Smooth Jazz

Recorded by Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers this tune helped define the smooth jazz sound. Silky smooth and well orchestrated this is a nice addition to any concert program.

Internationally renowned authors musicians and recording artists Frank Villafranca and Andrew D. Gordon have composed a collection of grooves and melodies in the Smooth Jazz Genre creating an exciting supplemental jazz study series for beginner intermediate and advanced jazz students and musicians. The smooth jazz grooves in this 46 page book feature a variety of contemporary rhythm section styles including RandB Jazz Funk Top 40 Rock Gospel Hip Hop and Latin. These stylistic influences are frequently associated with smooth jazz. Popular artists in this genre include The Super Groovers David Sanborn Eric Marienthal Kenny G Dave Koz David Benoit Tom Scott Gerald Albright Candy Dulfer Wilton Felder Boney James Chris Botti Chuck Mangione Sade George Benson Peter White Lee Ritenour Earl Klugh Larry Carlton Jeff Lorber Brian Culbertson George Duke Joe Sample Spyro Gyra Pat Metheny Four Play The Yellow Jackets and The Rippingtons. On each of the 20 tracks the groove is separated into 3 melodic ideas. Each melodic idea (example or riff) is played first by the saxophone with the groove followed by just the rhythm section groove without sax. The 1st example is usually the easiest the 2nd slightly harder and the 3rd the most difficult.  

These etudes build on the elements introduced in Artie Shaw's Jazz Technic, Book One and provide exercises for tongue and fingers, with an additional emphasis on phrasing. They are written in various styles and changes of key and tempo to assist the player in developing a smooth, melodic style of improvising.

This medium blues standard has been recorded by a number of jazz artists and remains one of the best tunes of its genre. Featuring nice ensemble writing and a stop-time feel on the head this chart is a smooth addition to any program.

Commissioned by the US Army Jazz Ambassadors this arrangement by Eric Richards shines new light on the beauty and depth of the classic Beatles hit. An up-tempo Brazilian groove gives way to hints of samba and songo but alwayswith a smooth and laidback feel. Piano solo is featured off the top followed by a trio of tenor trombone and guitar on the head and later solo space for one or more of these players. A brief nod to the classical feel of theoriginal Beatles track helps build to aclimactic shout for the full ensemble. Nice!