Smooth Jazz Therapy

Wayman Tisdale's Fonky Legacy

Inspired by great funk artists like Bootsy Collins and Robert Wilson of the Gap Band, Wayman Tisdale had always wanted to create his own funky moniker. Sadly he passed away in 2009 but now the result of this ambition, ‘The Fonk Record Featuring Tiz & The Fonkie Planetarians’, is being posthumously released on Mack Avenue Records. Comprising eleven all-original songs, Tisdale’s own funky vocals, a crew of funky musicians and guest contributions from George Clinton, George Duke and Ali Woodson, this is a collection that confirms his scarcely hidden passion for ‘off the chain’ funk.

Chris Standring - In Conversation

Ever since the release of his debut album ‘Solar System’, Chris Standring has differentiated himself with a sound that marks him out as one of the most soulful smooth jazz guitarists around. Much of the excitement to surround his brand new release ‘Blue Bolero’ has been about how the compositions, arrangements and choice of instruments have shown off a different side to his musical persona yet just as interesting is how, in pursuit of his musical dream, he originally relocated to the USA.

Indeed, given his residency in Los Angeles, CA, Standring is very much the Englishman abroad. When recently I talked with him, I wanted to know what had taken him there in the first place.

Marcus Miller Recalls A Night In Monte Carlo

‘A Night In Monte-Carlo’ is the brand new album from jazz legend Marcus Miller. It provides a stunning audio record of a concert that he performed on November 29, 2008 in the principality of Monaco and finds him leading both his own quartet and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra through a repertoire of music that spans almost a century. Not only that, with operatic selections plus guest appearances from trumpeter Roy Hargrove and singer - songwriter Raul Midon, this is just about eclectic as it gets.

Fourplay - Let's Touch The Sky

‘Let’s Touch The Sky’ is the twelfth CD from the fabulous Fourplay and will hit record stores across the USA on October 26. It marks the start of an exciting new era for this enduring collective who, since first coming together in 1991, have operated very much at the ‘high end’ of smooth jazz. Over the years guitar duties have passed from Lee Ritenour to Larry Carlton and on to Chuck Loeb who now joins founder members Bob James, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason for a collection that returns the band to the sort of form exemplified by earlier albums such as ‘Between The Sheets’ and ‘Elixir’.

Brian Simpson - South Beach

When I reviewed Brian Simpson’s breakthrough release ‘It’s All Good’ I described it as one of the few genuinely ‘complete’ albums of 2005 and two years later his consummate skills as both writer and performer were underwritten by the follow up, ‘Above The Clouds’. Now, brand new for 2010, he is back with the excellent ‘South Beach’.

Fourplay Bring Down The Curtain On Another Great Thornton Winery Season

October 16, 2010. At the Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, as the curtain came down on another sumptuous series of champagne jazz, it was totally appropriate that the formidable Fourplay were around to play the final show. In only a few short months this famed venue will be opening up for what will be its 22nd season of live jazz while Fourplay (who have been in existence for fully nineteen of those years) are also moving into a new and exciting era. With a brand new album set to be released later in the month and Chuck Loeb taking over from the legendary Larry Carlton, the band is right back to the sort of form that typified earlier releases such as ‘Between The Sheets’ and ‘Elixir’. Indeed this was a performance that acknowledged the best of what has gone before whilst giving the enthusiastic gathering a tantalizing glimpse of what the future holds.

Patrick Yandall At Humphreys Backstage Lounge

October 17, 2010. When guitarist Patrick Yandall selected Humphreys Backstage Lounge in San Diego as the location for the official release party of his brand new CD there was more than a hint of déjà vu in the salt laden air. In fact Yandall first appeared at this iconic venue back in 1988 and since then has returned there often. His style entirely epitomizes the sumptuous smooth jazz spirit of this sensational city and when previously I reviewed his albums ‘Samoa Soul’, ‘Laws Of Groovity’ and ‘A New Day’ I described him as having rhythm and melody pumping through every vein of his body. Now, newly signed to Innervision Records, Yandall is using his brand new ‘The Window’ to provide further evidence of his distinct Southern Californian vibe.

Chris Standring At Thornton Winery

October 16, 2010: Ostensibly at the Thornton Winery to open for the formidable Fourplay, guitarist Chris Standring built the entire show around his current CD ‘Blue Bolero’ and in so doing delivered a performance of immense artistry and sublime originality. Indeed, given the essentially orchestral nature of this groundbreaking collection the occasion clearly called for something special and this is exactly what Standring provided. With a backing band that included both a string quartet and the keyboard magic of the constantly superb Rodney Lee, he treated the Thornton faithful to an experience the likes of which they will have been unlikely (in the context of contemporary jazz music) to have witnessed before.

Alan Hewitt In Demand

Fresh off tour with the Moody Blues in the USA, United Kingdom and Netherlands, keyboardist, composer, producer Alan Hewitt shows no signs of slowing down. He is currently composing the music soundtrack to ‘A Fall From Freedom’ from award winning director Stan Minasian who has woven together a beautiful but disturbing film about whales and dolphins. In fact ‘A Fall from Freedom’ is the first film to expose the long and controversial history of the captive whale and dolphin industry; a history that continues to this day.

Alan has also just finished the music score for an episode of Tom Holland's series ‘Twisted Tales’ starring AJ Bowen and will be the music composer for Holland's upcoming, but as yet untitled, feature film.

Hewitt’s current CD ‘Retroactive’ continues to do well and comes highly recommended.

Dave Koz Generating Some Buzz

As we move swiftly toward what might be termed the ‘awards season’ six-time GRAMMY nominee Dave Koz was out this week in Los Angeles to get into the spirit and celebrate the release of his new album, ‘Hello Tomorrow’.

In fact he was at the Clive Davis Theater of the GRAMMY museum for a special evening where GRAMMY Foundation Vice President Scott Goldman interviewed him about the CD. Koz also answered questions from the audience and performed several songs from ‘Hello Tomorrow’.

Koz is pictured here with John Burk and Marcus Miller who both provide a significant production input to ‘Hello Tomorrow’. Not only that, with ‘Put The Top Down’, the collection has already delivered a quick fire radio hit while elsewhere featured vocalist Dana Glover will perform a track from the album on the October 24th episode of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”.

Fourplay To Release Album No. Twelve

Fourplay will release its twelfth CD, ‘Let’s Touch The Sky’, on October 26 and although the term ‘super-group’ is often overused it has never been more appropriate than when applied to this wonderful collective. Indeed it was in 1991 that the illustrious grouping of keyboard player Bob James, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist Nathan East, and drummer Harvey Mason came together after the quartet had first collaborated on part of James' album ‘Grand Piano Canyon’. Since then guitar duties have passed from Ritenour to Larry Carlton and now to Chuck Loeb who makes his debut on ‘Let’s Touch The Sky’.

Jim Peterik & Lisa McClowry At The American Smooth Jazz Awards

Now there is another great reason for being in Chicago on October 29, 2010. Jim Peterik and Lisa McClowry have been chosen as presenters for the American Smooth Jazz Awards which will be held, that evening, at Chicago's DuSable Museum of African American History.

Of course Peterik has written some of the biggest pop anthems of the last forty years and led iconic bands such as The Ides Of March and Survivor. In the annals of rock his career has been one of consummate achievement yet recently he made what could be described as a sensational entry into the world of contemporary jazz. That said his latest CD, ‘Lifeforce’, is far from being a typical smooth jazz album but, with a mega talented backing band and the immensely impressive vocal talents of Lisa McClowry, this ‘rock meets contemporary jazz’ collection is as enticing as it is different.

Peterik has also produced Lisa McClowry’s 2010 CD ‘Time Signatures’ which I have variously described as “hauntingly beautiful” and as “being in that warm, comfortable place midway between pop and adult contemporary.”

Smooth Jazz Therapy will be reporting from the awards so check back here often for all the news of what promises to be a fantastic evening of music.

fo/mo/deep - Eclecticism

Those of you who enjoy you contemporary jazz on the dangerous side could do worse than to check out the CD ‘Eclecticism’ from the interestingly named fo/mo/deep. This rhythmic roller coaster from a band who describe themselves as an eclectic, groove orientated and funky jazz collective has its share of outstanding tracks while as a reference point Gill Scott-Heron or Brass Construction would be good places at which to start. Indeed original compositions by the band’s leader and bass player Ron Holmes Jr. sit very tidily with material from Lonnie Liston Smith, Charlie Hunter, John Coltrane and Nat Adderley. As a consequence the entire collection drips with 70s style nostalgia but in doing so never sounds out of date.

Remembering Len Barry - Remembering The Dovells

Just at that time in the sixties when soul music was first gaining a foothold, it was the blue eyed variety which often built a bridge between the worlds of pop and R & B. One star of this era was Philadelphia native Len Barry who enjoyed hits in 1965 with ‘1-2-3’, and ‘Like a Baby’. Both made the top ten in the UK singles chart while ‘1-2-3’ also peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Hot One Hundred. However, what many don’t know is that before this solo success Barry was the lead singer with Cameo Parkway recording artists The Dovells who were responsible for best selling records such as ‘Bristol Stomp’, ‘Hully Gully Baby’ and ‘You Cant Sit Down’.

Now, as part of its rollout of Cameo Parkway reissues, Collectors’ Choice Music in conjunction with ABKCO Music & Records is all set to release a double CD which combines The Dovells 1963 albums ‘For Your Hully Gully Party’ and ‘You Can’t Sit Down’. Due out on November 23, 2010 it will be in the company of two other double CD’s, Dee Sharp’s ‘It’s Mashed Potato Time’ – ‘Do The Bird’ and John Zacherle’s ‘Monster Mash’ – ‘Scary Tales’.

All three take an enticing glance back to the heyday of Cameo Parkway and are sure to be a lot of fun.

Chieli Minucci & Special EFX - Without You

Despite his award winning contributions to the world of television and film, guitarist, composer and arranger Chieli Minucci has (with the exception of a brief period in the late nineties) been synonymous with the evolution of jazz fusion band Special EFX. In fact it was back in 1982 when the multi talented Minucci co-founded Special EFX with percussionist George Jinda. They released the bands eponymous debut CD in 1984 yet despite artistic differences, and Jinda’s untimely death in 2001, the impact of this Grammy nominated collective on the evolution of smooth jazz remains nothing short of immense. In the course of a phenomenal musical journey Special EFX has released 25 albums, including Minucci’s eight solo offerings, and a live concert DVD. Along the way contemporary jazz has been blessed with unforgettable songs such as ‘Daybreak’, ‘Cruise Control’, ‘Bella’ and ‘Seduction’. Now Minucci has just released the band’s 25th anniversary double CD, ‘Without You’.