Smooth Jazz Therapy has been following the fortunes of sax-man Greg Chambers since 2007 and the release of his debut recording ‘City Lights’. At the time I described it as “an album different enough to get him noticed” and then delighted in watching his musical progression as, first with his 2011 self-titled follow up and again with the seven-track 2013 EP ‘After Hours’, he proceeded to carve out his own musical identity. Now this progression continues with the sparkling ‘Can’t Help Myself’. Not only is it his most commercial to date but is also a wonderful showcase for his combined talents as songwriter, producer and performer. No doubt about it, ‘Can’t Help Myself’ is the real smooth jazz deal and, with input from the likes of Paul Brown, Nate Harasim, Nils and Julian Vaughn, is a timely reminder of how good contemporary jazz can be when done this well.
Talking of doing things well, the CD opens with the fabulously zesty title cut that benefits from input from co-writer Harasim on keys. He stays around to lend a hand with the mid-tempo ‘Off The Cuff’ that includes a nice interjection of guitar from Nils and is another of three songs he co-writes with Chambers.
In fact Chambers writes or co-writes nine of the eleven choice tunes, five of them with guitarist and keyboard player Matt Godina. On this showing Chambers and Godina are establishing themselves as one of the genre’s most formidable song writing partnerships and a case in point is the languid ‘It’s On’ for which Paul Brown guests on guitar. Just as good is the infectiously up-tempo ‘In The Moment’ (featuring bass guitar from rising star Julian Vaughn) while another Chambers - Godina number is the immensely feel-good ‘So Into You’ that is arguably amongst the best that ‘Can’t Help Myself’ has to offer.
That said, they prove themselves to be equally adept when easing things down and they do just that, first with the super sultry ‘Come A Little Closer’ and again for the similarly disposed ‘Wait Awhile’ that just tips the scales as Smooth Jazz Therapy top track.
Elsewhere Godina takes the lead on guitar for the relaxed groove of ‘Saturday Afternoon’ and although Chambers closes out the collection with the romantically inclined ‘Dreaming Of You’ he slips effortlessly into urban jazz territory for a sensational take on the Boyz II Men smash ‘Lovely’ where vocals from Kevin Lewis really hit the spot and bass from the always excellent Roberto Vally provides the perfect anchor. The album’s other cover is ‘All My Life’ that was a hit for R & B duo K-Ci & JoJo but which here is given a lighter, more angelic touch courtesy of vocals of Jalen Seawright.
It is a brilliant example of the light and shade that Chambers has crammed into ‘Can’t Help Myself’ and another reason, among many, why you should make it part of your collection.