Smooth Jazz Therapy

Paul Hardcastle - Horse With No Name

Back in 2018 and just when you thought that Paul Hardcastle had run out of musical creativity, along he came with ‘Hardcastle VIII’, a collection that found him doing what he does best while throwing in a few surprises along the way.  Talking of surprises one needed to look no further than Hardcastle’s rendition of America’s 1971 classic ‘Horse With No Name’ with daughter Maxine fronting up on vocals.

It is a track that now, and perhaps belatedly, has found its way to radio.  For novelty value alone it is well worth a listen and indeed this latest project is confirming how, thirty-four years into a hit strewn career, Hardcastle is still looking to the future as well as never being afraid to take a glance at what has gone before.

Ragan Whiteside - Jam It

Back in 2008 I commented that the infrequency with which the flute is heard only adds to its magic as a contemporary jazz instrument. In the skilled hands of the wonderfully soulfulRagan Whitesideits potential knows no bounds and eleven years later that magic has never gone away.  Her fifth studio album is titled ‘Five Up Top’, a sparkling collection of funky smooth jazz which builds on her recent success in having three consecutive Billboard hits included the number one ranking ‘Corey’s Bop’ that also grabbed the accolade of being the Smooth Jazz Network’s 2018 song of the year.

The first single from ‘Five Up Top’ is the zesty ‘Jam It’ that Ragan co-wrote with Bob Baldwin who also produced the track with Dennis Johnson.

Excellent.

Down To The Bone - Concrete Jungle

Ever since 1997, when they burst onto the scene with the seminal ‘Manhattan To Staten’, Down To The Bone has been all about the groove.  The brainchild of non musician Stuart Wade, Down To The Bone came out of the acid jazz movement that was prevalent in the UK during the early 90’s.  In the intervening years, and with sax man Shilts at its centre, the band delivered a series of high-octane albums.  Indeed, the forte Wade has for using his production skills to bring alive his musical idea’s through a frequently changing group of ultra-talented performers is once more being brought into focus by the three CD box set titled ‘The Classic Album Series’ that was released in March 22 on the Trippin N Rhythm label.

The first single to be offered to radio is the mega funky ‘Concrete Jungle’ that originally appeared on the band’s 1999 project ‘The Urban Grooves’.

Hot stuff

U-Nam - Artbeat

The buzz that from the get-go has surrounded ‘Future Love’from writer, producer and guitarist Emmanuel “U-Nam” Abiteboul shows no sign of abating.   As well as becoming the #1 best selling jazz and smooth jazz album at Amazon US, in the top 20 of that same category at iTunes US, #13 on the smoothjazz.com top 50 major album charts and #20 on the Billboard Top 25 jazz albums chart, it has also reinforced U-Nam’s status as a perennial musical trendsetter.

Indeed, with nine top 30 Billboard hits already to his name U-Nam, propelled by the vibrant ‘Future Love’,is currently enjoying unbridled success.  It is a collection with the magic ingredient of being radio ready throughout and this was perfectly demonstrated by Future Love’s zesty title cut that was the first single to hit the airwaves. Now, and perhaps reflecting his emergent standing as the heart beatof smooth jazz, he is doing it all again with the cleverly titled ‘Artbeat’ that will be going for adds May 27, 2019.

A feel good tune of immense proportions (which includes Mattias Roos on Rhodes plus Dwayne Smitty Smith on bass) this ultra smooth soul jazz extravaganza has a delicious seventies style vibe that might well be described as U-Nam’s own ‘Breezin’ of 2019.

It is a comparison that will not be lost of George Benson aficionados the world over and as smooth jazz fans everywhere prepare for another sizzling summer it is the sunshine filled ‘Artbeat’ that will provide the musical backdrop.

The Philippe Saisse Trio - The Body And Soul Sessions

Back in 2006, that classy collective The Philippe Saisse Trio had its own crack at delivering a covers album to end all cover albums.  The resultant ‘TheBody And Soul Sessions’ was an eclectic collection of pop, R&B and jazz covers with four of them being released as singles.  These included the  #1 hits ‘Do It Again’ and ‘September’ that fizzed along courtesy of Saisse's nimble piano, Fender Rhodes and keyboards, David Finck's bouncy acoustic bass, and Scooter Warner's crackling drum and percussion rhythms.

Thirteen years on and Saisse has called upon the Grammy-winning mastering engineer Colin Leonard to re-master ‘The Body And Soul Sessions’.  The re-mastered album, available for the very first time on vinyl, will be released June 21 on the Bandar Log Music label from which it will also be offered as a CD and in digital form.

A fun, party record then and a fun party record now. It should do well.

Pieces Of A Dream Back With Number 24

On May 24, 2019 Shanachie Entertainment will release ‘On Another Note’ from perennial hit makers Pieces Of A Dream.  It is the bands 24th recording and with the duo of James Lloyd and Curtis Harmon very much at its core the story of Pieces Of A Dream is nothing short of remarkable.  It is well chronicled how Lloyd and Harmon, at age 16 and 18 respectively, released their first recording in 1981. Not long after that they hit the road performing in Grover Washington Jr.’s rhythm section and opening for him as Pieces Of A Dream.  Washington Jr. took Lloyd and Harmon under his wing and signed the band as the first group with his brand new production company.  They released three albums in quick succession; ‘Pieces of a Dream’(1981), ‘We Are One’ (1982)  ‘Imagine This’ (1983) and those recordings include some of their biggest early hits, including ‘Warm Weather’, ‘Mount Airy Groove’ and ‘Fo Fi Fo’.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘On Another Note’ and be sure to seek out the first radio single, the wonderful mid tempo title cut that is pure Pieces Of A Dream and then some.

Jacqui Brown - Why Oh Why

It is easy to forget that before he became a chart topping smooth jazz guitarist Paul Brown was (and remains) one of the most influential producers of the genre. His latest venture finds him in collaboration with his wife Jacqui Brown with whom he has written her latest single ‘Why Oh Why’.

Taken from her CD ‘Love Love Love’ and out now onWoodward Avenue Records, this heartfelt ballad features Paul on guitar and background vocals.

Nice track.