Just when you thought smooth jazz was loosing its edge along comes the wonderful Walter Beasley with his stunning new album ‘Blackstreams’. The first single serviced to radio, ‘Don’t Say A Word’ proved to be a runaway success and this track, ‘Come On Over’, looks all set to follow a similar trajectory. Blurring smooth jazz with chill in a way most artists would be afraid to do this is a number that is right on the money.
Regular visitors to this page will know it is an extremely Paul Hardcastle friendly zone. We miss no opportunity to showcase the music of the United Kingdom's finest smooth jazz export and are doing just that with this tune, the sublime ‘Straight Ahead’.
It originates from Hardcastle’s 2005 CD ‘Hardcastle 4’, a collection that boasts superb tracks such as ‘Smooth Jazz is Bumpin’, ‘Serene’, ‘Where Are You Now’, ‘Was It Love’ and ‘Eastern Winds’.
Lifted from the album ‘Chilled Mind Volume 1’, the track ‘Can Not Forget You’ from renowned chill and lounge music producer Roberto Sol features German soul singer Mic Donet. For those, me included, who regard chill as a guilty pleasure, this one is right on the money.
I once spent one of the best afternoons of my entire life, aboard the Smooth Jazz Cruise as it glided through the Caribbean, in a room of less than a hundred people, listening to the late great George Duke with only a piano and a lifetime of musical memories to get him through.
On that day he was nothing short of magical and this track, ‘Guess You’re Not The One’ from his 2002 project ‘Face The Music’ is a timely reminder of why he will always be number one on my list.
The album ‘Enjoy the Ride’ by Kloud 9 was released in 2008 and included the mega sultry ‘I’m Calling You’. Featuring some stellar guest performances from Tom Hemby on guitar plus vocals from Bebe and Cece Winans, Brian McKnight and Stephanie Mills it’s a track that showcases to perfection what Kloud 9 (aka Kendall and Kelvis Duffie) are all about.
Due out February 20, the CD ‘Friends’ by Kirk Fischer is notable for many reasons, not least of which being it is produced by none other than Greg Adams and features East Bay Soul’s rhythm and horn section along with full orchestra.
Look out for a complete review of ‘Friends’ soon but for now here is a fascinating insight into the making of the track ‘Dis 'Sup’ that will be released to radio today, January 16.
My review of ‘Road To Monterey’ from the band Threestyle is only days away but for now enjoy this, the title track, which shows off what this cool collective of German guitarist Robert Fertl and Czech saxophonist Magdalena Chovancova is all about.
Florito, aka DJ Florian Luettich, is well known for his work that spans lounge, deep house, and chill out music. His work can be found on the Karmaloft label and on this particular track, ‘Ko Samui Nights’ from the album ‘Chase the Sun’ he is joined by fellow Karmaloft artist Bes & Meret.
Taken from Paul Hardcastle’s most recent project ‘The History of Paul Hardcastle 1984 – 2016’, ‘Its Not Impossible’ is a brand new tune that features Hardcastle’s daughter Maxine on vocals.
On the streets since September 13 the new album from the incomparable Gerald Albright is titled ‘G’. It is his very first independent release and with gems such as ‘Frankie B’, which is Albright’s tribute to Frankie Beverly, a cool remake of the classic ‘Lovely Day’, with the one and only Michael McDonald on vocals, and this track, the wonderful ‘Boom Boom’, looks like being a winner.
‘The History Of Paul Hardcastle’, out soon on Trippin N Rhythm is yet another celebration of the groove that has garnered an entire sub-genre of contemporary jazz. Hardcastle has the ability to take a single vibe then wring every once from it. ‘19’ is a case in point and another is ‘Bird Island’, traces of which can be found on the enormously compelling ‘Echoes Rising’ that launches the album in the USA as the first radio single.
Quite simply this is wonderful music from a truly timeless artist and comes highly recommended.
Pianist and producer Skinny Hightower has burst onto the contemporary jazz scene with his debut album ‘Cloud Nine’. He is supported in the venture by acoustic guitarist Antonio Rivera and Perry Mase who contributes on vocals and piccolo bass. If this track, ‘Cityscape’, is anything to go by Hightower seems destined for smooth jazz stardom.
Since 2001, and recording under the name Schwarz & Funk, producers Bob Schwarz and Jesse Funk have been painstakingly building a reputation for sumptuous chill grooves. Their latest project, the 2016 ‘Sapphire Lounge’, innovatively blends lounge tunes with deep house vibes and is exemplified by this cool cut.
Raised in New Orleans and now based in Texas, sax-man Vandell Andrew first burst onto the smooth jazz scene in 2011 with his debut CD ‘Years Later’. This collection of all original music paved the way to the superb five-track EP, ‘Turn It Up’ and now he is back with his latest project ‘All For Love’.
Check out this sultry smoker right here right now.
Those of you who get to see Peter White on his twice annual UK tours will need no introduction to sublime sax-man Carl Stanley and the equally impressive Oli Silk whose current CD, ‘Where I Left Off’, is marking him out as one of the genres top keyboard players.
This cut, taken from Stanley’s 2012 project ‘A Beautiful Thing’, tells you all you need to know about these two wonderful musicians.
The brand new CD from the wonderful Oli Silk is titled ‘Where I Left Off’ and includes featured performances from Steve Cole, Rick Braun, Althea Rene, Nick Colionne and Peter White. It is Rene on flute that adds her mellow magic to the splendid ‘Rest Assured’ that finds Mr. Silk in seductive mood and then some.
In terms of the evolution of what is known as smooth jazz, there can be no more influential album than ‘Breezin’ by George Benson. This seminal collection was released in 1976 and remains a beacon both for the talent of this consummate artist and the impact it had on those who followed. ‘Breezin’ is crammed full of timeless tunes yet equally, reflects an era when artists and producers were under less pressure to conform. Consequently, although virtually unheard of today, the fact ‘Breezin’ only comprised six tracks, and that three of those tracks had running times of over seven minutes was, back then, simply a statement of quality over format. I originally purchased ‘Breezin’ on cassette tape shortly after its release but recently was fortunate enough to rediscover this superb piece of work, on CD, hidden away in the ‘used’ section of a neighbourhood record store. Needless to say the memories came flooding back.
A real personal favorite is the Bobby Womack composed title cut. Here Benson’s wonderful work on guitar is complemented to perfection by Claus Ogerman’s suave orchestral backdrop and the fact this shimmering rendition still receives frequent radio play says everything that needs to be said about what is truly a genre framing masterpiece.