Smooth jazz is all about opinions and that is why I am indebted to Isabella Angelique who has drawn my attention to the music of bass-player Ace Livingston. With his debut album ‘The Ace Livingston Project’ and the 2014 follow-up ‘My Metamorphosis’ Ace has been quietly making his mark at the urban end of the contemporary jazz rainbow while simultaneously emerging as the ‘go to’ touring bass player for a whole raft of A-List performers from genres as diverse as pop, gospel R&B and jazz.
Livingston grew up in Jamaica before relocating with his family to Connecticut where he harbored hopes for a career in professional soccer. When injury brought an abrupt end to this particular dream it was music to which he turned and it is music that now offers to him the prospect of a ‘major league’ existence of a whole different kind.
Standout tracks from ‘My Metamorphosis’ include the easy grooving ‘Wood Street’, ‘The Truth’ and the wonderfully soulful ‘Thinking Of You’ with featured vocals from Dawn Tillman.
Check out Ace Livingston if you can. He just might just be the next big thing in smooth jazz bass.