Koz

Life in the Tropics – the first Peak Records release for the Rippingtons – features guitarist Russ Freeman and is a great smooth jazz celebration of rhythmic delights that resemble the tropical splendor of an island oasis. The natural beauty of each composition is reflected by the great talents of the Rippingtons: Kim Stone on bass, Dave Kochanski on keyboards, Ramon Yslas on percussion, and Dave Hooper on drums, along with special guests the great saxophonists Dave Koz, Eric Marienthal, and Paul Taylor, keyboardist Bob James, and guitarist Peter White. The centerpiece of this CD is "Love Child," a sensuous mid-tempo ballad that alternates the brilliant sax work of Marienthal and Taylor as Freeman strums an emotional string sonnet under soulful synths and keyboards. The romantic vocals of Howard Hewitt on "I Found Heaven" invite you to rediscover his intense passion for a great love ballad.

Considering that guitarist Doc Powell's Laid Back album was one of 1996's biggest airplay hits in the genre, and was about as smooth as soul- flavored pop-jazz gets, it seems bold to go the tongue and cheek route and call his latest, Don't Let the Smooth Jazz Fool Ya. Is he promising us something a bit edgier, funkier, in your face? He gets off to a good start with a slamming take on the normally staid, "Chariots of Fire," based on Ernie Watts' version and featuring the potent electric guitar/sax synergy of Powell and Dave Koz over a pulsating groove laid by bassist Sekou Bunch, drummer Michael White and percussionist Munyungo Jackson. He hits the mid-tempo funk mark on the bluesy breezes of the synth-horn splashed "Good Intentions" and "Here's To You," which features Powell in synch with Everette Harp's sax and a short but luscious Bobby Lyle piano solo.

Keb Mo's 2011 album, The Reflection, is two years in the making and captures his musical spirit and virtuosity at its peak. Collaborating with such artists as India.Arie, Vince Gill, Marcus Miller, Dave Koz, and David T Walker, the songs have a deep emotional connection and show Keb to be a master at blending blues, jazz, r&b and soul through melody and rhythm.

Riding a wave of popularity that has reached every corner of the genre and shows no signs of letting up, Brown has also garnered massive respect among his peers throughout his cool career. In fact, several jazz luminaries appear as contributors on this slick project (trumpeter Greg Adams, saxmen Greg Vail, Dave Koz, Najee (appearing on flute), Darren Rahn, Euge Groove, and Richard Elliot; keyboardist Bob Baldwin (who also appears on drums on the track where he’s featured), fellow guitarist Larry Carlton, and the late wonderful drummer Ricky Lawson, just to name a few of those having a party on this album.