SMOOTH JAZZ HISTORY AND FAVORITES

I became interested in smooth jazz when as a teenager after listening to classics from Cannonball Adderly with Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (1966), Sonny Rollins' and the Ramsey Lewis Trio produced versions of Wade in the Water (1966), and the In Crowd (1965). Booker T & The MGs also emerged in 1964 with Green Onions. South African Hugh Masekela produced Up, Up and Away (1967) and Grazin in the Grass (1968). Herb Albert had many big hits in the 1960s and 1970s with A Taste of Honey (1965), This Guy's In Love With You (1968), etc. Some people credit Creed Taylor, Wes Montgomery, John Coltrane and others like Dave Brubeck (Take Five in 1959, charted to #25 in 1961) Chet Baker, Miles Davis, and Grover Washington Jr. (Mr. Magic in 1974 which was arranged by Bob James) for helping to initiate and create the genre of Smooth Jazz sometime in the mid-1960s (Cool Jazz during and after World War II) although there appear to be many forms of jazz including Fusion that are closely tied to Smooth Jazz. Even Frank Zappa produced quite a bit of music tying jazz and rock; I went to a Zappa concert at the 5th Dimension in Ann Arbor on December 3, 1967. Jazz itself was said to have begun as a music genre in the last 19th century, and evolzed into many genres throughout the 20th century.

Tower of Power began producing music in 1968, and spread smooth jazz throughout California which has been one of the geographic "hot beds" for Smooth Jazz. Many 1960s and 1970s Motown and R&B artists like Jeffrey Osborne and James Ingram were the precursors and catalysts of the Smooth Jazz movement as was Soft Rock. Smooth Jazz History during the 1970's included, Chuck Mangione's Feels So Good (1977) as was Bob James' Angela (1978). I began collecting Bob James audiocassettes in the early 1980's. Earl Klugh, a native Detroiter, played at Baker's Keyboard Lounge from 1970. I attended an Earl Klugh concert in Lansing sometime in 1982 and have enjoyed his great hits, Heartstring (1978) and Midnight in San Juan (1991). Angela became the theme for the TV Show, Taxi, and Feels So Good became one of the theme songs for the 1980 Winter Olympics held at Lake Placid, New York. Bob James and Earl Klugh collaborated for three albums together from 1979-1992. James then founded Fourplay in 1991 with Lee Ritenour, Nathan East and Harvey Mason (later, Ritenour left and was replaced by Larry Carlton, and Carlton was later replaced by Chuck Loeb. George Benson also popularized Smooth Jazz during this era with his 1976 hit, Breezin, in 1977, The Greatest Love of All, dedicated to Muhammad Ali for his historic movie, The Greatest, and 1981, Turn Your Love Around. Ramsey Lewis also began Urban Knights in 1995 with Grover Washington Jr. and the Emotions. Quincy Jones, who discovered Bob James in 1963, may be one of the most notable Smooth Jazz composers with 79 Grammy nominations and 29 Grammy Awards beginning with Roots (1977). Acoustic Alchemy, a guitar duet with Simon James and Nick Webb, began producing music in England in 1981; they have changed musician several times with the same sound, and now have Miles Gilderdale and Greg Carmichael as the duet.

The first radio station dedicated to Smooth Jazz began in San Diego, KIFM in San Diego in 1982. Shortly afterwards, Los Angeles followed with KTWV, the Wave. David Sanborn became one of the early legends of Smooth Jazz with many albums and movies from 1975 to present. Andy Snitzer, a former member of the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, was another one of my early favorites with Ties That Bind (1994). Nelson Rangell became my favorite Smooth Jazz Performer through the decade of the 1990s and 2000s with so many great hits from his albums starting in 1988: Grace, Time Will Tell, Turning Night Into Day, etc. That's the Way of the World (2005), and old Motown hit by Earth, Wind & Fire (1975), is one of my favorites. Kenny G has been a great performer, and brought a lot of national attention to the Smooth Jazz movement from 1982 to present with Songbird, The Moment, etc. Japanese pianist and composer, Keiko Matsui, also began producing music in 1987; she wrote the soundtrack for The Ring in 2002. Smooth Jazz has World-Wide appeal, and the market for it in the Pacific Rim region of the world is significant. Several Smooth Jazz artists have capitalized on that market with Tours. Dutch Saxophonist, Candy Dulfer, 1993-2014, is one of many European Smooth Jazz Artists who have popularized this genre throughout Europe. Some have tried to align New Age Music with Smooth Jazz with Greek Musicians, Yanni 1984-2014,Vangelis, 1970-2014, and others like John Tesh, 1987-2014, and David Lanz, 1983-2014, but it is a different sound and many use the sound for meditation, yoga, etc.

Richard Elliot (1986-2014) and Dave Koz (1990-2014) became two of my favorites in the 1990s when I listened to Smooth Jazz on the radio, but it is no longer available in the Metro Detroit area (98.7 WVMV, 1996-2009). Euge Groove, (2000-2014), is another great saxophonist with several hits including Chillaxin (2005). Warren Hill (1991-2014), also fabulous along with Marion Meadows (1990-2014), Paul Taylor (1995-2014), Gerald Albright (1987-2014), Kirk Whalum (1985-2014), Boney James (1992-2014), etc.! Oprah Winfrey helped glamorize Chris Botti, 1995-2014, as one of the most romantic musicians in the world in 2005. Of course, as one grows older, instrumental versions of popular songs bring back great memories. Also, since the heart rate slows as one grows older, many people tend to listen to music that is softer and slower as they age. Unfortunately, many of the advocated for Smooth Jazz are "Baby Boomers" who value historical Motown and Rock music from the 1960s, and Smooth Jazz is not nearly as popular with younger generations. Here are 100 of so of my current favorite artists (seen live if bold):

Saxophone
Keyboard/Piano
Trumpet
Guitar
Vocal
Group
Abair, Mindi
Benoit, David
Adams, Greg
Antoine, Marc
Austin, Patti
3rd Force
Albright, Gerald
Bernhardt, Warren
Albert, Herb
Benson, George
Baker, Anita
Bofill, Angela
Acoustic Alchemy
Average White Band
Barbieri, Gato
Brickman, Jim
Botti, Chris
Bowman, Tim
Braxton Brothers
Crusaders

Beasley, Walter

Bradley, Cindy
Bugnon, Alex
Braun, Rick
Bromberg, Brian(Bass)
Bryson, Peabo
Down to the Bone
Cole, Steve
Corea, Chick
Mangione, Chuck
Brown, Norman
Downing, Will
Fattburger
Dulfer, Candy
Culbertson, Brian
Butler, Jonathan
Kem
Isley Brothers
Fourplay: Bob James, Larry Carlton, Nathan East and Harvey Mason
Elliot, Richard

Duke, George

Fritzen, Jonathan

Carlton, Larry
Jarreau, Al
Hiroshima
G, Kenny
Hancock, Herbie
Hardcastle, Paul
Chaquico, Craig
Khan, Chaka
Incognito
Groove, Euge
Heintz, Tim
Colionne, Nick
Maysa
Osborne, Jeffrey
Pieces of a Dream
Harp, Everette
James, Bob
Cooling, Joyce
Russell, Brenda
The Rippingtons

Hill, Warren

Ingala, Vincent

Jones, Quincy
Coryell, Larry
Sade
Sax Pack
James, Boney
Karukas, Greg
Geissman, Grant
Vandross, Luther
Spyro Gyra
Kashiwa, Jeff
Lewis, Ramsey
Golub, Jeff
Tower of Power
Klemmer, John
Lorber, Jeff
Jackson, Paul Jr.
Jordan, Ronnie
Urban Nights: Ramsey Lewis, Gerald Albright, Najee, Jonathan Butler and Sonny Emory
Koz, Dave
Matsui, Keiko
Klugh, Earl
Yellowjackets

Laws, Ronnie

Lebron

McDonald, Michael
Loeb, Chuck
Lington, Michael
Soul Ballet (Kelly, Rick RK)
Minucci, Chieli
Marienthal, Eric
Yanni
Navarro, Ken
Meadows, Marion
Drums
Nils
Najee
Gota
Oliver, Steve
Praful
Ritenour, Lee
Rangell, Nelson
Standring, Chris
Sanborn, David
Tisdale, Waymon(Bass)
Scott, Tom (L.A. Express)
Vaughn, Julian
Snitzer, Andy
Veasley, Gerald
Sommers, Jimmy
Flute
White, Peter
Taylor, Paul
Zonjic, Alexander
Tesh, John
Torres, Nestor
Waters, Kim
Violin
Whalum, Kirk
Ponty, Jean-Luc
Daemyon, Jerald

Favorite Songs

Wikipedia List of Smooth Jazz Musicians

Special Smooth Jazz Events: 2015
Detroit Princess Cruises

Berks Jazz Fest April 10-19, 2015 Reading, PA

Weekend of Smooth Jazz--April 9-11, 2015 Broadmoor Hotel Colorado Springs,CO

Michigan Smooth Jazz Concert Schedule 2015

Madman Mike's Michigan Big Events in 2015

Smooth Jazz Cruise January 11-18, 2015 or March 1-8, 2015 David Sanborn, Candy Dulfer, Brian Culbertson, Kirk Whalum, Rick Braun, Peter White, Norman Brown, Gerald Albright, Eric Marienthal, etc.

March 28-Cabin Fever Jazz Festival Hubbard Ballroom 15801 Michigan Ave. Dearborn with Gerald Albright, Tim Bowman, Alex Bugnon, Alexander Zonjic, Jeff Lorber and Phil Denny $25

April 26--Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea Hill Auditorium Ann Arbor

Chene Park June 3-August 3

June 3-Boney James, Dave McMurray

June 10-Najee, Alex Bugnon

June 17-Will Downing

June 24-David Sanborn

July 1-Pieces of a Dream, Kim Waters

July 8-Brian Culbertson

August 3-Gerald Albright, Nick Colionne

Jazz on the Ave-Dearborn July 9-August 13 7-9 p.m. (Free)

July 8 Alexander Zonjic & Friends

July 15 Mark Antoine and Brian Simpson

July 22 Jessie J

July 29 496 West and Dee Brown

August 5 Charles and Gwen Scales

August 12 Alexander Zonjic, Elan Trottman and The Motor City Horns

June 19-20 East Lansing Jazzfest

July 11-Jazz at the Sunset-St. Joseph

July 19--Schoolcraft College

July 31 Evening of Smooth Jazz Holt

August 1-2 Lansing Jazzfest

Saturday, August 1-2 The 20th Annual Jazz on the River Elizabeth Park in Trenton, Michigan

August 1

1:00 p.m. Michel Ramo & Heidi Helper and the Detroit Jazz All Stars

2:30 p.m. Randy Scott

4:00 p.m. Robert Hurst

5:45 p.m. Michael Manson

7:30 p.m. Kenny G and Alexander Zonjic

August 2

1:00 p.m. Ben Sharkey

2:30 p.m. Ed Stone

4:00 p.m. Steve Cole

5:30 p.m. Eric Darius

7:30 p.m. Jeffrey Osborne

August 8-9 Monroe River Raisin Jazz Festival:

Friday August 7 
6:00 – Nelson Rangell the “Blue” & “Red” Show!

14th Annual River Raisin Jazz Festival

Saturday August 8 
1:00 – Monroe Big Band
2:30 – Jerome Anthony Clark
4:00 – Joey Sommerville
5:45 – Grammy Award Winner Eric Marienthal
7:30 – Alexander Zonjic & Friends with special guest Paul Jackson Jr

Sunday August 9 
1:00 – Organissimo 
2:30 – Eliot Lewis 
4:00 – Grammy Award Winner Paul Brown & Jessy J 
5:45 – Bob Baldwin
7:30 – Mindi Abair

August 15-16--Grand Rapids JazzFest

August 21-23--Jazz on the Shoreline-Muskegon

Jim Brickman Ultimate Cruise October 3, 2015

October 24-November 1, 2015 on Smooth Jazz Super Cruise IX: Kem, Kirk Whalum, Euge Groove, Fourplay, Urban Jazz Coalition, etc.

November ? Patrick Yandall @ State Theatre in Bay City, MI

January 10-17, 2016 or February 21-28, 2016 Smooth Jazz Cruise: George Benson, David Sanborn, Boney James, Candy Dulfer, Richard Elliot, Peabo Bryson, etc.

February 21-28, 2016 Dave Koz & Friends Cruise: Michael Lington, Keiko Matsui, Mindi Abair, Euge Groove, Rick Braun, Kenny Lattimore, Peter White, Kirk Whalum

Links to Smooth Jazz:

Smooth Jazz.com Chart
Radio Wave Chart
Smooth Jazz Artists
Smooth Jazz News
Smooth Jazz Vibes Links
Smooth Jazz Links
SmoothJazzNow.com
Jazz Times
Music Choice

Christian Jazz

Billboard

America's Music Charts

American Smooth Jazz Awards

Other Notable Smooth Jazz Performers
Aaron, Blake
Adkins, Jim
Ahlers, Ozzie
Amedeo
Ayers, Roy
Baldwin, Bob
Bass X
Bona Fide
Breaux, Zachary
Cain, Jonathan
Darius, Eric
Donato, Will
Douthit, Mark
Essix, Eric
Fagen, Donald
Freeman, Russ
Fritzen, Jonathan
Gabriano, James
Garfield, David
Garrett, Kenny
Geith, Chris
Goin, Gary
Grant, Tom
Hardiman, Ronan
Hewitt, Alan
Hiltebrand, Dave
Hollingsworth, Mark
Hughes, Brian
Jackiem
Jacobson, Keith
Jiosa, Denny
Jordan, Marc
Julienne, Klement
Lanz, David
Leighton, Bradley
Levine, Mike
Lyle, Bobby
Manhattan Transfer
Mariano, Torcuato
Martin, Phillip
McMurray, Dave
Metheny, Pat
Miles, Jason
Miller, Marcus
Mullins, Rob
Next Level
Nichols, Grady
O'Neal, Alexander
O'Neill, Michael
Paulo, Michael
Pensyl, Kim
Phillips, Mike
Portmann, Mark
Powell, Doc
Quintin Gerald W
Rahn, Darren
Riney, Sam
Rotella, Thom
Sabler, Les
Saisse, Philippe
Schuman, Tom (Spyro Gyra)
Seal
Sereny, Dave
Shilts (Paul Shilts Weimar)
Shimabukuro, Jake
Siegel, Dan
Simply Red
Simpson, Brian
Smith, Richard
Smith, Roger
Soto, Jay
Tarquin, Brian
Thompson, J
Toney, Kevin
Urban Jazz Coalition
Urban Renewal
Vargas, James
Vibes Alive
Vlad
Watley, Jody
Whitfield, Mark
Williams, Pamela
Wolverton, Kyle

Yandall, Patrick

Local Michigan Venues for Smooth Jazz Concerts
The Ark
Chene Park
DTE-Palace of Auburn Hills, Pine Knob, Meadowbrook
Jerome Duncan Ford Theatre/Freedom Hill
Meadowbrook
University of Michigan Hill Auditorium/Power Center
Breslin Center
County Fairs in Michigan
Andiamo's
Baker's Keyboard Lounge
Bert's Marketplace
Goodnight Gracie
Kerrytown Concert House
Melange
Ticketmaster
Jazz News Michigan
Metro Times Calendar
AOL City Guide Detroit
Best of Detroit
Detroit News Best of Michigan 2007
Live at Night
I believe there is a connection between Motown (Soul, Funk, etc.) and the Smooth Jazz movement, and here are some links to Motown Trivia:
Classic Motown
History of Rock: Motown Records
Motown Story
Motown Historical Museum
Detroit Free Press: Motown at 40
Talk of the South: Motown in the 1960's
Musicals Seen

Annie
Beauty & The Beast
Cats
Contact
Forever Plaid
Jekyll & Hyde x 2
Jersey Boys
Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Legally Blonde
Les Miserables
Lion King
Mama Mia
Miss Saigon

Motown
Movin Out
Phantom of the Opera x 2
Ragtime
Rent
Sound of Music
Starlight Express
Sunset Boulevard
The Full Monty
The Producers
Titanic
West Side Story
White Christmas x 2
Wicked x 2

Broadway Musicals we're hoping to see:

Aida
Aspects of Love
Chicago
Chorus Line
Color Purple
Evita
Fosse
Grease
Hairspray
Jesus Christ Superstar
King Lear
Mary Poppins
Phantom of Manhattan
Spamalot
Spring Awakening
Whistle Down the Wind
War Horse

Links for Musicals:
Tony Awards
R&H Theatricals
EXP 100
Theatricopia
Channel 4
Time Magazine's Broadway Collection
Musicals.net
Broadway.com
Internet Broadway Database
The Broadway Musical
TalkinBroadway.com
Playbill
LiveBroadway
About
Yahoo
Ruel's
Heather's Links
Local Michigan Venues for Musicals
Nederlander (Fisher Theatre/Detroit Opera House/Masonic Temple)
Croswell Opera House
Wharton Center
Fox Theatre
Stranaham Theatre (Toledo)
Ticketmaster
DeVos Performance Hall
Van Andel Arena
Kellogg Arena