Smooth Jazz Therapy

Lee Ritenour - A Little Bit Of This

With a resume that records one of his first sessions as being at age sixteen with the Mamas and Papas or as an eighteen year old accompanying Lena Horne and Tony Bennett, there is little doubt that smooth jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour started early and then kept right on going.  From his extensive list of solo achievements, to his time with Fourplay, to the 1986 Grammy Award winning collaboration with Dave Grusin, Ritenour has indeed been a colossus of the genre.

Now he is back with the CD, ‘A Twist Of Rit’ that is being showcased by the track ‘A Little Bit Of This’ and which comprises twelve of his compositions that range from the funky fusion to the sophisticated jazz for which he has become so well known.

Carol Duboc - Colored Glasses

Due for release September 18, ‘Colored Glasses’ is the seventh CD from sophisticated singer songwriter Carol Duboc and, much like her 2013 project, ‘Smile’, it was written and produced by Duboc in the company of jazz heavyweight Jeff Lorber.  In fact Lorber’s R&B rhythms are noticeable throughout and, with the quality support of musicians such as Jimmy Haslip, Brian Bromberg, Vinnie Colaiuta, Paul Jackson, Jr., Michael Thompson, Hubert Laws, Eric Marienthal and Lenny Castro, this is a recording that comes as close as is humanly possible to being a genuine contemporary jazz vocal album.  Not only that, with David Mann providing his trademark horn arrangements that add vibrancy, lushness and depth, it is also an instrumental tour de force.

Kenya - Let Me

Now for a slice of easy grooving contemporary jazz vocals with has more than a hint of smooth R & B running through it.  It’s the title cut from the CD ‘Let Me’ by the excellent Kenya and is guaranteed to enliven even the most tired of dancing feet. 

The version sampled here is a full sixty seconds longer than the radio edit and allows Kenya to really stretch out the magic.  This one is a real gem.

 

Vann Burchfield - Rhythms Of Rio

In February 2000 saxophonist Vann Burchfield set a new Guinness world record for circular breathing, holding one continuous note for 47 minutes, 6 seconds, surpassing Kenny G's record of 45 minutes, 47 seconds.  Well, party tricks apart, the guy can really play and he does exactly that with his latest CD ‘Rhythms Of Rio’.  This fun, upbeat Smooth Latin Jazz project is ideal for summer in the sunshine and is being showcased by the zesty title cut that just about sums up what the entire collection is all about.

Paolo Rustichelli - Euro Nights

Back in the day, when he led the line at Middlesbrough FC with such style, my favorite Italian was always the one and only Fabrizio Ravanelli.  Well, that was then and this is now, Fabrizio has moved on and my new favorite Italian is the brilliant keyboard player and composer Paolo Rustichelli.  His prolific output of rhythmic contemporary jazz has brought us the sunny, sexy and invigorating ‘Med Groove’, the equally good ‘Playa Blanca’ and the totally splendid ‘Walking In Rome’.

Now he is back and good as ever with the excellent ‘Euro Nights’.

Check it out and look out for Paolo’s new CD, ‘Soul Italiana’.

 

Paula Atherton - Remember When

Thanks to her hot new album, ‘Ear Candy’, saxophonist Paula Atherton is currently enjoying some well-deserved exposure.  The CD was released February 17 and since then the first radio single, ‘Pocket Full Of Funk’, has been reminding listeners exactly what Paula is all about.The second track to find its way to radio is ‘Remember When’ that features Nick Colionne on guitar.  It is the kind of easy grooving number that is bound to keep her riding high on the contemporary jazz charts. 

Excellent track.

Spotlight On The Brotherhood

Take the heady musical amalgam of Detroit in the seventies and eighties, factor in some of the hottest musical styles in contemporary jazz and what do you have?  The answer is the The Brotherhood which finds legendary ‘Motor City’ session men Jerry Jones, Jervonny Collier and Bruce Nazarian in the choice company of fellow Detroiters Mark Nilan and Kenny Meriedeth plus noted vocalist “Sir” Harry Bowens, whose distinctive voice has been featured on many hit songs including the seminal Was (Not Was) hit ‘Walk The Dinosaur’. 

Now, drawn together by their mutual love of funk, jazz, and soul, The Brotherhood is poised to break out later this year with their own special brand of funky/jazzy music which, if their collective track record is anything to go by, is sure to be right on the money. Hailing from Detroit, these musicians have collectively participated in hundreds of successful recordings, and played sessions with many of the original Motown Funk Brothers.  Indeed, so deep was their interaction with these legendary Motown musicians, they lovingly refer to themselves as “The Funk Cousins”. 

Dave Koz - Higher And Higher

What makes a great smooth jazz ‘cover version’ is a question asked by fans of the genre the world over.  But, when you get right down to it, a classic soul tune from the 60’s or 70’s, performed by some of the finest musicians that contemporary jazz has to offer, will invariably get the job done and getting the job done is something sax-man Dave Koz has been doing for the last twenty five years.  Now, to mark the occasion, he has just released his ‘25^th Anniversary Collection’ CD that includes what is arguably the definitive smooth jazz cover.  It is Dave’s interpretation of the Jackie Wilson classic ‘Higher And Higher’ that, although from 1967, still feels brand new.  Featuring Kenny Lattimore on vocals and Rick Braun on trumpet and flugelhorn this one really is a gem. 

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘25^th Anniversary Collection’.

Kenyon Carter - Game On

Upbeat positive energy; a cool funky groove; some challenging musical elements within the framework of a catchy radio friendly song; These are not my words but rather those of ace guitarist Chuck Loeb who features on the track to which he refers, ‘Game On’ the title cut from jazz saxophonist Kenyon Carter. 

Check it out.

 

 

Doc Powell - This Is Soul

Hot on the heels of lead single ‘Love On Top’ (from the CD ‘This Is Soul’, by Grammy-nominated guitarist Doc Powell) comes the infectiously shuffling title cut that is well worth checking out. 

Produced by the award winning Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis ‘This Is Soul’ is a collection that brings together the heart and soul of some of the best music from the present and the past.

 

Recommended.

Marcus Johnson - Summertime Flo

Smooth jazz keyboard player Marcus Johnson  has been a favorite of mine since 1998 and the release of his fantastic ‘Chocolate City Groovin’ that included what is perhaps one of the greatest contemporary jazz tracks of all time, the stunning ‘88 Ways To Love’.  His latest project, ‘Live & Direct, Featuring The Urban Jam Band’ is what Johnson himself describes as a whole new kind of groove that brings an urban city feel and a big band mentality to jazz like never before. 

Certainly if the first single, ‘Summertime Flo’ is anything to go by Johnson is back to his grooving best.

 

 

Rocco Ventrella - Another Time

Seminal is a word that is often overused when describing a piece of music yet Sam Smith’s signature track, ‘Stay With Me’, can rightly be described as such.  As well as enabling him to establish his own musical identity this chart topper has already been claimed by other artists and the latest to do so is Italian sax-man Rocco Ventrella.  Featured (complete with vocals from Kenya Hathaway) on his brand new CD ‘Another Time’ the song is already storming up the chart of most played on smooth jazz radio.  Rocco also includes it in instrumental form but truth to tell, this is an album that has sophisticated smooth jazz at its roots. 

Dave Koz - Collaborations:25th Anniversary Collection

Scheduled for release July 31, ‘Collaborations: 25th Anniversary Collection’ from smooth jazz icon Dave Koz celebrates the quarter century of genre forming music that Koz has been responsible for since his self-titled debut recording first hit the streets.  It’s been quite a journey and now with the help of some classic collaborations including those with Herb Alpert, Eric Benét, David Benoit, Jonathan Butler, Brian Culbertson, Gloria Estefan, Heather Headley, Boney James, Toby Keith, Barry Manilow, Richard Marx, Johnny Mathis, Maysa, Michael McDonald, Marcus Miller, Rod Stewart, and Stevie Wonder, Koz draws on his extensive back catalog (as well as that of other artists) to role back the years and bring the magic flooding back.