Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards Collection description
The first annual Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards ceremony was held in January 2000 in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, home of the Oasis smooth-jazz radio station. This 14-song compilation showcases previously released tracks that are representative of the artists who performed at the show--folks like Dave Koz and Russ Freeman & the Rippingtons. This collection also boasts up-and-coming acts with brand new music not yet heard on radio. The best of the latter class includes a Stanley Clarke-sounding bassist, Brian Bromberg, doing a highly charged duet with smooth jazz superstar Richard Elliot. Newcomer Grady Nichols may have the best instrumental track on the sampler with "Alone with You," which was co-written and produced by Jeff Lorber. The producers here did a pretty good job of creating the flavor of smooth-jazz radio, but the choice of Jonathan Butler and Patti Austin as the only vocalists was outstanding. Of course, the chosen songs--Butler's take on the Jr. Walker & the All Stars classic "What Does It Take" and Austin's title track from her album In and Out of Love--contain a lot more urban spirit than most smooth radio stations are willing to air. --Mark Ruffin |
Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards Collection home electronics.