Not "new" artists, here are five smooth jazz "classics" with my favorite albums: Breezin by George Benson, Duotones by Kenny G, The In Crowd by Ramsey Lewis, A Day in the Life by Wes Montgomery, and Mister Magic by Grover Washington, Jr. |
Have you tried Fourplay,Brian Culbertson,Avenue Blue,Keiko Matsui,Marc Antoine,jazzmasters etc. These are not new artist but if you like smoothjazz they are worth checking out |
Try some Grant Geissman (guitarist) and Brian Bromberg (bassist) and the Yellowjackets. While not a big fan of smooth jazz, I have several recordings from each of these artists/groups and find them pretty enjoyable and distinctive. There's some Lee Ritenour stuff that's pretty interesting too. |
I like a lot of the suggestions mentioned above. Lots of good stuff there. If you're looking to broaden your horizons over time I can suggest doing two things:
(1) Sign up with BMG Music and look through their catalog. Or subscribe to yourmusic.com (also a BMG company).
(2) Subscribe to Jazziz magazine. It's a monthly publication about all types of jazz, and it comes with a CD compilation in each issue. A great way to be introduced to jazz music from a variety of artists without having to buy a boatload of CD's.
Enjoy,
Bob |
the new upcoming joe sample/randy crawford cd is a killer. |
I have Grant Geissman, Yellowjackets, Benson, Kenny G, Washington Jr., Fourplay, Culbertson, Ave. Blue, Matsui, Antoine, Jazzmasters...
There must be some new/unusual talent that crosses over into the synthesized/pop sound.
I have many of the artists played regularly on smooth jazz stations. How about some that are lesser known? Ones that have been real sleepers but keepers?
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No offense but were do you live? Your list is very small, I would like to add to the suggestions already given (BTW are all great) Beatle Jazz, Chris Botti, 3rd Force, Rick Braun, Wayman Tisdale, Harvey Mason, I could go on but time is limited. I live in the NE if you can check out CD101.9 in NY the play smooth jazz you can find them on the web and look at there play list to get a feel for who is out there.
PS: Don't limit yourself to new artist there is a ton of grybeards who play great jazz that is as relaxing as smooth jazz.
Happy Listening |
Paul Brown, Joyce Cooling, Martin Taylor, Joe Taylor, Richard and Elliot Smith,Nick Colione,Candy Dulfer,Wayman Tilsdale,Bob Baldwin,Kirk Whalum,Gino Vannelli,just to name a few. |
Log onto www.wnua.com and click listen live. It's a Chicago
station that specializes in smooth jazz. Steve |
Instinct Records has a variety of cd compilations called Smooth Jazz Vol.1,2 etc. that seem to be right up your alley, especially since the artist featured are out of the "mainstream" of smooth jazz.
Instinct calls it part of their Instinct Jazz releases.
Instinct originally got its start pioneering acid jazz here in the states. If you're really looking for something a bit different, in the downtempo genre, try their After Hours compilations. Great stuff! |
I agree, there are many "oldies but goodies" artists being listed here. Not discounting them, but I always like a fresh face/sound.
Now we're getting somewhere! I REALLY like the suggestions of play lists for Jazz stations! Any other ideas MOST welcome!
Thanks for the good thoughts, and keep 'em coming!
Yes, it does seem that the local jazz station here in Milwaukee is HORRIBLY limited and repetitive. In traveling to such locations as CA, TX, AZ, etc. it seems like another whole universe of artists that we never hear!
Any other Smooth Jazz stations on the net? Maybe I should do a search... |
sadly, smooth jazz artists are now as interchangable as pop artists. they are all products of the record company. basically a commodity, not a real group or solo act. it's a shame, because there are so many talented musicians that are forced to play formula songs that the companies jam down our throats. it was better when the tone deaf accountants and lawyers didn't make all the decisions. |
Hey Doug, check out cdbaby.com for new artists. They have a fairly large jazz selection with a smooth jazz category. I've purchased from them and although it's hit or miss I have found some great music. I like the 3 for $15 deals. |
I don't think Bob James was mentioned; I like "Grand Piano Canyon" and several of his ealier ones like "Touchdown", "Sign of the Times" and "Obsession". Also, eventhough not entirely classified as smooth jazz, I would highly recommend Patricia Barber's "Modern Cool". |
Threads like this are a gem!!!!!
Love to see more in other music genres, don't you think that we should have like a music interchange thread periodically??
Doug:
Have you tried going to allmusic.com and type some of the names you mentioned? After hitting enter you get information about the group but also similar artists you can investigate and try.... just another 2cents |
Here are the ones I added to my collection the past two quarters. They are in Alpha order for the two quarters. They are a mixture of styles but most should fall with in the genre you are requesting. As Timrhu mentioned above, cdbaby is a wonderful place to shop and many of these are from there. If you want more information let me know or visit one of the many contemporary jazz sites on the Internet.
Cannonball Adderley * SOMETHIN ELSE
Gerald Albright * NEW BEGINNINGS
David Boswell * BRIDGE OF ART
Scott Bradoka * SWAMP PARTY/WITHOUT WORD
CAB 4
Michel Camilo * RHAPSODY IN BLUE
Dennis Chambers * FRONT PAGE
Dennis Chambers * OUTBREAK
Billy Childs Ensemble * CHAMBER MUSIC
Colelition * SEVENTY POWER
Nick Colionne * KEEPIN IT COOL
Crash
Crash * CANDY SHOP
Crash * THE DOCTOR IS IN
Cross & Hart * JAZZ EXPERIENCE
Curfew * HOLD THE FRONT PAGE
ECHO JAZZ TRIO
Alan Eicher * PYRAMIDS
Taylor Eigsti * LUCKY TO BE ME
Mitchel Forman * PATIENCE
THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS
Mark Harrison Quintet * THE ROAD AHEAD
Mark Harrison Quintet * ARE WE THERE YET?
Hiromi * SPIRAL
Shirley Horn * THE BEST OF
Robert Hurst * UNREHURST
Intrntal. Groove Conspiracy * BEYOND HORIZON
Bob James * URBAN FLAMINGO
Jazz@the Pan Café * MAIDEN VOYAGE
Jazzukha * THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN
Jerry Jennings * SHORTCUT TO THE CENTER
Sean Jones * ETERNAL JOURNEY
Sean Jones * GEMINI
Karmic Tiempo * SYNERGY
Steve Khan * THE GREEN FIELD
Billy Kilsons BK Groove * POTS & PANS
Wynton Marsalis * THE MIDNIGHT BLUES
The Bill McBirnie * Duo/Qt * PACO PACO
Lyman Medeiros * THE FUNKY SUPERVILLAIN
Jason Miles * WHATS GOING ON?
Federico Miranda * BAULA PROJECT
Oren Neiman * FIRST OF ALL
The Out Takes * GENUINE ARTICLE
Jaco Pastorius * THE BIRTHDAY CONCERT
Jaco Pastorius Big Band * THE WORD IS OUT
Joe Santere * THE SCENIC ROUTE
Christian Scott * REWIND THAT
Marcus Strickland * BROTHERHOOD
Mike Tomaro Big Band * DANCING EYES
Adam Unworth * EXCERPT THIS!
Urban Blight * PLAYGOURNDS N GLASS
Voodoo Funk Project * DEEP IN THE CUT
Tilden Webb Trio * CELLAR GROOVE
Gary Willis * NO SWEAT
Gary Willis * BENT
RENDEZVOUS MUSIC * RSVP, IF YOU PLEASE
John Adams * JUMP SHOT
Airborne TAKE OFF,
LIFETONES, ACROSS THE SKY
Monty Alexander * CONCRETE JUNGLE
Between 9 & 7 * IT IS WHAT IT IS
Big Phat Band (G.Goodwin) * THE PHAT PACK
David Boswell * HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR DREAMS
Steve Briody * KEEP ON TALKIN
Brecker Brothers * STRAPHANGIN
Brian Bromberg * WOOD II
Ron Bruners STRANGE JAZZ UNIVERSE LIVE
Kenny Burrell * PROFILES (best of & Vol.7
Michael Campagna * PASSIONATE NATURE
Larry Carlton * FIRE WIRE
Marc Cary * FOCUS
Oscar Castro-Neves * ALL ONE
Billy Cobham * CROSSWINDS / WARNING
Billy Cobham * MAGIC / SIMPLICITY
BILLY COBHAM CULTURE MIX
Billy Cobham Culure Mix * COLOURS
Adam Cohan * RITUAL
Eddie Daniels * BEAUTIFUL LOVE
George Duke * IN A MELLOW TONE
Carl Eichman * HIDDEN SYMMETRY
Elder * LIVE AT THE BLUE NOTE
Christian Fabian * ACROSS THE TRACKS
John Flanders * IN THE SKY TONIGHT
Mitchel Forman * PERSPECTIVES
Fourword Quartet * MONEY
Al Garcia * ALTERNATE REALITIES
Grant Geissman * SAY THAT!
Hard Logic * ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
Roy Hargrove * NOTHING SERIOUS
Everette Harp * IN THE MOMENT h
Antonio Hart * ALL WE NEED
Tony Hicks * TWO YEARS
Bob James * ANGELS OF SHANGHAI
Jazz Academy * PURE ESSENTIALS FOR JAZZAHOLICS
Manu Katche * NEIGHBOURHOOD
Calvin Keys * VERTICAL CLEARANCE
Jake Kot * DONT LOOK BACK
Jake Kot * AT A GLANCE
Lawhead * CLOSE
Bradley Leighton * BACK TO THE FUNK
Bobby Lyle * HANDS ON
Bob Magnusson Quintet * LIQUID LINES
Herbie Mann * CAMINHO DE CASA
Matt Marshak * GROOVOSPHERE
Bill Meyers * IMAGES / THE COLOR OF...
Bill Meyers * ALL THINGS IN TIME
Marcus Miller * MASTER OF ALL TRADES
Joseph Patrick Moore * DECADE 9-05
Dan Moretti & Brazilia * LIVE AT CHANS
Greg Murphy * ORIENTATION
Quinsin Nachoff * MAGIC NUMBERS
Objects in the Mirror * DRIVE
Franc OShea * ALKIMIA
Jack Prybylski * WINDOW SHOPPING
Flora Purim * FLORA'S SONG
Nelson Rangell * SOULtoSOULS
Arturo Romay * JUMPING WITH JOY
Jay Rowe * RED, HOT & SMOOTH
Philippe Saisse Trio * BODY & SOUL SESSIONS
Daniela Schachter * I COLORI DEL MARE
Marilyn Scott * INNOCENT OF NOTHING
SF Jazz Collective * 2
SHAKER
Shilts * HEADBOPIN
Lonnie Smith * JUNGLE SOUL
SounDoctrine * ENDURANCE
SoulBop Band * LIVE (Evans & Brecker)
Spies * BY WAY OF THE WORLD
Chris Standring * SOUL EXPRESS
Brian Torff * LIFE IN EAST BUMBLEPUCK
Nestor Torres * DANCES, PRAYERS & MED..
Stanley Turrentine * SUGAR
Wayne Shorter * SPEAK NO EVIL
Gabriel Vivas * LOW REGISTERS
Brian Ward * WONDERBREAD
Danny Weis * SWEET SPOT
Yellowjackets * TWENTY FIVE
NARADA * CUBA L.A. |
Lngbruno, Wow! What a listing! I will most certainly check these names out as well as search for smooth Jazz station's play lists! Thanks again to all, and if there's more good ideas, keep 'em coming! |
Did a search online for "smooth jazz internet" and came up with several sites like this:
http://www.perryland.com/directory1.shtml
which will take you to a listing of stations on the net!
Should be plenty to see/hear on those stations and their play lists! |
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Just added the "Yahoo Music Jukebox" feature (free download) onto my computer. Woa. More than I can handle! total overdose of information regarding artists! All with samples. I like that so I can listen first and save tons of money by not guessing on the sound...
Got it running right now; I think I'll have it playing in background whenever I'm wasting time on Agon/Asylum... Almost makes the time productive. Almost. |
Doughlas,
It looks like you have rolled up your sleeves and gotten serious about this discovery. Smooth Jazz Radio stations can fool you because their playlist consist on many older songs and peppered with R&B, soul and lite Rock during the air time.
Check out these websites too:
http://www.smoothjazz.com/ (go to the top 50 & listening loft pages)
http://www.smoothvibes.com/
http://www.smooth-jazz.de/ (check out their reviews)
http://www.contemporaryjazz.com/ (my favorite website, check out the reviews, interviews, forum, news, and nu-voices)
From these sites you will find links to dozens of other sites.
You can spend a lot of money building a good collection, but there is always half.com, ebay, and your local used cd stores to find many of the older ones. Have a fantastic musical journey.
L |
Try Buckdhot Lefanque (it's really Brandford Marsalis).
Guru is another good one. |
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