Steve Oliver - First View (1999)Acoustic guitarist Steve Oliver knows another can't-miss smooth jazz secret: if you want to create a killer debut, work with a slew of past and present Rippingtons. First View reveals a strong melodic player and composer equally comfortable on sweet little gems like "I Know" and the slamming razor sharp funk of "Happy Feet"; Oliver was able to bring a fresh new hip-hop feel to the silly standard "Midnight at the Oasis." Another trademark is his remarkable soprano-voiced scatting ability, which he weaves seamlessly into his guitar lines. Still, it's got to be a secure feeling having percussionist Steve Reid, saxmen Paul Taylor and Jeff Kashiwa, keyboardist Dave Kochanski and bassist Kim Stone helping out. The Taylor driven bridge on "Happy Feet" thrusts along like a classic Rippingtons' riff. The one area of departure from that Rippingtons' feel which Oliver could feel free to explore more (lest he always be compared to Russ Freeman) appears on "East Wind," which finds him right at home exploring more hard-edged blues flavors. Even if his basic acoustic sound is of the cool and balmy variety, he likes to surround it with hard-hitting grooves at times; "Happy Feet"'s foundation, laid down by Stone and aggressive drummer Dave Hooper, provides the perfect balance for Oliver's lighter touch.
Steve Oliver - Positive Energy (2002)Contemporary jazz guitarist and vocalist Steve Oliver offers something everyone will enjoy on his sophomore release as a leader, titled Positive Energy. The recording reflects Oliver's smooth, upbeat, joyous spirit through dynamic vocals and instrumentals on 12 brand-new originals. Working with Steve Oliver are such prominent contemporary jazz favorites as his labelmate, Jeff Kashiwa, on saxophone and Spyro Gyra keyboardist Tom Schuman alongside the multi-talented bassists Brian Bromberg and Larry Antonino. The recording opens with the radio-friendly "High Noon," the first single to be released from the CD. The song combines the freshest licks from Latin funk and the smoothest grooves from smooth jazz in an energetic presentation with a contemporary flair. Oliver's vocals set the song apart from the instrumentals on the set and give his listeners more than enough room to enjoy the "positive energy" emanating from his playing style. On the title track, Steve Reid adds his mighty percussion to the mix and not only provides an extra layer of rhythmic fuel, but inspires Oliver's excellent guitar playing to another level of performance. Oliver's ability to tell a story is quite evident on the vocal version of "Show You Love." This song has the potential to cross over to the R&B genre due to its funky backbeat and danceability and is reprised as an instrumental, with Brandon Fields' smooth tenor sax as the lead voice, to close the set. Positive Energy has no problem meeting the standards set by Oliver's 1999 debut, First View, and should garner additional smooth jazz and groove fans for Oliver. In the making for nearly three years, the new musical dimensions added by the guest stars, the romantic and sometimes-funky celebratory vibe, and Oliver's excellent musicality make Positive Energy another great opportunity to hear what Steve Oliver is all about.
Steve Oliver - 3D (2004)As one reviewer said of the cheerful music and personality of this increasingly popular voice of smooth jazz guitar, it's Disneyland all the time with him. In other words, Positive Energy, the name of his second genre disc, wasn't just a happy marketing tool. And the title of this disc is appropriate, too, because with the co-production help of founding Spyro Gyra keyboardist Tom Schuman, Oliver digs deep into a rich variety of influences for a multifaceted romp through the worlds of pop, jazz, urban/hip-hop, worldbeat, Brazilian, and Latin music. While focusing as always on his classic acoustic guitar and brilliant "vocalese" to convey the lead melodies on the instrumentals, he stretches into edgier blues territory with his lesser-heard electric on "In the Shade of Cool." Joining all-star guests like Fourplay drummer Harvey Mason (who adds his gentle rhythmic touch to the lush romantic atmospheres of the title track) and saxophonist Eric Marienthal (soulful harmony on the lilting ballad "She's Got the Way-O," punchy riffs and call-and-response amidst the brass, retro-soul, and party-groove mania of "Funhouse") is a handful of musicians familiar to longtime fans of the Oliver live experience, including Will Donato (sax) and Larry Antonino (bass). It's fun in the sun (with a few romantic respites) from beginning to end, with the jumpy, brass-fired "Chips and Salsa" balanced by trippier pieces like "Magic World," which has a slight worldbeat sensibility. Oliver's growing as a vocalist, too, with three lead vocal tracks that are among his best. He hardly needed to do a cover to get attention (as some smoothies do), but he puts on a subtle charm for "Imagine" that adds a touch of inspiration to the Magic Kingdom.
Tracklistings are in the comments section.
