Discover the most outstanding artists of the genre, those who made it popular and those who are sweeping the world today.
Three artists are responsible for the expansion of Smooth Jazz, and with them we want to start the list of most outstanding artists:
George Benson (77 years):
He is one of the most popular artists in recent decades and critically praised. Among the many honors he has received, he has held ten Grammy-Awards since 1976, with This Masquerade voted Album of the Year, until 2006, with God Bless the Child, voted Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. His music encompasses both Swing and Bebop as well as Hard Bop, Quiet Storm and the fusion of Jazz with pop and soul.
Al Jarreau (1940-2017):
American jazz singer. He stood out for his versatility and originality, and for his openness to different styles (Soul, Rhythm and Blues, and Pop, among others) and diverse influences (Nat King Cole, especially). Winner of 4 Grammys-Awards, and nominated 9 times more, his voice became popularly known by portraying the central theme of the 1980s television series Moonlight.
Grover Washington Jr. (1943 – 1999):
Jazz funk and Soul Jazz saxophonist. Along with musicians such as George Benson, David Sanborn, Chuck Mangione and Herb Alpert, he is considered one of the founders of Smooth Jazz. He won two Grammy-Awards in 1982 (Best R&B Song for “Just the Two of Us” and Best Jazz Fusion Performance for “Winelight”). And it helped promote a new generation of musicians like Kenny G.
In the 90’s the highest point was reached by an active musician and the fourth in our list:
Kenny G (63 years):
Grammy-winning American saxophonist. He is a prominent popular instrumentalist of the 1980s and 1990s. Currently, the saxophonist from Seattle spends his full time developing regional tours in the United States and some internationally, especially Japan and China. Several of his published videos have become the most viral in the last decade, and he is one of the main shareholders of the well-known coffee brand Starbucks.
FourPlay (from 1991):
FourPlay is an American Jazz and Smooth Jazz supergroup, originally made up of Bob James (keyboards), Lee Ritenour (guitar), Nathan East (bass) and Harvey Mason (drums). More than 25 years have passed and Fourplay continues to be a solid band that continues to make excellent music worth listening to. Unforgettable the presence in it of Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton, being now Chuck Loeb worthy heir.
Mezzoforte (from 1977):
Mezzoforte has 42 years on stage endorse them. Eythor, Fridrik, Johann and Gulli were only 15 and 16 years old when they founded the band in Iceland in 1977. In 1982 on their fourth album the Icelanders shaped their style and created the unmistakable sound of Mezzoforte: catchy melodies, powerful rhythms and incredible solos. The roster of artists who have worked with Mezzoforte over the years is a bit of a “who’s who” of the music world. They were also in charge of opening the #HOTJAZZEVENTS of Smooth Hot Jazz in November 2019.
Bob James (80 years):
American keyboardist, arranger, and producer of Jazz and Jazz Fusion. During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in turning Fusion Jazz into popular music. James is recognized as one of the progenitors of Smooth Jazz. His music has had a profound influence on the history of hip hop music, and has been sampled frequently. Two of James’ songs – Nautilus (from the 1974 album One) and Take me to the Mardi Gras (from the 1975 album Two) – are among the most sampled songs in Hip Hop history.
Sade (61 years):
She is a British-Nigerian singer and songwriter, she is without a doubt one of the most important and brilliant singers of the 80’s and 90’s. Her band consisted of Stuart Matthewman on sax and guitar, Andrew Hale on keyboards, Paul Spencer Denman on bass and Sade herself as a vocalist. In 1985 he published the album titled “Diamond Life” that earned them their first Grammy-Award, the second they would get in 2000. Her latest album, a compilation of her hits in 2011, sold 40 million records.
Brian Simpson (58 years):
Prestigious keyboard player, composer and producer of Jazz. Brian Simpson is a star of Smooth Jazz and Contemporary Jazz. His style, defined as eloquent, refined and harmonious, has taken him to the top of the international Smooth Jazz scene. He has collaborated with the best artists of the genre, such as Dave Koz, George Duke, Teena Marie, Sheena Easton or Janet Jackson. In his prolific career, Simpson has been a regular in the American Top 10. In 2017 he released his latest album, “Persuasion” which he presented by Smooth Hot Jazz. In 2019, he was in charge of presenting the Smooth Hot Jazz Festival Presentation.
Peter White (65 years):
With 12 solo albums, Peter White (1954), is a guitarist and composer of Smooth Jazz and Jazz Fusion of England, currently recognized as one of the benchmarks of North American Smooth Jazz. The multi-instrumentalist fluently plays the accordion, keyboards, clarinet, electric and acoustic guitar. White became famous in the 1970s with his distinctive guitar style accompanying Al Stewart for 20 years. He is known for his annual Christmas tour under the title Peter White Christmas Tour, a classic of American tours. With an incredible performance, White kicked off the II Smooth Hot Jazz Festival.
We invite you to continue discovering in our Social Networks more artists of #TheMostBeautifulMusicInTheWorld.
