RETRO SMOOTH JAZZ FROM RON PEDLEY...

Check out keyboardist and composer Ron Pedley’s two most recent releases…his solo instrumental effort Around and his pairing with John Pondel as Kombo with their effort, Cookin’ Out (Verve/GRP). Around features 10 funky and smooth jazz tracks in all and includes guest, Andy Suzuki, playing sax on several cuts. My favorite tracks on Around include, Maui Nights, featuring some standout sax and guitar solo work; the Latin-tinged Rain Forest; a bit of straight-up jazz with Dog Boy; Always Moving and Chillin’, each of which showcases Ron Pedley’s talent at the keyboards; and the funkiness of Punky Nugget. Kombo’s Cookin’ Out includes covers of The Fifth Dimension’s Stone Soul Picnic, featuring vocals from Sharon Hendrix, War’s Low Rider and Bill Withers’ Use Me. The CD also includes my personal favorites, Tight and the title cut, Cookin’ Out, both of which include some terrific Hammond organ sounds from Pedley. Everette Harp and Luis Conte are among the guest performers on this CD.

Ron Pedley is certainly no stranger to the business as he has previously charted on the Smooth Jazz charts and has toured and/or performed with Maynard Ferguson, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Clarke, Stevie Wonder, Donald Byrd, David Foster, Bette Midler, George Wein, the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Kirk Whalum, Irakere and the Pointer Sisters. He’s been principal keyboardist and musical director for Barry Manilow for the past 16 years. He also currently tours with Air Supply and Ann-Margret; has composed music for films (Slice & Dice, Krumbach’s Error, etc.), and is a versatile musician capable of crossing over to many genres including straight-up jazz, smooth jazz, house, new age and techno. Talk about being a well-rounded musician!

By the way, special thanks to Ron for providing me with a sneak preview of his remix of Ann-Margret’s Someday Soon…. Ron has taken a track recorded back in 1962 and remade it into a chill groove that most certainly needs to be officially released for the world to enjoy. (Hint, hint to all the DJs and record company executives looking for new material to add to those countless chill compilations being packaged for future release). For more information click to www.ronpedley.com.