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

A Tribute To Billy Holiday

The late Billie Holiday left behind, as a reminder of her greatness, a huge body of recordings. Her singing was only a part of the legacy, however. Billie’s introduction of many new songs, and what she did with the old songs, helped to swell the storehouse of the jazz repertoire for all the singers and players who grew up with her, as well as those who came after.

From Wiki: 

“Chesney Henry “Chet” Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and singer.
Specializing in relaxed, even melancholy music, Baker rose to prominence as a leading name in cool jazz in the 1950s. Baker’s good looks and delicate singing established him as a promising name in pop music as well. But his success was badly hampered by drug addiction, particularly in the 1960s, when he was imprisoned.
He mounted a successful comeback in the ’70s, but died after falling from a hotel window.”

This is a tribute to Lady Day from one who is both a singer and a player – fluegelhornist Chet Baker. “Her style was so unique – so different,” he says of Billie. “She had a way of combining singing and talking a tune that was very intimate. One thing I really liked about her was that she never raised her voice. At least I never heard her shout. Her way of singing really reflected a lot of soul. Billie Holiday was Billie Holiday – that’s all. She was great. She always did the best tunes, tunes that really lent themselves to her style of singing. She really didn’t have a great voice, but what she did with it…”

Chet, another vocalist who doesn’t shout, began singing long before he took up the trumpet. “When I was 11 or 12, my mother used to drag me around to the amateur contests that they had in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoons. I never won but I was second once. Even at that time, I was singing the current ballads. I sang in a church choir at the same time – 1941 and 1942.

From Wiki: 

Billie Holiday (April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959), born Eleanora Fagan and later nicknamed Lady Day (see “Jazz royalty” regarding similar nicknames), was an American jazz singer, a seminal influence on jazz and pop singers, and generally regarded as one of the greatest female jazz vocalists. 

On May 31, 1959, she was taken to Metropolitan Hospital in New York suffering from liver and heart disease. On July 12, she was placed under house arrest at the hospital for possession, despite evidence suggesting the drugs may have been planted on her. Holiday remained under police guard at the hospital until she died from cirrhosis of the liver on July 17 1959 at the age of 44. In the final years of her life, she had been progressively swindled out of her earnings, and she died with only $0.70 in the bank and $750 (a tabloid fee) on her person.
Billie Holiday is interred in Saint Raymond’s Cemetery, Bronx, New York.

“My phrasing as a singer,” continues Baker, “has been influenced a lot by my playing. If I hadn’t been a trumpet player, I don’t know if I would have arrived at singing that way eventually. I probably wouldn’t have.

“The things I’m really conscious of when I sing are intonation, good diction without over-enunciating, a casual, relaxed way of phrasing, and singing in tune.”

Produced by Luchi DeJesus. Prepared for reissue by Richard Seidel and Seth Rothstein.

Chet Baker Flugelhorn
Leon Cohen Reeds
Henry Freeman Reeds
Wilford Holcombe Reeds
Seldon Powell Reeds
Alan Ross Reeds
Hank Jones Piano
Everett Barksdale Guitar
Richard Davis Bass
Connie Kay Drums

I write some Chet Bakers CD rewiews as soon as possible

He is my favourite jazz musician

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.

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!

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.