Smooth Jazz Therapy

Steve Oliver Back With Global Kiss

The brand new album, ‘Global Kiss’, from guitarist and vocalist Steve Oliver is due out on March 30. Although it follows his 2008 DVD – CD ‘best of’ release ‘One Night Live’, and his seasonal offering ‘Snowfall’ from 2006, this will be his first original collection since the excellent ‘Radiant’ (also from 2006) that he produced with Michael Broening and Tom Schuman.

The wait has simply served to heighten the anticipation and the first single to be serviced to radio is the zesty ‘Fun In The Sun’. If this choice cut is anything to go by then ‘Global Kiss’ is all set to cement Oliver’s place in the upper echelons of current smooth jazz performers.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Global Kiss’ and for more information go to www.steveolivermusic.com

Paul Hardcastle's 19 Is 25

It’s hard to believe but on April 19 Paul Hardcastle’s seminal ‘19’ will be twenty five years old. It had always been Paul’s intention to commemorate the event by releasing a new version of it but the death of his son’s teenage friend, Marine Georgie Sparks, who was killed in Afghanistan in December 2008 by an exploding grenade, cautioned him think again. Ironically Georgie was nineteen when he died and the sad event made Hardcastle realise that ‘19’ is not something about history but a tune that is entirely relevant to today’s war torn times. Indeed he concluded that it would have been an insult to the soldiers fighting today if he had not dedicated the remake to them.

St Germain - Sure Thing

I am indebted to Saline McGuire of Chicago, IL who contacted me regarding a track he had heard on his local radio station by producer and composer St Germain. Unfortunately I was unable to trace the tune to which he referred but I was able to find the sensational ‘Sure Thing’ from St Germain’s 2000 CD ‘Tourist’.

Check it out here. This atmospheric chunk of chill music is a blast.

Will Donato Has Funkability

When I reviewed Will Donato’s 2006 CD ‘Will Call’ I described it as a seriously edgy example of contemporary jazz that despite its share of retrospectives was very much about the music of now. His 2009 follow-up, ‘Laws Of Attraction’, garnered a similar response and now, effective today February 22, 2010, his brand new (and never before heard) radio single ‘Funkability’ is set to hit the airwaves.

Out on Innervision Records and produced by Darren Rahn it’s a tune for which the title says it all. With a tight, infectious vibe it is in the best traditions of high octane sax driven smooth jazz and is sure to do well.

Chuck Loeb Replaces Larry Carlton In Fourplay Line-Up

Like fine wine the perennial Fourplay seems to mature with age. Not only does this extend to the sophistication of it’s music but also to the personnel who, over the band’s 20 year history, has also subtly evolved. In the late nineties founder member Lee Ritenour gave way to the legendary guitarist Larry Carlton and now as Carlton takes his leave to pursue other avenues it is Chuck Loeb who will replace him.

Loeb, together with Bob James, Nathan East and Harvey Mason, will be taking to the road in 2010 with an April appearance already inked in at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Destin, FL.

For more go to www.fourplayjazz.com

Jack Prybylski Back And Out Of The Box

Sax man Jack Prybylski (purr-bill-ski) hails from Buffalo, New York and came up big in 2006 with the album ‘Window Shopping’. It included excellent support from none other than Ken Navarro and Prybylski is back for 2010 with the brand new ‘Out Of The Box’ that this time includes support from Tony Grace and Rob DeBoer; (aka the consistently outstanding Four 80 East). The first cut to be serviced to radio was ‘Ice Cream’ which proved to be as tasty as its title suggests and just this week the second single, Prybylski’s instrumental rendition of the Rod Stewart hit ‘Do Ya Think I'm Sexy’, has been dispatched to the airwaves. Rather than being a straight remake, Prybylski and Four 80 East have infused the song with a European club vibe that is totally consistent with Grace and DeBoar’s acid jazz roots. The result is a simmering nighttime tapestry that luxuriates in an understatedly saucy groove.

‘Do Ya Think I'm Sexy’ can be sampled at: http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/2386553

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Out Of The Box’.

Hear Bruce Nazarian On Solar Radio

Grammy nominee Bruce Nazarian (aka ‘The Digital Guy’) is a long-time veteran of the music scene who as Producer, Recording Artist and Studio Musician continues to leave an indelible mark on everything that he touches. His work as producer and arranger for Rocco Ventrella’s 2007 project ‘Give Me The Groove’ (where he co-composed three of the tunes and played keyboards throughout) made it one of the album’s of that year and now he is bringing his unique experience to a new show on Solar Radio.

Accessible at www.solarradio.com every Monday from 4-00 PM to 6-00 PM Pacific, 7-00 PM to 9-00PM Eastern and midnight to 2-00 AM Tuesday in the UK, it provides an ‘insiders look’ into the soul, funk and contemporary jazz scene. The show, which is jam packed with a plethora of contemporary and classic tracks, also includes news segments on the London Scene, the Motown (Detroit) Scene and a weekly new music report from Denis Poole of www.smoothjazztherapy.com. Yes, that’s me.

During his many years as a studio musician, Bruce shared studios and sessions with many of the legendary names in Motown music history and in addition worked with producers as varied as Mike Theodore, George Clinton, Don Was and Don Davis. Solar Radio can also be heard in the UK and Ireland on Sky Digital Channel 0129 and, given the mix of music that Nazarian is already playing; this is a show too good to miss.

Arrival From Haywoode Set For Re-Release

‘Arrival’, by soulful funk diva Haywoode, first saw the light of day in 1985 as an incredibly rare Japanese import. It included her take on Prince's debut hit ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ and soon became a much-sought-after lost classic of the era. Another tremendous cut was the seven inch Detroit version of the wonderful ‘I Can’t Let You Go’ that was produced by Bruce Nazarian and featured horns from John Trudell and Ross Pooley. Indeed, the cult status that ‘Arrival’ continues to enjoy is exemplified by the ridiculous prices it still fetches on eBay and will soon to be rewarded by the album’s re-release on Cherry Red Records. Out on February 22, 2010, this 17-track digitally re-mastered special edition CD will include seven bonus tracks plus a comprehensive color booklet of pictures, analysis and exclusive brand new interviews with the artist and those involved with her career.

Lynn Riley - Too Cool

Initially only available locally, ‘Too Cool’ by sax and flute player Lynn Riley is now enjoying national exposure. A song from it, the easy on the ear ‘Sedona’ (which incidentally is available right now via the Smooth Jazz Therapy ‘Listen Here’ player) is a great example of the tight melodic vibe that characterizes much of the collection and is but one star in a constellation of outstanding tracks. In fact all ten tunes are original compositions and with writing credits shared between Riley and Rubin Edwards (who also produces and plays bass throughout), is a worthy addition to this years already burgeoning crop of excellent smooth jazz releases.

Klay DC - Ritmo

Klay Dumas-Copas (aka Klay D-C) first came to prominence in 1998 when he composed and produced the album ‘Get Up’ by the Jazz Steppers. In that same year the band went on to win a MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) award for ‘best jazz act’ while Dumas-Copas joined Roy Ayers as part of his Ubiquity band and independently released his own solo debut, ‘On Reflection’. His latest CD, ‘Ritmo’, for which he writes, produces and plays keyboards throughout, was recorded in London during 2009. In fact D-C has been part of the UK jazz fusion scene since his early days at Leeds College of Music and for ‘Ritmo’ he calls upon some of the mainstays of the genre to lend a hand. Bass player Dean Mark who has worked with Roy Ayers and Craig David shares bass duties with Orefo Orakweu who has featured with both Nelson Rangell and the Sugarbabes. David Simpson of Down To The Bone and the Brand New Heavies divides appearances on guitar with Jason Short and another Roy Ayers sideman Tony Smith while Andrew Milnes chips in with a smattering of sax. Together they come up with an exciting body of work that is well worth a closer look.

Nicole Mitchell Duets With Phil Perry For Together United

Smooth Jazz Therapy has been a fan of sultry soul singer Nicole Mitchell since the release of her stunning 2008 album ‘A Sound Of My Own’. The way it merged classic soul sensibilities with hip hop evoked Angie Stone at her sizzling best and now Nicole is back with a stunning cut that features the incomparable Phil Perry.

It's a wonderful number in the best traditions of classic soul which threatens to become the wedding song of 2010. Check it out here now.

To purchase Together United go to www.cdbaby.com/all/mitchnu

Ken Navarro - Dreaming Of Trains

When in 2008 guitarist Ken Navarro released the album ‘The Grace of Summer Light’ it represented on his part a conscious effort to explore and re-define possibilities created by combining his distinctly melodic music with sophisticated harmony, fresh rhythms and long form compositions. Now, with his brand new CD ‘Dreaming Of Trains’, he is continuing this genre bending journey with nine tracks that serve as a showcase for his creativity and musical ingenuity. In this endeavor Navarro is aided and abetted by Joel Rosenblatt is on drums, long time pianist Jay Rowe with keyboards and Tom Kennedy who variously contributes acoustic, electric and fretless bass. Together they deliver a collection that, whilst not entirely the antithesis of easy listening, is certainly something to be quietly considered and thoughtfully appreciated.

Terje Lie - Urban Vacation

Norwegian born saxophonist Terje Lie first came into prominence in 2007 with his debut release ‘Traveler’. The title seemed to authenticate his relocation to the contemporary jazz friendly confines of southern California and the album quickly established his credentials as a ‘serious’ musician. Lie’s latest release, ‘Urban Vacation’, that is due to hit record stores on February 16, does nothing to tarnish that reputation but, with the input of Yellowjackets mainstay Jimmy Haslip and the ubiquitous Jeff Lorber, has resulted in a collection that is by far his most commercially appealing to date.

Michael J Thomas - City Beat

Raised in Cecilia, Kentucky and now domiciled in Destin, Florida, sax player Michael J Thomas may yet turn out to be the smooth jazz find of 2010. His debut CD, ‘City Beat’, which hits the streets on March 2, is a tremendously accomplished piece of work and, given that Thomas writes or co-writes all but one of ten choice tracks, proves also to be a wonderful showcase for his art. Thomas’s writing partner is guitarist Shannon Wallace who co- produces and performs with him throughout. Together, with a tight group of backing musicians, they deliver a tremendously commercial collection that has every prospect of doing very well.