Product Description

Grady Nichols' fourth CD, Sophistication is a smooth jazz / instrumental pop CD produced by Grammy-nominated recording artist and producer, Jeff Lorber who also played keyboards on some cuts. Grammy Award-winning producer Paul Brown mixed the CD. Grammy winner Chris Botti contributed trumpet on ''End of the Night.'' Paul Pesco also played rhythm guitar on the CD.

Awards and Recognition

Sophistication spent 40+ weeks on SmoothJazz.com charts

Sophistication was named #28 of the ''Top 50 Smooth Jazz Albums of 2004'' by SmoothJazz.com

Sophistication was a ''Smooth Award Winner'' as the #14 ''Top Selling Smooth Jazz Albums of 2004'' by SmoothJazz.com

Sophistication was the #8 Most Played Albums of 2004 by Café Jazz Radio

Grady Nichols was named the #3 Break-Through Artist for the Year by Café Jazz Radio.

Track Listing

1. Tuesday Morning
2. Livin' the Life
3. Sneak
4. End of the Night
5. All Right
6. Dinner and a Movie
7. Within the Blue
8. Behind the Scenes
9. Circle of Friends
10. Alone with You
11. Quiet Times

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #312129 in Music
• Released on: 2003-12-15
• Number of discs: 30

Review
''Grady Nichols is the awesome new sax player for the millennium.'' --Jeff Lorber

Review
''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.'' --SmoothJazz.com

Review
''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.'' --The SmoothJazzSite.com

Customer Reviews

Smooth-As-Silk
This is a great compilation by Grady Nichols. It is rare to get a CD with more than 2 or 3 selections that are memorable and keep you coming back for more. This entire CD is enjoyable and still fresh. The collaboration with other top performers helps to highlight the quality of the recording. I highly recommended it.

Outstanding Jeff Lorber Production!
The publicist of Grady Nichols sent me a copy of his new CD. The Oklahoma native is a rising star in the jazz world. He was discovered by legendary jazz artist Jeff Lorber and he has produced his third release, "Sophistication". Lorber takes his style of smooth jazz and brings Nichols to the level of respect. His CD has a bunch of well known artists to help him out in addition to Lorber such as Chris Botti & Bill Gable. As for Nichols, his sound is crisp, clear and bright. I especially enjoyed the tracks, "Tuesday Morning", "Speak" and "Quiet Times". This is one CD that will get lots of playing time on well established Smooth Jazz radio. It's a great CD that will get second looks and listens!

Churches, private functions, wine tasting parties.....
seems like Nichols has played his sax in front of every last person in Tulsa,OK and Sophistication should extend his reach. The CD has actually been offered for sale on his website for sometime now. Brought under the wing of veteran keyboardist Jeff Lorber and producer Paul Brown, you are certain of quality performances and audio. As mentioned above, Chris Botti and A.Ray Fuller join Grady on this effort which opens with the two very strong tracks Tuesday Afternoon and the very urban Livin' the Life. Other highlights include the single All Right, End of the Night with Botti, and the best track on the CD, Alone With You which exhibits Grady's superb alto voice. Sophistication is as good or better than 2004 releases of Euge Groove, Kim Waters and Marion Meadows. This is definitely a spiritual, soulful, talented artist on the verge of a deserved breakthrough....