Smooth Jazz Therapy

Kim Waters - Joy Dance

Since 1989, and the release of his debut CD ‘Sweet & Saxy’, sax-man composer and producer Kim Waters has been a constant on the urban-jazz landscape.  With a reputation for being one of the most technically gifted players around, he has released twenty-four recordings as a leader and is all set to make that twenty-five with a new album set to hit the streets later this month on the Shanachie Entertainment label.

Ahead of that comes the easy grooving yet jazzy single ‘Joy Dance’ that finds Waters at his sophisticated best.

Check it out.

 

 

Candy Dulfer - Jammin Tonight

Sometimes it’s nice to be surprised and at others it’s equally good to know exactly what to expect.  In this respect sax player Candy Dulfer leaves her plethora of fans in no doubt.  She has been serving up fulsome ‘in your face’ contemporary jazz since 1990 when her debut release ‘Saxuality’ became an overnight sensation.  It contained the seminal hit ‘Lily Was Here’ that was written by David A Stewart of Eurythmics fame and with whom she had previously honed her skills as a session player.

Several of the tunes that appeared on ‘Saxuality’ were hard driving funk drenched numbers written by guitarist Ulco Bed and, now, twelve studio albums on, it is this hard driving edge that Candy has carried over to het latest recording, ‘We Never Stop’ that will hit the streets October 28 on the Funk Garage / Macot label.

As if to endorse the point the first single is the raucous ‘Jammin Tonight’ featuring a guest appearance by Chic guitarist, producer, songwriter and three-time GRAMMY Award-winner Nile Rodgers.

Strap yourself in and prepare for Jammin Tonight.

 

 

Richard Smith - Groove Assets

By any account 2020 was a bad year but for guitarist Richard Smith it was worse than for most.  He was fighting a battle against stage three cancer of the throat that included radiation, chemotherapy and taking part in a clinical trial of a drug that involved four hours a day of intravenous infusion.  To divert his mind Smith reached out to one of his former students at USC Thornton School Of Music, Billboard chart-topping guitarist Adam Hawley, to help him write and produce a few singles.

The first two, ‘Let’s Roll’ and ‘Soul Share’, were both chart successes and he is all set to make that three for three with ‘Groove Assets' which is out now.

It has a certain laid back, chilled out quality that is hard to resist while the mid tempo groove engendered by Smith’s cool electric jazz guitar blends perfectly with the harmonies of Hawley’s rhythm guitar.

Completing the line up is drummer Eric Valentine, bass player Mel Brown and the song’s co-writer Tico Pierhagen on keys.  Add in ‘go to’ smooth jazz trumpeter Michael Stever with a ‘kick ass’ horn arrangement and there is little doubt that this is a hit in the making.

As Smith himself explains “There is no greater pleasure or prouder moment in a jazz professor's life than the act of hiring a former student for the incredibly important job of producing a single. I am a very lucky, proud soul indeed,” smiles Smith whose cancer is in complete remission.

 

 

Chris 'Big Dog' Davis - One Day At A Time

Back in 2020 Smooth Jazz Therapy commented on how almost impossible it seemed that keyboard player Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis had 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.

Finally with the new album ‘Focus’ getting ever-closer Chris provided an early heads up with the first single, the sumptuous ‘Its All Love’ that featured Dave Koz on sax.  It didn’t disappoint and much the same could be said of the entire collection adorned as it was by collaborations with smooth jazz heavyweights Gerald Albright, Kim Waters, Ace Livingston, Maysa, Marty Q and the late great Nick Colionne who added his own slice of magic to the extremely hip ‘Just When You Thought You Had Enough’.

 Yet all things considered the Smooth Jazz Therapy top track was ‘One Day At A Time’ where Davis alongside trumpeter Rick Braun delivered what was to become an instant personal favourite. 

 

 

Gary Honor - Momentum

Back in February of 2020, during what might be described as the quiet before the COVID storm, Australian sax-man Gary Honor hit the scene with the Latin flavoured ‘The Pulse’.  Produced by Skinny Hightower, it featured Cheili Minucci on guitar and was intended as the first single from what was to become ‘Momentum’.

Then came the pandemic and everything stopped.

That said, just over twelve months later, Gary was back with his follow up single ‘Bang Bang Bang’.  This hard driving number, which was written and produced by serial hit-maker Michael Broening, gave Honor the inertia he was looking for and this momentum carried him into the summer of 2021 and the appropriately titled ‘Summer Cool’.

Gary then went four for four with the fourth single from the album, the high octane ‘Deep Blue’ and now his label, Trippin N Rhythm are putting him back on radio with the decidedly rhythmic title cut from this choice collection. Gliding along on a mid tempo groove this is smooth jazz at its foot tapping best.

 

 

Gordon James - Smooth Sunshine

Back in March 2020, when the pandemic brought everything to a halt, trumpet and flugelhorn player Gordon James found himself with no work and lots of free time.  It was the spur that led him to create his latest album, the perfectly titled ‘Smooth Sunshine’, a cool combination of instrumentals and vocals that are variously relaxing, upbeat and uplifting.

Julian Vaughn - Romance The Rain

Taken from his 2021 long-player ‘Chapters Of Love’, smooth jazz bass player Julian Vaughn is back on radio with the excellent ‘Romance The Rain’ that features Elan Trotman on sax.  Make no mistake, this is contemporary jazz at its smoothed out best and well worth a listen.

Nice one.

 

 

Mattias Roos - Cali Dreaming

Flourishing in the smooth jazz friendly confines of Skytown Records, Swedish keyboard player Mattias Roos will release his latest project, ‘Cali Dreaming’ on September 12, 2022.  Indeed with nine original compositions plus one carefully crafted cover ‘Cali Dreaming’ is everything one would expect from an artist who without a shadow of doubt is riding the tsunami of a burgeoning solo career.