Smooth Jazz Therapy

Greg Adams & East Bay Soul - The Real

Since 2009, and with five outstanding albums, trumpet player extraordinaire Greg Adams has been building his East Bay Soul creation into what is now the preeminent horn driven collective of its era. This hugely talented line-up, which over the years Adams has subtly rotated, has its roots firmly grounded in the uniquely soul based genre of San Francisco’s East Bay area and as a consequence delivers tight horn filled rhythms that are entirely timeless.  Now, this founding member of the legendary Tower of Power is doing it all again with ‘The Real’ that hit the streets June 2 on Ripa Records.

 

At its core are the powerful horns, lush strings, and an all-star rhythm section that, for East Bay Soul, have become its calling card yet this time around the added emphasis of sweet soul vocals courtesy of Terrell Edwards provides the collection with a whole different feel.

In fact of the nine original compositions five have a vocal component with the first being ‘Dig A Little Deeper’.  Crafted from a platform afforded by Herman Matthews on drums, this gritty number is the real EBS deal and talking of ‘real’ much the same can be said of the funk driven title cut that luxuriates in a bass laden groove powered by Del Atkins.  This collective collaboration brings songwriters Adams, Nick Milo, Richard Smith and Tico Pierhagen together to sensational effect and with lyrics by Edwards it is a standout in an album crammed full of them

Edwards again works his magic with the feel good vibe of ‘Come And Gone’ yet in terms of personal vocal favourites the luscious R&B ballad ‘Baby, Please Stay’ is right up there with the best that ‘The Real’ has to offer.  However, all things considered, the Smooth Jazz Therapy top track is the wonderful ‘100%’.  Velvety horns sumptuous vocal and as easy grooving as you like this one has it all going on.

Turning to the instruments, the mid tempo magic of ‘Dreams Come True’ finds Adams’ flugelhorn never sounding better.  It’s a tune that is beauty personified and much the same can be said of ‘Rear Window’ and although ‘Moment In Time’ is another brass infused powerhouse it is with ‘57^th West’ that Adams takes the listener on an evocative late night stroll in uptown Manhattan.

For many reasons ‘The Real’ comes highly recommended.  The writing and production partnership of Adams and Nick Milo has never been sharper and the chemistry that exists between the entire band comes shining through.

It is a total winner.

Easy Bay Soul are Greg Adams, Michael Stever: trumpet and flugelhorn, Johnnie Bamont, Ed Wynne: saxes, Terrell Edwards: lead vocals, Nick Milo: keyboards, Richard Smith: guitar, Herman Matthews: drums, Del Atkins: bass

Arthur Thompson - Smile

Drummers as headline artists are, in contemporary jazz, something of a rarity.  There are exceptions with one being Jeffrey B Suttles who recorded the album ‘Time To Suttle Down’ in 2005 and another is Arthur Thompson.  Formally drummer for the late great Wayman Tisdale, Thompson has variously served as a drummer, percussionist, singer, songwriter, producer, author, designer, entrepreneur, and teacher. He recorded and performed his latest song ‘Smile’ with Toby Keith and smooth jazz luminaries Dave Koz, Marcus Miller and featured artist Mindi Abair.  Mindi, like she always does, really captures the vibe of this feisty number.

 

 

Brian Lenair - Can You Stand The Rain

Originally a hit for R & B band New Edition, ‘Can You Stand The Rain’ is being given a new lease of life by Washington DC sax-man Brian Lenair.  Hailing from Boston Massachusetts, New Edition was formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown and reached its peak of popularity in the 80’s with a formula widely considered as the blueprint for what would become the modern boy band

As for Brian Lenair, as well as being widely known as a solo artist on the local music scene in Washington DC he also enjoyed a spell as an integral part of the DC based Spur Of The Moment.  His discography stretches back all the way to 2004 and the critically acclaimed ‘The Journey’ and although a seasonal offering, ‘A Saxy Christmas’, followed four years later it was with ‘Eye Of The Storm’ in 2011 that Lenair unlocked his undoubted flair for R & B tinged contemporary jazz.

‘Underground Vol 3 The Cover Story’ followed in 2018 and now, with ‘Can You Stand The Rain’ Lenair is firmly back in the spotlight.

 

 

Walter Beasley - Do You Want To Dance

That much loved and much covered number ‘Do You Want To Dance’ was first recorded by vocalist Bobby Freeman in 1958.  Since then it has returned in various guises but none so powerful as this blockbuster version from sophisticated sax-man Walter Beasley.

Straight out of quiet storm territory and with sultry input from songstress Rebecca Jade this one is a real winner.

 

 

The Eric Evans Project - UpCountry

Written and coproduced by Eric Evans and the ubiquitous Adam Hawley, ‘UpCountry’ from the Eric Evans Project features Eric Evans on flutes with Hawley on guitars and Eric Valentine on drums.

It’s the sort of track that might just take the listener on a journey from golden beaches to rolling hills and given that Eric (as well as being a native of San Diego) lives on the Northern California coast he knows plenty about golden beaches and then some.

Nice track.

 

 

Kat Hawley - Keep On Keeping' On

‘Keep On, Keepin’ On’ is the debut single from soulful vocalist Kat Hawley.  Written by her husband of fifteen years (and twelve time Billboard chart topping guitarist) Adam Hawley this mid tempo charmer is notable for many things not least of which are the cool interjections on keys from co-writer Caleb Middleton and a powerhouse performance on sax from serial hit maker Steve Cole.

 

‘Go to’ drummer Eric Valentine completes the line-up and while Kat has provided vocals on all four of her husband’s solo albums she has also toured with him all over the world at concerts, festivals and star-studded music cruises.  She has sung or recorded with Dave Koz, Marcus Anderson, Greg Manning, Julian Vaughn and Marqueal Jordan to name but a few and with a full album already being talked about it looks like, for Kat Hawley, her time has come.

 

 

 

Nicholas Cole - Table For 2

That consummate purveyor of high quality smooth jazz, keyboard player Nicholas Cole, is again making some noise with his latest single, the wonderful ‘Table For 2’.  Starting out on the mellow side before flourishing into something way more bold this is a track that checks all the smooth jazz boxes and given it is his third single (after both ‘All The Way’ and ‘Feelings’) in the recent past all indications are that his label, Trippin N Rhythm, is looking at the possible release of a new album.  That being the case it will follow his 2019 project ‘The Weekend’ that with radio ready tracks such as ‘Sugar’, the equally good ‘Soulmate’ and the vibey yet catchy ‘It Aint Over’ has proved to be a gift that keeps on giving.

 

 

Shawn Raiford - Leave The Door Open

‘Leave The Door Open’ by Sacramento sax-man Shawn Raiford is his ultra cool take on the 2021 debut single by Silk Sonic aka Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak.

This quiet storm blockbuster would sound great whatever the genre and here Raiford gives it the urban jazz treatment to spectacular effect.

Produced by the Grammy-winning Derek “DOA” Allen ‘Leave The Door Open’ is the second track from Shawn’s sophomore album, ‘The Next Step’ that is expected early in 2024.

 An award-winning entertainer with The Shawn Raiford Experience, Raiford invited core band members Javance Butler on keys, Vincent Cole Dutcher on guitar, bass player Michael “Tiny” Lindsey and drummer Jonathan Frazier to participate in the recording of ‘Leave The Door Open’ while additional melodic fills came courtesy of keyboard player Ivan Johnson and sax player Andre Delanoprovide.