Smooth Jazz Therapy

Adrian Conington - Feel

Available digitally from www.cdbaby.com and well worthy of mention is a fine new ‘EP’ from composer, producer and keyboard player Adrian Conington. Titled ‘Feel’ it is a delightful combination of funky grooves and turned down gems that can only add to Conington’s already considerable reputation as one of the smoothest players around.

Incognito In Tandem With Ursula Rucker

Although the brand new Incognito CD is titled ‘Transatlantic R.P.M’, it was a transatlantic connection of a different kind that resulted in the track ‘Gotta’. It finds the band in collaboration with Philadelphia’s melodic spoken word artist Ursula Rucker and was entirely done via the web. As Incognito’s leader and founder member Bluey Maunick explains it “we still haven’t met each other, but right from the first phone call we knew that we understood each-others heart. We connected both creatively and spiritually. Ursula’s contribution took us on a journey to a place that we had never been before, and we love it there!”

‘Transatlantic R.P.M’ was released July 27 on the Shanachie label. Click below to enjoy ‘Gotta’ and check back here soon for a review of the complete album.

Brian Culbertson - Xll

Ever since 1994, and the advent of his debut CD ‘Long Night Out’, Brian Culbertson has stood out as the master of R & B tinged smooth jazz. His discography is faultless and has now been further enhanced by the release of his twelfth solo album, the aptly titled ‘XII’. Out on GRP Records, this landmark collection offers up twelve original Culbertson compositions and, with a star studded line-up of guest performers, is among the best contemporary jazz recordings of the year so far.

Esperanza Spalding - Chamber Music Society

Vocalist and upright bass player Esperanza Spalding is certainly making her mark. In June of this year Esperanza performed as a featured artist at the 10th annual BET Music Awards where she paid tribute to Prince who was being honored with a lifetime achievement award. She accompanied herself on standup bass for the song ‘If I Was Your Girlfriend’ which, incidentally, was the second single from Prince’s highly acclaimed 1987 album ‘Sign O The Times’. During the show Esperanza sang with Janelle Monae, Patti LaBelle and Alicia keys while, elsewhere, she was also declared as the winner of the DownBeat Critics Poll for Acoustic Bass, Rising Star. If that wasn’t enough, Spalding recently played at the White House for President Obama.

Win A Copy Of Brian Culbertson's 'XII'

Released July 20, 2010 on GRP Records, the aptly titled ‘XII’ is the twelfth album of Brian Culbertson’s illustrious career. To mark the event Smooth Jazz Therapy is giving away twelve (yes twelve) copies of this wonderful CD which, without doubt, will be a highlight of the smooth jazz year.

The competition is now closed and all twelve lucky winners have been informed. Many thanks to all who entered. Check back here often for the latest news on all your smooth jazz favorites.

Patrick Yandall Signs With Innervision

No one better epitomizes the sumptuous smooth jazz spirit of San Diego than guitarist Patrick Yandall. When, previously, I reviewed his album ‘Samoa Soul’ I described him as having rhythm and melody pumping through every vein of his body. Since then, with both the 2008 CD ‘Laws Of Groovity’ and his most recent project ‘A New Day’, Yandall has continued to provide further evidence of his distinct Southern Californian groove.

Now, newly signed to Innervision Records, he is back with his latest offering ‘The Window’. It will be released later in 2010 and the first single, ‘Tower of Soul’, is scheduled to go to radio in August.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘The Window’.

Lee Ritenour At Anthology

July 15, 2010. In the city it was just another sizzling summer night and, at the upscale Anthology, guitarist Lee Ritenour was playing his part in keeping the temperature high. His appearance at San Diego’s pre-eminent music hotspot was ostensibly in support of his latest CD ‘6 String Theory’ and although for the most part he majored on this interesting and eclectic collection he also found time for some old favorites along the way.

Incognito Goes Transatlantic

It was in 1981 that the legendary Incognito made its debut with the album ‘Jazz Funk’. Since then, with leader Bluey Maunick as its guiding light, the band has become synonymous with the movement that started out in the UK as acid jazz but which now has genuine ‘transatlantic’ appeal. Indeed, the inspiration that Maunick originally took from 1970’s jazz, funk and fusion remains as strong as ever and is again to the fore with the band’s latest project, the aptly titled ‘Transatlantic R.P.M’, which will be released July 27, 2010 on the Shanachie label.

With Incognito being joined in the venture by an all-star lineup that includes the iconic Chaka Khan, longtime Incognito vocalist Maysa, spoken word artist Ursula Rucker, Motown legend Leon Ware and renowned Italian singer Mario Biondi, all indications suggest that this could be something really special. A complete review of ‘Transatlantic R.P.M’ will follow soon but, for now, enjoy a snippet of the wonderful Boz Scaggs composition ‘Lowdown’. It is the album’s opening track and, in the capable hands of Chaka Khan Mario Biondi and Stuart Zender, has a ‘wow’ factor that is off the scale.

Keiko Matsui At Thornton Winery

July 11, 2010. As the rain of early afternoon subsided into the warming sunshine of evening it was the sparkling on stage presence of keyboard player Keiko Matsui that really brightened a Southern California day. She was in town to play her part in the latest chapter of the summer long Champagne Jazz Series and, with a glorious selection of her most memorable tunes, instantly confirmed her credentials as one of the most influential contemporary jazz musicians of the last twenty years.

Airborne - New Horizons

Smooth Jazz Therapy first became acquainted with the band Airborne through the excellent 2004 CD ‘Heavy Vibes’. At the time I commented that this cool Connecticut based collective was re-igniting genuine old school jazz fusion in a way that was part 5th Dimension and part Ambrosia with just a hint of Tower Of Power thrown in for good measure. Subsequently, the band’s reputation was enhanced by the 2007 CD ‘Turbulence’ and a year later ‘Winds Of Change’ hit the streets. Now Airborne is back with the equally good ‘New Horizons’. It signals a welcome return to the soulful energy, vocal R & B arrangements and Latin grooves from which the band’s reputation was originally built.

Chris Botti At Humphreys

July 9, 2010. Ever since 1995, when he first came to prominence with the CD ‘First Wish’, Chris Botti has gradually differentiated himself from other contemporary jazz trumpeters by ever increasing diversions down avenues of standards, classical music and opera. With a stage presence that is both articulate and magnetic, he has the ability to command an audience of any size and at Humphreys open air concert venue on the rim of the San Diego Bay he did just that. In the company of some of the finest musicians to be assembled anywhere, he captivated the sell out crowd with a performance of rare quality and although some may have been surprised by how removed Botti now is from the smooth jazz format, no one could have been disappointed by the magnitude of the virtuosity on display.

Brian Culbertson Back With Album Xll

News is that on July 20, 2010, Brian Culbertson will release the twelfth album of his illustrious career. Out on GRP Records, and simply titled ‘XII’, it delivers twelve original Culbertson compositions that he has produced throughout with three being in collaboration with the always excellent Rex Rideout. The first single slated for Urban AC radio is the ballad ‘Skies Wide Open’ that features vocals from Avant while already headed for smooth jazz radio is ‘That's Life’ which finds Culbertson in delightful partnership with the legendary Earl Klugh.

As befits Culbertson’s status as the master of R & B tinged contemporary jazz he has attracted some of the genre’s biggest stars to the project. The distinctly sexy ‘I Wanna Love You’ includes input from singer - guitarist Ray Parker Jr. and elsewhere the dance orientated ‘Another Love’ features the silky vocals of Kenny Lattimore. Brian McKnight makes a significant contribution to ‘Out On the Floor’ whilst the powerhouse that is Faith Evans does much the same with ‘Don't U Know Me By Now’. Spoken word starlet Natalie Stewart (of Floetry fame) sprinkles her magic over ‘I Don't Know’ and the high tempo party tune ‘Feelin' It’ provides a showcase for Chuck Brown who is regarded by many as the pioneer of Washington DC ‘Go-Go’ music.

Four memorable Culbertson instrumentals round out an album that is sure to be one of the highlight of the smooth jazz year.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘XII’

Stanley Clarke - The Stanley Clarke Band

By way of something slightly different, the recently released ‘The Stanley Clarke Band’ finds iconic bass maestro Clarke in delightful collaboration with two of his regular touring band members, keyboard player Ruslan Sirota and highly regarded drummer Ronald Bruner, Jr. The album also features an array of guest performances including those by pianist Hiromi Uehara and longtime member of Manhattan Transfer Cheryl Bentyne. Not only that, ‘The Stanley Clarke Band’ is co-produced by Clarke and old friend Lenny White who together provide the opportunity for the band members to offer up some distinctive and original compositions.

Bill Bergman - Universe Soul

It is a measure of the esteem in which famed LA session player Bill Bergman is held that his 1987 debut CD ‘Midnight Sax’ (and its follow-up ‘Bill Bergman and The Metro Jets’) both often command premium price when offered for sale via the Internet. In fact sax-man Bergman is regarded not only as a pioneer of the music often referred to as ‘Quiet Storm’ but also as someone who built a platform from which the likes of Dave Koz, Boney James and Mindi Abair all subsequently prospered. His legendary solo on Glenn Frey’s ‘You Belong To The City’ is considered to be a magic moment in the history of popular music while as a composer he has been responsible for more than one thousand tunes including those to have backed commercials for the likes of Pepsi, Pizza Hut and McDonalds.

Although released back in 2007, Bergman’s most recent project ‘Universe Soul’ is worth another look. Its eleven funky and immediately infectious cuts prove to be the perfect showcase for his talents as a songwriter, arranger and producer. Not only that his playing on tenor and soprano sax (as well as flute) serve as a timely reminder of the significant contribution he continues to make to the contemporary jazz genre.

‘Universe Soul’ can still be found at all the major on-line retailers. For more go to www.billbergmanmusic.com

Eric Darius On A Mission In San Diego

Smooth jazz sax man Eric Darius is bringing his CD release part to San Diego. On Tuesday July 6, courtesy of radio station KIFM, he will be aboard the Adventure Hornblower to cruise around the San Diego Bay and play some tracks from his brand new album ‘On A Mission’.

This is the fifth solo album from Darius and, with the exception of Herbie Hancock’s classic ‘Butterfly’ and a new tune from James K Lloyd is totally comprised of original music. Not only that, ‘On A Mission’ features production input from Rex Rideout, R&B and hip hop producer Micah Otano, Chris Andrew, James K Lloyd and Rohan Reid.

The combination promises to be intoxicating. Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘On A Mission’.

Deja Vu For George Duke

A new album from the great George Duke is invariably a highlight of any musical year. When in 2008 he released ‘Dukey Treats’, it marked a return to the funk driven energy that originally made him a commercial superstar and a platinum-selling artist. Now he is back with another retro tinged project, the wonderful ‘Déjà Vu’.

This mix of jazz, Latin, funk and soul music is totally in keeping with the jazzy vibe for which Duke is best known. Indeed, with supporting musicians such as trumpeter Nicholas Payton, flautist Hubert Laws and sax player Bob Sheppard around to lend a hand, this is an album that will prove to be a ‘must have’ for fans of George Duke everywhere. Highlights include ‘Ripple in Time’ which Duke uses as a musical tribute to Miles Davis, the Latin tinged ‘A Melody’ and the funk-infused ‘You Touch My Brain’. Also there is ‘6 O’clock Revisited’. It proves to be a terrific re-imagining of the track that first appeared on his 1992 CD ‘Snapshot’ and which this time around, includes his son Rashid Duke on vocals.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Déjà Vu’.