Paul Hardcastle – The Very Best of Christmas
UK-born keyboard player and producer Paul Hardcastle topped the UK charts in the mid-80s with an electro-pop tune about the Vietnam War and post-traumatic stress disorder entitled 19. Since several years he is recording with great success in the smooth jazz genre following his own music formula. He is artist on the label Trippin ‘n’ Rhythm, a new home for smooth jazz artists like Tim Bowman, Cindy Bradley, Oli Silk, U-Nam, Gregg Karukas, Jaared and Sekou Bunch. Respectable owner of this label is Les Cutmore.
With his well-developed and distinctive sense for everything beautiful and economic trade he discovered the world of Holiday Jazz. Featured artists on the album The Very Best of Christmas are, you guessed it already, the above mentioned artists, Paul Hardcastle and a combination of them called the Trippin’ Allstars. The album presents typical Christmas hymns like Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Winter Wonderland and more.
On June 3rd, 2009, Brian Culbertson and a small army of well respected musicians in the Smooth Jazz community, descended upon the legendary Capitol Studios in Hollywood to film and record a live career retrospect of well loved tunes from his GRP and other labels’ catalogs.The resulting session is presented in full on a DVD directed by filmmaker Joey Castro and on a CD with 12 of the songs they performed including the brand new song “Go.”
Playing alto, soprano, and tenor saxophones, Phil Walker is a solo artist from the Central Valley of California. His 2nd CD release Passion Thing has 7 original tracks and 3 covers which are a reflection of his greatest musical influences such as the Rippingtons, Dave Koz and David Sanborn. Musicians included on this album are Kim Stone and Dave Hooper of the Rippingtons, Steve Oliver, Richard Smith and Allen Hinds.
Yuletronica puts an original new spin on instrumental versions of holiday favorites, like “Silent Night”, “We Wish You A Groovy Christmas”, “The First Noel”, “Auld Lang Syne” and 5 more. Tastefully executed nylon and electric jazz guitar melodies and improvisations are supported by smooth virtual instruments.
Born and raised in South Philly, guitarist Phil Romeo has been playing in and around the Philadelphia area for over twenty five years. Phil received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Music Education from Temple University. He studied guitar, piano and jazz improvisation. Some of Phil’s teachers included classical guitarist Peter Segal, jazz saxophonist Michael Pedicin Jr. and Philly’s legendary guitarist Joe Sgro.
A new saxophonist is on the rise in contemporary jazz. Hulon, who brings a fresh perspective on jazz with old-school style, will be releasing his debut CD, First Impressions. Produced by Jeff Kashiwa, this CD promises to be a delightful experience with hot grooves and romantic charm. First Impressions, is scheduled for release in early 2010.
The Right Time is here and now!
The Rough & The Smooth is the fulfillment of a long held dream of mine to add “my two cents” to the timeless legacy of Soul Groove Jazz. This CD is not only a personal tribute to my primary jazz guitar heroes – the late Wes Montgomery, the late Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, George Benson and not to forget, the lesser known masters like the late Thornel Schwartz, Jimmy Ponder, Melvin Sparks, the late Ted Dunbar, Wilbert Longmire, Eric Gale and many others – but also to the jazz organ legends such as the late Jimmy Smith, the late Larry Young, the late Brother Jack McDuff, the late Jimmy McGriff, the late Richard “Groove” Holmes, the late “Big” John Patton, Rueben Wilson, Melvin Rhyne, Dr Lonnie Smith, the late Charles Earland, Booker T. Jones and others, the many great drummers, percussionists, horn men and the other great musicians, all too numerous to name, who each made, in their own very unique way, a massive contribution to Soul Groove Jazz Music .
Do you remember when you first fell in love? The magic, rush of emotions, the euphoria and excitement of it all! People fall in and out of love everyday but there are some people and some things that remain true loves forever. For celebrated saxophonist Everette Harp, jazz is a first love and enduring love. “I remember when I first discovered John Coltrane’s Soul Trane and Dave Brubeck’s Time Out albums in my parents’ record collection. This was the music that made me first fall in love with jazz,” recalls Harp, whose own music has made millions of fans around the world fall in love with jazz.
A.D.G. Productions proudly announces the release of Ultra Smooth Jazz Grooves series. Written by Frank Villafranca and Andrew D. Gordon (both noted international authors, musicians and recording artists), the Ultra Smooth Jazz Grooves series is part of over 150 instructional books released by A.D.G. Productions.
Smooth Jazz Daily 