Smooth Jazz Therapy

Gregg Karukas - Elegant Nights

That fabulous keyboard player, and 2013 Grammy winner, Gregg Karukas is all set to release his twelfth solo project, the highly anticipated ‘Soul Secrets’.  This collection of all-original songs has already been described elsewhere as being organic, funky, and melodic with a case in point being the first track to be released to radio, the sensational ‘Elegant Nights’. 

With guest appearances from Rick Braun, Euge Groove, Ricardo Silveira, Eric Valentine, Nate Phillips, Michael O'Neill, James Harrah, Adam Hawley, Charlie Bisharat, Luis Conte, Shelby Flint, Ron Boustead and rising sax star Vincent Ingala, ‘Soul Secrets’ promises to be really special so check back here soon for a complete review.

 

 

Patrick Bradley - Can You Hear Me

Keyboard playerPatrick Bradley is calling on a few high-profile friends for his third album, ‘Can You Hear Me’.  Produced by the in-demand Jeff Lorber (who also played a significant part in Patrick’s 2011 project ‘Under The Sun’), ‘Can You Hear Me’ is being showcased by the mellifluous title cut that features Dave Koz on sax. 

The CD will be released September 23 on thePatrick's Music Factory label.

 

Patrick Bradley Can You Hear Me

 

Jason Carroll & The Smooth Jazz Symphony - Let It Flow

It is no exaggeration to say that both ‘Cool’ and ‘2 Smooth’ by multi instrumentalist and producer Jason Carroll turned out to be something approximating cult sensations.  Certainly the volume of correspondence that my reviews of these two albums brought forth suggested that here was an artist of whom contemporary jazz fans wanted to know more.  Now he is back with his latest offering, ‘Let It Flow’.

Glen Goldsmith - London Skies

Soulful vocalist and hit songwriter Glen Goldsmith has come roaring back onto the UK soul scene with the fabulous new single ‘London Skies’.  Written by Goldsmith and Cristian Jermane, it is available both as a bass driven slice of ‘in the pocket’ R & B and as a Soul Talk remix which offers a smooth groove blended with a feeling of classic soul. 

Certainly the re-mix (beautifully crafted by Toby Baker and Ernie McKone, aka Soul Talk) has massive soul jazz crossover potential and is one to watch. 

Goldsmith is perhaps best remembered for his 80’s dance floor filler ‘I Wont Cry’ while as a songwriter he has worked with Mica Paris, Dannii Minogue, Peter Andre and Lisa Stansfield to name but a few.

 

 

Spotlight On Michael Haggins

To gain cult status from the audience of a hugely successful television show will, for many, always remain a dream.  Yet for composer and bass player Michael Haggins that dream became a reality.  His song, ‘Daybreak’, featured on NBC’s Emmy award winning Community and in so doing became an immediate social media sensation.  Indeed, this particular sensation turned out not to be of the overnight variety as in May 2014, when Community favorite Ken Jeong appeared on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, both Jimmy and Ken had some fun while dancing around to a rendition from Fallon’s house-band of, yes you guessed it, ‘Daybreak’.

In fact Michael has been around awhile and although ‘Daybreak’ was lifted from his 2004 debut recording of the same name, both that and ‘Traffic’ (which followed four years later) marked him out as a consummate craftsman of smooth jazz tinged with old school R & B.

Bennett Brandeis - Groove Time

If you know the LA jazz scene then chances are you know Bennett Brandeis.  Whether as part of the re-formed 5th Dimension’s touring band or working in studio orchestras such as that at Universal for the television show Magnum P.I., this fine guitarist is all about the groove so it is no surprise that his latest release is the appropriately titled ‘Groove Time’.  Produced by multi Grammy winning Paul Brown, and with the likes of Ricky Lawson, Greg Adams, Roberto Vally, Marco Basci, Elan Trotman and Darren Rahn around to lend a hand, this is an album that has come out of no-where to be rightly regarded as among the best of the year so far.

Reza Khan - Funkonomics

Domiciled in New York, guitarist Reza Khan was born in Bangladesh and has recorded with his own band, Painted Diaries, since 2001 when he released an album of the same name.  He really began to make waves with the CD ‘A Simple Plan’ that garnered the radio singles ‘Language Of Love’ (that featured Andy Snitzer on sax) and the equally good ‘Blue Dreams In Rio’ while the follow up, ‘Dreamwalker’, scored an instance success with the deliciously accessible title track. 

The latest single from the fine collection is the addictively high octane ‘Funkonomics’ which re-unites Khan with Andy Snitzer and in addition features a dazzling keyboard solo from the always-immaculate Philippe Saisse.

Euge Groove - Got 2 Be Groovin

A new CD from the incomparable Euge Groove is invariably amongst the highlights of any smooth jazz year so it will be no surprise to hear that his latest offering, ‘Got 2 Be Groovin’ (which will hit the streets August 19 on Shanachie Records) finds him, as ever, at his immaculate best.

Tony Travalini - Give A Little Of Your Love

‘Renaissance Man’ by former Motown recording artist and songwriter Tony Travalini finds him conjuring up a find blend of instrumental R & B, pop and smooth jazz through the medium of his Roland GR-20 Guitar Synthesizer.  This groove-enriched collection has something of a retro vibe to it and none more so than ‘Give A Little Of Your Love’ that is the first single to be offered to radio. 

Good tune.

Greg Chambers - Can't Help Myself

The album ‘Can’t Help Myself’ from sax-man Greg Chambers promises to be one of the runaway successes of 2014.  He writes or co-writes nine of the eleven choice tunes; three of them with smooth jazz notable Nate Harasim with this, the title track, being one of them.  It is a fabulously zesty number and is sure to do well.  Check it out right here right now.

 

Albright Lands A Slam Dunk Like Only He Can

In a smooth jazz year that is turning out to be one of the best ever, the latest A-List performer to deliver a truly top class album is the incomparable Gerald Albright.  The aptly titled ‘Slam Dunk’ was released August 5 on Heads Up (a division of Concord Music Group) and includes a clutch of his own compositions plus super covers of classics by Phil Collins and James Brown. 

Peabo Bryson guests on vocals for this tight twelve-track collection that draws its influences from James Brown, Philadelphia International and Motown to blend smooth jazz with soul in a way that only Albright can. 

Check back soon for a complete review of ‘Slam Dunk’.

Euge Groove Has Just Got 2 Be Groovin

Those who have watched the musical evolution of sax-man Euge Groove cannot fail to have been impressed with the growing maturity that each subsequent recording has brought.  Of course it all started back in 2000 with the release of his self-titled debut and now, fourteen years, on Groove has developed into one of very few genuine smooth jazz superstars.  A perennial chart topper and an outstanding live performer Euge really is the real deal and now he is back with the highly accomplished ‘Got 2 Be Groovin’. 

Check out the title cut right here right now and be sure to come back soon for the complete review of ‘Got 2 Be Groovin’.

 

Greg Chambers - Can't Help Myself

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.

Mariea Antoinette - Give Me Your Love

Perhaps best known for her dual talents as principle harpist in the Southeast Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, and integral part of the all star touring female jazz soul group Jazz In Pink, the fabulous Mariea Antoinette is all set to release her latest solo CD ‘No Strings Attached’. 

If the lead single, the sizzling, sexy, ‘Give Me Your Love’, is anything to go by it could well be the surprise package of the entire year so check back here soon for a complete review of ‘No Strings Attached’.

Kim Waters - Silver Soul

Since 1989 and, the release of his debut CD ‘Sweet & Saxy’, sax-man Kim Waters has been a constant on the urban-jazz landscape.  With a reputation for being one of the most technically gifted players around, his accomplishments include fourteen No. 1 singles, four No. 1 albums, sixteen top ten singles and crossover sets that have variously registered time on the Billboard 200, urban, contemporary jazz and top independent album charts.  Now he is back with his 20^th solo recording, ‘Silver Soul’.

Terje Lie - You Know

The 2010 CD ‘Urban Vacation’ from Norwegian born saxophonist Terje Lie was notable for many reasons, not least of which being the various writing (and performing) permutations of Lie, Yellowjackets mainstay Jimmy Halsip and contemporary jazz icon Jeff Lorber.  Now, in the company of Tony Moore on drums plus Vinnie Colaiuta, Gary Novak, Lenny Castro, Michael Landau, Michael Thompson, Marlon McClain, and Jeff Richman, Haslip and Lorber are back for Lie’s latest project, the seriously jazzy ‘Bright Moments’. 

A case in point is the hugely ‘in the pocket’ ‘You Know’ that is totally in keeping with Lie’s credentials as a ‘serious’ smooth jazz musician and clearly destined to become a firm Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite. 

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Bright Moments’.