Smooth Jazz Therapy

Top Tunes Of 2011 - An Alternative Choice

Not for the first time I am indebted to Max Hill from internet radio’s ‘Smooth Jazz Interludes’ for his own take on the best smooth jazz tracks of 2011. ‘SJI’ continues to be one of the top smooth jazz stations on www.live365.com and this week Max will be putting out his own top 40 of the year. It’s a brilliant in-depth selection that I encourage you to check out and includes some truly exceptional tracks which, for one reason or another, slipped between the cracks of my own ‘best of’ list. Most notable among these is the stunning radio single ‘I Think About Amy’ from sax player Michael J Thomas. Max has this at #15 and another track issued only as a single, ‘Friday Night’ by Jonathon Fritzen, makes it in at #8.

East Bay Soul 2.0 - To Catch A Thief

This year, for those true funk soldiers whose donations made the rapidly emerging East Bay Soul 2.0 project become a reality, Christmas came early. In fact it came one day early as true to his word bandleader Greg Adams circulated the pre-release download of the first single from what will surely be one of the albums of 2012 to everyone of those who pledged their support.

Entitled ‘To Catch A Thief’, it is one of five instrumentals from the collection, is the third track of ten, and features the wonderful Adams on Flugelhorn. The title ‘To Catch A Thief’ was inspired by the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name. In writing the song it conjured up for Adams the role of John Robie, a reformed jewel thief known as “The Cat” who, in the film, was played by the great Cary Grant. With a languid yet easy grooving vibe this ultra cool cut is in the finest traditions of Adams’ best work and benefits from some killer Hammond B3 from Joey Navarro.

Smooth Jazz Therapy - Top Twenty Tracks Of 2011

In what turned out to be a splendid year for Smooth Jazz Therapy we reviewed over sixty CD’s, reported on a record breaking sixteen gigs and, along the way, had an absolutely great time doing it. The way my readers keep coming back in ever increasing numbers never ceases to amaze me and it is totally down to all of you that the site remains the hottest place for contemporary jazz on the web. Thanks a million! Thanks also to the publicists, the record companies and of course the artists, both established and up and coming, who have all played a part by making their music so generously available. Therefore, accepting the self indulgence of it all, but by way of celebrating what has gone before, here are my own personal highlights of the year. In other words and in no particular order, my Smooth Jazz Therapy Top Twenty Tracks of 2011.

‘That Look On Your Face’ by Boney James from the hottest CD of the year, ‘Contact’. This dance orientated cut features dazzling vocals from Mario, a thumping beat and fabulous sax from Boney. In terms of urban jazz this is just about as good as it gets.

‘The Groove’s Alright’ by Kim Waters from his current album ‘This Heart Of Mine’. Providing a fine showcase for Waters immaculate playing, this blisteringly up tempo number has a title that just about tells you all you need to know.

Read on for the remainder of this year’s top twenty and if you have your own list of favorites from 2011 why not e-mail it to me at [email protected]. Happy New Year!!

Glen Goldsmith - Jammin In The Place

Soulful vocalist Glen Goldsmith is perhaps best remembered for his 80’s dance floor filler ‘I Wont Cry’ and the equally memorable ‘Dreaming’. He is an artist who has at times blurred the boundaries between pop and soul but with his ultra catchy new single, ‘Jammin in the Place’, could well be onto a winner. Featuring Jordan Bailey, ‘Jammin In The Place’ is a wonderful piece of ultra smooth soul and is available right now from both iTunes and Amazon.

Jay Stewart - Enjoy The Ride

The road to musical stardom can start from all manner of places. However, the path Jay Stewart is treading from a ‘day job’ as Superior Court Judge to his destination of hip, blues tinged guitarist must be one of the most unusual yet. His much anticipated debut CD is titled ‘Enjoy The Ride’ and has already been described by legendary rocker Greg Alman as “music that people should hear.” It is a collection that is noteworthy on many counts and significant in this respect is the contribution of Jason Miles who produces, writes or co-writes four of the tunes and players keyboards throughout. With the addition of several seasoned session players, the overall project is of the highest quality imaginable and full of the rock, blues and jazz infused energy that is certain to get Jay Stewart noticed.

Yolanda Rabun - So Real

Need something to chill out to this Christmas? If so look no further than this tender track from rising contemporary jazz artist Yolanda Rabun. Her brand new album ‘So Real’ is really getting some attention and this fabulous radio single of the same name makes it easy to see why.

Yolanda Rabun is based in North Carolina, has opened for Grammy and Tony winner Jennifer Holiday, collaborated with the late great Isaac Hayes and sung with R&B crooner Howard Hewitt. In 2011 Yolanda took the ‘So Real’ project on the road to Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Jordan and Diego Garcia via Singapore.

For Yolanda, 2012 promises to be a great year so check out her music now at www.yolandarabun.com

Demetrius Nabors - A Journey Within Part 1

It might be late in 2011 but one album currently staking a claim as one of the year’s best is the terrific ‘A Journey Within Pt. 1’ by silky smooth keyboard player Demetrius Nabors, aka ‘Krayon’. Despite a background in Christian and Gospel music Nabors has taken to contemporary jazz like a duck to water and, with eleven extremely eclectic self penned tracks, fans of the genre might be excused for asking just where he has been hiding.

Renato Falaschi - White Christmas

Since 2009, and the release of the EP ‘Summer Rain’, Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite Renato Falaschi has been steadily been building a reputation as one of the smoothest keyboard players around. Born in Bari, Italy and now based in Paris, Renato’s last single was his cool take on Bob Marley’s ‘Waiting In Vain’ and now, with a Christmas present of sublime quality, he is back with the festive single ‘White Christmas’.

It is available now so, to give the Christmas gift of music, go to www.renatofalaschi.com for more details.

Snake Davis - Snake Strings Volume 1

Saxophonist Snake Davis has long been the UK’s leading exponent of contemporary jazz and pop tinged R & B. His recording credits are almost too numerous to mention but include sessions with Paul Hardcastle, Acoustic Alchemy, M-People, Lisa Stansfield, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Culture Club, Hamish Stuart, George Michael, Tina Turner, Cher, Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Swing Out Sister, Dave Stewart, Paul Young, Pet-Shop Boys and Robert Palmer. Both with his own band and as a solo performer Davis makes hundreds of appearances every year and has also toured with soul legends Edwin Starr, Rose Royce, Sister Sledge, Tavares, Odyssey, The Three Degrees, Mary Wells, Ruby Turner, Martha Reeves and Eddie Holman.

However, despite this impressive track record the true beauty of this consummate professional is the unpredictability surrounding ‘which Snake Davis’ will actually show up. Indeed, both as a player and an educator, his versatility knows no bounds and as if to underscore this fact he has just released what might be his most adventurous collection yet. Titled ‘Snake Strings Volume 1’ it finds him combining with a string quartet to place his saxophone very much into a classical context.

East Bay Soul 2.0 - Latest News

Those Smooth Jazz Therapy readers who have been following news of the exciting creation of ‘East Bay Soul 2.0’ will know that the project only became possible after a sensational campaign to raise the $25,000 necessary to record the album hit its target.

Now progress continues unabated and last week the horn section (pictured here) was added and guitars were overdubbed. In all, ‘East Bay Soul 2.0’ will feature five instrumental and 5 vocals songs. This recent work is laying a foundation for the addition of vocals from Darryl Walker and bandleader Greg Adams is currently selecting the first single to mix and master for early release to those who have subscribed to the project.

The release date for ‘East Bay Soul 2.0’ has been slated for February 28, 2012 and is sure to be a highpoint of the contemporary jazz year.

Roberto Vazquez - Between Two Worlds

Born in Cuba, composer and keyboard player Roberto Vazquez is without doubt a star in the making. Already a considerable force in the sphere of Latin music, this working musician who plays keyboards every week in the prestigious ‘Legends In Concert' stage show in Harrah's Casino on the famed Las Vegas strip, recently showed his contemporary jazz credentials when co-writing the song ‘Sand Dancers’ for Marion Meadows’ 2009 release, ‘Secrets’. Now he is spreading his smooth jazz wings even further with the release of his own excellent CD ‘Between Two Worlds’.

We Three Strings - A Great Stocking Filler

I first reviewed the CD ‘We Three Strings’ back in 2006 and described it as having quality written all over it. Further enhanced by the fact that both its sound and its track listing were a little out of the ordinary, the good news is that ‘We Three Strings’ has been re-released. Different for several reasons, this collection of Christmas classics played by three distinct guitarists offers up a combination of smooth, Spanish and Latin grooves over twelve choice cuts. Those taking part are renowned world musician and Spanish guitar virtuoso Johannes Linstead, flamenco luminary Tomas Michaud and rising smooth jazz star Bryan Lubeck. That said the production of the album is so sympathetic to these varying influences that the end result is the merging of styles into something that is warm, comforting and uniquely all about Christmas.

Hart Ramsey - My Next Heartbeat

Back in 2010 I hailed the stunning debut recording from producer, keyboardist, engineer, and songwriter Hart Ramsey as one of the contemporary jazz surprises of the year. Titled ‘Charge It to My Heart’, it’s emergence as one of the hottest releases of 2010 was perhaps all the more astonishing for the fact that Ramsey has a Doctorate in Pastoral Ministry. In fact when not making music he teaches weekly services at Northview Christian Church in Alabama. Now he is back with the equally beguiling ‘My Next Heartbeat’.

Paul Brown Signs With Woodward Avenue - Announces New Album

News just in is that double Grammy winner and guitarist, Paul Brown (often described as the ‘Babyface’ of smooth jazz) has signed with Woodward Avenue Records from where he will release his brand new album ‘The Funky Joint’ early in 2012.

Early indications are that a bevy of performers from the A-List of contemporary jazz have gathered round to collaborate on the project with him and these are rumored to include Boney James, Euge Groove, Bob James, Bob Baldwin, Marco Basci and Darren Rahn with whom Brown toured in 2011 under the name of ‘The Producers’.

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

Randy Scott - 90 Degrees At Midnight

Earlier in the year I reported on the zesty title cut from Randy Scott’s latest recording, ‘90 Degrees At Midnight’. It was the first single from the album to be serviced to radio and did much to enhance his already considerable stature as producer, songwriter, educator and one of the most talented saxophonists around. Indeed, with his music firmly rooted in the ever buoyant Detroit music scene this fine player already has a string of highly rated releases to his name and has worked extensively with fellow Michigan native Tim Bowman. His 2007 project ‘Breathe’ garnered considerable critical acclaim and all indications are that ‘90 Degrees At Midnight’ will be received just as well.