Over her prolific past decade, one of Kim Scott’s greatest contributions to Smooth Jazz is, along with compatriots Althea Rene and Ragan Whiteside, helping bring the majestic, magical sounds of the flute back to the forefront. On the heels of the trio’s vibrant reimagining of “I’m Every Woman,” Scott follows her #1 Billboard album Free To Be with Shine!, a beautifully diverse set showcasing her sensual, otherworldly melodic vibe throughout, with mood swings ranging from deliriously funky and whimsically tropical to meditative and romantic. True to the title, she simmers and blazes in the spotlight, sharing the Shine! with a batch of genre all-stars including Greg Manning, Jonathan Butler, Adam Hawley, Blake Aaron, and Eric Essix to further illuminate many of these infectious tracks – including classics from Herbie Hancock and Kirk Franklin. ~ www.smoothjazz.com
As a master computer scientist, Jim Allchin helped create and grow the server business which is one of Microsoft’s largest enterprises. When not impacting the world with his networking, languages and operating systems innovations, he was writing incredible music. He charted #1 often on the Roots and Blues charts - and now, on his latest album Costa Azul, co-produced with Grammy nominee Yaron Fuchs, he’s created another winner. It’s fresh, sensual with an intoxicating blend of Latin-tinged Smooth Jazz influenced by the classic rhythms of the son montuno, mambo, guajira, bolero and flamenco. Also passionate about his work with education in African countries, Allchin conceived the album during personal reflection time during COVID, when he began listening anew to songs he penned while on his travels. ~ www.somoothjazz.com
Daybreak is the eighth album by vocalist Susan Krebs. JazzTimes has called her “A jazz singer steeped in experience with a “no fear” soul.” The impetus for this album grew out the pandemic. Living alone, cut off from friends, she was longing for connection. She especially missed being in the creative zone with her longtime musical comrades. She felt a deep need to make music. She booked a band of dear pals and commissioned three fine arrangers. Krebs chose tunes that had long lingered in her muse’s ear as well as tunes she newly discovered. She began working on this album in September 2020 and completed it in June of 2021. It was created through the wonders of remote recording as well as one fully-vaxxed live studio session. Although much of the album was recorded remotely, it has a remarkable sense of immediacy and intimacy. Focusing on this project gave Krebs relief from her isolation and returned her to a sense of well-being. Making music collaboratively was a balm for everyone involved.
The name UMA comes from the South Estonian Seto dialect and means ‘own.' Both musicians - Alexei Saks + Robert Jürjendal are classically trained and mix purely produced sound with live electronics, creating a meditative float somewhere between new age, ambient, electronica and the subtle, cool tones of ECM-style jazz. "Recording was like a cozy home concert, performed in peace and calm for your best friends, for people you appreciate and share with your life values." UMA is the common project of two Estonian musicians – guitarist Robert Jürjendal and trumpet/corno da caccia player Aleksei Saks – who came together at the beginning of 2007.
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