Smooth Jazz Therapy

Smooth Jazz Therapy- Top Ten Covers Of 2012

The smooth jazz cover has, in recent years, become something of an art form. Far removed from a straightforward copy of another artists work, these re-imaginings have breathed new life into music that, typically, originated in the vintage soul era of the 60’s and 70’s. Even these boundaries have, of late, been frayed so, by way of paying homage to the very best that this sub genre has to offer, here is my very personal top ten Smooth Jazz Therapy covers of 2012.

‘Shotgun’ by Michael Lington from the CD ‘Pure’. The soulful intensity of this Jr Walker & The All Stars classic puts it right up there with the best of the year. Standout vocals from the one and only Michael Bolton prove to be the icing on the cake.

‘This Time Baby’ by Vincent Ingala from his current recording ‘Can’t Stop Now’. Not for the first time Ingala gets right to the heart of what great soul music is all about and a case in point is his edgy yet smooth makeover of this O’Jays blockbuster that originally featured on the band’s 1978 release ‘So Full Of Love’.

‘Rock Steady’ by bass player Julian Vaughn from the aptly titled ‘Breakthrough’. This, the collection’s only cover, proves to be a rapturous rendition of the Whispers 1987 number one hit.

Read on for the remainder of this year’s top ten covers. If you have your own list of favorite covers from 2012 why not e-mail it to me at [email protected] Happy New Year!!

Paul Hardcastle Eyes 'Hardcastle VII'

With 2013 very much in the air the hot news is that a new album from Paul Hardcastle, ‘Hardcastle VII’, is in the works.  Its too early to provide all the details but suffice to say the lead single ‘No Stress At All’ will be hitting the airwaves in the coming few weeks.  Of course the showcase cut, ‘Rain Forest / What’s Going On’, from his previous release, ‘Hardcastle 6’, failed to make the expected impact.  It was subsequently replaced in the playlists by the ultra radio friendly (and Smooth Jazz Therapy top selection) ‘Easy Come Easy Go’ so this time around it will be interesting to see how this latest track selection pans out.

Check back here soon for more information on ‘Hardcastle VII’.

Althea Renee Signs With Trippin 'N' Rhythm

Although smooth jazz flautist Althea Renee is a full-time performer and recording artist, for more than 10 years she actually worked as a Wayne County Deputy Sheriff in Detroit, MI.  Now, rapidly emerging as one of the nation's most exciting improvisational players, she has signed with Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm from where she will release her label debut in the first quarter of 2013.

It follows her previous effort ‘No Restrictions’, which has been described elsewhere as an urban contemporary masterpiece and included production credits from the likes of the Grammy winning Michael Broening and Grammy nominated Rex Rideout.  With stunning remakes of classic tunes such as ‘Wishing on a Star’ and ‘I Love Your Smile’ the collection also benefitted from guest performances from Candy Dulfer and Rhonda Smith.

This time around it is rumored that Broening will again be in charge of production and there appears little doubt that, for Althea Renee, 2013 is likely to be quite a year.

Smooth Jazz Therapy - Top Twenty Tracks Of 2012

In a year when contemporary jazz faced some challenges it was very much business as usual for Smooth Jazz Therapy where as well as reviewing sixty-eight CDs we also reported on six fabulous gigs. It goes without saying that we had an absolutely great time doing it and to quote that excellent smooth jazz radio personality Rich Edwards, “for a genre that is meant to be struggling there is a heck of a lot of great music out there!” The number of visitors to the pages of Smooth Jazz Therapy hit an all time high and it is totally down to those people 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 2012.

‘Electric’, by Jonathan Fritzén, from his latest album ‘Magical’. Without doubt a contemporary jazz classic in the making, the rhythmic splendor of this superb tune really is hard to beat.

‘Magical’ by Darren Rahn from his current CD ‘Speechless’. This zesty, urban inclined cut carries considerable crossover appeal and features wonderfully streetwise vocals from Joshua.

‘Just Imagine’ by Vincent Ingala from the album ‘Can’t Stop Now’. Tremendously inviting, and with the multi talented Ingala front back and centre, this one brings him one step closer to genuine smooth jazz stardom.

Read on for the remainder of this year’s top twenty and if you have your own list of favorites from 2012 why not e-mail it to me at [email protected] Happy New Year!!

Marc Parnell - Typical

Regulars at London’s Pizza Express will need no introduction to drummer Marc Parnell whose rhythmic and energetic style has added hugely to performances by smooth jazz notables such as Peter White, Basia, Dave Koz and Brian Culbertson. In fact
Marc has been active as a session drummer for over thirty years and has worked with artists as diverse as Annie Ross, Joan Armatrading, Jethro Tull, Girls Aloud and the Pet Shop Boys. His Marc Parnell Trio plays regularly in a range of UK venues and he is now set to move center stage with his own CD, ‘Typical’, which is due out in the first quarter of 2013.

Gabriel Mark Hasselbach - Gabriel's Holiday Notes

Friend of Smooth Jazz Therapy and outstanding trumpeter Gabriel Mark Hasselbach has generously reached out to me in these festive times to report that his Christmas album 'Gabriel's Holiday Notes' sold out this year. Not only that, the track ‘Christmas Time Is Here’ gained the distinction of becoming a hit for the holidays at Vancouver’s WAGRadio. It’s a cool rendition by a player who can ‘do mellow’ as well as anyone on the scene today and those who want more from Gabriel need only wait until January 22 when ‘Lock It Up’, the latest radio single from his great CD ‘Kissed By The Sun’, will hit the airwaves.

Elan Trotman - O Holy Night

At the risk of cries of ‘enough already’ the final word on this years crop of seasonal singles goes to the always excellent Elan Trotman and his new Christmas offering ‘O Holy Night’. It’s a heartfelt track full of the emotion that we have routinely come to expect from this rising star and is available for download from his website.

Trotman’s latest CD ‘Tropicality’ is slated for release early in 2013 and has been co-produced by the one and only Peter White. It is rumored to include guest performances from White, Jeff Lorber, Paul Brown, Nick Colionne, Lin Rountree, Terri Lyne Carrington, and many others so check back here soon for a complete review of what promises to be an outstanding collection.

Yonrico Scott - Be In My World

Followers of the Derek Trucks Band will need no introduction to drummer and percussionist Yonrico Scott. In fact he has played with industry A-listers such as Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Peabo Bryson and The Allman Brothers while with the Derek Trucks Band he has served as percussionist and contributing songwriter for the last seventeen years. Scott has just released his own album ‘Be In My World’ that features some of his DTB band-mates and in part is a bone shaking hard driving collection of what might best be described as bluesy R & B with which fans of Tower of Power will instantly connect.

Brian Culbertson's Napa Valley Jazz Getaway 2013

When smooth jazz superstar Brian Culbertson announced the first Napa Valley Jazz Getaway last New Year’s day, he didn’t imagine that this 5-day celebration of music and wine in the Golden State’s idyllic wine country would sell out in just one week. However, that is exactly what happened. In 2013 this high-energy performer will again be hosting the event which will take place from June 5-9 and will include a sparkling array of performers including seminal funk outfit Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, Take 6, Ray Parker Jr, saxophonists Eric Darius and Michael Lington, guitarist Nick Colionne, party band DW3 plus Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum and Rick Braun performing as BWB.

Ticket packages are currently on sale and are being made available in four phases with priority given to returning guests. If you like the idea of a smooth jazz cruise without the need to ever get on a ship then the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway might just be for you.

For more go to www.napavalleyjazzgetaway2013.com

Jim Carr - The Space Below

The new CD from Auburn, Alabama native Jim Carr is titled ‘The Space Below’ and despite the fact that this fine assortment of soothing yet compelling music is billed in part as ‘new age’ it is sure to be an instant hit with those who like their smooth jazz on the melodic side. Carr variously plays acoustic guitar, bass and mandolin while the first single to be serviced to radio is ‘Nick’s Web’, his immaculate tribute to Acoustic Alchemy co-founder Nick Webb who sadly passed away in 1998.

Euge Groove At The Cinnamon Club

December 9, 2012. It was in 2000 that sax superstar Euge Groove released his Paul Brown produced self titled debut CD. Since then, despite a leave of absence in 2008 when he toured the world with Tina Turner, Euge has occupied what at times has appeared to be an almost permanent place at the top of the contemporary jazz charts. His appearance (as part of an nine night, four city, UK tour) at the Cinnamon Club on the southern fringes of Manchester provided the perfect opportunity to showcase his latest (and eighth) release, the excellent ‘House Of Groove’, which has already put him right back in the smooth jazz spotlight.

Andre Ward - Marvin's Medley

Refreshingly different and tantalizingly ahead of his new CD ‘Caution’ comes the feisty radio single ‘Marvin’s Medley’ from the ultra smooth Andre Ward. Built round snippets of Gaye’s 1976 smash ‘I Want You To Want Me’ this is far from your usual revamp of Marvin Gaye staples and with an arrangement that sizzles with an authentic Motown vibe it’s a track that is sure to unite fans of classic and smooth jazz in a coming together of mutual appreciation.

Spotlight On - The Cinnamon Club

With contemporary jazz superstar Euge Groove in the UK and headed for Manchester there has never been a better time to spotlight The Cinnamon Club where he will be playing this coming Sunday and which is widely regarded as the country’s northern outpost of smooth jazz. Indeed located in the suburbs, on the city’s affluent southern fringe, this small and very much multi functional venue seems an unlikely place to find music that, for the most part, has its roots in the USA. Yet over what is now eight years, the Cinnamon has become the place to be for lovers of what is often seen as something of a niche genre.

When I talked to Neil Hughes, the Director of the Bowden Rooms in which the Cinnamon is located, I started out by asking him about the health and well being of smooth jazz circa 2012.

Bob Baldwin - Never Out Of Season

A new recording from the fabulous Bob Baldwin tends to be a high point of any contemporary jazz year so it is with the utmost anticipation that we look forward to 2013 and the release of his gospel-jazz project ‘Never Out Of Season’.

In fact Bob is in the studio right now adding the final touches to this eight-track collection that includes songs such as ‘I Surrender’ and ‘The Lord's Prayer’ all performed in Baldwin’s own inimitable style.

Elan Trotman Offers Tropicality For 2013

Due out February 19 on Woodward Avenue Records, the appropriately titled ‘Tropicality’ from sax-man Elan Trotman not only gives a nod to his Caribbean heritage but also chronicles his life-changing journey from Barbados to Boston.

The album has been co-produced by Trotman and guitar star Peter White while the fact it was it recorded in Barbados, Boston and Los Angeles provides Trotman with the opportunity to draw upon a stellar array of musicians from around the world. Among these are smooth jazz heavyweights such as Nick Colionne, Jeff Lorber, U-Nam, Paul Brown and Lin Rountree. In addition A-list session players Alex Al, Ricky Lawson, Lenny Castro and Tony Moore all add hugely to the overall quality of this tasty project.

Rob Parissi - Have A Funky Christmas

As the shift in contemporary jazz continues from the album to the single and the CD to the digital download one surprising beneficiary of the trend is the ‘smooth jazz Christmas single’. In fact 2012 has seen a record number of festive releases and the latest to find its way to Smooth Jazz Therapy is ‘Have A Funky Christmas’ by Rob Parissi that is available now from iTunes.

It is an ‘out and out’ party tune from this founder member of the group Wild Cherry and the writer of the band’s one and only hit ‘Play That Funky Music’.

In fact Wild Cherry were the ultimate one hit wonders but the success that the song enjoyed opened doors for Parissi to go on to work with Bobby Caldwell and to co-write several tunes that in the eighties became hits on both sides of the Atlantic.