| Sharel Cassity |
Sharel Cassity - Gratitude (2025) "Sharel-Cassity-Jazz-Sensibilities-cdGratitude
is an album by saxophonist Sharel Cassity released on March 28, 2025, under Sunnyside Records. Cassity, known for her
collaborations with legends like Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis, assembles a formidable ensemble featuring bassist
Christian McBride, drummer Lewis Nash, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, trumpeter Terell Stafford, and trombonist Michael Dease.
This lineup promises a rich exploration of jazz traditions infused with contemporary insights. Sharel Cassity has established
herself as a distinguished saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. Her collaborations span a diverse array of artists,
including Aretha Franklin, Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Hudson, and Natalie Merchant. Cassity has also shared the stage with jazz
luminaries such as Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Roy Hargrove. Her latest album, Gratitude, reflects
a thematic focus on joy, hope, and celebration."
~ Jeff Becker - jazzsensibilities.com
Links:
Website,
Facebook,
Reverbnation,
YouTube,
Discography.
|
|
Sharel Cassity - Fearless (2020)
"Saxophonist and composer Sharel Cassity is a dynamic and versatile performer and bandleader. She
has led small combos as well as the large fusion orchestra, Elektra, and has backed musicians of various
genres. On her fifth release as a leader, the stimulating Fearless, she demonstrates a winning mélange of
passion, poise and intelligence... On Fearless, Cassity demonstrates that her artistic ardor remains
intact—yet her vision has matured. Her work is sophisticated yet raw, hence, soulful and simultaneously
cerebral. Chicagoans are fortunate that Cassity made the move from New York City to this area three years
ago—contributing her talents to the city’s creative music scene and beyond. ”"
~ Chicago Jazz Magazine
|
|
|
|
Reza Khan
|
Reza Khan - Mystical (2024)
"This latest release titled Mystical, is a ten song set that features some of the biggest players in the contemporary jazz scene including Jeff Lorber, David Mann, Bob James, Phillippe Saisse, Nils and Keiko Matsui. The production on the album is top shelf with subtle colors sprinkled throughout that pop with a good headphone listen. One of the things that makes this type of groove based jazz so listenable is the patience that mature musicians bring to the music. There isn't an overwhelming need to show the listener their considerable chops at every turn, but instead choosing taste within the context of the classy musicianship."
~ modernjazztoday.com
Links:
Facebook,
All About Jazz, and
Website.
|
|
|
|
Reza Khan - Imaginary Road (2021)
"Well, the ten songs are essentially atmospheric, depicting the sort of aural landscapes that Khan
obviously had in mind (he wrote and arranged every number for an ensemble that is heavy on strings and
percussion with occasional incursions from David Mann on saxophone or flute and Matt King on piano). If
there is a middle-to far-Eastern ambience, that is understandable, given Khan's heritage. It is especially
discernible in the undulating rhythms, capably overseen for the most part by drummer Maurizio Zottarelli
and percussionist Fernando Saci. Khan governs the melodies along with Mann, guitarists Sergio Pereira and
Miles Gilderdale, and Philippe Saisse on mallets, melodion and Moog synthesizer. The sounds they produce,
if not exceptional, are uniquely their own, as are Khan's ethereal, gently flowing compositions. "
~ JACK BOWERS - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Kiku Collins |
Kiku Collins
- Red Light (2011)
"An interesting blend of jazz/blues polish and sass is what we have
here from trumpeter/vocalist Kiku Collins on her latest project, Red
Light. The former Beyonce trumpet player who's worked with the likes
of Michael Bolton and Jill Scott has a style as sexy and smooth as
silk and as authentic as her persona. Using great phrasing and
arrangements, the music presented here""the vast majority of which
was co-written by Collins""is a combination of sweet, sexy, and "come
hither" sensuality (listen to "Tag Play" for a good example) and
funky, enflamed groove (e.g., "Come My Way" "" check out bassist
Malcolm Gold's work while you're here)." ~
Smooth Jazz Ride, CD
Discography,
YouTube,
MySpace page and
Website.
|
|
Kiku Collins
- Here With Me (2008)
"She's more than just Beyonce's and Michael Bolton's former horn
player, though. She's now stepping into the spotlight all on her own
with her debut album "Here With Me" (innova 668). While Kiku has
been seen around town, as well as around the world, with major pop
stars including Beyonce, Dave Wakeling, TM Stevens, Carmine Appice,
Robert Gordon, Sami Yaffa, Jonathan Richmond, and Pat Travers to
drop a few names, she has truly found her voice in "Here With Me".
This smoothly satisfying album redefines evocative jazzy
compositions and rich orchestration. Her multiple tracking on the
flugelhorn, muted trumpet and trombone, showcases a level of
musicianship of the highest order and demonstrates what a band of
Kikus might sound like."
~ One Sheet - Innova Recordings
|
|
|
|
Peter White |
 Peter
White - Glow (2001)
"More than most jazz lite artists, Peter White flaunts a restless
improvisational sense, which is fully evident on Glow. Aside from a few
incidental fills tossed into the breeze by this or that horn player, this is
entirely White's show. His performance on all these tracks, typically over a
backdrop of gauzy major-seventh string pads, provides a lesson in long-form
jamming against a steady, sensuous backbeat, with octave passages and a
buoyant rhythm feel that echo Wes Montgomery."
~ Robert L. Doerschuk - AllMusic.com, CD
Discography,
Facebook page, and
Website and.
|
|
Peter White
- Good Day (2009)
"This is truly a beckoning to all smooth jazzers to return to the
Peter White of the 90s and early 2000s, to recall the images and
good feeling his originals always conjured up. It is all here in
abundance. Those of us who have waited for the guitar master's
fascination with covers (great though they were) to subside a bit
and for his return to that which fascinated us so fully over the
years will definitely not be disappointed. The wait, the patience,
and the undying allegiance to the man who has always offered
contemporary jazz acoustic guitar with so much color and flair have
truly paid off in immeasurable manner, and that's no overstatement.
True, I have always admired the effortless, silky skills of the
Londoner, but anyone who's into real smooth or contemporary jazz
will have to admit to the appeal of this one.'." Ronald
Jackson, smoothvibes.com
|
|
|
|
Connie Han
|
Connie Han - Secrets of Inanna (2024)
"Pianist/composer and Steinway Artist Connie Han has been described as “a decisively brazen talent with an
exhilarating control of her skills and vision” by All About Jazz. In just the few short years since her emergence,
Han has tackled the pantheon of jazz with her own fiery contemporary style, managing to shake up a staid jazz scene
with her meteoric rise and compelling musical voice. While the lineage of jazz masters such as Mulgrew Miller, McCoy
Tyner and Kenny Kirkland has deeply influenced her, Han has sought much further back to find the spiritual kinship
that inspired her stunning new album, Secrets of Inanna – millennia, in fact, all the way to the Sumerian mythology
of ancient Mesopotamia."
~ modernjazztoday.com,
Website,
Steinway Artist and
YouTube page.
|
|
Connie Han - Iron Starlet (2020)
"At the 2019 Detroit Jazz Festival, pianist Connie Han dazzled the crowd with a superb and well-paced
set which was one of the best performances of the weekend. Although her Mack Avenue debut, Crime Zone, had
hit the streets in 2018, Han's musical acumen was still hovering below the radar of most jazz listeners. The
key to Han's refreshing approach is that she operates in a zone that respects the lexicon while also finding
new territory of its own to explore."
~ C. Andrew Hovan - AllAboutJazz.com.
|
|
|
|
Meg Okura · Kevin Hays |
Meg Okura & Kevin Hays - Lingering (2024)
"Jazz albums that feature violin-piano duets are uncommon. With two instruments, the musicians need to synchronise
at a deep level and if successful, they can elevate their performance and the listening experience from good to great.
To achieve this they need to be receptive to every move the other makes. Each musician needs to be adept at quickly
adopting a harmony or creating a counter melody. Those traits are fully exposed here, as no overdubs, filters or effects
were used in this recording."
~ Neil Duggan - allaboutjazz.com,
Meg Okura:
Discography,
Meg Okura website,
YouTube and
Wikipedia
Kevin Hays:
Discography,
,
YouTube Kevin Hayes Topic and
Kevin Hays - Steinway & Sons.
|
|
Meg Okura, Jean-Michel Pilc Trio & Sam Newsome - NPO Trio Live At The Stone (2018)
"Recorded during her week-long residency at The Stone, New York, in 2016, on NPO Trio—Live at the Stone violinist
Meg Okura and her colleagues, pianist Jean-Michel Pilc and soprano saxophonist Sam Newsome, produce a captivating
hour-long set of music. Newsome and Pilc have performed with Okura's Pan-Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, and the two
worked together on their 2017 duo release Magic Circle. Due to their substantial shared experience, the three musicians
have an instantly-apparent rapport, with a synthetic vision that provides impressive cohesion and focus, despite the
fully-improvised nature of the performance. "
~ Troy Dostert - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Quincy Jones |
Quincy Jones
- Jook Joint (1995)
"The multi-talented Quincy Jones has excelled at idiomatic combinations in his albums since the '60s, when
his mix-and-match soundtracks for television and films alerted everyone that he'd switched from a pure jazz
mode to a populist trend. Q's Jook Joint blends the latest in hip-hop-flavored productions with sleek urban
ballads, vintage standards, and derivative pieces; everything's superbly crafted, though few songs are as
exciting in their performance or daring in their conception as past Jones epics like Gula Matari or the score
from Roots. Still, you can't fault Jones for his choice of musical collaborators: everyone from newcomer Tamia
to longtime stars like Ray Charles, rappers, instrumentalists, male and female vocalists, percussionists, and toasters."
~ AllMUsic.com,
Website,
Wikipedia,
IMDB
|
|
Quincy Jones
- Walking in Space (1969)
“The musical tone for the album was rock and rhythm and blues played on electric instruments and incorporated
into the context of a big band. It was a strange musical mix that worked. Walking in Space [Verve #3145434992]
received two Grammy Awards and a four-and-a-half-star review from Down Beat. In his usual fashion, Jones
attracted some of the best musicians to appear on his comeback jazz album. They included trombonist J.J. Johnson,
trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, flautists Roland Kirk and Hubert Laws, Bob James on electric piano, Toots Thielemans
on harmonica and guitar, Ray Brown on electric bass, drummer Grady Tate, and Eric Gale on electric guitar. The
album was recorded and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder at his studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Over the past
forty years, Van Gelder’s studio has been the birthplace of many of the classic jazz albums”
~ Alicia Olatuja - digmagazine
|
|
|
| Damien Escobar |
Damien Escobar - Gemini (2024) "Escobar, formerly of the musical duo Nuttin But Stringz, has
recently released his first album in four years, titled Gemini. Born and raised in Jamaica, Queens, Escobar, who just celebrated his
38th birthday, has embarked on a tour to promote the album. His performances include venues such as City Winery NYC in his hometown of
New York City. The album features songs like Taboo, Deja Vu, Mercury Rising and Symphony of Romance... "
~ Kadeem Lundy - theqgentleman.com,
Wikipedia
|
|
Damien Escobar - Bpundless (2017)
"For a much gifted musician as a Julliard graduate while barely a teenager, Damien Escobar was ready to showcase the violin in a
hip-hop/classical element with his brother on a weekly national TV talent search. Two years removed from their 2006 debut album, the
autobiographical Struggle from the Subway to the Charts, Nuttin But Stringz placed third on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2008. From
there, the brothers Escobar, Damien and Tourie, were ready to set the world on fire with even more media exposure, an appearance at
the 2008 Olympic Games and Barrack Obama’s First Inauguration the following year... Boundless focuses on all original Escobar compositions –
bathed in sonic orchestrations..."
~ JaSupreme k - musicreviews.theurbanmusicscene.com
|
|
|
|
Lalah Hathaway
|
VANTABLACK (2024)
"Hathaway’s exceptional voice and multi-octave range have earned her multiple Grammy Awards for
Best R&B Performance in 2014 and 2015. She has collaborated with numerous artists, such as Snarky Puppy,
Robert Glasper, and Pharrell Williams, further showcasing her versatility. Lalah Hathaway’s influence on
contemporary R&B and soul music is undeniable, and she continues to inspire aspiring artists. Her last
album, Honestly, was released in 2017, marking a different sound for her as Tiffany Gouché handled most
of the production, and now she’s back almost seven years later with VANTABLACK."[1] "Lalah Hathaway is a
national treasure, much like her father Donny Hathaway. For almost 35 years, the second-generation
superstar has entertained and enthralled us with music that’s the perfect brew of soul, R&B and jazz
and as invigorating as a morning mug of coffee yet as relaxing as an evening cup of tea. Now, the woman
who brought us classic albums like her eponymous debut Lalah Hathaway and Self Portrait, is entering her
next era with the announcement that her eighth album VANTABLACK is on the horizon."[2] "
[1] ~ Website,
[2] ~ Soulbounce.com,
Discography,
Wikipedia and
YouTube page.
|
|
Joe Sample & Lalah Hathaway - The Song Lives On (1999)
"Joe Sample's latest release, The Song Lives On , is appropriately titled. One of the CD's finest
attributes is the excellent song selection. The Peggy Lee classic "Fever" is tastefully covered here,
and Sample's own "Street Life" is reprised again, but the remainder of the program is new, at least to
my ears. Most of the tunes establish an emotional connection with the listener; they're beautiful,
pensive, soulful, and often introspective. Tracks:The Song Lives On; Fever; Come Along With Me;
Living in Blue; Street Life; When Your Life Was Low; One Day I'll Fly Away; When the World Turns Blue;
For All We Know; Bitter Sweet; A Long Way From Home. (56:42)"
Reviewers: Dave Hughes - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Oli Silk |
Oli Silk - In Real Life (2024)
"No artist in recent memory from across the pond has had the kind of effect on the smooth jazz format quite like
Oli Silk has. Not only a touring fan favorite but has been a real radio darling scoring three consecutive Billboard
#1 singles from his last record '6', proving that his music inspired by his life and surrounds living in the UK has
real and enduring legs with the American audience. With 'In Real Life' his 7th record on the Trippin N Rhythm record
label, Silk continues to explore the middle, sides and edges of the genre with his very own unique signature that has
served him well over the course of the previous six records and does not disappoint on this new collection of songs
that have been inspired by his life experiences.". -
~ jazz-jazz.com,
Discography,
Facebook,
Soundcloud and
Wikipedia.
|
|
Oli Silk - 6 (2020)
"With a string of choice albums to his name and a profile that makes him the United Kingdom’s favorite smooth
jazz keyboard player, the superb Oli Silk is back with his sixth solo project, the appropriately titled ‘6’. With
eleven new compositions plus one carefully crafted cover this cool twelve-track collection not only finds Silk in
top form but also in the company of some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz... ‘6’ is a great piece of work
with understated contributions throughout by Oli Silk regulars Mark Jaimes on guitar, Wesley Joseph on drums and
Orefo Orakwue on bass. It is out now on Trippin & Rhythm and comes highly recommended.". -
~ smoothjazztherapy.typepad.com
|
|
|
|
Joey Alexander |
Joey Alexander - Continuance (2023)
"Joey Alexander’s Continuance shows his exceptional talent as a jazz pianist and composer, marking a significant milestone in his already illustrious career. At just 20 years old, Alexander has asserted his position as a jazz prodigy and matured into a formidable bandleader and composer. This album, his seventh, epitomizes a journey of creative evolution and technical mastery that belies his age. The album is a collaboration of Alexander’s long-time touring band—Kris Funn on bass and John Davis on drums—with the addition of trumpeter Theo Croker, creating a dynamic synergy that transcends the usual boundaries of studio recordings. The ensemble’s approach to improvisation, honed on stage, brings an electric energy to the album, making it feel spontaneous and meticulously crafted."
~ Nolan DeBuke - thejazzword.com,
Wikipedia,
Discography
Website .
|
|
Joey Alexander - Eclipse (2018) "Pianist Joey Alexander knows how and when to strike the ivories. At the age of 14 he has already recorded two GRAMMY-nominated studio albums, My Favorite Things (Motema Music, 2015) and Countdown (Motema Music, 2016). Late in 2017, Alexander released Joey.Monk.Live! (Motema Music), a critically acclaimed surprise release to honor Thelonious Monk's centennial. Alexander has released his third studio album entitled, Eclipse. The eleven selections are mixture of originals and standards, demonstrating his aptitude as a composer (Alexander composed six of the eleven tunes), arranger, bandleader, and player. Joining Alexander is a rhythm section of bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland, and guest appearances by saxophonist Joshua Redman on three tracks. " ~
Geannine Reid - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
| Joe Farrell |
Joe Farrell Quartet (1970) "Joe Farrell, known in the '60s as a solid hard bop tenor
saxophonist, branched out in the '70s. On this near-classic album, Farrell switches between tenor, soprano, flute, and even oboe
while being joined by a rather notable backup crew: keyboardist Chick Corea, guitarist John McLaughlin, bassist Dave Holland, and
drummer Jack DeJohnette. In addition to a famous version of McLaughlin's "Follow Your Heart," the material includes originals
by Farrell and Corea, and the leader makes a strong impression on each of his horns. "
~ Scott Yanow- Allmusic.com,
Wikipedia
|
|
Joe Farrell
- Outback (1970)
"Outback is the second and finest of Joe Farrell's dates for Creed Taylor's CTI label. Recorded in a quartet setting in 1970,
with Elvin Jones, Chick Corea, and Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira, Farrell pushes the envelope not only of his own previous
jazz conceptualism, but CTI's envelope, as well. Outback is not a commercially oriented funk or fusion date, but an adventurous, spacy,
tightrope-walking exercise between open-ended composition and improvisation. That said, there is plenty of soul in the playing. Four
compositions, all arranged by Farrell, make up the album. The mysterious title track by John Scott opens the set. Staged in a series
of minor-key signatures, Farrell primarily uses winds -- flutes and piccolos -- to weave a spellbinding series of ascending melodies
over the extended, contrasting chord voicings by Corea. Jones skitters on his cymbals while playing the snare and tom-toms far more softly
than his signature style usually attests. Airto rubs and shimmers on hand drums, going through the beat, climbing on top of it, and playing
accents in tandem with Farrell in the solo sections."
~ Thom Jurek - AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Horace Silver
|
Horace Silver - Song for My Father (1963)
"In reissuing a true classic like Horace Silver's Song For My Father (1963), Music Matters'
tacit goal is to bring something new to the record, but not by the typical inclusion of substandard,
rejected bonus tracks, or with aborted takes and studio chatter. The label's goal is simply to
make the best possible pressing of the album, using the original master tapes as the source, to capture
every possible detail of the recording session. As usual, they've succeeded admirably. Silver's
band in those years had a rotating cast of musicians, many of whom would go on to be A-listers in their
own right. Perhaps only Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers""a name given to Blakey by Silver""was a greater
incubator of up- and-coming talent. Most of this album features a front line including the great Joe
Henderson on tenor sax and a relatively obscure Carmell Jones on trumpet."
~ Greg Simmons - AllAboutJazz.com,
Discography,
Website,
Wikipedia and
YouTube page.
|
|
Horace Silver - Tokyo Blues (1962)
"Clearly Horace took inspiration from his visit there since several of the compositions on this album
are dedicated to his fans there and embody much of their favourite aspects of his music. In his dedication on
this disc 'to our many fans in Japan and to all of the Japanese people' Horace wrote that 'While in Japan I
noticed that the Japanese people were very fond of Latin music…In writing some of these compositions I have
attempted to combine the Japanese feeling in the melodies with the Latin feeling in the rhythms.' The extent
to which he was successful in his attempt to do this is remarkable and it makes for one of his most successful
and sought after discs - never was musical schizophrenia more wildly attractive! "
Reviewers: Tony Augarde [Editor], Don Mather, Sam Webster, Jonathan Woolf, Glyn Pursglove - Jazz CD Reviews
|
|
|
|
Keiko Matsui |
Keiko Matsui - Euphoria (2023)
"Keiko Matsui, a contemporary jazz icon for decades, is releasing her 30th recording, Euphoria, on March 31, 2023, which she describes as an album about the hope we carry inside us. “I have this dream where we can each cherish our own happiness and learn to accept and care for one another. When I tour around the world and witness how my music cuts through our differences and connects everyone, it makes me feel euphoric!” exclaims the internationally acclaimed pianist, composer, and humanitarian. The album features collaborations with old and new friends such as Lalah Hathaway, Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Kirk Whalum, Joel Ross, Grégoire Maret, and John Beasley. As you would expect from Keiko, the recording features rich harmonies and global rhythms and a mix of ballads and more uptempo compositions.". -
~ jazzbluesnews.com,
Discography,
Facebook,
Website and
Wikipedia.
|
|
Keiko Matsui - ECHO (2022)
"Keiko Matsui released Echo her 28th album on February 22nd by performing a spectacular concert at The Rose in Pasadena. The feelings of
joy and excitement reflected in Keiko’s countenance when she introduced the album to everyone, creating a connective atmosphere for all to
participate. “Echo expresses my desire to make a more peaceful planet and that we as humans can make a difference.†When she sat at the
piano, the music flowed out of her powerful hands with intensity and precision. Matsui crafted transcendent melodies that casted an enchanting
spell as she performed compositions from the newest release and other classic tunes. The band that evening consisted of her “family on the
road†Jimmy Branly on drums, Rico Belled on bass and Joao Pedro Mourao on guitar, plus special guest artists – Brandon Fields, sax, Mike Cottone,
trumpet, Nick Lane, trombone and Luis Conte, percussion.". -
~ agendamag.com
|
|
|
| Brian Simpson |
Brian Simpson - Soul Connection (2023)
"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."
" ~ theurbanmusicscene.com ,
Discography,
Website.
|
|
Brian Simpson - All That Matters (2021)
"All That Matters is an amalgamation of influences that are close to Brain Simpson’s heart: Jazz, R&B, Funk and Soul. It’s a joyous celebration
of life and a shining demonstration of Simpson’s ongoing quest for the ultimate sound. “I will forever be in search of the perfect song, with the
perfect melody, perfectly performed,” confesses the pianist. The recording process for All That Matters was dramatically different for Simpson. The
absence of touring during the pandemic afforded Simpson the opportunity to focus solely on recording. He eagerly jumped into the project and surrounded
himself by friends to foster the compositional process; guitarist and labelmate Steve Oliver and keyboardists Nicholas Cole and Oliver Wendell. The
musicians collaborated remotely at first, and were later able to join forces in person."
~ The Jazz World -
thejazzworld.com
|
|
|
|
|
 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,
Discography
|
|
Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain (1960)
"Working with arranger Gil Evans, Davis cooked up a concept album, looking to the structure and texture of
Spanish folk and classical music for inspiration. The two old friends and collaborators were on a huge roll
creatively during this period. Davis was piling up hall of fame-caliber jazz albums with alarming regularity, while Evans,
in addition to working with Davis frequently in the late 1950s, recorded what was perhaps his finest solo album
in 1960, Out of the Cool (it vaguely shares a vibe with Sketches, but is in my estimation just a hair better).
So to say both were in strong form here would be an understatement. Davis takes what is most striking
about his trumpet style-- the controlled soloing in the middle register, with a mastery of subtle shifts in
focus-- and amplifies it, creating measured phrases of almost painful intensity. While Evans' distinctive
approach to harmony and tonal color-- one of the most enjoyable "Hey, I get it!" moments as you
first explore jazz is when you start to recognize his arrangements-- inhabits a form that to the uninitiated
can sound mysterious and exotic and sensual. It's hard not to be taken in immediately."
~ Mark Richardson, June 5, 2009 - Pitchfork.com
|
|
|
|
Brandee Younger |
Brandee Younger
- Brand New Life (2023)
"The community of genre-bending harpists is small. Few have the temerity to tackle the massive but delicate instrument, and those
that do must grapple with its tendency to recede into the background. But most who have dragged the harp out of the classical context
can trace their roots back to Dorothy Ashby, the pioneering Detroit harpist whose 1968 album Afro-Harping laid the foundation for the
instrument’s role in post-bop jazz. And few embody that legacy better than Brandee Younger. In many ways, Younger’s career mirrors
Ashby’s: Each tested the harp’s limitations, blurring genre lines and forcefully establishing the instrument as a lead role in contemporary
jazz. And they both became the go-to harpist for pop musicians of their era (Bill Withers, Minnie Riperton, and Stevie Wonder for Ashby;
Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, and John Legend for Younger). But while Younger had Ashby and Alice Coltrane as role models for a Black woman
redefining the possibilities of a classical instrument, Ashby had no choice but to blaze her own trail, at a time when civil rights
for non-whites was only just beginning to gain traction. Brand New Life is Younger’s tribute to Ashby’s achievements."
~ Matthew Ismael Ruiz - Pitchfork.com,
Facebook,
Wikipedia, and
Website.
.
|
|
Brandee Younger
- Somewhere Different (2021) "Brandee Younger is a jazz harpist, composer, educator, and concert curator that was awarded
Rising Star Harpist in Downbeat Magazine’s 2020 Critics Poll. Younger has performed and recorded with Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane,
Jack Dejohnette, Charlie Haden, Common, John Legend, The Roots, Stevie Wonder and Lauryn Hill. In 2020, she released her fifth album,
Force Majeure, and her original composition “Hortense” was featured in the Netflix Concert-Documentary, Beyoncé: Homecoming. Younger
earned her Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance at the Hartt School of Music and her Master of Music and Performing Arts Professions
at New York University. She holds leadership positions on the advisory board of New Music USA, through the Apollo (theater) Young Patrons
Steering Committee, and the American Harp Society, Inc., where she is Director at Large. In addition, younger organized “Divine Ella,”
part of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s annual Women’s Jazz Festival as a concert curator. She also served as curator
of the 2016 Harp On Park concert series, “highlighting the diversity of the harp and the contemporary importance of an ancient
instrument,” and most recently coordinated “Her Song,” featuring the works of women composers, both for Arts Brookfield. Younger is now releasing
her major-label debut, Somewhere Different, on the Impulse! Label. "
~ Sylvannia Garutch - TheJazzWord.com
|
|
|
|
Rachel Therrien |
Rachel Therrien - Mi Hogar (2023)
"Mi Hogar represents a special release for Therrien, who has honed her skills playing in Latin Jazz ensembles for years,
and whose love for the genre compelled her to travel to Cuba to research and study the music more than a decade ago. “The
experience changed my life and is probably the reason why I am still a musician today. I always felt good playing Latin-influenced
music, it is where I feel I can express myself the most musically. I have been dreaming of doing this project for many, many years
and now I am finally sharing this with the world.” The album title, which translates to ‘my home’ in Spanish, is a nod to the
many places Therrien has lived over the years—from her native Canada, to Cuba and New York. It also speaks to another sanctuary
in Therrien’s life: sound and community. In this global spirit, Therrien assembled Mi Hogar from a series of international
recording sessions. It was fundamental for the bandleader to feature many of the musicians that have been a part of her musical
journey. “I am grateful to have worked with 20+ musicians on this record. I really appreciate their confidence in me and friendship,
on top of their incredible musicianship and virtuosity.” "
~ Danilo Navas - latinjazznet.com,
Bandcamp,
Website, .
|
|
Rachel Therrien - Vena (2020) "Rachel Therrien is a key trumpet player on the
Montreal Jazz scene, helping it to grow and expand its frontiers by being an example for emerging musicians and actively
working for the jazz community. In 2013, she founded the Montreal Jazz Composers Series, bringing together more than 200
musician-composers from Canada and the US to showcase their original music. .She believes that “Jazz is a philosophy of
conversation between musicians from different backgrounds through improvisation, and that we, as musicians, it is our
mission to keep jazz alive and to make sure that our generation of non-musicians live the experience and appreciate that
unspoken language.”... Therrien is releasing her fifth album titled Vena. Recorded in Paris with her new European Quartet
on the French Label Bonsaï Music. The Quartet of first-rate European musicians includes Franco-Australian pianist Daniel
Gassin, Spanish bassist Dario Guibert, and German drummer Mareike Wiening. Also, joining the group for two tracks is
Cuban saxophonist Irving Acao." ~
Sylvannia Garutch - thejazzword.com
|
|
|
|
Steve Turre |
Steve Turee - Generations (2022) Trombonist Turre is heard here with some younger players,
one of whom is his son Orion, the idea being to stress the continuum ‘of real jazz culture’ in his words. Most of the 10 titles
retain the common front-line, with Carter replacing Modeste on ‘Sweet Dreams’, this a ballad style feature for both the impressive,
Lockjaw-like Carter and virtuoso bassist Williams. Elsewhere, the nominated guests fit in as and when... As ever with Turre,
this is something of a mix- and-match affair; good to hear some newer players, but Turre is clearly the star."
~ Jazzwise.com,
Website,
Facebook,
Yamaha and
Wikipedia.
|
|
Steve Turre - Spiritman (2015) "There seems to be two schools among the current
generation of jazz trombonists. On the one hand you have those who favor the lush and melodic voices of Frank Rosolino,
Lawrence Brown, Carl Fontana, and those of a similar ilk. By contrast are the bop inflected approaches of J.J. Johnson
and Curtis Fuller. Turre has gone on record that he doesn't much care for those in his peer group that eschew tone for
speed and dexterity. As for Turre himself, it could be argued that he has found a middle ground between the two schools. "
~ C. Andrew Hovan - allaboutjazz.com
|
|
|
| Stanley Turrentine |
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.
|
|
Stanley Turrentine "Don't Mess With Mister T." (1973)
"A legend of the tenor saxophone, Stanley Turrentine was renowned for
his distinctively thick, rippling tone, an earthy grounding in the
blues, and his ability to work a groove with soul and imagination.
Turrentine recorded in a wide variety of settings, but was best-known
for his Blue Note soul-jazz jams of the '60s, and also underwent a
popular fusion makeover in the early '70s. Born in Pittsburgh on April
5, 1934, Turrentine began his career playing with various blues and R&B
bands, with a strong influence from Illinois Jacquet. He played in
Lowell Fulson's band with Ray Charles from 1950-1951, and in 1953, he
replaced John Coltrane in Earl Bostic's early R&B/jazz band. After a
mid-'50s stint in the military, Turrentine joined Max Roach's band and
subsequently met organist Shirley Scott, whom he married in 1960 and
would record with frequently"
~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide -
LegacyRecordings.com
|
|
|
|
Ed Cherry |
Ed Cherry
- Are We There Yet (2023)
"In remembering the great Wes Montgomery, guitarist phenom Ed Cherry records his arrangement and interpretations of one of the superstar's most memorable compositions with an incredible hard-swinging version of "Mr. Walker" featuring Kyle Koehler on the Hammond B3 organ reminiscent of Montgomery collaborations with organist Melvin Rhyne. Byron "Wookie" Landham on drums rounds out Cherry's quartet as vibraphonist Monte Croft sits this tune out. Cherry's elegantly lyrical and deeply soulful approach here is a homage and salute to Cherry's past influences and mentors. A special piece that will have one spinning it often. "
~ Edward Blanco - AllAboutJazz,
Website,
Wikipedia,
Discography
|
|
Ed Cherry
- It's All Good (2012)
“Guitarist Ed Cherry is best known for his lengthy, decade-plus tenure with trumpet titan Dizzy Gillespie, but his work with another heavyweight of a different ilk—organist Big John Patton—is a more obvious influence on It's All Good. Cherry played the important role of Patton's guitar-playing foil during some of the legend's '90s comeback sessions and he acquired a deep understanding of the organ group dynamic through osmosis during this period.”
|
|
|
|
Lee Morgan |
 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),
Wikipedia,
CD Discography.
|
|
Lee Morgan - Gigilo (1965) "Hard bop's baddest trumpeter, Lee Morgan, may never quite have
topped his iconic '63 masterpiece, The Sidewinder, but he came pretty damn close on a couple of occasions. The Gigolo is one of
them, and it's been reissued as part of the ongoing Rudy Van Gelder remaster series. The album's menacing, visceral vibe has never
sounded more powerful or engaging. Astonishingly funky and credible music, even forty years down the line." ~
Chris May - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Richard Elliot |
 Richard
Elliot - Authentic Life (2021)
"He debuted as a soloist in 1984 and he scored his first #1 chart-topper in 1991 with “On the Town”
(Manhattan Records) – one of four #1 chart-toppers he has garnered in his career. In 2005 he partnered
with Rick Braun to form the record label ARTizen Music Group (known as Artistry Music). “Authentic Life”
makes his 20th solo album; four on ARTizen, three on Blue Note, two on Capital, and three on Intima
imprints – to name a few of his labels... The “Authentic Life” offers 10 selections and features assistance
from Rick Braun (trumpeter), Dave Koz (sax), Jeff Lorber (keyboardist), Grammy nominated Chris “Big Dog”
Davis (keyboardist), Grammy nominated Philippe Saisse (Keyboardist), and David Mann (piano)."
~ eurweb.com,
Discography,
Website, and
Facebook page.
|
|
Richard Elliot - Chill Factor (1999)
"As a radio-molded sax idol, Richard Elliot plays the kind of
sweaty, keyboard pulsing R&B that has launched a thousand Sanborn
wannabes over the past decade. While Elliot's swinging leads
overcome some of the genre's self indulgence on the more
conventional commercial tracks populating Chill Factor, he also
manages to sneak in some welcome raw arrangements that showcase the
talents which are so often buried under the slick layers" ~ Jazz Times Excerpt, and
Richard Elliot - Wikipedia
|
|
|
|
Jeremy Pelt
|
 Jeremy Pelt - Soul (2012)
"This intimate, confident disc worms its way into your head. Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s sixth album is an understated
affair showcasing supple songwriting, a persuasive way with a phrase and the expert interplay of the band he has led over
his past four albums. Pelt and tenor saxophonist JD Allen seem of one mind, harmonizing effortlessly on such Pelt compositions
as "The Ballad of Ichabod Crane" (the most sinuous) and the ornery, bright "What’s Wrong Is Right," the longest and jauntiest track."
~ Carlo Wolff - JazzTimes.com,
Wikipedia,
Website.
|
|
Jeremy Pelt - The Artist (2019)
"Showcasing a five-part suite based on the work of French sculptor Auguste Rodin, Jeremy Pelt's 2019 album, The Artist,
finds the trumpeter translating his love of the visual arts into a set of deeply textured compositions that touch upon harmonically
rich modalism, driving post-bop, and lyrical balladry. Beginning with the hypnotic "The Rodin Suite, Pt. 1: L'Appel aux armes,"
which translates fittingly as "the call to arms," The Artist evokes the '70s jazz of artists like Woody Shaw and Bobby Hutcherson.
It's a sound Pelt has long embraced, at least as far back 2013's fusion-influenced Water and Earth, and one that he has increasingly
made his own. Which is to say, while The Artist brings to mind the vibes, keyboard, and groove-oriented aesthetics of '70s jazz,
it never sounds like pastiche, and remains a nuanced palette for Pelt to draw from. Adding rich colors to this palette are Pelt's
bandmates: pianist Victor Gould, bassist Vicente Archer, guitarist Alex Wintz, marimba player Chien Chien Lu, and percussionist
Ismel Wignall. Together they play with a deft sense of group interplay that's as much the focus as Pelt's own improvisatory prowess
and balmy tone." -
- AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Alice Coltrane |
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,
Wikipedia,
CD Discography, and
MySpace page.
|
|
Alice Coltrane - Journey to Satchidananda (1971)
"The CD reissue of Alice Coltrane's landmark Journey to Satchidananda reveals just how far the pianist and widow of John Coltrane had
come in the three years after his death. The compositions here are wildly open and droning figures built on whole tones and minor modes.
And while it's true that one can definitely hear her late husband's influence on this music, she wouldn't have had it any other
way. Pharoah Sanders' playing on the title cut, "Shiva-Loka," and "Isis and Osiris" (which also features the Vishnu
Wood on oud and Charlie Haden on bass) is gloriously restrained and melodic. Coltrane's harp playing, too, is an element of tonal
expansion as much as it is a modal and melodic device. With a tamboura player, Cecil McBee on bass, Rashied Ali on drums, and Majid Shabazz
on bells and tambourine, tracks such as "Stopover Bombay" and the D minor modally drenched "Something About John Coltrane"
become exercised in truly Eastern blues improvisation. "
~ Tom Jurek - AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Yuko Mabuchi |
Yuko Mabuchi - Yuko (2020)
"In 2021, Japanese piano jazz sensation Yuko Mabuchi released a double live CD set simply entitled Yuko. The perfect
musical showcase for The Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Yuko was recorded live in concert at the Vibrato Jazz Club in Los Angeles,
with the support of her group members Del Atkins (bass) and Bobby Breton (drums). As this choice selection of music
points out, Yuko is an electrifying and charismatic performer that is as equally comfortable playing original music
featured on her four earlier albums, as she is in covering a wide range of song classics by Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane,
George Gershwin and Stevie Wonder to name a few artists covered by Yuko here. Other Yuko highlights include the 1963
Japanese pop classic “Sukiyaki” and a rousing version of the 1967 Marvin Gaye / Tammi Terrell hit, “Ain’t No Mountain
High Enough”, which also spotlights Yuko’s vocals as a song-closing coda at the end."
~ Roots Music Report,
Facebook,
YouTube, and
Website page.
.
|
|
Yuko Mabuchi - Yuko Mabuchi Trio (2017)
"Composer and pianist Yuko Mabuchi, jazz phenomenon, was born in Fukui, on the west coast of Japan, north of Kyoto.
She moved to the United States in 2016 and has been building a strong reputation as a jazz pianist and composer in the
United States. In addition to her jazz gigs around North America, Yuko volunteers with the Watts-Willoughbrook Youth
Symphony, where she is a beloved member of the community. Yuko’s debut album with Yarlung Records, the Yuko Mabuchi
Trio, was recorded March 30th and 31st, 2017 at the Brain and Creativity Institute’s Cammilleri Hall, designed by
Yasuhisa Toyota. This is the same concert hall where Yarlung also recorded Misha, Sophisticated Lady jazz quartet,
and Nigel Armstrong."
~ YarlungaAtists.org
|
|
|
|
Joey Alexander |
Joey Alexander
- Origin (2022)
"Based on his fifth studio album, Origin, Joey Alexander’s gifts are no less impressive now that he’s progressed past the point of being a child prodigy. In fact, the precocious pianist/composer/bandleader’s talents may be even more daunting now: he’s attained a level of nuanced complexity even as he’s maintained the essentially accessible nature of his own distinct brand of modern jazz."
~ Jazz Blues News,
Website,
Wikipedia,
Discography
|
|
Joey Alexander
- Countdown (2017)
“Indonesia-born jazz wonder kid Joey Alexander, at the grand old age of 13, has released his second album, Countdown. Alexander wrote three of the nine tracks, and covers compositions by Coltrane, Chaplin, Hancock, Monk, Strayhorn and Wynton Marsalis. Again, he features the outstanding rhythm section of drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr., Larry Grenadier on bass (for tracks 3, 6, 8, 9) and Dan Chmielinski on bass (for tracks 1, 2, 7). Chris Potter makes a guest appearance on soprano saxophone for one track, “Maiden Voyage.” Alexander describes his musical mindset, “You know, I love both creating music in the studio and performing for people onstage,” he says, “but I have to admit there’s something special about getting a crowd excited by playing jazz live. In most situations I try to be calm, but I love the intense energy that happens between me and the audience. When they express their appreciation in this way, I am inspired to go deeper as a person and musician, improve my craft and create exciting new sounds.””
|
|
|
|
Roy Hargrove |
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.
|
|
Roy Hargrove presents the RH Factor - Hard
Groove (2003) "Having previously immersed his
trumpet in two 'new soul' collaborations in 2000""D'Angelo's Grammy
Award-winning Voodoo album and subsequent tour, plus songstress
Erykah Badu's Mama's Gun album""Roy Hargrove dives headfirst into the
soul pool. RH Factor blends a core band of two saxophonists, three
keyboard players, two bassists and drummers, and two guitarists
(including legendary soul session ace Cornell Dupree) with the best
and brightest from the soul and R&B 'new schools' including
D'Angelo, Badu, Meshell Ndegeocello, Steve Coleman, Karl Denson,
Marc Cary, and two hip-hop MCs: Common and Q-Tip. 'I just wanted to
open a door that would allow the musicians involved in jazz and the
musicians involved in the R&B / hip-hop mainstream to form some
music that would have no limit,' Hargrove explains. 'It's like a
merging of those two worlds.' " -
Chris M. Slawecki - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Azar Lawrence |
Azar Lawrence - New Sky (2022) "Personnel - Azar Lawrence: tenor and soprano saxophone;
Lynne Fiddmont: vocals; Calesha “Bre-Z” Murray: vocals; Oren Waters; vocals; John Beasley: keyboards; Nduduzo
Makhathini: keyboards; James Saez: guitar; Greg Poree: guitar; Gregory “G-Moe” Moore: guitar; Destiny Muhammad:
harp; Sekou Bunch: bass; Tony Austin: drums; Munyungo Jackson: percussion. The veteran saxophonist Azar Lawrence,
whose musical credits include Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Marvin Gaye, Woody Shaw and The Earth, Wind & Fire,
delves into a variety of material as he channels optimistic vibes into our troubled pandemic times. A deep
connoisseur of tradition, Lawrence leads a combo of versatile players who provide him with excellent jazz,
R&B and Brazilian-tinged backgrounds."
~ Jazz Trail,
Website,
trazarrecords.com and
Wikipedia
|
|
Azar Lawrence - Frontiers (2017) "For a period in the ‘50s and ‘60s, groups led by
two tenor saxophone players seemed to hold some caché. For example there was the group led by Al Cohn and
Zoot Sims, another by Bill Perkins and Richie Kamuca and a further group with Gene Ammons and Eddie
‘Lockjaw’ Davis. This type of group iteration fell out of favour without much fanfare, as such things
often do. The concept has been rejuvenated with the combination of Azar Lawrence and Al McLean for the
album Frontiers issued by the Canadian label CellarLive. As for the music played on this session, in
addition to several originals by the band’s front line, the majority of the tracks were penned by either
John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk or Freddie Hubbard. Of equal import is the musicians themselves. Azar
Lawrence is an American musician who has released a number of album under his own name, but may be best
remembered as the tenor saxophonist who joined McCoy Tyner after the death of John Coltrane. His playing
is in the Coltrane mold and can be readily discerned throughout the album. Al McLean is a Victoria B.C.
native, but now a Montreal-based musician, who has gained a solid reputation as a player with a fluid
sound which is also easily identifiable."
~ AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Tony Bennett |
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
- Love For Sale (2021)
After a recent recent dalliance with hyperpop on the chaotic remix of her
2020 Chromatica album, pop polymath Lady Gaga returns to easy listening on
her second covers collaboration with Tony Bennett. While their first, 2014’s
Cheek to Cheek, cherrypicked from a broad selection of jazz standards, the
immaculately produced Love for Sale – 95-year-old Bennett’s 61st and final
album – serves up silk-soft Cole Porter classics. So we get a campy take on
I Get a Kick Out of You, a sashaying Night and Day, and yet another outing
for swing album mainstay I’ve Got You Under My Skin.
~ Michael Cragg - The Guardian,
Website,
Wikipedia,
Discography
|
|
Tony Bennett
- Duets II (2011)
“Tony Bennett's first album of celebrity duets (2006's Duets: An
American Classic) featured an impressive cast of superstars
answering the call from the dean of pop vocalists, but the
arrangements were overly safe -- virtually all of them ballads with
soft strings or brassy finger-snappers. Duets II follows the first
by five years and features, surprisingly, a cast just as star-laden,
but also arrangements that are much more dynamic, and suitable for
each song and its participants. (Marion Evans, a veteran whose
career goes back nearly as far as Bennett's, handles the charts for
a few of the best here.) Bennett, as ever in splendid voice and
impeccable groove, laughs and trades lines with stars half his age
(like John Mayer), or in the case of Lady Gaga, six decades younger,
and clearly makes them so comfortable in this setting that it would
be easy to believe that jazz vocals were their home.”
|
|
|
|
Lee Ritenour
|
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 ,
CD Discography ,
Website .
|
|
Lee Ritenour - Wes Bound (1992)
"Wes Bound is a look back at a guitar master, Wes Montgomery, a jazz player that has influenced
so many guitar players with his unique playing style: two notes played simultaneously, and picked
with the thumb, not a pick. This style of playing creates a very mellow guitar tone and is extremely
melodic. Lee Ritenour pays homage to Wes on this album, and does so in true style. Every song has been
reworked just enough to make them sound fresh, but they remain true to the legacy of Wes." -
- Wicked Digital
|
|
|
|
Joey DeFrancesco |
Joey DeFrancesco - More Music (2021) "The mega-faceted jazz musician Joey
DeFrancesco celebrated his 50th birthday in April, and has quite a résumé to show for it. More
Music is his 39th studio album as a leader. Characteristically, he has delivered an effusive
mainstream hard-bop/soul-jazz effort. DeFrancesco plays organ, piano, keyboards, trumpet and tenor
saxophone — often more than one on the same track. That’s not doubling, that’s quintupling. And that
doesn’t count his laid-back, everyman vocals on the standard-in-waiting, “And If You Please.” For
good measure, DeFrancesco wrote and arranged all the material. Two highly simpatico players are all
the support he needs. Lucas Brown plays organ, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitar. His comparatively
restrained organ work countervails the leader’s unbridled effervescence. Drummer Michael Ode drives the
entire affair with muscular swing. His 25-second solo intro to “Just Beyond the Horizon” is straight-up
wild. No bassist necessary, by the way."
~ Jazziz magazine,
Website,
AllAboutJazz.com and
Wikipedia
|
|
Joey DeFrancesco - In The Key Of The Universe (2019) "Following up his 2018
collaboration with Van Morrison, You're Driving Me Crazy, Joey DeFrancesco returns to his own work
with his quartet on 2019's spiritually inspired In the Key of the Universe. Produced by DeFrancesco
and his wife, Gloria, the album finds the organist tapping into the hypnotic, deeply soulful metaphysical
jazz that artists like Pharoah Sanders, Don Cherry, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk further explored in the wake
of spiritual jazz pioneer John Coltrane's death in 1967. In fact, DeFrancesco showcases Sanders here
on three tracks. Joining them are several longtime associates including legendary drummer Billy Hart,
saxophonist Troy Roberts, and percussionist Sammy Figueroa. At the core of the album is a heartfelt
rendition of Sanders' "The Creator Has a Master Plan" off his classic 1969 album Karma, on which
drummer Hart also appeared. Sanders also adds his flowing, emotive saxophone to the expansive,
minor-toned title track, and the dusky afterglow grooves of "And So It Is."
~ AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Grant Green |
Grant Green
- Live At The Lighthouse (1972)
"Some of Grant Green's hottest moments as a jazz-funk bandleader came on his live records of the era, which were
filled with extended, smoking grooves and gritty ensemble interplay. Live at the Lighthouse makes a fine companion
piece to the excellent Alive!, though there are some subtle differences which give the album its own distinct flavor.
For starters, the average track length is even greater, with four of the six jams clocking in at over 12 minutes.
That makes it easy to get lost in the grooves as the musicians ride and work them over. What's more, the rhythmic
foundation of the group is noticeably altered. Live at the Lighthouse is one of the few Green albums of the period
not to feature loose-limbed funky drummer Idris Muhammad, and his spare, booming sound and direct James Brown
inspiration give way to the busy, bubbling, frequently up-tempo polyrhythms of drummer Greg Williams and extra
percussionist Bobbye Porter Hall. "
~ Steve Huey - ALL MUSIC,
CD Discography,
YouTube,
Wikipedia.
|
|
Grant Green
- Retrospective (2002)
"About five years ago, I heard guitarist Grant Green's "Ain't it Funky Now," a burnin' J.B. cover on Blue and Funky,
a various artists Hammond organ compilation from Blue Note. I’d never heard anything like his honest, cutting tone –
it rocked and funked like crazy. I hadn’t purchased much jazz, other than Miles and Coltrane, since I was in high
school. And I’d always hated jazz guitar – guitars were supposed to be distorted! Now, 30-plus Green CDs later, I’ve
been listening almost exclusively to jazz and my favorite is still Grant Green."
|
|
|
|
Ray Obiedo |
Ray Obiedo - Latin Jazz Project, Vol. 2 (2021)
"on Rhythmus Records, is the 10th release by the Bay Area guitarist and composer. This project is a collection of Obiedo’s original Latin Jazz compositions, including one Jazz standard by composer/arranger Gerald Wilson.
Obiedo enlisted some of the music industry’s top musicians and longtime cohorts for the project. Yellowjackets’ reed man Bob Mintzer, percussionist extraordinaire Sheila E., flutist Norbert Stachel, trumpeter Mike Olmos, percussionist Peter Michael Escovedo all make significant appearances. Santana members: keyboardist David K. Mathews, trombonist and arranger Jeff Cressman, and percussionist Karl Perazzo also contribute their expertise. This collection also features Tower of Power drummer David Garibaldi, Hungarian pianist Peter Horvath, steel pan player Phil Hawkins, vocalists Lilan Kane, Sandy Cressman & Jenny Meltzer and Dutch brothers Marc and Paul van Wageningen on bass and drums." ~
RayObiedo.com, CD
Discography,
YouTube,
Facebook page and
Website.
|
|
Ray Obiedo - Carousel (2019)
"Ray invited 32 musicians to work with him on “Carousel”, with many coming from his hometown area of
Northern California where they work with local stalwarts such as Tower of Power and Santana. Some of
the better known guests include Bob Mintzer, Toots Thieleman, Peter Garibaldi and Andy Narell. As
mentioned earlier, every track carries a distinctive rhythm and flavor as Ray attempts to cover all the bases.
Two of the more energetic songs come early on with the RnB of “Jinx” and the Latin drive of “Sharp Aztec”.
Bob Mintzer’s funky sax solo on “Modern World” is also a winner. Possibly the top track though is a mystical
cover of Mancini’s, “Lujon”. First of all, it is a Mancini composition, and secondly, the ambient drift and
arrangement on this track has a more modern sound. A couple other songs seem geared towards the
radio in a smooth jazz context. Throughout “Carousel”, Obiedo plays soulful licks and solos that recall
George Benson and Wes Montgomery, two other guitarists who were adept at combining hard bop grit with pop sheen. "
|
|
|
|
Brian Bromberg |
Brian Bromberg - Thicker Than Water (2018) "Brian Bromberg’s career began as a
teenager backing saxophonist Stan Getz. In the nearly forty years since and over 20 projects in his catalog,
Bromberg has established himself as a first-call master of the upright as well as electric basses, releasing
more than 20 albums globally as a leader and providing low-end for the likes of Chris Botti, Lee Ritenour
and Michael Bublé. "Thicker Than Water is a record I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time," says
the dynamic bass virtuoso Brian Bromberg. "I love the upright bass. It’s where my heart and soul is. My
connection with that instrument is unlike anything in my life. I also love the electric bass and really wanted
to explore its endless possibilities on this project." That love of the bass is evident across the wide-range
of irresistible grooves found on Thicker Than Water, available July 13 on Artistry Music."
~ bassplayer.com,
Website,
CD Wikipedia and
Facebook
|
|
Brian Bromberg - Full Circle (2016) "Full Circle consistently hits its
target, especially when the arrangements are tailored to accommodate several guests, including trumpeter
Arturo Sandoval and percussionist Alex Acuña on the festively orchestrated "Havana Nights" (a.k.a.
"Havana Nagila"), and saxophonist Bob Sheppard and pianist Mitchel Forman on the album's title track.
Full Circle also marks another first for Bromberg, as it finds him occasionally doubling on bass and
drums, the latter a reminder of his well-spent youth in Arizona."
~ Mike Joyce - JazzTimes.com
|
|
|
|
Cindy Bradley |
Cindy Bradley - The Little Things (2019) "Veteran Trumpeter Cindy Bradley has a new
release for 2019. The album is called The Little Things, and it is her fifth studio album. Ever since
she dropped Bloom in 2009, Bradley has been cranking out monster hits on each her of album releases.
First off, there are not that many women that call the trumpet their main instrument. Bradley takes
full advantage of this with her unique music style. If you are new to her music, one thing you will
notice is that Bradley can do both slow jams and uptempo songs. Many artists specialize in one style,
but after listening to this or any of her other albums, you will see that Bradley can pretty much do it all."
~ TheJazzWorld.com,
Discography,
Website,
Reverbnation, and
Facebook
|
|
Cindy Bradley - Bliss (2014)
"Back in 2007, as if from nowhere (but actually from Buffalo, NY), trumpeter Cindy Bradley
burst onto the contemporary jazz scene with her independently released debut CD "˜Just A Little Bit'.
The recognition this fine eight track collection brought led to a touring engagement with the legendary
Pieces of A Dream and a record deal with Trippin "˜n' Rhythm that initially garnered the critically
acclaimed "˜Bloom' and then followed up with the equally good "˜Unscripted'. Both were built around
the basic constructs of Bradley's velvety tones, stellar input as writer, performer and producer
from Michael Broening and consistently excellent performances from Mel Brown on bass and Freddie
Fox on guitars. Now (with Brown again in the line-up and bass from Kip Sophos) Cindy has reunited
with Broening for her latest Trippin "˜n' Rhythm project, "˜Bliss'."
~ Smooth Jazz Therapy
|
|
|
|
Esbjörn Svensson Trio |
Esbjörn Svensson Trio - Seven Days of Falling (2003)
"This use of simplicity and complexity is what draws you into their music and, while you may know the 'what' about a jazz piano trio, they show that the 'how'
can be very different. Since their debut album 10 years ago, the sound mix has been getting bigger and bigger, and this time it bristles with grit and sinew. It leaps
out of your speakers, steps all over the furniture and scares the bejesus out of the cat. EST are contemporary, darkly exciting and you can't help going back for more. "
~ Stuart Nicholson - TheGuardian.com,
CD Wikipedia and
britannica.com.
|
|
 Esbjörn Svensson Trio - From Gagarin's Point of View (1999)
"Swedish Jazz pianist Esbjörn Svensson (1964 – 2008) died prematurely five years ago today at the young age of 44. The magnificent “From Gagarin’s point of view”
stands out as one of the trio’s most recognizable ballads. It also featured on the trio’s eponymous 1999 recording, their first international breakthrough album to be released outside
Sweden on the German label ACT Music."
~ guillaume - spellbindingmusic.com
|
|
|
|
Gary Bartz |
Vincent Herring, Bobby Watson, and Gary Bartz - Bird at 100 (2019) " Separated by roughly a decade apiece, Bartz, Watson and Herring represent three distinct points along that line linking Bird’s transformative approach through the evolution of music in his wake. Bartz was born just as Parker was making his mark in New York City, and thus grew up in a musical world indelibly marked by his unmistakable sound. Watson came into the world less than two years before Parker left it, mentored by first-generation bop giants like Art Blakey. And Herring was part of a movement that reimagined bebop for a wholly new generation, while maintaining a link with the source through such greats as Nat Adderley and Freddie Hubbard."
~ JazzChillBlogSpot.com,
Vincent Herring website,
Bobby Watson website,
Gary Bartz wikipedia and
Smoke Sessions.
|
|
Heads of State - Search For Peace (2015) "Gary Bartz, Larry Willis, Buster
Williams and Al Foster–four of today's most important and influential jazz artists–have joined forces as a collaborative group for the first
time in their storied careers and the result is a quartet for the ages. Somewhat surprisingly after a half-century of working together in
various combinations, these four masters had never performed together as a quartet until last fall at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club in New York City.
They electrified the packed house during that run and knew immediately that they had something special. As Williams remembers, “Larry called me
the next week, and said, ‘What do you think about us keeping this band together?' I said, ‘I like the idea; let me talk to Al and Gary.'” They
agreed and the rest was history in the making."
~ theurbanmusicscene.com
|
|
|
|
Grover Washington Jr. |
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 - AllMusic.com,
Discography,
YouTube Topic and
Wikipedia page.
|
|
Grover Washington Jr. - Mr. Magic (1974)
"The first record for anyone looking to hear a positive example of smooth is all here. Fused in an R&B groove that is produced and
arranged by future smooth mogul pianist Bob James, Mister Magic was a spotlight for one of jazz's great sax players. Washington
absolutely breathed a fluid and caressingly powerful style that was unique to him. Since the style called for easy playing, he could sit
back and let the chops glide like water flowing down a river. His melodies and tone are always first rate, but there was a certain
magic, if you will, to what this record says about its artist. Many of the smooth players relied on the direct approach to playing and
soloing, but Washington allowed himself room to open up, and this is where his music has the most to offer to the rest of jazz fans. Sure
the polish is on there, but the solos are not afraid to take flight either.". -
Trevor MacLaren - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Helen Sung |
Helen Sung - Anthem For A New Day (2011) "Helen Sung has worked with jazz luminaries like Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter and
Terri Lyne Carrington, but her latest project might end up being her most celebrated to date. Sung With Words merges jazz and poetry together to make a multi-movement
work that explores themes of the human condition: love, betrayal, wonder, melancholy and mystery. "It's so funny because somebody asked me about the record and I said it's
jazz and poetry and they're like, 'Oh great, two of the least popular things together!'" Sung tells NPR Music, laughing. Dana Gioia is an award-winning poet and the former
chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Sung and Gioia met in 2006, connected immediately, and discovered they had shared passions like science fiction and jazz.
He sent her a book of poetry, she sent him a CD. The more poetry she read, the more the poems came alive as she started hearing stanzas take on the form of melody and
rhythm. When Sung applied for a New Jazz Works grant to make this project, Gioia was the perfect collaborator. Gioia pens the six spoken word introductions on Sung With
Words, in addition to performing them. In the liner notes, he explains, "As a poet, I was excited and intrigued to write jazz songs. Our project allowed me to write a different sort
of poem — more direct, emotional, and musical than work conceived for the page. Lyrics need to grab the listener's attention. They must make an immediate connection." And
they do, with conviction and precision. Each line, though simple and easy to understand, carries a deep and profound message. "
~ DAN MCCLENAGHAN - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
Discography,
Facebook and
YouTube.
|
|
Helen Sung - Anthem For A New Day (2011) "There's a bit of the iconoclast in pianist
Helen Sung. Her musical journey began in the classical world, and didn't take its rebellious tangent into jazz until her
college years, after a chance encounter with a Harry Connick, Jr. concert, in a "bang on the piano" solo interlude. And then
there was pianist Tommy Flanagan's solo on saxophonist Charlie Parker "Confirmation," and Sung was jazz bitten, in the best way.
Anthem for a New Day, Sung's sixth album""her first on Concord Records""represents a full blossoming of Sung's talents""as a
pianist, band leader, arranger and writer."
~ DAN MCCLENAGHAN - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Al Foster |
Al Foster - Inspirations & Dedications (2019)
"As its title suggests, the album is a somewhat autobiographical release. With its 66-minute runtime divided into 13 tracks, the disc is
lengthy without becoming bloated. Foster's quintet is a top-tier group of musicians, including trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, saxophonist Dayna Stephens,
pianist Adam Birnbaum, and bassist Doug Weiss. The group plays well together, offering a pleasant sound which pushes the lengthy album along at a
quick pace, their consistency never allowing for a lull. Rather than featuring a standout single, each song on this crowded release contributes
more to a whole. At its finish, Inspirations and Dedications seems not to be a somber reflection on a life lived, but a celebration of it. "
~ PETER HOETJES - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
All About Jazz page and
Wikipedia.
|
|
Al Foster Quartet - Love, Peace and Jazz (2008)
"Al Foster is probably best known as Miles Davis' drummer for much of the '70s and '80s, and as a well-regarded sideman
for jazz giants including Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson. He's also, somewhat quietly, been leading a first-rate unit of his
own for more than a decade, one that has only released two albums, the first in 1997 and the second just out in 2008 on the Italian Jazz Eyes
label. "
~ JOEL ROBERTS - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Dave Stryker |
Dave Stryker - Eight Track III (2019)
"Stryker visited the popular music of his youth with Eight Track (Strikezone, 2014), bringing '70s pop, rock, and soul classics into the jazz realm with his trio mates—organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter—and guest vibraphonist Stefon Harris. Not too much has changed for the sequel. He's working with the same trio again, the great Steve Nelson fills the "guest vibraphonist" role to complete the quartet, and a selection of popular songs from the '60s on into the '80s are reworked to fit Stryker's language—a swinging, blues-infused, no bullshit argot that has long served him well. If you're looking for something radical or one step beyond, this isn't it. But if you're looking for more of that good-time spirit, with well-played twists on familiar favorites from the radio—and the eight-track players—of yesteryear, you've come to the right place."
~ David Becker - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
YouTube,
Facebook and
Discography.
|
|
Dave Stryker - Messin' with Mr. T (2015)
"On Messin' with Mister T, guitarist Dave Stryker could have
enlisted only his organ trio to salute friend, mentor and musical hero
Stanley Turrentine; instead, he chose to step back and let other voices
do most of the talking. The encomiums are thus provided by ten of the
world's most accomplished tenor saxophonists, making this one of the
most unique and impressive testimonials ever recorded. Turrentine would
no doubt have been pleased to see such heavyweights as Houston Person,
Jimmy Heath, Don Braden, Chris Potter, Bob Mintzer, Eric Alexander and
others lining up to pay homage to his artistry, and even more pleased
that every one of them, in Stryker's words, "came immediately on board"
when asked to take part in the enterprise."
~ JACK BOWERS - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Cindy Blackman |
Cindy Blackman - Works On Canvas (2000)
"After drummer Cindy Blackman’s eruptive 1987 debut, Arcane, it’s interesting to hear how delicately she
opens her latest album, Works on Canvas. Pianist Carlton Holmes’ sparse accompaniment at the beginning on the
standard “Green Dolphin Street” is given added sparkle by Blackman’s shimmering brush strokes. Shortly afterwards,
she steadily builds the climax with her sparkling cymbal work and quick cross-rhythms. Tenor saxophonist J.D. Allen
then improvises on the melody with a dark robust tone, while bassist George Mitchell helps Blackman drive the classic
into a fiery yet impressionistic bliss. The end result is one of the most magical interpretations of the Kaper
composition in recent years.". -
~ John Murph - Jazz Times,
Wikipedia,
Facebook, and
Website page.
|
|
 Cindy
Blackman - Another Lifetime (2010) "American drummer Cindy Blackman's inspiration is the
late Tony Williams, the man who Miles Davis called "the centre that the group's sound revolved around" in his great
1960s quintet, and who went on to become one of the leading creative influences in 1970s jazz-fusion. Blackman pays
homage to Williams here, on a firebreathing session with guitarists Mike Stern and Fionn O'Lochlainn, plus organist
Doug Carn, and with saxophonist Joe Lovano an inspired guest on a Coltraneish improv track. The mad-axeman guitar and
boneshaking drumming this style invites is certainly present on Another Lifetime, but Blackman balances it with tonal
splashes of abstract colour. Carla Bley's mantra-like Vashkar bonds the set, appearing three times (from pulsatingly
groove-straight to bouncingly funky, to free-jazzy with some scalding swing), the freewheeling drums/sax duet with
Lovano yearns, yelps and whirrs, and Williams's hypnotically dirgey There Comes a Time is lightened without being
softened by Blackman's clear and yet soulful voice."
~ John Fordham - The Guardian.
|
|
|
|
Pharoah Sanders |
Pharoah Sanders - Thembi (1971)
"Recorded with two different ensembles, Thembi was a departure from the slowly developing, side-long, mantra-like grooves Pharoah Sanders
had been pursuing for most of his solo career. It's musically all over the map but, even if it lacks the same consistency of mood as many of
Sanders' previous albums, it does offer an intriguingly wide range of relatively concise ideas, making it something of an anomaly in Sanders'
prime period. Over the six selections, Sanders romps through a tremendous variety of instruments, including tenor, soprano, alto flute, fifes,
the African bailophone, assorted small percussion, and even a cow horn."
~ Steve Huey - AllMusic.com,
Facebook,
Website and
Wikipedia.
|
|
 Pharoah Sanders - The Impulse Story (2006)
"Like the Archie Shepp and Alice Coltrane volumes in the Impulse Story series, the Pharoah Sanders issue is one of the flawless
ones -- despite the fact that it only contains four tracks. Ashley Kahn, author of the book the series is named after, wisely chose
tracks with Sanders as a leader rather than as a sideman with John Coltrane (those were documented quite well on the John and Alice
volumes). The set begins with "Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt," recorded in 1966 while he was still a member of the Coltrane band.
Featuring Sanders on tenor, piccolo, percussion, and vocals, it also contains a who's who of the vanguard: pianist Dave Burrell,
guitarist Sonny Sharrock, bassist Henry Grimes, percussionist Nat Bettis, and drummer Roger Blank. Sanders could take a disparate
group of players like this one and wind them into his sound world. Burrell is the most automatically sympathetic, and lends a hand
in creating a series of call-and-response exchanges with Sanders so Sharrock and Grimes follow suit -- not the other way around."
~ Thom Jurek - AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
John Lee Hooker |
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.
|
|
John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom (1992/2007) "In 1989, blues legend John Lee Hooker
enjoyed a career revival in the wake of the release of The Healer.
Produced by slide-guitarist Roy Rogers, and with a little help from
friends like Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, and Carlos Santana, the
album featured enough contemporary guest stars to attract a young
audience unfamiliar with Hooker's enormous blues history. After a
decade of sporadic recording (and relative obscurity), Hooker was
suddenly a hot property again, and The Healer earned the bluesman a
Grammy Award."
~ Reverend Keith A. Gordon - About.com
|
|
|
|
Joyce Cooling |
Joyce Cooling - "Revolving Door" (2006)
"Gibson Guitars' 1999 Jazz Guitarist of the Year, Joyce Cooling, paints a bright and colorful picture on Revolving Door with loving strokes. You might be surprised to learn that this is her portrait of an often dark subject. Says Cooling, "'Revolving Door' is a metaphor for a situation we humans often find ourselves in where there is seemingly no beginning and no end to a problem. It can be a frustrating treadmill with the same path ruthlessly cycling under your feet."
~ Chris M. Slawecki - All About Jazz,
Website,
CD Wikipedia and
Facebook.
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Mariah Parker |
Mariah Parker - Indo Latin Jazz Live in Concert (2017)
"Traditional Indian music, various Latin styles and contemporary jazz have negotiated an unlikely but
productive friendship in the Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, a periodically convened combo of top Northern
California jazz and world music players led by pianist Mariah Parker. She reunites the unit for Live
in Concert (Ancient Future.com Records, 2017), a collection of smartly imagined original tunes that
touch on range of cultural influences but never push connections. You'd expect nothing less from a
cast a master musicians whose credits range from Wynton Marsalis to Sun Ra to Bolivian pan flute
maestro Gonzalo Vargas."
~ David Becker - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
Facebook,
Reverbnation and
DC Bebop.
|
|
Mariah Parker - Sangria (2009)
"This is the impressive solo CD debut of a pianist-composer known primarily for her performances with the longtime Marin world music group Ancient Future.
Parker, who worked with Mickey Hart on his "Planet Drum" project when she was completing her music degree at UC Santa Cruz, describes her style on this eight-track instrumental album as Indo Latin jazz. And just as the Spanish drink sangria is a blend of wine and brandy and other flavors, "Sangria" is a fusion of Indian classical music with Latin sounds and Middle Eastern rhythms.
Parker has studied with Latin jazz pianist Rebeca Mauleon, developing a sensuous, sensitive style that she brings to an East/West jazz fusion that has been explored in some form or another by some of the greats in jazz, including Buddy Rich, Yusef Lateef, John Coltrane and John McLaughlin. "
marinij.com.
|
|
|
| Chris Botti |
Chris Botti - When I Fall In Love (2004)
"While his ballad album emphasizes the clear tone and gentle spirit that this lyrical trumpeter releases quite naturally, it also
serves to exhibit the nuances with which Chris Botti can convince. His subtle improvisations ooze heartfelt emotion from start to finish.
Comparisons with Miles Davis and Chet Baker prove valid. While Columbia prefers to market his good looks and youthful, boyish charm, they
know they've got a winning formula here, in this evocative trumpet soloist."
~ JIM SANTELLA - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
Facebook,
YouTube and
Wikipedia
|
|
Chris Botti - To Love Again (2005)
"Trumpeter Chris Botti's To Love Again: The Duets picks up where his stellar 2004 release When I Fall in Love leaves off, with more
gorgeously lush and heartfelt orchestral jazz via the London Session Orchestra. This time showcasing guest vocalists -- as well as a handful
of instrumental tracks -- Botti takes an even more classicist approach than before and once again brings to mind such iconic jazz albums as
Clifford Brown with Strings and Miles Davis' Porgy and Bess. Largely known as a smooth jazz artist with a sweet trumpet tone, it wasn't until
When I Fall in Love that Botti dropped the smooth jazz synthesizers and pop-oriented compositions in favor of Gil Evans-style jazz
orchestrations and an acoustic backing quartet."
~ AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Dave Brubeck |
Dave Brubeck - Time Out (1959) "features Paul Desmond on Sax, Eugene Wright on Base, Joe Morello on
Drums and of course the classily trained Dave Brubeck on keys. As stated before, this album has sold more copies then any other album,
it introduced several generations since the 1950's to jazz and inspired many other musicians and it's style has been often imitated
but never surpassed. If you own only one Jazz album and my review is even remotely worthy of this piece of music, then by now you
understand why this has to be 'The One"."
~ The Fedora Chronicles,
Website and
Wikipedia page.
|
|
Dave Brubeck - Jazz At Oberlin (1953) "The pianist and composer Dave Brubeck had more than his share of Great Moments:
he was the first to sell a million copies of a jazz instrumental; he was one of Time magazine's rare jazz cover subjects; he has played
for presidents and popes; composed everything from classic jazz themes to symphonies; and the tune of his most famous hit, Take Five,
is familiar to music lovers, from eight-year-olds to octogenarians."
~ John Fordham - theguardian.com
|
|
|
| Santana |
Santana - Abraxas (1970)
"There is an essence of allure that exudes from the content of Abraxas. The music is jubilant, with a mesmerizing melody that entices the
listener into a sensation of musical ecstasy. We open with "Singing Winds, Crying Beasts", immediately it induces a trancing atmosphere to
set the mood, a seductive ambience decorated in sensual mysticism. And just as the music has us succumbing to its will, when we give up all
restrain and let our senses sink deeper and deeper into the trance, all of its arousing teases reach their purpose. It was all just a build
up into the album's highlight, "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen". This is Carlos Santana and his band exploring all of the possibilities within
musical hypnotism. The music of "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" flourishes with sensuality, delicate in nature yet it induces an irresistible magnetism. "
~ sputnikmusic.com,
Website,
Wikipedia,
YouTube,
Discography.
|
|
Santana - Supernatural (1999)
"The guitarist in a band has 90% of the time been the most well known person in the band. When it comes down to it, he/she is the most important
person in the group. He can make up for the inauspicious component in the band. Carlos Santana is one of those guitarists that defines his music.
Not that the other musicians aren’t talented but with any other guitarist this band would not be half as good. His extra clean Latin guitar
completes this only one of a kind type of listening. On Supernatural he displays the leadership and features many young artists to grow in their
musical careers with this influential musician."
~ sputnikmusic.com
|
|
|
| John Coltrane |
John Coltrane - Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album (2018)
"On March 6, 1963, John Coltrane and his quartet arrived at Van Gelder Studios in New Jersey to record an album. It was a busy time for the group, which featured pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones. They were at the tail end of a two-week residency at the Birdland jazz club in Manhattan, and the very next day they would record an album with singer Johnny Hartman. But the recordings from that March afternoon session never saw the light of day — until now. Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album is being released by Impulse! Records on June 29 and features two Coltrane compositions that have never been heard before from a time when the quartet was at the height of its musicianship. The album includes unique renditions of the Coltrane classic "Impressions" and several other tracks that the quartet would release down the line."
~ NPR.com,
Official Website and
Wikipedia
|
|
John Coltrane - Giant Steps (1960) "This is an undisputed jazz classic which every jazz lover should have, and this is the format in which it sounds best – in mono, with no distracting alternative takes. There is a stereo version, but stereo recording was in its infancy in 1959 and it lacks the close immediacy of the mono. This was the first Coltrane album consisting entirely of his own compositions, and all seven pieces became instant classics on their own account, especially the fiendishly difficult title number and the beautiful ballad, Naima. Coltrane died 50 years ago, but he remains a potent force in jazz and a compelling model for succeeding generations of musicians."
~ Dave Gelly - theguardian.com
|
|
|
|
Jessy J |
Jessy J - My One And Only One (2015)
"Written, arranged and produced by Jessy J, My One And Only One is her fifth studio album (and second for Shanachie, who also released 2013"™s Second Chances). With 10 songs that ebb and flow between the heat of the midday sun and the resplendent glow of a starry-filled night, Only One has the feel of an instant classic, for life"™s journeys, both in the physical and spiritual worlds." ~
Review - theurbanmusicscene.com,
Website,
Facebook,
YouTube,
Reverbnation and
Discography
.
|
|
Jessy J - Second Chances (2013) "On September 10, 2013, saxophonist Jessy J released Second Chances on Shanachie Entertainment. The album features an all-star cast of musicians including Jeff Lorber, Norman Brown, Joe Sample, Jimmy Haslip and Johnny Britt. Second Chances is Jessy"™s fourth release as a solo artist, but her first as a producer, and as part of this new role, she sought to fuse her love for and influences in the jazz, Latin jazz and R&B styles. "Listen 2 the Groove," the first single from the album features Lorber on keys and Jimmy Haslip on bass. The title track, "Second Chances," showcases Norman Brown and Johnny Britt. Joe Sample lends his both his writing talents and playing on "Mambo Gumbo." "
~ Review - TeenJazz.com
|
|
|
| Ken Fowser |
Ken Fowser - Don't Look Down (2018)
"On a national scale, many jazz fans know Fowser through his recordings in partnership with brilliant vibraphonist Ben Gillece that began with the post bop session Full View (Posi-Tone, 2009). He has released a well received solo effort as well, Standing Tall (Posi-Tone, 2016). On his latest Posi-Tone release, Don't Look Down, Fowser takes us for a hard/post bop journey through 11 originals, leading a quintet of top tier New York players including up and coming trumpeter, Joshua Bruneau... Fowser cites the great American poet, and beat generation icon, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, in the liner notes with his quote, "Think Long Thoughts in Short Sentences." There is a real correlation between Ferlinghetti's poetic vision and that of the art of improvisation. On Don't Look Down, Fowser offers the poetry of sound, the prose of the art of jazz. "
~ PAUL RAUCH - AllAboutJazz.com ,
Facebook,
YouTube and
Website.
|
|
Ken Fowser - Now Hear This (2017)
"Built on a program of eleven original pieces by Fowser himself, this superb date recalls some of the finest iconic Blue Notes, and that is said with the utmost respect to the saxophonist and his peers. Although it comes about halfway through the program, a blistering "The View from Below" puts the ensemble through their paces. Trumpeter Joshua Bruneau shows us his bristling timbre, making him a perfect foil for Fowser's more burnished sound. Having studied with Ralph Lalama, Grant Stewart, and Eric Alexander you can hear the amalgam that is part of the charm of Fowser's approach. "
~ C. ANDREW HOVAN - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Jean-Luc Ponty |
Jean-Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean (1977)
"Consistently imaginative, Enigmatic Ocean is one of Jean-Luc Ponty's finest
accomplishments. The French violinist recorded his share of fusion gems during the 1970s,
and this album is at the top of the list. Often aggressive but sometimes reflective and
moody, this LP is as unpredictable as it is adventurous. Ponty has plenty of room to
stretch out, let loose, and blow, and electric guitarists Allan Holdsworth and Daryl
Stuermer contribute some inspired solos as well. Also quite impressive is the insightful
and passionate drumming of Steve Smith, who went on to lead the superb fusion band Vital
Information. Ponty takes one risk after another, and all of them pay off beautifully."
~ Alex Henderson -allmusic.com
Website,
Wikipedia and
Facebook page.
|
|
Jean-Luc Ponty - Cosmic Messenger (1979)
"Cosmic Messenger is more elegant, European-flavored jazz-rock from the French virtuoso
Jean-Luc Ponty, and pretty much in the same mold as his previous Atlantic albums but with
gradually tightening control over every parameter of performance. Ponty's analog-delay special
effects on the title track are spectacular, and the album is loaded more than ever with
revolving electronic arpeggios as Ponty's own involvement with the ARP synthesizer grows.
But there is still plenty of his fluid, slippery electric violin soloing to be heard within
the tight structures of these pieces, and the tunes themselves are often pretty good. In
addition, this fusion express finds its way into the funk on "The Art of Happiness," and
there are some tricky rhythmic experiments on some tunes. "
~ Richard S. Ginell - allmusic.com.
|
|
|
| Akiko Tsuruga |
Akiko Tsuruga - So Cute, So Bad (2017)
"On more than one occasion I've sat back while listening to jazz organ giants of yore and thought to myself, "they don't make 'em like this anymore." And while it's true that one-of-a-kind greats like Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott, Big John Patton, Brother Jack McDuff, Charles Earland, and Jimmy McGriff are gone for good, and nobody can duplicate exactly what they gave us, it's somewhat small-minded to ignore the fact that other talents are right in front of us, carrying the torch and keeping the organ in the soulful and swinging environments where it sounds best. Akiko Tsuruga is one of those figures. "
~ Dan Bilawsky - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
Wikipedia,
YouTube,
Discography.
|
|
Akiko Tsuruga - Commencement (2014)
"Akiko's release "Commencement" is a dangerously engrossing piece of recording artistry that fits right in to the vibrant Hammond organ scene with an intuitive sense of groove and impressive style. Add guitarist John Hart's rich, soulful lines and the interactive drumming of Jeff Hamilton and one has a powerhouse trio that is ready to take you on a varied journey that never releases its grip on your attention and bristles with good vibes."
~ Rick Erben - KIOS 91.5FM
|
|
|
|
Ferit Odman |
Dameronia With Strings (2015) "In his latest album Dameronia With Strings, Ferit Odman pays tribute to the great Tadd Dameron. He treats listeners to a smorgasbord of Dameron jazz—a sparkling kind that soothes the soul but pumps the heart. Accompanied by an outstanding group of musicians, namely trumpeter Terell Stafford, composer and guitarist David O'Rourke, pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Peter Washington, and a string sextet, the Turkish jazz drummer made Dameron relevant to young jazz artists today."
~ Jim Olin - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
Facebook and
Wikipedia.
|
|
Ferit Odman - Autumn in New York (2011)
"Autumn in New York comes via Turkish drummer Ferit Odman—who leads this session featuring an all-American band playing straight-ahead tunes—but this is a far cry from a "drummer's date." Both members of the frontline—trumpeter Terell Stafford and alto saxophonist Vincent Herring—were referred to as "young lions" early in their careers, and sound very much at home throughout the set, their ensemble playing a testament that, by this point, they are clear mainstays of the scene. Stafford's tone is warm and personal, and his reading of the title tune is delivered with tender familiarity. The lyrics of the song are included in the liner notes, and the trumpeter's feature evokes a feeling of that special time in that special place."
~ WILLIAM CAREY - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
John Pizzarelli |
John Pizzarelli - Sinatra & Jobim @ 50 (2017)
"Pizzarelli's recording Sinatra & Jobim @ 50 is a quiet, breezy affair of lilting Brazilian rhythms and melodies
played by a crack team of musicians. While Pizzarelli faithfully recreates much of the original recording, he wisely
avoids "The Girl from Ipamema" and adds "Antonio's Song" and "Canto Casual." His singing and guitar playing are of the
level we have come to expect of Pizzarelli, who has matured fully into this role of keeper of the flame for this flavor
of jazz music. Of note are pianist Helio Alves ("The Frank Sinatra of the tenor saxophone"). These two men provide the
quiet heat and humidity that lay below Pizzarelli's superb Portuguese. The combination of "Meditation" with "Quiet
Night of Quiet Stars" is inspired and perfectly functional as is the pairing of "If You Never Come to Me" and
"Changing Partners." Yes, 1967 was a very good year. "
~ C. MICHAEL BAILEY - AllAboutJazz.com ,
Wikipedia,
Facebook,
YouTube and
Website.
|
|
John Pizzarelli Trio - Live At Birdland (2003) "This is a wonderful, warm-hearted, and effortlessly
virtuosic live recording by one of the finest living exponents of pre-bop small-ensemble jazz. With pianist Ray
Kennedy and bassist Martin Pizzarelli (and on two songs joined by vocalist Grover Kemble), singer and guitarist
John Pizzarelli runs through a generally lightweight but thoroughly charming set of standards, homages, funny
stories, and the occasional original tune; the fast tunes are light and frothy, the ballads smooth and gentle,
and even the moments that are less than utterly inspired work together with the album's highlights to create a
very satisfying whole. "
~ Rick Anderson - allmusic.com
|
|
|
|
Euge Groove |
 Euge Groove - Still Euge (2016) " Euge Groove is back with his tenth album and his fifth for Shanachie Entertainment. His new album Still Euge (2016) is a commitment to his musical roots, the genre with which he is grown and his own person as professional musician... When spiritual loveliness is a tone, then Euge Groove hits it right on the opening Twelfth Night. His soprano sax sounds like a joyful singing bird, completely unbridled, no compromising, but exuberant in its transgression. The title song takes off with a jamming B3 before Euge blows his tenor sax. Making old school to something new or carrying the flame of jam into the future is his intention. "
~ Smooth-Jazz.de,
Website,
Facebook,
Wikipedia and
YouTube.
|
|
Euge Groove - Born 2 Groove (2007)
"
Co-produced once again by Groove and Paul Brown, Born 2 Groove shows the saxophonist’s creativeness is only getting better with age. Sure, there are the trademark Euge-isms: the saxophone growl, the sustained note at the beginning of a song. But it’s the omnipresent hooks and the inspired soloing that make it a top-notch smooth-jazz sax CD. It’s nigh impossible not to bump into R&B sax CDs at each turn, and Born 2 Groove is the rare bird that’s smooth but based on rock, pop and, yes, gospel. "Slow Jam" is a highlight, a dizzyingly beautiful ballad on par with a gem titled "Last Song" on his debut CD in 2000. And the title track is a barnburner on par with his most exhilarating uptempo hits: "Get ‘Em Goin’," "Livin’ Large" and "Rewind." Two vocal tracks that-get this-actually belong on the CD are stellar. Ollie Woodson’s well-worn vocals are captured on Al Kooper’s blues-gospel lament "I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know," which Donny Hathaway sang the hell out of. Woodson does the same. And underused vocalist Jeffrey Osborne teamed with Groove for the original "Baby If You Only Knew (What I Could Do)," a 1970s soft R&B-type scorcher suitably dressed up in 2007 fashion."
~ Brian Soergel - JazzTimes.com.
|
|
|
|
Dave Stryker |
Dave Stryker - Strykin Ahead (2017)
"Hot on the heels of his 2016 release, the soul and rock infused Eight Track II comes Dave Stryker's punningly titled Strykin' Ahead with a mix of standards and Stryker originals. Following the lively opener, "Shadowboxing," a Stryker original, comes a rather more sedate version of Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" followed by Stryker's "New You" in which both Steve Nelson and Jared Gold provide imaginative, swinging solos backed by McClenty Hunter's solid drumming. A dreamy interpretation of Billy Strayhorns "Passion Flower" is given a subtle bossa nova beat by Hunter. "Strykin' Ahead" is a helter skelter affair where Stryker shows his mettle with a flurry of fast and fluid notes breaking out immediately after the head. To some extent Stryker sounds not unlike the late Johnny Smith in his considered and articulate style, which is no bad thing, but Stryker has his own unique voice too."
~ Roger Farbey - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
Wikipedia and
YouTube.
|
|
|
Dave Stryker - Messin’ With Mister T (2015)
"The Mister T in question is sax-player the late Stanley Turrentine. US guitarist Dave Stryker played in his band for 10 years from the mid 80s. This album features Stryker’s organ trio on 10 tracks, each with a different tenor-player, each keen to add to this tribute to the much-admired Turrentine... Mr T himself would surely have enjoyed this heartfelt tribute: each sax player has his own distinctive sound and the trio has a soulful sense of swing. This is a very fine album that definitely gets my vote."
~ Alison Bentley - LondonJazzNews.com
|
|
|
|
Sade |
Sade - Lovers Rock (2000) "In the past eight years, many talented female artists have topped
the music charts. Some, although young, have overwhelmed us with extraordinary vocal ability, while others have shocked us with
daring lyrics and punchy dance rhythms. Regardless of style or ability, today’s female artist faces the challenge of not only selling
CDs, but also establishing herself as a viable commodity worthy of future investment. Unfortunately, when taking time away from the
public to create and/or recuperate, many lose touch with their audience and are no longer sought after. Such is not the case for Sade Adu.
Ever since Sade’s last hit in 1993, she continued to hold a dust-free space in many of her listener’s music collections. Finally such a
vacancy can be filled with her latest project, Lovers Rock."
~ popmatters.com,
Facebook,
YouTube and
Website.
|
|
Sade -
Bring Me Home - Live 2011 (Blu-ray) (2012)
"After nearly three decades of making music, Sade Adu still has a hard time letting fans in, preferring to limit her press ops and
take decade-long stretches between new album releases. But the British-Nigerian singer and her band are inching back towards the
spotlight with the May 22nd DVD/CD and Blu-ray release of Bring Me Home - Live 2011, which chronicles their mega-successful Sade Live
tour. The 54-date trek touched down in Europe, America, Australia and Asia and celebrated Sade's platinum-certified 2010 LP, Soldier
of Love."
~ Steven J. Horowitz - Rollingstone.com
|
|
|
| Jon Faddis |
Jon Faddis - Teranga (2006)
""Teranga" is the word for hospitality in the Wolof language of Senegal, and on his release of the same name, Jon Faddis invites you into his musical world. Faddis (trumpet and flugelhorn) is joined by pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Dion Parson, as well as several guests: Alioune Faye (sabor), Abdou Mboup (djembe and talking drum), Russell Malone (guitar), Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone), Frank Wess (alto flute) and Clark Terry (flugelhorn and vocals). All but one of the compositions are originals by Faddis. "
~ MARCIA HILLMAN - All About Jazz,
Website,
Wikipedia,
Facebook and
YouTube
|
|
John Faddis
- Legacy (1985)
"After too long a period in the studios, talented trumpeter Jon Faddis returned to jazz with this brilliant effort. Best known for his ability to closely emulate his idol, Dizzy Gillespie (far from an easy feat), Faddis pays tribute to Gillespie with "Night in Tunisia" and "Things to Come." However, he also does a close imitation of Roy Eldridge on "Little Jazz," pays homage to Louis Armstrong on "West End Blues," shows sensitivity on Thad Jones' "A Child Is Born," and performs three other numbers. With the assistance of tenor saxophonist Harold Land, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Mel Lewis, Jon Faddis is in superb form throughout this outstanding release, his definitive recording. "
~ Scott Yanow - AllMusic.com
|
|
|
| Elaine Elias |
Elaine Elias - Dance of Time (2017)
"As a vocalist, the Brazilian Eliane Elias radiates as much starry smooth-jazzy hipness as Diana Krall, but as an improvising pianist she's in a different league: a wellspring of polished bebop lines and skittish flourishes. Jazz hardliners might shy away from the purr of her sultry vocal sound, but the smart thing about this reappraisal of her long career is that her piano spontaneity coaxes and illuminates the music at every turn. Elias's trumpeter ex-husband Randy Brecker and Steps Ahead vibraphone partner Mike Mainieri are in the lineup, and the songs embrace jazz standards, Brazilian classics and poignant originals such as the dreamy Little Paradise. "
~ John Fordham - TheGuardian.com ,
CD Discography
Facebook and
Website.
|
|
Elaine Elias - Made in Brazil (2015)
""There is a delicacy to how Elias chooses and approaches the material. There is no genuflecting to pop music as there was on Light My Fire (Concord, 2011). Here Elias is all about adult emotions and days of "wine and roses" gorgeously captured on her original, "Searching." Elias called upon Rob Mathes to handle orchestral arrangements on seven of the 12 tracks which were recorded in London at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Never overbearing or overblown, Mathes utilizes the strings to enhance the dreamily romantic atmosphere of Made In Brazil."
~ Jeff Winbush - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Billy Childs |
Billy Childs - Rebirth (2017)
"It's been a while since we've heard pianist Billy Childs really dig in. While he certainly hasn't been dormant,
reaching tremendous artistic heights in semi-recent times with a pair of highly refined chamber jazz explorations and
a much-lauded tribute to Laura Nyro, the Childs of yore-the man that would throw down the gauntlet night after night
while in the employ of legends like trumpet titan Freddie Hubbard or trombonist J.J. Johnson-hasn't been heard from
in a while. Rebirth brings that part of Childs' past back into view, but it also continues to shine a light on his
clarity of expression and his incredible skills in the arranging department. It's punctilious and unpredictably
powerful all at once. Believe it or not, you can have both ways. At least, that is, if you're Billy Childs."
~ DAN BILAWSKY - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
Wikipedia and
YouTube.
|
|
Billy Childs - Bedtime Story: A Tribute to Herbie Hancock (1996)
"Because Billy Childs employs his composing and arranging skills on a wide and varied front,
his activity in writing music in Los Angeles means that he travels seldom and records less often as a pianist than his talent
warrants. As this CD testifies, when Childs concentrates on his jazz playing, he exceeds the promise that he showed in his
debut as a 19-year-old virtuoso with Freddie Hubbard in 1977. It is an indication of the regard he enjoys among the jazz
elite that producer Todd Barkan put Childs together with the formidable rhythm team of bassist George Mraz and drummer
Billy Hart. It would be hard to imagine a more compatible combination of artists."
~ Doug Ramsey - JazzTimes.com
|
|
|
|
Me'Shell N' Degeocello |
Me'Shell N' Degeocello - Plantation Lullabies (1993) "Before Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, rapper/singer Me’Shell NdegéOcello
injected hip-hop with the adrenaline of Alternative, organic soul humming with the politics of sex and "black-on-black love." A significant influence on Madonna
(her boss at Maverick), NdegéOcello’s debut, Plantation Lullabies, is the quintessential hip-hop album, mixing the soul of Sly Stone and the funk of James Brown
with the pop sensibilities of Prince and the grace of Lena Horne. The album’s lead single, "If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night)," was the most unlikely
of hits with the most unlikely of pop hooks: "Boyfriend, boyfriend/Yes I had your boyfriend." If anyone had ever doubted that the Civil Rights Movement was still alive
and necessary, Plantation Lullabies exists to prove them otherwise."
~ Sal Cinquemani - slantmagazine.com,
Website,
Facebook and
Wikipedia.
|
|
Me'Shell Ndegeocello - Devil's Halo (2009)
"Intense. That's always the first word that
comes to mind when anyone mentions Meshell Ndegeocello. Her music
eschews sentiment for emotion. There's a stark acceptance that life
is rough, passionate, trying, and beautiful in Ndegeocello's work.
She never shies away from how heavy and messy human emotion can
be.... For Ndegeocello fans though, it is tempting to say that the
Devil's Halo and Bitter are just two sides of the same coin""which
isn't really accurate, I don't think. Anyone who insinuates that
this is the happier version of Bitter is missing the point. Devil's
Halo, even with songs like "Bright Shiny Morning" isn't really a
happy album. But it isn't really a sad one either. It rejects this
paradigm as a false choice and as such it is really Bitter with a
greater sense of perspective of life's realities. "
~ Tyler Lewis - PopMatters
|
|
|
| Joanna Pascale |
Joanna Pascale - Wildflower (2015)
"Whether referring to the lesser-known repertoire to which she’s drawn or to the singer herself, nurtured
in the concrete jungle of her native Philadelphia, Wildflower is the ideal title for Pascale’s captivating new
album. Supported by an excellent band led by the session’s producer, pianist Orrin Evans, and a host of special
guests including Christian McBride, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gregoire Maret, Bilal, and Cyrus Chestnut, Pascale finally
comes into full bloom, a wildflower whose beauty is emerging into the sunlight."
All About Jazz,
Website,
Discography,
Facebook and
YouTube
|
|
Joanna Pascale
- When Lights Are Low (2004)
"Joanna Pascale's debut CD, When Lights are Low, is a searching exploration of the female voice,
its many facets and subtleties, within the context of rendering ballad standards in a "classic,"
timeless way. There are no "frills," cliches, or "tricks of the trade" in this album, nothing
clever or stylish about it. It is simply an attempt to manifest the "pure clear word" of these
songs as transparently as possible. The accompaniment follows suit. Terell Stafford's solo on
"Easy Living" states the case. It is a lyrical improvisation that makes no attempt to be "modern"
and flashy- rather, it echoes the evolution of jazz trumpet playing from Armstrong through Beiderbecke
to Baker as a unified whole rather than a series of signature styles. This CD is entirely a statement
about classic jazz as having one core, one essence. And Pascale is up to that challenge."
~ VICTOR L. SCHERMER - All About Jazz
|
|
|
| Hiromi |
Hiromi - Spark (2016)
"Japanese pianist and composer Hiromi is one of the more unpredictable, captivating talents in modern jazz. Her Trio Project
with drummer Simon Phillips and contrabass guitarist Anthony Jackson, now into its sixth year, has matured into one of the most
fluidly inventive on the scene. Spark, recorded over four days in October of 2015, is the group's fourth offering. Like its
predecessors, it has a loosely connected thematic scheme. In this case, it's the spark of inspiration that leads to creation,
risk-taking, spiritual connection, and development via an album-length dream sequence. The established hallmarks of the trio
are abundant -- tight, twisting, turning, sometimes incendiary dialogue in constantly evolving themes and motifs that embrace
everything from post-bop to proggy rockisms to funky soul-jazz."
~ AllMusic.com ,
CD Discography and
Website.
|
|
Hiromi The Trio Project - Alive (2014)
"Ahmad Jamal nailed it when he observed, "Hiromi has discovered her own genre, and continues to pursue
it with great sensitivity, energy, and dazzling virtuosity." As time passes and her experience grows,
Hiromi has not only become a better player, but a better listener. Compare the tasteful understatement
of 2014 version of Hiromi onthe elegant "Firefly" with the frenetic, bug-on-a-hot-stove of 2004's
"Kung-Fu World Champion" and the difference is like that of night and day.
Dare we call Alive the dreaded "F" word? Fusion? Yes, we can and yes we should because this is most
definitely and unashamedly jazz fusion. Even without the electric guitar of John McLaughlin, or the
arsenal of synthesizers employed by Herbie Hancock, The Trio Project is a legitimate inheritor of
the legacy left behind by Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter and Jaco Pastorius when Weather Report called
it a day."
~ Jeff Winbush - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Dwight Trible |
Dwight Trible - Cosmic (2011)
"is the long-awaited recording by Dwight Trible, one of the most prolific vocalists of the time. This recording is the follow up to his critically
acclaimed Living Water, which made a big impression throughout the world. On Cosmic, Dwight brings an A-list cast of characters to bring forth
his heartfelt expressionsof love for human kind and for love itself. Musicians like Grammy nominee John Beasley and long time collaborator
Munyungo Jackson help create the Cosmic landscape. Also noted areappearances by Kenneth Crouch, Trevor Ware, Dexter Story, George Harper, Kamau
Daaood,Peter Jacobson, and Justo Almario. With a cast like this it is easy to imagine all of the musical territory covered in this recording.
~ Aniy-fuse - Fusicology.com,
Reverbnation,
Website,
Facebook and
DC Bebop.
|
|
Dwight Trible - Living Water (2006)
"Dwight Trible is a preacher, turning any material into a song of praise. Trible taps into the tradition of assigning lyrics to existing
jazz standards, aligning himself with King Pleasure, Jon Hendricks, and Eddie Jefferson. He stands firmly in the jazz singer’s domain of
delivering a song true to its story while composing variations on the tune as he goes. On Trible’s new collection he arranges, produces,
and writes lyrics to melodically and rhythmically challenging compositions. Take for instance the opener, Coltrane’s "Wise One." Given a
portentous send off with John Rangel’s deep chords, Trible’s elastic baritone maneuvers through the modulations on words he honed to fit
the tune and the recording's main philosophical device."
~ Rex Butters - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Ferit Odman |
|
Ferit Odman - Dameronia With Strings (2015) "In his latest album Dameronia With Strings, Ferit Odman pays tribute to the great Tadd Dameron. He treats listeners to a smorgasbord of Dameron jazz—a sparkling kind that soothes the soul but pumps the heart. Accompanied by an outstanding group of musicians, namely trumpeter Terell Stafford, composer and guitarist David O'Rourke, pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Peter Washington, and a string sextet, the Turkish jazz drummer made Dameron relevant to young jazz artists today."
~ JIM OLIN - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
Facebook and
YouTube.
|
|
|
Ferit Odman - Autumn in New York (2011)
"Autumn in New York comes via Turkish drummer Ferit Odman—who leads this session featuring an all-American band playing straight-ahead tunes—but this is a far cry from a "drummer's date." Both members of the frontline—trumpeter Terell Stafford and alto saxophonist Vincent Herring—were referred to as "young lions" early in their careers, and sound very much at home throughout the set, their ensemble playing a testament that, by this point, they are clear mainstays of the scene. Stafford's tone is warm and personal, and his reading of the title tune is delivered with tender familiarity. The lyrics of the song are included in the liner notes, and the trumpeter's feature evokes a feeling of that special time in that special place."
~ WILLIAM CAREY - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Jack DeJohnette |
 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,
Website,
Discography and
Facebook.
|
|
Jack DeJohnette - Golden Beams Collected, Vol. 1
(2006) "Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack DeJohnette is widely
regarded as one of jazz music's greatest drummers. Music appreciation
flourished in DeJohnette's family. He studied classical piano from age
four until fourteen before beginning to play drums with his high school
concert band and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago
conservatory of music. DeJohnette credits his uncle, Roy I. Wood Sr.,
who was one of the most popular jazz DJ's in the South Side of Chicago,
later vice president of the National Network of Black Broadcasters, as
the person who initially inspired him to pursue music." ~
Dave Schroeder - ALL About Jazz |
|
|
|
Sara Tavares |
Sara Tavares - XINTI (2009)
"During the early years of the emergence of world music, the rootsy,
old-national traditions were the first to grow into the mainstream
light. In recent years, though, artists who hybridize traditions
have moved to the forefront of the genre. A good example is Sara
Tavares, who is of Cape Verdean ancestry but was raised in Portugal,
the daughter of immigrants who left the rocky islands for greener
economic pastures. Though her early influences were found on the
American soul shelf, she has since moved to a sound that has more in
common with modern Africa. Her third album, "Xinti," which means
"Feel It," showcases her maturation as an artist. "Xinti"
("ZHIN-tee") finds a rare balance in her music: upbeat but gentle,
soulful but sweet. Tavares uses her velvety voice creatively,
departing from the basic lyrics of these songs to scat alternate
melodic lines that push, pull and punctuate the percolating
polyrhythms underneath. Tavares sings in Portuguese and Cape Verdean
creole on an album of songs that she wrote, produced and arranged.
In addition to playing guitars, she often accompanies herself on
vocals, overdubbing layers of her honeyed rasp to great billowing
effect."
~ Marty Lipp - New Jersey Star-Ledger Contributor,
Discography,
Website, and
Facebook 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
|
|
|
|
George Cables |
George Cables - Cables Vision (1980) "One of the most satisfying recordings to be released in 1980 (and since reissued on CD in the OJC series), this date by pianist George Cables (who contributed four of the six group originals) features trumpeter Freddie Hubbard (who brought in "Byrdlike") and tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts in fiery form; the two horn players took time off from their much more commercial efforts for other labels. Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson is also in the sextet/septet with bassist Tony Dumas, drummer Peter Erskine, and sometimes percussionist Vince Charles; the one departure is "The Stroll," which is an adventurous piano-vibes duet by Cables and Hutcherson."
~ AllMusic.com,
Website,
Facebook,
Reverbnation and
SoundCloud.
|
|
George Cables - Icons and Influences (2014)
"Icons and Influences’ title makes clear what takes place within: George Cables honoring those who shaped him. Some, of course, were fellow pianists: "Cedar Walton" is the name of the leadoff track and it’s followed by "Farewell Mulgrew." Duke Ellington, Bill Evans and Dave Brubeck also receive nods. But Cables, whose multi-decade career has been evenly divided between leader and sideman gigs, also owes to hornmen. "Nature Boy," the Eden Ahbez standard, may have been a signature hit for Nat King Cole, but it’s Coltrane’s mid-’60s arrangement to which Cables tips his hat here. Joe Henderson’s "Isotope" and Benny Golson’s "Blue Heart" are other strong inclusions."
~ Jeff Tamarkin - JazzTimes.com
|
|
|
|
Meg Okura |
Meg Okura's Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble - Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto (2013) "This fascinating work is the perfect symbiosis of eastern and western music, creating a new jazz atmosphere. The violinist and composer Meg Okura leads the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, this tremendous band consists of some virtuous, young jazz musicians including Anne Drummond (flutes), Helen Sung (piano), Dezron Douglas (bass), and E. J. Strickland (drums)... Mrs. Okura and her team present the music of the legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, the creator of the Academy award winning soundtrack, The Last Emperor. Twelve pieces are part of this new album, each of them has a bit of the classical music language; a largo, an adagio, a crescendo or a subtle allegro, they move around as the background to any instrument improvising and expressing simultaneously the powerful and sentimental Asian music."
~ Oscar Montagut - WorldMusicReport.com,
Website,
Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble website,
Facebook and
Wikipedia.
|
|
Meg Okura - Naima (2010) "John Coltrane's original recording of "Naima" is extraordinarily beautiful, and it's possible that he never envisioned such a breathtaking version being played so many years after it had been composed. So hats off to the Japanese-born violinist and erhu player, Meg Okura, for conjuring up that version. As wave after wave of the song's melody unfolds like repeated sighs that send shivers of emotion down the spine, Okura's violin does the reverse, soaring like it has caught the draft of a hot air thermal and, like the proverbial bird, it now disappears, as if into the azure. "
~ Michael Debbage - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Lala Hathaway |
Lala Hathaway - Live (2015) "Among soul music aficionados, the placement of the name "Hathaway" with the word "Live" automatically inspires heart palpitations, dizzy spells, and copious hosannas. Some of the best live soul music recordings ever made are those associated with Donny Hathaway. Soul capsules that capture a time and place with such immediacy, you"™re instantly transported to those auspicious rooms where a musical church happened. Witnessing the miracle that can be Donny Hathaway"™s daughter, Lalah, live when everything is aligned and she"™s in the moment, can cause a similar transcendent experience to be evoked."
~ L. Michael Gipson - Soultracks.com,
Website,
Facebook,
Reverbnation and
Wikipedia.
|
|
Lala Hathaway - Self Portrait (2008)
"Had Lalah Hathaway's third and fourth solo albums been separated by a gap in time equal to the one between her second and third, Self Portrait would not have come out until 2014. But it arrived six years earlier, in time for her to connect with the rejuvenated Stax label, home of Angie Stone. The set reunites Hathaway with Rex Rideout, the producer/songwriter who worked with the singer on "Forever, for Always, for Love," the title cut of the Luther Vandross tribute album that appeared in 2004. Rideout is the primary collaborator, with his input on half of the songs, while kindred spirits Rahsaan Patterson and Sandra St. Victor also contribute to a handful of tracks. More mellow and unified than 2004's Outrun the Sky, the album maintains a steady flow, whether the backdrops feature midtempo dance rhythms and horns, deep basslines and finger snaps, or acoustic guitars and glistening keyboards."
~ Andy Kellman - allmusic.com
|
|
|
|
Russ Hewitt |
Russ Hewitt - Cielo Nocturno (2016) "Local Texan rumba flamenco guitarist Russ Hewitt impressed us with his recording debut
Bajo El Sol eight years ago and has been patience and particular with his steps since. Waiting three years to record his equally strong follow up Alma Vieja Hewitt
avoided the sophomore slump and now it has been over 5 years for him to finally release his latest recording Cielo Nocturno. Keeping a creative streak is a difficult
task for even the best of musicians and streaks are made to be broken. Clearly this is the case with Cielo Nocturno which is not of equal strength of his prior
recordings but frankly exceeds all expectations from this artist that grows in his compositional capabilities."
~ Michael Debbage - MainlyPiano.com,
Website,
Facebook,
Reverbnation and
SoundCloud.
|
|
Russ Hewitt - Bajo El Sol (Saulito) (2008)
"The time honored traditions of Flamenco guitar music received a huge injection of fresh interest in the "˜90s and pretty soon genres such as Nuevo
Flamenco and Rhumba Flamenco started making their way in the American musical dialect in a big way. Just this past decade, established guitar names like
Armik and the group Incendio made enormous inroads in the world of modern flamenco guitar sounds. One rising guitarist / composer set to make his own mark
on the guitar world in the coming decade is Texas-based Russ Hewitt. "
~ CD/DVD Reviews - mwe3.com
|
|
|
|
Jane Monheit |
Jane Monheit - The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald (2016) "Among vocal-jazz projects, surely the most ambitious and sublime is Ella Fitzgerald"™s near-decade-long series of eight releases saluting giants of the Great American Songbook. Initiated by Norman Granz in 1956 to ignite his fledgling Verve label, the landmark project continued through 1964, spanning more than 250 compositions from Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, the Gershwin brothers, Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer. Now, 60 years since that project"™s inception, Jane Monheit pays tribute with a 12-song program that touches on most of the masters, with Kern curiously omitted."
~ Christopher Loudon - JazzTimes.com,
Website,
Discography,
Facebook and
YouTube.
|
|
Jane Monheit - Surrender (2007)
"The time has come to remove the qualifier of "promising new vocalist" from describing Monheit. Surrender is ample evidence that any discussion of premier singers delivering quality work in jazz and ballads has to include Monheit right along with Norah Jones and Diana Krall."
Jeff Wimbush - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Al Di Meola |
Al Di Meola
- Elysium (2015)
"Elysium is very much a showcase for di Meola"™s mastery of the guitar in all its forms against a distinct and sparse, but beautiful sonic backdrop. Playing all the guitar parts himself - acoustic, nylon, twelve-string and electric - it"™s the different colour undertones provided by the three keyboardists - Barry Miles, Philippe Saisse and Mario Parmisano - which give this album a distinct watermark that is worlds away from the richer fusion moods associated with di Meola from his break-out sessions with Return to Forever. The album is characterised by a rich infusion of guitar sounds complementing each other, sometimes effervescent, sometimes hard and rocky, but all beautifully played: this is an album for guitar lovers, undoubtedly." ~
Rob Mallows - LondonJazzNews.com,
Website,
Facebook and
Discography.
|
|
 Al
Di Meola "Kiss My Axe" (1988) "He holds the most
prestigious guitar awards (of any guitarist in the world) from the
highest rated guitar poll in the world, Guitar Player Magazine. He
has been known throughout the world for the past two and a half
decades as one of the most prominent virtuosos in the contemporary
instrumental jazz field... Al Di Meola, again and again, reveals
himself as a seasoned gifted contemporary composer and a player of
deepening grace and evocative lyricism. He has been continually
sited by many of the top prominent Music critics around the world
for his virtuosic guitar work and compositions. Al's intrigue with
complex rhythmic syncopation combined with provocative lyrical
melodies always incorporating, sophisticated harmony at the root of
these serious but heart felt works is central and foremost."
- Biography in All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Dr. Lonnie Smith |
Dr. Lonnie Smith
- Evolution (2016)
"Evolution is Smith's first album for Blue Note in forty-five years, and it's a real humdinger. Everything we've come to expect from him, included the unexpected, is here. The album is populated with raunchy riffs, greasy grooves, soulful sermons, tidal organ shifts, moody statements, hard-hitting solos, and punchy interjections, all of which help to enliven throwback songs, standards, and new pieces alike. This is past, present, and future Smith rolled into one. " ~
Dan Bilawsky - All About Jazz, CD
Discography,
YouTube,
MySpace page and
Website.
|
|
Dr. Lonnie Smith
- Spiral (2010)
"Vitality and age might be normally be at odds with one another, but
not when discussing Dr. Lonnie Smith""the inimitable organ shaman of
the modern soul-jazz epoch. Whether turning in clever takes on the
music of indie rocker Beck, recasting familiar standards in his
organic organ mold or shaping his own compositions to his liking,
Smith never seems to be short on ideas. He furthers the traditional
role of the organ in small-group jazz and puts a modern slant on
things, giving the music a unique character that is also immediately
accessible."
~ Dan Bilawsky - All About Jazz
|
|
|
| Avishi Cohen |
Avishi Cohen - From Darkness (2015)
"Bassist Avishai Cohen is both prolific and eclectic. His latest album, a trio recording his regular band, pianist Nitai Hershkovits and young drummer Daniel Dor, is jazz infused with rock, classical and Latin influences. Though led by a bassist, it is very much a piano trio. All the tunes are written by Cohen, bar the rendition of Charlie Chaplin's Smile which closes the CD, it is Hershkovits' piano which is to the fore."
~ London Jazz News,
Website,
Wikipedia and
Facebook.
|
|
Avishai Cohen - Seven Seas (2011)
"Over the past few years, bassist Avishai Cohen has become recognized as one of the most creative musicians of current times. A fertile composer of the highest rank, he has, among other things, enriched and expanded the genre he works in: a master of the upright bass, an improviser of not-so-often-seen genius, and a bandleader with a rich and kaleidoscopic history."
|
|
|
| Taimane |
Taimane - We Are Made of Stars (2015)
"Taimane Gardner is used to the ukulele being disrespected. "It happens everywhere, even in Hawaii," the Oahu native says. "I get into a cab, they see my instrument case, and they ask me what I play. When I say ukulele, they say, 'But what do you really do? How do you pay the rent?'" The notion that the ukulele is only fit for luaus and novelty numbers still lingers, but Gardner loves to turn those expectations upside down. "When I get onstage, people may not take me seriously at first. So when I play, the wow factor is much more extreme. It"™s very satisfying seeing their misconceptions get blown out of the water." With her custom-built, flat-black-finished Kamaka ukulele, Gardner has been blowing away audiences for most of her 26 years. A prodigy with a contagious zest for performing, she honed her showmanship and stagecraft at age 13 with mentor and legendary crooner Don Ho."
~ Pat Moran - ukelelemag.com,
Website,
YouTube and
Facebook.
|
|
Taimane - Ukulele Dance (2012)
"The ukulele scene keeps producing impressive virtuoso musicians. Taimane is one of the latest discoveries. She showcases her admirable technique in a new album titled Ukulele Dance. Taimane (whose name means "diamond" in Samoan) grew up in Hawaii. She is an eclectic musician, as other ukulele performers. Her repertory includes classical music, jazz, covers of rock music hits and even flamenco. On Ukulele Dance , Taimane presents her own material as well as Bach"™s "Tocatta," Lalo Schifrin"™s "Mission Impossible Theme," and pieces she wrote for the planet Neptune and the Moon, as part of her series on the solar system."
|
|
|
| Kaki King |
Kaki King - The Neck Is a Bridge to the Body (2015)
"Ever since her debut in 2001, Georgian instrumentalist Katherine Elizabeth King (stage name Kaki King) has made leaps and bounds in defining what it is to play a guitar. Essentially taking the role of a one-woman band by the horns, King has defined herself not only as simply one of the best guitarists that the world may have ever come to know, but one of the most interestingly ingenious innovators of music at large. Previously described as an "ontological tabula rasa" in representing a story of creation, King"™s latest project, The Neck Is a Bridge to the Body, accentuates the guitar as a shape-shifter, gliding across genres such as jazz, shoegazing, Latin roots, and heavy alternative rock across about an hour"™s worth of a spectacle unlike any other."
~ Jonathan Frahm - popmatters.com,
Website,
Wikipedia,
YouTube and
Facebook.
|
|
Kaki King - Glow (2012)
"The aftermath of a crisis has two outcomes. It can either break you down, or propel you outward, spawning a revitalization. For the Atlanta-bred guitar goddess Kaki King, who admittedly experienced an "existential crisis" after the release of her last, overzealous record, 2010"™s Junior, the answer is the latter. With this year"™s Glow, she excels in achieving lightness through simplicity.
Famed for her almost preternatural grasp on rhythm, King returns to her folk roots with an entirely instrumental album. Amidst plucks, hums, and strums, she engages the listener with an immersive, inspiring listen. Standout track "Streetlight in the Egg" amplifies tension through finger-tapping guitar so fluid, you almost forget it"™s just one woman with a guitar."
|
|
|
| Jeff Hamilton Trio |
Cory Weeds & The Jeff Hamilton Trio - This Happy Madness (2015)
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then this session by Canadian tenor man Cory Weeds and The
Jeff Hamilton Trio quite nicely bookends The Jeff Hamilton Trio's recent outing with tenor saxophonist
Scott Hamilton. While Weeds modestly admits that he is no Scott Hamilton, he is nevertheless, a saxophonist
of accomplishment with an enthusiastic style. In this release, to use a sports analogy, he certainly plays
up to the level of the competition.
This iteration of The Jeff Hamilton Trio has been together for over 10 years, and the empathetic relationship among
the members is abundantly evident, as they are intensely considerate partners. Weeds is the beneficiary of this
symbiosis as he has never sounded better."
~ Pierre Giroux - Audiophile Audition,
Website,
Wikipedia,
YouTube
Discography
|
|
.jpg)
Scott Hamilton & Jeff Hamilton Trio - Live In Bern
"Saxophone master Scott Hamilton and drum maestro Jeff Hamilton have over four decades of experience
each in the world of mainstream, swinging, jazz. Despite those many years on the scene Live In Bern
is their first release together. It's been a long wait, but it's been worth it. Before the important
discussion""about the music""a word about the band and the album title. This isn't an album by the
"Scott Hamilton & Jeff Hamilton Trio"""to be accurate, it's Scott Hamilton with the Jeff Hamilton Trio."
|
|
|
| Linda Oh |
Linda Oh - Sun Pictures (2013)
"Linda Oh arrived onto the jazz scene as a fully accomplished improviser with her introspective
and free-flowing debut, Entry (Self Produced, 2010). On the follow-up, Initial Here(Greenleaf, 2012),
she expanded her range, drawing upon both the western classical repertoire and eastern folk tradition,
as well as experimenting with electric fusion-informed sounds. Oh's understated yet highly sophisticated
style is the phenomenal bassist's singular mark that characterizes these records, as well as her third
release as a leader on Sun Pictures. Comprising entirely of Oh originals, Sun Pictures is an album of
achingly fragile beauty and warm mellifluousness. The enthralling "Shutterspeed Dreams" opens the disc
with guitarist James Muller's undulating notes. Together with Oh's subtly percussive strings and drummer
Ted Poor's rumbling beats, the ensemble creates a nostalgic and mesmerizing ambiance."
~ HRAYR ATTARIAN - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
NPR,
Facebook,
YouTube
BandCamp
Discography.
|
|
Linda Oh – Entry (2009) “Wow! This CD certainly defied
my expectations. A young musician not long out of music college releases a debut record and you might
expect something designed to impress with a few standards, a touch of flash, derivative playing, maybe
a guest star appearance and a disparate set of styles and moods. This record is nothing like that at all!
Linda Oh has crafted a release which is mature, musical, self-assured, and coherent. It can take a career
to develop the kind of relaxed confidence and skill that allows a musician to minimize the ego and let
the music and the muse take control but Oh plays and writes in a way that allows the music to develop
organically and naturally.”
|
|
|
|
Mindi Abair
|
Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers - Live in Seattle (2015)
""After "˜Wild Heart', Abair wanted to translate its edgier rock/soul sound to the stage. She called longtime
friend Randy Jacobs (Bonnie Raitt, Was (Not Was), Willie Nelson) to join her live band, bringing his Detroit
blues/rock edge. In June, Randy's band, The Boneshakers, was playing The Newport Beach Jazz Festival on the
same bill as Mindi's band, and she hopped on stage to "sit in" with The Boneshakers. "There was so much
electricity on stage. The blues and rock just pulsed through me. Everyone played with complete abandon,"
Abair said. "It felt like home. And most of my band was also playing with Randy's band. It was really only
about hiring longtime Boneshakers vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson (Bonnie Raitt, Was (Not Was), Lyle Lovett)."
Tracked at Seattle's Jazz Alley over Valentine's Day weekend, "˜Live in Seattle' captures the intent of a
rock band, the grit of a blues band and enough energy to light a stadium. Fourteen sizzling tracks include
eleven originals and two dramatic covers, which feature the exceptional combined skills of Mindi Abair
(alto saxophone, vocals, producer), Randy Jacobs (guitar, vocals), Sweet Pea Atkinson (vocals), Rodney Lee
(keyboards), Derek Frank (bass, vocals), and Third Richardson (drums, vocals)."
~ Northwest Music Scene,
Website,
Wikipedia,
Facebook,
YouTube
Discography.
|
|
Mindi Abair – Stars (2008) “Over half a decade after Mindi Abair broke
onto the smooth jazz scene with her hit debut "It Just Happens That Way", she's still an A-lister for summer and
winter tours, festivals and cruises, has her own syndicated radio show "Chill With Mindi Abair" and recently went
international with her first concerts in Istanbul and Romania. Now she's seeing Stars, the name of her Peak Records
debut that keeps her trademark instrumental sound hip and edgy and includes more original vocal tracks (five) than
ever before.”
|
|
|
|
Terri Lyne Carrington |
Terri Lyne Carrington - Mosaic Project: Love And Soul (2015)
"On The Mosaic Project: LOVE and SOUL, Carrington juxtaposes her salute to female artists by paying homage to
various male artists who have either influenced her professionally and/or informed her musicality, such as
Nick Ashford, George Duke, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross and Bill Withers. "Whenever I do
something that celebrates women, I never want it to feel like it's something that excludes men," she explains.
"On this record, I consciously wanted to celebrate the various relationships women have with men either through
original songs of mine or cover songs by male composers and song writers." The male presence and perspective on
The Mosaic Project: LOVE and SOUL is even more realized by Billy Dee Williams, who contributes insightful spoken-word
interludes through the disc."
~ JaSupreme - theurbanmusicscene.com,
Facebook,
Discography,
YouTube and
Website.
|
|
Terri Lyne Carrington
- Money Jungle (2014)
" Terri Lyne Carrington's new recording, a
reenacting update of the Duke Ellington-Max Roach-Charles Mingus album of the
same title from 50 years ago, begins in a frightening manner. "People are
basically vehicles to create money," says a male voice over a drumbeat. "You
have to create problems to create profit." As Ellington did in 1963, drummer
Carrington and her musical mates counter-state the soul-numbing imperative of
money as the be-all and end-all of human life. "Money Jungle" uses the symbolic
action of groove, improvisation and free play within musical form"
~ New York Daily News
|
|
|
|
Gregg Karukas |
Gregg Karukas - Soul Secrets (2014) " The "Secret" is out! 2013 Grammy winner Gregg Karukas is back with a new collection featuring his signature piano touch, pristine production, and melodies that are both soulful and sophisticated. Organic, funky, and melodic is how the original Rippingtons keyboardist describes his latest, long awaited 12th solo project, "Soul Secrets". Gregg's elegant grand piano melodies and infectious grooves are everywhere; this time around he digs into his roots, featuring the classic Fender Rhodes, Wurlie, Minimoog and B3 keyboards quite a bit."
~ Website "Soul Secrets" page,
Website,
Discography,
Facebook and
YouTube.
|
|
Gregg Karukas - Blue Touch (1998)
"Sure that Gregg Karukas had reached the point where his lighthearted approach to smooth jazz was instantly recognizable, the keyboardist titled his last Positive Music release, You'll Know It's Me. Though he adds dashes of hip blues textures and Crusaders-flavored twists with the Fender Rhodes (hence the title, Blue Touch), Karukas' debut is another typically high-spirited effort, a reminder as to why his albums are always perched for months in the upper reaches of the radio charts. For him, it's always about lilting, instantly memorable melodies and gentle funk."
~ Jonathan Widran - AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Roy Haynes |
Roy Haynes (2011) Roy-alty "Roy Haynes celebrated his 86th birthday on March 13, 2011. Had the veteran drummer retired from music 30 or 40 years earlier, he still would have gone down in history as someone with a long list of accomplishments. But thankfully, Haynes continued to perform well into his eighties. Recorded in early 2011 (when Haynes was still 85), Roy-Alty is a solid hard bop/post-bop outing that boasts well-known guests like Chick Corea (who is heard on acoustic piano) and trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Corea is featured on two selections: the dusky "All the Bars Are Open" and Thelonious Monk's "Off Minor," while Hargrove is heard on six of the ten tracks (including the insistent "Passion Dance," the standard "These Foolish Things," the Afro-Cuban favorite "Tin Tin Deo," and Miles Davis' "Milestones"). It should be noted that the "Milestones" that Haynes performs on Roy-Alty is the bop standard that Davis played with Charlie "Bird" Parker in 1947, not the modal standard he unveiled in 1958, and playing something with a Bird connection is quite appropriate, given that Haynes was a member of his quintet from 1949-1952 (when the drummer was in his twenties)."
Alex Henderson - AllMusic,
Wikipedia,
Discography,
Facebook and
YouTube.
|
|
Roy Haynes - We Three (1958)
"'We Three, recorded in a single session on November 14, 1958, was the first American studio date as a bandleader for the diminutive and legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes, although with pianist Phineas Newborn on board (along with bassist Paul Chambers), it really is a set dominated by Newborn, whose busy, two-handed technique here works in tandem balance with Haynes' cool refinement. Newborn was all about amazing and dazzling piano runs that on some dates created simply too much flash and clutter to allow pieces to flow and breathe properly, but Haynes has always been about grace and flow throughout his career (if a drummer's style can said to be elegant, Haynes fits the bill), and here he rubs off on Newborn, who exercises just enough restraint to keep him in the proper orbit, resulting in a fine album. "
Steve Leggett - AllMusic
|
|
|
|
Tim Warfield |
Tim Warfield (2015) Spherical "Thelonious Monk tribute albums are certainly nothing new in the jazz world. As early as 1961,
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin recorded Lookin' at Monk and pianist Bud Powell recorded
Portrait of Thelonious. Even while his career was still going strong, Monk's importance as a composer
and influence on other jazz musicians was already clear. Today Monk's legendary status as one of
jazz's most important figures is still clear. As far as I know, there is no hard data to back up
the fact, but few jazz artists would argue with the claim that Monk is probably the most-covered
jazz composer of all time."
ANDREW LUHN - AllAboutJazz.com,
Website,
Discography,
MySpace and
DC Bebop 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
|
|
|
|
Carol Duboc |
Carol Duboc
- Smile (2013)
"Is there a listening market for adult contemporary music. For lack of a better categorization, that is what
Carol Duboc provides on her seventh release, the all-original Smile which she co-produces with Keyboardist
Jeff Lober""and produce they do. Smile is sonically, a perfectly quaffed and lushly presented collection of
ten hook-filled, expertly sculpted songs that take as much from late Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker and Sade as
it does Miles Davis and fellow Kansas City-ians Charlie Parker and Count Basie. This is music for grown-ups,
like that of Louise Van Aarsen-Koopman , dealing less with "You go to my head and you linger like a haunting
refrain..." and more, "The story's been told / this love's mythological.""
~ C. MICHAEL BAILEY - allaboutjazz.com,
CD Discography,
Website, and
Facebook.
|
|
 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
|
|
|
|
Lou Donaldson |
Lou Donaldson
- Blues Walk (1958)
"Lou Donaldson's undisputed masterpiece, Blues Walk, marks the point where the altoist began to decisively modify his
heavy Charlie Parker influence and add a smoky, bluesy flavor of his own. The material is still firmly in the bebop vein,
and the mellower moments aren't as sleepy as some of Donaldson's subsequent work, so the album sounds vital and distinctive
even as it slows down and loosens things up. That makes it the definitive release in Donaldson's early, pre-soul-jazz period,
but what elevates Blues Walk to classic status is its inviting warmth. Donaldson's sweetly singing horn is ingratiating and
melodic throughout the six selections, making even his most advanced ideas sound utterly good-natured and accessible. "
Links:
~ Steve Huey - AllMusic.com,
Website,
Wikipedia,
YouTube and
Discography.
|
|
Lou Donaldson
- Lush Life (1967)
"Lou Donaldson's Lush Life is the sort of mysterious lost session that inexplicably fell through the cracks from time to time at Blue Note Records during their wildly productive 1960s and the sort of collectable that used to make vinyl hawks salivate. This January 1967 session, unreleased until 1980 when it debuted in Japan under a different title (now getting the Rudy Van Gelder Edition treatment), seems to have gone against everything that was happening in jazz (and American culture) at the time. "
~ JEFF STOCKTON - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Louis Hayes |
Louis Hayes - Return of the Jazz Communicators (2014)
"As the story goes, the original Jazz Communicators were formed back in 1967 when Hayes put
together a group featuring Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, and Kenny Barron. This new edition
was formed out of Hayes' desire to use the vibes in a quintet setting. It is fabulous to hear
Steve Nelson vibraphone in this ensemble, being that his recorded appearances are rare these
days. A veteran of other Hayes ensembles over the years and another gifted musician we hear
from too rarely, Abraham Burton first made a name for himself playing alto with Art Taylor back in the '90s."
~ C. ANDREW HOVAN - All About Jazz,
Website,
Wikipedia,
Website and
CD Discography,
|
|
Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Legacy Band
- Maximum Firepower (2006)
"Like his old-school contemporaries Jimmy Cobb and Mickey Roker, drummer Louis Hayes elevates the
music from within, using finesse and hip nuance rather than playing on top of it with overt chops.
It's the same supportive role he assumed with such bandleaders as Yusef Lateef, Horace Silver,
Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson and half a dozen other major figures in jazz. As a bandleader
in his own right, Hayes surrounds himself with an abundance of talent in alto-sax burner Vincent
Herring, rising star trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, bassist Richie Goods and pianists Rick Germanson and
Anthony Wonsey. And he fuels this superb hard-bop session with a relaxed yet authoritative swing
feel in tackling several tunes associated with Cannonball Adderley, in whose band Hayes provided
the rhythmic thrust alongside bassist Sam Jones from 1959 to 1965."
Bill Milkowski - JazzTimes.com
|
|
|
|
Manu Katché |
Manu Katché - Neighborhood (2006)
"Neighborhood, Manu Katché's ECM debut, is full of wonders. The drummer is joined by
his old comrade Jan Garbarek (saxophone) and Tomasz Stanko (trumpet), as well as Marcin
Wasilewski (piano) and Slawomir Kurkiewicz (bass), who are part of Stanko's quartet. The
band creates music full of small epiphanies and the seductive warmth that is typical of
the works of Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett. It is no surprise that Katché really knows
his trade, since for the last 25 years he has been an in-demand drummer for people like
Gabriel, Sting and Jan Garbarek, to name but a few. His apparently simple and nonpretentious
playing has earned him respect as one of the best drummers in the world. "
~ NENAD GEORGIEVSKI, - All About Jazz,
Discography,
Website, and
Facebook page.
|
|
Manu Katché - Third Round (2010)
"World class drummer Manu Katché continues to pursue a second musical career as a bandleader
with his third ECM release (and fourth overall) on Third Round. His second ECM Playground was warmly
greeted here when it first appeared three years ago, and his label debut was quite good, too, so we
were eager to see if Katché could make it three for three. Third Round isn't an abrupt departure
from the spacious, subtle European jazz of Playround or Neighborhood, but it is a marked progression."
Pico - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Jessy J |
Jessy J - True Love (2009)
"she is back with her sophomore effort "˜True Love'. It moves Jessy J
closer yet to her Latin heritage while again drawing heavily on Paul
Brown's talents as a writer, producer and performer. With stellar
contributions from bass player Roberto Vally, keyboard maestro Gregg
Karukas and drummer Sergio Gonzalez, "˜True Love' is already well on
the way to emulating the success of "˜Tequila Moon'.'. Out on
Peak Records in the USA and due for release in the United Kingdom on
September 28 "˜True Love' confirms that Jessy J has claimed a unique
position in the welcoming hinterland that lays somewhere between
smooth and Latin jazz." ~
Smooth Jazz Therapy,
CD Discography,
Website, and
MySpace Music page.
|
|
Jessy J
- Tequila Moon (2008)
"Listening to... Jessy J weave magic with her soprano saxophone as
she plays the lyrical "Running Away," which she co-wrote with Brown,
and then opting for a tenor-voiced horn on Leon Russell's "Song For
You," one must ask the question: If she is already this good, how
great can she become? Like Mindi Abair, Jessy J is able to serve up
evocative phrases that transcend the jazz and pop genres, and in
Jessy J's case, she add some gentle Latin spices. From the
opening track "Tequila Moon," until the last notes of "Song For You"
fade gently into the twilight, Jessy J's music will charm you and
hold you as a willing captive under its enchanting spell. "
Joe Montague - Jazz Police
|
|
|
|
The Cookers |
The Cookers: Time and Time Again (2014)
"Celebrating seven years together, Time and Time Again is the
fourth release by The Cookers since the group's recording debut,
Warriors (Jazz Legacy Productions, 2010). The band's all-star lineup,
who first rose to prominence in the late '60s and early '70s, was
initially formed by trumpet player David Weiss, who also serves as
musical director. In addition to Weiss, the septet features the muscular
frontline of trumpeter Eddie Henderson, tenor saxophonist Billy Harper
and alto saxophonist Donald Harrison (replacing Craig Handy), with pianist
George Cables, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Billy Hart manning the blue
chip rhythm section. Drawing upon their varied experiences, the ensemble
members split writing duties, effectively summarizing the entire spectrum
of the jazz continuum in the process. " -
~ TROY COLLINS - allaboutjazz.com,
Discography,
Facebook page and
Jazz Legacy Productions.
|
|
The Cookers - Believe (2012) "The
Cookers' 2010 album Warriors ranked as one of that year's top ten
jazz albums here: how does their new one, Believe, just out from
Motema, stack up alongside it? It's different, and it's even better.
It's one of those rare albums that come along a handful of times a
year, that will blow you away the first time you give it a close
listen. Who would have thought that all but two of the members of
this perennially vital, intense veteran septet "" saxophonists Billy
Harper and Craig Handy, trumpeters Eddie Henderson and David Weiss,
pianist George Cables, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Billy Hart ""
are in their sixties or seventies? And who would have imagined that
they'd come out with an album that's mostly midtempo, with a couple
of brooding ballads? This one has gravitas, rich melodic beauty and
all sorts of deep playing and interplay. Interestingly, much as this
band is all about power and fiery chops, it's the compositions here
that absolutely slay. The overall concept seems be something along
the lines of "look, this isn't just a superstar session, we're a
more-or-less fulltime band," and they reaffirm that many times
over." -
~ Lucid Culture
|
|
|
|
Woody Shaw
|
Woody Shaw - The Complete Woody Shaw Columbia Albums Collection (2012)
“In 1976 Dexter Gordon decided to move back to US after few years in Scandinavia; he got already a contract from CBS records. Gordon started jamming at the Vanguard along with the Louis Hayes/Woody Shaw Quintet and after these live recordings was produced the beautiful double album Homecoming. Michael Cuscuna "" the executive producer from Columbia "" noticed already Woody's talent and genius on trumpet since the mid 70's: Cuscuna produced for Muse Records all Woody's albums starting from the beautiful The Moontrane in 1974.”
~ Achille Brunazzi - JazzReview.com,
Wikipedia,
Youtube,
Discography,
|
|
Woody Shaw
- United (1981)
"A new reissue series focusing on turn-of-the-1980s sides by the underappreciated Woody Shaw doesn't consistently illustrate why he's sometimes considered the last of the true innovators at the trumpet. But United certainly does.
Shaw, playing in his last date as a leader for Columbia Records, marked his return to the purely straight-ahead style with a group that managed to keep up with his restless focus on innovation.
If only just barely sometimes.
United, long out of print, is part of a new series of Shaw reissues by Wounded Bird that also includes 1979's Woody III and 1980's For Sure! Among the featured sidemen on this 1981 date are trombonist Steve Turre, pianist Mulgrew Miller and drummer Tony Reedus. They give Shaw a chance to step up and just blow. And blow, my friends, he most certainly does."
~ Nick Deriso - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Leela James
|
Leela James - "Fall for YOu" (2014)
“Leela James latest album, Fall For You, sneaks up on you and grows in depth, movement, and invitation the longer the project plays and the more frequently you play it. The initial thought on the first few cuts, especially on the first listen, was that the project was beginning solid enough but was essentially routine, with only the Anthony Hamilton duet not playing old school R&B by-the-numbers at the outset of Fall For You. Then midway through the fifth solo project by the latest cast member of R&B Divas of L.A., the disc opens up and becomes an enveloping experience of exquisitely performed soulful delights, delivering one of the better releases""if not the best""of James' catalog of classic and Southern soul.”
~ L. Michael Gipson - SoulTracks.com,
Website,
Wikipedia,
Youtube,
Facebook,
Discography,
|
|
Leela James
- Let's Do It Again (2009)
"This one's almost a no-brainer. Find a young woman with a great Soul voice and an established
fan base and have her cover great R&B songs from the past. The results, as one might expect,
are terrific. Leela James understands how to build a fire underneath the slow songs and express
joy and happiness on the more upbeat numbers. "
~ Steve Horowitz - PopMatters.com
|
|
|
|
Bob Baldwin
|
Bob Baldwin – Twenty (2013)
“With so many artists celebrating milestones in this biz, it is only fitting that we turn to yet another in keyboardist/producer/entrepreneur Bob Baldwin who celebrates 2Bob Baldwin0 albums in 25 years with his release of Twenty. This one was a bit late getting to me, but the music makes the wait very tolerable as Baldwin produces some more of that slick, strutting sound of R&B/jazz/funk that bears his fingerprints all over it. With masterful tributes to the late Michael Jackson (Never Can Say Goodbye) and Thom Bell (Betcha By Golly Wow: The Songs of Thom Bell) now under his belt, Baldwin again ventures out with his own creative endeavor. The tunes here are typical Baldwin: Tight, well-phrased, often funky, and with a lot of bounce and charm. Along with rich covers of Herbie Hancock and Freddie Hubbard, Baldwin has Marion Meadows, Joey Sommerville, Ragan Whiteside, and Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, among others helping out here. The result is simply of top-shelf quality. ”
~ thesmoothjazzride.com,
Website,
Facebook,
Discography,
MySpace,
Reverbnation and
DC Bebop page
|
|
 Bob Baldwin - Betcha By Golly Wow: The Songs Of Thom Bell (2012) "New
urban jazz keyboardist Bob Baldwin disdains the "smooth jazz" moniker,
but that doesn't necessarily mean he isn't familiar with the conventions
of the genre. He's got ideas that don't have a thing to do with cranking
out infinite versions of the same old sound with a few new riffs.
Baldwin is a bit more ambitious than that and with Betcha By Golly Wow:
The Songs of Thom Bell he honors one of the most successful songwriters
of 1970s soul music.".
|
|
|
|
Ronny Smith
|
Ronny Smith - Can't
Stop Now (2013)
"Guitarist Ronny Smith has been on the Smooth
Jazz Therapy radar since 2007 and the release of his excellent
"˜Simply Stated'. Two years later the equally good "˜Just Groovin' hit
the streets and now, after what seems way too long, Smith is back
with "˜Can't Stop Now'. It finds him in partnership with producer
Eric Copeland and, with ten well-chosen tracks, is a superb example
of the tight melodic style that categorizes his playing. "
~
Smooth Jazz Therapy,
Wikipedia,
Motema Music,
Facebook,
YouTube and
DC Bebop
page
|
|
Ronny Smith - Just Groovin (2009)
"Baltimore-born guitarist Ronny Smith is back to the Smooth Jazz
stage with his brand new CD "˜Simply Groovin,' set to be released in
May 2009. It's his fifth album and displays great musicianship with
a fine balance between sophisticated rhythmic grooves and fluid
melodies. On this one you'll find lots of original tunes and two
covers. This CD, as his previous ones, has been a growing process
for this talented guitarist. And this continuous quest for the best
guitar sound results in a highly recommendable CD, which gets him
closer to greatest jazz guitarists such as Wes Montgomery and George
Benson. "
|
|
|
|
Regina Carter |
Regina Carter -
Southern Comfort (2014)
"Violinist Regina Carter's debut for Sony
Masterworks finds her knee-deep in history once again. Carter has become
something of a genre-blind and stylistically-inclusive musicologist, marrying
her violin, family history and more to music of various shapes and origins.
Elements of alt-country, folk, Bill Frisell-esque Americana, jazz, traditional
music and more merge together beautifully on this gem of an album. Carter has no
shortage of fine records in her discography, but this one tops them all." ~
Dan Bilawsky - AllAboutJazz.com,
Discography,
Facebook,
YouTube and
Website.
|
|
Regina Carter
- Reverse Thread (2010)
"What does the award-winning, classically trained, jazz violinist
Regina Carter do, after playing Niccolo Paganini's famous Guarneri
"Cannon" violin in Paganini: After a Dream (Verve Music Group,
2003), or reinterpreting songs from the 1920s-1940s in I'll Be
Seeing You ( Verve Music Group, 2006)? She directs her interests and
passion towards African folk music in Reverse Thread, a significant
work in her already diverse discography. There's a trove of jewels
waiting to be mined in Reverse Thread. Thankfully, Carter's
unquenchable thirst for new music has allowed her to produce this
important recording.""
~ Mark F. Turner - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Little Dragon |
Little Dragon - Ritual Union (2011) "Ritual
Union, the band's third album, does not stray from the sexy,
futuristic sound of their previous record, Machine Dreams, or their
team-up with Albarn. If anything, they've doubled down on their
aesthetic by leaning harder than ever on moody synths, nearly
subliminal bass lines and impossibly crisp snare hits. A few of the
songs, like the sleek title track and the brisk, funky "Nightlight",
rank among the group's finest work. All through the record, Little
Dragon are extremely effective in delivering the most attractive
elements of their style, resulting in a set of songs that come
across like the ideal soundtrack to a night on the town in some
exotic sci-fi city." -
Matthew Perpetua; July 26, 2011 - Pitchfork.com, CD
Discography,
Facebook,
SoundCloud 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
|
|
|
|
Chris Standring |
Chris Standring -
Don't Talk Dance! (2014)
"Shaddup and Dance! That's the central and
literal message from this cranked up, funked out dance-o-rama created by
guitarist (who also doubles on keys here) Chris Standring.Chris Standring 2014
CD The actual title of the release is Don't Talk, Dance! , to be released on
March 4 on Ultimate Vibe Recordings. Trust me, you'll have a very hard time not
complying with that request. The CD is loaded with irresistible grooves and funk
that dare you to sit down. Fired up with crazy-good chops, great phrasing, solid
bass lines (provided by a most familiar name, especially among jazz cruisers ""
Andre Berry), hard driving drum action (supplied by a variety of drummers "" all
really good), and great horn arrangements, Standring had to know heading into
this project that he had a winner. " ~
thesmoothjazzride.com,
Discography,
Facebook,
YouTube and
Website.
|
|
Chris Standring
- Wonderland (2012)
"At some point during every artist's career, if they truly consider
themselves as artists, they must ask themselves a question of truth.
This question is not so much, "Am I following the truth?" but rather
"Am I following my truth?" The answer to this question goes a long
way in determining whether the artist plays it safe and stays in
their comfort zone, or takes the bolder, but potentially more
interesting and satisfying course of following their muse wherever
it takes them. For multi-instrumentalist Chris Standring, the answer
seems to be to make only the music that moves him. It's a smart
choice."
~ Jeff Winbush - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Esperanza Spalding |
Esperanza Spalding - Radio Music
Society (2012)
"No matter how you felt about Esperanza Spalding's 2011 Grammy win ""
and if you're still genuinely disappointed, it's time for a long
look in the mirror "" there's no questioning her willingness to live
up to it. Conceived as a companion to her breakthrough "Chamber
Music Society," Spalding's follow-up melds airtight jazz with pop,
funk and soul with such disarming assurance that it could be shipped
with an introduction from the bassist-composer reading, "Now that I
have your attention..." Also released in a deluxe edition with
sumptuously filmed videos for 11 of its 12 songs, "Radio Music
Society" primarily delivers the sort of upbeat head-bobbers
celebrated in opener "Radio Song," a quaint, lilting valentine to
musical discovery anchored by Spalding's nimble vocal and rubbery
electric bass line."
~ Chris Barton - LA Times,
CD,
Website,
Wikipedia and
MySpace Music page.
|
|
Esperanza Spalding - Chamber Music Society
(2010)
"On the opening track of her much-lauded, self-titled major label
debut, Esperanza (Heads Up, 2008 ), bassist/vocalist Esperanza
Spalding covered Milton Nascimento's timeless gem, "Ponta de Areia."
Rather than covering another of the singer/composer's tunes on
Chamber Music Society, Spalding recruits Nascimento to perform on
her own "Apple Blossoms." It's but one example of a highly
intriguing set that blends her classical training with jazz, pop and
soul tendencies. This might seem to be a risky endeavor, but not for
Spalding, who not only keeps an open mind, but a radar-like ear that
is able to absorb many sonic influences and still make them her
own."
~ ERNEST BARTELDES (2010) - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Sarah McLachlan |
Sarah McLachlan - Essential Sarah
Mclachlan (2013)
"Sarah McLachlan has been enchanting listeners with her music for 25
years, beginning with her debut album Touch, in 1988. Her voice has
remained as true and pure as ever through the years, soaring over
beautiful and perfectly planned musical arrangements to great
effect. The two discs include material spanning her entire career,
both live and studio, alone and in collaboration with others. There
are 30 songs included, from deep cuts to the familiar hits. The
thing that sets McLachlan apart and keeps her fascinating is not
just the beauty of her voice and the textured and interesting
musical arrangements that underpin it, but the total honesty and
often heart-wrenching emotion of her lyrics.."
~ Rhetta Akamatsu - blogcritics.org,
Discography,
Website and
MySpace Music page.
|
|
Sarah McLachlan - Laws Of Illusion (2010)
"This is Sarah McLachlan's first album for four years, seven if one
discounts her Grammy-nominated Christmas covers collection of 2006,
Wintersong, to focus on original material. The Canadian
singer-songwriter's crystal-clear mezzo-soprano voice has changed
little, but a failed marriage in the interim has become the
inspiration for an autobiographical collection of songs which
express the breadth of emotions that follow such circumstances. But
the overall tone is not what one might think. There is no self-pity
and little melancholy about these arrangements. We know from her
previous work that McLachlan is a thoughtful lyricist who knows a
thing or two about song construction. She has a flair for varying
the pace of a melody or introducing an ironical upbeat accompaniment
to a downbeat lyric, and can deliver variety over a span of a dozen
and more songs."
~ Adrian Edwards (2010) - BBC MUSIC
|
|
|
|
Kenny Garrett |
Kenny Garrett - Pushing the World Away
(2013)
"The late Richard Cook (in his indispensable Jazz Encyclopedia,
Penguin, 2005) discerns "˜a good flavour of Junior Walker-style blues
licks' in the saxophone style of US master Kenny Garrett
(attributing it to his Detroit roots), but also notes that Garrett's
playing "˜can otherwise be as loquacious and many-noted in its
delivery as that of any other post-bop saxophonist', concluding that
he is "˜a communicative player who likes listeners to be excited and
persuaded by his music'."
~ London Jazz News,
Website,
Wikipedia,
Facebook,
MySpace and
CD Discography.
|
|
Kenny Garrett - Seeds From The Underground
(2012)
"Kenny Garrett is one of the most respected and frequently imitated
saxophonists in the jazz world, but he might not have reached his
full potential if not for those who guided him and showed him the
way. While some musicians try to rewrite history when they make it
big, turning their backs on the nurturing forces and influential
individuals that kept them on the righteous path, Garrett doesn't
fall into that category. He gives credit where credit is due, and
Seeds From The Underground is the proof."
~ DAN BILAWSKY - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Patrick Yandall |
Patrick Yandall - Soul Grind (2013)
"Smooth Jazz Therapy has followed the career of guitarist Patrick
Yandall since 2006 and the release of his excellent CD "˜Samoa Soul'.
In fact this San Diego resident has been a solo artist since 1994
when he made his debut with "˜That Feels Nice' and now, going on
twenty years later, he is back with his fifteenth album, the
decidedly tasty "˜Soul Grind'. Produced and engineered by Yandall
(who also writes eleven of the fourteen (yes, fourteen) tracks) this
is very much his own project and a resounding showcase for his art."
~ Smooth Jazz Therapy,
CD Discography and
Reverbnation page.
|
|
 Patrick
Yandall - Acoustic Dreamscape (2012)
"Smooth Jazz Therapy has followed the career of guitarist Patrick
Yandall since 2006 and the release of his excellent CD "˜Samoa Soul'. In fact
this San Diego resident has been a solo artist since 1994 when he made his debut
with "˜That Feels Nice' and now, eighteen years later, he is back with his
fourteenth album, the terrific "˜Acoustic Dreamscape'. Produced and engineered by
Yandall (who also writes nine of the eleven tracks) this is very much his own
project and, given he also plays all instruments, there is little doubt that
"˜Acoustic Dreamscape'serves as a resounding showcase for his abundant talents."
~ Smooth Jazz Therapy
|
|
|
Fourplay
Fourplay - Esprit De Four (2012)
"the 12th release by the jazz quartet Fourplay, is a quiet and
confident recording. The confidence can be viewed in light of the
fact that pianist Bob James, drummer Harvey Mason, bassist/vocalist
Nathan East and guitarist Chuck Loeb never seem to feel the need to
raise the volume of their music to compete with performers who often
feel the need to scream. The members of this quartet go through the
tracks on Espirit De Four with the confidence that the virtuosity
and creativity of their musicianship and the quality of their
compositions speak plenty loud enough.;"
~ Howard Dukes - SoulTracks.com,
Website,
Discography,
Reverbnation and
MySpace.
|
|
Fourplay - Let's Touch the Sky (2010)
"After almost twenty years, a dozen studio albums and a whopping two
personnel changes, Fourplay is one of the most enduring contemporary
jazz outfits on the planet, combining musicians (keyboardist Bob
James, drummer/composer Harvey Mason, guitarist Lee Ritenour and
bassist/vocalist Nathan East) who are just as compelling as solo
players as they are within a unit. Fans who adore the band for their
consistency may have been disturbed to learn that Larry Carlton, who
had replaced Mr. Ritenour in the late 90s, was also now vacating the
line-up, but they needn't worry, since acclaimed guitarist Chuck
Loeb infuses their latest CD, Let's Touch the Sky, with both renewed
energy and eclecticism.;"
~ Melody Charles - SoulTracks.com
|
|
|
|
Jessy J |
|
Jessy J - Second Chances (2013)
"She is one of the bright new stars of contemporary jazz and has a
new album set to release on September 10 titled Second Chances. Her
name is Jessy J and she plays the saxophone, piano and is a singer
and songwriter. This 10 song disc is filled with jazz and Latin
rythms with R&B grooves. Jeff Lorber, Norman Brown, Jimmy Haslip and
Johnny Brit join her on this project that she produced. This is her
fourth release. She debuted in 2008 with her award winning album
Tequila Moon."
~ Oscar Brooks - L.A. Music Examiner
,
CD Discography,
Website, and
MySpace Music page.
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Lin Rountree
|
Lin Rountree - Serendipitous (2013)
"Could trumpeter Lin Rountree have wanted to convey a message to
jazz fans that his latest release, Serendipitous, is aptly
titled because of perhaps some great discoveries or revelations
about his music "" or life in general? Maybe, but, since I'm not
privy to his innermost thoughts, I think it best to let this
strong album speak for itself. Maybe therein lies the answer.
Actually, this well-polished album packs such a substantial
wallop that it probably makes such ruminations unnecessary for
most."
~ The Smooth Jazz Ride,
Discography,
Reverbnation and
Facebook
|
|
 Lin
Rountree - Soul-Tree, The Soul-Jazz Experience (2011)
"His playing has been described as soulful, funky, and sensual. Be it R&B/Soul
or Groove Jazz, he has an innate ability to connect his music to his listener's
soul. And his charm, intelligence and wit make him a great entertainer on and
off of the bandstand." Soul-Tree, The Soul-Jazz Experience released Jan 2011, Is
written and produced by Lin Rountree with the help of Dana Davis, Jeff Canady,
Tony Gordon and Monica Marie Jones. "All of the songs on Soul-Tree represent a
new direction in instrumental soul and will undoubtedly place Lin at the very
top of his generation, ushering in this new sound."
~ USNewJazz.com,
|
|
|
|
Chuck Loeb
|
Chuck Loeb - Silhouette (2013)
"Guitarist Chuck Loeb is well known as jazz guitarist in groups such
as Metro, Steps Ahead or Stan Getz's band. But he became popular by
his solo albums as smooth jazz guitarist. His participation in the
group Fourplay is a fruit of this popularity. Exploring different
facets of jazz might be joyful, but to earn money with smooth jazz
is the real deal. On the new album we discover Chuck's companions
like David Mann, Eric Marienthal, Andy Snitzer (sax), Mitchel Forman
(keyboards), but also his family members Carmen Cuesta and Lizzy
Loeb. On Silhouette Chuck easily adapts the style of Fourplay, he
has helped shape who also influenced him. Chuck follows this
exciting joy ride on Silver Lining. Listen to Fourplay's Bali Run
and you know what I mean. David Mann adds some Smoothness on sax."
~ carol_handley - smoothinseattle.com,
Discography,
Website,
Wikipedia and
YouTube.
|
|
 Chuck
Loeb - Listen (1999) "Chuck Loeb knows the secret to
finding enduring success in the genre, even amidst growing competition by more
and more up and coming guitarists who approximate his style: keep the listener
guessing from tune to tune with unique stylistic and production curveballs. He's
so effective at this that it's impossible to resist."
~ Jonathan Widran - AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Alicia Keys
|
 Alicia
Keys "Girl on Fire" (2012)
"Alicia Keys is a hit. At this point everybody knows this R&B
singer-songwriter as well as excellent pianist. She's had four
studio albums leading up to her most recent release Girl On Fire
released November 22. This album doesn't let up at all and is one of
her best, as well as most complete. The album comes at a big time in
Keys' personal life shortly following her marriage to rapper Swizz
Beats along with the birth of her first child Egypt. So with Alicia
Keys' life changing as she knows it, Girl On Fire really reflects
it. It's one of the better albums to come out of 2012."
~ Connor Murphy - thecelebritycafe.com,
CD Discography,
Website and
Facebook page.
|
|
 Alicia
Keys "As I Am" (2007) "Self-confidence, together
with talent, cultivates excellence. Such is certainly the case for
Alicia Keys, who on her third studio album, As I Am, presents her
strongest, most consistent effort yet with songs that defy
superficial expression. Indeed, the woman heard here imparts so much
uninhibited conviction that her music often sounds like it was
spiritually channeled rather than skillfully composed. Some songs
evoke an old-school flavor while others feel entirely of the moment.
Whatever the mood or the muse, though, Keys commands each one with a
voice that's matured into one almighty instrument."
~ Donald Gibson - BlogCritic.com
|
|
|
|
Jill Scott
|
Jill Scott - The Light Of The Sun (2011)
"The album is described as "˜a welcome flashback.' It's been nearly
four years since R&B singer Jill Scott graced us with a new album.
Her fourth studio venture is finally here, and is garnering
generally positive feedback from critics. "The Light of the Sun" was
released on Tuesday (June 21), rolling off the momentum of her
noteworthy lead single featuring Anthony Hamilton, "So In Love." The
15-track album also includes collaborations with Doug E. Fresh, Eve
and Paul Wall, as well as that signature spoken-word we come to
expect from Ms. Scott."
Sophie Schillaci - hollywoodreporter.com, Discography,
Website,
Facebook
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
|
|
|
|
Feist |
 Feist
- Open Season (2012)
"Just when you thought that you had heard the last of "Mushaboom," or that the
song couldn't get any better, Canadian songstress Feist returns with a series of
remixes called Open Season with four, count `em, four different versions of that
incredibly catchy song from early 2005. Consisting mostly of reworked songs from
Feist's Let it Die, this bonus treasure also contains three collaborative songs
that might be new to some listeners. Despite having been a part of Peaches'
stage show, and working with writing partner Gonzales, Feist claims to be fairly
oblivious to the idea of the remix, or so she claims in her liner notes. Despite
the claim, Feist and her collaborators have put together an interesting and
eclectic compilation that, while it may not be as good as Let it Die, is at the
very least a solid record with a handful of spectacular moments. "
~ Ernest Simpson (2006) - Treble Media, CD
Discography,
MySpace,
Facebook and
Website.
|
|
 Feist
- Metals (2011)
"On "Metals," the Canadian American harnesses all her gifts to
create something essential: the matter-of-fact gorgeousness of her
voice, best illustrated on her massive 2007 hit, "1234"; the way she
mixes complicated emotions with equally complicated arrangements
while making it all seem so effortless; and a versatility that
allows her to craft a compilation's worth of sounds and approaches
without lapsing into pastiche. Granted, "Metals" isn't a
particularly dangerous record; your mom and dad will dig this, so
will your daughter. But at least they'll agree on something.".
~ Randall Roberts - latimes.com.
|
|
|
|
Stanley Clarke |
Stanley Clarke - The Stanley Clarke Band (2010)
"Jazz In the Garden is an exciting new release from jazz bassist
Stanley Clarke. Because of his strong association with jazz fusion,
it must be pointed out that this is Clarke's very first acoustic
jazz trio album. Backed by longtime collaborator Lenny White on
drums, and the extraordinary pianist Hiromi Uehara, Clarke turns out
a masterful straight-ahead jazz classic. An wide variety of textures
and moods keeps the album interesting for its duration. For pure
bass virtuosity, "Bass Folk Song No. 5 & 6" is a hypnotic
unaccompanied solo that demonstrates why Clarke is so revered.
"Global Tweak," an improvised duet between Clarke and Hiromi, left
me slack-jawed at the dazzling interplay between these two
musicians. I hadn't heard Hiromi before, but I will definitely be
seeking out more from this thirty-year-old dynamo. Though Clarke is
nearly twice her age, with decades more experience, she more than
holds her own. In fact, her solos consistently steal the show.
That's not to take anything away from Clarke, who is clearly in
command throughout."
~ Phil Wain - notreble.com, CD
Discography,
Website,
Facebook and
MySpace page.
|
|
 Stanley
Clarke - Jazz in the Garden (2009)
"Jazz In the Garden is an exciting new release from jazz bassist Stanley
Clarke. Because of his strong association with jazz fusion, it must be pointed
out that this is Clarke's very first acoustic jazz trio album. Backed by
longtime collaborator Lenny White on drums, and the extraordinary pianist Hiromi
Uehara, Clarke turns out a masterful straight-ahead jazz classic. An wide
variety of textures and moods keeps the album interesting for its duration. For
pure bass virtuosity, "Bass Folk Song No. 5 & 6" is a hypnotic unaccompanied
solo that demonstrates why Clarke is so revered. "Global Tweak," an improvised
duet between Clarke and Hiromi, left me slack-jawed at the dazzling interplay
between these two musicians. I hadn't heard Hiromi before, but I will definitely
be seeking out more from this thirty-year-old dynamo. Though Clarke is nearly
twice her age, with decades more experience, she more than holds her own. In
fact, her solos consistently steal the show. That's not to take anything away
from Clarke, who is clearly in command throughout."
~ BlogCritic.com
|
|
|
|
Dave Koz |
 Dave
Koz - Live At Blue Note Tokyo (2012)
"In a career that spans twenty years and a dozen albums, despite
establishing himself as one of the most prominent figures in
contemporary jazz, the only glitch in the otherwise glittering
resume of Dave Koz was the absence of a live CD. Yet anyone who has
seen this consummate entertainer perform will have clearly wondered
why. Well, wonder no more as on February 12, 2013 Concord Records
released "˜Live At The Blue Note Tokyo'. It was recorded in 2011,
independently issued in September 2012 and is now getting the wide
distribution it so richly deserves."
Smooth Jazz Therapy,
CD Discography,
Facebook,
Dave Koz & Friends at Sea,
MySpace page and
Website.
|
|
Dave Koz - Hello Tomorrow (2010)
"A year after Dave Koz receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame in front of Capitol Records, his label since his self titled
debut back in 1990, the multiple Grammy nominated saxman says Hello
Tomorrow to the next phase of his extraordinary, multi media career
with his wonderful debut on Concord Jazz. It's hard to believe but
it is also his first full album of all original tracks since 2003's
hit Saxophonic. In the meantime, he's done a movie theme album (At
The Movies), another Christmas project (Memories of a Winter's
Night) and a Greatest Hits package with a few new tracks." -
~ Jonathan Widran - JazzMonthly.com
|
|
|
|
U-NAM |
U-NAM & Friends: Weekend in L.A.: A Tribute to George Benson (2012)
"It has become a ritual for the musical community to produce tribute projects
and many paying homage to influential artists. However, only a few of those
aforementioned are of exceptional caliber. Whether it's their distinctive
approach, performance excellence or a special connection with that artist, their
tributes pay an even higher compliment towards the one being honored. Two
releases in 2012 come to mind; one being the enthralling tribute to Etta James
from Etta's soul sister Leela James and the other belonging to guitarist U-Nam's
perspective of contemporary jazz great, George Benson."
~ Peggy Oliver - the urban music scene,
Website, Reverbnation,
CD Discography,
YouTube and
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
|
|
|
|
Herbie Hancock |
Herbie Hancock - Empyrean Isles (The Rudy Van Gelder Edition) (1999)
"As a member of Miles Davis' second quintet during the 1960s,
pianist Herbie Hancock rarely performed live under his own
leadership, but he did take the time to record. Hancock's 1964
effort, Empyrean Isles, remains one of the most diverse and often
challenging records of the pianist's tenure with Blue Note Records.
It's a rare jazz record that offers both a hugely popular hit, as
well as an outré masterwork of rhythmic repetition and angular
melodies. As a member of Miles Davis' second quintet during the
1960s, pianist Herbie Hancock rarely performed live under his own
leadership, but he did take the time to record. Hancock's 1964
effort, Empyrean Isles, remains one of the most diverse and often
challenging records of the pianist's tenure with Blue Note Records.
It's a rare jazz record that offers both a hugely popular hit, as
well as an outré masterwork of rhythmic repetition and angular
melodies."
~ Greg Simmons - All About Jazz,
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
|
|
|
|
Nils |
Nils "" City Groove (2012)
"Some artists hit the "lucky" button just right and crank out a
solid seller the first go "˜round""maybe even twice""and then fizzle
out, if not in presence then in material. Nils has consistency
written all over him. This project shouts that out about him. Funk
and blues reign supreme on this recording from the title track with
its swinging boogie/bluesy up-tempo swagger with the Chicago-like
horn section blaring away to the solid nimble-fingered chording,
strumming, and riffing found in the funky "Casablanca" to the crying
bluesiness of "Sunset Blvd." (very interesting choice of melody for
this one) all the way through the last track, the absolutely
beautiful and melodic "The Alchemist." The guitarist""who has fellow
guitarist Jeff Golub team up with him for a stirring performance on
"Soul 2 Soul"""again quickly lays claim to his clear trademark sharp
and crisp guitar licks and grooves"
CD Review - The Smooth Jazz Ride, CD
Discography,
MySpace page and
Website.
|
|
Nils - What The Funk? (2010)
"Possessing the uniquely elite gift of deeply "feeling" every note
he writes and plays, Nils, the multi-talented Munich born guitarist,
has yet again given his followers grounds to rejoice. His new
release on TSR/Baja Records, What The Funk?, proves to be an aural
delight of the highest order. On three previous and superlative
Contemporary Jazz CDs for TSR/Baja, Nils often displayed a clearly
identifiable undercurrent of his R&B, Soul and Rock roots. At this
moment with What The Funk? Nils has allowed the funk flavor to
ascend fully to the surface with magnificent effect. Aiding him on
his funky quest are many of the same trusted musicians who have
graced his past work with their inspired presence. " -
~ Randall Parrish - JazzReview.com
|
|
|
|
Candy Dulfer |
Candy Dulfer - Crazy (2012)
"Though you usually find her albums in the "Smooth Jazz' section,
Dulfer's music has always been about more than "˜just jazz'. She
strays, or more correctly invades the lands of funk, R&B, soul, pop,
techno and more. No country is safe when this sexy, high-energy ,
seemingly out-of-control, but always calculating lady steps on the
stage or into the studio. This marks the 22nd years since her debut
album, Saxuality, in 1990. That album was nominated for the Grammy
Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album... Once again, Candy
has pushed the limits on Crazy to make an album that is high-energy,
danceable, funky, sexy and fun." ~
The Dirty Lowdown
CD Discography,
Facebook, and
MySpace Music page.
|
|
Candy Dulfer
- Saxuality (1990) "July 07, 1991 | "Lily Was Here," one
of the rare instrumentals to become a Top 20 hit single, is full of
the kind of funky, R&B/jazz instrumentals 21-year-old Candy Dulfer
listened to growing up--in Amsterdam. "My father is a jazz musician
who plays sax," Dulfer, 21, said during a recent Los Angeles visit.
"There were saxes and sax music around the house all the time. I got
hooked. I was 7 when I picked up the sax." She
acknowledged that being the lone prominent woman in a genre
dominated by men 10 to 20 years older has its advantages. "I'm sort
of a novelty," she conceded. "If I was a guy with the same ability,
I wouldn't be here doing this interview about my success." ~
Dennis Hunt - Los Angeles Times
|
|
|
|
Mads Tolling |
Mads Tolling - Celebrating Jean-Luc Ponty: Live at Yoshi's (2012)
"'Mads Tolling caught the attention of jazz violin fans for his work
as a member of the wide-ranging Turtle Island String Quartet, which
he left in early 2012. One of his inspirations has long been
violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, who started playing bop, moved into fusion
and rock, delved into world music and more. Joined by electric
guitarist Mike Abraham, electric bassist George Ban-Weiss, and
drummer Eric Garland, Tolling pays tribute to Ponty with a powerful
set from a single evening at Yoshi's in Oakland. "
AllMusic.com, CD
Discography,
MySpace ,
Website and
DC Bebop page.
|
|
 Mads
Tolling - The Playmaker (2009) "Tollings' six
consecutive originals, almost all dedicated to friends or influences past or
present""crosses a wide swatch, from the buoyant title track to the ambling "El
Duderino" and higher velocity lobbies in "Starmaker Machinery," appropriately
dedicated to guitar legend John McLaughlin and featuring some of vibrant and
inspired interplay between Tolling and Abraham. Virtuosity may be a given on The
Playmaker, but what's most impressive is the sound of Tolling's quartet, which
drives the majority of the record and, based on the results, must be thrilling
live. For those who can, check out Tollings live; for those who can't, The
Playmaker is a great place to start."
~ John Kelman - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Johannes Linstead |
 Johannes
Linstead - Tales of Gypsy
(2012) "Multi-award winning guitarist Johannes Linstead
who has created a culture within the culture of Latin music with his
flavorful style of World and flamenco offerings, is back again with
another exotic treat of 11 tracks he collectively calls Tales of a
Gypsy (to be released on Oct. 22), an intoxicating blend of
pulsating rhythms, sweet melodies, and the diversity of World sound
for which he has often been noted. As for his inspiration for this
project and its title, Linstead says, "I travel around the world,
and each of my compositions is like another tale to be told. I feel
like I'm following in the footsteps of the original gypsies who
traveled wherever they wanted and spread ideas, culture, and art as
they went." This album has that very gypsy feel in addition to that
very Linstead expression and overall feel."
~ Ronald Jackson - TheSmoothJazzRide.com,
CD Discography,
Website ,
Youtube,
Facebook and
dMusic.
|
|
 Johannes
Linstead - Cafe Tropical (2006)
"Johannes Linstead is a great musician but he may be an even better
composer and producer. His complete understanding of the Latin genre and
specifically the flamenco sub genre are noticeable. The arrangements are
beautifully balanced. Like a perfectly choreographed ballet, the instruments
move in unison, never seeming out of place. The rhythms of the congas (Marcus
Chonsky, Anastasios Bigas and Alex Godinez), bongo and timbales (both by
Godinez) never overshadow Linstead's guitar or other instruments. "
~ Joe Montague - JazzReview.com
|
|
|
|
Rocco Ventrella |
Rocco Ventrella - Sweet Temptation (2012) "Well, I haven't run into a
Rocco Ventrella release since 2007 when his Give Me the Groove CD made its entry
into the world of smooth jazz. It's refreshing to see that the saxman still
knows how to work the soul out of a sax. Here on his latest, Sweet Temptation,
he conjures up a mix of funk, slick & smooth jazz, and a nice touch of mellow
R&B.""
~ Ronald Jackson - thesmoothjazzride.com,
Facebook,
MySpace,
Website,
Reverbnation and
DC Bebop
|
|
Rocco Ventrella
- Give Me The Groove (2007)
"Rocco Ventrella hails from Bari, Italy. From 1983 until 2005
Ventrella played in the Big Band "J.S.O." of Bari where he appeared
with an impressive list of artists such as: Lee Konitz, Eddie
"Lockjaw" Davis, Benny Bailey, Chet Baker, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava,
Tullio De Piscopo, Ernie Wilkins, Art Farmer, Maurizio Giammarco,
Gianni Basso, Lee Konitz, Tony Scott, Dizzy Gillespie, G. Gaslini,
D. Goykovic, Bob Mintzer and others. His first solo project was
Tribute To Grover Washington, Jr. (2005) containing three tracks:
Winelight, Let It Flow and Make Me A Memory. In addition, Ventrella
has some new recordings featuring his own compositions, including
the soulful and haunting I Receive Your Love. The surprising success
of this album especially the positive reaction of critics encouraged
Rocco to record Give Me The Groove (2007)." ~
HBH - smooth-jazz.de
|
|
|
|
Shilts |
Shilts - All Grown Up (2012)
"If anyone was in any doubt as to the ability of sax-man Paul
Weimer, aka Shilts, to "˜move on' from his typecasting as leader and
front man of urban jazz funk outfit Down To The Bone then one need
look no further than his latest release, the appropriately titled
"˜All Grown Up'. Its an album that majors on what might be described
as his more jazzy side and is the latest installment in a solo
career that started out in 2001 with "˜See What Happens' and gained
momentum in 2006 with "˜Head Boppin'. "
Smooth Jazz Therapy, CD
Discography,
MySpace page and
Website.
|
|
Shilts - Going Underground (2010)
"High-energy contemporary jazz saxophonist Paul "Shilts" Weimer
certainly boasts ample street cred. He's a founding member of the
Down to the Bone and has rocked on stage with Brand New Heavies and
funk kings Was (Not Was). The U.K. native moved to c-jazz friendly
Southern California to advance his career and has prospered with
three solo CDs. His fourth however, Going Underground, pushes aside
any nicety-nice and is what it is "" a full-throated, unfiltered,
high-powered CD that reflects a new indie spirit as he's now
releasing music unencumbered by record companies. Good call."
-
Brian Soergel - TheUrbanMusicScene.com
|
|
|
|
Chris Botti |
 Chris
Botti - Impressions (2012)
"Few trumpeters have the tonal quality and talent of Chris Botti.
But what really puts Botti in the most elite class of musicians is
his ability to communicate through music, not just do a fine job of
playing notes. "Impressions" is the latest of several albums in
which Botti hits listeners in the gut and takes them on his own
unique musical journey. His strength comes not from muscle, power,
or uptempo rhythm, but from the grace and beauty of his no-frills,
bare-your-soul passion."
~ Tom Henry - Toledo Blade,
CD Discography,
Wikipedia ,
Youtube,
Facebook and
Website.
|
|
 Chris
Botti - Italia (2007)
"Word has it that since giving up his New York apartment a few years
ago, Chris Botti has had no permanent residence. It's funny to think of someone
this successful as "homeless." but truly, even if he had a pad somewhere, he'd
never be there. One look at the travel itinerary on his website and it's clear
that his incredible popularity these past few years has ensured that he's too in
demand around the world to stay in one place for more than a few nights. His
international agenda in early 2008 includes stops in Mexico City, Warsaw and
London and he's got bookings that run into mid-2009. Evolving from the smooth
jazz roots that brought him to stardom in the 90s, Botti has taken his
straightforward, subtle and melodic, Miles Davis influenced style to the top of
the traditional charts and into the hearts of millions worldwide."
~ Jonathan Widran - JazzMonthly.com
|
|
|
|
Lao Tizer |
Lao Tizer - Downbeat (2012) "Lots
of good buzz surrounding this highly anticipated new release from
the jazz, world, fusion group - Tizer. The new release titled
Downbeat drops on September 18th and is a magnificent mix of 12 new
original tracks that run the sonic spectrum of color and flavor for
those who like to roll with the more creative jazz inspired
contemporary world music of the day. The explanation of style seems
long and justifiably so because Tizer is not content to simply find
one groove and stick with it. Aside from acclaimed keyboardist Lao
Tizer who also is a formidable force working as a composer, we have
contemporary and Emmy winning jazz guitarist Chieli Minucci,
violinist Karen Briggs (Yanni), guitarist Jeff Kollman (Chad Smith),
bassist Rufus Philpot from Down To The Bone and Cuban drum titan
Raul Pineda. This release is literally top heavy with first call "A"
list talent!
~ CriticalJazz.com, CD
Discography,
Facebook,
Website and
MySpace.
|
|
Lao Tizer
- Diversity (2007)
"The highs and lows of Diversify take listeners on a sojourn through
varying degrees of influences. Tracks such as "A Night in the City"
and the title track are spontaneous and rhythmic, while a few of the
album's songs flow in a more subtle direction. Other tracks on the
CD provide an introspective look at Lao's creative input as he
intuitively includes Latin, R&B and neo soul dynamics as a part of
his overall intent. As one examines the specified flavor of
Diversify, Tizer is not single minded in the manner he has chosen to
highlight himself as a composer and musician." By
Sheldon T. Nunn - JazzReview.com
|
|
|
|
Christina Aguilera |
 Christina
Aguilera - Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits (2008)
"When Christina Aguilera began her decade of hits back in 1999 she
was instantly overshadowed by her fellow New Mickey Mouse Club
alumni Britney Spears, who was first out of the gate with Baby One
More Time and wound up outselling Christina and every other teen pop
act this side of *NSync in the first years of the new millennium. As
the 2000s rolled on, Aguilera slowly, surely began to eclipse
Spears. Brit-Brit's downward spiral and arrested artistic
development seemed all the stronger when compared to Xtina's
restless risks and increasingly assured musical vision, a
progression that's evident on Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of
Hits."
~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine - allmusic.com, ,
Facebook,
MySpace, Wikipedia, Website
and
CD Discography.
|
|
Christina Aguilera - Christina Aguilera (1999)
"Since Christina Aguilera is the third and last of the New Mickey
Mouse Club alumni to hit the charts in the mid-'90s -- following two
members of 'N Sync and Britney Spears -- it's easy for cynical
observers to assume that she was the lesser of the three talents
since she arrived last after everyone scaled the charts. That's not
the case at all. If anything, Aguilera is the best of the three,
blessed with a rich voice that's given the material it deserves." ~
Stephen Thomas Erlewine - allmusic.com
|
|
|
|
Marcus Miller |
 Marcus
Miller - Renaissance (2012)
"When a new release from Marcus Miller is announced, people take
note. Marcus has, after all, been a major force in the music scene
for over three decades. As a bass player, composer, arranger and
producer, Marcus' career has included long associations with Miles
Davis, David Sanborn and Luther Vandross, as well as collaborations
with a who's who of some of the biggest names in the music business.
The list, cutting across all genres, includes everyone from rock
luminaries Eric Clapton and Donald Fagen to jazz icons Dizzy
Gillespie and George Benson, pop stars Paul Simon and Mariah Carey,
R&B divas Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan, hip-hoppers Jay-Z and
Snoop Dogg, opera singers Kenn Hicks and Kathleen Battle and
countless others. And to each endeavor, he invariably adds that
inimitable "Marcus touch," turning every project into a virtual
masterpiece."
~ Jon Liebman - For Bass Players Only,
Facebook,
MySpace, Wikipedia,
Website and
CD Discography.
|
|
Marcus Miller - A Night in Monte-Carlo
(2011) "Miles Davis and Jaco Pastorius references, Middle
Eastern influences, deep funk and lush orchestral flourishes are
among the elements Marcus Miller employs on his new album, recorded
live in Monaco with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008.
The superstar bassist, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist
is joined by the likes of Herbie Hancock, trumpeter Roy Hargrove,
singer-guitarist Raúl Midón and turntablist DJ Logic for a rangy set
of music that mixes Miller staples with pieces tailor-made for his
special guests. Under different leadership, it's an approach that
might have degenerated into variety-show contrivance. Not here. In
Miller's hands, variously wrapped around fretted and fretless Fender
Jazz basses and bass clarinet, the eclecticism comes off as natural
and inspired." ~
Philip Booth - Between the Grooves
|
|
|
|
Matthew Montfort |
Matthew Montfort - Sympathetic Serenade for
Scalloped Fretboard Guitar (2012) "When Matthew Montfort
was working on his debut solo recording for scalloped fretboard
guitar (a special guitar modified to enable ornaments characteristic
of the sitar), he recorded a number of spontaneously improvised
serenades. Were it not for some serendipitous sequencing coupled
with the allure of alliteration, it's likely that this recording
would have been released as the eighth improvisation on what became
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar. Instead, this
evocative Spanish serenade/raga hybrid receives a mini-EP treatment
on Matthew Montfort's Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard
Guitar. The nearly 11 minute long track, entitled 'Sympathetic
Serenade,' is available May 22, 2012, as a download complete with
nine pages of digital liner notes at digital retailers such as
iTunes, and as a signed CD-R exclusively at Ancient-Future.Com."
-
Matthew Perpetua; July 26, 2011 - Pitchfork.com, CD
Discography,
Facebook,
last.fm/font> page and
Website.
|
|
Matthew Montfort
- Seven Serenades (2008) "Seven Serenades for Scalloped
Fretboard Guitar is best described as world fusion; Indian music is
an influence, but it isn't the disc's only influence -- and Montfort
also draws on everything from Spanish flamenco to blues to
folk-rock. Celtic music is an influence on "Celtic Raga," which
successfully combines Irish-Celtic and Indian elements. Through it
all, Montfort demonstrates that even though he has considerable
chops and technical prowess, he is much more interested in feeling
and expression than technique. "
Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
|
|
|
|
Gerald Albright |
 Gerald
Albright & Norman Brown - 24/7 (2012)
"No instruments dominate smooth jazz more than the guitar and
saxophone, which is why Gerald Albright and Norman Brown, two of the
genre's most dominant players, make such an inspired pairing. Both
musicians are on the top of their game and while 24/7 breaks no new
ground, it does provide perfect listening for warm summer nights
when a cool groove is required. Multi-instrumentalist Albright's
array of saxophones and robust tone tends to slightly overshadow
Brown's deft guitar playing at times, but never overwhelms it. Brown
recedes a bit from a soloist to sideman, but seems comfortable
allowing Albright to do the heavy lifting while he follows his
lead."
~ Jeff Wimbush - AllAboutJazz.com
Gerald Albight:
CD Discography,
Website, and
MySpace
Norman Brown:
CD Discography,
Website
and
MySpac
|
|
 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,
|
|
|
|
Corinne Bailey Rae |
 Corinne
Bailey Rae - The Love EP (2011)
"Corinne Bailey Rae has established herself as a formidable vocalist
(on her self-titled 2006 debut) and a credible songwriter (on 2010's
studio followup, The Sea). With her newest release, the (possibly
stopgap) covers collection The Love EP, Bailey Rae stakes a claim as
an effective interpreter of the work of others. This thematically
cohesive collection (the songs' lyrics all deal with love in one way
or another) was timed for release to capitalize on Valentine's
Day.""
~ Bill Kopp - musoscribe.com,
MySpace, Website
and
CD Discography.
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Chris Botti |
 Chris
Botti - Live in Boston (2009)
"Chris Botti in Boston features trumpeter Chris Botti along with a
bevy of name artists performing live with the Boston Pops Orchestra
at Symphony Hall in 2008. Fully documented as a concert film and
album, the night is an intimate and soulful birds-eye view of the
supple-toned trumpeter who has grown into his role as a virtuoso
since his time backing up Sting -- who of course appears here.
Perhaps it isn't surprising then the concert is subtly reminiscent
of Sting's own classic coming of age concert moment Bring on the
Night. "
~ Matt Collar - AllMusic.com, CD
Discography,
Facebook,
Reverbnation,
MySpace and
Website .
|
|
 Chris
Botti - Thousand Kisses Deep (2003)
"Trumpeter Chris Bottis "Indian Summer" is one of the freshest
smooth jazz singles heard on the radio for awhile, and it just
further cements Botti's status as one of the genre's top stars. He
gets tons of recognition opening for Sting, and deservedly so. Like
fellow trumpeter Rick Braun, Botti plays notes that move the heart
while writing memorable melodies that can stick in your head all
day. This guy is as smooth as Burt Bacharach, from whom he borrows
two songs. The well-worn "The Look of Love" is given a mild
drums-and-bass treatment, a go-go groove and some vocal refrains
from Chantal Kreviazuk. Is there a better song for the mournful
trumpet? The other Bacharach song is "The Last Three Minutes," which
has what Botti calls a "tougher rhythm" than he's ever done before.
It's a great track. "
~ Brian Soergel - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Sara Bareilles |
 Sara
Bareilles - Little Voice (2 CD Set) (2008)
"The tone on Little Voice shifts with songs like "Vegas," a Fiona
Apple-esque tune that's somber and soulful. There's also
"Morningside," a seductive tune that sounds vaguely familiar, but I
can't quite place it, which is driving me crazy (any help here?!).
"Between the Lines" slows things way down and reminds me a lot of
Amy Grant, of all people. The soft and sad "City," which has a
beautiful chorus, has echoes of Sarah Harmer, and is about being
lonely even in the midst of a crowd. The soulful sound is kicked up
a notch with "Many the Miles," which turns into a jazzy track toward
the end. "Gravity" closes the album with a slow and pretty sound
(very much like a Sarah McLachlan ballad). At times sounding like
Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, or Jamiroquai, and at other times
channeling Fiona Apple, Sarah McLachlan or Sarah Harmer, with a dash
of Amy Grant, Jason Mraz and/or Maroon 5 in the mix,
singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles and her CD, Little Voice, have more
to them than meets the eye."
~ Juliet Farmer - BlogCritic.com, CD
Discography,
Facebook,
Reverbnation,
MySpace and
Website .
|
|
 Sara
Bareilles - Kaleidoscope Heart (2010)
"'Kaleidoscope Heart' is certainly lovable, showcasing the
down-to-earth emotional side of the 30-year-old songbird in a set
that loosely chronicles a break-up while firmly arguing for the kind
of practical self-reliance many young women see as the feminist
ideal in this post-liberationist age. Though Bareilles takes a
semi-confessional approach, her warm alto and hard-working piano
arrangements strongly suggest conversation; she incorporates the
stops and starts of casual speech into her singing, and she has a
way of deepening simple, almost clichéd language just by changing
the weight of a syllable."
~ Ann Powers - LA Times Blogs
|
|
|
|
Steve Cole |
Steve Cole - Moonlight (2011)
"And now for something completely different but not at all
unexpected. Windy City saxophonist Steve Cole, who released his
debut CD in 1998, has been a steady force on the smooth-jazz charts
and touring scene for more than a decade. He's also a member of the
Sax Pack, an in-the-pocket trio with fellow saxophonists Jeff
Kashiwa and Kim Waters. It seemed about time for Cole to attempt
something different, and he's done it here with a rich collection of
old and new American standards backed by the lush sounds of the
Millennium Chamber Players of Chicago."
~ Brian Soergel - JazzTimes, CD
Discography,
Wikipedia,
Website page.
|
|
Steve Cole - True (2006)
"When Steve Coles current CD "˜True' was released in November of 2006
it slipped the normally all embracing Smooth Jazz Therapy net. That
notwithstanding it remains an excellent piece of feisty smooth jazz
and, given Cole's current tour schedule that finds him on the road
with both The Sax Pack and Brian Culbertson, there can been no
better time to provide a reminder of how good "˜True' is. Cole has
enjoyed four number 1 radio hits and ten top 5 singles since his
debut in 1998 and with "˜True' he revisits his roots with nine top
notch tracks all of which, in one way or the other, reach back to
the jazz funk so indicative of his home town of Chicago." -
~ Smooth Jazz Therapy
|
|
|
|
Mark Rapp |
 Mark
Rapp - Good Eats (2011)
"Legendary saxophonist Lou Donaldson doesn't subscribe to a one-size-fits-all
approach in his own music making. His oeuvre, which spans more than half a
century, touches on bop, hard bop, soul-jazz, and funk, with each setting
allowing for a different aspect of his musical personality to shine. In crafting
a tribute to Donaldson, trumpeter Mark Rapp honors this diversity and organic
amalgam of music by touching on various styles, as he works his way through
Donaldson's catalog. "
~ DAN BILAWSKY - allaboutjazz.com
and DC Bebop
page.
|
|
Mark Rapp
- Token Tales (2009)
"Mark Rapp's debut album Token Tales shows many different facets of
this trumpeter's pioneering ways as he crafts a smooth jazz relaxer
in "Thank You," jumps into a funky rapport with his band in "Who's
The Man?" and articulates creamy soul-jazz lifts along "Mr. Tricky."
These are just some of Rapp's skills at the top of his spreadsheet.
He never runs out of ideas about where to take his compositions,
whether he is being experimental and engages in some free-style
acrobatics like along "Cissy Strut," or sticks to a traditional jazz
keister and classic soaring riffs like in the title track." |
|
|
|
Michael Lington |
 Michael
Lington - Pure (2012)
"on the Trippin N' Rhythm label, the latest release from sax-man
Michael Lington is titled "˜Pure'. In part it was recorded live with
Rickey Minor and the Tonight Show Band while guest performers
include heavy hitters such as Michael Bolton, Lee Ritenour, Jonathan
Butler, Brian Culbertson, Ray Parker Jr, Jeff Golub and Paul Jackson
Jr. The first single, "˜Road Trip', which features Ritenour on guitar
is full of the gutsy "˜in your face' playing for which Lington is
best known and is already making considerable waves at contemporary
jazz radio. Even at this early stage the indications are that, with
"˜Pure', Michael Lington is taking his burgeoning career to a whole
new level.".
~ Smooth Jazz Therapy, CD
Discography,
MySpace,
Facebook,
MySpace page and
Website.
|
|
Michael Lington - Everything Must Change
(2002)
"Released in 2002, Everything Must Change is combination of R&B with
smooth jazz undertones from off the beaten path. Songs are a sensual
mix of playable melodies. Lington takes great care in choosing the
songs for each album. "One of the things that is most important is
to have high quality songs. I take a bit longer to do albums than
other artists. I find it is so important for the songs to be
correct," said Lington. Lington admits that he doesn't necessarily
write for radio format, either. "I just do what I do and hope the
people like it." Audiences are receiving Lington well. In April
2003, Everything Must Change went Top 5 on both national smooth jazz
radio and internet charts." -
~ CHERYL HUGHEY, (10/05/03) - All About Jazz
|
|
|
|
Brian Simpson |
Brian Simpson - South Beach (2010)
"The album misses no mark, no matter where Simpson sets it, it
seems. In addition to Euge Groove and Peter White, help comes from
Lenny Castro, Alex Al, and the Duke of Groove, George Duke; so, was
he supposed to miss with this?? Hardly. Tight, melodic,
well-phrased, rhythmic throughout, it's just all here in a nice,
neat, package. To the veteran smooth jazzer, you know Simpson, and
he heftily delivers again. To those who don't know, he's not someone
you can afford to pass by and consider yourself "in the zone" with
SJ"¦at all.""
~ Ronald Jackson - thesmoothjazzride.com, CD
Discography,
Facebook,
Reverbnation,
MySpace and
Website .
|
|
Brian Simpson - Closer Still (1995)
"The adage that many of contemporary music's most inventive and
popular artists emerge from the ranks of first call session and
touring musicians continues to prove precise, and indie label
Noteworthy seemed committed in the mid-90s to making sure listeners
didn't forget. On the simmering heels of Michael White's So Far Away
arrived veteran keyboardist Brian Simpson, whose long-term
association with some of the hottest icons in R&B and jazz have
inspired the dynamic musings of Closer Still, one of the year's
silky-smoothest and funkiest piano romps of the year." -
Jonathan Widran - AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Jeff Lorber |
 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.
|
|
 Jeff
Lorber - Galaxy (2012)
"Galaxy It was in 2010, with the CD "˜Now Is The Time', that Jeff
Lorber revisited the sound that he had helped to pioneer. This
return to jazz fusion was heralded with critical acclaim and now,
for part two, he is back with "˜Galaxy'. Full of the same funk driven
energy that was a feature of "˜Now Is The Time', and with the likes
of Eric Marienthal, Jimmy Haslip and Lenny Castro all involved,
"˜Galaxy' is a wonderful throwback to the halcyon days of jazz
fusion."
~ Smooth Jazz Therapy
|
|
|
|
Nick Colionne |
Nick Colionne - Feel the Heat (2011)
"Despite the trials and tribulations currently being encountered by
the world of contemporary jazz, the wonderful Nick Colionne marches
on from strength to strength. One of the most engaging live
performers around and without doubt the best dressed man in smooth
jazz, Colionne has recently released the album "˜Feel The Heat'
which, as well as accentuating the natural groove of his hometown
Chicago, is also a delightfully soulful amalgam of the best the
genre has to offer.".
Smooth Jazz Therapy, CD
Discography,
Reverbnation,
Facebook/font>,
MySpace page and
Website.
|
|
Nick Colionne - No Limits (2008)
"He's an award-winning musican (nominated recently for Canada's
Smooth Jazz Awards after winning in 2007), mentor and elementary
school teacher in his native Chicago, lauded for his baritione,
inspired live performances and his so-fresh-and-so-clean-clean
image. So when Nick Colionne---a seasoned musical pro since the age
of 15---entitled his sixth CD and Koch Records debut No Limits, it
was as much about his many talents as it was about the musical
direction upon which he's embarking." -
~ Melody Charles - SoulTracks
|
|
|
|
McCoy Tyner |
McCoy Tyner - Plays John Coltrane Live at The
Village Vanguard (2001)
"This live set from the Village Vanguard was recorded in 1997 on
John Coltrane's 71st birthday (the fact we are now in the annum of
his 75th birthday makes it all the more timely). Tyner is
accompanied here by the excellent bassist, George Mraz, and the
spunky rhthymic force of Al Foster on drums... Overall, this set is
a good representative of late-period Tyner- some feel that is a
qualification in itself; however to longtime Tyner fans who still
appreciate his work, or to those new to this dramatic style of jazz
piano, this record should provide some decent listening. It's not
essential as a Trane tribute record (as Impulse(Verve) has tried to
market it)- though. There are much more important Trane tribute
records out there, including several that McCoy has been involved
with himself. ""
~ Gerard Cox - AllAboutJazz.com, CD
Discography,
Facebook,
MySpace and
Website .
|
|
McCoy Tyner - Extensions (1970)
"Languishing off-catalogue for many years, McCoy Tyner's Extensions
may be the pianist's most unjustly neglected album. Strange days,
for not only is the music ineffably vibrant, but Expressions is the
only recording ever to feature Tyner alongside pianist and harpist
Alice Coltrane, who replaced him in saxophonist John Coltrane's
group in 1966. The album has one foot in the echoes of John
Coltrane's "classic quartet," of which Tyner was a member from
1960-65, and the other in the astral jazz style which Alice Coltrane
and saxophonist Pharoah Sanders fashioned in the late 1960s and
early 1970s." -
Chris May - AllAboutJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Bobby Hutcherson |
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.
|
|
Bobby Hutcherson - Montara (1975)
"With the possible exception of Grover Washington's Feels So Good,
no other album captured the spirit of jazz in 1975 like Bobby
Hutcherson's Montara. Recorded in his hometown of L.A., Montara is
the very sound of groove jazz coming out of fusion, and Latin jazz's
tough salsa rhythms coming home to roost in something more warm and
effluvial that would meet the populace where it was changing and
mellowing out rather than making it sit up and take notice. That
said, Montara is, like the Washington record, a masterpiece of the
genre even though it isn't celebrated in the same way. " -
Thom Jurek - AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Bill Evans (Sax) |
 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.
|
|
Bill Evans - Escape (1996)
"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. Bill became Miles right-hand man and soloistic foil
in concert and on a series of recordings -- 1981s The Man With The
Horn, 1982s We Want Miles, 1983s Star People and 1984s Decoy."
~
100greatestjazzalbums.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
Paul Brown |
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.
|
|
Paul Brown - White Sand (2007)
"is Paul Brown's second CD as a solo artist. Paul's first album
entitled 'The City' was a recording that went to #1 on the smooth
jazz charts and propelled him into the spotlight as an artist. This
time out, Brown optimizes the successful ingredients of his first CD
by including the talents of Al Jarreau, Boney James, Bobby Caldwell,
David Benoit, Euge Groove and a host of other sidemen to record
another jewel of an album. On ten tracks, Paul oversees a series of
melodic grooves coupled with a host of rhythmic riffs. Overall, the
influence of George Benson on Brown's career as a guitarist is heard
throughout, especially on such tracks as 'For What It's Worth' and
'Ol Skoolin.' But make no mistake about it, Paul Brown's sound is
not an imitation of Benson's; in his own way, Paul has merely
expanded upon all of his previous influences to create a voice of
his own."
Vanessa J. Colbert - JusJazz.com
|
|
|
|
Eddie Harris |
 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.
|
|
Les McCann & Eddie Harris - (1969)
"Something of a happy accident, this recording from the 1969
Montreux Jazz Festival has actually become one of the most talked
about, exhilarating and fun live jazz performances ever captured on
wax. The session (on the last night of the festival) was a truly
impromptu event - this particular line up had never played together
before and at least half of the group had no idea what material they
were going to play as they took the stage! Swiss Movement has
long been a sought after collectors piece and the addition of
expansive sleeve notes and anecdotes from the musicians involved
makes this anniversary edition a great live recording to enjoy once
again - 35 years after this very happening event."
~ Greg Boraman (2004) - bbc.co.uk
|
|
|
|
Chieli Minucci & Special EFX |
Chieli Minucci & Special EFX
- Without You (2010)
"Guitarist, composer, and arranger Chieli Minucci is the leader of
the Grammy-nominated jazz-fusion group Special EFX, which he
co-founded with the late George Jinda in 1984. A major force on the
jazz and world music scene for 25 years, Special EFX's newest
release, Without You is a diverse collection of jazz-fusion, world
rhythms, and the effortlessly flowing guitar artistry that Chieli
(key-eh-lee) is known for. A true sound-tapestry, blending layers of
sound and harmonic texture, Without You is an instant classic." ~
Smooth Jazz Daily, Facebook,
CD Discography,
YouTube,
MySpace page and
Website.
|
|
Chieli Minucci & Special EFX
- Sweet Surrender (2007)
"For the first time since signing with Shanachie in 1999, the
guitarist sheds the dual identity and brings the best of his
multitude of styles together under the name Chieli Minucci & Special
EFX. Sweet Surrender is a unique mixed bag that touches on the
classic old Special EFX sound that's gone missing for years; his
cool, melodic smooth jazz side; and more of the wild and expansive
guitar fusion adventures he has included a few times before on
earlier solo efforts."
~ Jonathan Widran - JazzMonthly.com
|
|
|
|
Keiko Matsui
|
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,
Discography,
Websiteand
MySpace.
|
|
Keiko Matsui - Piano (2003)
"According to Mark Ruffin of Chicago Magazine/Amazon.com:
"Performing solo piano has been compared to tightrope walking
without a net and swimming in an ocean without a flotation
device." For those of us who have followed the career Keiko
Matsui, we all knew her first solo effort entitled 'The Piano'
would be a picturesque panoramic view of her remarkable journey
into jazz in all its flavors. The recording continues a standard
of excellence that has followed Keiko Matsui for over 12 years.
In either sense, it is a known fact that she has not always
followed the norm in her approach to "America's only original
art form."
~
Sheldon T. Nunn - JazzReview.com
|
|
|
|
Sonny Rollins |
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. |
|
Sonny Rollins (1956) - Saxophone Colossus
"1956's Saxophone Colossus (which debuted one of his signature
tunes, the calypso St Thomas), Rollins revealed an improvising
imagination some compared with Charlie Parker, notably on the
slow-building, faintly sinister Blue Seven. Rollins (a famous
eccentric in earlier years who would play gigs in raincoats, or hats
with corks, or proto-mohican haircuts) had a free jazz phase in the
60s, and a jazz-funky one in the 70s and 80s, but styles are almost
irrelevant to a jazz genius who could make an epic improvisation out
of Three Blind Mice." -
~ John Fordham1 - guardian.co.uk
|
|
|
|
The Rippingtons |
The Rippingtons - Côte D'Azur (2011)
"One reason why the Rippingtons have been able to attract such a
following throughout their travels is that the group's music finds
the balance between "˜contemporary' and "˜jazz.' Songs like "Provence"
and "Rivera Jam" both have that accessible feel that goes down easy
with R&B fans while also employing that musical conversation between
the players that jazz fans have come to expect. Sure, a group like
the Rippingtons won't satisfy the jazz purist, but the formula has a
growing number of fans circling the globe with them. Cote D'Azur
will keep those fans on board and eagerly awaiting the next stop.
Recommended."
~ Howard Dukes - soundtracks.com, CD
Discography,
Reverbnation,
Facebook,
MySpace page and
Website. |
|
The Rippingtons - Moonlighting (1986)
"Released in 1986, this album not only stands as a genre-defining
primer on what has become known as smooth jazz, but it also helped
launch the careers of various artists whose music has been crucial
to the genre's vitality. In addition to composer/guitarist/producer
Russ Freeman and the Ripps, there's David Benoit (playing a gorgeous
piano melody on "Mirage"), keyboardist Gregg Karukas, bassist Jimmy
Johnson (who scored hits with Flim & the BBs), saxmen Brandon Fields
and Dave Koz (whose floating Electronic Wind Instrument melody
guides the silky "Dreams"), and some soprano-wielding guy named
Kenny G.". -
All Music Guide - Jonathan Widran
|
|
|
|
Christian McBride |
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,
Facebook,
Website and
Reverbnation page.
|
|
Christian McBride - Kind Of
Brown (2009) "Produced by Christian McBride with ten of
his original compositions, "Kind Of Brown" is a masterwork of
upbeat, straight ahead jazz with a strong bebop feel and swing. For
once, the much syndicated All Music review misses the point of the
title of the album in claiming that the reference is not to the
music of Ray Brown but to that of the Bobby Hutcherson / Harold Land
group of the '70s. An easy enough assumption to make with the
emphasis on "Kind Of Brown" on saxophone and vibraphone.
References to the jazz tradition aside, "Kind Of Brown" is simply
one of the best jazz albums of recent years. Warren Wolf's vibe
playing is a real discovery. Christian McBride, the most gifted bass
player of his generation, is the creative bedrock on which this fine
group of musicians achieves so much. "
~ Mack Avenue - 100 Greatest Jazz Albums
|
|
|
|
Darren Rahn |
 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
|
|
 Darren
Rahn - Once in a Lifetime (2005) "Saxophonist Darren
Rahn is one of the most versatile and unique young artists in
contemporary jazz. As one of the industry's most sought after record
producers, his resume includes a variety of top honors including 1's
on the coveted R&R and Billboard charts". -
MySpace "Darren
Rahn's second album "Once In A Lifetime" embraces the idealistic
fuzzy warmth of smooth jazz and takes the listener into its
satisfying troves". -
Read it at Jazz Review
|
|
|
|
Karrin Allyson |
 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.
|
|
Karrin Allyson - By Request (2008)
"Karrin Allyson, the Grammy-nominated singer and pianist whose
Imagina, Songs Of Brasil was one of 2008's best albums, is keeping
busy in the best possible way. Her newest, By Request "" The Best Of
Karrin Allyson, is now out on the Concord Jazz label and will almost
certainly continue her string of Top Ten charted albums. It also
again serves notice that she's one of the brightest gems in the
respected label's treasure chest of stars. "
~ blogcritics.org
|
|
|
|
Kevin Toney |
 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
|
|
 Kevin
Toney - Strut (2001)
"Keyboardist Kevin Toney is a superb contemporary jazz
instrumentalist and composer who can perform a range of styles --
including jazz, blues, and R&B -- with equal dexterity, and his
album, Strut, is a good example of his remarkable facility. For this
collection of primarily upbeat compositions, Toney combined his
trademark memorable melodies with a variety of grooves to create an
album on which his accomplished jazz and blues stylings are spiced
with a strong urban flavor."
~ Lucy Tauss - AllMusic.com
|
|
|
|
Norah Jones |
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.
|
|
Norah Jones - Come Away With (2002)
"While jazz is clearly a major influence for Ms. Jones, Come Away
with Me is not really a jazz album. There is only one tune that
could be described as a jazz standard, and the musical ingredients
are as likely to come from country music as they are from 52nd
Street. Ms. Jones is a fine pianist, and is heard at the instrument
on all but one piece, but this is a very guitar-oriented album, with
acoustic guitar probably being the major instrumental voice. And on
guitar in her band is Jesse Harris, who wrote or co-wrote five of
the fourteen songs on the CD. Also contributing songs is bassist Lee
Alexander. Rounding out her regular band is Adam Levy on electric
guitar and Dan Reiser on drums, though prominent jazz drummer Brian
Blade is heard on several tracks. Also making a guest appearance on
one piece is guitarist Bill Frisell. One of the most appealing
aspects about this CD is its relaxed, intimate feel. With a
heavyweight producer like Mardin on board, and the CD clearly being
aimed at wider audiences than the straight-ahead jazz crowd, with
perhaps a good helping of more pop-oriented songs. But the CD is
remarkably laid-back and surprisingly eclectic. Two of the three
cover tunes are country songs, including a Hank Williams classic.
And the original material is interesting with mostly pithy
impressionistic lyrics, rather than the wordy ballads one might
expect from a chanteuse." -
The Graham Weekly Album Review #1274
|
|
|
|
George Benson |
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.
|
|
George Benson & Al Jarreau - Given' It Up
(2006)
"'Givin' It Up' not only brings two musical icons together under one
umbrella, the sidemen accompanying George and Al are major
influences in their own right... 'Givin' It Up' provides a vocal
history of George Benson and Al Jarreau that re-examines their most
memorable classics and also allows the two to push the envelope on
some cover tracks also."
Sheldon T. Nunn - Jazz Review.com
|
|
|
|
U-NAM |
|
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.
|
|
U-NAM - Back From The 80's (2007)
"His new album "Back From the 80's" offers songs from the 80's and
new compositions. After the first tones one immediately remarks the
high professionalism of the album. That's no wonder because U-Nam is
supported by the Merkevah Orchestra and the M.A. strings section
conducted by Raymond Gimenes, furthermore by the Paris horns
(Thierry Farrugia, Christian Martinez and Bernard Camoin). With such
a fuliminant sound in the background every track gets its own
noblesse... U-NAM shares so much memories with us. It's fantastic.
This album is one of the best smooth jazz albums I heard since
several years. Without exception strong songs, no filler. The UK
Version features a bonus disc of great vocal tracks including
Rahsaan Patterson and Phil Perry. My favorite track of this R&B side
project is Blue Mood featuring singer Leeda and Gary Meek on sax."
~ HBH - Smooth-Jazz.de
|
|
|
|
Heather Headley |
 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.
|
|
Heather Headley - This Is Who I Am (2002)
"This Is Who I Am is Headley's statement to the world. It's the
introduction of her fresh, remarkable sound to popular music.
Headley gives gospel and soul a Caribbean lilt, and the result is
one spectacular groove... Headley worked with some of
the finest R&B artists of today, such as great blues guitarist Keb
Mo. Also, Chukki Starr, a Jamaican dancehall master, takes a solo in
"Fallin' For You," co-written by Headley. This Is Who I Am is all
the fire and sexiness of a young, vibrant individual with a
you-can't-put-me-down attitude. I'm waiting to hear more, much, much
more from Heather Headley. Until then, I'll keep listening to
Headley's heart and soul, twelve stunning songs with a story behind
them. This Is Who I Am is explosive."
~ Allison Lewis - The Tech (tech.mit.edu)
|
|
|
|
Chris Standring |
 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.
|
|
Chris Standring - Love and Paragraphs (2008)
"While many artists in his genre are content to find a certain
formula and stick with it, Standring likes to start from scratch
each time out and let the vibe of the project emerge spontaneously
from the writing process. Always in search of unique new sonic
approaches, Standring puts aside his trusty longtime jazz axe, the
archtop Benedetto, and digs into more earthy blues-rock territory on
five tracks with two Fender Strats; he played the Strat back in the
80s until switching to the other guitar to better tackle the acid
jazz grooves which caught his ear in the early 90s."
~ Jonathan Widran - Jazz Monthly
|
|
|
|
Jane Lui |
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 and
Facebook.
|
|
Jane Lui - Teargirl (2005)
"Stories may have characters, yet the focus is often away from its
source of voice, the Narrator. This voice, one of trust and power,
will often speak with wisdom and objectivity. Yet who is to say that
she must stay unbiased and heartless? Jane's debut solo album is
named after its emotive voice and narrator, Teargirl. She will sing
through this book of tales in a voice of belief, question, and
passion. The details of each character is translated into sounds and
songs that are humbly tender with devilish fantasy... Stories may
have characters, yet the focus is often away from its source of
voice, the Narrator. This voice, one of trust and power, will often
speak with wisdom and objectivity. Yet who is to say that she must
stay unbiased and heartless? Jane's debut solo album is named after
its emotive voice and narrator, Teargirl. She will sing through this
book of tales in a voice of belief, question, and passion. The
details of each character is translated into sounds and songs that
are humbly tender with devilish fantasy."
~ CD Universe.com
|
|
|
|
Jimmie Vaughn |
 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.
|
|
Jimmie Vaughn - More Blues,
Ballads and Favorites (2011) "Bit of a treat, this, for
anyone who remembers what rhythm and blues used to sound like. Ex-
Fabulous Thunderbird Jimmie Vaughan comes up with well over an hour
of great old songs that feels like stumbling on the contents of a
jukebox in some ancient blues club in the deep south. Keeping it
simple, a small horn section backing up a standard line up, Jimmie
shows just how much wealth of pleasure there is to be wrung from the
vast blues/rhythm'n'blues/swamp pop/country repertoire. Sixteen
tracks cover lesser known songs by hugely famous names - Hank
Williams and Ray Charles to name two - some reasonably well known
songs and some by favorites of Jimmie Vaughan that you may never
have heard of: I'd certainly never heard of New Orleans' Annie
Laurie, for example. Every song is in here on merit and you feel
glad to have a guide like Jimmie Vaughan to lead you through this
glorious catalogue. "
~ John Davy - FlyinShoes.com
|
|
|
|
Bebel Gilberto |
 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.
|
|
Bebel Gilberto - Bebel Gilberto
(2005) "Brazil has produced more than its fair share of
musical giants. Genius composers such as Tom Jobim and Milton
Nascimento, powerful performers like Jorge Ben, the furious wonder
that is vocalist Elis Regina and countless others have stoked the
fascination of those of us who find an almost perfect combination of
intensity, complexity and immediacy in Brazil's various indigenous
forms. Bebel Gilberto is a part of that legacy, not only in terms of
her parentage, but because she captures that intoxicating quality
guilelessly, and delivers it to a chilly world. "
~ Chuck Zak - Stylus Magazine
|
|
|
|
Brian Culbertson
|
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.
|
|
Brian Culbertson - It's On Tonight (2005)
"Dripping in sensuality, the album consists of all-original
material, including three vocal pieces: the flirtatious title track
(f/ Will Downing ), the spirited "Love Will Never Let You Down" (f/
Patti Austin ) and the bold "Wear it Out" (f/ Marc Nelson , lyricist
of three numbers on the CD and a member of Babyface's protégé vocal
group, Az Yet ). Culbertson also hand-picked three of smooth jazz's
most sensitive horn players to lend their singular auras to the vibe
at hand: saxophonists Boney James and Kirk Whalum , and trumpeter
Chris Botti . As always, Culbertson produced the album,
collaborating on seven of the songs with his frequent creative
partner Stephen Lu ." - JazzDigger.com
|
|
|
|
Nils |
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.
|
|
Nils - Ready to Play (2007)
"is a pleasantly varied, mix of 12 tracks that are very well written
songs by this clearly talented artist. With many of the songs
displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great
listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are from
personal experiences. At different points touching on the most real
emotions of love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly
be heard." -
Clyde Lee Dennis - Article Alley
|
|
|
|
Faith Evans |
 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.
|
|
Faith Evans - Faith (1995)
"Faith Evans is no novice to the music industry. She has worked as a
background vocalist for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Tony
Thompson, Usher and Pebbles. She is also a member of Sean "Puffy"
Combs' Bad Boy family, and FAITH is that record label's first
attempt to venture into musical lands outside the hip-hop nation.
The debut establishes Evans as a true soul singer, separating her
from the pop-oriented R&B that has seemingly taken over the genre."
~ CD Universe Discography
|
|
|
|
Michael Shrieve |
 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
|
|
 Michael
Shrieve - Transfer Station Blue (1984)
"Drummer Michael Shrieve has enjoyed a long, diverse career that has
placed him in all sorts of roles. He was the drummer for Santana at
Woodstock, and he is the "Shrieve" in 80's hard rock act Hagar,
Schon, Aaronson, and Shrieve. In the meantime, he's collaborated
with avant-garde artists such as David Torn, he's worked with Police
guitarist Andy Summers, and has also found time to concoct a few
releases under his own name. 1984's Transfer Station Blue is a
new-agey, futuristic ambient synthesizer project made with help from
his brother Kevin (guitar, keyboards) and German synthesizer wizard
Klaus Schulze (Tangerine Dream,) with added contributions from
then-David Letterman mainstays Will Lee (bass) and Hiram Bullock
(rhythm guitars.) It's short - just 4 tracks totaling 37:09 - but
fans of instrumental electronic music will find much to like here. "
~ epinions.com
|
|
|
Boney James
 Boney
James - Contact
(2011) "His newest CD Contact "" completely produced,
arranged and co-written by James "" is driven by the signature
soulful grooves the world has come to expect from him, but with
an added intensity. "I felt really inspired putting together the
arrangements and producing the record," he says. "There are a
lot of things happening right now in modern music. The title, in
one sense, refers to me reaching across genres and creating
music that I believe is relevant and fresh." And although
Boney's music has in the past been categorized by some as
"smooth jazz," with his masterful new CD Contact he refuses to
accept any type of labeling. "I always try to make sure my
records possess integrity. I make Boney James music. I'm just
trying to break down the barriers and make CONTACT."" ~
Verve Forecast - Smoothjazzdaily,
Website,
Discography,
MySpace,
Facebook |
|
|
Boney
James - Ride (2001)
"The masterful fusion of street funk, sensual R&B, and contemporary
jazz that Boney James accomplishes on Ride continues to make him a
favorite with listeners around the world. The multi-talented
saxophonist, keyboardist, producer, and composer wrote or co-wrote
nine of the songs for this ten-song program and features such
stellar guest talent as Marcus Miller, R&B singer Jaheim on the
title track, Dave Hollister's gospel-flavored street style heard on
"Something Inside," and Trina Broussard's crystal-clear vocals on
the opening track, "Heaven.""
~ Paula Edelstein - AllMusic.com
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.
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (1970)
"Miles' music continues to grow in its beauty, subtlety and sheer
magnificence. Bitches' Brew is a further extension of the basic idea
he investigated in his two previous albums, Filles De Kilimanjaro
and In A Silent Way. In a larger sense, however, the record is yet
another step in the unceasing process of evolution Miles has
undergone since the Forties. The man never stops to rest on his
accomplishments. Driven forward by a creative elan unequaled in the
history of American music, he incorporates each successive triumph
into the next leap forward." -
LANGDON WINNER - Rollingstone
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
Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted
And Black (1971) "It's nearly impossible to single out
any of Aretha Franklin's early-'70s albums for Atlantic as being her
best, particularly given the breadth of her output during this era.
In terms of albums rather than singles, it's probably her strongest
era, and if you count live albums like Amazing Grace, choosing a
standout or a favorite record isn't any easier. Yet of this stunning
era, Young, Gifted and Black certainly ranks highly among her studio
efforts, with many arguing that it may be her greatest. "
~ Jason Birchmeier - AllMusic.com
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.
Joshua Redman - Freedom in the Groove (1996)
"Joshua Redman, son of avant-garde tenorist Dewey Redman, Harvard
graduate with a bright future potential in multiple areas (Medicine,
Law) won the 1991 Thelonious Monk Competition and a Warner Brothers
contract and subsequently released a self-titled disc and the
highly-praised Wish. He has an informed, compressed tone that is
immediately appealing and accessible. Critic Scott Yanow likens
Redman's performance style to those of Red Holloway and Gene Ammons,
stating that he "will probably never be an innovator". I see that as
a plus. There is an immediate familiarity in Redman's playing, some
thing very comfortable like seeing that old friend after many years
and picking up where your left off.." - C.
Michael Bailey - All About Jazz
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.
Esperanza Spalding - Junjo (2006) 
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.
Christian Scott - Rewind That (2006)
" is a product of everything imaginable in jazz. As a derivative of
fusion, Scott has embraced hip-hop rhythms, soulful melodic grooves
and harmonic nuances to bind with an improvisational standard seldom
seen coming from an artist of his years. His music has a built-in
simplicity about it, whereby even the most complex note structures
are easily assimilated into the realm of intuitive acceptance. As
one attunes himself to the creativity of Christian Scott, the
influences of Miles Davis and Eddie Henderson radiate like beacons
in the night. On the other hand, the ever-present shadow of Chet
Baker also looms in the background. But make no mistake about this
music, Rewind That is all about Christian Scott?s own personal
odyssey into fusion and the intuitive creative spirit that comes
from within. His laid back style of play creates a sense of
sanctuary in an environment where jazz is often too commercial and
seldom very cerebral." 
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.
Jimmy
Smith - Further Adventures
Of Jimmy And Wes (1966) "Further Adventures of Jimmy and
Wes picks up where Dynamic Duo left off, digging a little further
into the one-time-only Wes Montgomery/Jimmy Smith sessions and
coming up with more fine music -- mellower in general than Dynamic
Duo but first-class nonetheless. Unlike most of the studio sessions
from this time, Montgomery gets plenty of room for his single-string
work as well as his famous octaves, and both techniques find him in
full, mature bloom, needing fewer notes in which to say more (Smith,
of course, is precisely the opposite)."
~ Richard S. Ginell - AllMusic.com
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.
George Duke - Faces in
Reflection (1974) "Keyboardist George Duke's career may
have swerved towards pop and smooth jazz in recent years, but his
mid-1960s emergence suggested a future as bright as contemporaries
including Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. Seminal work with renegade
guitarist/composer Frank Zappa in the mid-1970s further cemented a
reputation built on earlier recordings with violinist Jean-Luc
Ponty, saxophonist Cannonball Adderley and vocalist Flora Purim.
That he's chosen a more accessible route since then doesn't diminish
the string of fine albums released under his own name during
fusion's heyday, notably 1974's Faces in Reflection, originally
issued by the German MPS label and now receiving a superb
remaster/reissue treatment from the fledgling Promising Music."
~ John Kelman - All About Jazz
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.
Onaje Allan Gumbs - Sack Full of
Dreams (2007) "Without making tiresome concessions to
smooth-jazz tastes, Gumbs, a veteran keyboardist with an illustrious
resume (stints with Woody Shaw, Nat Adderley and Betty Carter, among
many others), sustains several inviting moods here. The bright
lyricism he displays at the keyboard on the jazz samba "Destiny" and
other tracks ranks high on the list of the album's allures. In fact,
it's right up there with Gumbs' brand of effortless, small-combo
swing (check out his flowing solo on the self-penned "Nitelife") and
his frequent embrace of soul jazz grooves that brings out the best
in his bandmates, including guitarist Bob DeVos and drummer George
Gray."
~ Taylor - jazzreloaded.com
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.
Wes Montgomery - The Incredible Jazz Guitar of
Wes Montgomery (1960) "This was the album that set
him apart from other guitarists. He had a unique approach to phasing
and legend has it that his thumbs were double jointed and could
actually bend back and touch his wrist. This enabled Montgomery to
develop a technical virtuosity that allowed the notes to be
distinct. He was also able to maintain a fairly melodic sound, which
was different from many of the other jazz practitioners of his day.
This CD release of The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery was
re-mastered from the original tapes. The original cover art and
liner notes are intact. Also included is a substantive biography of
Montgomery's career. It all combines into a 60's looking package
with a modern sound.
David Bowling - Blogcritics Music
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!" 
Terrence Brewer - QuintEssential (2007) "Hovering somewhere
between a straight ahead jam session and a mellow contemporary date,
California guitarist Terrence Brewer's genial third CD features the
kinds of catchy, inviting grooves that play well on jazz radio."
Forrest Dylan Bryant - Jazz Times. Terrence's
website.
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.
Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby
(1961) "Recorded at the Village Vanguard in 1961, shortly
before Scott LaFaro's death, Waltz for Debby is the second album
issued from that historic session, and the final one from that
legendary trio that also contained drummer Paul Motian. While the
Sunday at the Village Vanguard album focused on material where
LaFaro soloed prominently, this is far more a portrait of the trio
on those dates. Evans chose the material here, and, possibly, in
some unconscious way, revealed on these sessions "" and the two
following LaFaro's death (Moonbeams and How My Heart Sings!) "" a
different side of his musical personality that had never been
displayed on his earlier solo recordings or during his tenures with
Miles Davis and George Russell: "
~ circeo59 - ARABESQUE
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.
Freddie Hubbard
- Without a Song: Live in Europe 1969 (2009) "Trumpeter
Freddie Hubbard's passing in December 2008 created the expected
appetite for previously unissued material. This generous set is a
valuable exhumation of live material, recorded in 1969. Actually,
Hubbard had already approved its release prior to his departure, and
was very excited about this archival rediscovery. The main bulk is
drawn from concerts in London and Bristol, but the last two tracks
were laid down somewhere in Germany."
Martin Longley, BBC Review
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.
Ken Navarro - Meeting Place (2007)
"Trumpeter Chris Botti recently commented that, for many casual
listeners, listening to jazz can be like taking a math test. Ken
Navarro has no worries""his music is more like recess, and the
guitarist would be the first to tell you that's the way he wants it.
There's a reason why he named his record label Positive Music.
Still, on his 17th recording, the guitarist is up challenging
himself while still offering fans abundant opportunities to savor
his sweet picking style. Navarro went back 30 years for his biggest
test""a cover of Pat Metheny's "Lakes" from his Watercolors album.
Navarro glides through the tough chord changes with ease after no
doubt many hours of practice, bringing beauty to a complex
composition."
~ Brian Soergel - JazzTimes.
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.
Walter Beasley Live - In the Groove (2010)
"Walter Beasley found his roots in Grover Washington's music. After
more than 20 years at the forefront of smooth jazz he is established
as one of the most prolific sax players of this genre. He put the
base for his position by his work as teacher at Berklee College of
Music."
~ Smooth Jazz Daily Blog at WordPress.
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.
David Sanborn - Close-Up (1988)
"David Sanborn may have been the most influential alto saxophonist
of the '70s and early '80s. A generation of young players--Marc
Russo (of the Yellowjackets), Brandon Fields and Sam Riney are only
a few who come to mind--was deeply affected by Sanborn's soaring
high notes and blues-honed melodies."
~ August 30, 1988 - DON HECKMAN - LA Times
JAZZ REIVIEW 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.
Wayne Shorter - Footprints Live! (2002)
"Wayne Shorter's Footprints live! is the sax player's first live
album under his own name, which is difficult to believe given the
length of his recording career. Of course, we have heard Shorter on
live recordings plenty of times, with the Miles Davis Quintet, with
Weather Report, and in various guest spots. One thing that's nice
about this recording is that you hardly know it is live but for the
applause between numbers. There is polite applause following solos,
but the audience has either been mixed way down or was recorded at a
low enough level that it never impinges on your enjoyment of the
music."
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.
Greg Osby - Inner Circle (2002)
"On Inner Circle, Osby is joined by frequent collaborator Jason
Moran on piano, Stefon Harris on vibes, and Taurus Mateen and Eric
Harland on bass and drums, respectively. The ensemble sound is
reminiscent of those found on certain aforementioned Blue Note dates
of the '60s, particularly Hill's Judgment (which is a quartet date
featuring Bobby Hutcherson on vibes and Elvin Jones on drums) and
Eric Dolphy's famous Out to Lunch sextet date featuring Kenny
Dorham, Joe Henderson, and Hutcherson. It's a luminous sound that
revolves around the combination of piano and vibes, anchored by
Mateen's warm and steady bass and Harland's tasteful and earthy
drumming. Osby ducks and dodges over and through the ensemble, with
beautiful, angular ideas; a burnished tone; and exacting confidence.
"
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.
Branford Marsalis - METAMORPHOSEN (2009)
"marks a decade of shared creativity by the Branford Marsalis
Quartet, and is another milestone in the history of one of the most
compelling and complete ensembles in jazz. Saxophonist Branford
Marsalis, pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer
Jeff Tain Watts reveal even greater refinements in virtuosity,
vision and telepathic response in a program featuring original
compositions by all four members plus a Thelonious Monk classic,
Marsalis return to the alto sax in addition to features for his more
familiar tenor and soprano, and an unrivalled sense of collective
purpose. The album title, which is German for metamorphoses,
reflects the growth of both the quartet and of each member, an
evolution that has generated music of even greater clarity without
any sacrifice in intensity." ~
Description - Amazon.com
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.
Sarah McLachlan - Afterglow Live (2004)
"The focus of the concert, naturally, is McLachlan's voice. Breathy,
emotive, and threaded with embellishments, the singer's performances
replicate her studio takes to the note. Likewise, her band creates a
gauzy, shimmering wash of sound, perfectly complementing McLachlan,
and giving the whole a high-end sheen. But the real treasure here is
the accompanying DVD, which features live footage of all the songs
on the audio disc, plus additional tunes (including a cover of Paul
McCartney's "Blackbird"), videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and the
politically motivated short film "World on Fire." For fans who have
never seen McLachlan perform, or wish to relive the experience,
AFTERGLOW LIVE is the next best thing to seeing the pop icon in
person." ~
Oldies.com
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.
Boney James - Body Language (1999) 
Norman
Brown "Sending My Love" (2010)
"Whether to military troops overseas, family members or fans,
guitarist Norman Brown has plenty of love to give. And he shows it
with Sending My Love. Brown is a Grammy Award winner who has played
guitar since the age of 8. Drawing inspiration from Jimi Hendrix and
Wes Montgomery, and often compared to George Benson, Brown has
worked with a number of smooth jazz luminaries, including Paul
Brown, Kirk Whalum, Rick Braun, Mitch Forman and Michael Manson.
Sending My Love features nine original songs, penned by Brown, alone
or in collaboration with keyboardist Herman Jackson or other
associates. In addition to the core group, a five-piece horn section
appears on some tracks. Daughter Rochella Brown, Melvin Moore III
and the Sounds of Blackness also make appearances. "
~ Woodrow Wilkins - All About Jazz, CD
Discography,
Website
and
MySpace page.
Norman
Brown "After The Storm" (1994) "Guitarist Norman
Brown splashed into the soul-jazz scene in 1992 as a recording
artist for MoJazz and quickly went on to win substantial acclaim,
beginning with his award-winning second album, After the Storm. Both
Gavin and Soul Train named it Jazz Album of the Year, and After the
Storm remained on the charts for over two years. Suddenly critics
drew comparisons to other astonishing jazz guitarists from the past
such as George Benson and Wes Montgomery, and Brown became the toast
of the soul-jazz crowd. Following the remarkable success of After
the Storm, Brown continued to wow jazz listeners. "
~ ARTISTdirect.com
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.
Alex Bugnon "Love Seasons" (1989)
"Alex Bugnon has created one of the most recognized styles in
today's contemporary jazz piano. It is a sultry mixture of
contemporary jazz, funk, and R&B with hints of gospel. Even the
titles of his CDs create anticipation for a musical experience that
is delivered with passion. His latest album, "Free," reunites him
with Atlanta based keyboardist and producer Phil Davis. After
recording "Free" and his last album, "Southern Living," in Atlanta,
Bugnon calls this city his second musical home. "Free," is a
refreshing blend of exotic rhythms with haunting, soulful melodies
and the signature Alex Bugnon piano sound."
- All About Jazz
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.
Pat Metheny - Day Trip (2008)
"Metheny thrives in a trio format "" the space suits his spiraling
runs and the afterring in his pointed electric sound "" and he
responds here with excited improvising in the hypersamba "Son of
Thirteen" and the vintage-Wes Montgomery stroll of "Calvin's Keys."
An exception: "Is This America? (Katrina 2005)," a subdued but
emphatic challenge that needs no words to make its point." - DAVID
FRICKE - rollingstone.com
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.
Bob James - "Joy Ride (1999)
"Bob James only had a total of four solo CD's in the 1990's, and
while they're all good, this one just seems to stand out. As usual,
James contributes his writing, arranging, and producing talents in
addition to his keyboard talents. However, I think it's
contributions from all the other great writers, arrangers, and
producers (like Chuck Loeb and Michael Colina) that make this CD so
special. Like almost every Bob James' CD (or album) ever produced,
the audio quality on this one is outstanding. " -
by Stanton Zeff - audioholics.com
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.
The Temptations - "Temptin' Temptations
(1965) "A collection of early singles, The
Temptations' first LP was released three years into the group's
history with Motown. David Ruffin is absent from all but the first
track, cut after the others. They work with a number of producers,
including Norman Whitfield, Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. Seven
of the twelve original LP cuts were written or co-written by Gordy
with Smokey Robinson getting his name on three of the remaining
cuts. It's these i'll discuss first because they seem more in line
with the classic Temptations sound. The lead song was the bands
breakthrough hit and Eddie Kendricks falsetto underpins the sound.
The harmonies are irresistable and it's no surprise this gem of a
song became a hit." -
adriandenning.co.uk
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.
Gerald Albright - "Kickin' It Up (2004)
" In the chaotic world of jazz, seldom is there an opportunity to
experience a legend of any kind, most of them have made their jazz
passage into the realms of history. But in the whole scheme of
conversation, there continues to be opportunities to observe the
abilities of jazz icons; however, only a few notable individuals
have had the staying power to have achieved even that designation.
In the category of saxophonists, any number of musicians have left
impressions distinctive enough to be considered as jazz icons. With
the advent of smooth jazz, any musician who can systematically excel
above the fray on a consistent basis is in a unique position. One
such artist is saxophonist Gerald Albright, who by most standards
may be extremely underrated, yet he has managed to become one of the
most prominent names in contemporary jazz over the last 16 years. "
-
Sheldon T. Nunn - jazzreview.com
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.
Return To Forever - Romantic Warrior (1976)
" It was early 1976. The Mahavishnu Orchestra was still "somewhat
around" with John McLaughlin in his Inner Worlds mode, but they
weren't setting the fusion world on fire quite as much as they did
in the earlier part of that decade. Keyboardist extraordinaire Chick
Corea's Return To Forever had been around for a while and held its
ground in the fusion world well enough while Mahavishnu was still
"THE Big Thing" in fusion. But with the release of Romantic Warrior
in '76, RTF seemed to leap toward the forefront of fusion bands that
would catch the ear of a wider audience, and along with bands like
Weather Report they kept that Miles Davis/Tony Williams'
Lifetime/Mahavishnu fusion flame burning brightly. " -
progressiveears.com
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.
Vince Benedetti and Diana Krall - heartdrops
(1990) "What I can hear is that this is not the
same Diana Krall who appeared on the CD/DVD Live in Paris. She is
still tempering her craft on this recording. Benedetti, for his
part, demonstrates his singular genius in composition and
arrangement. He provides Krall (and guitarist Martien Oster) a lush,
almost Bossa carpet, over which to sing. In the best way possible,
these songs sound like lounge music""which in itself is not bad, just
not the best one can expect by listening prospectively from this
recording toward the more contemporary recordings by both artists.
As such, this is a unique historical document, illuminating the
early talents of the exquisite Ms. Krall." -
Michael Bailey - All About Jazz
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.
Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks (1975)
"This album is unique Dylan, for me at least. Dylan always loved the
wordplay and the innuendo. He was sly and mischievous. On this disc,
he lays is all out. The imagery is still as beautiful, but the
feelings are raw. This album spawned the rock and roll masterpiece
Tangled up in Blue. Even Dylan, who refused to talk about
himself or his legacy, regards that as a favorite. When touring, he
would play around with the lyrics and sing it in third person."
-
Lono - BlogCritic.org
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.
Shilts - Headboppin (2006)
"Shilts says HeadBoppin' shows he still has everything in him to be
in the forefront. He says, The title really speaks for itself. It's
an uptempo, funky, sort of very groovy album. I always want the
music to be fun and to give it a party atmosphere. It's definitely
got that with it. I've written nine of the ten tunes--two of them
have been co-written and produced with Rick Braun. Rick Braun let
Shilts be Shilts on HeadBoppin'. Shilts says, Rick's been paramount
in the way that this album's turned out. I really can't given him
enough praise really. They didn't want to recreate anything from me.
They didn't want to change my sound or my style." -
Norm Breest - JazzReview.com
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.
Karrin Allyson - Wild For You (2004) 
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....
Marion Meadows - Player's Club (2004) 
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.
Pat Martino - Footprints (1975) 
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.
Leonard Cohen - TEN NEW SONGS (2001) 
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."
Nate
Birkey - THE MENNONITE (2001) "Nate Birkey's
trumpet rings with a clarion tone, as his quintet interprets
straight-ahead ideas. This is where today's jazz should be. The
tradition remains intact, while familiar elements from rock, pop,
and world music serve to provide an avenue for growth."
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:
Victor
Wooten - Palmystery (2008) "Bass hero Victor Wooten
has a new record out called Palmystery [Heads Up], and yes, it's
mind-blowingly excellent from both a bass-virtuosity and
compositional standpoint".
Bryan Beller - bassplayer.com. Victor's page on
Wikipedia.org. Interview:
Honest Tune
Continuum
(2007) "Who did you think I was?" John Mayer asked
on the opening track of
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
