Smooth Jazz Therapy

Maysa - A Very Maysa Christmas

Often described as the best-kept secret on the urban adult contemporary scene, the incredible Maysa scored a major success in 2014 with the splendid seasonal collection ‘A Very Maysa Christmas’.  This tight ten-track set delivers familiar Christmas music in a way that you have never heard before and in this respect there was none more so than the wonderful ‘This Christmas’ for which Maysa is found in a sublime duet with the always-excellent Will Downing.

Seven years on the album still sounds great and continues to be available on the Shanachie Entertainment label.

 

 

Blake Aaron - Feels So Right

It has been quite a year for guitarist Blake Aaron.  After hitting number one on the Billboard singles chart in June with ‘Sunday Strut’ (the third single from his highly acclaimed album ‘Color and Passion’) he did it all again in November with the decidedly feisty ‘Feels So Right’.

Co-written by Aaron and the prolific Greg Manning this vibrant track is anchored by ‘go to’ bass player Alex Al and supercharged by a horn arrangement from David Mann who also plays sax alongside Trevor Neumann and Jimmy Reid.  Additional soul comes courtesy of Ken Turner’s vocal embellishments and with Eric Valentine providing the heartbeat on drums the whole piece shimmers with star quality.

 

 

Kirk Whalum - How Does Christmas Sound

Congratulations go out to soulful sax-man Kirk Whalum who has just been awarded the USCT Humanitarian Award as recognition for being a hero of the community of Franklin, TN.

The USCT Humanitarian Award is given to recipients that have shown kindness and bravery, honouring African American heroes of the past and present and is presented during three days of celebration and educational events.

Whalum is currently riding high with his latest festive offering ‘How Does Christmas Sound’ which is out now on the Mack Avenue label.  This fine collection of seasonal songs taps into Whalum’s spiritual core yet in terms of personal favourites it is difficulty to look beyond the decidedly romantic ‘What Are You Doing New Years Eve’

Check it out and get your Christmas started right now.

 

 

Randy Brecker & Eric Marienthal - Double Dealin

It is that time of the year again, no, not Christmas but more significantly Grammy Season and right up there with the nomination for  ‘Best Contemporary Instrumental Album’ are Randy Brecker and Eric Marienthal with their project ‘Double Dealin’.

Throughout their various careers Brecker and Marienthal have always operated at what might be described as ‘the high end’ of contemporary jazz.  Indeed Randy Brecker has been a key figure in numerous ground-breaking fusion bands such as Blood, Sweat and Tears and Larry Coryell’s The Eleventh House whereas Marienthal has played with luminaries like Elton John, Patti Austin, Lee Ritenour and Billy Joel.

For  ‘Double Dealin’ this dynamic duo reconnects with producer and keyboard player George Whitty, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Dave Weckl for a collection that is very much a jazz aficionado’s jazz recording.

It’s out now on the always-excellent Shanachie Entertainment label so check it out.

 

 

Chielli Minucci - Someone's Singing

Despite the frequent changes in personnel that have characterised the band’s evolution, sophisticated super group Special EFX have always been anchored by the creative constant of guitarist Chilli Minucci.  Now he is taking a little time out for what might be termed ‘ a side project’ but which in reality is Minucci’s desire to share some of his more gentle, understated playing and writing.  Cue ‘Someone’s Singing’ where twelve of his own original compositions encourage the listener to join him on a quest for spiritual peacefulness.

Minucci co-founded Special EFX thirty-six years ago with the now deceased George Jinda and although ‘Someone’s Singing’ is quite a distance from the contemporary jazz with which Special EFX made its name it is nevertheless a beautiful piece of work.

 

 

Kim Waters - Nina In Tortola

With nine original compositions plus one carefully crafted cover ‘Shakedown’ from sax-man Kim Waters revolves around what is a primarily upbeat theme intended to make the listener happy and to sooth the soul.  It is perfect for the troubled time in which we now live and in this respect there is none more so than the latest radio single, ‘Nina In Tortola’ that provides a first class ticket to the cooling breezes that rustle the palms of The British Virgin Islands.

Check it out.

 

 

Gregory Goodloe - In Paradise

As smooth jazz guitarist Gregory Goodloe continues to lay a foundation for his next full-length album his latest single, ‘In Paradise’, is the kind of easy grooving number that is sure to attract followers.  It is his third of 2021 and follows  ‘Somewhere Out There’ and ‘Step N Out’ that featured sax-man Elan Trotman.  For ‘In Paradise’ Gregory is aided and abetted by producer Jeff Canady on drums, keyboard player Demetrius Nabors, Anthony Booker on rhythm guitar and Robert Skinner on bass.

Goodloe, who derives his influences from George Benson and Wes Montgomery, divides his time between the recording studio and the radio studio where he presents his own show, Mile High Smooth Jazz, on World Wide Jazz Radio.

Check him out.