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
Not sure what’s happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better From The Redwoods To The Rockies gets. From The Redwoods To The Rockies simply put is one of Russ Freeman’s best CDs to date.
The CD kicks off with a great track, Riders Of The Ancient Winds, that I suspect will be heard on radio stations everywhere, and deservedly so. It really is a very nice track.
From The Redwoods To The Rockies has a pleasantly varied, mix of 10 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly superb artist.
Russ Freeman possesses the characteristic of being able to bowl you over with his talent alone. The kind of artist I really enjoy listening to.
If you’re even mildly into Smooth Jazz music you’ll enjoy this CD. Overall From The Redwoods To The Rockies is an outstanding release. I give it my double thumbs up. You will not be disappointed with one single track.
My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 7, Fallen Heroes. This is a great track!
From The Redwoods To The Rockies Release Notes:
Russ Freeman originally released From The Redwoods To The Rockies on Sep 15, 1998 on the Windham Hill Jazz label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Riders Of The Ancient Winds
2. The Maiden And The Warrior
3. From The Redwoods To The Rockies
4. Samba Del Luna
5. Seattle Child
6. Tribal Runner
7. Fallen Heroes
8. Sweetwater
9. Change Of Seasons
10. From The Redwoods To The Rockies – (acoustic reprise)
Personnel: Russ Freeman, Craig Chaquico (acoustic & electric guitars); Paul Taylor (soprano saxophone); David Benoit (piano); Ozzie Ahlers, Bill Heller (keyboards). Engineers include: Nick Sodano, Russ Freeman, Craig Chaquico. Principally recorded at Cheyenne Mountain Ranch Studios, Cheyenne, Colorado from April to June 1998.
By: Tom Milson