T-Squαrε - 33 (2007)

Japan's top smooth fusion commodity released this excellent set of cuts back in 2007, and its got the chops to make it the ideal entry point into their mindbogglingly large back catalog. It's got a bit of everything: breezy synthesizers, acoustic and shred-friendly electric guitar, all kinds of percussion and plenty of brass for the purists too. Lots of fun improv going on here...and there's even a catchy melody or two ('Flying Colors') to keep the more casual jazz fan interested.

Pretty high up there on the quality front as far as smooth/contemporary jazz is concerned, and an excellent addition to any cruise catering playlist you've got on hand!

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Mαяcus D - Mεlαиcholy Hopεful (2012)

A couple of drinks by the harbor, watching tides roll through the sand. Or maybe its some lucid dream in motion, flowing like rain through a cloudborne subwoofer. D's first guest-populated collection is one helluva dope enclave as far as jazz-hop is concerned, bolstered by versers of smooth, well-tread pedigree like Cise Starr, Substantial and the elusive Funky DL. Furthermore, the samples are out of this world, as well as the production values. Just...dayum!

GG 2012

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Kεnmochi Hidεfumi - TIGER LILLY (2005)

A label mate of the late and great Nujabes (Hydeout Records), Hide-san specializes in Worldly, percussive instrumental hip-hop which proves a bit more hypnotic than your typical Japanese jazz-hop excursion, particularly on some of the drive-friendly longer cuts like 'Bridge Of Sunshine'. Steller!

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Яetuяn To Forεvεя - No Mystεяy (1975)

Classic fusion delicacy from the masters of space and time. It's a bit more funk oriented, (and, dare I say it, heavier) than their past or subsequent albums circa 1975, but that's definitely not a bad quality to have under any context.

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Jεαи-Lυc Poиτy - Tнε Gifτ Of Tiмε (1986)

After singlehandedly redefining the violin for all jazz-fusion heads everywhere back in the 70's as part of Mahavishnu Orchestra and via some classic solo records of his own, Monsieur Ponτy steered his ship to new waters in the advent of the 80's, pushing the boundaries of just how far one could take experimental synth-violin in an era where, surprisingly....nobody had really tried yet.

The title track on this late-80's gem of his should be indicative enough at just how monstrously successful some of these experiments were, but I digress: if you be a'lookin' for smooth jazz that bores you out of your skull and doesn't hypnotize and amaze in equal measure, you are looking in the wrong freakin' place.

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Mαsαyoshi Tαkαиαkα - Thε Rαiиbow Gobliиs (1981)

Instrumental jazz-funk concept album that follows the story of the cult classic children's book by Neverending Story artist Ul De Rico, complete with English narration and robotically vocoded backing vocals!

And yes, this may indeed be the greatest album ever recorded in the history of mankind.

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