Project Grand Slam

[jazzabelle]

They've got a new album titled "Play" out on Oct. 28th. Heard some of it already and also got a free download of one of the tracks, "Ode to Jerry". If you don't know them, they're more smooth jazz than classic jazz, but talented musicians all the same.

[7/4]

Ah...but tell us what you like about Organissimo first.

.

[Chuck Nessa]

Grand Slam! Isn't that a breakfast?

[Joe G]

I give credit here for good grammer, plus the caveat.

[Free For All]

[Joe G]

Yeah! Great album.

[GregN]

Grand Slam on myspace

From myspace:

"PROJECT GRAND SLAM's debut album, "Play", was produced by the legendary Frank Filipetti (Grammy Award winner for James Taylor's "Hourglass" album) along with Haim Cotton and Jan Roeg ("The Captain Of Her Heart"). The album features eleven original tunes plus vocal and instrumental versions of "Captain". Four of the tracks from the album are posted on this MySpace site so that you can listen to them."

Hmmm..sounds like well put together stuff. OK, dumb question for the day: what is the difference between Fusion and Smooth Jazz?

They refer to themselves as Fusion on their myspace page.

Anyhow, I wish them well with their new release.

[Joe G]

OK, dumb question for the day: what is the difference between Fusion and Smooth Jazz?

For me, it's a matter of intent, intensity, and influences.

[GregN]

OK, dumb question for the day: what is the difference between Fusion and Smooth Jazz?

For me, it's a matter of intent, intensity, and influences.

Intent:

So if you intend on getting laid???.... Gots to make it smoooothhh

But seriously, the local smooth jazz station in Lansing plays SOME stuff that seems a bit more serious if you will. And then, of course, a man-in-the-boat load of PDM (Pants down music).

Are there any artists of note that seem to fall between those lines? Does Metheny ever?? Carlton? organissimo???

Intensity:

Some pretty serious jazz seems pretty laid back. And some pretty corny jazz can sound kind of heavy handed.

Influences:

Ah, this one probably makes the most sense to me. Yet....Wes and octaves...and dare I say it...

[Jim Alfredson]

Fusion is generally regarded as a combination of rock and jazz. Most smooth is instrumental R&B.

[RDK]

This is what happens when you have the Number 1 jazz album on the charts - now everyone wants to be associated with Organissimo!

[GregN]

Fusion is generally regarded as a combination of rock and jazz. Most smooth is instrumental R&B.

Fusion, as I understand it, has historically been regarded as a melding rock and jazz.., (with occasional hubris and Spinal Tappish grandiosity). And in recent years I see the term being used with 'fused' styles of other genres and jazz. HillybillyDiscoJazzPolka Fusion and stuff.... really.

If smooth is anything other than instrumental R&B, what is it? As major label excursions back in the 80's would have it, I believe, it was pop, r&b, dance, and jazz (and then some) all fused together in some way. What is it generally now? I think we need a Smooth Jazz expert in the house...anyone? anyone? Chuck???

Anyhow, as my availability heuristics would have it:

Some local keyboardist told me he was smooth jazz and his major influence for writing was Herbie Hancock. Is Smooth also meant to be code, at least in some circles, for more accessible and thusly/likely more successful?? Was the Headhunter album in any way relatively smooth? If something has a more simple hook is it smooth? Didn't jazz standards depend on hooks, some of them rather simple? Were there, anachronistically speaking, Smooth Big Bands? Is it dissonance??? Does the level of dissonance determine its smoothness? Can't believe that....

I know that Smooth has been a point of derision and mockery for some. Is it out of jealousy?

Finally, spoke with an industry guy today who told me that Smooth Jazz stations are shutting down all over. What will this do to the accessibility of jazz in general. Will there be no gateway other than the halls of academia? The club scene seems to have become subsidized by many of the pointy heads, and otherwise seems dismal.

In short,

I've got my eye on a hot Polka Band in Canada... we are going to work on a Fusion album of SmoothPolkaJazzFunk.

I'll spam ya'll later.

[.:.impossible]

Fusion is generally regarded as a combination of rock and jazz. Most smooth is instrumental R&B.

Fusion, as I understand it, has historically been regarded as a melding rock and jazz.., (with occasional hubris and Spinal Tappish grandiosity). And in recent years I see the term being used with 'fused' styles of other genres and jazz. HillybillyDiscoJazzPolka Fusion and stuff.... really.

I believe a third classification has been introduced to fit your final example... jam bands.

[Joe G]

Greg, for me it's a "I know it when I hear it" kind of a thing. And I'm not talking about good or bad either way, and it's fine that the line between musics of all kinds gets blurred. Beyond that, I personally have no interest in the naming debate!

[GregN]

Fusion is generally regarded as a combination of rock and jazz. Most smooth is instrumental R&B.

Fusion, as I understand it, has historically been regarded as a melding rock and jazz.., (with occasional hubris and Spinal Tappish grandiosity). And in recent years I see the term being used with 'fused' styles of other genres and jazz. HillybillyDiscoJazzPolka Fusion and stuff.... really.

I believe a third classification has been introduced to fit your final example... jam bands.

LOL I believe you are very much on the mark!

[GregN]

Greg, for me it's a "I know it when I hear it" kind of a thing. And I'm not talking about good or bad either way, and it's fine that the line between musics of all kinds gets blurred. Beyond that, I personally have no interest in the naming debate!

I believe I might know it too, but every once and a while something truly throws me a bit.

Yet while it is sometimes nice to use terms of categorization, I am not big into categories either. I mean, I understand why Aristotle started the mess, but when socially constructed and defined intangibles like art come in to the picture most, if not all, bets are off, imho.

Sooooo...is there anything on the new orginissimo disc that could be perceived as smooth by any stretch of the imagination. Anything jambandish???

I don't think so, but....

[jazzabelle]

Grand Slam on myspace

From myspace:

"PROJECT GRAND SLAM's debut album, "Play", was produced by the legendary Frank Filipetti (Grammy Award winner for James Taylor's "Hourglass" album) along with Haim Cotton and Jan Roeg ("The Captain Of Her Heart"). The album features eleven original tunes plus vocal and instrumental versions of "Captain". Four of the tracks from the album are posted on this MySpace site so that you can listen to them."

Hmmm..sounds like well put together stuff. OK, dumb question for the day: what is the difference between Fusion and Smooth Jazz?

They refer to themselves as Fusion on their myspace page.

Anyhow, I wish them well with their new release.

Not a dumb question, as I've always been confused by fusion vs. smooth as well.

What I love about organissimo? The organ. I'm serious. There's not enough organ-led jazz anymore and Organissimo's music takes me way back to a better time.

I'm looking forward to PGS's new release as well, in addition to finding out more about other artists from everyone here!

Edited October 15, 2008 by jazzabelle

[.:.impossible]

You really ought to check out Fight The Big Bull on clean feed. Let me know what you think!

[captainwrong]

Grand Slam! Isn't that a breakfast?

I know Grand Slam was a UK hip-hop magazine that folded after a few issues and left me hanging with an expensive unfulfilled subscription. Just another in a long line of magazines I've killed by subscribing.