Smooth Jazz Therapy

The Commodores Pay Tribute To Michael Jackson

The Commodores and The Jackson 5 have links going back to when the bands toured together in the early 70's. As fate would have it the Commodores performed at London’s Wembley Arena the night that Michael Jackson died. It was a truly somber experience for them to hear the news as they walked off the stage.

The following night the band played the NIA Arena in Birmingham and as J.D. Nicholas began to sing his verse from the seminal ‘Nightshift’ with the famous lines “Jackie was a friend of ours” he inadvertently sang “Michael was a friend of ours.” It brought the audience to its feet and proved to be the start of what has become the Commodores own homage to Michael Jackson.

The Grammy Award winning hit ‘Nightshift’ was released in late 1984. Now, twenty-five years later, the group, along with Dennis Lambert who is one of the original writers, have come together to rewrite the lyrics and re-record the song as a fitting tribute to the memory of this truly great performer.

Norman Johnson - If Time Stood Still

Seasoned sideman Norman Johnson is at long last stepping center stage. His solo debut CD, ‘If Time Stood Still’, is scheduled to hit the streets on August 10 and this consummate guitarist with a style in the best traditions of Wes Montgomery and George Benson is using the opportunity to deliver nine of his own sumptuous compositions plus one classy cover. The result is entirely pleasing and an extremely worthy addition to this years output of guitar driven smooth jazz.

Steffen Kuehn - Trumpop

With a sound that can best be described as ‘velvety’, trumpet and flugelhorn player Steffen Kuehn is an artist with a superb feel for seductive, urban tinged contemporary jazz. His second CD, the 2008 ‘Trumpop’, is an absolute gem. It finds seven self penned tunes alongside three well chosen covers and in every respect is as fine an example of buried treasure as will be discovered anywhere.

Twenty Years Of Fusion Flavours

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary radio show Fusion Flavours, its originator and perpetuator Steve Quirk is all set to release the excellent two disc compilation ‘20th Anniversary Fusion Flavours’. The twenty five choice and eclectic cuts exemplify to perfection the reasons why the show’s loyal band of listeners have followed Quirk through thick, thin and station changes to a weekly fix of smooth jazz and fusion.

Steve Quirk has a special place in the fabric of contemporary jazz and, for a considerable part of his twenty year tenure, worked almost single handedly to keep smooth jazz in the United Kingdom alive. Of course to squeeze twenty years of music into one double CD is a ‘big ask’ but Quirk has gone back to some of his personal high points to allow the essence of the genre to come shining through.

Herbie Hancock - The Imagine Project

When in 2005 I reviewed the eclectic and interesting ‘Possibilities’ by the legendary Herbie Hancock I had no idea that I was passing comment on a vehicle for cooperation that would grow and grow. Comprising a wide ranging collection of studio collaborations between Hancock and a multigenerational lineup of artists it featured music emanating from face-to-face sessions that were recorded in real time and with real emotion.

Now, with his latest offering, ‘The Imagine Project’, Hancock is using this CD and video set to feature ten incredible new collaborations with superstars from every region of the planet.

Norman Brown - Sending My Love

As smooth jazz superstar Norman Brown limbers up for his now annual ‘Summer Storm’ concert tour (that gets underway July 16 at the Hyatt, Newport Beach, CA) there could be no better time for him to release his latest CD, the excellent ‘Sending My Love’. Due out June 22 on Peak Records it firmly returns him to the easy grooving guitar driven smooth jazz with which he made is name. For his fans both new and existing this is an album that is sure to find massive favour.

Les Sabler Set To Release Crescent Shores

Guitarist Les Sabler has been leaving his indelible mark on contemporary jazz since 1995 and the advent of his debut CD ‘Time For Love’. It enabled him to secure concert dates and to open for artists such as Richard Elliot, Jeff Lorber, Spyro Gyra, Michael Lington, Diane Schurr and Fattburger while his follow up, the 2003 ‘Bridge the Gap’, garnered the radio hit of the same name. When, in 2007, I reviewed his third solo project, Sunset Drive’ I described him as having found a magic formula with which to make top notch smooth jazz and now he is back with ‘Crescent Shores’ which will be released on Big Deal Records on August 3.

Produced by Sabler and keyboardist-trumpet player Allon Sams, the genesis of the collection sprang from sessions recorded as far back as in 1991 in Richard Elliot’s Tampa studio. Sabler has reworked most of the original tracks, added new songs and, for good measure, selected a few choice covers. Not only that this will be the first album on which Saber has exclusively played a nylon-stringed acoustic guitar. The title cut, one of seven songs on the disc written by Sabler, has been serviced to radio and is sure to do well.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Crescent Shores’

Gerald Albright - Pushing The Envelope

Over the last twenty five years, jazz and R & B icon Gerald Albright has stood out as one of an exclusive few to have made a genuinely genre framing contribution to sax driven contemporary jazz. In fact he has been setting the agenda since the advent of his1987 solo debut ‘Just Between Us’ and since then has released a succession of CD’s with the latest being the super cool ‘Pushing The Envelope’. Featuring guest performances by Fred Wesley on trombone, Earl Klugh on acoustic guitar and George Duke on piano, the album delivers eight stunning Albright originals which are supplemented by two of the best covers you will hear all year. The outcome is an ‘A-list’ offering from a genuine ‘A-List’ artist.

James Colah Headed For Better Days

When recently I commented on the tune ‘Blissful’ from the Parlett - Colah Project I described it as having the sort of feel good vibe synonymous with ‘best in class’ contemporary jazz. Now, under the name of the James Colah Project, writer, producer and keyboard player Colah is going it alone. With a combination of laid back grooves, compelling rhythms and wonderful guitar from Ant Law, his latest single offering is in every respect a smooth jazz masterpiece. Not only that, in these difficult credit crunched times the title, ‘Better Days’, could well be a metaphor for what hopefully the future has in store.

‘Better Days’ is available for download now at iTunes. To do so simply click here; http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/better-days-single/id369956705

Listen before you buy by checking it out right here right now at ‘Listen Here’. Just select the track from the listing and enjoy.

For more go to www.jazznet247.com/jamescolah

Lisa McClowry - Time Signatures

Through a diverse recording and performing career, singer songwriter Lisa McClowry has already appeared on over twenty five albums and in so doing touched the worlds of music film and television. A case in point was her recent appearance in the exciting documentary film ‘When It Comes From The Heart – The Journey Of A Song’ in which she starred along with smooth jazz superstar Nick Colionne and, most significantly, Grammy-award winning writer Jim Peterik. This 40 minute music production was directed by Terry Becker and described the journey of the making of a song from the seed of an idea, to the writing session, on to the recording process and then finally to the live performance. The project proved to be a wonderful opportunity to observe some of Chicago’s best musicians at work and now McClowry has re-united with Peterik for her highly anticipated solo CD ‘Time Signatures’.

Pamela Williams Lauches New CD

With a style of music that ranges from the super smooth to earthily urban, sax player Pamela Williams has carved out her own special niche on the contemporary jazz scene. Often dubbed ‘The Saxtress’ (after the title of her 1996 debut recording) Pamela has gone on to release nine more albums with the latest being the excellent ‘Chameleon’. Out on her own Saxtress Entertainment label, the CD will be showcased on June 12 in Nashville, TN with a release party at the legendary BB King’s.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Chameleon’ and for all the latest news go to www.pamelawilliamsthesaxtress.com

Chris Geith - Island Of A Thousand Dreams

There is something about Chris Geith’s music that is precious. Full of glorious melodies and hugely accessible rhythms it is as if every song tells a story. His 2008 release ‘Timeless World’ was nothing short of a revelation and now he is back with the similarly stunning ‘Island Of A Thousand Dreams’. It finds him reunited with sax man Fed Scerbo, Donny D on drums and percussion, Mark Mullers on bass and, significantly, guitarist Matt Marshak who as a solo artist is rapidly making quite a name for himself. Written, produced and arranged by Geith, the resultant fifteen choice cuts prove to be a high quality example of melodic contemporary jazz.

The Oasis Music Awards 2011

The Oasis Music Awards, which last took place in 2002, are all set to make a spectacular comeback. Recognizing the best artists and performances in contemporary jazz, Oasis Awards LLC will produce the awards show and other events that are scheduled to take place in San Diego, CA from March 10-13, 2011.

The Hard Rock Hotel in downtown San Diego has already been named as the headquarters for this exciting four day event and will host a formal artist and attendee reception on Friday night plus a brunch on Sunday morning. Elsewhere in town the San Diego Civic Theater and the historic Balboa Theater have been named as the two main concert venues for this stunning Oasis weekend.

Check back here soon for more news on the Oasis Music Awards 2011

George Benson's Band At The Cinnamon Club

May 31, 2010. Although George Benson was enjoying a well deserved day off, his touring band was very much in action. On the eve of Benson’s sell out concert at Manchester’s MEN Arena, guitarist Michael O’Neill, keyboard virtuoso David Garfield, bassist Stanley Banks and drummer Lil John Roberts were at the Cinnamon Club, Altrincham to play sizzling ‘back to back’ sets in front of a packed and appreciative crowd. Here, in the southern suburbs of Manchester, and with Jazz FM DJ Steve Quirk at the helm, the band was in great form as they helped celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Quirk’s ‘Fusion Flavours’ radio show which has done so much to promote contemporary jazz in the UK.