Talking Smooth Jazz

Guitarist and producer Dirk K is originally from Germany. He is an accomplished guitarist, whose career begun in the early 1990s.  Releasing 14 cd's as a recording artist on Sony, Bellaphon, Fuzzy Music and on his own independent label DIP records, his new release, It’s On is his exciting new album. Dirk K lets us know from the opening minute of the coolly percussive title track of his latest collection that It’s On.

Follow Dirk K on Facebook and Twitter.

SEXY SAXY Volume 1, the seduction is on high and the EP is loaded with fresh and inviting new tunes featuring the project’s first single, “Hold On Tight” with Billboard, chart-topping Smooth Jazz saxophonist Vandell Andrew. Also features A.J. Luke who helped enhances the vibe. All seven of the tunes are sax-drenched, saucy and smooth infused with Hip Hop, soul and jazz! This may not be your father’s Smooth Jazz, but you’re gonna dig it! ~ Sandy Shore

Follow Jarez on Twitter and Instagram.

Born Timoteo Camponeschi, Slim Manicotti started the band, Bona Fide.  They have released their first CD in five years called “Bona Fide” produced by Marc Antoine.  We'll talk to the group's founder Slim Man about that and his upcoming cookbook.

With the release of his first solo CD effort, ‘Soul Searching’, and single ‘Genesis’, an instrumental jazz/funk fusion collection that interweaves music inspired by his much admired influences, Mitchell Coleman Jr has fulfilled a lifelong dream of creating the music he hears in his heart and feels in his soul – and sharing it with the world.

The disc, independently released on his own Soul Revelation label , features some of L.A.’s funkiest players: his long-time collaborator and ‘Soul Searching’ co-producer, Hollywood (pulling triple-duty on piano and vocals), Deron Johnson (formerly with Miles Davis) is also on keyboards, Kayta Matsuno and Sean Fabian are on guitar, Tim Anderson and Sal Avila are on saxophones, while industry veterans and sisters, Pam and Joyce Vincent (formerly of Tony Orlando and Dawn) and Jim Gilstrap (the ‘Good Times’ TV show theme song singer) perform background vocals along with newcomers Sean Thomas and Nodesha.

It’s been five years since Dan Siegel released a new recording and the cover of his 20th disc, “Indigo,” provides a glimpse of the musical content. Stylish black & white photos shot by Siegel in Paris, Berkeley, Malibu and Irvine colored in muted shades of Indigo reflect the melodic beauty and idyllic romance that illuminate Siegel’s ten original compositions that are fully-orchestrated acoustic jazz renderings produced by Grammy-nominated bassist Brian Bromberg and Siegel.

“Soul To Soul,” a passionate new song cycle from vocalist, songwriter, producer and musician Carmen Lundy is Lundy’s 14th album, and the next chapter in her critically-acclaimed career as both a musical artist and a visual artist; a return to her roots but also an exploration of these roots -- and the journey that those roots can take you on. The release of “Soul To Soul” will be accompanied by tour dates both in the U.S. and overseas.

Featuring the stellar talents of guest artists Patrice Rushen, Geri Allen, Randy Brecker, Mayra Casales, Simphiwe Dana, Bennie Maupin, Carol Robbins, Ada Rovatti, and Warren Wolf along with Carmen’s core rhythm section members Darryl Hall and Jamison Ross, “Soul To Soul” invites the listener on an intriguing journey. The moods and moments of “Soul To Soul” are genre-bending and traverse many borders, both literally and figuratively.

Frank Piombo's musical career spans three plus decades of professional entertainment as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter.  He has appeared as a lead guitarist and vocalist with many live bands throughout his career. The Night Speaks: A Smooth Jazz Journey is a compulation of original smooth jazz guitar, saxophone, trumpet, and flute.  

Follow Frank on Facebook.

Bassist, composer and producer Chip Shearin returns to talk about his new cd "How I Live", executive produced by The Lakers coach Bryon Scott, featuring comedian Sinbad and his upcoming Avengers tour with bassist Ethan Farmer.

Follow Chip on Facebook.

U-Nam returns with a brand new project, C'est Le Funk.  Brent Black from criticaljazz.com said about C'est Le Funk, "For the artists that walk the smoother side of the improvisational street, the groove has remained stagnant for over a decade. The differences between most artists can be measured with a sheet of paper. U/Nam's C'est Le Funk pushes the music forward and drops a groove bomb of flavor and lyrical flow that most artists are still struggling to find. These are old school vibes dusted off with a new cool funk full of attitude and a technical proficiency to match. While there is an obvious George Benson like influence, U/Nam channels this pioneering sound into his own unique presentation. Simply put, no other contemporary artist sounds like U/Nam!"

Denis Poole is a music journalist who operates the contemporary jazz website smoothjazztherapy.com, the hottest place on the web for smooth jazz and classic soul. 

Follow Denis on Facebook and Twitter.