Jeff Golub - Cold Sweat

Jeff Golub started off by learning and playing 60's blues rock guitar like Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. But once he heard Wes Montgomery play, his guitar playing course completely changed. He attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston and in 1980 he moved to New York, joining rocker Billy Squier. Jeff appeared on 7 Squire albums and 3 world tours before joining Rod Stewart from 1988 until 1995, performing on 4 albums and 5 world tours as well as recording the live DVD "One Night Only" live at Royal Albert Hall.

However, playing jazz is his first love. He released his first solo recording, Unspoken Words in 1988 and then became a band leader for Avenue Blue when he released the band's self-titled album in 1994. In 2000, he went solo and released Dangerous Curves, releasing five more solo albums since. He is an excellent guitarist that crosses over between jazz, smooth jazz, blues, rock and pop very easily. For his latest release, he returns to his '80s rock roots with the electric blues album Blues for You which includes vocals from such old pals as Billy Squier, Peter Wolfe and John Waite.

Cold Sweat, the classic James Brown tune, off his 2002 release, Do It Again, really showcases what he can do.

Soul Ballet - Smooth Vegas

Smooth Jazz group, Soul Ballet, is really producer\composer Rick "R.K." Kelly. Soul Ballet mixes cool, smooth contemporary jazz with pulsating electronic beats and a surprisingly dark, moody atmosphere. Occassionaly, Kelly will include guest vocalists, but records instrumental smooth jazz.

Smooth Vegas is off the 2007 release, Lavish.

Craig Chaquico – Gypsy Nights

California born, Craig Chaquico has been playing since the early 70's, including a long stint with Jefferson Starship / Starship (even writing the hit "Find Your Way Back").

After leaving Starship and trying to form a new Hard Rock band, Big Bad Wolf, Chaquico turned to smooth jazz and new age. As a solo artist he has also had much success, selling over a million albums worldwide and garnering a Grammy Nomination for Best New Age album for his 1994 release Acoustic Planet.

Gypsy Nights is off his first smooth jazz album, Acoustic Highway.

Chris Botti - When I Fall In Love

Chris Botti is one of the current premier jazz trumpeters. Drawing from the worlds of pop, jazz, classical and other genres, Botti has created his own signature sound. Botti combines a soulful ambiance with naturally flowing improvisation. He has earned both critical acclaim and mainstream appreciation for a succession of best-selling albums.

When I Fall In Love off the album of he same name is a beautiful song and really showcases his abilities.

Euge Groove - Mr. Groove

Full Track on imeem. <-- What's this?


Euge Groove's real name is Steven Eugene Grove. In an XM Radio interview in 2006, he admitted that his Mother-in-Law conceived the idea creating his stage name by modifying his real name.

He played for 4 years with the funk powerhouse group Tower of Power and has records for and toured with Joe Cocker, the Eurythmics, the Gap Band, Huey Lewis and the News, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Eros Ramazotti, and Richard Marx, just to name a few.

He was finally recognized and given a contract in 2000 after he had over 100,000 downloads of his home mixed songs downloaded from his website.

Mr. Groove is off his latest album Born 2 Groove.

Ryan Farish - Walk With You

Ryan Farish makes some beautiful electronic smooth jazz music. It's not music that will make you say immediately "Wow, what is that." It's more like that music that makes you listen more closely after about one to two minutes and say to yourself, "That's really cool, who is that?"

Walk With You off his From The Sky album is a very nice tune that I kick on when I need to slow down and block out the world for about three minutes.