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The excellent Skytown Records just keeps going from strength to strength. With the incomparable U-Nam as its primary artist the label has recently branched out to bring James Day to a wider audience and now it has repeated the feat by releasing ‘Back To You’, the sophomore album from German born sax-man Arno Haas. With only a few exceptions this tight ten track collection of all original music is written or co-written by Haas and producer Tom Saviano who also lends a hand on Fender Rhodes. The result, sometimes jazzy but always engaging, is well worth checking out.
Veteran vocalist Aaron Neville is back, sounding as good as ever and, as always, telling it like it is. His current radio single, ‘I Wanna Love You’, is taken from the CD, ‘Apache’, a recording that is remarkable not only because it celebrates Aaron’s 75th birthday but also due to the fact the album is being released in the year which marks the 50th anniversary of Neville’s first number one single, ‘Tell It Like It Is’.
Great track.
Back in 2013 I described ‘Pulse’ by powerhouse saxophonist Steve Cole as taking him back to his roots with the sort of vibe that characterized earlier projects such as ‘Stay Awhile’ and ‘Between Us’. It was produced, and substantially co-written, by fellow saxophonist David Mann so it is great news that Cole has again teamed with Mann for his latest venture, ‘Turn It Up’, which will hit the streets July 15 on the always-excellent Artistry Music label.
Now for some hot news of an all new, all original, single from Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite U-Nam who with choice albums such as ‘C’est Le Funk’, ‘Weekend in L.A (A Tribute To George Benson’ and ‘First Class’ (from his side project Groove Ltd) has been restoring much needed energy to the smooth jazz genre.
The single, entitled ‘Going for Miles’ features U-Nam's signature soulful guitar sound, unmistakable licks and an irresistibly catchy melody. Add some classy horns, groovy percussion, funky bass and lush string arrangements and what you have is a real belter of a record.
Highly recommended.
Smooth Jazz Therapy has followed the career of guitar virtuoso Russ Hewitt since 2008 and the release of his excellent album ‘Bajo el Sol’. Typified by fierce Latin rhythms and infectious contemporary jazz grooves the collection garnered the kind of critical acclaim to suggest this talented player was already on the road to musical stardom and, in addition, laid a trail to the follow-up ‘Alma Vieja’.
Now he looks distinctly likely to go ‘three for three’ with his latest effort ‘Cielo Nocturno’ that includes the terrific new single ‘North Of Home’ featuring the legendary Larry Carlton.
Too good to miss!
Born in Nigeria and brought up in Switzerland, composer producer and keyboard player Greg Manning moved to Los Angeles in the nineties. Since then he has been building a niche position within the annals of contemporary jazz not only through his collaborations with Mindi Abair and Jonathan Butler but also with his own ever-expanding discography. His 2010 project, ‘The Calling’, quickly got the ball rolling and he followed up four years later with the excellent ‘Dance With You’.
Now, with a release date of July 22, comes ‘Sugar & Spice’ from which the title cut is already blazing a trail to radio.
Check it out.
Some sounds are etched into the fabric of contemporary jazz and one such example of this is the vibe that has been routinely produced by the wonderful Rippingtons over the past thirty years.
Despite being true pioneers of the genre they are sounding as fresh as ever and, as if to prove it, will release their latest album, ‘True Stories’, on June 24.