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Urban Jazz, Page 10

Greg Adams | East Bay Soul 2.0

Greg Adams - East Bay Soul 2.0
 
Greg Adams | East Bay Soul 2.0
(Greg Adams Music)
By George Strand
 
While much of today’s contemporary/smooth jazz music is dominated by certain brass and wind instruments [sax, flute, trombone (Shorty), etc.], we as aficionados in appreciation of the art should never squeeze out the space still made available for the grace of the trumpet – a very powerful horn in the brass family. Perhaps a good dose of the sound of the trumpet and Flugelhorn from Greg Adams, founding/long-time member of hit R&B band Tower of Power might do the trick.

Paul Brown | The Funky Joint

Paul Brown - The Funky Joint CD Cover Art
 
Paul Brown | The Funky Joint
(Woodward Avenue)
By George Strand
 
Year in – Year out, Contemporary Jazz Guitarist/Producer Paul Brown continues to beat the pavement, regardless of how many sour apples taint the overall smooth jazz market. Regardless to the lack of radio station vibes towards the genre and regardless of the massive drop in record sales. The gentleman of the smooth jazz flow breaks out his passion for the groove with the release of “The Funky Joint”.

Najee | The Smooth Side Of Soul

Najee - The Smooth Side of Soul
 
Najee | The Smooth Side of Soul
By Peggy Oliver
 
Multi-award winner Najee is one of contemporary jazz’s long-standing ambassadors and continues to challenge himself with respect towards his fan base that has further translated to his overall industry longevity. As a lifelong fan of R&B and jazz music, Jerome Najee Rasheed decided to follow his musical childhood inspirations while developing his woodwind skills.

Kirk Whalum | Romance Language

Kirk Whalum - Romantic Language
 
Kirk Whalum | Romance Language
By Peggy Oliver
 
One of jazz’s unlikely pairs, depending on who you might speak with, stirred some magic in the early sixties. John Coltrane was undeniably a groundbreaking modern saxophone player who leaned more towards the avant-gardism school of thinking. After choosing crooner Johnny Hartman for an Impulse! recording project of romantic ballads came to fruition in 1963, Coltrane immediately connected with Hartman’s melodic and sensitive phrasing, which was the self-titled project’s driving force.

New Foundation | Goin’ Places

New Foundation - Goin' Places
 
New Foundation | Goin’ Places
By Ian Cooke
 
New Foundation’s “Goin’ Places” is a debut project by long time friends Curtis Harmon and Bennie Sims who worked together as drummer and bassist respectively, for legendary contemporary jazz group, Pieces Of A Dream. Between the two of them, they have played with such artists as George Benson, Al Jarreau, Aretha Franklin, Count Basie, Lou Rawls and too many others to list.

Paul Taylor | Prime Time

Paul Taylor - Prime Time
 
Paul Taylor | Prime Time
by Brent Faulkner
 
Smooth jazz is a jazz sub-genre that allows for plenty of possibilities, maybe the most possibilities for the producer. On saxophonist Paul Taylor’s 2011 effort Prime Time, the production possibilities do run wild, but also leaves room for even more exploration. Overall, Prime Time is a pleasant smooth jazz album that yearns to be even more passion-laden from the perspective of songwriting and production. Taylor always shines through the material -valedictory or merely average – attesting to his beautiful saxophone tone.

Gail Jhonson | HerStory

Gail Jhonson - Her Story
 
Gail Jhonson | HerStory
By Peggy Oliver
 
Growing up in one of music’s historical hotbeds, Gail Jhonson was one of many hard working dreamers who truly loved to play the piano. She was thoroughly awed in how nearly everyone in Philadelphia seemed to take music seriously; even the one who were strictly ‘basement’ musicians. But between her teachers and funk heroes she heard on the radio like Sly (Stone) and Stevie (Wonder), there were constant conflicts of interest.

Nick Colionne | Feel The Heat

Nick Colionne - Feel The Heat
 
Nick Colionne | Feel The Heat
by Brent Faulkner
 
Contemporary jazz guitarist and vocalist Nick Colionne delivers enjoyable performances on his seventh studio effort, Feel the Heat. A veteran at this point, Colionne truly has little to prove, but that mindset does nothing to cloud his strong efforts here. From the first track to the closing track, one can easily hear Colionne’s sheer talents as a smooth jazz guitarist with superb soloing abilities.

Malika Zarra | Berber Taxi

Malika Zarra - Berber Taxi
 
Album Review: Malika Zarra – Berber Taxi
By Peggy Oliver
 
Most have heard the old saying life imitating art. Yet maybe art imitating life would best apply to singer/songwriter Malika Zarra. Zarra was practically a sponge from the time she was singing and dancing as a little girl in her home country of Morocco. Even after she moved with her family to France at three years old, music would always rule Zarra’s mind and soul. Thanks to a wealth of music at her fingertips, her influences were extremely eclectic; from classic Moroccan pop (Haja Hamdaouia) to classic Arabic pop (Warda Al-Jazairia).

Tony Exum, Jr. | Finally!

Tony Exum - Finally!
 
Tony Exum, Jr., Finally!
by Brent Faulkner
 
Saxophonist Tony Exum Jr.’s recent effort Finally! is a fine addition to a somewhat crowded smooth jazz genre. With enough crossover appeal to court with urban music fans given its R&B under- and overtones, Finally! definitely possesses something for everybody. It is a hefty task to differentiate smooth jazz oft times, but Exum makes an album that is enjoyable despite any restriction with the genre itself.

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