Take Me with You
Artist: Marilyn Scott

After a number of years paying her dues as a backup singer and recording for a number of indie labels with mixed success, Marilyn Scott finally brings her crisp, romantic vocal stylings to Warner Bros. on Take Me With You, a stylish potpourri of pop, soul, jazz and Brazilian influences tailor made to fit the definition of the finest in Adult... Read More

Guitar
Artist: Louie Shelton

This is a well-crafted album from longtime studio ace Louie Shelton. As the title suggests, the emphasis is on Shelton's guitar work, and this man can play. Though obviously tailored for the contemporary/smooth jazz market, Guitar has much more 'oomph' than is typical in this genre. The arrangements are tight and consistently hold the listener's... Read More

Cat Food
Artist: Bryan Savage

Colorado saxman Bryan Savage has taken a handful of albums to find his true voice, and it's nice to see all the previous promise come to such exciting fruition on the playfully titled Cat Food, which adds a decidedly urban dimension to his proven passionate leanings. The whimsical album moniker is just one dimension of Savage's approach on the... Read More

My Colors
Artist: Roger Smith

How appropriate that Roger Smith chose to lead his relentlessly energetic, try to sit still extravaganza My Colors with a slamming cover of George Duke's "Miss Wiggle," because the keyboardist perfectly captures all the jazz/funk blessings of Duke, along with a few of the pitfalls which tarnish many of the legend's recent projects. The first... Read More

Il Bacio
Artist: Paul Ventimiglia

Rarely has an album cover and title more inaccurately reflected the music it represents than on multi-faceted keyboardist Paul Ventimiglia's Il Bacio. A romantic Italian title which translates in English to "The Kiss" - and a pale brown-toned antique photograph of an old couple embracing simply have no connection to the slamming, high energy... Read More

Ricky Jones
Artist: Ricky Jones
Avenues of Love
Artist: Marilyn Scott

A top-notch adult contemporary vocalist still awaiting a well-deserved crossover commercial breakthrough, Marilyn Scott adds powerful fuel for her cause on Avenues Of Love by helping herself with a well-balanced array of production and songwriting talent. George Duke surrounds her with party voices and a kneejerking Latin groove on a playful... Read More

Soul Temptation
Artist: Bryan Savage

Fellow multi-reedsman Nelson Rangell could learn a valuable lesson from Bryan Savage, who takes the risk of switching off between flute and saxes on his Higher Octave debut Soul Temptation. Equally adept at being a classically influenced postmodern Tim Weisberg and edging robustly on alto and tenor towards the steamy Gato Barbieri sound, Savage... Read More

All and Enough
Artist: Kobi