Artist - Marcus Miller
Title - Marcus
Lable - Concord Jazz
Style - Jazz-Funk | Jazz | Smooth Jazz
Date Released - 04.03.2008

Miller is a talented multi-instrumentalist who is not only skilled on electric bass, but also keyboards, clarinet, sax, sitar and probably a few more besides. Just about everything shows up on his seventh solo album, a 13-track collection that’s top-heavy with his own compositions — not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Miller boarded the fusion train in the 1970s, a few years after it left the station through his work with David Sanborn. In the 1980s, Miller worked with Davis. Davis didn’t create jazz, rock, funk fusion, but the fact that the legendary jazz innovator embraced the genre gave it credibility. Miller has also collaborated with artists such as Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Michael Franks, ZZ-Hill and Billy Idol.

Working with artists representing a wide variety of genres is a major theme on this latest work. One highlight is Corinne Bailey Rae, wrapping her sultry vocals around rendition of Denise Williams’ 1976 classic “Free.” Miller plays it pretty straight on this rendition that holds pretty close musically to Williams original. The main difference is Miller’s bass playing, in which he employs his signature thumping and plucking funky style. The version also includes some definite jazz influenced improvising by Miller, as well as a saxophone solo.

“He’s joined by some talented friends too. It’s an outstanding group that includes vocalists the caliber of Keb’ Mo’, Corinne Bailey Rae and Lalah Hathaway. Other performers include Shihan the Poet, jazz icon David Sanborn, and actress Taraji Henson (who made her singing debut in the movie Hustle and Flow).

Henson’s vocalizing on the bonus track, “Lost Without U [Spoken Word],” backed by Hathaway and the Ivey Sisters, is surprisingly enjoyable, and is a different take on Hathaway’s earlier version of the same tune. Hathaway is at her best with “Ooh,” a piece she co-wrote with Miller, and according to the album notes he backs her delicious singing with no less than seven different instruments.

There’s lots more to be found here - even Shihan the Poet, if that’s your thing - but the bottom line is simply that the album is a good collection of R&B flavored jazz that should be well worth a listen for any fans of good music — and isn’t that why we’re all here? “
Geezer Music Club

“Many so-called “straight ahead jazz” artists clearly don’t have the comfort or interest in commenting musically on the contemporary music genres, such as R&B and rock, that have supplanted jazz in terms of popularity. A major reason for their reluctance has to do with the fact that many jazz artists don’t believe R&B and rock music compares on a qualitative level to the music from the Great American Songbook. Even those who might want to try don’t feel they have the understanding of contemporary music. That leaves the task of translating the contemporary musical canon in the hands of so-called “smooth jazz” artists, and those results are often uninspiring.”
Howard Dukes

Popularity: 89% [?]

CD Track List Follows:

1. Black Diamond

2. Deep Powder

3. Seven Nights In Rome

4. Soul Seeker

5. In Another Life

6. Big Sky

7. If I Owned The World

8. North Peak

9. Angel Fire

10. Jewel Thieves

11. Black Diamond - (acoustic version)

Personnel: Russ Freeman (acoustic, electric, classical, slide, baritone & 12-string guitars, mandolin, keyboards, bass, percussion, loops, drum programming); Mark Williamson (vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion); Jeff Kashiwa (soprano & tenor saxophones, EWI); Nelson Rangell (alto & tenor saxophones, flute); Arturo Sandoval, Mark Ledford (trumpet); David Kochanski (piano, organ, keyboards, drum programming); Brian Moore (guitar, 12-string guitar); Kim Stone (bass, fretless bass); Steve Reid, Pete Escovedo (percussion).

This one grabs your attention right from the very beginning with Black Diamond and won’t let go until the very last note of the very last song Jewel Thieves, which by the way is another great track.

From wiki:
“The Rippingtons are a contemporary or fusion jazz group that are often considered smooth jazz. Formed in 1986 by guitarist and band leader Russ Freeman (not to be confused with the jazz pianist of the same name), their career has spanned two decades. In the early to mid 90s they were more of a jazz/rock instrumental band, but since 1999 they have developed more into the Smooth Jazz genre. Many of their songs have also been played during The Weather Channel’s local on the 8’s forecast segments.”

Black Diamond has a pleasantly varied, mix of 11 tracks that are very well written and brilliantly performed songs by these clearly outstanding musicians. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are their own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.

One of the nicer things about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Smooth Jazz isn’t your favorite style you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the musicians.

I’m of the opinion that Black Diamond is certainly some of this groups best work in a few years. A totally enjoyable CD and an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up because it’s a collection that even the casual Smooth Jazz fan can appreciate and enjoy.

Popularity: 44% [?]

Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

CD Track List Follows:

1. Embraceable You
2. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? - (with Sting)
3. My One And Only Love - (with Paula Cole)
4. Let There Be Love - (with Michael Buble)
5. What’s New?
6. Good Morning Heartache - (with Jill Scott)
7. To Love Again
8. Are You Lonesome Tonight? - (with Paul Buchanan)
9. Lover Man - (with Gladys Knight)
10. I’ll Be Seeing You
11. Pennies From Heaven - (with Renee Olstead)
12. Here’s That Rainy Day - (with Rosa Passos)
13. Smile - (with Steven Tyler)

Personnel: Chris Botti (trumpet); Billy Childs (piano); Christian McBride (bass instrument); Peter Erskine (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion). Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California.

The exceptionally talented Smooth Jazz artist Chris Botti has released his CD entitled To Love Again. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Chris Botti fans, and Smooth Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of To Love Again Chris Botti’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.

To Love Again kicks off with a great track, Embraceable You, that I anticipate will be heard on radio stations everywhere, and deservedly so. It really is a very nice track.

One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you’ve got one of Chris Botti’s most impressive releases ever.

Overall To Love Again is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Smooth Jazz collection. Truly an outstanding Smooth Jazz CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 2 - What Are You Doing With The Rest Of Your Life?, track 4 - Let There Be Love, and track 11 - Pennies From Heaven.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 12, Here’s That Rainy Day. Great track!

To Love Again Release Notes:

smooth jazz artist Chris Botti originally released To Love Again on Oct 18, 2005 on the Columbia label.

Popularity: 55% [?]

CD Track List Follows:

1. Everlasting

2. Havana

3. Brazil

4. What A Wonderful World - (with Louis Armstrong)

5. Look Of Love, The 6. Silhouette

7. One More Time - (with Chante Moore)

8. Theme From Dying Young

9. Forever In Love

10. We’ve Saved The Best For Last

11. Songbird

12. Jasmine Flower

13. The Girl From Ipanema - (with Bebel Gilberto)

14. By The Time This Night Is Over - (with Peabo Bryson)

15. the Champion’s Theme

16. Don’t Make Me Wait For Love

17. The Moment

18. My Heart Will Go On - (from “Titanic”)

19. The Wedding Song

Ultimate Kenny G is the latest Smooth Jazz CD put out by the extremely talented Kenny G who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I’m confident Kenny G fans, and Smooth Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one.

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Ultimate Kenny G has a nicely varied, mix of 19 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly talented artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are him own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly be heard.

If you’re even mildly into Smooth Jazz music you’ll enjoy this album. Overall Ultimate Kenny G is an a great release. I give it my double thumbs up. You will not be disappointed with one single track.

Ultimate Kenny G is one of those CDs that grabs your attention with the first note of the first song and doesn’t let go until the very last note of the last track in the collection.

While the entire album is outstanding some of my favorites are Track 2, Havana, Track 6, Silhouette, and The Moment which is Track 17

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is Track 11 - Songbird. This is a great track!

Popularity: 67% [?]

CD Track List Follows:

1. Lisa
2. Miami Overnight
3. Streets Ahead
4. Interlude
5. All Would Envy - (featuring Shawn Colvin)
6. Best Time
7. When I See You
8. You Move Me
9. Blue Horizon
10. Light The Stars
11. Through An Open Window
12. Easter Parade

Personnel: Chris Botti (trumpet); Shawn Colvin, Lani Groves, Camilla (vocals); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); Kazu Matsui (shakuhachi); Kipper (keyboards, programming); Jeff Lorber, Billy Childs, Jeff Young (keyboards); Dominic Miller, Shane Fontayne, Heitor Pereira, Marc Shulman (guitar); Christian McBride, Jimmy Johnson, Jon Ossman (bass); Vinnie Colaiuta, Abe Laboriel, Jr. (drums); Luis Conte (percussion). Engineers include: Kevin Killen, Christopher J. Roberts, Kipper. Recorded at Boogie Nights, Hollywood and Sony Studios, Santa Monica, California; Clear Creek Recording, Austin, Texas; Ted Spencer Recording, New York, New York.

AWESOME!

Refreshingly, Night Sessions was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

The nice thing about a CD like this is with this level of talent even if Smooth Jazz isn’t your favorite style you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

Smooth Jazz fans will recognize some of the players that have been assembled to play along with Botti on this CD. Artists like Shawn Colvin, Kazu Matsui, Jeff Lorber, and Billy Childs just to name a few.

The CD really grabs your attention right from the very first note of the very first song, Lisa and doesn’t let go until the very last note of the very last song. Which is by the way a very nice closing track.

Overall Night Sessions is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up, as it is most definitely a worthy addition to any Smooth Jazz collection. Truly an outstanding Smooth Jazz CD. A collection completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

Popularity: 50% [?]