For those not in the know, as America takes a breath of fresh air, contemporary jazz keyboardist Patrick Bradley dropped Exhale, his fifth album.

When he and producer-saxophonist Darren Rahn wrote the soothing, mellifluous title track last summer while the nation was in the grips of the coronavirus and civil unrest, it was a piece of music that seemed to capture what Bradley was feeling the world needed: an exhalation of fear, worry and division and an inhalation of hope, unity and peace.

Subsequently, the track was among Billboard’s most added new singles when the album released January 1st, 2021.

1. 'Completely Yours'
2. 'Reinvention'
3. 'Exhale'
4. 'Song of May' (feat. Darren Rahn)
5. 'Sip' n the Breeze'
6. 'Cat Man Blues' (feat. Rick Braun)
7. 'Meant to Be' (feat. Darren Rahn)
8. 'Lighthouse (feat. Allen Hinds)
9. 'In the Heart of the Seas'
10. 'Providence'
11. 'Walk with Me'

Opening with the free flowing majesty of 'Completely Yours,' that's backed by the uplifting notes of 'Reinvention,' the beautiful ebb and flow of the lushly orchestrated title track 'Exhale,' and then we get both 'Song of May' (feat. Darren Rahn) and the foot-tappin' funky tones of 'Sip' n the Breeze.'

Next up is one of my own personal favorites, the full steam head, R&B jazzcapade of 'Cat Man Blues' (feat. Rick Braun) which is itself followed by the translucent 'Meant to Be' (once again feat. Darren Rahn), and then the upbeat, yet subdued rock guitar of 'Lighthouse' (feat. Allen Hinds) is brought to the fore.

Keeping that tame rock edge, next we get 'In the Heart of the Seas,' which is backed more funk on 'Providence,' with the album coming to a close on the euphoric, '70s prog operaesque imbibed 'Walk with Me.'

Bradley says the messages in the eleven new songs he wrote for this Exhale album, most of which were written with Rahn in addition to a pair of tunes cowritten and produced by GRAMMY winner Jeff Lorber, were intentional and spiritually rooted.

His focused vision for the collection of jazz, fusion, rock, blues, funk, R&B and pop instrumentals comes to life with the aid of Rahn (saxophone, keyboards, synths & programming), Lorber (keyboards, synth bass & guitar), guitarist Michael Thompson, horn player and arranger David Mann, bassist Mel Brown, percussionist Christian Teele, and drummers Tarell Martin, Gary Novak and Dave Weckl.

Chart-toppers Rahn and trumpeter Rick Braun along with guitarist Allen Hinds are featured soloists, joining Bradley who shines with nimble and fervent keyboards, piano and organ work.

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