Contemporary jazz and pop instrumentals infused with groove based vocal duets.

10 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Contemporary Jazz, JAZZ: Smooth Jazz

Show all album songs: Don't Get No Better Songs


Details:
Saxophonist Patrick Lamb and percussionist Patsy Meyer, who spent most of last year on separate tours playing back-up for Jazz & R&B greats like Bobby Caldwell and Norman Brown, step together into their own limelight today as one of few duo acts in smooth jazz with the Lamb & Meyer release âDonât Get No Betterâ âa title that aptly describes both this remarkable collaboration and featured single, âHands of Passion.â

Produced by nine-time Emmy-award winner John Henry Kreitler, this smooth-jazz masterpiece sizzles with the unique blend of Patrick Lambâs smoking saxophone and Patsy Meyerâs sultry percussion grooves, but itâs also distinguished by exceptional writing and an extraordinary supporting cast. âHands of Passion,â for example, was co-written and includes keyboards by smooth jazz great Gregg Karukas, and features a haunting flugal horn solo from the legendary Steve Madaio, who performed at Woodstock with the Butterfield Blues Band and has toured with the Rolling Stones, John Lennon and Bob Dylan among others.

The album claims another distinction. Although predominantly instrumental, it offers some of the vocal duets that Lamb & Meyer have included in their high-energy live performances. The lusty-voiced Patsy Meyer, lauded by L.A. Music Scene Magazine for her âkiller chops,â has always been a talented singer. But the decision to include vocals didnât come until Kreitler discovered during production that Patrick Lamb also has a terrific voice.

The results included vocals like the retro-soul âGive Me More Lovin,â Sade-ish âSomething Feels so Good,â and the jazzy, whimsical offering, âCup of Coffee.â In an era when instruments dominate the smooth-jazz format, this CD is an interesting and much needed fusion of instrumental and vocals.

âThe chemistry has proved irresistible and after many weeks of writing & recording, the result is âDonât Get No better,â an apt title for a process and musical expression that capture the combination of jazz, R&B and soul embodied on this record.â Nine-time Emmy award winning producer, John Henry Kreitler

Reviews

Radio & Records
It take nerve and imagination to cover "Birdland" successfully, which indie duo Lamb & Meyer (BlueHour) do handily and with all due propsto the originalâand Smooth Jazz clearly in mind too.
Carol Archer

Nuvo
Saxophonist Patrick Lamb and vocalist/percussionist Patsy Meyer are a new team that has come up with a wellâproduced CD debut. Nine tracks include a vibrant take on the jazz classic "Birdland." The duo is framed in various musical settings with artists like Gregg Karukas, Nathan East and Paul Jackson Jr.

Smoothjazz.com
"One of the slinkiest, sexiest Smooth Jazz releases we've heard in some time. DON'T GET NO BETTER is an in the pocket, sureâfire hit with a perfect balance of instrumentals and sultry, sophisticated vocals. Saxophonist Patrick Lamb and percussionist Patsy Meyer stole time away from their projects as backâup support for highly acclaimed Smooth Jazz icons the likes of Bobby Caldwell and Norman Brown to collaborate on this stellar duo debut. Magnetic musical chemistry exudes from this project making for exciting, engaging listening by blending pop, jazz, retroâsoul and funk. DON'T GET NO BETTER was produced by nineâtime Emmyâaward winner John Henry Kreitler. Special guests include keyboardist Greg Karukas (coâauthor of the duo's hit single "Hands of Passion"), bassist Nathan East (Fourplay, Eric Clapton), guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr., drummer Ricky Lawson, and many other topânotch musicians. In 2004, the original concept for this album was to be Meyer's 2nd solo release (you may recall Patsyâs Smooth Jazz hit with Russ Freeman, "Ocho Rios"). But when Kreitler caught Lamb's performance in L.A., he was captivated. "His style spoke of love and pain in the same breath; it was very real to me," recalls Kreitler, who was so impressed that he proposed a partnership. Lamb & Meyer present an exceptional release here with vibrant melodies, outstanding vocal performances, scorching sax solos and rich, warm percussion. We'll go out on limb early in this new year and say it'll be one of the best indie releases in 2007. As the title says, it don't get no better."
SANDY SHORE