The exceptionally talented Smooth Jazz artist Grady Nichols has released his CD entitled Sophistication. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Grady Nichols fans, and Smooth Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Sophistication Grady Nichols’s artistic excellence is on full display as he has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be his best work to date.
Grady Nichols has been a super star in the Smooth Jazz genre for quite some time now and Sophistication is an excellent illustration as to why.
Smooth Jazz music fans will recognize some of the well known contributors n the project including Jeff Lorber and Chris Botti plus a few other notables as well.
If you’re a Grady Nichols fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don’t even have to be a fan of Nichols, or even Smooth Jazz to know is good. It’s just good music. Period.
While the entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 1, Tuesday Morning, track 4, End Of The Night, and track 9, Circle Of Friends.
My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 6, Dinner And A Movie. What a nice track!
Sophistication Release Notes:
Grady Nichols originally released Sophistication on Jul 27, 2004 on the Compendia Music Group label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Tuesday Morning
2. Livin’ O The Life
3. Sneak
4. End Of The Night
5. All Right
6. Dinner And A Movie
7. Within The Blue
8. Behind The Scenes
9. Circle Of Friends
10. Alone With You
11. Quiet Times
Personnel include: Grady Nichols (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Jeff Lorber (various instruments); Paul Pesco, Ray Fuller (guitar); Chris Botti (trumpet). Recording information: JHL Sounds, Pacific Palisades, California.
By: Tom Milson
Talented young smooth jazz saxophonist Eric Darius has released his latest CD entitled Just Getting Started.
I’m very confident Eric Darius fans, and smooth jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Just Getting Started the young and extremely talented Darius’s artistic excellence is on full display as he has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks.
Just Getting Started is Darius’s second major label release in as many years, and is a very soulful CD that’s part funk, part smooth jazz, all nice, and balanced just right.
The CD launches with a great track, Steppin’ Up, that will definitely be heard on smooth jazz radio stations everywhere, and deservedly so. From there Darius proceeds to display why he is destined to be a top artist in the smooth jazz category. Displaying what is becoming his own signature, funky style throughout the CD.
Contributors on the project includes an amazing line up of smooth jazz and music industry heavy hitters. Names like Jeff Lorber on several tracks, Paul Brown, Euge Groove, and the incomparable Brian Culbertson. Plus a few other notables as well.
Overall Just Getting Started is an excellent contribution by the young and clearly very talented Darius and would be a great addition to your smooth jazz collection. It’s quite simply a very entertaining CD.
While this entire CD is outstanding the truly standout tunes and SmoothJazz247.com favorites are Lover’s Paradise [track 2], Right Here, Right Now [track 6], and It’s Alright With Me [track 9]. My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 10, Can’t Let Go. Very nice!
Release Notes:
Eric Darius originally released Just Getting Started on March 7, 2006 on the Narada record label.
CD track list follows:
1. Steppin’ Up
2. Lover’s Paradise
3. Secret Soul
4. Groove On
5. Back At Cha
6. Right Here, Right Now
7. That’s What I’m Sayin’
8. If I Ain’t Got You
9. It’s Alright With Me
10. Can’t Let Go
11. Slick
By: Tom Milson
The exceptionally talented Smooth Jazz Artist Norman Brown has released his third and latest CD on the Warner Bros. recording label entitled West Coast Coolin’. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Norman Brown fans, and smooth jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one.
With the release of West Coast Coolin’ Brown’s artistic excellence is on full display as he has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be his best work to date.
West Coast Coolin’ is what smooth jazz is all about. One of those rare CD’s on which every track is great making it easy to listen to from beginning to end.
The CD offers a buffet of smooth melodic tunes. Kicking off with I Might, a song that features an outstanding vocal contribution from the very soulful Carol Riddick that will definitely be heard on smooth jazz radio stations everywhere, and deservedly so.
From there Brown proceeds to display why he is considered one the greatest smooth jazz guitarists of our time as he mixes his signature groove throughout the CD. At times very audibly showing the influence George Benson has had on his playing.
Overall West Coast Coolin’ is an outstanding release. What I call, must have music. I give it two thumbs up. Even the casual smooth jazz fan will appreciate and enjoy Browns very nice smooth style.
The standout tunes and SmoothJazz247.com favorites on West Coast Coolin’ are I Might [track 1], the title track West Coast Coolin’ [track 3], and I’m Comin’ Over [track 5]. My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 8, Let’s Play. Very nice!
Release Notes:
Norman Brown originally released West Coast Coolin’ on September 21, 2004 on the Warner Bros. record label.
CD track list follows:
1. I Might (featuring Carol Riddick)
2. Up ‘N’ At ‘Em
3. West Coast Coolin’
4. Missin’ You
5. I’m Comin’ Over
6. What’s Goin’ On
7. Let’s Play
8. Right Now
9. Angel
10. Remember The Time
By: Tom Milson