During the UK's first COVID-19 lockdown, Nichol Thompson and Shawn Lee decided to join forces, call themselves the Superhighway Band, make an album inspired by their love of smooth jazz, fusion and turn-of-the-'80s jazz-funk by the name of “Studio City” and release it in 2021.
Now another track from these sessions is released as their new single. Both Thompson and Lee are highly talented multi-instrumentalists with a deep love of the sounds they're emulating (think CTI Records, George Duke, Quincy Jones and the Crusaders), and while listening to “Catalina” you can genuinely tell. Funky, polished, brilliantly performed and blessed with some genuinely righteous horn arrangements, it's a hugely enjoyable.
I discovered this album when catching up to the always accurate online Mixcloud radio show:
The Jazz Pit
Specifically, episode - 'Yacht Rock Pt. 2' which has "Winners" by Young Gun Sliver Fox open the show.
It immediately got my attention for it's quality in terms of pacing in that as a single it's not to fast but not to slow just the right riddim.
On, listening to that track and the host of The Jazz Pit declaring that the entire album is impressive lead me to purchase it. Your Mother
This is the best album Shawn Lee has ever made. Not only will this be the album of all time for generations to come, I also sympathize with your unfortunate chili pepper accident, I hope your pp is doing better now. Sycamore Tree