Smooth Jazz Therapy

Jeff Bradshaw - Bon Appetit

It was in 2003 that trombone player; vocalist and producer Jeff Bradshaw made a tilt for solo stardom with the CD ‘Bone Deep’. Of course since then he has featured often with many of his Hidden Beach label-mates but now has come roaring back with a double album which might yet prove to be one of the best cross-over releases of 2012. It’s titled ‘Bone Appetit’ and what Bradshaw is really all about can be summed up in the one minute and thirty seven seconds of the opening number ‘Searching’. Atmospheric, urban and hypnotizing, this is what he routinely does best and, in an expansive collection that explores the varying complexions of jazzy R & B, Bradshaw also proves himself to be the undisputed master of urban trombone.

Fo-Mo-Deep Back With New Album

I first became acquainted with the music of the band fo/mo/deep through their CD ‘Eclecticism’. At the time I described them as delivering contemporary jazz on the dangerous side and found their sound as being where Gill Scott-Heron might well have collided with Brass Construction. Now fo/mo/deep are back with their latest offering, the zesty ‘Beautiful Bang’. From first sight it appears to be the same eclectic, groove orientated and funky mix that captivated me the first time around and a fine example of this is the big brass driven title cut. Another tune worthy of note is the fusion flavored ‘Jawjacka’ where a great intro on bass from leader Ron Holmes Jr gives way to fine sax from Keith Newton and retro tinged keyboards from Kevin Jones.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Beautiful Bang’ and for more go to www.fomodeep.com

Spotlight On Pete Belasco

The release of the stunning new album ‘Lights On’ by the hugely soulful Pete Belasco has put the music of this vastly ignored performer firmly into the spotlight. In fact he first made his mark back in 2004 with the lusciously seductive ‘Deeper’ that at the time was described as tapping into classic, sexy R&B grooves while remaining entirely up to date. That said, fans of Belasco remain slavishly devoted to his 1997 debut album ‘Get It Together’ that Jazziz labeled as “a brilliant collection of R&B Jazz fusion”.

Frank Gambale - Forbidden Kiss

Guitarist Frank Gambale is perhaps best known for his instrumental recordings and extraordinary live performances with jazz-fusion luminaries Chick Corea, Billy Cobham and Stanley Clarke. As a solo artist this Grammy winning performer has released a succession of interesting albums and his latest (and 20th in all) will hit the streets on May 22. Titled ‘SoulMine’ it finds him in collaboration with vocalist Boca, who also happens to be Gambale’s wife and together they tastefully deliver ten jazzy, pop-orientated tunes that should play well to the adult contemporary market. One eye catcher is the zesty ‘Live Your Dream’ that includes a typically ‘off the chain’ organ solo from Bran Auger but the first song to be serviced to radio is ‘Forbidden Kiss’.

With an easy grooving Latin vibe, which, in equal measure, shows off Gambale’s virtuosity and Boca’s ability to handle a tender tune, it’s a number that I predict will do well.

Take 6 - One

Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley, (aka Take 6) are celebrating their twenty-five years in the business in the best possible way, with the release of the brand new album ‘One’. 
It is their first project without Cedric Dent who retired from the group last year to pursue a career in education. His replacement, Khristian Dentley, has slipped into the line-up like a hand into a glove and that is hardly surprising, as in recent years, Dentley has, on a number of occasions, been called upon to add his vocal magic to the combined talents of Take 6.

Check out the video of the title cut right here right now.

Gary Honor - Close To You

It was back in 2004 that a young saxophonist from Australia journeyed to Fort Lauderdale for a vacation aboard the Warren Hill Smooth Jazz Cruise. Whilst on board this same saxophonist entered the cruise ‘star search’ which had been set up to find smooth jazz talent from amongst the paying passengers and, under the watching gaze of some of the finest musicians that the genre has to offer, he duly won. That saxophonist was Gary Honor and after a spell in the United Kingdom (where he collaborated with Oli Silk) he progressed to work on a whole range of musical projects both in the USA and in Australia. Now, recognised by Trippin n Rhythm as an artist to watch, he is all set to make his label debut with ‘Heads & Tales’.

In advance of the album’s May release the first single, ‘Close To You’, is being offered to radio. Not to be confused with the Carpenters song of the same time this is in fact an ultra smooth cover of the Maxi Priest hit which on the album can be found both in vocal and instrumental form.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Heads & Tales’.

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band At Anthology

April 14 2012 – Hot on the heels of his success at the Grammy Awards (where he won the accolade of ‘Best Instrumental Arrangement’ for his version of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’) composer and arranger Gordon Goodwin, in the splendid company of his Big Phat Band, rolled into San Diego’s Anthology for a performance of high energy and outstanding quality.

Pete Gitlin - Lucky In Love

The release of the interestingly titled ‘Full Circle and the Great Temptation’ made Phoenix based guitarist Pete Gitlin an instant Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite. His follow up, ‘Amplify’, will hit the streets later in April and if the velvety radio single, ‘Lucky In Love’ is anything to go by, lovers of contemporary jazz are again in for a real treat. This joyous track includes input from Michael Broening and Mel Brown while elsewhere on the album the Philly-soul sound of ‘Until the Morning Comes’ promises to be something to savor.

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

Tom Scott - Telling Stories

With the strap line of Tom Scott’s new album ‘Telling Stories’ reading as ‘Tom Scott Presents Paulette McWilliams’ one could be excused for thinking that McWilliams was new to the scene. In fact she is anything but because as far back as 1970 she was providing lead vocals to the band Ask Rufus which, by 1971 (with the addition of the then eighteen year old Chaka Khan), had morphed into the chart topping Rufus. Since then McWilliams has lent her voice to dozens of national TV ads, recorded with Quincy Jones and toured with the likes of Michael Jackson, Bette Midler, Marvin Gaye and Johnny Mathis. Now, with ‘Telling Stories’, she is stepping out as a leader, for an eclectic mix of music that is decidedly on the jazzy side.

Jeff Bradshaw - Happy Feelings

The story of Hidden Beach recording artist Jeff Bradshaw is one of how struggle can pave the way to stardom. Growing up in Philadelphia, and learning his music through a church where brass bands were the main attraction, he first tried the snare drum before moving on to the baritone horn, sousaphone and finally the instrument with which he has made his name, the trombone. Even so it took until 1994, and seven years of bouncing from job to job, before he finally started to connect with some of the leading musicians on the Philly scene. This in turn led to the real world of major recording where a stint working with Jill Scott on her debut album brought him the chance to sign for the then fledgling Hidden Beach Recordings. It was here that he made significant contributions to the ‘Unwrapped’ series of CD’s that helped redefine the soul of contemporary jazz. He made his solo Hidden Beach solo in 2003 with the exceptional ‘Bone Deep’ and his latest offering is the cleverly titled ‘Bone Appetit’. With guest appearances from the likes of Maysa, Brass Heaven and the fantastic Kindred The Family Soul, it’s an album that promises to be an urban extravaganza and well worth looking for.

As if to underline this fact, and ahead of the April 24 release date, the first single to go to radio is a sumptuous re-imagining of the Maze blockbuster ‘Happy Feelings’. Think the opening bars of Earth Wind & Fire’s ‘That’s The Way of The World’ then put yourself into a deliciously horn driven haze and you will just about get what ‘Happy Feelings’ is all about.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Bone Appetit’

Spotlight On Greg Adams

Much of the early buzz surrounding the release of ‘East Bay Soul 2.0’ was about how a sensational campaign to raise the $25,000 necessary to record the album hit its target. However, now it’s all about the music and without doubt this is a collection of the highest order, in fact everything (plus a little bit more) that one would expect from the artistic genius of its creator Greg Adams. Of course Adams was the founding member of Tower of Power where his signature sound as performer and arranger made the TOP horn section a sought out entity all it's own. When recently I talked with Greg via Skype from his office in LA I was eager to discover more about the creative process behind ‘East Bay Soul 2.0’.

Bob Baldwin - Betcha By Golly Wow - The Songs Of Thom Bell

‘Betcha By Golly Wow – The Songs Of Thom Bell’ by Bob Baldwin could at first glance be mistaken for just another retrospective. However, it is far from that and, much like he did in 2010 with ‘Never Can Say Goodbye, A Tribute to Michael Jackson’, Baldwin is taking some of the finest tunes ever written and embellishing them with his own special brand of what has come to be known as New Urban Jazz. This is a project that has been awhile in the making, in fact as far back as 2000, when Baldwin got the chance to meet the husband of the late writing superstar, Linda Creed. It was his intent to re-imagine some of her greatest compositions, songs that defined bands such as the Spinners, the Delfonics and the Stylistics but now, twelve years later he has gone part of the way to fulfilling that ambition by revisiting the catalog of composer (and Creed’s writing partner) Thom Bell.

Elements - Love Light

Elements is the name under which the considerable talents of Gary Stanionis, Steve Nieves, Greg Manning, Adam Hawley, Christopher Thomas and Zach Rudulph have combined to release the brand new single ‘Love Light’. It’s an easy paced groover with a sensational opening vibe and some rock solid sax from Steve Nieves. Search for it now at CD Baby.

About The Band - Drummer Stanionis has played with Jackiem Joyner and Frank McComb, while Nieves has performed with both Lao Tizer and Kenny Logins.

Keyboard player Greg Manning has seen service with Jody Watley and Jonathan Butler, guitarist Adam Hawley has been in the touring bands of Manhattan Transfer, Natalie Cole and Euge Groove, second keyboard player Christopher Thomas often appears with San Diego based bass player Darryl Williams and Zach Rudulph on bass has played with Andy Grammer.

Incognito - Surreal

From as far back as 1980 jazz funk powerhouse Incognito has been in the capable hands of its creator Jean Paul 'Bluey' Maunick. Although the bands last CD, ‘Transatlantic R.P.M’, found Maunick reaching back to the inspirations he originally took from 1970’s jazz, funk and fusion, its brand new release, ‘Surreal’ has retained that extremely accessible and retro tinged feel. However, with the inclusion of three of the brightest young talents on the British soul scene: Mo Brandis, Natalie Williams and Vanessa Haynes, ‘Surreal’ is providing an enticing looks into Incognito’s future.

Brian Bromberg Set To Release 'Compared To That'

Ace of bass Brian Bromberg is all set to further advance his already dazzling career with the release of the much-anticipated ‘Compared To That’. Due out June 5 on Mack Avenue Records it will be Bromberg’s 20th solo collection and will include eight of his own compositions, a ten-piece horn section, a full orchestral string section and a prodigious collective of supporting musicians. These are rumored to include the likes of Randy Brecker, George Duke, Mitch Forman, Jeff Lorber, Gary Meek and Tom Zink while the first track to go to radio is a swinging take on the Chicago hit, ‘Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?’

Although the record leans towards straight ahead acoustic jazz, Bromberg uses his visionary approach to create moods that range from the touchingly beautiful to the contemporary inclined and the downright funky through to hard-charging swing.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Compared To That’.