Smooth Jazz Therapy

Justin Lee Schultz - Do I Do

One of the nicest surprises of 2020 was the release on the Shanachie Entertainment label of the album ‘Gruv Kid’ from the then thirteen-year-old multi-instrumentalist Justin Lee Schultz.

With featured performances from the likes of Bob James, Harvey Mason, Najee, Jonathan Butler, Gerald Albright, and Pieces Of A Dream it was every bit as good as the early hype suggested it might be with one of the standout tracks being Justin’s jazz fusion tinged take on the Stevie Wonder classic ‘Do I Do’.

Here he is performing it live with a little help from Jamie-Leigh Schultz on drums, Brandon Rose - bass guitar, Chris George – guitar, Mitch Lawrence - baritone sax, Nolan Plunkett – trombone, Johnny Cochran - tenor sax and Daniel Spearman – trumpet and horn arrangements.

The video was produced, programmed and arranged by Steve Johnson who also played keys.

 

 

Paul Hardcastle - Welcome To The Beach

When, in mid 2020, ‘Hardcastle IX’ from Paul Hardcastle hit the streets it found him in a decidedly chilled mood.  Jam packed with all the stuff Hardcastle routinely does so well the collection found instant favour with his legion of fans around the world and has now received a timely boost with the release to radio of the track ‘Welcome To The Beach’.

As light and airy as the title suggests it might be ‘Welcome To The Beach’ possesses the usual Hardcastle elements of smoky sax and seductive rhythm.

Check it out, right here right now.

 

 

Smooth Jazz Archives - JazzFusions One

In this edition of the occasional ‘Archives’ series we look back to 1994 and the release in the UK of the compilation album ‘JazzFusions One’ on the Beechwood Music label.  At that time, and despite its meteoric rise in the USA, ‘smooth jazz’ had, in England, hardly been heard of yet this release, together with companion releases that followed, did much to promote the smooth jazz genre on the ‘other side’ of the Atlantic.

Quite simply ‘JazzFusions One’ was and is an outstanding compilation and, as the first of the set, a real ground breaker.

Interestingly enough the words ‘smooth jazz’ cannot be found on either the sleeve or the notes yet there is little doubt that over fourteen well chosen and, at times, brilliantly sequenced tracks this is the music that the collection represents.

Patrick Bradley - Exhale

When, in 2017, jazz-fusion keyboard player Patrick Bradley released ‘Intangible’ on his own Song Factory label I described it as an album that was sure to find favour with fusion aficionados everywhere.  At its heart was Bradley’s collaboration with Jeff Lorber who, as well as producing throughout, combined with Bradley to co-write all ten numbers.  Now Bradley is back for 2021 with the excellent ‘Exhale’ and although he again teams with Lorber for two choice tunes the main thrust of his artistic interplay is with songwriter, producer and sax-man supreme Darren Rahn.  In fact Rahn produces and mixes nine numbers, performs on eight and co-writes seven with the first of these being ‘Completely Yours’ which is a mellifluous easy grooving concoction that proves to be the perfect showcase for Bradley’s talents.

 

Oli Silk - Hurry Up And Wait

With a string of choice albums to his name and a profile that makes him the United Kingdom’s favorite smooth jazz keyboard player, the superb Oli Silk had an excellent 2020 with his sixth solo project, the appropriately titled ‘6’.  With eleven new compositions plus one carefully crafted cover this cool twelve-track collection not only found Silk in top form but also in the company of some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz.

The first single to be serviced to radio was the ultra smooth ‘New Bounce’ that featured the always-excellent Vincent Ingala on sax while now Trippin & Rhythm is sending the extremely hip ‘Hurry Up And Wait’ to the airwaves.

Check it out.

 

 

Richard Elliot - Snapshot

That chart topping, Grammy nominated sax-man Richard Elliot is the latest smooth jazz heavy hitter to sign with the genre leading Shanachie Entertainment.  In fact his label debut, the much anticipated ‘Authentic Life’, will hit the streets on January 29 while ahead of that comes the first single to be serviced to radio, the ballsy and extremely jazzy ‘Snapshot’ that Elliott co-wrote with Jeff Lorber and which features Lorber alongside trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonists Dave Koz and David Mann.  It’s the sort of big brassy line-up that one might expect from someone who once played with the incredible Tower Of Power and gives a hint of the riches that ‘Authentic Life’ will surely offer.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Authentic Life’

Hot Damn Horns & The Soul Machine - Shake Your Leg

Hot Damn Horns & The Soul Machine is an instrumental funk & soul band from Germany.   This cool collective has just released its debut CD titled ‘Shake Your Leg’ which includes outstanding tracks such as ‘At The Laundromat’ and ‘Help’.  Much like the entire album, both are in the best traditions of brass driven funk as immortalised by super groups such as Tower Of Power and East Bay Soul.  In terms of personal favourites it is hard to beat the sultry ‘Catch The Drift’ which comes complete with flashes of Hammond B3 that serve to bestow a wonderful retro feel to the whole piece.

Great track from a great album; Check it out.

 

 

Roberto Restuccia - Arrival

Taken from the soon to be released ‘With Every Turn’ by UK guitarist and composer Roberto Restuccia, the sumptuous ‘Arrival’ is a wonderful way to start the new smooth jazz year.  Out on Trippin N Rhythm this moody number is really top notch and a statement of intent from this star in the making who made his debut in 2016 with the album ‘Exposure’.  ‘When The Smoke Clears’ followed a year later and included input from Paul Hardcastle’s ‘go-to’ sax-man Rock Hendricks.

Fabulous track