Jason Weber - Can U Feel Me Now?
When, back in 2002, I reviewed Jason Weber’s album Something Blue I described it as “a far above average example of good smooth jazz with quality sax playing throughout and a consistently compelling beat that holds the listener firmly in place over each of the thirteen self penned tracks”.

Now he has built on all of that for his fifth solo release, the most confident and powerful to date, ‘Can U Feel Me Now?’. Written and produced by Weber, this is a high octane chunk of funk that is off the chain from the get go and stays that way.

As said, ‘Can U Feel Me Now?’ is an album that pulls no punches and opens with a bang courtesy of the big and funky title track. It features Morris Pleasure on Rhodes, who has played with, among others, Earth Wind and Fire, Janet Jackson and Boney James, and is a cut that really rocks from start to finish.

Amid an ocean of funk there are several tracks that really catch the attention. ‘House Is A Home’ is perhaps the CD’s most radio ready tune. With a nice hook it starts out mid tempo but really gets on a roll with an excellent guitar break from Mike DeRose and notable drumming throughout from Rodney Zinnen. Equally good is ‘(Just Another) Urban Legend’ which again is funky but where Weber gets a Euge Groove sound going and Michael Leroy Peed, who has played with Richard Elliot, Stanley Clarke and Ronnie Laws, contributes great keyboards.

‘Brainfreez’, more up tempo funk with Weber blowing up a melodic storm, is arguably the best track on the album while ‘Spirit Unbroken’ has that big Jason Weber sound with a melody running through it and wailing guitar from Patrick Yandall. Also featured is drummer Steve Ferrone who can be found on six tracks in all. Ferrone has played with the Average White Band, Eric Clapton and also Patti Austin with whom he contributed to what I consider to be one of the best fusion numbers of all time, ‘Hurry Home’ from her 1994 release on GRP That Secret Place.

With ‘Can U Feel Me Now?’ Jason Weber is making a statement that it’s OK for smooth jazz to be loud and funky. What he has to offer plays well on record and promises to be exceptional in a live setting. He can be found playing solo every Monday at Crivello Ristorante Italiano, Wildomar CA and every Friday at the Ritz Carlton – Laguna Niguel, Dana Point CA. However in order to register the total impact of Can U Feel Me Now? check him out with his full band on August 25 at the Promenade Mall Jazz Series in Temecula CA, on August 28 at Humphries By The Bay in San Diego CA where he will be part of the KIFM Lites Out Night and on September 3 at Romano’s in Riverside CA.
Denis Poole - www.smoothjazzvibes.com

It must be a daunting experience these days to try to break into the Smooth Jazz genre as a saxophone player. With the likes of Boney James, Gerald Albright, Wayne Braxton and Eric Marienthal raising the bar to nearly unreachable levels anyone looking to be noticed has to bring something new and different to the table these days. Jason Weber manages to set up an aural buffet that should satisfy even the most discriminating musical palate. Something Blue is Jason's fourth release since his debut First Avenue was released in 1996. This album is a potpourri of sounds and musical visions. It opens with the tastefully sedate "Reflections." From here we make our way over to "J Street" for a little funkification. Jason tones things down again with the lilting melody "Alone In Paradise." If this is paradise I'll gladly stay here, alone or otherwise. The title track showcases the, I guess you could say, blue, aspect of the album. Things get moving again with the exuberant "Here & There But Nowhere." And, finally, the last cut asks that musical question, "Got Funk?" The short answer? Oh Yeah!! Get funk, get blue, get filled with all the goodies you can get with Jason Weber's Something Blue.
Derick Winterberg - The Smooth Jazz Site

While my desk is always piled high with heavily promoted smooth-jazz releases from major & independent artists we've all heard of, it's good on occasion to discover a few lesser-known talents who are just as deserving of coverage & accolades. If there's any justice, Jason Weber's popularity on MP3 will lead him to the kind of career success that Euge Groove has enjoyed since he created a buzz on the same internet outlet. Weber is all about diversity on his disc Something Blue, which switches effortlessly between four saxes & a flute & is backed by keyboardist Marcel East & guitarist Patrick Yandall. The music ranges from wistful, cool seductions on "Reflections" & "Alone In Paradise" to slamming funk on "J Street".
 Jonathan Widran - Jazziz Magazine