NEW MUSIC: CURTIS BROOKS - RELAX; ANTHONY HAMILTON – WHAT I’M FEELIN’; PAT METHENY - THE UNITY SESSIONS

CURTIS BROOKS - RELAX

Saxophonist, composer, and producer, Curtis Brooks plays by his own rules. Blessed with an astounding voice and natural knack for a hook via his saxophone, he’s redefining what’s possible within smooth jazz. Curtis Brooks; born Curtis Mark McCowen, Jr., had his first encounter with a saxophone at age 8 while in the 4th grade. The band teacher visited his class and said “If you join the band you can get out of class.” Out of class sounded like a great idea to young Curtis so he joined the school band, not knowing that this would soon become his passion. Now twelve years later he’s being called the new generation of smooth jazz; a child prodigy!

ANTHONY HAMILTON – WHAT I’M FEELIN’

Heavy sounds from Anthony Hamilton – a record that's still got all the warm flourish we love from his other work, but which also seems to have a bit more of a bass on the bottom! The production is by Mark Batson on most tracks – and the team of Salaam Remi and James Poyser on a few more – and there's a great use of rock-solid, slow-moving rhythms to the record – grounding the whole thing firmly (and maybe blowing out the cones in your speakers, too!), while Hamilton opens up with those well-crafted vocal modes, full of deep soul flourishes that have made him a hip favorite for years. Titles include "Save Me", "Take You Home", "Love Is An Angry Thing", "Never Letting Go", "Grateful", "Ain't No Shame", "What I'm Feelin", and "Walk In My Shoes".  ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

PAT METHENY - THE UNITY SESSIONS

Nonesuch Records releases a pair of new albums from guitarist, composer, and bandleader Pat Metheny on May 6, 2016. Metheny is well-known as a musical collaborator, and both records feature friends and colleagues with whom he has worked for years. The Unity Sessions is taken from a filmed performance with Pat Metheny Unity Group that was recently released on DVD; the set comprises 13 songs by Metheny, one he co-wrote with Ornette Coleman, and one well known standard by Ray Noble. And Cuong Vu Trio Meets Pat Metheny joins the guitarist with a trio led by longtime Pat Metheny Group trumpeter Cuong Vu. It comprises five tunes written by Vu plus one by Metheny and one by Andrew D'Angelo.