Smooth Jazz Therapy

Lin Rowntree -In The Day

Flourishing in the artist friendly environs of Cutmore Records, soulful trumpeter Lin Rountree is experiencing some serious success.  His single, ‘In The Day’, featuring critically acclaimed flautist Althea Rene, has enjoyed an extended stay on the National Billboard Top 30 Contemporary Jazz Chart and, with production from Nicholas Cole and Nate Harasim,  is a track that demonstrates how Rowntree has captured that sweet spot where smooth jazz meets chill in the most amazing of ways.

It promises much for an artist who has been on the Smooth Jazz Therapy radar screen since his 2005 debut release ‘Groovetree’. 

Check out ‘In The Day’ right here right now

 

Ragan Whiteside - Quantum Drive

Smooth Jazz Therapy has admired the music of the wonderfully soulful Ragan Whiteside since 2007 and the release of the highly acclaimed ‘Class Axe’.  Not only did it mark her out as a leading exponent the smooth jazz flute but also glistened with production touches from Bob Baldwin and Dennis Johnson.  This collaboration was again on sensational show for Ragan’s 2012 project ‘Evolve’ and has carried on to her brand new CD ‘Quantum Drive’.  Not only that, with an all-star roster featuring Baldwin, Patrice Rushen, Frank McComb and Althea René, this is a collection that merits closer scrutiny and which has already been described as soulful, daring, sultry and edgy.

Greg Manning - Cruisin' Down The Road

Born in Nigeria and brought up in Switzerland, composer producer and keyboard player Greg Manning moved to Los Angeles in the nineties.  Since then he has been building a niche position in the world of contemporary jazz with quality collaborations with the likes of Mindi Abair and Jonathan Butler. 

Now all this is about to pay off, and then some.  Newly signed to Maurice White's Kalimba Music, Greg is all set to make his label debut on July 8 with the release of his brand new CD ‘Dance With You’.

Jamie Bonk - Good To Be

It was back in 2004 that Toronto based guitarist Jamie Bonk first attracted the interest of Smooth Jazz Therapy with the release of the excellent ‘My World’.  Characterized by inherent warmth, it was a CD that at the time I described as having all the attributes necessary to take Bonk right to the top.  The follow up, ‘5’, came along in 2007 and although he was back two years later with the four tune ‘digital only’ EP, ‘St Joseph Street’ he returned to the full album format in 2012 with the critically acclaimed ‘Necessity’. 

Jamie has just released a brand new ‘stand alone’ single titled ‘Good To Be’ that not only is a wonderful showcase for his undoubted talents but also the perfect vehicle with which to swell his already considerable fan-base. 

Check it out.

 

Richard Elliot - Givin It Up

It has almost become the norm to over hype every smooth jazz single that hits the airwaves but one such offering that deserves the highest credit is the absolutely superb ‘Givin’ It Up’ by sax stalwart Richard Elliot from his soon to be released CD ‘Lip Service’. 

An easy grooving charmer of the highest order it benefits from the production magic of Paul Brown and features Marco Basci on keys, Randy Jacobs on guitar, percussion from Lenny Castro and Third Richardson on drums.  Completing the line-up is Elliot’s ‘go to’ bass player Nate Phillips plus a wonderful injection of horns from Jerry Hey and Lee Thornburg. 

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Lip Service’ 

Rick Braun - Can You Feel It

Although Rick Braun made his solo recording debut in 1992 with ‘Intimate Secrets’ his breakthrough CD is widely considered to have been ‘Beat Street’ that came two years later.  Now twenty years on Braun has sought to capture the spirit of ‘Beat Street’ with his sixteenth album, ‘Can You Feel It’.

Spotlight On Vel Lewis

Hammond organist Vel Lewis is yet another fine example of the synergy that sizzles between contemporary jazz and soul music from the golden age of Philadelphia.  His new radio single, the ultra smooth ‘Song For My Love’, is grabbing some attention ahead of the June release of the EP ‘Colors Of Soul’ and the fact the collection was mixed by rising star Greg Manning (and features none other than Lenny Castro on percussion) will do its chances of success no harm at all.

Paolo Rustichelli - Playa Blanca

The brilliant Italian keyboard player and composer Paolo Rustichelli just keeps on getting better.  Having already captivated the contemporary jazz community with the sunny, sexy and invigorating ‘Med Groove’ he is now laying siege to the airwaves with the fabulous ‘Playa Blanca’.

From the CD ‘Soul Italiana’ it is a fine example of how when it comes to blending smooth jazz with chill and electronica, he is the undisputed master.  Available as an instrumental and with flashes of vocals this one is highly recommended. 

Bernard Alcorn - Stay Tuned

The 2010 CD from Chicago guitar man Bernard Alcorn was titled ‘A New Day’ and with a combination of original songs and several well-crafted covers, it showed of his ‘Benson-esque’ talents to perfect effect.  Now, with a similar format that finds him mixing nine of his own compositions with three re-imagined classics, he is back with ‘Stay Tuned’.

Cindy Bradley - Riverside Drive

Smooth Jazz Therapy has been with Cindy Bradley from the very beginning, in fact since 2007 and her independently issued first CD ‘Just A Little Bit’.  Of course she is now a shining star on the Trippin N Rhythm roster and following her 2009 label debut with ‘Bloom’ (and ‘Unscripted’ that followed two years later) she is now back with ‘Bliss’. 

It again finds her in collaboration with in-demand producer and songwriter Michael Broening with whom she co-writes eight of the ten choice tracks. 

As is the tendency with Trippin N Rhythm the focus to date has been all about radio and the first single from the album ‘Riverside Jive’.  It’s a great tune yet, truth to tell, ‘Bliss’ is a collection that is worthy of closer overall scrutiny. 

Check out ‘Riverside Drive’ right here right now.

 

Dr. Dave - Don't Mess With Mr. T

Back in 2013 I commented that Dr. David Paul Hatherill, aka smooth jazz guitaristDr. Dave, is living proof that in this crazy business of contemporary jazz no one really knows what is coming next.  At the time this profound philosopher and author of the book ‘Hatherillisms: Philosophies for Living’ (that relates awareness and insights based on many years of practicing psychotherapy) had just released the decidedly romantic ‘Love Potion’ which garnered the mellow and easy grooving ‘Guitar Island’. 

Now this philosopher turned guitar player is back with his latest project, the altogether more upbeat ‘The Doctor Is In’.  The first single from it is Dave’s splendid rendition of Stanley Turrentine's ‘Don't Mess With Mr. T’ that was written by Turrentine and produced and arranged by Bob James. 

Highly recommended.

Mindi Abair - Addicted To You

The latest CD from saxophonist Mindi Abair is ‘Wild At Heart’ and given the year she has had it’s a title that is entirely appropriate.  It could just as easily have been named ‘The Secret Life Of The Smooth jazz Sax Player’ as parallel to her life on the contemporary jazz merry-go-round she has been rubbing shoulders with those redoubtable rockers Aerosmith, hanging out with E Street drummer Max Weinberg and gigging with Bruce Springsteen. 

In fact Weinberg and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry lend a very ‘un-smooth’ dimension to ‘Wild At Heart’ as does rock icon Gregg Allman for a collection that, in the genre for which Mindi is best known, must be the most surprising of the year so far.  Truth to tell rock influences abound and none more so than with the two tracks that Abair writes in partnership with Jim Peterik who, in his time, composed the Ides of March hit single ‘Vehicle’ in 1970, and the Survivor smash ‘Eye of the Tiger’ in 1982. 

Booker T Jones (he of Booker T & The MG’s fame) also contributes handsomely on the bluesy ‘Addicted To You’ that is right up there with the best that ‘Wild At Heart’ has to offer. 

Check it out, right here right now.

 

Eric Marner - So Many Reasons

One player who is really capturing the essence of urban jazz is saxophonist Eric Marner.  In this respect Eric’s previous CD ‘Soul Of Love’ really hit the spot and in fact paved the way for his new project ‘No, I’m Different’. 

Marner has performed with and shared the stage with artists such as Natalie Cole, Kim Waters, Phil Perry, The Blackbyrds, Ledisi and Najee.  He even got the chance to portray a sax player in the movie Syriana starring George Clooney and Matt Damon. 

As far as ‘No, I’m Different’ is concerned, it is being headed up by the hot new single ‘So Many Reasons’ that is right in the pocket and then some.

Paul Hardcastle Evokes The Magic Of Barry White

As already reported, the buzz right now is all about Paul Hardcastle’s highly anticipated new CD ‘The JazzMasters VII’, and how with the track ‘Unlimited Love’ he is paying own special homage to Barry White. 

But what made White so great and how much did his music influence the chill music of today. 

When you experience this clip of ‘Midnight And You’ it will not be difficult to understand why. Simply click 'Watch On YouTube'. 

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘The JazzMasters VII’.

 

The JazzMasters - Unlimited Love

One need only recall seminal tracks such as ‘19’ and ‘Rain Forest’ to know how Paul Hardcastle has the ability to innovate around a common theme and allow this innovation to extend over years and sometimes over decades.  His latest project, from his parallel vehicle The JazzMasters, is ‘The JazzMasters VII’ which is due for release everywhere on June 10 and has the luscious ‘Unlimited Love’ as the lead single.  Featuring Cindy Bradley on trumpet it is Hardcastle’s homage to Barry White and, in true Hardcastle style, has the power to get in your head and not go away. 

Not only that, the common theme that is often a feature of Hardcastle’s music has already led to the reworking of ‘Unlimited Love’ into an eight minute ‘strings mix’ and a somewhat shorter ‘Midnight Mix’. 

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘The JazzMasters VII’.