Boney James | Shine
by Terrill Hanna
Sticking to a sound much too particular of his style, Boney James brings a plate of R&B/Soul & contemporary jazz straight to the audience in “Shine,” – those prepared for another heaping of strong, tight grooves, great sax riffs, wonderful solos from his special guests & all around production/arrangements.
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.
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.
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!
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.