Smooth Jazz #1 Hits

Recording information: Angelsong Studios, Glendale, CA; Bassment Productions, Orange, CA; BCM Studios, Los Angeles, SA; Big Time Audio, Jonesborough, TN; Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Castle Oaks Studios, Calabasas, CA; Chandler, AZ; Cookie Jay Studios, Van Nuys, CA; Defrost Music, Encino, CA; East Bay Studios, Tarrytown, NY; Entourage Recording Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA; Funky Joint Recording Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Hollywood; LAFX Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Legacy Recording Studios, New York City; Los Angeles; OsO Studios, Detroit, MI; Phantom Recordings, Sherman Oaks, CA; Santa Monica; Sao Paulo; Schnee Recording, North Hollywood, CA; Sear Sound, New York City; Sonora Recorders; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA; The Backyard, Los Angeles, CA; The Litterbox, Denver, CO; The Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA; White Lightning Studios, Sylmar, CA; Yonas Media East, New York City; Yonas media, West Oakland, CA.
Simply put, this set from Concord Jazz collects 11 tracks that reached the top of Billboard's contemporary jazz chart -- we're not sure why Concord's trying to bring back the "smooth jazz" moniker -- from the late 2000s and 2010s. Highlights include Boney James' shimmering "Touch" from Send One Your Love; Fourplay's slick, funky "3rd Degree" from Let's Touch the Sky; George Benson's "Livin' in High Definition" off Songs and Stories; Mindi Abair's Grover Washington-esque "Be Beautiful" from her In Hi-Fi Stereo long-player, and the title track from saxophonist Paul Taylor's Burnin' album. Concord did their level best to cross-license the highest quality chart-toppers from these years, and came up with a summery, easy-grooving collection that should satisfy every contemporary (er, smooth) jazz fan's expectations. ~ Thom Jurek