NEW RELEASES: WILL DOWNING - SOUL SURVIVOR; WILL DOWNING - SOUL SURVIVOR; PAUL TUVMAN – RIDING THE JETSTREAM

WILL DOWNING - SOUL SURVIVOR

Will Downing, widely known as “The Prince Of Sophisticated Soul,” is an icon in both the R&B and Jazz worlds. Having sold more than 4 million albums in his brilliant career, Will continues to tour nonstop to the delight of his devoted fans! Soul Survivor features special guests Avery*Sunshine, Najee, Phil Perry, Maysa and others. Highlights include Will’s inspired interpretations of such classics as Blue Magic’s “Stop To Start,” The Stylistics’ “Hurry Up This Way Again,” “Tell Me All About It,” a hit for both Michael Franks and Natalie Cole, plus a host of great Will Downing originals! RADIO: “I’m Feeling The Love,” a duet with Avery* Sunshine, will be worked to the Urban AC formats, and “Hurry Up This Way Again” will be the first Smooth Jazz single.

  

WILL DOWNING - SOUL SURVIVOR

After a few years layoff with the exception of his collaboration with the New Cool Collective, Reilly comes back with a super jazzy album. If you like Matt Bianco’s previous efforts, this one will not disappoint. It is by far his most straight jazz album and mixes most of the latin influence of previous work. He does have some latin jazz mixed in but no street rhythm music. It is a much more uniform sounding set of music like the great Hi-Fi Bossa Nova album versus those with more variety like Hideaway. The instrumentalists are exceptional and really get a chance to show off their chops with good solo turns. This is what music could or should be depending on your stance, great writing, good vocal style, and musicians playing at their best.

   

PAUL TUVMAN – RIDING THE JETSTREAM

A longtime pilot for Delta Airlines, pianist and composer Paul Tuvman received an overwhelming response to his 2015 debut album, Musically Speaking, which was put on the In Flight entertainment system and pretty much launched Paul’s Smooth Jazz career. The title of his latest, Riding The Jetstream, is not only a nod to his day job, but an emotional guide to the freewheeling journey ahead. Working with producer Rick Braun (who plays trumpet on two songs) and guests Michael Lington and Pat Kelley, Tuvman alternately caresses and pounds the ivories as he eases effortlessly between lighthearted traditional jazz swing, energetic R&B/funk, lush ballads and ventures into Irish music and Brazilian samba. Time to get on board, buckle up and start Riding The Jetstream! ~ www.smoothjazz.com