Jazz Festivals

Kevin Toney, the richly talented Smooth Jazz artist has released his latest album titled Strut and Wow! It’s really a good one.

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.

One of the nicer things 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.

Listen to and I think you’ll agree that the song choices are excellent, the production is outstanding and Kevin Toney’s piano playing is certainly in top form. Of particular note on this offering is his amazing rendition of Yearning For Your Love with Evelyn “Champagne” King.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 6, Special Occasion. It’s a great track!

Strut Release Notes:

Kevin Toney originally released Strut on Jul 10, 2001 on the Shanachie Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Strut

2. Karizma

3. Passion Dance – (featuring Ronnie Laws)

4. Yearning For Your Love – (featuring Evelyn “Champagne” King)

5. Secret Agent

6. Special Occasion

7. Interlude

8. Keeping It Real – (featuring Chieli Minucci)

9. After Midnight

10. If I Don’t Have Your Love – (featuring Jeremy Monroe)

11. All Day Long

12. Aunt Mary

13. Postlude

Personnel includes: Kevin Toney (arranger, piano, synthesizer); Jeremy Monroe (vocals, synthesizer); Evelyn “Champagne” King (vocals); Lewis Taylor (soprano saxophone, flute); Ronnie Laws, Gerald Spikes (soprano saxophone); Andy Cleaves, Rahmlee Davis (trumpet); Tetsuya “Weeping Willow” Nakamura (harmonica); Johnny Britt, Georgette Franklin (synthesizer); Craig T. Cooper, Tariqh Akoni, Chieli Minucci (guitar); Mel Brown (bass); Trevor Lawrence, Jr. (drums); Kevin Richard (percussion). Engineers include: Bossman, Khaliq Glover, Ray Taylor Smith. Principally recorded at K-Tone Studios, Chatsworth, California.

By: Clyde Lee Dennis

Tags: Chieli Minucci, Evelyn Champagne King, Interlude 8, Jazz Music Cd, Kevin Toney, Lewis Taylor, Mel Brown, One Of The Nicer Things, Passion Dance, Piano Playing, Postlude, Ronnie Laws, Shanachie Records Label, Smooth Jazz Artist, Smooth Jazz Music, Song Choices, Soprano Saxophone, Tariqh Akoni, Trevor Lawrence, Weeping Willow
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