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.
Take for example the opening number from that consummate smooth jazz pioneer Dave Koz, the appropriately titled ‘Saxman’ from Dave’s 1993 project ‘Lucky Man’. With the addition of a who’s who of jazz-fusion legends including Tower of Power co-founder Doc Kupka this big and ballsy creation defines just how edgy smooth jazz once was and much the same can be said of the vibey ‘Show Me The Way’ by pianist Tom Grant from the album ‘In My Wildest Dreams’.
Later, the massively under-rated Tom Scott, with accompaniment by Grover Washington Jnr. on tenor, offers up the title track of the 1994 GRP release ‘Reed My Lips’ while Ronnie Jordan, with vocals by Fay Simpson, delivers his version of the Tanya Marie classic ‘Come With Me’ from the 1994 long player on Island, ‘Quiet Revolution’.
Bob James makes the first of two appearances with ‘After The Dance’, a cut from Fourplay’s eponymous debut recording and when he returns the result is the ultra sophisticated ‘Bare Bones’ from his 1990 Warner release ‘Grand Piano Canyon’.
As ‘JazzFusions One’ rolls on with one great tune after another the Incognito track ‘Thinkin About Tomorrow’ and John Patitucci’s Latin flavoured ‘My Summer Vacation’ serve to keep the quality sky high while elsewhere, in a truly inspired move, ‘Tourist In Paradise’ by the Rippingtons (from the 1993 ‘Live In LA’) is sequenced back to back with Kenny G’s ‘Sade’ (recorded live at the Seattle Opera House) with such skill that one would think the two performers were both playing the same gig!
A brief respite is provided by the cool ‘Love Will Make It Right’ by Sadao Watanabe before what on most other albums would be the number one killer cut, ‘Heart Station’ by Ronnie Laws (from his 1990 release, ‘True Spirit’) really ratchets up the tempo.
Finally a groovy ‘Up Town East’ by Special EFX from their 1986 GRP offering ‘Slice Of Life’, paves the way for a Smooth Jazz Therapy all time favourite, the wonderful ‘Anniversary’ from Gerald Albright’s 1994 CD ‘Smooth’. It creates a stupendous climax to what is a stupendous project that has totally stood the test of time.
Over subsequent years, until the release of ‘JazzFusions Four’ in 1996, the series continued to serve as the definitive catalogue of smooth jazz and fusion of the time.
The entire ‘JazzFusions collection is still available on Amazon. Go and look for it, the search will be well rewarded.