Tom Pinch – Mindi Abair

Tom Pinch, also known as “The Time-Lapse Painter” due to the captivating time-lapse painting videos he makes of many of his paintings, is a professional gallery and commission artist and a native Southern Californian currently based in Temecula, CA.

Largely self-taught, Pinch has sought out and learned directly from his mentor Richard Schmid as well as with Morgan Weistling and several others – sometimes involving extensive travel from California to New York City, Washington D.C. and Putney, Vermont in order to do so.

As a representational artist, he has achieved a uniquely versatile style which he describes as “Painterly Realism.” Working in oils, he approaches each individual work of art from a fresh perspective. His paintings have been exhibited in collections throughout the world, including the United States Golf Association Museum in New Jersey. It is there where Pinch’s 40″x30″ portraits of both Tiger Woods and the late PGA Tour player Payne Stewart hang as two of only 35 carefully selected portraits in their exclusive permanent museum collection.

His impressive client list includes many corporate commissions as well as private commissions. His client list continues to grow along with the desire for his artwork. In 2006, he began creating fine art gallery works in order to reach a broader spectrum of collectors as well as to reach his full creative potential. Although still an active commission artist, his gallery paintings of subjects of his choosing has since become his main creative inspiration and focus.

The illustrated picture is available here. For more information about the artist visit this website.

Eric Darius – The Smooth Breeze

Eric Darius released his latest album and Shanachie Entertainment debut, On A Mission, in the summer of 2010. Danny Weiss, VP of Jazz A&R for Shanachie states, “If you think of jazz as a wonderful tree whose trunk is its great tradition and whose branches are the never ending innovations of its young disciples, then Eric Darius is the newest branch of that tree. He can swing like the masters and funk like a hip-hopper; truly the blossoming of tomorrow’s jazz.”

The seeds have been sown and Eric Darius unearths his talents not only as a saxophonist but equally important, as a composer and co-producer on On A Mission. The saxman ,who first started experimenting with writing at age thirteen, cites Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock as among his biggest compositional influences. Darius acknowledges that music has always been an outlet for him to express his emotions and experiences.

Hailing from a musical family (his father from Haiti and mother from Jamaica) and raised in Tampa where he still lives, Eric Darius realized his calling for music at an early age. “ I remember being nine and hearing a saxophonist play at my church. I instantly loved the sound…I remember being blown away by the soul and emotion of the instrument. It was as if I could almost hear the words and lyrics with each note being played…it was at that point that I fell in love with the instrument. The saxophone has a way of reaching people in a way that no other instrument does. It is the closest to the human voice.”

Eric Darius published with permission of Bettie Grace Miner.

Smooth Jazz and Great Venues – Punta Gorda

The 7th Annual Wine & Jazz Festival will be held on February 17th. 18th and 19th 2012 with the main event on Saturday Feb 18th, 2012. The Rippingtons, Peter White and Mindi Abair are the headliners.

The name, Punta Gorda, comes from the Spanish, meaning Fat Point. This historic small town is a hidden treasure of Florida and lies as a “Fat Point”, sticking out into Charlotte Harbor – one of the US’s largest natural harbors. Centrally located between Sarasota to the North and Fort Myers tothe South, Punta Gorda is a delightful location, within a comfortable driving distance from Tampa, Orlando and Miami.

As the only incorporated city of Charlotte County, Florida, Punta Gorda is the vibrant engine of the area. It boasts wonderful restaurants, marinas and a pace of life that people from around the world come to enjoy.

Smooth Jazz and Printed Medium – Smooth Jazz Magazine

If you love listening to smooth jazz, you’ll love Smooth Jazz Magazine! This national bi-monthly publication is a complement to the hundreds of smooth jazz radio stations that have millions of daily listeners.

Every issue is packed with full-color features and profiles of popular artists, disc jockeys and other industry personalities. Plus, in-depth coverage of concerts, jazz clubs, fashion styles, restaurants, reviews of new CD releases and a directory of smooth jazz radio station listings with frequencies and online music playing capabilities. Smooth Jazz Magazine also explores travel destinations with suggestions for fun and relaxation.

Smooth Jazz Magazine’s goal is to become the first word in Smooth Jazz, covering top artists of the day such as Sade, Dave Koz, Norah Jones, George Benson, Natalie Cole, Kenny G, Diana Krall, B.B. King, Four Play, Grover Washington Jr., Enya, Down To The Bone, Phil Collins, Luther Vandross, Bob James, Celine Dion, Sting, Seal, Earth, Wind and Fire, Boney James, Anita Baker – the list goes on.

For more information about Smooth Jazz Magazine visit  

http://www.smoothjazzmag.com.

Smooth Jazz and Fine Dining – Jimmy Mak’s

Jimmy Mak’s is Portland’s premier jazz venue, featuring world-class national and regional talent. Jimmy Mak’s is an undeniable palace of jazz excellence and retro style.  Go to Jimmy Mak’s and hear some great jazz while sipping the life saver cocktail. Jimmy Mak’s brings in great artists and there’s no “bad” seat in the house. The food and drinks are good as well.

A very nice jazz club that is intimate, with great acoustics, good pasta, and mico-brews. If you’ve never been to a jazz club then you should grab a date and head out to Jimmy Mak’s and let America’s classical music wash over you. It’s a dark, smoke free venue and restaurant, perfect for a retreat from rainy Portland nights.

The stage is well spaced, the dining / seating area on the main floor is comfortable and fits a lot of bodies with room for service. There is a second level where you can grab a table and look down at the stage and all of the heads swaying to the sounds of a Coltrane composition (provided by one of the many local Tenor Sax musicians) or the banging drums of Mel Brown – local hero.

Chef Antoine Golden has developed a wonderful dinner menu for you to enjoy, as you listen to the world-class music performing at Jimmy Mak’s. He has a slightly French influence to offer with his Steak au Poivre, Coq au Vin, and Braised Lamb Shank. Don’t miss out on those St. Louis Ribs, Gulf Prawn Scampi, and the other delicious items on their menu.

Smooth Jazz fans will be pleased by Peter White, Patrick Lamb and many more.

Smooth Jazz And Books – Smooth Jazz Piano: Keyboard Style Series

 

This comprehensive book and CD package will teach you the basic skills you need to play smooth jazz piano. From comping to soloing, you’ll learn the theory, the tools, and the tricks used by the pros. The accompanying CD features many of the examples in the book performed either solo or with a full band.

Specifically, you’ll learn: scales and chords, harmony and voicings, progressions and comping, rhythmic concepts, melodies and soloing, characteristic stylings, the history of jazz, and more. The Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series provides focused lessons that contain valuable how-to insight, essential playing tips, and beneficial information for all players. Comprehensive treatment is given to each subject, complete with a companion CD.

Smooth Jazz Piano: Keyboard Style Series is available in all online stores.

Gerald Albright – Funky Sax

One of the biggest stars of R&B, contemporary and straight-ahead jazz, Gerald Albright has earned his reputation as a “musician’s musician.” Born in Los Angeles, he began piano lessons at an early age. Albright’s love of music picked up considerably when he was given a saxophone that had belonged to his piano teacher. By the time he enrolled at the University of Redlands, he was already a polished saxophonist. Albright decided to switch to bass guitar after he saw Louis Johnson in concert. A few months after graduating from college, he joined jazz pianist/R&B singer Patrice Rushen, who was in the process of forming her own band. Later, when the bass player left in the middle of a tour, Albright replaced him and finished the tour on bass guitar.

During the ’80s, Albright became a highly requested session musician, playing on albums by a wide variety of artists – including Anita Baker, Ray Parker, Lola Folana, Atlantic Starr, Olivia Newton-John, the Temptations and Maurice White. He also toured extensively with Les McCann, Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie, the Winans, Marlena Shaw, Quincy Jones, and Whitney Houston, among many others. Albright also went on to record numerous successful solo albums for Atlantic Records. Two albums hit the number one slot on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Chart, and were nominated for GRAMMY® Awards in 1989 and 1990. Phil Collins asked him to front a Big Band in 1998, and they toured together. The two of them also recorded one of Albright’s tunes, “Chips N’ Salsa” on Collins’ Big Band Project, entitled A Hot Night In Paris. Later that year, Albright released Pleasures of the Night with Will Downing on Verve Forecast, which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart as well.

Albright moved to GRP in 2002 for the Groovology album, and continued to maintain his busy schedule as a session man. His second GRP album, Kickin’ It Up, followed in 2004. Two years later, he signed with Peak Records, which released the 2008 GRAMMY® nominated New Beginnings, and the 2009 GRAMMY® nominated, Sax for Stax; both in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Album.

Over the years, Albright has appeared on numerous TV shows such as A Different World, Melrose Place and BET Jazz segments, as well as piloting a show in Las Vegas with Designing Women star Meshach Taylor. Albright was selected to be one of 10 saxophonists to play at President Clinton’s inauguration ceremony. Along the way, he has sold over a million albums in the U.S. alone and has appeared on nearly 200 albums by other artists.

Pushing the Envelope is easily Gerald Albright’s most rewarding session to date. “The title reflects all the tunes on the project,” Albright says. “I didn’t want to hold anything back. I really wanted to push the envelope and give people a little more edge. I come from the era where we didn’t think of a formula – we went from the gut.”

Gerald Albright published with permission of Bettie Grace Miner.

Dave Koz and Friends at Sea 2012 – Naples

Join the gentleman of Smooth Jazz Dave Koz and his friends for a week-long fun-filled trip to Europe. He will be cruising the Italian and French Riviera in September of 2012. It’s really a dream-come-true itinerary starting in Barcelona, Spain and continuing on to Naples, Rome and Florence, Italy — then on to Nice and Toulon, France! Three countries and six ports during an unforgettable seven-day cruise on board the Royal Caribbean Line’s Serenade of the Seas. This cruise is already booked out, but perhaps you have luck to catch the boat!

On the Dave Koz & Friends At Sea Cruise, every single night you will be entertained by some of the best known names in Smooth Jazz: Dave Koz, Michael Bolton, Bob James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason, Chuck Loeb, Marc Antoine, Patti Austin, Norman Brown, Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Brian Culbertson, Michael Lington, Paul Brown, Raul Midón are among the already booked artists.

Naples, Napoli in Italian, is the third most-populated city in Italy and the biggest city in Southern Italy. Its name comes from the Greek Neapolis meaning new city. Its close proximity to many interesting sites, such as Pompeii and the Bay of Naples, makes it a good base for exploring the area. Naples is a lively and vibrant city, full of wonderful historical and artistic treasures and narrow, winding streets with small shops, making it worth at least a few days visit.

Mount Vesuvius or Vesuvio, the volcano near Naples, is an interesting place to explore. To reach Vesuvio, get off the train at Ercolano station where you can catch a Compagnia Trasporti Vesuviani bus outside the station. Europe Travel has visiting information for Mount Vesuvius and a virtual tour.

Pompeii was a thriving wealthy city that was buried by an eruption of Vesuvio in 79AD. Excavations of the site have been ongoing for a few hundred years so there is lots to see and you’ll be doing a lot of walking. To reach the excavations, get off the train at Pompeii Scavi. You can also take a SITA bus from Piazza Esedra in Naples.

Also worth a visit is the Amalfi Coast and the  picturesque Sorento.  Sorrento makes a good base for exploring the scenic Amalfi Coast, one of Italy’s top travel destinations. Sorrento has many choices of accommodation and is easily reached on public transportation.

Smooth Jazz Festival Mallorca – Sa Coma

 

Sa Coma, on the east coast of Mallorca in the municipality of Sant Llorenç, is separated from the resort of Cala Millor on the peninsula by the natural area of Sa Punt de n’ Amer, the only undeveloped area along this part of the coast. Sa Coma was developed in the ’80′s to cope with the tourist demand but control has been kept on building, with few hotels and more holiday villas and apartment blocks.

There are a wide range of bars and restaurants, many owned by British people, or aimed at the British market. Other facilities include a large supermarket and tennis courts. Nightlife is on the quiet side but Cala Millor is livelier and only a 5 min car ride away.

The Smooth Jazz Festival with unique live music will take place in the exclusive ambience of the Protur Biomar Gran Hotel & Spa. The 5-star hotel is also the venue and is characterized by an elegant and modern equipment, a full-equipped spa area as well as landscaped gardens and swimming pools (indoor / outdoor).

Smooth Jazz Calendar 2012

The Original Smooth Jazz Calendar was first created by Sherry Fisher in 2005 for family & friends including artists & industry people is filled with photos of your favorite Smooth Jazz Artists from concerts throughout the year. Over the last several years calendar has been expanded a larger size and now measures 17”x22”, allowing to feature more performers than ever.

The artists this year will include all of your favorites! Peter White, Rick Braun, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Richard Elliot, Mindi Abair, Jeff Golub, Michael Paulo, Spencer Day, Euge Groove, Craig Chaquico, Eric Darius, Jessy J, Norman Brown, Gerald Albright, Vincent Ingala, Trombone Shorty, Candy Dulfer, Acoustic Alchemy, Shilts, Jackiem Joyner, Keiko Matsui and more!

For more information about the calendar visit this website.