Smooth Jazz Therapy

Euge Groove - Groove On

On November 17, 2017, Shanachie Entertainment will release Euge Groove's anticipated eleventh solo recording. Titled ‘Groove On’ it is an exhilarating collection of original material and the latest chapter in a musical story that began in 2000 with his eponymous debut and progressed with a sequence of chart busting albums including ‘Livin Large’, ‘Just Feels Right’, ‘S7ven Large’ and ‘House Of Groove’ all of which produced number one hits. ‘Got 2 Be Groovin’ came in 2014 and 2016 saw the release of ‘Still Euge’ that featured cameo vocals from both Oleta Adams and Rahsaan Patterson.

Dave Bradshaw Jr. - Flipside

It was in 2005 that keyboard player Dave Bradshaw, Jr made some waves with the track ‘Jumpstep’ that was co-written and produced by Darren Rahn. It proved to be the perfect radio friendly showcase for his melodic yet funky style.

Much the same can be said of his latest single the easy grooving, velvety ‘Flipside’, that is in the best traditions of smooth jazz keys. Think Brian Simpson, think David Benoit and you pretty much have what Bradshaw is all about.

Nice track.

Philippe Saisse - Lucky Luke

As a composer, producer and performer the footprint of keyboard player Philippe Saisse covers a huge amount of what is good in contemporary jazz circa 2017. His side project, The Philippe Saisse Trio, has just released the album ‘On The Level’ from which the zesty ‘Lucky Luke’ is taken. In fact the description ‘Trio’ is something of a misnomer. The line-up, as well as comprising acoustic bass player David Fink, drummer Scooter Warner and percussionist Gumbi Ortiz, is supplemented from time to time by the sizzling horns of the Nashville ensemble Tim Akers & The Smoking Section. 

Nice track.

Nathan Mitchell - Inspiration

Producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and vocalist Nathan Mitchell has been active on the smooth jazz scene since 2011 where his silky keyboard skills have made him a go to ‘side-man’ for the likes of Paul Brown, Jessy J Nick Colionne and Jonathan Fritzen. His latest single is titled ‘Inspiration’ and features a guest performance from guitarist Blake Aaron – Nice track.

Paul Hardcastle - Cut Loose

‘The History of Paul Hardcastle 1984-2016’ is by no means his first ‘best of’ collection yet for those latecomers to the Hardcastle phenomenon it is the perfect vehicle with which to acquaint oneself with his not inconsiderable discography.

This four-CD set demonstrates to perfection how Hardcastle can settle on a theme (’19’, ‘Rainforest’ etc.) then work it for all it is worth through a multitude of remixes and mash ups.

The latest track from the album to have made its way to radio is ‘Cut Loose’ that can be also found on his 2016 project ‘Echoes Rising’. It is classic Hardcastle and then some.

Check it out.

Will Downing - I'm Feeling The Love

Now for one of the smoothest soul tracks you will hear this year.  It's the sensational 'Im Feeling The Love' from the always excellent Will Downing and featuring Avery Sunshine (who also makes a cameo appearance on the new one from Boney James).

The song is taken from Downing's brand new project, 'Soul Survivor' , a title that sums up Downing to perfection.

Magical!

 

 

James Day - It's All Devine

James Day’s 2016 project ‘James Day Songs’ was styled as a classic 80's collection of soul, dance, quiet storm, and smooth jazz that built on Day’s established technique of pairing his own compositions with an array of A-List performers. 

It was a formula that worked to perfection and if the first single from his latest album ‘Song Soul & Spirit’ is anything to go by he is all set to do it all over again. 

Titled ‘It’s All Devine’, and featuring vocalist Trina Broussard plus guitar from the incomparable U-Nam, this infectious cut is as good as it comes and sure to rejuvenate even the most tired of dancing feet. 

Top notch!!

Brandon Willis - Impact

Recently signed to M1 Records, and guided by the creative genius of the GRAMMY® nominated, Soul Train Award winning, producer Nate Harasim, rapidly emerging sax-man Brandon Willis has just released his latest CD, the excellent ‘Impact’. It is the second project from this Seattle native who made his recording debut back in 2012 with the appropriately titled ‘First Time’, a collection that included the extremely easy grooving ‘Stay With Me’. At the time I described it as being a track capable of establishing Willis as a smooth jazz player to be reckoned with and its subsequent success on the Billboard chart confirmed that here was an artist all set to impact the genre.