Smooth Jazz Therapy

Machan - Motion Of Love

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Machan is just the latest in an apparent line of contemporary jazz performers who are being afforded a showcase by the excellent NuGroove label. The album ‘Motion Of Love’, which was released late in 2007, is her second solo project and is a fine blend of adult contemporary and smooth jazz rhythms. It represents a further milestone in an evolving solo career and cements her reputation as an accomplished professional that was gained by virtue of extended stints as a backing singer for luminaries such as Sting, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Hiroshima and Pink Floyd. Machan writes all but one of the ten songs on ‘Motion Of Love’. The only cover is her version of Government Mule’s ‘Beautifully Broken’ which was co-written by her husband Danny Louis and is indicative of the mellifluous vibe that pulses right through the entire album.

Michael Manson - Up Front

When, in 2006, I reviewed ‘Just Feeling’ It’ by bass player Michael Manson I described his influence and reputation within the contemporary jazz genre as extending far beyond his home city of Chicago. On the album this was exemplified by the who’s who of smooth jazz superstardom that he enticed to collaborate with him and now, just under two years later, he is back with more of the wonderful same. Of course these are troubled times for smooth jazz and 215 Records, the label with which he recorded ‘Just Feeling’ It’ is now defunct. Its demise led to a chronic underexposure of what was a really outstanding CD so it is totally appropriate that the new release, ‘Up Front’, provides a welcome opportunity to revisit four of the tracks originally found on this earlier effort. Not only that, Manson reaches all the way back to 2002 and his debut ‘The Bottom Line’ project for the hit of the time ‘Outer Drive’. In doing so he creates a hybrid collection that is part ‘best of’, part brand new music but all superb contemporary jazz.

Hammer Blow In Florida - WJSJ & WSJF Dump Smooth Jazz

Smooth jazz radio was this week dealt yet another hammer blow when Jacksonville stations WJSJ (105.3 FM) and WSJF (105.5 FM) switched formats to what has been termed as rhythmic adult contemporary music. Following in the wake of similar changes in New York, Washington, Houston and Denver, Terrence Rodda, who is the general manager of the two stations that simultaneously transmit the same broadcasts, explained away the change as a response to audience figures that were failing to meet expectations. In fact the latest Arbitron Inc. ratings show that last fall WJSJ and WSJF had a combined 2.7 percent average quarter hour share of all listeners aged 12 and older in the Jacksonville market. Amongst competing broadcasters this ranked the stations 12th.

It is reported that fans of smooth jazz will still be able to listen to the music they love through the Jacksonville station’s web site, www.smoothjazz1053.com. However if that means more of the same watered down product that too many stations are now passing off as smooth jazz then its unlikely to make much of an impact. Rodda hopes the station’s new format will be more commercially attractive. He perceives it as having a mass appeal that is aimed (for some reason) at "thirtyish" women. We hope they enjoy it but for the listeners in north Florida and southern Georgia who are no longer able to hear contemporary jazz on radio, we bemoan their loss.

Nick Colionne Set For Berks Jazz Fest

It may still be snowing on the east coast but the smooth jazz festival season is almost upon us. Hot news is that on April 3rd Reading, Pennsylvania's 18th Annual VF Outlets Berks Jazz Festival will play host to the R&B and jazz guitarist, Nick Colionne. Recently described as 'one of the most exceptional performers to come onto the jazz scene in a long time', his unique blend of Chicago style contemporary jazz is the essence of soul and combines a high-energy yet emotional approach to playing that comes from deep within. In addition those who previously have seen Colionne perform will know that his style doesn't end with his playing. His ultra-cool appearance, both on and off the stage, has rightly led to him being labeled as ‘The Best Dressed Man in Jazz’.

Chris Standring Stricken By Flu Bug - Cancels UK Tour

Chris Standring has announced the cancellation of his up coming tour dates in the United Kingdom. This weeks shows at London’s Pizza Express were have to have been preceded by a much anticipated return to the North West and an appearance at The Cinnamon Club in south Manchester. However, a severe flu bug has compelled Chris to rethink his plans. This is the first time in Chris’s entire career that he has cancelled an appearance, an event that unfortunately coincides with the hectic run up to the release of his brand new CD ‘Love & Paragraphs’ The title track from the album currently sits at #9 on the chart of most played on smooth jazz radio in the USA.

Rumour has it that Hamish Stuart from The Average White Band may be filling in for him at the Pizza Express and the intention is for Standring to reschedule his UK dates as soon as is possible.

Check back here often for news on this and, for more information, go to www.chrisstandring.com

Jessy J - Tequila Moon

Rarely has a debut CD been more anticipated and more hyped than that from sax player Jessica Spinella, aka Jessy J. ‘Tequila Moon’ hit record stores across the USA on March 4 and with the title track already riding high on the chart of most played on smooth jazz radio has become an instant success. Although there is no doubt that the buzz surrounding ‘Tequila Moon’ is due in no small part to the influence of the Svengali like Paul Brown, (he co-writes four of the songs with Jessy, plays guitar on seven, and produces throughout) it is also an indication of the thirst within the genre for another female player to follow in the footsteps of Candy Dulfer, Pamela Williams and Mindi Abair. That notwithstanding ‘Tequila Moon’ is an interesting blend of overtly Latin rhythms and ‘in the pocket’ smooth jazz vibes.

Michael Lington Signs With NuGroove

In the wake of tremendous format changes, the record company NuGroove has emerged as a leader in the revitalization contemporary jazz. Original founder David Chackler decided to resurrect this legendary label by re-gaining the rights to the name from his prior partners who had acquired the company in 2004 and two years later closed it down. As a result, and after a hiatus of almost 10-years, NuGroove re-opened its doors in 2007 and has already launched a succession of chart-topping hits that have earned widespread critical acclaim. Once the home of Michael Lington and Down to the Bone, NuGroove had previously been a bellwether for aggressive, funky smooth jazz and the latest artist to come back to the fold is Lington who is pictured here with Chackler and NuGroove partner John Salstone. In fact Lington cut his first CD with the label back in 1997 and is clearly enthused by this homecoming. He comments that, “It’s great to be back at NuGroove. This is a place that is on the cutting edge of the trends in the industry and believes in creating viable artistic partnerships by allowing them the freedom to do what they do best.”

Lington joins Jay Soto and Bob Baldwin at NuGroove who are both currently enjoying much deserved chart success. With the likes of Michael Manson, Gail Jhonson, J Dee, Dave Sereny and Darren Rahn also on the roster there is little doubt that NuGroove is indeed at the leading edge of a contemporary jazz revolution.

For more go to www.thenugroove.com

Bob Baldwin - NewUrbanJazz.com

Contemporary jazz is currently navigating troubled waters yet keyboard player Bob Baldwin may just be offering some real hope for the future. His brand new CD ‘NewUrbanJazz.com’ is just that, a redefining of the genre, and the legitimization of R & B tinged vocals within smooth jazz. Truth to tell Baldwin has been pioneering his unique vibe since he first hit the scene in 1988 with ‘The Dream Featuring Bob Baldwin’. Since then his often overlooked discography has been adorned with musical gems and this latest project, a fresh mix of Latin, R & B and smooth jazz rhythms, raises the bar yet another notch. Enhanced by Baldwin’s stylish production and the collaboration of exceptional guest performers, the collection signposts what Baldwin himself describes as a comfortable home for those whose musical tastes fall between the cracks of smooth jazz and urban music formats. Bring it on. New Urban Jazz is the way.

Smooth Jazz Radio In Houston - Another Casualty

I am indebted to my good friends in music, Denise Jordan Walker and Barry Sea, for the news that yet another smooth jazz radio station is no more. Effective Thursday March 12 KHJZ 95.7 in Houston, TX flipped formats and will soon become ‘Hot 95.7 FM - Top 40 Radio’. This latest bombshell follows the recent demise of WQCD 101.9 in New York, Smooth Jazz WJZW 105.9 in Washington DC and, most recently, 104.3 FM in Denver, CO. Yet some who should know better are passing off this worrying trend as just ‘one of those things’. In fact Carol Archer writing in Radio & Records’ headlined her piece on the subject as ‘The Sky Isn't Falling, Chicken Little’ and encouraged smooth jazz fans to “take heart”. She went on to comment that “since the official beginning of smooth jazz more than 20 years ago, as many stations have abandoned the format as have launched it”. Carol is of course entitled to her opinion but really, four radio stations in six weeks?

She may think it mildly smart to use her 'Chicken Little’ analogy but there was also a guy called King Canute who thought he could turn back the tide. He got swept away and so might smooth jazz.

Marcus Miller - Marcus

Some releases are more special than others and when an artist of Marcus Miller’s stature steps up with a new offering then its time to take notice. ‘Marcus’ is the Grammy-winning bass supremo’s seventh studio album and is every bit as eclectic as one would expect from someone who has done everything and worked with everybody. Indeed, the varieties and shades that Miller has been able to combine into this diverse thirteen track selection seems to be a perfect culmination of what is now, for him, thirty plus years in almost every aspect of the business.

Smooth Jazz Radio In Denver Is No More

Only a matter of weeks after WQCD 101.9 in New York switched formats from smooth jazz to rock, and days since new owners Citadel Communications pulled the plug on Smooth Jazz WJZW 105.9 in Washington DC, comes the news that contemporary jazz will no longer be available on the 104.3 FM frequency in Denver, CO. Smooth Jazz 104.3 blames the decision to remove the format, which has been a significant feature of the Denver airwaves for the past 20 years, on a fall in audience ratings and a corresponding decline in advertising revenue.

In a facile attempt to appease its listeners Smooth Jazz 104.3 has announced that it will continue to stream smooth jazz via its internet portal. However, when I checked the output it appeared to be playing an uninspiring mix of soft jazz and pop that, inconceivably, included Annie Lennox. Call me old fashioned but to link Lennox with smooth jazz is, even for the guys in Denver, quite a stretch.

The fact that 104.3 will now become a sports station is both ironic and apt. After all, it is becoming increasingly obvious that radio is now simply ‘playing’ with smooth jazz.

Spotlight On Shannon Pearson

The voice of Shannon Pearson has been described as pure as an angel, sweet as a bird’s song and as beautiful as a spring day. Currently the featured vocalist with the George Duke Band and the featured female vocalist for Jeffrey Osborne she is far from what one would simply describe as a ‘backing singer’. Indeed, all those who have seen Pearson perform will testify to her magical on-stage presence. With a smile that can light up the room and a personality to match she is now working to channel her brand of jazzy soulfulness into her first solo album project that is due out later in 2008.

Now WJZW 105.9 Washington DC Is Off The Air

Only a matter of weeks after WQCD 101.9 in New York switched formats from smooth jazz to rock, the news has arrived that another east coast contemporary jazz station has ‘bitten the dust’. As a part of corporate downsizing, new owners Citadel Communications have pulled the plug on Smooth Jazz WJZW 105.9 in Washington DC. 105.9’s legendary ‘Lights Out Washington’ slot that went out week nights from 7pm to Midnight was hosted right to the end by Jay Lang. Amid the debris of this once great station he was moved to write a few poignant words of farewell in which he reflected on the Walt Disney/ABC Radio sale and the inevitable fallout that came from it. He rationalized the huge gap that the loss of WJZW will leave with the business imperative of making money yet looked back fondly at the way he connected night after night with his loyal band of listeners to relax through to the Midnight hour.

Where this will all end no-one knows but it is increasingly clear that it will fall to websites, publicists and internet radio to keep the flame of contemporary jazz alive.

Simon Hoirup - LA Instrumentals

It’s a long way from Odense, Denmark to Los Angeles, CA but this is the journey that guitarist Simon Hoirup has made to hook up with some of the finest session players around and record the appropriately titled ‘LA Instrumentals’. With all ten tracks written and produced by him, the result is an album of great maturity that was recorded and mixed over four intense LA days in June of 2007.

The Ultimate Alex Bugnon

Now for a review of the CD ‘The Ultimate Alex Bugnon’ that originally appeared in my regular column at ABYSSJazz. The 2008 March – April issue is due out anytime now and will include a feature on the excellent Andre Berry. Look out for ABYSSJazz at both Borders and Barnes & Noble. In addition, subscriptions for this top notch smooth jazz magazine, to include nine issues plus a free CD, can be had for as little as $24-95. For more information send an e-mail to [email protected]

Throughout the twenty something years in which the genre has evolved, the real movers and shakers of smooth jazz have been those with the talent and originality to influence and enable those who followed. This has normally gone hand in hand with the ability to write and perform memorably melodic music and in the sphere of contemporary jazz keyboards one leading exponent was Bob James. Another was the lesser known but equally gifted Alex Bugnon. Consequently it is fitting that the excellent Mosaic Contemporary label has chosen to make his music the latest subject of its outstanding ‘Ultimate’ series.

Bradley Leighton - Soul Collective

In the world of innovative contemporary jazz 2008 may well prove to be the year of the flute. Its spine tingling vibe has the ability to take the art form to another place and one protagonist with the potential to do just that is the extraordinary Bradley Leighton. His brand new album, the aptly titled ‘Soul Collective’, is replete with a deliciously soulful vibe and it is testimony to Leighton’s growing stature within the genre that a galaxy of stars have come out to collaborate with him.