Smooth Jazz Therapy

DW3 - Let's Have Fun Tonight

DW3's new self-titled project on Woodward Avenue Records is so chock full of instant classics that its a challenge to find a single entry point to capture the funky, R&B, jazz and Latin fired energy that has become the band’s calling card.

First off it was the incredible first single, ‘California Love’.  Complete with old school Gap Band style influences I predicted on its release that it would evolve into one of the best party track of 2020.  Now the second single, ‘Lets Have Fun Tonight’, looks set to do much the same. 

Hitting the airwaves today, it is another upbeat tour de force that finds band leaders Eric Mondragon, Billy Mondragon and Damon Reel partnering with smooth jazz superstar Richard Elliot for a tune guaranteed to rejuvenate even the most tired of dancing feet. 

While DW3 will surely always play the arrangements of crowd-pleasing pop and soul classics that has made them a sensation among urban jazz fans everywhere the new album lays a foundation for the band to transcend its past and, without musical limits, to embrace a whole new future. 

Check back here often for a complete review of DW3.

Spotlight On Chris Jasper

Due out later this year, ‘For The Love Of You’ by Chris Jasper is a covers album that revisits three songs that he co-wrote while with the Isley Brothers as well as reimagining of some of the biggest pop and R & B classics of all time.  This consummate collection is Jasper’s 16^th solo project and is being showcased by the title cut, his cool interpretation of the Isley’s seminal hit that first appeared on the band’s 1975 recording ‘The Heat Is On’. It made #10 in the US R & B charts in that year and went on to be a much-covered staple of the soul and contemporary jazz genre for over forty years.

U-Nam Goes Big Band - The Remixes

In conjunction with Skytown Records, and with all profits going to the fight against COVID-19, jazz guitarist and Billboard chart-topper U-Nam is creating a four track ‘EP’ of remixes from his ‘U-Nam Goes Big Band’ recording.

‘U-Nam Goes Big Band’ is a sumptuous eleven track rendering of sophisticated mood jazz and since its release on March 30 has made a fabulous start in both the Jazz and Smooth Jazz Radio Charts.  This week it became most added on Jazzweek while the first single, ‘Dance’ was most added on the Billboard National Airplay chart.

A second single, ‘Each Day A Gift’ featuring vocalist Steve Brookstein is slated for imminent release while the remix project shines a dazzling spotlight on the creativity that has long been U-Nam’s calling card.

Take for example his ‘Nu-Orleans’ remix of  ‘In The Blink Of An Eye’ for which he adds a whole load of zest and guarantees to set feet tapping everywhere.  Not only that, the expansive Latin flavoured ‘Miami Remix’ of ‘The One’ is perhaps an even greater hip swayer than the album original while another track with a decidedly Latin disposition is the wonderful ‘The World To Me’ that U-Nam embellishes with his own special brand of ‘Electro Swing’.

The extended player’s only vocal number is the appropriately named ‘From Estonia With Love’ remix of the vibrant ‘The Dance Must Go On’ which would fit perfectly on any James Bond soundtrack.  Mixing elements of hip-hop and R & B with a distinctly Cab Calloway vibe, U-Nam also makes full use of wah wah trumpet from Christian Martinez to build an inspirational platform for Susanna Eleksandra’s smoky vocals.  Make no mistake, and picking up on the James Bond theme, this is a track that will leave the listener both shaken and stirred.

There are only a few established artists capable of taking a genre busting U-turn to reinvent themselves with a project such as ‘U-Nam Goes Big Band’.  U-Nam is certainly one of them.

Dee Lucas - Tried And True

Atlanta born and based sax-man Dee Lucas has been on the Smooth Jazz Therapy radar since 2007 and ‘Something To Ride 2’ which at the time I described as being a superb example of cutting edge urban jazz and entirely in keeping with the smoky direction in which the genre is currently moving.

His comfortable climb into the upper reaches of contemporary jazz has been more remarkable for the fact that as a self taught musician he did not pick up the sax until the age of 28 yet as a solo musician he continues to go from strength.  His latest album, ‘Now Is The Time’ is slated for release later this year with the first single being the easy on the ear ‘Tried And True’ that features and was co-written by guitarist David P Stevens.

Nice track.

Chris 'Big Dog' Davis - Its All Love

It seems almost impossible that keyboard player and firm Smooth Jazz Therapy favourite Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis has yet to release his debut album.  Indeed, this Grammy nominated writer and producer has been the driving force behind a plethora of Billboard topping smooth jazz records and in so doing has worked with the likes of Nick Colionne, the multi-Grammy nominated Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Phil Perry, Najee, Brian McKnight, Chante' Moore, Melba Moore, Marion Meadows, George Clinton, Kim Waters, Rick Braun, Alex Bugnon and many more.

His nomination for his work with Maysa on her ‘Blue Velvet Soul’ project was particularly notable as was his interaction with Gerald Albright for his 2015 recording ‘Slam Dunk’.

Davis’ much awaited solo CD will hit the street later this year and by way of an early heads up the first single is the sumptuous ‘Its All Love’ that features Dave Koz on sax.

Nick Colionne - Lets Get Serious

Serial chart topper Nick Colionne is arguably one of the brightest stars in the Trippin N Rhythm constellation and just to prove it his latest single, ‘Lets Get Serious’, is already powering its way to the top of the Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay Chart.  It is taken from Colionne’s brand new CD, ‘Finger Painting’, that will hit the streets April 24 and withlong-time collaborators and producers Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis, James Lloyd (from Pieces of a Dream) and John Blasucci all around to lend a hand this is a collection that simply cannot miss.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Finger Painting’.

BBZ - Tijuana Taxi

Recording under the name of BBZ, trumpeters Willie Bradley, Johnny Britt and Rob Zinn have teamed up to record a fresh, modern interpretation of the Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass iconic song, 'Tijuana Taxi'.

Check it out, right here right now.