Smooth Jazz Therapy

Kayla Waters - CoEvolve

Brand new for 2018, Trippin N' Rhythm recording artist, keyboard player, vocalist and composer Kayla Waters is all set to release her sophomore project ‘CoEvolve’.  This stunning twelve-track collection seems destined to propel the classically trained Waters (daughter of Kim Waters and graduate of Howard University) right into the contemporary jazz spotlight.

Peabo Bryson - Looking For Sade

Double Grammy and Oscar Award winning artist Peabo Bryson has been a ‘go to’ vocalist for some of the biggest names in smooth jazz. Consequently it is totally appropriate that with ‘Looking For Sade’, the latest single from Bryson’s brand new CD ‘Stand For Love’, the roles are somewhat reversed.  The track features the always-excellent Boney James on sax for an ultra cool could well signify a marriage made in heaven.

‘Looking For Sade’ is Bryson’s 21st studio album and is notable for many reasons not least of which is that it is produced by that iconic duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

The first single to be lifted from the album, ‘Love Like Yours and Mine’ has already made waves on the Billboard ‘Adult R&B’ list while the second single, ‘All She Wants to Do is Me’ shimmers with a delicious steppers beat.

Expect ‘Looking For Sade’ to do just as well.

Great track

Jack Magnet - Hook, Line & Sinker

Brand new to me is pianist Jack Magnet who is following up his 2016 debut single ‘Still Boppin' Along’ with the instantly hummable, eminently catchy ‘Hook, Line & Sinker’.  It is a truly a collaborative number in that it features no less than three genre greats, Jeff Ryan on tenor sax, producer Paul Brown on guitar and Chris Standring who co-wrote the tune with Brown and Magnet. 

The full line-up is Jack Magnet - Piano, Jeff Ryan - Tenor Sax, Paul Brown - Guitar

Chris Standring - Drums and Synth, Lenny Castro - Percussion, Johann Asmundsson - Bass

Greg Adams & East Bay Soul - Possibilities

Since 2009, and with three outstanding albums, trumpet player extraordinaire Greg Adams has been building his East Bay Soul creation into what is now the preeminent horn driven collective of its era. This hugely talented line-up has its roots firmly grounded in the uniquely soul based genre of San Francisco’s East Bay area and as a consequence delivers tight horn filled rhythms that are entirely timeless.  Earlier in 2018 year this founding member of the legendary Tower of Power was back doing it all again with ‘Conversation’. 

It was an recording that garnered the single ‘Look Book’ for which Adams’ smoky horn has never sounded better and now the band is back on radio with the big, brassy but understated ‘Possibilities’.  For those checking out East Bay Soul for the first time and wondering what the buzz is all about they need look no further than this. 

East Bay Soul is Greg Adams (trumpet), Lee Thornburg (trumpet and trombone), Greg Vail (sax), Johnnie Bamont (sax), Nick Milo (keys), Kay-Ta Matsuno (guitar), Dwayne ‘Smitty’ Smith (bass), Herman Matthews (drums), Johnny Sandoval (percussion) and Darryl Walker (vocals).

Michael Lington - Deja vu

When, back in 2016, Danish sax-man Michael Lington released his ninth solo CD, ‘Second Nature’,it found him reuniting with legendary writer and producer Barry Eastmond for a collection that at the timeLington described as being ‘retro modern’.  Then earlier this year, and once more in the company of Eastmond, he was back with the stunning ‘Silver Lining’.  He was joined in the venture by an all-star cast of performers including Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame, Funk Brothers original Jack Ashford, Paul Jackson Jr., Ray Parker Jr., Alex Al, Freddie Washington, Lenny Castro and soul legend William Bell for a body of work that proved to be essential listening for all those who like their smooth jazz spiced with a modicum of soul. 

The latest single to be lifted from ‘Silver Lining’ is the big ballsy ‘Déjà vu’ that is hallmark Lington and then some. 

Nice track

The Braxton Brothers - Higher

That San Diego based dynamic duo The Braxton Brothers make a welcome return to their smooth jazz roots with ‘Higher’, their first overtly contemporary jazz project since 2004 and ‘Rollin’.  Not that sax-man Wayne Braxton and his brother Nelson (who plays guitars and keyboards) haven’t been busy.  Nelson is a longtime member of Michael Bolton’s touring band and Wayne has a history of working with Sheila E.  Now, as writers, producers and performers of all twelve tunes, ‘Higher’ is taking them very much center stage. 

Lori Williams - Hold On (Global Chill Mix)

Fresh from the creative oasis that is Bob Baldwin’s production studio comes something truly sensational.  It is the global chill mix of ‘Hold On’, the silky smooth radio single from rising star Lori Williams.  Taken from Williams’ brand new CD ‘Out Of The Box’, and featuring understated but spine tingling trumpet from Tom Browne, it is a track (and a mix) that is as good as anything released this year and already a firm Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite. 

Produced by Baldwin (who incidentally is celebrating thirty years in the business) and with contributions fromWill Downing, Nathan East and Maysa,‘Out Of The Box’ is replete with chilled out soulful numbers of the kind that makes the entire project something very special. 

Check it out.

Ragan Whiteside - See You At The Get Down

When, back in May 2017, I reviewed ‘Treblemaker’, the fourth album from that endlessly inventive flutist Ragan Whiteside, I commented on how she continues to bring to the kind of ultra-funky, richly improvisational vibes to contemporary urban jazz in the way that greats like Najee and the late Dave Valentin did back in the early days of the genre. 

The collection garnered the hit single ‘Corey’s Bop’ and is again making waves with the latest radio bound track, ‘See You At The Get Down’, that not only features long time collaborator Bob Baldwin but also incorporates a full horn section courtesy of the PR Experience. 

Splendid number.