Smooth Jazz

[fewtch]

Been getting into a lot of smooth jazz lately, particularly to relax to before going to bed. There's actually a lot of decent stuff out there, and quite a bit is well recorded which is a nice benefit. A few groups I've been spinning:

* Acoustic Alchemy... only heard one album, "The Beautiful Game." It is a decent recording, nothing remarkable.

* David Sanborn... I like this guy quite a bit, shame that many of the recordings are pretty poor.

* Fourplay... LOVE this group. Need more.

* Don Grusin... Again, decent.

* Lee Ritenour... LOVE.

* The Rippingtons... LOVE.

* Earl Klugh... probably my favorite so far.

Others: Third Force, Ray Obieto, Tom Schumann, Brian Culbertson, etc.

Some will probably argue that this music is the "easy listening" of the 00's, but I disagree. There's quite a bit of artistic talent in there, granted much of it seems pretty unfocused and it definitely isn't earthshattering, soul-moving type stuff. Not every genre needs to express a lot of angst to be enjoyable, however. Great stuff for light listening and chilling out. Any further recommendations?

 

[Jahn]

Well when I was a kid I actually didn't mind listening to Spyro Gyra. Even bought 2 of their cassettes. Grover Washington Jr. was huge with "Winelight" of course. Just the Two of Us! But now the most I can stand is Wes Montgomery. My friend loves Pat Metheny but I can't get into it.

 

[gratefulshrink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch Not every genre needs to express a lot of angst to be enjoyable, however. Great stuff for light listening and chilling out. Any further recommendations?

Agreed, but you run the risk of being forced to listen to less talented musicians or less inspired song writing.

There are ways to listen to great jazz musicians palying mellower stuff, which is what I would recommend.

For instance, if you will allow vocals, why not try some Billie Holiday? You don't get any smoother than that.

And although it gets mentioned in almost every jazz thread here, Kind of Blue is perfect for mellowing out. Other Miles Davis you might consider:
Sketches of Spain (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:lz1uak2kam3m) or, the totally smooth soundtrack for the film Ascenseur Pour l'Echafaud (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...music&v=glance)

Believe it or not, but John Coltrane cut a few mellow/smooth albums:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:7du67ur070jw
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:6aq3g40btvnz (vocals on this one)
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:8mkvu3qgan4k

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gratefulshrink Agreed, but you run the risk of being forced to listen to less talented musicians or less inspired song writing.

Not a big deal when I'm listening purely for relaxation... in fact, I don't necessarily want to hear "inspiration" in situations like that, because it tends to get my head running rather than slowing down.

I'm not advocating listening to elevator music (unless one likes that!) just saying that there is good smooth jazz out there, and I have been enjoying some of the better stuff lately. A really good recording quality + decent talent is just great stuff to relax to.

 

[gratefulshrink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch Not a big deal when I'm listening purely for relaxation... in fact, I don't necessarily want to hear "inspiration" in situations like that, because it tends to get my head running rather than slowing down. I'm not advocating listening to elevator music (unless one likes that!) just saying that there is good smooth jazz out there, and I have been enjoying some of the better stuff lately. A really good recording quality + decent talent is just great stuff to relax to.

You may have missed my point. My examples were meant to indicate that the best jazz musicians also have their "smoother" side, but it may be less well known, given their general boisterous music.

Oh, and again, there's Billie....

 

[pframe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gratefulshrink Believe it or not, but John Coltrane cut a few mellow/smooth albums: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:7du67ur070jw http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:7du67ur070jw (vocals on this one)

gratefulshrink,

You have the same link twice. Did you mean this for the Coltrane with vocals? I like that one a lot.

fewtch,

You also might want to check out some Ben Webster. I like these:

See You at the Fair
Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson

 

[gratefulshrink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pframe gratefulshrink, You have the same link twice. Did you mean this for the Coltrane with vocals? I like that one a lot.

Thanks -- I think I fixed it. YOu are right, I was trying to link to the album, "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman": http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:6aq3g40btvnz

 

[micaela]

Caribbean Jazz Project or any of these musician's individual recordings. Great stuff IMO!

 

[bjjp2]

Check out a friend of mine, Jim Savitt. You can get his CD at www.jimsavitt.com. Phenomenal smooth jazz guitar.

 

[intoart]

I am a massive fan of smooth jazz. If I could double my CD collection (fromm 3000 to 6000), most of the additions would be in that genre.

A few more to try:
Chuck Loeb
Mindy Abair
Down to the Bone
Rick Braun
Larry Carlton
Gerald Veasely
Yellowjackets
Mike Stern
Victor Krauss
Arturo Sandoval

 

[Spyro]

Yellowjackets and Mike Stern aren't even close to smooth jazz (???).

The main problem jazz fans have with smooth jazz is that there is no improv and there is far too much programming whether it be drums or keyboards. Most of it is R & B without vocals and pop instrumental. I like it once and a while but I tire of it quickly. Prefer a little more depth to my music in most instances.

 

[intoart]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyro /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yellowjackets and Mike Stern aren't even close to smooth jazz (???).

Listen to Who Let the Cats Out or Time Squared (two of my favorite smooth jazz CDs), and then tell me that!

I think that the genre gets dissed by people who don't recognize the level of talent that goes into the best examples of it because of their biases/preconceptions.

Personally, I think that some of the best musicians out there are working in the smooth jazz and new age styles.

 

[cheemo]

If you like Lee Ritenour, he has an album in dedication to Wes Montgomery called 'Wes Bound'.

I would suggest checking out Ronny Jordan too, and possibly Roy Ayers (a little more funk/soul but the vibraphone he plays is so smooth). Another suggestion would be Fattburger, a co-worker loves this band.

 

[Spyro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by intoart /img/forum/go_quote.gif Listen to Who Let the Cats Out or Time Squared (two of my favorite smooth jazz CDs), and then tell me that! I think that the genre gets dissed by people who don't recognize the level of talent that goes into the best examples of it because of their biases/preconceptions.

Well I can guarantee you that no smooth jazz station in America has ever played a Mike Stern or Yellowjackets song. I have both of those excellent releases by the way. That is textbook contemporary jazz.

When I think of smooth jazz I think of Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Peter White, Brenda Russell, Sade, Jeff Lorber, Chuck Loeb (but certainly not his stuff with Mitch Foreman and Metro).

Sorry, I can't use smooth jazz and contemporary jazz sinonimously. They are quite different to me.

 

[intoart]

If I were to put CDs by Chuck Loeb and Mike Stern (or Jeff Lorber and The Yellowjackets) in a CD changer and hit random play, I would be hard put to determine which song was by which artist (except from memory, of course)!