12 Jul
Smooth Jazz Plays the Hits by Various Artists
Friday, 12 July 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
Here is a release that presents some of smooth jazz' best performers covering familiar pop and R&B songs. There are plenty of tracks that you might have heard on smooth jaz…
Disco was not the only special kind of music that came out of the 70's. If you remember CTI Records, where jazz legends such as George Benson, Bob James, Freddie Hubbard an…
Masquerade is a celebration of life inspired by passion and a love of all things eclectic and cosmopolitan. Samantha Siva does a good job of getting the message across as s…
Multi-instrumentalist Willie Hill is one of the best undiscovered talents I have heard in a long time. From modest beginnings building a recording studio out of a former to…
Singer Carol Duboc’s second CD is called "Duboc," a fitting title considering the Kansas City native wrote or co-wrote the majority of songs, arranged and produced the albu…
It has been five years since Gerald Albright released a solo project. Since that time, he has signed a new contract with the GRP label and his first release Groovology
After a highly successful premier Native Language release back in 2000 of Another Door Opens, former Rippingtons saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa has come back even stronger…
19 Apr
Moonlight & Sax by Bruce Abbott with The North Star Jazz Ensemble
Friday, 19 April 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
Like so much, it began with Bird. He wanted to record with strings. First, Neal Hefti's "Repetition" in 1949. Then those wonderful "Bird with Strings" albums of standards. …
Florida-based Eugene Grey mines familiar territory in interpreting rhythm and blues and reggae hits of years past. The music is timeless and Grey and his band certainly emb…
27 Mar
Loves Silhouette by Pieces Of A Dream
Wednesday, 27 March 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
Original compositions and lovely smooth jazz delivery by the group Pieces of a Dream make LOVE'S SILHOUETTE on of this summer's finest entries for listening pleasure. The l…
Smooth Jazz lovers this CD is for you. 3rd Force has done it again with the latest CD called Gentle Force. The group (William Aura, Craig Dobbin, and Alain Eskinasi) have b…
Like slowly flowing, molten lava, the music on the CD On Kloud 9 by the duo Kloud 9 has a smooth, undulating ebb and flow of sensuous, sophisticated, sound. On Kl…
20 Mar
Positive + Energy by Steve Oliver
Wednesday, 20 March 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
There’s smooth jazz, and then there’s smooth jazz, in which an accomplished musician makes his energy accessible to audiences through the development of memorable gr…
11 fresh, original songs make up the exciting smooth jazz collection, DNA, and Fingerprints is the group that puts it all together in an enchanting form. Frederick A. Niche…
09 Mar
Shadow and Light by Craig Chaquico
Saturday, 09 March 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
Guitarist Craig Chaquico has again brought his mixture of smooth jazz in a great package called Shadow and Light. He teams up with keyboardist Ozzie Ahlers to provid…
In the past ten years, the number of major and intermediate record companies have dwindled due to consolidation. That means that many performers who did release material on…
It's hard to believe that the Dallas-based smooth jazz group Fingerprints hasn't been signed to a major label recording contract. Their fourth CD release DNA is an o…
As Bob Baldwin grows in stature within the realm of smooth jazz musicians, Narada Jazz has snapped him up and now has produced his first CD. Accompanying his move and his g…
Heartfelt is a significant event for Fourplay fans, for the four play freer on this CD than ever before. And that’s by design. Fourplay has signed with Bluebird R…
27 Feb
Moonlight & Sax by Bruce Abbott with The North Star Jazz Ensemble
Wednesday, 27 February 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
MOONLIGHT AND SAX is an outstanding collection of smooth jazz interpretations of jazz standards featuring the saxophone performances of Bruce Abbott and the piano performan…
26 Feb
Windblown Kiss by Lovespirals
Tuesday, 26 February 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
Ryan Lum & Anji Bee are Lovespirals. With a touch of soft blues, world music motifs, this entry into the smooth jazz category is a surefire hit and should appeal to a wide …
For an invigorating and imaginative entry into the smooth jazz category with touches of world music, THE PEARL stands as a highly memorable collection of music composed by …
23 Feb
North of Soul by North of Soul
Saturday, 23 February 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
North of Soul is the sole project of Montreal clothier Richard Scala, who wished to produce an album that portrayed classic '60s soul music. He financed this project, enlis…
Jazz fans may associate Lori Bell best for her work with jazz trio, Interplay. Now, Bell has branched out on her own, producing the self-titled nine-track album.The cent…
28 Jan
Smooth Jazz Awards Collection Volume 2 by National Smooth Jazz Awards
Monday, 28 January 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
This compilation CD is a good release for the person who has received a taste for smooth jazz from the radio and wants to get to know more artists that don't get a lot of a…
For his seventh release in ten years, saxophonist Warren Hill has brought an extremely personal release. Not only does Hill give his take on some classic love songs, he fea…
Richmond, Virginia native Jim Adkins makes a "Turning Point" in his life with a 10-track album produced by Smooth Jazz Award winner Ken Navarro and recognition of being a t…
08 Jan
Danny Federici by Danny Federici
Tuesday, 08 January 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
DANNY FEDERICI is a combination of contemporary jazz interlaced with blues and smooth jazz. It will appeal to many jazz listeners with its 12 selections. This CD has a …
08 Jan
Danny Federici by Danny Federici
Tuesday, 08 January 2002
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
In Peter White's early years of backing up Basia and Al Stewart, sometimes he would break out the accordian and bring sounds that will compliment the song. On Danny Federic…
From her first release called Saxtress in 1996, Pamela Williams has been been on the brink of stardom. Her third release called Evolution will be the one to…
Lisa Lauren's My Own Twist CD - My Own Twist, the second independent release by the multi-faceted artist Lisa Lauren, brilliantly showcases her extraordinary talents as a p…
A very nice surprise from a young new artist. I had never heard of him until I heard one of his songs on my digital cable music jazz channel. After that I went to Amazon.co…
02 Aug
Walking With Strangers by Marilyn Scott
Thursday, 02 August 2001
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
Tho' I really enjoyed the entire disc, the namesake cut, "Walking with Strangers," was a favorite and "No Room for Hate" very timely and I hope with get some playing time. …
31 Jul
Smooth Jazz Christmas by Dave Koz and Friends
Tuesday, 31 July 2001
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
So now that it has been out for several weeks, lets smoke it over while we drink eggnog by the fire....Smooth Jazz Christmas Overture :What a great concept! Let's bring …
25 Jul
Walking With Strangers by Marilyn Scott
Wednesday, 25 July 2001
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
The opportunity to experience the sensuous melodic voice of Marilyn Scott is an opportunity that should not be missed. With a style etched in classic jazz, Marilyn i…
First off, I want to say that I had not heard of Steve Shapiro prior topopping this disc in my player. I have no previous knowledge of himprior to this recording. Steve Sha…
This 2-CD Swedish release is a reissue of the Hungarian guitar great with an array of Swedish musicians. Szabo was a gifted guitarist and composer who died in 1982. The fir…
The beauty I find in writing about America's music is that it is never dull and there are always new territories to explore. On any given day, at any given time, I will hea…
06 Jul
Asceticism--a portrait of jazz by Mark Adams
Friday, 06 July 2001
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
For those familiar with the sounds of "light" jazz, the new CD by Mark Adams Asceticism a portrait in jazz will certainly meet their expectations. The recording has …
ISLAND FUN is a charming collection of smooth jazz. It features the work of multi-instrumentalist/composer David Arivett. There are 10 original songs on the CD. Each on…
Please allow me to introduce you to a new group from Portland, Oregon in the great Pacific Northwest named N'Touch. N'Touch and their debut CD collection, N'TOUCH is a list…
If you enjoy smooth jazz piano with various style innovations, PIANO featuring Gary Clark will appeal to you in this CD collection of 15 songs. All piano arrangements are b…
On Aaron Aranita’s new release, "One Day," Hawai’i is very much in the forefront even when his lyrics stray to other lands. Aranita’s music is easy-going and laid-back. For…
30 May
City Lights by John Celona's BlueCity
Wednesday, 30 May 2001
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
Crisp and clear is the sound of the 11-track John Celona's BlueCity album "CityLights." A newly formed avante-garde music sextet, the BlueCity bring a range of classical, c…
29 May
A Simple Sampler / A Simple Groove by Tony Adamo
Tuesday, 29 May 2001
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
I listened to three cuts off Tony Adamo's new CD A Simple Groove. "Ecstasy," "Passport," and "No Strings Attached," are all a call to seduction, but the passion has a lonel…
I've been listening to Paul Taylor since his days with Keiko Matsui, and he just keeps getting better and better. Seductive urban-styled sax melodies define Taylor's music.…
28 May
Walking With Strangers by Marilyn Scott
Monday, 28 May 2001
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
On her seventh album, Marilyn Scott sticks with a formula that has made her a hit on the adult contemporary scene.Scott’s music isn’t so much a late Saturday night in a …
The Cameroonian multi-instrumentalist Richard Bona is comfortable in just about any musical setting, from the smooth jazz stylings of Bob James, to being the musical direct…
28 Apr
Acquainted with the Night by Pieces Of A Dream
Saturday, 28 April 2001
Published in
Smooth Jazz - CD Reviews
Pieces of a Dream, early pioneers in smooth jazz, celebrate their 25th anniversary of recording with the new CD release, ACQUAINTED WITH THE NIGHT. 12 selections of new mat…
Congratulations to Warner Archives/Rhino for reissuing the 1976 classic, George Benson's BREEZIN' in 2001, which features the bonus tracks of "Down Here On The Ground," "Sh…