Simple Pleasures was a bestseller thanks to the massive success of the single “Don’t Worry Be Happy” According to McFerrin on the Questlove Supreme podcast, he has not performed that song live since November 1988. “I wanted the audience to know me as an improviser. I didn’t want to be falling back on that tune all the time or have them expect that.” He did admit that he will sometimes hint at it in the middle of a piece and he might do it for kids.

Rounding out the Top Ten of the Contemporary Jazz chart:

1. 1. Bobby McFerrin, Simple Pleasures
2. 2. George Howard, Reflections
3. 3. Basia, Time and Tide
4. 4. Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman, Kilamanjaro
5. 5. David Benoit, Every Step of the Way
6. 6. Kirk Whalum, And You Know That!
7. 7. Dianne Reeves, Dianne Reeves
8. 8. Gamalon, Gamalon
9. 9. Tim Heintz, Searching the Heart
10. 10. Steve Kindler & Teja Bell, Dolphin Smiles

Debuting on the week’s chart at #21 was the first album from the husband and wife duo of Tuck & Patti with Tears of Joy. According to the Tuck & Patti website and Twitter account, Bobby McFerrin calls them “the best duo on the planet!” And they’re still together, which is really awesome.

John Patitucci led the Top Jazz Albums chart with his debut self-titled recording, released on GRP. He had a strong start with the album produced by his Electric Band boss Chick Corea and featuring bandmate Dave Weckl. Also enhancing John’s compositions were mighty Michael Brecker, Peter Eskine, Vinnie Colaiuta, John Beasley, and David Witham.

The post Top Contemporary Jazz Albums – June 25, 1988 appeared first on ContemporaryJazz.com.

1. Hiroshima, Go
2. Spyro Gyra, Stories Without Words
3. Pat Metheny Group, Still Life (Talking)
4. Dianne Reeves, Dianne Reeves
5. Fattburger, Good News
6. Jean-Luc Ponty, The Gift of Time
7. George Benson / Earl Klugh, Collaboration
8. Kenny G, Duotones
9. Larry Carlton, Discover
10. The Manhattan Transfer, Brasil

The post Top Contemporary Jazz Albums – January 1998! appeared first on ContemporaryJazz.com.

The Will Downing and Gerald Albright collaboration, Pleasures of the Night, was the best-selling contemporary jazz recording according to the October 31, 1998 issue of Billboard. At the time, Downing said, “This is a departure for us both. It’s pretty much a traditional sounding record with flavorings of contemporary jazz sprinkled in so as not to exclude the audiences we’ve already built up over the years. It gives both of us an opportunity to stretch out more than our own records. It’s not often that you have the opportunity to do exactly what you want to do, no holds barred.”

Here’s the complete Top Contemporary Jazz Albums for that week:

1. Will Downing and Gerald Albright – Pleasures of the Night
2. Kenny G – Greatest Hits
3. Rick Braun – Full Stride
4. Down to the Bone – From Manhattan to Staten
5. George Benson – Standing Together
6. Fourplay – 4
7. Keiko Matsui – Full Moon and the Shrine
8. Marc Antoine – Madrid
9. Various Artists – KKSF Sampler for AIDS Relief, Volume 9
10. Medeski, Martin and Wood – Combustication

Also notable in the Top 10: Down to the Bone’s debut album, From Manhattan to Staten, was still on the chart after an impressive 37 weeks.

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