Rick Braun - Crossroads

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:48
Size: 107,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:22)  1. Around The Corner
(4:42)  2. Brazz Street
(4:50)  3. Crossroads
(4:26)  4. The Moment I Saw You
(4:42)  5. I Wish
(4:32)  6. Me And You
(5:11)  7. Family
(5:11)  8. Bahia
(3:54)  9. Come With Me
(4:53) 10. Versace On The Floor

One of contemporary jazz’s most popular artists, trumpeter Rick Braun has a sound built on a silken, lyrical horn voice, usually set over grooving rhythms. On Crossroads, he doesn’t stray too far from that formula, but he deploys it in a rich variety of contexts. A collection of stylistically varied originals and covers, Crossroads includes references to (and appearances by) Braun’s family and friends. Braun collaborated on several tracks with keyboardist Philippe Saisse, a longtime friend, and he composed the tune “Me and You” with another friend and frequent collaborator, guitarist Peter White. The laid-back ballad reflects the pair’s genial bonhomie, with White’s guitar responses to Braun’s horn conveying the feeling of old friends chatting. Braun’s cover of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” is a joyous, funky jam featuring yet another longtime friend, saxophonist Richard Elliot, who teams with Braun to form a rollicking horn section.

Braun composed the irresistibly catchy “Around the Corner” for his daughter to dance to, and his 17-year-old son plays the keyboard intro to his gentle, lyrical cover of Bruno Mars’ “Versace on the Floor.” The Americana-esque “Family” was partly inspired by Braun’s grandparents, who were both musical. When composing the piece, Braun drew upon his memories of the music they used to play, and he performs the plaintively lovely melody with palpable emotion. The vibe is evocative of wide-open spaces, the melody underpinned by a chugging rhythm suggestive of train wheels. While not really jazz (or contemporary jazz), it’s an intriguing musical direction that well suits Braun’s sound and style. https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/rick-braun-crossroads-shanachie/

Crossroads

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Rick Braun - Beat Street

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:32
Size: 124,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Groovis
(5:14)  2. Papa Dee
(5:06)  3. Club Harlem
(5:25)  4. I'll Be There For You
(5:51)  5. Philadelphia
(4:26)  6. Cadillac Slim
(4:49)  7. The Promises
(4:09)  8. Natalie
(4:28)  9. Ian's Blues
(4:57) 10. Walk The Walk
(4:26) 11. Marty's Party

This good-natured release is a very enjoyable compilation of funk-inflected light jazz that fits Rick Braun's trumpet and flugelhorn around some excellent guitar playing (with lots of wah-wahs on show), steady bass and drums, and supportive keyboards (Braun also contributes the keyboard beds, but this aspect of his production tends not to be showy). Braun and his assorted players (who include Boney James, Jeff Golub and Peter White) have crafted some entertaining melodies that are often built on swaying, sneaky rhythms "Cadillac Slim" for one, and the devious "Papa Dee" for another. Braun's liner notes mention War (the band) more than once, and you can certainly pick up that influence this time around. In terms of approach, Braun kept things loose and improvisational for the recording no charts, no formalities, just a few ideas and a collaborative impulse that's paid off in the way the album flows together. Nice warm work that sneaks in under the guards. ~ Steven McDonald https://www.allmusic.com/album/beat-street-mw0000173372

Personnel: Rick Braun - Flugelhorn, Keyboards; G. Chang (track: 3) - Organ [B3];  Matt Harris (track: 7,10), Curtis Brengle (track: 9,11) - Piano; Boney James (track: 1) - Featuring, Tenor Saxophone; Jimmy Roberts (track: 7) - Tenor Saxophone; David Woodford (track: 11) - Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone; Lee Thornburg (track: 11) - Trumpet;  Nick Lane (tracks: 4,11) - Trombone; Carl Verheyen (tracks: 1,4), Jeff Golub (tracks: 5,6,11) - Guitar; Peter White (track: 3) - Acoustic Guitar; Carl Verheyen (track: 3,6,9) - Guitar [Wah Wah]; Stan Sargeant (track: 1) - Bass [On End]; Dave Morotta (tracks: 1,4,9), Cliff Hugo (tracks: 2,5-7,10,11), Jack Daro (track: 3) - Bass; Brad Dutz - Percussion (tracks: 1,7,8), Bongos (track: 3); Dave Palmer (tracks: 1,4-7,9,10), Dave Karasony (tracks: 2,11) - Drums. Fred White (tracks: 4,7) - Vocals.

Beat Street

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Anna Wilson - Yule Swing!

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:51
Size: 94,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:06)  1. Yule Swing
(3:01)  2. Christmas Is Coming to Town
(4:23)  3. Through Their Eyes
(3:49)  4. Holiday Lovin'
(3:31)  5. Light Me Up
(4:35)  6. Wish
(3:25)  7. One Day
(2:36)  8. Mrs. Claus
(4:34)  9. A House, a Home
(6:48) 10. Resolutions

If Christmas is a time for giving, vocalist Anna Wilson scores a two-base hit with Yule Swing. Not only does she offer listeners the gift of holiday music, but she also contributes to a charitable cause: Habitat for Humanity. Like many vocalists, this Pennsylvania product grew up with the Great American Songbook standards, including works by Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. However, rather than adopting them as her own, which many artists before her have done, Wilson has preferred to write her own music, with the goal of creating new jazz songs for younger listeners as well as offering something different for older fans who have heard the same classics over and over. In addition to her musical career, Wilson has been an avid supporter of Habitat for Humanity, making appearances on the organization's behalf and allowing it to use her song, "A House, A Home," in public service announcements on radio and television. The title song sets the stage. With a swinging horn section, Wilson rings in the holiday season. "Forget caroling / Everybody dance and sing," she sings. The double entendre is evident in the joyful sound. "Yule Swing" or "you'll swing," either way, it's a perfect stocking stuffer. "Through Their Eyes" is a tribute to children. This easygoing track, with muted trumpets softly in the background and elegant piano by Jeff Franzel, features Wilson's rich alto voice. With lyrics like, "And be young at heart for just a while," it's a call for adults to use the wonder of children to help overcome their troubles and enjoy life. Bassist Sean O'Bryan Smith sets a cool-jazz rhythm on "Light Me Up," a delightful duet with guest vocalist Chuck Wicks. Wilson enjoys some Janis Siegel-like inflections. The song includes a bluesy guitar solo. "One Day" quiets things down. Wilson reminds one of Doris Day as she sings about the gratitude of family during that special day. The background arrangement is minimal. Then, she kicks it into high gear again with "Mrs. Claus," a sassy, playful nod to the woman behind Santa. Rick Braun makes a guest appearance, playing muted trumpet on "A House, A Home." While Yule Swing is 10 all-new songs, the melodies and rhythms revisit a bygone era. Wilson and her co-writers capture the spirit of old-school swing. Some instrumental solos and the big horn section certainly add to the pleasure, but it's Wilson's voice that makes this collection a gift that will last. Everybody loves Christmas, and most artists have it in them to record Christmas music at some point in their careers. However, it is the rare singer who trims the tree with all-new material. Wilson does, and it's a beauty. ~ Woodrow Wilkins https://www.allaboutjazz.com/yule-swing-anna-wilson-transfer-records-review-by-woodrow-wilkins.php?width=1920

Personnel: Anna Wilson: vocals; Sean O'Bryan Smith: bass; Paul Gordon: Hammond B-3; Wayne Killius: drums; Mike Noble: guitar; Monty Powell: guitar; Justin Levinson: percussion; Jeff Franzel: piano; Max Abrams: saxophone; Roy Agee: trombone; Steve Patrick: trumpet (1-8, 10); Rick Braun: trumpet (9); Chuck Wicks: vocals (5); Sam Roberts: child's voice; Hayley Roberts: child's voice.

Yule Swing!

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Rick Braun - Full Stride

Styles: Trumpet And Flugelhorn Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:28
Size: 114,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:47)  1. A Very Good Thing
(4:20)  2. Nightfall
(4:47)  3. Hollywood & Vine
(4:45)  4. One Love
(4:55)  5. Moonshot
(5:12)  6. China Bath
(4:28)  7. Magic Moment
(5:18)  8. Soul On Soul
(6:18)  9. South Of Midnight
(4:34) 10. Aqua Funk

A positive, tongue-in-cheek attitude infuses the trumpeter's Full Stride with a certain balmy optimism that contrasts with the dark moods of most of 1997's Body and Soul and recalls the deeply grooving, party time atmosphere on his breakthrough Beat Street (1995). His relaxed, fun-seeking attitude is apparent from the start, with the catchy light funk of "A Very Good Thing" recalling the restless spirit of Beat Street's "Marty's Party"; he floats a percussive melody, complete with irresistible pop hooks, over his own tropical vibe harmony (on synth) and Dave Palmer's alternating deep drum groove and insistent high-hat. More Herb Alpert than Miles. Likewise, he teams with keyboardist Brian Culbertson and former Rufus guitarist Tony Maiden (who backs Braun's flügelhorn with an hypnotic clicking wah-wah effect throughout) to reflect the fast-paced street life of "Hollywood and Vine." On "One Love," he combines his muted trumpet with Culbertson's acoustic piano as a harmonic backdrop to a dreamy, swaying flügelhorn melody; the effect is a cool tension beneath a soaring spirit. "China Bath" plays like background music at an Asian massage parlor. Chuck Kentis finds a synth tone that approximates an Oriental stringed instrument, which he touches gracefully behind a gentle conversation by Braun and Peter White's acoustic guitar, all while a bubbly, trip-hop percussion groove rolls in the background. Then there is Moon Calhoun's croaking synth bass backing Braun's give and take with the echoing electric guitar of Bruce Conte. Following the lead of Chet Baker, Braun even doubles his own gentle vocal scat with the horn on "Magic Moment."~ Jonathan Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/full-stride-mw0000600639

Personnel: Flugelhorn – Rick Braun,  Bass – Cliff Hugo, John Menzano;  Double Bass [Upright Bass] – Cliff Hugo, Jack Daro; Drums – Dave Palmer, Michael White; Electric Piano – Mitchell Forman; Guitar – Bruce Conte, Carl Verheyen, Jeff Golub, Nils, Tony Maiden); Guitar [Nylon String] – Peter White;  Keyboards – Brian Culbertson, Chuck Kentis, David Garfield, Rick Braun; Keyboards [Additional] – Boney James;  Piano – Curtis Brengle, Mitchell Forman; Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Doug Norwine; Synthesizer [Bass] – Brian Culbertson; Trombone – Nick Lane; Trumpet – Lee Thornburg, Rick Braun;  Vocals – Maysa Leak, Rick Braun

Full Stride

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David Benoit - Fuzzy Logic

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:51
Size: 101,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:27)  1. Snap!
(5:09)  2. Fuzzy Logic
(4:55)  3. Someday Soon
(3:35)  4. Then The Morning Comes
(4:04)  5. Reflections
(4:56)  6. Coming Up For Air
(4:51)  7. You Read My Mind
(4:43)  8. War of the S.U.V.'s
(4:14)  9. Tango in Barbados
(2:52) 10. One Dream at a Time (June's Song)

Pianist David Benoit once again delivers a consummate jazz-pop release produced by trumpeter Rick Braun. Braun, who played on Benoit's 1999 Professional Dreamer, does a nice job of updating the piano man's trademark keyboard sound by addressing hip-hop and Latin rhythms. Despite the requisite candlelight noodlings and semi-funk party tracks that Benoit has admittedly popularized, there is much to appreciate here. With its ersatz harpsichord intro, the original "You Read My Mind" is reminiscent of early Bob James, and is a welcome breather from the usual bland jams. Similarly, an irony-free cover of Smashmouth's "Then the Morning Comes" brilliantly recalls the best of Burt Bacharach's '60s output. Fuzzy Math is perfect music for a romantic dinner or shopping a bridal registry at the mall. Either way, Benoit fans will no doubt be pleased. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/fuzzy-logic-mw0000217769

Personnel:   David Benoit - piano, Hammond B-3; Rick Braun - trumpet; Ross Bolton - guitar; Nick Lane - trombone; Andy Suzuki - saxophone; Abraham Laboriel - bass; Steve Ferrone - drums; Paul Jackson, Jr. - guitar; Roberto Vally - bass; Brad Dutz - percussion; Pat Kelly - guitar; Dean Taba - bass;  Jeff Olson - drums; Neil Angilley - keyboards; Ian Crabtree - guitar; Phil Mulford - bass; Stan Sargeant - bass; Scott Breadman - percussion

Fuzzy Logic

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Rick Braun - Body And Soul

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:15
Size: 111,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:35)  1. Notorius
(4:16)  2. Missing In Venice
(4:23)  3. Slick
(3:46)  4. Chelsea
(4:40)  5. Long Tall Judy
(4:32)  6. Dark Eyes
(4:31)  7. Body And Soul
(4:13)  8. Angel
(4:15)  9. Love Will Find A Way
(4:53) 10. Coolsville
(4:06) 11. Hymn For Her

Body & Soul, explores an introspective, thoughtful side of Rick Braun's artistry. Funk grooves and irresistible pop melodies still prevail in subtler shades, but Braun reflects maturely on the changes of his life with a collection that pays homage to his ongoing love for more traditional jazz. The result is his most thought-provoking, eclectic and artistically satisfying album to date. While he plays all the keyboard, trumpet and flugelhorn parts on Body and Soul, he's joined by some of the genre's best musicians, who got together at various times in the comfort of Braun's sunny home to record tracks reflective of friends gathering for a smooth sailing jam session. On hand for various tracks are sax star Boney James, guitarists Chris Standring and Jeff Golub, bassist Cliff Hugo, and drummers Dave Palmer and Dave Karasony. Body & Soul kicks off with the album's first single, the dreamy, cool, and seductive "Notorious," which features interplay between Braun and Boney James's horns and was co-produced by Paul Brown (who's produced hits for James as well as Peter White and Sam Riney). Braun gently fuses jazz sensibilities with streetwise seduction on the gently hypnotic "Missing In Venice" before exploring the pulsating edges of night on the spirited retro-soul vibe of "Slick." "Chelsea" is an easily shuffling romantic ode to the section of Manhattan where Jeff Golub lives, while "Long Tall Judy" finds musical soul mates Braun and Golub invoking the ghosts of Lee Morgan and Wes Montgomery in a sparsely arranged, slow burning jazz/blues jam. ~ Jonathan Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/body-and-soul-mw0000080564

Body And Soul

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Wayne Jones - Closed For The Holidays

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 23:40
Size: 54,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:40)  1. Closed For the Holidays (feat. Rick Braun & Mike Macarthur)
(3:45)  2. Feeling Playful
(4:09)  3. Barcelona
(4:05)  4. Children Who Lose Their Way (feat. Rick Braun)
(3:43)  5. Perfect Mistakes
(4:15)  6. Strawberry On a String

You may have heard the phrase musician’s musician! You know the type … they’re such established players in the scene that everyone wants them on their sessions. Australian bass player, songwriter, arranger, and performer Wayne Jones fits the term perfectly. He has played with so many of Australia’s leading artists over such a long period of time. However, It took until 2006 for Jones to show his true colours with the release of his first solo album ‘Forgotten Melody’. Luckily for music lovers we only had to wait until 2009 for the follow up ‘Saturday Street’, further cementing Jones’ reputation as a world-class instrumentalist and tunesmith. Since Jones presented us with Saturday Street, he sold his much loved vintage car, packed his bags and traversed the world spreading the word on his music, resulting in club gigs in Tokyo, performances on the foreshore in Florida, chart topping tracks in the Canary Islands and has achieved airplay from radio stations at all points of the global compass. Now in 2011, Jones unleashes his finest work yet, the six track recording ‘Closed For The Holidays’. The folks at iTunes define it as it an EP, in vinyl-speak, you’d call it an album. Call the format whatever you want, the music is yet another classy collection of high-quality smooth/contemporary jazz grooves featuring Jones’ signature sound. Closed For The Holidays includes an incredible array of international musicians supporting Wayne on the recording including sought-after US trumpet player Rick Braun, Mike MacArthur on sax, Fallon J Williams III on drums and percussion, Dave Carter (Keys), Ron Peers (guitar), and Paulo Vargas (percussion). While Jones has accumulated many miles of travel with his music career, his world journey is far from over, in fact it’s only just beginning. Yet with Closed For The Holidays you can’t help but feel he’s arrived anyway! Closed For the Holidays is ideal ammunition for Jones to take his music to the world with confidence and that’s what he intends to do. The future looks bright with stand-alone gigs, festivals and promotional activity planned in territories where Jones has already established a name for himself. “It’s a great progression,” Jones says of the new album. “The last two were good and I think I have learned things while over in the States and I feel I have progressed in my writing and playing. Having the involvement of Mike on sax and Rick Braun on trumpet … I love the players that usually play with me but I was after a different flavour this time. I really have a great feeling about this one. I feel I have arrived.” By Greg Phillips, editor Australian Musician magazine. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/waynejones3

Personnel:  Wayne Jones on Lead Bass; Rick Braun on Trumpet & Mike MacArthur on Sax.

Closed For The Holidays

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Rick Braun - Yours Truly

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:24
Size: 95,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:30)  1. Shining Star
(4:41)  2. Holdin' Back The Years
(4:36)  3. Love's Theme
(4:59)  4. All Around The World
(4:05)  5. Walk On The Wild Side
(5:10)  6. Daughters
(4:37)  7. Groove Is In The Heart
(4:48)  8. Kiss Of Life
(4:53)  9. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?

With Yours Truly Rick Braun broadens his audience appeal with smooth "jazzpects" of such pop and R&B covers as "Shining Star," "Holdin' Back the Years," "Love's Theme," "All Around the World," and "Daughters," among others. His muted trumpeting on Earth, Wind & Fire's mega-hit "Shining Star" opens the program and sets the cool, laid-back tone of the set. This cool, laid-back feeling has put Braun in the ring with the best of the world's greatest trumpeters. On "Holdin' Back the Years," his modern traditional approach gives listeners a sense of deep and undulating relaxation. His fluid-like state of inner joy surfaces in such appealing riffs that you simply forget you're listening to a CD. On "Love's Theme" the addition of Braun's trumpet voice to Craig Sharmat's skillful orchestral arrangement induces a state of complete harmony. "All Around the World" is an inspired odyssey. Rick Braun uses a melodic search for the woman in this man's warm stream of memories. Throughout the song, Braun gently pours a relaxed torrent of notes into a groove-infused synthesis of guitars, bass, and percussion offered by Ross Bolton, David Dyson, and Lenny Castro. "Daughters," which features Jeff Golub, is absolutely beautiful and renders a sensation of tranquility. "Groove Is in the Heart" offers an up-tempo, funky change of pace and creativity. Braun's playing is definitely sexy, supple, and energetic. He is especially romantic on this rendition of "What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?" David Benoit's beautiful piano and string arrangements tug at your heart and make this song the perfect mood-setter for falling in love and popping the magic question to someone special. Craig Sharmat's "heartbeat" effect really adds a subtle difference to this gorgeous ballad. Although this particular recording excludes original compositions by Braun and the ultra-fiery blowing heard on his Grammy-winning duet recording with Boney James titled Shake It Up, fear not. This is classic Rick Braun in a mellow, melodic mood, transporting listeners with the rich tones of his muted trumpet voice through the musical landscape of his life. Highly recommended. ~ Paula Edelstein https://www.allmusic.com/album/yours-truly-mw0000349616

Personnel:  Rick Braun - trumpet, flugelhorn;  David Benoit - piano;  Lenny Castro, Jeff Golub, Steve Kujala - flute;  Mitchel Forman - keyboards;  Bud Harner - percussion;  Stan Sargeant - bass

Yours Truly

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Brian Bromberg - You Know That Feeling

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop 
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:42
Size: 155,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Hero (For Zachary Breaux)
(5:36)  2. Through The Window
(4:55)  3. My Love
(5:12)  4. By The Fireplace
(5:23)  5. September
(9:23)  6. I Fell Asleep A Child And Woke Up A Man
(5:13)  7. You Know That Feeling
(6:05)  8. A Love Affair
(5:30)  9. Nananananana
(4:37) 10. Human
(5:23) 11. Joe Cool
(4:18) 12. Goodbye (For My Father)

Few are the bass players who the average music fan can name. There are simply not that many who stand out as more than a member of the rhythm section, however tight. Paul McCartney. Sting. Bootsy Collins. Tony Levin. Gene Simmons. These may be the greater part of a list that, for most, is no larger than one hand long. Shorter still is the list of bassists who can take their playing one step further. Brian Bromberg is one such bass player. Having originally begun his musical career on drums, Bromberg soon switched to classical upright bass. Though this switch was more or less his choice, Bromberg's next musical move was more demanded than decided: in order to get a gig with Stan Getz's band, Bromberg dropped the upright, picked up an electric four-string and, leaving home on his 19th birthday, started down his own musical road less taken. Since then, Bromberg has played with a long list of musical giants, from Stan Getz to James Moody, from Diane Schuur to Nancy Wilson. He has also been heard (and seen) in many popular films and programs, from The Fabulous Baker Boys to Melrose Place. As Bromberg has picked up more and more musical partners, he has also picked up more and more playing styles. In the process, however, he has been able to drop a major piece of the modern jazz ensemble as emphatically stated in the liner notes to You Know That Feeling, "THERE IS NO GUITAR ON THIS ALBUM" (sic). Instead, Bromberg uses a variety of bass bodies and tunings to match registers usually reserved for the six-string. As a result, he is able to match the high vocal line on his convincing cover of Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" and also to offer the Jobim-ish pizzicato of "A Love Affair." Though most of the album consists of programmed "smooth jazz" selections that may turn true jazz fans and aficionados off, Bromberg's versatility and talent are strong enough to command the assistance of modern day giants like Dave Grusin, Tom Scott, Ernie Watts, Joe Sample, and Everette Harp. Despite a few sappy synthesized songs, You Know That Feeling is a solid demonstration of a near unique talent. ~ Matthew Robinson https://www.allmusic.com/album/you-know-that-feeling-mw0000033226

Personnel: Brian Bromberg (strings, piccolo, acoustic bass); Lori Perri, Sean Holt (vocals); Gary Meek (soprano saxophone); Everette Harp (tenor saxophone); Rick Braun (trumpet, flugelhorn); Al Forman, Rob Mullins (piano); Gregg Karukas (keyboards, programming, keyboard programming); Jeff Lorber (keyboards, keyboard programming); John "J. R." Robinson , Joel Taylor (drums); Steve Reid (tambourine); Alex Acuña (percussion, sleigh bell)  

You Know That Feeling

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Rick Braun - Can You Feel It

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:13
Size: 113,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:06)  1. Can You Feel It
(4:26)  2. Back to Back
(4:35)  3. Take Me to the River
(4:09)  4. Mallorca
(4:25)  5. Get up and Dance
(4:57)  6. Another Kind of Blue
(4:11)  7. Delta
(5:35)  8. Silk
(3:52)  9. Radar
(4:39) 10. The Dream
(4:13) 11. Dr. Funkenstein

Celebrated trumpeter Rick Braun's release can you feel it is aptly titled. The veteran purveyor of the smooth jazz sound does not disappoint on his latest offering. Some of Braun's musical friends on this eleven song collection include: Brian Culbertson-piano, Euge Goove-tenor sax, Jeff Lorber-keyboards and guitar, Dave Koz-tenor sax, and Nate Phillips-bass.  In typical Braun fashion, the entire record production is clean and at a high standard. The title and first track "Feel It" has a breezy summer's day sensitivity to it that should put you in a relaxed state of mind. On the second song "Back To Back," the dependable band led by Braun, continues to roll along in the groove established by the opening track.

The popular trumpeter provides a pleasant surprise with Al Green's 1974 gospel flavored hit "Take Me To The River." This is the sole vocal track presented here with a cool Braun intro and Elliot Yamin's bouncy interpretation of this soul/gospel classic. (Bryan Ferry, Levon Helm, Talking Heads and Foghat also recorded the song.) The Braun/Harner composition "Get Up And Dance" is another fine example of Braun's signature sound. The horns are clear with the trumpet and saxophone working competently together. "Another Kind Of Blue" is a mellow ballad delivered with Braun's lonely flugelhorn, giving the song a nice melancholy tinge. "Radar" is approached with the easy alacrity that Braun has consistently demonstrated throughout his long career. "Mallorca," "Delta," "Silk," and "The Dream" help contribute to the CD's overall ambience. The album closes strongly with the Braun/Phillips/Gonzalez song "Dr. Funkenstein." In addition to the horns, the very capable rhythm section gets to stretch out. Bass and drums are prominent on the finale that actually rocks. This stand out tune is a great way to conclude Braun's latest record.  Successful songwriter/multi instrumentalist Rick Braun has recorded and produced another polished disc to add to your contemporary jazz collection. Braun's can you feel it will appeal to his loyal fans and supporters of the smooth jazz genre. ~ Walter Atkins https://www.allaboutjazz.com/can-you-feel-it-rick-braun-artistry-music-review-by-walter-atkins.php

Personnel: Rick Braun, trumpets, trombone, flugelhorn and keyboards; Brian Culbertson, piano; Phil Davis, piano; Brandon Fields, tenor and baritone sax; Mike Finnigan, Hammond B3; Richard Fremont, flute; John Gilutin, Hammond B3; Sergio Gonzalez, drums; Euge Goove, tenor sax; Adam Hawley, guitar; Randy Jacobs, guitar; Nathaniel Kearny Jr, bass; Dave Koz, tenor sax; Braylon Lacey, bass; Jeff Lorber, keyboards and guitar; Tony Moore, drums; Nate Phillips, bass; Frank Richardson, drums; Philippe Saisse, keyboards; Freddie Washington, bass; Elliot Yamin, vocals; Ramon Yslas, percussion

Can You Feel It

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Patrick Bradley - Can You Hear Me

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:06
Size: 108,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:58)  1. All In
(4:00)  2. Blue Skies (Feat. Eric Marienthal)
(5:01)  3. North Of Evermore (Feat. Jeff Lorber, Michael Thompson & Jimmy Hasslip)
(5:04)  4. Can You Hear Me (Feat. Dave Koz)
(4:27)  5. Daylight (Feat. Eric Marienthal & Dwight Sills)
(4:35)  6. Shoreline (Feat. Eric Marienthal)
(5:01)  7. Catalan (Feat. Jeff Lorber & Eric Marienthal)
(4:49)  8. For Her
(4:36)  9. Sierra (Feat. Dwight Sills)
(4:31) 10. Voyage (Feat. Rick Braun)

Can You Hear Me is Patrick Bradley’s third solo release. Bringing Bradley’s music to life are top flight musicians such as saxophonists Eric Marienthal (Chick Corea Elektric Band) and Dave Koz, trumpeter Rick Braun, guitarists Michael Thompson and Dwight Sills, bassist Jimmy Haslip (formerly of the Yellowjackets) and drummer Gary Novak. At the helm of it all is prolific producer/composer/keyboardist Lorber who Bradley swears fits his musicality like a glove. Collaborating on their second album together, Bradley and Lorber composed and arranged all ten songs on “Can You Hear Me.” Bradley nimbly emotes graceful harmonies on piano, adds depth and texture via Moog synthesizer embellishments and uncorks feverish organ blasts with reckless abandon when the mood to pontificate strikes. A variety of jazz visages fusion, contemporary and smooth emerge from tracks rooted in R&B that reflect prisms of funk, soul and blues with the deep-pocketed grooves stitched by bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Gary Novak. David Mann’s fiery horns and crisp horn arrangements fatten the sound on “Blue Skies,” “Daylight,” “For Her” and “Voyage” with hitman Rick Braun captured blowing away on trumpet on a pair of cuts (“Blue Skies” and “Voyage”) and Eric Marienthal chiming in some swinging sax on a few numbers (“Blue Skies,” “Shoreline” and “Catalan”). Lorber’s keyboard and Dwight Sills’ guitar riff rhythmically throughout the session with Sills and guitarist Michael Thompson dousing kerosene before slash and burn solos. Both Bradley and Lorber solo on the blistering progressive rock thrill ride “North Of Evermore.” The first radio single “Can You Hear Me” featuring Dave Koz on soprano sax is a beautiful melody written for Bradley’s mother who passed away in 2008.  “I’ve been playing my whole life and I’m trying to be heard in this noisy world as a musician. My mom passed before hearing my last album (“Under The Sun”) including the song I wrote for my (late) father (“Tears From The Sky”). I wonder if she can hear me and my music. I wrote ‘Can You Hear Me’ with her in mind” said Bradley, a man of faith who hails from Southern California. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/patrickbradley4

Can You Hear Me

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Patrick Bradley - Under the Sun

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:55
Size: 122,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:30)  1. Straight Path
(4:11)  2. Into the Sunset
(4:56)  3. A Message
(4:57)  4. Just Let Go
(4:40)  5. Slipstream
(5:02)  6. Time and Chance
(4:41)  7. Crows on the Lawn
(5:58)  8. Tears from the Sky
(4:16)  9. Rush Street
(3:46) 10. Under the Sun
(5:52) 11. The Empress of Dalmatia

Jazz fusion keyboardist Patrick Bradley taps a luminous cast for the spiritually-inspired Under the Sun. The album released April 26, 2011 offers hope and a boundary pushing musical adventure. Four years after the release of his debut CD Come Rain or Shine. The long awaited release will surely prove a worthy wait. Legendary keyboardist, writer and producer Jeff Lorber produced the CD and plays additional Keyboards as well. The All star cast includes Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Eric Marienthal, Dwight Sills, Michael Thompson, Dave Weckl, Tony Moore, Alex Al, Nate Phillips, David Mann and IreneB. Patrick Bradley and Jeff Lorber collaborated on much of this project. The two-powerhouse keyboardist coupled with an all-star cast truly created a fresh unique sound and writing style. The project strikes a remarkable balance between highlighting the talent and songwriting of Bradley while sharing the space freely with the enormously gifted cast of musicians. When everything is said and done the songwriting is tremendous, and adventurous.

Patrick is playing piano as his main instrument on the project. But Under the Sun beckons back to Bradley’s roots. The Hammond B-3 was the instrument of Bradley’s early upbringing. So, there is no surprise hearing the soaring organ solos throughout the project. Some of Bradley’s early influences of Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman and Chick Corea peer through the hidden veil creating a dynamic style yet with a warm and welcoming approachability for all listeners. Patrick was quoted saying; “Under The Sun is a project born during times of difficulty and triumph yet all with a sense of celebrating all that life has to offer. Musically I want to help encourage hopefulness and to help remind us all to keep the important priorities of life in view, having an eternal perspective, loving and caring for our families, loved ones, friends and all the relationships we all value. Time flies by all too fast so let’s celebrate our brief time under the sun.” Patrick Bradley is a self-taught musician who began playing at the age of eight. He has a diverse background of jazz-fusion, smooth jazz, gospel, rock, progressive rock and classical music. As an independent artist Patrick’s 2007 debut record sold internationally in 14 countries along with the single Come Rain or Shine reaching #26 on the charts. Outside of music, Bradley serves a s the regional president of Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific region. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/patrickbradley2

Personnel:  Patrick Bradley, Jeff Lorber - piano, Dave Koz, Eric Marienthal - sax, Rick Braun - flugelhorn and trumpet, Dwight Sills, Michael Thompson - guitar, Alex Aland, Nate Phillips -bass, Tony Moore, Dave Weckl -drums, David Mann - horn section, Irene B. - voice.

Under the Sun

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Rick Braun - Intimate Secrets

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:55
Size: 108,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:10)  1. In A Dream
(4:48)  2. China Blue
(6:34)  3. Corazon De Fuego
(3:11)  4. Laura
(4:43)  5. Shy One
(4:10)  6. Oceanna
(5:17)  7. Midnight Caller Theme
(4:47)  8. Oh, Calico, When You Were Young
(3:51)  9. Intimate Secrets
(3:43) 10. Guardian Of The Dreamer
(2:36) 11. While You Were Gone

?Rick Braun has composed, produced and performed all the music on Intimate Secrets. The songs are arranged and performed by Rick with percussion, keyboards and bass as the backdrop for his sterling flugelhorn and muted trumpet. Acoustic electric guitar, piano and a dash of synth even out the total sound. In these original compositions we hear Rick's solo horn breezing its way over gentle accompaniment. His music engenders a sense of easy freedom, shared companionship and total acceptance... https://www.allmusic.com/album/intimate-secrets-mw0000090058

Personnel: Rick Braun (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn, French horn, keyboards, bass synthesizer, percussion); Todd Sharp (guitar, acoustic guitar); Jeff Golub (acoustic guitar, steel guitar); Todd Smallwood (electric guitar); Doug Norwine (tenor saxophone); Brad Fiedel (piano); Cliff Hugo (fretless bass); Pascal Nabet-Meyer (percussion)

Intimate Secrets

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Chris Standring - Velvet

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:06
Size: 126,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. Silhouette
(4:34)  2. Sneaky
(4:38)  3. Coll Shades
(4:32)  4. West Coast Changes
(5:44)  5. Velvet
(4:38)  6. Steven
(4:26)  7. Shake
(4:53)  8. Solitaire
(5:31)  9. 'Nuff Said
(4:47) 10. Victoria Road
(6:42) 11. The Beautiful Woman of Scant Virture

It wouldn't be a surprise to find the glorious retro-soul CD Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite a fixture in Chris Standring's disc changer. Velvet, the guitarist's first solo effort after the blazing funk effort by Solar System (led by Standring and this album's keyboardist/producer Rodney Lee), is full of glittery synth-created Hammond B-3 and Fender Rhodes flavors, hypnotic synth washes and gentle shuffling grooves, punchy wah-wah harmonies and dreamy, otherworldly effects. If Maxwell could improvise like George Benson, this is what the hybrid might be. Standring waits till the tenth track, "Victoria Road," before giving us a truly infectious electric guitar melody that stands apart from its rhythmic base and doesn't seep into the next song. 

But the disc seems more about Standring's Benson-like precision and technique, and brilliant vibe-intensive production than just tunes. On standout tracks like "Silhouette" and the sax accented "Sneaky," Standring and Lee effortlessly swirl the electric guitar melody with subtle acoustic harmonies, effective wah-wah kicks and some Crusaders flavored key improvisations. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/velvet-mw0000035454

Personnel: Chris Standring (guitar); Dino Soldo (tenor saxophone, flute, harmonica, keyboards, programming); Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone); Rick Braun (flugelhorn); Rodney Lee (keyboards, programming); Andre Berry (bass).

Velvet

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BWB - Groovin'

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:49
Size: 139.2 MB
Styles: R&B, Smooth jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[4:47] 1. Groovin'
[4:51] 2. Brown Sugar
[5:46] 3. Ruby Baby
[5:44] 4. A Woman's Worth
[7:27] 5. Hip Hug Her
[6:41] 6. Mercy Mercy Mercy
[7:21] 7. Let's Do It Again (Featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater)
[4:52] 8. It's Your Thing
[7:27] 9. Povo
[5:49] 10. Up For The Down Stroke

This concept sounds like the set-up for a joke: What do you get when you cross three smooth-jazzers with topnotch straight-ahead players? Turns out Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum, and Rick Braun have the last laugh and a damn good time. While they may be three of the most distinct stylists in smooth jazz, they had to turn up the pots to cook with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Keyboardist Ricky Peterson, maybe the funkiest organist in contemporary jazz outside of Larry Goldings, plays a producing role and is probably the MVP of BWB. The players aren't the only stars. The impeccable choice of 10 well-known cover tunes adds to an unapologetically fun record that allows B, W, and B to stretch out much more than they do on other recordings. Braun quotes Freddie Hubbard on "Povo," while Whalum explores Cannonball Adderley on "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," and Brown pays back Wes Montgomery throughout the proceedings. From the sexually charged "Let's Do It Again," featuring a purring Dee Dee Bridgewater and a scatting Brown, to the inspired arrangements of Alicia Keys's "A Woman's Worth" and D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar," there are no holes in any of these grooves. ~Mark Ruffin

Groovin'

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Jeff Golub - Out of the Blue

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:43
Size: 137,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:20)  1. Wanna Funk?
(4:35)  2. Indiana Moon
(4:22)  3. Manteca
(6:09)  4. The Velvet Touch
(6:27)  5. My Everything
(5:03)  6. Lucky Strike
(5:34)  7. Latitude 19
(4:44)  8. Come on Home
(7:41)  9. Paradise Lost
(9:44) 10. Groanin'

Jeff Golub is categorized in the smooth jazz genre because he's an instrumentalist; at heart, though, he's an Eric Clapton styled rockin' blues guitar player who, on Out of the Blue, finds himself stumbling happily into Tower of Power-like jam sessions. He pulls no punches from the start, rocking hard and furious with his distorted electric thrust darting around and over Ricky Peterson's brooding B-3 and a three-piece horn section on "Wanna Funk?" Same idea, south of the border style, on the similarly hard-hitting Latin blues hurricane "Manteca," where Golub explores some improvisational territory in between sizzling solo sections by his longtime friend Rick Braun. Golub co-produced the album with keyboardist Philippe Saisse, whose comparatively laid-back style keeps Golub in the cool on more mid-tempo, easy to latch onto pieces like "Indiana Moon"; the guitarist gets more aggressive as the song progresses, but the hooky piano harmony line stays a constant. Saisse helps bring out Golub's completely meditative side on "The Velvet Touch" for about half the tune before the electricity rises once again. It's as if Golub just can't keep his virtuosity to himself, no matter how emotionally restrained the trappings. "Groanin'" is a unique departure which plays as though Golub got up one night in a straight-ahead jazz club and tried his hand (pretty convincingly, at that) at the bebop quartet thing. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/out-of-the-blue-mw0000240008

Personnel: Jeff Golub (guitar); Vaneese Thomas, James "D-Train" Williams (vocals); Dave Woodford (saxophone, flute); Kirk Whalum, Tim Ries (saxophone); Rick Braun, Jim Hynes (trumpet, flugelhorn); Michael Davis (trombone); Jim Biggins (flute); Jeff Levine, Leon Pendarvis, Ricky Peterson (Hammond B-3 organ); Kenny White (Wurlitzer piano); Philippe Saisse (keyboards, percussion); Marc Antoine (nylon string guitar); Lincoln Goines (acoustic bass); Tony Levin (bass, Chapman stick); Neil Jason (bass); Steve Ferrone, Steve Barbuto, Shawn Pelton (drums); Richie Flores, Roger Squitero (percussion)

Out of the Blue

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Rick Braun - Around The Horn

Styles: Trumpet Jazz

Year: 2017

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 52:17

Size: 120,4 MB

Art: Front

(5:03)  1. So Strong

(4:20)  2. Pool Dancer

(5:16)  3. Love Take Me

(4:03)  4. We Don't Talk Anymore

(4:38)  5. Everything Is Alright

(4:22)  6. In Common

(5:10)  7. I Love You More

(4:57)  8. Around The Horn

(4:26)  9. Vila Vita

(4:48) 10. Yellow

(5:10) 11. One South Beach Night

There's only so many ways you can go in jazz with the trumpet. Straight ahead and then a sharp left turn into more experimental improvisation paging (Miles Davis), a technically proficient if somewhat rigid traditionalist (Wynton Marsalis) or become a tasty, if unmemorable ingredient in the smooth jazz gumbo (Chuck Mangione). These are the career choices Rick Braun may have faced at one time. He chose to go the path of least resistance and play it safe and make no mistake about it, Around The Horn is as safe as it gets. Braun is thoroughly professional and a polished trumpet player, but he's more in the vein of Mangione than Davis and that's fine because there's room for the mainstream as well as the trend setters. Braun is not going to go off on a ten-minute free-form solo blowing, bleating and squawking his brains out. That's not what he does so he does what Rick Braun does and make solid, workmanlike music. What Braun does do is make perfectly acceptable mainstream jazz music. The songs are catchy and rarely memorable. The arrangement and production doesn't break new ground as much as it covers a well-trod path. Braun's playing never veers into into outright parody of jazz like Mangione, but the unvarying sameness of the songs means its usually the soloists like newcomer Lindsay Webster's vocal turn on "Love Take Me" or old pro Peter White stopping by to add some guitar sweeteningto "We Don't Talk Anymore" and "Vila Vita," but it doesn't lift the overall recording beyond competent to exceptional. "Pool Dancer" is lively, but its not as lively as Braun thinks it is and "We Don't Talk Anymore" is nice, but the psuedo-funk of "Everything Is Alright" is just plain corny. The cover of Coldplay's "Yellow" is pretty and so is the closer, "One South Beach Night" until you realize it sounds just like "Love Take Me" and only the title is different, which is sort of pulling a fast one by Braun, but hey, whatever. All n' all, Braun has made a perfectly acceptable album of contemporary smooth jazz and if you're into that sort of thing you might even enjoy it, but will you remember any of it after it stops playing? If your expectations are this will be pleasant, but not particulary adventuresome, those expectations will be met with Around The Horn. It's not bad enough to actively dislike and not good enough to merit a rave. This one Is okay and sometimes okay is as good as it gets. ~ Jeff Winbush https://www.allaboutjazz.com/around-the-horn-rick-braun-shanachie-records-review-by-jeff-winbush.php

Personnel: Rick Braun: trumpet, valve trombone, flugelhorn, keyboards, synth bass; John Stoddart: keyboards, synth bass; Gerey Johnson: guitar; Third Richardson: drums; Lindsey Webster: vocals (3); Peter White: nylon string guitar (4, 9); Til Bronner: muted trumpet (8); Kenny Wild: acoustic bass (10)

Around The Horn

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Richard Elliot - Jumpin' Off

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:19
Size: 101,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. Jumpin' Off
(5:25)  2. All Night
(4:31)  3. If You Want My Love
(5:13)  4. Here And Now
(4:09)  5. Tell Me About It
(5:40)  6. Slow Burn
(4:17)  7. In The Groove
(4:59)  8. One Last Kiss
(5:07)  9. Nobody Knows

One of contemporary jazz's most durable and popular saxmen, Richard Elliot has also been one of the genre's most self-sufficient. His 1986 debut album Initial Approach was produced by Henry Lewy (of Joni Mitchell Court and Spark fame), but Elliot took the reins on the eight subsequent albums that have made his tenor a smooth jazz radio staple. In Paul Brown, Elliot made the perfect decision for his first collaboration with an outside producer, both sonically, creatively and with an eye towards keeping himself viable in an everchanging marketplace commercially. The result of this collaboration, Jumpin' Off lives up to its title; this easygoing, slow-sizzling set is very different from his usual aggressive style, with tunes that slowly envelop rather than explode in your face. 

His longtime fans, however, will have no trouble taking the leap of faith. "Contents under pressure" might be a good way to describe many of the tracks. Elliot's trademark has always been his searing, gritty intensity and high and low dynamics, grabbing hold of a note and pushing it higher, then holding it for seconds at a time before reaching back down for the lower register. But on floating, free-flowing ballads like "One Last Kiss" and "All Night," he holds back and caresses the notes, rather than attack them. With hooks enhanced by subtle horn doubling, the bubbly, creamy effect is like go-down-easy Grover Washington, Jr.. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/jumpin-off-mw0000029812

Personnel: Richard Elliot (tenor saxophone); Peter White, Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun, Paul Jackson; Mike Sims, Paul Jackson, Jr. , Peter White (guitar); Dan Shea, Michael Egizi (keyboards, programming); Mitchel Forman, Robbie Nevil, Brian Culbertson (keyboards); Lenny Castro (percussion); Steven Hientz, Paul Brown , Steve Dubin (programming).

Jumpin' Off

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Rick Braun - Night Walk

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:26
Size: 111,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Night Walk
(5:06)  2. The Doctor
(4:34)  3. Madrid
(3:56)  4. Things Change
(4:40)  5. Fat Jack & Domino
(5:31)  6. Children Of The Night
(5:16)  7. Desire
(4:53)  8. Neon Dream
(4:03)  9. We'll Be Laughing
(5:03) 10. Indians

A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, trumpeter Rick Braun first surfaced as a member of the jazz-fusion outfit Auracle, formed while he was a student at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. After two LPs the group disbanded, and Braun turned to songwriting, scoring a hit with REO Speedwagon's "Here with Me"; in time he directed his focus to contemporary jazz, issuing his solo debut, Intimate Secrets, in 1993. After touring with Sade, he returned in 1994 with Night Walk as well as the seasonal release Christmas Present. With 1995's Beat Street, Braun's popularity continued to snowball, with 1996's smash Body and Soul launching the NAC chart-topper "Notorious." A two-time winner of the Gavin Report's Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year award, he returned in 1998 with Full Stride. He also collaborated with Boney James on the 2000 release Shake It Up. Kisses in the Rain followed a year later, and Braun continued issuing albums throughout the decade of the 2000s, including Esperanto in 2003, Sessions, Vol. 1 in 2004, Yours Truly in 2005, RnR (a duo set co-led by saxophonist Richard Elliot) in 2007, and All It Takes in 2009. Braun offered up a change-of-pace recording in 2011 with the self-explanatory Sings with Strings, an album of standards featuring string charts by Philippe Saisse. In 2104, Braun returned to the groove-oriented instrumental smooth jazz of his early work with Can You Feel It. ~ Jason Ankeny https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rick-braun/id151194#fullText

Personnel: Rick Braun (vocals, guitar, trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards, programming); Leroy Osbourne (vocals); Todd Sharp (acoustic & electric guitar); Jeff Golub, Carl Verheyen, Vinny D'Onofrio (guitar);, Larry Klimas (soprano saxophone); Sam Purkin (piano); Curtis Brengle (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Paul Spencer Denman, Cliff Hugo, Russ Landau (bass), Dave Karasony (drums).

Night Walk

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Boney James - The Beat

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:08
Size: 96,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:56)  1. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
(4:07)  2. Sunset Boulevard
(3:37)  3. Missing You
(4:03)  4. Batcuada (The Beat)
(3:48)  5. Maker Of Love
(4:28)  6. Mari's Song
(4:00)  7. Powerhouse
(4:03)  8. The Midas (This Is Why)
(4:04)  9. Acalento (Lullaby)
(4:57) 10. You Can Count On Me

In the crowded field of 50,000 smooth jazz saxophones, only a handful are blessed with a distinctive sound of their own and if Boney James isn't first in his class he should be high on the list. James can play with both raw power and gentle, soulful restraint. There's more restraint than power on The Beat, the 14th album by the New York-born saxophonist, but James has always opted for underplaying a bit than roof-raising soloing. James' background in soul music playing keyboards and sax for Morris Day, the Isley Brothers, and Bobby Caldwell has weighed heavily in his fondness for R'n'B and hip-hop, but The Beat drops a few hints of his love of Latin rhythms as well best evidenced in a laconic version of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry About A Thing" and on the boppish "Batucada (The Beat)" where James works out with his frequent collaborator, trumpeter Rick Braun. Though they won't remind anyone of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, the James and Braun pairings tend to bring out the most purely "jazz" moments in each other.

It wouldn't be a Boney James record without a few guest vocalists dropping by and The Beat is no exception with three; "Missing You" featuring guitarist Jarius Mozee and Abi Mancha's nicely understated whisper, "Maker of Love" gives Raheem DeVaughn an opportunity to give praise to an attractive lady's attributes, and Natalie "The Floacist" Stewart gives the gents equal time on "The Midas (This Is Why)."  If you aren't already a member of Team Boney, The Beat may not be the release to get you to sign up. For the faithful who helped propel the album to the top of the charts James remains a formidable force in contemporary jazz, standing at the top and giving his competition an even steeper hill to climb. ~ Jeff Winbush https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-beat-boney-james-concord-music-group-review-by-jeff-winbush.php
 

Personnel: Boney James: soprano, tenor and alto saxophone, flute, keyboards; Brandon Coleman: keyboards (1, 2); Vinnie Colaiuta: drums (1, 9, 10); Lenny Castro: percussion (1-4, 6-10); Rob Bacon: guitar (2, 4, 7, 10); Dewayne “Smitty” Smith: bass (2, 10); Omari Williams: drums (2, 4, 7); Jarius Mozee: guitar, keyboards, programming (3); Abi Mancha: vocals (3); Tim Carmon: keyboards, keyboard bass (4, 6, 8); Alex Al: bass (4, 6, 7, 9); Rick Braun: trumpet (4); Raheem DeVaughn: vocals (5); Phil Davis: keyboards, programming (5); Mark Stephens: keyboards (7, 9); Natalie “The Floacist” Stewart: vocals (8)

The Beat

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