What a great thing to have so many new releases coming out in our resurging format, smooth jazz.
Our first new release on this week’s show is a radio single from Hiroshima that will be part of a forthcoming new album with no release date at this time. Formed in 1974 by Dan and June Kuramoto the band fused Japanese music with other forms of world music including American with a wide variety of percussion and wind instruments, synthesizers, bass, guitars, keyboards, and drums. They created a musical sound like nobody else. Instantly successful, this group has attracted a huge following throughout the years. The song played is titled Groove Latino.
Spyro Gyra was formed by saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall 40 years ago in 1979. Now with Tom Schuman on the keyboards, they released their first album in six years on October 11th. It is titled Vinyl Tap and is all cover songs. I am playing their terrific rendition of Carry On, written by Stephen Stills for Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.
Releasing great music since 2005 with two Billboard number ones and two number twos, hip and smooth saxophonist Jackiem Joyner also released a new album October 11th titled Touch. Give a listen to Secret Admirer.
Grammy award winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum toured with Whitney Houston for seven years. He also worked extensively with Luther Vandross and Babyface, worked on a number of motion picture scores, and has had a very successful solo career. He was responsible for my initial interest in smooth jazz. I have seen him perform live twice at very memorable concerts in San Diego and Sacramento. Released October 11th, his new album is titled Humanite. From his latest I am playing Korogocho.
I also have new releases from Steve Cole, Brian Culbertson, Herb Alpert, Nicholas Cole, and Vandell Andrew.
The second hour is devoted to smooth jazz classics. Our classic among classics segment will focus on a song from Kenny G's album Duotones.
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