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Visit Down To The Bone's Official Website
No bones about it, the latest offering from the popular British funk ensemble Down to the Bone, reveals the inner workings of its creator Stuart Wade's collaborative efforts with Paul "Shilts" Weimar, the D.C. Horns, vibist Roy Ayers, vocalists Hill St. Soul and Corrina Greyson, and a dynamic rhythm section to perfection. Supercharged features 11 new songs that sizzle with energy, soul and a hard-edged funky groove. Hill St. Soul's delivery is so sincere on "Smile to Shine" that you know she's singing rote and not from sheet music. With dynamic vocals from Corrina Greyson elevating "Shake It Up" to a thrilling showstopper, this song is sure to get you out of your seat. The signature vibes are from Roy Ayers, one of the definitive modern jazz vibraphonists on the scene today. Ayers is at the top of his game on "Electric Vibes." Shilts increases the hard-edged horn funk throughout his soloing that has amazing power, range and creativity, while the rhythm section provides the perfect atmosphere for the set. The D.C. Horns are reminiscent of the funk and groove heard in a lot of Maceo Parker's bands but their musical prowess is more reminiscent of Tower of Power. All of Stuart Wade's arrangements are well conceived and offer both the group and soloists great songs that have melodic virility and room to stretch. If you're bored with the mass- produced sound of some of the contemporary jazz on the scene today, give a listen to Supercharged. The music goes right down to the bone! ~By Paula Edelstein from
CDUniverse.com
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Visit Najee's Official Website
The Best of Najee contains a selection of 11 highlights from the smooth saxophonist's late-'80s and '90s recordings for EMI/Capitol. There may be a few fan favorites missing, but Najee's career lends itself better to an anthology than most musicians, mainly because it is oriented toward songs, not performances. Consequently, this disc offers a good overview of his career, since it captures not only many of the best-known songs -- "For the Love of You," "Tokyo Blue," "Can't Hide Love," "Day by Day," "Betcha Don't Know," and "Najee's Theme" -- it also gives a good sense of what his albums sound like. An excellent choice for the curious and casual fan.~By Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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Visit Azymuth's Official Website
They continue to be one of the greatest and most influential trio of Brazilians that ever made a noise in Rio. Is this new material (far out) dated? Yes and no but there's no apology for it and why should there be? For many it might be the first time they have heard them. If that's the case, you're in for a treat...Brazilian Soulis a billed as 'new' greatest hits as they reflect on three distinct periods of their career. The early years when they recorded with various singers, their chart heydays of the late 70s-early 80s and the present day with Far Out...Whatever period, the music is testament to the fact that they are still hot and at it. There's no obvious new monster 'Jazz Carnival' -- their most well known tune worldwide. It was a big hit in the US and in the UK Top 20 for eight weeks in 1979. This was at a time when people bought singles! However, there are enough top tunes on this 14 tracker to keep you excited.~From FLY Global Music
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Visit Mark Whitfield's Official Website
I dont know but this recording sets the standards for a high approach of what a jazz guitarist is . Sharp and accurate sound so involving in its field bonding jazz and blues perfectly in such a balanced way that makes you wonder if harmony is the other face of perfection. YES DEFINITELY ONE OF THE GREATEST JAZZ GUITAR ALBUMS EVER MADE IN THE HISTORY OF JAZZ.Top notch musicians accompany MARK IN TRUE BLUE /Kenny Kirkland piano/jeff tain watts drums a real dynamite /nicholas payton trumpet/rodney whitaker bass/branford marsalis saxophone/we have also excellent solos from MARK WHICH NEVER makes you feel tired brilliantly positioned along with the superb playing from the other members of this DREAM TEAM. The whole result really leaves you in a daze as if to give TRUE BLUE or not to give it the credit of the best and most complete jazz guitar album ever produced.~By K. Prousalis "papillon" from
Amazon.com Jazz
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Visit Michael Lington's Official Website
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.~By Cheryl Hughey from
All About Jazz
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Visit Jackiem Joyner's Official Website
The folks over at ARTizen Music Group seem pretty stoked about newcomer Jackiem Joyner and his debut album, Babysoul. And with good reason. With this release, 26-year-old, Joyner steps out of his busy role as sideman to Marcus Johnson and Bobby Lyle on to center stage. Babysoul contains eleven tracks - ten original tracks written by Joyner, and features guest appearances by Rick Braun on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Peter White on acoustic guitar on the first radio single, “Stay With Me Tonight.” And Jackiem Joyner isn’t “just another sax player” – there are five tracks where he plays/programs everything you hear...Kicking things off is a little light R&B with a positive feel on “This Time Around,” followed by the radio friendly gentle soprano sax/acoustic guitar track, “Stay With Me Tonight.”...The funky and playful title track features David Dyson on bass, and “Just Groove” features Rick Braun as the trumpet section and Jackiem on everything else. “In Love Again” has a nice slow dance feel and features Jackiem on flute and saxes...The next two tracks let the sax do what it does best – sing the song. “Say Yes” is a very mellow, slow groove with a soulful, yearning sax that is actually quite addictive, and “Share My Tears” is a beautifully melodic ballad...Next up is “Lola” with its fun “sax/flute section” that backs up this Latin-feeling, mid-tempo track; and the slow groove oriented “Unforgiven.” There’s a slight Chill flavor in “Elevation” which has David Dyson holding down the bottom line and showcases Jackiem’s flute talents. The slow, soulful R&B sound on “Innocence” closes out the album...“The most important thing I can do to succeed long term as an artist is to continue to work towards becoming a great musician by practicing, and making sure I keep aware of the kind of music the audience wants to hear,” says Jackiem. “I’m still a baby in this business, but adulthood is just around the corner.”Babysoul is a noteworthy start.~By Elizabeth Ware from
Smoothviews.com
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Visit The New Mastersounds' Official Website
The New Mastersounds are a four-piece band based in Leeds, England, whose modern take on vintage soul-jazz, funk and rock draws influences from Jimmies McGriff, Smith, and Hendrix, as well as their most closely-associated mentors, The Meters. Try to imagine Grant Green and Lou Donaldson having a fight in a Hammond Organ shop while James Brown holds the coats, and you have some idea of what to expect from this band...Their first single, One Note Brown, was released on Blow It Hard Records in 2000 and was passionately championed by acclaimed Northern Soul and funk DJ Keb Darge. To date, the band has released four studio records: 102%, This Is What We Do, Be Yourself, Keb Darge Presents… as well as The New Mastersounds Re::Mixed, and Live At La Cova. Also of note: their single, “Your Love Is Mine” featuring Corinne Bailey Rae, was used in the 2007 Warner Brothers movie Feast of Love...Having toured throughout Europe, Japan and the USA, the NMS have earned global recognition as a key band in the ‘New Funk’ scene. But purists beware: their unique blend of funk, rock, soul and dance music is hard to sum up and doesn’t fit neatly into any one genre...Headed soon to a city near you, The New Mastersounds deliver gritty grooves and deep rhythms in clubs, theater venues and festivals alike. Their live shows will get you up dancing and hold you there intoxicated by the funk until last call- when you’ll stagger home, sweaty and exhausted, on a wave of euphoria...Led by guitarist and producer Eddie Roberts, The New Mastersounds feature Joe Tatton on Hammond, Pete Shand on bass and Simon Allen on drums.~From
NMS Facebook
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Visit Sitti's Official Website
“Tall and tan, young and lovely” is the famous opening of the classic bossa song, “The Girl from Ipanema”. These words came to Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes when seeing young Heloisa Pinheiro pass by the café where they used to sit, right at the Ipanema district of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her stunning beauty attracted the attention of these two bossa legends, and that was the story of how “The Girl from Ipanema” was written in 1962. If the young girl were Sitti, surely Jobim and Moraes would write the song just the same. Besides the beauty she has, Sitti can also sing beautifully. That’s the reason why Sitti is even better than the young girl described in The Girl from Ipanema...This month of July 2009, Sitti released a brand new album entitled Contagious. This is her 6th album, after 2006’s “Cafe Bossa” and “Sitti Live!” 2007’s “Sitti in the Mix” and “My Bossa Nova”, and the previous 2008’s Christmas album “Ngayong Pasko”. Through her bossa she successfully grabs the heart of many listeners including the youngsters and becomes widely popular again in Philippines. Sitti is one of the most important figures that help to preserve bossa around Asia in the millennium. Her previous albums have reached many achievements. Her debut album “Cafe Bossa” received Certified Double Platinum, “Sitti Live!” and “Ngayong Pasko” got Certified Gold, also “My Bossa Nova” gained Certified Platinum. I’m genuinely sure this brand new album, “Contagious”, will soon follow the success of the previous ones.~By Randy K from
Jazzuality.com
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Visit Billy Cobham's Official Website
Generally acclaimed as fusion's greatest drummer, Billy Cobham's explosive technique powered some of the genre's most important early recordings -- including groundbreaking efforts by Miles Davis and the Mahavishnu Orchestra -- before he became an accomplished bandleader in his own right. At his best,Cobham harnessed his amazing dexterity into thundering, high-octane hybrids of jazz complexity and rock & roll aggression. He was capable of subtler, funkier grooves on the one hand, and awe-inspiring solo improvisations on the other; in fact, his technical virtuosity was such that his flash could sometimes overwhelm his music. After debuting as a leader with the classic Spectrum in 1973, Cobham spent most of fusion's glory days recording for Atlantic; briefer stints on CBS, Elektra, and GRP followed, and by the mid-'80s, Cobham was de-emphasizing his own bands in favor of session and sideman work. Even so, he continued to record for various small labels with some regularity.~From
MSN.Music.com
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Visit Kenny Rankin's Official Website
The choice of material here is as diverse as it is musically rewarding – from Rankin’s inspired re-invention of such Pop classics as "Spanish Harlem", The Beatles’ "I’ve Just Seen a Face", and a heart-wrenching reading of Leon Russell’s "A Song for You", to Kenny’s ingenious spin on Thelonious Monk’s "’Round Midnight". These selections are perfectly balanced by a number of tunes from the Great American Songbook – both highly recognizable ("The Way You Look Tonight" and "Love Walked In") and slightly lesser known gems ("When The Sun Comes Out" and "She Was Too Good To Me"). All of these are beautifully rendered with Kenny’s trademark finesse and emotional honesty. The overall effect is a rarity on today’s music scene – an album that flows and engages from start to finish – an adult pop gem...The success of this recording is due in no small part to the legendary multi-GRAMMY Award winning production team of Tommy LiPuma and Al Schmitt (Diana Krall, George Benson, Natalie Cole, etc.) This CD is also of superior sound quality and is rounded out musically by the tastefully restrained orchestrations for small wind and string ensembles by pianist / arrangers Alan Broadbent and John Beasley...The real measure of this projects success is the vocal artistry of Kenny Rankin – a high, pure instrument that sounds as strong now as it did 35 years ago when he saw the release of the first full length recording under his own name. An engaging live performer who usually requires only his voice and nylon string guitar to mesmerize a crowd, Rankin is poised to start the next phase of his already illustrious career and musical journey. A Song For You will surely help take him where ever he wants to go.~
Verve Music Group
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Visit Frank Gambale's Official Website
The connoisseur of sweep picking, Frank Gambale, has laid down an alternative canvass for his instrumental impressions- a drumless offering, if you please...This isn’t a maiden album of that nature; his collaboration with Maurizio Colona was evidently drumless (and bass deprived, mind you). Similarly, Natural High isn’t an initial adventure in acoustic dominance; the critically acclaimed Thinking Out Loud was very absorbing & largely distortion-free. Naturally, Gambale’s sweep picking buffs will be repelled by this introduction but do well to judge the sage after listening to this collection of mersmerising tunes, to say the very least...Unlike Gambale’s drive-laden tunes, the arrangements here are jazz inclined, more importantly, they will appeal to fans of easy-listening & guitar aficionados alike. Alain Caron & Otmaro Ruiz more than made up for the absence of drums, impressive are their percussive phrasings & insane doubling of Gambale’s fleet fingered passages. The touch of class is simply the intelligence of avoiding a technically introverted performance per se, memorable verses are aplenty but melody was never compromised on any occasions. The trio ensured commanding moments to highlight their technical superiorities; there was no loss of form for sure...Natural High isn’t a professional segue in an attempt to excel on a platform which escapes critical comparison. If you are of the opinion that Frank Gambale is lethal only with a solid body electric guitar, this album will prove your predisposition futile.~From
Soft.com
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Visit Maceo Parker's Official Website
Maceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. He is by now probably as well known for his own shows, as he has toured continuously under his own name since the early 1990s and has built up a fan base on this touring alone. Parker's unique rhythmic and rapid playing style is influenced by Cannonball Adderley, David "Fathead" Newman, and mixed with Brown's own innovations in funk music, although it would be fairer to say he is more influential than influenced.~From
Wikipedia
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Visit John Scofield's Official Website
Although sure to be criticized for cashing in on the Ray Charles bandwagon, jazzman John Scofield’s 2005 tribute release is also one of the most varied yet successful albums in the guitarist’s extensive catalog. Shifting from a big band/multi-vocalist approach for the classic "What’d I Say" featuring an all-star lineup of Dr. John, Warren Haynes, Aaron Neville, John Mayer and Mavis Staples trading verses (they all also take solo vocals on other tracks), along with longtime Charles saxist David "Fathead" Newman, to the lone guitar rendition of "Georgia on my Mind" that closes the disc, Scofield celebrates both Charles’ music and his eclectic approach to it. The stripped down instrumental version of "Crying Time" with only funereal organ accompaniment is perfectly offset by the following gospelized reading of "I Can’t Stop Loving You," brought home by Mavis Staples’ explosive vocal. Teen throb John Mayer acquits himself admirably on vocals and guitar, singing and trading licks with Scofield on a rugged "I Don’t Need No Doctor," and Dr. John brings New Orleans soul on a greasy "Talkin’ Bout You"/"I Got a Woman" medley. The horn section gets a workout on powerfully swinging instrumental takes of "Hit the Road Jack" and "Let’s Go Get Stoned." Scofield’s quivering solos show moderation yet convey the music’s R&B roots, even when he’s turning up the heat on a rousing Medeski, Martin and Wood -styled, acid laced "Sticks and Stones." Producer/drummer Steve Jordan finds the perfect vibe between jazz and R&B, and keeps the guest vocalists from stealing the spotlight. He provides the ideal framework for John Scofield’s fiery yet restrained playing and a fitting tribute to a jazz/R&B icon.~Hal Horowitz
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Visit Kevin Eubanks' Official Website
Guitarist Kevin Eubanks – who often good-naturedly serves as a comic foil for host Jay Leno – was officially named music director of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in April 1995 after filling in since January 30, 1995 for the band's original director, saxophonist Branford Marsalis...has toured extensively and recorded with many top jazz artists, including Branford Marsalis. With his own group, Kevin Eubanks recorded "Opening Nights," featuring Marsalis and Buster Williams, and "Face to Face," featuring Dave Grusin and Ron Carter. Kevin Eubanks' 1988 album, "Shadow Prophets," received more radio airplay than any other jazz recording that year. His most recent album, "Spiritalk 2, Revelations," a followup to last year's "Spirit Talk," is a collection of adventurous jazz pieces representing a significant surge of the music's evolution and the momentum of Kevin Eubanks' career...Eubanks lists Wes Montgomery, John McLaughlin and Jimi Hendrix as his major musical influences. Kevin Eubanks attended Boston's Berklee College of Music.~From
Poptower.com
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Visit Brian Bromberg's Official Website
"Metal", the powerful new recording by critically acclaimed bassist/producer Brian Bromberg, showcases the bassist in a rare fusion-rock setting, simulating a full band on an arsenal of custom basses. Demonstrating Bromberg’s instrumental fusion-rock songwriting and aggressive playing, "Metal" is a departure from Bromberg’s jazzier outings, featuring him primarily on the guitar-like piccolo bass. Bromberg tears through melodies and solos with the force of today’s most skilled guitar heroes, playing the piccolo bass much like a lead guitar. But don’t be fooled – there are no guitars on this album. The rhythm guitar sounds and bass parts are also played by Brian on an array of different basses. What makes this recording exceptional is that nine of the eleven songs feature only Bromberg and hard-hitting drummer Joel Taylor. Rounding out this ground breaking project is keyboardist Dan Siegel, guesting on two tracks.~Liner Notes
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This is the fifth in my compilation series. The first generation of samba players brought us the likes of Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sergio Mendes, Oscar Castro Neves and all those great Brazilian and Latin-inspired musical proponents. The present crop of smooth jazz artists have not forgotten to pay tribute to one of the most important and enduring styles of jazz, often including samba tunes in their albums. Aside from being literal samba tracks, the featured artists have infused their tunes with an edgier rhythmn, heavier grooves bordering on fusion, but always maintaining the distinctive samba beat. This compilation is a musical excursion celebrating the best in samba music as interpreted by the leading smooth jazz artists of today. Enjoy!~JJ
Note: Songs in the music player may not be actual tracks in the artist's featured album (cover art). For more information, please visit the artist's discography, biography or official website through the links provided. Enjoy the music!~JJ
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