Yellowjackets: The Best Of (1999)

The Yellowjackets began their recording career on the Warner Brothers label in 1981, recording three albums before moving to GRP where the band found commercial success during a ten-year stay. In 1995, they returned to the Warner fold to produce some of their best, maturest music. Dreamland, Blue Hats, and Club Nocturne found the band presenting contemporary jazz music of the highest caliber. However, this music had too much depth to qualify for the smooth jazz radio playlists of the late 1990s. As the year 2000 dawned, Warner released this fine compilation of Yellowjackets' work for that label. It's an interesting musical document which shows the beginnings of the band in their original incarnation with L.A. Express guitar alumnus Robben Ford, and later finding their voice after his departure. Then there's a ten-year quantum leap to the unmatched musical sophistication of the latter trio of classy recordings with Bob Mintzer in the sax chair. The producer's choice not to arrange the tracks in chronological order is probably a smart one from a listening standpoint. Still there's quite a juxtaposition between the rich complexities of the opening "New Rochelle" and "Spirit of the West," and the pop-styled '80s fusion/funk of "Daddy's Gonna Miss You" and "Matinee Idol" that follow. The pleasures of both eras cannot be denied, however, and this disc is rewarding from start to finish. "The Chosen" and "Summer Song" from Dreamland remain superb, and Kurt Elling's vocal on Mintzer's "Up From New Orleans is a classic awaiting discovery. Samurai Samba's "Homecoming" should be familiar, and the previously unreleased "Theme From Il Postino" provides a reason for the Yellowjackets completist to own this disc. Taken with Collection from the GRP era, The Best of Yellowjackets gives a tiny glimpse at the music of this excellent group, priming the pump for further exploration of their recorded legacy. ~ Jim Newsom

Personnel: Bobby McFerrin (vocals, percussion); Robben Ford, Carlos Rios (guitar); Bob Mintzer (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Marc Russo (alto saxophone); Ernie Watts (tenor saxophone); Russell Ferrante (keyboards); Ricky Lawson, William Kennedy (drums); Lenny Castro, Luis Conte, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Rory Kaplan (programming)

Tracklist:
01. New Rochelle
02. Spirit Of The West
03. Daddy's Gonna Miss You
04. Matinee Idol
05. The Chosen
06. Homecoming
07. Imperial Strut
08. Claire's Song
09. Top Secret
10. Up From New Orleans
11. Summer Song
12. Theme From Il Postino
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Brian Simpson: South Beach (2010)

2010 is a breakthrough year for smooth jazz keyboardist Brian Simpson. The 1st single from his debut Shanachie release South Beach is the fastest-rising hit of the year on the Smooth Jazz Airplay charts.Already a top twenty, it is virtually guaranteed to be a smash hit when the album officially drops on August 31st. Brian is no stranger to radio hits; in fact his first single release went to #1 and stayed in the top 5 for 5 months! To quote Brian,"Wow, I've never had a song move up the charts this fast!" As music director for Dave Koz and keyboardist for such icons as Teena Marie and Janet Jackson, Brian Simpson has earned a stellar reputation for his funky grooves and brilliant melodies. He is a nominee for the 2010 American Smooth Jazz Awards Keyboardist of the Year and, as music director of the Smooth Jazz Cruise, appears before thousands of fans as he performs with such greats as Smokey Robinson, Dave Sanborn, Boney James and many more! As the buildup for the release of South Beach continues, Brian will be featured on the Smooth Jazz Top 20 countdown which reaches over 50 major markets. In addition, a national tour is being booked in support of the release. Brian will be featured on the Dave Koz radio broadcast and will be the featured performer at the American Smooth Jazz Awards Show in October. Highlights include the smash hit radio single "South Beach," a slammin' duet with groovemaster George Duke on "Fire Sign" plus the exquisite "Summer Song," featuring the acoustic guitar of Peter White.

Tracklist
01. South Beach
02. Can't Tell You Why
03. Lay It On Me (Feat. Euge Groove) )
04. Never Without You (Shawndra's song) (Feat. Peter White)
05. Paradise Island
06. Old Friends (Feat. George Duke)
07. All I Want Is You
08. Our Love
09. Summer's End
10. Moonlit Ocean
Personnel:
Brian Simpson: piano & keyboards
Tony Moore: drums, drum programming
Michael White: drums (2, 3, 6-9)
Oscar Sexton: drums (5)
Alex Al: bass (1, 3-5, 7, 8)
Smitty Smith: bass (2)
Larry Kimpel: bass: (5)
Ian Martin: acoustic bass (6, 9, 10)
Agape Jerry: guitar (1, 3, 7)
Darrell Crooks: guitar (2, 4-6, 10)
Peter White: acoustic guitar (4)
Yarone Levy: acoustic guitar (4, 8)
Brian Kilgore: percussion (1, 4-6, 8-10)
Lenny Castro: percussion (2, 3, 7)
Ron King: flugelhorn (2), trumpet (9, 10)
Euge Grove: tenor sax (3)
Steve Alaniz: tenor sax (4, 7, 8)
George Duke: synthesizer (6)
Brenda Kay Pierce: vocals (5)
South Beach
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Steve Lukather: All's Well That Ends Well (2010)

Guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger, Steve Lukather release his new solo album "All's Well That Ends Well" on October 2010 only in Europe. For over 30 years Lukather has been known as one of the founding members of the multi-million selling band TOTO. He has played on hundreds of albums with the biggest stars and music legends including Van Halen, Whitney Houston, Alice Cooper, George Benson, Rod Stewart and even played guitar on Michael Jackson’s multi-million selling milestone album ‘Thriller’.Along with several Grammy Awards over the years, in April 2010 he received the international Eddy Christiani Award for 33 years of guitar mastership. Lukather showcases in this recording his innate feel for rock and guitar music, along with his songwriting talents. The new album is laden with extraordinary guitar playing performed across some of the best and most emotional songs of Steve’s career.

Fee Waybill of THE TUBES is featured on backing vocals and contributes to some of the co-songwriting with CJ Vanston and Lukather. Other friends come up contibuting background vocals, like Joseph Williams (TOTO), Bernard Fowler (ROLLING STONES), Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD).

“I’m very excited because I have some great new music,” says Lukather. - “I am trying for a personal best and working very hard on all aspects of music. It’s a journey, that’s for sure.”

To coincide with the release of the album, Steve will embark on a European tour in November that will take in concerts in Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland and England.

The concerts will showcase classics from his all his solo albums, Toto, plus tracks from his new album.

Tracklist:
1. Darkness In My World
2. On My Way Home
3. Can't Look Back
4. Don't Say It's Over
5. Flash In The Pan
6. Watching The World
7. You'll Remember
8. Brodie's
9. Tumescent
Personnel:
Steve Lukather - all guitars, lead & bg vocals
CJ Vanston - keyboards, atmospheres
Steve Weingart - keyboards and atmospheres
Carlitos Del Puerto - bass
Eric Valentine - drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
Joseph Williams, Phil Collen (3) (4), CJ Vanston (3) - background voacals
Trev Lukather - power guitar (4)
Tina Lukather - background vocals (1)
Fee Waybill - background vocals (5) (7)
Bernard Fowler - background vocals (1)
Jory Steinberg - background vocals (1) (2) (8)
All's Well That Ends Well
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