Jeff Kashiwa: Let It Ride (2012)

2012 release, the eighth solo project from Rippingtons saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa. Featuring a who's who of special guests, including pianist David Benoit, Rippingtons guitarist Russ Freeman, Spyro Gyra keyboardist Tom Schuman, and guitarist Chuck Loeb, Let It Ride is being released in between a hectic tour schedule as featured soloist for the Rippingtons and the Sax Pack, a sax trio supergroup he fronts with saxophonists Steve Cole and Marcus Anderson. His last few albums have all debuted Top 10 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart, and this album should be no different. ~ Amazon.com

Tracklist:
01. Let It Ride [4:15]
02. Stomp (feat. Chuck Loeb) [4:40]
03. The Name Game [5:07]
04. Up (feat. Russ Freeman) [ 3:35]
05. One Of These Days [4:48]
06. Hot Tin Roof (feat. Tom Schuman) [5:18] 07. When Will I Know? [4:12]
08. One More Day (feat. Russ Freeman & David Benoit) [5:41]
09. Follow Your Heart (feat. Russ Freeman & David Benoit) [5:11]
10. Sundance (feat. Tom Schuman) [5:49]11. Blue Child [5:45]
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David Benoit: Waiting for Spring (1989)

After making so many forgettable albums with commercial radio in mind, David Benoit took a break from the type of smooth jazz fluff he usually records and delivered a respectable, straight-ahead CD with Waiting for Spring. Instead of shamelessly wasting his improvisatory skills, he actually lets loose on the acoustic piano and makes some meaningful statements. Bill Evans is obviously a great influence on Benoit, whose vulnerability makes his love of the late piano legend obvious on originals as well as lyrical interpretations of standards like "My Romance" and "Secret Love." Benoit has a fine soloist in the late guitarist Emily Remler, who is consistently warm, melodic, and inviting. Though the album isn't breathtaking, it's satisfying and heartfelt. ~ Alex Henderson

Personnel: David Benoit (piano); Emily Remler, Robert Benoit (guitar); John Patitucci (bass); Peter Erskine (drums).

Tracklist:
1. Waiting For Spring 5:09 
2. After The Snow Falls 3:20
3. Cast Your Fate To The Wind 3:13
4. Turn Out The Stars 2:32
5. Cabin Fever 3:56 
6. Cat On A Windowsill 4:38
7. Some Other Sunset 4:58
8. My Romance 8:14
9. Funkallero 3:33   
10. I Remember Bill Evans 4:23
11. Fireside 4:29
12. Secret Love 3:33
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Emily Remler: This Is Me (1990)

Emily Remler (September 18, 1957 – May 4, 1990) was an American jazz guitarist who rose to prominence in the 1980s. She recorded seven albums of hard bop, jazz standards and fusion guitar.

Emily Remler's first -- and tragically, her last -- excursion into electric jazz-pop indicates that she could have become a strong force in that area had she not died. Though Remler's Concord recordings earned her a great deal of respect in hard bop circles, she felt limited creatively and was quite anxious to experiment in the electric realm. On her final session, This Is Me, the guitarist incorporates pop and rock elements on her own terms -- maintaining her musical integrity and avoiding radio-oriented smooth jazz drivel altogether. What remains constant is the warm and lyrical nature of her playing. While the influence of Wes Montgomery and Herb Ellis remains, some of these pieces indicate that she was paying close attention to Pat Metheny. ~ Alex Henderson

Tracklist:
01. Deep In A Trance [05:24]
02. Majestic Dance [04:49]
03. Majestic Dance [04:49]
04. Love Colors [04:50]
05. Dark Passage [04:46]
06. You Know What I'm Saying [04:50]
07. Song For Maggie [05:37]
08. Around The Bend [05:11]
09. Carenia [06:18]
10. Simplicidaje [04:53]
11. Second Childhood [03:23]
Personnel:
Emily Remler (guitar, guitar synthesizer)
Jay Ashby (trombone, percussion)
Aydin Esen (piano, keyboards)
Bill O'Connell (piano)
David Benoit, Russ Freeman (keyboards)
Romero Lubambo (acoustic guitar)
Lincoln Goines, Jimmy Johnson (bass)
Jeff Porcaro, Ricky Sebastian, Daduka Fonseca (drums)
Luis Conte, Jeffrey Weber, Cafe (percussion)
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Patti Austin: Carry On (1991)

Patti Austin, a gifted singer when she gets good material, works in murky waters on this '91 release. There are so many different things offered, from fusion and pop to more mainstream jazz and soul, that the album has no main course or personality. On the other hand, Austin does sing everything well, and GRP has enlisted enough of their session pros to ensure that the musical support is excellent. It's well-played, superbly sung filler. ~ Ron Wynn

Personnel: Patti Austin (background vocals); David Pack (vocals, guitar, accordion, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, percussion, programming, keyboard programming, background vocals); David Benoit (guitar, synthesizer, string synthesizer); Terry McMillan (harmonica, drums, congas, tambourine, percussion); Michael Paulo (saxophone); Greg Phillinganes (piano, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion, keyboard programming, background vocals); Wayne Linsey (piano, keyboard programming); The Riddler (keyboards, programming); John Skippy Lehmkuhl (synthesizer, percussion, programming); George Perilli (drums); Burleigh Drummond (percussion); Erik Hanson, Larry Williams , Rod Temperton (programming); Edie Lehmann, Suzie Benson, James Ingram , Lynn Davis , Michael McDonald , Sally Dworsky, Jean McClain (background vocals)

Tracklist:

01. Carry On (5:14)
02. Givin' In To Love (4:59)
03. I Will Remember You (6:42)
04. How Can I Be Sure (3:41)
05. Why Did She Come In With You (5:09)
06. I Just Can't Let Go (4:56)
07. Monday Monday (4:47)
08. The More I Think About It (5:32)
09. Nobody To Dance With (5:06)
10. I'll Be Waiting For You (3:57)
11. (Don't Know) Whether To Laugh Or Cry (6:20)

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Dave Koz: Ultimate Christmas (2011)

Ultimate Christmas is the fourth seasonal album from California smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz in his accomplished 21-year solo career. Longtime fans will probably already own at least one, or in some cases, even three, copies of the majority of material on offer, as other than the brief instrumentals that bookend its 18 tracks ("Welcoming Thee Season," "Welcoming the New Year"), every single number has previously appeared on either 1997's December Makes Me Feel This Way, 2001's A Smooth Jazz Christmas, or 2007's Memories of a Winter's Night. While this compilation, therefore, remains largely inessential for the audiences who flock to his annual Smooth Jazz Christmas tours, it's a perfectly serviceable introduction to his interpretive talents for those wanting an overview of his yuletide-themed output. Most of the classic Christmas standards you'd expect to hear make an appearance, from hymns including "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "O Tannenbaum," to traditional favorites like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Christmas Song," to more contemporary tunes such as an impassioned bluesy rendition of Charles Brown's "Please Come Home for Christmas" (featuring guest vocals by American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke) and the album's sole original composition, the charming Parisian folk of "Eight Candles (A Song for Hanukkah)." The tasteful smooth jazz arrangements, on the whole, offer few surprises, but there are occasions when Koz and his impressive guest list of collaborators (including pianist David Benoit, guitarist Peter White, and trumpeter Rick Braun) bring something new to the table, such as the chilled R&B slow-jam treatment afforded to "White Christmas," the subtle flamenco guitars and bossa nova beats of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," and the campfire acoustics of "Sleigh Ride," while the highlight appears courtesy of "Silent Night," which bravely waits two minutes before its sparse fingerpicking guitar hooks are joined by Koz and the gorgeously soulful tones of singer/songwriter Brenda Russell. The fact that so much of Ultimate Christmas is already available limits its appeal, but it's still a charming body of work that establishes Koz's reputation as the master of festive smooth jazz. ~ Jon O'Brien

Tracklist:
01. Welcoming the Season (Prelude) - 1:14
02. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - 2:54
03. The Christmas Song (feat. Peter White, David Benoit, Rick Braun and Brenda Rusell) - 4:56
04. Sleigh Ride - 3:21
05. White Christmas (feat. Kelly Sweet) - 3:18
06. Winter Wonderland - 4:30
07. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (feat. Brian Culbertson) - 3:52
08. Little Drummer Boy (feat. Rick Braun, Peter White and David Benoit) - 4:22
09. Please Come Home For Christmas (feat. Kimberley Locke) - 3:44
10. Silver Bells - 3:50
11. Eight Candles (A Song For Hanukkah) - 3:34
12. Deck The Halls - 3:42
13. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (feat. Peter White) - 3:49
14. O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) - 3:48
15. Silent Night (feat. Peter White, Rick Braun and Brenda Russell) - 4:32
16. I'll Be Home For Christmas - 4:10
17. Auld Lang Syne - 1:52
18. Welcoming the New Year (Coda) - 1:25
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Patti Austin: The Real Me (1988)

And how! Austin tackles standards such as "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "They Can't Take That Away from Me," and succeeds brilliantly. Her version of Comden, Green, and Bernstein's "I Can Cook, Too" is enough by itself to make this a pick.

Personnel: Patti Austin (vocals, sound effects, background vocals); David Pack (vocals, guitar, congas, percussion, background vocals); Michael McDonald (vocals, piano, background vocals); Howard Hewett, James Ingram, Tata Vega (vocals, background vocals); David Lindley (guitar, slide guitar); Earl Klugh (guitar, classical guitar); Chuck Berghofer, Nathan Kaproff, James Getzoff, Dan Neufeld, Harris Goldman, Alan DeVeritch, Joy Lyle, Franklyn D'Antonio, Arthur Royval, Richard Elegino, Charles Veal, Vicki Sylvester, Barry Gold, Henry Ferber, Don McInnes, Hershel Wise, Sid Sharp, Harry Shlutz, Cynthia Morrow, Ray Kelley, Nils Oliver, Arnold Belnick, Jacqueline Brand, Bonnie Douglas, Arni Egilsson, Stephen Erdody, Gayle Levant, Daniel Rothmuller, Evan Wilson, Michael Markman (strings); Bruce Hornsby (accordion); John Rotella (clarinet); Dan Higgins (woodwinds, saxophone); Ernie Watts (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Greg Huckins, Michael Brecker (saxophone); Jon Faddis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet); Bill Waltrous, Bill Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Red Callender (tuba); David Benoit (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Richard Tee (piano, synthesizer); Greg Phillinganes (synthesizer, bass synthesizer); C. Roscoe Beck (upright bass); Burleigh Drummond (drums, snare drum, percussion); George Perilli (drums, percussion); John "J.R." Robinson , Jeff Porcaro, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (shaker, percussion, sound effects); Luther Vandross, Amy Holland (background vocals)

Tracklist:

01. I Can Cook Too (5:14)
02. Stockholm Sweetnin' (1:37)
03. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (4:15)
04. True Love (3:49)
05. Across The Alley From The Alamo (3:47)
06. How Long Has This Been Going On (4:07)
07. Lazy Afternoon (5:46)
08. Love Letters (3:55)
09. They Can't Take That Away From Me (3:59)
10. Mood Indigo (3:26)
11. Cry Me A River (4:21)
12. Someone Is Standing Outside (3:59)
13. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most (5:08)
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