Smooth Jazz Guitar: Reviews/Articles

Review of Valgar by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 4.4


smooth groove
smooth, latin jazz feel in the intro. nice, relaxed guitar melody, well played. nice bass lines and mellow percussion.



Review of Valgar by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 4.4


nice
nice guitar solöo i like your song it grooves and has a nice mood to it. very nice i like it and it really sounds groovy.

Extra Credit: Guitars, Melody, Beat, Mood, Grooviest Rhythm.



Review of Valgar by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 4.4


Guitar
Very talented guitarist here.
Just dripping with a steamy sensuality that is very engaging, but played with a tempered hand that speaks of many years experience.

Some very impressive licks bursting through on this track.

The progression takes a nice turn toward resolution around 4:14

Very well done.

Extra Credit: Guitars.



Review of Valgar by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 4.4

WOW!
NICE SAMBA STYLE, AND A GUITARIST DELIGHT OF A SONG! YOU'VE JUST CURED MY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE FELLAS! LOL! SMOOTHE, INVITING, AND SIMPLY AN UNCOMPLICATED SONG! YOUR SONG'S CHORD STRUCTURES ARE NEVER PREDICTABLE OR BORING. VERY NICE CHILL MUSIC FOR A RESTAURANT OR BY MY FIREPLACE WITH MY HONEY! (smilin)

Extra Credit: Guitars, Drums, Bass, Production, Melody, Beat, Mood, Originality, Coolest Chill-Out Track.




Review of Mountain Hike by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 3.4


nice job
very nice melody, the lead guitar is awesome and mood is about the relax the whole neighbourhood.
cool i like it.


Review of Mountain Hike by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 3.4


good
i like how the guitar starts off the music and is the lead instrument. it sounds like a new style of jazz to me. lead guitar is awesome it completes the song. mood is awesome that this song puts off good job on that. this is a good song keep it up.


eview of Mountain Hike by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 3.4


RYDERS ON THE STORM?
THAT'S THE FEEL I IMMEDIATELY GOT FROM THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR ENTRANCE. PLAYED VERY NICELY TOO, IN FACT! OK, NOW YOU'RE REMINDING ME OF S. AFRICA'S JONATHAN BUTLER! OK, I CAN SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING! YOU OBVIOUSLY "SLEEP, EAT, DRINK AND READ" ACOUSTIC GUITAR 24/7/365 RIGHT? HOW IS IT THAT YOU CAN DO... WITH ONE DAMN INSTRUMENT (Theoretically), WHAT OTHERS CAN'T SEEM TO DO WITH, "LEAD & BACKGROUND VOCALS, OTHER ACCOMPANYING INSTRUMENTS AND SYNTHESIZERS AND OTHER FANCY PROGRAMS?" WELL, I GET IT! BUT I WONDER IF THEY'LL EVER BE READY FOR YOU! YOU'RE VERY ENTERTAINING AND ABSOLUTELY AWE INSPIRING! BY THE WAY, CAN YOU GIVE A BROTHA SOME BEGINNER GUITAR LESSONS? LOL!

Extra Credit: Guitars, Production, Melody, Mood, Originality, Most Rocking Track.

Review of Mountain Hike by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 3.4

Right From the Start
I am carried away by this song as if on a horse riding the clouds, very upbeat, yet calming and cooling, the mood is both uplifting and a tiny bit melancholy.

The melody is memorable, which makes this song great as a movie theme, but I wish for vocals to carry the vision further.


Extra Credit: Guitars, Melody, Mood, Best Potential Movie Soundtrack.


Review of Mountain Hike by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 3.4

hmm
surprisingly good. not a listener of jazz, but this is really good, nice and instrumental. i like it.

Review of Mountain Hike by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 3.4

NIce guitar work from the top
Real cool choice of notes, good melody I could see this getting radio airplay easily, good work. Of course I would love to hear some hand percussion work in there, at least a shaker. NIce work. Oh and the mood is nice

Extra Credit: Guitars, Production, Mood.


view of Mountain Hike by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz 3.4

Amazing!!!!
This song is breathtaking. It sounds somewhat farmiliar, but original at the some time. I loved the guitar intro and melody. It sounds melacholy and so emotional. I was crying by the end. The playing is excellent, as is the beat. The upbeat rhythm and sad feel make me give it a 5. Bravo!


Extra Credit: Guitars, Melody, Originality, Grooviest Rhythm.




Review of Orchestral Fantasia.. by Greg Smith
Genre: Classical


disturbing
Great sound track, good quality product values, engaging type of sound. Well played and put together.

Review of Orchestral Fantasia.. by Greg Smith
Genre: Classical

Contemporary
This song definitely breaks the mold--does many things that I guarantee go outside of my own comfort zone as a composer. While not entirely leaving the tonal world, this piece goes into foreign modes, scales, and ideas that are much more complex that most that are being used nowadays.
But still, 8:14 of obviously electronic instruments gets just a bit grating. This excellent work of art COMPLETELY deserves some real instruments! Definitely not your in-the-box thinker, with some of these melodies and chord progressions. Keeps creating incredible new ideas, stuff that I've never heard before.
Only criticisms--overt use of the solo strings instrument eventually gets just a little bit tiring. It's nice to hear it stating the melody before hand, but instead of using precious time on the solo instrument, build up to more climaxes!
Then at 6:16, it seems to lose its daring, exploring feel and goes into all-too-familiar keys, using the simple timpani and flute and strings ideas a few times to end what was otherwise an incredibly original and impressive points. NOT going to lose you any points for originality or melody! Excellent job overall, I'd love to see who composed this masterpiece!

Extra Credit: Programming, Melody, Originality.

eview of Figaro Tree by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz

It's a trip!
Wow! Pretty origional, I can't think of anything that sounds quit like it. Well written/recorded, would love to hear it live in a coffey shop or lounge. Guitar is complex and tight for the most part. I really like the little break down twards the end. I'd like to hear some more of their stuff.
Great Tune!

Peace


Extra Credit: Guitars, Keyboards, Production, Originality, Coolest Chill-Out Track.


eview of Figaro Tree by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz

country jazz
fine rhtm guit to wait the solo one - acoustic guitars - they play as good as they can - and they are nice - mood similar to Genesis sometimes, to Metheny sometimes - I like the solo when it's going to bass register - a little less technique and a little too heart will let this a hit.

then here cames the fiddles - alive, I think - [GOOD GOOD] then the duo rhtm+solo guits came back to end the tale.


Extra Credit: Guitars, Originality, Coolest Chill-Out Track.



- vinsilmcjagger
Review of Forties by Greg Smith
Genre: Jazz

Slick groove
Nice slick little tune. Would fit in a tv show. I mean that in a good way!
Sounds like an experiment.



- breckerbrothers

Greg Smith CD Release Party on September 16, 2006

Greg Smith
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*Tampa Based Composer, Guitarist Displays
Depth, Beauty and Technical Prowess on His Release “Above the Clouds” *

CD RELEASE PARTY

Greg Smith will be releasing “Above the Cloud, ” on Saturday September 16, 2006, in his home town of Tampa, Florida. “Above the Clouds” is a warm blend of smooth-jazz, world music and new age, in a rich tapestry of Americana, served up in a style uniquely rooted in Smith’s experiences.

Smith has been a vital part of the music scene since 1966. Having attended Berklee College of Music, Smith picked up the basics for formulating his unique approach to the guitar and composition from influences in school, mentors, and personal experiences that come from many years on the bandstand. Smith has studied with Pat Metheny, Larry Coryell and Manfredo Fest.

Some of his highlight performances have been with such icons as; Chick Corea, Larry Coryell, Edgar Winter, Juliette Lewis and many others. These opportunities to share the bandstand with these greats have further shaped Greg Smith into the player and composer he is today. “Above the Clouds, ” is a culmination of these experiences. Please join Smith and his quartet “Above the Clouds, ” as he debuts the cuts to his latest release with audiences in Florida on September 16, 2006 at A Taste for Wine, it’s guaranteed to raise your awareness to a whole new level.

Robert Silverstein of 20th Century Guitar describes Smiths latest release. Mixing straight ahead and smooth jazz, Brazilian and a touch of new age, guitarist Greg Smith strives towards gaining his own voice in the guitar world and finds it with his 2006 CD Above the Clouds. In the spirit of some of Pat Metheny’s jazzier , less ethereal acoustic moments, Smith’s instrumental guitar sounds often defies easy category but either way he grooves the spirit is quite strong on Above the Clouds. Having studied in the early ‘70s at Berklee with Metheny, Larry Coryell and Jeff Berlin, the Florida based Smith is hardly a novice and throughout the CD he demonstrates a masterful touch on his PRS, Taylor, Gitane and Yamaha guitars, Above the Clouds is a well-recorded CD filled with memorable guitar sounds.


Who: Greg Smith and his quartet
When: Saturday, September 16, 2006 Time: 8:30- 11:00
Where: A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave St Pete, Florida 33701
Venue Phone: (727)895 1623
Tickets: Free to Public
Press Contact: Kari Gaffney, Kari-On Productions – 706.294.9996 - karionprod@knology.net
Photos: www.gregsmithguitar.com
E-press Kit: www.karionpresskits.com

Kari-On Productions P.O. Box 436, Evans, GA. 30809 tel: 706.294.9996 fax: 706.210.9453

GREG SMITH/Above the Clouds: Here's a guitar cat that has an impressive
pedigree, has been at it for 40 years and wraps the sum total of his
experience around this smooth jazz collection that is just that out of the
ordinary jazz item you are looking for when the usual suspects seem to
preoccupied with fitting the format and you need some meat to chomp down on.
Smooth jazz with an edge, this is the kind of cocktail music you want
playing when you let the day slide off your shoulder at quitting time and
need something to help you ease into the next stage. Tasty work that
acquits itself nicely.