This may not be a view shared by many of my Jazz Journal colleagues, but I quite like a bit of smooth jazz. In the right place and at the right time it is the perfect accompaniment to some sociable company or even a bit of “me-time”.
Unfortunately, the floor seems to have fallen out of the smooth-jazz market in the UK (and elsewhere) and long-gone are the days when the genre had its own dedicated radio stations and multi-artist tours would hit the large concert venues.
Online rather than over the air seems to be the primary source of listening for those who still want their fix and smaller jazz venues in the UK still host occasional smooth-jazz bands, but the economics of touring (rather than staying in the USA) make that increasingly less viable.
There is no doubting, however, the wealth of talent in the smooth-jazz genre and Russ Brannon is a good example of that. Influenced early on by Chet Atkins and later by Larry Carlton and George Benson, Brannon’s music is infused with the best of his musical heroes without sounding derivative or imitative.
As the title Sojourn would suggest, the album is reflective and builds upon a series of short stays or visits and is the culmination of decades of playing and travelling. The album was recorded during a period of upheaval in Brannon’s life, after he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Thankfully, he remains cancer-free today.
The album is instrumental, with Brannon believing that “instrumental music can kickstart a listener’s imagination, reaching places that words cannot”. Unlike most smooth jazz music (which can often be quite formulaic in both harmony and repetition), Brannon’s melody is not always predictable, throwing in some surprising cadence or a bittersweet dissonance. As such it becomes a bit more cinematic and contemplative in the same way that Pat Metheny’s music can often be.
This is a beautiful and fascinating musical statement by Brannon, who is superbly supported by some of Atlantic Canada’s finest musicians. Highly recommended.
Discography
Casco Viejo; Pauline; From The Mountain; Ville Blue; Bluesoid; Free Flight; Sojourn; Thistle Street; Grace; Passage; Raltzy; Prayer To Somewhere; Casco Viejo Reprise (67.00)
Brannon (g); Lorrie Cullen (v); Chris Mitchell (s); Chris Mitchell, Rick Waychesko, Danny Martin (h); Jennifer Jones, Celeste Jankowski, Anne Simons, Kirsty Money, Alexandra Bates, Hilary Brown (strings); Silvio Pupo (kyb); Jamie Gatti (b); Tom Roach (pcn); Tom Roach (d). No recording dates or venues provided.
russbrannon.com
