Archive for September, 2019

Jackiem Joyner – Touch

The official release date for “Touch” is here! Oct 11, 2019 and I am really excited! Big thanks to everyone who helped make this project a reality! Gilbert Fambro, mastering engineer Steve Hall, Bud Harner. Many great musicians: Tim bailey Jr, Kyle Bolden, Dee Kole-Lang, Britt Frappier, D. Baker and so many more! Also Don and Julie Herndon, Cynthia Gills, Greg Gills. Many wonderful people help to make this a success.

I put down some of my best R&B laced tracks with this project. Down tempo vibes and beats to put you in the right mood for romance. Whatever that means for you! A few grooves like “Last Dance” that put memorable melodies in your head. I admit. I plan to get into your head with this record! If you like “Babysoul” 2007, you will love this even more! I wanted to deliver something hip, smooth, and sexy at the same time. Something to make you feel good. I’m joined by Multi-Platinum & Grammy Nominated saxophonist and flautist Najee along with smooth jazz super star Peter White.

Pre-order your album now at Amazon.com.

2019
09/30
CATEGORY
Smooth Jazz
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George Freeman – Limitless

Wilmington, North Carolina based musician George Freeman defines himself not only as a pianist but also as a singer, arranger, musical director, producer and songwriter. George has performed with Pamela Williams, Gail Jhonson, Eric Darius, Karen Briggs, Marcus Johnson, Althea Rene, Marcus Anderson and many more.

He started his career as solo artist with Make It Happen (2015). Limitless is his fresh follow-up (2019). George plays on the new album piano and keyboards. Further musicians are Robert White, Thomas Beard (guitar), Marcus Shaw, Jermone Randall (bass), Ledrik Woods (trumpet), Willie Mintz (trombone), Reggie Codrington (soprano sax), Demetrice Everett (drums), Pamela Williams (alto sax), William Jhonson (percussion).

It is the primal need of every musician to breathe life into his own music. George lives out this need to the full, among the ten pieces there are 7 original compositions. Lifetime is a sensitive and detailed keyboard piece, very jazzy, but also full of ideas, as if the intro should already show everything.

Read more …

2019
09/29
CATEGORY
CD Reviews
Smooth Jazz
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Najee – Center Of The Heart

In a business where trends and artists come and go, Najee’s name is synonymous with innovation, consistency and the best in contemporary jazz. The visionary has enjoyed an enviable three-decade career by staying true to his own artistic vision.

“Throughout my career, I have enjoyed working with diverse musicians in so many different musical contexts,” confides the two-time Platinum-selling and four-time Gold-selling multi-instrumentalist. “All of these experiences live inside you and they come out in your music. Honestly, if I were not able to mix it up, I would be bored.”

Mentored by iconic saxmen Jimmy Heath and Frank Foster and flutist Harold Jones, the New England Conservatory of Music alum has worked with a who’s who list in music that includes Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock. Najee’s anticipated 18th new recording, Center Of The Heart, (Shanachie, November 15, 2019) showcases his technical agility, grace, compositional prowess, unbridled passion and fearless genre bending on ten thrilling tracks. Deftly wielding the soprano, flute, tenor and alto, Najee steers the ten-track excursion, showcasing moving originals, a hauntingly beautiful orchestration of a Bacharach/David classic, a sizzling reinvention of a Maxwell hit and unforgettable collaborations with singer Kenny Lattimore, pianist Greg Manning (Brian McKnight, Deniece Williams, Dave Koz, Jonathan Butler), saxophonist Darren Rahn (Wayman Tisdale, Toby Keith, Dave Koz, Jeff Lorber), and keyboardist/producer Demonte Posey (Eric Benet, Babyface, Toni Braxton). Continue reading →

2019
09/28
CATEGORY
Smooth Jazz
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U-NAM – The Love Vault Future Love Part 2

Paris born guitar virtuoso Emmanuel “U-Nam” Abiteboul is showing his generous side again. With twelve tracks on his new album The Love Vault Future Love Part 2 he provides us with plenty of good music. The Love Vault Future Love Part 2 is U-Nam’s positive view of things and the continuation of the album Future Love (2019).

The tracking list of the new album:

1. Love Potion
2. Back Seat Lover
3. Sexy Fresh
4. You & Me (High Priority)
5. Sharlee
6. Soul Walkin’
7. Into the Night
8. Sunset Groove
9. Celebrate Your Body feat. J.D’s Time Machine
10. Hear My Dear feat. Magdalena Chovancova
11. Love Potion (Dub Playalong Mix)
12. Sexy Fresh (Radio Edit)

You can pre-order the album on Amazon.com.

2019
09/27
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Smooth Jazz
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Spyro Gyra – Vinyl Tap

Free of the tension of having to write great songs, the five members of Spyro Gyra were laughing and having fun in the recording studio. Creativity flowed as the venerable contemporary jazz band revisited the songs that inspired them from their youth when they were listening to music on vinyl. That artistic fount was spun into “Vinyl Tap,” Spyro Gyra’s first album in six years, which drops October 11 on the Amherst Records label.

“It was tensionless as we ‘warped’ the tunes. We had a world of brilliant music to choose from and we didn’t have to worry about writing brilliant music. It was a really fun project to make,” said saxophonist Jay Beckenstein, who will lead Spyro Gyra on tour to support “Vinyl Tap” with a string of US concert dates beginning November 15 in Newark, NJ after a three-week international trek that begins at the Cancun Jazz Festival on October 23.

When Spyro Gyra manager Phil Brennan proposed the album’s concept a few years ago to bandleader Beckenstein for their 31st album, he knew that it might take some convincing, so he came prepared with an intriguing concept. Brennan suggested that the band use their arrangement talents to transform the originals into something brand new. The challenge appealed to Beckenstein, who soon overcame any misgivings. Continue reading →

2019
09/26
CATEGORY
Contemporary Jazz
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Rainforest Band – Peace To The Planet

Thirty years before the devastating Amazon rainforest fire and decades before the global climate crisis was one of the crucial issues facing the survival of life on earth, keyboardist Merl Saunders forecasted the future after witnessing the destruction occurring in the Amazon. Teaming with Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, Saunders brought the need to preserve rainforests into pop consciousness by creating an album, “Blues From The Rainforest – A Musical Suite,” featuring Garcia that they described as “environmental earth music.” Merl’s son, bassist Tony Saunders, is continuing his late father’s mission with the October 25 release of “Peace To The Planet” by Rainforest Band, which drops on San Francisco Records with a portion of the proceeds going to The Jerry Garcia Foundation and Rainforest Action Network.

“The rainforests around the world are disappearing at an alarming rate. This band has three strong souls as leaders and our mission is to bring awareness with our music to a cause that needs vigilant attention – long before the Amazon fires put the issue back in the news. To honor the history of the music Jerry and Merl made and to do something to help save the planet is why we made this album now,” said Tony Saunders, who is based in the Bay Area along with his Rainforest Band mates, guitarist Vernon “Ice” Black and keyboardist Sylvester Burks.

“Peace To The Planet” was produced by Black and San Francisco Records chief Ron Umile with social activism at the fore. Umile said, “The band and I have been concerned about the rainforest, climate change and all the related issues. We are also concerned about senseless gun violence in America, the rise of bigotry in our country, the extinction of animals and plants, and the lack of acknowledgement and action from the present administration and general government to address these issues and seek real solutions. The music on ‘Peace To The Planet’ tries to instill calmness for a minute to allow reflection on how we can do our part to be part of the solution. If we can visualize a peaceful planet, we could possibly inspire our audience to take action to save the planet.” Continue reading →

2019
09/25
CATEGORY
Contemporary Jazz
R&B
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The Justus Brothers – Chinese Checkers

The roots of The Justus Brothers date back forty years, in the birthplace of soul, blues and rock ‘n’ roll: Memphis. The musicians who comprise the band dropping the eponymous debut album on October 11 on the iconic Memphis International Records/Select-O-Hits labels met long ago in the sweaty blues and smoky jazz clubs on Beale Street. Together, they electrified Memphis churches with rousing musical sermons and tracked in fabled Memphis recording studios alongside an incomparable list of hall of famers, Grammy winners and chart-topping legends. Before they backed a galaxy of stars in sold-out arenas, the members of The Justus Brothers paid dues playing long hours, night after night, sharpening their chops and earning virtuosity while forming a brotherhood built upon rhythm and groove.

Guitarist Niko Lyras and The Justus Brothers produced the ten songs on their self-titled set, a balance of original tunes and choice covers given the full Memphis makeover. Already garnering playlist adds is their soul-powered jam session workout “Chinese Checkers,” a revival originally recorded by Memphis’s Booker T. & the M.G.’s (https://youtu.be/ArzJIfJI8Zo). Several members of The Justus Brothers have ties to Booker T. & the M.G.’s, including drummer Steve Potts, who was a longtime member of the outfit.

The chemistry between the five “brothers” sizzles throughout the collection. Lyras, Potts and bassist Dave Smith have been playing together the longest. Thirty years ago, hornman Pat Register (tenor, alto and soprano sax and flute) and keyboardist Jason Clark completed the family. Continue reading →

2019
09/24
CATEGORY
Blues
R&B
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Brian Culbertson – Winter Stories

Inspiration strikes artists even when on holiday break. As pianist Brian Culbertson strolled the frigid streets of Chicago last winter, he felt compelled to write music. Feeling the cold air, seeing his breath and hearing the crunch of snow under his feet spurred the creation of “Winter Stories,” a contemplative collection of melodic musical “stories” recorded in a jazz trio setting. The first “story” that will preface the BCM Entertainment release dropping October 4 is “Morning Walk,” which went for playlist adds on Monday.

When Culbertson returned from that inspired walk, he started composing the first piece for the album that, over time, will become a four-album series: separate stories for each season. He wrote and demoed one song per day for ten consecutive days. After each day’s session, he’d head back into the cold, taking the demo out for a walk. Upon his return, he’d make adjustments to the composition until “it was just right.”

Best known for crafting a catalog of R&B, jazz and funk hits, Culbertson felt that this pensive and introspective album would best be presented by a jazz trio. Knowing that drummer Khari Parker has a deft touch with brushes to craft the gentle rhythms, Culbertson had only one acoustic bassist in mind: Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group). They knew each other from the Chicago jingle scene at the beginning of Culbertson’s professional career and Rodby played on a track on the keyboardist’s second album, “Modern Life” (1995). Continue reading →

2019
09/23
CATEGORY
Smooth Jazz
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Lari Basilio – Far More

Lari Basilio was born into a musical household in São Paulo, Brazil. Her father loves to sing, to play the acoustic guitar and also to write songs. One of her father’s songs had some intricate and very emotional guitar phrasing in it and it touched Lari in a deep way. From that point on, Lari wanted to learn all she could about playing guitar. After her father taught her a few chords on an acoustic guitar, Lari borrowed her youngest brother’s guitar. Her very first guitar of her own was a Stratocaster copy she bought with money she made from a part-time job.

In 2011, Lari started working on her instrumental five-song Extended Play (EP), named, simply, Lari Basilio, which features Felipe Andreoli, bass player in the popular Brazilian band Angra. The EP was produced by five-time Latin Grammy winner Lampadinha.

Her second original work, the CD and DVD The Sound of My Room, was released in August, 2015 at Cine Belas Artes in São Paulo. “The idea of taking instrumental guitar music to a movie theater proved (to be) a creative initiative (equal to) the compositions of Lari Basilio,” said Guitar Player Brazil magazine in its October , 2015 issue. The 10-song package includes a mini-documentary and behind-the-scenes footage on the DVD.

Far More, her newest project, features drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Greg Phillinganes and singer Sieddah Garrett. Get the album on iTunes.

2019
09/22
CATEGORY
Smooth Jazz
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Roberto “Tito” Hinojosa – Walking in the Big City

Roberto “Tito” Hinojosa, born in 1987 in the city of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, at the age of 10, after his parent’s influence decides interested in music. Playing at first flutes and guitar his father “Robin” Hinojosa (Mexican guitarist virtuous jazz fusion lover) suggests the young apprentice to play the saxophone. The extraordinary speed and natural way of understanding music pushes Tito to play shows and events, most however he continues searching the level, they do get involved with the JAZZ.

In short time the young musician began to be recognized for his improvisational skills and high capacity for teaching and became famous in his home city. Then he choose to display his skills using YouTube, receiving an impressive worldwide acceptance since the early days of exposure network. This project with Tito Tips, supporting hundreds of students around the world to meet the challenges of improvisation. He has participated in national and international JAZZ Festivals, actually he present was invited by guitarist of Mexican Jazz Emmanuel Mora to join the legendary JAZZ Fusion group Xaman, the band will release their first album having Tito as part of the group in 2015.

His debut album is Walking in the Big City available now for download only on CDBaby.

2019
09/21
CATEGORY
Smooth Jazz
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