Smooth Jazz Therapy

Brian Bromberg - The Magic Of Moonlight

Since 1985, acclaimed bassist and producer Brian Bromberg has been confounding the music industry with an ever-increasing catalogue of straight ahead and contemporary jazz offerings that are often driven by specific sounds and themes. His latest project, ‘The Magic Of Moonlight’, is his 27th in all and with the help of an A-List of contemporary jazz talent he delivers eleven all original high end tracks that are right up there with the best that the genre has offered all year.

‘The Magic Of Moonlight’ is quickly up and running with the brass enriched high-octane title cut that includes a notable contribution from sax-man Everette Harp.

Harp is also around for the sophisticated mid tempo ‘Last Day Of Summer’ while when Bromberg eases down the tempo for the gently meandering ‘The Third Child’, Harp’s contribution is just as good.

Later, when sax duties pass to Gary Meek his interplay with Bromberg on the hugely descriptive ‘Just Another Beautiful Day’ is a joy to behold. It has already become an instant Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite and talking of favorites ‘Nico’s Groove’ is right up there with the best that ‘The Magic Of Moonlight’ has to offer. The tune was written for smooth jazz guitarist Nick Colionne, who passed away on New Year’s Day, 2022 at the age of just 55. Colionne had worked with Bromberg on numerous occasions and Brian has always been generous in his support of his friend and colleague.

Slim Gambill - Light This Candle

Guitarist Slim Gambill started to build his increasingly impressive body of work four years ago with his debut album ‘Fake Jazz & Theme Songs’. ‘LCD’ followed a year later. The title cut featuring smooth sax superstar Mindi Abair and it was Abair who introduced Slim to then rising star Adam Hawley with whom he collaborated earlier this year to deliver the top twenty charting ‘Heavyweight’.

Now, reunited and with attention firmly on his new long player that is expected to hit the streets in the Spring of 2024, comes the single ‘Light This Candle’. Co-written by Gambill and Hawley (who also produced the track) this foot-tapping gem is fuelled first by Gambill’s cool electric jazz guitar then by Hawley who contributes on rhythm guitar, Rhodes and synths. The entire piece is built from the foundation of the Grammy-winning bass player Mel Brown and percussionist Ramon Yslas while supercharging the whole thing is Carnell Harrell with additional synths.

 

Matt Willard - Nightcrawler

Lifted from his 2022 album ‘Soul Assassin’, ‘Nightcrawler’ by Matt Willard is the kind of hard driving track that fits perfectly for smooth jazz fans who don’t want their smooth jazz too smooth.

Indeed the aim of this 24 year old sax player is to put a different spin on what we recognise as smooth jazz by blending in elements of rock, pop, R&B, and jazz. ‘Soul Assassin’ (and the singles that have already been drawn down from it) is the perfect place to see what this looks like

Check it out.

Jeff Ryan - Where There's Hope

‘Embrace’, the 2018 debut album from sax-man Jeff Ryan paired him with producer, songwriter and keyboard player Greg Manning. It earned him the accolade of JazzTrax Breakout Artist for that year and Smooth Jazz Network’s Debut Artist of the Year.  His 2021 single ‘Sentimental Soul’ from his follow-up CD ‘Duality’ was Billboard’s Song of the Year and it was the ‘Duality’ project that introduced Ryan to the genre defining Paul Brown.

Now Ryan is back with ‘Where There’s Hope’ an easy grooving gem that he wrote with Brown and two of Brown’s regular cohorts, keyboard player Mark Etheredge and bass-man Roberto Vally. Vally also contributes percussion while completing the line-up are Gorden Campbell on drums and Shane Theriot on rhythm guitar.

Good track.

 

Ann Hampton Callaway - Stealin Away

Now, courtesy of vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway comes a slice of contemporary jazz on the mellow side. Taken from Ann’s 2023 album ‘Finding Beauty Vol.1’ ‘Stealin Away’ is a cool collaboration with Tony-nominated composer Dan Levine. In fact Levine’s melody fits to perfection with Ann’s romantically loaded lyrics and given the song was originally intended for Al Jarreau, who sadly passed before he could record it, just adds extra spice

 

 

Adam Hawley - Celebrate Me Home

Smooth jazz fans are well blessed with Christmas albums that stay on the right side of cool and this year have another seasonal gem to add to their festive collection. ‘What Christmas Means To Me’ is Adam Hawley’s fifth album overall and his very first ‘holiday’ project for which he has surrounded himself with family and friends. Take for example his wife, R&B songstress Kat Hawley, who shines radiantly on an emotional acoustic guitar version of ‘Mary, Did You Know?’ and Julian Vaughn who adds bass verses to a seriously funky version of ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.’ Hawley also reunites with vocalist L. Young who appeared on his 2016 debut CD, ‘Just The Beginning’. It is right up there with the best that ‘What Christmas Means To Me’ has to offer and although the title track is a high octane take on ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’ the Smooth Jazz Therapy top track is ‘ Celebrate Me Home’ which features vocalist Matt Cusson. Never mind Christmas this is a number that will sound great at any time of the year.

 

 

Spotlight On Jessy J

Well, it is early October and in the United Kingdom that can only mean one thing – a brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing.  Those of you in the USA will know the show as Dancing With The Stars and may also be aware that smooth jazz saxophonist Jessy J has been a member of this show’s house band for the last seven years variously playing alto tenor and baritone saxes as well as flute and clarinet.

Of course Jessy has been a significant presence on the smooth jazz scene since 2008 and the release of her debut recording ‘Tequila Moon’.  Born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Hemet, CA, in part she takes her musical influences from her Mexican-American heritage.  Indeed her Mexican born father and mother filled the family home with festive, live Latin music and on graduating from USC with a degree in jazz studies she enjoyed instant success as a session player.  In 2005-06 Jessy toured with both The Temptations and Jessica Simpson but when she decided to focus her talents on contemporary jazz, she immediately knew she wanted to work with Paul Brown.  As Jessy signposted her career with a succession of hit albums Brown has remained a guiding light throughout with a case in point being her 2015 project, the very cool, very understated and very sophisticated ‘My One And Only One’.   ‘Blue’ followed in 2022.

Jessy has a new single right now. Titled ‘Right On Time’ it is well worth checking out.