Justin Young | On The Way
By Terrill Hanna
This ‘young’ kid is special. No….serious! His wind behind the brass is so mature, I wonder if he is kidding us with his tender age. This project, by all means, displays absolute maturity & grabbed my attention span much longer in the review as then expected. Other than the fact the smooth jazz technician Paul Brown mixed this project!
Najee | Rising Sun
by Ian Cooke
Rhythm and Jazz 80’s and 90’s pioneer, two-time Grammy nominee, saxophonist Najee releases his new Heads Up International “Rising Sun” CD this August.
Marc Antoine | Hi-Lo Split
By Terrill Hanna
The Guitarist from the exotic jazz journey returns….
From Madrid to Los Angeles, Mr. Marc Antoine still walks & grooves to the funky, bossa nova beat. His flow naturally comes off organic with an R&B interest. The title name to his new CD? It came from a victory shared at the card playing table. With that breath of excitement, he learned that winning on a ‘Hi-Lo Split’ easily meant winning with the highest & Lowest hand! Will his latest project “Hi-Lo Split” become a winners choice for you?
Streetwize
Sexy Love
Shanachie Records
By Terrill Hanna
Shanachie returns with flavor for the urban jazz ear, continuing the series of R&B currents & previous with Streetwize & its admiration for slowing things down with “Sexy Love”…
Kim Waters, & his crew kicks it ‘down’ a notch (like the ‘Slow Jamz’ album…) & recognized music from the contemporary/urban R&B side to be touched up instrumentally. From tracks like “Charlene”, “Promise”, & “Sexy Love”….young listeners may come to respect hearing their fav songs redone on a different approach.
Pamela Williams | The Look of Love
By Terrill Hanna
The Saxtress is Back!
This time she sheds her inner interests for covers unlike hit song selections from compilations. She returns to honor music from a fan standpoint: Remaking the sounds & productions of Hal David, Burt Bacharach & legendary R&B vocalist, Ms. Dionne Warwick.
Spyro Gyra | Good To Go-Go
by Ian Cooke
For more than three decades, Spyro Gyra has been delighting music and jazz fans with their highly creative music while recording 26 albums. Since their earliest recordings in the mid-1970’s they have continued to maintain a fresh approach to their craft by borrowing from a range of sources and distilling them into an unmistakable signature sound.
Walter Beasley | Ready For Love
By Ian Cooke
Walter Beasley, a pioneer contemporary jazz artist, made his recording debut 10 years ago and celebrates with his latest release “Ready For Love.” He has proven his success as an instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, producer, and educator- a range of talents that has made him one of the highest selling, and most accomplished African-American saxophonists of the last ten years!
Jeff Lorber | He Had A Hat
By Cliff Evans
The Narada Jazz recording artist struts his stuff on his latest recording “He Had a Hat”. Released on April 3rd, there’s no shortage of attention grabbing intros as well as smooth, soulfull ballads. I believe this album showcases Jeff’s timeless command of the keyboards effortlessly, while taking the us on a fabulous journey through many different musical genre’s; some of which include gospel, fusion, classical music, and contemporary jazz.
Norman Brown | Stay With Me
Peak Records
By Terrill Hanna
Norman Brown brings a fresh re-appealing stream of R&B, cool-out jazz that he is known to bring to the forefront of his musical career with an offering of tracks reminiscent of his previous titles. Slow flowed & often groove jammed, I found this CD to be far-fetched along the lines of most of his albums from around the way. In fact, this CD doesn’t have a cover! Its all original compositions that he & various others have penned – 10 tracks including the outro.