"Let's Do This!" R&B-jazz trumpeter-vocalist Johnny Britt follows up his No. 1 hit with another single destined to top the charts #jazz

 

“Let’s Do This!” R&B-jazz trumpeter-vocalist Johnny Britt follows up his No. 1 hit with another single destined to top the charts

 

While studying music at the Conservatoire de Versailles near Paris decades ago, R&B-jazz trumpeter-vocalist Johnny Britt found the inspiration for his new single while attending an Earth, Wind & Fire concert in the City of Lights. The high-wattage, horn and guitar-powered “Let’s Do This,” featuring Billboard chart topper Nils, arrives Monday. Britt wrote and produced the follow-up to his No. 1 single, “After We Play,” which is the title track to his sixth solo album that dropped last month on J-Jams Records.

 

“In writing ‘Let’s Do This,’ the spirit of Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘September’ is definitely all over this new song. My intent was to have a strong driving beat to drive the harmonic and melodic elements that make one react to their feelings. The pairing of the open brass trumpet sound along with the Al McKay style of guitar playing makes the two instruments the perfect combination to carry the song. Combined with the happy melody of lyric-less vocals in the chorus that surround the trumpet and guitar is exactly the vision I had,” said Britt who cast Nils to play guitar on the single that will soon be accompanied by a video that was shot in a downtown Los Angeles loft.

 

Named “Pick of the Week” by Smooth Jazz Network, “Let’s Do This” is illumined by Britt’s trumpet and horn section work as well as his soulful vocalization, keyboards, programming and arranging. With Nils as the spotlight soloist, Keith Henderson adds guitar melodies to the rhythmic groove formed by Marcus Williams (drums), Dean Mark (bass) and Sean J. Lawson (percussion). 

 

Before the album dropped last month, the “After We Play” single, featuring hitmaking guitarist Peter White, became Britt’s first number one single as a solo artist. He’s written three Billboard No. 1 singles for saxophonist Boney James. Tracks from the album are garnering spins in multiple formats. Britt teamed with soul balladeer Will Downing on “Butterflies,’ which went top ten on the independent R&B charts and was selected as an Editor’s Choice cut by Jazziz. There’s a lot more multi-genre success still to come for this project that boasts guest appearances by Gerald Albright, Tom Browne, Blair Bryant, Kashan and Ricky Peterson. The cut that is a virtual lock to garner Grammy attention is the first ever duet by Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Little Anthony on his iconic hit with The Imperials, “Goin’ Out Of My Head.” This dream pop gem is graced with guitar accoutrements by Grammy-winning legend George Benson.

 

Britt, who will spend the summer singing and playing trumpet alongside Little Anthony on the Happy Together Tour, will take centerstage with his band at the Capital Jazz Fest on June 3. He launched “After We Play” by playing for packed audiences in Venice, Charlotte, Richmond and Hollywood.   

 

Seeing Britt on stage, witnessing and hearing his passion, feeling the joy and positive spirit in his musical expression, and inwardly experiencing his faith and hope for the world, when discussing the higher purpose and greater meaning behind “Let’s Do This,” his response resonates.

 

“In a world of killing and bad news every day, I wanted to compose a feel-good track, something that would take the listener’s mind off of the negative news, politics, deaths and wars. As a songwriter and musician, I try to lift burdens and create hope through my music. I really strive to do that and with the help of my good friend Nils on guitar, we went for it. We actually said ‘Let’s do this’ and away we went. It’s time to leave our troubles behind and have some fun.”

 

Below are highlights from the initial album and single reviews:

 

“A wonderful confection of smooth jazz and sophisticated soul.” – Soul & Jazz & Funk

 

“A stunning showcase… this one is a real winner.” - Smooth Jazz Therapy

 

“This beautifully crafted, and divinely-hued new recording…” – Exclusive Magazine

 

“His ultra-smooth trumpet tone is still as ingratiating as ever.” – Sonic Soul Reviews

 

“A beautiful album, full of quality music.” – Smooth Jazz Daily and Cultuurmania

 

 

For more information, please visit https://www.johnnybritt.com.

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - April 24, 2023 #jazz

Smooth Jazz Chart 

This chart from smoothjazz.com generally updates every Monday. 

When it updates, this post will be repeated with the most recent link. 

Click here to view the smoothjazz.com chart for this week

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The Pulse of Entertainment: Neo Soul/Jazz Vocalist Kea Releases New Single ‘We Made it Thru’ | LISTEN ‘n’ Groove #jazz

*“It’s called ‘We Made It Thru’ because we’ve come through some of the worst of life’s experiences,” said Neo-Soul/Jazz singer/songwriter Kea about her new single. “That was the vision behind the song. It’s symbolic of us making it through.”

The “We Made It Thru” single is co-written by Lem Springsteen (Kanye West, Queen Latifah). Butter of Bread & Butter Productions is on keyboards, drums, percussion and backing vocals, David Delhomme (Marcus Miller) is on keyboard, organ and lead synth, and Mark Bowers is on guitar and bass. Based in Pittsburg Kea had recently performed during the Austin SXSW when I talked to her.

Read the entire article at eurweb.com by clicking here.

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Eric Harland, Brandee Younger, Donny McCaslin and others join Joel Goodman on his upcoming release #jazz

Composer/Multi-Instrumentalist Joel Goodman to release recording "An Exquisite Moment" Release Date: June 23rd, 2023

Randy Brecker (flugelhorn, trumpet), Brandee Younger (harp), Lisa Fischer (vocals), John Patitucci (bass), and Philippe Saisse (piano, vibes, marimba) join an A-team core group consisting of Donny McCaslin (saxophones), Eric Harland (drums), Adam Rogers (guitar), Mino Cinelu (percussion), Scott Colley (bass) and Joel Goodman (keyboards and bass)

“There were no rehearsals. I wanted to capture the first moments of discovery. I asked each musician to be open to taking risks and to being spontaneous together. Nothing was off limits. Everyone brought grace and generosity to the music.” - Joel Goodman

View promo video below

Joel Goodman has stepped out of time and captured something sublime. With An Exquisite Moment, Goodman's deeply personal and improvisation-rich debut album of "full-experience" music, the Emmy-winning composer of more than 150 film and television projects – including many Oscar nominees and Emmy recipients – embarks on an epic voyage of self-discovery alongside some of the most accomplished and creative names in jazz. Special guests Randy Brecker (flugelhorn, trumpet), Brandee Younger (harp), Lisa Fischer (vocals), John Patitucci (bass), and Philippe Saisse (piano, vibes, marimba) join an A-team core group consisting of Donny McCaslin (saxophones), Eric Harland (drums), Adam Rogers (guitar), Mino Cinélu (percussion), Scott Colley (bass) and Goodman himself on keyboards and bass. Together they take flight on the wings of music written by Goodman in a spontaneous burst of creativity. "Although I've spent my life composing, most film music can sound incomplete without visuals or a story," Goodman says. "An Exquisite Moment, however, is about creating a full listening experience radically different from my film work. I wrote and recorded it simply for the sake of making good music – and I found the process completely liberating." In May 2021, Goodman composed An Exquisite Moment's earliest sketches on electric bass in his Topanga Canyon studio. "I wasn't consciously composing music for an album, just sitting there playing what felt good," the native New Yorker says. "I then called my old friend, producer/arranger, Joe Mardin and told him I was thinking about making an album of my own and asked if he’d be interested in co-producing. When he immediately said yes, it kind of hit me that this is now real and propelled me to continue writing. "Within days, I'd written all this music that caught me by surprise. It was nothing like I'd ever written; it was entirely different." In-between composing and recording, Goodman found himself listening to John Coltrane's A Love Supreme and other spiritual-jazz masterpieces. "Listening to Alice Coltrane, I could almost feel the presence of her Sai Anantam Ashram just a couple of miles away from where I live," he says. In September, Goodman and co-producer Joe Mardin (Chakha Khan, George Benson, Aretha Franklin) oversaw two long days of sessions in New York's storied Power Station studio, with Grammy-winning engineer Elliot Scheiner behind the console. The musicians worked from charts leaving plenty of room for spontaneous interplay. Eric Harland in particular was allowed unfettered rhythmic rein. "None of the tunes had written drum parts," Mardin says, "because we didn't want to lock Eric into a groove. Joel wanted to see what would happen to his music in a room full of really gifted players, what these guys would bring to this music before he reshaped it in any way." An Exquisite Moment became a work that well rewards repeat listening. With Goodman playing Fender Rhodes and providing atmospheric touches on his Arturia MatrixBrute synthesizer, each song blossomed in performance while offering rich possibilities for post-session expansion. The electrifying opener "What Dreamers Dream," for example, sounded nearly perfect in the studio, Goodman says. "But I'd been listening to Brandee Younger and thought she'd sound great on it. Joe was like, 'Really? Harp?' I played one pass of harp on my keyboard and he saw what I meant. And then she came in and significantly elevated the tune." The mesmerizing title track went through more changes than anything else on the album. After reshaping the original take's mood and form, the producers brought in John Patitucci, for a soulful bass solo, and Mardin suggested Lisa Fischer, whose wordless soprano takes it over the top. "Drifting in Wonder," meanwhile, is an incandescent daydream featuring Adam Rogers's guitar and one of the album's many passionately sculpted Donny McCaslin solos. "The Mystery of Trees" contemplates the arboreal realm with a steadily ascending melody and harmony, and features Grammy-winning horn legend Randy Brecker on flugelhorn. "Rumi and the Whirling Dervish" rewrites the book on the Sufi poet with a thrilling and festive celebration involving McCaslin and Harland. And the extended-form "A Change of Heart" features post-session strings and winds in intimate rapport with the soloists. "Astral Projection" is a cosmic grand finale in four movements: "The Vision," "Orbit," "Bliss," and "Exaltation." The piece grows melodically and harmonically more complex through "Bliss," where Scott Colley performs an extended solo fleshed out by strings and winds, with rapturous results. "Without exception, every single person who plays on the album came with the willingness to take risks, step out of their comfort zone, and try new ideas," Goodman says. "And because of that, there's real emotional value in every single note they played." Goodman thrives both inside and outside of the film world. Most recently he scored the social-justice documentary Loudmouth, which will make its theatrical debut this fall and is currently scoring the HBO film Entangled: Tree Stories for the Oscar-nominated director Irene Taylor, their 4th collaboration. And, as he has his entire life, Goodman continues to compose for the sheer love of music. One future project will highlight piano-based compositions for solo piano, duos, and groups. Another venture focuses on electronic music. "People have been describing me as 'organic' for years," he notes, "so nobody expects me to do an electronic album." Joel Goodman defies expectations throughout An Exquisite Moment – a transcendent collection of exquisite moments capturing the sound of a new and robust creative force. - Richard Gehr (Rolling Stone, Apple Music)

About Joel Goodman: “Joel Goodman… has contributed to many of the more prominent nonfiction films of the past 30 years.” - Wall Street Journal Joel Goodman creates emotion through music. As a multi-talented composer for feature films, documentaries, television, album releases, performance ensembles and other forms of collaborative media, his signature style thrives in musical settings that express the full range of human emotion. An Emmy-winner and four-time Emmy nominee known for a deeply nuanced sound filled with intricate subtleties, Goodman’s diverse body of work includes scores to over 150 films and television programs that have received 5 Oscar nominations, 30 Emmy awards and over 40 Emmy nominations. He has scored over 40 films for HBO and composed the Main Theme for the long-running and critically acclaimed PBS series American Experience. His scores can regularly be heard in movie theaters and on television around the world. His notable award-winning films include Loudmouth (Greenwich Entertainment), Obit (Amazon), Everything Is Copy (HBO), Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah (HBO), Walt Disney (PBS), An Honest Liar (Netflix), Being Elmo (PBS), Once Upon A Time in Queens (ESPN), and Murder Among the Mormons (Netflix). As a record producer Joel’s credits include releases for Chuck Mangione, Livingston Taylor and Carla Lother. Joel has collaborated with an impressive array of distinguished directors and producers including Neil LaBute, Albert Maysles, Andrew Jarecki, Barbara Kopple, Wong Kar-wai, Rachel Grady, Marshall Curry, Sebastian Junger, Barak Goodman, Alexandra Pelosi, Michael Epstein, Joe Berlinger, Oren Jacoby, Irene Taylor, Betsy West, Lesli Iwerks and Fisher Stevens. Always looking to give back to his community, Joel conducts master classes and has been composer-in-residence in the United States and Europe, including seminars on film music at the American Film Institute, USC, Berklee College of Music – Boston & Valencia, University of North Texas, AFI Docs, The Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Denmark, Columbia College Chicago and the International Documentary Association’s Getting Real conference. He is also a regular panelist for such organizations as ASCAP, PMA, IFP, AFI and SCL amongst others. A native New Yorker, Joel splits his time between Paris, Los Angeles and New York, and anywhere he can enjoy the great outdoors.

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS Marcus Rojas - Tuba Scott Tibbs - Piano Greg Herzanach - Acoustic and Electric Guitar Joe Mardin – Additional Arranging and Instruments Phil O’Connor - Clarinet, Bass Clarinet Bobby Shulgold - Flute Brian Scanlon - Alto Saxophone, Clarinet Charlie Morillas – Trombone Kat Robertson Concertmaster, Philip Vaiman, Wynton Grant, Sharon Jackson, Erika Walczak, Yihuan Zhao -Violin Matt Naabours, Karolina Naziemiec, Drew Forde -Viola All music composed by Joel Goodman All arrangements by Joel Goodman with Joe Mardin, except An Exquisite Moment arranged by Joe Mardin and Joel Goodman Produced by Joe Mardin and Joel Goodman Recorded at The Power Station, NYC September 19 & 20, 2021 by Elliot Scheiner, assistant engineer Akihiro “Aki” Nishimura Strings & Winds recorded at Sonic Fuel December 1, 2021 by Josh Margolis, assistant engineer Caitlyn Holley Various recordings at NuNoise by Joe Mardin Mastered at The Bunker by Alex DeTurk Art Director – Dave Bett   The recording and mix were all done in HD audio 96k/24bit

For more information visit: www.joelgoodman.com

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Kenny Barron, Nat Adderley Jr. and friends join Saxophonist Ray Blue on #PEOPLE #jazz

Tenor saxophonist Ray Blue sounds notes of hope and human connection on his new release #PEOPLE

Ray Blue/ Tenor Saxophone Essiet Okon Essiet/ Bass Sharp Radway/ Pianist Jeff Barone/ Guitar Alvester Garnett/ Drums Steve Johns/Drums Featuring Kenny Barron, piano (on four tracks, incl. duet with Ray Blue) Special Guests: Eddie Allen, trumpet Bobby Sanabria, percussion Available from Jazzheads: June 9th, 2023 First single “PEOPLE” release May 19, 2023

Possessed of a broad, seasoned, vastly expressive tenor saxophone sound, Ray Blue is deeply rooted in his New York community, yet equally a world traveler and jazz ambassador, finding musical connection across the globe. #PEOPLE, his latest release from Jazzheads, is all about “Love of Life, Love of People, Love of Humanity,” the saxophonist declares in an album note. “Each song was chosen because it touched one of those universal feelings.” Randy Klein, co-producing with Ray, acted as his second set of ears, keeping the integrity and vision of the album whole. “It’s all about listening,” says Klein, “to the music and to each other.” And the title track? Naturally, “People,” by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, made famous by Barbra Streisand in the ’60s in Funny Girl. Blue takes it at a medium tempo, citing Eddie Harris as a model. With him is the modern master Kenny Barron on piano, playing on this and three more tracks, including a marvelous duet with Blue on Duke Ellington’s classic “In a Sentimental Mood.” Bassist Essiet Okon Essiet and drummer Steve Johns, esteemed veterans, complete the rhythm section and cook on steady simmering heat as Blue and Barron go to work. “The song is about people who need one another, who don’t isolate or remove themselves,” Blue remarks. “They’re the lucky ones, even if it doesn’t work out. That’s an important part of it to me. Disappointment is a part of growth.” Barron also appears, along with trumpeter Eddie Allen, on Blue’s driving minor-key swinger “Dark Berries,” one of four tracks to feature expert percussion work by renowned drummer and walking encyclopedia of Latin music Bobby Sanabria. With his multi-textured, deep-in-the-pocket approach, Sanabria enlivens Blue’s South African Guouma-tinged “Cross-Continental Spirit” and straight groover “Always With A Purpose,” as well as Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Dreamer,” augmenting Blue’s tight and inventive working band with pianist Sharp Radway, guitarist Jeff Barone and drummer Alvester Garnett. “I’ve played ‘Cross-Continental Spirit’ with rhythm sections in several African countries,” Blue recalls. “Each one has a different twist — the Tanzanians had another way, the Gabonese had another way, the South Africans had their way. Essiet with his Nigerian roots, he has a groove with that as well.” “Hard Times” is a Paul Mitchell tune from David “Fathead” Newman’s 1960 Atlantic debut (with none other than Ray Charles on piano). On #PEOPLE we hear Blue take the lead, dealing on tenor as the core quintet maintains an effortless shuffle feel. Paring down to trio, the program turns to trumpet legend Blue Mitchell’s “Fungii Mama,” which like “Cross-Continental Spirit” is “global in musical scope,” Blue observes. He, Johns and Essiet delight in the song’s telltale rhythmic hiccup and effortless good-time vibe. Having captivated listeners with Barron in the duo format, Blue shares one more in that vein, a substantial exchange with Essiet on the beautiful “We’ll Be Together Again.” It’s in keeping with the #PEOPLE theme, and a title that captures Blue’s warm regard for the musicians and others he has met in his travels as a performer and educator. Blue lived in Berlin with his wife from 2002 to 2012, so playing and growing contacts around the world has come with the territory. Now back in his hometown of Peekskill, New York, he shares fond memories of Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Beijing, Athens, Istanbul, Ankara, Dar Es Salaam, Libreville and more. He speaks of his tenor heroes — #PEOPLE as well — Hank Mobley, Gene Ammons, Stan Getz and John Gilmore among them. A fine bari and soprano player as well, Blue played alongside “big brother” Gilmore in the Sun Ra Arkestra once upon a time. With regard to education, Blue cites Barry Harris, George Coleman and Paul Jeffrey as “people with their feet on the ground,” authentic creators of this music who found inspired ways to teach it. “I don’t call it teaching,” Blue clarifies, “I like to call it sharing. You gotta pass the information along, and be supportive of the people you’re sharing with, because they need that. It’s about more than just music, it’s the value of our lives as individuals and as part of society. You should work very hard at being a good person. It all goes together.”

About Ray Blue: Ray Blue is a soulful and tender saxophonist, composer and music educator. He is part of the New York scene and tours internationally. He has a big warm sound that captures you and holds you tight. He has 7 releases with his most recent projects on Jazzheads. His latest release Work remained on the Jazz Week Chart for more than two months, peaking at #7, and his holiday single, soon to be a classic, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas topped off at #2. Ray is earning considerable attention in the U.S. and Europe with his stellar band and his heartfelt soloing. A new recording featuring Kenny Barron on piano is scheduled to be released this fall 2021. Ray was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in Peekskill, New York. He was drawn to the music of Miles Davis and others but specifically to the tenor saxophone sounds of Stanley Turrentine, Gene Ammons, Ben Webster, John Coltrane, Jr. Walker and King Curtis. As a teenager he played in the school jazz band and an R&B/soul band where he learned a deep appreciation for the blues form. Ray earned a Bachelor’s degree from William Penn University and a Masters from the University of Iowa in Clinical Social Work, where he developed a deep interest in society and social psychology. Ray joined the New York jazz scene. He has built many meaningful relationships over the years. He studied at the Jazz Mobile and mentored with several jazz luminaries where he contributed as a leader, sideman and band member with some of the most notable names in jazz: Charles Davis, Paul Jeffries, Houston Person, Barry Harris, Ornette Coleman, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Kenny Barron, Kirk Lightsey, John Gilmore, Dr. Art Davis, John Patton, Benny Powell, Eddie Henderson, Charlie Persip, Wycliff Gordon, Bernard Purdie, Ted Curson, Joe Lee Wilson, The Sun Ra Arkestra, Cotton Club All Stars and many others. Balancing his performances, composing, arranging and teaching, Ray was an adjunct professor at CUNY, Borough of Manhattan Community College and Mercy College from 1990 to 1996. In 2000, Ray moved to Europe, fulfilling his youthful ambition living in Germany until 2012. While there he performed and toured as a leader, sideman and featured artist at festivals, concerts and clubs in Europe, Africa and Asia. He was a cast member of the Ray Charles Show touring company in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy 2008 to 2010.  Ray recorded and released his first CD as a leader, Always With A Purpose in 2001. Further releases include; Live at Liars Theater I and Live at Liars Theater 2, Transvision, Berries and Blues and Work in 2018. In 2005, he founded Cross-Cultural Connection, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes jazz culture, performance, education and hosts an annual jazz festival. Ray consults and presents and conducts workshops, master classes at schools, colleges, universities and community institutions worldwide. *********

Ray Blue is available for interview at this time.

For more information visit: www.rayblue.com www.jazzheads.com

Ray Blue / #PEOPLE  Jazzheads   JH1265  UPC 009819126529  Total Time – 47:03

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