Smooth Jazz All Stars Yolanda Adams: A Smooth Jazz Tribute CD

ComPortland, Oregan"The Dallas Singer/Songwriter has brought sing-a-longs to another level with titles like "Lizard Skinnard" and "Strange Doggie". A hectic performance schedule, including schools, libraries, hospitals and day care centers keeps 'Mr. Heath' quite a busy man these days." -Songplace.

3FMIn this fourth release of Kahlil Kwame Bell he has shown his growth and maturity as an artist. All songs are originals that range from straight-ahead jazz to R&B, 'The Dream.

' As with all of his recordings he continues to display that he is a complete musician with a vast musical range not only as a performer but also as a writer, an arranger and producer. Mr. Bell is a multi-percussionist who plays drums and has introduced the Slappaphone, a nine pitched tubular melodic American made instrument, most associated with The Blue Man Group, to the jazz idiom. 'Its' uniqueness allows me to exhibit melodic pitches overlooked when I'm playing drums,' says Bell. On 'Entering the Dream' he plays keyboards and Marlon Saunders beautifully delivers the sensitivity to Bell's lyrics. It is apropos that the title of the first song is the straight-ahead tune entitled 'Focus' because it sets the tone of what is to come and establishes that this is a jazz CD with alto saxophonist Bruce Williams playing an impressive solo. Though Inner Thoughts is a jazz CD as indicated by the soloists' improvisations it may be placed in the category of 'world music.

' According to Mr. Bell, 'I'm American but I want to pay homage to the African beats and the roots of jazz. My desire in featuring the Slappaphone is that I want to make history with it." He combines African music with jazz effortlessly. Few drummers are known for leading a band and to often, when they do, one criticism is that they dominate the group. Given his talent as a soloist, the temptation might have been there, but not Kahlil Kwame Bell, for he is a giving person that transfers his generosity as a musician. Inner Thoughts is a well-balanced collaborative effort where each musician is allowed to shine.