Gregory Porter's sophomore effort confirms the talent that was so apparent on his debut. He's developed greater technique and subtlety in his impressive singing. The '70s soul is still quite apparent in his voice, with shades of Donny Hathaway and ...

COME AWAY WITH ME won the 2003 Grammy Awards for Album Of The Year, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical). "Don't Know Why" won the 2003 Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and ...

20 All-Time Greatest Hits contains several essential items from Sonny James' country/pop crossover years at Capitol Records, including the 1957 hit "Young Love." Several of these tracks from the '60s -- including "A World of Our Own," "Take Good Care ...

It would be incorrect to say that not much has changed Fourplay's sound since they began recording together in 1991. That said, while these musicians -- who were all successful artists individually -- have continued to evolve, as a group ...

This extensive compilation of vocal tracks from the latter part of Louis Armstrong's career features many of his most popular performances, including the 1960s hits "Hello Dolly" and "What a Wonderful World," and his wonderfully relaxed duet with Bing Crosby ...

Jazzmasters is essentially British composer and multi-instrumentalist Paul Hardcastle backed up by the occasional studio musician or vocalist. Since 1991 his Jazzmasters releases have provided several successful smooth jazz hits combined with an occasional danceable edge. While Hardcastle handles the ...

New Orleans' Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews knows the music biz inside out. Hounded for years by friends and music business types to jump into the game, he understood the lessons of his lineage elders: too many had been been ripped ...

Najee's 2012 release The Smooth Side of Soul features more of the saxophonist and flute player's laid-back, romantic, and funky contemporary jazz. Included are such stand-out cuts as Najee's collaboration with R&B vocalist Phil Perry on the club-ready "Just to ...

Lee Ritenour's Rhythm Sessions is, in a roundabout way, a companion album to 2010's Six String Theory. For that record, he sought out a slew of guitar greats to celebrate their joint love for the instrument. Here, Ritenour assembles another ...

Black Radio is the first standalone recording by the electric Robert Glasper Experiment. Glasper's keyboards are augmented by saxophonist/vocoderist Casey Benjamin, bassist Derrick Hodge, and drummer Chris Dave. The album title is firmly aimed at its subjects. The band constantly ...

Recording information: Vision Sound Studios, Orange Park, FL. Personnel: Phil McCormack (vocals); Bobby Ingram (guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, background vocals); Dave Hlubek (guitar); John Galvin (Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards, background vocals); Shawn Beamer (drums, percussion); Tim Lindsey (background vocals). Audio Mixers: ...

Still going strong at the age of 81, legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal's love letter to his favorite Broadway, Hollywood, and Great American Songbook classics, Blue Moon, is arguably one of his most accomplished efforts since his Chess/Impulse! heyday. The ...

Previously unreleased (in any form) 'live' recording of a Jazz At The Philharmonic concert from 1956.Features a star-studded array of jazz luminaries, performing both in their standard line-ups and in unusual jam session ensembles.Includes a rare recorded example (we believe) ...

In the seven years since Munich-born, Los Angeles-based guitarist Nils became a fixture in the smooth jazz genre via his massive radio hit "Pacific Coast Highway," he hasn't become the A-list fixture at the big festivals and all-star cruises as ...

Unfortunately, Atlantic's A Donny Hathaway Collection, one of the few career retrospectives available (and basically the only one in print), isn't quite definitive; it presents a version of Hathaway's career inordinately focused on his commercially successful duets with Roberta Flack, ...

Recording information: Bennett Studios, Englewood, NJ; Capitol Sutdios, Hollywood, CA; EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England; Grandma's Hosue, Malibu, CA; The Studio at The Palms, Las Vegas, NV. Photographers: Gia Prima; Mark Seliger; Reuben Cox; James Minchin. Arranger: Jorge Calandrelli. Personnel: Tony Bennett ...

All tracks have been digitally remastered using 20-Bit technology. The Benny Goodman Orchestra was in top form when this concert was performed on January 16th, 1938. But this is more than just a concert; this date is significant because it represents ...

Along with Dave Koz and Gerald Albright, Boney James has carved out a nice niche for himself as one of the most popular smooth jazz saxophonists ever. Now, Mr. James has gone and done a concept album, with the (eternal) ...

All tracks have been digitally remastered using 20-bit technology. For an artist of Sinatra's stature, an artistic peak is a thing of no uncertain majesty. Such a peak was reached on ONLY THE LONELY, with the invaluable assistant of arranger Nelson ...

The winner of the sixth season of the NBC reality show America's Got Talent, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. keeps things light and swinging on his 2011 debut, That's Life. A vocalist in the traditional pop style of Frank Sinatra and ...

Dave Brubeck covers a host of favorite carols on this solo outing. His chime-like "Joy to the World" and striding "Winter Wonderland" are treasures. His festive opening version of "Jingle Bells" contrasts with the weary version signaling the end of ...

Continuing to alternate between his various different guises, Hardcastle 6 is the third album in as many years from jazz-funk pioneer Paul Hardcastle, following 2009's regular solo effort, Zero One, and 2010's sixth installment of the Jazzmasters series. Like the ...

The follow-up to 2009's Good Day, 2012's Here We Go features more of the nylon-string guitarist's relaxed and joyful smooth jazz. Audio Mixer: Jan Fairchild. Recording information: Cookie Jar Studio, Van Nuys, CA; Defrost Music, Encino, CA; Valerian Studio, Sherman Oaks, CA. Photographer: ...

For over 20 years, the collaborative ensemble Fourplay has grown ever more cohesive in its approach to modern jazz. When the three founding members added guitarist Chuck Loeb to the lineup for 2010's Let's Touch the Sky, the group attained ...

After switching his attention to supergroup S.M.V. and two consecutive live efforts, Brooklyn jazz multi-instrumentalist Marcus Miller returns to the studio for his first solo effort in four years, Renaissance. Showcasing a new stripped-down sound and backed by a young ...