Smooth Jazz Cafe is the seventh solo studio album by guitarist Brian Tarquin, released in October 2014 by Cleopatra Records/Purple Pyramid. The album was recorded at Tarquin's mobile Jungle Room Studios in the New York Catskill Mountains at a 200 year old Farmhouse. Additional recording was done in the quaint town of New Paltz (village), New York. Tarquin reached out to some old guitar friends to guest with him on the album, Chuck Loeb on Zoot Suit, Hal Lindes on The Big Sleep & Birdbrain, and Denny Jiosa on Hipster & Chrome Dome. The entire album was engineered, produced and performed by Tarquin. Most of the album is new material with exception of 4 songs, Peg, Swift Kick, Yorkville and Spanish Harlem.
Critical reception
Smooth Jazz Cafe received favorable reviews. John Heidt at Vintage Guitar (magazine) wrote "...harkens to Tarquin's days as a hitmaker working with acid-jazz producer Ernie McKone." Brent Black at Critical Jazz states "Six string aficionados will have plenty to cheer..." G.W. Hill of Music Street Journal stated "I think this is a great, and often exciting, jazz album."
Track listing
Personnel Brian Tarquin – all guitars Reggie Pryor – drums Rick Mullen – bass Julian Baker – piano and strings (track 11) Chuck Loeb – guitar (tracks 1–4) Denny Jiosa – guitar (tracks 7 & 11) Hal Lindes – guitar (track 5 & 9) Frank Gambale – guitar (tracks 13) Brian Tarquin – mix engineer, producer David Glasser of Airshow – mastering engineer Chris Landen at Audio Mechanics – mastering engineer Miss M and Brian Tarquin – graphic design
References