Jeff Lorber - Flipside CD

Flipside buy CD music With its seething, laid-back funk beats and steamy lyrics full of obvious references to romantic trysts, it doesn't get any sexier than Brian Culbertson's IT'S ON TONIGHT. A number of prominent crossover jazz artist lend their talents here. For example, the downtempo title track features a sensual R&B vocal from singer Will Downing. Later, saxophonist Boney James' mellifluous lines become the focus of "The Way You Feel." On "Secret Affair," relative newcomer Chris Botti plays Miles Davis-influenced riffs over a spacious one-chord vamp (and his use of a Harmon mute creates that smoky, late-night effect). Kirk Whalum's silky tenor saxophone beautifully complements Patti Austin's soulful voice on "Love Will Never Let You Down," a seductive ballad about love's resilience. Instrumental tracks such as "Sensuality" and "Touch Me" combine relaxing atmospherics with deep-pocketed grooves. Through it all, Culbertson's smooth keys and horn lines (he plays both trumpet and trombone) shimmer and shine. Recording information: BCM Studios. Photographer: Lisa Peardon. Arrangers: Brian Culbertson; Stephen Lu. Personnel: Brian Culbertson (trumpet, trombone, piano, keyboards, bass synthesizer, percussion, drum programming, background vocals); Brian Culbertson; Michelle Culbertson (vocals, violin); Ledisi (vocals); Tony Maiden (guitar, wah-wah guitar); Jorge Evans (guitar); Michael Thompson , J. Michael Thompson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Tim Stewart (electric guitar, nylon-string guitar); Ricky Peterson (Hammond b-3 organ); Stephen Lu (keyboards, bass synthesizer, programming, drum programming); Marcus Miller, Alex Al (bass instrument); Marc Nelson, Patti Austin (vocals, background vocals); Will Downing (vocals); Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar, electric guitar); Micah Otano (acoustic guitar); Kirk Whalum, Eric Darius, Boney James (tenor saxophone); Chris Botti (trumpet); Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes piano). Audio Mixer: Peter Mokran.

Flipside CD music Although the veteran composer/guitarist's website could use a major update -- it is contemporary to 1998 -- he's right in the pocket of modern smooth jazz with his 2005 release. He comes with a solid pedigree in the genre, having recorded a duet with George Benson (who also once covered "Keep Rollin'," given a trippy-moody makeover here), and working with Rick Braun, Marcus Johnson and Gabriela Anders. But his all-star associations aren't as important as his facility for melody and groove, and he does well on both counts here, beginning with the bright, vibrant Norman Brown-like title track, playing it snappy and funky on "Back Pocket" and showing a more intimate side with "Coming Home." Lively, swinging breezy gems like "Cruisin'" show off a powerful ability to collaborate with some of the genre's best sidemen, including Abe Laboriel, Rob Mullins, Alex Acuña and Paul Jackson, Jr., whose influence on the guitarist is apparent throughout the project. While he's solid as a writer of radio-friendly tunes, he includes a few covers for variety, one a throbbing twist on "You've Got a Friend," the other a much more eventful and interesting bluesy jam on Toto's minor hit "Georgy Porgy." Whether Nils can break through to the genre elite is up in the air, but he's certainly got some good material here to start him on his way. ~ Jonathan Widran Nils debut album "Blue Planet" introduced this great guitarist to Smooth Jazz radio. His subsequent tour called Nils & the West Coast Allstars featured prominent artists Patrice Rushen, Carl Anderson, Bobby Lyle, Everette Harp and Kevin Richard. Needless Photographer: Jurgen Reisch. Personnel: Nils (various instruments); Kathryn Bostic (vocals, keyboards, background vocals); Chanté Moore (vocals); Dov (strings); Gerald Albright (flute); Rastine Calhoun III (saxophone); Ronnie Foster (piano); Slim Williams (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards); Rob Mullins (organ, synthesizer); Gerald McCauley (keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Joe Wolfe (keyboards, drum programming); Han Zermuehlen, Dan Farrow (keyboards); Abraham Laboriel, Sr. (bass instrument); Larry Steen (upright bass); Enzo Todesco, Joe Heredia (drums); Chris Trujillo (djembe); Steve Reid , Eric McKain, Alex Acuña, Steve Reid , Kevin Ricard (percussion); Steve Ferrone (drums). Audio Mixers: David Rideau; Wolfgang Amadeus.

Flipside songs Nick Lane (trombone); Michael O' Neil, Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Mel Brown, Jervonny Collier (bass); William Kennedy, John Lewis (drums); Luis Conte (congas, tambourine, percussion). Dave Koz, Kirk Whalum (saxophone); Rick Braun (trumpet, flugelhorn); Includes liner notes by Gregg Karukas. Personnel: Michael O'Neill , Paul Jackson, Jr. , Ricardo Silveira (guitar); Andy Suzuki (flute, alto flute, saxophone); Dave Koz, Dino Soldo, Kirk Whalum (saxophone); Rick Braun (trumpet, flugelhorn); Nick Lane (trombone); John Richard Lewis, William Kennedy (drums); Luis Conte (congas, percussion). Audio Mixers: Gregg Karukas; Steve Sykes. Liner Note Author: Gregg Karukas. Photographer: Issa Sharp. Arranger: Gregg Karukas. Guests: Dave Koz/Kirk Whalum/ Rick Braun/Paul Jackson Jr. Personnel: Gregg Karukas (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Andy Suzuki (saxophone, flute, alto flute); Dino Soldo,

Flipside album for sale Nine albums into his career, Boney James makes a grab for the smooth-jazz crown with PURE, an outing that finds him working with a mix of soul and jazz luminaries. James ups the stakes by taking over the production reins (in addition to co-writing every song). Still front and center with his beloved tenor saxophone, this Grammy-nominated artist shifts to soprano sax for the harmony-soaked Bilal duet "Better with Time" and the silk sheets-and-champagne slow jam "Break of Dawn," featuring up-and-coming Detroit crooner Dwele. Debi Nova adds her lovely vocals to the beat-driven "Appreciate," a cut that wouldn't sound out of place on a Toni Braxton or Brandy album. Instrumentals are still the focus, however, as revealed on the light funk of "Here She Comes" and the snappy "Stone Groove" (featuring Crusaders keyboardist Joe Sample). Most impressive of all, the languid closing number, "You Don't Have to Go Home," showcases the interplay of Billy Preston's Hammond B-3 lines and Bobby Lyle's subtle piano runs. Live Recording Recording information: Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY; Kar Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA; Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Sear Sound Studios, New York, NY; Studio A Recording, Dearborn, Heights, MI; The Back Yard, Los Angeles, CA; The Hit Factory, New York, NY; Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA. Photographer: James Minchin. Arranger: Greg "Frosty" Smith. Personnel: Boney James (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, keyboards, programming, drum programming); Boney James; Lauren Evans, Debi Nova (vocals); Rohn Lawrence (guitar, electric guitar, wah-wah guitar); Tony Miaden, Marlon McClain, Tony Maiden, Eric Walls (guitar); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Ralph Morrison III, Sara Parkins (violin); Roland Kato (viola); Cecilia Tsan (cello); Dan Higgins (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Morris Pleasure (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet, keyboards); David Torkanowsky (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ); Bobby Lyle (piano); Kurt Clayton (Fender Rhodes piano); Darrell Smith (Clavinet); Tim Carmen (organ); Phillipe David, Greg "Frosty" Smith, Johnny Britt, Rex Rideout (keyboards); Pino Palladino (bass instrument); Ricky Lawson, Teddy Campbell (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Dwele, Bilal (vocals); Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Joe Sample (piano); Billy Preston (organ); ?uestlove (drums); Luis Conte (percussion). Audio Mixer: Serban Ghenea.

Flipside CD music If you're one of those who immediately starts retching when the phrase "smooth jazz" is uttered, you might as well move on right now; there's nothing about the new Joyce Cooling album that won't make you roll your eyes and lunge for the off button. But if you actually enjoy funky jazz with great hooks and propulsive beats and aren't bothered by a nice, glossy sheen, you'll find plenty to enjoy on the latest album by this very fine guitarist, composer, and singer. Her sound isn't especially original -- you'll hear powerful overtones of Wes Montgomery in her solos and of Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton in her production style -- but her writing is inventive and hooky and her playing is expert and stylish. The album's less-than-stellar moments (a rather generic bedroom number called "Take Me There" and the quirky, quasi-autobiographical title track) are still quite enjoyable, and there are plenty of top-notch numbers to counterbalance the less inspired moments. These include the slow and deeply funky "Natural Fact," a fine vocal number called "No More Blues," and the subtly Latin bump of "Wizard." Very nice. ~ Rick Anderson Recorded at The Clubhouse, San Francisco, California; Werewolf, Oakland, California and PM Studios, Thousand Oaks, California. Personnel: Joyce Cooling (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Jay Wagner (vocals, soprano saxophone, organ, keyboards, programming, background vocals); Annie Stocking, Nicolas Bearde (vocals, background vocals); Nicholas Beard (vocals); Ray Obiedo (electric guitar); Reggie Reg (sitar); Bill Ortiz (trumpet, flugelhorn); Richard Aguon, Billy Friday Johnson, Alan Hall (drums); Pete Escovedo (percussion, background vocals); Karl Perazzo (percussion); Victor Owens (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Gary Mankin; Jay Wagner; Steve Sykes. Recording information: Knob & Tube, San Francisco, CA; PM Studios, Thousand Oaks, CA; The Clubhouse, San Francisco, CA; Werewolf Recording, Oakland, CA. Photographer: Sheryl Schindler. Arrangers: Jay Wagner; Joyce Cooling; Ray Obiedo. Personnel: Joyce Cooling (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Jay Wagner (soprano saxophone, keyboards, programming); Bill Ortiz (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ray Obiedo (electric guitar); Jon Evans, Nelson Braxton (bass); Billy Johnson, Louie Rivera, Ala Hall, Rich Aguon (drums); Peter Michael Escovedo, Karl Perazzo (percussion).

Flipside buy CD music This 2007 release by smooth-jazz keyboardist Jeff Lorber is his first for Blue Note, and it is one of his most eclectic offerings, drawing on a variety of jazz styles. "All Most Blues" is a classic swinging ballad, while "Grandma's Hands" is a funk/blues workout with a soulful vocal. "Super Fusion Unit" and "BC Bop" are what their titles suggest, and over the course of the album he also touches on gospel and Latin. Lorber's butter-smooth keyboards provide the constant, as he veers easily from influence to influence.