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Blue Soul Groove - 3am / Zazou / Soul Town |
| taken from the album EP |
| Comments: I have been championing these guys for over a year now...the 5 track EP is now available...the awesome "3am" is made for smooth jazz radio...if you are like me and love sax... check out the excellent "Zazou"....also the moody groove of "Soul Town"...excpect big things for Neil Warden and the guys for sure in 2008...another must ! |
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Boney James - Various |
| taken from the album Shine |
| Comments: Boneys Back ! ...one of my favourite sax players...this is debut for the concord label and he keeps in that sophisticated R&B vibe...already making waves with the George Duke duet "The total experience"..nice rework of the old Brazilian classic "Waters of March"...fine collaborations with George Benson, Philip Bailey of EW&Fire and Ann Nesby too, ...check out my two personal favs of the moment "In the rain" with Dwele and the very funky "Gonna get it" with Faith Evans...WOW !...just buy the album. |
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Brian Culbertson - It's On Tonight |
| taken from the album It's On Tonight |
| Comments: This guy has his finger on the pulse when it comes to groove and melody...Just when you thought he'd done his best work he comes back with this smooth cool chilled album...I love the Will Downing title track as well as several well crafted instrumentals as ever...plus the killer vocal with Patti Austin and Kirk Whalum called " Love will never let you down"..Another must...a lights down low...glass of chilled wine ..and BC...let the romance begin. |
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Brian Simpson - The Last Kiss / Fiona's Song ? Juicy |
| taken from the album Above The Clouds |
| Comments: This guy always delivers some of the catchiest grooves around...from the opening track "What cha gonna do?"...into the moody "Juicy" with Kirk Whalum which has that old school Ramsey Lewis feel to it...I just love the lights down low feel to "Let's get close".....but the two BIG Fusion Flavours grooves has to be the groove led "The last kiss"...Brian Simpson at his best...also the beautiful "Fiona's Song"...great laidback melody featuring stable mates Dave Koz on sax and Wayman Tisdale on bass....an excellent cd for your ever growing collection. |
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Candy Dulfer - Soulsax / LA City Lights |
| taken from the album Candy Store |
| Comments: The most sophisticated album to date...classy...funky vibes here....something for everyone....but the "smooth jazz" grooves for me has to be the wonderful "L.A. city lights"....but the tune which will be in my "Best of Fusion Flavours 2007" is the fantastic..sensual..soulful track "Soulsax"....WOW !.....a must just for this!....Now signed to Heads up record label...Candy should continute her success with this sensational release..."A MUST ! "....if only for "Soulsax" |
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Chris Standring - Love And Paragraphs / CS.in The Sunshine / Various |
| taken from the album Love And Paragraphs |
| Comments: Chris was my Best of Fusion Flavours 2006 with the cd "Soul Express" ...he's now back with a new cd and his best work to date...the cd is a grower...Thanks to Chris for letting me have the world exclusive on the single "love and paragraphs" which is storming up the smooth jazz charts..."CS. in the sunshine" is another instant Fusion Flavours hit....also "Qwertyuiop" is growing on me...like the chill groove of "Liquid Soul"..another grower is "That's what I thought you said"...and "Qu'est-ce Que Tu Fais?"..don't know what it means...but it's turning into another favourite of mine...another must buy ! |
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Eric Marienthal - Blue Water / Time Square / Your Move |
| taken from the album Just Around The Corner |
| Comments: Rippington saxman back with a new album and it doesn't disapoint...with a little help from album producer Brian Culbertson the cd gets off to a great start with the very catchy "Blue Water".....another personal favourite is the excellent "Times Square" which I could see being another huge hit on smooth jazz radio...Another great keyboard player helping out on the cd is Jeff Lorber....check out the track "Your Move"....another for your collection. |
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Euge Groove - Various |
| taken from the album Born 2 Groove |
| Comments: Euge Groove is without my favourite sax player...He has just got better and better with each album...we are now into his fifth release and another album full of just great "Grooves"..The cd opens with the midtempo "A summer night's dream"...one of the mellow layback cuts for me has to be "Slow jam"...The track "Mr.Groove" is a moody affair which grows on you...The first single from the cd is the funky "Born 2 groove"..again this is a grower....my favourite instrumental track just has to be"Religify" one of those tracks with such a great groove and melody..."Movin' on" is a mellow track with great appeal...and if you love your soul...check out the amazing "Baby if you only knew" with Jeffery Osborne and the bluesy "I love you more than you'll ever know" with the temptations vocalist Ali Ollie Woodson....One of the albums of 2007...just buy it ! |
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Everette Harp - Old School / Don't Look Any Further / My Inspiration |
| taken from the album My Inspiration |
| Comments: Known Everette for many years now...nice to bump into him at the Newport Jazz Fest back in May...solid album... the catchy rework of "Don't look any further" is an instant favourite...the best instrumental on the album is "Old School" co written with Rex Rideout...also check out the heartfelt track..which proves this guy can sing too...the beautiful "My Inspiration"...another one for the collection. |
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Gerald Veasley - Your Move / So Close To The Sun |
| taken from the album Your Move |
| Comments: Gerald is back !....another fine album for the Heads Up record label...from the opening cut "Hear Now!" to my favourite track on the cd "Your Move" written and featuring Chuck Loeb...
another personal favourite...just love the feel of "So close to the sun"....check it out ! |
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Jeff Lorber - Grandma's Hands / Anthem For A New America |
| taken from the album He Had A Hat |
| Comments: Legendary Fusion man is still going strong in 2007....The first single to smooth jazz radio is the excellent "Anthem for a new America"..a modern day groove which could be the new theme for Hill Street Blues if it were going today.....The killer track on the album for me is the excellent rework of the classic Bill Withers tune "Grandma'a Hands" with the excellent vocals of Eric Benet...another for the collection. |
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Jessy J - Tequila Moon / PB 'n' J / Mas Que Nada |
| taken from the album Tequila Moon |
| Comments: I first heard this cd May 2007 at Producer Paul Brown's home in LA...WOW!...I've been waiting almost a year....it's finally released on the Peak record label...The cd delivers on all levels...great playing...excellent gooves too...with top production from Mr.Brown too....the title track "Tequila Moon" is the lead off single...great choice too...check out the mellow "PB 'n' J" and Jessy can sing too...check out her slant on "Mas Que Nada"...a great new artist who will be around for a long time....watch this space...essential buy ! |
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Jonathan Butler - Afrika / If You're Ready / Sarah Sarah / 7th Avenue |
| taken from the album Live In South Africa |
| Comments: South African guitarist vocalist Jonathan Butler goes back to his roots...this is a live performance back in his native South Africa....the cd opens with the great track "Afrika"...also for we old school JB fans..lots to enjoy here "If you're ready", "Lies", "Sarah Sarah" and the excellent soul groove "I'm on my knees"....plus his South African grooves are here too..."7th Avenue".."Wake Up" and "Song for Elizabeth"...plus his tender version of Bob Marley's "No woman no cry"...the cd comes with a DVD performance from South Africa and Documentary footage too...well worth investing in...A MUST ! |
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Kenny G - Sax-o Loco / Various |
| taken from the album Rhythm & Romance |
| Comments: You either love the guy or you don't....personally I like the guy...he was the first interview I ever did back in 1990...he's opened the door for a lot of people in the genre...anyway...this is his first cd of "original" material for some years...a latin album with some great musicians too...check out "Sax-o-loco"..also "Sabor a mi" and his version of "Besame Mucho"... |
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Kirk Whalum - Ruby Ruby Ruby / The Wave / Aftertought |
| taken from the album Roundtrip |
| Comments: One of the top sax players in the world...This project includes a retrospective look back to some of Kirks past grooves with a new 2007 vibe....Check out the excellent rework of "The Wave"...the mellow laidback "Afterthought" and my favourite track "Ruby Ruby Ruby" a wonderful rework with guitarist Earl klugh....plenty of other tracks to explore too including Shanice on "Inside"...Enjoy ! |
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Marcus Miller - "Free" Ft Corrine Bailey Rae & David Sanborn |
| taken from the album Free |
| Comments: Marcus is back !...This guy should carry a health warning when he plays that bass....check the "Funk joint"...also a great groove called "Strum"....Marcus plays Bass clarinet on "When I fall in love"...and his XXXL funky version of Stevie Wonders "Higher Ground"...but the big track for me is the very tasty rework of Deniece Williams "Free" with David Sanborn on sax and the angelic voice of Corrine Bailey Rae....A MUST ! |
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Najee - Out Of A Dream / Can't Wait Another Minute / Various |
| taken from the album Rising Sun |
| Comments: My old friend Najee has been making music for over 21 years now... since his debut release "Najee's Theme" back in 1986...I have to say this is his best album to date"...you can quote me on that! LOL...The album starts with a rework of John Mayer's "Clarity"....another tasty track is "Brazilian Affair"...a couple of personal favs are "Out of a dream" and the beautiful vocal track "Can't wait another minute"...he also does a wonderful take on the classic James Moody composition "Moody'd mood for love"...there are other growers here like "Still in love", "Come what may", and the title track "Rising Sun" too...one of those rare "complete albums"..a MUST ! |
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Norman Brown - Soul Dance / Let's Take A Ride |
| taken from the album Stay With Me |
| Comments: This is another essensial cd ..full of great smooth grooves...the killer groove for me being the Paul Brown produced "Soul Dance"....also like the first smooth jazz single too "Let's take a ride"....Norman is another one of thee top artists in the format who delivers complete albums ....not only a great guitarist the guy can sing too....It's also great to hear BWB still grooving along with a new cut called "It ain't over"....another MUST for your collection |
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Swing Out Sister - Beautiful Mess / Butterfly / Out There |
| taken from the album Beautiful Mess |
| Comments: Manchester's very own Swing Out Sister!...
Corrine sounding as good as ever....check out the outstanding title track "Beautiful Mess"...plus the awesome "Butterfly"...WOW !...other tracks will wash over you too and become friends too like " Out There" and "Something every day"..one for the collection for sure ! |
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The Sax Pack - Fallin' For You / All I Really Want / A Little Bit Closer |
| taken from the album The Sax Pack |
| Comments: Saw these guys perform at the Berks Jazz Fest a couple of years ago...they have finally got a cd together and it's GREAT !...check out the lead off single "Fallin' for you" also the moody track "A little bit closer"....plus turn down the lights for "All I really want"...a great cd from start to finish...catch the guys touring the US during the summer. |
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