LA based jazz guitarist Nils has always recorded excellent music on his numerous albums, which I had the privilege to comment with great pleasure. With Cool Shades, he is delivering again this year.

With the exception of one cover Nils has written all tracks, foremost in Munich, where Nils spent his time in 2021 to accompany his father through the last stage of his life. Again many friends of Nils were involved in the making of the album, as the credits show.

The album opens with Nine 2 Five. With routinized elegance Nils' guitar draws us under its spell. Countless years in the service of the audience are reflected in the stylistic confidence.

It means carrying owls to Athens to mention that Nils can rely on a perfectly rehearsed team. Tangie is one of the many examples on which to base this fact. The aptly titled Step Into The Beat is meant in earnest and provides the infectious momentum we so desperately need.

Hey Joe is Nils' reference to the great guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who was so talented and left us so early. With Windsurfer, Nils takes on the sport that is so popular, especially in Nils' new adopted homeland. On Sweet Soul, Nils sets gentle tones.

Every year Christian Bößner from Smooth Jazz Europe invites us to a grandiose festival week in the Algarve. Night In the Algarve evokes the unique atmosphere under Portugal's palm trees. Cool Shades gives itself undercooled and yet remains so close.

Walkin' The Dog is a term that describes the favorite pastime of so many Americans. Nils takes it the funky way. Nils has processed the farewell to his beloved father in the soulful song Our Last Goodbye. If you can't get enough of this mood, Nils delivers with Waiting on Hold a second helping.

My Friends is recognizably influenced by Ed Sheeran's Shape Of You. The album's finale is short and heartfelt with The Fade. The farewell could well have been longer.

With his new album Cool Shades, Nils has once again impressively demonstrated his ability to reach our hearts with just a few guitar riffs.

 

Biography

Website

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Album Information

Title: Cool Shades
Artist: Nils
Year: 2022
Genre: Smooth Jazz
Label: Baja/TSR Records

Tracks:

1) "Nine 2 Five" (4:00)
2) "Tangie" (3:44)
3) "Step Into the Beat" (3:53)
4) "Hey Joe" (3:48)
5) "Windsurfer" (3:49)
6) "Sweet Soul" (4:02)
7) "Night In the Algarve" (3:46)
8) "Cool Shades" (4:26)
9) "Walkin' The Dog" (4:10)
10) "Our Last Goodbye" (4:23)
11) "Waiting on Hold" (4:12)
12) "My Friends" (4:04)
13) "The Fade" (2:52)

Credits:

1. NINE 2 FIVE by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, synths and programming
Gorden Campbell - drums
Darryl Williams - bass
Oliver C. Brown – percussion
Clydene Jackson - Rhodes
Tracy Carter - piano
Johnny Britt - Trumpets, Flugelhorn
Mike Parlett - saxes

2. TANGIE by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, Rhodes, synth programming
Johnny Britt - Rhodes & trumpet
Nate Harasim - piano and additional programming
Gorden Campbell - drums
Alex Al - bass
Oliver C. Brown – percussion

3. STEP INTO THE BEAT by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP))

Nils - guitars, drum programming and keys
Oliver C. Brown – percussion
Keith “E-Day” Eaddy – bass
Johnny Britt - piano
Tracy Carter - keys

4. HEY JOE by Billy Roberts (Third Palm Music/ BMG Platinum Songs, BMI)

Nils - guitars, synths
Clydene Jackson – Rhodes, vocals
Gorden Campbell - drums
Darryl Williams - bass
Oliver C. Brown – percussion
Johnny Britt – vocals

5. WINDSURFER by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, drum programming, synths
Eric Valentine - drums
Darryl Williams - bass
Oliver C. Brown – percussion
Johnny Britt – Rhodes

6. SWEET SOUL by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, Synth
Gorden Campbell - drums
Darryl Williams – bass
Oliver C. Brown – percussion
Clydene Jackson - rhodes and vocals
Johnny Britt – organ and vocals

7. NIGHT IN THE ALGARVE by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, synths and programming

Eric Valentine - drums
Darryl Williams - bass
Johnny Britt - rhodes
Oliver C. Brown – percussion
Dov and the LoveStar strings – live string section

8. COOL SHADES by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, keyboards and drum programming
Darryl Williams - bass
Oliver C. Brown – percussion

9. WALKIN’ THE DOG by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, synths and programming
Leon Bisquera - Rhodes
Gorden Campbell - drums
Darryl Williams - bass

10. OUR LAST GOODBYE by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars and synths
Gorden Campbell - drums
Darryl Williams – bass
Clydene Jackson - keys and vocals
Johnny Britt - organ and vocals
Oliver C. Brown – percussion

11. WAITING ON HOLD by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, drum programming, keys
Keith “E-Day” Eaddy – bass
Clydene Jackson - rhodes
Oliver C. Brown – percussion

12. My Friends by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, synths and drum programming
Keith “E-Day” Eaddy – synth bass
Gorden Campbell - drums
Oliver C. Brown – percussion
Clydene Jackson - vocals
Tracy Carter - keys

13. THE FADE by Nils (FYBO Music, ASCAP, Ryan’s Songs ASCAP)

Nils - guitars, bass, synths and drum programming
Oliver C. Brown – additional percussion

 

 

Further reviews:


Up Close And Personal

Pacific Coast Highway

Ready To Play

City Groove

Alley Cat

Play

Caught In The Groove