Smooth Jazz Therapy

Nathan Mitchell - Boss Man

Out now on Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm Records’, ‘Boss Man’ is the latest offering from multi instrumentalist and producer Nathan Mitchell. Lifted from his 2022 project ‘Its My Time’ the song features a cameo performance from the late, great Nick Colionne and much like the previous single ‘Journey To Love’ (that featured sax superstar Kirk Whalum) is a track well worth checking out.

Nathan’s musical journey began in 2012 with the single ‘For All Eternity’ and from that time, and up to 2017, he played with some of the genre’s most elite artists. In 2018 Nathan released his debut album ‘Smooth Groove’ which garnered the single ‘Inspiration’ that climbed to #22 on the Smooth Jazz Billboard charts. ‘Soulmate’ followed in 2019 with ‘Love Languages’ arriving two years later.

 

 

Euge Groove - Comfort Zone

Never one to rest on his laurels, that consummate hit-maker, celebrated saxophonist, composer and producer Euge Groove has worked with everyone from Tina Turner, Eurythmics, Aaron Neville and Richard Marx, to Joe Cocker, Tower of Power, Huey Lewis and Luther Vandross.

Growing out of a collaboration with regular contributors Cornelius Mims and keyboard player Tracy Carter his latest project is ‘Comfort Zone’. It follows his 2020 outing ‘Sing My Song’ and is an outstanding set of ten original compositions that confirm his place at the top table of contemporary jazz sax players.

 

Justin Young - Forever Yours

Smooth Jazz Therapy first became acquainted with sax-man Justin Young in 2007 when he burst onto the scene with his smooth jazz debut, ‘On The Way’.  It said much for the potential of this accomplished player that Paul Brown invested his time to mix the album and play guitar on one of the twelve choice tracks.

More albums followed, ‘Nothin But Love’ in 2009,  ‘Blue Soul’ in 2017 and Christmas outings in both 2009 and 2020 while his latest offering is the single ‘Forever Yours’ that displays in abundance the big, brassy and luscious tones that have become Justin Young’s calling card.

 

Bob Baldwin - All My Life

I have been in love with the music of Bob Baldwin since 2002 and the release of the stunning ‘Standing Tall’.  A lot, and I mean a lot has happened over the intervening years.  His thirty-third CD, ‘B Positive’, was released in 2022.  It followed ‘The Stay At Home Series’ that came out of the Covid necessity of staying home, staying off the road, locking down in quarantine and immersing himself in the interlocking processes of producing, arranging, writing and performing. 

His latest single, that debuted on radio August 15, is the really terrific ‘All My Life’ that includes Eric Valentine on drums and is a shining example of how no-one does contemporary jazz like Bob Baldwin does contemporary jazz.

Great track.

 

Mattias Roos - Early Sunrise

Flourishing in the smooth jazz friendly confines of Skytown Records, Swedish keyboard player Mattias Roos is back with his latest single ‘Early Sunrise’ that goes for adds August 21.  Written, produced, arranged and mixed byRoos at North Hills Studio, this choice track was mastered by Jeremy Henry and along with Roos on acoustic piano, keyboards and drums the number also includes fellow Swede Ingemar Äberg on guitar.

Make no mistake this is trademark Roos and then some.  The penchant he has for sublimely fusing smooth jazz grooves with an authentic old school vibe first emerged in 2011 with the band Soweto that he formed with drummer Peter Gustavsson.   His Skytown debut came in 2017 with the critically acclaimed album ‘Movin’ Up’ and the equally good ‘It Goes On And On’ followed two years later.  However, that wasn’t quite the end of the ‘It Goes On And On’ story.  In 2020 it was released as a deluxe version with four additional tracks and an outstanding reworking of ‘Bring It On’ that this time featured Michael Lington on sax and proved to be a runaway chart success.

 

Norman Brown - Lets Get Away (Radio Single)

Following on from guitarist Norman Brown’s 2020 project ‘Heart To Heart’ came his highly acclaimed ‘Lets Get Away’. This 2022 stunner proved to be a fine amalgam of jazz, R&B, pop and blues all delivered with the sort of style that has become Brown’s calling card. In every respect it was very much an all-star outing. Fellow guitarist and label-mate Paul Brown as well as multi-instrumentalists Wirlie Morris, Shane Theriot and Jeff Carruthers, keyboard players Lew Laing and David Torkanowsky, saxophonist Greg Vail, trumpeter Ron King, drummer Gorden Campbell, bass-man Jeff Wolfe, and percussionist Lenny Castro were all variously around to lend a hand with the first single, the exquisite ‘Back At Ya’, being co-written with Laing, Torkanowsky and Paul Brown.

Now Norman is back on radio with the title cut that finds him in fine collaboration with Wirlie Morris where together they create an emotive, funky R&B number of distinction.

Check it out

 

 

Spotlight On Jason Jackson

Jason Jackson burst onto the scene in 2021 with his debut EP, ‘Movin’ On’. Produced by the ubiquitous Adam Hawley it included the feisty ‘Groove All Night’ that featured Tim Bowman and a year later Jason was back with his first full-length album, the excellent ‘All In’ from where the single ‘Through the Night’ can be found.

This sax driven R&B-infused melody is an absolute gem and tailor made for the outdoor smooth jazz festivals that this time of year invariably brings. Not only that it is in the good company of eight other outstanding numbers that variously feature smooth jazz heavyweights such as Eric Marienthal, Chieli Minucci, Jonathan Fritzen and Gino Rosaria.

Jason grew up in Wilmington, NC where while still in high school he landed a gig working as a member of the house band at the House of Blues. In 2011, Jason enlisted in the Navy as a musician where he was able to play for audiences all over the world. During his first tour, he was awarded the Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award and a few months later he was relocated to the Seventh Fleet Band in Yokosuka, Japan. During this time, Jason was able to play at some of the most prestigious venues in the area as well as volunteer in several local community bands where he was able to interact one on one with young local musicians. After his military service ended in early 2021, Jason teamed up with contemporary jazz star Adam Hawley to create ‘Movin’ On’ and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Jason Jackson burst onto the scene in 2021 with his debut EP, ‘Movin’ On’. Produced by the ubiquitous Adam Hawley it included the feisty ‘Groove All Night’ that featured Tim Bowman and a year later Jason was back with his first full-length album, the excellent ‘All In’ from where the single ‘Through the Night’ can be found. This sax driven R&B-infused melody is an absolute gem and tailor made for the outdoor smooth jazz festivals that this time of year invariably brings. Not only that it is in the good company of eight other outstanding numbers that variously feature smooth jazz heavyweights such as Eric Marienthal, Chieli Minucci, Jonathan Fritzen and Gino Rosaria. Jason grew up in Wilmington, NC where while still in high school he landed a gig working as a member of the house band at the House of Blues. In 2011, Jason enlisted in the Navy as a musician where he was able to play for audiences all over the world. During his first tour, he was awarded the Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award and a few months later he was relocated to the Seventh Fleet Band in Yokosuka, Japan. During this time, Jason was able to play at some of the most prestigious venues in the area as well as volunteer in several local community bands where he was able to interact one on one with young local musicians. After his military service ended in early 2021, Jason teamed up with contemporary jazz star Adam Hawley to create ‘Movin’ On’ and the rest, as they say, is history.