Music Corner World

Very talented Soul artist Macy Gray has released her latest album titled On How Life Is and Wow! It's good.

Macy Gray has been a super star in the Soul genre for quite some time now and On How Life Is is an excellent illustration as to why.

One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you've got one of Macy Gray's most impressive releases ever.

If you're a Macy Gray fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don't even have to be a fan of Gray, or even Soul to know is good. This is just good music. Period.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 9, A Moment To Myself. Outstanding!

On How Life Is Release Notes:

Macy Gray originally released On How Life Is on Jul 27, 1999 on the Epic label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Why Didn't You Call Me


2. Do Something


3. Caligula


4. I Try


5. Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak


6. I Can't Wait To Meetchu


7. Still


8. I've Committed Murder


9. A Moment To Myself


10. The Letter

Personnel includes: Macy Gray (vocals); Jon Brion (guitar, piano, Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone, bells); Darryl Swann (guitar, programming, background vocals); Jinsoo Lim, Arrik Marshall, Bendrix Williams, Blackbird McKnight, Gabriel Moses, Miles Tackett (guitar); Ngozi "Guz" Inyama (saxophone); Jeremy Ruzumna (piano, organ, Clavinet, Farfisa organ, Moog synthesizer, background vocals); Patrick Warren (Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone); David Wilder (bass, background vocals); Dion Derek Murdock (bass); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion); Lenny Castro (percussion); Kiilu Beckwith (programming); DJ Kiilu (turntable); Dawn Beckman, Musiic Galloway, Sye Smith (background vocals). Recorded at Paramount Studios, Sunset Sound and A&M Studios, Hollywood California.

Reflections is the latest Smooth Jazz CD realeased by the extremely talented saxophone playing Alfonzo Blackwell who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I'm confident Alfonzo Blackwell fans, and Smooth Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one.

I wish it weren't the case but, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Reflections. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

The nice thing about a CD like this is with this level of talent even if Smooth Jazz isn't your favorite genre you still can't help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

This is a first rate CD, delivering a little something for everyone. I give it my highest recommendation. It's quite simply great listening. A must buy for the Smooth Jazz fan.

While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 3, Field Of Dreams, track 5, I Miss You, track 13, Better Days.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 5, I Miss You. What a nice track!

Reflections Release Notes:

Alfonzo Blackwell originally released Reflections on Aug 28, 2001 on the Shanachie Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Funky Shuffle


2. All Blues


3. Field Of Dreams


4. Joy


5. I Miss You


6. Next To You


7. Take You Out


8. That Feeling


9. True Blue


10. Somewhere Sunday


11. Precious Love


12. Reflections


13. Better Days


14. That's Cool

Personnel: Alfonzo Blackwell (soprano saxophone, keyboards, guitar, bass, drums); Jean Norris (vocals); David Mann (keyboards, drum programming); Bernd Schoenhart, Chuck Loeb, Mark Marino (guitar). Recorded at Blackwell Studios, New York, New York.

Very talented Smooth Jazz artist Alexander Zonjic has released his latest CD titled Reach For The Sky and Wow! It's good.

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Alexander Zonjic is one of those musicians that has the ability to just bowl you over with his talent. The kind of artist it's really a treat to be able to listen to.

I give Reach For The Sky my highest recommendation. It just plain belongs in any serious music collectors collection regardless of genre preference.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 5, I Just Wanna Stop. Outstanding!

Reach For The Sky Release Notes:

Alexander Zonjic originally released Reach For The Sky on Aug 28, 2001 on the Heads Up Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. This Is The Day


2. Far Away


3. It's Too Late


4. Angela (Theme From Taxi)


5. I Just Wanna Stop


6. Bellavia


7. A Hard Day's Night


8. Reach For The Sky


9. Swinging Shepherd Blues


10. Amazing Grace

Personnel includes: Alexander Zonjic (flute); Wendy Moten, Kevin Whalum, Herschel Boone (vocals); Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone, keyboards, programming); Robert Tye (acoustic & electric guitars); Earl Klugh (acoustic guitar); Luis Resto (keyboards) Hiram Bullock, Paul Jackson Jr. (guitar); Jeff Lorber (bass); Danny Cox (drums, percussion, programming). Producers: Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Alexander Zonjic, Danny Cox, Luis Resto. Engineers include: Eric Moregeson, Jeff Lorber, Denny Jiosa. Recorded at Studio A, Dearborn Heights and Monster Music, Clawson, Michican; JHL Sound, Pacific Palisades, California; The Dog House and The Reel Thing, Nashville, Tennessee.

Talented Smooth Jazz artist Steve Cole has released his most recent CD on the Warner Bros. Records recording label, entitled NY LA.

Steve Cole has been a super star in the Smooth Jazz genre for quite a while now and NY LA is an excellent illustration as to why.

These days it's a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

Overall NY LA is excellent from beginning to end. One of those CDs that after a few listens the songs are just etched into your memory. A must have for the Smooth Jazz fan. Really spectacular from beginning to end.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 8, Missing You. This is a great track!

NY LA Release Notes:

Steve Cole originally released NY LA on Mar 25, 2003 on the Warner Bros. Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. NY-LA


2. Everyday


3. Tonight It's On - (featuring Mauli B./Charlean Hines)


4. Love Letter


5. Off Broadway


6. Interlude IV


7. Every Little Thing - (featuring Mauli B.)


8. Missing You


9. Close Your Eyes, Free Your Mind


10. Keep It Live - (featuring Brevi/Aloe Blacc)

Personnel: Steve Cole (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, keyboards, synthesizer); Charlean Hines, Mauli B, Brevi (vocals); Aloe Blacc (rap vocals); David Mann (tenor saxophone, keyboards); Barry Danielian (trumpet, flugelhorn); Brian Culbertson (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Daron Johnson (Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Otmaro Ruiz (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards); Marquis "Hami" Dair (keyboards, guitar); Paul Jackson, Jr., Tony Maiden, Bernd Schoenhart (guitar); Alex Al, Will Lee (bass); Reggie Hamilton (upright bass); Michael White, Kahari Parker, Ralph Rolle (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Walter Lee (turntables). Producers: Brian Culbertson, Marquis "Hami" Dair, Susan Youngblood, David Mann.

Perfect Moment is the latest release from Smooth Jazz Artist Peter White, and I can only think of one word to describe it… AWESOME!

It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that's exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all.

Perfect Moment is a pleasantly varied, mix of 10 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly outstanding artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are his own personal experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly be heard.

The nice thing about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Smooth Jazz isn't your favorite genre you still can't help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

If you're even mildly into Smooth Jazz music you'll enjoy this CD. Overall Perfect Moment is an outstanding release. I give it my double thumbs up. You will not be disappointed with one single track.

While this entire CD is outstanding some of my favorites are track 2, Kinda Sweet, track 5, Don't Want To Be A Foo, track 9, The View From Your Window

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 3, Midnight In Manhattan. Wow!

Perfect Moment Release Notes:

Peter White originally released Perfect Moment on Oct 20, 1998 on the Columbia label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. San Diego


2. Kinda Sweet


3. Midnight In Manhattan


4. Perfect Moment


5. Don't Want To Be A Fool


6. Autumn Day


7. My Prayer


8. Another Rainy Day


9. The View From Your Window


10. Windy City

Personnel : Peter White (acoustic guitar, keyboards); Greg Vail (soprano saxophone); Grover Washington, Jr., Gerald Albright (tenor saxophone); Rick Braun (trumpet); Brian Culbertson, Greg Karukas (keyboards, synthesizer, drum programming); Mike Egizi (keyboards, drum programming); Tim Heintz (keyboards); Mike Sims (electric guitar); Alex Al, Larry Kimpel, John Menzano (bass); Lil' John Roberts (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Steven Dubin, Paul Brown (drum programming). Producers: Steven Dubin, Paul Brown, Peter White. Engineers include: Dave Rideau, Paul Brown, Peter White.