Smooth Jazz Therapy

Cindy Bradley - Drive

Not only was ‘The Little Things’ from Trippin n Rhythm recording artist Cindy Bradley a worthy to successor to her 2017 CD ‘Natural’ it was also her sixth studio project with the label. It delivered the sophisticated ‘Wind Chill Factor’ plus the wonderfully mellifluous ‘Stockholm Summer’ that both went on to become standout radio hits. Now she is back with the high octane ‘Drive’, the second single from her latest album which is expected sometime late in 2022.

Check back here often for more news on Cindy Bradley

Vassal Benford - Melody Man

Working with a galaxy of stars in various music genres Vassal Benford has more than 57 platinum records to his credit. He has notched up over $150 million in movie box office receipts and if that wasn’t enough he also manages the interests of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and the estate of blues icon B.B. King.

Now Vassal Benford is returning to his roots.

With a focus on breathing fresh energy and creativity into contemporary jazz, songwriter and keyboard player Benford, has just released ‘Melody Man’ on the Benford Jazz label.

In fact Benford was just sixteen when legendary jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis recorded the song ‘Michelle’ that the teenager wrote about his first crush. Taken from Lewis’s album ‘Three Piece Suite’ it went to number one and two years later bass player Stanley Clarke produced the second Benford composition, ‘The Two Of Us’, which was co-written with Grammy winner Jeremy Lubbock. Lifted from the Ramsey Lewis CD of the same name it featured vocalist Nancy Wilson and for Ramsey delivered another number one smash.

As the years rolled by the music kept on coming. Benford’s projects topped the charts in multiple genres and gifted hits to superstars such as DJ Diplo, Toni Braxton, Queen Latifah, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, U2, Jade, Bobby Brown, New Edition, Lil’ Kim, Patti LaBelle, Faith Evans, Chanté Moore, Oleta Adams, Lisa Stansfield, Tramaine Hawkins, and The Fine Young Cannibals to name only a few.

In recent years, Benford has rediscovered instrumental R&B. It has sparked collaborations with smooth jazz A-Listers Norman Brown and Gerald Albright who will both appear on Benford’s debut album, ‘My Favorite Moments’ that is due to be released in February 2023.

‘Melody Man’ is the first single to be taken from it and as such is a clear pointer that with ‘My Favorite Moments’ the world of contemporary jazz is in for something special.

 

 

Nick Stefanacci - Dance Until Dawn

Due out on May 24, ‘Dance Until Dawn’ is the latest smooth jazz single from saxophonist Nick Stefanacci. Written by Stefanacci and guitarist Adam Hawley this genre defining mid tempo charmer serves as a preview for his eighth solo album, ‘Nú FNK’ that is due out later this year. Not only will it return him to his funk roots but will also mix in some instrumental grooves and pop-fusion vocals.

Stefanacci met Hawley while the sax-man was touring with smooth jazz trumpeter Cindy Bradley. He has been part of her backing band for several years. Indeed as a sideman his wide-ranging resume also lists work with hip-hop superstars Ja Rule and DMC, blues rocker Derek Trucks, and drummer Bernard ‘Pretty’ Purdie.

His debut album, ’26 Years’ arrived in 2010 while his latest, self-titled, collection highlights Stefanacci’s imaginative arrangements of songs originally recorded by some of his biggest musical influences, Stevie Wonder, Nirvana, Michael Jackson, Metallica, Nina Simone and Bill Withers to name only a few.

As well as co-writing ‘Dance Until Dawn’ multi-instrumentalist Adam Hawley provides guitar, keyboards and strings. Carnell Harrell adds synths while the whole thing anchored by drummer Eric Valentine and bass player Mel Brown.

As Nick himself says, “As a young saxophonist, I was enamored with David Sanborn so releasing a contemporary jazz single has been a long time coming. I wanted to give my fans something different than what they are accustomed to hearing from me. My albums are kind of a Steely Dan meets Maceo Parker mash up, a more funk fusion groove with vocals, horns and jazz harmony.” 

 

 

Larry Carlton & Paul Brown - Stomp

Headed to radio right now, ‘Stomp’ from guitar greats Larry Carlton and Paul Brown is taken from their highly rated 2021 album ‘Soul Searchin’. Edgy, streetwise and insatiably bluesy this supercharged tour de force comes complete with a fiery horn section courtesy of Ron King on trumpet and Greg Vail on sax.

Carlton, who was a member of both The Crusaders and Fourplay is also a successful composer for television and film. His writing credits include the theme music for ‘Hill Street Blues’ (with Mike Post), ‘Who’s The Boss’ and the film ‘Against All Odds’. He first partnered with Paul Brown in 2000 when Brown produced several tracks for his ‘Fingerprints’ CD and although it has taken a while the idea of making an album together has been in the works for some time.

Collectively, Carlton and Brown have collaborated with everyone from Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan and Quincy Jones to George Benson, Patti Austin and Norman Brown, to name but a few.   It is a track record that cannot be denied and which with ‘Soul Searchin’ has rocketed to another level.

 

 

Chris Standring - Simple Things

Twelve Months doesn’t seem all that long but for guitarist Chris Standring these last twelve months have been different.  They began with his thirteenth solo CD ‘Wonderful World’ only to be hijacked by a pandemic that refused to go away.  Then there was the small matter of a heart attack before getting to this, his latest album ‘Simple Things’ that will be released on May 20.

Given his recent traumas it is not surprising that the underlying theme to ‘Simple Things’ is joy and here with regular collaborators Andre Berry and Kevin Axt on bass, Chris Coleman on drums and Rodney Lee on keys that feeling of joy comes shining through.

Najee - Savoir Faire

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 seventeen more releases plus one ‘best of’ collection. Now, on the Shanachie Entertainment label, he is back with his latest offering, ‘Savoir Faire’.

Brian Culbertson - Step Into Love

First there was red.  Then came blue.  Finally it was white and Brian Culbertson’s three-phase odyssey that tells of the ups and downs of a long-time relationship was complete.  Comprising ten choice tunes that have Culbertson front back and centre ‘The Trilogy, Part 3: White’ is out now with the first single being the sultry ‘Step Into Love’.  With a killer beat and moody trumpet from the always excellent Patches Stewart it is no surprise that this cool cut has already been added into Culbertson’s live repertoire.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘The Trilogy, Part 3: White’.

 

Skinny Hightower - Rain

Taken from his 2020 Trippin n Rhythm album ‘Blue Moon’ the intensely rhythmic ‘Rain’ is the latest track to be serviced to radio.  It follows both the similarly disposed ‘Bittersweet’ and the altogether more chilled out title cut as being sublime selections with which to show off this fine collection.

‘Blue Moon’ is Skinny’s fourth album release and follows his 2016 debut recording ‘Cloud Nine’, ‘Emotions’ that followed a year later and ‘Retrospect’ from which came the single ‘One Way Street’ that I described at the time as checking every smooth jazz box imaginable.