DESCRIPTION:
(Kim Waters)
1. You Are My Lady
Kim Waters (vocals, saxophone); Kim Waters; Chris "Big Dog" Davis (various instruments); 'Wa Wa' LeGrand (guitar); Selena Gibbs (background vocals); Wayne Bruce, Rhon Lawrence (guitar); Timmy Maia (background vocals).

Saxophonist, composer and producer Kim Waters is a trendsetter in the world of contemporary jazz. He has scored ten #1 hits, recorded 13 chart-topping albums and sold over a million records, placing him among the top 5 best selling instrumentalists in contemporary jazz. During his 16-year career, Kim Waters has paved the way as one of the premiere architects for Urban Smooth jazz, a soulful blend of R&B and jazz, of which he is the reigning king! Waters’ model handsome good looks coupled with his impeccable fashion sense and masterful fusion of distinct musical styles have made him one of the most sought-after musicians in contemporary jazz.

“When I first emerged on the scene as a recording artist, there was no smooth jazz but there was support for my music on R&B and Urban radio and that support has only continued to grow,” says Waters, who in recent years has enjoyed considerable airplay on Urban AC radio with his projects like Streetwize and Tha’ Hot Club, which reinvent chart-topping hip hop, R&B and reggae hits with a jazzy twist. For Waters his formula is simple. “I make music for everybody from eight to 80! There are several ingredients that are integral parts of my music mix. There’s got to be a perfect blend of romance and groove and a singable melody that catches the ear.” Kim Waters’ 2004 CD, In the Name of Love, held a spot in the top 25 of Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts for six months and stayed on that chart for an entire year.


(Greg Adams)
2. Smooth Operator
Greg Adams (trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards, bass, drums); Danielle Altieri (vocals); Gary Herbig (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones, English horn, flute); Nick Lane (trombone); Jean Marinelli (French horn); Sid Page (concertmaster); James Wirrick (keyboards, guitar, bass, drums); Ken Kessie, Nick Milo (keyboards, bass, drums); Marion McClain (guitar); Leland Sklar (bass); Leon "Ndugu" Chancellor, Luis Conte (percussion).

Once Greg Adams picked up a trumpet, his course was set. He earned the first trumpet chair as a freshman at his Bay Area high school, and was writing arrangements for various school ensembles by the time he was a junior. Following high school, he joined Tower of Power, and was soon taking a major role in crafting the group's distinctive horn sound. Adams' first solo record, 1995's Hidden Agenda, released on Epic Records, established him as a major architect of the emerging "smooth jazz" sound, and a single from the album, a cover of Sade's "Smooth Operator," remains a virtual template for the genre. His second album, Midnight Morning, was released on Adams' own label, Ripa Records, in 2002, and tracks like "Roadhouse" led to famed jazz label Blue Note picking up the record for distribution. Adams' muted trumpet style, a mix of gentle jazz with R&B rhythms, all done with a cool, sexy ambience, has made him a sought-after session player and arranger, and he has worked with countless artists, including Santana, Madonna, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, the Rolling Stones, Lyle Lovett, and Quincy Jones. He has also contributed musical scores for several films, including Mask and Top Gun. His third solo project, Firefly, was released in 2004 on 215 Records.

(Boney James)
3. Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)

Boney James, (born James Oppenheim, September 1, 1961) is a saxophonist, songwriter and producer.

In 2009 Billboard magazine named James the No. 3 Billboard Contemporary Jazz Artist of the Decade. Boney James is a four-time Grammy Award nominee (Best Pop Instrumental Album, 2001, 2004, 2014 and Best Traditional R&B Performance, 2009 ) and a Soul Train Award winner (Best Jazz Album 1998). He has also been honored with two NAACP Image Award nominations for Best Jazz Album. He has accumulated four RIAA Certified Gold Records.

According to the Boston Globe: "Let's make something perfectly clear: James is not a smooth jazz player. Yeah, he is often grouped with people like Kenny G and Najee, but his music is muscular and gritty, whereas most smooth jazz has all the texture and complexity of a cue ball...James swaggered across the stage like a blacktop hero draining treys on an overmatched opponent. He even weaved his way through the audience, never missing a beat and all but daring the crowd not to have a good time.