What's the word on GRADY NICHOLS and SOPHISTICATION? Sophistication is produced by Jeff Lorber, mixed by Paul Brown, and features guest artist Chris Botti.

"Grady Nichols is the awesome new sax player for the millennium." - Jeff Lorber/ Grammy Nominated Producer and Keyboardist

"Grady Nichols' saxophone hangs on the frame like a well-tailored Armani suit. The lines are stylish, but never overbearing...the music has a casual elegance that can go anywhere." - Paul Moore, Senior Vice President/William Morris Agency

"Most likely to spearhead the next generation of great smooth artists." - Jonathan Widran/Jazziz magazine

"Saxophonist Grady Nichols exhibits a melodic, easy going smooth-jazz sound on 'Sophistication'.'" - Lucy Tauss/JazzTimes

"Those who saw saxophonist Grady Nichols play at a past R&R Convention or on the Smooth Jazz Awards know he's a strong artist. KTWV/L.A. jumped on his first single, and other trendsetters followed: KIFM/San Diego, KOAI/Dallas, KWJZ/Seattle and WSSM/St. Louis among others." - Carol Archer/Radio and Records

"One of the hottest rising stars in Smooth Jazz...Grady's got the goods! Grady Nichols is fast becoming a name to watch!" - Mark Sanford/KOAI Dallas

"The Tulsa based saxman may have been one of the least known performers on the bill at the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, but his appearance with some of the top saxmen in the genre confirms his emerging status as a star on the rise." - Smooth Jazz News

"This guy is really young. He's really positive and he's got maturity way beyond his years. His tone...his delivery...everything about him. There's a lot of guys out there with chops. Grady uses the chops to get to his heart and from his heart it gets to you." - Bill Champlin/Grammy Award Winning Singer Songwriter/Lead Vocals for Chicago

"The title says it all...Sophistication. This indeed is a sophisticated, polished, impeccably produced and performed Smooth Jazz sax album! It sounds like someone who's been around a long time, is totally comfortable with this music, and has surrounded himself with some of the best in the biz like Jeff Lorber, as well as Chris Botti, A. Ray Fuller, and Paul Brown." - Scott O'Brien/SmoothJazz.com

"Nichols main asset thus far is his superb playing. While there's plenty of generic sax stuff out there, Nichols is able to make a thoroughly modern smooth jazz CD without sounding derivative. That's an accomplishment." - Brian Soergel/smoothvibes.com

"The dude has skills. They're well displayed on 'Sophistication' and with this release; Nichols is making a serious bid for wider audience appreciation. He deserves it too." - Jeff Winbush/JazzReview.com

"Grady Nichols' technical mastery of the saxophone is only surpassed by his emotional mastery of his instrument. He can evoke just the right emotion for any of his songs without making you feel manipulated or that the feeling is contrived." - Derek Winterburg/TheSmoothJazzSite.com

"...remains seductively and quietly funky throughout. Sensual grooves permeate..." - soulbrother.com

"Much like the singer in the Godfather who was taken in and propelled to stardom by the Corleone family, Grady Nichols can hardly go wrong having been taken under the wing of the Godfather of the smooth jazz mafia, Jeff Lorber himself. Lorber's presence seems to facilitate the smooth sax Nichols delivers with such subtlety and class." - JazzUSA.com

Grady Nichols Shows His Sophistication On New Release

Saxophonist Grady Nichols has just released what is undeniably his best work yet. The CD, Sophistication, was produced by Grammy-nominated recording artist and producer Jeff Lorber, who discovered and produced Kenny G. Lorber, who plays keyboards on the CD, also produced or contributed keyboards and/or additional production for Herb Alpert, U2, Eric Benet, and Bruce Hornsby. Grammy Award-winning producer Paul Brown mixed the CD.

Other artists contributing to Sophistication include:

• Chris Botti, lead trumpet on the song "End Of The Night." Botti's credits include recording with Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin and touring with Paul Simon and Sting.

• Paul Pesco contributes rhythm guitar on the CD and has previously recorded with Madonna, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion and recently toured with Jennifer Lopez as her music director.

"I have been very blessed to have had the unique opportunity of working with such a talented variety of artists both in Los Angeles and at home in Tulsa," says Nichols, who, with Lorber, wrote all of the songs on the CD. "This project was put together over a long period and during two major life-changing events in my life - getting married and having a child. There is a culmination of a lot of different emotions throughout and I hope people will feel that when they hear it."

Nichols continues "Working with Jeff Lorber was a dream come true. When I was in college, I would practice playing along with his records, absorbing everything he did. Jeff had a very big influence on my approach to playing the sax. He has produced and worked with the best saxophonists in the business. I am extremely proud to be a part of that lineage and to have gained a good friend in the process.

"There is a consistent flow to this record as it weaves from the funky to the seductive. It's my best studio project to date."

Sophistication includes the following songs:

Tuesday Morning Livin' The Life Sneak End Of The Night Allright Dinner And A Movie Within The Blue Behind The Scenes Circle Of Friends Alone With You Quiet Times

The first single for radio, "Allright" is fast becoming an airplay favorite, with its uptempo groove and smooth-textured, sexy vibe. Samantha Wiedmann, APD/MD of KTWV/Los Angeles, 94.7 The WAVE, agrees: "Allright" is just that - All Right. The strong hook and funky melody sound great in the mix on the Wave.

Other stellar tracks include "Sneak," a sultry composition laden with a tasty, mellow groove, and "Dinner And A Movie," with its rich melody and breezy vibe.