Smooth Jazz Therapy

Freddie Ravel - Jingle Bells ala Bossa

Some tracks are engrained into the essence of what smooth jazz is all about and that is certainly the case with Freddie Ravel’s seminal track ‘Sunny Side Up’ which can be found on his 2001 self titled  GRP debut CD.  Consequently it is exciting to report that Freddie’s latest effort, ‘If Music Could Speak’ is out now on the Human Harmonics Group label. 

The album ranges from reinventions of classic Ravel compositions, previously unrecorded originals and a smattering of songs ideal for the Holidays.  In this latter category comes Ravel’s special tribute to the legendary Dave Brubeck, ‘Jingle Bells ala Bossa’. 

Check it out.

 

 

Spotlight On Mitchell Coleman

LA bass-man Mitchell Coleman draws his influences from the likes of Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, Larry Graham and Jaco Pastorius so it’s no surprise his debut album (‘Soul Searching’ that is out now on his own Soul Revelation label) is characterized by deliciously hard driving, bass driven funk. 

Gerald Albright - Slam Dunk

As a composer, arranger, producer and performer Gerald Albright has made his mark on some of greatest hits of the latter half of the twentieth century.  One need look no further than Patrice Rushen’s ‘Forget Me Nots’ or the Quincy Jones classic ‘Setembro’ to realize Albright is one of the most ‘recorded’ saxophonists of the era while as a solo artist he has fourteen albums to his name.  The most recent of these is ‘Slam Dunk’ that is out now on the Heads Up label, a division of Concord Music Group, and which finds him at his sublimely edgy best.

Richard Elliot - Lip Service

Some albums just fit with the mood of the moment and this is certainly the case with Richard Elliot’s latest project ‘Lip Service’.  Not only does it satisfy the thirst smooth jazz fans currently have for big horn driven extravaganzas but also revisits a couple of old school classics of the sort that have enjoyed something of a resurgence in the recent past.  Examples such as the Manhattans hit ‘Shining Star’ and Brian McKnight’s ‘Anytime’ are both worthy inclusions and although Elliot also finds space for the Bruno Mars track ‘I Was Your Man’ he is arguably at his best when interpreting his own music. 

Smile - Peter White At The Cinnamon Club

November 16, 2014: Those who flocked to Peter White’s early show at the Cinnamon Club, Altrincham were rationed to only one track from his new CD ‘Smile’.  However, having later purchased the album at the back of the room, they would quickly realize that here is a collection that returns the incomparable White to his roots of intense rhythm and sublime melody. 

This, the latest leg of an autumnal odyssey, that would find him playing shows in Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Southend On Sea and Eastleigh (as well as multiple nights at London’s Pizza Express) was immaculately supported by White’s now regular UK backing band of Frank Felix on bass, Marc Parnell on drums, the invariably excellent Oli Silk on keys and seriously soulful sax-man Carl Stanley.  Each of them played a part in aiding White’s whistle stop tour of a discography that grows more amazing with every passing release and which here was showcased not only by the tried and tested blending of ‘Bueno Funk’, the similarly smoking ‘San Diego’ and the superb ‘Bullseye’ but also by classics such as ‘Caravan Of Dreams’ and ‘Midnight In Manhattan’.  ‘Costa Rica’, his seminal ‘Who’s That Lady’ and the equally beguiling ‘Walk On By’ also scored hugely with the appreciative crowd and when the tempo eased just a little ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ and ‘Perfect Moment’ proved to be right on the money. 

Eric Darius - Retro Forward

‘Retro Forward’ from soulful sax-man Eric Darius is his sixth studio project and the second on the Shanachie label.  Yet Darius has always been a man in a hurry.  In 2001, at age 17, he independently released his debut CD ‘Cruisin’, a venture for which he had been writing music over the previous four years and when in 2004 he secured a deal with Narada Jazz it enabled the follow up, ‘Night On The Town’ to be unveiled on the Higher Octave label.  Significantly, following an impromptu meeting in Los Angeles, he got the chance to join Brian Culbertson’s touring band and has also collaborated with such diverse talents as Prince, George Benson, Mary J. Blige, Wynton Marsalis and Brian McKnight.  He has even appeared on the US version of Simon Cowell’s hit TV series, The X Factor but now, in 2014, Eric Darius is very much his own man and with his own unique sound. 

Dee Brown - Natural Love

Those who have been with guitarist Dee Brown for the long haul will recall his 2007 debut recording ‘No Time To Waste’ and the follow-up, ‘A Little Elbow Room’ that followed two years later.  His latest project, the delicious ‘Brown Sugar, Honey-Coated Love’, is out now on Innervision Records and has already garnered the single ‘Honeycomb’.  It finds Brown re-uniting with sax-man Dezie McCullers Jr. (who just happens to be the brother of flautist extraordinaire Althea Rene) and is a fine example of mid tempo smooth jazz with an edge. 

Now he has gone back to ‘Brown Sugar, Honey-Coated Love’ for his latest single, the easy grooving ‘Natural Love’, that was recently named as ‘most added’ track on smooth jazz radio. 

Al DeGregoris - Sunnyside

‘All In Good Time’ is the latest project from keyboard player Al DeGregoris and, with contributions from Jeff Lorber, Jimmy Haslip, Eric Marienthal and Nils, a tremendous testament to the credibility he has within contemporary jazz. 

It follows his 2008 debut recording ‘Three Before Midnight’ and the follow-up, ‘Times and Travels’, while the first single to be serviced to radio is the Nils produced ‘Sunnyside’. 

Check it out

 

New Latitude - Convergence

When, back in 2012, I reviewed ‘The Space Below’ from guitarist Jim Carr I commented that although this excellent assortment of soothing yet compelling music was billed, in part, as ‘new age’ it was sure to be an instant hit with those who like their smooth jazz on the melodic side.  Now, almost three years on, Carr has teamed with fellow guitarist Dave Erickson to form the band New Latitude and record the superb ‘Convergence’.  This mellifluous eleven-song CD of all original music invites comparisons with Acoustic Alchemy and is a welcome diversion from the proliferation of sax-centric contemporary jazz that has been such a feature of 2014.

Marqueal Jordan - Catalyst

Those of you fortunate enough to have experienced one of Brian Culbertson’s live shows will need no introduction to the super talented Marqueal Jordan.  His own solo CD, ‘Catalyst’, is certainly making some waves and allowing him to step beyond the confines of ‘sideman status’ to being regarded as a producer, songwriter, saxophonist and vocalist in his own right. 

A flavor of what ‘Catalyst’ is all about comes right here.

Check it out.

 

Mariea Antoinette - Fly Away

Provisionally titled ‘No Strings Attached’ but now released as ‘Straight From The Harp’, the latest CD from the fabulous Mariea Antoinette has already garnered the hot summer single ‘Give Me Your Love’.  Now the equally good ‘Fly Away’ is headed to radio and is another great example of how she is establishing herself as one of the most gifted and exciting harpists around.

The Rippingtons - Fountain Of Youth

Those enduring legends of contemporary jazz, The Rippingtons, have maintained a level of excellence that has kept them in the highest echelons of the genre for what is rapidly approaching thirty years.

The band’s latest CD is ‘Fountain Of Youth’ which much like what has gone before, is built around the fine playing of leader and guitarist Russ Freeman.  The first single from the album was the rhythmically addictive ‘North Shore’ and now The Rippingtons are back on radio with the introspective but totally compelling title cut.

Check it out.

 

Kenny G - Brazilian Nights

Despite the mixed reaction that the music of Kenny G sometimes attracts, as the world’s best selling instrumentalist he remains in a league of his own.  Anyone who has witnessed his live shows will attest to his astounding stage presence while as a recording artist his achievements know no bounds.  Consequently it is particularly exciting to report that on January 27, 2015 Kenny will release his fourteenth studio album, the highly anticipated ‘Brazilian Nights’.

Danny Lerman - Rio De Dinero

Since the release of his 2008 album, ‘Meow Baby’, sax-man Danny Lerman has traveled and performed around the world.  Now, back in LA, this The South Bend, Indiana native is putting the final touches to a new collection from which the single ‘Rio De Dinero’ is taken.

Michael Massaro - Love In Motion

A constant on the Canadian jazz scene for more than twenty years, Toronto based saxophonist, composer and producer Michael Massaro has just released the CD ‘Love In Motion’.  Check out the title track, right here right now.