Album Notes

Grammy nominee, Fusion / Smooth Jazz pioneer, Jeff Lorber produced "Sophistication," which features performances by Lorber and Chris Botti ("End of the Night") and Ray Fuller ("Sneak"). Producer/Engineer/Artist Paul Brown mixed the project. SmoothJazz.com claimed: "The title says it all...Sophistication. This indeed is a sophisticated, polished, impeccably produced and performed Smooth Jazz sax album!" Sophistication features two charting singles: "Tuesday Morning" and "Sneak."

Awards

"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.

Quotes

“Grady Nichols is the awesome new sax player for the millennium.” – Jeff Lorber

“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

“Most likely to spearhead the next generation of great smooth artists.” – Jazziz

“Nichols main asset thus far is his superb playing. While there’s plenty of generic sax stuff out there, Nichols is able to make a thoroughly modern smooth jazz CD without sounding derivative. That’s an accomplishment.” – Smoothvibes.com

“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

“Saxophonist Grady Nichols exhibits a melodic, easy going smooth-jazz sound on 'Sophistication.'” –Jazz Times

“The Tulsa based saxman may have been one of the least known performers on the bill at the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, but his appearance with some of the top saxmen in the genre confirms his emerging status as a star on the rise.” – Smooth Jazz News

“The dude has skills. They’re well displayed on Sophistication and with this release; Nichols is making a serious bid for wider audience appreciation. He deserves it too.” – JazzReview.com