Live at the Berks Jazz Fest
Artist: Heads up Super Band

One of the best sources for in the pocket smooth jazz recordings since the early 90s, Heads Up's promise of a live date featuring three of its most appealing core artists - bassist Gerald Veasley, keyboardist Joe McBride and saxman Kenny Blake - seems like as sure a bet as the genre can offer. In terms of showcasing the varied strengths of each... Read More

N'Dea Davenport
Artist: N'Dea Davenport
Community Score: 8.00

The soulful vocals of American N'Dea Davenport led the British acid jazz outfit the Brand New Heavies to worldwide success in the early 1990s. Following the release of 1994's excellent Brother Sister, Davenport left the band to embark on a solo career, and N'Dea Davenport surfaced in 1998. Though much of her work with the Brand New Heavies was... Read More

Kinetic Energy
Artist: Raz

Raz's eponymous debut album is a sterling collection of smooth jazz. Although there isn't anything here that will please jazz purists -- the group doesn't care for improvisation, they only care about keeping a steady groove -- its easy goove, light melodies and polished surfaces make it ideal for fans of smooth jazz radio. ~ Rodney Batdorf, All... Read More

A Little Sweeter
Artist: Jeffrey Smith

Jeffery Smith, whose career was helped by Shirley Horn, is a warm and expressive baritone singer who is a little reminiscent of Johnny Hartman and Billy Eckstine. On this set (his first major-label recording and second overall), he is assisted by an all-star crew: pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ray Drummond, drummer Ben Riley and occasionally... Read More

Sun Song
Artist: Tony Darren

Acknowledging that he couldn't roll all of his jazz, rock, country and blues influences into his high-spirited acoustic guitar debut Sun Song, Darren he emerges with a style that is not as jazz intensive as Metheny's, yet snappy along the light funk lines of Benson's trademark "Breezin'" and heavily Brazilian. The one guitarist who is not on... Read More

Open Sky
Artist: Richard Stoltzman

Again working with pianist/arranger Bill Douglas, Richard Stoltzman concentrates on moving classical music into new age territory on Open Sky. It's not that different from his average release, but it does have a more meditative quality which is quite appealing. ~ Rodney Batdorf, All Music Guide Read More

Live & More
Artist: Marcus Miller

Marcus Miller is one of the great hyphenates of contemporary rhythm and jazz, equally successful as a producer (Luther Vandross, David Sanborn), songwriter (numerous Vandross hits, James/Sanborn's "Maputo"), and artist in his own right. It's not easy to capture every aspect of the man who has been called the "Superman of Soul" on one disc, but... Read More

Another Lifetime
Artist: Simon Phillips

If you took musicians who have worked on projects with artists as diverse as Olivia Newton-John, Vanilla Ice, Tim McGraw, Julio Iglesias, Tina Turner, the London Symphony Orchestra, Ashford & Simpson, the Bee Gees, George Benson, Jimmy Buffett, Chick Corea, the Doobie Brothers, the Four Tops, Stephane Grappelli, Lena Horne, Joe Jackson,... Read More

Standards My Way
Artist: Kimiko Itoh
The Last Dance of Mr. X
Artist: Andy Summers

Though perhaps best (or at least better) known for his work with the Police, guitarist Andy Summers seems to be doing rather well for himself. He may not be filling arenas and attracting screaming teenage girls, but their mothers can scream pretty loud as well, and as it is to them that Summers now appears to be playing, his maturity and ability... Read More

Trio HLP
Artist: Daniel Humair

This is an exceptional recording. Jazz violin fans who lost interest in Jean-Luc Ponty's slickly synthetic fusion will find their faith restored in the French prodigy's musical brilliance. Lovers of the organ trio format will be convinced that Eddy Louiss is a true master at the keyboard. And the trio as a unit, led by drummer Daniel Humair, is... Read More

East Meets Midwest
Artist: Kenny Poole

New Yorker Bertoncini and Cincinnatian Poole have contrasting styles on acoustic nylon string guitars: the former is more classic and classical, while the latter is a bit more swing-oriented. Together they are perfectly in tune with one another's notions and inclinations, playing these 12 standards faithfully and with tender loving care.... Read More