Jeff Charney

Larry Carlton

From the C-Jazz Pipeline:
Concord Gets Smooth
The mainstream jazz crowd should get a kick out of this. Contemporary jazz label Peak Records has sealed a joint venture agreement with Concord Records that takes effect October 10. On that date there will be the dual release of Life In The Tropics, a new studio CD by the Rippingtons and West Of Westchester by Dotsero. Yes, it looks like Concord, best known for its straightahead jazz catalogue, also plans to become a force in the Smooth Jazz arena as well. Anticipated early 2001 Peak/Concord releases include a live Rippingtons CD (recorded last year and originally slated for release by Windham Hill), one by vocalist Miki Howard (February), and another by saxophonist Eric Marienthal (April). Peak expects to release five to six titles in 2001, seven or eight in 2002.









And From the C-Jazz Playlist:
Recommended Recent Releases
There were many new releases in the summer of 2000 worth checking out. Let's take a look at a few.

Fourplay
Yes, Please
(Warner Brothers)
The latest from this jazz supergroup includes eleven new songs plus appearances by vocalists Chante Moore and Sherree. The disc kicks off with a Harvey Mason romp called "Free Range" followed by Nathan East's upbeat "Double Trouble." "Robo Bop," penned by Bob James, is groove-oriented with a recurring hook, and "Blues Force," co-written by the entire band, provides a perfect feature vehicle for guitarist Larry Carlton. "Lucky" is another James original, again featuring the blendable riffs of Carlton's guitar. No new musical ground broken here, but still very enjoyable.

Jeff Kashiwa
Another Door Opens
(Native Language)
This is solo CD number three from the former Rippingtons saxophonist. Produced by Kashiwa, Brian Bromberg, Dave Kochanski and Jeff Lorber, the CD begins with the pop-oriented, Dave Koz-styled single, "Hyde Park." Other notable tracks include Kashiwa's "Power Of Midnight" featuring drummer Will Kennedy (formerly of the Yellowjackets), Steve Reid on percussion and Steve Oliver on background vocals. Radio station music directors worth their salt will give this track plenty of play.

George Benson
Absolute Benson
(GRP)
Absolute Benson is the perfect title for this project. Produced by Tommy LiPuma and featuring ample amounts of keyboard master Joe Sample, you can't go wrong with this CD. First up is a cover of Donny Hathaway's "The Ghetto" with Sample and Benson at their funky best. And if you're familiar with the music of Marc Antoine, you'll appreciate Benson's cover of "Jazzenco." "Deeper Than You Think" has been getting play for months now on Smooth Jazz radio, and "Hipping the Hop" is a Sample original that could just as easily have been written by Dave Brubeck. Benson's playing is consistently strong on this recording, and he is backed by a stable of solid players like Ricky Peterson, Christian McBride, Luis Conte and Roy Ayers. Absolute Benson? Absolutely.

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Email Jeff Charney at jeffrey@tfs.net. Jeff is a contributor to contemporaryjazz.com and host of the Sunday Jazz Brunch, which can be heard every Sunday on KPRS Hot 103 Jamz (103.3 FM) from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.


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