Streetwize

Streetwize is a charting contemporary jazz studio recording project led by saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:6kgHtfY7ECO4JWbOpXOu4I">Kim Waters</a>. His regular collaborators include vocalist Maysa Leak and guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:6qA8zAyPYgmtPQtQz2G96a">Ken Navarro</a>; the rest of the lineup fluctuates according to a particular recording's needs. Since 2002's Streetwize: Smooth Urban Jazz, they have almost exclusively recorded jazz covers of contemporary rap and R&B hits, though <a href="spotify:artist:6kgHtfY7ECO4JWbOpXOu4I">Waters</a>' love of vintage R&B, funk, and disco is acknowledged by including a classic song or two on most productions. Their sophomore date, Work It, went all the way to number two on the contemporary jazz charts. 2006's Does Dre was their first to focus on a single artist. 2012's Feelin' Sexy offered ballads and 21st century love songs; it went to number three, as did the following year's Body Party. 2015's Does the Divas was the project's first to focus exclusively on female vocalists. After a five-year hiatus, <a href="spotify:artist:6kgHtfY7ECO4JWbOpXOu4I">Waters</a> brought the project back for 2020's Ocean Eyes. Lift Me Up appeared in 2024.

<a href="spotify:artist:6kgHtfY7ECO4JWbOpXOu4I">Waters</a> created the Streetwize project following 2001's From the Heart, inspired by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Blue+Note%22">Blue Note</a>'s mid-'60s tendency to encourage their artists to cover pop hits from charting artists of the day. He was also playing more covers live that resonated with fans. He proposed Streetwize to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Shanachie%22">Shanachie</a> and they greenlighted it. 2002's Smooth Urban Jazz featured versions of <a href="spotify:artist:3LIJJJkO7R5RasRwt7xIn5">Mystikal</a>'s "Shake It Fast," <a href="spotify:artist:0urTpYCsixqZwgNTkPJOJ4">Aaliyah</a>'s "Rock the Boat," and <a href="spotify:artist:336vr2M3Va0FjyvB55lJEd">D'Angelo</a>'s "Brown Sugar." While it didn't chart, it did win enthusiastic critical notice. 2003's Work It polished the edges off tracks made popular by <a href="spotify:artist:2wIVse2owClT7go1WT98tk">Missy Elliott</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7IfculRW2WXyzNQ8djX8WX">Erykah Badu</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2DlGxzQSjYe5N6G9nkYghR">Jennifer Lopez</a>, and featured <a href="spotify:artist:3Rsba5XTDhxUyjK4sn1wBj">Randy Brecker</a>, Erica Wilson, <a href="spotify:artist:2UTzELEmZE65dDKRmzj7S6">David Mann</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:02L5Rmh1RtTbHOBdzPzfoQ">Chuck Loeb</a> in the lineup. The set peaked at number three on the Contemporary Jazz chart. Streetwize changed it up for 2004's sultry Slow Jamz. It included a pair of <a href="spotify:artist:53QzNeFpzAaXYnrDBbDrIp">Isley Brothers</a> tributes in "Don't Say Goodnight" and "Between the Sheets." Among its other selections were <a href="spotify:artist:0AunegKKH2ys98aLxq8G1A">Avant</a>'s Read Your Mind" and <a href="spotify:artist:6vWDO969PvNqNYHIOW5v0m">Beyonce</a>'s "Me, Myself and I." It too peaked at number three.

Two years later, the band returned with Does Dre, the project's first outing to focus on the work of a single artist. In addition to <a href="spotify:artist:6DPYiyq5kWVQS4RGwxzPC7">Dr. Dre</a> hits, it included versions of tracks he produced, including <a href="spotify:artist:7dGJo4pcD2V6oG8kP0tJRR">Eminem</a>'s "My Name Is," <a href="spotify:artist:7hJcb9fa4alzcOq3EaNPoG">Snoop Dogg</a>'s "Gin and Juice," and "Nuthin' But a G Thang." The band continued in the slow jam/cover song mode on 2007's Sexy Love, titled after the <a href="spotify:artist:21E3waRsmPlU7jZsS13rcj">Ne-Yo</a> hit. It also included <a href="spotify:artist:0ZrpamOxcZybMHGg1AYtHP">Robin Thicke</a>'s "Lost Without U" and <a href="spotify:artist:5K4W6rqBFWDnAN6FQUkS6x">Kanye West</a>'s "Heaven (Only Knows)." The set's closer was a reading of Thom Bell's smash <a href="spotify:artist:6YPRXu1dazGYcSZv4HJEH4">Delfonics</a>' vehicle "La La (Means I Love You)." The album peaked at number nine on the Contemporary Jazz chart and number nine on the Jazz Albums list.

In 2008 the group returned to focusing on a single artist with Streetwize Does Mary J Blige. Delivering 11 of <a href="spotify:artist:1XkoF8ryArs86LZvFOkbyr">Blige</a>'s songs, <a href="spotify:artist:6kgHtfY7ECO4JWbOpXOu4I">Waters</a> enlisted producer/keyboardist <a href="spotify:artist:057eeHuaF5QTCQ76X2PRZ5">Chris "Big Dog" Davis</a>, guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:0qKKbqr4TDPlDo1bo94IZ6">Rohn Lawrence</a>, and backing vocalist of <a href="spotify:artist:72gNSGVgeyEjMDvc1gGHGm">Timmy Maia</a>. The set peaked at number four on the Contemporary Jazz charts, number ten at Jazz Albums, and number 26 on the R&B/Hip Hop Albums list. <a href="spotify:artist:6kgHtfY7ECO4JWbOpXOu4I">Waters</a> also enjoyed chart-topping success on the Contemporary Jazz chart, as well as Top 200 success that year with his own I Want You: Love in the Spirit of Marvin. Streetwize issued Put U to Bed in 2009. The set included readings of <a href="spotify:artist:4iHNK0tOyZPYnBU7nGAgpQ">Mariah Carey</a>'s "My Love," David Balfour's "Chopped 'N' Skrewed," The Dream's "Bed," and <a href="spotify:artist:60ciIY5MouLc2Y9n34DJdA">Ledisi</a>'s "In the Morning." It spent seven weeks on the Contemporary Jazz chart and peaked at number eight.

<a href="spotify:artist:6kgHtfY7ECO4JWbOpXOu4I">Waters</a> was busy recording and touring his own records over the next couple of years. 2010 and 2011 saw him net a pair of Top Five outings in Love Stories and This Heart of Mine. He reassembled Streetwize for 2012's Feelin' Sexy. It included covers by <a href="spotify:artist:0ZrpamOxcZybMHGg1AYtHP">Robin Thicke</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2mxe0TnaNL039ysAj51xPQ">R. Kelly</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2h93pZq0e7k5yf4dywlkpM">Frank Ocean</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2DzRMyWgjuMbYvt5BLbpCo">Anthony Hamilton</a>, as well as a read of the <a href="spotify:artist:2YdVmtVBpIrv0N6WiBzSqm">Atlantic Starr</a> ballad "Send for Me." The set spent 20 weeks on the Contemporary Jazz chart, peaking at number three. It also spent 17 weeks on the Jazz Albums list and peaked at number seven.

The following year, Streetwize netted another Top Five hit with Body Party. Subtitled "Smooth Urban Jazz Vibes on Today's #1 R&B Hits!", it included versions of <a href="spotify:artist:2NdeV5rLm47xAvogXrYhJX">Ciara</a>'s title track, <a href="spotify:artist:3TVXtAsR1Inumwj472S9r4">Drake</a>'s "Hold On, We're Going Home," and <a href="spotify:artist:1MT1Wz4G9Z9EVOg4L5zZMS">Tamar Braxton</a>'s "The One." The album also placed inside the Top Ten at Jazz Albums. <a href="spotify:artist:6kgHtfY7ECO4JWbOpXOu4I">Waters</a> followed the formula on 2015's Does the Divas! Subtitled "Smooth Urban Jazz Vibes on Today's #1 R&B Divas!", it offered spirited readings of <a href="spotify:artist:6LqNN22kT3074XbTVUrhzX">Kesha</a>'s "Blow," <a href="spotify:artist:1XkoF8ryArs86LZvFOkbyr">Blige</a>'s "Whole Damn Year," <a href="spotify:artist:60ciIY5MouLc2Y9n34DJdA">Ledisi</a>'s "I Blame You," <a href="spotify:artist:5ZS223C6JyBfXasXxrRqOk">Jhené Aiko</a>'s "The Worst," and Sabrina's "Bang Bang." It reached number 15 on the Contemporary Jazz albums list.

<a href="spotify:artist:6kgHtfY7ECO4JWbOpXOu4I">Waters</a> remained occupied by solo duties over the next several years. After a holiday-themed album for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Red+River%22">Red River</a>, he returned to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Shanachie%22">Shanachie</a> for 2016's Top 20 Rhythm and Romance, and 2018's Top Five What I Like. He reassembled Streetwize for 2020's Ocean Eyes. Titled after the <a href="spotify:artist:6qqNVTkY8uBg9cP3Jd7DAH">Billie Eilish</a> hit, the ten-song set also included smooth jazz interpretations of <a href="spotify:artist:7bXgB6jMjp9ATFy66eO08Z">Chris Brown</a>'s "No Guidance," <a href="spotify:artist:3Y7RZ31TRPVadSFVy1o8os">H.E.R.</a>'s "Best Part," <a href="spotify:artist:6LuN9FCkKOj5PcnpouEgny">Khalid</a>'s "Talk," and <a href="spotify:artist:20wkVLutqVOYrc0kxFs7rA">Daniel Caesar</a>'s "Get You."

In 2024, Streetwize returned with Lift Me Up, a ten-track volume offering contemporary jazz readings of contemporary R&B and hip-hop hits, including <a href="spotify:artist:6PvvGcCY2XtUcSRld1Wilr">Silk Sonic</a>'s "Leave the Door Open," <a href="spotify:artist:5SuNzdjvXzQzS22cDaspKe">Rhianna</a>'s "Lift Me Up," <a href="spotify:artist:56oDRnqbIiwx4mymNEv7dS">Lizzo</a>'s "About Damn Time," <a href="spotify:artist:246dkjvS1zLTtiykXe5h60">Post Malone</a>'s "I Like You," and <a href="spotify:artist:5cj0lLjcoR7YOSnhnX0Po5">Doja Cat</a>'s "Kiss Me More"-- all reimagined in the smooth urban jazz style they're known for globally. ~ Matt Collar & Thom Jurek, Rovi