Smooth Jazz Therapy

Smooth Jazz Therapy - Top Ten Covers Of 2019

Here we are at the end of another contemporary jazz year and the phenomenon that is the smooth jazz cover continues unchecked. No doubt it has a unique place within the genre and although being regarded as both a blessing and a curse, it has now pushed beyond the familiar territory of vintage soul to take in a wider spectrum of popular music.  This year’s selections are evidence of that so, looking back on what this year has delivered, here is my very personal top ten Smooth Jazz Therapy covers of 2019.

‘River’ by the Alan Carman Project from the CD ‘Carmanology’.  Bass player Allen Carman assembled a ‘who’s who of musical greats that included percussionist Gumbi Ortiz and keyboard player Philippe Saisse plus Luis Alicea, Marc Antoine, Rick Braun, Andy Snitzer and Grammy-winning guitar legend Nile Rodgers for what becamethe most surprising super-group ever.  The band’s stunning interpretation of this Joni Mitchell classic included interplay between Saisse on keys and Carman on bass that was nothing short of magical

‘Stay With Me Tonight’ by sax-man Andre Cavor from his latest project ‘Reinvention’.  Sultry and sexy, this reimagining of Jeffrey Osborne’s 1983 smash took what originally was an up-tempo dance floor filler and gave it a very different vibe indeed.

‘Heard It Through The Grapevine’ by saxophonist Elan Trotman from his tribute to Marvin Gaye, ‘Dear Marvin’.  This was a rendition that brought freshness to the familiar in the most delightful of ways with input from veteran trombone player Jeff Bradshaw being the icing on the cake.  Joining Bradshaw to make a feisty horn section was trumpeter Alex Lee Clark while simmering organ from Mitch Henry and rock solid backing from Sherrod Barnes on guitar, Keithen Foster on bass, Atticus Cole on percussion and Charles Haynes on drums all ensured the result was tight as tight could be.

Read on for the remainder of this year’s top ten covers.  If you have your own list of favorite covers from 2019 why not e-mail it to me at [email protected].  Happy New Year!!

Smooth Jazz Therapy - Top Twenty Tracks Of 2019

Seasonal greetings from Smooth Jazz Therapy and thanks a million to the publicists, the record companies and of course the artists, both established and up and coming, who over the last twelve months have made their music so generously available. The love of music is all about preference and individual taste so here is my own personal highlights of the year.  In other words and in no particular order, my Smooth Jazz Therapy Top Twenty Tracks of 2019.

‘On Another Note’, the title cut from the latest album from Pieces Of A Dream.  In 2019 perennial hit makers Pieces Of A Dream came up with the bands 24th recording and with the duo of James Lloyd and Curtis Harmon very much at its core the story of this cool collective came about is nothing short of remarkable.  It is well chronicled how, in 1981, Lloyd and Harmon, at age 16 and 18 respectively, released their first recording.  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.  .

‘Future Love’ by U-Nam from the album of the same name.  For U-Nam 2019 was a monumental year.   Not only did he come up large with his side project ‘Call Me Saxy’ but the whirlwind that was  ‘Future Love Parts 1 and 2’ enjoyed huge chart success. It reached  #20 on the Top 25 Billboard Jazz Best Selling Album chart and #8 in the Contemporary Jazz category. Any number of the tracks could have been included in this ‘best of’ list but ‘Future Love’ does the job nicely.

‘Good To Go’ by John Novello from the CD of the same name.  With hit albums such as ‘B3 Soul’ and ‘Ivory Soul’ former keyboard player with Taste of Honey John Novello has steadily been nudging himself into the consciousness of smooth jazz fans everywhere.  With songs like this it is no surprise and with Eric Marienthal featuring on sax this one was as good a slice of mid tempo contemporary jazz as was be heard anywhere in 2019.

‘Sugar’ by Nicholas Cole from the CD ‘The Weekend’.  This edgy, easy grooving gem was a hit in the making right from the get go.  It built on a discography that includes Cole’s 2010 breakthrough album ‘A Journey Of One’, ‘Endless Possibilities’ that followed two years later and the 2015 blockbuster ‘Night Sessions’.  Now the evolution continues with the splendid ‘The Weekend’.

‘Two Step’ by Roman Street.  This stand alone single from Noah and Joshua Thompson, who record under the name of Roman Street, was a fine example of the guitar driven Latin infused contemporary that is the duo’s stock in trade.  Feel good in the extreme, and with a distinctly ‘Peter White’ thing going on, this was a real winner.

Read on for the remainder of this years top twentyand if you have your own list of favorites from 2019 why not e-mail it to me at [email protected]. Happy New Year!!

Bob James & Kirk Whalum - Joined At The Hip

The career of contemporary jazz pianist and keyboard player Bob James has been enriched by the part he played in some of the genre’s finest collaborations.  Among them have been projects with Earl Klugh, Boney James, David Sanborn and, perhaps most notably, the 1996 recording, ‘Joined At The Hip’, with saxophonist Kirk Whalum.

Although ultimately ‘Joined At The Hip’ did not triumph at that year’s Grammies, it did peak at number ten on the Billboard jazz albums chart and is widely regarded has having been an under-appreciated gem in the respective discographies of these two fine players.  But now, for all those who missed ‘Joined At The Hip’ the first time around, it has been remastered and reissued on the Evosound label.

1996 was a golden year in a golden decade of smooth jazz and then, as now, Bob James and Kirk Whalum were two of its brightest stars.   Released on the Warner Bros label and boasting a veritable bevy of backing musicians that included Jeff Golub, Chris Walker and Billy Kilson, ‘Joined At The Hip’ was a fine blend of original material and carefully crafted covers such as Maria Muldaur's 'Midnight At The Oasis' and Donny Hathaway's 'The Ghetto.'

Also, with track lengths never shorter than five minutes and sometimes in excess of ten, this was a collection unfettered by commercial considerations that refused to be shoe horned into conventional radio formats.  The result was a recording for the contemporary jazz purist with a relevance as strong today as when it was first released.

Brian Simpson & Steve Oliver - Unified

Due out January 17, ‘Unified’ is the brand new album from Brian Simpson and Steve Oliver who have combined to create what was originally envisaged as being built around an electronic music concept but which over time has evolved into contemporary jazz project that nevertheless retains elements of electronica. A case in point is the spicily funky title track that Simpson and Oliver use to set the perfect mood for a whirl around the dance floor.  A tight amalgam of sophistication and soul it also happens to be the first track serviced to radio and is nailed on to do well.

The project also includes contributions from ‘go to’ bass player Alex Al, drummer Eric Valentine and percussionist extraordinaire Ramon Yslas so check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Unified’.

 

 

 

 

U-Nam - Future Love Parts 1 & 2

Now for some real Christmas cheer.  Much of the smooth jazz buzz for 2019 has been all about U-Nam and the release of his stunning project ‘Future Love’.

Little did he know when he recorded this chart buster that he was in fact unleashing a tsunami of music characterized by infectious grooves and unbridled depth.  Which tracks to leave out and which to allow in became a real dilemma and this depth became apparent when to celebrate the release of a very special Japanese edition of ‘Future Love’, Skytown Records made the previously unreleased  ‘Soul Walkin’, available as a bonus track.

It triggered U-Nam to revisit a whole raft of songs, unrecorded and hidden away in his extensive archives.  The result was ‘The Love Vault – Future Love Part 2‘ and now, for the very first time, both ‘Part 1’ and ‘Part 2’ are available together, two albums combined into one.

Not only that, this amalgamation includes a rare, exclusive and previously unreleased bonus track ‘Love’ written, produced and featuring the late Guitar Legend Wah Wah Watson.

‘Future Love Parts 1 &2’ is available now from all digital stores and, for the first time, is streaming, exclusively on Apple Music. 

 

Freddie Fox - Top It Off

The latest recording from smooth jazz guitarist Freddie Fox is titled ‘Limitless’ and is album number 12 in a quality discography carefully compiled over a long and successful career. 

Through his association with producer and keyboard player Michael Broening Fox has played a major part in projects from Marion Meadows and Cindy Bradley while as a much sought after sideman he played on George Benson’s Grammy winning song ‘Morning’ and toured extensively with the likes of Atlantic Starr, Jennifer Holliday, Vesta Williams, Eric Benet, Rose Royce, Sheila E and Evelyn Champagne King. 

‘Limitless’ is initially being promoted through the wonderful radio single ‘Top It Off’ so check out this rhythmic, melodic, groove based track right here right now.

 

 

Special EFX - All Stars

Due out February 14, 2020, ‘All Stars’ is the latest release from sophisticated super group Special EFX. Despite the frequent changes in personnel that have characterised the band’s evolution, the creative constant of Chilli Minucci remains front back and centre.  In fact Minucci co-founded Special EFX thirty-five years ago with the now deceased George Jinda and here, for the band’s twenty- first CD, he writes thirteen of the fourteen choice tunes with the only exception being the Jimi Hendrix number‘Little Wing’ for which soulful vocalistMaysa Leak knocks it out of the park.

With his New York City-based band members Jay Rowe on keys, Jerry Brooks on bass and Joel Rosenblatton drums at its core Minucci brings the title of the album to life by enlisting the help of a star studied ensemble of guest performers.

Violinist Regina Carter, sax-man Nelson Rangell, trumpeter Lin Rountree, multi-horn player David Mann, Spyro Gyra drummer Lionel Cordew, highly regarded bass player Gerald Veasley and keyboard player Lao Tizer are all involved from time to time as is fretless bassist and vocalist Fernando Saunders whose history with Special EFX dates back to the early days.

Najee - Centre Of The Heart

Well known for his classy virtuosity, Grammy nominated sax and flute player Najee has been one of the most influential figures in contemporary jazz for the past thirty plus years.  He enjoyed his first big break in 1983 when, with his brother Fareed, he toured with Chaka Khan.  This in turn brought him to the attention of producer Charles Huggins and it was through Huggins that Najee cut his debut long player for EMI, ‘Najees Theme’, in 1986.  The album went platinum and, as they say, the rest his history.  Since then Najee has added sixteen more releases plus one ‘best of’ collection. Now, on the Shanachie Entertainment label, he is back with his latest offering, ‘Center Of The Heart’.