The Jazz Room  - Smooth Jazz

 

Smooth Jazz was originally no genre but a term defined by marketing strategists to make a special instrumental radio format more attractive. This strategy was so successful that the term soon became a genre many musicians could identify themselves with. Nowadays one finds Smooth Jazz artists worldwide. The impetus of this website is to show them up. In Canada exists a strong Smooth Jazz community. Websites like  www.smoothjazzcanada.com or www.jazzlynx.net are spreading the word.

The brothers Dave and Mike Sereny have established in 1996 the label Groove United to support and promote Canada's premier artists. This label isn't focused on Smooth Jazz but it's an important integral part of their program. In October 2004 they launched the collection "Jazz Room" a five-CD series (Latin Jazz, Classic Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Jazz Sampler, Smooth Jazz). To get familiar with this collection we start with the album "The Jazz Room - Smooth Jazz". It's a great collection of smooth instrumental and vocal compositions performed by new stars in Canada's jazz scene.

Dave Sereny 's St. Tropez opens the ball. This song about the legendary seaside-place in the south of France presents Dave's relaxing style of guitar play. One can compare his music with Ronny Jordan's "After 8", Craig T. Cooper's "Caught Up In A Moment" or Zachary Breaux's "Uptown Groove". The song is taken from his album "Fly Away".

Michelle Brown's Springbird In Flight is the title song of the same-named album, a cultural collection of global rhythm and melodic sounds infused with jazz elements. Global rhythm means flamenco-styled handclapping, tablas percussion mixed with drums. On top of this rhythm Michelle Brown's wonderful vocal performance is accompanied by a furious sax. The young singer Michelle already has numerous accomplishments to her credit. She has performed in the critically acclaimed musical, "Mama I Wanna Sing" and has been spotlighted by the Temptations and George Benson. She also participated in the 1997 Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, the Juno Awards and the International Women's Festival in Bremen, Germany.

Eric Clapton's release "After Midnight" (1984) was a tremendous success of this superstar. His song Wonderful Tonight was often copied and re-issued. Wade O. Brown's interpretation presents his unique raw voice reminding at Luther Vandross. R&B and soul fans should visit his website www.wadeobrown.com and listen to his debut album "Fool In Love" (2002) also known under the title "Complete".

The guitar driven Fly Away from Dave Sereny's album celebrates more of Dave's skills. The female background singer is Delihla. She has an own tune on this album. Well performed is the dialogue between bass and guitar. 

More typical for Wade O. Brown's soul style is My All Is You. The instrumental arrangement is sophisticated and levels this piece above the usual R&B soundscape.

The flavor of cruising and Caribbean steel pans is captured in Caribbean Nights.

The mysterious Delihla performs her luminous and melodic I Love You. A voice like a nightingale. Remarkable the excellent instrumentation.

Beata is a further brilliant guitar tune from Dave Sereny's pen and string.

A taste of classic jazz do you find on Suspended Again. Fusion brass, drums with cymbal work and some swinging scat are trademarks of this piece.

Michelle Brown performs Nite Eyes in her jazzy way. There is a taste for more.

Anthony Williams's Grand Slam is the great steel pan final. Fans of steel pan music especially known by the brothers Andy and Jeff Narell will love this jamming tune. The tune was written and produced by Dave Sereny. Encore!

Words cannot describe music. So check out this album at CDBaby and I am sure you cannot resist.