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When, in 2007, I reviewed the album ‘Give Me The Groove’ by Italian sax-man Rocco Ventrella, I described it as a superb example of smooth jazz music and the perfect antidote to a stressful day. With stellar input from LA based producer and arranger Bruce Nazarian, ‘Give Me The Groove’ proved to be an enticing mix of well selected covers, Grover Washington tributes and four original compositions. His latest CD is ‘Another Time’ that is slated for release on May 13, 2015 and, as well as the previously reported on cover of Sam Smith’s ‘Stay With Me’, it also contains the radio single ‘Stay Close To Me’.
Written by Ventrella and produced by Greg Manning it glides on a lusciously mellow groove that fans of the genre will find impossible to resist.
Recommended
The music of Kirk Whalum has often betrayed the depth of his faith and this was confirmed in 1998 with the release of ‘The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter 1’. Despite it being a glittering example of the way that throughout black history gospel and jazz have often intertwined, his pop jazz approach did not always find critical favor. However, with the passing of time and subsequent launch of gospel orientated albums such as ‘Unconditional’ and ‘Hymns In The Garden’, by 2002, when his ten track ‘The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter 2’ came along, critics seemed much more relaxed about a sacred message being contained in what appeared to be a secular envelope.
Continue reading "Kirk Whalum - The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter IV" »
It was over a year ago that Innervision Records trailed the album ‘Soul Stories’ by guitarist Blake Aaron with the 70s disco vibe of ‘Groove-O-Matic’. It enjoyed an extended stay on both the Groove Jazz and Billboard Smooth Jazz charts so now, with the May 2015 release of the complete CD almost upon us, the time has come to take a more holistic view of what is Aaron’s fifth solo studio project. It is another step on the road for an artist who with his own radio show, a parallel career of composing for the world of film and television and a hectic tour schedule, could never be accused of lacking profile.
With old school soul currently all the range there has never been a better time for smooth soul vocalist Marc Staggers to release his brand new CD ‘Dream Catcher’. His style is so like the late Luther Vandross its frightening and this is brilliantly demonstrated by the zesty lead single ‘Bring Me Back’ that has a killer bass line and a hook to die for.
Highly recommended
Back in 2008 I described guitarist Jim Adkins as one of the smoothest players around. At the time his album ‘City Streets’ served, for me, as a wonderful discovery and the fact it did not propel him to fast-track stardom remains one of those unsolved conundrums that, from time to time, plague the smooth jazz genre. Now he is back with the equally good ‘The Journey’ which offers up a whole new opportunity for Adkins to find a wider audience.
When I heard that legendary vocalist William DeVaughn was back on the radio after a break of thirty four years I just had to find out more. It had been in 1978 that DeVaughn got together with songwriter and producer Louis deLise to release an album that bore three nationally charting songs including a remake of DeVaughn’s ‘Be Thankful For What You Got’ and the R & B ballad ‘Figures Cant Calculate’. Regrettably things didn’t work out as planned but fast forward to now and the two of them have re-united for the quiet storm single ‘Slow Down’ which features on the debut six track EP ‘Mesmerized’ from Philadelphia collective Philly Nouveau.
The latest CD from rising sax star Vincent Ingala is named ‘Coast To Coast’ and is all set for release on May 1, 2015. The title is significant as it not only references his recent relocation to California but also, for those in the know, reflects back to 2011 when this then east coast based multi-instrumentalist journeyed to San Diego for the ill-fated Oasis Awards. There he got to jam with Peter White, blew the doors of Anthology with a high octane solo set and talked music with some of the biggest names in the genre. The rest, as they say, became history with ‘Coast To Coast’ being Vincent’s third solo collection.
Fusing his love for vintage soul, his mastery of modern production and his innate feeling for smooth jazz with an urban edge, sax-man Boney James is all set to redefine contemporary jazz with his latest CD, ‘futuresoul’ that is due out in May on the Concord label. If the first single, the sumptuous ‘Drumline’, is anything to go by it will undoubtedly be one of the smashes of the year.
Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘futuresoul’.
It is quite a shift from being a top notch, covers orientated, party band to recognition as highly acclaimed recording artists but that’s the transition Damon Reel, Billy Mondragon and Eric Mondragon (aka DW3) have made with the excellent new CD ‘Vintage Truth’. DW3 (down with 3) refers to the trio that is at the heart of this soulful collective but here, bolstered by a terrific horn section and with help from contemporary jazz ‘A-Listers’ such as Brian Culbertson, Dave Koz, Greg Adams and Elan Trotman, they demonstrate the full depth of their collective musical prowess.
UK vocalist Sam Smith is rapidly becoming a musical phenomenon. To demonstrate just how far the word has spread look no further than the debut CD, ‘Elizabeth’s Dream’, from Bay Area guitarist and composer R James that includes an atmospheric cover of Smith’s seminal ‘Stay With Me’.
James’ composition style has been compared to that of artists such as Jeff Lorber, Brian Culbertson, Bob James, and Pat Metheny. Clearly he is one to watch.
Keyboard maestro James Lloyd has been the heart, body and soul of Pieces Of A Dream since its inception almost forty years ago. Now he is breaking new ground with the album ‘Here We Go’ that was released March 17 on the enduringly excellent Shanachie label. By age sixteen Lloyd had worked with Joe Williams and Count Basie while less than a year later he was touring and recording with Grover Washington Jr. The rest, as they say, is history and he continues to demonstrate the sublime touch he retains for contemporary jazz that is sometimes smooth but always edgy.