BJS Blog

Our feature CD for this week is “Fresh from The Groove” from Sax player Dominic Amato. It was produced by Michael Broening, best known for his ongoing work with Marion Meadows, who also produced/co wrote the majority of the songs on Cindy Bradley’s wonderful debut, “Bloom” which we featured in June. Amato is also a part of the band Turning Point, a group often compared to the Rippingtons whose rock flavored energy and power have built them a huge following but kept them off the easy listening smooth jazz stations (we play them, of course!). It’s a delicious CD full of fresh and funky grooves. Enjoy.

Chieli Minucci – Hideaway
Euge Groove – Belle Maria
Dominic Amato – Out The Gate
Al Jarreau – Excellent Adventure (new!)
Brian Culbertson – Back In The Day
Boney James – BackBone
Will Donato – Drowning In Your Eyes
Lisa Shaw – I’m OK
Ken Navarro – Breathe
Sax Pack – I Can’t Help Myself (their new one)

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Nick Colionne – Catch Me
Melody Gardot – Who Will Comfort Me
Mindi Abair – Lucy’s
Spyro Gyra – Summer Fling
Anthony James Baker – Malaga
Jazzamor – Ain’t No Sunshine
Rick Braun – Notorious
Brian Hughes – Stringbean
Dominica Amato – Exciting Times
Marilyn Scott – Walking With Strangers

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Joyce Cooling – Callie
Dave Koz – Life In The Fast Lane
George Benson – Exotica
Jamiroquai – Stillness in Time
Rippingtons – Life In The Tropics
Steve Oliver – High Noon
Dominic Amato – Fresh From The Groove
Maysa Leak – Friendly Pressure
Boney James – Here She Comes
Norman Brown – Take Me There

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Cindy Bradley – On Solid Ground
Swing Out Sister – Butterfly
Jeff Lorber – Ain’t Nobody
Richard Elliot - Crush
Peter White – Ramon’s Revenge (new!)
Victor Davies – Brother
Dominic Amato – Jamaica
Craig Chaquico – Native Tongue (remix)
Paul Taylor – It’s Like That
Sade – Keep Looking

Feature CD is Joyce Cooling’s “Global Cooling,” her first release as an independent artist.
Visit her website: www.joycecooling.com

Mark Slonkier – Speaking Without Words
Jackeim Joyner – I’m Waiting For You
Pat Metheny Group – Follow Me
Basia – It’s that Girl Again
Bob James – Restless
Joyce Cooling – Dolores in Pink
Eric Marienthal – Blue Water
Kem – Matter of Time
Mindi Abair – True Blue
Cindy Bradley – Catch The Wind
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Spyro Gyra – Havana Moonlight
Lynn Fiddmont – Holiday
Shakatak – Street Level
Special EFX – Dream Come True
Darren Rahn – Tale of Two Cities
Jason Mraz – Bella Luna
George Benson – Softly As In A Morning
Boney James – The Total Exerience
Turning Point – 1000 Stories
Sting – Big Lie Small World
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Rippingtons – Taos
Steve Cole – Serenity
Joyce Cooling – Global Cooling
Michael Franks – Woman In The Waves
Paul Taylor – Come Over
Peter White – Always Forever
Greg Adams – The Crossing
Everything But The Girl – Drivin
Joyce Cooling – Expression
Richard Elliot - Candice Dance
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Jeff Lorber – Ain’t Nobody
Boz Scaggs – Some Things Happen
The Sax Pack – I Can’t Help Myself
Acoustic Alchemy – The Last Flamenco
Dave Koz – All I See is You
Joyce Cooling – Chit Chat
Rippingtons – One Step Closer
Dia Del Zorro – Craig Chaquico
Jessy J – Tequila Moon
Steve Oliver – Show You Love (live)

Feature CD is Peter White’s “Good Day” his first collection of all original material in years. It’s a solid set of songs he wrote and produced with some fabulous collaborators. We have some of his older trax too, including one from his 1989 debut, “Reviellez Vous”

Greg Adams – Burma Road
Ken Navarro – Daddy-O
Keiko Matsui – Black River
Norah Jones – More Than This
Peter White – Good Day
Jeff Kashiwa – Way Out West
Chuck Loeb – Silver Star
Steely Dan – West of Hollywood
Jackiem Joyner – Lost Without You
Peter White – Romance Dance
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Rick Braun - She’s The One
Basia – Blame it On Summer
Grover Washington Jr. - Take Another 5
Peter White – Always Forever
Nestor Torres – Sin Palabras
Maysa – Can We Change The World
David Sanborn – Camel Island
Nick Colionne - Steppin Back
Cindy Bradley – On Solid Ground
Steve Oliver – Bend or Break
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Eric Darius – Night On The Town
Peter White – Mission To Mars
Boney James – Into The Blue
Gabriela Anders - Fire of Love
Paul Taylor – Burnin’
Paul Brown – Moment By Moment
Chris Botti – Through An Open Window
Peter White – Love Will Find You
Spyro Gyra – Getaway
Special EFX – Cruise Control
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Dominic Amato – Jamaica
Al Jarreau – Mas Que Nada
Peter White – Ramon’s Revenge
Euge Groove – From The Top
Brian Culbertson – Playin
Danielle Nardi – 485
Rippingtons – Tourist In Paradise
Peter White – Long Ride Home
Anthony James Baker – Malaga
Shawn Colvin – All would Envy

This week we are celebrating the music of George Benson and playing some of his classic tracks as well as songs from his new album “Songs and Stories.” “Songs and Stories” is his tribute to some classic and often-recorded songs with his versions of familar hits and a few more obscure ones. It’s mostly a vocal album with only three instrumentals.

Next week we will feature Peter White’s “Good Day.” It’s his best album in years, all original music produced and written by White and collaborator DC. Philippe Saisse also co produced some tracks and Basia guests on one song. We’ll revisit some of his early stuff too..all the way back to his first solo album!

Some fabulous vocal discoveries on the show. Victor Davies has an early Jarreau kinda vibe, Carol Welsman reminds us of Marilyn Scott, Lisa Shaw has a Sade-type groove and Shaun Escoffery falls somewhere between Jarreau and Steve Winwood (!) enjoy!

Benson has redesigned and updated his website with lots of music clips and information, plus videos on the recording of each of these songs. Sign up for his mailing list while you’re there: www.georgebenson.com

David Benoit – Mountain Dance (Heros)
Acoustic Alchemy – Shelter Island Drive (Radio Contact)
Jessy J. - Mr. Prince (True Love - new!)
Benson – Rainy Night in Ga (Songs and Stories)
Spyro Gyra – Open Door (In Modern Times)
Warren Hill – Mojo (La Dolce Vita)
Steve Oliver – High Noon (Positive Energy - re-released so you can buy it if you didn’t pick it up first time around)
Lisa Shaw – I’m OK (”Free” new vocalist! If you like Sade you’ll love this song)
Patrick Yandall – Viejo Amigo (Laws of Groovity)
Paul Taylor – Come Over (Hypnotic)
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Special EFX – Summer’s End (Classic track from one of their early albums - Peace of the World)
Enya – Caribbean Blue
Rippingtons – Black Diamond (Black Diamond)
Michael Lington – Ocean Drive (Heat - his latest)
Benson – So This is Love (classic from the original “Breezin” album)
Victor Davies – Brother (another great vocalist- discover more at iTunes!)
Cindy Bradley – Catch The Wind (”Bloom”)
Fourplay – Eastern Sky (Fourplay X)
Jackeim Joyner – I’m Waiting For You (Lil’ Man Soul - this song was #1 for almost 3 months)
George Benson -This Masquerade – (Remix - updates it while staying true to the original)
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Joyce Cooling – Camel Back (This Girl’s Gotta Play)
Richard Elliot – Restless (Rock Steady - new!)
George Benson – Living in High Definition (Songs and Stories)
Shaun Escoffery – Solid Air (Move into Soul)
Boney James – RPM (Ride)
Brian Culbertson – So Good (Secrets)
Rick Braun – A Very Good Thing (Full Stride)
Carol Welsman – Brazasia (Carol Welsman)
Benson-Klugh – Brazilian Stomp (Collaboration)
Paul Taylor – It’s Like That (Burnin’ - new!)
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Peter White – Coast Road Drive (Confidential)
Kurt Maloo – Captain of Her Heart (Soul and Echo)
Down To The Bone – Tiburon (Spread Love Like Wildfire)
George Benson – Exotica (Songs and Stories - Written and produced by Marcus Miller)
Eric Darius – Goin’ All Out (Goin All Out - hit from his hot new album)
Sting – Fragile (Nothing Like The Sun)
Greg Adams – One Night In Rio (Cool to the Touch)
Bernie Williams – Go For It (Moving Forward - and yes, it’s the former Yankees player..going for an Acoustic Alch. type sound on this one!)
Euge Groove – Get ‘Em Goin (Just Feels Right)
Benson- Jarreau- Breezin (Givin’ it Up)

This weeks Feature is Najee’s ” Mind Over Matter”

Mindi Abair – Bloom
Najee – Najee’s Theme
Fourplay – Cinnamon Sugar
Bill Cantos – Morning Coffee
Patrick Yandall – Always There
Paul Taylor – Burnin’
Rick Braun – She’s The One
Nyee Moses – Between Us
Ken Navarro – Blue Skies Bright Dreams
Gregg Karukas – Corner Club
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Najee – Love Forever and a Day After
Al Jarreau – The Flame
Kirk Whalum – Playing With Fire
Wayman Tisdale – Ready To Hang
Eric Darius – Because of You
Madelyn Peyroux – Dance Me Till The end
Earl Klugh – I’m Falling
Darren Rahn – Tale of Two Cities
Keiko Matsui – A Great Romance
Ain’t No Sunshine – Jazzamor
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Peter White – Long Ride Home
Najee – Sweet Summer Nights
Norman Brown – Up and At ‘em
Chaka Kahn – Love Me Still
Andy Snitzer – Some Quiet Place
Jay Rowe – The End of Summer
Rippingtons – Bella Luna
Victor Davies – Gold and Diamonds
Jessy J. - Baila
Brian Hughes – Along The Way
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Boney James – After The Rain
Jill Jenson – That’s The Way of the World
Najee – Needless To Say
Steve Oliver – Wings of Spring
Urban Knights – Friendship
Justin Young – All Attached
Freeman-Chaquico – Riders of the Ancient
Cindy Bradley – Sycamore Soul
Pamela Williams – Destined to Be
Melody Gardot – Who Will Comfort Me

This week’s feature CD is Hiroshima’s “Legacy.” To celebrate their 30th anniversary they have re-recorded a group of their favorites, fan favorites, and greatest hits mostly from their first decade. The new arrangements are stunning and it is wonderful to have these songs recorded with more contemporary production and arrangements and of course the growth in the level of musicianship that they have experienced over the three decades. The other wonderful thing about this CD? It doesn’t sound like anything else out there!

This week’s “Discovery vocalists” are Lisa Shaw and Victor Davies. Shaw’s “I’m OK” has a distinctive but Sade-ish sound and really relevant lyrics. Davies is continuing the thread of jazzy innovators that started with Michael Franks and continued through Slim Man and into the present with artists like Raul Midon and himself.

Joyce Cooling – Before Dawn
Michael Lington – In The Shade
Gail Jhonson – Sisters
Sweet Reunion – Kenny Loggins
Richard Elliot – Moomba
Nils – Europa
Hiroshima – Turning Point
Sara Gazarek – Blackbird/Bye Bye B’bird
Chuck Loeb – Sarao
Jessy J – Tequila Moon

Rick Braun – Tijuana Dance
Victor Davies – Brother
Ken Navarro – Meet Me At Midnight
Nelson Rangell – always
Hiroshima – One Wish
Michael Franks – Dragonfly Summer
Dave Koz – Love Is On The Way
Nick Colionne – Steppin’ Back
Boney James – Here She Comes
Maysa – Happy Feeling

Kim Waters – Waterfall
Rippingtons – Six Four
Cindy Bradley – Catch The Wind
Slim Man – Secrets of Your Heart
Keiko Matsui – Safari
Hiroshima – Winds of Change
Norman Brown – El Dulce Sol
Randy Crawford – Give Me The Night (chill)
Craig Chaquico – Songbird
Paul Taylor – Come Over

Spyro Gyra – Summer fling
Basia – Blame it On Summer
Acoustic Alchemy – Wish You Were Near
Mindi Abair – True Blue
Hiroshima – Hawaian Electric
Lisa Shaw – I’m OK
Euge Groove – From The Top
Peter White – Jump On It
Candy Dulfer – Lily Was Here
Corrine Bailey Ray – Put Your Records On