Thursday, August 30, 2012

NEW RELEASES - JEFF KASHIWA, NILS, BOB JAMES

JEFF KASHIWA - LET IT RIDE

A 2012 release, the eighth solo project from Rippingtons saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa. Featuring a who's who of special guests, including pianist David Benoit, Rippingtons guitarist Russ Freeman, Spyro Gyra keyboardist Tom Schuman, and guitarist Chuck Loeb, Let It Ride is being released in between a hectic tour schedule as featured soloist for the Rippingtons and the Sax Pack, a sax trio supergroup he fronts with saxophonists Steve Cole and Marcus Anderson. His last few albums have all debuted Top 10 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart, and this album should be no different. ~ Amazon.com


NILS - CITY GROOVE

Nils new album, City Groove captivates the exciting vibrant sound of the best of today's jazz grooves. The album includes 12 original compositions featuring some of today's hottest musicians accompanying Nils on lead guitar. The players include Ricky Lawson and Simon Phillips on drums; Alex Al, Reggie McBride and Daryl Jones on bass; Clydene Jackson and Mitch Forman on keyboards and Oliver Brown percussion. Nils is also joined by chart topping artist Jeff Golub on a great instrumental duet. Tracks include: City Groove, Casablanca, Sunset Blvd., Let's Bounce, Funk In Da House and 7 more. ~Amazon.com


BOB JAMES - JOY RIDE

Adorned with contributions from roughly two dozen friends and guests, Joy Ride serves as a smooth-jazz group hug, and at its center is pianist Bob James, exuding warmth and ample feel-good energy throughout this disc's 12 selections. Concluding his fourth decade as a recording artist, the ageless pianist surrounds himself with a new guest list on almost every track, and the diversified results are flavorful, predictable, and eminently satisfying for fans of the genre. James's rotating ensemble at times included guitarist Chuck Loeb (who also produced and helped write two cuts), Boney James (who glows on the album's lone sax-dominated tune, "Raise the Roof,"), Chris Botti, Lee Ritenour, Norman Brown, Jonathan Butler and, well, on it goes. Name a musical flavor--urban, pop, funk, R&B, even faint traces of world music--and James stirs it into his stew for all seasons. ~ Terry Wood / Amazon.com

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