Smooth Jazz Therapy

Smooth Jazz Therapy - Top Ten Covers Of 2007

The smooth jazz cover version has, in recent years, become something of an art form. Far removed from a straight forward copy of another artists work, these re-imaginings have breathed new life into music that, typically, originated in the classic soul era of the 60’s and 70’s. Even these boundaries have, of late, been frayed so, by way of paying homage to the very best that this sub genre has to offer, here is my very personal choice of Smooth Jazz Therapy Top Ten Covers of 2007.

‘Aint No Woman (Like The One I Got)’ by Jeff Golub from the CD ‘Grand Central’. This picture perfect cover of the Four Tops hit shows off Golub’s versatility and includes a significant contribution on sax from Richard Elliot. Quite simply it’s the cover of the year.

‘A Love Of Your Own’ by Paul Taylor from the CD ‘Ladies Choice’. Taylor, who also popped up this year on Keiko Matsui’s ‘Black River’, delivers a stunning interpretation of this Average White Bands classic. With Rex Rideout’s delicious retro keyboards, vocals from Lauren Evans that are at soul factor ten and sax from Taylor which sends shivers down the spine, this incredibly soulful smoker is as good as anything you will hear either this year or next.

Read on for the remainder of this year’s top ten covers.

Smooth Jazz Therapy - Top Twenty Of 2007

Well, its that time again and at the end of what has been a truly amazing year for Smooth Jazz Therapy it’s a genuine pleasure to thank you, my readers, for the way you keep coming back and for making this site the hottest place for contemporary jazz on the web. Over the last twelve month we have reviewed seventy five CD’s, reported on fifteen gigs and overall had a wonderful time doing it. Thanks also to the publicists, the record companies and of course the artists, both established and up and coming, who have all played a part by making their music so generously available. Therefore, accepting the self indulgence of it all, but by way of celebrating what has gone before, here are my own personal highlights of the year. In other words and in no particular order, my Smooth Jazz Therapy Top Twenty Tracks of 2007.

‘Let’s Get Close’ by Brian Simpson from the CD ‘Above The Clouds’. Anchored by a killer bass line from Larry Kimpell and replete with a vibe that simply oozes sensuality, this is a number that confirms Simpson as a true heavyweight of the genre.

‘Black River’ by Keiko Matsui from the CD ‘Moyo’. Paul Taylor, whose own CD ‘Ladies Choice’ proved to be hugely successful this year, steps up on sax for this radio hit that, despite its thoughtful opening, provides what is undoubtedly the catchiest smooth jazz hook of 2007.

Read on for the remainder of this years top tracks.

A Double Chance To See Jeffrey Osborne

This new year, fans of Jeffrey Osborne will have more than enough to be excited about. Osborne, who is currently finding favor in that delicious place where contemporary jazz meets adult R & B, will be headlining at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, 21500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA on New Years Eve. That most popular of LA bands, the excellent DW3, will get the show started at 7pm and, with DJ Jonathan Phillips spinning some classic grooves, it promises to be quite a night. Not only that, for those lucky enough to have tickets for the sell out Wayman Tisdale Smooth Jazz Cruise that departs Fort Lauderdale on January 20, there will be another chance to see Jeffrey Osborne. On Wednesday January 23, while in port at the island of Aruba, he will be the special guest performer at the events ‘Stars In Concert’ show. Smooth Jazz Therapy will be there so check back often for concert reviews and ‘news from the cruise’.

Robin James - Haven

Now that high caliber performers such as Mike Manson and Vail Johnson have stepped from their respective shadows to release solo albums of their own, the perceptions that appeared to prevent contemporary jazz bass players from moving center stage seem to be crumbling. Although Smooth Jazz Therapy intends to make 2008 the year when the genre’s top sideman get the recognition they have long deserved, one artist already ahead of that game is bass player/songwriter Robin James who has just released his own eclectic collection of music that comes right from the heart. A veteran of dozens of bands and thousands of gigs, James grew up listening to the Beatles and his story, which took him from Indiana to upstate New York and back again, reads like a piece of pop fiction. Through all of it he has learned the value of hard work and quality collaborations so it’s not surprising that with ‘Haven’ he delivers both in spades.

San Diego Awaits The All Star Cruise Experience

In San Diego they are talking about it on Fox 6 as well as NBC 7/39’s Today Show and with the holidays already here there are now only a few weeks left to reserve a place for the All Star Music Festival and All Star Smooth Cruise. Running from January 18-26, 2008 it all commences with a three night land based festival at San Diego’s Town & Country Resort and follows on with five days of cruising that is being billed as ‘the ultimate music vacation’. In cooperation with San Diego’s excellent Smooth Jazz 98.1 KiFM the festival will feature appearances by Kenny G, Kool & the Gang, Patti Austin, Fourplay, The Spinners, Four Tops and Warren Hill. Once at sea guests will be wowed by the collective talents of, , among others, Boney James, Paul Taylor, Marion Meadows, Larry Carlton, Shilts from Down to the Bone and Acoustic Alchemy. Although designed to be enjoyed as one seamless experience it is in fact possible to book Festival and Cruise tickets separately. For more details go to www.allstarmusicfestival.com or call 1-888-695-0888

N-Groove - It's Who We Are

There is something special about being ‘in on’ a musical phenomenon at about the time it firsts hits the scene. This is certainly the feeling associated with the mega talented N-Groove and its debut CD ‘It’s Who We Are’ which, in every respect, is nothing short of sensational. At the heart of N-Groove is guitarist Roberto Tyson, drummer C.C. Givens and bassist Cheikh Ndoye who either individually or collectively write eight of the nine outstanding tracks that encompass ‘It’s Who We Are’. Throughout they are aided in no small part by a stellar line-up of guest musicians that include Al Williams (sax), both Benito Gonzales and Eli Staples on piano, Carl McIntyre with flugelhorn, Matvei Sigalov (electric violin), Brad Booth (electric piano), Scott Hedges (guitar), Shaun Jurek (guitar), Romero Wyatt (percussion) and, notably, Monica Ssali on vocals.

Cheri Maree - Pure Voice

‘Pure Voice’ is the brand new CD from the multi talented Cheri Maree. With a title that, in many ways, serves as a metaphor for what this talented performer is all about the album is replete with her fresh blend of neo soul, funk, and jazz tinged R & B. Quite simply, it’s a combination that sometimes surprises, often delights but never disappoints. Born in Muncie Indiana, but now firmly based in South Carolina, Cheri Maree has performed with the likes of Alex Bugnon, Patti Labelle, Al Jarreau, Ramsey Lewis, Pieces of a Dream, Randy Crawford, Spyro Gyra, Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine, The Isley Brothers, Tom Brown, Jean Carne, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Millie Jackson. In addition, her skill as a lyricist, a performing artist and a composer has provided much deserved recognition in Europe, Japan and across the United States.

Award Winning Jack Prybylski Announces Concert Dates

When I reviewed the CD ‘Window Shopping’ from Buffalo, NY sax man Jack Prybylski (purr-bill-ski) I described it as having the potential to move him to the centre of where it’s at in the world of contemporary jazz.. The albums killer cut ‘Bright Spot’, which features Ken Navarro, made it into Smooth Jazz Therapy’s Top Twenty of 2006 and has remained a favourite ever since. Consequently its not surprising that Prybylski has just picked up the accolade of ‘best saxophonist’ at the Buffalo Music Awards for the ninth time overall and the third in a row.

Not only that, he is on his way east to perform two shows between the Christmas and New Year periods. First, on December 27 at 5-00 PM, Prybylski is ‘out of state’ at the Holiday Inn, Springfield, MA for WEIB 106.3 Smooth FM’s latest ‘Cool, Smooth and Soulful After Hours Cool Down’. Call 413-781-0900 for details.

One day later he is in upstate New York at Irene’s Coffee & Jazz House in the Hamilton St. Plaza, Geneva, NY. The show starts at 7-30 PM and more details can be had by calling 315-759-5180.

The Weather Channel Presents : The Best Of Smooth Jazz

Currently at number six on the Billboard contemporary jazz album chart, and denied a higher placing only by the four seasonal selections that precede it, ‘The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz’ seems, at first glance, to be one of the more surprising contemporary jazz hits of the year. Yet smooth jazz on the Weather Channel is almost as familiar as its famous storm watcher Jim Cantore: The 25-year-old station has always featured music and that which plays in the background six times per hour during the network's signature ‘Local on the 8s’ has evolved over time. It has become a real source of interest for viewers who have been writing in for years to ask where they can get the tunes. Although the network publishes monthly play-lists on its web site ‘The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz’ is now providing the opportunity to hear them all over again.

Paul Adams - This Christmas

Last word on seasonal music this year goes to Paul Adams and his CD ‘This Christmas’. His instrumental interpretation of traditional Christmas fare is simple, peaceful, and evocative with serene meditative acoustic melodies avoiding the usual holiday vices. Decorated with lovely finger style guitar, mandolin, and dulcimer, these traditional songs are a unique yuletide adornment of sound that deeply touches the heart. However, the real story lies with the final track, ‘Silent Night’. As Paul was putting the final touches to the album he felt that the song just begged for the line from the movie It’s A Wonderful Life when daughter Zuzu says to Jimmy Stewart, "Daddy, teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings".

Donald Shaw - Made In Motown

‘Made In Motown’ is the new CD from urban contemporary vocalist Donald Shaw. With a title that betrays the fact the album was recorded not far from the Detroit home of the legendary Motown brand, it also re-enforces the connection between the sumptuous vibe so indicative of Motown Records’ golden era and that which Shaw emulates with apparent ease. That said this is not a collection of retrospectives. Substantially co-written by Shaw and a range of collaborators it provides fifteen original compositions that can be best described as ‘new look old school’. This hugely appealing album is further enhanced by significant instrumental contributions from Greg Dokes on keys, the legendary Al Turner on bass and Lenny Price with sax. Additionally, the backing vocals of Rosemere Matthews, Roseann Matthews and Shaw himself are never anything short of exceptional. In fact, from beginning to end, ‘Made In Motown’ is an absolute joy with some real standouts buried within.

Terry Disley Experience - The Jazzcracker & Other Delights

The name of English born and San Francisco based keyboard player Terry Disley is tied tightly to his collaborations with smooth jazz super group Acoustic Alchemy and to Dave Stewart for whom he was musical director for five years. Of late Disley’s brand of melodic jazz with an edge has really found a niche on his adopted west coast and, with the CD’s ‘Experience’ and ‘Across The Pond’ already under his belt, attention now turns to the much-anticipated Christmas CD from the Terry Disley Experience. ‘The Jazzcracker & Other Delights’ is the title of this brand new release and, with good reason, is described as a fun filled musical holiday experience. With the ‘Experience’ line-up of bay area jazz notables Erik Jekabson playing trumpet, Alex Murzyn on saxophones, clarinet and flute, Terry Disley on piano, Dan Feiszli holding it down on bass and Alan Hall with drums the quality is never in doubt and makes ‘The Jazzcracker & Other Delights’ an interesting and worthy addition to this years crop of seasonal offerings.

Mindy Smith - My Holiday

There is something about Christmas music that cuts across genre’s and warms the spirit. Consequently, in this manic run up to what should be the most tranquil of seasons, I take great delight in making reference to Mindy Smith’s stunningly beautiful holiday CD ‘My Holiday’. With a voice clear as blown glass and tinged with the kind of blue yearning that takes the breath away, her folksy style of country rock is picture perfect for this collection of eleven gentle, acoustic-driven originals and standards.

The cool crisp days of December and the occasional blanket of newly fallen snow are just some of the fond memories that Smith has of the holiday season while growing up on Long Island. Her dad taking the family into New York City to go window shopping and meet Santa Claus at Macy’s. Her mom making fresh cinnamon rolls from scratch. It’s all this and more, this sense of nostalgia, simple joy and togetherness that makes ‘My Holiday’ what it is. A feeling of less frenzied times with some real standout tracks buried within. ‘I Know The Reason’ soothes like a warm welcoming blanket while ‘It Really Is (A Wonderful Life)’ is simply charming. Perhaps best of all is the title track. With a childlike innocence that is joyously precious this is as good a Christmas tune as you will hear this season or any other.

‘My Holiday’ is released on Vanguard Records and is available widely.

Mark Hollingsworth - Chasing The Sun

In the liner notes for his new CD ‘Chasing The Sun’ sax-man Mark Hollingsworth offers the view that in recent years a lot of music, including certain kinds of jazz, has become pretty rigid and very predictable. He compares this to the days of his youth when, growing up listening to radio in Chicago, he was able to access a wide variety of styles and genres. Now, as the culmination of a lifetime search to embrace the richness of good music that is unfettered by boundaries or limitations, he has written and produced fourteen of the most diverse tracks found on any single CD this year. In so doing Hollingsworth has delivered a contemporary jazz album that possesses a level of intelligence way above the norm.

KBLX 102.9 - Celebrating The Season

Yet another of this seasons holiday delights comes courtesy of San Francisco’s KBLX 102.9. With the totally apt tag line of The Quiet Storm, the station brings the softer, warmer side of urban and R & B music to the bay area. Now, with its ‘Celebrating The Season’ holiday CD, it is delivering a selection of familiar Christmas tunes recorded by some true heavyweights of the genre. Quite simply the biggest artists with their biggest holiday hits all as heard on KBLX, the album includes tracks from Anita Baker, Brian McKnight, Freddie Jackson and Stephanie Mills. Predictably ‘Joy To The World’ from Teddy Pendergrass is a delight and the resurgent Peabo Bryson weighs in with ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’. Destiny’s Child are just perfect with ‘Silent Night’ and the Babyface version of ‘Sleigh Ride’ is everything one would expect from this writing, performing and production genius. Toni Braxton, Patti Labelle, Vanessa Williams and Whitney Houston all keep the quality sky high and there is still room for the wonderful ‘My Favorite Things’ from Luther Vandross.

‘Celebrating The Season’ is available from www.amazon.com and is one that you will come back to year after year.