Jazz (Smooth-Crossover-Pop) / Easy Listening

Mindi Abair

Come As You Are [2004, GRP], B–
Life Less Ordinary [2006, GRP], B

Gerald Albright (1957– )

Kickin' It Up [2004, GRP], B

Herb Alpert (1935– )

The Lonely Bull [1962, Shout! Factory], C+
South of the Border [1964, Shout! Factory], B–
Whipped Cream and Other Delights [1965, Shout! Factory], B
Sounds Like [1967, Shout! Factory], B–
Herb Alpert's Ninth [1967, Shout! Factory], C+
The Beat of the Brass [1968, Shout! Factory], C–
Classics, Vol. 1 [1962–70, A&M], B
Lost Treasures: Rare & Unreleased [1963–74, Shout! Factory], C

Charlie Apicella (1979– )

w/Iron City: Put the Flavor on It [2008, Carlo Music], B–

Dave Archer

Dave Corp: The Sweet Life [2007, Sluggo Music], B–

Roy Ayers (1940– )

Ubiquity [1971, Verve], B–
He's Coming [1971, Verve], B
Virgo Red [1973, Verve], B–
Change Up the Groove [1974, Verve], B
A Tear to a Smile [1975, Verve], C+
Vibrations [1976, Verve], C
Lifeline [1977, Verve], C+
You Send Me [1978, Verve], C

Jay Azzolina (1952– )

Local Dialect [2007, Garagista], B–

Watler Beasley (1961– )

Beasley [1987, Verve], B–
Just Kickin' It [1989, Verve], C
Intimacy [1992, Verve], C+

George Benson (1943– )

Shape of Things to Come [1968, Verve], B+(*)
Tell It Like It Is [1969, Verve], B
I Got a Woman and Some Blues [1969, Verve], C
Breezin' [1976, Warner Brothers], B
The Essential George Benson [1963–80, Columbia/Legacy, 2 CD], B
Irreplaceable [2004, GRP], C–
Songs and Stories [2009, Concord/Monster Music], C+

Chris Botti

When I Fall in Love [2004, Columbia], B–

Rick Braun (1955– )

Esperanto [2003, Warner Brothers], B–

Tom Braxton

Endless Highway [2009, Pacific Coast Jazz], B–

The Brecker Brothers [1975–1981]

The Brecker Brothers Collection / Volume One [1975–81, Novus], B
Sneakin' Up Behind You: The Very Best of the Brecker Brothers [1975–81, Arista/Legacy], B
Return of the Brecker Brothers [1992, Verve], B

Brian Bromberg (1960– )

Choices [2004, A440], B
Downright Upright [2006, Artistry], B

Norman Brown

Just Between Us [1992, Verve], B

Alex Bugnon

Head Over Heels [1990, Orpheus], B
Free [2005, Narada], B

Terri Lyne Carrington (1965– )

More to Say . . . [2009, Koch], C–

Steve Carter

Cosmopolis [2008, CDBaby], B

Craig Chaquico (1954– )

Midnight Noon [2004, Higher Octave], B
Holiday [2005, Higher Octave], C+

Frankie Cicala

Frankie Plays! [2006, 3B's], B–

Nick Colionne

Keepin' It Cool [2005, Narada Jazz], B
No Limits [2008, Koch], B–

Joyce Cooling

This Girl's Got to Play [2004, Narada Jazz], C
Revolving Door [2006, Narada Jazz], B–

The Crusaders (1971–76)

Pass the Plate [1971, Verve], B–
Images [1978, Blue Thumb], B
The Golden Years [1962–81, GRP, 3 CD], B
Rural Renewal [2003, PRA/Verve], C

Brian Culbertson

Come On Up [2003, Warner Brothers], B–

Dapp Theory

Layers of Chance [2008, Contrology/ObliqSound], B+(**)

Eric Darius

Night on the Town [2004, Higher Octave Music], B
Just Getting Started [2006, Narada Jazz], B

Karl Denson (1968– )

Dance Lesson #2 [2001, Blue Note], B
Lunar Orbit [2007, Bobby Ace], B–
Brother's Keeper [2009, Shanachie], B+(**)

Down to the Bone [1997– ]

Cellar Funk [2004, Narada Jazz], B–
Spread Love Like Wildfire [2005, Narada Jazz], B+

George Duke (1946– )

Faces in Reflection [1974, Verve], B
Feel [1974, Verve], B–
I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry [1975, Verve], B
The Essential George Duke [1977–90, Epic/Legacy, 2 CD], B

Patrick Forgas

L'Axe de Fou / Axis of Madness [2008, Cuneiform], B+(**)

Fourplay [1991– ]

Journey [2004, Bluebird], C

Kenny G (1959– )

Ultimate Kenny G [1986–2002, Arista], C+
The Essential Kenny G [1986–2004, Arista/Legacy, 2 CD], C

Garage A Trois [2003– ]

Outre Mer [2005, Telarc], A–

Mike Garson (1945– )

Conversations With My Family [2006, Resonance, CD+DVD], B+(*)

Maxfield Gast

Eat Your Beats [2009, Militia Hill], B–

Gnappy

Unloaded [2006, Bean Pie], B

Jeff Golub

Temptation [2005, Narada Jazz], B
Blues for You [2009, E1 Music], B

Richie Goods

Live at the Zinc Bar [2007, RichMan], B+(**)

Euge Groove

Livin' Large [2004, Narada Jazz], C+
Just Feels Right [2005, Narada Jazz], B–

Lafayette Harris Jr.

In the Middle of the Night [2003–4, Airmen], B

Marsha Heydt

One Night [2007, Blue Toucan], C+

Warren Hill

Pop Jazz [2005, Native Language], B–
La Dolce Vita [2008, Koch], B–

Al Hirt (1922–99)

At the Mardi Gras [1962, BMG Classics], B
Greatest Hits [1962–64, RCA], B+

Incognito [1981– ]

Adventures in Black Sunshine [2004, Narada Jazz], B+
Eleven [2006, Narada Jazz], B
Beer + Things + Flowers [2006, Narada Jazz], C+

Paul Jackson (1947– )

Funk on a Stick [2005, Backdoor], B+(*)

Bob James (1939– )

Explosions [1965, ESP], B+(***)
Angels of Shanghai [2004–5, Koch], B

Boney James

Pure [2004, Warner Brothers], B–

The Jazz Crusaders [1961–1971]

At the Lighthouse / Pacific Jazz Records [1962, Blue Note], B+(**)
Old Socks, New Shoes . . . New Socks, Old Shoes [1970, Verve], B

Ronny Jordan (1962– )

A Brighter Day [1999, Blue Note], C+

Stanley Jordan (1959– )

State of Nature [2008, Mack Avenue], B

Bernie Kenerson

Just You and Me [2007, Bernup], B

John Klemmer (1946– )

Barefoot Ballet [1976, Verve], B+(*)
Arabesque [1977, Verve], B

Mark Knox

Places [2006, Dreambox Media], B

Ronnie Laws (1950– )

The Best of Ronnie Laws [1975–80, Blue Note], C+

Arthur Lipner

The Magic Continues [1993, Palmetto], B–

Liquid Soul [1996– ]

Liquid Soul [1996, Ark 21], B–
Here's the Deal [2000, Shanachie], B
One-Two Punch [2006, Telarc], B+(**)

Jeff Lorber (1952– )

Flipside [2005, Narada Jazz], B

Sean Malone

Cortlandt [1996, Free Electric Sound], B+(*)

Chuck Mangione (1940– )

The Best of Chuck Mangione [1973–88, Columbia/Legacy], C

Keith Marks

Foreign Funk [2006, Markei], B–

Keiko Matsui

Walls of Akendora [2005, Narada Jazz], B+

Jason Miles

Miles to Miles: In the Spirit of Miles Davis [2005, Narada Jazz], B–
What's Going On? [2006, Narada Jazz], B–
Soul Summit: Live at the Berks Jazz Fest! [2007, Shanachie], B+(**)
2 Grover With Love [2008, Koch], B–

Marcus Miller (1959– )

Silver Rain [2005, Koch], B
Marcus [2008, Concord Jazz], B

Monsieur Dubois [2004– ]

Ruff [2004, Challenge], B

Stanton Moore

III [2006, Telarc], B+(*)
Emphasis on Parenthesis [2007, Telarc], B–

Mörglbl

Grötesk [1999–2006, The Laser's Edge], B+(*)

Mr. Groove

Little Things [2007, DiamonDisc], B–

Dave Mullen

Mahoney's Way [2006, Roberts Music Group], B+(**)

Mylab

Mylab [2004, Terminus], A–

Steve Oliver

Snowfall [2006, Koch], C

Oranj Symphonette

Plays Mancini [1996, Gramavision], B

Doc Powell

Cool Like That [2004, Heads Up], B

Roger Powell

Fossil Poets [2006, Inner Knot], B+(**)

Boots Randolph (1927–2007)

A Whole New Ballgame [2006, Zoho], B–

Benny Reid (1980– )

Escaping Shadows [2008, Concord], B

Thom Rotella (1951– )

Out of the Blues [2007, Four Bar Music], B+(*)

Philippe Saisse

At World's Edge [2009, Koch], C

Joe Sample (1939– )

w/David T. Walker: Swing Street Café [1978, Verve], B+(*)

Dave Samuels (1948– )

Caribbean Jazz Project: Afro Bop Alliance [2008, Heads Up], B–

Dave Sharp

7 [2009, Vortex Jazz], B

Chip Shelton

Imbued With Memories [2007, Summit], C+

Lonnie Liston Smith (1940– )

Visions of a New World [1975, Flying Dutchman/RCA], B–

Spyro Gyra [1976– ]

The Deep End [2004, Heads Up], B–

The Stance Brothers

Kind Soul [2008, Ricky Tick], B

Wayman Tisdale (1964–2009)

Rebound [2008, Rendezvous], B

Nestor Torres (1957– )

Sin Palabras (Without Words) [2004, Heads Up], B–

Urban Knights [1995– ]

Urban Knights V [2003, Narada Jazz], C
Urban Knights VI [2005, Narada Jazz], C

Andre Ward

Steppin' Up [2004, Award/Orpheus], B+

Grover Washington Jr. (1943–99)

Inner City Blues [1971, Verve], B+(*)
All the King's Horses [1972, Verve], B
Soul Box [1973, Verve], A–
Mr. Magic [1975, Motown], B
Feels So Good [1975, Verve], B+(**)
A Secret Place [1976, Verve], B
Reed Seed [1977, Motown], B
Winelight [1980, Elektra], B

Kim Waters

In the Name of Love [2004, Shanachie], C+

Danny Weis (1948– )

Sweet Spot [2007, Marshmellow], B

Pamela Williams

Sweet Saxations [2005, Shanachie], B–

Yellowjackets [1981– ]

Time Squared [2003, Heads Up], B
Altered State [2005, Heads Up], C
Twenty Five [2005, Heads Up, CD+DVD], B+(*)
Lifecycle [2008, Heads Up], B–

Jon Zeeman

Zeeland [2008, Membrane], B–

Various Artists

Christmas Break: Relaxing Jazz for the Holidays [1992–98, Telarc], B
Forever, for Always, for Luther: A Tribute to Luther Vandross [2004, GRP], B
Jazz for Couch Potatoes! [2004, Shanachie], B
Mizell: The Mizell Brothers at Blue Note Records [1972–76, Blue Note], C+

Introduction