Smooth Jazz Grooves Piano

Manifold Records present Late Night Grooves Vol. 1 - Cosmopolitan Lounge Music. Vladi Strecker, Persia Beatz, Pascal Dubois, Frank Borell, Noise Boyz and more.
Includes continuous mix by DJ Maretimo.

George Benson - Guitar Man (2011) {Concord Jazz}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC(image)+CUE+LOG -> 246 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 100 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 23 Mb
© 2011 Concord Jazz | CJA-33099-02
Jazz / Smooth Jazz / Guitar

Guitar Man, George Benson's second offering for Concord stands in contrast to 2009's Songs and Stories, though is not an about face. While the earlier album focused on Benson's proven, decades-long formula for pop and smooth jazz – a group of of easy grooving tunes featuring his silky voice and shimmering guitar work – this set focuses (primarily) on Benson as a contemporary jazz guitarist.

The legendary keyboardist started making his unique brand of old-school soul meets modern funk back when old-school was still in session, and the title of his third Narada Jazz disc is a throwback to that era, when the 45 RPM was king. Rather than overwhelm this time with hardcore commercial funk grooves and calculated radio hooks, Jeff Lorber is more into cool vibes and soulful atmospheres. Melodies have always been his gift, so those just come naturally, as on the laid-back, chillout opening track, which features a lush, loose acoustic piano lead. There are less horns than usual, but Ron King (trumpet) and Gary Meek (sax) are given free reign to create snazzy textures on "Everybody Knows That" and the nifty, acoustic soul-jazz flavored title track.

Jazz keyboardist Alex Bugnon had a successful career as a studio musician before becoming an equally well-known solo performer. The year 2005's FREE, the artist's ninth release under his own name, offers more of the instrumental jazz-pop mixture that has come to characterize his output. While FREE isn't particularly challenging, it is full of smooth, light, percolating grooves, bright, memorable melodies, and tight, straightforward playing that makes for a pleasant and relaxing listen.

Playing sideman to Rick Braun, Larry Carlton, Gato Barbieri, the Neville Brothers, and many others introduced guitarist/vocalist Steve Oliver to smooth jazz fans, but it was with Steve Reid's band that Oliver found a following. It was 1996 when Reid contacted Oliver at the last minute to fill in for a canceled opening act. Oliver hit the stage as a solo act and Reid was impressed with the guitarist's vocalese skills and summery sound. Oliver had come to vocalese not through King Pleasure or Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, but through Bobby McFerrin and Pat Metheny's work with Richard Bona and David Blamires, who sang along with guitar solos. Being a fan of the earthy Metheny sound, Reid hired Oliver after the gig and featured him in his touring band. Reid's Mysteries and Passion in Paradise albums featured Oliver not only as guitarist but songwriter as well. Oliver struck out on his own in 1999 with his debut, First View, released by Night Vision. The album spawned three hit singles on smooth jazz radio and earned the guitarist a Debut Artist of the Year award from Smooth Jazz News.