Smooth Jazz Chart
This chart from smoothjazz.com generally updates every Monday.
When it updates, this post will be repeated with the most recent chart.
Monday, January 25, 2021
Saturday, January 23, 2021
On “Just Passing Thru” Miles Donahue makes himself comfortable #jazz
A Welcome Guest
On Just Passing Thru
Miles Donahue makes himself comfortable
Miles Donahue’s latest album, coming on the heels of The Bug (Whaling City Sound, 2017), Just Passing Thru is large in scope and beautiful in execution. The absurdly talented player, vibrant on both tenor and soprano saxes, trumpet, and keyboard, shows just how broad his musical wingspan is. It certainly helps that he has an amazing crew behind him. Joe Santerre provides power grooves on electric bass as does Larry Finn on drums. They are joined by percussionist Ricardo Monzon, keyboard player Alain Mallet, and a handful of tracks featuring guitarist Mike Stern. With a vision that includes Crusaders’ style R&B, Weather Report fusion, and lovely, soulful turns, Donahue is masterly and versatile.
From song to song, there are wide swings of style and substance, from moments of tenderness, passages of grandeur, and fistfuls of exhilarating, technical wonder. The opening “Hear My Words” kicks off with an ingenious, shuffling melody that settles into a samba, and then finishes with a little funk. “Living Room Blues” swings with verve and passion, showcasing Santerre’s powerful bass. “A Man of a Few Words” opens with an introspective statement that morphs into alto soulfulness, buoyed by Mallet’s beautiful electric piano. “Railroaded” has a funk foundation to go along with its zesty ensemble playing. Joining that performance is none other than Mike Stern, one of the great voices in jazz guitar, and his solo here is proof of that. And then there’s the surprising “Ireland,” a nod to Donahue’s ancestral homeland that is both respectful and anthemic, in the way a rock song is anthemic. Talk about unexpected!
Throughout Donahue’s lovely Whaling City Sound recording, he never fails to challenge convention. In many, often subtle ways, he ventures out on the unexpected limb rather than the sturdy one that’s already been tried. His adventurousness is gratifying. Donahue finds a myriad of ways to reward his listeners and we are grateful for that. It may or may not be a fact that jazz musicians age with grace and class. In Miles Donahue’s case, the concept bears out. It is a joy to follow his risky explorations, as he makes his way through a labyrinth of unexpected turns. More than simply Just Passing Thru, Donahue is staying a while, long enough to leave a permanent impression on today’s jazz landscape.
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
For 2/12/21 Release: Journey to the Heart of Africa 🎹 Greg Murphy’s "Cool Water" is a genuine jazz revelation #jazz
Journey to the Heart of Africa
Greg Murphy's Cool Water is a genuine jazz revelation
Greg Murphy's Cool Water is a genuine jazz revelation
Every recording has something of a story associated with it, especially in jazz. For Greg Murphy’s victorious new album, the story is especially intriguing and uniquely spiritual.
“The inspiration for the concept of the album and title track, ‘Enkare Nairobi,’ (which means ‘cool water’ in Maasai and refers to the Nairobi River which flows through the Kenyan capital) came from a dream,” Murphy recalls, “and was a direct connection to my trip to Kenya in March of 2019.” Murphy woke up after dreaming a melody and sang it into his phone’s recorder and wrote it out that day. Months later, when he was putting the song together, he watched the video he recorded of the Maasai women singing their greeting song when he visited their village.
“When I saw the video,” he says, “I realized there was a melodic and rhythmic connection from that music that came to me in my dream.” Murphy lowered the key of the song a half-step, added some harmonies and the whole thing came together beautifully.
Murphy spoke with Neal Weiss of Whaling City Sound about the project to get it off the ground. “I told Neal I wanted an African theme as a central aspect of the record,” says Murphy. “And Neal suggested that I incorporate the actual Maasai audio into the song.”
Loosely translated as, “Thank you, God, for allowing our visitors to arrive safely,” the greeting song and the subsequent title track for his beautiful recording was possible because Murphy had been invited to Nairobi originally by Jon Alpert and Slava Fetisov in coordination with the United Nations Environment Programme to play hockey with the Kenyan Ice Lions in an ongoing effort to promote climate change awareness. “Another coincidence occurred when my wife Nancy and I touched down on the plane in Africa only to find out that our previous release, Bright Idea (WCS 111) returned to #1 on the JazzWeek charts!”
Cool Water is fascinating beyond its title track and chief inspiration. While “Enkare Nairobi” is the literal and figurative heart of the recording, the rest of the session also soars. The recording opens with the ebullient “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” segues into a chancy take on Steely Dan’s “Green Earrings,” careening through a battery of brisk melodies and beautiful playing, including the astonishing “Cuttin’ Trane’s Corners,” a dark, surprising cover of Wayne Shorter’s “Lost,” and the funk-filled closing celebration, “You Decide.” Murphy’s fingers find delicate and exciting ways of expressing themselves across the keys. It is the sound of a blissful talent with a renewed belief in both his life and music. Murphy’s bandmates Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums, Eric Wheeler on bass, and a bevy of guests also elevate the experience. “I’m so proud of the topflight contributions from all of my friends who made this album possible,” says Murphy. “Their ideas, energy, patience, professionalism, experience, humility, and camaraderie were invaluable.”
Appearances by special guests Kaïssa Doumbe Moulongo and Dave Kikoski also added superb flourishes. “I invited Kaïssa to sing on the session and lend her voice to the title track,” Murphy recalls. “I asked her to translate the greeting song into her native language of Duala, (Cameroon) and sing along with ‘Tain’s’ drum solo towards the end. She added a West African vibe to the song, which connected to the original melody from East Africa.”
Kikoski’s work ethic also inspired Murphy. “When Dave recorded the solos for ‘Green Earrings’ and ‘Friendship,’ if he didn’t nail something on the first take, he'd do multiple takes until he was satisfied, going back and forth to the piano, rewriting the chords so they made more sense to him, etc. … he’s a great friend and a true professional.”
In the end, Cool Water is just as its title says: long and fresh, a ride with the top down with a bunch of good friends, rife with optimism and full of freedom and discovery. Greg Murphy is motivated, inspired, ambitious, and energized. About his career and musical journey, he says, “Where I’m headed? No limitations, not even the sky.”
Monday, January 18, 2021
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - January 18, 2021 #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 chart.
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Remembering Martin Luther King Jr's Famed 'I Have a Dream' - NPR Video #MLKDAY
On Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, we remember the civil rights leader's most famous speech, and King's remarkable legacy. He was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta. He gave the "I Have a Dream" speech on Aug. 28, 1963 to 250,000 people who marched to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that created a federal holiday to honor King, celebrated on the third Monday in January.
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Keyboardist Patrick Bradley Begins the New Year With A Hope-Filled Exhalation #jazz
"Exhale," Patrick Bradley's 5th Contemporary Jazz Album Produced By Hitmaker Darren Rahn And Grammy Winner Jeff Lorber, Drops January 15 |
Like most things in 2020, the concept of contemporary jazz keyboardist Patrick Bradley's fifth album slated for release on January 15 took a dramatic turn when the pandemic hit and racial strife erupted. Although ideas for the eleven-song set were already sketched out, when he and producer Darren Rahn wrote the uplifting title track, "Exhale," which drops as a single on January 4 on the Patrick's Song Factory label, the composition seemed to encapsulate exactly what Bradley was feeling and believes that we are all in need of: expel the fear, worry and division gripping the nation and inhale unifying hope and peace.
"It's kind of a musical release from all the tension and difficulty of 2020. I thought the album title was going to be 'Providence' until we wrote 'Exhale.' That became the clear title track of the album. It also played into where I was at mentally with 2020, which has been a pretty rough year for everybody. Knowing I was going to release (the album) in January, it seemed perfect to call it 'Exhale.' That's the motif of the album and all the songs are kind of in that vein. I want to inspire, help and bring hope," said Bradley, whose last album, "Intangible," scored two Billboard top 10 singles - "Tailwind" (No. 5) and "Dear Friend" (No. 8) - and the title track was a top 20 single.
Bradley recorded "Exhale" during quarantine without ever being in the studio with Rahn, who produced nine tracks for the project, or GRAMMY winner Jeff Lorber, who produced a pair of tunes. After recording three albums produced entirely by Lorber, Bradley felt the need for change as he enters the next phase in his recording career. Both Lorber and a friend, sax sensation Dave Koz, recommended Rahn.
"It's always different when you enter a new situation not knowing if it's going to work, but with Darren, things fit together perfectly both as a producer and a songwriting partner. I brought the bones and DNA of the songs into the project, but Darren's creative input really helped get the songs to where they are now," said Bradley.
For the faith-rooted keyboardist, the majority of songs have a spiritual connection. While the entire album is instrumental, Bradley's messages are intentional. He wrote "Reinvention" prior to the pandemic, but the purpose of the song was galvanized by the impact of COVID-19 along with the civil protests.
"I was at a point where - pre-pandemic but came to light during the pandemic - I was blown away where the country was, where people were and how, even my friends - close friends and acquaintances - saw things around the country so completely different than one another. That, coupled with all the racial unrest, made me question what my role is in this. What do I do? How do I become a better person in this situation? How do I help lead and change what I can change? I don't want to just sit back and do nothing. It was one of those moments like 'Reinvention, man. Boy, could I use one.' The world and everybody individually as well. We could all get into a different space," said Bradley, who also serves as Regional President of the Southern Pacific Region of Whole Foods Market.
Bradley embarked on this recording project with a clear vision and an intentional mindset.
"I had a specific goal and strategy in mind. Every song is really intentional; every note is really intentional. I definitely wanted to explore a bit more, but at the same time, I wanted to make sure that I had four or five songs that were easily accessible for a larger audience. The other side of it is, I wanted the rest of it to be more exploration - more fusion and rock, where my real inspiration comes from. If you listen to the album in sequence, it actually goes that way. It starts off with a lot of accessibility and as it progresses, it gets into more of the progressive, jazz fusion-type songs. I was probably more intentional on this album than any other album as far as how it plays."
The "Exhale" album is a contemporary jazz amalgam constructed of jazz fusion, rock, R&B, blues, funk and pop. The melodies are lush and indelible, fragrantly blossoming amidst soulful grooves. The fusion excursions stretch beyond and across borders. The production deftly melds the warm organics of live instrumentation and the modernity of synthesized sonics. The musicianship throughout is top shelf. With Bradley playing piano, organ, keyboards and synths, he was accompanied by Rahn (saxophone, keyboards, synths & programming), Lorber (keyboards, synth bass & guitar), guitarist Michael Thompson, horn player and arranger David Mann, bassist Mel Brown, percussionist Christian Teele, and drummers Tarell Martin, Gary Novak and Dave Weckl. Rahn, chart-topping trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Allen Hinds are featured as soloists.
Bradley hopes that listeners will discover "Exhale" and be receptive to feeling and receiving his musical messages as we put 2020 behind us and start fresh.
"I know we're going to get through this. It might be different on the other side and I don't know what it's going to look like next year," said Bradley, who debuted in 2007 with the album "Come Rain or Shine."
"This is a special project and I'm hoping people get that when they listen to it because it's almost like there's some of my DNA in there. I'm hoping people really get the sense of hope and peace that's in this thing. We all need it. We've all had a hard year - whether it's COVID fatigue, political fatigue or whatever. I'm hoping people will listen to the album and it will give them some sort of release, a sense of hope, and that somehow it's inspirational."
"Exhale" contains the following songs:
"Completely Yours"
"Reinvention"
"Exhale"
"Song Of May" featuring Darren Rahn
"Sip'n the Breeze"
"Cat Man Blues" featuring Rick Braun
"Meant To Be" featuring Darren Rahn
"Lighthouse" featuring Allen Hinds
"In the Heart of the Seas"
"Providence"
"Walk with Me"
For more information, please visit https://patrickbradley.com.
"It's kind of a musical release from all the tension and difficulty of 2020. I thought the album title was going to be 'Providence' until we wrote 'Exhale.' That became the clear title track of the album. It also played into where I was at mentally with 2020, which has been a pretty rough year for everybody. Knowing I was going to release (the album) in January, it seemed perfect to call it 'Exhale.' That's the motif of the album and all the songs are kind of in that vein. I want to inspire, help and bring hope," said Bradley, whose last album, "Intangible," scored two Billboard top 10 singles - "Tailwind" (No. 5) and "Dear Friend" (No. 8) - and the title track was a top 20 single.
Bradley recorded "Exhale" during quarantine without ever being in the studio with Rahn, who produced nine tracks for the project, or GRAMMY winner Jeff Lorber, who produced a pair of tunes. After recording three albums produced entirely by Lorber, Bradley felt the need for change as he enters the next phase in his recording career. Both Lorber and a friend, sax sensation Dave Koz, recommended Rahn.
"It's always different when you enter a new situation not knowing if it's going to work, but with Darren, things fit together perfectly both as a producer and a songwriting partner. I brought the bones and DNA of the songs into the project, but Darren's creative input really helped get the songs to where they are now," said Bradley.
For the faith-rooted keyboardist, the majority of songs have a spiritual connection. While the entire album is instrumental, Bradley's messages are intentional. He wrote "Reinvention" prior to the pandemic, but the purpose of the song was galvanized by the impact of COVID-19 along with the civil protests.
"I was at a point where - pre-pandemic but came to light during the pandemic - I was blown away where the country was, where people were and how, even my friends - close friends and acquaintances - saw things around the country so completely different than one another. That, coupled with all the racial unrest, made me question what my role is in this. What do I do? How do I become a better person in this situation? How do I help lead and change what I can change? I don't want to just sit back and do nothing. It was one of those moments like 'Reinvention, man. Boy, could I use one.' The world and everybody individually as well. We could all get into a different space," said Bradley, who also serves as Regional President of the Southern Pacific Region of Whole Foods Market.
Bradley embarked on this recording project with a clear vision and an intentional mindset.
"I had a specific goal and strategy in mind. Every song is really intentional; every note is really intentional. I definitely wanted to explore a bit more, but at the same time, I wanted to make sure that I had four or five songs that were easily accessible for a larger audience. The other side of it is, I wanted the rest of it to be more exploration - more fusion and rock, where my real inspiration comes from. If you listen to the album in sequence, it actually goes that way. It starts off with a lot of accessibility and as it progresses, it gets into more of the progressive, jazz fusion-type songs. I was probably more intentional on this album than any other album as far as how it plays."
The "Exhale" album is a contemporary jazz amalgam constructed of jazz fusion, rock, R&B, blues, funk and pop. The melodies are lush and indelible, fragrantly blossoming amidst soulful grooves. The fusion excursions stretch beyond and across borders. The production deftly melds the warm organics of live instrumentation and the modernity of synthesized sonics. The musicianship throughout is top shelf. With Bradley playing piano, organ, keyboards and synths, he was accompanied by Rahn (saxophone, keyboards, synths & programming), Lorber (keyboards, synth bass & guitar), guitarist Michael Thompson, horn player and arranger David Mann, bassist Mel Brown, percussionist Christian Teele, and drummers Tarell Martin, Gary Novak and Dave Weckl. Rahn, chart-topping trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Allen Hinds are featured as soloists.
Bradley hopes that listeners will discover "Exhale" and be receptive to feeling and receiving his musical messages as we put 2020 behind us and start fresh.
"I know we're going to get through this. It might be different on the other side and I don't know what it's going to look like next year," said Bradley, who debuted in 2007 with the album "Come Rain or Shine."
"This is a special project and I'm hoping people get that when they listen to it because it's almost like there's some of my DNA in there. I'm hoping people really get the sense of hope and peace that's in this thing. We all need it. We've all had a hard year - whether it's COVID fatigue, political fatigue or whatever. I'm hoping people will listen to the album and it will give them some sort of release, a sense of hope, and that somehow it's inspirational."
"Exhale" contains the following songs:
"Completely Yours"
"Reinvention"
"Exhale"
"Song Of May" featuring Darren Rahn
"Sip'n the Breeze"
"Cat Man Blues" featuring Rick Braun
"Meant To Be" featuring Darren Rahn
"Lighthouse" featuring Allen Hinds
"In the Heart of the Seas"
"Providence"
"Walk with Me"
For more information, please visit https://patrickbradley.com.
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Richard Elliot - "Authentic Life" - Release on Shanachie 1/29/21 - #jazz
CHART-TOPPING GRAMMY-NOMINATED CONTEMPORARY JAZZ PIONEER RICHARD ELLIOT TRANSPORTS US TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH HIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FIRST ALBUM IN FIVE YEARS AUTHENTIC LIFE OUT 1/29/21
The 10-Track Blueprint for a Fulfilling & Blissful New Year Unites Elliot with All-Star Friends Rick Braun, Dave Koz, Jeff Lorber, Chris “Big Dog” Davis, Philippe Saisse, David Mann & Others
“There are absolute parallels between jazz and flying,” confesses Grammy-nominated tenor titan Richard Elliot who has been flying airplanes for the past three decades. The Renaissance man, who is currently engrossed in the colossal project of building his own airplane, adds “When you are performing and flying you are 100 percent consumed and focused on that experience from a technical perspective, emotional and aesthetic perspective, taking in everything around you.” Elliot, who has also successfully moonlighted as a software engineer, has a laser-like focus and creative vision that knows no bounds. The chart-topping saxophonist and pioneering Contemporary Jazz musician’s instantly recognizable trademark tenor has afforded him the opportunity to work with everyone from Smokey Robinson, Bonnie Raitt and The Temptations to Dave Koz, Tower of Power and Gerald Albright, to name a few. On January 29, 2021, Richard Elliot offers the perfect antidote to a year wrought with challenges and setbacks. Authentic Life is the Scottish-born, LA-raised saxophonist’s Shanachie debut – his first new album in five years. It’s an inspiring collection comprised mostly of originals that speak to Elliot’s optimistic outlook on life. “The recording has a positive and uplifting feel which is what we all need right now,” reflects the San Diego resident. “A lot of the inspiration is based on the idea of living life in a mindful way, with focus and in the truest way possible that allows you to be sincere in your actions and intentions with other human beings.”
Danny Weiss, Shanachie VP of Jazz A&R states, “Richard Elliot has an uncanny ability to combine precision and technical mastery with passion and excitement. As a result, whether you're a casual listener or a jazz fanatic (like me), Richard Elliot's music is richly rewarding - and a real home run for Shanachie!”
The past year has changed the world immeasurably affecting how we live, love, communicate, interact and work. Elliot recounts a new form of inspiration that grew out of the forced circumstances. “One of the things I love about recording is the collaborative aspect of being in the studio. Unfortunately in the last year I’ve had to forgo this,” he shares. “It’s amazing that sometimes out of challenging times you glean positive experiences. We were able to take the positive experience of collaborating remotely while finding the inspiration - albeit virtually.”
A musician’s musician, for Elliot, the line-up alone on Authentic Life is a testament to the respect and adoration he has garnered from his peers throughout his enviable four - plus decade career. Never one to rest on his laurels, the saxophonist confides, “With every record, I try and push my boundaries and stay just a little bit out of my comfort zone so that hopefully I can create an environment for evolution. There is such a camaraderie in this genre. If you are in it for any meaningful period of time you have this community of artists. I feel very fortunate and privileged.” Some of the special guests joining Elliot on Authentic Life include trumpeter Rick Braun, keyboardists Jeff Lorber, Chris “Big Dog” Davis and Philippe Saisse, saxophonists Dave Koz and David Mann, and percussionist Lenny Castro, among others. “It was wonderful collaborating with these guys because each one of them pushes me in a different direction melodically.”
Authentic Life opens with the album’s sizzling first single “Snapshot,” co-written with Jeff Lorber and featuring Lorber alongside trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonists Dave Koz and David Mann. Elliot first met Lorber when he was a 19 year-old recording with the jazz-rock unit Kittyhawk. “Jeff’s tracks are so funky and they always feel so good. He is always a pleasure to work with!” The alluring R&B flavored “Walk With Me,” is a tender excursion that Elliot co-wrote with Rick Braun. “Rick like Jeff (Lorber) is prolific. He always comes up with these really infectious grooves and chords that are really a pleasure to record melodies over.” The sensual melodic flow of “Right On Time,” a collaboration with keyboardist Chris “Big Dog” Davis and Rick Braun, transports us to a tranquil space if only for a moment in time.
Elliot shares, “Chris is the perfect melding of jazz and R&B. He writes and plays these amazing harmonic structures and beats. We all had a great time working on this particular song.” The epic title track is reminiscent of the iconic CTI sound and classic Don Sebesky arrangements. The stunning Nathaniel Phillips arrangement showcases soulful interplay between Elliot and Braun that captivates throughout. “Nate has been the bass player in my band for a long time and we go back many years. He was also the bassist in the amazing R&B band Pleasure. He created this beautiful mood and orchestration with stellar horn parts.”
Authentic Life also features the forward momentum of ‘Move Ahead,” a refreshing and uplifting track that is bound to inspire joy. Co-written with Philippe Saisse and Rick Braun, it’s a swinger with a percussive backbeat with drummer Jay Williams and percussionist Lenny Castro and once again shows off the magnetic chemistry between Richard Elliot and Rick Braun. Elliot adds, “This song is the musical embodiment of moving forward and beyond the challenges that we have all had to faced this past year.” The lone album cover is Gino Vannelli’s “Living Inside Myself.” Elliot’s passionate interpretation will move you to tears with his gorgeous, emotive and robust tenor lines. “This one came from my wife,” confesses Richard who runs a foundation with his wife Camella, that donates to worthy causes that benefit youth and young adults including the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, St. Judes and the San Diego area dance organization TranscenDANCE. “She actually suggested the last two or three cover tunes that I have recorded. She’s batting 1000 so far! I have been a Gino Vannelli fan forever. Joe Vannelli, who writes a lot of the music with Gino, is the genius that comes up with these striking chord structures. ‘Living Inside Myself’ is probably not an obvious cover for a saxophone but we were able to turn it on its head and make it a little different.”
Authentic Life also quietly preaches the virtues of balance with the sophisti-pop flow of “Elegant People.” There are people who go through life accepting everything that comes their way both the positive and negative. They accept it all as part of the entire human experience,” shares Elliot. “If you listen to the song you hear a gamut of emotions running throughout.” The funk-filled and blues-based “Moon Gazer,” co-written with Braun and Lorber, is another winner that shows off Elliot’s penchant to sit right in the groove and drive home a hit. “Secrets,” another Chris “Big Dog“ Davis collaboration, showcases Elliot’s effortless ability to sculpt masterful solos that draw you near. Lastly, the closing showstopper “Boogie” is an all-out exhilarating funk explosion.
A family man and father to five, Elliot reflects on the challenges of being a parent and witnessing the pandemic’s affects on his children. ‘This has been a challenge for all families but the thing that really hurts me most is how young adults my kids’ age have been affected. This is their time to get out there, explore and pursue their dreams and passions, but it has been quelled for now. They have suddenly been stopped in their tracks.” In contrast he notes that there has been one upside. “I did not think it was possible for our family to be closer but it has brought us closer.”
At the age of eleven Richard Elliot discovered his calling in his junior high school jazz band led by baritone saxophonist John McGruder, a studio musician and Don Ellis’ band alumnus. Around this time he also heard two tenormen who would turn his world upside down, Grover Washington Jr. and Dexter Gordon. He recalls a pivotal moment at 16 going to see Dexter at Concerts By the Sea in Rodondo Beach, CA.“I watched this big man come out on stage with an enormous presence before he had even blown a note. I was mesmerized. He blew the first note and it was this huge sound that blew me away.” In the 80s Elliot became a touring member of the soul-funk outfit Tower of Power. He released debut solo album, Trolltown, in 1986 and shortly thereafter he began a fruitful relationship with Bruce Lundvall and was signed to Blue Note Records. Elliot has released more than 20 albums as a leader, his most recent being 2016’s Summer Madness and has scored more than 20 Top 10 Smooth Jazz singles and #1 Contemporary Jazz albums including On The Town, Soul Embrace, After Dark, and Jumpin’ Off. His 2013 collaboration with saxophonists Gerald Albright and Mindi Abair, Summer Horns, was Grammy-nominated. A crowd-pleasing favorite on the festival circuit, Elliot has also garnered wide praise for his all-star touring attraction West Coast Jam that includes longtime collaborators.
The ever-evolving and continually inspired Richard Elliot concludes, “I definitely don’t feel the same sense of urgency that I did in my younger years. I always felt that I had something to prove whereas now, I only need to prove to myself that I am growing as human being and artist. It’s really about living an Authentic Life, doing what feels right and accepting life in all of its facets.”
Monday, January 11, 2021
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - January 11, 2021 #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 chart.
Saturday, January 09, 2021
Marc Hoffman - "Always Waiting" Released January 8, 2021
After establishing himself as a composer and performer of film, theatre, pop, and gospel music, Marc Hoffman began pursuing his passion for jazz in the early 1990s. As a pianist and vocalist, Marc performs over 90 dates a year with a repertoire of original jazz and his own arrangements of standards, ballads, and pop. He most often performs with his trio, but works as a soloist and with other ensembles as well, at concerts, festivals, clubs, and other public and private events. Marc’s music has been performed across the US and in the UK and Europe by orchestras, other ensembles and soloists.
Marc Hoffman was born in Salisbury, NC, received a degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts, and completed additional study in film composition at the University of Southern California. He has studied at The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. His composition teachers have included David Ott, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shaffer. He is a member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum. Marc is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music.
Marc’s original instrumental recordings include the newly released Late September – a collection of new pieces featuring jazz trio with guests Tim Gordon on flute and Jon Thornton of trumpet, Curioso – eclectic jazz with Tim Gordon on sax, Grammy nominee John Sharp on guitar, Terry Peoples and Nathan Scott on bass, and Gray Fallin (The Brubakers), Mike Lanier and Ryan Scott on drums and percussion, and Long Way Home – new piano music blending jazz, and light classical.
Vocal recordings include Christmas Time, I Will, and Dream of God.
Marc’s recent film work includes theme and underscore for the TV series, Scienstars (2016) an original score for “40 Fears” for Dalliance Films (2014). Previous fim credits include scoring The Mill (2008) for producer Ralph Singleton and director Grainger Hines, and music historian for the 1985 film, Revolution (1986). In addition, Marc has been music supervisor for several films.
In August of 2010, Virillion Music Publishing released Marc’s first children’s book, Sleep, Little Child with accompanying CD entitled and based on an original lullaby. Marc’s first book and companion DVD, Essential Worship Keyboard was released by Emerald Books in 2007.
Marc Hoffman lives in Salisbury, NC with is wife, Anne and young daughter, August.
Monday, January 04, 2021
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - January 4, 2021 #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 chart.