Royce Campbell's new CD, Six by Six is a real treat for jazz guitar fans. Having spent many years as Henry Mancini's guitarist and worked with Quincy Jones and Marvin Gaye, Campbell knows how to fit in with any band and bring his own jazz sound to the mix. On this project he plays with five of his guitar friends and heroes creating a dynamic guitar showcase. Pat Martino is straight ahead Be-bop on "Milestones"; Larry Corryell infuses "Love for Sale" with a bluesy flavor, and John Abercrombie playe a haunting and mysterious "Day into Night". Bucky Pizzarelli does his usual serious swing on "Dancing on the Ceiling", and Dave Stryker takes it a little edgy and outside on "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise". Royce Campbell is the unifying force and falls easily into each different groove while keeping his own feel as the touchstone of the record. Four different bass players and three different drummers make up the rest of the crew and as the project travels through each style you can tell a good time was had by all, which adds that unquantifiable something to the sound that makes you smile when you hear it. ,
www.RoyceCampbell.com

Herbie Mann, born in 1930, played flute his whole life and brought many listeners to jazz with his beautiful tone.  One of his final recordings has just been released and it's a beauty.  Mann and alto sax player Phil Woods met in 1951 at a regular jam session on Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn.  For the next fifty years their talents took them around the world, as 2 boys from Brooklyn became jazz legends.  On Beyond Brooklyn they caught up on old times and played  a tasteful blend of sax, flute and sometimes trombone backed alternately by guitar, piano and even an accordian. You'll hear some Ellington, some Jobim and some Be-bop, sounding as though it were meant to be together. 
www.mcgjazz.org,
www.herbiemannmusic.com 

Jazz for Couch Potatoes
This week on KJZZ!

Is it Jazz? You decide., Themes from some favorite TV shows, like M*A*S*H,  I Dream of Jeannie, Peter Gunn and Sex and the City. Hear Randy Brecker with guitarist Chuck Loeb and vibe player Dave Samuels, the couch potato all stars.  It's a new CD of jazz for some summer fun.

Stefon Harris, Evolution

Not your Lionel Hampton vibe player, Harris is cutting edge. With imagination, fun and a deep respect of jazz tradition, Harris uses enchanting melodies and mixes them into unique polyrhythms as he plays marimba and vibraphone at the same time!  Hear Stefon Harris' new release Evolution on  KJZZ tonight.  www.stefonharris.com  

Cool Bossa

 Eliane Elias, Dreamer, Bluebird 

Since Stan getz and Charlie Byrd brought bossa nova to the U.S., jazz fans have enjoyed the harmonies and feel good rhythms of Brazil and Eliane Elias has always had that sound in her music. Born in Sao Paulo, she has been a successful jazz pianist based in New York for over twenty years.  On Dreamer she covers north and south America with "Call Me" and "Tangerine",  Jobim's "So Nice" and her own compositions.  On this lush sensual CD, Elias uses her old friend Michael Brecker on sax, and Brazilians Oscar Castro-Neves on guitar and Paulo Braga on drums with some subtle orchestral arrangements behind her soft enchanting voice. This is the first time Elias puts her vocals at center stage,  and it makes a perfect soundtrack for a hot summer day. Hear Eliane Elias' new CD tonight on KJZZ. website www.elianeelias.com  

Jazz at the Movies

 Benny Golson, Terminal 1 

Some might think Tom Hanks is the star of  the film "Terminal", but jazz fans know it's all about Benny Golson and the classic jazz tune, "Killer Joe".  So Golson calls his new CD, Terminal 1, and plays the soulful jazz groove he's been doing for forty years.

 website www.bennygolson.com  

 Kenny Barron Quintet, Images,  Sunnyside Recording

Pianist Kenny Barron started with Dizzy Gillespie in the 60's, but may be best known as the man Stan Getz called his musical soul mate. Barron's Images features him with a young quartet, Anne Drummond on alto flute and Stefon Harris on vibes.  It's an impressionistic wave, with an undertow of energy and swing. Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" and Bud Powell's "Hallucinations" fit right into Barron's and Harris' original repertoire on this CD.  It's rare to find music that  has so much imagination and chops and is still gentle to listen to,   Kenny Barron did it with Getz and he does it again on Images. www.kennybarron.com