Jessy J - True Love

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:57
Size: 89,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. Tropical Rain
(4:06)  2. Forever
(3:46)  3. True Love
(3:50)  4. Mr. Prince
(3:56)  5. Morning Of The Carnival From Black Orpheus)
(4:12)  6. Somewhere In a Dream
(3:36)  7. Jessy's Blues
(3:37)  8. Llegaste Tu
(3:51)  9. Brazilian Dance
(3:45) 10. Baila!

If half of life is just showing up and the other half is timing, then Jessica Spinella's timing is right on time. Smooth jazz is filled to the brim with saxophonists and while most of them are technically proficient, the sheer volume makes it difficult for a newcomer to stand out. Spinella, aka Jessy J brings more than just another pretty face to the party; her infusion of jazz with Latin rhythms gives her a foundation upon which to build. True Love, Jessy J's third album and second major label release, bears the signs of a artist standing on the verge of a breakthrough and getting a big push by the record company. Clocking in at just under an economical 40 minutes, True Love is lean and tight with no unnecessary fat or frills. It also contains no unexpected surprises, but showcases the playing of an increasingly confident Jessy J, asserting her own identity as she fuses Latin influences with jazz. There's a trade-off of spontaneity and improvisation in exchange for good groove, but the end result is rewarding enough so there's nothing about which to be disappointed.

"Tropical Rain," "Forever," and "True Love" are likable if not overly original slices of smoothed out goodness. "Morning of the Carnival" ("Manha De Carnaval") is targeted for the dance floor with its bounce-to-the-beat drum programming from Paul Brown and Gregg Karukas's synth bass and strings. Jessy J adds some breezy, sparse vocals that are sweetly affable if not as accomplished as her saxophone skills. She fares better when accompanied by backing harmonies on "Llegaste Tu" and "Baila!" Jessy J's route to crafting an enduring career may not lie in following the beaten path of other smooth jazz saxophonists, but in continuing to consolidate Latin influences of "Llegaste Tu" and "Brazilian Dance." Pablo Aguirre's production seems to better serve Jessy J's vocal on "Llegaste Tu," the only song on which she doesn't play, and the graceful "Brazilian Dance," a sensuous duet between her soprano sax and Sergio Aranda's piano and vocals. True Love ends up evenly divided between the skillful studio wizardry of half its songs and its impassioned, sultry Latin soul. It's a little too soon to chart the trajectory of Jessy J's career arc, but it might eventually fall somewhere between the efficient proficiency as the "hot chick" playing smooth sax and the expressive innovator busy setting trends instead of following them. ~ Jeff Winbush  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/true-love-jessy-j-peak-records-review-by-jeff-winbush.php

Personnel: Jessy J.: tenor and soprano saxophone, flute, vocals; Gregg Karukas: keyboards, bass, strings; Roberto Vally: bass; Sergio Gonzalez: drums; Richie Gajate Garcia: percussion; Paul Brown: guitar, drum programming; Tom Strahle: guitars (8); Danilo Arroyo: percussion (8); Pablo Aguirre: programming (8); Paulina Aguirre: chorus vocals (8); Kenny O' Brien: chorus vocals (8); Sergio Aranda: vocals and piano (9); Paul Brown: chorus vocals (10); Richie Gajate Garcia: chorus vocals (10); Cameron Smith: chorus vocals (10); Roberto Vally: chorus vocals (10).

True Love

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Bill Hardman - What's Up

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:33
Size: 154,9 MB
Art: Front

( 5:25)  1. Fuller Up
( 9:22)  2. I Should Care
( 8:20)  3. Whisper Not
(10:31)  4. Straight Ahead
( 7:10)  5. P.B.
( 8:57)  6. Like Someone In Love
( 7:42)  7. Yo What's Up
(10:03)  8. Rooms Blues

A reliable hard bop-oriented trumpeter, Bill Hardman never became famous, but he helped out on many sessions. While a teenager, Hardman gigged with Tadd Dameron, and after graduating high school he was with Tiny Bradshaw (1953-1955). He debuted on record with Jackie McLean (1955), played with Charles Mingus (1956), and gained recognition for his work with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1956-1958). 

Hardman worked with Horace Silver (1958), Lou Donaldson (on and off during 1959-1966), re-joined Blakey twice (1966-1969 and in the late '70s), was with Mingus again during parts of 1969-1972, and led a group with Junior Cook (1979-1981). Bill Hardman had an appealing style in the Clifford Brown tradition and recorded as a leader for Savoy (1961) and Muse. 

~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whats-up/159915066

Personnel:  Bill Hardman - trumpet;  Junior Cook - tenor saxophone;  Robin Eubanks - trombone;  Mickey Tucker - piano;  Paul Brown - bass;  Leroy Williams - drums

What's Up 

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Bob Baldwin - Betcha By Golly Wow: The Songs Of Thom Bell

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:52
Size: 118.8 MB
Styles: Soul, Crossover jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[5:18] 1. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) (Feat. Russ Freeman)
[5:43] 2. The Rubberband Man (Feat. Paul Brown & Ragan Whiteside)
[5:06] 3. La La Means I Love You (Feat. Vivian Green)
[5:02] 4. Gonna Be Sweeter
[5:10] 5. Break Up To Make Up (Feat. Will Downing)
[4:49] 6. You're As Right As Rain (Feat. Paul Taylor)
[4:44] 7. I'll Be Around (Feat. Marion Meadows)
[3:02] 8. Bell & Creed
[6:42] 9. Betcha By Golly Wow (Feat. Toni Redd)
[6:13] 10. People Make The World Go Round (Feat. Marion Meadows)

Grammy nominee and a bona fide hero of New Urban Jazz, keyboardist and arranger Bob Baldwin makes his debut on Peak/eOne with an all-killer, no-filler collection of classic tunes penned by Philadelphia soul immortal Thom Bell. This set hits the sweet spot from the first track and doesn t miss for a single minute of the entire program.

An all-star cast puts the project over the top, a real whos who of contemporary jazz and smooth R&B.It includes: WILL DOWNING, VIVIAN GREEN, GERALD ALBRIGHT, MARION MEADOWS, PAUL TAYLOR, RUSS FREEMAN (of THE RIPPINGTONS), PAUL BROWN. To top it all off, the legend himself, Thom Bell, has written a brand new song especially for this tribute, Gonna Be Much Sweeter. And Bob Baldwin proves one more time that it doesn t get any sweeter than his brand of soul and jazz.

Betcha By Golly Wow: The Songs Of Thom Bell mc
Betcha By Golly Wow: The Songs Of Thom Bell zippy

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Rick Braun - Kisses In The Rain

Styles: Trumpet And Flugelhorn Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:28
Size: 100,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:51)  1. Car Wash 2000
(4:33)  2. Kisses In The Rain
(3:44)  3. Use Me
(4:40)  4. Grover's Groove
(4:29)  5. Your World
(4:45)  6. Middle Of The Night
(4:30)  7. One For The Girls
(4:26)  8. Song For You
(4:37)  9. Simplicity
(3:49) 10. Emma's Song

Rick Braun is in high demand these days, both as a trumpeter and a producer he certainly has his thumb on the pulse of today's adult contemporary music. His solo debut on Warner Brother, hot on the heels of last year's successful collaboration with Boney James on Shake It Up, should further extend his mastery of the idiom. The first four tunes are the most jazz-oriented and satisfying; they come complete with catchy melodies, infectious live rhythms, and thoughtful arrangements clean but not overly glossy. Braun alternates between open and muted trumpet, and turns in solos that are a bit more adventurous than you might expect from a commercially-oriented album. About half-way through, the program turns more to the programmed background tracks and moves more into the "romantic evening" groove. To my ears, the sweet-soul vocals ("Your World" and "Song for You") seem a bit formulaic and lower the bar on creativity a couple notches. 

"Middle of the Night" is sort of "Chuck Mangione meets the click track." There are tasty touches here and there, such as a nice tenor solo and interesting background brass parts on "Simplicity," and Braun's expressive balladry on the closer, "Emma." Overall, this is an enjoyable and well-executed program of contemporary work by one of the genre's leading proponents. ~ Dave Hughes https://www.allaboutjazz.com/kisses-in-the-rain-rick-braun-warner-bros-review-by-dave-hughes.php

Personnel: Rick Braun (trumpet, flugelhorn, piano, keyboards, programming); Sue Ann Carwell (vocals, background vocals); Mindy Stein, Shai (vocals); Peter White (guitar, acoustic guitar); Tony Maiden (guitar, electric guitar, wah-wah guitar); Fred Clark , Norman Brown , Ross Bolton (guitar); Larry Williams (strings, tenor saxophone, keyboards); Doug Norwine (flute, saxophone); Euge Groove, Steve Grove (tenor saxophone); Marty Grebb (baritone saxophone); Jerry Hey (flugelhorn); Nick Lane, William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Al Forman, Mitchel Forman (piano); Ricky Peterson (Wurlitzer organ, keyboards); David Woods (keyboards, drum programming); Johnny Britt, Roberto Vally (keyboards); Harvey Mason, Sr. , Lil John Roberts (drums, percussion); Luis Conte, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Paul Brown (programming); Yvonne Williams (background vocals).

Kisses In The Rain

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Paul Brown - One Way Back

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:49
Size: 91,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:44)  1. Put It Where You Want It
(4:00)  2. Sexy Thang (feat. Darren Rahn)
(3:52)  3. Hush
(3:48)  4. Piccadilly Circus (feat. Chris Standring)
(3:52)  5. River Walk (feat. Marc Antoine)
(4:08)  6. Well Alright (feat. Don Bryant)
(4:29)  7. Take Flight (feat. Peter White)
(3:24)  8. One Way Back
(3:49)  9. Rear View Mirror (feat. Chuck Loeb)
(4:39) 10. Heaven

On his latest Woodward Avenue set One Way Back, two time Grammy winning guitarist Paul Brown keeps the deep funk and cool urban vibe flowing while tapping deeper than ever before into his lifelong blues influences. While extending his long history of collaborations with the genre's top saxophonists with "Sexy Thang" featuring Darren Rahn, the collection's musical core is a series of dynamic collaborations with top genre guitarists Chris Standring, Peter White, Marc Antoine and Chuck Loeb. Highlights include a the lead single, a bold and fiery re-imagining of The Crusaders' soul-jazz classic "Put It Where You Want It," and a powerhouse Memphis soul-influenced tune "Well Alright" featuring vocalist (and former Hi Records songwriter) Don Bryant. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/One-Way-Back-Paul-Brown/dp/B01JRJC4C6

One Way Back

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Paul Brown, Marc Antoine - Foreign Exchange

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:41
Size: 93,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. Feel The Love
(4:00)  2. Wine Night
(3:49)  3. Flight Of The Conchords
(4:03)  4. Foreign Exchange
(3:35)  5. Brother Earl
(4:22)  6. On The Down Low
(4:04)  7. French Connection
(4:11)  8. What About Bob
(3:45)  9. Sweetness
(4:13) 10. Bridges Of Paris

When two jazz guitarists of different styles, George Benson and Earl Klugh, came together, it was hailed as a success. The formula also worked for Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton. Now, Paul Brown and Marc Antoine attempt to capture that flair with Foreign Exchange. California native Brown is, perhaps, one of the most established influences in smooth jazz. A producer who has contributed a lot of the cookie-cutter programming for such artists as Boney James, Carlton, and Kirk Whalum, he is also an accomplished guitarist, playing electric guitar on this date. French-born Antoine, who performs on nylon-string guitar here, has performed for such diverse acts as Celine Dion, Sting, Rod Stewart, Queen Latifah, and Benson. He has also composed and performed for several movie soundtracks, including Get Shorty (1995), Demolition Man (1993), and The Fan (1996).  "Flight of the Conchords" has a mild samba flavor. With Brown doubling on percussion and Antoine on drums, this song is part peaceful flight and part relaxing with a drink. Roberto Vally complements on bass and Phillip Saisse has keyboard duty. Antoine leads to start things off, with an uncredited flute enhancing the flavor. After a brief solo by Saisse and another by Antoine, Brown comes forth before trading lines with Antoine to set up the song's ending.

The title song is moderately paced, with Brown and Antoine, who also adds bass duty, harmonizing on the melody. With Saisse again on keys, the leaders are supplemented by the three-piece horn section of Jerry Hey, Bill Reichenbach, and Dan Higgins. The drums and percussion are a bit underwhelming, but the leads and soft horns more than make up for that. Trumpet, trombone, and sax are in perfect sync, while the guitars complement each other well.  "Brother Earl" is a tribute to Klugh. Percussionist Lenny Castro joins Vally, Saisse, and the horn section on this all-too-short piece. 

Brown leads and Antoine answers on the melody. On the second pass, Brown adds a little spice while the horns lay down a not-so-subtle underscore. Vally's bass adds a little funk to this otherwise chill-out song, with Brown establishing a Carlton-esque groove during his middle solo. Throughout most of Foreign Exchange, Brown and Antoine are accompanied by a variable lineup of bassists and keyboardists in addition to the horn section and it works out. While safely within the confines of the smooth jazz format, the songs aren't weighed down by catchy phrasing or handicapped by bland programming. ~ Woodrow Wilkins https://www.allaboutjazz.com/foreign-exchange-paul-brown-peak-records-review-by-woodrow-wilkins.php
 

Personnel: Jeff Caruthers: drums (1, 7), keys (1, 7), acoustic guitars (1); Dan Lutz: bass (1, 2, 7); Paul Brown: electric guitar, percussion (1-4, 6, 8, 10), drums (5, 6, 8, 9); Marc Antoine: nylon-string guitar, percussion (1), drums (2-4); Phillipe Saisse: keys (2-6, 8, 10); Roberto Vally: bass (3, 5, 6, 9, 10); Jerry Hey: trumpet (4, 5, 7, 9); Bill Reichenbach: trombone (4, 5, 7, 9); Dan Higgins: sax (4, 5, 7, 9); Lenny Castro: percussion (5, 7, 9); Tommy Kay: rhythm guitar (8, 9); Greg Karukas: keys (9); Sergio Gonzales: drums (10); Jessy J: flute (10).

Foreign Exchange

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Jeff Lorber - He Had A hat

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 2007

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 52:22

Size: 120,3 MB

Art: Front

(3:48)  1. Anthem For A New America

(4:34)  2. He Had A Hat

(4:06)  3. Grandma's Hands

(4:10)  4. Surreptitious

(4:25)  5. All Most Blues

(3:54)  6. Orchid (Chris Botti)

(2:28)  7. BC Bop

(5:35)  8. The Other Side of the Heart (Paula Cole)

(3:58)  9. Hudson

(3:52) 10. Super Fusion Unit

(3:50) 11. Eye Tunes

(3:43) 12. Requiem for Gandalf

(3:52) 13. Burn Brightly

A sophisticated showcase for his varied jazz styles, Jeff Lorber's He Had a Hat finds the pianist moving from softly funky pop-jazz numbers to a few straight-ahead swingers. Always an urbane and tasteful musician, Lorber has often found a good balance between contemporary pop oriented material and more cerebral improvisational cuts, and He Had a Hat is a prime example of this duality. To these ends, tracks like the title cut and the frenetic "Surreptitious" evince a kind of Tower of Power meets Brecker Brothers funk. Fittingly, trumpeter Randy Brecker adds his supple chops to the latter track. Similarly engaging big-band numbers like "All Most Blues" and the afterglow ballad "Orchid" bring to mind both early- and late-period Miles Davis, respectively. Also joining Lorber here are a bevy of name artists including trumpeter Chris Botti, vocalist Paula Cole, saxophonist Gerald Albright, and many others.This CD was nominated for a Grammy award in 2007 for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. ~ Matt Collar http://www.allmusic.com/album/he-had-a-hat-mw0000478929

Personnel:  Jeff Lorber – Piano & Keyboards (All Tracks);  Eric Benet – Vocals (Track 3 & 8);  Paula Cole – Vocals (Track 8);  Hubert Laws – Flute (Tracks 9 & 11);  Bob Sheppard – Tenor saxophone (Tracks 6 & 9);  Gerald Albright – Alto saxophone (Track 3);  Kirk Whalum – Tenor saxophone (Track 2);Ada Rovatti – Tenor saxophone (Track 4);  Chris Botti – Trumpet (Tracks 6 & Bonus Track);  Randy Brecker – Trumpet & Horn Arrangement (Track 4);  Jacques Voyemant – Trombone (Track 2);  Tom Scott – Horns & Horn Arrangement (Tracks 2 & 5);  Paul Jackson Jr. – Guitar (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 8 & 10);Paul Brown – Guitar (Track 3);  Russell Malone – Guitar (Track 13);  Brian Bromberg – Bass (Tracks 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 & Bonus Track);  Alex Al – Bass (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 & 13);  Lenny Castro – Percussion (Tracks 2, 3, 9, 10, 12, 13 & Bonus Track);  Abe Laboriel Jr. – Drums (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 8 & 9); Dave Weckl – Drums (Tracks 4 & 13);  Vinnie Colaiuta – Drums (Tracks 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 & Bonus Track);  Blood, Sweat & Tears – Horns (Tracks 4, 7, 9, 11 & 13);  The Lair Studio Brass Ensemble (Tracks 5, 10 & 12);  The Krim Symphonic Orchestra – Orchestrated by Jeremy Lubbock (Tracks 1 & 8);
Bobby Colomby – Producer (All Tracks).

He Had A hat

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Jessy J - Tequila Moon

Styles: Vocal And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:00
Size: 105,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Tequila Moon
(3:44)  2. Spanish Nights
(4:33)  3. Sin Ti/Without You
(5:04)  4. Mas Que Nada
(4:07)  5. Fiesta Velada
(3:36)  6. Poetry Man
(4:03)  7. Turquoise Street
(3:03)  8. PB 'N' J
(3:39)  9. Bésame Mucho
(3:49) 10. Running Away
(5:42) 11. Song for You

It's hard to imagine Jessy J as one who wanted to play straight-ahead jazz. Yet that was the type of demo she submitted to producer/guitarist Paul Brown, whose style and influence in recorded music is about as far from straight-ahead jazz as one can get. To no surprise, the relationship that developed between Brown and the saxophonist/vocalist has Jessy J fitting comfortably within the smooth jazz format, although her debut, Tequila Moon, has a Latin theme. Born of Mexican parents in Portland, Oregon, and reared in Hemet, California, Jessy J has deep roots in Latin music. She was a huge fan of Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane a further contradiction of her format-friendly debut but also loved pop. In addition to Brown, her professional career has had her in recording sessions or on stage with such artists as Michael Bublé, The Temptations and Michael Bolton. She's also forged bonds with saxophonists Mindi Abair and Kirk Whalum. Tequila Moon features Jessy J with a variable mix of session players, with the greater contributions coming from Brown, percussionist Richie Gajate Garcia, keyboardist Ricky Peterson (who also does string synths) and bassist Roberto Vally. Brown also co-wrote five of the seven original songs. The others were penned by drum programmer Donald Hayes and keyboardist Kiki Ebsen.

The title song sets the mood for the entire package. Its laid-back groove is pleasant, aided by Jessy J's smooth tenor sax lead, underscored by Brown's guitar and Gregg Karukas on keys and string synths. "Sin Ti/Without You" presents an easy-going samba feel, accented by Peterson on keys, Vally's bass line and drummer Oscar Seaton's rim shots. Toward the end, Jessy J shows her chops on tenor. Jorge Bem's "Mas Que Nada" has been covered many times over. With Jessy J setting aside her sax in order to sing lead, this cover is nicely done but lacks the energy of previous versions, particular one done by Al Jarreau. Still, Jessy's charming voice makes this worth listening to, with drummer Sergio Gonzales helping it with some adept cymbal work. One of the better showcases for Jessy J's talent as a songwriter and musician is "Fiesta Velada," which she co-wrote with Brown. 

One major plus is that this straightforward Latin piece lacks the cookie-cutter, smooth jazz production which overpowers most of the songs in this set. Vally, Peterson, Seaton and Garcia complement the leader while Jessy J and her tenor have a party. Tequila Moon is a nice overall debut for Jessy J. The selections all clock in at less than six minutes, with the majority between three and four. That certainly increases the probability of airplay on smooth jazz, adult contemporary, or even easy listening stations. Unfortunately, the commercialization of this recording dilutes the beauty of Jessy J's performance. ~ Woodrow Wilkins  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/tequila-moon-jessy-j-peak-records-review-by-woodrow-wilkins.php

Personnel: Jessy J: tenor sax (1-4, 5, 7, 8, 11), vocals (4, 9), flute (5), soprano sax (6, 10); Sergio Gonzales: drums (1, 4); Gregg Karukas: keys (1, 4) string synths (1, 4); Paul Brown: guitar (1-3, 8-11); Richie Gajate Garcia: percussion (1-5, 9); Donald Hayes: bass (2), keys (2), drum programming (2); Ricky Peterson: string synths (2, 3, 5, 9, 10), piano (2, 5, 10), keys (3); Roberto Vally: bass (3-11); Oscar Seaton: drums (3, 5); Kiki Ebsen: keys (6-8), string synths (6-8), piano (11); Dave Beyer: drums (6-8, 11), percussion (6-8); Chad Wright: drums (10); Nino Sanchez: percussion (10).

Tequila Moon

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Jessy J - Hot Sauce

Styles: Vocal And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:12
Size: 99,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:08)  1. Remember The Night (Feat. Paul Brown)
(4:00)  2. Rio Grande
(3:17)  3. Hot Sauce
(4:27)  4. Rainbow Gold (Feat. Joe Sample & Harvey Mason)
(3:53)  5. 'Til You Make Up Your Mind
(4:06)  6. Meant To Be
(2:50)  7. We Kissed
(3:33)  8. Leave Right Now
(4:47)  9. In A September Mood (Feat. Saunders Sermons)
(8:07) 10. Last Night (Feat. Joe Sample & Ray Parker Jr.)

The third major album by saxophonist Jessica Spinella (a.k.a. Jessy J) reflects both a reliance on a proven formula and the stirrings of venturing into unexplored territory. Jessy's got a problem. She can attribute much of her success to veteran producer Paul Brown, whose other clients include Euge Groove, Rick Braun and Boney James. Brown is a master of the catchy hook, which makes him more commercial than cutting edge. That's not a bad thing, but it doesn't always make for boldly inventive music. Brown's production always sounds good, even if it's often a slightly different twist of the same old song.Of Hot Sauce's ten songs, six are produced by Brown, but it's the other four which are the most interesting. There's nothing terribly wrong with "Remember the Night" and "Rio Grande," other than the odd sequencing of two tracks which sound remarkably similar except one is more up-tempo than the other, but there's just nothing original about them, either. Brown's skills are in revisiting what he's done on previous Jessy J albums like Tequila Moon (Peacon, 2008) and True Love (Peak, 2009).

Here, however, Brown holds the reins on the young saxophonist a bit too tightly. Any song entitled "Hot Sauce" ought to flat-out groove, not just bubble away for 3:17; "Mild sauce" would be a better descriptor for the underwhelming, paint-by-numbers title tune. There are faint traces of Jessy J's Latin heart beating faintly in the background, but it's overwhelmed by the slickness and sheen of Brown's production. A little less control and little more risk-taking were needed here. More successful and much more fun are "Rainbow Gold" and 'Last Night," two funky workouts, with "Last Night" offering a rare performance by Joe Sample, workin' it out on the Hammond B3 organ with studio pros Harvey Mason (drums), Ray (Ghostbuster) Parker Jr. (guitar) and Nick Sample son of the former Crusaders keyboardist joining in on bass. Both feature Jessy J's vocalizations, so if you enjoy them, you're in luck.

The moment of revelation comes with Saunders Sermons and his vocal turn on "In A Sentimental Mood," with Jessy J playing a supporting role. Sermons simmers and sways, playing it straight, with Jessy J's tenor sax warmly warbling in the background. Sermons co-produced and arranged the Duke Ellington classic with pianist Jon Notar, and it's a winner, with some nice stick work from drummer Josh Guinta. Nothing else on Hot Sauce sounds remotely like this and it's a style for which Jessy J is well-suited. There is a balance a musician must strike between art and commerce, and not every soloist thrives in the spotlight. The finest moments of Hot Sauce come when Jessy J is part of the band instead of the center of attraction. Going forward she will likely thrive in either role, but for now she seems most comfortable in the former than the latter. ~ Jeff Winbush  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/hot-sauce-jessy-j-heads-up-international-review-by-jeff-winbush.php
 

Personnel: Jessy J: tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, vocals; Paul Brown: guitar, drums, percussion, nylon string guitar, programmed drums (1-3, 5-7); Marco Basci: keyboards, strings, bass, drum programming (2, 5); Roberto Vally: bass (2, 5-7), Lawrence Young: keyboards (3); Michel Ripoli: guitars, bass (3); Deyon Dobson: keyboards, drum programming (3); Joe Sample: piano, Rhodes, Triton keyboard and Hammond B3 organ (4, 10); Ray Parker Jr.: guitars and background vocals (4, 10); Nick Sample: bass (4, 10); Harvey Mason: drums (4, 10); Gregg Karukas: keyboards, strings (6, 7); Jeff Caruthers: keyboards, guitar, bass and drum programming (8); Saunders Sermons: vocals (9); Jon Notar: piano (9); Jordan Scannella: electric bass (9); Josh Guinta: drums (9); Janis Liebhart: background vocals (10); Toni Scruggs: background vocals (10).

Hot Sauce

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Paul Brown - Truth B Told

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:46
Size: 112,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:19)  1. Sunrise On Sunset
(6:12)  2. Purple Shoes (feat. Larry Carlton)
(3:49)  3. Better Late Than Never
(4:38)  4. Truth B Told (feat. Darren Rahn)
(4:04)  5. Take It From Me
(4:02)  6. Love N Trust (feat. Wendy Moten)
(4:17)  7. Casablanca (feat. Najee)
(4:42)  8. Home Sweet Home (feat. Richard Elliot)
(4:44)  9. Stay Sly (feat. Euge Groove)
(3:34) 10. Till the Mornin' Comes
(4:21) 11. Avalon Nights (feat. Dave Koz)

Most people that roll with me in my musical mafia know that I just don't care for "smooth jazz." Mind numbing predictability and over produced easy listening are simply not how I roll. Paul Brown has gone a little deeper with Truth B Told and the results should pay huge dividends for this highly respected performer. The one negative to the release would be his vocal duet with Wendy Moten, "Love n Trust." Nothing against Moten, Brown is the problem as his vocal chops just aren't there. Outside of the vocal blip, Brown moves past the more traditional pretentious ear candy associated with this genre on life support and hits some more blues infused regions of his six string soul that raise the level of the tunes and dynamics of what may well be his finest commercial success yet. Cameos are made by Larry Carlton on the gem of the release, "Purple Shoes." Other notable performances are from Dave Koz and Richard Elliot.
~ Brent Black  http://www.criticaljazz.com/2014/07/paul-brown-truth-b-told-woodward-2014.html

Truth B Told

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