Smooth Jazz

Massimo Farao' is a wonderful Italian pianist was born May 16th, 1965, in Genoa. Farao's passionate style and stoic romanticism are very attractive along with the rich harmonies he creates. He studied piano with Maestro Flavio Crivelli and began his career collaborating with musicians from the Genoa Area, especially with the bassist Piero Leveratto. In 1993 he was invited for the first time in the USA. He plays with Red Holloway and Albert "Tootie" Heath on a tour on the West Coast. In the same year he founded "We love Jazz" Workshop, now become one of the biggest events in Europe for jazz teaching.

This Is Smooth Jazz: The Box Set features a whopping three discs of music, all of it firmly anchored in the smooth jazz idiom. With such a wide scope of performances – a grand total of 36 songs and few repeat performers – This Is Smooth Jazz functions as an excellent introduction to the style. And if you're already acquainted with the laid-back sounds of smooth jazz, this album will at the least enlighten you to some of the many different approaches to the genre. There's no shortage of variety here. Some of the many performers featured on This Is Smooth Jazz include Duncan Millar, Fredrik Karlsson, Yada Yada, Chris Standring, Modern Tribe, Act of Faith, and many more. As mentioned, this collection serves as a wonderful starting point for the neophyte while simultaneously offering a checklist of sorts for seasoned smooth jazz listeners.

Massimo Farao' is a wonderful Italian pianist was born May 16th, 1965, in Genoa. Farao's passionate style and stoic romanticism are very attractive along with the rich harmonies he creates. He studied piano with Maestro Flavio Crivelli and began his career collaborating with musicians from the Genoa Area, especially with the bassist Piero Leveratto. In 1993 he was invited for the first time in the USA. He plays with Red Holloway and Albert "Tootie" Heath on a tour on the West Coast. In the same year he founded "We love Jazz" Workshop, now become one of the biggest events in Europe for jazz teaching.

Forget about the title of this release, it is an excellent compilation of music from the early seventies right up to the present day. Unfortunately record companies ( and critics ! ) seem to have the need to put music into categories, possibly to attract the purchaser, but, as in the case of this disc, it could quite conceivably have the opposite outcome. I do not feel that this selection has any more connection with Summer than with any other time of the year. I also feel that the term " smooth " is derogatory in its concept to most of the tracks here.

A second edition on 2CD for a long-running, popular series that was for many years available only digitally. A stunning line-up of instrumentalists and vocalists with a seamless soundtrack of 30 tracks guaranteed to enhance - or bring to mind - the relaxing pleasure of a scenic drive. Among the highlights are Jonathan Butler's "10 Degrees South", "A Universal Vibe" by Down To The Bone, "Winelight" by Jason Miles featuring Gerald Albright, and "Retro Boy" by Richard Elliot. The vocalists featured include Brenda Russell, India Arie, Hil St Soul and Natalie Williams.

The Best Smooth Jazz Ever is packed with smooth jazz radio hits and highlights the musicians who have brought depth and soul to the most successful contemporary jazz label in the world over the past 20 years. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of GRP Records, this two-CD set features some of the most respected names in the jazz style, including Al Jarreau, Lee Ritenour, Ramsey Lewis, and Patti Austin, as well a hot new rendition of Steve Winwood's "Roll With It," performed by David Benoit, Richard Elliot, and Jeff Golub under the group name Group 3.

Four CD set features over four hours of jazz classics from such artists as Norah Jones, St. Germain, Nina Simone, Shuggy Otis, Luther Vandross, Ella Fitzgerald, & many more. It's the 1st part of popular series "The Best… Ever!"