smooth jazz

  • Rest in peace Steve Reid
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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…

  • Kirk Whalum The Gospel According to Jazz Chapter 1 album cover
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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…

  • cover to 2002 recording Morning, Noon & Night by Bob James
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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…

  • cover to There's a Riot Goin' On from smooth jazz saxophonist George Howard

    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,…

  • Design for Spyro Gyra 50th anniversary collection, Jubilee
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    Spyro Gyra Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New Compilation “Jubilee”

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    Spyro Gyra has announced the release of a special compilation, titled “Jubilee,” in celebration of their 50th anniversary. The collection, set to be released in November, highlights the band’s evolving sound from their first decade of recording (1977-87). About the Release “Jubilee” will be available in two formats: a 2-LP gold and purple colored vinyl…