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Paul Hardcastle started his breathtaking career with the dance hit Rainforest reaching #1 on the 12" sales chart in the USA in 1984. His tremendous success was the song 19 in 1985, in many countries a further #1 hit. In 1991 Hardcastle began his Jazzmasters project fostering a smooth jazz community worldwide. The first album of this serial was released in Japan and The Japanese radio stations spread the word. Soon the sound arrived in USA and many listeners had to struggle for their album 'til it was finally released in USA in 1992.

This hybrid of dance music and smooth jazz quickly climbed the charts and received high acclaims by many fans finally crowned with Billboard Magazine’s 2008 Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year. Paul is just nominated again for Best International Artist and Best International Group for the up-coming American Smooth Jazz Awards in 2010.

Jazzmasters VI was released in July, 2010. Paul Hardcastle wrote, mixed and produced all tracks taking the lead on keyboards, guitar and percussion. Paul is joined on his newest project by Becki Biggins (vocals), Paul Hardcastle jr. (sax), Maxine Hardcastle (backing vocals), Chris 'Snake' Davis (sax, flute, Shakuhatchi) and Rock Hendrix (sax).

The relaxing character of the album, in Europe they call it chill-out, is announced with the spacey introduction Awakening Thoughts. The idea for Touch and Go was developed with a  sax riff Paul Hardcastle jr. showed his dad. This tune is after The Circle Hardcastle jr.'s sophomore collaboration with his father sharing the merits with Chris Snake Davis, who performs a majestic flute.

After an interview, Paul Hardcastle had given for American radio, he had the grandiose idea to re-work his answers into a new song. One Chance was created together with featured singer Becki Biggins. Becki has won the 2009 American Billboard Best Smooth Jazz Artist Award with Paul Hardcastle for the album Hardcastle V. This high-talented vocalist has already two solo albums to her credit (First Love and The +ve). The full version of One Chance contains snippets of the original interview. My favorite is the musical box like intro of this song.

On the contemplative Cloud Watching Paul Hardcastle gives his guitar some Asian flavor by modulating the sound. With keyboards and Snake's sax he builds a complex atmosphere, one of the typical and signature Hardcastle sounds fading into reverberation. The great talent of Becki Biggins to present a theme with accurate softness and precision like on I Really Like.

Play a piece like Solar Sky and you immediately know, this is a Paul Hardcastle song. His intimate knowledge of programming is unsurpassable. This track features the great Rock Hendrix on sax. As you can hear on I Can't Get By are vocoder and synth also an essential part of Paul's equipment. But the warm vocals of Becki Biggins really fill the song with color.

We shouldn't underestimate the complexity and efforts Paul Hardcastle brings into songs like In the Key of Time. Chris 'Snake' Davis excels on soprano sax. A unique dialog between bass drum and Becki Biggins, The Vision transports a pure message. There is life after the death.

On the spherical Dimensions of Light Chris Snake Davis and Paul Hardcastle create a stunning mood of mellowness. Very appealing for smooth jazz romantics. With the heartfelt ballade So Into You Becki Biggins fills the audience with enthusiasm. Return of the Rainman was already released on the albums Hardcastle 5 and The Collection. As additional bonus Paul serves his listeners a reprise.

As Paul Hardcastle says, you have only one chance. Paul has certainly took his chance and is today's one of the most popular and successful smooth jazz artists. Just one day after its release, his new Jazzmasters VI project has already claimed the number one spot on iTunes list of top jazz albums.