V.A.: The Best of Smouth Jazz (2009) [2 cd]

2009 two CD set containing 30 tracks by top artists in the field of Smooth Jazz and Soul playlisted on the UK's #1 Jazz radio station, Jazz FM. Features tracks from Ledisi, Brenda Russell, Incognito, U-Nam, Gianna, George Duke and many others.

Disc: 1

1. Street Life (5:43) - U-Nam

2. You Can't Go Back (4:38) - Arnold McCuller
3. Make You Smile (4:32) -Brenda Russell
4. Will You Be My Lady (4:46) - Damon Cooper
5. For You (5:06) - Bob Baldwin
6. Slippin' (5:47) - Mikelyn Roderick
7. Stone Cold Heart (6:05) - Incognito
8. That's The Way (5:21) - Rahsaan Patterson
9. My Everything (4:23) - Gianna
10. Rescue Me (3:59) - Angela Johnson
11. I Can't Help Myself (4:22) - Chris Standring
12. All For Love (4:26) - Adriana Evans
13. Cupid's Arrow (4:52) - Frank McComb
14. Caveman Boogie (7:41) - Lesette Wilson
15. You Won't Make Me Cry (4:54) - Victor Haynes

Disc: 2
1. Galveston Bay (4:06) - Lonnie Hill
2. Star (3:27) - Brigette
3. Samba For Dias (4:36) -The Jazz Steppers
4. I Realized (5:07) - Jiva
5. Only For You (6:22) - Noel Elmowy
6. Shady Lane (4:09) - Ray Gaskins
7. You're The One (4:13) - Snake Davis
8. Grateful (4:28) - Maysa
9. Duffie's Theme (4:34) - Kloud 9
10. Can We Pretend (5:30) - Nicolas Bearde
11. Company (4:30) - Niteflyte
12. Troubled Times (4:14) - Linn Segolson
13. Superwoman (5:59) - George Duke
14. Natural Thing (3:39) - James Day
15. I Can't Let You Go (3:42) - Ledisi

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The Best (RS) / The Best (HF) @ 320K

Ray Gaskins: A Night in the Life (2009)

Multi talented Ray Gaskins came up in Baltimore, MD. His gifts include singing, and proficiency on both keyboards and the saxophone. He's performed all over the world working with Roy Ayers, Stuff, Brand New Heavies, Phyllis Hyman, and Jocelyn Brown (the disco diva). Ray and Jocelyn are cousins, his sister, Barbara Gaskin sang with. Ecstacy, Pain & Passion. Barbara Gaskins still sings under the professional name of Barbara Roy. Ray moved from Baltimore to New York to play the clubs and take advantage of the many opportunities for studio work. He delighted crowds at Ronnie Scott's in New York by playing the sax and piano simultaneously, a feat that never fails to get a crowd up out of their seats. A few years ago Ray moved to London, England to take advantage of a more appreciative market. Club work for an artist with few albums as a leader was slim in the States, but booking agents overseas have kept him quite busy. He's purchased a house, and plans on staying in England for a while. His last album Shady Lane on Barracuda Records has done well in Europe, and is available in the States on Bean Bag Records. It features Ray and his touring group: Deal Earl (bass), Tony Smith (guitar), Marquis Gilmore (drums), and Clay Copas (keyboards). Cameo appearances by several guests augment the quintet. Tragedy hit Gaskins prior to moving to London, his first wife died young, and subsequently Ray went through many personal problems including drugs and gaining weight. However, that was the past, and his priorities are straight now. He's back to lifting weights, working out, and writing the songs that one day will take him to the top.