| Jazz, Smooth Jazz |
Jazz Funk Soul returns with Simpatico: A Masterclass in Contemporary Jazz Collaboration.
When you’re lucky enough to work with a label of such prestige, every new release inevitably brings a shiver of anticipation, and this one delivers in full. You can almost hear the publicists behind the scenes whispering, “Keep it simple, let the mystery do the work.” Because beneath the clean, understated “Jazz Funk Soul” branding lies an all-star trio: Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp, and Paul Jackson Jr.
These three know each other like family, and it shows. On Simpatico, their upcoming fifth album, they sound more playful, and more locked-in, than ever. The result is a lush, joyful, and complex work that feels less like a studio album and more like a royal banquet. Between them, they’ve sold millions of records and charted over 50 No. 1 hits on contemporary jazz radio.
Jeff Lorber, a pioneer of the Fender Rhodes alongside legends like Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample, and Bob James, has worked with the likes of Miles Davis and Michael Franks, and was instrumental in launching Kenny G’s career. Everette Harp, one of the chief architects of contemporary jazz saxophone, has shared the stage and studio with Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Billy Joel, and Patti LaBelle. And Paul Jackson Jr.? One of the most in-demand guitarists in the world, his credits include Thriller, Natalie Cole, Elton John, Quincy Jones, and Whitney Houston.
On July 11, 2025, Jazz Funk Soul will release Simpatico, a ten-track collection of original, genre-blurring compositions that reaffirm the trio’s iconic status. “Our music is about offering a form of escape,” says Harp. “A way to lift listeners out of the grind, their worries, jobs, burdens, and help them find a bit of joy.”
And while casual listeners will certainly find that joy in abundance, jazz aficionados will uncover far more beneath the surface. The melodies may seem deceptively simple, even breezy, but they’re underpinned by intricate arrangements and rich harmonic writing, the kind that only decades of experience can produce. Buried in these tracks are countless musical references, Easter eggs for jazz lovers who will recognize the lineage and legacy woven into every phrase.
“It’s the live horn section that gets me,” says Harp, “like those Jerry Hey arrangements from the Al Jarreau and Jay Graydon days. Those records inspired me deeply.” He adds, “Paul’s bluesy, rock-inflected playing, like Larry Carlton or Hiram Bullock, was essential to shaping this track.”
One standout is “Rue de Seine,” Jeff Lorber’s love letter to Paris, carried on Jackson’s lyrical lines and Harp’s shimmering saxophone. “I’d been working on that tune for a while,” Jackson says. “To me, it captures both the elegance and energy of Paris, a city that truly loves jazz.”
Indeed, the title Simpatico couldn’t be more apt. Not just because the trio is genuinely likable, but because their music radiates sincerity and delight, crafted with the care of master artisans. Their melodic sensibility is sharpened like a jeweler’s tool, refined, precise, and glowing.
Jazz Funk Soul first launched in 2014 with Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber, and the late Chuck Loeb. In 2017, the jazz world was rocked by Loeb’s untimely passing. “Chuck was so much of the ‘jazz’ in Jazz Funk Soul,” recalls Harp. “The joy and spirit in his playing were contagious. Every time we played together, he made you bring your A-game, there were no off nights. He’d light you up if you slacked.”
Lorber adds: “I feel very fortunate to have known Chuck and worked with him. He was an incredibly gifted guitarist, composer, producer, and just a great guy to be around. Everyone who knew him misses him deeply.” Jackson, who toured with Loeb in a guitar trio with Chieli Minucci, reflects, “I loved when it was his turn to take the spotlight. Sharing the stage with Chuck and learning from him was unforgettable.”
If the summer of 2025 feels like a bright contrast to the present, radiant, surprising, full of promise, Simpatico is part of the reason why. It’s more than an album. It’s a celebration of three master musicians who continue to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz, not by reinventing themselves, but by leaning ever deeper into the joy of collaboration.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, July 10th 2025
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Musicians :
Jeff Lorber, keyboards
Everette Harp ,sSaxophone
Paul Jackson Jr, guitar
Tracklist :
1. Get Up With JFS
2. Rue de Seine
3. Janyce
4. Rekindle
5. Something Old Something New
6. Throwback
7. Simpatico
8. Dreaming My Life Away
9. Ramblin’
10. Over Easy