An "Oasis" of joy: R&B-Jazz vocalist-drummer Arthur Thompson releases a spirited version of Roberta Flack's No. 1 hit #music #jazz

                                    

An “Oasis” of joy: R&B-Jazz vocalist-drummer Arthur Thompson releases a spirited version of Roberta Flack’s No. 1 hit

 

 

R&B-jazz vocalist-drummer Arthur Thompson wants to have an impact – in and out of music. Launching his solo recording career a year ago after decades of playing drums for contemporary jazz A-listers, he’s releasing recordings with a purpose. His just released third single, “Oasis,” is an uplifting, energizing and assuring affirmation of love. Thompson produced his version of the song that was a number one hit for Roberta Flack.  

 

Thompson’s previous release was “We Can BEAT Cancer,” which features 9-time Grammy nominated saxophonist Dave Koz and soul-jazz vocalist Erin Stevenson. The benefit single and video that dropped last October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month raised money for cancer research and spent four months on the national singles chart. Thompson debuted early last year with the soulful “Smile” featuring hitmaker Mindi Abair with whom he regularly tours. The two singles earned Thompson the Breakout Artist of the Year honors from BEATS Magazine.

 

On the heels of the success of his first two singles that were his original songs, Thompson elected to reimagine the Marcus Miller-Mark Stephens song recorded by Flack in 1988. Vibrantly cheerful and invigorating, the foundation of his version of “Oasis” is a staccato drum groove augmented by his crafty percussion beats. The sunny harmonies and luminous melodies are animated by Jon Gilutin’s keyboards, guitarist David John and bassist Coretz Johnson. Deftly deployed layers of punchy horns from The Monkey Fist Horns fill up the track, adding jubilation and celebration. Melody Dunlap’s warm and glowing backing vocal provides the perfect support to Thompson’s charismatic tenor lead.

 

“‘Oasis’ transports you to a place where you feel safe, encouraged, and loved. It describes a longing for that special someone, a feeling of complete peace when you are apart because of the confidence you have in knowing that they will return to you. I decided to record this particular song because I really enjoy Roberta Flack’s sultry and soulful voice. When she sings a lyric, she makes you feel,” said Thompson, who was also drawn to the track because of the original version’s African beats.

 

“I always thought ‘Oasis’ was a beautiful song, and it has African undertones with the rhythms and drums. If you listen closely, you will hear that influence with my African Djembe, Dundun, Kenkeni, and Sangdon drums.”

 

The Nashville-based Thompson recorded “Oasis” in his hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was joined in the studio by some the musicians with whom he grew up playing, including his friend Gilutin. As special as that experience was for Thompson, he said that shooting the “Oasis” video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hd_s3nQzKw) with his son was even more meaningful.  

 

“Watching Arthur Jr. grow in his craft of videography and direction made me feel so proud as a parent to see his love for the arts come to fruition. I never thought that we would work together and have that opportunity,” beamed Thompson.

 

Thompson, who is at sea this week performing aboard the Dave Koz & Friends all-star cruise, is a mission-based musician. This fall, he’ll be releasing another new single in conjunction with the launch of a mental health awareness nonprofit called Where Are You Now. Thompson created the Music & Math program designed to aid at-risk youth. The curriculum that has been taught in Oklahoma, Texas and California relates basic mathematical concepts with musical notes and scales, incorporating repetitive auditory memorization skills. Thompson co-founded and served for ten years as the director of the Promises for Families Foundation, which provided summer camps and school programs for children and youth who have an incarcerated parent. He continues to teach his Drums Speak school program across the country, offering music and education to children.

 

“For me, my music career really just gives me a platform to serve and make a difference in the community and to empower kids by providing them with education and tools to grow in the arts. That’s really what’s behind me stepping out from behind the drum kit after all these years. The more success that my records have, the more people I will be able to impact.”

 

For more information, please visit https://arthurthompsondrums.com.

 

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - April 29, 2024 #jazz #music

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Guitarist Michael Kalinsky Schutz to release his third album "WHOAMI" #music #jazz

      

GUITARIST MICHAEL KALISKY SCHUTZ IS MELODIC AND INTROSPECTIVE ON HIS ENGAGING THIRD ALBUM "WHOAMI" Tom Maor - Drums Yaniv Bar - Bass Ilay Shachal - Alto Saxophone  Yuval Dagan - Tenor Saxophone  Maayan Gladstone - Trumpet Yonatan Voltzok - Trombone Ronen Shmueli - Piano  Yael Elany -Vocals on 'Winter Song' and 'Rejected'  Michael Kalisky Schutz - Guitar and Backing vocals on "Rejected" Album Cover Photo: Rupert Truman Art Direction: Michael Kalisky Schutz  Album Mastering: Paul Blakemore Release Date: July 12th, 2024

ADVANCE SINGLE: “REJECTED” Release Date: June 7th, 2024 About The Recording Following up his first two releases The Voice of Peace and BACKWISE, Boston-based guitarist and composer Michael Kalisky Schutz is proud to present WHOAMI, an album he poignantly describes as “my journal with myself.” On the cover is a striking image by noted photographer Rupert Truman, inspired by the innovative album cover work of the late Storm Thorgerson: we see a person in what seems to be a spacesuit and helmet, no face visible, standing in a sparse forest, gently grasping a folded handwritten lead sheet, a guitar slung over their back. Are they heading to a gig, pondering their place in the universe? “They are far from humanity,” muses Kalisky, “trying to reach the audience, to make it easier for them to connect to the music.”, The cover corresponds to the era of classic vinyl albums, where artwork held an iconic and central status in music, sometimes conveying a philosophical meaning.   If connection is what Kalisky is seeking, he’s found it on WHOAMI, a set of original music that reflects this guitarist’s wide-ranging taste and authoritative touch and tone. His style falls predominantly within the realm of jazz fusion, with influences drawn from classical, rock, electronic and other idioms. Recorded in his home city of Tel Aviv, the album features two tracks created in collaboration with vocalist Yael Elany, the advance single “Rejected” as well as the lilting, laid-back “Winter Song.” Alto saxophonist Ilay Shachal, tenor saxophonist Yuval Dagan, trumpeter Maayan Gladstone, trombonist Yonatan Voltzok, pianist Ronen Shmueli, bassist Yaniv Bar and drummer Tom Maor round out the talented lineup.   There are two different versions of the title track “WHOAMI”: the first in a modern, groove-oriented style with a horn-centric orchestration and strong solos from the trombone and piano; the second a quartet arrangement with Kalisky’s guitar out in front, blending with electric piano, bass and drums in something like a ’70s electric jazz vein. Kalisky lays bare the bop-like intricacy of the theme with a solo guitar introduction and another unaccompanied turn just before the final melody. “Bluez” finds the leader kicking on distortion in a spirited midtempo band workout. “Remember,” arranged for the two saxes, reveals Kalisky’s clean-toned precision, dexterity and lyricism as an improviser, as does the horn-less “Song for Everyone.” “Fly,” perhaps the most complex tune on the album, is also the shortest, with no improvisation, the highly active melody line voiced by synth and guitar in octaves.   Kalisky’s harmonic thinking comes from the jazz tradition and beyond: he names Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis as well as Stevie Wonder and Corey Henry as touchstones. In terms of voice-leading, he cites the importance of Bach. The two lyric songs, “Winter Song” and “Rejected,” he reveals, are the first two songs he ever wrote, and while much of his output has been instrumental, he values singers for their ability to establish that visceral connection to listeners. Expect more from Kalisky on that score.

About Michael Kalisky Schutz Michael Kalisky Schutz, born on August 15, 2001, embarked on his musical journey in 2012, choosing the guitar as his instrument of choice.   Demonstrating an extraordinary aptitude for the electric guitar, he swiftly mastered the instrument while maintaining proficiency in classical and acoustic guitars. His formal music education at 'Metro-West' High School in Ra’anana, Israel, immersed him in diverse courses, allowing him to excel in jazz history, music history, arrangements, hearing, and harmony.   Michael's dedication to music culminated in his debut instrumental album, "The Voice of Peace," released in the summer of 2020. His subsequent achievements include recording his second album, "BACKWISE," in July 2022 with the "Michael Kalisky Schutz Quartet" and producing his third album, "WHOAMI," in June 2023, showcasing his talents as a composer and arranger with a lineup of accomplished musicians.   His forthcoming release of "WHOAMI" promises to be another milestone in Michael's evolving musical journey.   His primary choice of guitar is electric, though he is proficient in classic and acoustic guitars as well. Michael received formal music education at 'Metro-West' High School in Ra’anana, Israel, where he immersed himself in courses such as Jazz History, Music History, Arrangements, Hearing, and Harmony. He joined the local Big Band, led by Yuval Tabechnik, as the lead guitarist, and the Jazz ensemble under the guidance of Yair Laron. In the summer of 2018, he had the opportunity to take the 'Five Week' course at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, graduating with exceptional grades in all his courses.   He continued to hone his skills on the electric guitar with Raz Cogman and the classical guitar with the esteemed guitar master, Yaron Hasson. He achieved excellence in music during his youth, graduating with distinction in 2016 and 2017, and in 2018, he received a special excellence music award from the city mayor.   Throughout the years, Michael dedicated himself to composing, arranging, and recording music. In the summer of 2020, he released his debut instrumental album, "The Voice of Peace," where he showcased his talents on multiple instruments. The album's title pays homage to Abie Nathan.   In November 2021, he joined "Rimon's Jazz Institute," for exceptional jazz musicians led by Ronen Shmueli. In parallel to his RIMON studies, he concurrently became a lead guitarist with Guri Agmon's Herzelia Big-Band. In Dec 2022 Following the completion of 'RIMON,' Michael was chosen to attend Berklee College with a complete tuition scholarship, where he is presently pursuing studies in Jazz.   On July 2022, he recorded his second album, "BACKWISE," live with the "Michael Kalisky Schutz Quartet," featuring Koren Berkovich on drums, Roy Zilbershere on bass, and Ilay Shachal on alto saxophone. The Quartet showcased their talents in a live performance at the 'Guitar Loft' in Tel Aviv.   His third album titled "WHOAMI" (Who am I?), which he both composed and arranged, was recorded in Tel-Aviv. The album features a lineup of musicians, including Tom Maor on drums, Yaniv Bar on bass, Ilay Shachal on alto saxophone, and others. Notably, two tracks on the album were collaboratively recorded with vocalist Yael Elany. The recording process took place in the 'MITZLOL' studio in TLV, by Jonathan Barak. The album's mixing was handled by Nirel Sharon, while the mastering was made by Paul Blakemore, a 22 Grammys winner. The album's visual design was art directed by Michael Kalisky Schutz, accompanied by a photograph produced and captured by Rupert Truman from the UK.

For more information visit:

Michael Kalisky Schutz Website

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - April 22, 2024 #jazz #music

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Married Singer-Songwriters Marc Jordan And Amy Sky Show Off An Enduring Love On "Into You" #music

MARRIED SINGER-SONGWRITERS MARC JORDAN AND AMY SKY

SHOW OFF AN ENDURING LOVE ON TIME-CAPSULE TRACK “INTO YOU”

“Into You” YouTube and Spotify

Website

 

It’s one thing for a couple to stay together for decades while plying their trade in different corners of the same business. It’s another for them to collaborate on a project that celebrates the durability of their bond with the deepest sincerity. And it’s still another thing entirely for them to sit on that document for a quarter century, then have it feel as fresh and honest as a newly written wedding vow when it finally does come out.

 

“Into You,” the new single by married singer-songwriters Marc Jordan and Amy Sky, is just such a wonder. Written in 1999 as a song for the hard-working pair to duet on during one of their rare shows together, it’s only now seeing the light of day in recorded form—ironically, as an appetizer for a tandem concert tour they’re undertaking as a rare treat for their fans. But no matter the era or context, the song is a showcase for the writing skills the duo have honed crafting hits for the likes of Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Chicago, Olivia Newton-John, Heart, Reba McEntire, Joe Cocker, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Cher, and Cyndi Lauper. Just as important, it’s a testament to why they work so splendidly as singing partners when they can manage it. Whether they’re trading lines or doubling up, Jordan’s jazz-trained voice meshes perfectly with Sky’s earthier, more intuitive approach as they lob mutual-appreciation tributes like “You tattooed your name on my skin/ And I can’t get back if I wanted to.”

 

“If you look at the lyrics and you know our writing styles, you can see who wrote what,” Jordan says. “I like to write with visual metaphors like ‘I see the signs/ I know that Jupiter aligns with Mars/ It’s clear to me our destiny was written in the stars/ and gravity is pulling you closer to me.’ And Amy uses more personal, interior language: ‘And I breathe you out and I breathe you in/ I don’t know where you stop and baby I begin.’”

 

The couple says the tune was influenced by their shared love of Southern California rock, but it also has an alt/roots feel that’s held up nicely over the years. The minor tonalities are met by refreshingly dark timbres, with some full-bodied acoustic guitar playing against electrics whose trebly bite keeps the lyrical theme of undying devotion from coming across as particularly saccharin.

 

In a further irony, this paean to simpatico-hood was written at a time when Jordan and Sky were spending plenty of time apart. Sure, they would write together incessantly, but when it came to taking performing gigs, they agreed that someone always had to be home to look after their then-young offspring. And there was another, just as sensible reason for them to maintain somewhat of a professional distance.

 

“One of the reasons we’ve had a long and successful marriage is that we’re in the same business but in very different departments,” Sky says. “We write with many of the same people, but we try not to collaborate too much. We aim to be a support to each other, rather than being the person causing you work problems.”

 

They’ve certainly racked up enough successes on their own. Jordan’s forays into jazz/pop won him a Juno Award in 1993 for his record Reckless Valentine and a nomination for 2019’s Both Sides, while Sky explored New Age/spiritual terrain with Olivia Newton-John on albums like Grace and Gratitude and Christmas Wish.

 

When they overcame their misgivings about working too closely together long enough to record and release 2022’s He Sang She Sang, the results were just as stellar. Boasting their renditions of classics like “Free Fallin’” and “Always on My Mind” plus five original compositions, the album was nominated for “Best Adult Contemporary Album” at the 2023 Junos. It also got plenty of radio and streaming play, appearing on many highly ranked playlists.

 

Now they’re taking the show on the road via a tour of Southern Ontario —their first road jaunt together since 2016—with “Into You” freshly rescued from their archives as an extra, non-album inducement. Dates are as follows:

 

May 1 Kingston – Grand Theatre

May 3 Orillia – Opera House

May 4 Milton – First Ontario Arts Centre

May 5 London – Aeolian Hall

May 6 Peterborough – Showplace Performance Centre

May 7 Ancaster – Memorial Arts Centre – Peller Hall

May 9 Oshawa – Regent Theatre

May 10 Meaford – Meaford Hall Arts & Cultural Centre

May 11 Guelph – River Run Centre

May 13 St. Catharines – Partridge Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

 

As their touring keyboardist and opening act, Jordan and Sky have enlisted their son, Ezra Jordan, now a singer-songwriter based in Nashville. Yes, he’s one of the two children the couple were so careful to mind back when “Into You” was new. And now their audience gets to see the benefits of growing up with at least one highly musical parent in the household at all times.

 

“Even though everyone in the family is a musician, I can count the number of times we’ve all played together in a professional capacity on one hand,” says Ezra (who also contributed keys and backing vocals to He Sang She Sang.) “I feel very grateful to have the chance to work with my parents not just as a family member, but as a peer, and to get the chance to stretch my creative muscles in a variety of ways that so few gigs can offer.”

 

To his mom, the tour is the capper to a recording/performing campaign that’s been a true labor of love between her and her husband—one that might not be repeated any time soon.

 

“We are both very busy with our own projects, so we may never do an album together again,” Sky says. “This will be a unique opportunity for people to hear us together.”

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R&B/Jazz guitarist Blake Aaron scores his third Billboard No. 1 single from the "Love and Rhythm" album #music #jazz

                                   

He’s the One: R&B/Jazz guitarist Blake Aaron scores his third Billboard No. 1 single from the “Love and Rhythm” album that dropped on Friday.

  

The timing was serendipitous. After four weeks of hanging out in the second spot on the Billboard singles chart, R&B/jazz guitarist Blake Aaron’s “She’s the One” claimed the No. 1 position days prior to the release of his new Innervision Records album, “Love and Rhythm,” which arrived on Friday (April 19). The soulful and sensual midtempo instrumental groove that he wrote with Adam Hawley and Carnell Harrell and was produced by Hawley captured the top spot on four charts simultaneously: Billboard, Mediabase, Radiowave and Smooth Jazz Network. “She’s the One” is Aaron’s third Billboard No. 1 single from “Love and Rhythm,” the guitarist’s seventh album.   

It’s been said that whenever Aaron releases an album, it’s essentially a greatest hits collection because he traditionally issues a handful of Billboard chart-topping singles before bundling them as an album. That thesis definitely proves true for “Love and Rhythm.” The ten tracker scored three Billboard No. 1 singles - “Dreamland,” “Feels So Right” and “She’s the One” – and one No. 3 hit, “Crush,” even before the album was released.

“Love and Rhythm” is a project centered on Aaron’s ardent joy for making music that explores and experiments with a variety of genres and rhythms. The songs on the new album, all penned by Aaron, are energetically groovy, vibrantly melodic, and guided by the fretman’s adept and agile guitar play. The settings traverse contemporary and Brazilian jazz, fusion, R&B, worldbeat, pop and dance music.

Aaron utilizes an accomplished ensemble of hitmakers and first-call session players to illuminate “Love and Rhythm.” Multi-time Billboard chart-toppers Hawley and Greg Manning produced the album with Aaron and they deployed layers of dynamic and dramatic horn section (David Mann, Trevor Neumann, Donald Hayes, Michael Stever, Bob Mintzer, Jimmy Reid, Andrew Neu and Nick Lane) parts throughout the record. In addition to Manning’s skilled hand on keys, Harnell and Tateng Katindig contributed keyboards and piano. The all-important rhythms were crafted by drummers Eric Valentine, Tony Moore and Will Kennedy and bassists Mel Brown, Alex Al and Hussain Jiffry.

There are more singles – and more hits - to come from “Love and Rhythm,” an album of the year contender that Aaron will support with concert dates through the end of the year. He’ll hit the stage with his band for gigs in Milford, CT this Saturday (April 20), the Los Angeles area where he is based (May 4 and June 28), Houston (May 11), London, England (May 23), the Netherlands (May 24-26), the San Diego Jazz Festival (June 22), San Antonio (July 19), Charlotte (August 16), and Branford, CT (August 22). Aaron was recently added to the star-studded Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival on October 11. Additional shows will be added to the itinerary.

 

To date, Aaron has collected seven Billboard No. 1 singles as a solo artist plus three more as a producer. For more information, please visit https://www.blakeaaron.com.

 

 

“With Aaron’s outrageously dexterous playing…‘Love and Rhythm’ will without doubt be one of the best smooth jazz albums of 2024.” – Smooth Jazz Therapy

 

“Rarely do you find a guitarist who creates an album with such meticulousness as Blake Aaron… every listener will find something valuable for their personal taste.” – Smooth Jazz Daily

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Urban-Jazz saxophonist Reggie Codrington remembers his late father with "Three Shades of Blue" #jazz #music

A “Blue” tribute: Urban-Jazz saxophonist Reggie Codrington remembers his late father with “Three Shades of Blue,” the first single from the forthcoming “The Ray Codrington Signature Collection.”

 

 

There would be no music career for soprano saxophonist Reggie Codrington had it not been for his father, trumpeter Ray Codrington. Born with Ataxic Cerebral Palsy that required nine major surgeries even before the saxman was a teenager, Ray found a small, curved saxophone that made it physically possible for Reggie to play the instrument. After Ray succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease last May, Reggie decided to pay tribute by recording one of his father’s favorite compositions, “Three Shades of Blue,” a song that Ray wrote and performed in his live sets, but never recorded. The urban-jazz single produced by Phil Davis (Boney James, Alex Bugnon, Al Jarreau) is now collecting radio airplay and Spotify spins.

 

Ray Codrington was a professional musician who played with Little Richard, Gladys Knight and Jackie Wilson. His son was ten years-old when the trumpeter composed “Three Shades of Blue.” Reggie remembers seeing his father perform the song with the North Carolina Symphony. A prolific composer, recording “Three Shades of Blue” was one of Ray’s long-held desires, which was unfinished business upon his passing. He left a wealth of original music that he never got around to recording. Reggie has made recording music from his father’s songbook a personal mission, honoring his father’s legacy by creating “The Ray Codrington Signature Series.” “Three Shades of Blue” is the first single from the forthcoming collection.

 

“Seeing the joy on my father’s face when he performed this song provoked the desire for me to record it. My father penned a lot of music, but ‘Three Shades of Blue’ was significant because it was a schematic of his life. After his earthly transition, this song became a signature selection in my heart. He told me that this song explained the various transitions his life encountered. I was able to embody this song by looking at my life and determining from birth to now, that my life has been the epitome of 'Three Shades of Blue,'” said Reggie Codrington, who is based in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

 

Davis crafted the ethereal groove by playing all the instruments surrounding Reggie’s poignant melodic soprano sax phrases and heartfelt solo, the latter to which the producer responds by issuing an elegant piano solo.  

 

After studying music at Howard University, Reggie Codrington debuted in 1990 with “Never Let You Go,” the first of eleven albums released to date. Throughout the years, Ray maintained a regular presence at Reggie’s recording sessions, including during the tracking of last year’s “Light,” Reggie’s single that peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard chart. Although Ray wasn’t physically present during the “Three Shades of Blue” recording date, Reggie felt his father’s presence.  

 

“Feeling Dad's presence in the studio caused me to reflect on when he would be beside me while recording. Recording my part was melodic, smooth, and colorful. As I experienced the presence of my father in the studio booth with me, my solo became a symphonic conversation between my father and me. I could hear him playing his horn licks and making his musical suggestions. After one of my recording takes, my studio engineer, Andy Pow, allowed me to hear the playback. Previously, my father would be the one writing out notes for me to play and providing creative ideas for me to try, in hopes of creating a musical experience for the listener. I took that exchange with Andy and reworked a portion of my solo realizing that my father was still giving me his insight through others in the studio,” shared Reggie, who has performed for President Barak Obama, recorded with Jeff Lorber, Paul Jackson Jr. and Nils; and opened for Ramsey Lewis, Charlie Wilson, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Peabo Bryson, Kenny Latimore, Kim Waters and Kevin Toney.

 

There’s a lot of Ray’s music for Reggie to sift through as he curates and records “The Ray Codrington Signature Series” over the next year or two. Reggie Codrington is excited about preserving his father’s works while introducing his father’s music to new audiences, beginning with “Three Shades of Blue.”

 

“Funny to note, I never knew how much blue was in my closet until I recorded this song,” Reggie said ebulliently.

 

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

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