Smooth Jazz Classics

Smooth Jazz and Gospel Music multi-instrumentalist Greg Vail has joined forces with writer, arranger, composer, Smooth Jazz Artist and Gospel Music producer Tony Guerrero, to bring you the 2008 release of “Smooth Jazz Classics”. What might you expect from these 2 veteran musicians to the Instrumental Music scene? Take a listen to the sample tracks and you will see. Smooth Jazz Classics is a collection of favorite songs from the eras of Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Instrumental Music and early Smooth Jazz. Tony Guerrero and I put the finest musicians LA has to offer on some of the best songs ever written for Smooth Jazz on this new CD for the Smooth Jazz world to enjoy and relive the memories and emotion associated with these gems. The Songs were selected from the biggest hits in Instrumental Music with a few Pop hits that would be heard today on Smooth Jazz Radio (but were not considered Jazz back in the day.) Songs include: Affirmation (George Benson/Jose Feliciano) featuring Guitar sensation Blake Aaron on a true classic recorded by George Benson and Hose Feliciano. All in Love is Fair (Stevie Wonder) Hey, it’s Stevie. What else can I say? Feels So Good (Chuck Mangione) featuring Grant Geissman on Acoustic Guitar. Chuck defined brass instruments in instrumental music. Got It Goin’ (Tony Guerrero) An original with Wayne Bergeron on lead trumpet. This track rocks! Got It Goin’ (Reprise) featuring Rob Whitlock on B3 Organ. The In Crowd (Ramsey Lewis) One of the spokesmen for Jazz in our world today, bridging Jazz, Smooth Jazz and Gospel genres with grace. It Happens Every Day (Joe Sample) A true legend. Love's Gift (Tony Guerrero) my old radio hit re-recorded for 2008 featuring the Tenor Sax. Make Me A Memory (Grover Washington Jr.) I grew up on this guy! We miss you Grover. Rise (Herb Alpert) The number 1 selling instrumental artist in the world before Kenny G. Touch (John Klemmer) One of the guys that really started this whole instrumental thing in Pop music. You Are So Beautiful (Joe Cocker) A true classic love song. You’re The Biggest Part Of Me (Ambrosia – David Pack) featuring the legendary David Pack on Electric Guitar. The Musicians and Special Guests on this CD are an amazing example of the talent that is found in today’s music scene. I was honored to share the music with these guys! The Band: GREG VAIL – Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet, EWI, Horn Arrangements and co-Producer (Gospel and Smooth Jazz Artist) TONY GUERRERO - Keys, Producer, Trumpet/Flugelhorn (Gospel and SJ Artist/Producer) GANNIN ARNOLD - Guitars (Joe Walsh, John Tesh, Solo Artist - Rock/Fusion) MELVIN DAVIS - Bass (Chaka Khan, Lee Ritenour, Eric Marienthal, Chuck Loeb, Gerald Albright, SJ Artist) Special Guests included: DAVID PACK - Guitar (Ambrosia, Smooth Jazz Artist) GRANT GEISSMAN - Guitar (Chuck Mangione, Studio Guitarist, SJ Artist) BLAKE AARON - Guitar (Smooth Jazz Artist) ROB WHITLOCK – B3 Organ (Jazz Artist) STEVE DI STANISLAO - Drums (Joe Walsh, CPR - David Crosby & Graham Nash, Kenny Loggins) JULIO FIGUEROA - Percussion (BB King, Michael Jackson, Jose Feliciano, Donna Summer, Jennifer Lopez, Andrea Bocelli, Baby Face) WAYNE BERGERON - Trumpet (Maynard lead, The Phat Band, Wicked, Jazz Artist, Studio Musician) KEITH SMITH - Trumpet (Brass Player, Engineer and overall studio guy) LES BENEDICT – Trombone (Frank Sinatra) SHANNON KENNEDY - Flute and Alto Flute (Up and Coming Smooth Jazz Artist) This CD is as much a labor of love as it is a tribute to the pioneers of the instrumental music that preceded and evolved into what is now known as “Smooth Jazz”. If a great recording needs to start with a great song, then we couldn’t have done any better than this collection of classics, written and performed by some of the biggest names in the business. What a joy to be able to play these great melodies and with such great musicians. Having legends like David Pack (who played guitar on my remake of his classic hit “You’re The Biggest Part Of Me”) and Grant Geissman (who’s original solo on “Feels So Good” made him famous, and who graciously repeated the effort here) was indeed as added thrill. Every attempt was made to honor the spirit of the originals, while trying to add just enough of our own touch to them. I hope you enjoy my tribute to these Smooth Jazz Classics even half as much as I enjoy playing them! Greg Vail