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It was back in 2007, with his tight cover of the Steely Dan hit ‘Do It Again’, that the multi talented Philippe Saisse had the surprise radio hit of the year. It was taken from the album ‘The Body And Soul Sessions’, a collection that was replete with shimmering examples of familiar, yet delightfully re-imagined, favourites. Two years later he followed up with the immaculate ‘At Worlds Edge’ and since then, aided somewhat by relocation from New York to LA, he has become a ‘go to’ producer and performer with work for artists such as Peter White, Paul Brown and Rick Braun.
His latest collection is titled ‘And So But Then’ with the latest single being ‘On The Level’, a wonderful example of contemporary jazz piano that features percussionist Gumbi Ortiz and guitarist Marc Antoine.
Excellent track.
In many ways ‘Bright Moments’ by Norwegian born saxophonist Terje Lie is proving to be the gift that keeps on giving. First there was the hugely ‘in the pocket’ ‘You Know’ that was selected as the album’s first single and later, the second radio offering, the Jeff Lorber written ‘A Special Thing’.
Now Terje makes it three for three with ‘Pancakes’. Shimmering with the heavy-duty input of Lorber and Yellowjackets mainstay Jimmy Halsip it proves, if indeed proof was needed, that Terje Lie is a contemporary jazz force to be reckoned with.
Superb track.
An album of all original music is always worth scrutiny and on closer inspection ‘Secrets’ by sax-man Doug Jones reveals itself to be a tight collection of contemporary jazz tracks that Doug writes, arranges and produces in impressive style. It follows his 2013 project ‘Top Down’ which at the time I described as “a fine showcase for his considerable talents” and indicates that here is a musician with the attributes necessary to shift his career to another level.
Now for a beautifully jazzy interpretation of the much-covered Screamin Jay Hawkins classic ‘I Put A Spell On You’ from Antoine L Collins who is a new name to me but looks to have an exciting future.
This lawyer turned entertainer was born and raised outside of Chicago in Gary, Indiana and although a product of the foster care system went on to thrive in a loving family environment, surrounded by music, theater, and the arts.
Currently living in Ottawa, Ontario, Antoine is busy preparing for a series of live concerts and festival appearances in promotion of his debut jazz album ‘Somewhere Along the Way’.
If you thought you lived in a musical world that is characterized by brevity, where singles take precedence over albums and where downloads are preferred to CD or vinyl, smooth jazz superstar Bob Baldwin is about to make you think again. His ‘Brazilian American Soundtrack’, that is out now on the Red River label, is that most precious of gems, the double album. It not only features twenty six (yes twenty six) stunning cuts but also, with ten of the tracks being in excess of six minutes in duration, has the confidence to turn back the clock to the time when artists were not constrained by misguided industry formulas on how songs should sound and how they should be constructed.
Continue reading "Bob Baldwin - Brazilian American Soundtrack" »
Widely recognized as the most soulful of all contemporary jazz saxophonists, Boney James has experienced a whirlwind eighteen months with relentless touring in support of his current hit CD ‘Futuresoul’ and his continued tenure with the Smooth Jazz Cruise. With ‘Drumline’, ‘Vinyl’ and the effortlessly performed ‘A Little Attitude’, ‘Futuresoul’ has already garnered three hit singles and is all set to go four for four with the sumptuous title cut.
From the very first note of this easy grooving streetwise number this is classic Boney James and then some.
With a stellar discography and notable performances such as that on the Keiko Matsui blockbuster ‘Black River’ sax-man Paul Taylor epitomizes what smooth jazz sax circa 2016 should be all about. His latest album, ‘Countdown’, is replete with the jazzy, funky, soul drenched vibe with which he has made his name and is a joint enterprise with Taylor’s longtime collaborator, co-writer and producer Dino Esposito.
With a street date of September 9 the album is being showcased by the wonderful ‘Arrival’ that, in every respect, is hallmark Paul Taylor and then some.
When, back in 2004, revered producer and hit-maker Paul Brown released the album ‘Up Front’ it seemed no more than a temporary diversion from his ‘day job’ of future-proofing contemporary jazz for the twenty first century. However, such was the impact that ‘Up Front’ made he instantly emerged as a recording artist in his own right and although he has continued as a producer for both established and emerging smooth jazz performers his steadily growing discography has revealed another side to his musical persona.
This revelation looks set to continue apace with ‘One Way Back’ that will be released September 30 on the Woodward Avenue label. The first single to be offered to radio is ‘Put It Where You Want It’, a cool remake of the Crusaders hit from 1972 that on the original featured Larry Carlton and which here fits Brown’s bluesy style to perfection.
Released earlier this year, and already boasting the hit radio single ‘Beale Street’, ‘Second Nature’ by the Danish born and US based sax-man Michael Lington is his own musical homage to the city and the sounds of Memphis.
‘Beale Street’ was co-written with Barry Eastmond and it is this same writing combination that delivers the follow-up single ‘Memphis Strut ’ that has an easy grooving attitude backed up by Lington’s fulsome horn.
Nice track.
A 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, the albums of the iconic Herb Alpert have sold over 72 million copies and 29 of his records have reached the Billboard 200. Now aged 81, Herb shows no signs of slowing down and is all set to release his latest album, ‘Human Nature’, on September 30. It will be his fourth CD in just three years and finds him delving into dance grooves and elements of electronic music in a way he has never done before. Take for example the zesty ‘Doodles’ that will be the first single serviced to radio and a track that sits comfortably within a combination of original music and well chosen covers such as Michael Jackson's ‘Human Nature’ and the Burt Bacharach classic ‘Alfie’.