Hiromi - Voice (2011) "It seems improbable that a classical pianist’s chance meeting with Chick Corea could start a young musician on a musical journey that leads to true innovation in Jazz. The latest offering from Hiromi Uehara, ‘Voice’, featuring Anthony Jackson on bass and Simon Phillips on drums proves that this chance meeting was in fact destiny. With the notable exception of “Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8, Pathetique”, the album exclusively features original compositions by Hiromi; and opens with a deceptive dirge in title track “Voice” before exploding into an energized frenzy of syncopated drumming and deft bass counterpoint. The focus required to keep track of this frenzy almost acts a prepatation guide for the rest of the album as Hiromi believes focus is required to “hear someone’s inner voice”. David La Rosa - thejazzline.com, CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

Bobby Hutcherson - Solo/Quartet (1982) "This is one of vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson's most unusual and interesting releases. The first half of the set features Hutcherson all by himself although, by utilizing overdubbing, he almost sounds like Max Roach's M'Boom ensemble. Hutcherson is heard on vibes, marimbas, bass marimba, chimes, xylophone and bells and these three selections are quite fun and energetic. The second half is more conventional, with Hutcherson welcoming pianist McCoy Tyner (in his first sideman appearance in a decade), bassist Herbie Lewis and drummer Billy Higgins for two standards and a pair of the vibist's originals. The quartet set is excellent but it is Bobby Hutcherson's solo performances that are most memorable and unique. "" ~ Scott Yanow - AllMusic.com, CD Discography, Facebook, Wikipedia page and All About Jazz Bio.

Saxophonist Bill Evans - The Other Side Of Something (2007) “Throughout his 20-year career as a solo artist, multi Grammy nominated saxophonist Bill Evans has explored a variety of musical settings that go well beyond the confines of traditional jazz, including hip-hop, fusion, reggae, Brazilian and slamming funk. Evans steps into more adventurous territory on Soulgrass, blending jazz, funk and roots music into a seamless and wholly unique hybrid of quintessentially American styles. Bill Evans started playing piano before switching to tenor sax in high school. After one year of studying music at North Texas State University he transferred to William Patterson College in New Jersey in 1978 and also began private studies with sax great and former Miles Davis sideman, Dave Liebman. Through Liebmans recommendation, he was tapped by Miles in 1980 , at the age of 22, to play a key role in Miles celebrated comeback band. ”   ~ www.brittfest.org (September 6, 2008),  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Paul Brown — Love You Found Me (2010) "Prolific producer/guitarist Paul Brown shoots another gem our way on Sept. 28 with his latest, Love You Found Me, bearing all of his smooth, rather coolly laid-back trademark chops on his trusty Gibson L5 (there are some moments when he ushers in his old Fender Strat, as well, for a warmer, earthier feel). The project is greatly refreshing and certainly all-Brown. Nothing oddly out of character leaps out at you, and that’s a really good thing. Some artists have such a good, stable “fit” that works so well with their audience that it just makes sense to stick with it, understanding that too much venturing beyond, while often a good thing, can also be detrimental when trying to remain identifiable." Ronald Jackson - thesmoothjazzride.com, CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

Candy Dulfer - Funked Up (Heads Up) (2009)   “Dutch sax superstar Candy Dulfer was grooving heavily along, making the funkiest recording of her life when an interesting and ultimately irresistible job came up for her and her sizzling band. They were asked by Dutch filmmaker Fred van Dijk to record the soundtrack for “Kissed By A Grape,” a documentary exploring the world of organic winemaking. Musically, that’s a world away from Dulfer’s wild touring experiences and sessions for Prince, but she took the gig and created what are decidedly ambient vibes for the film.”  — Jonathan Widran - JazzMonthly.com  CD Discography, Facebook, and MySpace Music page.

Alice Coltrane - Ptah the El Daoud (1970) 
"Ptah the El Daoud is a truly great album, and listeners who surrender themselves to it emerge on the other side of its 46 minutes transformed. From the purifying catharsis of the first moments of the title track to the last moments of "Mantra," with its disjointed piano dance and passionate ribbons of tenor cast out into the universe, the album resonates with beauty, clarity, and emotion.".  - ~ Stacia Proefrock - THE ALLMUSIC BLOG,  CD Discography, and MySpace page.

Eddie Harris - The Electrifying Eddie Harris (1967) "Long underrated in the pantheon of jazz greats, Eddie Harris was an eclectic and imaginative saxophonist whose career was marked by a hearty appetite for experimentation. He had the chops to handle technically demanding bop, and the restraint to play in the cool-toned West Coast style, but he also delved into crossover-friendly jazz-pop, rock- and funk-influenced fusion, outside improvisations, bizarre electronic effects, new crossbreedings of traditional instruments, blues crooning, and even comedy. Much of this fell outside the bounds of what critics considered legitimate, serious jazz, and so they dismissed him out of hand as too mainstream or too gimmicky. To be fair, Harris' large catalog is certainly uneven; not everything he tried worked. Yet with the passage of time, the excellence of his best work has become abundantly clear."   ~ Steve Huey - AllMusic.com, CD Discography, Facebook page, and Website and Eddie Harris Remembered.

Sonny Rollins - Road Shows 1 (2008)  "The sound of Sonny Rollins is unmistakable. Instantly recognizable when he plays just one note, this living legend has long stood out in the crowd of tenor players during the remarkable six decades he's been recording and playing. Since Rollins took control of his music publishing a few years ago, releasing recordings under his own label, Doxy, the possibility of hearing some of Rollins' live music was raised. Apparently 200 live performances have been recorded since the 1980s, and the saxophonist, along with his producer/trombonist/nephew Clifton Anderson, has been selecting takes to release. Road Shows Vol. 1 is the first, in what promises to be a long line of sound documentation to be published." ~ Mark Corroto - AllAboutJazz.com, CD Discography, Facebook, MySpace page and Website.

Little Dragon - Little Dragon (Import - 2007) "For years now, the world of music has been too global and interconnected for one to truly be surprised at an outfit such as Little Dragon, but it's no less a wonder that a sound as American as soul and R&B can infuse the music this pervasively of a group of high school buddies from Sweden. Little Dragon is a dynamic self-titled debut that is yet another credible and enchanting Euro-approximation of soul and rhythm & blues. Vocalist Yukimi Nagano displays all the subtle inflections and conspicuous acrobatics that have identified the R&B genre for years, but specifically the more recent paradigms of the Chaka Khans and MJBs, noted easily on the album's highlight "Constant Surprises."" ~ Vincent Thomas - AllMusic.com, CD Discography, Facebook, SoundCloud page and Website.

Patrick Yandall - A New Day (2009) "If there is one musician whose style typifies the sun soaked vibe synonymous with the city of San Diego it is guitarist Patrick Yandall. When in 2006 I reviewed his album ‘Samoa Soul’ I described him as having rhythm and melody pumping through every vein of his body and his 2008 follow-up ‘Laws Of Groovity’ provided further evidence of his distinct southern Californian groove. Now, with his latest project, ‘A New Day’, he has surpassed himself with a wonderful collection of eleven self penned tracks that is jam packed with some of the best contemporary jazz you will hear this year." ~ Smooth Jazz Therapy,  CD Discography and Reverbnation page.

Christian McBride Big Band - The Good Feeling (2011)   “The Good Feeling marks the debut of the Christian McBride Big Band, but the seeds for this album were sown in the mid-'90s. Jazz at Lincoln Center commissioned McBride to write and arrange his first major big band work—"Bluesin' In Alphabet City"—in 1995, and that experience really sparked his interest in composing for large groups. Now, sixteen years after the ink dried on that number, it appears in the penultimate position on his first big band recording.”  — Dan Bilawsky - All About Jazz  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Darren Rahn - Talk of the Town" (2009)  You may know Darren Rahn from his production work in #1 hits with radio favorites like Wayman Tisdale, Dave Koz, Eric Darius and Tim Bowman, along with other songs in the top three. However, it is time to crank up your radio dial and tune into Darren Rahn – the solo artist. Darren’s single, “Talk of the Town,” topped the Billboard chart at number one this week. Rahn gives all the credit to his growing fanbase for his success. “It’s both an honor and humbling to reach #1. To know that fans around the world are enjoying what you do is a tremendous feeling. Everything I do is for them. If I can create something that makes a listener feel good, then I know I’ve done my job.”  ~ Cheryl Hughey Promotions - AllAboutJazz.com, Website, MySpace, Facebook

Karrin Allyson - Round Midnight (2011) "On her new album, 'Round Midnight, Grammy-nominated vocalist and pianist Karrin Allyson weaves an elegant, understated dreamscape featuring 11 songs by some of the most storied writers in jazz, Broadway and pop music, from Duke Ellington to Stephen Sondheim to Paul Simon and more. The May 3rd release, the singer's thirteenth on the respected Concord Jazz label, marks the first time that Allyson plays all the keyboard parts — piano and Rhodes. The subtle production lets Allyson's voice shine, as she delivers melancholy, mature takes on such classics as 'Send In The Clowns,' Charlie Chaplin's 'Smile,' Johnny Mandel's 'The Shadow of Your Smile," Ellington's 'Sophisticated Lady,' and more. "   ~ SETH COHEN PR, - AllAboutJazz.com, CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

Kevin Toney - Extra Sensual Perception (1999) "This master of elegant funk piano seems poised to carry the torch that Joe Sample lit long ago. He works with fatter grooves, here programming his rack most of the time to create a shuffling retro-soul hip-hop mix. But Toney's weaving of melodic lightness on his feet in some spots with darker tonal shifts in others is unmistakably Sample-esque. " ~ Jonathan Widran - AllMusic.com,  Discography, Website, YouTube and Reverbnation

Roy Hargrove - Earfood (2008) " Roy Hargrove makes no bones about his desire to play jazz for lots of paying customers. And why not? We all want jazz to be heard by a large audience. But how does one attract that audience without resorting to pop music and merely slapping the jazz label on it? Who are the role models? For Hargrove, the most pertinent examples are the early-’60s hard-bop records by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers when fellow trumpeter Freddie Hubbard was in the band and the early-’70s jazz-funk records Hubbard made for producer Creed Taylor. Both bodies of work feature top jazz musicians playing heady theme-and-variation improvisations, but they also feature strong, steady grooves and catchy melodic themes. That’s the blend Hargrove is going for on his new album Earfood." ~ Geoffrey Himes - JazzTimes, CD Discography, Wikipedia, Verve Music page.

Norah Jones - Feels Like Home (2004) "It may be far too obvious to even mention that Norah Jones' follow-up to her 18-million-unit-selling, eight-Grammy-winning, genre-bending, super-smash album Come Away With Me has perhaps a bit too much to live up to. But that's probably the biggest conundrum for Jones: having to follow up the phenomenal success of an album that was never designed to be so hugely popular in the first place. Come Away With Me was a little album by an unknown pianist/vocalist who attempted to mix jazz, country, and folk in an acoustic setting -- who knew? Feels Like Home could be seen as "Come Away With Me Again" if not for that fact that it's actually better." ~ Matt Collar - AllMusic.com, CD Discography, Wikipedia, Reverbnation page and Website.

George Benson - Breezin' (1976)  "Breezin’ is notable for a few reasons. It was by far the best selling jazz album of its era, was certified triple platinum in 1984, topped both the jazz and pop album charts, and also had top charting singles in both the title track and the vocal track This Masquerade, written by Leon Russell... George Benson’s Breezin’ album is arguably the best of his four late 70’s releases. It established the style the other three followed, and has remarkably fresh performances for a studio album, especially considering that the style doesn’t leave lots of room for “stretching out”  - Smooth Jazz Origins: George Benson’s Breezin’, CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

Jessy J - Hot Sauce (2011) “Nothing wakes up food like hot sauce – and nothing will wake up your ears like Jessy J‘s new album. A special blend of ten fiery tunes, this Hot Sauce is seasoned with authentic Latin zing and packed with real jazz flavor. The accomplished saxophonist/singer/composer’s third album spotlights her collaborations with some of today’s most prominent contemporary jazz musicians, including guitarists Paul Brown and Ray Parker Jr, keyboardists Joe Sample and Gregg Karukas, and drummer Harvey Mason of Fourplay... Jessy’s success is the product of a lot of hard work and a never ending focus on accomplishing her goals. “I still practice every day,” she says. “I love to play music because my spirit feels at peace. I dreamed of playing music as a child and now music is my life.”   Concord Music Group ,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Stanley Turrentine - Sugar (1970)   “If ever there were a record that both fit perfectly and stood outside the CTI Records' stable sound, it is Sugar by Stanley Turrentine. Recorded in 1970, only three tracks appear on the original album (on the reissue there's a bonus live version of the title track, which nearly outshines the original and is 50 percent longer). Turrentine, a veteran of the soul-jazz scene since the '50s, was accompanied by a who's who of groove players, including guitarist George Benson, Lonnie Liston Smith on electric piano, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, bassist Ron Carter, organist Butch Cornell, and drummer Billy Kaye, among others.”  — Thom Jurek - All Music Guide ,  CD Discography, NPR, and MySpace Music page.

Joyce Cooling - Global Cooling (2009) “Joyce cooling There is little doubt that San Francisco based guitarist Joyce Cooling has the monopoly on the kind of tight mid tempo smooth jazz that will always find an audience. Known for both her unique finger picking style and her passion for rhythm and harmony, the collaborations she has long enjoyed with writing partner Jay Wagner have signposted her career and now she is back with her brand new release, the cleverly titled ‘Global Cooling’.”    ~ Smooth Jazz Therapy,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue (1959) "Miles Davis was already known as an innovative and prolific trumpet player by the time he recorded Kind of Blue in 1959. Years earlier he had played bebop alongside Charlie Parker, and later set in motion a style that came to be known as "cool jazz" with his 1949 and 1950 Birth of the Cool sessions. Kind of Blue marked a new, elegantly simple, and resoundingly beautiful approach to jazz improvisation. Captured during two impromptu recording sessions, Kind of Blue features tenor saxophonist John Coltrane, alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, bassist Paul Chambers, drummer Jimmy Cobb, and the pianists Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans (although not at the same time)." ~ Jacob Teichroew - About.com, Wikipedia,  CD Discography, and MySpace page.

Cindy Bradley - Unscripted (2011) "Every now and then a musician gets bold and breaks the mold. Cindy Bradley's Unscripted is the sound of an artist just going for it. The nearly eight-minute "Prelude/Massive Transit/Interlude" suite that kicks off the album is like a rush of cool air to the face on a hot summer day. It's fast, furious and funky, with Bradley blowing the hell out of her trumpet as she dukes it out with producer Michael Broening's keyboards and Tim Veder's sax solos... The title is slightly misleading. There may not have been a script for Unscripted, but there is definitely a plan and Bradley is executing it to perfection. This is a highly rewarding sophomore effort from Bradley and establishes her as someone on the short list of jazz artists well worth following to see what comes next. " ~ Jeff Wimbush - AllAboutJazz.com,  Discography Website, Reverbnation, Facebook

U-NAM - Unanimity (2009) "Nimble with the strings, varied in his influences and dynamic in his delivery, it has barely taken two CD's for jazz guitarist Emmanuel Abiteboul, better known as U-Nam, to establish himself as one of today's most exciting artists, producers and musicians. Elastic in his approach and eager to incorporate differing musical styles into his tracks (pop, funk and soul), U-Nam, as expected, follows up 2007's Back From the 80's with---what else?--- another delicious fusion of funk, pop, and contemporary soul.'"   ~ Melody Charles - soultracks.com, Website, Reverbnation,  CD Discography, YouTube and Facebook.

Heather Headley - In My Mind (2006) "There's truth in the number three being a charm, as it is how long we've been awaiting the return of this soulful, sensual, know how to deliver a song sister ~ Heather Headley. The Trinidad diva is back in full force with a new look and a have to go out and buy sophomore CD entitled "In My Mind." Heather remains consistent with the topics of love; “you have to go since you can't act right”, remember when?”, and “self love”, just to name a few. She makes the waiting worth it... If you've been questioning where is Heather Headley, ask no more. She's at your local record stores anticipating your embrace by ears. I rate this project 5 stars. Remember, music is something given from the soul, and Heather Headley provides you with a lot of it on 'In My Mind.'"   ~ Rebecca "Buterfly" Vaughns - RHYTHMflow Radio.net, Website, MySpace,  CD Discography, YouTube and Facebook.

Chris Standring - Blue Bolero (2010) "Chris Standring has never made an album quite like Blue Bolero. Standring could have stayed in a smooth jazz comfort zone of safe and innocuous music. Low risk can mean high reward, but Standring chose to go a different, riskier and far more ambitious route. The result is an album he should be both pleased with and proud of... There are signature moments in a musician's career when they make an album that both defines them and sets the course for their future. Herbie Hancock had his with Head Hunters (Columbia, 1973), Weather Report reached their summit with Heavy Weather (Columbia, 1977), and George Benson took off with Breezin' (Warner Brothers, 1976). Whether or not Blue Bolero belongs in that kind of distinguished company is a judgment call, but it is the best album Chris Standring has made yet."   ~ Jeff Winbush - AllAboutJazz.com, Website, Reverbnation,  CD Discography and Facebook.

Jane Lui - Goodnight Company (2011) "Does the world really need another young woman with an acoustic guitar, soulful voice and ear for melody? Yes, it does. Don’t take my word for it, though. Goodnight Company, the third album by Jane Lui, exists because the people demanded it. With half of the album financed by donations from fans on PledgeMusic.com, Lui’s new album is the direct result of making music that the world wants to hear. Goodnight Company has a surreal quality, with Lui embarking on a dreamlike journey that covers every mood without reveling in any. There is an endearing quirkiness to the collection, with Lui at times sounding like a more accessible Tori Amos, but with a better voice. Her classically trained vocals are as sexy as they are mysterious, as Lui beckons the listener through ten tracks. "   ~ Jeremy Lukens - Glide Magazine,  Website,  Reverbnation,  CD Discography and Facebook.

Jimmie Vaughn - Strange Pleasure & Out There (2009) "The two albums rereleased on this CD were 1990's comeback LPs after a rest from the music scene. The music here reminds me of early Thunderbirds material - good tuneful blues-based rockers with memorable melodies and great playing. Jimmie Vaughan provides the vocals in typically laid back Clapton-JJ Cale mode and cranks out guitar licks absorbed from Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker and Johnny Guitar Watson while Dr John, Denny Freeman, Niles Rodgers and George Rains lend support. Backing vocals are supplied by Harry Bowens Jr, Lou Ann Barton and Oren Waters." ~ Red Lickt - redlick.com,  CD Discography and Facebook page.

Bebel Gilberto - All In One (2009) "Gilberto’s fourth album All In One is her debut album for Verve, which means she now shares a label with Diana Krall (who released her own take on the Anglo-Brazilian tradition earlier this year) and Melody Gardot (whose laidback vocals have a warmness not dissimilar to Gilberto’s). Like those artists, Gilberto delivers an album that seems designed for comfort and easy listening, featuring slow-to-medium tempo songs which are unchallenging but beguiling. All In One opens with ambient noises and the soft sound of a distinctively Brazilian guitar, Gilberto’s voice immediately velvety and inviting as she delivers a “canção de amor” (love song). A piano enters later, introducing a sound that is central to what will prove to be the softest of the singer’s albums.’s improvisations, invited the young pianist to record a solo piano project entitled Onaje." ~ Richard Elliott - popmatters.com,  CD Discography and Reverbnation page and Facebook.

Jean-Luc Ponty - 'Enigmatic Ocean' (1977) "Enigmatic Ocean is Ponty's masterpiece and possibly the best Fusion CD ever. The line up is second to none; Holdsworth,Smith, Stuermer, Armstrong and Zavod all add to the amazing auditory tapestry that Jean-Luc has created. No single recording has ever combined Classical compostion, Jazz improvisation, Funky bass, and delivered it in a high energy rock context like Enigmatic Ocean has. Every tune on this disc is a highlight. " ~ JazzRockFusion,  CD Discography, Website and MySpace Music page.

Brian Culbertson - Bringing Back The Funk (2008) "Keyboardist extraordinaire Brian Culbertson has a style that is a mixture of inimitable funk and suave grooves. Growing up, Culbertson was heavily influenced by the work of Maynard Ferguson, Dave Sanborn, the Brecker Brothers, Blood Sweat & Tears, James Brown, and Earth Wind & Fire. Bringing Back the Funk (GRP Records, 2008) employs outstanding musicians to accompany him on the exploration of his funk music roots, many of whom were a part of the very acts that influenced him. The album—and the fact that the sessions were recorded live just like they were in the time of these great funk bands—ensures that the vibe of the album and the song selection stays true to the authenticity of the genre." Katrina-Kasey Wheeler - AllAboutJazz.com, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Nils - Up Close and Personal (2009) "'The album is the perfect combination of the familiar merged with the new and ‘Catalina’, a cut that is as magical as the island from which it takes its name, offers the same warm and comforting groove on which Nils has built his considerable reputation. ‘Happy To CU’ stays very much with his own west coast sound and ‘Getting Hooked’, despite having a similar feel, is right in the pocket and as catchy as they come. Nils notches down the tempo for ‘Until I See You Again’ and in doing so delivers a chilled out delight. It’s a tune that shows off a more sensitive side to his music and with the evocative ‘Winter Rain’ he conjures up a deconstructed masterpiece. The album’s only cover is his bluesy take on the Santana classic ‘Europa’ and while keeping it mellow for ‘East Bay’ he, true to type, makes it hugely infectious too." CD Review - SmoothJazzTherapy.com, CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

Faith Evans - Faithfully (2001) “Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Hip-Hop - Evans provides all flavours for a variety of listeners on Faithfully. If this fails to hit the mainstream charts, it will definitely go down as a street classic. Let's hope this will bury the shroud of negativity that has followed the singer once and for all, and help to focus on one of the most powerful set of vocals in the music industry today.”   ~ Keysha Davis - BBC Music Guide,  CD Discography, Website, Reverbnation and MySpace Music page.

Michael Shrieve - Spellbinder Live At Tost (2008) "Ever the busy session player, Shrieve's name isn't as well known as it ought to be, despite his infrequent solo recordings (the last being some decade-and-a-half ago). That should all change with Michael Shrieve's Spellbinder, an elegant jam band of the first order that mixes rock with jazz in equal and exciting measure. This beautifully conceived quintet takes its name from guitarist Gabor Szabo's tune, which is best known from its brief appearance at the end of Santana's hit, "Black Magic Woman." Shrieve's unit contains trumpeter John Fricke, offering a taste of 70s-era Miles, organist Joe Doria, guitarist Danny Godinez and bassist Farko Dosumov—all fellow Seattle residents. The band has a standing Monday night gig at the Seattle club Tost, where this exceptionally fine performance was recorded during February 2008." ~ Douglas Payne - AllAboutJazz.com,   Discography, Website, Wikipedia and Reverbnation

Miles Davis - In A Silent Way (1969) "'This is the kind of album that gives you faith in the future of music. It is not rock and roll, but it's nothing stereotyped as jazz either. All at once, it owes almost as much to the techniques developed by rock improvisors in the last four years as to Davis' jazz background. It is part of a transcendental new music which flushes categories away and, while using musical devices from all styles and cultures, is defined mainly by its deep emotion and unaffected originality." LESTER BANGS - Rollingstone, CD Discography, and MySpace page.

Sara Tavares - Balance (2006) “Sara Tavares really cuts right to it in Balance, her debut album. There's no nervous first-timer stuff here, it's truly a beautiful, fun and refreshing album. Tavares proves herself both as a songwriter and a vocalist, and has shown early that in the long-term, she is a force to be reckoned with. Balance skips neatly between sexy jazz ballads ("Dam Bo"), upbeat Afro-pop ("Poka Terra") and even smooth reggae ("Planeta Sukri") without missing a beat. Tavares is a wise and clever poet, and her inter-lingual wordplay resembles that of Manu Chao. The album is breezily warm and eminently listenable.”   ~ Megan Romer - About.com Guide,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul (1968) "Aretha's Franklin's position as soul music's premier female vocalist was consolidated by this album. Her strident reading of Don Covay's 'Chain Of Fools' set the tone for a collection on which the singer unveiled several stellar original compositions and reinterpreted a batch of classic songs. Franklin's gospel roots were clearly displayed on the anthem-like 'People Get Ready' while her interpretation of 'Natural Woman' showed both vulnerable and assertive qualities. Lady Soul captures a performer at the peak of her power, restating her ability to take material and make it uniquely her own. " ~ CD Universe ( Expand Full Description),  Discography Facebook BandPage, Wikipedia, MySpace Music

Joshaua Redman - Compass (2009) "With the exception of "Moonlight" all the tunes are group originals, most of them written by Redman. Sometimes, as on the boppish "Hutchhiker's Guide" and "Round Reuben," the Pat Metheny-esque "Faraway," or the Eastern-undertoned, soprano vignette "Ghost," Redman's tunes are conventionally conceived. Almost as frequently, they resemble exercises or motifs, skeletal and reiterative, but with each nonetheless possessing a recognisable emotional character—the restless "Insomnomaniac" and manic "Un Peu Fou" are as their titles suggest. An album of vigorous, passionate, improvised music built on simple tunes and unfussy arrangements, Compass is Joshua Redman's first undeniably colossal album. " Chris May - All About Jazz, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Esperanza Spalding - Esperanza (2008) "For the purist who wants to know what all the excitement is about Esperanza Spalding, they can skip directly to track 11—"If That's True"—of her sophomore album Esperanza, where she works out on the acoustic bass in an all-out jam with Donald Harrison on alto saxophone and Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet. It flat-out smokes, and showcases the Berklee-trained bassist as potentially one of the more promising young talents in jazz.". AllAboutJazz.com - Jeff Wimbush,  CD, Website and MySpace Music page.

John Lee Hooker - The Healer (1989) "The Healer was oddly a major mainstream breakthrough for John Lee Hooker. The album was one of the first to feature a wide array of guest stars, including Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos and Carlos Santana. The album immediately captured widespread media attention because of all the superstar musicians involved in its production and has to date been John Lee's most successful release. Recorded in analog and mixed to 1/4" 15ips analog tape, the sound is better than almost any other Hooker recording. Transferred from the original 1/4" analog tapes by Bernie Grundman using Classic's "all tube" cutting system, gives this release a warmth and comfort it has never had. If you're a John Lee Hooker fan then this a must! Great sound and classic Hooker guitar and vocal performances." ~ Dr. T - mississippimoan.blogspot.com,  CD Discography and MySpace page and Wikipedia.

Christian Scott - Live at Newport (2008) " (JVC Jazz Festival, Aug. 2008) features 70+ minutes on the CD and over 100 minutes of video footage, reprising the CDs tracks (minus The Crawler). Scott deftly mixes rock rhythms with arena-like standard jazz. There is a mixture of tension and release with heady power trumpet and up front rock rhythm drumming leading to atmospheric passages of lyrical beauty... This is jazz that fans can introduce to their teenage rock loving children to bring them into the fold. One can imagine Christian Scott’s group holding their own in a rock arena show with Radiohead headlining." Jeff Krow - Audiophile Audition, CD Discography and MySpace.

Jimmy Smith - The Sermon (1957) "A Historical Insight: Before I get to my review I would like to present a historical insight that will hopefully put into perspective "The Sermon" and Jimmy Smith's development up to this point. In 1956 Jimmy Smith was like a meteor shooting through the sky. In March '56 he had completed the session that yielded "The Champ" (his second album, aka "A New Sound A New Star: Jimmy Smith at the Organ Volume 2" (Blue Note 1514) which had turned the jazz world upside down. By the time of "The Champ", Jimmy had gained a solid following and went into the studio in June for his third album "At The Organ Vol. 3" (Blue Note 1525) and his live excitement was to be captured in October in Wilmington, Delaware. Why was Jimmy Smith such a phenomenal success? " ~ TenchiPMG - Epinions.com,  CD Discography and MySpace page and Wikipedia.

Me'Shell Ndegeocello - Bitter (1999) "She established herself as a badass neo-soul bohemian muso with her '93 Maverick Records debut, Plantation Lullabies, thumb-slapping her bass and singing in a husky tone that underscored her much- ballyhooed androgyny. She could taunt another female with the nonchalant, predatory sexuality of "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)," then turn around and crystallize the longing and hope that sustain us in the face of adversity ("I'm Diggin' You Like an Old Soul Record"). Though her shaved head and avowed bisexuality got her some headlines, MeShell Ndegeocello positioned herself neither as hapless, pining love object nor musical clay for a male producer, and this (literally) maverick stance cost her the brass ring of urban-radio megastardom." ~ Simon Glickman - mashmagazine.com,  CD Discography and MySpace page and Website.

Keiko Matsui - Moyo (Heart and Soul) (2007) "Moyo (Swahili for "heart and soul") was recorded with local musicians in South Africa, marking the return of "live" bass and drums for the first time since Sapphire (Shout! Factory, 1995). For her first self-produced effort, Matsui sought out familiar musicians from previous albums, including drummer Akira Jimbo, saxophonist Paul Taylor, bassist/vocalist Richard Bona and the still-kicking-butt-after-all-these-years trumpet of South African native son, 68-year-old Hugh Masakela. Matsui has enjoyed much commercial success and is a staple of smooth jazz programming though she's always followed her own direction rather than comforming to the rules of the genre. Moyo is a fascinating next step in Matsui's growth and advancement as a musician of depth, range, grace and talent." Jeff Wimbush - All About Jazz, CD Discography , Website and MySpace.

George Duke - Deja Vu (2010) "Keyboard master/songwriter/producer, jazz legend George Duke, returns with his latest project on his own BPM imprint, distributed through Heads Up International (A division of the Concord Music Group), "Deja Vu". George takes his listeners back to his late '70's/'80's era Funk/Soul sound. A sound that defined the classic "Dukey Stick" groove we all have come to know and appreciate. Produced by George, this ten selection CD is a culmination of Latin, Soul, laid back ballads, and Funk excursions... Other musical talents featured on "Deja Vu" are bassist Larry Kimpel, guitarists’ Paul Jackson, Jr., Ray Fuller, Jef Lee Johnson, bassist Michael Manson, and drummer Teddy Campbell." ~ Randy Holmes - The Urban Music Scene,  CD Discography, Website and Reverbnation page.

Onaje Allan Gumbs - Return To Form (2003) "Onaje Allan Gumbs is one of the industry’s most respected and talented musical collaborators. He has worked for more than 27 years with an illustrious list of jazz, R&B and pop artists. In 1974, he created a special arrangement of "Stella By Starlight" for the New York Jazz Repertory Company as part of a concert honoring Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall. He followed that with live and recorded performances with such artists as Lenny White, Buster Williams, Cecil McBee and Betty Carter. In 1975,Onaje joined forces with trumpeter, Nat Adderley as part of his quintet contributing to the group’s releases on Atlantic and Steeplechase Records. Producer Nils Winter of Steeplechase upon hearing Onaje’s improvisations, invited the young pianist to record a solo piano project entitled Onaje." ~ Richard Thorpe, The Boston Globe - itsaboutmusic.com,  CD Discography and Reverbnation page.

Wes Montgomery - Smokin' At The Half Note (1965) "It's ironic, as surely many have noted before me, that Wes Montgomery's landmark "live" record Smokin' at the Half Note wasn't exactly what its title claimed it to be. Montgomery, along with the Wynton Kelly Trio (Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums), spent the end of June 1965 recording at least eight songs for the LP live at the legendary New York City club. Only two of those songs -- "No Blues" and "If You Could See Me Now" -- would actually surface on Smokin' at the Half Note; producer Creed Taylor was unhappy with the remaining tracks and had the group record the rest of the album -- "Unit 7", "Four on Six", and "What's New?" -- at New Jersey's Van Gelder Recording Studio a few months later. Although Smokin' at the Half Note was promoted and culturally absorbed as a live record, in reality only two of its five songs were actually culled from live club sessions." Zeth Lundy - PopMattters Music Review, CD Discography , Wikipedia and MySpace.

Fourplay - Energy (2008) "Energy: a word that means power or force. It's appropriate that Energy is also the title of Fourplay's debut with Heads Up.
Fourplay, a double entendre, is the quartet of Bob James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason and Larry Carlton. Each, an individual band leader or session sideman in his own right, the four spend part of their time as a supergroup. Collectively, they've appeared on numerous recordings and gained widespread appeal. Among their associations are Tom Scott & The L.A. Express, Crusaders, Steely Dan, Mike Post, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Kirk Whalum, Maynard Ferguson and George Duke. The band mixes contemporary jazz with a variety of other styles, including blues, R&B, and African music." 
~ Woodrow Wilkins - All About Jazz, Website, Discography and Reverbnation.

Terrence Brewer - Groovin Wes (2008) "Terrence Brewer is on of the busiest working Jazz Guitarists on the planet. In this interview, Terrence digs into his past and present sharing with us his work ethic on getting gigs and the art of Jazz Guitar. He also talks about his latest CD Groovin’ Wes which is a tribute to the one and only, Wes Montgomery. Enjoy!" 
~ Lyle Robinson - Jazz Guitar Life

Jeff Lorber - Now is the Time (2010) “An accepted kernel of jazz historiography states that cats who play what has ultimately become smooth jazz play it because they can't play the real music. But even back in the day—specifically the seventies—this wasn't true across the board, as evidenced by the undeniable chops of Ramsey Lewis, Grover Washington, Jr., Joe Sample, and Philly-born keyboardist Jeff Lorber. His group, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, was a mainstay on urban black radio, and his compositions, arrangements and solos swung in the commercial contexts of the day, so much so that decades later rap artists would resurrect his songs in the hip-hop generation of the nineties." ~ Katrina-Kasey Wheeler - All About Jazz,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Carlos Santana - Supernatural (1999) " So how come most of it sounds so damn good? The truth of the matter is, it's been too long since Carlos Santana delivered a new studio album worthy of his awesome gifts, and for whatever reasons, all the high-profile attention he receives here appears to have reinvigorated his muse. Eclectic, lively and only occasionally goofy, Supernatural offers a glossy but winning context of musical fusion that highlights Santana's unique ability to make that guitar of his cry expressively." David Wild - Rollingstone, CD Discography , Website and MySpace.

Richard Elliot - Metro Blue (2005) “He was a member of the funk band Tower of Power for 5 years during the 1980s[1]. He also worked on Stacy Lattisaw's 1986 album "Take Me All The Way". His solo career took off when he remade the Percy Sledge classic "When a Man Loves a Woman" (which had also been remade by Michael Bolton). Other well-known songs include "In the Groove," "Take Your Time," "Crush," "Chill Factor," "Corner Pocket," and "Sly", as well as remakes of classic pop songs like "I'm Not in Love" and the Luther Vandross hits "Here and Now" and "Your Secret Love."" ~ Wikipedia.org,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Gerald Albright - Pushing the Envelope (2010) “Gerald Albright doesn’t try to do too much—just kidding. With his aptly named new CD, Albright simply burns on his soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxes, while also playing flute, bass, keys, drum programming, synth and the EWI. Like all of his solo work, Pushing the Envelope is a deeply satisfying, diverse collection of jazz, funk, blues and R&B. Albright can play, of course, but more important are his instincts for groove and musicianship, both of which go a long way in contemporary jazz." ~ Brian Soergel - Jazz Times,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Bill Evans - Sunday At The Village Vanguard (1961) “What can be said about Bill Evans' classic Sunday At The Village Vanguard that hadn't already been said so many times over? If you're new to jazz, here's what you need to know: it is the beginning and the end of piano-bass-drums music. It's one of the five or six most essential jazz records of all time. And it's one of the very finest live documents from any music genre. When you listen to this record keeping in mind that the bass player Scott LaFaro---one of the most promising bassists ever to emerge---was dead ten days later at the tender age of 25, it brings about a bittersweet sentiment because one of the most spectacular moments in jazz was a fleeting one. In a bit of irony, Evans' producer and record company head Orrin Keepnews sensed that this unit was not going to hold together for much longer, which led to these monumental recordings. ~ Pico - blogcritics.org,  CD Discography, Wikipedia.org, and MySpace Music page.

Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay (1970) “Whenever the topic of discussion is a major work of early jazz fusion led by a trumpeter who's already renown in the straight jazz arena, most anybody would immediately think of the Prince Of Darkness. But Miles wasn't the only cat on the horn making the successful transition from acoustic to electric jazz without loss of integrity. Before his full fledged cross over into commercial R&B with 1972's Black Byrd, Donald Byrd had some notably more experimental forays into electrified jazz. And then there's Freddie Hubbard epic early-seventies run with the CTI label. Some people think Striaght Life is the gem of that batch, and it is a fantastic record. Me? Man, I gotta go with Red Clay.”    ~ Pico - BlogCritics.org,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Peter White - Caravan Of Dreams (1996) “When guitarist Peter White released his debut album, “Reveillez-vous,” in 1990, smooth jazz simply did not exist as a distinct musical genre. Few radio stations played pioneering artists like the Rippingtons; industry insiders and audiences alike seemed to trip over such terms as “fusion” and “new age.” That uncertainty proved the ideal environment for White – having gotten in on the ground floor of the new genre, his melodic, nylon-string playing came to be identified as the sound of smooth jazz guitar. He reinforced that status through a series of popular albums, including “Promenade” (1993), “Caravan of Dreams” (1996), “Perfect Moment” (1998) and “Glow” (2001). His latest release is “Good Day” (2009).”   ~ Brian McCoy - Suite101,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Ken Navarro - Dreaming of Trains (2010) "The new CD “Dreaming of Trains” by Ken Navarro (released nationally on March 16th 2010) is a dazzling display of multiple talents by the versatile guitarist. Navarro’s 19th release in a prolific and acclaimed career sparkles with innovation and delight at every turn. What struck me almost immediately, and kept on striking me throughout the disc, is a fearless sense of movement. Navarro leaps from tone center to tone center with joyous abandon, changes meter with deft ebullience, changes tempo midstream, shuffles mode at will. What might seem to the casual listener to be an overly cerebral, self-absorbed tactic, it is really nothing of the sort; to me, it is a gleeful statement of personal ideas that invites you to follow along; and rewards your tenacity with dimension, harmonic complexity, and textured nuance." ~ Phil Traynor - Jazz Artistry Now,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Walter Beasley - Free Your Mind (2009) "Walter Beasley is in the envious position of enjoying mutually inclusive careers as both music educator and headlining performer. Indeed his tenure at Berklee College of Music, which now extends to over twenty years, seems to sit easily with the fourteen solo albums currently to his name. In fact it all started back in 1987 with his self titled debut and since then a string of recordings on Mercury, Shanachie and, most recently, Heads Up have seen him maintain a position as a major purveyor of soulful contemporary jazz. For his latest Heads Up recording ‘Free Your Mind’, which was released earlier this year, Beasley has teamed up with some of the best songwriters in the business to deliver an eclectic selection which serves as a commentary on the emotionally charged events that have recently impacted his life." ~ Smooth Jazz Therapy,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

David Sanborn - Only Everything (2010) "Only Everything is alto saxophonist David Sanborn's second straight release paying homage to one of his greatest and earliest influences, Ray Charles. While some jazz purists may dismiss Sanborn as a slick TV personality and practitioner of smooth or pop jazz, he's always had firm roots in bluesy, R&B-based jazz, dating to his early days playing with the likes of Albert King and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. And along with his more commercially calculated recordings, he's released some excellent straight-ahead, even experimental albums over the years, notably 1991's out-of-left-field Another Hand (Elektra), which featured Sanborn in the company of Charlie Haden, Marc Ribot and Bill Frisell, among others. " ~ Joel Roberts - all about jazz,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil (1964) "It is not too difficult to place Wayne Shorter’s third album as a leader for Blue Note as the darker twin sister of Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage”. Recorded less than five months earlier with an essentially similar line up, “Speak No Evil” offers on the surface at least the distaff side of the uplifting themes of “Maiden Voyage” with its concentration on themes such as witchcraft and folklore (“Witch Hunt”, “Speak No Evil”), childhood nightmares (“Fee-Fi- Fo-Fum”), animated morgue bodies (“Dance Cadaverous”), all this spelt out in comments from Wayne Shorter reported in Don Heckman’s liner notes and implied in the spooky cover photography. Just as with Herbie Hancock’s master work, this suggests music with a programme. And again there are influences from the late nineteenth century classical composers. “Dance Cadaverous” owes a debt to Sibelius’ “Valse Triste” a composition that Wayne Shorter plays explicitly on his later album “The Soothsayer”. Yet just as ‘Maiden Voyage” escapes the best programmatic intention of its author, so these six Wayne Shorter compositions are not limited by the legend, magic and folklore bunkum in which they are packaged. There is nothing doom-laden or oppressive about this music; it has lightness, almost a playfulness, that belies the themes it is supposed to be portraying. The album is a landmark in jazz composition and realization to set alongside “Maiden Voyage” in its importance." ~ 100greatestjazzalbums.blogspot.com,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Greg Osby - Level 9 (2008) "After ending a sixteen year tenure with Blue Note Records, leaving his signature as one of the most forward thinking, outspoken, and at times misunderstood artists in contemporary jazz, saxophonist/ composer Greg Osby returns with 9 Levels, the first release on his new Inner Circle Music label. The music which is based upon Osby's perspective on the Zen like principles of "The 9 Levels of Humanity," personifies the artist: geometric time signatures, hip modernistic imprints, blues and bop touches and some new surprises, delivered with the usual high level of musicianship. The sharp movements of Osby's horn and music are intact but the recording speaks of a freshness that is free from the constraints of normal conventions and is articulated by a new band of rising artists who are poised to leave their own marks. " ~ Mark F. Turner - All About Jazz,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Carol Duboc - Burt Bacharach Songbook (2009) "Selections on the CD range from a playful take on "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" to a paired down, heartfelt version of "Anyone Who Had a Heart." Duboc's trademark sensuality comes through in her simmering interpretation of "Walk on By" and her refreshing perspective as a songwriter is highlighted on the disc's only original track "My Melody." The album also features intricate and effortless contributions by world-renowned flautist, Hubert Laws as well as musicians Danny Embrey on guitar, Joe Cartwright on piano, Bob Bowman on bass, Tim Cambron on drums and Luis Conte on percussion." ~ PM - Jazz Chill Blogspot,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Jack DeJohnette - Music We Are (2009) "Since the inception of his Golden Beams Productions imprint, Jack DeJohnette has been busy releasing music ranging from the meditational Music in the Key of Ohm (Golden Beams, 2005) and world music-inflected Music from the Hearts of the Masters (Golden Beams, 2005) to the more decidedly improvisational The Elephant Sleeps But Still Remembers (Golden Beams, 2006). A freedom of spirit infuses all his releases, but it's been over a decade since the veteran drummer has released an album as a leader that fits squarely into the jazz category. A combination of original music and one relatively obscure Latin cover, Music We Are brings three friends together for a recording that, hopefully, signifies the beginning of a longer-term partnership." ~ John Kelman - All About Jazz,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Branford Marsalis - Eternal (2004) "Coming as a complete contrast to the saxophonist's often turbulent output in recent years, Eternal is a collection of introspective ballads. Marsalis states that he's primarily concerned with the naked emotional content of these selections. He isn't weighed down by the responsibility of adhering too slavishly to their melodic core. The listener can find solace in misery; melancholy can be an attractive proposition. There are many ballad albums that can run the risk of erring towards mellow blandness, but this disc knows the secret of romantic wistfulness. Its bittersweet mixture of desolation and ecstasy is finely balanced." ~ Martin Longley (2004-12-07) - BBC Music,  CD Discography, Website, and MySpace Music page.

Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder (1964) "The Sidewinder album was released in July 1964. Even with only a modest advertising campaign, by October the record was selling faster than Blue Note could press it. The album steadily climbed the charts and by the final week of 1964 had reached #35 on Billboard’s LP charts, an unusual achievement for a jazz album, and it peaked at #25. Since the title track was the primary reason for the album’s success, Blue Note issued that track as a 45 rpm single in an effort to meet demand, and it entered the Billboard Hot 100 list for singles, reaching #81, another rare event for a jazz track. It also was unusual for a new jazz track to be taken up by the advertising agencies, but that happened to "The Sidewinder" when Chrysler used it as background music for high-profile television commercials during the 1965 World Series. The success of "The Sidewinder" revived the struggling finances of both Lee Morgan and Blue Note, and likely saved the record label from bankruptcy. Morgan became a cornerstone of the Blue Note label with 25 albums, many of which were financially successful, but none struck commercial gold like 'The Sidewinder'. " ~ WINC Public Radio (90.5FM),  CD Discography, and MySpace Music page.

John Pizzarelli Trio - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (1993) "Rockin' In Rhythm: A Tribute to Duke Ellington is certainly guitarist-singer John Pizzarelli's finest CD collection to date, and each performance is a showcase work and reflects the musical genius of composer Duke Ellington.These songs have a sense of enjoyment and verve which just becomes more entertaining each time they are played. John Pizzarelli is in top form with these Ellington songs.  This tribute to Duke Ellington is a must have for both Ellington and Pizzarelli fans. Those new to the great jazz sounds of Pizzarelli will fall in love with this collection. As perfect as it comes, highly enjoyable, very literate are three ways to describe this remarkable CD featuring John Pizzarelli and friends. " ~ Lee Prosser - jazzreview.com,  CD Discography, Website and MySpace Music page.

Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (1993) "Although 1991's Solace made Sarah McLachlan a star in Canada, her international breakthrough arrived two years later with Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, a softly assured album that combined the atmospheric production of Pierre Marchand (a former apprentice -- and evident disciple -- of Daniel Lanois) with some of McLachlan's strongest songwriting to date. At the center of everything was her voice, an ethereal, lilting soprano that helped pave the way for Paula Cole, Lillith Fair, and a decade's worth of successful female songwriters." ~ Answers.com,  CD Discography, Website and MySpace Music page.

Dave Brubeck - Jazz At Oberlin (1953) "Dave Brubeck has enjoyed the status of "legend" for so many years now, it is hard to imagine the impact this concert had in 1953. The Brubeck Quartet’s appeared at Oberlin College in March of that year was something of a breakthrough for a couple of reasons. Until then, jazz was still associated with “gin-joints,” and a pretty unsavory lifestyle. Brubeck’s clean, clear arrangements showed an audience of classical music snobs just how sophisticated his music could be. The fact that Jazz At Oberlin was one of the first commercially released live jazz recordings is of no small import either." ~ Greg Barbrick - blogcritics.org,  CD Discography, Website and MySpace Music page.

Grover Washington Jr. - Reed Seed (1978) "Reed Seed was a fitting way for Washington to leave the Kudu/Motown stable; it's a high-quality, wonderfully memorable set of mid- and uptempo funky jazz from a master. In addition, while the charts may not support this assertion, it is, along with his other records for these imprints and CTI before them, arguably the best and most consistent string of albums he ever recorded, as well as the platform that launched him into superstardom first with Elektra and then with Columbia." ~ Thom Jurek - All Music Guide,  CD Discography, Website and MySpace Music page.

Boney James - Send One Your Love (2009) "Smooth jazz has always been partially fueled by recording artists covering classic, timeless songs while putting their own style, heart and soul into the arrangements.  Boney James has long been one of the shining lights of the contemporary/urban/smooth jazz scene". JazzReview.com - Randall Parrish,  Discography, Website and MySpace Music page.

Corinne Bailey Rae - "The Sea" (2010) "As she first exhibited on her eponymous debut in 2006, Bailey Rae naturally betrays a certain amount of pathos and fragility in her voice. On The Sea, she now resonates with those qualities all the more. Still throughout, she does so with serenity and resilience, never coming across as dour or self-pitying. The Sea was co-produced by Bailey Rae with Steve Brown, and Steve Chrisanthou, who produced many of the songs on her first record. It’s an album of real depth that crosses boundaries with mostly outstanding songs, all of which are lovingly crafted. It’s an enchanting, mature collection, which ebbs and flows through loss of love and memories of happiness, both a reflection of Bailey Rae’s emotional turmoil as well as a celebration and an acceptance that the show goes on. Highly recommended.To the contrary, she is enchanting and at times zestful, personifying the latter especially well on "Paris Nights/New York Mornings" and "Paper Dolls," both cuts benefiting from rich, irresistible grooves." ~   Tony Hardy - consequenceofsound.net, MySpace, Website and CD Discography.

Cal Tjader "Los Ritmos Calientes" (1973) "Vibraphonist Cal Tjader's 1950s recordings for Fantasy did a great deal to popularize Latin jazz and solidify its innovations. This CD has the complete contents of the two LPs Ritmo Caliente and Mas Ritmo Caliente. With such fine sidemen as flutist Jerome Richardson, pianists Richard Wyands, Eddie Cano, Manuel Duran and Vince Guaraldi, bassists Al McKibbon, Boby Rodriguez and Eugene Wright, and quite a few percussionists (most notably Armando Peraza and, on three songs, Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo), the fusion of bop and Latin music results in some exciting playing. In addition to group originals, tunes such as Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant," "Mambo Inn," "Bernie's Tune," "Perdido" and even "Big Noise From Winnetka" receive lively treatment." ~   ~ Scott Yanow - All Music Guide, CD Discography, and MySpace page.

Norman Brown "Stay With Me" (2007) "Brown, a guitarist and vocalist who sings as well as scats, is in that niche where smooth jazz meets R&B, old-school soul and a bit of pop. The Grammy-winning artist was born in Shreveport, La., and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. His inspirations include such guitar giants as Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery and George Benson, the latter of which is closest to Brown in overall style." ~ Woodrow Wilkins - All About Jazz, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Alicia Keys "Elements of Freedeom" (2009) "Alicia Keys is the real deal. In the increasngly prefabricated world of contemporary R&B, she is a fresh alternative. She can sing. She can play the piano. She can write. She's elegant yet sexy. And she strategically strikes that difficult balance between art and commerce. The Element of Freedom, her anticipated fourth collection of new tunes, merits repeated listens." ~ MARIO TARRADELL - DallasNews.com, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Al Di Meola "Elegant Gypsy" (1977) " Elegant Gypsy is unique because, while it features heavily di Meola’s furious fretwork, the solos compliment the compositions instead of the other way around. At six songs, some of the sweeping, epic tracks may sound a bit dated today, but their unfolding majesty cannot be denied, like on the Santana-esque “Flight Over Rio” or the frantic closer, “Elegant Gypsy Suite”. The showstopping track, though, is the one prominent acoustic song (yet another element that sets di Meola apart from many of his peers). “Mediterranean Sundance”, an acoustic guitar duel between di Meola and guest musician Lucia, is absolutely breathtaking. " ~ Andy - Favorite10.com, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Alex Bugnon "Going Home" (2009) "Alex Bugnon comments his new album: “I really liked that idea of doing a a ‘60s inspired record, with a Les McCann/Eddie Harris or Jazz Crusaders vibe , but I wanted to include a little more jazz than that, more towards a Herbie Hancock/Blue Note era Quintet or Sextet kind of vibe. You know, with two horns or three horns. That’s what I was going for." by smoothjazzdaily, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Lee Ritenour - Rit's House (2002) "This 2002 release has a soul-jazz/post-bop outlook that often recalls the late '60s and early '70s; for the most part, it is the sort of album that guitarist Grant Green would have been comfortable recording during that era. Arguably, 1992's Wes Bound is still Ritenour's best studio album -- certainly from a jazz perspective. But this CD is also respectable, and those who enjoyed hearing the guitarist stretching out on that mostly straightahead disc will also find a lot to enjoy about Rit's House." Alex Henderson, All Music Guide/font>, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Jill Scott - Real Thing Words And Sounds Vol. 3 (2007) "It’s only her third album 'proper' since debuting in 2000, but given the amount of other stuff she's done (publishing a book of poetry, appearing in several movies and TV shows and releasing an collection of joint recordings earlier this year called Collaborations, as well as touring exhaustively…etc.), that’s quite an achievement. North Philadelphia's queen of 'neo soul' is on fine form throughout The Real Thing: Words And Sounds Vol. 3, " Jon Lusk - BBC Music Review, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Pat Metheny - Tokyo Day Trip Live (2008) "Subtitled Live EP, Tokyo Day Trip is a specially priced gift for those who've missed the opportunity to see guitarist Pat Metheny and his trio of the past couple years, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Antonio Sanchez. At half the length of what a CD can hold, it's 41 minutes of pure gold from the best trio of Metheny's career. The spark that is by no means absent from the trio's studio recording, Day Trip (Nonesuch, 2008), is simply that much brighter on Tokyo Day Trip" John Kelman - All About Jazz,    CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Bob James - Angels of Shanghai (2007) "The "angels" as James describes them in the liner notes were five students from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the collaborations were recorded during two sessions in 2004 and 2005. The Chinese students played the er-hu (a two-string violin), pipa (similar to a lute), guzheng (a cross between a harp and a zither) and the dizi (different sized bamboo flutes). The results begin to kick in as James weaves his piano with the Asian modes and scales of the Angels on the charming "Dream With Me" and "Angels Theme: The Invention of Love." The music throughout Angels of Shanghai is among some of the loveliest and beguiling James has ever made and the charms of this inspired collaboration become more apparent with repeated listens. James seems invigorated by his cross-cultural band and the proof comes through with the reworking of his biggest hit, "Angela (Theme from Taxi)" which takes a cab ride through Chinatown and comes out on the other side with a little New Age sheen on it." Jeff Winbush - All About Jazz,    CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

The Temptations - Sing Smokey (1965) "The groups sound had solidified and the album on recent re-masters simply sounds superb. The bands doo-wop roots continue to shine through on a number of songs, 'Baby, Baby I Need You' is just wonderful, such superb vocals especially the falsetto. 'What Love Has Joined Together' has such a silky smooth, impressive vocal that it really does amaze and spellbind a listener into submission. What's sandwiched in between these two songs is of course even better, the all-time classic 'My Girl'. Such a thing is hard to imagine being written or barely existing. Right from the distinctive bass riff through to the David Ruffin lead vocal ( what a lead! ), 'My Girl' is a smash. Oh, and 'i've got so much honey, the bees envy me' - this is the kind of poetry Dylan was talking about when he dubbed Smokey 'the greatest living poet'." adriandenning.co.uk,    CD Discography, and MySpace page.

Gerald Albright - Sax For Stax (2008) "It's all about Memphis with Gerald Albright's Sax for Stax. The veteran saxophonist revisits the sounds of the 1960s and '70s that helped define a label and, to a certain degree, a generation of soul musicians..."  "Though this is mostly a cover album, it represents some of Albright's finest work. The selection of songs is excellent and the arrangements do justice to the originals without sounding trite. But more importantly, Albright shows his versatility in playing different saxes, flutes, and bass. Sax for Stax is a fine tribute to the Memphis-based label and its artists." By Woodrow Wilkins - All About Jazz, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Brian Bromberg - It Is What It Is (2009) "Acclaimed bassist and producer Brian Bromberg has garnered a hard-earned reputation as one of the most versatile and respected players in music, amassing an enviable catalog of straight ahead and contemporary jazz showcasing both upright and electric basses. Confounding the music industry with a string of innovative, eclectic releases since 1985, Bromberg has spent the last decade recording projects driven by very specific sounds and themes – from Wood (acoustic bass) and Metal (electric bass) to other diverse projects celebrating the artistry of fretless bass pioneer Jaco Pastorius (Jaco) and his Grammy®-nominated smooth grooves of Downright Upright. On his fourth project for the Mack Avenue label imprint Artistry Music, It Is What It Is, Brian unleashes another wide palette of styles letting the chips fall where they may. It’s a decidedly funky 13-track set...”" by hbh - Smooth Jazz Blog, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Return To Forever - Returns (2008) "This dual CD set of the long-awaited reunion tour of Chick Corea's Return to Forever features the potent lineup of keyboardist Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke, drummer Lenny White, and guitarist Al Di Meola. Thirty-two years after "Romantic Warrior," the last studio album with Di Meola and White, the music herein is an impeccable magnum opus by a quartet of influential musicians who had much to do with the fusion and modern jazz movement of the latter part of the 20th century. Although most of the concert was filmed and recorded live at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida, the recording also contains two from the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts, and one from the Montreux Jazz Festival, all from the summer of 2008." Brian D. Holland - modernguitars.com, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Herbie Hancock - River: The Joni Letters (2007) "Like the Possibilities album, Hancock's new River: The Joni Letters is also an album of collaborations with famous pop stars like Norah Jones and Tina Turner and some not-so-famous. However, unlike the former album, the sound here couldn't be further away from pop, as Hancock turns his musical ear back towards jazz to interpet the songs of another musical chameleon, the incomparable Joni Mitchell. From the first song on this disc, a torchy version of Mitchell's "Court And Spark" with a smoldering vocal by Norah Jones, it becomes clear that what Hancock seeks to capture on this loving tribute is the essence of Mitchell's artistic ingenue. For her own part, Jones is more than up to the task of channeling the jazz-based atmospherics of Mitchell." Glen Boyd - BC "blogcritics" Music, CD Discography, Website and MySpace page.

Diana Krall - The Look of Love (2002) "'More than any version I have heard since the Frank Sinatra recordings of 1942 and 1947, Krall's treatment of "The Night We Called It a Day" embodies the essence of the Tom Adair-Matt Dennis song. Claus Ogerman's writing for the London Symphony Orchestra enhances the sense of loss Krall brings to this demanding ballad, but no more than do her piano accompaniment and the support of Russell Malone, Christian McBride and Peter Erskine on guitar, bass and drums. The maturity of her lyric interpretation is apparent everywhere in the song, devastatingly so in the ache she imparts to the crucial line, "...but the sun didn't rise with the dawn." She displays the musicianship undergirding her vocals in a piano solo that builds from a carefully considered single-note line into rich chords and an allusion to Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance," which was first recorded the year after she was born. The woman is a listener." Doug Ramsey - Jazz Times, CD Discography, and MySpace page.

Bob Dylan - Together Through Life (2009) "'When all is said and done, however, it might just be that the most inspired decision undertaken in the execution of Together Through Life might be one of mere personnel. There’s no underestimating just how much the addition of the Los Lobos accordionist David Hidalgo brings to the table. ...  He’s the lilting wheeze that permeates If You Ever Go to Houston like a thermal current. Without him This Dream of You would have sounded like an inspired cross-pollination of Save The Last Dance For Me and Under the Boardwalk, but his Tex-Mex embellishments adorn what may be Dylan’s most beautiful song for years." Pete Paphides - Times Online , CD Discography, and MySpace page.

Tim Warfield - One For Shirley (2008) "'Saxophonist Tim Warfield�s fifth CD as a leader on the Criss Cross label, his first in six years, is a diverse collection of original compositions, obscure and known jazz standards, a traditional gospel song, and a 60s pop hit. The music�s common thread is that it was inspired by, performed by, or performed with the late organist/pianist Shirley Scott (1934-2002) one of Warfield�s mentors on the Philadelphia jazz scene, a musician best known through her recordings with saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Stanley Turrentine, her husband at the time, during the 50s and 60s." Greg Turner - jazzreview.com, CD Discography, and MySpace page.

Shilts - Jigsaw Life (2008) "'It’s his first album from NuGroove Records, the label that brought audiences the music of Down To The Bone, whom Shilts joined in the 90s and occasionally still plays the saxophone with live on stage. Since embarking on a solo career in 2001 with his self-released debut album See What Happens, Shilts has been creating a separate identity for himself and cemented his signature funk jazz style with his second record HeadBoppin’. His solo material allows him to fuse his creative ideas with his musical influences and music experiences from his past into the music of his present." Susan Frances - jazzreview.com, CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

Karrin Allyson - Imagina: Songs Of Brasil (2007) "'Allyson has a voice of many colors. She can capture the delicacy of a melody and also can display a slight raspiness of tone for a more dramatic impact. Her diction is precise in both languages and she is able to convey the emotional quality of each song even if you don't understand the language. She does a masterful job of navigating her way through the lovely twisting melody of Jobim's "Double Rainbow" and a sensitive reading of the title track, the first song Jobim ever wrote. But most notable is her rendition of a true love song, "Outono (Stay)," which has a wonderfully sensual English lyric by Paul Williams." Marcia Hillman - All About Jazz, CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

Pharoah Sanders - The Impulse Story (2006) "Pharoah Sanders began his recording career as a fully paid-up, card-carrying member of the extreme fringe of the mid-'60s new wave. His first album, in 1964, was for ESP-Disk, a tiny but influential independent run by sonic ninja Bernard Stollman, who was also an early champion of Albert Ayler (he recorded Ayler's world-changing Spiritual Unity and Bells albums in 1964 and 1965). In 1965, John Coltrane began regularly calling on Sanders to augment his late-period outer-reaches band. Sanders is one of the saxophonists frightening the horses on Ascension, Live In Seattle and Meditations (recorded in 1965) and Live At The Village Vanguard Again! (1966). He's also heard (though poorly, due to the sound quality) on The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording (1967). " Chris May - All About Jazz, CD Discography , Website and MySpace.

Marion Meadows - The Secret (2009) "'Regardless of the genre, an acoustic drum kit generally makes for a better sound than an electronic program. However, when the latter is done well, the difference can be staggering. That's one factor that makes Marion Meadows' Secrets function....
The title song features an easygoing groove. The backup ensemble of Broening, Brown, Fox, and drummer Michael White, is effective, with Maria Meadows offering some wordless vocals. The soprano sax is smooth without sounding trite or sugary." Woodrow Wilkins - All About Jazz, CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

The Rippingtons - 20th Anniversary (2006) "An oddity about the Rippingtons is that while the group is considered a pioneer of smooth jazz, it's not a jazz band. Freeman has described it as more of a rock group. However, marketing forces tend to call predominantly instrumental popular music jazz, no matter what the intent of the songwriter. Whatever the classification, the Rippingtons are one of contemporary music's dominant forces: each recording is different from the last, and their live shows rock with energy. With a twenty-year track record, Freeman and the Rippingtons continue to move forward while acknowledging the past."    allaboutjazz.com - Woodrow Wilkins, CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

Pat Martino - A Tribute to Wes Montgomery (2006) "Make no mistake—this is a tribute not only to Wes Montgomery, but also the resilience of human creativity. While this might smack of hyperbole, it should be remembered that Martino completely forgot how to play the guitar some 26 years ago as a result of brain surgery, and if diligence and application can supply the kind of results heard here, then any suggestion of hyperbole is surely questionable. ". allaboutjazz.com - Nic Jones,  CD Discography, MySpace page and Website.

Leonard Cohen - LIVE IN LONDON (2009) "Live In London is a wonderful souvenir of Cohen's gig at London's O2 Arena in July 2008 (with an accompanying DVD also released). The 25 song setlist takes in many eras of Cohen's back catalogue, and the man himself sounds in fine voice - in fact, that famously deep bass rumble sounds better than ever, with not even a hint of a shake in the vocals". MusicOHM.com - John Murphy,  CD and MySpace Music page.

Earl Carter - Project X (2009) is the latest music compilation by Earl Carter, and is described as being "Catchy melodic phrasing, tasteful guitar solos, brilliant music production and strong rhythms".  It is a lot good music put together with many well known musicians to accompany him.  Listen to tracks on his MySpace Music page.

Nate Birkey - Almost Home (2008) "This laid-back, mostly cool jazz album with echoes of the West Coast 1950s sound also bespeaks a certain dramatic intensity"... "straightforwardly a man's expression of who he is, and that is the true essence of jazz. Eminently listenable, Almost Home is also a valid musical expression of the human heart."
Victor L. Schermer - All About Jazz

Jane Monheit - The Lovers, the Dreamers and Me (2009) "With her new release, Jane Monheit further demonstrates her skill as a song interpreter and her willingness to stretch her voice to tackle difficult material. Fans of Surrender may be surprised at the slight change in tone and material, but The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me represents an artist in continuous creative development. New and longtime fans alike should enjoy Monheit's latest effort."   Kit O'Toole - BlogCritic.org

SMV - Thunder (2008) "Bring together three titans of the electric bass, and you're in for something downright special. So it is with Thunder by S.M.V. (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten). While the three mostly play electric bass, Clarke uses the acoustic on a few tracks, and Miller contributes other instruments, including bass clarinet, alto and tenor saxophones, synths and beat programming."   Woodrow Wilkins - AllAboutJazz.com:

John Mayer - Where The Light Is: Live In Los Angeles (2008)"  Recorded at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, CA, Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles finds singer/songwriter and guitarist John Mayer performing in three different band settings: acoustic trio, electric trio, and large ensemble...""Admittedly sprawling and ambitious, Where the Light Is is nonetheless a dynamic showcase for Mayer, who never fails to shine." Billboard.com:  Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Continuum (2007)  "Who did you think I was?" John Mayer asked on the opening track of
Try!,..  He's answered the question eloquently on Continuum, a smart, breezy album that deftly fuses his love for old-school blues and R&B with his natural gift for sharp melodies and well-constructed songs. - Rollingstone - ANTHONY DECURTIS.  Visit John's website: JohnMayer.com

"No Limits" (2008) by Nick Colionne, "is an enthusiastic mixture of R&B, blues, vocals and contemporary jazz.."
  - Read it at Jazz Review 
"No Limits", "a cd whose title well reflects his current philosophy on life and music. The project illustrates Colionne's coming of age"
 - Jazz Lynx Review