Guitarist Ken Navarro, in a first for a smooth jazz artist and in an attempt to get his music heard by as many people as possible, is making his upcoming CD The Grace of Summer Light available for streaming more than a month before its official release. Navarro says that the best way for his fans to understand what he’s accomplished with his new music, and to follow the story he’s telling with these compositions, is to hear the CD in its entirety. Of course, he’s also hoping that those who hear it will then want to purchase it.
You can listen to the entire 10-song CD in high-quality audio by going to kennavarro.com. The official release date for The Grace of Summer Light is June 17. That will be proceeded, however, by the exclusive download release beginning May 5 on kennavarro.com.
What’s your favorite smooth jazz songs by Dave Koz? The saxophonist is looking for your opinion as he is asking fans to vote for their three all-time favorite Koz songs as he plans to release his first-ever greatest hits CD in September. Koz makes the request on a humorous three-minute video that you can view at brickmanmedia.com/koz. During the video, Koz discloses several tongue-in-cheek secrets to making a hit single, including wearing a robe, eating a cantaloupe and warming up his fingers with a video game.
Making a cameo in the video is Koz’s niece Holly, who plays a kazoo while Koz plays a portion of his smash hit “You Make Me Smile.” That song is just one of Koz’s greatest hits, joining such classics as “Together Again,” “Let It Free,” “Honey-Dipped, “All I See Is You,” “The Bright Side” and “Can’t Let You Go,” among many others.
Saxophonist and vocalist Mindi Abair will soon be having a worldwide CD release party unlike any you’ve heard of before. On May 1, Abair will be streaming a live, interactive show while previewing songs from her upcoming CD Stars thanks to deeprockdrive.com, which bills itself as the world’s first live interactive entertainment service.
Abair will be performing for a crowd of 5,000 people at Deep Rock Drive’s soundstage in Las Vegas. The concert is fully interactive and will allow those who stream it to vote for the songs they want to hear. Fans can also choose and adjust camera angles and even chat with everyone else attending as well as with Abair during the show. To take part in the experience, go to deeprockdrive.com and sign up. The show begins at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
"We’ve never done anything like this," says Abair. "And I have to say when it presented itself, I just sat there kind of wide-eyed. And I said, that is the coolest idea I’ve ever heard in my life. I mean, it’s so interactive it’s just ridiculous. And you’re there right in the room, via the Internet, with us."
Abair's new CD, Stars, will be released on May 6.
Saxophonist Dave Koz and his sister Roberta have created a brand-new company in honor of their late mother they’re calling Cookies For a Koz. Koz says that his mother Audrey Koz, who died in 2005, spent her adult life spreading happiness, love and smiles through the proliferation of her chocolate chip cookies.
Cookies For A Koz is Koz's way of ensuring that the special magic and love she put into every batch lives on. As the name implies, this company is also committed to raising money for an important cause: the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, which helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment and education. This was Audrey’s favorite charity, and Koz has long been global ambassador. Ten percent of the purchase price of these cookies goes directly to Starlight.
Cookies available are original chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, white chocolate chip, and snickerdoodle. For more information, go to cookiesforakoz.com.
Carl Evans Jr., a founding member of the veteran San Diego-based smooth jazz group Fattburger, passed away on April 10 at age 53 due to complications from diabetes. In December, Evans underwent surgery to remove his left leg below the knee. Several benefits were held in San Diego to help pay for Evans’ medical costs, including one featuring friend and bassist Nathan East of Fourplay.
Fattburger – which features guitarist Evan Marks, bassist Mark Hunter, drummer Kevin Koch and percussionist Tommy Aros – also played a benefit show. It was in September 2006 that Fattburger saxophonist Hollis Gentry died two years after being involved in a serious automobile accident.
Public viewing will be held April 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary in San Diego. A service will held April 19 at 10 a.m. at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in San Diego.
Saxophonist Kenny G, who has announced plans to create a music academy in China, is now seriously contemplating his next step: moving to Shanghai for the first six months of 2009 to help get the process rolling. Kenny is a frequent visitor to the country, where last year he debuted his G-Series line of saxophones in Shanghai before unveiling them at a trade show in the U.S. this past January. Kenny also recently performed at the closing ceremony of China's Special Olympics.
The saxophonist, who lives in Southern California, says an academy in China would be his way of giving back, and he wants to make it easier for students to start playing musical instruments. He adds that, in an effort to make the academy accessible to all, he’s looking for a sponsor to help with costs. By the way, Kenny has six shows planned in China during late April and early May.
"There’s a lot of stuff I want to get done over there," Kenny says. "My music’s super popular there, and I think I can get a lot accomplished. I want to partner with somebody, so I have find the right endorsee and the right sponsor. I know that the future’s there for me in that sense, giving back and having an academy where I can teach students. And maybe I’ll do a master class like once every quarter. They’ll be teachers there that can teach music the way that I would teach it. I can show them my style of teaching and hopefully help a lot of people get really into music."
Denny Jiosa, a great Nashville-based guitarist, has released a new smooth jazz CD titled Dreams Like This, his sixth overall and first of all-new music since 2002’s Body 2 Body. Jiosa is well-known for his smooth jazz single "Lights of the City” from his 1996 CD Inner Voices.
Dreams Like This – an enhanced CD featuring performance and interview videos – offers Jiosa’s version of one of the most popular songs of all time: “Sunny.” In a major coup, Denny played his version to Bobby Hebb – who wrote and recorded the song in 1966 – and Hebb liked it so much he agreed to perform on it.
As a promotion for the new CD, those who subscribe to the mailing list at jiosajazz.com will receive a free copy of Denny’s Jazzberry Pie CD if they purchase Dreams Like This by March 8.
British-based instrumentalist and producer Paul Hardcastle, whose “Lucky Star” is the No. 1 smooth jazz song in the country, has just started an American Idol-like contest searching for talented singers. Hardcastle says he’s looking for outstanding, soulful voices that would fit into the smooth jazz or R&B music formats.
He says that his fans can look for exciting new projects soon from a new record label he’s creating called, appropriately enough, Hardcastle Records. As you may know, the creator of “American Idol” and similar worldwide versions of the show is British entertainment executive Simon Fuller. Fuller called his company 19 Entertainment after Hardcastle’s 1985 dance hit titled “19” since he managed Hardcastle at the time.
If you’re interested in having Hardcastle hear a sample of your voice, e-mail a demo in mp3 format or another format to Feedbacktrax@mac.com. For more information, you can go to Hardcastle's website at paulhardcastle19.com.
Keyboardist, composer and producer Philippe Saisse, has moved to Southern California after many years of life in New York City and in the New York suburb of Scarsdale. Saisse, who was born and raised in France, is finally settled in with his wife Laura and young son Dorian after what he calls a whirlwind move.
In a career-enhancing move, Saisse has decided to live in the western Los Angeles County city of Calabasas, which he jokingly refers to as the smooth jazz capital of the world. Among the many smooth jazz performers who live in or near the area are Jonathan Butler, Rick Braun, Chris Standring, Norman Brown, Greg Adams, Paul Brown and Euge Groove.
Saisse has plenty to keep him busy, as he is now writing music for the follow-up to his The Body & Soul Sessions, which featured the No. 1 smooth jazz single “Do It Again.”
He hopes to offer the CD, to be released by the Koch record label, in the fall.
Smooth jazz star Michael Lington is single no more, as the saxophonist has posted a picture of himself and his new wife, Shivaune Christina, on his website. There were married late last year in a secretive ceremony. The picture is from a recent issue of 944, a style and celebrity magazine with regional issues in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County, California.
Lington and his wife were photographed attending a chartity event in Los Angeles. Lington is 38 and his new wife, who is 28 and six-feet tall, represented Australia at the 2003 Miss Earth beauty pageant. She has worked in modeling and television broadcasting and owns Angelic Services, a media relations company focused on talent and relationship management.
Saxophonist Dave Koz has announced that he will be releasing two CDs in 2008. First, Koz expects to offer his first-ever best-of CD featuring his No. 1 smooth jazz singles, a long list that includes “Let It Free,” “Honey-Dipped, “All I See Is You,” “The Bright Side” and “Can’t Let You Go,” among many others. The best-of CD will also have a few new songs. Then, Koz says he will focus on a new CD of original music that would not be a continuation of his current, Grammy-nominated At The Movies. That would make it his first CD of original material since Saxophonic, released in October of 2003.
Meanwhile, you won’t have to wait very long for some even more new material by Koz. On Feb. 12, he will offer Double Feature, a CD and DVD combination based on his At The Movies that will have two bonus songs in addition to the DVD showing the creation of the project.
Keyboardist and producer Jeff Lorber, whose latest CD is nominated for a Grammy, follows saxophonist Mindi Abair as the latest artist to sign a recording contract with Peak Records, the expanding smooth jazz record label co-founded by Russ Freeman of the Rippingtons. Peak is a subsidiary of Concord Records.
Lorber joins a roster that in addition to Abair includes The Rippingtons, Marc Antoine, Gerald Albright, Paul Taylor, Norman Brown, Lee Ritenour, Will Downing, Eric Marienthal, David Benoit and Jessy J. Jeff’s most recent CD, He Had a Hat, which featured the smooth jazz hit “Anthem for a New America,” was released on Blue Note Records. The CD is nominated in the Best Contemporary Jazz Album category, and Lorber will find out if he’s a winner when the Grammy Awards are held Feb. 10.
Jeff’s first CD for Peak – which features collaborations with veteran smooth jazz composer and producer Rex Rideout – will be released on June 10.
Fans of Paul Hardcastle, who has a Top 5 smooth jazz single with “Lucky Star,” haven’t had many places to catch up on the goings-on of the British-based instrumentalist and producer since he closed up his official website a few years ago. There are unauthorized fan sites, and his record label has some biographical information at trippinrecords.com.
Now, however, Hardcastle has just unveiled a personalized website at paulhardcastle19.com. The “19,” by the way, refers to his worldwide smash hit from 1985. The home page features a full stream of “The Return of the Rainman,” a song taken from his forthcoming CD, Hardcastle 5. Hardcastle has also included exclusive photos of himself, friends and family, a news section where he maintains a blog and an “Exclusive” section where he’ll highlight songs. And just added are two treats: a never-before-released tune titled "Run Free" and a track Hardcastle recorded titled "70s Cop Show," which he says could wind up a future CD.
There are also separate sections on both of his kids, 21-year-old Maxine (pictured in photo) and 16-year-old Paul Jr. Both have appeared on their father’s CDs, and in fact Hardcastle Jr. wrote and performed a song called “Take 1” for Hardcastle 5, which will be released Feb. 5.
"It’s got some funny bits about my son, about Maxine, what she’s doing," Hardcastle says. "And it’s also go some photos of when my wife did me a surprise party over in Spain for my 50th birthday. So yeah, it’s just meant as a little bit of fun. Just for catching up with little bits of news and things like that. It’s just for a laugh, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it."
Pianist Ramsey Lewis has confirmed that a live tour based on his “Legends of Jazz” syndicated radio show and PBS television series will have at least 15 dates. They will be spread out one or two dates at a time as opposed to a conventional tour. There are plans to have about 15 show in various markets around the U.S. So far there is one confirmed show, April 24 in Newport News, VA.
There will be two different packages depending on location. One will feature the Ramsey Lewis Trio, saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera and the smooth jazz group Fourplay, which consists of Bob James, Larry Carlton, Nathan East and Harvey Mason. The other lineup has vocalist Kurt Elling with his trio, saxophonist and flutist Ernie Watts and the Ethel String Quartet performing a program of ballads popularized by legendary saxophonist John Coltrane on his 1962 Ballads album and on his classic 1963 album with vocalist Johnny Hartman.
Kenny G made the U.S. debut of his long-awaited line of saxophones in Anaheim, Calif., at the annual National Association of Music Merchants show, more commonly known as NAMM. The G-Series Saxophones and Educational Series Saxophones are based those he has been using for many years and was co-designed by Rheuben Allen, a Southern California-based maker and repairer of saxophones.
The G-Series soprano saxophone, tailored for professional musicians, comes in three versions and vary in price. The alto and tenor saxophones are designed for students, with the alto retailing for $1,495 and the tenor for $1,695. During the show, Kenny demonstrated his soprano sax line by performing “Sabor A Mi” and other songs from his forthcoming CD Rhythm and Romance. The CD will be in stores on Feb. 5th.
For more information on Kenny’s saxophone lines, you can go to a new site he’s created at kennygsaxophones.com.
Back in 1989, guitarist Chris Standring recorded his first album in his native London with a group of session players. He titled it Main Course and headed off to Los Angeles, where he now lives, to try to get a label to release the record, which is all instrumental songs except for one track. It features original songs and a cover of “Where Is the Love?” The album of jazz-fusion wasn’t released, however.
Now, Standring has digitized Main Course – which I've heard and loved; fans should really get this – from the original master tapes and is offering it as a free download to fans who pre-order his upcoming CD, Love & Paragraphs.
"I think for a long time I didn’t actually want anybody to hear this," Standring says. "But I kind of do now. I had these grandiose aspirations of moving over and getting big tours and being a superstar All that stuff. I think it was a good album. It might not have been what they were used to hearing. I mean they were starting to go into the commercial formats over here, and it’s not that. It’s very much an indulgent, fusion-y type record where I’m starting to stretch out a little bit."
The new CD, which Chris is offering on his own Ultimate Vibe Recordings record label, will officially be released on April 22. To order Standring's new CD along with the free download, go to chrisstandring.com
Mack Avenue Records, which this year begins its second decade, has announced the acquisition of Los Angeles-based Artistry Music Group, a label co-founded by smooth jazz bassist and producer Brian Bromberg. Under the agreement, Artistry will remain an imprint of Mack Avenue and will continue its emphasis on smooth jazz and adult-oriented music. Bromberg will not be involved in any management capacity, but will continue to release albums with Artistry.
Artistry was founded in 2005 by Bromberg, vocalist Rahsaan Patterson and music industry veterans Lucille Hunt and Denny Stilwell. Stilwell has been named president of Mack Avenue, and Hunt will remain as licensing and publishing director. Patterson will also continue to record for Artistry. Artistry's recent successes include a 2007 Grammy nomination for Bromberg in the Best Contemporary Jazz Album category for “Downright Upright,” which features the hit smooth jazz single “Cantaloupe Island.”
Mack Avenue is home to several artists, including Saturday Night Live band instrumentalist Ron Blake and the newly signed Stanley Jordan.
Two upcoming benefits in California will aid Carl Evans Jr., a founding member of the veteran San Diego-based Smooth Jazz group Fattburger. Evans is currently in the middle of some serious health challenges. On Dec. 10, he underwent surgery to remove his left leg below the knee. This surgery was necessary to continue his ongoing battle against diabetes. On Jan. 1, doctors performed another operation.
To help with medical costs and future care, the Anthology club in San Diego will be hosting two benefit concerts on Jan. 20. Numerous San Diego musicians will performing, including bassist Nathan East of Fourplay, a longtime friend who Evans has known since elementary school. Also on board is saxophonist Charles McPherson, trumpeters Brian Lynch and Gilbert Castellanos, and keyboardist Rob Whitlock. All net proceeds will benefit the Carl Evans Jr. Health Relief Fund through Washington Mutual. Donations can be made directly to this fund at any time at any Washington Mutual bank. For more information on the show, go to fattburger.com.
Fattburger itself – which now features guitarist Evan Marks, bassist Mark Hunter, drummer Kevin Koch and percussionist Tommy Aros, plans a benefit show for Evans on Feb. 10 at Humphrey’s in San Diego.
This is the second setback for Fattburger in recent years. In September of 2006, Fattburger saxophonist Hollis Gentry died two years after being involved in a serious automobile accident.
Once again, Grammy Award-winning guitarist Pat Metheny has been named Best Guitarist in the annual readers poll conducted by JazzTimes magazine. In addition, readers named the Pat Metheny Group the top Contemporary/Electric Group. Elsewhere, the late saxophonist Michael Brecker won as Artist of the Year and for New Release for his Pilgrimage CD, which was released after his death. Brecker was also voted by fans into the JazzTimes Hall of Fame.
Other winners include Kenny Garrett, Best Alto Saxophone; Dave Valentin, Best Flute; Poncho Sanchez, Best Percussion; Stanley Clarke, Best Electric Bass; and the late Joe Zawinul, Best Electric Keyboards.
All of the results are the February edition of JazzTimes, which hit newsstands this week.
Kenny G is joining Paul McCartney, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell as the latest artist to have their music for sale at Starbucks. Kenny’s Rhythm & Romance will be offered at Starbucks stores and traditional outlets as part of the fruitful partnership between Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Records.
In November, Kenny and his longtime record label Arista parted ways after the saxophonist’s I’m in the Mood for Love … The Most Romantic Ballads of All Time. The saxophonist's association with Starbucks makes sense. Kenny is a Seattle native who was one of the original investors in the Seattle-based company and is actually a co-owner. A few years ago, Starbucks sponsored Kenny’s tour in the Far East, where the saxophonist helped promote coffee sales.
Kenny says he invested in Starbucks when it just a small company in Seattle, largely due to the charm of then-CEO Howard Schultz. "When it was a privately owned in Seattle, it was owned by just a handful of people that knew about Starbucks," Kenny says. "Everybody knew that Starbucks had really great coffee, and the CEO at that time, he’s such a charismatic guy and so passionate. That's why I invested in the company. I felt that he had a great product. This was a guy that I felt was a winner."
On Rhythm & Romance, Kenny is backed by his longtime pianist Walter Afanasieff, who also produced the CD, as well as Alex Acuña on drums, Ramon Stagnaro on guitar, Enrique Martinez on accordion, John Pena and Nathan East of Fourplay on bass, and Michito Sanchez and Paulino Da Costa on percussion. Chile's Barbara Munoz and Camila supply guest vocals. Songs includes classic selections such as “Besame Mucho” and “Sabor a Mi,” as well as “Brasilia,” “Peruvian Nights,” “Fiesta Loca” and "Salsa Kenny.”
Rhythm and Romance will be available at Starbucks and at retail stores and online on Feb. 5.
Here are one person's picks for Top 10 smooth jazz CDs of the year. Some are more jazz than smooth jazz, such as Jeff Lorber's He Had a Hat and Marcos Ariel's 4 Friends. Some are classic smooth jazz, such as R&R by newcomer Marcus H. Mitchell. Others simply defy categorization, such as Four80East's En Route, which stood head and shoulders above the rest. Whatever they share or don't share, they all have one thing in common: They are damn fine CDs.
1. Four80East, En Route (Native Language)
2. U-Nam, Back From The 80's (Trippin N Rhythm)
3. Euge Groove, Born 2 Groove (Narada)
4. Jeff Golub, Grand Central (Narada)
5. Keiko Matsui, Moyo (Shout Factory)
6. Brian Simpson, Above the Clouds (Rendezvous)
7. Brian Bromberg, Downright Upright (Artistry)
8. Marcos Ariel, 4 Friends (Tenure)
9. Jeff Lorber, He Had a Hat (Narada)
10. Marcus H. Mitchell, R&R (24th)
Smooth jazz guitarist Nils hopes to brighten your holidays by offering a brand-new rendition of “Jingle Bells.” There’s only one place you can get it, however, and that’s at his MySpace page at myspace.com/nilsguitar. Nils is offering the seasonal song as a 99-cent download. Nils’ current Smooth Jazz single is titled “Catnap.” It’s from his latest CD, Ready to Play. The guitarist is now firming up dates for 2008 and already has shows planned in Las Vegas; San Diego; Dayton, Ohio; and San Juan Capistrano, California.
A combination CD and DVD package based on Dave Koz’s At The Movies album will be released by Blue Note on Feb. 5. Double Feature will include the entire CD of Dave’s interpretations of Oscar-winning movie themes, as well as a DVD of performances from Dave and the album’s guest artists, which included Chris Botti, Peter White, Barry Manilow, Anita Baker, Johnny Mathis, Vanessa Williams, Donna Summer and India Arie.
The DVD will also feature commentary by esteemed movie historian and critic Leonard Maltin. A version of the upcoming DVD, Dave Koz At The Movies, aired this summer in the U.S. on PBS television stations.
Guitarist Jeff Golub is offering his first holiday CD, Six String Santa, which he is releasing independently through his Metro Café Records. On the CD, Golub offers his own smooth and funky interpretations of holiday classics like “Deck the Halls,” “Jingle Bells,” “Oh Christmas Tree” and “The First Noel.” In addition, saxophonist Warren Hill is featured on “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Golub's band consists of Chris Palmaro on keyboards, Lincoln Goines on bass, Stephen Ferrone and Shawn Pelton on drums, and Roger Squitero on percussion.
The CD is available as a download or in physical form only at jeffgolub.com.
"I’ve always wanted to do a record of Christmas music, but this year it just happened," Golub says. "I went in the studio, and I think we came up with some very spirited arrangements of these classic songs that I love so much. Now, the inspiration for this came kind of late in the year, so it’s not going to be an official release this year. The only way you can get ‘Six String Santa’ is by going to jeffgolub.com. I hope you like this music enough that you’ll play it at your Christmas party this year."
Trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Richard Elliot have announced that they will tour in 2008 to support their collaboration CD, RnR, whose title track has been one of the top singles of the year by remaining No. 1 for 10 weeks. At this point, Braun and Elliot will begin their tour at the brand-new Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco on Feb. 7, where they will perform for four nights. Ten other cities are included so far, with more likely to be added. The tour will continue through September at least, with a show scheduled Sept. 28 in Oceanside, California. Saxophonist Eric Darius will open the show on Feb. 14 in Phoenix.
The CD “RnR,” released in August, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart. The same week, it reached the top of the smooth jazz charts, where it has remained every week since, except for one week. The CD was released by the ARTizen Music Group, which Braun and Elliot co-founded.
"One of the things we wanted to do was make a record obviously that was accessible to people, that people didn’t feel that it was too much of a left turn," says Elliot. "But at the same time, we wanted to take a few chances and stretch a little bit. One thing we definitely wanted was to have a spontaneity in this record, and almost a kind of a live spark to it, but not taking away from sort of the polish. Trying to get all those things at the same time is not always an easy thing to do, but I think the approach that we took is what gave us all those elements."
If you’re a fan of British-based instrumentalist and producer Paul Hardcastle, you know the number “19” is important to him. It was the name of a 1985 worldwide hit dance song featuring the spoken-word samples of a narrator talking about Vietnam War veterans. As the song makes clear, “19” was the average age of the Vietnam soldier. And Simon Fuller, who was Hardcastle’s manager at the time, would go on to name his entertainment company 19 Management. Fuller then created the British reality series Pop Idol, renamed American Idol in the U.S.
Now, Hardcastle’s management at the Trippin N Rhythm record label is once again noting that Hardcastle’s latest single, “Lucky Star,” is his latest song or CD to debut at No. 19. “Lucky Star,” the first single from the upcoming Hardcastle 5 CD, debuts this week at that lucky number on Radio & Records’ smooth jazz chart. Hardcastle’s management says this is at least the fifth time that one of his songs or CD has debuted at No. 19 on either Radio & Records’ chart or on Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart.
We’ll have to wait to see how the Hardcastle 5 debuts, however, as it won’t be released until Feb. 5.
Kenny G and Arista Records have gone their own ways, ending a 25-year relationship where the saxophonist became the No. 1 selling instrumental artist in history, selling close to 80 million albums worldwide.
The saxophonist has signed a new recording contract with the Concord Music Group, which is also home to Peak Records, co-founded by Russ Freeman of the Rippingtons, and the Heads Up label, which works with many smooth jazz musicians. (It's the second sax coup for Concord recently. In January 2006, another high-profile saxophonist, Boney James, signed to the Concord Music Group after 13 years with Warner Bros.) Kenny G, a close friend of Arista founder Clive Davis, released his debut CD with Arista in 1982 and has compiled 12 No. 1 smooth jazz albums for the label, including his latest titled I’m in the Mood for Love … The Most Romantic Ballads of All Time.
His fifth studio album, “Breathless,” became the No. 1 best selling instrumental album ever, with more than 15 million copies sold, of which 12 million were in the U.S. He broke another record when his first holiday album, Miracles, sold more than 13 million copies, making it the most successful Christmas album to date.
Kenny G's debut CD for Concord, Rhythm and Romance, is scheduled to be released in February.
Saxophonist Kenny G has disclosed that he saved someone’s life at a recent golf tournament in California. It happened when Kenny, an avid golfer who frequently performs in tournaments, spotted someone in a catering tent having who had stopped breathing. Kenny was able to get the person breathing again. Kenny has basic life-saving skills and is knowledgeable about CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. Kenny also has a defibrillator – which is used to restart a failing heart – at his home, but admits it was a gag gift from his wife for his 50th birthday last year.
The saxophonist's next CD, Rhythm and Romance, will be released in February.
Furthering a trend among smooth jazz artists, guitarist Chris Standring has created his own record label, Ultimate Vibe Recordings, which he hopes to develop into a label for niche compilations in the smooth jazz and chill genres. The first CD, however, will be Standring's own and will be released early next year. The new CD, Love & Paragraphs, will be distributed by the ARTizen Music Group, the record label founded by trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Richard Elliot.
The CD, Standring's fifth, features 10 original songs with his core group of Rodney Lee, Andre Berry, Rico Belled, Eric Valentine, David Karasony, Larry Steen and Jeff Robinson, along with a new vocalist from England, Mary Cassidy. In addition, saxophonist Everette Harp and keyboardist Jeff Lorber have guest appearances. Songs include the title track, “As Luck Would Have It,” “Liquid Soul,” “Ooh Bop” and “CS in the Sunshine.”
"I just want to be in control now," Standring says. "I sell CDs at shows and online now and I need to be able to contractually be able to do that now without having to go through other people and make it happen. Ostensibly this is to release my own albums. But I do intend to get into releasing maybe some niche-market compilation CDs. I’m gonna be very, very cautious about it. I do have an advantage with my Internet marketing experience. I can shift a lot of CDs online, in a way that pretty much everybody else haven’t figured out how to do yet. So it really makes sense for me to be doing this."
Early in November, keyboardist Brian Culbertson will enter the studio to record a brand-new project that he says will be an old-school funk record. The CD will be his follow-up to It’s On Tonight, which he released in July of 2005 on the GRP record label, the same label that will release the as-yet untitled CD. “It’s On Tonight” spent more than 100 weeks on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart and featured the No. 1 smooth jazz hits “Hookin’ Up” and “Let’s Get Started.”
The new CD, to be recorded mostly live in the studio, will have both original and cover songs. Two of the cover songs, which Culbertson says will not be typical of the originals, are the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Band” and David Bowie’s “Fame.” The CD is scheduled to be released in April to coincide with the annual Berks Jazz Festival in Pennsylvania.
British-based instrumentalist and producer Paul Hardcastle has finished recording the latest in his Hardcastle CD series, Paul Hardcastle 5. Hardcastle alternates between his Hardcastle and Jazzmasters projects and his last CD, 2006’s Jazzmasters 5, featured the No. 1 smooth jazz hit “Free As the Wind.”
Paul Hardcastle 5 will offer mostly instrumentals and several songs with 25-year-old British vocalist Becki Biggins, who is also a saxophonist. Hardcastle’s previous CDs over the years have generally featured vocalist Helen Rogers, as well as Paul’s daughter Maxine Hardcastle. The 13-track CD features such titles as “Lucky Star,” “In the Beginning,” “Return of the Rainman,” “Don’t You Know” and “Blew My Mind.” Paul Hardcastle 5 is scheduled to be released Jan. 22 by the Trippin N Rhythm label.
Keyboardist and composer Tom Grant, whose 30-year-career has produced such memorable smooth jazz hits singles as “Angels Crossing” and “Change,” is now composing music for a brand-new smooth jazz record that will release on his Nu-Wrinkle record label next year.
The CD will be Tom’s first smooth jazz project since “Tune It In” in 2000, which featured the hit single of the same name. Since that CD, the Portland, Oregon-based musician has release a holiday CD, a solo piano CD, jazz CD and a duets project with vocalist Valerie Day. He also offered a CD titled “Reprise” that featured his best-known songs will all-new arrangements.
Three-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist Larry Carlton is now offering a unique retrospective titled Greatest Hits Rerecorded, Volume One. Although artists in the past have reworked songs from the catalog in various ways – such as making electric songs acoustic – Carlton says this is truly different. It is.
To breath new life and spirit into the songs, he re-recorded nine songs with a new rhythm section featuring Jeff Babko on keyboards, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Paul Cerra on sax and Travis Carlton – who happens to be Carlton's son – on bass. In addition, all of Larry’s guitar solos are different than the originals. Among those songs are “Smiles and Miles to Go,” “Kid Gloves,” “Room 335” and “High Steppin’.” The CD is released on Carlton’s own 335 Records and can be purchased by going to his website at larrycarlton.com.
Highly recommended, and let's hope it isn't too long before Volume Two is offered.
Several smooth jazz artists have offered songs recorded live in concert as a bonus to their fans. Saxophonist Warren Hill is now taking that one step further: he is putting the audio of several of his live shows online. You can check out excerpts as free downloads or purchase the entire show for $7.99. The shows are in the mp3 format.
Hill has posted four shows online at popjazz.com. They are from the following shows: July 21 in Springfield, OH; July 22 in Atlanta; Aug. 10in Long Beach, CA; and Aug. 14 in Dundee, NY.
Hill will be joining keyboardist Jeff Lorber and guitarist Jeff Golub on the inaugural A Funky Little Christmas tour beginning in November.
Kenny G will release a new CD focusing on Latin melodies and sounds on Valentine's Day 2008. Although he has not yet settled on a final track listing, the saxophonist has been playing songs to be included on the CD in recent concerts and says most of the music will be original.
Since releasing the all-new Paradise CD in 2002, the saxophonist has offered two Christmas CDs, a best-of collection, a duets CD and his current I’m In the Mood for Love … The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time. Of course, Kenny has given his fans a taste of Latin music in the past. On 1999’s Classics in the Key of G, for example, he covered Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Desafinado” and “The Girl From Ipanema,” the latter featuring the vocals of Brazilian vocalist Bebel Gilberto. And the Paradise CD featured songs with such titles as “Brazil” and “Spanish Nights.”
Trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Richard Elliot have accomplished a rare feat as they are on top of two prestigious music charts at the same time. Their new CD RnR, released on Aug. 28, has debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart after selling more than 3,500 copies. In addition, the title track from the CD reached the top of the smooth jazz chart based on airplay and determined by the trade publication Radio & Records.
Braun and Elliot have something else to celebrate as well, as RnR is the first No. 1 CD for the ARTizen Music Group, which Braun and Elliot co-founded.
Both chart-topping positions are well-earned, as RnR is one of the strongest of the year. Both players take chances will keeping the groove foremost in mind.
For years, viewers of The Weather Channel have been exposed to smooth jazz music through the cable channel’s Local on the 8s segment. Artists have included Dave Koz, Steve Oliver, Brian Hughes, Norman Brown and many others. Now, the first in a planned series of CDs featuring Weather Channel music has been commissioned by Nashville-based Midas Records.
Although the 25-year-old network has previously licensed items ranging from apparel to weather radios to umbrellas, this marks the first time it has entered the licensed-entertainment category. The first in the series, titled The Weather Channel Presents: Best of Smooth Jazz, will be released online and at traditional retailers on Oct. 9.
The CD features several songs that may be familiar to smooth jazz fans: “Shakin’ the Shack” by Koz; “The Gift” by 3rd Force; “Sidewayz” by Najee; “Ocean View” by Pieces of a Dream; “Viaduct” by Four80East; “Santa Monica Triangle” by Jeff Lorber; and “Mildred’s Attraction” by Joyce Cooling.
Although he didn’t make it onto The Weather Channel’s first Smooth Jazz compilation, guitarist Steve Oliver's songs are frequently played on the channel. Who knows - he could make it on the next one. Oliver says he’s always pleasantly surprised to hear his music when tuning in.
"I always watch The Weather Channel beause I like to see what the weather's like in California, or wherever we’re going to the next. So I’m always watching it. Every time I hear it, it's like Oh my God, wait a minute, I know this song. Wait. Oh my gosh, they’re playing this track. And it fits the vibe, you know, while they’re doing the local forecast."
Smooth jazz guitarist extraordinaire Brian Hughes has released his first-ever live recording and it’s titled, simply enough, Live. The eight-song CD, which checks in at more than 72 minutes, was recorded at Maison de la culture Frontenac in Montreal. It features bassist Tim Landers, drummer Tal Bergman, percussionist Ron Powell, and pianist Les Portelli.
Among the CD’s songs are “For You,” “The Beat,” “Omaha Unbound” and “Thinking of You.” Live is being offered exclusively at Brian’s website at brianhughes.com. You can either purchase the entire CD or just individual songs.
There may be more Hughes music in store. A show in Los Angeles on Aug. 11 was recorded, and Hughes says he hopes to offer a DVD of it later this year.
Chieli Minucci is offering a new CD of never-released material, but you won’t find it in a record store. The guitarist has released a CD titled Travels as a digital download only on his website, chielimusic.com, the second time he has done so. Minucci says the music is separate from his Special EFX sound, although it overlaps stylistically. The music is a compilation of two projects, both of which are long-form compositions originally used for pre-show music for the theatrical productions Dora the Explorer – Live, Go, Diego Go - Live and Thomas and His Friends – Thomas Saves the Day.
Minucci says he's now put much more of a personal touch to these pieces, and they transcended their original purpose. The compositions are "Journey,"which has three parts, and “Bienvenidos” which has five. Each of the eight compositions are $1 each.
On Sept. 25, trumpeter Chris Botti will offer his fans a special version of his Italia CD that comes with a DVD. This extra version features four exclusive bonus audio tracks from the Italia session. The songs are “Emmanuel,” which Botti originally recorded for The Young and the Restless soap opera and has only been available online to this point; a version of Miles Davis’ “Sketches of Spain”; “If I Loved You” with vocals by Paula Cole; and the standard “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” which has been covered most famously by Vic Damone and also the Platters.
The DVD will also take you through recording and photo sessions with footage of Botti recording Italia in London, Los Angeles, and Italy. You can also go behind the scenes with Botti and Andrea Bocelli in Italy as they rehearse their duet "Italia" and see Botti recording "Nessun Dorma" and "The Way You Look Tonight" in London with a full orchestra. Also included will be interviews with Botti, songwriter David Foster and producer Bobby Colomby.
Guitarist Peter White, trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Mindi Abair have selected and are recording the songs for their first-ever holiday CD tied into the annual A Peter White Christmas tour, which features all three artists. The CD is tentatively scheduled to be released on Sept. 11 by the ARTizen Music Group, co-founded by Braun and saxophonist Richard Elliot.
White, Braun and Abair, in addition to playing their chosen instruments – White will also play the harmonica – will also be handling lead vocals on A Peter White Christmas With Rick Braun and Mindi Abair, whose songs include “The Christmas Song,” “Greensleeves, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and medleys of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Happy Christmas/O Holy Night.” In addition, guest vocalist Jeffrey Osborne is featured on “Silent Night” and other guest artists include bassists Brian Bromberg and Nate Phillips, percussionist Lenny Castro, keyboardist Ron Reinhardt and drummer and vocalist Rayford Griffin.
The CD is representative of the live show and also has Abair's original song "I Can't Wait for Christmas" and a new original from the saxophonist titled "The Best Part of Christmas." You can also hear White's arrangement of "The Christmas Song" and "River," as well as Braun's arrangements of "Jingle Jingle Blues" and "The Little Drummer Boy," among many others.
Ninenteen shows have just been announced so far for this year’s A Peter White Christmas, which begins Nov. 24 in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Peter White Christmas With Rick Braun and Mindi Abair
The Little Drummer Boy
The Christmas Song
I Can't Wait For Christmas
Greensleeves (What Child is This)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
River
Jingle Jangle Blues
Silent Night
The Best Part of Christmas
Santa Claus is Coming to Town/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
White Christmas
Happy Christmas/O Holy Night
Guitarist Norman Brown, whose "Let’s Take A Ride” is the No. 1 Smooth Jazz song in the country, has been named the new host of the 2008 All-Star Smooth Cruise, formerly the All-Star Smooth Jazz Cruise. Until recently, keyboardist Brian Culbertson was set to host the cruise, which will depart from San Diego in January, for the second year in a row. Trumpeter Rick Braun hosted the inaugural year.
The change is due to new management, Haven Entertainment, which bought the rights to the cruise from AAI Events. As part of the change, Haven Entertainment is going through the process of re-selecting artists to perform. As of now, in addition to Brown, confirmed performers include jam-show host Nick Colionne, Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor, Chieli Minucci and Boney James. A full list of performers is expected to be announced shortly on the cruise website at allstarcruise.com.
Because of the changes, those who have already made deposits will be able to get a full refund if they wish, and Haven Entertainment will be sending out an e-mail to those people soon.
Three-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist and Fourplay member Larry Carlton, saying he has announced his independence from established record labels, has now created his own. The name of Carlton’s new independent label is no surprise – 335 Records. Carlton is known by his many fans as Mr. 335 due to his 1969 Gibson ES-335 guitar, which he first played in the early 1970s with the legendary Crusaders. Anyone can now purchase a guitar built by the famed Gibson guitar company named ES-335. In addition, Room 335 is the name of the studio that Larry built several years ago at his home near Nashville.
The first CD offered by 335 Records is Live in Tokyo, which Carlton recorded with fellow guitarist guitarist Robben Ford. It's available on his website. Carlton’s next solo CD will be with his own label, and he is also expected to sign artist to release their music on the label, as well.
Thirty-eight-year-old Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer has announced that she is engaged to her longtime boyfriend and bandmember Thomas Bank.
They plan to marry sometime next year in the garden of their home, a converted barn north of Amsterdam. Dulfer and Bank have been boyfriend and girlfriend for more than a decade.
It was back in 1996 that Bank, who plays keyboards and co-writes songs, first appeared on Dulfer’s music, performing on her CD Big Girl. Bank is the primary producer on Dulfer's upcoming CD, Candy Store, her debut for the Heads Up record label that will be available on Sept. 18.
"We want to get married in our own garden," Dulfer says. "We want to have fun and a party and a band. We might even play ourselves. We’re not in a hurry."
We’re learning more about an incident that occurred on the beach in front of Kenny G’s Malibu house that injured a young girl. On June 23, a girl visiting Little Dume Beach with her family was struck in the head with an object allegedly thrown from the property belonging to the famed saxophonist. Brooke Porter, who is 9, was visiting the beach with her family and suffered a bleeding injury to her head. After the incident, Brooke’s father, Bart Porter, jumped over the fence of Kenny’s estate and was met by Kenny’s wife, Lyndie Benson, who later acknowledged that someone had indeed thrown something from her house.
However, Benson disputes the father’s claim that it was a rock that was thrown at his daughter and that it was intentional. He claims that whoever threw the items targeted Brooke and her brother, a 12-year-old with Down Syndrome and autism. Benson says the object was a rolled up PowerBar, and that a friend of her 13-year-old son, Max, threw it. Benson paid for the young girl’s treatment at the Malibu Urgent Care, where she received four stitches and is scheduled to undergo an MRI. An investigation is being conducted by the local sheriff’s department, while Bart Porter is filing a lawsuit and considering filing criminal charges.
We know that Kenny wasn’t at the house at the time of the incident. He was in Bend, Oregon, performing at the grand opening of a new golf course.
What is your favorite memory of Michael Lington? The smooth jazz saxophonist wants to know. In 50 words or less, you can share your experience with Michael by emailing to teamlington@yahoo.com. Include your name, address and email address. Several people’s memories will be chosen to be included in a future edition of Lington’s newsletter, which he emails to those subscribing to his mailing list at michaellington.com.
Lington is now creating some memories of his own as he is composing songs for a new CD to follow-up last year’s project of his favorite cover tunes, A Song For You. The new CD, which will feature the songwriting and producing talents of Michael Sembello, who collaborated with Lington on 2004’s Stay With Me CD, will have Latin, pop and R&B elements. The saxophonist says all the songs will be originals and there will be a few vocal tunes.
Rendezvous Entertainment, which was co-founded by Dave Koz and is now celebrating its five-year anniversary, has decided on a unique avenue to gain exposure for its latest signing, the single-named artist Svoy. The label has decided to offer the artist’s entire CD titled Eclectric as a free download through Aug. 15.
Although many record labels offer a song or two for free, offering an entire CD free of charge is Rendezvous’ attempt to get people to listen to an artist it feels strongly about. Eclectric, originally released on May 1, is an intriguing mixture of pop vocals and chill tunes from the Russian-born artist who studied at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston and now lives in New York.
To take advantage of the offer, go to freesvoy.com. Anyone with a valid email address can download the entire album in unrestricted mp3 format. You will be asked to supply your e-mail address for directions of how to download it. In addition, in an attempt to get others to hear the CD, you will be asked to give the e-mails of three people you think might be interested.
For the past few years, fans have been treated to holiday music by guitarist Peter White, trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Mindi Abair during the annual A Peter White Christmas tour. Now, the trio is collaborating on a Christmas CD that will be offered in time for this year’s tour, the fifth overall. It will be released by the ARTizen Music Group, co-founded by Braun.
The CD will be representative of the live show and will include Abair's original song "I Can't Wait for Christmas" and a new original from the saxophonist titled "The Best Part of Christmas." You can also expect White's arrangement of "The Christmas Song" and "River," as well as Braun's arrangements of "Jingle Blues" and "Little Drummer Boy," among many others.
Marc Antoine, who has scored five No. 1 Smooth Jazz singles with his trademark acoustic Latin and flamenco guitar sounds, has wrapped up a new CD titled Hi-Lo Split. The CD, his eighth overall, marks a return to Antoine's smooth nylon-guitar sounds and is his first for Peak Records. His previous CD, 2005’s Modern Times, experimented with hip-hop and techno rhythms.
Featured are 11 songs, including titles such as “For a Smile,” “Silk & Steel,” “Cancun Blue,” “Tomorrow” and a cover of the Classic IV’s classic hit single from 40 years ago, “Spooky.” Antoine, who lives in Spain, used mostly local musicians for the CD, including keyboardist Frederic Gaillardet, bassist Andre Manga, trumpeter Manuel Machado and saxophonist Bobby Martinez.
Hi-Lo Split, named after a type of poker game, will be available July 24.
Hi-Lo Split
For a Smile (Antoine) – 4:14
Hi-Lo Split (Antoine) – 5:23
Spooky (Buie/Cobb/Middlebrooks/Shapiro) – 4:03
Silk & Steel (Antoine) – 5:00
Cancun Blue (Antoine) – 4:47
Groovin' High (Antoine) – 4:43
Forever (Antoine) – 5:31
Panacea (Antoine/Stevens) – 6:26
Bossalectro (Antoine) – 4:11
Voodoo Dool (Antoine) – 5:07
Tomorrow (Antoine) – 4:08
You won’t find Dave Koz’s three shows in Nashville beginning May 24 listed on his website. He’s not the headliner, just a special guest. But Koz says his appearance with the Nashville Symphony is a culmination of a life-long dream as it’s his debut live performance with an orchestra.
The three performances are titled Mancini at the Movies and feature conductor Albert-George Schram and vocalist Monica Mancini. Mancini, the daughter of the late, famed composer Henry Mancini, will be performing songs that her father composed specifically for the movies. Two of those songs, “The Pink Panther” and “Moon River,” are featured on Koz’s At the Movies CD and will be performed by the saxophonist.
"To me, this is like a dream come true," says Koz. "This is what I want to do. I mean, you want to talk about doing movie music with an actual orchestra in a beautiful performing arts center. It doesn’t get any better than that, so I’m very excited this facet of my career."
Saxophonist Warren Hill has unveiled a new website, popjazz.com, that he says can benefit both musicians and fans. The site’s main feature is to allow musicians to have a presence on the site to let their fans know about their music, touring and news.
Those already on the site include Chieli Minucci, Ray Parker Jr., Don Grusin, Andre Berry, Will Donato and Allen Hinds. All the content is free to access, however there is a subscription option for fans who want to access an online jukebox and to get other perks. Hill says the site is already getting a few thousands hits a day.
Those who go to the site now can help pick the next single that Hill will offer to radio: the original Gimme Some or his cover of the Doors' Light My Fire. Those who vote on the songs, which will be on Warren's next CD, will be then given the option to download both for free.
You won’t have to wait another three years for a new CD from saxophonist Dave Koz. Koz 
has confirmed that he has already begun work on a holiday CD to be released in time for the Christmas holidays. The as-yet titled project comes 10 years after Koz released his first CD of holiday songs, December Makes Me Feel This Way. His second, A Smooth Jazz Christmas, was offered in 2001. Two songs are confirmed for the new project: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Deck the Halls.” Both have new arrangements by pianist Brian Culbertson. Versions of the two songs have previously been available through the Best Buy stores’ Sweet Tracks holiday promotion, with “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” offered in 2006 and “Deck the Halls” in 2004.
Koz says the CD will be in stores before the beginning of this year’s Dave Koz & Friends: At the Movies Christmas Tour. "When I think of the most beautiful Christmas songs and songs of the holidays, it’s always more of that kind of intimate and warm and inviting feeling," Koz says. "Christmas music for me has always been like that wonderful blanket that you can put on. It just makes you feel great all over. And some of the songs are a little upbeat and fun, but for the most part it’s like Bing Crosby singing ‘White Christmas’ or ‘The Christmas Song’ by Nat King Cole. Or Ella Fitzgerald singing any song around Christmastime. It’s more about that classic sound that just puts you in that holiday spirit."
Saxophonist Dave Koz has added another member to the 2007 edition of the Dave Koz & 
Friends: A Smooth Summer Night tour: Kelly Sweet. The 19-year-old from vocalist from Utah has a smooth jazz hit with the song “Raincoat,” a selection from her debut album released in March, We Are One. Koz is featured on the song on a version mixed especially for smooth jazz radio. Says Koz: "The first I heard of her was when played at her manager’s wedding. When they were doing a smooth jazz version of her hit single ‘Raincoat,’ they wanted me to play on it. So I heard it and I was like, absolutely, I’d love to do this."
Sweet will join previously two previously announced performers, pianist David Benoit and vocalist Phil Perry. Sweet has already performed more than 500 concerts in the U.S., including opening gigs for Anita Baker, Paul Simon and Kenny Loggins.
Each show on the tour will be a "double feature," with the performers playing their respective hits during the first half of the show, then joining together on numerous selections from Koz's At The Movies CD. Koz and Sweet will debut on Sweet’s “Raincoat.” Playing keyboards and serving as musical director is pianist Brian Simpson. Rounding out the band are Bill Sharpe on bass, Stevo Theard on drums and Randy Jacobs on guitar. The tour launches June 3 in Columbia, MD, and wraps up at the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 19.
Grammy Award-winning guitarist Norman Brown has just accomplished something that has eluded him his entire career: a No. 1 record. Brown's debut CD Stay With Me for Peak Records entered Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart at the top spot after selling more than 7,000 copies, ahead of Simply Red’s new CD Stay. Four previous albums by Brown – Just Chillin’, Celebration, Better Days Ahead and After the Storm – reached as high as No. 2.
In addition, Stay With Me entered the Billboard 200 charts at No. 107, giving him another career highlight – it’s the highest-charting release for Brown, who has made the Billboard 200 chart on three previous occasions. The CD also debuted at No. 28 on the R&B charts.
One of the reasons Brown has expanded his audience beyond the smooth jazz market is that he's been able to capitalize on his vocals.
"I've always felt like I could do what a lot of the great jazz artists in the past have done," he says. "Starting with Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole and into the future with George Benson. People like this were able to bring a whole new audience over to instrumental music because they were singing. So I’ve been finding the right songs, which has been successful so far."
Get ready to be blown away. Saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa has finished recording tracks for a brand-new CD titled Play!, which will be his sixth overall and fourth for the Native Language label. Kashiwa says the CD’s title comes from his decision to let his sax take on an even more prominent role than it has in the past. And, for the first time, Kashiwa only plays one sax throughout the CD, the deep-sounding tenor. Play! features all original songs, including “The Lucky One,” “Changes,” “Blue Jeans,” “New View” and “Remember When.” In addition, Acoustic Alchemy guitarist Miles Gilderdale co-wrote and performs on the the song “Movin’ Up.”
"I was searching for a title for the CD,and I didn’t want it to be so thought-provoking and so heavy," Kashiwa says. "Not to belittle the music in any kind of way; I’m very proud of this album. But people always ask me, what’s the album like? And my answer is: I wanted to play more on this album. You know, dig in, really get into my horn and play, as if you were seeing me live. No more of the polite eight-bar solos. I really want to extend them."
Kashiwa's band includes Dave Hooper on drums, Melvin Davis on bass and Allen Hinds on guitar. Joining the core trio is guest Russ Ferrante of the Yellowjackets on keyboards. The new CD will be released on July 17th.
Having heard the CD in its entirety, I can tell you that it's one of the best sax records of the 2000s as Kashiwa forgoes the safe route and plays like his life depends on it.
A new CD by the late saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., capturing a live performance in 1994 at the famed Monterey Jazz Festival, will be the first release by a new record label created in conjunction with the festival’s 50th anniversary in September.
The never-before-heard release – Washington’s one and only performance at the festival, held five years before his death at age 56 from a heart attack – will be offered by Monterey Jazz Festival Records in partnership with the Concord Music Group. Washington’s CD, which is untitled at this point, will be released on July 31, along with other never-been-heard live recordings from Monterey by Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Shirley Horn.
You can expect more releases, as the festival has more than 1,600 tapes with more than 2,000 hours of concerts in its archives. In fact, the next round of recordings is expected to offered in September.
The band features Washington on tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones; music director Bill Jolly on keyboards and vocals; Donald Robinson on keys; Richard Lee Steacker on guitar; Lanar Brantley on bass; Steven Wolf on drums; and Pablo Batista on congas and percussion.
Track Listing
Black Frost - 8:19
Gramercy Park - 5:58
Brand New Age - 5:58
When I Fall in Love 6:54
Please Send Me Someone to Love 5:00
Take Five (Take Another Five) - 10:50
MEDLEY:
Winelight - 1:23
Inner City Blues - :46
Jammin’ - :59
Ain’t No Sunshine - 1:07
East River Drive - 2:03
Inside Moves - 1:11
Lock It in the Pocket - 1:00
Just the Two of Us - 1:53
Sausalito - 4:58
After hosting the nationally syndicated radio show Chill With Chris Botti 
since September of 2004, trumpeter Chris Botti has decided to hand over hosting duties to saxophonist Mindi Abair. Mindi, who says she excited about her new job as she loves chill music and has always aspired to get into radio, will officially take over the first week of May.
Abair and Botti have already co-hosted a few shows together this month that were recorded from Botti’s room at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Chill music, which developed on the beaches in Café del Mar on the Spanish island of Ibiza, draws its roots from smooth jazz, dance, electronica, pop, new age, trance and techno music. Today, the music is best-known through artists such as Praful Zero 7, Adani & Wolf, Tosca and Moby.
The new "Chill With Mindi Abair" radio show is a product of Rendezvous Entertainment, Broadcast Architecture and Crystal Media, the same group that syndicates The Dave Koz Radio Show.
Vocalist Will Downing has cancelled touring for the immediate future after being diagnosed with a disorder called polymyositis, a debilitating chronic inflammatory disease of the muscles that can possibly lead to the point where those afflicted are no longer walk or move their bodies. Its cause is unknown. Downing, 46, has been hospitalized since January.
Although polymyositis can occur at any age, it mostly affects adults in their 40s and 50s. It is more common in blacks than in whites, and women are diagnosed more often than men. According to the Mayo Clinic, periods of remission, during which signs and symptoms improve spontaneously, rarely occur in polymyositis. However, treatment can improve muscle strength and function.
Downing says that he first came down with symptoms over the holidays when he felt extremely tired and sick. He adds that his fear of doctors kept him from discovering what his affliction was. However, the singer says he is now in rehabilitation and working to get himself back in shape. He’s moving slowly, but he’s moving nonetheless and is thankful for that and for the fact that his voice so far has not been affected.
Downing says he still plans to release a new CD this September on Peak Records, which was co-founded by Russ Freeman of the Rippingtons.
Our best wishes go out to Will and his family as he learns to live with the disease.
Chris Botti's upcoming CD will have an Italian theme. Botti has been in a London studio recording with an orchestra on 18 songs, although not at of them are scheduled to be included on the still-untitled project, scheduled to be released this fall. A few of the tunes being worked on include "The Mission," "Caruso," "Nessun Dorma" and "Don't Give Up,” the latter originally written and recorded by Peter Gabriel.
“The Mission” was written by famed composer Ennio Morricone for the 1986 motion picture starring Robert DeNiro. “Caruso,” written by Lucio Dalla 21 years ago to honor the famed Italian opera singer, has been recorded by many, including trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, guitarist and vocalist Oscar Castro-Neves and vocalist Josh Groban. And "Nessun Dorma” is an aria from the final act of Puccini’s opera titled Turandot and has been recorded by pianist Ramsey Lewis, vocalist Sarah Brightman and several others.
Guitarist Denny Jiosa has released five great smooth jazz CDs, including his last in 2002 titled Body 2 Body. He has spent the past few years producing and appearing on other’s CDs, but is now working on a new one of his own. To get his fans excited about his new project, the Nashville-based musician has started an online campaign called the JiosaJazz A-List. Those who subscribe to the mailing list at jiosajazz.com will receive monthly free downloads of Jiosa's past music, special discounts to members only and pre-release availability of Jiosa's upcoming music.
The first song to be offered as a free download is one of his best: "Lights of the City," taken from his 1996 CD titled Inner Voices. The song was Jiosa’s biggest smooth jazz hit.
Our best wishes go out today to smooth jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale, who is undergoing treatment to remove a cancerous cyst from his fibula, according to his manager Earl Cole and his record label, Rendezvous Entertainment. Wayman suffered a leg injury last month due to a fall in his home. After an extensive series of tests, doctors determined that the cause of the injury was a cancerous cyst isolated to a bone in his leg.
Tisdale says his recovery will be 100 percent, and that he has been told that he is otherwise cancer-free. To recover properly, he has cancelled all of his scheduled appearances for 2007 but plans to be able to resume touring in time for his Smooth Jazz Cruise in January of 2008. He is also planning a new album, which he is tentatively titling Rebound. It will be the follow-up to his current CD Way Up, which features the current Top 5 hit of the same name.
Get well soon, Wayman.
Although Chieli Minucci is celebrating another Daytime Emmy Award nomination and the release of a brand-new album, he is also mourning the death of his father. Ulpio Minucci died at his home in Brentwood, California, at age 89, on March 9. Born in Italy, Ulpio emigrated from Italy to the United States in the 1930s after studying at the Santa Cecilia Music Conservatory in Rome and earning a doctorate of law from the University of Palermo. He wrote many songs in his career, including “A Thousand Thoughts of You” performed by Nat “King” Cole and “Domani,” performed by Bing Crosby. In addition to being an A&R representative in charge of talent for Columbia Records, Ulpio composed the theme and musical score for the 1985 animated television series Robotech, as well as the ABC series Saga of Western Man.
On his 2005 CD Got It Goin’ On, Chieli paid tribute to his father with an instrumental song that Ulpio had written called “Love Is Always Young.” It wasn’t the first time Chieli had rearranged one of his father’s songs – he also did it with a song called “Mountains” on his debut solo album from 1994 called Jewels. In addition to Chieli, Ulpio is survived by his wife of 55 years, Catherine, daughter Nina, and three grandchildren.
Photo credit: Bettie Miner, 10/06 (MinerWorksofArt.com)
Grammy Award-winning guitarist Norman Brown has just finished his seventh solo album and his first for Peak Records, which was co-founded by Russ Freeman of the Rippingtons. The CD, Stay With Me, is Brown's follow-up to 2004’s West Coast Coolin’. The new CD has 10 songs, most written or co-written by Brown. In addition to playing the guitar, Brown will once again show off his vocal skills.
The album gets its title from a song written by Brian McKnight, who sings on the song with Brown. Also guest starring on the CD are saxophonist Kirk Whalum, trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Paul Brown. In fact, Brown, Whalum and Braun all perform on the song “It Ain’t Over BWB.” BWB was the name of the group featuring the trio that released a CD in 2002 titled Groovin’. Other songs on the all-original CD include “Let’s Take a Ride,” “So in Love,” “You Keep Lifting Me Higher” and “Every Little Thing.”
Stay With Me will be released on April 24.
Stay With Me Track Listing
1. Let’s Take A Ride (Norman Brown) - (4:59)
2. You Keep Lifting Me Higher (Norman Brown/Lloyd Tolbert/Nikkole Hall) - 4:18
3. Pop’s Cool Groove (Paul Brown/Norman Brown/Jeff Carruthers) - 4:24
4. It Ain’t Over BWB (Norman Brown) - 4:37
5. So In Love (Norman Brown) - 5:58
6. Stay With Me (Brian McKnight) - 3:32
7. Soul Dance (Jeff Carruthers/Norman Brown/Paul Brown) - 4:14
8. Every Little Thing (Norman Brown) - 4:43
9. A Quiet Place (Norman Brown) - 3:49
10. I Need You (Norman Brown/Kenneth Williams) - 4:49
Acoustic Alchemy has completed a new album called This Way, which follows the band’s American/English project from 2005. Once again, the group led by the British guitar duo of Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale recorded most of the album at the legendary Hansa Haus studios in Germany, but also utilized two studios in London and one in York, England.
The album includes all original songs, with titles including “Love Is All There Is,” “Who Knows,” “Slampop,” “Tied Up With String” and “Only In My Dreams.” In addition to guest stars Rick Braun on trumpet on the song “Carlos and the King” and Jeff Kashiwa on saxophone on the tune “Egg,” band members include Neil Cowley on piano, Snake Davis on sax, Terry Disley on piano, Greg Grainger on drums, Fred White on trumpet and Julian Crampton on bass.
This Way will be released on June 5.
This Way Track Listing
1. Love Is All There Is (G.Carmichael/M.Gilderdale) - 4:22
2. Ernie (G.Carmichael/M.Gilderdale) - 6:34
3. Who Knows (G.Carmichael/M. Gilderdale/A.H.White) - 3:56
4. Slampop (G.Carmichael/M.Gilderdale) - 4:47
5. Out of Nowhere (G.Carmichael/M.Gilderdale) - 3:38
6. This Way (G.Carmichael/M.Gilderdale) - 4:41
7. Tied Up With String (G.Carmichael/M.Gilderdale) - 5:12
8. Only In My Dreams (G.Carmichael/ M.Gilderdale) - 5:52
9. Carlos the King (G.Carmichael/ M.Gilderdale) - 5:52
10. Egg (G.Carmichael/M.Gilderdale/A.H.White) - 5:11
11. Now I'm On My Way (G.Carmichael/M.Gilderdale) - 4:44
Smooth jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale, who broke his right leg late last week at his home in Southern California, is now recuperating. Tisdale was already getting some rest after undergoing outpatient Lap-Band surgery to take off at least 100 pounds. The accident forced Wayman to cancel shows on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 in Las Vegas at the Boulder Station Casino that were tied into the NBA All-Star game, which the former pro basketball player had planned to attend but was also forced to miss.
Although Tisdale is using crutches to help him get around, he still plans to perform March 4 at the Return to Romance music festival in Honolulu. He’ll be performing songs from his latest CD, Way Up, which featured the No. 1 smooth jazz hit “Get Down on It.”
Eldee Young, the original bass player for the Ramsey Lewis Trio, has died. Young, who was 71, suffered a heart attack on Monday, Feb. 12, in Thailand, where he was performing.
It was in 1954 that Young, pianist Lewis and drummer Isaac “Red” Holt, who were high-school friends in Chicago, formed a jazz trio originally called the Gentlemen of Swing. They soon became known as the Ramsey Lewis Trio. In the mid-1960s, shortly after performing on the classic songs “The In Crowd” and “Hang on Sloopy,” Young and Holt left the trio to form Young-Holt Unlimited and scored a smash hit instrumental single in 1969 with "Soulful Strut." That famous tune was originally the backing track for soul singer Barbara Acklin's song "Am I the Same Girl."
Lewis replaced Young and Holt with bassist Cleveland Eaton and drummer Maurice White, who later formed Earth, Wind and Fire. The current Ramsey Lewis Trio lineup consists of Lewis, bassist Larry Gray and drummer Leon Joyce. The trio begins a tour on March 18 and will be performing for much of the year.
Young is survived by his wife, three sons and a sister.
The powerhouse duo of George Benson and Al Jarreau picked up two awards for songs on their Givin' It Up album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 11 in Los Angeles. “Mornin’,” a former No. 1 Smooth Jazz hit, won for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, while “God Bless the Child,” which features vocalist Jill Scott, won in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category. Benson now has 10 Grammys for his career, while Jarreau has seven.
Enya won her fourth Grammy in the Best New Age Album category for Amarantine, while Tony Bennett’s Duets: an American Classic – featuring performances by Diana Krall and Chris Botti – won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Other winners: Best Pop Instrumental Album, Fingerprints, by Peter Frampton; Best Contemporary Jazz Album, The Hidden Land, by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones; Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group, The Ultimate Adventure, by Chick Corea; Best Jazz Vocal Album, Turned to Blue, by Nancy Wilson; and Best Surround Sound Album, Morph the Cat, by Donald Fagen.
Finally, the late saxophonist Michael Brecker won two Grammys for his album "Some Skunk Funk."
Mick Hucknall, founder of the band Simply Red, has announced that he will soon become a father for the first time. Hucknall, who is 46, and his partner Gabriella Wesberry, who speaks six languages and is in her 30s, are expecting a daughter in June. The couple began dating in 1995 but broke up due to Hucknall’s constant touring schedule with Simply Red. They got back together in 2003. Wesberry is the director of Hucknall’s wine company, which has a vineyard on the slopes of Mt. Etna in Italy.
Hucknall, the British-born singer who has homes in England, France and Italy, has earned quite a reputation in the past as a ladies’ man by dating some of the world's most glamorous women, including actresses Catherine Zeta-Jones and Brigitte Nielsen, as well as tennis player Steffi Graf. Hucknall, who has never married, has said that he may one day consider marriage, but only after he had kids.
Hucknall and Simply Red are looking forward to the March 12 release of a new album, Stay, which features the smooth jazz hit “So Not Over You.”
Grammy-nominated keyboardist and producer Jeff Lorber has just wrapped up production of a brand-new CD that is mixed by Paul Brown and produced by Blood, Sweat & Tears original member Bobby Columby, who produced the last two best-selling CDs by trumpeter Chris Botti.
The CD, He Had a Hat, is a 13-song project with 10 songs co-written by himself and Columby. The CD, due in April, also features a tune written by Bill Withers, “Grandma’s Hands,” that features vocalist Eric Benet. Another song, “Orchid,” is co-written by Botti and features soloing by the trumpeter. “The Other Side of the Heart,” co-written by Paula Cole, features Cole and Benet on vocals. Among the other new songs are “Anthem for a New America,” “All Most Blues,” “BC Bop,” “Hudson” and “Super Fusion Unit.”
Guest artists include Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Brian Bromberg, Randy Brecker, Paul Jackson Jr., the Blood Sweat and Tears horn section, Hubert Laws and Tom Scott.
He Had a Hat Track Listing
1. Anthem for a New America (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
2. He Had a Hat (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
3. Grandma's Hands (Bill Withers)
4. Surreptitious (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
5. All Most Blues (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
6. Orchid (Jeff Lorber/Chris Botti)
7. BC Bop (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
8. The Other Side of the Heart (Paula Cole/Jeff Lorber)
9. Hudson (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
10. Super Fusion Unit (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
11. Eye Tunes (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
12. Requiem for Gandalf (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
13. Burn Brightly (Jeff Lorber/Bobby Columby)
This year's Academy Awards official after-party, also known as the Governors Ball, has called on saxophonist Dave Koz to perform as the featured artist before the elite of Hollywood. The show in the Grand Ballroom of the Hollywood and Highland Center will commence immediately following the 79th Academy Awards telecast on Feb. 25. Koz, who just released a CD of Oscar-nominated and winning scores titled At the Movies, will perform for the Ball’s 1,500 Academy Award winners and nominees, show presenters, telecast participants and other distinguished guests.
Koz will be accompanied by 19-year-old jazz vocalist Erin Boheme, whose debut CD in 2006 was produced by bassist Brian Bromberg. She will join Koz on the songs "A Whole New World,” "It Might Be You," "Somewhere Out There" and "The Way We Were."
Koz’s performance will mark the second year in a row that a smooth jazz artist has performed before Hollywood’s biggest stars. Saxophonist Mindi Abair, along with vocalist Patti Austin and saxophonist Tom Scott, took the stage at last year’s Governors Ball.
Vocalist and composer Brenda Russell has some great news she wants to share: She’s a first-time grandmother. Russell's daughter, Lindsay Walker, had her first baby on Jan. 26, a boy that she and her husband, Jonas Walker, named Nehemiah. The baby, born at a Los Angeles area hospital, checked in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Lindsay, who is 30, and Jonas were married in April of 2004. Russell was in the delivery room as Nehemiah was born and reports that he is healthy and happy.
"Yes, we are very much excited in our family," Russell says. "I’m already the doting grandmother. It’s pathetic. I now understand why they have all these silly signs on people’s cars. I’m the happy grandparent or whatever. I get it. It’s a life-changing experience. It’s so profound to see how generations just keep coming. It’s an amazing thing you have to experience to really get it, you know?"
Lindsay Walker is a talented singer and songwriter who performed background vocals on Brenda’s hit single titled “Catch On,” in addition to performing background vocals for Smokey Robinson on tour.
A new organization has been created in the name of one of the most respected guitarists in the entire music industry. The Metheny Music Foundation, named after the family of Grammy Award winner Pat Metheny, will aim to boost the music education and profile of Lee’s Summit, Mo., where Metheny was born 52 years ago.
The foundation will offer music scholarships and work toward the creation of a state music museum in Lee's Summit. Also planned is a sculpture honoring the Metheny family featuring an intertwined trumpet, guitar and phonograph.
The Metheny musical line began in 1915 when Harrison Metheny, a musician, arrived in Lee's Summit. Pat Metheny and his brother Mike Metheny, a trumpeter, grew up in the town and are members of the Lee's Summit High School Music Hall of Fame.
Metheny has just announced that he will release a new quartet CD in March with jazz pianist Brad Mehldau. Metheny and Meldau begin a nationwide tour of the U.S. in March, and Metheny will return with his trio in October.
Smooth jazz guitarist Marc Antoine has signed a contract with Peak Records and is scheduled to release his first CD with the label in July. Peak was co-founded by Russ Freeman of the Rippingtons and recently signed another smooth jazz superstar, Paul Brown, who releases a new CD titled White Sand next month.
As a solo artist, Antoine has released eight recordings, including his last two with Rendezvous Entertainment, co-founded by saxophonist Dave Koz. His many smooth jazz singles have included four No. 1 Smooth Jazz hits: “Mediterraneo,” "On the Strip," "Mas Que Nada" and "Sunland."
Peak is also home to David Benoit, Eric Marienthal, the Braxton Brothers, Lee Ritenour, Paul Taylor, Norman Brown and Will Downing.
Contrary to rumors that have been posted online, Kenny G wants to dispel any myths about forming a supergroup with Michael Bolton, John Tesh and Yanni. On his website, he admits he has no idea where the rumor came from.
The saxophonist, who recently returned from a tour of China and Thailand, says he's in the middle of promoting his new CD, I’m in the Mood For Love … The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time, and his smooth jazz single “You’re Beautiful.” He adds that he has no intention of being part of any type of group – super or otherwise, with the exception of the great musicians that have been part of his band for the past 15 years.
Eleven-time Grammy Award winning saxophonist Michael Brecker has lost his battle with leukemia. Brecker died on Jan. 13 at a hospital in New York City at age 57. In 2005, Brecker was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a bone marrow disorder which can progress to leukemia. Last year, he received an experimental, partial-match stem-cell transplant from his daughter, but the procedure didn’t have the expected results.
Brecker, whose brother is trumpeter Randy Brecker, had a storied career, and has collaborated in the studio with smooth jazz artists such as David Benoit, George Benson, Larry Carlton, Bob James, Earl Klugh, Chuck Loeb, David Sanborn and Diana Krall. Brecker’s record label, Heads Up, is scheduled to release his final CD this spring. It features collaborations with guitarist Pat Metheny, pianist Herbie Hancock and others.
Producer and keyboardist Jason Miles, who in 2006 released the CD What’s Going On: The Music of Marvin Gaye, has recorded extensively with Brecker. "There are very few people out there, and I don’t even know of anybody – and if I can find that person, I wanna know – that could go and play stone pop music one minute and convince you that that’s what he does, and then play the most difficult, intense jazz the next minute and convince you that that’s what he does," he says. " That is an art that a lot of people can’t do."
Brecker is survived by his wife, Susan, and two children: Jessica and Sam. Memorial services are being planned.
Merry Christmas from Rick Braun. The trumpeter and co-owner of the ARTizen Music record label has recorded a new version of a Christmas favorite, "O Tannenbaum,” which can be downloaded for free at www.artizenmusic.com. Braun says he’s offering the song to all the fans who have contributed to the success of the smooth jazz label, which was co-founded by saxophonist Richard Elliot.
Braun has plenty to be cheerful about. He's now spreading holiday cheer on the road, performing once again in the annual A Peter White Christmas tour with guitarist Peter White and saxophonist Mindi Abair.
Gerald Albright, Chris Botti, Anita Baker, Larry Carlton, Fourplay, Enya, Diana Krall and others also recognized. The 49th annual Grammy Awards will be held Feb. 11 in Los Angeles.
The superstar duo of George Benson and Al Jarreau will have a chance to add some Grammys to their collections as three songs from their CD Givin’ It Up were selected during announcements for the 49th annual Grammy Awards. “Mornin’,” currently the No. 1 smooth jazz song in the country, was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Performance; “Breezin’” for Best R&B Performance By a Duo Or Group With Vocals; and “God Bless the Child,” which features vocalist Jill Scott, for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.
"We figured this way of intermingling current-day, contemporary Al and George into these classic pieces of Al Jarreau and George Benson's that people just recognize in a different form," says Jarreau. "But still there we are, and the arrangements are fresh. I dare you to not like it!"
Saxophonist Gerald Albright is nominated for his album New Beginnings in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category. He had more than 20 e-mails of congratulations when he logged onto his laptop after the Grammys were announced. "We went with a lot of the mainstays that I normally use on my previous projects," Albright says. "Like with Paul Jackson on guitar, Patrice Rushen, Jeff Lorber, Teddy Campbell on drums, Tony Moore on drums. We have Melvin Davis on bass and I play bass on a lot of the tracks as well. I have the ‘A’ team on this project. They really put their heart and soul into every note that was played and executed."
Also nominated in that category is Spryo Gyra for Wrapped in a Dream; Larry Carlton for Fire Wire; and Fourplay for Fourplay X.
Carlton knows why the new Fourplay CD is strong. "We think we delivered wonderful product in the past and it all came together," he said, "but we had some discussions months before going in the studio and we all came to the agreement that maybe this time we’ll all be more diligent about having our songs prepared and fairly well arranged. So we don’t spend too much time in the studio just kind of looking for the arrangement. And it made the process obviously go much quicker and much easier."
Vocalist Enya earned Best New Age Album and Best Pop Instrumental Performance nominations for her album Amarantine,” while Diana Krall was recognized for Best Jazz Vocal Album for From This Moment On. “Good Morning Heartache,” a song from Chris Botti’s To Love Again CD featuring vocals by Jill Scott, picked up a Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist nomination for Gil Goldstein and Greg Phillinganes.
Brenda Russell, who co-composed the music to the Broadway musical The Color Purple, was nominated for Best Musical Show Album. Two veteran artists were nominated for songs that are currently on the smooth jazz charts; Natalie Cole as a Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “
British singer Corrine Bailey Rae, who this had a smooth jazz hit with “Put Your Records On,” saw that song nominated in two categories: Record of the Year and Song of the Year. She also picked up a nomination for Best New Artist.
Finally, Anita Baker will be competing against Benson and Jarreau in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category for her song “Christmas Time Is Here” from her holiday CD Christmas Fantasy.
The 49th annual Grammy Awards will be held Feb. 11 in Los Angeles.
Saxophonist Shilts recently called on smooth jazz superstar producer Paul Brown to remix his hit single titled “Look What’s Happened.” Now, for a limited time, Shilts is making the remix available as a free download.
This is a good deal, since the song is easily one of the best of the year.
Shilts, who is also a member of the British group Down to the Bone, earlier this year released his second CD, HeadBoppin, his first for the ARTizen Music Group, the record label co-created by trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Richard Elliot.
Shilts actually wrote the song shortly after his first CD was released five years ago. "It’s gone through many different kinds of arrangements over the years and I kept going back to it," he says. "It’s something I really wanted to go on the album and was really pleased when it was one that Rick and the guys chose."
To get the free download, go to shiltsmusic.com.
The Smooth Jazz Network will have a 24/7 presence in many major radio markets in the U.S. DJs include Ramsey Lewis, Dave Koz, Kenny G, Norman Brown and Paul Hardcastle.
The consulting company Broadcast Architecture, which for years has conducted audience research that suggest what music its partner smooth jazz radio stations play, will in January unveil its own programming: Smooth Jazz Networks. The network is now in pre-launch mode, with full-time talent on the air beginning Dec. 4 in 10 markets across the U.S. Weekend shows begin in January, when the full launch is scheduled.
SJN, which has selected Renee DePuy as program director, will have some of smooth jazz’s top artists as radio hosts, including Ramsey Lewis, Dave Koz, Kenny G, Norman Brown and Paul Hardcastle.
The pre-launch of the network is already underway with Ramsey Lewis' morning show on the air at WNUA Chicago, WLVE Miami, WDSJ Dayton, KIJZ Portland, KMYT Temecula and KABQ in Albuquerque. Smooth Jazz format veteran, evening host Annie Ashe, is also on the air at WNUA Chicago, WZJZ Ft. Myers, WDSJ Dayton, KMYT Temecula, KIJZ Portland and KABQ in Albuquerque.
Clear Channel’s Broadcast Architecture is led by comp