Kirk Whalum - Romance Language

Welcome to the latest issue of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden, the page that offers a personal perspective on the very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul.

It was in 1963 that legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane collaborated with vocalist Johnny Hartman to create an album of romantic standards which has since been described as being essential for all jazz collections. Simply titled ‘John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman’, and with a running time of only thirty minutes, it comprised six classic compositions from the likes of Rodgers & Hart, Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn and Billy Strayhorn.

Fast forward almost fifty years to Grammy winning saxman Kirk Whalum who has re-recorded the complete collection, added four more tracks and, with the help of younger brother Kevin Whalum, delivered the truly sensational ‘Romance Language’.

Matt Marshak - in Boca and Beyond

By Val Vaccaro

Smooth jazz guitarist, composer, and producer Matt Marshak is scheduled to perform a great show with saxophonist, flutist, and vocalist Marcus Anderson on January 21st as part of the Royal Palm Place Jazz Series at The Funky Biscuit (formerly known as Club 303) in Boca Raton, Florida.

Matt Marshak and Marcus Anderson should make for an exciting and dynamic show since they are terrific performers and also have worked together before. In 2011, they performed a number of concerts together - one show was on New Year’s Eve sponsored by The Groove radio station at the Melbourne-Viera Holiday Inn. They have also played shows together at the Rehoboth Jazz Fest last October, as well as at venues in NYC last August and January. Marshak and Anderson also appeared at the Genuine Jazz & Wine Fest in 2010 with Four80East. See a video from that 2010 show.

Marcin Nowakowski - Shine

Welcome to the latest issue of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden, the page that offers a personal perspective on the very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul.

Since the release of Smooth Night in 2005, I have followed the career of saxophonist Marcin Nowakowski with interest. A well known performer in his native Poland, Marcin’s 2009 follow-up, Better Days came as a direct result of a visit he made to Los Angeles and the opportunity it afforded to work with some of the genre’s A-list musicians including both Paul Brown and Jeff Lorber. In the ultra competitive market of smooth jazz saxophone Better Days proved to be an outstanding achievement and as if to demonstrate this was no flash in the pan he has reunited with Brown and Lorber for the even better Shine.

Happy 2012

I wish to all of our reader a successful and happy new year!

What We're Listening To ** December 2011

D E N I S * P O O L E

‘What A Day’ by Demetrius Nabors from the CD A Journey Within. In terms of genre defining smooth jazz, a better tune than this would be hard to find. Crammed full of all the rhythm and melody you will ever need this one looks set to put Nabors on the map.

‘Touch’ by Randy Scott from his latest album 90 Degrees At Midnight. This engagingly mellow cut is added to in no small measure by a fine contribution on piccolo bass from Terrance Palmer.

‘Written In Red’ by Hart Ramsey from his second CD My Next Heartbeat. With a terrific bass line from co-writer Sean Michael Ray, and in contradiction to the gentle nature of much of the collection, this one turns out to be a real mover and shaker.

‘Enjoy The Ride’, which is the title track from the fresh new album by guitarist Jay Stewart. This mellifluous tune really takes the honours. With Jimmy Bralower immense on congas it’s a track with genuine cross-genre appeal and the potential to do really well.

‘To Catch A Thief’ from the highly anticipated new album East Bay Soul 2.0. This year, for those true funk soldiers whose donations made the rapidly emerging East Bay Soul 2.0 project become a reality, Christmas came early. In fact it came one day early as true to his word bandleader Greg Adams circulated the pre-release download of the first single from what will surely be one of the albums of 2012 to everyone of those who pledged their support. With a languid yet easy grooving vibe this ultra cool cut is in the best traditions of Adams’ best work and benefits from some killer Hammond B3 from Joey Navarro. The title ‘To Catch A Thief’ was inspired by the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name.