Greg Doggett en Francisca Thomas nemen ons mee op een “Flight”

Smooth jazz lovers, listen up. Producer and multi-instrumentalist Greg Doggett made a name for himself as one-half of the Doggett Brothers. Together the UK collective honed in on an eclectic jazz fusion style that merged acid jazz sounds of Incognito and Jamiroquai with the proud musical inspirations of Doggett’s pop’s record collection — George Benson, Chuck Corea, Average White Band, just to name a few.

After releasing several albums in the 2010’s that featured the vocal work of UK blue-eyed soul icon Kenny Thomas, Nate James and SoulTracks favorite Jarrod Lawson, Greg is finally stepping out on his own with his very first solo output this year. And he’s kicking things off with the riveting lead single “First Flight.” 

Inside the mostly instrumental offering, you can hear vibes that feel reminiscent or partially inspired by Earth, Wind & Fire’s mostly groove-heavy instrumental odysseys like “Runnin” and “Africano.” The song remains true to its title as it takes flight with musical gusto and is serenaded on all sides by Francisca Thomas, the wife of Kenny Thomas. Doggett is surrounded by a wealth of talent, including a lively rhythm section complete with horns, Shakatak’s George Anderson on bass, and excellent drum work from his brother Carl Doggett. 

This style of music is close to Doggett’s heart, something he conveys both on and off the record. “I want to create genuine authentic jazz funk for the real lovers,” he said. “I want the listener to ‘feel’ the depth of the music, so everything is live.” 

No confirmation on a full-length solo LP, but we’re hoping there’s more to come from Doggett. And with this First Listen, we are definitely “in flight” with anticipation.