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Archive for August, 2010

Alan Hewitt "Metropolis" Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Posted by admin2 on August 30th, 2010 Comments Off



One word describes the CD Metropolis from Alan Hewitt… 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 isn’t a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it’s own.

One of the nicer things about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Smooth Jazz isn’t your favorite style you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

Listen to this CD and I believe you’ll find there’s not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, and the production is simply outstanding. If you’re even mildly into Smooth Jazz music you’ll enjoy this CD.

While the entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 3, Velvet Kisses, track 7, Liquid Blue, and track 9, So In Love.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 10, Lost In Emotion. Wow!

Metropolis Release Notes:

Alan Hewitt originally released Metropolis on Jun 06, 2006 on the 215 Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Vibe (Intro)

2. Joyride

3. Velvet Kisses

4. Metropolis

5. Hot Fun In The Summertime

6. Swingin’ On Sunset

7. Liquid Blue

8. So In Love (Interlude)

9. So In Love

10. Lost In Emotion

11. Indigo

12. Soleil

Personnel: Alan Hewitt (piano, keyboards, drums); Sheilah “Shea” Chambers (vocals); Brian Price, Steve Oliver (guitars); Gerald Spikes (saxophone); Steve Madaio (trumpet); Wendell Kelly (trombone); Jervonny Collier (electric bass); Chad Wright (drums).

By: Tom Milson

Posted in Jazz Festivals

Learn Jazz Improvisation With Chord Exercises

Posted by admin2 on August 30th, 2010 Comments Off



If you’d like to learn jazz improvisation, or learn to improvise in general, you’ve come to the right place!

Jazz improvisation is often viewed as the hardest part of learning jazz. The masters have left behind many tips and exercises though. Unfortunately people often hear these tips but never act upon them. So please take action on these tips to “learn jazz”.

When you have a song you’d like to improvise on, follow these preparatory exercises.

1. Listen listen listen! Buy CDs and vinyl records and listen to the jazz masters. Get as many versions of the song as you can.

2. Find sheet music (chord changes are the important thing). Try memorizing the changes, and just go through them in your head.

3. Figure out what the chord is for each chord change. Finding the chord and scale of each change will help you learn to improvise.

4. Once you know the chord, run up the chord 1-3-5-7 in eight notes over the change.

5. Then do 1-3-5-9. These steps may seem silly, but it will help you learn jazz, learn jazz improvisation, and learn to improvise.

6. Try both step 4 and 5 backwards. Go 7-5-3-1 and 9-5-3-1.

7. Then invert the chord as many ways as you like. Go 3-5-7-1, 5-7-1-3, 7-1-3-5, 3-1-5-7, etc. etc. Do every possible combination.

That’s a lot of work right there. And these are just preparatory exercises. And of those exercises, these are just chords! We still have scales AND scale tones to worry about.

This seems like a lot of work, and it is. If you follow this, you will quickly learn jazz improvisation, and learn how to improvise.

By: Bobby Jackin

Posted in Jazz Festivals

Eric Darius "Just Getting Started" Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Posted by admin2 on August 30th, 2010 Comments Off



Talented young smooth jazz saxophonist Eric Darius has released his latest CD entitled Just Getting Started.

I’m very confident Eric Darius fans, and smooth jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Just Getting Started the young and extremely talented Darius’s artistic excellence is on full display as he has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks.

Just Getting Started is Darius’s second major label release in as many years, and is a very soulful CD that’s part funk, part smooth jazz, all nice, and balanced just right.

The CD launches with a great track, Steppin’ Up, that will definitely be heard on smooth jazz radio stations everywhere, and deservedly so. From there Darius proceeds to display why he is destined to be a top artist in the smooth jazz category. Displaying what is becoming his own signature, funky style throughout the CD.

Contributors on the project includes an amazing line up of smooth jazz and music industry heavy hitters. Names like Jeff Lorber on several tracks, Paul Brown, Euge Groove, and the incomparable Brian Culbertson. Plus a few other notables as well.

Overall Just Getting Started is an excellent contribution by the young and clearly very talented Darius and would be a great addition to your smooth jazz collection. It’s quite simply a very entertaining CD.

While this entire CD is outstanding the truly standout tunes and SmoothJazz247.com favorites are Lover’s Paradise [track 2], Right Here, Right Now [track 6], and It’s Alright With Me [track 9]. My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 10, Can’t Let Go. Very nice!

Release Notes:

Eric Darius originally released Just Getting Started on March 7, 2006 on the Narada record label.

CD track list follows:

1. Steppin’ Up

2. Lover’s Paradise

3. Secret Soul

4. Groove On

5. Back At Cha

6. Right Here, Right Now

7. That’s What I’m Sayin’

8. If I Ain’t Got You

9. It’s Alright With Me

10. Can’t Let Go

11. Slick

By: Tom Milson

Posted in Jazz Festivals
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