The Best Smooth Jazz Ever is packed with smooth jazz radio hits and highlights the musicians who have brought depth and soul to the most successful contemporary jazz label in the world over the past 20 years. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of GRP Records, this two-CD set features some of the most respected names in the jazz style, including Al Jarreau, Lee Ritenour, Ramsey Lewis, and Patti Austin, as well a hot new rendition of Steve Winwood's "Roll With It," performed by David Benoit, Richard Elliot, and Jeff Golub under the group name Group 3. Despite the fact that several of the artists on this compilation no longer record for GRP -- such as the Rippingtons, the Yellowjackets, and Acoustic Alchemy -- many of them got their start at GRP, a label co-founded by pianist Dave Grusin. There are many exceptional highlights within this set, including Al Jarreau's hit from his 2000 GRP debut, Tomorrow Today, titled "Just to Be Loved," and the late George Howard's rendition of "Baby Come to Me" from his 1991 CD titled Love and Understanding. However, the exclusion of songs performed or composed by Dave Grusin from this special anniversary compilation is very noticeable, especially since the label has received over 80 Grammy nominations and other coveted awards under his aegis. Otherwise this excellent compilation speaks for itself and remains a first-rate selection for any contemporary jazz collection. ~ Paula Edelstein, All Music Guide
Ray Kramer (Cello), Paul Wickliffe (Synthesizer Programming), Dan Higgins (Sax (Alto)), Larry Carlton (Arranger), Bud Harner (Selection Compilation), Evan Wilson (Viola), Michael Bearden (Keyboards), Bud Harner (Producer), Robin Beck (Vocals), Ray Griffin (Drums), Bill Champlin (Vocals), Luis Conte (Percussion), Jeff Lorber (Guitar), Nathan East (Bass), Greg Phillinganes (Piano), Fred Seykoura (Cello), Bill Champlin (Vocal Arrangement), John Scanlon (Viola), Arni Egilsson (Bass), Jocelyn Brown (Vocals), Dave Stone (Bass), David Benoit (Organ), Al Jarreau (Vocals), Steve Crowes (Synclavier), Rachele Cappelli (Vocals), Russ Freeman (Guitar), Lil' John Roberts (Drums), Dave Grusin (String Arrangements), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Guitar), Rick Braun (Programming), Jay Wagner (Producer), Debra Parson (Vocals), David Benoit (Fender Rhodes), Alex Acuña (Percussion), Ramsey Lewis (Piano), George Jinda (Cymbals), Paulinho Da Costa (Percussion), Keith John (Vocals), Kevin Chokan (Guitar), Bud Harner (Finger Snaps), Tim Gant (Synthesizer Bass), David Benoit (Producer), Carol Mukagawa (Viola), Pat Kelley (Guitar), Steve Dubin (Producer), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Omar Hakim (Drums), Steve Cobb (Drums), Chieli Minucci (Producer), John Ferraro (Drums), Greg Carmichael (Guitar (Nylon String)), David Garibaldi (Drums), Rick Braun (Trumpet), Victor Bailey (Producer), Alex Acuña (Conga), Larry Corbett (Cello), Ernie Watts (Sax (Tenor)), Rick Braun (Keyboards), Jodi Burnett (Cello), Ricky Peterson (Keyboards), Jerry Hey (Arranger), Endre Granat (Violin), Bill Reichenbach Jr. (Horn), Murray Adler (Violin), Steve Dubin (Percussion), Lee Ritenour (Guitar), Werner Kopal (Bass), Bud Harner (Sequencing Editor), Dan Higgins (Flute (Alto)), George Jinda (Sleigh Bells), Dan Higgins (Sax (Tenor)), Dave Grusin (Synthesizer), Richard Elliot (Saxophone), Melvin Davis (Bass), Jerry Hey (Horn), Bud Harner (Compilation Producer), Steve Dubin (Programming), Jerry Hey (Trumpet), Kevin Savigar (Organ), James Raymond (Keyboards), Larry Carlton (Guitar), Jeff Golub (Guitar), Rick Braun (Producer), Robert Brousseau (Violin), Russ Freeman (Arranger), Emily Remler (Guitar), Cassio Duarte (Percussion), Chieli Minucci (Keyboards), George Jinda (Crotale), Dave Grusin (Rhythm Arrangements), Hollis King (Art Direction), Bob Mintzer (EWI), Miwako Watanabe (Violin), George Howard (Drum Programming), Tim Gant (Keyboards), George Jinda (Tambourine), Phil Davis (Keyboards), Steve Dubin (Drum Programming), Peter Erskine (Drums), Joel Derouin (Violin), Bill Ortiz (Trumpet), Cliff Hugo (Bass), Tollak Ollestad (Harmonica), Yellowjackets (Producer), Patti Austin (Vocal Arrangement), Dave Grusin (Producer), Jeff Lorber (Keyboards), Ezra Kliger (Violin), David Benoit (Piano), Steve Cobb (Percussion), John Menzano (Bass), Matt Rollings (Keyboards), Mike Sims (Guitar), Frayne Lewis (Producer), Eric Troyer (Sampling), Simon Oswell (Viola), Marc Antoine (Producer), Israel Baker (Violin), Ken Wild (Bass), George Benson (Vocals), Larry Kimpel (Bass), Russ Freeman (Keyboards), Jerry Hey (Horn Arrangements), Austin Brentley (Production Assistant), Tony Morales (Cymbals), Clayton Haslop (Violin), Mitchel Forman (Keyboards), Russ Freeman (Guitar (Synthesizer)), George Benson (Guitar), George Jinda (Finger Cymbals), Phil Davis (Arranger), Mario Argandona (Percussion), David Palmer (Cymbals), Lee Ritenour (Arranger), Gordon Marron Strings (Violin), Harry Shirinian (Viola), Bonnie Douglas (Violin), Ricky Peterson (Arranger), Russ Freeman (Producer), George Howard (Drums), Jacqueline Brand (Violin), George Jinda (Shaker), Gary Grant (Flugelhorn), Mark Smith (Production Assistant), Anatoly Rosinsky (Violin), Joyce Cooling (Guitar), Suha Gur (Mastering), Bill Reichenbach Jr. (Trombone), David Palmer (Drums), Bruce Dukov (Concert Master), Eun Sun Lee (Violin), Steve Gordon (Viola), Carl Carwell (Vocals), Lincoln Goines (Bass), Pete Escovedo (Percussion), Marc Antoine (Keyboards), Ramsey Lewis (Producer), Lani Groves (Vocals), George Jinda (Producer), Alex Al (Bass), Fernando Saunders (Bass), Ricky Peterson (Piano), Jeffrey Weber (Producer), Harvey Mason, Sr. (Drums), Barbara Porter (Violin), Richard Elliot (Sax (Tenor)), Peter Kent (Violin), John Patitucci (Bass), Brenda Stewart (Vocals), John Parsons (Producer), Russell Ferrante (Keyboards), Steve Kujala (Flute (Alto)), George Jinda (Cowbell), Bert Smaak (Drums), Gregg Karukas (Keyboards), William Kennedy (Drums), Rick Jackson (Keyboards), Paula Hochhalter (Cello), Murray Adler (Concert Master), Victor Bailey (Bass), Gary Herbig (Flute), Tony Maiden (Guitar), Eric Pershing (Drum Loop), Dorothy Wade (Violin), Bruce Dukov (Violin), Sherniece Smith (Production Manager), Jeff Golub (Producer), Dan Higgins (Flute), Steve Dubin (Arranger), Jay Wagner (Programming), Alexandra Brown (Vocals), Sheila Fuller (Vocals), Gary Grant (Trumpet), Jerry Hey (Synthesizer Strings), Kenny G (Sax (Soprano)), Jerry Hey (Moog Synthesizer), Bill Lanphier (Bass), Joyce Cooling (Vocals), James "D-Train" Williams (Vocals), Bryan Koniarz (Supervisor), George Jinda (Shekere), Jimmy Haslip (Bass), George Howard (Producer), Gary Grant (Horn), Bill Eaton (Vocals), George Benson (Arranger), Abraham Laboriel (Bass), Gary Herbig (Flute (Alto)), Jimbo Ross (Viola), Jerry Hey (Flugelhorn), Marc Antoine (Guitar), Jay Wagner (Keyboards), Chieli Minucci (Guitar), Charles Webb (Bass), Shelton Becton (Vocals), Steve Dubin (Drums), Tim Heintz (Synthesizer Strings), Greg Mathieson (Keyboards), Larry Carlton (Producer), Rainer Bruninghaus (Keyboards), Juliann French (Violin), Larry Williams (Keyboards), Steve Kujala (Flute), George Howard (Sax (Soprano)), Lee Ritenour (Producer), Paul Shure (Violin), Morris Stewart (Vocals), John Parsons (Guitar (Steel)), Patti Austin (Vocals), Eric Pershing (Synthesizer Programming), Steve Richards (Cello), Steve Ferrone (Drums), Michael Fisher (Percussion), Dan Higgins (Clarinet (Bass)), George Jinda (Temple Blocks), Russ Freeman (Linn 9000), Nick Webb (Guitar (Steel)), Marc Antoine (Drum Programming)
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