Smooth Jazz Therapy

Dave Koz - DK25

With ‘Collaborations: 25^th Anniversary Collection’ (aka DK25) smooth jazz superstar Dave Koz looks back on the twenty five years that have elapsed since the release of his self titled debut collection and the impact his playing has had, not just within his chosen genre of smooth jazz, but also across popular music as a whole.  As such this is not a contemporary jazz collection per se although some superb example of it can be found within.  Equally it is not simply a ‘pop’ project although again it includes some of the biggest names to have graced popular music in recent times.  If that’s a complicated way of saying that ‘DK25’ has something for everyone then so be it because, without doubt, it certainly has. 

Keiko Matsui - A Night With Cha Cha

Anyone who has had the privilege to witness keyboard player Keiko Matsui perform live will be more than aware of her undisputed stage prowess.  For those still awaiting the opportunity then her latest project, ‘Live In Tokyo’ (that will be released October 2, 2015 on the Shanachie Entertainment label) serves to lift the lid on this superb artist. 

Check back here soon for a compete review of ‘Live In Tokyo’ but, for now, enjoy the magic of Matsui with ‘A Night With Cha Cha’ from her 2013 album ‘Soul Quest’.

 

 

 

Elan Trotman - Thoughts Of Summer

Silky smooth sax-man Elan Trotman used his previous project, ‘Tropicality’, to give more than a passing nod to his Caribbean heritage.  Now he is back with the CD ‘Islander’ that again finds him with Barbados on his mind and, to highlight the fact, the first single to be serviced to radio is the delicious ‘Thoughts Of Summer’.  It features Will Downing on vocals and, to a remarkable extent, evokes soft sand, cool breezes and unbroken sunshine.  Nice track.

The Chill Lounge Vol. 3 - Desire

The Chill Lounge Volume 3 finds the ever-reliable Paul Hardcastle taking one of his regular excursions into the world of chill.  In fact it could be argued that the genre was made specifically for Hardcastle’s routinely sensuous vibe and none more so than with the track ‘Desire’.  It featured on Hardcastle’s 2002 CD ‘Hardcastle III’ before becoming the title cut from the 2011 compilation of some of his favorite slow jams.  Now, freshened up as a ‘sax & vocal mix’ and taking pride of place on ‘The Chill Lounge Volume 3’, it has never sounded better. 

Check it out, right here right now.

 

Bennett Brandeis - When Push Comes To Shove

Fresh from the resounding success of his breakout album ‘Groove Time’, the always-excellent Bennett Brandeis is again collaborating with producer and fellow guitarist Paul Brown for the follow up, ‘Together We Stand’.  It is slated for release in January of 2016 and, ahead of that, the eagerly awaited first single ‘When Push Comes To Shove’ will hit the airwaves October 5. 

This groove drenched cut is sumptuously played out to the backing of a velvety horn section and is certainly one to watch. 

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Together We Stand’.

5 am - I Thought It Was You

Tony Bean and Colin Bassett ( aka MOBO award winning songwriting and production team 5 am) are currently making waves with a fresh take on the Herbie Hancock classic ‘I Thought It Was You’.  It features vocals from Louise Warren with whom Bean and Bassett became acquainted when they heard her singing backing vocals for soul star Kenny Thomas.  If this single is anything to go by, it is a partnership made in heaven.

 

 

Vincent Ingala - When I'm With You

For a genre that is at times is stigmatized as being played by musicians in their forties and fifties to audiences in their fifties and sixties, artists such as producer and multi instrumentalist Vincent Ingala are a much-needed breath of fresh air.  Debuting in 2011 with the critically acclaimed ‘North End Soul’ he followed that up with the equally good ‘Can’t Stop Now’ before cementing a place in the A-List of smooth jazz performers with the outstanding ‘Coast To Coast’. 

The feisty title track quickly blasted a path to the top of the charts of most played on smooth jazz radio and the latest offering from the album, the warmly engaging ‘When I’m With You’, is sure to do exactly the same. 

As well as being the consummate recording artist Vincent is a ‘must-see’ live performer who has cultivated a magnificent on stage chemistry with that other standard bearer of ‘new smooth jazz’, Jonathan Fritzen. 

With these guys on the scene the future of contemporary jazz is in good hands.

Mitchell Coleman Jr. - Secrets

Earlier in the year the sumptuous smooth jazz re-imagining of the Earth Wind & Fire classic ‘That’s The Way Of The World’ by LA based Mitchell Coleman Jr. totally grabbed my attention.  He followed that up with the equally engaging ‘Flow’ and has now made it ‘three for three’ with delightfully infectious ‘Secrets’. 

Again, it’s from Coleman’s first solo CD, ‘Soul Searching’ and, with a featured appearance on keys by Deron Johnson, really is a moody slice of sophisticated contemporary jazz

Groove Ltd - First Class

Groove Ltd, aka U-Nam and Shannon Kennedy have just released their stunning debut collection, the appropriately titled ‘First Class’.  Building on the duo’s previous collaborations, and from the first note of the opening groove drenched title cut, it is a CD that blows the doors off with U-Nam’s edgy guitar, Kennedy’s powerhouse sax and ten fantastic tracks which combine to lay down a calling card for what Groove Ltd is all about. 

Julian Vaughn - Initiate

Back in 2012 smooth jazz bass player Julian Vaughn burst on to the scene with his appropriately titled ‘Breakthrough’.  Fending off obvious comparisons between his own playing style and that of the late Wayman Tisdale, Vaughn quickly emerged as very much his own man and now, to reinforce the point, has come roaring back with his latest project, ‘Limitless’.  It promises to be one of the contemporary jazz events of the year and if the first single, ‘Initiate’, is anything to go by will take the airwaves by storm. 

Check it out.

Fourplay - Silver

All that glitters is not gold or so the saying goes and that is particularly the case when it happens to be silver.  Consequently there could be no better title than ‘Silver’ for the sparkling new CD from the magnificent Fourplay that also happens to celebrate the bands 25^th anniversary.  Over that time the line-up has changed remarkably little with the only exception being duties on guitar passing from Lee Ritenour to Larry Carlton and most recently on to Chuck Loeb.  Make no mistake, ‘Silver’ is not only a brilliant example of smooth jazz the way it was intended to be but also a shimmering example of ‘smooth jazz for adults’. 

Pete Gitlin - When The Morning Comes

Friend of Smooth Jazz Therapy and top notch guitarist Pete Gitlin is currently enjoying considerable air-play success on the UK based Moth FM with the delicious Philly-soul sound of ‘Until the Morning Comes’.  Originally from Pete’s 2012 CD ‘Amplify’ it is a track that promises much and (with vocals from Count Basie singer and Phoenix legend Dennis Rowland) delivers even more. 

It sounded great when we reviewed it three years ago and still sounds equally good today.  Check it out.

Mariea Antoinette - Straight From The Harp - Special Edition

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 will be honored September 25 in San Diego, CA when she receives a Phenomenal Women In Entrepreneurship award from the National Council Of Negro Women.  Tied to the occasion an enhanced version of her sophomore CD, ‘Straight From The Harp: Special Edition’ will be released the day before the event and with two bonus tracks plus an entirely new cover this one is not to be missed.