Smooth Jazz Therapy

Patti Austin Discovers 'Thinking Of You'

Seems people just can’t wait to get their hands on the wonderful ‘Thinking Of You’ by soulful vocalist Victor Fields. The latest to do just that is the legendary Patti Austin who, pictured in Los Angeles, is looking more than pleased to have discovered Victor’s music. In fact Patti was lending her support to Victor’s innovative marketing campaign to take the music direct to his fans. In collaboration with N5 Marketing and the N5 Street Team he is using his new sunset orange, shrink wrapped van, eye-catchingly named the ‘VF Jazz Express’ to get the word out on his excellent discography. Simply by calling 888-899-9100, all those who see the van, or receive a flyer from one of the street team, will get the chance to purchase all four of his CD’s for the price of three.

Victor Fields ‘VF Express’ has already been seen on the streets of Los Angeles and the entire discography is also available at www.cdbaby.com For more information and to join Patti in getting in on the Victor Fields phenomenon go to www.victorfields.com

Brian Culbertson - On The Road And Giving Back

As Brian's tour, ‘Brian Culbertson & The Funk Experience’, continues its journey through the United States he has been taking the opportunity to share the gift of his music with students in different cities across the country. A prime case in point was the recent chance Brian took to visit with local children at the Levine School of Music which is part of The Town Hall Education, Arts & Recreation Campus, (THEARC). During the event, which was organized in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, DC. he met with approximately 45 students and parents. Brian's task for the evening was to provide feedback as well as instruction on musicianship and technique. When asked about the experience, Brian said, "It felt wonderful to coach such a diverse group of students who are already displaying talent and a love for the art.

Of course the ‘Brian Culbertson & The Funk Experience’ tour is in support of his new hit album ‘Bringing Back The Funk’. He will be doing all that and more when the show hits his home town of Chicago on August 15 where, in the company of another Chicago local, Michael Manson, he will be playing the Chicago Theater. For more information check out the website at www.brianculbertson.com

Jason Carroll - 2 Smooth

When last year I reviewed ‘Cool’, the debut release from multi instrumentalist and producer Jason Carroll, I described it as a smooth and refreshing collection that stands as a wonderful showcase for his work. Now he is back with the follow up, ‘2 Smooth’, and much like before, although he masquerades behind the banner of the ‘Smooth Jazz Symphony’, every track is composed, produced, arranged, and performed by him. Consequent comparisons with the early work of Brian Culbertson are inevitable yet Jason Carroll is very much his own man but, just like Culbertson, can always be relied upon to instantly strike an ‘in the pocket’ groove.

Gerald Albright - Sax For Stax

Over the last twenty years , and with the possible exceptions of Grover Washington Jr and Kirk Whalum, only Gerald Albright can be credited as having made a genuinely genre framing contribution to sax driven contemporary jazz. In fact Albright has been setting the agenda since the advent of his1987 solo debut ‘Just Between Us’. Since then he has released a succession of CD’s the latest of which is ‘Sax For Stax’, Albright’s tribute to the legendary record label that defined southern soul from the 1950’s to the mid 1970’s. The release of the album, which consists of eight passionately rendered covers of Stax classics plus three originals written with Memphis in mind, coincides both with the 50th anniversary of Stax and Concord Music Group’s re-launch of the famous label. It’s a collection with all the drive and energy one associates with the golden age of soul that Stax represents and the entire project is enhanced by the stellar array of guest performers who step up to play a part.

The Terry Disley Experience - London Underground

Since keyboard player Terry Disley first caught the attention of Smooth Jazz Therapy he has delivered a succession of totally compelling, utterly original CD releases that have added considerably to the overall landscape of contemporary jazz. London born and San Francisco based he is now very much part of the bay area music scene yet perhaps is best known for his time with Acoustic Alchemy with whom, from time to time, he still guests. His latest release, ‘London Underground’ is everything one would expect from someone never afraid to push the jazz envelope and with eleven great tracks that are as good as they are varied the term ‘something for everyone’ has never been more apt.

Gary Davis - Playing My Dues

When in 2005 Milwaukee’s own Gary Davis released the CD ‘Playing My Dues’ it somehow, inexplicably, slipped the Smooth Jazz Therapy net. However, three years on, it is tremendous to find that this heady amalgam of jazz, blues and soul is entirely relevant to the direction in which urban jazz is now moving. The six original compositions that Davis provides fit wonderfully with three exceptional covers but the real value is in the combination that they together provide. This, in every respect, is a ‘complete album’ and it is evident from the first note of the bluesy yet rhythmic opening (title) track that Davis is all about contemporary jazz with an edge.

Jim Adkins - City Streets

Guitarist Jim Adkins is one of the smoothest players around. His credits as a composer include the tune ‘Wind Dancing’ for which he claimed second prize in the 1999 Billboard Song Contest yet the fact that this song went on to be included on MP3s ‘103 of the Best Songs You've Never Heard’ speaks volumes. Indeed, although his music is as accessible as any around today he remains something of a buried treasure and for Smooth Jazz Therapy his brand new album ‘City Streets’ has been a wonderful discovery. It is the latest in a sequence of CD releases that started back in 1998 with the appropriately titled ‘Just Chillin’ and continued with the 2001 ‘Turning Point’. ‘License To Play’ followed in 2004. Now with ‘City Streets’ he is back with nine original compositions and one choice cover that can only serve to enhance his kudos as a purveyor of ‘in the pocket’ smooth jazz.

Lao Tizer At Anthology

July 12, 2008 and the appearance of pianist Lao Tizer at Anthology in San Diego gave Smooth Jazz Therapy its first chance to check out this up market dinner and music venue. Boasting big screen projection and superb acoustics it proved to be the perfect setting for Tizer who was joined on stage by Chieli Minucci and the wonderful contemporary jazz violinist Karen Briggs.

Mick Hucknall - Tribute To Bobby

In the main, artists tend to be products of the music that shape them. Certainly this belief is reinforced by the current proliferation of new releases that can be loosely classed as ‘tributes’. However, although Gerald Albright (with his homage to the music of Stax) and Brian Culbertson (who is single handedly ‘bringing back the funk’) are both rekindling the influences of their formative years, Simply Red front man Mick Hucknall has chosen to tread a different route. His ‘Tribute To Bobby’ doffs a cap to R & B pioneer Bobby Bland who first sprang to musical prominence in the latter part of the fifties, before in fact Hucknall was born. Consequently his is a story of discovery made possible in part by the rare grooves of the sort typically showcased in the clubs of North West England around the time that Hucknall was starting out as a performer. It’s likely that it was in such a setting that he first heard Bland’s 1957 breakthrough hit ‘Farther Down The Road’ which is the first track from ‘Tribute To Bobby’ to be selected for radio play and, despite its hard driving bluesy feel, is finding favor on smooth jazz radio across the USA.

Former Commodores Sax Man Donn Bynum Releases Solo Debut

The solo debut from saxophonist Donn Bynum is ‘Do You Feel Me’ and although his may be a name new to many he has a pedigree that most could only dream of. In fact while other kids were making college plans, Bynum was creating a future with his horn. Even before attending Central State University in Wilberforce Bynum had already played several shows with the legendary Bootsy Collins Group and after graduating joined up with the world famous Commodores. Playing sax, flute, keyboards and drums Bynum performed with the Commodores on several tours of Europe, Asia, Africa, as well as across the USA. In addition Bynum toured for several years with The Brothers Johnson and appeared on the TV show ‘Motown Live’.

Now ‘Do You Feel Me’ gives Bynum the chance to at long last step center stage. Its ten choice tracks include the Tony Toni Tone number ‘Anniversary’ which was turned into a contemporary jazz smash by Gerald Albright. Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Do You Feel Me’.

The Motown Collection From Time Life

It could be argued that one of the places from which smooth jazz draws its inspiration is the abundant catalogue of soul music from the sixties and seventies. This being the case there is sure to be major interest from lovers of contemporary jazz in the new five-volume (10 CD) collector’s set now available from the magazine Time Life. The set, which is not available in stores and can be purchased at www.timelife.com, features songs by The Temptations, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, Four Tops, Martha & The Vandella's, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, and many more. As an added bonus, a DVD of 12 performances by some of Motown’s favorite artists is also included.

Jason Miles Back With New Grover Tribute

In its various forms the ‘tribute’ album seems very much the flavor of this musical year. Gerald Albright, Brian Culbertson and Mick Hucknall have already weighed in with their own individual takes on the concept and on August 19 Jason Miles is set to join them is. ‘2 Grover With Love’ is the second installment of Miles’ special homage to Grover Washington Jr that began in 2000 with ‘To Grover With Love’. It sold over 100, 000 copies, was re-released by ARTizen in July of 2006 and marked out Jason Miles as a true innovator in his field. This latest effort was recorded live at Bennett Studios in New Jersey after only one day of rehearsal and features such contemporary jazz glitterati as Chuck Loeb, Gerald Veasley, Ralph Macdonald, Najee, Kim Waters, Jay Beckenstein, Andy Snitzer and Maysa (who delivers a spine tingling rendition of the Washington classic ‘Mr. Magic’.

Chickens, Eggs And Borders Books & Music

Of late I have been particularly scathing on the current state of smooth jazz radio and the way its ultra restrictive play-lists are choking the life out of the genre’s emerging talent. I have often asked questions along the lines of ‘how can artists be expected to sell CD’s when their music is never heard on radio’ but KIFM 98.1 Deejay J Weidenheimer has put an interesting slant on the same subject with his observation on just how difficult it is now becoming to actually buy CD’s from a store.

Take, for example, Borders Books & Music in downtown San Diego. This once great music location boasted, in its heyday, an outstanding range of contemporary jazz with facilities to listen to every CD in the store. It now stands as a pale comparison of its former self with a selection so limited it is hardly worth checking out. I guess we are back with chickens and eggs. Borders have obviously scaled back its stock of product in response to falling demand. However, although demand has always been fuelled by radio play it has also been stimulated by the ability to use stores such as Borders to browse, discover, sample and buy. The consequence of lack of choice is potentially devastating. It’s hard to work out where this all started but easy to see where it might end.

Wine And Jazz Welcome Chieli Minucci

"Sweet Surrender" is the latest release from innovative New York guitarist Chieli Minucci. It was recorded with his longtime Grammy nominated band Special EFX and Chieli, along with Luna Vineyards, will be featured as part of the July package from the excellent Wine and Jazz Experience. Chieli is paired with Luna Vineyard's 2006 Sangiovese and 2007 Freakout (a white blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Ribolla Gialla). Legend has it that when one of Luna's founders tasted this white blend, he "Freaked Out" and the likelyhood is you will do the same with this Wine and Jazz pairing.

The Wine and Jazz Autograph Session to support the event is on Sunday July 13th at Spaghettini Grill & Jazz Club,Seal Beach, CA. Luna Vineyards will be present to answer questions and give free tastings of the featured wines. As always, 94.7 The Wave (Los Angeles) will be broadcasting live from the venue.

This promises to be one of the most special Wine and Jazz Autograph Sessions yet. Chieli is flying in from New York to meet his West Coast fans and rumour is he will also be playing Anthology in San Diego on the 11th. Check out Chieli's website or go to www.wineandjazz.com for more details.