard player Alan Hewitt will be performing and handling the back stage artist interviews, Steve Oliver will be there to share his unique guitar style and, in an ironic twist, the ‘godfather’ of smooth jazz cruising, Warren Hill, will also guest.

The All Star Smooth Cruise departs San Diego on January 19, 2008. For more information on the complete line-up go to www.allstarcruise.com

Steve Cole - True

When Steve Coles current CD ‘True’ was released in November of 2006 it slipped the normally all embracing Smooth Jazz Therapy net. That notwithstanding it remains an excellent piece of feisty smooth jazz and, given Cole’s current tour schedule that finds him on the road with both The Sax Pack and Brian Culbertson, there can been no better time to provide a reminder of how good ‘True’ is. Cole has enjoyed four number 1 radio hits and ten top 5 singles since his debut in 1998 and with ‘True’ he revisits his roots with nine top notch tracks all of which, in one way or the other, reach back to the jazz funk so indicative of his home town of Chicago. He has done this by painstakingly building a platform that piece by piece, from the stellar horn section of David Mann, Barry Danelion and Dan Levine, through the drums of Khari Parker to the percussion of Lenny Castro, is designed to deliver exactly the right result. With guest performances from Jeff Golub and fellow Chicago native Mike Logan the album is, in every respect ‘True’.

Marc Antoine - Hi-Lo Split

Since his solo debut, ‘Classical Soul’, in 1994 the output of Marc Antoine been sporadic yet there is no doubt that during the last decade he has wielded a hefty influence over the development of contemporary jazz. Part of the pioneer group of musicians who through their involvement with ‘guitars and saxes’ attempted to bring smooth jazz to the United Kingdom, he is notable for his ability to blend flamenco and Latin jazz styles with an R & B groove. In doing so Antoine has forged his own special place among the ever growing ranks of smooth jazz guitarists. His brand new CD, ‘Hi Lo Split’ is now out on Peak Records. It is his first since the 2005 ‘Modern Times’ and amidst much of the vocally driven R & B tinged jazz that proliferates today is a timely reminder that high quality instrumental rhythm and melody is what the genre is really all about.

Tom Braxton - Imagine This

Tom Braxton’s new CD, ‘Imagine This’, is due to hit record stores across the USA on August 21. It’s his first on the Pacific Coast Jazz label and follows the outstanding 2004 effort ‘Bounce’ that was produced by Wayman Tisdale and which featured a plethora of top-notch tracks including the hugely radio friendly title tune. The album proved, if proof was indeed necessary, that sax-man Braxton is a master of smooth, sophisticated contemporary jazz and now with ‘Imagine This’ his status is boosted even further. This is not only by virtue of the eleven faultless cuts but also through the galaxy of smooth jazz stars, including Kirk Whalum, Kirks brother Kevin, Tim Bowman and Brian Simpson, who have clamored to collaborate with him.

Justin Young - On The Way

With a maturity of playing that belies his youthful looks, 26 year-old Justin Young has burst onto the scene with his smooth jazz debut, ‘On The Way’. It says much for the potential of this accomplished saxophonist that Paul Brown has invested his time to mix the album and play guitar on one of the twelve choice tracks yet the involvement of some other ‘A listers’ should make everyone sit up and take notice. Tom Schuman co-writes and co-produces three of the track while Gail Jhonson does just the same. Jhonson is Norman Browns musical director and is currently on the road with him as part of the extensive 2007 Summer Storm tour while Schuman , thirty one years and twenty seven albums with Spyro Gyra, brings a wealth of experience. That said some of the most commercial tracks from ‘On The Way’ are those co-written and co-produced by Young and Rod Long. In fact all the writing, producing and performing partnerships that Young has struck up are a feature throughout. Each serves to keep the vibe deliciously varied and the quality of the album at an optimum.

Jeff Kashiwa - Play

Jeff Kashiwa is a man in demand. This ‘A list’ sax player, who throughout the nineties enjoyed an extended stint with the Rippingtons, is an integral member of the Sax Pack trio where he shares the spotlight with Steve Cole and Kim Waters. In addition, as well as being an occasional member of the Acoustic Alchemy line-up, and appearing with the Rippingtons as part of their ‘20th anniversary’ project, he also tours with his own band Coastal Access. If that wasn’t enough he has just released his fourth solo CD, ‘Play’. On the Native Language label, it continues a relationship that started in 2000 with his breakthrough album ‘Another Door Opens’. As well as kick-starting Kashiwa’s energetic solo career this offering also garnered the massive hit ‘Hyde Park’ which to this day still resides on the chart of most recurrently played on smooth jazz radio. His ‘Simple Truth’ project followed in 2002 and ‘Peace Of Mind’ was released two years later. For Kashiwa ‘Play’ brings together much of what has gone before as he beckons in Coastal Access band members Allan Hinds, Melvin Davies and Dave Hooper for eight of the tracks. Further collaborations with former Rippingtons band mate Dave Kochanski plus Acoustic Alchemy mainstays Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale all add to the depth and quality of an album that is a delightful mosaic of the contemporary jazz genre.

Blake Aaron - Desire

In the intense world of smooth jazz, 2007 is turning out to be an exceptional year for new music. The latest artist to deliver a real gem is guitarist Blake Aaron who’s third solo CD ‘Desire’ was released in June. His 2001 debut on Innervision, ‘With Every Touch’, included special guest appearances by Eric Marienthal and David Benoit. The 2004 follow up, ‘Bringin' It Back’, propelled him into the contemporary jazz spotlight with the radio single ‘She's So Fine’ which remained on the chart of most played on smooth jazz radio for eight straight weeks. Now, after a break of three years while he concentrated on his studio career and live shows, he is back with his most accomplished effort yet.

Ronnie 'Sportcoat' Overton - When The Smoke Clears

Ronnie ‘Sportcoat’ Overton has played bass and toured with Ronnie McNeir and Kim Weston. In fact, born 1953 in Pontiac Michigan and growing up in the musical explosion of the sixties, his life has been full of music and had it not been for a period when he found himself on the wrong side of the law may well have released his debut CD much earlier. However, it could be said that everything happens for a reason and the opportunity that episode in his life gave to hone his keyboard skills and develop his own tunes has now led directly to ‘When The Smoke Clears’. It’s a twelve track collection of some of the most rhythm driven sounds around and is already catching interest and airplay across the world.

Jeff Golub - Aint No Woman

When in March of this year I reviewed Jeff Golub’s excellent CD ‘Grand Central’ I referred to it as a delicious mix of rock, pop and electric plus acoustic blues, all mixed up with some superb examples of R & B tinged contemporary jazz. The first single selected for airplay, ‘Hello Betty’, promptly took the chart of thirty most played on smooth jazz radio by storm yet it remained my assertion that the best track on the album is Golub’s picture perfect cover of the Four Tops ‘Aint No Woman (Like The One I Got)’. With a telling contribution on sax from Richard Elliot it’s a cut that shows off the genuine sensitivity that Golub often injects into his music. Good news is that ‘Aint No Woman (Like The One I Got)’ has now also been selected for radio play and made its dramatic entry into this weeks chart at 28 after being the ‘most added’ by radio stations across the USA.

If by some chance you have not yet made ‘Grand Central’ part of your collection I encourage you to do so.

For more on Jeff Golub go to www.jeffgolub.com

Soul Ballet - Lavish

Within a genre that often delivers to a formula it’s refreshing to discover something that is completely out of the ordinary. This is exactly what the ARTizen Music Group has done in signing composer, producer and multi instrumentalist Rick Kelly who is the driving force behind the deliciously different Soul Ballet. The result is the album ‘Lavish’ that sits in that warm place somewhere between chill and smooth jazz and which Kelly himself describes as a cross between ‘hip jazz and smooth hop’. Topped off elegantly with exciting orchestral touches ‘Lavish’ is the seventh release from Soul Ballet. It is a rarefied mix of dreamy ambiences, exotic percussion and melodic piano melodies all laced together with modern and old school urban grooves. In addition, not only has Kelly been able to call on guest contributors that range from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra to Paul ‘Shilts’ Weimer, he has also harnessed the instrumental talents of ARtizen’s co-owners Rick Braun and Richard Elliot who both make telling contributions.

Brian Simpson - Above The Clouds

When I reviewed Brian Simpson’s breakthrough CD ‘It’s All Good’ I described it as one of the few genuinely ‘complete’ albums of 2005. The title cut and its follow up ‘Saturday Cool’ produced two massive radio hits and fast-tracked him into the forefront of public awareness. In fact for Simpson, who is in his tenth year as musical director for jazz saxophonist Dave Koz, ‘It’s All Good’ proved to be a tremendous validation of everything he had worked toward for so long. With his brand new release, ‘Above The Clouds’, due to hit record stores across the USA on August 28 his consummate skills both as writer and performer are again on display for all to enjoy.