Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 John Klemmer, Chateau Love was released on April 26, 2024. "It's a big deal when an influential jazzman who launched his recording career in the 1960s records and relases a new record. Last week (April 26) the new album by contemorary jazz saxophone innovater John Klemmer, "Chateau Love," was released by Touch Records USA/BFD/Orchard. Klemmer composed and produced a dozen new tracks for the intimate and soothing collection that generously clocks in at more than an hour of music." You can read the rest of the review here... 2
Receiver2000 4,001 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 Got a real fondness for John Klemmer. In my younger days, I had a R2R and had made this girlfriend-getting tape. I had a couple guys for roommates and if one of us was playing that tape, heavily laden with John Klemmer tunes, it meant that one of the guys was in the process of going through the prelims with a girl on the couch and the etiquette was to quietly go to your room and not walk into the common areas. John Klemmer served us well. 1
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 The MFSL release of Touch is very well done. I listen to it often.
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted January 30 Posted January 30 Paul Taylor, It's A Brand New Day was released on Jan 24, 2025. "Saxophonist Paul Taylor’s anticipated new recording and Shanachie debut, It’s A Brand New Day, is his thirteenth recording as a leader. The charming and down-to-earth saxman reveals, “This album in some ways signifies a new cycle for me, as this is my first new recording in three years. The title speaks to my desire to give my fans an optimistic outlook as we approach every brand new day.” The chart-topping saxophonist has enjoyed an enviable career with a string of Billboard#1 hits and collaborations with a genre-crossing list of musicians including Regina Belle, Maxi Priest, Peabo Bryson, Keiko Matsui, The Rippingtons, Peter White, Euge Groove, Michael Lington, Jamie Jones and Marion Meadows. Taylor confesses, “I simply love creating and making my own music. I am the happiest when I am doing just this. It never gets old.” You can read the rest of the review here... 2
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted February 8 Posted February 8 Dream Theater, Parasomnia was released on February 7, 2025. "To the quintet’s credit, the unsettling nature of parasomnia permeates the entire sequence. Aside from the title and/or lyrics of every track relating to sleep, nightmares and the like in one way or another, there are a few auditory tactics that make Parasomnia unfold like a connected vision. Specifically, opening instrumental overture “In the Arms of Morpheus” begins with eerie guitar lines, a ticking clock and the sound of someone going to bed. Correspondingly, epic closer “The Shadow Man Incident” ends by reprising some of those sounds as ominous voices whispers, “Wake up,” and “Dead Asleep” starts similarly to “In the Arms of Morpheus.” You can read the rest of the review here... It may just be me, but I hear some Tool and Five Finger Death Punch in this band. Progressive, melodic metal in my old ears. Bo doesn't care for it though. He left the room fairly quickly. 1
Half Life 600 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 Agree on "In the Arms of Morpheus" having a hint of 5FDP. I also hear a bit of very early Genesis in that one as well. Good tunes both! Thanks for sharing! 1
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Jazz In Pink, Expansions was released on February 7, 2025. "The legendary funk/jazz/fusion pioneer, Lonnie Liston Smith recorded the classic jam, “Expansions”, which became an inspiration to generations of musicians to follow. Half a century later, Jazz In Pink leader/keyboardist Gail Johnson, picks up the torch and blazes a new trail with her inspired re-imagining of that classic." https://newworldnjazz.com/jazz-in-pink-expansions-shanachie/ This is released as a single. 2 1
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Gil Johnson, Can We Pretend was released on February 7, 2025. "“Can We Pretend”, the new single from vocalist Gil Johnson featuring legendary Smooth Jazz guitarist Doc Powell, was written by actress Denise Nicholas and recorded by her then husband Bill Withers. “I have been listening to and singing that song for the past 50 years”, says Gil. “I was riding in my car about 2 year ago when the song came on my playlist. My girlfriend said I should record the song and from there the process began. It is an honor to see it come to fruition.” You can read the rest of the review here... 3 1
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Adam Hawley, Unstoppable was released on March 22, 2024. "This album is the audio equivalent of a cup of coffee that not only starts your morning off right, but makes you feel like everything is going to be okay. Adam is great on the guitar, and I dig this album's choice to add elements of some Deep House Rhodes and R&B throughout the track list." https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/justinkayser/album/1077240-unstoppable/ 2
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted February 16 Posted February 16 Peter White, Catalonia was released on February 14, 2025 Genre-defying acoustic guitarist Peter White wrote and produced the ten songs of hope, determination, and optimism that make up his 17th album, “Light of Day,” as an antidote to the darkness of the pandemic during which the collection was conceived. Lobster Music Inc. will release White’s first new album in six years on February 14. The new disc is tied to two other milestones in the multi-time Billboard chart-topper’s unparalleled career: his 50th anniversary as a professional musician and the 35th anniversary of the release of his debut album, “Réveillez-vous.” You can read the rest of the review here... 2 1
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted February 21 Posted February 21 Marshall Allan, New Dawn was released today, February 21. 2025. "People like Marshall Allen (is there anyone else like him?) should keep us all hopeful. Making his debut as a “solo artist” at 100 years of age after a lifetime of service to the jazz community, specifically that of Sun Ra and his Arkestra, is quite something." You can read the rest of the review here... 100 and still creating music! I'd be tickled gray to be 100 years old and still making waste in the appropriate place. 1 1
Receiver2000 4,001 Posted February 21 Posted February 21 Cool. The background noises are a little reminiscent of Martin Denny. 1
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted February 25 Posted February 25 Yellowjackets, Fasten Up was released on February 21, 2025. "Yellowjackets released their first album in 1981; this is the band’s twenty-seventh. Any band still going after forty-four years must be doing something right, and Yellowjackets’ mix of jazz-fusion, straight-ahead jazz and R&B has gained them a large, loyal fan base." You can read the rest of the review here... 2
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted March 7 Posted March 7 B3 Monaco, Down to the 9 was released on March 1, 2025. Hammond B-3 Maste(r)Tony “B3” Monaco touches down on Smooth Jazz with “Down To The 9”! Produced and written by hitmaker Paul Brown along with Shane Teriot & Brian Bromberg. You can read the review here... 2
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted March 7 Posted March 7 Patrick Bradley, Gratitude was released on September 20, 2024. You can read the review here... https://news.theurbanmusicscene.com/2024/07/patrick-bradley-to-release-new-album-gratitude/ 3
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted March 8 Posted March 8 Bob James & Dave Koz, Just Us was released on March 7, 2025. "Thus, their special collaboration, Just Us, is a lesson in bearing one’s talents on an exceptional level to provide an entertaining blend of originals and standards in a variety of musical backdrops." You can read the rest of the review here... 3
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted March 8 Posted March 8 Vassal Benford, She's A Queen was released on March 7, 2025. "Having produced hits for superstars Toni Braxton, Bobby Brown, Aerosmith and Bon Jovi, he began his Smooth Jazz adventures via collaborations with Norman Brown and Gerald Albright. To offer just one example of his whirlwind, genre-transcendent musical life, between his 2023 Smooth Jazz single “Dedication Song” and latest track, the joyously melodic, coolly seductive keyboard driven jam “She’s A Queen,” Benford was busy creating hits with contemporary pop legends like J Lo, Jason Derulo and Chris Brown (Brown and Benford have a grammy nom for Album of the Year with 11:11). The Queen is about groove mightily!" You can read the rest of the review here... 1
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted March 17 Posted March 17 Jasmine Myra, Rising was released on May 3, 2024. "Elevating, uplifting and beautifully arranged. Jasmine Myra's sophomore album Rising builds on the success of her breakthrough album Horizons to deliver a major statement from one of UK Jazz's rising stars. " You can read the rest of the review here... 3
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted March 23 Posted March 23 I know this will get me banned, but Jethro Tull, Curious Ruminant was released on March 7, 2025. "The legendary Jethro Tull are back with Curious Ruminant, an album that feels deeply introspective, poetic, and, in many ways, a reflective piece of work from Ian Anderson. Having had the privilege of interviewing Ian about this album, I approached it with great anticipation. But my thoughts here aren’t coloured by that experience—this album stands on its own as something truly remarkable." You can read the rest of the article here: 1 1
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted March 24 Posted March 24 The Empress, Square One was released on March 21. 2025. "These female musicians breathe magic into nine jazz standards and two awesome original tunes by arranger Lutzeier. All four horn players bring power and excitement to the bandstand. Award-winning jazz artist Pureum Jin is a South Korean woodwind player, arranger, and composer who released her first highly praised album on the Cellar Music label in 2019 titled “The Real Blue.” She is the group leader. Lauren Sevian is THE EMPRESS Production Advisor and a Grammy Award-winning baritone saxophonist, also the winner of the “Rising Star” Baritone Saxophonist Downbeat Critics Poll in 2020. Erena Terakubo is a multi-woodwind player from Sapporo, Japan. She released her first album when she was still in high school, with six albums already released, collaborating with such jazz giants as Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Lenny White, David Hazeltine, Lewis Nash, and more. Chelsea Baratz is another critically acclaimed saxophonist, composer, arranger, and vocalist. She’s also a smart business manager. This Pittsburgh-born superstar moved to New York City to study at the New School in 2006 and released her debut album, “In Faith.” You can read the rest of the review here... 2
Sk1Bum 11,389 Posted March 24 Posted March 24 Lowell Hopper, Never Too Late was released on January 10, 2025. "Panama City, Florida based – guitarist Lowell Hopper – soulful guitar, haunting melodies, funky bass, and beats; his music creates an audio tapestry that the listener can’t help but be drawn into." You can read the rest of the review here... 2
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