Threestyle - Reasons 2 Love (2018)

It was just twelve months ago that German guitarist Robert Fertl and Czech saxophonist Magdalena Chovancova (aka ThreeStyle) released the appropriately titled ‘Smooth Ride’. Not only did it take the world of smooth jazz by storm but also garnered instant radio favorites such as ‘A Little Longer’ and ‘Road To Monterey’. Now they are back with their seventh project, the equally good ‘Reasons 2 Love’. With eleven original songs, all written or co-written by Fertl and Chovancova, this is a recording that is very much the real smooth jazz deal and one that moves this dazzling duo into the upper echelons of the genre.

As with previous ThreeStyle projects this is a collection that is instantly radio ready and a case in point is the understated yet totally addictive ‘Ready To Go’ where cool guitar from Fertl paves the way for Chovancova’s fulsome sax tones. It confirms that this is not a CD with which to blow off the doors but one that is the ultimate backdrop to a romantic evening with the one you love.

A change in style heralds in the funky attitude of ‘Lets Talk (House Party)’ where Christopher Troy and Latonya Black on background vocals really set the mood and the album’s only other vocal is the soul supercharged ‘If I Could’ with Tim Owens delivering a performance that will live long in the memory. Later Owens co-writes the decidedly moody ‘Missing You’ and although ‘Mellow Times’ has an edginess that both surprises and delights it is when Michael Ripoll steps up to lend a hand with the easy grooving title cut that magic really happens.

‘Bring It Up’ is a light and zesty number for which Chovancova again excels on flute and sax while elsewhere the mid tempo ‘Good News’ comes complete with an all-embracing vibe that is to die for.

The mellifluous, palm tree swaying ‘Desert Moon’ is, quite simply, beauty personified and when it is reprised as a Latin version the outcome is just as good. Another track to conjure images of white sand and warm breezes is the wonderfully mellow ‘From The Coast’ where Chovancova on flute and sax is sensational yet, all things considered, the Smooth Jazz Therapy Top Tune is the spellbinding ‘Adriatic Flow’.

Fertl’s mesmerizing guitar, soprano sax from Chovancova and a nice slice of Wha Wha guitar from the one and only Paul Brown all combine to make this very special indeed.