Smooth Jazz Therapy

Rick McGuire - Required Jazz

Formally associated with the pop rock genre, guitarist Rick McGuire takes a different perspective with his 2013 EP ‘Required Jazz’.  It is his fifth release, contains 3 songs and is his first excursion into the world of instrumental smooth jazz.

 

The project's first single is titled ‘Crazy’ and as well as having that distinct funky Minneapolis sound is also a fine recommendation for a recording on which McGuire plays lead and rhythm guitars plus bass and drums.

 

Also on the EP is local keyboard legend Donnie La Marca who lays down great textures behind McGuire’s bluesy jazz guitar riffs.  It could well be required listening for all those who enjoy contemporary jazz served up in a way that is not too smooth.

Boney James - Maker Of Love

 

For all sorts of reasons ‘The Beat’ by Boney James, that was released back in April, is proving to be one of the biggest crowd pleasers of 2013. With an extensive schedule of live appearances to back it up, James is enjoying an exceptionally successful year yet the premise on which the album is built, a mash-up of Latin and R&B music, has not, for me, delivered the sort of ‘complete’ collection that Boney’s long-time followers are accustomed to.

However, one thing for certain is that no-one, but no-one, does urban contemporary jazz the way Boney does urban contemporary jazz and a case in point is ‘Maker Of Love’ that is not only the best track the ‘The Beat’ has to offer but also one of the best of the entire year.

Mark Adams - Hot Keys

Baltimore native Mark Adams has worked and performed with the likes of Ronnie Laws, Erika Badu, Maysa and Jocelyn Brown.  In fact his skills as a keyboard player have led him to tour the world with the great Roy Ayers while as a solo artist he already has the albums ‘Asceticism’, ‘Feel The Groove’ and ‘Something’s Going On’ to his name.  Now he is back with the highly anticipated ‘Conversations’ and, if the lead single is anything to go by, it’s going to be a real winner.

Titled ‘Hot Keys’, it has the sort of soul jazz groove that the genre is currently crying out for and comes highly recommended.

Paul Hardcastle - Easy Street

Some say that the music of Paul Hardcastle is somewhat predictable but when it comes as good as this, the lastest single from his sublime Hardcastle VII, I for one cant get enough of it. Chilled out music for what is turning out to be a red hot summer.

 

Steve Cole Back With Big Hooks And Big Horns

What with the Dave Koz project ‘Summer Horns’ and the legendary Tower Of Power aboard the Smooth Jazz Cruise (West Coast Edition) there seems little doubt that big hooks and big horns are very much in vogue.  Now further proof is set to emerge with the September 17 release of ‘Pulse’ from powerhouse sax-man Steve Cole that he has written and produced with fellow saxophonist David Mann.

Boney James - Powerhouse

The Beat by Boney James has been one of the hottest releases of the year so far and despite the fact that, when compared to his previous work, the first single (and title cut) didnt really do it for me, Boney is on far stronger ground with the aptly titled follow-up 'Powerhouse'. Check it out, right here right now.

 

Bryan Lubeck - Sydney's Way

Smooth Jazz Therapy has followed the career of Bryan Lubeck since 2004 and the release of the album ‘Acoustic Vineyard’.  Consequently it could be said that the American Smooth Jazz Awards was somewhat slow off the mark when, in 2010, he was honored as one of the genre’s ‘up and comers’. 

Nevertheless the accolade indicated his musical reputation was spreading far beyond his home state of Michigan and now he is aiming right for the top with his delicious new CD ‘Tuscan Sky’.

The Super Groovers - Mainline Connection

I first became acquainted with sax man Frank Villafranca and keyboard / guitar player Andrew D Gordon back in 2007 when, as The Super Groovers, they released their aptly named debut CD ‘Supergroovin’.  At the time I described it as being “a tight collection of eight expansive tracks” and now The Super Groovers are back with the equally eclectic ‘Mainline Connection’.

niVO DEUX - Love's No Distance

From the time when guitar player Emmanuel ‘U-Nam’ Abiteboul moved from his native France to the musical intensity of LA he has been steadily building his reputation as one of the most innovative performers in the smooth jazz, R & B and soul genres. 

His 2007 solo recording ‘Back From The 80s’ garnered the chart topping hit ‘Street Life’ and although ‘Unanimity’ followed two years later his 2012 project, ‘Weekend In LA (A Tribute To George Benson)’, proved to be hugely adventurous.  Now, as niVO DEUX, he has teamed with sax player and vocalist Shannon Kennedy to push the envelope even further.

Maysa - Blue Velvet Soul

After an absence of almost two years, the incredible Maysa (who I have described elsewhere as the best kept secret on urban AC radio) comes roaring back with the aptly titled ‘Blue Velvet Soul’.  In common with her recent projects the CD is produced in part by Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis and much like the 2011 effort ‘Motions Of Love’ (that comprised fourteen tracks) offers quantity (fifteen songs) to go with the amazing quality of what proves to be an extremely feisty collection.

Oli Silk - At Your Service

One of only a few smooth jazz artists to enjoy success on both sides of the Atlantic, UK based writer, producer and keyboard player Oli Silk is all set to add another chapter to the story of his musical development.  The hot new single ‘At Your Service’ is available for download now and comes from his soon to be released CD on Trippin N Rhythm.  It features Julian Vaughn whose own star has been very much in the ascendancy with the album ‘Breakthrough’ and is the sort of easy grooving cut on which Silk has built his considerable reputation. Watch this one.  It’s going to be big.

Keiko Matsui - Soul Quest

Since the 1989 release of her first US album, ‘A Drop Of Water’, Japanese keyboard player Keiko Matsui has been carving out her own special place in the annals of contemporary jazz.  Now, with over twenty CD’s to her name and an extravagant tour schedule that in the last twelve months has taken her coast to coast across America as well as to Japan and Eastern Europe, she is back with her latest project ‘Soul Quest’.  A sophisticated collection with far more to offer than that merely defined by the limited confines of radio acceptability, it is characterized by ten original compositions and sumptuous collaborations with chart-topping producers Chuck Loeb and Narada Michael Walden.

Gianni Vancini - Get Your Groove On

Now for something decidedly on the jazzy side; The first single (and title cut) from the forthcoming CD by saxophonist Gianni Vancini is titled ‘Get Your Groove On’ and features such masters of the art as Greg Manning on keys, Sheldon Reynolds on guitar, Alex Al on bass and drummer Ricky Lawson. 

Manning also produces and although the buzz right now is all about the instrumental version, the track has also been given a vocal makeover courtesy of Kenya Hathaway. 

Look out for it.

Patrick Yandall - Soul Grind

Smooth Jazz Therapy has followed the career of guitarist Patrick Yandall since 2006 and the release of his excellent CD ‘Samoa Soul’.  In fact this San Diego resident has been a solo artist since 1994 when he made his debut with ‘That Feels Nice’ and now, going on twenty years later, he is back with his fifteenth album, the decidedly tasty ‘Soul Grind’.  Produced and engineered by Yandall (who also writes eleven of the fourteen (yes, fourteen) tracks) this is very much his own project and a resounding showcase for his art.