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Essence of Jazz Bringing You Jazz Vybe's & Urban Soul Classics. Ahh..it's a New Year and Essence of Jazz is still here bringing you some of the best Jazz Vybe's & Urban Soul Classics. Let's kick the New Year off with Smooth Vybe's coming to you from Saxophonist Marcus H Mitchell from his Rest & Relaxation release.

Marcus H Mitchell is not only a rising saxophone star but is also CEO and President of 24th Music, a division of MHM Entertainment Group based in Maryland. The youngest independent executive to be on the voting committee for the Grammy Awards he is about to release his latest CD, the excellent ‘R & R – Rest & Relaxation’. It follows on from his 2005 debut ‘Jumpin’ and is a classy eleven track collection of fresh urban jazz sounds that is epitomized by the tune ‘Just Groovin’. With a title that pretty much sums up what Mitchell does throughout the album it is replete with his own brand of edgy smooth jazz and, although rest and relaxation may not entirely be what Mitchell is all about, the smoky title track, the chilled out ‘Deep Concentration’ and finally ‘Summer Breeze’ all demonstrate that he knows mellow urban jazz. Not to be confused with the Isley Brothers song of the same name this latter track features excellent backing vocals from Yvette Thomas and is the perfect antidote to a stressful day.

When Mitchell ups the tempo for ‘Groove Lounge’ he finds a jazzy vibe that sits delightfully on the tight rhythmic foundation afforded by the production of M Anthony Hemmings’. He stays in jazzy mood for the always funky ‘Sharpshooter’ then welcomes back Hemmings to produce and plays keyboards on the tight and edgy ‘Makin Moves’. They collaborate again for rich sounding ‘Diamond In The Ruff’ and with Mitchell’s driving sax to the fore they together deliver one of the albums standout tracks.

Equally good is ‘When We First Met’. Featuring Blackbuddafly on vocals this smoky urban chiller is wonderfully indicative of the very best of the genre. In demand writer producer and sax player Darren Rahn contributes the catchy smooth jazz number ‘Saturday Night’. He also plays backing saxophones, Jeff Lorber gives an outstanding performance on both piano and Fender Rhodes and as the track builds to a raucous climax Mitchell blows up a storm on alto sax. Just as dazzling is his playing on the albums only cover, The Gap Band classic ‘Outstanding’. Funky in the extreme and with vocals from Tara Aldridge that are just perfect this is a welcome new outing for a much loved favorite from 1982.

With contemporary jazz currently enjoying a shift into urban territory ‘R & R – Rest & Relaxation’ is very much an album for its time and should ensure Marcus H Mitchell gets the exposure that his talent richly deserves.