Smooth Jazz Therapy

Pacific Breeze From Gail Jhonson

Keyboard player Gail Jhonson has been a Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite since her wonderful CD ‘Keep the Music Playing’ first hit the streets. Jhonson’s special brand of edgy smooth jazz really made her stand out from the crowd and when, in late 2008, the follow up ‘Pearls’ was released it proved to be even better. The latest track from the album to go to radio is the sumptuous ‘Pacific Breeze’ which leaves the listener in no doubt as to her consummate skill as writer and performer. It is certain to be a massive summer radio hit and if that wasn’t enough the excellent nuGroove label has also released a bonus vocal version of another cut from ‘Pearls’. Penned by Donald Tavie, and as edgy as it is laid back, ‘Runnin Around’ is a stunningly deconstructed piece that, with the addition of lyrics, is taken to another place.

Although Gail remains musical director and touring keyboard playing for smooth jazz superstar Norman Brown, ‘Pearls’ is an outstanding album that has massively reinforced her solo credentials. It comes highly recommended. Catch Gail live this summer as part of Norman Brown’s Summer Storm Orchestra tour. For more information go to www.gailjhonson.com

Mimi Jones - A New Day

As an upright bass player Miriam Sullivan (aka Mimi Jones) has shared the stage with straight ahead talents such as Lionel Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Rachel Z, Sean Jones, Kenny Barron, Jesse Davis, Ingrid Jenson, Kevin Mahogany, Denis Charles and Joshua Redman. Now, as a vocalist and composer, Mimi is at last getting her solo career into gear with her debut recording, ‘A New Day’.

Miriam Sullivan was born in New York City and raised in the Bronx by parents that descended from Barbados and St.Croix. This aspect of her upbringing has clearly influenced her musical style and by the age of twelve she had already discovered the electric guitar which she studied at Harlem School of the Arts. At the time she considered it to be her instrument of choice but later at the Fiorello La Guardia High School of Music and Performing Arts she switched to cello, played in the orchestra and eventually found the bass. Her talent led to a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music Conservatory where she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Music.

Nick Colionne Set To Dominate The Airwaves With Big Windy Cat

‘Big Windy Cat’ is the latest single release from Nick Colionne’s runaway 2008 success ‘No Limits’. It’s a track which starts out with the kind of intoxicatingly bluesy vibe that is so typical of the entire album and as Colionne quickly cranks up the groove he delivers a great example of the special high octane contemporary jazz that he has made his own.

Indeed those who have seen him play live will have been blown away by the sheer energy that Colionne injects into his music. It’s an element of his persona comes right out of his home city of Chicago and this latest single is a further insight into the town he calls the Big Windy. In fact when his fellow musicians meet up with him on the road they greet him with “there's the cat from the Big Windy". They have all picked up that and, with ‘Big Windy Cat’ all set to dominate the airwaves, it looks like a lot of others will too.

For all the latest on Nick Colionne go to www.nickcolionne.com

Fourplay At The Thornton Winery

July 19, 2009. With a protracted sound check causing the gates of the Thornton Winery to remain firmly locked, an increasingly disgruntled audience remained outside to endure the blistering Southern Californian sun. However this less than auspicious beginning to the latest installment of the 2009 Thornton Winery Champagne Jazz Series in Temecula CA was soon consigned to distant memory as a combination of good food, fine wine and Paul Brown’s knockout opening set laid an immaculate foundation for the incomparable Fourplay to take the stage.

Paul Brown At The Thornton Winery

July 19, 2009. As the temperature simmered at around one hundred degrees, and backed by an incredible band, Paul Brown, although ostensibly there to open the proceedings for Fourplay, left his own indelible mark on the latest sell out audience at the 2009 Thornton Winery Champagne Jazz Series in Temecula CA. Of course the setting of the Winery was as stunning as ever and the champagne did flow like rivers but it was Brown with a clutch of his most memorable tunes that added his own musical magic to this late afternoon event.

Earl Klugh At Anthology

July 17, 2009. Enchantment doesn’t happen often but at San Diego’s superb Anthology it did just that with the appearance of the legendary Earl Klugh. In town for a two night residency at this most exquisite of music venues he thrilled the appreciative audience with a selection taken from every corner of his outstanding discography. Displaying a stage presence that was as warm as the sweet tone of his wonderful guitar Klugh stripped away time for the jazzy ‘Vonetta’ from his 1976 self titled solo debut before fast forwarding all of thirty two years to ‘Ocean Blue’ from the ‘Spice of Life’ collection. He stayed with this 2008 gem for the sumptuous ‘Canadian Sunset’ where, not for the first time, David Lee on keys was tightly magnificent and when Klugh generously afforded Lee the spotlight, the result was his own composition, the excellent ‘Aaron’s ABCs’.

Michael McDonald At The Pala Casino & Resort

July 12, 2009. With the temperature hovering above 80 degrees, and the late afternoon sunshine slipping behind the shadowy mountains, the legendary Michael McDonald hit the outdoor stage of the Pala Resort & Casino to enthral a packed crowd with just about every hit from his considerable discography. This high energy performance which belied his years found massive favour with an audience that showed every indication of having been with him for the long haul and supported as he was by the tightest band imaginable delivered an occasion of accomplished professionalism, Although supplemented on vocals by both the wonderful Drea Rhenee and drummer Yvette ‘Baby Girl’ Preyer, McDonald, from the opening ‘I Keep Forgettin’ to the cascading back to back hits of a blistering finale, remained entirely at the centre of everything.

Jeff Golub - Blues For You

Anyone who has been with Jeff Golub for the long haul will regard his latest CD, ‘Blues For You’, as a project that has just been waiting to happen. Indeed, functioning as he often does within the confines of contemporary jazz his music, especially in a live setting, can appear to be a paradox. Supercharged with the influences he garners from the best of rock and blues his playing is always totally from the heart and with ‘Blues For You’ he is grabbing with both hands the opportunity to dig deeper into the blues and R & B roots that he holds so dear.

Walter Beasley - Free Your Mind

Walter Beasley is in the envious position of enjoying mutually inclusive careers as both music educator and headlining performer. Indeed his tenure at Berklee College of Music, which now extends to over twenty years, seems to sit easily with the fourteen solo albums currently to his name. In fact it all started back in 1987 with his self titled debut and since then a string of recordings on Mercury, Shanachie and, most recently, Heads Up have seen him maintain a position as a major purveyor of soulful contemporary jazz. For his latest Heads Up recording ‘Free Your Mind’, which was released earlier this year, Beasley has teamed up with some of the best songwriters in the business to deliver an eclectic selection which serves as a commentary on the emotionally charged events that have recently impacted his life.

Jonathan Fritzén - VIP

When, in 2008, I reviewed ‘Love Birds’ by silky smooth keyboard player Jonathan Fritzén I commented that every one of its eleven sumptuous tunes reached to the very core of what great smooth jazz should be. This self penned and produced tour de force proved to be an incredible achievement for the Swedish born Fritzén who still calls Stockholm home and now he is back with the equally impressive ‘VIP’.

Tracy Hamlin - Better Days

Although vocalist Tracy Hamlin is perhaps best known for her longtime association with the wonderful Pieces of a Dream, her first solo album, ‘Seasons’ really took her to another place. Featuring both Najee and James Lloyd, this stellar collection from 2005 proved to be a wonderful representation of her rich, warm tones. Attracting both R&B and jazz aficionados it was a glowing affirmation of her burgeoning talent and now she is back with the brand new ‘Better Days’.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Tracy Hamlin has been singing since the age of eleven. After graduating from the Baltimore School for the Arts her urge to perform led rapidly to a life on the road and the chance to share the stage with musical greats such as Al Jarreau, Boney James, Gerald Albright, Carlos Santana, India Arie and Joe Sample. As a backing vocalist she has supported the likes of Howard Hewett, Miki Howard and Maysa but now with ‘Better Days’ is grabbing with both hands the chance to move center stage.

‘Better Days’ will be released in August 2009 and for a complete review check back here soon.

Jessy J And JP Delaire Target New Releases

Seen here taking in the sights of ancient Greece while on tour with Michael Bolton, J.P. DeLaire and Jessy J have more to be pleased about than simply the sunshine. With the release of the CD, ‘In My Life’, DeLaire is all set to channel his skills as keyboard player, sax-man and vocalist into what may prove to be a burgeoning solo career. It’s an album that delivers a welcome collection of self produced original compositions which range from contemporary jazz to the Minneapolis funk of his native roots. Not to be left out, sax star Jessy J, who became an overnight success with the chart-busting ‘Tequila Moon’, will be back in record stores across the USA on August 4 with her sophomore effort ‘True Love’.

Check back here soon for complete reviews of both ‘In My Life’ and ‘True Love’.

For more information on both these incredible artists go to www.jessyj.com and www.jpdelaire.com

Fernanda Cunha - Brasil - Canada

Although based in Rio De Janerio, Latin vocalist Fernanda Cunha has been a regular performer in Canada since 2005. Appearances at jazz festivals in Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary have helped her to carve out a whole new fan base and now she is repaying the complement with her brand new CD ‘Brasil – Canada’. Recorded in Canada, the project uses musicians from both countries to engender a unique fusion of Canadian and Brazilian music and culture. The niece of Sueli Costa and daughter of singer Telma Costa, Fernanda’s song choices for ‘Brasil – Canada’ tap into the work of notable songwriters such as Joni Mitchell , Alex Kramer, Shelton Brooks, Bruce Cockburn, Sueli Costa, Noel Rosa, Marcio Hallack and Ricardo Rito. It’s a combination that reflects the musical affinities between Brazil and Canada and this link is further forged by Canadian bassist Mike Lent who provides one original composition to which Fernanda adds Portuguese lyrics.

Spyro Gyra - Down The Wire

By balancing the individual player with the band and the songwriter with the performer the legendary Spyro Gyra has maintained its position at the forefront of modern jazz for more than three decades. Throughout this time both founder member Jay Beckenstein and keyboard player Tom Schuman (who joined shortly after) have guided this changing collective through a myriad of musical milestones. Although the band’s self titled debut was released in 1976, it was three years later when the platinum selling follow up ‘Morning Dance’ set a benchmark that endures to this day with the new for 2009 ‘Down The Wire’.

East Bay Soul Debut Album Slated For September

Although its roots are grounded firmly in the uniquely soul based genre associated with the San Francisco East Bay Area, East Bay Soul is first and foremost about R&B for our time. For the past year this classy collective has been delighting live audiences across the USA and is now set to move to a whole new level with the September 22 release of its self titled debut album. In fact East Bay Soul is the brainchild of trumpeter, producer and arranger Greg Adams whose musical arrangements for the likes of Rod Stewart, Elton John, and Linda Ronstadt have made him one of the ultimate musicians’ musicians. Indeed everyone from the Rolling Stones to Paul Schaffer to Madonna has called on him to contribute to their projects and, in addition, Greg’s hallmark ensemble sound has made the concept of the horn section an American treasure. Given the huge credentials gained as founding member of the evergreen Tower of Power and a solo career that most recently delivered the spectacular ‘Cool To The Touch’ it is fair to assume that the new CD will be one of the musical highlights of 2009.

Adams co writes several of the songs with former Tower of Power band mate (and now Music Director for Joe Cocker) Nick Milo while Lee Thornburg emerges with his stunning interpretation of Howard Tate’s 1968 gem ‘Stop’. Typically, Adams’ arrangement brings the full funk of this timeless track to life and is totally indicative of how the album balances the sultry and robust with the hopeful and the absolute.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘East Bay Soul’.