Smooth Jazz Therapy

Richard Elliot - Very Delicious

Scottish-born, LA raised and San Diego based, sax man supreme Richard Elliot will release his twenty first album, September 6, 2024, on the Shanachie Entertainment label.

Titled ‘Straight Up Down’ it is a sumptuous nine-track collection replete with Elliot’s signature soulful sound and a case in point is the first single to be serviced to radio, the aptly named ‘Very Delicious’. The song was provided to him by genre heavyweight Jeff Carruthers who also arranges the track and plays guitar. In fact Carruthers is not the only contributor with an undisputed smooth jazz pedigree. Ricky Peterson plays organ, Tracy Carter is on keys, Cornelius Mims provides bass and to top it all off Dan Needham is on drums and renowned percussionist Lenny Castro adds his own kind of magic.

‘Straight Up Down’ is mixed and produced by none other than Euge Groove who shares with Elliot the distinction of being one time members of that legendary horn driven collective Tower Of Power.

 

Euge Groove - Please Mr Groove

Lifted from his 2023 album ‘Comfort Zone’, ‘Please Mr Groove’ from celebrated saxophonist, composer and producer Euge Groove is a song that is loosely based on a cover of a dance club groove from the 80’s by the group One Way. The original featured a Vocoder hook that this time round is picked up and played by Richard Elliot (who incidentally will be back September 9 with his own new long player ‘Straight Up Down’.)

Also, a breakdown section in the song includes a Maceo Parker style sax line which here is replicated by none other than Candy Dulfer who leaps at the chance to pay her own tribute to the music of Parker.

‘Comfort Zone’ is really turning out to be a gift that keeps on giving. As well as ‘Please Mr Groove’ other tracks to hit the airwaves include the title cut (which proves to be the perfect showcase for all that’s good about Euge’s signature sound) and the soulfully rhythmic ‘Junior’ for which Euge goes full on ‘Junior Walker’ and then some.

 

Oli Silk - Grass Fed Funk

Featuring funky sax-man Marcus Anderson, the appropriately titled ‘Grass Fed Funk’ from Smooth Jazz Therapy favourite Oli Silk is the latest radio single from Silk’s current album ‘In Real Life’ that, since its release earlier this year, has been making significant waves.

Given the quality of the music on offer that isn’t surprising with cases in point being the wonderfully ‘in the pocket’ ‘Dare To Dream’, ‘Looking Glass’ (that Oli shares with up and coming vocalist Rebecca Jade) and the moody ‘Actually Actually’ with Kim Scott on flute.

Equally compelling is ‘New Horizons’ for which Ilya Serov adds muted trumpet while maybe best of all is the up tempo ‘A Lil Pick Me Up’ where Carl Cox on sax really blows the doors off.

All in all ‘In Real Life’ is everything we have come to expect from this consummate purveyor of high end contemporary jazz and is as ready radio as can be.

 

Marcus Anderson - Anyway You Want It

Saxman Marcus Anderson blends his time as a top-notch studio and stage performer with running his own coffee business from where he promotes his own brand of coffee “AND Coffee”.

Indeed, with fifteen studio albums to his name and five Billboard number ones, his reputation has opened doors for him to perform for such luminaries as Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson and Hillary Clinton plus on stage collaborations with Sheila E., Anthony Hamilton, Stevie Wonder, CeeLo Green, Lailah Hathaway, Eric Benet and Brian Culbertson.

Anderson’s latest album is ‘The Vibe’ with the latest radio single from it being the up tempo ‘Anyway You Want It’ which is right up there with the best that ‘The Vibe’ has to offer and in the good company of another Smooth Jazz Therapy’ favourite, the simmering ‘The Farewell’ for which input from fellow saxophonist Donald Hayes proves to be the icing on an extremely jazzy cake.

 

The 3 Keys - Into The New

Contemporary jazz is no stranger to the concept of the ‘super group’. Constructed around a coming together of established and talented solo artists, it has created the likes of ‘Sax Pack’, (Steve Cole – Kim Waters – Jeff Kashawa), ‘Jazz Funk Soul’ (Jeff Lorber – Everette Harp – Paul Jackson Jr) and even ‘Fourplay (Bob James – Nathan East – Harvey Mason – Lee Ritenour).

Of course in the case of Fourplay, Ritenour gave way first to Larry Carlton and then Chuck Loeb (a founder member of Jazz Funk Soul) who sadly passed away in 2017.

In 2023, and for the first time ever, the genre was blessed by an all keyboard super group’, the aptly named ‘The 3 Keys’ that comprises Bob Baldwin, Gail Jhonson and Phil Davis

Vincent Ingala - Escape With Me

With both the albums ‘Fire & Desire’ and ‘Echoes Of The Heart’ former Billboard Smooth Jazz Artist Of The Year Vincent Ingala cemented himself into the core of everything that is good about smooth jazz. Not only that, for ‘Fire & Desire’, Vincent played every instrument, from saxophones and keyboards to drums, guitar and bass. He also produced, recorded and mixed the entire set as well as writing all but one of the ten choice tunes.

Now, brand new for 2024, he is back with the delicious ‘Escape With Me’. It has already garnered the wonderfully funky ‘Movin And Shakin’, and now it is the turn of the title cut to take the airwaves by storm. This mid tempo gem with a vibe to die for is without doubt one of the best smooth jazz tracks of the year.

 

Lemek - Joint Connection

Time was when Smooth Jazz Therapy was all over the music if of sax-man Quentin Gerard W so it is particularly pleasing to feature his son, Lemek , who, from his base in New Orleans, is forging a career as a contemporary jazz guitarist.

Signed to the Trippin N Rhythm label Lemek made some considerable waves in 2023 with his album ‘Emergence’ ’from which the hugely infectious single ‘Groove Central’ was taken. It featured label mate Ryan La Valette on sax and now Lemek has again dipped his toe into the creative waters of ‘Emergence’ for his latest single ‘Joint Connection’ which checks every contemporary jazz box imaginable.

Make no mistake; this is one to look out for.

 

Jarez - Coming Back Around

In a varied career that now stretches back going on twenty years, Jarel Posey (who performs and records under the name of Jarez) has combined his goal of making smooth jazz cool again with plying his musical trade as the sax player for close friend and hip-hop star Coolio. In fact Jarez first started making waves in 2007 with the much vaunted debut album ‘To The Top’ and since then, with a combination of CD’s and singles, he has continued to articulate what contemporary jazz in the twenty first century should all be about.

His latest single is the up tempo sunshine filled 'Coming Back Around' that features bass - man Julian Vaughn and is well worth checking out

 

 

 

Boney James - All I Want Is You

Described by saxophonist and composer Boney James as “one of the most exciting vocal collaborations I have ever recorded” ‘All I Want Is You’ featuring critically acclaimed R&B vocalist October London is the first single from the highly anticipated ‘Slow Burn’ that will be released October 18 on the Concord label.

It will be Boney’s nineteenth studio album and includes an impressive list of guest collaborators including legendary bass player Marcus Miller who lends a hand on both ‘Arcadia’ and an extremely cool remake of the Herbie Hancock and Bennie Maupin classic ‘Butterfly’. Also around is multi-instrumentalist Jairus Mozee who has worked with the likes of Anderson Paak, Anthony Hamilton and Nikki Minaj. He co-writes and produces four of the tracks including the aforementioned   ‘All I Want Is You’.

Check back here soon for a complete review of ‘Slow Burn’.

 

Jonathan Fritzen - Celestial Summer

Back in February of this year the hot news was that almost two years since Billboard chart-topping pianist Jonathan Fritzén took the genre by storm with his sixth solo album, the outstanding ‘Piano Tales’ he was back with the decidedly atmospheric ‘Into The Source’.

Well, that was then and this is now so it should be no surprise that Fritzen has not only recaptured the mood but also the season with his delightfully chilled new single ‘Celestial Summer’.

Released on his own label, Nordic Night Records, ‘Celestial Summer’ confirms that Fritzen truly is a man for all seasons.

 

 

Jeff Ryan - Love Struck

In little over a year sax-man Jeff Ryan has delivered the Top 10 charting Billboard single ‘How I Feel With You’, the equally good ‘Where There’s Hope’ and now ‘Love `Struck’ that finds him reuniting with keyboard player Greg Manning who, with Ryan, co-wrote and produced ‘How I Feel With You’.

In fact since 2018 Jeff has been on something of a roll. Over the course of what has been relentless hit making this latest stop off with ‘Love Struck’ finds him teaming with new Woodward Avenue label mate guitarist Orianthi who steals the show not only with her unbridled energy but also a blistering rock guitar solo. Factor in the easy grooving help provided by Jay Gore on rhythm guitar and first call bass player Roberto Vally and what you have is a track one notch up from what might be described as your traditional sax-driven smooth jazz ballad and is sure to do well.

 

Kat Hawley - Rather Be

Out now on Adam Hawley’s MBF label, ‘X - IX –VIII’ is the debut album from (Adam’s wife) Kat Hawley. The first single from it, ‘Keep On Keeping On’, was released back in 2023 and included a featured performance from sax-man Steve Cole while her sophomore single, ‘Never Too Busy’ only served to heighten anticipation of the album to come. When it did arrive (in mid June) it was fan-fared by a third single, ‘Rather Be’ that has the sort of easy grooving ambience that is sure to be Kat’s trademark in the years to come.

 

Hank Bilal - Groove Me

Standing in what is a relatively short line of what are specialist smooth jazz trombone players, Hank Bilal is all set to release his hot now single ‘Groove Me’ that features sax-man Michael Lington. Indeed when one discounts the likes of Nick Lane, Jeff Bradshaw and (spasmodically) Brian Culbertson the Grammy nominated Bilal has a real opportunity to corner this niche market. ‘Groove Me ‘ will allow him to do just that.

 

Kimberly Brewer - Tasting Sunshine

The latest single from vocalist Kimberly Brewer is a super smooth rendition of ‘Tasting Sunshine’ that was written by Lynne Fiddmont and which appeared on her 2018 album ‘Power Of Love’.

Of course Kimberly has spent the majority of what has been a stellar career providing background vocals for the likes of Vanessa Williams, Will Downing, and Earth Wind & Fire, but is best known for her years of work with the great Stevie Wonder.

This connection with Stevie Wonder in fact spreads far and wide and a case in point is her 2023 single ‘Don't Make Me Wait Too Long’ that was written by Wonder in 1980 for the great Roberta Flack. In fact it was Wonder who suggested that Kimberly should cover the track and he even agreed to play harmonica on it.

As for Tasting Sunshine’ Kimberley ensures there is a soulful vibe throughout and in this respect the track is further enhanced by a featured performances by Gerald Albright and Mark Kibble.

 

Joe Taylor - Westside Chill

His first album since ‘Sugardust In The Devil Wind’ in 2015 and his first contemporary jazz project since ‘Accidental Sugar’ in 2007, ‘Westside Chill’ by guitarist Joe Taylor hit the streets earlier this year and will now be released on vinyl August 12 which just happens to be National Vinyl Record Day.

Written and produced by Taylor and four-time Grammy winner Steve Rosenthal this tight ten-track collection is epitomised by the ultra moody title cut while the next track lined up for the airwaves is Taylor’s nod to legendary bass player Jaco Pastorius, ‘Jaco’s Court’, which is being serviced to radio on September 21.

 

Vincent Ingala - Movin And Shakin

With both the albums ‘Fire & Desire’ and ‘Echoes Of The Heart’ former Billboard Smooth Jazz Artist Of The Year Vincent Ingala cemented himself into the core of everything that is good about smooth jazz. Not only that, for ‘Fire & Desire’, Vincent played every instrument, from saxophones and keyboards to drums, guitar and bass. He also produced, recorded and mixed the entire set as well as writing all but one of the ten choice tunes.

Consequently it should be no surprise that for his latest single, ‘Movin And Shakin’, that is available now on most good streaming platforms, he has again put on what is in every respect is a one man show.

Now comfortably ensconced in the smooth jazz friendly confines of the Shanachie Entertainment label there is every chance this hot new single is paving the way for yet another hit album to come.

Check it out.

 

 

Alex Crown - The Last Straw

Right back when they were both in their early teens, Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite Jonathan Fritzen and his friend Alex Crown would hold jam sessions, fool around with jazz harmonies, improvise and create a bond that today still stands strong. In fact Alex has appeared on several of Fritzén's records, and can be heard as featured guitarist on the hit single ‘Melting’ from his 2010 album ‘Diamonds’.

Both are from Stockholm, Sweden where guitarist Crown has worked as a freelance musician for the last 15 years. He has also been the driving force as composer, producer and musician for the music project Sonic Station, which has released two albums.

Now, with the highly anticipated release of his first solo album ‘For Obvious Reasons’, it could be argued that this is Crown’s time. The CD is already being trailed by the singles ‘The Last Straw’ and the equally good title track. It is one of four tracks co-written by and featuring Fritzen and well worth checking out.

 

Special EFX - Cool Summer

It was in 2022 that sophisticated super group Special EFX marked its forty years of music making with the album ‘Twenty Twenty 2’ and despite the frequent changes in personnel that have characterised the evolution of this cool collective the creative constant of Chilli Minucci remains front back and centre. In fact Minucci co-founded Special EFX thirty-seven years ago with the now deceased George Jinda and in so doing etched himself into the fabric of contemporary jazz history. Indeed, never one to sit on his laurels Minucci was back two years later with the live album ‘Return To Budapest With Love’ and if that wasn’t enough Special EFX has just released the single ‘Cool Summer’.

With an irresistible vibe that is classic Special EFX and then some this might well end up being on of my tracks of the year.