#JEFF WINBUSH

[projazznet]

The Omar Hakim Experience – We Are One

"We Are One stands as the great drummer's magnum opus in a long and illustrious career, - "Bill Milkowski. “We Are One is a wide-ranging and wildly diverse project that captures Hakim in his element, both as an in-demand musician and as an artist ambitiously, aggressively and audaciously pursuing his own goals. This eminently impressive album deserves to be heard and enjoyed by anyone who considers themselves a fan, or who simply wants to hear something boldly fresh and stylishly original which rewards with every listen. It is time to get experienced.” – Jeff Winbush/AllAboutJazz.

[riffsstrides]

Hiromi, Edmar Castaneda

Live in Montreal

Concord, 2017

Hiromi: piano;

Edmar Castaneda: harp

Here's a good rule of thumb to consider when reviewing a jazz record and by that, I mean any jazz record. Jazz music is live music so if it sounds good in the studio will it sound even better on the stage? In other words, if you're willing to pay $50 for a ticket, you're probably not getting burned spending $15 for a record. Of course, if it's a live album and Hiromi & Edmar Castenda/Live in Montreal is a live album just like it says in the title, so disregard the previous paragraph and consider this instead: do you wish you had been there? Eh. Not this time I don't. When you can do nearly anything on your chosen instrument, the temptation is to try anything. This can lead an artist to some rather interesting places because when it works the results can be gratifying and enriching. The inherent risk is when it doesn't work, the end product can be a jarring misfire or an unmitigated disaster. Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda: Live In Montreal is neither of those things. What it is is an experiment that succeeds sporadically more than it fails spectacularly. Hiromi Uehara is an adventurous and restless soul. She does duets with Chick Corea, trios with Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Anthony Jackson and Simon Phillips, quartets with David Fuzcyzinski, Tony Grey and Martin Valhosa and solos all by herself. A true virtuoso, Hiromi has carved out an impressive career with more killer crossovers, head fakes, Eurosteps and mad hops than a NBA point guard. She can dish the rock, take it to the hole, and knock down the "j." She's bad and she knows it too. But even Steph Curry occasionally dribbles a ball off his foot. Here she's teamed up with Castaneda, who opened for Hiromi's Trio Project at the 2016 Montreal International Jazz Festival. The Japanese pianist was blown away by the Colombian harpist saying, "It was a jaw-dropping experience. I didn't realize the harp could create such rhythm and groove." Out of that exposure came a conversation about collaborating and he would go on to join Hiromi during a weeklong engagement at New York's Blue Note Jazz Club. This collaboration is no air ball, but it tends at times to clang off the rim rather than swoosh through the net. Even when she's not on her "A" game, Hiromi's "B" game is still pretty bad ass. The flaw in Live in Montreal is where she's normally astonishing, here she's just pretty good. Point of fact is, same as the aforementioned point guard, Hiromi excels as part of a team. One such team was her Trio Project with Phillips and Jackson where six years and four albums composing some of the most vibrant and thrilling jazz fusion since Weather Report was a thing. You get the best out of Hiromi, when she has other musicians who can both keep up and push her harder. Phillips' drumming and Jackson's bass got that from her. A harp does not. Call it eclectic or exotic, but a harp does not command attention, does not funk, does not rock, does not jazz. A harp is pretty, but it does not stand-out as a musical instrument. Personal tastes only and your mileage may vary. No shade on Casteneda's skill set; he extracts sounds from his instrument which defy expectations of what a harp is supposed to sound like. It's interesting and at times like "The Elements" suite the combination exceeds those expectations, but for this reviewer's ears it is not going to spark a revolution where street corner musicians playing for spare change toss their saxophones in the trash and pick up the harp. Hiromi has never made a flat-out bad record and still hasn't, but there's nothing here which to make Live In Montreal the definitive go-to album her discography. This is the sound of the young artist in a holding pattern between what has gone before and what comes. Boilerplate product this is not. What it is an adequate placeholder.

JEFF WINBUSH  in All About Jazz

[don-lichterman]

Lotus Blossom Days album review @ All About Jazz

Lotus Blossom Days album review @ All About Jazz

Album Review By Jeff Winbush July 10, 2022 Sign in to view read count Whatever else can be said about jazz, there is little disagreement that it is best experienced in a live setting. Listening to Vicki Burns’ Lotus Blossom Days is as close to a front-row seat in a New York nightclub as many of us are likely to get in these times of high fuel costs and crowded airports. Burns is not attempting…

[smoothmixes925]

Smooth Jazz Mixes

#smoothjazz...Hi, This week guitarist 🎸 Sheldon Ferguson reigns in 2018 with a brand new single entitled “Now Is The Time” from his latest Soul Searching...Just click inside the link below, then go to number 2, “SMOOTH SPECIAL”,.. We also include smooth jazz mixes on keyboardists, Jaee Logan, James Lloyd, Jeff Lorber, George Duke, Rodney Franklin, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Jonathan Fritzen, Alex Bugnon, Brian Culbertson, Brian Simpson, Bob James, Bob Baldwin, Bobby Lyle, Gail Jhonson, Marcus Johnson, Nicholas Cole, Gregg Karukas, Patrick Bradley, Paul Hardcastle, vibraphonist, Roy Ayers, to include guitarists, Chuck Loeb, Larry Carlton, Jeff Golub, Marc Antoine, George Benson, Norman Brown, Earl Klugh, Ronny Jordan, Lee Ritenour, Joyce Cooling, Chris Standring, Chieli Minucci, Craig T.Cooper, Tim Bowman, Peter White, Paul Brown, Jonathan Butler, Thumper, and generation one, bassists, Wayman Tisdale, Julian Vaughn, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, saxophonists, Will Donato, Gerald Albright, Najee, Walter Beasley, Paul Taylor, Art Porter, Kim Waters, George Howard, Grover Washington Jr., Steve Cole, Richard Elliot, Jeff Kashiwa, Kenny G, Kyle Woverton, Euge Groove, Daniel Chia, J.Spencer, Pamela Williams, Marion Meadows, Candy Dulfer, Warren Hill, Everette Harp, Eric Darius, Jeanette Harris, Pieces Of Dream, The Urban Knights, The Rippingtons, Jazz Funk Soul, Incognito, Spur Of The Moment, Fourplay, Down To The Bone, 480 East, Special EFX, M.F.S.B, flautists, Hubert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Althea Rene, Ragan Whiteside, trumpeters, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, Rick Braun, Chris Botti, Cindy Bradley, Tom Browne, Streetwize, to include classic r&b from Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Earth Wind Fire, The S.O.S. Band, Ohio Players, L.T.D., Lakeside, Slave, Steve Arrington, The O'Jays, The Isley Brothers, The Barkays, Chic, Change, Side Effect, Mass Production, The Brothers Johnson, The Whispers, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Cameo, BB&Q, Skyy, The Gap Band, Brass Construction, Babyface, Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendegass, R Kelly, Rick James, El Debarge, Chico Debarge, Guy, The Spinners, The Dazz Band, Loose Ends, Ruff Endz, Bluey, Eric Benet, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Angela Winbush, Sheila E., Prince, The Time, Roger, and Zapp, Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, One Way featuring Al Hudson, Mtume, George Clinton, Parliamet-Funkadelic, Atlantic Starr, Midnight Starr, Heatwave, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Chante Moore, Kashif, James Brown, Jesse Johnson, Gerald Levert, Gary Taylor, Maxwell, Rahsaan Patterson, D’Angelo, KEM, JOE, Kenny Lattimore, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, O’Bryan, and new r&b from Maysa, Eric Roberson, Charlie Wilson, Mary J.Blige, Ledisi, Musiq, Calvin Richardson, and sooo many others with Donald Grammer and Gail Jhonson on http://smoothmixes925.com/smooth-jazz-mixes/

[fivestarjamz]

“Annie Christian” by Prince (1981)

Weird Prince is not always great Prince...wait, let me walk that back.

Just about everything Prince put out (especially during his 1980-88 imperial period) qualifies as at least a little bit weird. Most of it is great, the worst of it is merely good. “Annie Christian”, sonically and lyrically, is great...not “Kiss” or “When Doves Cry” or “Adore” great. But second tier Prince great, which is still better than 90% of the music ever made. And weird. He talks instead of sings over video game synthesizers, rips off a distorted guitar solo, and basically sounds 180 degrees different than the dude who cooed “I Wanna Be Your Lover” two years before. We were very quickly being trained to expect the unexpected from Mister Nelson.

“Annie Christian” is an overt political statement, and Prince had yet to make one of those in his then-short career. In brief, rapid-fire bursts, he calls out the Atlanta Child Murders, John Lennon’s death, and ABSCAM, which this entry compelled me to look up on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abscam). He attributes all of these factual incidents to a fictional(?*) character he dubs Annie Christian (aka The Anti-Christ). I’m not sure if Prince was going for a news reporter vibe in his vocal delivery, but his deadpan cadence comes across as quite unsettling. It’s interesting to note that in 1981, some folks appear to have been just as freaked out about the U.S. political situation as we are now. “Nice to know that the gun control argument has gone nowhere in the last thirty-six years,” Prince is probably muttering somewhere in the afterlife.

*given Prince’s religious beliefs, I can’t be sure.

Four star songs between “Angel” and “Annie Christian”: “Angel” (Simply Red feat. The Fugees, 1996...a cover of the Aretha song) | “Angel” (Angela Winbush, 1987) | “Angel Dust” (Gil-Scott Heron, 1978...definitely thought long and hard about giving this one 5 stars) | “Angel Eyes” (The Jeff Healey Band, 1988) | “Angel Eyes” (Roxy Music, 1979) | “Angel In Disguise” (Brandy feat. JOE, 1998) | “Angel Of Harlem” (U2, 1988) | “Angela (Theme From ‘Taxi’)” (Bob James, 1978) | “Angelia” (Richard Marx, 1989...another one I almost went 5 stars on) | “Angels” (Khalid, 2017) | “Angels” (Robin Thicke, 2006) | “Angels Cry” (Mariah Carey, 2009) | “Anger” (Marvin Gaye, 1978) | “Angie Girl” (Stevie Wonder, 1969) | “Animal” (Def Leppard, 1987) | “Animal” (Pearl Jam, 1993) | “Animals” (Emily King, 2015) | “Anna’s Song” (Marvin Gaye, 1978) | “Annabella’s Song” (Everclear, 2000)

[blackkudos]

Angela Winbush

Angela Lisa Winbush (born January 18, 1955) is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter who rose to fame first in the 1980s R&B duo René & Angela, also scoring hits as a solo artist. To date, Winbush has sold over ten million albums and singles worldwide.

Biography

Early life and career

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Angela began singing in church. She grew up in a middle-class area of St. Louis. She did not initially aspire to a career in music, instead studying architecture at Howard University, singing only to earn extra money. She continued to sing in church while at Howard as well as with gospel legend Richard Smallwood. She also performed as a singer with a group called "Hot Tea" while she attended Howard University. They opened for various well-known performers during shows and also did background singing for recording artists. One of the other members of "Hot Tea" was Tawatha Agee, who later did a lot of background singing on the albums of several well-noted recording artists, eventually joining the funk/soul band Mtume. By 1977, Angela had changed her major to music education and recorded a demo. She shopped it to various record labels with no success but, through a personal introduction furnished by respected industry veteran, Wayne K. Garfield, the demo was heard by New York disc jockey Gary Byrd, who made the call that landed Angela a spot in Stevie Wonder's backing vocal group, Wonderlove. Becoming Wonder's protégé, she learned a great deal about writing and arranging songs. While in Los Angeles with Wonder, Angela met singer Rene Moore. The two formed the duo René & Angela later that year. They soon came to the realization that they could be successful as duo music writers and producers for others as well, and began pursuing that goal. René & Angela released their self-titled debut album in 1980, followed by Wall to Wall in 1982 and Rise in 1983. During this period they had two moderate R&B hit singles, "I Love You More" and "My First Love".

A Street Called Desire and meeting Ron Isley

During Rene & Angela's early years, Moore and Winbush were asked to write and produce four songs for Janet Jackson's 1982 self-titled debut album, Janet Jackson. One of the songs, "Young Love", became Jackson's first top ten R&B hit reaching number six on the chart. They also wrote exclusively for Stephanie Mills, who forged a close friendship with Winbush (their "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love", gave Mills her first-ever #1 R&B single, in 1985). Winbush would later write another Mills number one R&B hit with "Something in the Way You Make Me Feel". Between that, Rene & Angela decided to branch out and find a bigger fan base signing with Mercury Records in 1984. They released their breakthrough album, A Street Called Desire the following year. Among the hit singles included on the album was their first R&B number one with the dance single, "Save Your Love (For #1)", which included guest vocals from rapper Kurtis Blow, making it besides Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You", one of the first songs to prominently feature a rapper. Other hit singles included "I'll Be Good", the mostly Winbush-led "Your Smile" was another number one hit, while the subsequent "You Don't Have to Cry" hit number two in the beginning of 1986. Eventually A Street Called Desire sold over a million copies, going platinum, but on the brink of their greatest success, tensions between Winbush and Moore had grown. After their split, Moore would continue to find success as a songwriter and producer, most notably for Michael Jackson.

In 1986, Winbush was introduced to Ronald Isley, lead singer of the influential Isley Brothers after Benny Medina had agreed to ask Winbush to be involved with the Isleys' next record when Isley proposed plans to work with Winbush on a future project. Producing, writing and arranging the Isleys' Smooth Sailin' album, Winbush helped the group, now featuring just Ronald and Rudolph (eldest brother O'Kelly had died the previous year), score a top 10 R&B hit with the title track.

Sharp and subsequent follow-ups

In turn, Isley opted to manage Winbush and he helped in the process of releasing her debut solo album, Sharp, which was also released in 1987. The album included the huge hit, "Angel" which showcased Winbush's four-octave range. The song reached the #1 R&B position for two weeks in 1987. Other notable hits include the dance track, "Run to Me", "C'est Toi (It's You)" and the Ron Isley duet, "Hello Beloved". The album spent twenty-eight weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart and fifty-one weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 1988, she wrote and produced two tracks for Sheena Easton's gold album The Lover in Me. They were "Without You" and "Fire and Rain", both of which showcased Easton's lower range and surprisingly soulful vocals. In 1989, Winbush released her follow-up to Sharp with It's the Real Thing. The title track reached number two on the R&B chart while subsequent hits "No More Tears" and "Lay Your Troubles Down" continued Winbush's top 40 success on the R&B charts where she was now a fixture on despite failed attempts to cross her over to pop audiences. She sang the song she wrote for Stephanie Mills ("I Have Learned To Respect The Power of Love") on the "It's The Real Thing" album. On June 26, 1993, Winbush and longtime manager/collaborator/lover Ronald Isley, who is thirteen years Angela's senior, married. A year later Winbush released her third self-titled solo album, which included the huge R&B hit, "Treat U Rite". Produced by Chuckii Booker, the song peaked at number six on the R&B chart making it Winbush's ninth top ten R&B hit altogether in her career. In 1996, Winbush was featured on the Isley Brothers' (rejoined by brothers Ernie and Marvin) hit "Floatin' On Your Love", which was essentially a duet between Winbush and Ron Isley. The song was later remixed by Sean "Puffy" Combs and featured guest vocals from Lil' Kim and the group 112 in backgrounds. The video for it showcased Winbush serenading Isley's Mr. Biggs character. Winbush continued to collaborate with the Isley Brothers until 2001's Eternal, where afterwards, their marriage had cooled off. In 2002, Winbush and Isley quietly divorced. In 2003, Winbush made news when it was found out she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Eventually after a successful surgery, the cancer was in remission and Winbush returned to perform on the road.

Legacy and influence

Since starting out with Rene & Angela, Winbush and Moore have played an influence on various R&B and hip-hop acts. In the latter genre, their music has been sampled by acts such as The Notorious B.I.G. (who featured her and Jay-Z on his Rene & Angela-sampled "I Love You More" for the song "I Love the Dough"), Foxy Brown (who sampled her "I'll Be Good" for her 1997 top ten hit, "I'll Be", Rapper Sylk-E. Fyne's 1998 hit "Romeo and Juliet" that samples Rene and Angela's "You Don't Have to Cry", and last but not least singer Avant re-recorded the Rene & Angela ballad, "My First Love", with singer Keke Wyatt in 2000. In appreciation during Avant's performance of the song on BET's 106 & Park, in 2001, Winbush surprised the audience by singing alongside Avant on the song. As a singer, Winbush is well noted by her gospel-influenced musical humming during her songs. She has influenced the likes of Syleena Johnson and Chante Moore. Winbush and former partner Rene Moore also shared the distinction for being one of the first R&B acts to prominently feature a rap act in a R&B song sharing that distinction with Jody Watley, Chaka Khan and funk band Cameo. Winbush also carries the distinction of being one of the few female artists to find success as a songwriter, arranger, producer and session musician (Winbush also is an avid musician playing piano and keyboards).

Personal life

During a 2006 interview on the Christian TV show, Gospel of Music with Jeff Majors, Winbush disclosed that she'd overcome Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer after 6 months of chemotherapy in 2003. During the interview she revealed that her undying faith in God got her through having a cyst (benign) removed from her breast, the ending of her marriage to Isley in divorce, and her struggle with depression.

Wikipedia

[discj24]

SMOOTH MIXES 925

Hi, This week SMOOTH MIXES 925 welcomes flautist, Althea Rene to the mix with “Barbara Mae”from her latest, Flawsome....Just click the link below, once there, tap number 1 “SMOOTHMATIZE MIX 2019”....Also in the mix, keyboardists 🎹, Jaee Logan, James Lloyd, Jeff Lorber, George Duke, Rodney Franklin, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Jonathan Fritzen, David Benoit, Alex Bugnon, Brian Culbertson, Brian Simpson, Bob James, Bob Baldwin, Bobby Lyle, Gail Jhonson, Marcus Johnson, Nicholas Cole, Kayla Waters, Gregg Karukas, Patrick Bradley, Paul Hardcastle, Kevin Toney, vibraphonist, Roy Ayers, to include guitarists, Chuck Loeb, Larry Carlton, Dwight Sills, Doc Powell, Jeff Golub, Marc Antoine, George Benson, Norman Brown, Earl Klugh, Ray Parker Jr., Ronny Jordan, Lee Ritenour, Joyce Cooling, Chris Standring, NILS, U-NAM, Chieli Minucci, Craig T.Cooper, Tim Bowman, Peter White, Paul Brown, Jonathan Butler, bassists, Wayman Tisdale, Julian Vaughn, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, saxophonists, Gerald Albright, Najee, Walter Beasley, Paul Taylor, Art Porter, Kim Waters, Dee Lucas, George Howard, Grover Washington Jr., Steve Cole, Richard Elliot, Jeff Kashiwa, Kenny G, Kyle Woverton, Euge Groove, Daniel Chia, J.Spencer, Pamela Williams, Marion Meadows, Candy Dulfer, Warren Hill, Everette Harp, Eric Darius, Pieces Of Dream, The Urban Knights, The Rippingtons, Jazz Funk Soul, Jazz In Pink, Incognito, Spur Of The Moment, Fourplay, Down To The Bone, 480 East, Special EFX, M.F.S.B, flautists, Hubert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Ragan Whiteside, trumpeters, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, Rick Braun, Chris Botti, Cindy Bradley, Tom Browne, Streetwize, to include classic r&b from Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Earth Wind Fire, The S.O.S. Band, Ohio Players, L.T.D., Lakeside, Slave, Steve Arrington, The O'Jays, The Isley Brothers, The Barkays, Chic, Change, Side Effect, Starpoint, Mass Production, The Brothers Johnson, The Whispers, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Cameo, BB&Q, Skyy, The Gap Band, Brass Construction, The BlackByrds, Gerald Alston, Babyface, Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendegrass, R Kelly, Rick James, El Debarge, Chico Debarge, Guy, The Spinners, The Dazz Band, Loose Ends, Ruff Endz, Bluey, Eric Benet, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Angela Winbush, Sheila E., Prince, The Time, Roger, and Zapp, Vesta, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, One Way featuring Al Hudson, Mtume, George Clinton, Parliamet-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, Atlantic Starr, Midnight Starr, Heatwave, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Minnie Ripperton, Chante Moore, Kashif, James Brown, Jesse Johnson, Gerald Levert, Gary Taylor, Maxwell, Rahsaan Patterson, D’Angelo, KEM, JOE, Kenny Lattimore, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, O’Bryan, and new r&b from Maysa, Eric Roberson, Charlie Wilson, Mary J.Blige, Ledisi, Musiq, Calvin Richardson, and sooo many others with Donald Grammer and Gail Jhonson on http://smoothmixes925.com/smooth-jazz-mixes/ Here’s a smooth Jazz #Spotify #Youtube #smoothjazzradio #BobBaldwin #WVST #GeraldAlbright #MarionMeadows #WQTQ #WVAS #smoothjazzchicago #like #WSBZ #iHeartRadio #SiriusXM #WJZA #NassauJazzFestival #WNWV #SeabreezeJazzfestival #WFSK #NewportbeachJazzfestival #WEIB #Oxnardjazzfestival #radio #KJLU #jazz #Googleplay #Napster #Share #SJNT

[uscemployeegateway]

Good morning! Here’s today’s Photo of the Day:

Marsha Chavarria-Winbush is the November winner of the monthly staff award – she’s seen here flanked by Staff Assembly President Jeff de Caen and Michelle Jones of the Staff Club. Photo/Staff Assembly

[podilatokafe]

Mike Stern: Trip Mike Stern: Trip jazz review by Jeff Winbush, published on September 12, 2017. Find thousands reviews at All About Jazz! Πηγή: Mike Stern: Trip

[djquestflavor]

STILL AVAILABLE FOR $5 MY CLASSIC R&B THROWBACKS CD VOL. 2 FEATURING 80'S, 90'S & EARLY 2000 HITS...HIT ME UP FOR YOUR COPY & I WILL DELIVER IT TO YOU (973) 652-8626 ____________________________________ DJ QUESTFLAVOR R&B THROWBACKS VOL 2. 1. INTRO 2. CASE - TOUCH ME TEASE ME FEAT. FOXY BROWN 3. JODECI - COME & TALK TO ME REMIX 4. JODECI - FREAKIN' YOU REMIX FEAT. RAEKWON & GHOSTFACE KILLAH 5. TOTAL - CAN'T YOU SEE FEAT. THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. 6. FAITH EVANS - AIN'T NOBODY 7. FAITH EVANS - YOU USED TO LOVE ME 8. HORACE BROWN - TASTE YOUR LOVE 9. MONICA - DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL 10. MONA LISA - CAN'T BE WASTING MY TIME FEAT. THE LOST BOYZ 11. GROOVE THEORY - TELL ME 12. YVETTE MICHELE - EVERYDAY & EVERYNIGHT 13. R. KELLY - (YOU TO BE) BE HAPPY FEAT. THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. 14. THE ISLEY BROTHERS - FLOAT ON REMIX FEAT. ANGELA WINBUSH, LIL' KIM & 112 15. MISS JONES - LOVE SOMEBODY ELSE FEAT. THE LOX 16. ADINA HOWARD - T-SHIRT & PATIES REMIX FEAT. CAM'RON & CHARLIE BALTIMORE 17. METHOD MAN - YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY FEAT. MARY J. BLIGE 18. COKO - SUNSHINE 19. MARY J. BLIGE - YOU BRING ME JOY 20. MARY J. BLIGE - BACK 2 LIFE 2001 FEAT. JADAKISS 21. ALLURE - HEAD OVER HEELS FEAT. NAS 22. SWV - ANYTHING FEAT. WU-TANG CLAN 23. BOBBY BROWN - EVERY LITTLE STEP I TAKE 24. NEW EDITION - IF IT ISN'T LOVE 25. EN VOGUE - HOLD ON 26. MARIAH CAREY - FANTASY REMIX FEAT. Ol' DIRTY BASTARD 27. MONTELL JORDAN - THIS IS HOW WE DO IT 28. IDEAL - WHATEVER FEAT. LIL' MO 29. DONELL JONES - U KNOW WHAT'S UP FEAT. LEFT-EYE 30. JAHEIM - JUST IN CASE 31. KOFFEE BROWN - AFTER PARTY 32. JEFF REDD - YOU CALLED AND TOLD ME _______________________________________

[riffsstrides]

Ashleigh Smith

Sunkissed

Concord, 2016

Ashleigh Smith: vocals; Shelton Summers: piano, Fender Rhodes; Sergio Pamies: piano (9); Joel Cross: guitar; Mark Lettieri: electric guitar (3, 9); Justin Schenk: electric guitar (3, 9); Nigel Rivers: electric bass; Cedric Moore: drums (1, 5); Marcus Jones: drums (2, 4); Matt Young: drums (9); Cleon Edwards: drums; Greg Beck: percussion (1); AJ Flores: percussion: (2-4, 6, 7); Kevin Wyatt: harmonica (1); Jarriel Carter: trumpet (1,7); Jason Davis: saxophone (1, 7); Gaika James: trombone (1, 7); Antone Amalbert: trombone (1, 7); Veronica Gan: 1st violin (4, 9); Emily Aquin: 2nd violin (4, 9); Emily Williams: viola (1, 7); Craig Leffer: cello (1, 7)

Summer 2016 was hot, sticky and not a lot of fun. Many big name Hollywood blockbusters tanked. The presidential election has been a long slog. Television ratings for the Summer Olympics were off and every time you turned on the TV there were plenty of reasons to turn it back off.

Then along came Ashleigh Smith to save the summer with Sunkissed as welcome as coming across brightly sparkling gem in the sand. Blessed with maturity beyond her years, Smith is a singer more than a stylist who caresses and interprets a song rather than hammer the listener with hey-look-at-me vocal gymnastics.

The 27-year-old Dallas-based singer/songwriter effortlessly blends soul, jazz and pop on her debut album. Smith's "Best Friends" is radio-friendly and serves as an nice introduction to what she brings to the party. There's a breezy bossa nova groove to the tune as Smith references her fondness for Stevie Wonder courtesy of Kevin Wyatt's nifty harmonica work.

Smith's skill set includes songwriting as she co-wrote five of the album's 10 compositions. The other half includes covers of The Beatles "Blackbird' and Hall & Oates' 1975 hit, "Sara Smile" and they work best as showpieces for Smith's comfort with lighter fare without really moving the needle as game-changing interpretations.

What does work better for Smith are her own songs like "The World Is Calling," a commentary on contemporary social issues which avoids becoming preachy, the optimistic "Sunkissed" and the sparkling "Into the Blue" which is enhanced in no small part by the four-piece horn section arranged by trumpeter Jarriel Carter. The whole album is brimming with right choices by Smith and producers Chris Dunn and Nigel Rivers and avoids any glaring missteps, but "Into the Blue" is a track that demands repeat listening.

In 2014, Smith won the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition after placing second two years later. She added vocal backup for pop artist Chrisette Michele and covers one of her compositions, "Love Is You" but Smith is equally comfortable with standards as she closes out with Anthony Newley's "Pure Imagination" from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stripped down to only her multi-tracked vocals and it is a pure delight.

Read the liner notes and the names of the other musicians likely aren't familiar ones. That is not an accident. Smith wanted to avoid "big name" musicians and went with other players she worked with from a jazz camp at the University of North Texas. When a new artist enters the studio the temptation is there to wrap them in a cocoon of hand-picked professional musicians and production. Thankfully, Sunkissed does not succumb to playing it safe and Smith never gets lost in studio gimmicks.

In 2014, an AAJ critic wrote, "For jazz not only to thrive, but survive, it must begin to create its own superstars who can deliver a much-needed shot of adrenaline to the flagging art form, but possess skills in social media and marketing, creating a global brand, and finding new forms beyond record sales, radio play and live gigs in fewer clubs and concert halls to reach the new breed of jazz fans."

Ashleigh Smith announces with Sunkissed the next generation of jazz artists is here for the previous generation to pass the baton on to capable hands. She's not the next Sarah Vaughan. She's the first Ashleigh Smith.

JEFF WINBUSH  in All About Jazz

[smoothmixes925]

This week saxophonist 🎷 Don Diego takes lead in the mix with “I’m Still Standing” which is the title track from his latest, I’m Still Standing.. Just tap the link below to listen, once there tap #1”Smooth Signals Mix 2018.....Also in the mix, keyboardists 🎹, Jaee Logan, James Lloyd, Jeff Lorber, George Duke, Rodney Franklin, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Jonathan Fritzen, David Benoit, Alex Bugnon, Brian Culbertson, Brian Simpson, Bob James, Bob Baldwin, Bobby Lyle, Gail Jhonson, Marcus Johnson, Nicholas Cole, Kayla Waters, Gregg Karukas, Patrick Bradley, Paul Hardcastle, Kevin Toney, vibraphonist, Roy Ayers, to include guitarists, Chuck Loeb, Larry Carlton, Dwight Sills, Doc Powell, Jeff Golub, Marc Antoine, George Benson, Norman Brown, Earl Klugh, Ray Parker Jr., Ronny Jordan, Lee Ritenour, Joyce Cooling, Chris Standring, NILS, U-NAM, Chieli Minucci, Craig T.Cooper, Tim Bowman, Peter White, Paul Brown, Jonathan Butler, Thumper, and generation one, bassists, Wayman Tisdale, Julian Vaughn, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, saxophonists, Will Donato, Gerald Albright, Najee, Walter Beasley, Paul Taylor, Art Porter, Kim Waters, George Howard, Grover Washington Jr., Steve Cole, Richard Elliot, Jeff Kashiwa, Kenny G, Kyle Woverton, Euge Groove, Daniel Chia, J.Spencer, Pamela Williams, Marion Meadows, Candy Dulfer, Warren Hill, Everette Harp, Eric Darius, Jeanette Harris, Pieces Of Dream, The Urban Knights, The Rippingtons, Jazz Funk Soul, Jazz In Pink, Incognito, Spur Of The Moment, Fourplay, Down To The Bone, 480 East, Special EFX, M.F.S.B, flautists, Hubert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Althea Rene, Ragan Whiteside, trumpeters, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, Rick Braun, Chris Botti, Cindy Bradley, Tom Browne, Streetwize, to include classic r&b from Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Earth Wind Fire, The S.O.S. Band, Ohio Players, L.T.D., Lakeside, Slave, Steve Arrington, The O'Jays, The Isley Brothers, The Barkays, Chic, Change, Side Effect, Starpoint, Mass Production, The Brothers Johnson, The Whispers, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Cameo, BB&Q, Skyy, The Gap Band, Brass Construction, The BlackByrds, Gerald Alston, Babyface, Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendegrass, R Kelly, Rick James, El Debarge, Chico Debarge, Guy, The Spinners, The Dazz Band, Loose Ends, Ruff Endz, Bluey, Eric Benet, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Angela Winbush, Sheila E., Prince, The Time, Roger, and Zapp, Vesta, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, One Way featuring Al Hudson, Mtume, George Clinton, Parliamet-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, Atlantic Starr, Midnight Starr, Heatwave, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Minnie Ripperton, Chante Moore, Kashif, James Brown, Jesse Johnson, Gerald Levert, Gary Taylor, Maxwell, Rahsaan Patterson, D’Angelo, KEM, JOE, Kenny Lattimore, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, O’Bryan, and new r&b from Maysa, Eric Roberson, Charlie Wilson, Mary J.Blige, Ledisi, Musiq, Calvin Richardson, and sooo many others with Donald Grammer and Gail Jhonson on http://smoothmixes925.com/smooth-jazz-mixes/

[smoothmixes925]

#Smooth Jazz Mixes

#LakeArborJazzFestival...In the mix this week, Its smooth jazz guitarists 🎸NILS and U-NAM to include the latest from NILS with “California” from his latest PLAY...Just tap/click the link below and go number 2 NILS and U-NAM Mix.. Also in the mix, keyboardists 🎹, Jaee Logan, James Lloyd, Jeff Lorber, George Duke, Rodney Franklin, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Jonathan Fritzen, Alex Bugnon, Brian Culbertson, Brian Simpson, Bob James, Bob Baldwin, Bobby Lyle, Gail Jhonson, Marcus Johnson, Nicholas Cole, Gregg Karukas, Patrick Bradley, Paul Hardcastle, Kevin Toney, vibraphonist, Roy Ayers, to include guitarists, Chuck Loeb, Larry Carlton, Dwight Sills, Jeff Golub, Marc Antoine, George Benson, Norman Brown, Earl Klugh, Ray Parker Jr., Ronny Jordan, Lee Ritenour, Joyce Cooling, Chris Standring, NILS, U-NAM, Chieli Minucci, Craig T.Cooper, Tim Bowman, Peter White, Paul Brown, Jonathan Butler, Thumper, and generation one, bassists, Wayman Tisdale, Julian Vaughn, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, saxophonists, Will Donato, Gerald Albright, Najee, Walter Beasley, Paul Taylor, Art Porter, Kim Waters, George Howard, Grover Washington Jr., Steve Cole, Richard Elliot, Jeff Kashiwa, Kenny G, Kyle Woverton, Euge Groove, Daniel Chia, J.Spencer, Pamela Williams, Marion Meadows, Candy Dulfer, Warren Hill, Everette Harp, Eric Darius, Jeanette Harris, Pieces Of Dream, The Urban Knights, The Rippingtons, Jazz Funk Soul, Jazz In Pink, Incognito, Spur Of The Moment, Fourplay, Down To The Bone, 480 East, Special EFX, M.F.S.B, flautists, Hubert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Althea Rene, Ragan Whiteside, trumpeters, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, Rick Braun, Chris Botti, Cindy Bradley, Tom Browne, Streetwize, to include classic r&b from Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Earth Wind Fire, The S.O.S. Band, Ohio Players, L.T.D., Lakeside, Slave, Steve Arrington, The O'Jays, The Isley Brothers, The Barkays, Chic, Change, Side Effect, Starpoint, Mass Production, The Brothers Johnson, The Whispers, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Cameo, BB&Q, Skyy, The Gap Band, Brass Construction, The BlackByrds, Gerald Alston, Babyface, Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendegrass, R Kelly, Rick James, El Debarge, Chico Debarge, Guy, The Spinners, The Dazz Band, Loose Ends, Ruff Endz, Bluey, Eric Benet, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Angela Winbush, Sheila E., Prince, The Time, Roger, and Zapp, Vesta, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, One Way featuring Al Hudson, Mtume, George Clinton, Parliamet-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, Atlantic Starr, Midnight Starr, Heatwave, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Minnie Ripperton, Chante Moore, Kashif, James Brown, Jesse Johnson, Gerald Levert, Gary Taylor, Maxwell, Rahsaan Patterson, D’Angelo, KEM, JOE, Kenny Lattimore, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, O’Bryan, and new r&b from Maysa, Eric Roberson, Charlie Wilson, Mary J.Blige, Ledisi, Musiq, Calvin Richardson, and sooo many others with Donald Grammer and Gail Jhonson on http://smoothmixes925.com/smooth-jazz-mixes/

[smoothmixes925]

Smooth Jazz Mixes

#LakeArborJazzFestival...In the mix this week, Its smooth jazz guitarists 🎸NILS and U-NAM to include the latest from NILS with “California” from his latest PLAY...Just tap/click the link below and go number 2 NILS and U-NAM Mix.. Also in the mix, keyboardists 🎹, Jaee Logan, James Lloyd, Jeff Lorber, George Duke, Rodney Franklin, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Jonathan Fritzen, Alex Bugnon, Brian Culbertson, Brian Simpson, Bob James, Bob Baldwin, Bobby Lyle, Gail Jhonson, Marcus Johnson, Nicholas Cole, Gregg Karukas, Patrick Bradley, Paul Hardcastle, Kevin Toney, vibraphonist, Roy Ayers, to include guitarists, Chuck Loeb, Larry Carlton, Dwight Sills, Jeff Golub, Marc Antoine, George Benson, Norman Brown, Earl Klugh, Ray Parker Jr., Ronny Jordan, Lee Ritenour, Joyce Cooling, Chris Standring, NILS, U-NAM, Chieli Minucci, Craig T.Cooper, Tim Bowman, Peter White, Paul Brown, Jonathan Butler, Thumper, and generation one, bassists, Wayman Tisdale, Julian Vaughn, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, saxophonists, Will Donato, Gerald Albright, Najee, Walter Beasley, Paul Taylor, Art Porter, Kim Waters, George Howard, Grover Washington Jr., Steve Cole, Richard Elliot, Jeff Kashiwa, Kenny G, Kyle Woverton, Euge Groove, Daniel Chia, J.Spencer, Pamela Williams, Marion Meadows, Candy Dulfer, Warren Hill, Everette Harp, Eric Darius, Jeanette Harris, Pieces Of Dream, The Urban Knights, The Rippingtons, Jazz Funk Soul, Jazz In Pink, Incognito, Spur Of The Moment, Fourplay, Down To The Bone, 480 East, Special EFX, M.F.S.B, flautists, Hubert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Althea Rene, Ragan Whiteside, trumpeters, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, Rick Braun, Chris Botti, Cindy Bradley, Tom Browne, Streetwize, to include classic r&b from Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Earth Wind Fire, The S.O.S. Band, Ohio Players, L.T.D., Lakeside, Slave, Steve Arrington, The O'Jays, The Isley Brothers, The Barkays, Chic, Change, Side Effect, Starpoint, Mass Production, The Brothers Johnson, The Whispers, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Cameo, BB&Q, Skyy, The Gap Band, Brass Construction, The BlackByrds, Gerald Alston, Babyface, Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendegrass, R Kelly, Rick James, El Debarge, Chico Debarge, Guy, The Spinners, The Dazz Band, Loose Ends, Ruff Endz, Bluey, Eric Benet, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Angela Winbush, Sheila E., Prince, The Time, Roger, and Zapp, Vesta, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, One Way featuring Al Hudson, Mtume, George Clinton, Parliamet-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, Atlantic Starr, Midnight Starr, Heatwave, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Minnie Ripperton, Chante Moore, Kashif, James Brown, Jesse Johnson, Gerald Levert, Gary Taylor, Maxwell, Rahsaan Patterson, D’Angelo, KEM, JOE, Kenny Lattimore, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, O’Bryan, and new r&b from Maysa, Eric Roberson, Charlie Wilson, Mary J.Blige, Ledisi, Musiq, Calvin Richardson, and sooo many others with Donald Grammer and Gail Jhonson on http://smoothmixes925.com/smooth-jazz-mixes/

[smoothmixes925]

Smooth Jazz Mixes

#Smoothjazz..This week saxophonist 🎷 Euge Groove takes the lead in the mix with, “Saturday Afternoon “ from his latest, Groove On, to include some of his best work in a smooth music mix...Just click on the link below and click #2, EUGE GROOVE MIX... Also in the mix, keyboardists 🎹, Jaee Logan, James Lloyd, Jeff Lorber, George Duke, Rodney Franklin, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Jonathan Fritzen, Alex Bugnon, Brian Culbertson, Brian Simpson, Bob James, Bob Baldwin, Bobby Lyle, Gail Jhonson, Marcus Johnson, Nicholas Cole, Gregg Karukas, Patrick Bradley, Paul Hardcastle, Kevin Toney, vibraphonist, Roy Ayers, to include guitarists, Chuck Loeb, Larry Carlton, Dwight Sills, Jeff Golub, Marc Antoine, George Benson, Norman Brown, Earl Klugh, Ray Parker Jr., Ronny Jordan, Lee Ritenour, Joyce Cooling, Chris Standring, NILS, U-NAM, Chieli Minucci, Craig T.Cooper, Tim Bowman, Peter White, Paul Brown, Jonathan Butler, Thumper, and generation one, bassists, Wayman Tisdale, Julian Vaughn, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, saxophonists, Will Donato, Gerald Albright, Najee, Walter Beasley, Paul Taylor, Art Porter, Kim Waters, George Howard, Grover Washington Jr., Steve Cole, Richard Elliot, Jeff Kashiwa, Kenny G, Kyle Woverton, Euge Groove, Daniel Chia, J.Spencer, Pamela Williams, Marion Meadows, Candy Dulfer, Warren Hill, Everette Harp, Eric Darius, Jeanette Harris, Pieces Of Dream, The Urban Knights, The Rippingtons, Jazz Funk Soul, Jazz In Pink, Incognito, Spur Of The Moment, Fourplay, Down To The Bone, 480 East, Special EFX, M.F.S.B, flautists, Hubert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Althea Rene, Ragan Whiteside, trumpeters, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, Rick Braun, Chris Botti, Cindy Bradley, Tom Browne, Streetwize, to include classic r&b from Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Earth Wind Fire, The S.O.S. Band, Ohio Players, L.T.D., Lakeside, Slave, Steve Arrington, The O'Jays, The Isley Brothers, The Barkays, Chic, Change, Side Effect, Mass Production, The Brothers Johnson, The Whispers, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Cameo, BB&Q, Skyy, The Gap Band, Brass Construction, The BlackByrds, Gerald Alston, Babyface, Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendegrass, R Kelly, Rick James, El Debarge, Chico Debarge, Guy, The Spinners, The Dazz Band, Loose Ends, Ruff Endz, Bluey, Eric Benet, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Angela Winbush, Sheila E., Prince, The Time, Roger, and Zapp, Vesta, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, One Way featuring Al Hudson, Mtume, George Clinton, Parliamet-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, Atlantic Starr, Midnight Starr, Heatwave, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Minnie Ripperton, Chante Moore, Kashif, James Brown, Jesse Johnson, Gerald Levert, Gary Taylor, Maxwell, Rahsaan Patterson, D’Angelo, KEM, JOE, Kenny Lattimore, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, O’Bryan, and new r&b from Maysa, Eric Roberson, Charlie Wilson, Mary J.Blige, Ledisi, Musiq, Calvin Richardson, and sooo many others with Donald Grammer and Gail Jhonson on http://smoothmixes925.com/smooth-jazz-mixes/

[smoothmixes925]

Smoothjazz Mixes

#Smoothjazz.. Veteran smooth jazz saxophonist🎷 Najee Rasheed, makes it to the mix this week with “Stratosphere ” from his latest, Poetry In Motion, to include a collection from some of his previous offerings in a smooth music mix...Just click on the link below and click #2, NAJEE MIX... Also in the mix, keyboardists 🎹, Jaee Logan, James Lloyd, Jeff Lorber, George Duke, Rodney Franklin, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Jonathan Fritzen, Alex Bugnon, Brian Culbertson, Brian Simpson, Bob James, Bob Baldwin, Bobby Lyle, Gail Jhonson, Marcus Johnson, Nicholas Cole, Gregg Karukas, Patrick Bradley, Paul Hardcastle, Kevin Toney, vibraphonist, Roy Ayers, to include guitarists, Chuck Loeb, Larry Carlton, Dwight Sills, Jeff Golub, Marc Antoine, George Benson, Norman Brown, Earl Klugh, Ray Parker Jr., Ronny Jordan, Lee Ritenour, Joyce Cooling, Chris Standring, NILS, U-NAM, Chieli Minucci, Craig T.Cooper, Tim Bowman, Peter White, Paul Brown, Jonathan Butler, Thumper, and generation one, bassists, Wayman Tisdale, Julian Vaughn, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, saxophonists, Will Donato, Gerald Albright, Najee, Walter Beasley, Paul Taylor, Art Porter, Kim Waters, George Howard, Grover Washington Jr., Steve Cole, Richard Elliot, Jeff Kashiwa, Kenny G, Kyle Woverton, Euge Groove, Daniel Chia, J.Spencer, Pamela Williams, Marion Meadows, Candy Dulfer, Warren Hill, Everette Harp, Eric Darius, Jeanette Harris, Pieces Of Dream, The Urban Knights, The Rippingtons, Jazz Funk Soul, Jazz In Pink, Incognito, Spur Of The Moment, Fourplay, Down To The Bone, 480 East, Special EFX, M.F.S.B, flautists, Hubert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Althea Rene, Ragan Whiteside, trumpeters, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, Rick Braun, Chris Botti, Cindy Bradley, Tom Browne, Streetwize, to include classic r&b from Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Earth Wind Fire, The S.O.S. Band, Ohio Players, L.T.D., Lakeside, Slave, Steve Arrington, The O'Jays, The Isley Brothers, The Barkays, Chic, Change, Side Effect, Mass Production, The Brothers Johnson, The Whispers, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Cameo, BB&Q, Skyy, The Gap Band, Brass Construction, The BlackByrds, Gerald Alston, Babyface, Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendegrass, R Kelly, Rick James, El Debarge, Chico Debarge, Guy, The Spinners, The Dazz Band, Loose Ends, Ruff Endz, Bluey, Eric Benet, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Angela Winbush, Sheila E., Prince, The Time, Roger, and Zapp, Vesta, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, One Way featuring Al Hudson, Mtume, George Clinton, Parliamet-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, Atlantic Starr, Midnight Starr, Heatwave, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Minnie Ripperton, Chante Moore, Kashif, James Brown, Jesse Johnson, Gerald Levert, Gary Taylor, Maxwell, Rahsaan Patterson, D’Angelo, KEM, JOE, Kenny Lattimore, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, O’Bryan, and new r&b from Maysa, Eric Roberson, Charlie Wilson, Mary J.Blige, Ledisi, Musiq, Calvin Richardson, and sooo many others with Donald Grammer and Gail Jhonson on http://smoothmixes925.com/smooth-jazz-mixes/