Smooth Jazz

My smooth jazz guitar version of the seminal track from the late, great Marvin Gaye.

LYRICS
Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on

[more]

What's Goin' On ---- Marvin Gaye (downloadable)

I'd had this track on the back burner for some time, I just couldn't get the right guitar sound. Then I bought a Nylon stringed electro acoustic (Ibanez AEG24) and it all fell into place!

Don't Know Why ---- Norah Jones (downloadable)

"This Masquerade" is a song written by Leon Russell. It was a top-ten pop and R&B hit for jazz guitarist/vocalist George Benson, who recorded it on his 1976 signature album Breezin'. Neither Russell nor Benson recorded for Blue Note yet I contend that this song, had it been written in the Blue Note era would have found its way into the catalogue. Blue Note is a state of mind as much as a record label!

[album]

This Masquerade ---- George Benson

This track is by Lee Ritenour (guitar) and Dave Grusin (keys) and is a nicely melodic slice of smooth jazz in a pop vein. It is from their harlequin album

Early AM Attitude ---- Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin

This track is by Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny is a Latin/smooth jazz piece. The horn section is the major feature here. 

Song For Bilbao ---- Pat Metheny

I've always loved Bob James and Earl Klugh collaborations, always bright and full of melody. 
This track is from One on One a smooth jazz, crossover jazz studio album by Bob James and Earl Klugh. This album earned the two artists the Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1981.

Kari ---- Bob James and Earl Klugh

I have to admit to not being a Pat Metheny fan. Not that I don't rate him, I just don't know much about him. When I heard this track I just knew I wanted to cover it. This is from Offramp is the Grammy Award winning third album by Pat Metheny Group, released in 1982

James ---- Pat Metheny

I fell in love with this track way back in the '80s when it first came out. I was on a scuba diving holiday in Bermuda when I bought the 'Double Vision' album (on tape cassette) in a music store in the capital, Hamilton - so it always invokes some great memories. Don't you just love the way that music can transport you back in time?
Double Vision is a 1986 collaboration by Bob James and David Sanborn. The album was a successful smooth jazz release receiving frequent airplay. The track Maputo (a town in Mozambique) was written by Marcus Miller.
Look who was on that original album. Only me playing all instruments on my version
    Bob James: keyboards, synthesizers
    David Sanborn: saxophone
    Marcus Miller: bass
    Steve Gadd: drums
    Paul Milton Jackson, Jr.: guitar
    Paulinho Da Costa: percussion


Smooth Jazz

Benny Sutton plays...