Smooth Jazz Therapy

The Tim Williams Project - Say You Will

‘Say You Will’ is the new single from The Tim Williams Project and looks all set to raise the profile of this cool collective way beyond the confines of the city of Atlanta where in recent years the band has steadily been building a reputation.  The group of musicians that leader and bass player Tim Williams has gathered around him is very much a family affair with Jonathan Williams on keys and Nathaniel Williams on guitar who in turn are joined by sax-man DeWayne Martin and drummer Edger Clay. 

This easy grooving number was written and produced by Tim and is from his sophomore CD that is slated for release in April 2014.  It follows his 2009 debut ‘Sunny Day’ which featured nine of his own compositions including the relaxed title cut that showcased fine trumpet from Cedric Young. 

Reza Khan - Back With Dreamwalker

Not only did ‘A Simple Plan’ by guitarist Reza Khan turn out to be a veritable treasure chest of riches, it also garnered the radio singles ‘Language Of Love’ (that featured Andy Snitzer on sax) and the just as good ‘Blue Dreams In Rio’.  Now he is back with the CD ‘Dreamwalker’.  It’s a tremendously accomplished project that finds him re-united with Snitzer and supported ably by Philippe Saisse on keyboards, Bill Donnelly and Graham Hawthorn on drums and percussion respectively plus Paul Frazier and Ray Dieneman who share duties on bass.

Igor Gerzina - Counting Stars

Croatian sax-man Igor Gerzina first grabbed my attention with the CD ‘Metropolis’ and the hot news is that his follow-up project, ‘One Click World’ is all set for release on December 11, 2013.  The first single to be offered to radio is Igor’s instrumental cover version of the OneRepublic smash hit ‘Counting Stars’ which he manages to make entirely his own.  It’s the sort of hard driving yet mellifluous cut we have come to expect from him and is further proof that great smooth jazz really can be found outside the confines of the USA.

 

Scott Allman - Next Stop Home

I first became acquainted with the music of Scott Allman through his 2011 debut CD ‘Generations’.  It demonstrated the flair this Illinois native has for melodic contemporary jazz and now he is back with the totally beguiling ‘Next Stop Home’.  It is an album that demonstrates the delightful light and shade of Allman’s musical personality and, with featured performances from Darren Rahn and Lin Rowntree, plus support from some of the finest session musicians the genre has to offer, proves to be a wonderful showcase for his art.

Najee - In The Mood To Take It Slow

Well known for his classy virtuosity, sax and flute player Najee has been one of the most influential figures in contemporary jazz for the past twenty-five years.  He enjoyed his first big break in 1983 when, with his brother Fareed, he toured with Chaka Khan.  This in turn brought him to the attention of producer Charles Huggins and it was through Huggins that Najee cut his debut recording for EMI, ‘Najee’s Theme’, in 1986.  The album went platinum and two years later this success was repeated with the follow up ‘Day By Day’.  Since then Najee has added ten more releases plus one ‘best of’ compilation and has garnered four ‘gold discs’ along the way.  His latest offering is the decidedly sophisticated ‘The Morning After’ that includes the sumptuous ‘In The Mood To Take It Slow’ with soulful vocals from Meli’sa Morgan. 

Check it out right here right now.

 

Andrew Neu - Everything Happens For A Reason

Perhaps best known as the ‘go-to’ sax-man for the likes of Diane Schuur and Bobby Caldwell, Andrew Neu can be heard on Peter White’s current CD ‘Here We Go’, on Steve Oliver’s project ‘World Citizen’ and on Caldwell’s highly rated collection ‘House of Cards’.  His latest solo album is titled ‘Everything Happens For A Reason’ for which Neu has assembled a formidable horn section, a full orchestra and the production skills of Caldwell, Brian Bromberg and Steve Oliver.  Also included are Rick Braun, Jeff Lorber and Alex Acuna for eleven top-notch songs that get right to the heart of the sophisticated side of contemporary jazz.

Peter White UK Tour November 2013

The incomparable Peter White has often been described as the hardest working performer in smooth jazz and with a recent schedule that has seen him in Africa, the Mediterranean (as part of the Dave Koz cruise), the Royal Albert Hall (with Al Stewart) and his usual crop of stopping off points in the USA, it is not difficult to understand why.  His appearances in the UK have, over the years, evolved into something of a twice yearly tradition but until recently have been limited to an extended residence at London’s Pizza Express plus one or two additional dates thrown in for good measure.  However, this time around, Peter took it to a whole new level with ten shows at the Pizza Express plus appearances in Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Altrincham, Southend On Sea and in Eastleigh on the south coast.

Oli Silk - Razor Sharp Brit

UK born and based writer, producer and keyboard player Oli Silk was first noticed at Trippin N Rhythm in 2004 as the producer of the self titled album by British sax player James Vargas.  His own 2006 solo debut, ‘So Many Ways’, on the same label became an instant success and garnered the massive radio hit ‘Easy Does It’ that hung around for more than six months on the chart of most played on smooth jazz radio across the USA.  ‘The Limit’s The Sky’ followed in 2008 and ‘All We Need’ was released two years later.  Now he is back with the highly accomplished ‘Razor Sharp Brit’.  It’s an interestingly eclectic project that signposts Silk’s growing musical maturity; He writes or co-writes all eleven tracks and the collection is enhanced by featured performances from some of the most significant talents in contemporary jazz.

Paul Brown Keeping It In The Family

News from LA is that double GRAMMY^®-winning producer Paul Brown is dong his bit to ‘keep it in the family’.  He has just completed an alternative rock project featuring his nephew, 16-year-old Ben Babylon and if that name sounds familiar then it’s not surprising.  Ben’s father was Guy Babylon who for twenty-one years played keyboards for Elton John’s touring band and other members of that band have rallied round to help give young Ben a kick-start. 

Ben’s mother, songwriter Kathy Babylon, is Paul’s sister and the six track EP, ‘Further Interpretations of Real Life’, features Elton John regulars Davey Johnstone on guitar, drummer Nigel Olsson, percussionist John Mahon and the late Bob Birch on bass.

Roberto Vally - Boom Boom Boom

Bass player Roberto Vally is one of those guys.  At first glance you may not think you have heard of him but there is little chance you have not heard him play.  From back in the eighties with Spyro Gyra to his status as a constant in Bobby Caldwell’s band to being the ‘go-to’ bass player for the two time GRAMMY^®-winning producer and performer Paul Brown, Vally has been and remains everywhere. 

Perhaps the fact Roberto has been so busy for so many years explains why it has taken him so long to record his first solo CD.  However, and thankfully, ‘Boom Boom Boom’ is here now.  It’s a refreshingly eclectic mix of chill, lounge, world music and smooth jazz that could be best described as mood music with a vengeance.  Not only that, given the album includes contributions from some of his best musician friends including Greg Adams, Jeff Carruthers, Paul Brown, Rick Keller and Tom Schuman, ‘Boom Boom Boom’ is, in every respect, a true musical master class. 

Juris - Flying High

If keyboard player Marcus Johnson had never released another record, his stunning ‘88 Ways To Love’ would have been good enough for me.  Taken from his 1998 album ‘Chocolate City Groovin’ it remains one of my favorite contemporary jazz tracks of all time so when I became aware that he had teamed with the French DJ and producer Young Pulse to form the band Juris I was more than interested. 

The duo’s new single is titled ‘Flying High’ and comes from the CD ‘Eiffel Tower’ that is intended to evoke the mood of Paris, where Marcus and Young Pulse first met while playing music throughout the city. 

‘Flying High’ is an edgily jazzy number laced with old-school hip-hop in a way that typifies contemporary jazz when done the European way.

Paul Hardcastle - Movin & Groovin

It seems like Paul Hardcastle is always working on some new project and this cut which, in his own inimitable way, seeks to capture the vibe that permeated much of seventies music, finds him at it again.

If you like Hardcastle you will love this.

 

 

niVO DEUX - C'est le Funk'

Back in July Smooth Jazz Therapy was amongst the first to bring you news that guitar player Emmanuel ‘U-Nam’ Abiteboul had teamed with sax player and vocalist Shannon Kennedy to form the duo niVO DEUX.  Their first single was the big and bold ‘Love's No Distance’ that really hit the spot and now they are back with the even more supercharged ‘C’est le Funk’. 

With the party season rapidly approaching this one is a must.

Theresa Grayson - Live2Love

The sophomore album from singer and saxophonist Theresa Grayson is titled ‘Live2Love’ and will be independently released on November 5.  It follows her 2010 project ‘It’s All About You’ and is a lively blend of five original compositions plus a bunch of well-crafted covers.  Among them is a wonderfully turned down version of the excellent Tony Toni Tone song ‘It Never Rains In Southern California’ (that can be found on the band’s 1994 CD ‘Slow Wine’) and the similarly beguiling ‘Tonight (Best You Ever Had)’.

Joel Del Rosario & Surewill - Side By Side

Now for news of a terrific track from Joel Del Rosario and Surewill who have joined forces to record the album ‘Side by Side’.  It includes the wonderfully atmospheric ‘Mon Frere’ that proves to be a guitar driven, chilled out, masterpiece and whets the appetite for the remaining nine tracks. 

With a music career now spanning over two decades, guitarist and songwriter, Joel Del Rosario has just about touched every genre of music.  From classical to jazz, from hip hop to southern gospel Del Rosario has done it all and now, in partnership with multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer Surewill, he has slipped effortlessly into a contemporary jazz groove. 

Check back here soon for a compete review of ‘Side By Side’.