John Stoddart - Wings to Walk This Road CD

Wings to Walk This Road buy CD music 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.

Wings to Walk This Road CD music To the untrained eye, silken-voiced Will Downing may seem merely an R&B journeyman, making solid, soulful records year after year, just on the edge of stardom. However, there has to be more to an artist whose first hit single is an update of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." And, indeed, EMOTIONS, the singer's tenth album, features a jazz undercurrent (no, not Kenny G "jazz"), sincerely channeling the spirit of Bill Withers and Al Green records past. EMOTIONS opens with a tender jam (gutsily "for the fellas"), "A Million Ways," which asserts "making love ain't just in the bed." In this chronicle of the simple ways to please a woman, Downing creates such a smooth groove that the complexities of love seem rather basic. Later in the album, he manages to discover a new angle to the oft-covered "Hey There Lonely Girl," his baritone contrasting with the falsetto of the most famous version. Will Downing's been at it for decades, but he shows on EMOTIONS that after all this time, he can still summon up the most sensual recesses of the soul. Live Recording Personnel: Will Downing (vocals, background vocals); Dwight Sills, Ira Siegel, Philip Hamilton, Norman Brown, Paul Jackson, Jr. , Wayne Bruce (guitar); Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum (saxophone); George Duke, Rex Rideout, Ronnie Foster, Chris "Big Dog" Davis (keyboards); Mike White, John "J.R." Robinson , Bernard Davis (drums); Luis Conte, Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Darcy Aldridge, Audrey Wheeler Downing, Tyrone Corbett, Isaac Clemmon, Gordon Chambers, Kimberly Brewer, Lauren Evans, Nicki Richards (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Erik Zobler; Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander ; Ray Bardani; Bryan New. Recording information: Bimmer Studio; Knoop Stusio; LA FX; Quad Studio; Shelter Island Studio; The Hit Factory, New York, NY; Track record; Unique Studio; Zobiz Studio. Photographer: Kwaku Alston. Personnel: Will Downing (vocals); Ira Siegal, Norman Brown, Wayne Bruce, Dwight Sills, Phillip Hamilton, Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone); Nicholas Payton (trumpet); Chris Davis, Rex Rideout, George Duke, Barry Eastmond, Ronnie Foster (keyboards); Dwayne 'Smitty" Smith, Alex Al, Melvin Davis, Ronnie Garrett, Ron Jerkins (bass); Michael White, John Robinson, Bernard Davis (drums); Luis Conte, Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Isaac Coleman, Kim Brewer, Nikki Richards (background vocals). Producers include: Will Downing, Chris Davis, Ronnie Foster, Rex Rideout, Barry J. Eastmond.

Wings to Walk This Road songs Few mainstream artists can keep the lazy release schedule Don Hathaway's daughter does and retain a strong fan base. It's been a whole decade since Lalah Hathaway released one of her own albums and half that long since she joined Joe Sample for The Song Lives On. It's her warm voice, smooth delivery, and allegiance to fad-free R&B that keeps the faithful patiently waiting. Delivering on all counts, Outrun the Sky is a fan's dream and the singer's best showcase since her debut. While The Song Lives On was more ambitious and in turn brought more fans, Outrun the Sky is a better showcase. Not only does Hathaway cover a wider spectrum of tones and moods but she also producers and writes most of the highlights of the album. Her stream-of-consciousness lyrics for the title track give a more personal picture of the artist and paint her as an approachable dreamer who's as unsure as anyone. Hathaway's inspired writing is responsible for many of the other warm and reflective winners but it's the closing "Boston" that best illustrates how this husky voiced siren can conjure up a cosmopolitan song and deliver it with heart. Including her smoky take on Luther Vandross' "Forever, for Always, for Love" from the Forever, for Always, for Luther tribute is the icing on this cool cake. The ballad-heavy album still has its fair share of grooves that are rooted in R&B but the overall easy temperament isn't going to alienate any of Hathaway's smooth jazz converts. Nice to have her back; here's to a shorter wait next time. ~ David Jeffries Recording information: Kar Studio; Music Grinder Studios; Silent Sound Studios; Surpdupr Sound; The Green Room, Los Angeles, CA; Unsung Studios; Westlake Audio. Photographer: Kate Garner. Personnel: Lalah Hathaway (background vocals); Lalah Hathaway (vocals); Mike City (various instruments); Chris Parks (guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drum programming); Jubu Smith, John Jubu Smith, Ray Fuller, Eric Walls (guitar); Lee Thornburg (trumpet); Nick Lane (trombone); Rex Rideout (keyboards, programming); Michael White , Michael White (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Jenny Douglas McRea, Vivian Sessoms, Kenya Hathaway (background vocals); David Delhomme (guitar, keyboards); Brandon Fields (saxophone); Tim Carmon (Fender Rhodes piano, organ); Poogie Bell (drums); Ricky Rodriguez (percussion). Audio Mixers: Craig Burbidge; Ethan Willoughby; Dave Pensado; Ray Bardani.

Wings to Walk This Road album for sale A few years prior to this release, veteran touring sideman Steve Grove (Richard Marx, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner) decided to stop hitting the road with pop legends to focus on his smooth jazz career. Despite securing a definite toehold for himself in the sax-heavy genre on the basis of a handful of hit radio singles, he ran into a roadblock with his previous label and jumped ship for the smaller but artist-friendly Narada Jazz. The fact that he's still committed to Livin' Large as a smoothie is reflected in his continued dedication to making picture-perfect sax records like this one. His trademark sound is horn texturing at just the right spots and sometimes on the hook of the song (a notion from his Tower of Power days, no doubt), as on the title track, which features some of his most muscular playing ever, or the midtempo funk of "XXL." Groove always offers a balance between the aggressive and romantic, and here finds the perfect blend on the retro-soul-inspired breathy moods of "Take You Higher" and "Too Cool." Producer Paul Brown (who produced tracks on Groove's first two albums) helps him find the '70s pop-soul vibe throughout, an influence directly addressed on the opening track, a shuffle groove cover of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and Sly Stone's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," presented in two versions, one instrumental and one with an autobiographical rap. Each has a party atmosphere, a slow-burning funk edge, and generous servings of that snazzy horn texturing. Groove intends his title to mean the idea of embracing life in general, but it also applies to the energy and appeal of this solid collection. ~ Jonathan Widran Audio Mixer: Paul Brown . Liner Note Author: Euge Groove. Recording information: Digital Zoo Music, Reseda, CA (05/2003-09/2003); Entourage Studios, North Hollywood, CA (05/2003-09/2003); Funky Joint Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA (05/2003-09/2003); Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA (05/2003-09/2003); The Browns, Somis, CA (05/2003-09/2003); Woody Reed Music, Woodland Hills, CA (05/2003-09/2003). Arrangers: Euge Groove; Ollie Marland; Jeff Carruthers; Johnny Britt; Paul Brown . Personnel: Euge Groove (vocals, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, keyboards, samples); Bridgette Bryant (vocals); JBS (rap vocals); Lee Thornberg (trumpet, flugelhorn); Herman Jackson (vibraphone, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer); Ollie Marland (Fender Rhodes piano, programming); Ricky Peterson (organ); Jeff Carruthers (keyboards, guitar, programming); David Woods, Johnny Britt (keyboards, programming); Paul Brown (guitar, percussion, programming); Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Alex Al, Roberto Vally (bass); Lil' John Roberts (drums); Luis Conte (percussion). Personnel: Euge Groove (vocals, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, keyboards, programming); Bridgette Bryant (vocals); JBS (rap vocals); Jeff Carruthers (guitar, keyboards, programming); Paul Jackson, Jr. , Tony Maiden (guitar); Paul Brown (wah-wah guitar, drum programming); Herman Jackson (strings, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer, vibraphone); Lee Thornberg (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ollie Marland (Fender Rhodes piano, programming); Ricky Peterson (organ); Johnny Britt (keyboards, programming); Alex Al (bass guitar); Lil' John Roberts (drums); Luis Conte (percussion).

Wings to Walk This Road CD music Will Downing makes most purveyors of smoothed-out, romantic R&B sound like Mortimer Snerd. Lush, sensual, and sparkling (one can almost hear the champagne chilling in the background), Downing's music follows the m.o. of Al Green, Barry White, and Marvin Gaye. SOUL SYMPHONY, Downing's 10th release, shows off the singer-songwriter-producer's well-brewed blend of soul, jazz, pop, and easy listening balladry--not to mention his knee-weakening baritone--to classic effect. Looking for the perfect soundtrack to a candlelit dinner and a cozy bubble bath for two? Look no further. Personnel: Will Downing (vocals); Chuck Loeb, Dwight Sills, Wah-Wah Watson, Eric D. Jackson, Phil Hamilton, Rohn Laurence (guitar); Rex Rideout, Chris "Big Dog" Davis, Herman "Peanut" Johnson (keyboards); Melvin Davis , Ronnie Garrett, Sekou Bunch, Mark Walker, Dwayne "Smitty" Smith (bass instrument); Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Audrey Wheeler Downing, John Stoddart, Keith Fluitt, Dwight Thompson (background vocals).

Wings to Walk This Road buy CD music Track Listing of songs: What You Gonna Do; Don't Make Me Cry; Used to Be; One More Bridge to Cross; I'm Changing; Brazilian Heat; To Be with You; Urban Jungle; U and I; You Don't Have to Say You're Sorry; Stay in My Heart; Sheba; Pier 69; Get Up on It; Pages;