Those who take an interest in the Groove Jazz charts of most played on smooth jazz radio will have noticed the impact rapidly emerging Kenyon Carter is currently making. His smoothly mellifluous ‘Sangria Sunday’ is certainly creating some waves and comes from Carter’s excellent debut album ‘Right By My Side’. With a playing style that is exemplified by his full-ness of tone, this Atlanta based sax-man certainly seems to have a promising future ahead of him.
Indeed, Carter’s big sound is a feature of much of the collection and none more so than with the swaggering title cut where he quickly demonstrates the feel he has for radio ready contemporary jazz. The hugely accessible ‘Emerge’ is another track which could easily find its way to the airwaves and in this respect is in the good company of ‘Makes Me Wanna’ that proves to be a well constructed mid tempo gem.
Elsewhere, with a splash of the Caribbean that almost makes you feel the sand between your toes, ‘Flip Flops’ is a sunshine filled delight yet just as good is a cool and interesting cover of the Van Morrison classic ‘Moondance’. Truth to tell this one is right up there with the CD’s finest while other personal favorites include the zesty ‘Skyline’ and the even better ‘On The Rebound’ which enjoys a particularly tasty melody and a delightful hook.
Another cover version, and this time coming totally out of left field, is an inspired contemporary jazz version of ‘When You Say Nothing At All’ which has variously garnered hits for Keith Whitley, Alison Kraus and most recently Roland Keating who performed it on the soundtrack of the 1999 movie ‘Notting Hill’.
Switching moods, ‘Connection’ is a reflective number with an easy grooving style and although ‘God Bless The Broken Road’ is crafted in the best traditions of smooth jazz ballads, the romantically inclined ‘Anne’s Wedding’ serves as a wonderful end to what is a truly outstanding album.
For more on Kenyon Carter go to www.kenyoncarter.com