smooth jazz
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Norman Brown Returns With Authentically Norman
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I remember when I saw Norman Brown in 1992 or 1993. He was opening for Grover Washington Jr. in St. Louis, and he was really new to the scene. But he made an impression then with his live performance and his debut album, Just Between Us. Since then, he’s sold over five-million albums. And now…
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Steve Reid Has Passed
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My heart is heavy at the news of the passing of percussionist Steve Reid of The Rippingtons. Jeff Kashiwa posted it today on Facebook. He was my favorite percussionist. I’ve loved The Rippingtons for many years, and so much of that love came from Steve’s percussion and the soundscapes he created. His playing had this…
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The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter 1 – Kirk Whalum’s Spirit in Sound
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When Kirk Whalum released The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter 1 on October 13, 1998, he wasn’t simply launching a new album. He was coming full circle. Raised in Memphis in a family of ministers and musicians, Whalum grew up surrounded by the sound of hymns and harmony. His father and grandfather were pastors, and…
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Bob James – Morning, Noon & Night
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[ Morning, Noon & Night by Bob James was released September 24, 2002. This was the original 2002 press release. ] Sometimes it’s the quiet revolutions that change things the most… Bob James knows this. Along with being a superlative pianist, composer, and arranger, he’s a musical iconoclast. As one of the creators of the…
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George Howard – There’s a Riot Goin’ On
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Shortly after his untimely passing, contemporary jazz saxophonist George Howard’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On was released. This was no ordinary release — it was a smooth jazz homage to Sly and the Family Stone’s seminal 1971 album of the same name, reimagined through Howard’s expressive, melodic lens. George Howard passed away on March 20,…