Najee | Mind Over Matter

Tags

African American, Najee, R&B, Saxophone, Smoothjazz

Najee | Mind Over Matter [Concord Music, 2009]

Najee | Mind Over Matter

Sometimes making music is all about the mechanics – balancing the melody with the harmony and the rhythm, making sure the tempo is right from the beginning of the song to the end, matching the right vocalist to the story within the lyrics, knowing when to come in with the solos and when to hang back…the litany of technical details to consider in crafting a piece of good music can be endless.

But sometimes the process is much more intuitive and effortless. Sometimes the planets line up and the right groove emerges on its own, and all anyone needs to do – musicians and listeners alike – is get on board and ride into a realm of limitless possibilities.

That intuitive approach is at the heart of Mind Over Matter (HUCD 3156), the new recording by saxophonist Najee set for release on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group. In addition to Najee’s fine balance of songcraft and musicianship, the album also includes songwriting and guest appearances by keyboardist Jeff Lorber and vocalists Eric Benét and Gary Taylor.

Fourplay | Live in Capetown [DVD]

Tags

DVD, Smoothjazz

Fourplay | Live in Capetown [DVD]

FourPlay, Live

Consummate your relationship with the DVD-Audio release of the album that launched Smooth Jazz an NAC power house Fourplay. In 1991, Fourplay’s self-tittled debut reached #1 on Billboard’s jazz chart and remained there for a record 33 weeks.Currently gold-certified but nearing platinum, Fourplay established the quartet of Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Nathan East and Harvey Mason as a contemporary jazz superground. Features guest vocalists El DeBarge, Patti LaBelle and Philip Bailey. Tracks: Bali Run, 101 Eastbound, Foreplay, Moonjogger, Max-O-Man, After the Dance, Quadrille, Midnight Stroll, October Morning, Wish You Were Here, Rain Forest.

Release Date: 3/3/2009

~ Source: Amazon.com

Common Knowledge | Well Kept Secret

Tags

Bass Guitar, Female Vocalist, Smoothjazz

Common Knowledge

Common Knowledge | Well Kept Secret [Urban Jazz/Smooth Soul/2008] Nu-Voices

One of the most innovative and stylistic bassists in traditional jazz and contemporary music, releases his debut CD that contains music for the mind, body and spirit.

A native of Washington, DC, Yusef Chisholm is one of the most innovative and stylistic bassists in traditional and contemporary music.  In 1995, Yusef formed Common Knowledge, a contemporary jazz ensemble. His studio (of same name) has provided a venue for local musicians to record their projects.  He has been a member of Collaboration, a Washington-based jazz group of music educators since 1986.  He has performed in many venues in the United States and abroad, sharing the stage with many prominent musicians. ~ Source: CDBaby.com

Merlon Devine | Set The Atmosphere, Vol. 1

Tags

African American, Gospel Jazz, Saxophonist, Smoothjazz

Merlon Devine | Set The Atmosphere, Vol. 1 [Nu-Voices/Gospel Jazz/2008]

Merlon Devine

Saxophonist Merlon Devine offers a smooth and palatable blend of praise, worship, and jazz songs on his latest independent release, “Set the Atmosphere: Volume 1.”  The new CD is his fifth project released on his self-owned independent label, Devine Music Group.  This project is a follow-up to his highly popular “Breathe” CD, but offers a different approach on song selections and production.

Smooth Jazz Christian Instrumental, that will relax and soothe your body, soul and spirit.

“Set the Atmosphere: Volume 1” does not depart from Devine’s convictions about Christian saxophonists recording original songs.  “I believe the anointing is upon the vessel and not the song,” he states adamantly, “so why limit myself only to familiar songs when God is always introducing new songs to me?”   Songs such as the title track “Set the Atmosphere”, the catchy “New Mercies”, and the smooth jazz tinged “Arise” prove that to be so. – Source: CDBaby.com

Kafele | New Orleans Sessions & Acid Reign

Tags

African American, Jazz, Kafele, Smoothjazz, Trumpet

Kafele

Kafele | New Orleans Sessions [Jazz/Nu-Voices/2008]

Growing up in Louisiana was a very profound experience.  It was the perfect environment for me to cultivate my skills as an aspiring jazz artist.  Though I decided to relocate long ago, I felt it only right to return in order to record an album with my friends and fellow artists who still reside there.  I can remember a strong sense of community when I used to live there.  In fact, the reason why my family moved there was because my father (Owusu Bandele) had decided to teach at Southern University so that he would be able to contribute to the community by assisting African American small farmers. ~ CDBaby.com

Kafele, Acid Reign

Kafele | Acid Reign [Smooth/Nu-Voices/2008]

Kafele, trumpeter, composer and producer, has been playing the trumpet for over 20 years. The name Kafele (pronounced kuh-FAY-lay) is of Egyptian origin, and means “worth dying for”. Born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Kafele was first exposed to jazz by his parents. In fact, he attributes his love and appreciation for the art to his father who often listened to recordings of John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis among others. Later, his brothers and sisters introduced him to Hip-Hop and R&B. As a byproduct of becoming a Chicago resident for about 10 years, Kafele was inundated with lively, upbeat house, afro-beat, and other types of dance music. ~ CDBaby.com

New Album by Urban Sax Icon Boney James

Tags

Boney James, Saxophone, Smoothjazz, Urban Jazz

Boney James

Boney James | Send One Your Love [Coming Soon!]

On February 3, 2009 Concord Records will release “Send One Your Love,” a 10-track album of seductive love songs from sax icon Boney James. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Boney has put together the ultimate “musical valentine.” Send One Your Love includes new James originals as well as covers from Stevie Wonder, Barry White, the Stylistics and more. The album follows his Concord debut – Shine­ – which received rave reviews and landed him at #1 on the Contemporary Jazz charts and #6 on the R & B chart.

Althea Rene | No Restrictions

Tags

African American, Flute, Smoothjazz

Althea Rene

Althea Rene | No Restrictions [Smooth Jazz]

“No Restrictions” is an instantly likeable, melodically catchy and groovingly in the pocket delight from start to finish. The opening title track sets the tone by perfectly balancing easy, seductive grooves and a catchy hook with colorful and imaginative improvisations. Besides the presence of Dulfer, Rene on “Ladies Night Out” is complemented by a subtle old school keyboard vibe. She eases along pretty effortlessly on the dreamy and soulful “Come My Way” then goes a little more progressive on the trippy, dramatic and edgy hypnosis of “Do Ya Like Dat?” which swirls her whimsical flute with hip-hop grooves and a mix of male and female rap-sing vocals.

Agboola Shadare | Dream Dawn

Tags

Culture, Gospel Jazz, Smoothjazz

Agboola Shadare | Dream Dawn [Gospel/Jazz]

Agboola Shadare

Agboola is a quick-rising Christian smooth jazz artists. Born in Africa and now resident in the United States, Agboola’s music is now enjoyed around the world. This extra-ordinary talent is declared to be the ‘anointed George Benson’ by enthusiasts.

He has performed with Bob James, Ron Kenoly, Yolanda Adams and other top artistes and several times on TBN.

Agboola’s mastery of the guitar is almost unbelievable, and has been compared with Peter White and Earl Klugh. Together with top artistes like Kirk Whalum, smooth jazz is now available to the faithfuls through Agboola Shadare. – CDBaby.com

Also visit Agboola’s site … for more details about the hottest guitarist to come from Africa since Jonathan Butler!

Till Brönner | Rio

Tags

Brazilian, Culture, Pop, Smoothjazz, Trumpet

Till Brönner

One of the most successful German pop stars is a jazz musician, as the magazine Musikexpress aptly summed it up: Till Brönner, the exceptionally gifted trumpeter, succeeds in directly touching people with his beautiful melodies between hard bop, honky-tonk and hit parade and lends a distinctive new sound to Jazz – with brilliant clarity and undisguised expressiveness. On his new album “Rio” (2008) are performing guest-musicians like Annie Lennox, Sergio Mendes, Aimee Mann, Milton Nascimento, and Kurt Elling. A relaxed summer-album with Brazilian music produced by Larry Klein, an all-star-album between Jazz, Bossa Nova, Samba and Pop.

Phil Davis | Philosophy

Tags

African American, Keyboards, Smoothjazz

Phil Davis | Philosophy [Urban Jazz]

Phil Davis

The long-awaited third effort by keyboardist Phil Davis has finally arrived!!  If you are a fan of Phil’s work, you will recognize and appreciate that this CD takes you further along his musical journey, and features a more mature sound.  The collective tracks have a calming, settled vibe, with the occasional “rev up and dig in” quality that is Phil’s signature.  This CD features several of Phil’s long-time friends and colleagues, like Najee and Lil John Roberts.  Other featured  musicians are: Billy Odum, Kebbi Williams, Ronnie Garrett, Melvin Baldwin, Sean Michael Ray, Rick Jordan, Darrell Freeman, Melvin Miller, Mark Strowbridge and Forrest Robinson.  Enjoy the journey as Phil blends “tickling the ivories” with very colorful synth sounds and textures, plus the sound of the SY77 that is classic Phil Davis. – CDBaby.com