Sanborn's '83 release brought a new meaning to late night or midnight music listening ! By no means is this elevator muzak, either ! In fact, Sanborn was on the cutting edge in using drum machines and synthesizer arrangements without stifling his sax playing or throwing the whole project out of whack. Sanborn's playing is very upfront and sharp ! While the recording may sound dated, it is only in a very good positive way to demonstrate what is lacking in some of today's so-called pop-jazz or r & b instrumentalists.

This 1980 recording is an excellent example of David Sanborn's music. The highly influential altoist is joined by familiar studio veterans (including guitarist Hiram Bullock and drummer Steve Gadd) with bassist/composer Marcus Miller being a key figure in creating the funky rhythms and colorful backgrounds. Miller, who shared the writing chores with Sanborn, not only contributed his powerful bass, but backed the altoist during a duet version of "Just for You" on piano. Easily recommended to fans of R&B-ish jazz.

Considering that guitarist Doc Powell's Laid Back album was one of 1996's biggest airplay hits in the genre, and was about as smooth as soul- flavored pop-jazz gets, it seems bold to go the tongue and cheek route and call his latest, Don't Let the Smooth Jazz Fool Ya. Is he promising us something a bit edgier, funkier, in your face? He gets off to a good start with a slamming take on the normally staid, "Chariots of Fire," based on Ernie Watts' version and featuring the potent electric guitar/sax synergy of Powell and Dave Koz over a pulsating groove laid by bassist Sekou Bunch, drummer Michael White and percussionist Munyungo Jackson. He hits the mid-tempo funk mark on the bluesy breezes of the synth-horn splashed "Good Intentions" and "Here's To You," which features Powell in synch with Everette Harp's sax and a short but luscious Bobby Lyle piano solo.

After a long, rewarding career on the soul sidelines, Doc Powell's emergence into solo territory finds him in an Alphonse Mouzon-like bandleader mode, albeit slightly more inspiring mood and melody-wise. A skilled multi-instrumentalist, Powell on Inner City Blues comes across on his snappy core guitar strains like a chilled version of Norman Brown, complete with those fun and breezy vocal scats. Too often, however, Powell as producer relegates his punchy prowess to the background, settling for radio friendly simplicity in lieu of sustained funk whallop. Each truly potent revelation (such as Ronnie Foster's simmering B-3 solo) is balanced by a calculated commercial turn like the fluffy DeBarge cover "All This Love." Too many all-star guest vocals simply get in the way of the sterling instrumental passages which dominate.

When David Sanborn debuted on Elektra with Another Hand after a 13-year stay at Warner Bros., the altoist swore off formulaic, radio-oriented muzak and vowed to make artistic considerations his main priority. There's nothing shallow or contrived about the album, an exploratory, heartfelt effort generally defined by his introspective, soulsearching improvisations. Sanborn tends to be reflective rather than extroverted – an exception being the soul-jazz gem "Hobbies." Instead of avoiding complexity as some of his more commercial recordings did, Another Hand often thrives on it. The album's main flaw lies in the fact that too often, the sidemen tend to serve as a backdrop for Sanborn instead of being active soloists. But given the depth and overall excellence of Sanborn's playing, one tends to overlook that shortcoming.

Longevity among jazz groups is a surprisingly rare commodity. With relatively few exceptions, a run of a few years, at most, is standard; for a collective of jazz musicians to stick together for a decade or more is almost unheard of. That puts Fourplay, who celebrates their 25th anniversary this year, in a league of their own. Since 1990, bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Chuck Loeb (who joined five years ago) and drummer Harvey Mason have continued to explore together, their efforts resulting in what All Music Guide called one of “the most intuitive, forward-thinking and focused groups in modern jazz.

This is Igor Geržina's selection from his albums: Metropolis, One Click World and Bucket List. 1 hour of pure sax pleasure for your chill playlist. Enjoy! Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash.

This album is one of the reasons that Idris Muhammad is regarded as the drumming king of groove. Featuring the arrangements and keyboards of Bob James, the saxophone punch of Grover Washington, Jr., guitarist Joe Beck, trumpeter Randy Brecker, percussionist Ralph MacDonald, and the knife-edge slick production of Creed Taylor, this 1974 issue is a burning piece of deep, jazzy soul and grooved-out bliss.

Billboard chart topping saxophonist Jackiem Joyner's 2019 release of the Love, Romance, & R&B Album. With a focus on down temp "Grown & Sexy Vibes. "I played mostly soprano and I wanted the album to have an urban melodic feel". Think Tre songz or"Tank" and you get the idea. Joined by Multi-Platinum & Grammy Nominated saxophonist and flautist Najee along with smooth jazz super star Peter White to complete this brilliant urban production. You've heard the single at radio! "Last Dance( feat. Peter White)! Currently in the top 20 on the Billboard!

Jessy J's fifth studio album, 2013's Second Chances, features more of the saxophonist/vocalist's contemporary R&B- and Latin pop-influenced smooth jazz. Moving from Heads Up to the Shanachie label, J – who also co-produced and arranged many of the tracks on Second Chances – focuses primarily this time out on her own original compositions. She does, however, turn in a funky cover of Brazilian icon Carlinhos Brown's "Magalenha," as well as soul legend Roberta Flack and Eugene McDaniels' "Feel Like Makin' Love," on which J showcases her breathy, romantic vocal chops.

Shakatak hasn’t changed their signature style in over 50 albums and that’s the reason why their fans stay faithful to this group. Shakatak are Bill Sharpe (keyboards), Jill Saward (vocals), Roger Odell (drums) and George Anderson (bass). Their new album is In The Blue Zone and will be released on June 28, 2019 in Europe and on August 9, 2019 in the States.

In four short years, contemporary/smooth jazz tenor saxophonist Jessica Arellano (Jessy J) has made quite a splash. Hot Sauce, her Heads Up International debut – and fourth album overall – was produced by Paul Brown, and includes guest appearances from heavyweights Joe Sample, drummer Harvey Mason, guitarist Ray Parker Jr., and vocalist Saunders Sermons. Arellano wrote or co-wrote eight of the album's ten compositions.

Prelude includes the biggest hit for CTI Records, the Grammy®-winning Also Sprach Zarathustra, an arrangement of Richard Strauss s fanfare used as the main theme in 2001: A Space Odyssey. It rose to No. 2 on the U.S. pop charts and won the 1974 Grammy Award® for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

The world's top contemporary jazz ensemble performs live in South Africa, blending their smooth jazz signature sound with large doses of pop, R&B and African beats!

Fourplay has always been misunderstood by many jazz critics, who misinterpret the band's easygoing groove as background music. But while Fourplay has always remained true to its name—with seductive rhythms to get you in the mood—on its new CD, its seventh in thirteen years, more than ever the band combines those seductive sounds with some real playing that fans can feast on. It's no surprise that Fourplay puts the talents of its leaders out front, since the band boasts the talents of superstars Larry Carlton on guitar, Bob James on piano, Nathan East on bass and Harvey Mason on drums.