There are two main influences easily discernible in the music of the Benevento/Russo (BR) Duo. The first comes from the opening up of time patterns and metrical relation…
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05 Mar
For Her by Walter Beasley
R&B, soul, contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonists often point to Grover Washington Jr. as the master’s master saxophonist when it came to combining emotion, soul and …
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04 Mar
Spin by Steve Cole
Smooth jazz is in trouble. Clear Channel Communications, which just about single-handedly makes and breaks artists in this genre by dictating the directional style of th…
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21 Feb
The Big Picture by Shapes
There is always a problem when extremely talented jazz musicians try to make a groove-oriented, read smooth jazz and radio-friendly, recording. Because they have a ton o…
The best smooth jazz is that which plays it close to the instrumental R&B vest by staying happy with a good groove but doesn’t look down to the audience. While there is a t…
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