Rhythm Jets – Spice Island

Vance Kelly and the Rhythm Jets have once again teamed up with renowned composer/arranger/producer Trammell Starks on their new single, “Spice Island”.

The dynamic new single features bandleader Vance Kelly on alto sax, Sam Sims (Boney James, Michael Jackson, Dave Koz) on bass, the virtuoso Chris Blackwell on guitars, Rafael Periera on percussion, Trammell Starks on keyboards and the incomparable Lil John Roberts (Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder) on drums.

Listen to Spice Island on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 23/3).

Jazmin Ghent – Work Wit It

Jazmin Ghent is among the hottest up&coming national Smooth Jazz artists today. Jazmin Ghent’s The Story of Jaz is of astonishing complexity and maturity of a musical personality that has grown up in young years. The smooth jazz genre can be grateful for such talents. From her new album The Story Of Jaz comes the sexy songstress’ new single, “Work Wit It”. It’s the follow-up to Ghent’s Top 5 Billboard hit, “Heat”.

Written by Jazmin Ghent, produced by Ron Jenkins and recorded by Euge Groove at ‘The Groove House’, “Work Wit It” features Jazmin’s signature rich and soulful tone.

Listen to Work Wit It on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 23/3).

Paul Brown – Blues For Jeff

Even as he’s scored countless #1 hits as the producer of the most popular and influential performers in the genre, Paul Brown, over the past decade plus as a solo artist, has been pushing the needle towards a powerhouse fusion of Smooth Jazz and Blues.

One of the best stories told on Uptown Blues is from behind the scenes. The tightly funky, easy struttin’ new single “Blues For Jeff” isn’t simply a tribute to the late guitarist (and friend) Jeff Golub. Brown originally wrote it for Golub, but unfortunately Jeff never had the opportunity to record it. Golub was truly the originator of the Uptown Blues vibe that Brown celebrates on “Blues For Jeff”.

“Jeff had a huge influence on me as an artist. I went to see him in concert and was blown away by his energy on stage. He played so blusey, I thought…WOW! He, more than any other friend or fellow artist, told me to put out records as a guitarist. I took his advice and here we are today. I wrote this song for him” – Paul Brown

Listen to Blues For Jeff on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 23/3).

Call Me Saxy – Havana

A musical trendsetter with nine (yes nine) Top30 Billboard hits to his name writer, producer and guitarist extraordinaire Emmanuel “U-Nam” Abiteboul continues to invigorate the world of smooth jazz with an approach that is both innovative and daring.  A string of solo albums, with another planned for February of this year, plus side projects such as the critically acclaimed Groove Ltd. (via which he released the hugely successful “First Class”) have marked him out as a perennial trend setter and now, brand new for 2019, he is all set to do it again with “Call Me Saxy”.

This cool collaboration that is due for release on the Skytown Records label in the last quarter of 2019 finds him teaming with an exciting all female line-up sax players including his latest protégé Nikki Sax and it is Nikki who features with U-Nam on “Havana”, the first single from the album to be serviced to radio.

The duos’ sumptuous reworking of the song that in 2017 was a hit for Cuban-American vocalist Camila Cabello is a triumph for U-Nam’s production skills. Gone is the rap that on the original was provided by Young Thug and in its place is the sophisticated interplay, underscored with a smooth Latin lilt, which showcases to perfection the artistry of Nikki on sax and U-Nam on guitar.

All this points to a meteoric rise for Nikki, a classically trained musician, who was raised and educated in the Ukraine and at age twenty-one, has already performed in India, Turkey, Thailand, Jordan and extensively within her home country. Indeed with looks that are stunning, talent to burn and a newly signed recording contract with Skytown Records the stage seems set for Nikki Sax to be the next big thing in sax driven smooth jazz.

“Havana” is the first single to be taken from U-Nam’s “Call Me Saxy” project and will be going for adds January 28, 2019.

Listen to Havana on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 23/3).

Scott Allman – Elevated

Chicago-based keyboardist Scott Allman comes out of the gate with his third contemporary jazz project, “ELEVATED”. Scott’s upbeat melodies and synth-backed themes are captured in nine brand new songs prepared to raise you to new heights! Plus, a special treat is Scott’s adaptation of the well-known pop-song “Sweet Freedom” made popular in 1986 by Michael McDonald. Working with celebrated producer Darren Rahn, (who also appears on the record) Scott brings a host of featured guests to the table including sax man Jeff Kashiwa, guitar virtuoso Allen Hinds, and Grammy-winning bassist Mel Brown.

For fans of sophisticated contemporary jazz with a piano flair, “ELEVATED” is sure to please.

Listen to Elevated on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 22/3).

Eric Darius – L.O.V.E.

Saxophonist Eric Darius is a man of action. Hardly any other musician in the smooth jazz genre has played his way into the front row as fast as he has. His activity is also reflected in his numerous releases. Cruisin (2000), Night On The Town (2004), Just Getting Started (2006), Going All Out (2008), On A Mission (2010), and Retro Forward (2014) are his milestones. Like many other artists, he took over the reins after his record contracts expired and founded his own label SagiDarius Music.

He is well aware of the considerable additional work and responsibility. Nevertheless, he perceives his step as a liberating blow. Appropriately his new album is called Breakin’ Thru (2018). Taken from this album is his new single L.O.V.E. featuring pianist Brian Culbertson. If you need a main theme for your wedding ceremony, L.O.V.E. is your first choice. Brian Culbertson provides the emotional accompaniment at the piano.

Keiko Matsui – Spirit Dance

A world citizen, Keiko Matsui‘s striking and transcendent melodies have long sought to create ‘a oneness’ and build bridges. Her sonic cultural exchange has reached the hearts and mind of fans throughout the world and have allowed the petite and poetically eloquent pianist to work alongside such icons as Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Hugh Masekela and Bob James. A consummate artist, Keiko views each show and recording as a unique opportunity to connect with her audiences and for them to connect with one another. Anyone who has ever experienced one of her live shows knows that each set is an intimate invitation to become a part of her music. “We need to collectively go back and recall what connects us all…our spirits, hearts and our souls,” explains Matsui who has lent her voice to raise awareness for such causes as The Daniel Pearl and the Susan G. Komen Foundations. On February 22, 2019 Keiko Matsui will release her 28th recording as leader Echo, continuing her inspired evolution. A master storyteller, Keiko Matsui crafts passionate and emotive songs with lush harmonies and global rhythms to create timeless musical anthems.

“Spirit Dance was originally born as a song to record with my family on the road (my band). After the melody came to me, with the Brazilian flavor, I immediately thought of Gretchen Parlato who I had met on a cruise a few years ago. I was familiar with her use of voice as percussion, and the chorus section of this song seemed really made for her. Recording with her was a nice reunion, she couldn’t have been nicer and more fun to work with. We connected right off the bat, she totally got into the ‘spirit’ of the song and added such a fantastic element to it.”

Keiko Matsui

Spirit Dance is the new single by Keiko Matsui taken from her upcoming album Echo, scheduled for release on Shanachie Entertainment on Feb. 22. Along with the trusted members of her band, it features an array of guest contributors, like saxophonist Kirk Whalum, bassists Marcus Miller and Kyle Eastwood — and vocalist Gretchen Parlato, who appears here.

John Novello – Good To Go

Along with our friends at 529 Records, we are excited to announce the release of John Novello‘s new single, “Good To Go”! It’s the first single and title track from Novello’s forthcoming new album.

“Good To Go”
Written by John Novello
Produced by Andy Goldmark and John Novello

John Novello – Keys
Eric Marienthal – Sax
Adam Hawley – Guitar
Eric Valentine – Drums

Listen to Good To Go on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 22/3).

The Allen Carman Project – State Of Mine

By now, you’re probably aware that Philippe Saisse is the songwriter for Allen Carman’s music. Philippe also submitted “State Of Mine” to his friend and legendary producer/guitarist Nile Rogers, who loved the song so much he decided to include a pop mix on Chic’s new album which he produced.

Carman’s “State Of Mine” (Smooth Jazz mix) features Nile Rogers on guitar, along with Philippe Saisse on keys, and Gumbi Ortiz on percussion.

Listen to State Of Mine on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 22/3).

Kenney Polson – Blessed

Saxman Kenney Polson‘s new single “Blessed” is the first single from his upcoming new album, For Lovers Only Volume II.

Polson’s new album blends Smooth Jazz with R&B, and includes leading players such as guitarist Bruce Conte, keyboardist Roger Smith (Tower of Power), trumpeter Larry Gittens (Kool & The Gang), guitarist Phil Upchurch (Donny Hathaway and George Benson), and smooth jazz pioneer Tom Grant. Trombonist Fred Wesley (Parliament Funkadelic) and bassist/vocalist Michael Henderson (Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder) are also featured.

Listen to Blessed on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 22/3).

Mel Holder – Crossroads

Born in Brooklyn NY, of Panamanian decent, Mel was a testimony in the making. From an early age of six years old, Mel Holder was hindered from being able to fully participate in all of life’s youthful activities due to asthma. However, God taught him through that challenge to become a focused relentless warrior and saxophone player.

Mel Holder spreads his ministry through a blend of jazz and gospel, fused with African and Caribbean rhythms. He has already released the albums Music Book Volume 1 (2009), and Back To Basics: Music Book Volume 2 (2015).

Saxman Mel Holder’s new single Crossroads is taken from his new album, Music Book Volume III – Magnificent (2018). Ben Tankard is a featured guest artist on Crossroads. We think you and your listeners will dig it!

Listen to Crossroads on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 22/3).

Willie Bradley – Life On Top

Willie Bradley is a native of Orangeburg, SC and a graduate of South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC where he earned his BS Degree in Music Education and Performance. Over the course of his career he has become a go –to musician for many of soul music’s greats over the years. Willie’s stage presence includes performances with jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, Max Roach, Betty Carter, Gerald Albright, Walter Beasley, Alex Bugnon, Ronnie Laws, Hiroshima and Marion Meadows.

In 2014, Willie released his debut Contemporary Jazz CD Another Day & Time produced and co-written by keyboardist/Recording Artist Nicholas Cole. Willie’s sophomore CD Going With The Flow is being considered for a Grammy, “Best New Contemporary Jazz Instrumental Album 2018”. The single Life On Top is the first from Willie’s forthcoming new album, It’s My Time.

Listen to Life On Top on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 22/3).

Carol Albert – Femme Flight

One of contemporary jazz’s true breakaway artists of 2018 with three consecutive Billboard charting hits, keyboardist/composer Carol Albert keeps the momentum flowing with her new single, Femme Flight.

A bright and high spirited, Brazilian-tinged celebration of creative freedom, the track features Carol on piano and wordless vocals in an ensemble featuring two of the genre’s most acclaimed emerging female artists, flutist Ragan Whiteside and saxophonist Magdalena Chovancova. “Femme Flight” is produced, written and arranged by Carol Albert, and mixed by Paul Brown.

“It’s been very rewarding to see how my new music has resonated with people, and the radio airplay and appreciation from listeners are a wonderful confirmation that I’m on a strong creative path and achieving my goals on this very personal quest” – Carol Albert

Listen to Femme Flight on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 22/3).

Boney James – Play 8 Songs With Notation And Sound-Alike Audio

Sax players/ musicians, Boney James is excited to announce his brand new book of play-along transcriptions from Hal Leonard Corporation! Some of his favorite songs he has recorded and the new trax sound great. Have fun!

The Saxophone Play-Along® Series will help you play your favorite songs quickly and easily. Just follow the notation, listen to the audio to hear how the saxophone should sound, and then play-along using the separate backing tracks.

The audio files can be downloaded or streamed and include PLAYBACK+ features such as tempo adjustment and looping. This volume includes 8 songs from sax great Boney James: Butter • Let It Go • Stone Groove • Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) • Sweet Thing (Sweet Thang) • Tick Tock • Total Experience • Vinyl.

Get this songbook here.

Dave Koz & Friends – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Along with our friends at Concord Music, we are excited to announce the release of Dave Koz & Friends new Holiday single, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”!

Selina Albright’s heartfelt vocals bring a retro sensibility to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” but at the same time, “she has all the dexterity of a modern pop singer,” says Koz. “She takes it to another level, but never overdoes it. Her version sounds so true to what the song is all about.”

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is taken from the full CD, 20th Anniversary Christmas (Concord Music).

Get this single on Amazon.com.

Christian de Mesones – Spirit

Christian de Mesones is the bassist and founder of Groove Skool Band and Big New York & the Smooth Jazz All-Starz. He has also released two singles independently: “Good Old Days” in 2015, and “Latin Jive Redux” in 2017. Latin Jive Redux, a remix of the Groove Skool song, “Latin Jive”, went to number 55 on Billboard and number 1 in the UK. It has remained in the top 10 for over a year on both The Moth FM/UK and 96.8 The Oasis in the USA. The November 2018 release of “Spirit” is his third independent single release.

Today, with Big New York & the Smooth Jazz All-Starz”, Christian continues to wow audiences with his personal vision. When asked to explain that vision, he said, “Everyone gets a spotlight in this band. I like to create excitement sonically, and that means mixing it up so the listening audience can get it’s money’s worth.”

Listen to Spirit on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 20/3).

Byron Miller – The B Spot

Bassist Byron Miller shares the fate of many sidemen who play with the superstars without the fame promotes their reputation significantly. He performed with George Duke, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, Santana, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample and The Crusaders, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, and Luther Vandross.

In 2015 he released Psycho Bass, the fourth of his solo career after Git Wit Me, Until (1997), and I’ll Come By (2003), with three of the last recorded performances of George Duke, Ndugu Chancler on drums, guitarist David T. Walker and percussionist Sheila E. Psycho Bass is Byron’s Funk name.

The Gift: Psychobass 2 (2018) is Byron’s follow up offering performances of Kirk Whalum, Paul Jackson, Jr., Walter Beasley, Gordon Campbell, Phil Davis, Munyungo Jackson and more. Three tracks with Ndugu Chancler on drums he just left off. “When he passed, I couldn’t hear anybody else playing on them…”

Byron’s new single The B Spot is sensuous, soulful, and makes you feel good all over. The melody and groove won’t quit. Walter Beasley is featured on Sax. Enjoy!

Listen to The B Spot on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 20/3).

Bob Baldwin – Imagine (Living As One)

Keyboardist/producer extraordinaire Bob Baldwin’s 25th CD release is a funky overview of the legends of Pop: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison…The Beatles!

The first single Imagine is a poignant and timely reminder of the original message sent by Lennon several years back, and features saxman Euge Groove. The album also features performances by Cece Peniston and Lori Williams.

Listen to Imagine on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 20/3).

Marcia Miget – Cruzin

San Francisco flautist/saxtress Marcia Miget‘s new instrumental single “Cruzin” is penned by Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis, who also produced, mixed and engineered the track, and is featured on keyboards as well. “Cruzin” is the follow-up to Miget’s debut 2018 single “Dock Of The Bay”, also produced by Davis.

“Marcia’s music reflects a strong, deep and honest commitment to life” – Carlos Santana

Listen to Cruizin on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 19/3).

Dave Bradshaw – Forever Grey

The story behind Dave Bradshaw’s development as a contemporary urban jazz artist after years as a renowned, very versatile sideman in Southern California is as poignant as “Jumpstep” is uplifting. For 13 years, he was a member of the Al Williams Jazz Society, a popular, multi-faceted ensemble led by the popular jazz drummer and jazz promoter, known for their regular gigs at Spaghettini in Seal Beach and rousing annual performances at the Long Beach Jazz Festival. The keyboardist had the pleasure of opening for genre greats like Kenny G and Brian Culbertson; he was often inspired by their success and felt like he had the potential to become an artist and performer in his own right. But at some point, while continuing at the top of his game technically, he started feeling like he was losing his passion for music.

The passing of Bradshaw’s father in 2010 changed everything, making him realize like never before that time was quickly passing by and if he wanted to pursue deeper dreams, this was the time. Composing became a necessary catharsis, and he began putting all of his intense emotions over his dad’s loss into music. Excited by what he was writing, he invested in DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software and started making his own beats and tracks. He was encouraged by many of his musical cohorts to do a recording. He started off very DIY, printing his own CDs with graphics he created himself.

His first album was Set Me Free (2016), now followed by Flipside (2018). We are excited to announce the release of keyboardist Dave Bradshaw Jr’s new single, “Forever Grey” featuring Earth, Wind & Fire Horns! “Forever Grey” is written and produced by Bradshaw, and mixed by Darren Rahn. This new single is taken from the new album Flipside. We think the melody is outstanding!

Listen to Forever Grey on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 19/3).

Eric Valentine – Tis So Sweet (for Wayman)

Stepping out from behind his drum kit, Valentine thrives playing his skills as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist on Velvet Groove, playing keyboards, synths, bass, vocals, percussion and drums on the disc comprised of ten full songs – nine of which he penned or co-penned – along with three reprises. The star power illuminating the high-level session of deft rhythms and grooves include Grammy winner Kirk Whalum, multiple Grammy nominee Gerald Albright and chart-toppers Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Adam Hawley, Elan Trotman, Brian Simpson and Greg Manning are among those who texturize the lush tracks.

An artist who had a significant impact on Valentine was late bassist Wayman Tisdale for whom Valentine wrote “‘Tis So Sweet” for Velvet Groove.

“The sounds and grooves on Wayman’s early recordings made me study and practice to his music, not knowing that I would go on to perform shows on a couple of tours with him. His melodies are always sing-able and his grooves are strong. He’s definitely still one of my musical influences.”

– Eric Valentine

Listen to Tis So Sweet on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 19/3).

Peabo Bryson – Looking For Sade

Peabo Bryson has established a career as one of the premier male vocalists in contemporary music of the last quarter century. Possessing a beautifully rich, almost operatic voice, this two-time Grammy Award-winner has survived and prospered despite the passage of time and changes in popular musical trends.

With twenty albums to his credit, Peabo Bryson has enjoyed an unprecedented, across-the-board level of international success, Bryson has the distinction of being the first artist in music history to have separate records topping four different charts.

His new single Looking For Sade is featuring famous saxophonist Boney James.

Listen to Looking For Sade on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 19/3).

Greg Adams and East Bay Soul – Possibilities

Trumpet legend Greg Adams was the bedrock of the formation Tower of Powers. As a founding member of the group he has recorded fourteen albums and composed many of their hits. Nowadays his focus is on the band East Bay Soul.

The band currently consists of Greg Adams (trumpet, flugelhorn, and background vocals), Darryl Walker (lead vocals, tenor sax), Lee Thornburg (trumpet, fugelhorn, and background vocals), Johnnie Bamont (alto, tenor and baritone saxes, flute, and background vocals), Greg Vail (alto, tenor sax, flute and background vocals), Nick Milo (keys and background vocals), Kay-Ta Matsuno (guitar), Dwayne “Smitty” Smith (bass), Herman Matthews (drums, and background vocals), and Johnny Sandoval (Latin percussion and background vocals).

The formation started in 2009 with the same named debut album. Soon followed East Bay Soul 2.0 (2012), That’s Life (2015) and this year Conversation. We are excited to announce the release of legendary trumpeter and founding father of Tower Of Power, Greg Adams’ (with his current supergroup, East Bay Soul) new single, Possibilities! Possibilities leans on a funky Shuffle beat with pro-active trumpet horns in the style of Herb Alpert.

Listen to Possibilities on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 10/3)

Michael Lington – Deja Vu

Growing up in Copenhagen, Michael Lington remembers the precise moment he decided he needed to move to America if he was going to seriously pursue a career in music. He was still a budding musician at the time, who loved several different genres: jazz, pop, R&B and more-as a young boy he’d even met the American swing legend Benny Goodman. But it wasn’t until he was on the verge of turning 20 that Lington-now recognized as one of the most creative and successful contemporary soul and jazz saxophonists in the world-made his fateful decision.

Immersing himself in his favorite music-David Sanborn, Michael Brecker, King Curtis, Hank Crawford, Cannonball Adderley and Grover Washington-Michael started out on clarinet but soon found his true calling, the saxophone. Already established in his homeland, he made the move to the U.S. and began to grab a foothold in the music industry there. Eventually, after much hard work, his place within the American and international music scene came to him naturally:

“I loved that contemporary sax was so versatile in all styles of music: funk, jazz, R&B, pop,” Lington says, but soul music hit him most directly. “It’s hard to describe why something in particular is meaningful to a person, but soul music spoke to me very early on in my life-it’s just a feeling and reaction I had when I would hear it.” – Michael Lington

Listen to Deja Vu on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 19/3).

Jack Magnet – Hook, Line, Sinker

Jack Magnet’s instantly hummable, crazy-catchy new track “Hook, Line & Sinker” is being released initially as a solo single – and follow-up to his 2016 debut single “Still Boppin’ Along,” which reached #16 on the Billboard jazz charts. Yet it’s truly a collaborative jam involving a total of four genre greats – Magnet on acoustic piano, featured guest Jeff Ryan on tenor sax, producer Paul Brown on guitar and Chris Standring, who co-wrote the sure-fire hit tune with Brown and Magnet (real name Jakob Magnusson). It tickles the ears from the get go, with a subtle intro featuring quick bursts of piano, guitar and sax, before exploding spontaneously into a festive romp driven by the dynamic dual melodic magic of Magnet and Ryan – underscored by Brown’s simmering guitar lines (and occasional crisp licks) and the skin-tight grooving of rhythm section Johann Asmundsson on bass, Standring on drums and synth and Lenny Castro on percussion.

As the track continues, Ryan bursts out with impactful solo runs, answered eloquently by Magnet’s playful, jazzy ivory fluttering. Then the solo spotlight turns briefly to the pianist, who plays a few rambunctious riffs as an inviting bridge back to the sax/piano duality which is the emotional thrust of the tune. Magnet is back at it, soloing artfully and madly during most of the last minute of the tune, reminding us of whose name comes first on the single and about his remarkable talent as a true jazz performer. The title is not coincidental. It’s truly got more hooks than a busy fisherman’s tackle box! Look for “Hook, Line & Sinker” to surpass even Magnet’s promising debut performance on the charts with “Still Boppin’ Along.” – Jonathan Widran

Listen to Hook, Line, Sinker on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 19/3)

Lori Williams – Hold On

American vocalist Lori Williams has a strong connection to jazz. Her website is Lorijazz.com indicating that jazz is her profession and passion. However, limiting her vocal abilities to one genre would not do justice to her distinctive personality.

Lori Williams made her vocal solo debut with the self produced album Healing Within (2010), with which she received considerable merits as a jazz singer. This impression was intensified with her second album Eclipse Of The Soul (2012). She does not leave this musical homeland with her third album Behind The Smiles (2016), which, like its predecessors, was released on the Pacific Coast Jazz label. Nevertheless, in some songs she enjoys to seamlessly lend R&B colors to her voice across genres.

Her new album Out Of The Box (2018) appears like a reorientation of the established jazz singer. “When you reach the milestone of 50, many things begin to cross your mind,” Lori declares. “Out of the Box is a deliberate breakaway from me being stereotyped as ‘Lori only does this’ – this being straight ahead jazz. For me to be recognized and respected within that music has been quite an accomplishment but there is more to me. Out of the Box is a Neo-Soul Jazz project”.

Hot off the presses from Bob Baldwin’s production studio, we are excited to announce the release of Lori Williams new ‘Global Chill’ mix of her silky-smooth radio single, Hold On! Hold On was written by Bob Baldwin and Lauren Highsmith, Lori’s daughter. The song has a dynamic turn and Tom Browne delivers the twist on trumpet.

Listen to Hold On on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 17/3)

Terence Young – My Jewel

Terence Young has earned the reputation as one of the most talented and electrifying lead guitarists in the world. He has released 10 CDs to date, ranging from Smooth Jazz/R&B, to gospel, Christmas, and his original guitar compositions.

Terence has shared the stage with countless renowned recording artists, including, The Temptations, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, BabyFace, Charlie Wilson, Envogue, Morris Day and the Time, Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack, George Duke, Rachelle Ferrell, Gerald Albright, Clarence Carter and Joe Sample. In addition to performing with these top talents, Terence has also performed with and was Music Director for the Legendary Ashford and Simpson, Lenny Williams, Aaron Hall and Angie Stone, to name a few. Terence’s talent can be heard on the Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute CD with R&B Queen, Angie Stone.

Terence Young’s new single, “My Jewel,” is melodic, hooky, soulful, and most of all, enjoyable music!

Listen to My Jewel on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 19/3)

Steve Raybine – Firefly Dance

Nicknamed “The Vibe” for his mastery of the vibraphone, Steve Raybine was a founding member of jazz fusion greats, Auracle, played with Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck and Rick Braun, and has enjoyed nearly 20 years as a Smooth Jazz Artist. On his latest single “Firefly Dance” – the follow-up to his 2016 album Cool Vibes – Raybine pays homage to the way his cat Indy is mesmerized by the nightly dance of fireflies.

His silky, sensual and infectiously haunting vibraphone melody is caressed by old school keyboard harmonies and graceful atmospheres that capture the many facets of these creatures doing their nocturnal thing (www.smoothjazz.com).

Listen to Firefly Dance on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 19/3)

Ragan Whiteside – See You At The Get Down

Ragan Whiteside, the flautist who catches the ear like few in the world of Contemporary Jazz can, is getting ready to make waves again with the release of her new single, “See You At The Get Down”, which follows on the heels of Ragan’s #1 Billboard single, “Corey’s Bop”.

This track is unique for a number of reasons. It’s rare to have a full horn section on a flute tune, which contributes to the vibrant energy the song embodies. The new single features a drum break that old school DJ’s would call the “Get Down”.

Listen to See You At The Get Down on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 18/3).

Adam Hawley – Traveling Mood

 

Los Angeles based guitarist Adam Hawley has already worked as sideman for stars like Jennifer Lopez, Monica, Kenny Latimore, Rick Braun, Dave Koz, Richard Elliot, Michael McDonald, Brian Culbertson and many more.

More important is his solo career, which he started with his aptly titled album Just The Beginning in 2016. His friend and band mate Greg Manning helped him to get a contract with the label Kalimba music. Now Adam returns on the same label with his second album Double Vision in 2018.

The new single Traveling Mood offers the dark side of Julian Vaughn’s bass.

Listen to Traveling Mood on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 16/3).

Patrick Bradley – Intangible

Patrick Bradley‘s new album is entitled Intangible. According to conventional definition that means not made of physical substance or not able to be touched. An adjective that applies to all forms of music. Patrick Bradley addressed with this adjective on one hand his musical influences, on the other hand all kinds of friendship.

If we put aside the spiritual superstructure, we recognize a new project where Patrick once again is working with keyboard legend Jeff Lorber. Further musicians on this recordings are Paul Jackson Jr., Adam Hawley and Michael Thompson (guitar), Jimmy Haslip (bass), Andrew Carney (trumpet), Gary Novak (drums) and David Mann (horns). All songs were composed by Patrick and Jeff Lorber.

The title song is a fountainhead of luminous organ mastery pulsed by Jeff’s strongly pushing synth bass.

Listen to Intangible on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 18/3).

Michael C Lewis – Houston Nights

“I want to dedicate “Houston Nights” to the incredible musicians from my hometown, including The Crusaders, The Laws Family, Arnett Cobb, and Billy Harper to name just a few. I also want to acknowledge the incredible musicians from Texas Southern University who have shared this Journey as well as everyone that came through the renowned Summer Jazz Workshop as students and instructors. Soulful and sophisticated Houston Nights all!”

“I sincerely home you enjoy the music”
– Michael C Lewis

Listen to Houston Nights on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 18/3).

Kenny Pore – Sunset

To dream out loud-to dream in sequences of seductive melody-is an act of poetic faith. Kenny Pore is a dreamer and a poet both. A free spirit, a man of musical faith.

Kenny’s open hearted approach to making music is deceptively simple. His methodology is instinctual. He brings visions in his head to the studio where, in the company of highly skilled colleagues, he translates the visions into sounds.

Kenny Pore is a writer- producer living in Texas. Sunset is the first single from Kenny’s newest project scheduled for release in 2019.

Listen to Sunset on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 18/3).

The JT Project – Backyard Brew

The boys are back! Adventurous and bold, Jacob Webb (keyboards/bass) and Todd Schefflin (saxophone), leaders of The JT Project, knew that it would take more than just a passing interest in music to become the creative force that they envisioned. Jacob commands each stroke on the keyboard to awaken the soul with a touch of fire, and Todd caresses the notes to life with every breath.

Backyard Brew features legendary artist Najee on flute. This up-tempo track features modern production, a singable melody, and virtuous performances. Make sure you listen all the way through to catch a breathtaking call-and-response between Najee’s flute and Schefflin’s saxophone.

“Backyard Brew is KILLER!” – Jason Gorov

Listen to Backyard Brew on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 18/3).

Greg Manning – Top Down

Swiss-American keyboardist Greg Manning is in the Smooth Jazz scene perfectly at home. He worked as musical director with Jonathan Butler and also performed with Brian McKnight, Kirk Whalum, Will Downing, Richard Elliot, Gerald Albright, Chante Moore, Mindi Abair and many more.

His debut album Soulciety was released in 1999, followed by his sophomore album The Calling in 2010. His next album Dance With You was released on Kalimba Music in 2014.

Along with our friends at Kalimba Music, we are excited to announce the release of keyboardist/producer Greg Manning’s new single, Top Down! It’s is the first single/title track from Manning’s new album, which is scheduled for release in early 2019.

We think it’s among Manning’s best songs, and we think you and your listeners will agree…

“KILLER!” – Cliff Gorov

Listen to Top Down on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 17/3).

Brooke Alford – Closer

Brooke Alford, The Artist of the Violin creates magic on stage by bringing the violin to life. When Brooke performs, she connects with her audience and takes them on an unforgettable musical journey through the soulful vibes of R&B, Reggae, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Gospel, and more. Brooke’s dynamic style, colorful imagery, flawless flow, and creative sound make her who she really is, The Artist of the Violin!

With over 10 years of professional experience in the music business and her artistry, Brooke has had a number of outstanding opportunities including opening for national and international recording artists including The Whispers, Mint Condition, Peabo Bryson, Najee, Will Downing, Paul Taylor, Marion Meadows, and Eric Darius, just to name a few.

“Atlanta-based violinist Brooke Alford is coming on strong with her debut national single, produced by yours truly. Mixes include accessible tracks for Smooth Jazz, Urban A/C and Quiet Storm radio. Enjoy this new Smooth sound of the violin. Brooke Alford is a trend-setter” – Bob Baldwin

Listen to Closer on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 17/3).

Ron King – You Move Me

Ron King is one of the finest trumpet / composer / arranger artists, in the world today. A Grammy nominated soloist, he is also one of L.A.’s top studio lead / jazz / improvisational trumpet players. He has received many awards, from the IAJE, NAJE, ASCAP, and the RMA.

He has attained Gold Records, for working with such artists as George Benson, Ricki Lee Jones, and Marvin Gaye. In addition to these artists, he has also performed and recorded with: The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Keely Smith, Jimmy Kimmel Live television show, ABC-TV’s, The Next Best Thing, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, and featured on the Grammy Awards!

King’s new single, “You Move Me” features Darren Rahn, and is produced by Paul Brown.

It’s quite tasty!

Listen to You Move Me on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 17/3).

Blake Aaron – Groovers and Shakers

Guitarist Blake Aaron was locked and loaded to release a new single on July 30 when fate intervened. Earlier this month, he received a track from chart-topping saxophonist Darren Rahn, which inspired Blake to write an entirely new melody. The guitar man’s record company, Innervision Records, and radio promoter flipped when they heard the demo, instantly recognizing the hit potential for “Groovers and Shakers.” The hustle was on and within ten days, the new track was produced and recorded by Aaron and Rahn, replacing the single Aaron had intended to drop on the same date. Several radio programmers who have already heard it are eager to add it into rotation on Monday.

“Groovers and Shakers” balances retro R&B dancefloor funk and urbane hipster cool jazz with panache. Aaron’s crisp electric jazz guitar licks pair divinely with Rahn’s vivacious tenor sax blasts throughout the sizzling summer single. The complementary tandem had wanted to collaborate dating back to an interview Rahn did a few years ago when Aaron hosted a nationally-syndicated radio show. The cut they crafted together recognizes the people behind the music, the fans, the radio programmers and the concert promoters who are keeping jazz vibrant and flourishing.

“In every aspect of our lives, there are ‘Groovers and Shakers’ who make everything happen and our smooth/contemporary jazz community is no different. From the dedicated fans who follow the music online, on the radio and who come out to the concerts with smiles on their faces while dancing on their chairs to the people who tirelessly work at the radio stations to bring new music to the listeners; to the club, festival and event promoters; and to radio, print and online jazz media. Every one of them could have used their talents in any number of areas, but their passion for this music has inspired them to work – some even just as volunteers – to keep smooth/contemporary jazz thriving. It is these ‘Groovers and Shakers’ to whom this song is dedicated for without you, there is no jazz,” said Aaron, who for decades has been a fixture on the Billboard Top 10 singles chart.

Slated to appear on Aaron’s forthcoming “Color and Passion” album, “Groovers and Shakers” is the fifth single from the project tentatively slated to drop this fall, following “Riviera Nights,” “VIVID,” “Godfather Brown” and “Summer Ride.” The unconventional approach to recording an album over a period of years mirrors the successful path he followed for 2015’s “Soul Stories,” Aaron’s fifth album that was assembled and released as collection of diverse yet engrossing musical chapters only after three singles reached the Billboard Top 10.

Aaron performs frequently with his own band at venues across the nation along with being a busy first-call session player and producer. He’ll play the Derby City Jazz Festival at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY on August 10, The King Center in Melbourne, FL on September 22 where he will share the marquee with Paul Taylor and Brian Simpson, and back home at SoCal’s jazz hot spot, Spaghettini, in Seal Beach on September 29.

For more information, please visit http://www.BlakeAaron.com.

Source: Great Scott Productions

David Garfield – Stay

When asked how he got Grammy-winning legends George Benson and David Sanborn to perform on his new single, “Stay,” keyboardist David Garfield responds dryly with a gleeful grin, “You ask them.” The third single from Garfield’s forthcoming “Jammin’ Outside the Box” album is a remake of the Rufus classic featuring the vintage R&B-funk band’s former drummer Moon Calhoun singing lead on the song he wrote with Chaka Khan. “Stay” goes for radio adds on June 11 and drops digitally from Creatchy Records on June 15.

As Garfield was gathering material for his multi-disc, multi-genre “Outside the Box” series, he decided to give his long-time friend, Calhoun, the chance to sing the first song he ever wrote, which appeared on Rufus’s “Street Player” (1978). Calhoun was paralyzed in a bike accident 25 years ago and although he can no longer play drums, he can still sing. After inviting Benson and Sanborn to participate, Garfield let Calhoun cast the rest of the track’s musicians, which includes original Rufus guitarist Tony Maiden, along with Maiden’s daughter, Amanda Maiden, on backing vocals. Among the prominent players is a powerhouse sax section comprised of Sanborn on alto, Eric Marienthal on tenor and Tower of Power’s Doc Kupka on baritone; Paul Jackson Jr. (rhythm guitar), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), Freddie Washington (bass) and Lenny Castro (percussion). Sanborn and Benson take turns in the spotlight soloing.

“Both George and David were very gracious. It was great to put them together. They compliment each other,” said Garfield, who is Benson’s long-serving music director and has collaborated with Sanborn on numerous occasions. “Initially George was only going to play the solo, but when he heard the guitar tracks, he added some rhythm guitar as well. This track really embodies the idea of musical community, where everyone works hand in hand, gifting each other with their talents. All I think about when I hear the finished song now is, ‘Moon finally got to sing his song!’”

Scheduled to street on July 20, “Jammin’ Outside the Box” is the second volume of the star-studded “Outside the Box” collection. Released in late March, Garfield’s first ever straight-ahead jazz date, “Jazz Outside the Box,” continues to gather radio spins and receive accolades. “Jammin’ Outside the Box” mixes it up in the smooth/contemporary jazz sandbox showcasing luminaries Benson, Sanborn, Smokey Robinson, Michael McDonald, Ray Parker Jr., Oleta Adams, Phil Perry, Marcus Miller, Kirk Whalum, Rick Braun and many more. The outing’s first single, “Go Home,” hit No. 2 on the Billboard chart, while the follow up, “Jamming,” rose to No. 8.

Garfield will perform music from “Outside the Box” on May 31at Cleveland’s Night Town and celebrate “Jazz Outside the Box” on June 12 in Hollywood at the Catalina Jazz Club featuring special guests.

For more information, please visit www.DavidGarfield.com

 

Source: Great Scott Productions

Kim S. Hansen – To the Limit

After twenty years of being one of the genre’s most sought-after side-men, arranger, writer, producer and keyboard player Kim S. Hansen is stepping center stage with his debut single, the infectiously vibrant “To the Limit”. Not only is it a fine example of smooth jazz circa 2018 but, given he plays both keyboards and all guitars throughout, stands also as a glowing tribute to his multi-faceted artistry.

Since his arrival in LA from Denmark in 1997, and starting out as Musical Director for the Grammy-nominated and platinum-selling recording artist Maxine Nightingale, Kim has gone on to tour or record with the likes of Patti Austin, Howard Hewitt, Earl Klugh, Peabo Bryson, Bobby Lyle, Oleta Adams, Doc Powell, Steve Oliver, Jeff Kashiwa, Paul Jackson Jr., Everette Harp, George Duke, Nils, Phil Perry, Michael Lington and, significantly, U-Nam with whom he has played many times. This has included cameo appearances on the U-Nam “Live @ Anthology” DVD and his “Give Me the Night” video.

In fact, his smooth jazz career really took off through a chance encounter with legendary drummer Ricky Lawson when they were both hired for the same TV show. Kim quickly came to regard Lawson as his musical mentor and when he booked Hansen as Musical Director for the nationwide “Winans Family Reunion Tour” things began to happen. He continues to write prolifically for both television and the movies while with “To the Limit” his musical evolution is entering an exciting new phase.

Out on Skytown Records, “To the Limit” radio single will be going for adds on March 26th, 2018.

Rocco Ventrella – Precious Of Life

Delilah Records is thrilled to announce the release of the latest single by Rocco Ventrella, “Precious Of Life”, available on all major digital stores on April 30, 2018. “Precious Of Life” is the new single which will be part of the full new album by Rocco Ventrella which will be released in autumn. “Precious Of Life” is an original composition of the saxophonist and producer Rocco Ventrella. With this single, he expresses his thoughts about the most precious things that life has to offer him (and to all of us), his two daughters Delilah and Margherita.

“Precious Of Life”, the new single is scheduled for release on April 30, 2018, in digital download.  Rocco Ventrella lives in Bari, Italy and he’s introduced quite well to the music business since his debut album Give Me The Groove, gaining a Grammy Award Pre-Nomination for Contemporary Jazz Best Album 2007. 

More about Rocco Ventrella can be found on his website at www.roccoventrella.com

Brian Culbertson delivers his Valentine with “Love”

 

Contemporary jazz-R&B funkster Brian Culbertson has had love on his mind essentially since last Valentine’s Day. Inspired by the occasion of his twentieth wedding anniversary last fall, the keyboardist began writing thirteen new songs about a year ago dedicated to his wife, Michelle, which make up his “Colors of Love” album that was released on Wednesday, Valentine’s Day, by BCM Entertainment. Substituting the live band instrumentation customary of his recordings, Culbertson crafted an intimate set of ardent acoustic piano melodies using sensual synth grooves and textures. With the title track of his eighteenth album that he wrote, arranged and produced already in the Billboard Top 5, his attention is fixed on creating the highly-theatrical production he’ll take on the road for nearly three months beginning March 30 across the bridge from Philadelphia in Collingswood, New Jersey and concluding in Seattle on June 17.

Culbertson showcases his proficiency as a multi-instrumentalist by playing virtually all the instruments heard on “Colors of Love” – piano, keyboards, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hammond B3 organ, synth bass, drum programming, percussion and trumpet. The only supplementation came from guitarist Isaiah Sharkey along with an ethereal accordion passage from Peter White on the song “In A Dream.” Impassioned tracks like “I Want You,” “Love Transcended,” “Don’t Go,” “You’re Magic,” “Let’s Chill,” “Desire,” “In Your Embrace” and “The Look” employ caressing melodies and sultry rhythms to allure, soothe and seduce. Even more revealing and evocative is the ravishing piano poetry of “Through The Years,” “Michelle’s Theme” and “All My Heart,” poignant solo pieces that Culbertson uses effectively to tell wordless stories of romance and amorous contemplation.

As he lovingly conceived the cozy collection depicting the many different “colors” of romantic love, Culbertson envisioned mounting an elaborate concert presentation utilizing video and lighting to present the cherished material in an immersive multimedia experience.

“I’m in the midst of creating a stunning-looking show, working closely with my lighting director and visual designer. We’re using a Visualizer to play each track to design and run the lighting and videos as if it was a live show right there on our computer screens. It enables us to dial in every little nuance of the music so that each video and light is precisely timed to the music. The detail is really amazing. I am loving the process of creating the production for the tour,” said Culbertson, who will begin ten days of production rehearsals in Nashville with his band in mid-March.

Culbertson’s Colors of Love Tour has already announced 66 shows in 50 cities with more soon to be added to the itinerary. The nationwide trek includes a June 7 performance at Culbertson’s seventh annual Napa Valley Jazz Getaway, a five-day music, wine and lifestyle experience held in the heart of California Wine Country.

“The ‘Colors of Love’ show will be staged in three acts. The first and third acts will showcase the new album along with romance-themed selections from my catalogue. In fact, we’re going to be drawing heavily from my ‘It’s On Tonight’ album,” explained Culbertson. “We’re not planning to do any big horn section pieces during this tour like I’ve done in the past and did extensively during last year’s Funk! Tour, but the second act will be a slamming funk set guaranteed to get everyone up and dancing.”

Joining the keyboardist-pianist-trombone player on tour are drummer Chris Miskel, bassist Joewaun Scott, guitarist Tyrone Chase, keyboardist-vocalist Eddie Miller, and Marqueal Jordan on saxophones, vocals and percussion.

“I asked Marqueal to bring his soprano sax for this tour. The sound fits the intimate ambience of the music we’re going to perform. It’s the first time in over a decade that I’ve used soprano sax in my live show,” said Culbertson, who describes the “Colors of Love” album as “textural ear candy cinematic in nature.”

As Culbertson shares his anniversary and Valentine’s Day gift to his wife with the world on record and during the upcoming tour, expect the architect of 30 Billboard No. 1 singles as an artist, producer and/or songwriter to add to that stat.

For more information, including concert dates, please visit http://www.BrianCulbertson.com.

Source: Great Scott Productions

Jazz Holdouts – Morning Breeze

 

From night until morning, Jazz Holdouts frontmen Alan Palanker and Lou Cortelezzi have been toiling away in the studio diligently conceiving ultramodern electronic soundscapes to pair with their enticing keyboard and saxophone melodies. Last summer, they came up with a sensual blend of throbbing house music, nocturnal chill nuances and steamy contemporary jazz harmonies on a cut titled “Summer Nights,” which went No. 1 on the Billboard and Mediabase charts. Going downtempo for a laidback oeuvre of sunrise seduction, the duo wrote and produced “Morning Breeze,” the follow-up single that began going for radio playlist adds on Monday.

“‘Morning Breeze’ refers to the urge we often have to make love when we awaken in the morning. It passes over us like a cool breeze on a hot summer day and we make of it what we will,” said Cortelezzi about the inspiration for the new cut. “Our goal is to create instrumental music that is, groove-oriented, atmospheric and contemporary. The more traditional elements that say ‘jazz’ – like improvisation – are secondary to the overall effect of the composition.”

The winning combo of keyboardist Palanker and saxman Cortelezzi have taken Jazz Holdouts in bold directions. The outfit initially formed as an adult R&B/singer-songwriter venture that dropped the debut disc, “Intuition,” in 2014. Scrapping the original concept and recruiting the hornman into the fold, the reimagined Jazz Holdouts premiered their reworked vision in 2016 with the Billboard Top 20 single “Simple Things,” a futuristic foray swirling exhilarating electronica experimentations, dancefloor dynamics and soothing sophisticated sax. All three singles will be on the ten-song album slated for release this summer.

Jazz Holdouts consists of a veteran core of accomplished musicians who have toured and recorded with many of the biggest names in pop, R&B and jazz over the past few decades. On “Morning Breeze,” Palanker and Cortelezzi are joined by guitar ace Michael Thompson, bassist John Siegler and percussionist Walfredo Reyes Jr. Fusion guitarist Jamie Glaser will appear on the album as well.

“Lou and I are the songwriters, but the Jazz Holdouts recording process is unique and technologically current, including valuable contributions from our highly-skilled audio mix engineer, Douglas Cooper Getschal, who is key to shaping our sound,” said Palanker.

After the album is complete, the Jazz Holdouts’ focus will shift to how to present the music live in a compelling multimedia production that stimulates the senses. Cortelezzi said, “We are excited about the possibility of adding extensive video content to our live shows. The combination should be very entertaining to our audience and interesting to us as musicians.”

For more information, please visit http://jazzholdouts.com.

Source: Great Scott P.R.oductions

JESSY J Live

Live at Yoshi’s – 10 Year Anniversary Special

 

The CD will be recorded live at Yoshi’s Jazz Club in Oakland, CA on Jan 28th, 2018. This is the celebration of the 10 year Anniversary of Tequila Moon. I’m excited to commemorate this experience with my fans, they have the opportunity to be heard and seen in the Live CD and Videotaping of this exclusive show.

The setlist will feature classics from my catalog over the past ten years including #1 hits Tequila Moon, Tropical Rain, Hot Sauce and brand new material.

Can’t wait for you to hear it soon, to be released Spring 2018

Support this project and visit this website.

Mariea Antoinette – Overture

The dramatic opening immediately commands attention. Emerging from the lab with a preview of her upcoming summer album, urban jazz alchemist Mariea Antoinette returns on January 29 with the jubilant “Overture,” the new single featuring her mystical harp pouring forth as a bubbly protagonist. The divine stringed instrument is cast amidst an intriguing orchestral proscenium both ancient and modern constructed by a nine-piece string section, three-piece horn section and an empowering rhythm track crafted by Emmy winner and two-time Grammy-nominated producer Allan Phillips, who co-authored the composition with Antoinette.

“Overture” is the first original recording from Antoinette since her Phillips-produced “Straight from the Harp,” which was a Billboard Top 5 smooth jazz album in 2015. The new cut demonstrates that her mission to shatter preconceived limitations, stretch and abolish musical borders and boundaries, and expand the possibilities for the harp as a lead instrument in R&B, jazz, funk, soul and rock remains unwavering.

“My goal has been to present the unexpected: to make the harp the lead instrument backed by bass, drums and percussion. I am continuously stretching and pushing the boundaries of the harp, making a clear statement that it possesses a funky and powerful place in contemporary music. The harp is unexpectedly expressive in its delivery, a forceful lead voice and soloist in the midst of it all,” said the San Diego-based Antoinette.

Valeriy Stepanov – Happy People

Widely recognized within the genre as a Smooth Jazz highlight of 2017, ‘New Beginnings’ by multi-instrumentalist Valeriy Stepanov not only blasted a path to #1 on the Amazon US chart of best-selling Jazz albums but also proved to be a project that is entirely radio ready. Indeed having already delivered the captivating single ‘Tonight’, the next track headed to the airwaves is the high octane ‘Happy People’. It finds Stepanov really tearing it up on keys (& drums) while the addition of cello from Vsevolod Guzov, coupled with a delicious splash of synth horns, are production masterstrokes that serve as the icing on a very tasty cake.

Prior to ‘New Beginnings’ Stepanov was best known as a YouTube sensation who, to date, can boast over three and a half million Internet views. He enjoys such an online profile that musicians around the world are clamoring to both cover and rework his music. Not only that, he has been recognized as having the ability to traverse the entire spectrum of Jazz, from his Smooth Jazz sensibilities, that are very much the province of ‘New Beginnings’, through to his own brand of fusion that can accurately be described as Chick Corea meets Jeff Lorber.

The story of Valeriy Stepanov, who grew up in Irkutsk, Siberia, close to the Mongolian border, is very much a story of today. He is living proof that in today’s connected world an Internet presence combined with an abundance of talent can propel a performer from the most unlikely of locations into the global spotlight. In fact the original ‘Russian’ title of ‘Happy People’ is  Irkutskrasnoyarsk’, the blending of the names of the two cities where Valeriy and Vsevolod grew up as childhood friends.

What makes Valeriy stand out from the crowd is the superb formula he has for rhythm and melody, his unbounded energy and a technique that is solidly grounded in music theory. ‘New Beginnings’ is a magnificent showcase for his artistry, writing skills, and production know-how, an inspired body of work and an important step on his journey to musical stardom. ‘Happy People’ will be Going for Adds on 01/29/2018

Darryl Williams – Do You Remember

 

It took ten years for urban-jazz bass player Darryl Williams to write, record and release “Here to Stay,” his Billboard top 10 single and the title track to his second album. This week’s release of the follow-up single, “Do You Remember,” proves that he doesn’t plan to go away anytime soon. Plucking rubbery basslines on piccolo and electric basses on the slick jazz-funk energizer that he wrote and produced, Williams is joined on the dancefloor filler by chart-toppers Michael Lington (saxophone) and Adam Hawley (guitarist).

Williams’ return to center stage as a frontman with the “Here to Stay” set resulted in a 2017 Best

New Artist nomination from the Smooth Jazz Network. The first-call bassman calls the collection that he produced with sax powerhouse Euge Groove “a labor of love,” featuring eight of his hand-penned originals along with a pair of remakes that have personal meaning to the San Diego native who currently resides in Temecula. A stellar list of his regular employers were quick to return the favor by making guest appearances on “Here to Stay,” including Groove, who ignites a pair of tunes including the title cut, two-time Grammy-winning guitarist and producer Paul Brown, jazz-funk keyboard pioneer Jeff Lorber, saxmen Marcus Anderson and Elan Trotman, and keyboardists Jonathan Fritzen, Greg Manning and Scott Wilkie. The disc’s lone vocal number, a faithful rendering of The Emotions’ “Don’t Ask My Neighbors,” is soul kissed by R&B crooner Ashling Cole. Williams remembers his late mentor, Carl Evans Jr., by revamping the former Fattburger leader’s sweetly redolent “The Doctor,” which is graced by Michael Paolo’s caressing soprano sax.

“While to some people, ‘labor of love’ is an overused cliché, it certainly applies to ‘Here to Stay.’ I began writing songs for the collection in 2007 before moving my family to Temecula from Las Vegas. The compositions were inspired by different experiences we went through in our journey throughout that period. It was an important and formative time in my career as well. That’s when I first started playing in Euge’s (Groove) band and did a tour with Jeff (Lorber) a couple years later. In between is when my very good friend and mentor Carl (Evans Jr.) passed, which was devastating. ‘Do You Remember’ was one of the last songs I wrote for the record and it was inspired by reflecting on how far I’ve come from growing up as a kid in Los Angeles and San Diego to playing in a funk band with my brother as a teenager. It took me ten years to finish this album and while it takes me back in time, the reaction from fans, radio and reviewers has me looking forward with excitement. I couldn’t be more proud of this album,” said Williams.

Williams was a teenager when he opened for R&B acts Lakeside and Al Green along with gospel legend Shirley Caesar. After studying jazz at San Diego State University, Williams went from regular gigs backing many of San Diego’s most prominent homegrown talent to the neon lights of the Las Vegas strip where he accompanied such nationally-renowned headliners as Clint Holmes, Angela Bofill, Tevin Campbell, Howard Hewett and Keith Washington, and did a road stint with Chaka Khan. After moving back to California in 2008, Williams dropped his debut album, “That Was Then,” garnering praise from JazzTimes and national airplay on SiriusXM. He has become a fixture on the smooth/contemporary jazz scene where he has shared the stage with the genre’s heavy hitters: Richard Elliot, Peter White, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair, Brenda Russell, Darren Rahn, Jessy J, Everette Harp and Jeff Kashiwa. He has also recorded with Jackiem Joyner, Blake Aaron, Nils Jiptner, U-Nam and Kay-Ta Matsuno.

Source: Great Scott Productions

Dreaming in Colour – Morning Star

A wonderful work of passion: Dreaming in Colour presents their new single Morning Star featuring guest musicians Jeff Lorber and late Chuck Loeb.

Dreaming In Colour is Kevin Ellis (bass), Chris Noonan (drums), Michael Scherer (keyboards) and Steve Wunder (sax). The song was written by Jeff Lorber and Michael Scherer. The single will be released December 26, 2017. The single will be played on Smooth Jazz Buzz, the premium station for exquisite hand-selected smooth jazz pieces.

Brian Culbertson – Colors of Love

 

Brian Culbertson, is a contemporary jazz, R&B, and funk artist that has been making records for 24 years now. He spent the first 20 of those years on major labels which was great, but now he is independent which gives him the creative freedom to pursue whatever direction he is feeling in the moment.

Earlier this year he started writing new music inspired by his 20th wedding anniversary (Oct 4th). As you can imagine, it is a very romantic record. While he was writing the new songs, he did a Facebook live session from his studio and asked the audience if this record should be instrumental only, or if he should include guest vocals. It was overwhelmingly a YES for instrumental only. He even took it a step further, purposely not including any saxophone or other lead instruments, focusing mainly on the piano which is something he never has done over his 17 albums.

The name of this new album is, Colors of Love, and it will be released on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2018. Currently, there is an Indiegogo campaign to fund the production of this album, which will end in ten days. Here is the link.

Warren Hill’s Cancun Jazz Festival

 

Star-studded lineup, exotic tropical location, luxurious accommodations and the new Stay & Play option have made Warren Hill’s Cancun Jazz Festival the hot ticket for Labor Day Weekend.

 

With more than a decade of planning music vacation experiences in alluring locales on land and at sea around the world, it should come as no surprise that in his second full year at the helm, Warren Hill has already doubled the number of festivalgoers preparing to end summer with a trek to his Cancun Jazz Festival at the five-star Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico over Labor Day Weekend (August 31-September 3, 2017).

 

The chart-topping saxophonist knows that his crowd covets value and all-inclusive packages just as much as they value the names on the marquee, that the location really does matter, that posh accommodations and amenities are a must, that most of the performers should be jazz artists if you bill the event as a jazz festival, and that sound, lighting and production values are not to be skimped upon.

 

The star power Hill has assembled to perform at this year’s Cancun Jazz Festival rivals or eclipses the lineup at any event on land or at sea and is comprised of smooth and contemporary jazz legends and royalty – from the seminal George Benson and Kenny G to charismatic crossover artist Chris Botti. Smooth R&B singer-songwriter Brian McKnight will be featured along with instrumental luminaries Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Jesse Cook, Candy Dulfer, Richard Elliot, Euge Groove, Keiko Matsui, Paul Taylor and Peter White. Fan favorites Eric Darius, Michael Lington, Brian Simpson and Elliott Yamin complete the bill.

 

“I really wanted to keep the artists close to the format. I believe that if you are a core fan of smooth and/or contemporary jazz, this is the festival for you. I even feel that Brian McKnight has a tremendous amount of jazz influences in his music. He can riff and improvise as well as any jazz musician I have ever heard. And for those who want to stretch their musical boundaries even further, we have virtuosos such as Chris Botti, Jesse Cook and Keiko Matsui to keep you on the edge of your seat,” said Hill.

 

Along with the four-night festival package, new for 2017 is the seven-night Stay & Play option. In addition to four nights of concerts, Stay & Play (August 28-30) adds three days of excursions to Cozumel, Tulum Mayan ruins, Cenotes cave pools and shopping in Playa del Carmen along with a Cirque du Soleil performance to the front end of the vacation. Both packages are all-inclusive and cover reserved concert seating, casual meals and a la carte dining, beverages (including alcohol), access to all festival events and after parties, and resort credits that can be applied to a variety of amenities such as golf, spa treatments and tours.

 

“The best part of this event is that you have an all-inclusive package. Your wallet never has to leave your room. And there is a very relaxed atmosphere. You have the days to spend at your own leisure – either exploring Mexico or just chilling on the private white sand beach,” said Hill, who co-promotes Rock Getaway at the same location October 26-November 1 headlining Don Henley, Santana, Steve Miller Band, Roger Daltrey, Bad Company, Foreigner,  REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Cheap Trick and many more.

 

In addition to his award-winning recording career, Hill has been producing first-class music vacation experiences ever since he launched the first smooth jazz cruise in 2004. “There weren’t very many options for musical vacations back then. Now there are multiple cruises and destinations. But I feel the Cancun Jazz Festival overshadows all the other options in terms of the experience. The festival is growing every year as people begin to understand the incredible value that the event has to offer.”

 

As a world-class performer himself, Hill understands the importance of presenting the talent in the finest settings with premier production values. “Our production quality is second to none. Staging, sound, lights and venues are all top notch. Even though the festival takes place south of the border, we procure some of the best production on the continent. As an artist who has performed in every type of venue – from small clubs to The Hollywood Bowl – this is as good as it gets. And why stop at just great production? Last year’s closing ceremony featured Mayan dancers and fireworks. We put the ‘Can’ in Cancun, baby!”

 

To book a festival package or for more information, please call 805.491-JAZZ or visit https://cancunjazz.com/.

Source: www.greatscottpr.com

East Bay Soul – Soul Citizen

East Bay Soul – The Jazz Funk R&B 10 piece band of musicians that’s been making music and touring together since 2008 are poised to launch their third Kickstarter campaign. With two successful all-or-nothing crowd funding projects that produced the highly acclaimed 2015 That’s Life CD and the 2012 East Bay Soul 2.0 CD that solidified the band’s infectious sound are set to go back in the studio.

Greg Adams spearheads the band, the music is horn driven infused with R&B vocals with a wicked funky rhythm section. Collectively they have recorded, performed and toured worldwide with hundreds of artists individually over the span of their careers.

What They Are Making – A Double Vision: The crowd- funding goal is set for $55,000 for both recording projects with 30 days to reach the project’s goal. Soul Citizen is the 4th East Bay Soul album. As Greg tells it “Inspired to create new music for you, by us and with the people that have believed in us most. We’ve already started writing the songs and have some great ideas swirling around to make this our best CD yet!

Sweet Soul Christmas is the first EP – extended play of classic Christmas songs that we have been playing live. Many of our fans have asked for a Christmas CD after our shows and from seeing our live rehearsal videos online. Now we can have it delivered to you just in time for the holidays! It seems like the perfect time to do both!”

The Band: Greg Adams – trumpet and flugelhorn, background vocals • Darryl Walker – lead vocals and tenor sax • Lee Thornburg – trumpet and flugelhorn, background vocals • Greg Vail – alto, tenor saxes and flute, background vocals • Johnnie Bamont – alto, tenor, baritone saxes,and background vocals • Nick Milo • keys • Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar • Dwayne “Smitty” Smith – bass • Herman Matthews – drums, background vocals • Johnny Sandoval – Latin percussion, background vocals.

Our Goal is to make music that connects a community of music lovers from all over the world.

Why They Need You – East Bay Soul is an independent ensemble with no outside record label or agent. EBS depends completely on their audience to help them make and record their music. “The advantage of that is huge,” says Adams. “We have no one between us. Our music comes straight from our hearts to your ears. It means everything to us to be able to make the music we want and the music you want too!”

For more information visit their website.

Julia Fordham – The Language of Love

According to singer-songwriter Julia Fordham, Ella Fitzgerald set the standard when it comes to tackling standards so she had to turn to other source material for her forthcoming collection, “The Language of Love,” which will receive its U.S. and European release on April 14 from Red River Entertainment with distribution via BFD/Sony RED.

“As the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, has already covered every traditional jazz song to perfection, we tried to find a new angle and hopefully put a fresh twist on some of our favorite songs,” the British-born, Los Angeles-based artist said.

Along with producer-arranger Grant Mitchell, Fordham culled a set list of modern pop, rock and R&B classics and revamped them as if they were pages from the Great American Songbook. The misty-voiced singer seductively emotes nine signature hits from the likes of Blondie, Eurythmics, Sting, The Beatles and Stevie Wonder in intimate acoustic jazz settings. She also reconfigured her own debut hit, “Happy Ever After,” and introduces a pair of new tunes – “Like You Used To Do” and “The Morning After (The Night With You)” – that she penned for the occasion with Mitchell.

Throughout “The Language of Love,” Fordham regally plies her deep-hued vocals on tracks that swing (“Call Me” and “Alone Again (Naturally)”), seduce through sultry bossa nova grooves (“Who’s That Girl” and “At Seventeen”), traverse a multicultural world music grid (“Happy Ever After”) and pitter-patter gracefully to a Latin jazz rhythm embellished by a sterling nylon guitar serenade by Ramon Stagnaro (“Fragile”). “I’m Not In Love” becomes a stunning torch song while a stark depiction of “Eleanor Rigby” strikes a hauntingly dramatic tone in a voice, piano and upright bass incarnation. “Sir Duke” bops to a groovy jazz beat highlighted by Wonder’s original “Songs in the Key of Life” tour trumpeter, Harry Kim. The lone tune taken from the Great America Songbook era is “Moon River,” a timeless, heart-tugging beauty written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. As for the new originals, “Like You Used To Do” is a steamy affair heated by soulful backing vocals from Judith Owen and Sista Jean McClain. A taut rhythm section comprised of David Piltch (upright bass), Herman Matthews (drums) and Ramon Yslas (percussion) construct a subtle Latin vibe on “The Morning After (The Night With You).”

Two bonus tracks, “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and “Moon River” orchestrated with strings, will be available exclusively with the digital purchase of the album. Videos for “Call Me,” “Who’s That Girl,” “Eleanor Rigby” and “At Seventeen” were created and will soon be made available for viewing. Fordham will support “The Language of Love” with concert dates in London on July 28 & 29 at The Strand at PizzaExpress Live, October 18 in Los Angeles at Catalina Jazz Club and October 27 & 28 in New York City at Joe’s Pub.

Fordham said she selected “The Language of Love” as the album title because “it seemed to conjure up a romantic image and the seductive feeling of the album.” The words are the opening lyrics of “Who’s That Girl” and are mentioned in the bridge section of “Call Me.”

Although she grew up writing and singing folk music in clubs since she was 14 in Portsmouth, England, Fordham discovered jazz shortly thereafter and has always incorporated nuances of jazz throughout her recording career that began with her eponymously-titled 1988 release. Her global hit “Love Moves” was featured in 1992’s “The Butcher’s Wife” starring Demi Moore. After relocating to Los Angeles two years later, three of Fordham’s albums were produced by four-time Grammy winner Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Madeleine Peyroux). Her 2005 live CD (“That’s Life”) and DVD (“That’s Live”) featured a stellar ensemble including Klein on bass and Academy Award-winning trumpeter/composer Mark Isham, and showcased Fordham dueting with multiple Grammy winner India.Aire. For additional information, please visit http://www.JuliaFordham.com.

“The Language of Love” contains the following songs:

“Call Me”

“Who’s That Girl”

“Happy Ever After”

“I’m Not In Love”

“Alone Again (Naturally)”

“Fragile”

“Like You Used To Do”

“Eleanor Rigby”

“The Morning After (The Night With You)”

“At Seventeen”

“Sir Duke”

“Moon River”

Bonus Tracks – Digital Only

“You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”

“Moon River (with strings)”

Source: Great Scott Productions

Smooth soul singer Selina Albright comfortable and confident enough to “Eat Something”

While a song about the joy of packing on a few pounds and a widening booty may seem contrary to the messages bombarding the popular music and media landscapes, smooth soul singer Selina Albright’s “Eat Something” is instantly resonating with fans and radio programmers, including SiriusXM Watercolors’ Dave Koz Lounge, which will feature the song on the February 5 national broadcast. The mid-tempo adult R&B song bolstered by guitarist Kay-Ta Matsuno’s crafty touch is the lead single from Albright’s first full-length album, the very personal “Conversations,” which will be released March 17 by Golden Rays Music with preorders beginning February 1 on iTunes.

“Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that I’ve reprioritized my life and stopped putting so much emphasis on doing and being what’s most acceptable to others, and instead focused more on appreciating and expressing who I’ve become. Getting to that place in my life inspired me to write about topics I normally wouldn’t, such as ‘Eat Something.’ I know it’s unconventional to write a song about being so happy that you gain weight from eating more, but there’s a freedom in the candor of the lyrics. There was no way I was going to change that. It was far too special,” said Albright, who selected the heartening cut as the first single based upon the immediate and rousing response she receives whenever performing the song in concert and from the fervent reaction from her “FanFamily” on social media.

Describing the custom-tailored blend of sensual soul and sultry jazz album as “my own therapeutic diary through joy, betrayal, liberation and hope, all written without holding back,” Albright wrote the lyrics for all nine original tunes and co-produced three tracks on “Conversations.” Her subject matters are based upon intimate and probing conversations she’s had, shared as if she’s confiding in a close friend. Whether skillfully unleashing the full power and magnitude of her gravity-defying voice or harnessing her passion in a reassuring caress, Albright’s demeanor remains sunny and glowing on uplifting numbers like “Possible” and “Highest High.” Even when confronting weightier subjects head on like she does on “Wifey Anthem (You Don’t Have To Fight At Home)” and “Victim,” her inherent optimism remains present and undaunted. “Let Go” also is wrought with emotion and includes dramatic flute flourishes from multiple Grammy nominee Gerald Albright, Selina’s father. The disc’s lone cover is a stripped down, jazzy take on “If I Were A Boy” with accompaniment by contemporary jazz hit-maker Peter White on acoustic guitar and Randy Ellis (Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé) on sax. Also contributing to the date are producers Chris “Big Dog” Davis and James “JRob” Roberson as well as guitarist David P. Stevens.

To help launch the album, Albright will perform at three record release parties: February 12 at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, California, April 6 at the Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania and April 15 at The Soiled Dove Underground in Denver, Colorado. The Southern California show is already nearly sold-out.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Albright was reared in the jazz and R&B scene, making her first appearance singing on one of her father’s albums twenty years ago. She has since sung on several of his collections, including penning lyrics and singing on the Grammy-nominated “24/7,” a 2012 duet set from the chart-topping saxophonist and Grammy-winning guitarist Norman Brown. Oozing stage presence, exuberance and captivating charisma, Albright has made her own name while singing on records and stages around the world, shining brightly amidst a galaxy of contemporary jazz stars and R&B legends that spans Brian Culbertson, David Benoit, Dave Koz, Kirk Whalum, David Sanborn, Boney James, Richard Elliot and Rick Braun to Chaka Khan, Will Downing, Regina Belle, The Temptations, Hugh Masakela and the late George Duke. In an entirely different setting, she injected her soul-powered energy into the electronic dance music world by collaborating with Manufactured Superstars, leading to a performance with the internationally-revered DJ duo at Las Vegas’ Electric Daisy Carnival in 2011. Recording as a solo artist, Albright placed the spirited jazz original “You and I” on the iTunes Top 100 Singles Downloads in 2010. A few years later, she topped the soul chart in the United Kingdom for four weeks with her R&B/soul single “Brighter.” Last year, Albright primed the marketplace for “Conversations” by issuing “Sun Comes Up,” which outpaced her previous singles.

“Conversations” contains the following songs:

“Eat Something” (featuring Kay-Ta Matsuno)

“Possible”

“If I Were A Boy” (featuring Randy Ellis)

“Talk To Her”

“Highest High”

“Wifey Anthem (You Don’t Have To Fight At Home)” (featuring David P. Stevens)

“Search My Name”

“Victim”

“Let Go” (featuring Gerald Albright)

“Uncharted Love”

Source: Great Scott Productions

Paul Brown – One Way Back

Grammy-winning hit-maker Paul Brown follows his heart “Back” to his roots

Paul Brown has had the Midas touch since the early ‘90s when he began producing some of the biggest contemporary jazz hits and definitive chart-topping albums by the brightest urban-jazz stars in the galaxy, amassing more than 60 Billboard No. 1 singles. In the past twelve years, the guitarist stepped forward as an artist in his own right, consistently cranking out hits of his own. Although his formative recordings established the sound of the smoother side of contemporary jazz for more than two decades, Brown yearned to reconnect with his first musical passion: the blues. On Friday, Woodward Avenue Records issued his eighth solo collection, “One Way Back,” a self-produced ten-track outing on which he followed his heart back to his blues roots.

“There was only one way back to my roots and that was to go down every road and embrace each one of them in order to find my way back to where I began,” said Brown, a two-time Grammy winner who wrote nine new tunes for the disc that was preceded by a reimagined take on Joe Sample’s party starter “Put It Where You Want It,” currently bulleted at No. 8 on the Billboard singles chart.

Bubbling under Brown’s clean and cool electric jazz guitar expressions throughout “One Way Back” are blues-powered keyboard and Hammond B3 organ blasts courtesy of the similarly-named Brother Paul Brown (no relation) and stacks of muscular horn section workouts from saxophonist Greg Vail and trumpeter-horn arranger Lee Thornberg. Having enjoyed a tremendous amount of success producing signature hits for saxophonists Boney James, Kirk Whalum, Euge Groove and Jessy J, Brown invited label mate saxman Darren Rahn to guest on “Sexy Thang.” Guitar fans will rejoice that four cuts – “Piccadilly Circus,” “River Walk,” “Take Flight” and “Rear View Mirror”- spotlight Brown trading stringed barbs with contemporary jazz guitar sensations Chris Standring, Marc Antoine, Peter White and Chuck Loeb respectively. Standring, Antoine and White stand apart using the voice of nylon guitars while Fourplay’s Loeb emotes deftly on jazz guitar. The session boasts a roof-raising gospel-jazz vocal from Don Bryant on the celebratory juke joint original “Well Alright.” Brown himself takes to the mic to croon the intimate “Heaven,” a poignant, heart-on-the-sleeve country-blues album closer spotlighting the artist’s character-rich voice.

“’One Way Back’ is a journey thru my musical and life experiences. This album is a pure sense of expression and everything I’ve got to give,” said Brown before adding, “I’m a much better guitarist, producer and writer now than ever before.”

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Calif., initially Brown was a drummer before picking up the guitar. After learning his way around the recording studio, he became the engineer for R&B legends Diana Ross, Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin. Moving over into the producer’s seat, Brown almost single-handedly architected the sound of smooth/contemporary jazz since the 1990s before delivering his solo debut in 2004, “Up Front.” From subsequent albums, three of which went Top 10, two singles -2005’s “Winelight” and 2007’s “The Rhythm Method” – were the most-played radio songs of their respective years. Concert performances around the world enabled him to refine and develop his guitar chops as well as cultivate his fan base far beyond the limiting confines of a recording studio. For more information, please visit www.PaulBrownJazz.com.

 

Brown’s “One Way Back” album contains the following songs:

 

“Put It Where You Want It”

“Sexy Thang” (featuring Darren Rahn)

“Hush”

“Piccadilly Circus” (featuring Chris Standring)

“River Walk” (featuring Marc Antoine)

“Well Alright” (featuring Don Bryant)

“Take Flight” (featuring Peter White)

“One Way Back”

“Rear View Mirror” (featuring Chuck Loeb)

“Heaven”

Source: Woodward Records

Bob Baldwin – The Brazilian-American Soundtrack

As recollections of Olympian accomplishments fade into our memories, the music of Rio via Grammy-nominated keyboardist Bob Baldwin’s (www.BobBaldwin.com) “The Brazilian-American Soundtrack” continues to thrive, casting a vibrant and soulful spell of urban-jazz bliss. The critically-acclaimed, 26-song double CD is riding a wave of critical acclaim and multi-format radio spins. Multi-instrumentalist Baldwin meticulously produced and arranged the collection of twenty of his original songs along with a selection of seminal Brazilian jazz classics and R&B hits. Clocking in at more than two hours of sophisticated music, Baldwin’s lavish opus debuted as one of Billboard’s Top 20 Contemporary Jazz Albums and is capable of having the staying power to soar through 2017.

 

The new disc reignites Baldwin’s affair with the seductive and sensual sounds of Brazil, which first served as his muse on his 2004 love letter, “Brazil Chill.” Three years in the making and recorded on two continents, “The Brazilian-American Soundtrack” is presented in two movements: Rio-Ipanema and New York. Baldwin employed an accomplished cast of Brazilian and Latin musicians – percussionists Café Da Silva, Rafael Pereira and Armando Marcal, and guitarist Torcuato Mariano – to construct the exotic rhythms on tunes such as the energizing first single, “Ipanema Fusion,” “Funky Rio,” “Teardrop” and “Oasis Of Love,” and when reimaging music from masters Antonio Carlos Jobim (“Corcovado”), Ivan Lins (“Anjo De Mim,” “The Island” and “Love Dance”) and Djavan (“Eu Te Devoro”). Baldwin uses first-call session players, vocalists and prominent soloists – Marion Meadows (sax), Gabriel Mark Hasselbach (trumpet) and Marlon McClain (guitar) to name a few – to craft soul-soaked, funk-flavored urban grooves including a pair of tunes (“Maurice” and “The Message”) that pay tribute to Maurice White, the influential creator and leader of Earth, Wind & Fire, who passed away as Baldwin was finishing the record.

 

On “The Brazilian-American Soundtrack,” melody-rich explorations abound anchored by Baldwin’s agile keyboard, Rhodes and piano artistry. The date, which became Baldwin’s ninth album to hit the Billboard Top 20, also benefits from his soothing tenor voice, bass, drums, percussion, Moog bass, Melodica, strings and clave contributions.

 

Beyond his 23-album recording career, Baldwin produces, hosts and nationally syndicates ”The NewUrbanJazz Lounge” radio show, leads a production and event planning company, designs and markets a line of men’s hats and has authored two informational books about the music industry.

Source:  Great Scott P.R.oductions

Lindsey Webster – Back To Your Heart

Growing up in an artist community, the daughter of loving hippie parents, in Woodstock NY, the allure of music was never far from Lindsey Webster. The adorable, instantly likable and earthy singer/songwriter, who grew up listening to her parent’s Jimi Hendrix, Beatles and Elvis Costello LPs and later the Supremes, once pursued medical school before finally settling on music. Webster has been taking the contemporary jazz world by storm, scoring a #1 hit with her soulful original “Fool Me Once.” This feat is remarkable in numerous ways. Not only is Lindsey half the age of the male instrumentalists who dominate the genre, but her #1 is the first vocal driven song that has topped the Billboard smooth jazz chart since Sade’s “Soldier of Love” in 2010. Lindsey exclaims, “This honor has changed the game for me. Once a dream comes into fruition, it really lights a fire.”

November 4, 2016, Shanachie Entertainment will release Webster’s anticipated label debut, Back To Your Heart. Randall Grass, Shanachie Entertainment General Manager states, “Lindsey Webster is an extraordinary vocalist who effortlessly melds R&B and jazz in a uniquely appealing ‘jazzy soul’ style that instantly connects with audiences and the world is already taking notice!” Influenced by everyone from Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera to Steely Dan and Earth Wind and Fire, there is an honesty and authenticity that reverberates through Lindsey Webster’s enchanting, smoky, rich and soulful honey-toned pipes.

Joining forces with her husband, pianist and musical partner, Keith Slattery, the duo crafts evocative soundscapes that fuse the best elements of R&B, jazz, pop and soul. “The knowledge, style and intuition that Keith brings to my songs is amazing,” says Lindsey of her husband. “Keith and I are extremely passionate and sensitive people who put the same pride and perfectionism into our writing, recording, and producing. Our philosophy is simple, we do what feels right. I believe this is what has helped us to forge our own sound.”

The lead single on Back To Your Heart is the album’s title track. It’s an intoxicating and emotive number that sizzles and a song that Webster said wrote itself. “Keith was coming up with the idea for the chorus upstairs on his keyboard one day and I was downstairs cleaning,” she shares. “Once he got the chord progression going and played it a few times, the words ‘You gotta show me the way back to your heart’ popped into my head.” Back To Your Heart is a revealing and intimate portrait of Lindsey Webster’s life.

There are songs like “On Our Way,” about Lindsey’s personal path and the principals of the Laws of Attraction and her heartfelt and moving tribute to her mother Barbara, who passed in 2014. “One At A Time,” was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and an inspirational speech that saxophonist Kirk Whalum (who guests on the song) gave at one of his concerts about the power of everyday Americans. Lindsey shares, “I realized that one person at a time is how we are going to come to some kind of peace. We have to love and respect and embrace our differences in order to get to the inner peace we need to create widespread peace.” Lindsey’s mission is to make an emotional connection with her fans. Somewhat of an old-soul, the young singer concludes, “With all the pop tunes out nowadays, literally about nothing, I think it’s important to hold the torch for the artists before us who found it important to write real music.” With the release of Back To Your Heart, Lindsey Webster is poised to find her way into your heart…and this is just the beginning!

Source: Shanachie Entertainment

Lemon Aid: “Instrumental Magic 2” to benefit Lighthouse for the Blind

Continuing the legacy of benevolence that began ten years ago when the late music industry legend Henry Stone discovered blind saxophonist Jeff Zavac and featured him on “Instrumental Magic,” generating over one million dollars in contributions to the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind – the organization that came to the aid of the renowned record pioneer when he lost his vision in his later years – Henry Stone Music released the second collection on Friday. “Instrumental Magic 2,” showcasing Zavac with the Lemon City Rhythm Section and produced by Stone’s son, Joe Stone, and guitarist Aaron Fishbein, spotlights the saxman rendering soul-jazz interpretations of ten hits written or made classic by sightless artists including Stevie Wonder, Ronnie Milsap, Jose Feliciano and Ray Charles, the last of whom was first recorded by Henry Stone in the 1950s.

The five-piece Lemon City Rhythm Section – Zavac (sax, flute, woodwinds), Fishbein (guitar), Jerald Dorsett (keyboards), Shaka Pace (bass) and King David Hill (drums) – will perform music from “Instrumental Magic 2” at jazz hotspot Ball & Chain in the Little Havana section of Miami on Monday, June 27 at 6:30pm. Tickets are free while donations to the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind will be accepted at the venue and online at https://secure.miamilighthouse.org/Donations.asp.

Henry Stone, who forged an enduring legacy in R&B, dance and rap music prior to his 2014 passing at the age of 93, launched the “Instrumental Magic” series with the goal of creating modern American music with a classic American feel. Joe Stone was inspired to continue his father’s mission of positivity by promoting music recorded by live players while raising awareness and funds for the association that taught his father how to live without sight.

“Henry lost his sight in the last decade of his journey here on earth and Miami Lighthouse was a huge part of his ability to move forward,” said Stone, general manager of Henry Stone Music. “It is an honor and a joy to work with this group of very talented musicians on an important production that carries on the Henry Stone legacy. Musically, ‘Instrumental Magic 2’ creates a sonic palette filled with funk, soul, salsa, rock, R&B and jazz covering American standards loved the world over.”

The first “Instrumental Magic” disc, one of the last albums produced by Henry Stone, paired Zavac with 1970s soul queen Gwen McCrae. The record remains one of the Henry Stone Music label’s most popular releases having received millions of plays on Spotify alone.

After losing his eyesight during cataract surgery while in his 80s, Stone turned to Miami Lighthouse for the Blind where he learned to adapt. In an effort to “repay” the organization that helped him, Stone facilitated a million dollar donation that funded the creation of a recording studio for the blind now named in his honor. His act of leadership and philanthropy garnered the inaugural Man of Vision Award in 2008 from Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, which provides vision rehabilitation and eye health services that promote independence, educates professionals and conducts research in related fields. For additional information, please visit http://www.MiamiLighthouse.org.

“Instrumental Magic 2” contains the following songs:

“Hey Baby”

“I Got A Woman”

“Night Time Is The Right Time”

“I Just Called To Say I Love You”

“Guantanamera”

“Isn’t She Lovely”

“I Wish”

“There’s No Gettin’ Over Me”

“Feliz Navidad”

“America The Beautiful”

For more information about Henry Stone Music, please visit http://www.HenryStoneMusic.com

Source: Great Scott P.R.oductions

Third Barbados Jazz Excursion adds exotic encounters to provide intimate experiences on the Caribbean island

Soul-jazz saxophonist Elan Trotman has always taken great pride in his Barbadian roots. A few years ago, the Boston-based artist leapt at the opportunity to showcase the cozy Eastern Caribbean locale by creating and hosting a Columbus Day Weekend jazz festival on the island, inviting a handful of contemporary jazz chart-toppers to share the marquee. This October 7-10, the native son returns home for his third annual Barbados Jazz Excursion at the plush Crane Resort with perhaps the strongest talent lineup yet, a fresh itinerary of unique excursions and a golf tournament to benefit Trotman’s newly formed Never Lose Your Drive Foundation, which raises funds for a local music program that provides students with regular music instruction from local tutors and quarterly faculty visits from the prestigious Berklee College of Music and other college professors. After all, it was the government of Barbados that awarded Trotman a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music where he launched his own music career.

Joining Trotman at this year’s Barbados Jazz Excursion is four-time GRAMMY®-nominated R&B/pop vocalist Jeffrey Osborne, guitar-slinging hitman Peter White, award-winning keyboardist Brian Simpson and urban-jazz flutist Althea Rene. Local musicians will be featured during a Bajan All-Star Night performance and devout guests can celebrate Sunday at a gospel brunch.

“The Barbados Jazz Excursion is designed to be an island festival unlike any other with world-class talent, a wide range of land and sea excursions for our guests’ enjoyment and non-stop fun at the Crane Resort. Our excursions are purposely intended for people to discover Barbados through a local’s eyes. I’m especially excited about launching my new foundation, Never Lose Your Drive. The NLYD Celebrity Golf Tournament brings together music and sports celebrities on the links to raise funds in support of our local music program at the Never Lose Your Drive Community Center,” said Trotman, a popular performer on the contemporary jazz circuit known for incorporating Caribbean culture into his distinctive blend of R&B, jazz and gospel recordings that have earned him a consistent presence on the Billboard Top 10 singles chart.

While live music occupies the primetime slot during the festival evenings, the daytime and post-concert timeframes are for discovering Barbados through exclusive excursions. Guests can dive deeply to glimpse the colorful life aquatic on the Atlantis Submarine Tour; take an Island Safari adventure; go underground to explore Harrison’s Cave where caverns and massive crystal formations will leave you marveling; rest, rejuvenate or recreate during a Beach Day at the Boatyard; sail away on a sunset catamaran cruise; hit The Gap to partake in the vibrant nightlife that includes fine dining, street vendors and multicultural exchanges; and play golf with Trotman, Osborne and other celebrities while basking in glorious sunshine under brilliant blue skies amidst breathtaking vistas and lush tropical landscapes.

On October 10, former New York Knick John Starks, singer Javier Colon, actress/singer Suzzanne Douglas and other celebrities and sports figures are expected to attend the Golf With A Cause Celebrity Tournament at the Royal Westmoreland and the Never Lose Your Drive Foundation Reception & Silent Auction. The next day, a NLYD seminar and panel discussion will be held for student musicians and athletes.

The Crane Resort, located less than three miles from Grantley Adams International Airport, is set on Crane Beach, which has been called one of the 10 best beaches in the world on “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous,” named by the Travel Channel as one of the Top 25 sexiest beaches in the world and voted last year by USA Today readers as the “best Caribbean beach” for its stunning beauty and serenity.

For more information or to purchase a Barbados Jazz Excursion package, please visit http://barbadosjazzexcursion.com/.

Source:  Great Scott P.R.oductions

Legendary Guitarist Lee Ritenour To Be Celebrated With Limited-Edition Vinyl Box Set

Concord Records will release, a limited-edition, individually numbered Lee Ritenour box set, The Vinyl LP Collection, on April 22. The albums have each been remastered, pressed on audiophile-quality, 180-gram vinyl and restored with original artwork and liner notes. An accompanying 46-page booklet contains new liner notes by Ritenour plus never-before-seen photos and ephemera, all culled from an extensive scrapbook collection lovingly kept by the guitarist’s late father. The Collection contains five classic LPs by Ritenour: Earth Run (1986), Portrait (1987), Festival (1988), Color Rit (1989) and, on vinyl for the first time, the GRAMMY® Award-nominated Wes Bound (1993).

The Vinyl LP Collection includes such personnel as composer Dave Grusin, pianist Alan Broadbent and composer David Foster, plus saxophonist Kenny G and Brazilian artist Caetano Veloso. Pre-order your box set at Lee’s website!

View From The West Coast – A New Music Magazine

This new magazine is for all the drifters and dreamers that remember when you had radio stations that championed the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, Player, Andy Gibb and Patsy Gallant. My love of this era has finally made me start this publication and celebrate a rich seam of largely forgotten music and gentle AM/FM grooves from a bygone era.

We know that this music is still being made and getting played on web based music stations and blogs such as West Coast Golden Radio, Soma FM and the wonderful AOR Disco. They are not only keeping this music alive, they are also helping us find great new tunes and mixing them with old classics every week. Songs that are certain to get retired dancing feet tapping again… So, on that note let me welcome you to View From The West Coast. We are an online magazine, that will feature the best new music releases and reissues, interviews and information about artists and bands, from both the
past to the present and getting you to look that little bit deeper into your old vinyl collection or plunder youtube to listen to some of the long forgotten gems that we are so passionate about.
We’ll also be giving you links to some great music via our guests playlist page and this month we are delighted to have Mark ‘Good Vibes’ Taylor bringing us the background for for his chosen tracks, which you can find on our Facebook page.

And every issue will have an exclusive podcast included, with a special ‘View From The West Coast’ radio show presented by legendary smooth grooves and fusion flavours DJ, Steve Quirk.

………………………….

So, as we take that L.A. flight home, we are just going to close our eyes and dream of breezing along that stretch of the pacific coast highway in our open top convertible, as we watch the sun dip down across the bay and reflect on paradise. And it’s here you’ll find our staring point…Enjoy!

Nick Mawson

Purchase your issue here. Available Now: Issue 2 ‘View From The West Coast’ Magazine. Order Directly via Facebook.
Cost: £4.00 + P & P

Bob Baldwin – MelloWonder / Songs in the Key of Stevie

After two years in the making, MelloWonder / Songs in the Key of Stevie will take flight on June 6, with a single dropping in April…stay tuned.

This is a continuing fundraiser to cover recording expenses of “MelloWonder”, a tribute to Stevie Wonder, due out this May/June. The disc features Chieli Minucci, U-Nam, Marion Meadows, Ryan Kilgore, Ragan Whiteside, Toni Redd, and more….

It is no secret that the digital music landscape combined with the social networks available to artists has prompted massive changes in the way people listen to and deliver musical content to their listeners. With that paradigm shift in full effect, top selling artists have gone the route of crowd-funding to raise funds for independent project.

For the first time, Baldwin has incorporated a string ensemble to his 21st and upcoming disc. Over $20,000.00 has been personally vested into the project to date.

If you want to buy the CD or just support Bob’s project go to this fundraiser site.

Jazz royalty “Open Up” “The Vault” to help departed friend’s family

A few days prior to New Year’s Day, the day guitarist Jeff Golub passed away at age 59, his frequent collaborators Steven Miller, Rick Braun and Bud Harner put the finishing touches on Golub’s 13th solo album, “The Vault,” a collection of previously unreleased songs and reimagined early career gems that were redecorated with the assistance of some of the artist’s high-profile musician friends. Everyone involved with creating the album that was released today by eOne Music – musicians, producers, songwriters, engineers, mixers, mastering, graphic artists, etc. – donated their time to the project so that all of the money generated by record sales can go to Golub’s family.

One of the new cuts, “Open Up,” featuring the soulful Golub boisterously shredding over a trademark jazzy blues-rock groove produced by Jeff Lorber, debuted last week in the Top 20 of Billboard’s smooth jazz singles chart boding to become the next addition to the artist’s catalogue of No. 1 singles.

“The Vault” is just the latest rallying of the music community to aid Golub, who succumbed to complications from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare, incurable and aggressive brain disease. Although he wasn’t officially diagnosed until last November, PSP stole his vision in the spring and summer of 2011. An all-star contingent played a sold-out benefit concert that autumn in Southern California to raise money to cover medical expenses. Golub’s motor skills rapidly began to deteriorate while touring in 2013 in support of his final set of all new material, “Train Keeps A Rolling,” and eventually left him unable to play his beloved instrument. After his passing, nearly two dozen prominent recording artists gathered January 21 near the guitarist’s New York City home to play a sold-out tribute benefit concert at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. Many of the musicians who appeared on that high-wattage bill perform on “The Vault,” including Dave Koz, Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair, Richard Elliot, Bill Evans, Philippe Saisse, Steve Ferrone and Braun. Additional album contributors were hitmen Gerald Albright, Brian Culbertson, Euge Groove, Boney James and Peter White.

The ten-track “The Vault” consists of vastly different versions of seven Golub songs harvested from seminal album releases that were given a fresh twist by the guest artists personally selected by Golub; a soul-stirring live version of the Golub classic “Naked City”; and two previously unreleased selections, “Open Up” and the Saisse-produced “Swagster,” a sweltering swing sparked by Golub’s scalding guitar and Whalum’s impassioned sax wails.

To help set the stage for “The Vault,” SmoothJazz.com hosted the world premiere of the record on March 28 along with interviews with the guest artists and producers. Last Sunday’s (March 29) episode of Koz’s radio show that airs nationally on SiriusXM’s Watercolors was devoted to the album spotlighted by interview segments with Abair and Braun, and played multiple tunes from the disc. On April 15, SiriusXM’s Watercolors will broadcast the entire Golub all-star tribute concert.

Golub began his career as an ace guitar slinger alongside superstars Rod Stewart, Billy Squier, Peter Wolf and Tina Turner before launching his own chart-topping band, Avenue Blue, leading to his star-making solo career. The Akron, Ohio native is survived by his wife Audrey Stafford Golub, and sons Matthew (14) and Chris (12).

“The Vault” contains the following songs:

“Funky Is As Funky Does”

“One More Excuse To Play The Blues”

“Open Up”

“Gimmie Some”
“Swagster”

“Keep The Ball Rolling”

“Jeff’s Blues (Mama Didn’t)”

“Groanin”

“Atlanta Nights”

“Naked City” (Live)

For additional information about Golub, go to http://jeffgolub.com.

Source: Great Scott Productions

Chris Standring – Something In The Stars

Born and raised on a farm in the rural countryside of Buckinghamshire, England, a young boy spent his childhood driving tractors and feeding sheep, all the while dreaming of another life; a life of music. With an insatiable desire to succeed, he moved to London in the 1980s and Los Angeles California in the 1990s. Surmounting many obstacles along the way, Chris eventually realized his wildest dreams and became an international jazz recording artist. This is his story.

Chris Standring is a jazz recording artist who lives in Los Angeles California. Originally from the UK, Chris moved to LA in 1991 to pursue his lifelong dream of ensconcing himself in the music entertainment capital of the world. Now with eight solo albums to his name and several hits at radio, Chris tours regularly across the USA and Europe, including annual shows in his home country of England.

Pre-order the book at Amazon.com.

Althea Rene Live CD

I will record my LIVE CD project on Tuesday, March 24th at the beautiful Clara Stanton Jones Friends Auditorium at the Historic Detroit Library. Showtime is 6pm sharp. This will be a FREE concert featuring some of Detroit’s most popular talent. Don’t miss it. 🙂

I need your help. Many people have asked me, “when will you record a live CD”? I’m happy to say that the time is now. I will be recording my live project in my hometown Detroit, Michigan. I plan to release the project in Spring 2015, but I can only do it if supportive music lovers make a donation. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

*Donations of all sizes are appreciated!
*Donations of $50 will earn you an autographed CD and Poster
*Donations of $100 will earn you an authentic Althea Rene t-shirt, CD, and Poster
*Donations of $150 will earn you a one hour flute lesson via Skype

If you want to support Althea Rene, visit this website.

Jessy J’s Jazz 2015 Calendar

 

Get your Jessy J’s Jazz Calendar, a 12 month 2015 Calendar in a Limited Edition for only $20 at

Jessy’s website.

New Yorkers come to Golub’s aid one final time

January 21 all-star concert planned to memorialize the guitarist and benefit his family sells out. 

When the newly blind guitarist Jeff Golub stumbled and fell onto New York City subway tracks where he was clipped and dragged by a train in 2012, New Yorkers came to his aid. When word spread throughout the New York City music community last month that Golub was on his death bed, New Yorkers bought concert tickets to the January 21 all-star benefit concert put together by Marquee Concerts and Smooth Jazz New York in order to raise money for Golub’s family. Although Golub succumbed to complications from a rare degenerative brain disease on New Year’s Day turning next week’s event at B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill in Times Square into a memorial show, New Yorkers scooped up the remaining tickets to make sure the concert that will feature performances by more than two dozen luminaries sold-out to provide maximum assistance to Golub’s family.

At the time of the subway scare, which was chronicled extensively in the New York media, Golub dismissed the incident that he was lucky to escape with only minor scrapes and bruises as “stupid blind guy stuff.” However, losing his vision the year before due to collapsed optic nerves turned out to be a harbinger of a far more serious problem for the Akron, Ohio-born musician who has called New York City home since the 1970s. Golub began struggling with his balance and speech during a 2013 national concert tour in support of his final album, the playfully titled “Train Keeps A Rolling,” that adversely impacted his ability to perform. It got to the point that management had to pull Golub off the road. The guitarist’s motor skills continued to deteriorate, but it wasn’t until last November that he was finally diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), an incurable and aggressive brain disease.

Known for playing with soulful intensity and a bluesy touch, Golub’s diverse resume boasts longtime stints as a sideman to Rod Stewart, Billy Squier, Peter Wolf and Tina Turner as well as a 20-year solo recording career as a chart-topping contemporary jazz artist thus the lineup for the memorial benefit concert will present a multi-genre lineup of Grammy winners, nominees and hit-makers. Slated to take the stage are (in alphabetical order) Mindi Abair, Rick Braun, Randy Brecker, Henry Butler, Christopher Cross, Mark Egan, Richard Elliot, Bill Evans, Steve Ferrone, Euge Groove, Dave Koz, Chuck Loeb, Chieli Minucci, Philippe Saisse, Kirk Whalum and over a dozen more musicians.

Last Thursday (January 8), Whalum presided over Golub’s funeral held at the New York Society for Ethical Culture where a throng of artists and the city’s busiest session players gathered to pay tribute to the late guitarist, his wife Audrey Stafford Golub, and sons Matthew (14) and Chris (12). Among the many performers filling the ceremony with heartfelt song were John Waite, Marc Cohn, Whalum and Cross.

Although tickets to the memorial concert are gone, those who wish to contribute to Golub’s family can by sending a check made out to Jeff Golub Medical Expenses and mailed to:

Judy Miller

PO Box 115

Boxford, MA 01921

For more information about the memorial concert produced by Marquee Concerts, please visit http://marqueeconcerts.com/events/jazz and for additional information about Golub, go to http://jeffgolub.com.

Culbertson celebrates a milestone anniversary “Live”

Los Angeles, California (12 January 2015): Years ago, a young ambitious musician-songwriter-producer emerged from Chicago who went on to architect 27 No. 1 Billboard singles along with a half-dozen albums that debuted at No.1 that changed the status quo with a creative and fresh alchemy of astutely performed contemporary jazz, soulful R&B and horn-powered funk. Decades later, his ability to achieve and balance commercial success and the respect of his peers is perhaps as admirable as his hit-making consistency and the meticulous approach he uses to craft infectious melodies and compelling rhythms. The above description could easily apply to the works of his role models, Maurice White and Quincy Jones, but here we refer to Brian Culbertson.

From the 1994 debut of “Long Night Out,” released while the keyboardist-trombonist was a DePaul University music major recording demos in the bedroom of his crowded apartment that landed him a six-album record deal, right up through his 14th album, 2014’s “Another Long Night Out,” Culbertson has injected a much needed jolt of lyrical harmony and deft musicianship along with a flair for lively showmanship that meshes to form an aesthetic that raises the bar on a musical genre. To commemorate his 20th anniversary as a recording artist, Culbertson marched his well-drilled band out on a coast-to-coast concert mission last year that was preserved for posterity on his first live album recorded during a sold-out, eight-show stand at the famed Yoshi’s nightclub in Oakland, California last September. The resulting double CD set, “Live – 20th Anniversary Tour,” was released Monday – Culbertson’s 42nd birthday – on his own BCM Entertainment label.

Featuring a crack eight-piece band, many of whom are musicians out of Chicago and have been playing with Culbertson for years, “Live” is a spirited and at times sweaty celebration of jazz, fusion, R&B, romantic piano pop and deep funk grooves that barely let up for air bolstered by crisp horn section arrangements reminiscent of the mighty Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power.

One could say that “Live” is a statement album. Forget what you thought you knew about so called “smooth jazz.” Seldom does a contemporary jazz artist dare to release a live record these days making it even more of a treat that Culbertson & Company was able to bottle the magic, charismatic energy and excitement of their live show on this recording. The 21-song session – 22 songs if you include the CD exclusive bonus track, “Forever” – rifles through Culbertson’s chart-topping original compositions and introduces a vibrant new number, “Think Free,” the album’s initial radio single written by Culbertson and Sheldon Reynolds especially for the occasion. Culbertson’s set list also pays tribute to his influences – White’s Earth, Wind & Fire (“Serpentine Fire”) and Jones (“Secret Garden”) – along with the rump-shaking party starter “Hollywood Swingin’,” a Kool & The Gang classic.

“I just wanted to capture the raw dynamic energy of our live show. My band members are each incredible talents in their own right and I’m happy to be able to showcase them, which in turn makes the entire project more exciting and daring,” said Culbertson, who is also a lifestyle curator who founded and serves as artistic director of the starry Napa Valley Jazz Getaway, the fourth annual wine and music festival presented by Lexus in the heart of California’s stunning wine country slated for June 10-14, 2015.

Culbertson’s touring band consists of Marqueal Jordan (vocals, tenor sax & percussion), Eddie Miller (keyboards, Hammond B3 organ & vocals), Michael Stever (trumpet & keyboards), Adam Hawley (guitar & background vocals), Rodney Jones Jr. (bass) and Chris Miskel (drums). For the “Live” recording, they were supplemented by the firepower of Doug Beavers (trombone & additional percussion) and Doug Rowan (Bari sax).

“Live” contains the following songs:

Disc 1

“City Lights Intro”

“Always Remember”

“Hollywood Swingin’”

“Do You Really Love Me”

“Come To Me”

“All About You”

“Let’s Get Started”

“Fullerton Ave.”

“Beautiful Liar”

“Get It On”

“Skies Wide Open”

“Another Love”

“Horizon”

Disc 2

“Think Free”

“Dreams”

“On My Mind”

“Secret Garden”

“Serpentine Fire”

“Funkin’ Like My Father”

“City Lights Outro”

“Our Love”

“Forever” (CD bonus track only)

For additional information, please visit

http://www.BrianCulbertson.com.

Sax O’Groove – Together

Hello and a very warm welcome to my Indiegogo campaign!
My name is Andreas Buechel and I head the smooth jazz project ‘Sax O’Groove’.

Sax O’Groove released its first CD of the same name in 2013, featuring an array of guest artists. The self-distributed CD was successful, and the first pressing is now nearly sold out. I now have 11 complete songs recorded for the second CD. Entitled ‘Together’, it brought together five different producers: Nils Jiptner, Darren Rahn, Paul Weimar, John Odio and myself.

Each song features at least one guest musician from the top league of smooth jazz. I’m delighted to namecheck

Brian Culbertson (solo artist)
Rick Braun (solo artist)
Michael Lington (solo artist, Michael Bolton, Bobby Caldwell and others)
Ricky Lawson (Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Yellowjackets and others)
Alex Al (Stevie Wonder, Sting, Janet Jackson, George Benson and others)
Nils (solo artist)
Darren Rahn (solo artist)
Shilts (solo artist, Down to the Bone, Rick Braun, Jeff Lorber, Paul Brown and Peter White and others)
Billy Steinway (Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Patti Austin, Jeffrey Osborne, Larry Carlton, The Jazz Crusaders, Bobby Caldwell, Gary Wright, Warren Hill, Ronnie Laws, Howard Hewett, Down to the Bone, Chaka Khan)
Marqueal Jordan (solo artist, Brian Culbertson Band and others)
AkusTicos (John Odio and Chepe Blanco)
Ricardo Ramirez (violinist with Costa Rica’s best-known band Editus)
Katja Rieckermann who shares the stage with Mr. Rod Stewart
and many more.

Making the CD was a unique experience – and I’m happy to say the results were outstanding.

My intricate arrangements for brass and strings sections were recorded with various trios and quartets of instruments to support the song textures.

Each song became a little pearl, crafted in the most diverse locations throughout the world:

Los Angeles, San Jose/Costa Rica, Denver, London and many more.

Now all I need is to raise the funds for the mastering, artwork and a big radio promotion to advertise the CD – and that’s exactly why I’ve started this Indiegogo campaign.

$ 10.000 is still needed for these final stages, and I hope to get there with your help.

I’ve created packages for the various levels of support you can commit to: digital downloads, CDs, social media shout-outs, thank-yous as a backer on the CD cover, be a part of the cd as a “Associate Producer” or “Executive Co-Producer”…

Take a look at the right of this website to find out more.

I’d like to thank you right now for your support and look forward to being able to send you the new Sax O’Groove CD. Stay happy and healthy – and I hope we meet in person some time.

For more information and to choose your option please visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-to-release-sax-o-groove-cd-together.

New album of Slow – become a music producer!

Hi from Chris and Tom here, a smooth-jazz duo Slow. It’s been already 3 years after our debut release Art of Silence. We are so happy because of such warm welcome our music has received from fans, friends and critics worldwide. We want to thank especially Slow music lovers from USA, UK, Japan, Germany, Switzerland and least but not least, from our homeland -Poland.

We were not sleeping a lot since then, to tell you the truth we were writing, arraanging, playing and recording for months and now the new Slow album is almost ready. We believe this is our best music of the moment and it’s even better than the 1st baby.

So, we have signed with a record label V Records which is kind of miracle itself, considering music industry situation nowadays. The album shall be released in early spring 2015 but to give it a real shine we believe it deserves and to promote it worldwide we need YOUR support!

We need to collect USD 2000,00 to promote the album worldwide (mainly in US, UK, Japan and Germany) so that more and more people can discover SLOW music and we finally hope to come and play for you live:)
What You get is our newest album personally autographed and numbered . Your partnership may also be announced on CD booklet and on our website. You can get even your logo printed on backcover and co-producer of the album credit – all depending on the perk you choose 🙂 And forever yours will be the heartfull thanks from all the Artists involved.

The album means 10 pieces of all original and new music – songs and instrumental “songs” in our style, with a smooth melody that stays for longer in your memory. The groove behind is also there for sure.
We invited many great artist to collaborate. To mention just a few: the saxophones virtuoso Leszek Szczerba that you could hear on our 1st album, a string quartet (from Wroclove’ Opera House!) and 2 impressive vocalists – Jagoda Jahga and Anna Ozner.

We are going to make the most valuable use from all the funds collected. Even if we do not reach the goal – this fresh hot new album comes to you anyway. To support the new project visit please https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-album-of-slow-become-a-music-producer.

Smooth Jazz Wall Calendar Ver. 15

The Original Smooth Jazz Calendar celebrating 10 years of music & photography! A must-have for the Smooth Jazz Fan. Photography taken from concerts & performances, feel like you were there! Get this calendar here.

Greg Adams and East Bay Soul III

The journey continues with EBS. We want to take you along for the ride as we go into the studio to record our third album

Hi… Greg here! Thanks so much for taking your valuable time to watch my video. This gives me the opportunity to invite you to join East Bay Soul and me in making a new studio album and taking you along on our newest musical Journey.

As an independent artist I have seen the business of making music reinvent itself and I know than crowd funding is much more than just raising funds. One of the greatest things that happens is that we are building a community and connecting with people who love music enough to support its creation.

We are launching this Kickstarter Campaign to generate funding to record our next album. But it is not just about raising money… although that is a REALLY BIG deal. It is about staying creative and vital while continuing to embrace the new way music is made.

We have come up with some cool ways to reward you for being part of East Bay Soul III and I will keep you involved and informed as we continue on this new journey of making great music for all of us!

As a band we have grown into a family and we think of you as our family too. Come along with us for East Bay Soul III

Why am I doing this?

It’s about staying connected with our audience and recording a new album. I realize the way music is made and shared has essentially changed. I believe the spirit of making an artist’s dream come alive is to keep the music organic and by giving a voice directly to our fans. With crowd funding we can do just that and create music that reflects our vision. I need you! We can’t do this alone.

Where the money will go?

Since I am my own record label and we are not receiving any backing from any major music corporations, we will use your generous pledges toward recording and distributing the new CD and do the following:

• Pay for the creative contributions of the musicians, engineers, photographer, and the graphic artist.

• Delivery of the Kickstarter Rewards

• Renting studio time

• Travel to and from recording sessions and rehearsals for the band members that are out of the Los Angeles area.

• Mastering and recording of the album

• Anything over our goal (Fingers Crossed) will go toward marketing, publicity, and touring events so that we can see more of you on the road.

I am appreciative of your support and I will be sharing the process with you throughout the campaign with video and written updates. Which takes us to the next question…

What will you get out of it?

By supporting our new project you will be playing a major part in supporting an indie artist making new music and you will be able to say… I had a chance to be part of the entire creative process and finally somebody is making music for ME!

Our fans have been behind everything we’ve ever done. With their generous support we were successful in recording East Bay Soul 2.0! That was Amazing! You’ll be using your voice and pocketbook to tell big music labels that you are a valid audience that deserves a voice in the way music is being made.

In addition to the rewards, I will keep you engaged on our social media outlets. I’ll also keep you posted with news, updates and exclusive previews as we create the album, and rehearse for our CD release Party.

You can contribute as little as a dollar or as much as you’d like. We’ve created a pretty cool reward structure with music, autographed merchandise, tickets to the CD Release party, come to a recording session, and even the chance for us to write a song just for you and yours.

What we need you to do

We can’t do this without you. A pledge of any size is so appreciated. No pledge is too small. We need your help to get the word out. We ask that you help us publicize our campaign by posting updates about your support on social media, especially Facebook and Twitter. Your pledge and participation makes you a BIG part of East Bay Soul III and that is priceless.

What you should know?

Every Kickstarter campaign is an all or nothing crowd funding platform. We can go over our goal, but if we do not make our goal we get nothing at all and your pledge just goes away and you will not be charged for anything.

More info about Greg Adams and East Bay Soul at http://www.eastbaysoul.com. Support the campaign at Kickstarter.

Do What You Love #1 – Fotoband

The first book of photographs dedicated to musicians in jazz, R & B, Funk & Soul and Smooth Jazz by Christian Nordström 164 pages in format A4 landscape. Following bands / musicians are presented in high quality photographs:

Fourplay, Marcus Miller, Rick Brown, Nils Landgren, Marc Antoine, Kirk Whalum, Candy Dulfer, Matt Marshak, David Sanborn, Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Joey Sommerville, Jesssy J, Paul Brown, Rocco Ventrella, Warren Hill.

Get this fantastic photo book here.

Gregg Karukas – Soul Secrets

Great news from Gregg Karukas: “I’m here in Nightowl Studios putting the finishing touches on my 1st new CD in 5 years called Soul Secrets and want to share the exciting news.

I’ve always thought it would be cool to bring you, the listener, into the process and offer something special to my fans, so I have partnered with PLEDGEMUSIC to be the exclusive site to reveal some of the “SECRETS” behind my new music and I invite you to take this journey with me.

Besides previews, pre-orders, signed CD’s and other premiums, you have the opportunity to be listed in the credits or, even cooler, help me name and dedicate a song on this CD to the person of your choice. Hurry up on those, as we go to press pretty soon.

You can hang at a session in the studio with me…… We’ll have an intimate Wine & CD listening gathering, or, I’ve saved one of the best for last; a personal invitation for you and a guest to attend our annual Karukas Family Holiday Party, where many of your favorite LA based musicians join us to celebrate the Holidays with lots of jamming.

Soul Secrets features my long-time friends: Rick Braun, Euge Groove, Ricardo Silveira, Eric Valentine, Nate Phillips, Michael O’Neill, James Harrah, Adam Hawley, vocalists Shelby Flint and Ron Boustead; violinist Charlie Bisharat, Luis Conte and Vincent Ingala!! There is lots of grand piano, and also quite a bit of some classic keyboards that I grew up with: Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Hammond B3 and Minimoog.

So join me here on PledgeMusic and together we’ll uncover and launch “Soul Secrets”. Please spread the word and share the link. New music is coming and you’ll be the first to hear it. I really appreciate it.”

Here is the link to support Gregg’s new recordings.

Teen Jazz Celebrates 10 Years the Up and Coming Music Community

In celebration of their 10-year anniversary, Teen Jazz announces a site wide scavenger hunt to earn entries towards great prizes. Teen Jazz, the leading online community for up and coming musicians, celebrates 10 years since it’s start and two years since it’s relaunch.

The site offers music business advice, equipment reviews and features for emerging artists. Founded by saxophonist Shannon Kennedy in 2004, Teen Jazz began as personal artist website with a few music event reviews and a couple of jazz lessons. With a desire to help young musicians learn about the music industry, Kennedy began regularly writing advice articles, reviews and she conducted interviews with other up and coming musicians. Ten years, multiple interviews with young musicians and even established musicians, hundreds of advice articles, and a radio show later, Teen Jazz is proud to play a role in the development and education of its community.

“Through Teen Jazz, we’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with a lot of talented artists and music companies to help education the next generation on the music business,” says Shannon Kennedy. “It’s been an honor promoting and supporting a community of young artists from around the world and it’s humbling to get to know and see so much talent. It’s been one of the most gratifying experiences I’ve had.”

Teen Jazz is one of the largest online music communities for up and coming musicians and has evolved their offerings to include a free eBook packed with music advice, an Album Checklist guide and workbook to help with the recording process, and more. In celebration of its milestone anniversaries, Teen Jazz will be hosting a scavenger hunt running through their anniversary until September 9, 2014. Participates will have the opportunity to search the site for a “secret saxophone” using hints posted on their Facebook page to earn entries and win great prizes from Teen Jazz’s sponsors.

To take advantage of the giveaway by signing up and learning more at http://www.teenjazz.com/anniversary. – See more at: http://teenjazz.com/2014/08/teen-jazz-celebrates-10-years-online-serving-the-up-and-coming-music-community/#sthash.Q8XuFG5t.pIcXcMI5.dpuf

Jarez – Can’t Let Go

Following his energetic emergence into the contemporary jazz scene with the release of “On Top of the World,” R&B saxophonist Jarel Posey (AKA “Jarez”) has released “Can’t Let Go” as his latest radio single.

As fans have learned, Jarez’s music is anything but smooth jazz fluff and he can’t let go. Touring regularly on the hip hop scene with Coolio, Jarez is on a mission to meld hip hop grooves with the cool vibes of contemporary instrumental music. Although smooth jazz has traditionally garnered older audiences, Jarez believes that his blend of music also appeals to the younger set. Just as Tiger Woods opened up golf to a diverse fan base, Jarez desires to “bring the gift of jazz to an audience not typically familiar with it, and yet have them embrace and welcome it.”

His “On Top of the World” CD has also captured the attention of toastmasters and reviewers. Terri Scott (AKA “The Jazz Queen”) from Talking Smooth Jazz recently hosted a listening party for the CD at the Elixir lounge in Henderson, Nev. “I love his music, ” said Scott during the broadcast. This show was put together by noted radio personality Lynn Briggs, who commented that “he’s going places” and stated that the CD was “doing very well.”

Online music lovers will enjoy the humorous storyline in the “Can’t Let Go” video that enlists the help of Coolio to find Jarez’s lost girlfriend. The video follows the guys as they jam to the grooves and force their way into a home to find Jarez’s much beloved saxophone tucked gently away in a bed. While the hearts of women everywhere will be broken upon the revelation of the identity of this true love, fans will be happy that he just can’t let go.

You can find the official “Can’t Let Go” video on the front page of http://www.jarezmusic.com. You’ll also find tour dates, photos on more on the site, as well.

Arizona Jazz Festival 2014

 

Thousands of concert goers from all over the U.S. will be dancing in the desert October 24-26, 2014 when a stellar lineup of R&B and smooth jazz artists perform at the fall version of the Arizona Jazz Festival taking place at the posh Arizona Grand Resort & Spa. Tickets are on sale now for single-day and 3-day passes priced from $50 to $750 available at the festival’s website (www.ArizonaJazzFestival.com) and by calling event producer BTWconcerts.com at 602-244-8444.

 

The boys will be out to play when the Arizona Jazz Festival blasts off with perhaps the strongest opening night lineup in the semi-annual festival’s history. The cool cat in the hat, four-time Grammy nominee Boney James gets the event started with his soulful sax grooves that never fail to stir the crowd to spontaneously erupt into a fervent “Go Boney! Go Boney!” chant. Jaheim employs his distinctive husky voice to chronicle his pained upbringing and tales of ghetto life that have earned him three Grammy nominations. It is far from the end of the road for Philly’s finest Boyz II Men, a trio that harmonizes in perfect union while presenting their Grammy-winning songbook filled with R&B/pop vocal and a cappella hits. New Edition members Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant, each of whom has also scored solo hits, are touring as Heads of State and you can bank on a well-choreographed, high-octane show from these R&B superstars.

 

It will “Be OK” on Saturday when Grammy-winning alchemist Chrisette Michele takes the stage to sing her empowering love songs blending R&B, soul, jazz and hip hop. Equally capable of seducing with her proficient saxophone skills as well as her feminine wiles, Mindi Abair has it all. She will team with Booker T and Elliot Yamin for a hot buttered soul, blues and rock jam. Fantasia’s incomparable voice reflects the real-life pain that’s she endured molding her into a mesmerizing talent. At heart, crossover crooner Brian McKnight is a singer-songwriter able to captivate with compelling lyrics, rich melodies and an emotional vocal delivery. Those in attendance at last fall’s Arizona Jazz Festival are still abuzz over the show that “Uncle” Charlie Wilson put on. The BET Lifetime Achievement Award and Soul Train Icon Award winner marched through his hits backed by a skin tight band, elaborate dance routines performed with precision by an army of performers and enough costume changes to rival Beyoncé. Expect more of the same.

 

The energy continues on full blast Sunday with sax showman Eric Darius making sure that patrons will arrive early to catch the consistent crowd pleaser. British guitarist Peter White and sax powerhouse Euge Groove have racked up enough No. 1 hits between them to keep the festival going for days, but they’ll rip through their biggest and best in an afternoon session. Mint Condition keeps the endangered full band concept alive with a rich R&B sound spiked with funk, rock, Latin and reggae. Multi-talented keyboardist Brian Culbertson is responsible for 27 No. 1 hits and is out on his 20^th anniversary tour while supporting his sixth album to debut at No. 1, “Another Long Night.” Kem’s suave and sophisticated voice melts into steamy, sensual grooves that have earned him a pair of Grammy nominations and a Billboard Music Award. The festivities conclude in old school party mode with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly who leads audiences through sing-a-long sets of the outfit’s enduring classics.

 

The Arizona Jazz Festival is a lifestyle experience as fans spend the weekend immersed in the music, the lavish resort’s first-class amenities and the adjacent food, fashion and crafts expo. The Arizona Grand Resort & Spa is the state’s only award-winning all-suite resort in Phoenix set amidst a challenging 18-hole golf course, spacious athletic club, luxurious spa and salon and a 7-acre water park. Six different dining options on the property enable festival goers to never have to leave the grounds during the weekend. A limited number of tickets and hotel packages are available through the festival’s website.

 

 

About BTWconcerts.com

 

Phoenix, Arizona-based BTWconcerts.com is one of the preeminent concert producers in the Southwest. Among the star-studded jazz and R&B concerts and multiday music and lifestyle festivals that the company promotes at first-class resorts for adult audiences are the Arizona Jazz Festival (http://ArizonaJazzFestival.com), San Diego Jazz Festival (http://www.SanDiegoJazzFest.com) and the Las Vegas Jazz Festival (http://www.LVJazzFestival.com). BTWconcerts.com’s sister company for events at sea, BTWatsea.com will launch the maiden voyage of the Maxwell + The 7 Seas Cruise (http://www.maxwellatsea.com/) May 3-10, 2015 hosted by the Grammy-winning balladeer.

Source:   Great Scott P.R.oductions

 

Dirk K – It’s On

Dirk K is producing a new CD entitled, “Dirk K – It’s On”. 5 original compositions and 5 covers. The covers include a fantastic funk version of Toxic (Britney Spears) a bluesy groove version of Funkytown (Lipps, Inc.) one of his favs, Holding Back the Years (Simply Red), a mysterious ballad version of Lovesong (The Cure) and a Latin/ bossa version of That’s the Way of the World (Earth, Wind & Fire).

He has already finished the recording and mastering part in the studio and is shooting for a release in September. He is trying to raise $4,500 in 30 days in order to finish this project. This campaign is his invitation for you to partner with him in accomplishing this goal!

To support this project go to

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dirkk/dirk-k-brand-new-album-project

Smooth Jazz And Books – Smooth Jazz Handbook

The term ‘Smooth Jazz’ was originally coined by radio executives to describe the then new genre that fused blues, jazz, R&B, funk, rock and pop influences. Smooth Jazz tracks are generally down-tempo instrumentals favoring melody and smooth grooves over the sophisticated rhythms, faster tempos and long improvisations typical in jazz.

Musicologists would likely trace the origin of what’s known today as ‘Smooth Jazz’ back to a series of three Wes Montgomery records produced by Creed Taylor in the late 60’s. All three were very commercially successful, which enticed many other accomplished musicians of that era to release records in the format including Freddie Hubbard, Chet Baker, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, Bob James, David Sanborn, Grover Washington Jr, Herb Alpert, Al Jarreau and Chuck Mangione.

Guitarists Larry Carlton, Stanley Jordan, Earl Klugh, Chuck Loeb, Kevin Eubanks, Michael Landau, Pat Metheny, Lee Ritenour and many other contemporary guitarists have also all enjoyed critical acclaim and much commercial success from their Smooth Jazz projects.

One other extraordinarily talented guitarist of note, Paul Brown started his music career as a producer and engineer. He earned two Grammy Awards and an impressive string 40+ number one hits. Paul has worked on projects with George Benson, Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Norman Brown, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Boney James, and many, many other top artists and musicians. With such extensive experience as a producer, engineer AND guitar player, who better than Paul to guide you through the Smooth Jazz Handbook?!

Paul organized the Smooth Jazz Handbook into two sections. In the first section, Paul presents what he considers to be the 12 guiding musical principles of Smooth Jazz for guitarists. In the second section, Paul steps you through six soloing studies, which put all of those principles to work, in a musical context, over a variety of rhythm tracks (top notch tracks!)

Paul demonstrates all of the musical examples and then breaks them down in detail. All of the soloing studies are tabbed out and notated, plus you’ll get Guitar Pro files as well (Windows & Mac compatible). You’ll also get all of the rhythm tracks to work with on your own.

No tedious theory or boring exercises to struggle through — you’ll play your way through Paul Brown’s Smooth Jazz Handbook and have a blast doing it.

Grab your guitar. The smooth groove is just a click away…

http://truefire.com/jazz-guitar-lessons/smooth-jazz-handbook/

Smooth Jazz And Books – Benson: The Autobiography

This summer will see the release of  Benson: The Autobiography.

Benson: The Autobiography follows Lil’ Georgie Benson from his remarkable rise from the ghettos of Pittsburgh to the stages of Dubai, and everywhere in between.

George’s tales of scuffling on the road with jazz legend Brother Jack McDuff, navigating his way through the recording studio with Miles Davis, and emerging as the first true (and truly successful) jazz/soul crossover artist will enthrall devotees of both music history and pop culture.

This long-awaited book allows readers to meet one of the most beloved, prolific, and bestselling musicians of any era.

You can pre-order the book from Amazon here.

Smooth Jazz and Fine Dining – Woody’s

 

Woody’s is a cool place, in downtown Palm Springs. It is a 50’s diner in front, that serves the best burgers in town.

In back, it’s a cool speakeasy jazz club, the kind you might see in Manhattan. Woody’s is a listening room, which means that people actually listen to the music.

Imagine that. Drinks and food at Woody’s are very reasonable.

So if you’re in Palm Springs, California, come out to Woody’s.  If you’re not in Palm Springs, come on out and make a night or two of it!  Book a room at the Riviera Hotel, right around the corner.  It’s the coolest hotel–it’s got a 60’s vibe, and you feel like you might run into Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin strolling the hallways.

The Slim Man Band is back at Woody’s on Wednesday, April 23rd. It’s gonna be another sell-out, so book a table early. Greg “What The Hail” Vail is playing sax, Patrick “Ever” Ready will be on drums, and Tateng Katindig-The Killa From Manila-will be playing keys. It’s gonna be a blast. Admission is free.

http://woodysburgersps.com/

Italian Saxophonist Rocco Ventrella – Another Time

Italian Saxophonist Rocco Ventrella announces his new CD Project “Another Time”.

Hello Jazz Fans and my precious Friends. This is Saxophonist Rocco Ventrella coming to you for Bari Italy. I am in the midst of recording my new CD “Another Time”. I am working with LA super producer and top Billboard Artist Greg Manning of Los Angeles. I am excited to say this is my best work ever and I can’t wait to share this labor of love with you all.

You can be a part of this exciting project by donating here at Indiegogo.com and help me make this dream a reality.

Thanks so much for being part of my musical family and helping me share my new music with the world.

Ciao and much love,

Rocco Ventrella

If you want to buy the new CD and support Rocco visit this website.

Culbertson – A Pino Noir

Chart-topping musician, producer, songwriter, wine and jazz festival founder and artistic director Brian Culbertson can add vintner to his burgeoning resume. The recording artist behind 26 No. 1 hits and the star-studded Napa Valley Jazz Getaway is now pouring his new custom-crafted wine, “Culbertson” Pinot Noir by Reata Wines, which he personally blended with Jamieson Ranch Vineyards’ winemaker Nori Nakamura.

Adorned with his name and signature piano keys on the label, Culbertson describes the wine that is available at Jamieson Ranch, on their website and at all the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway events this June as “a light, smooth and vibrant wine that will pair extremely well with lots of different types of food. This was the second time that I’ve blended a wine, but only the first to be released. Working with Nori from Jamieson Ranch Vineyards was very reassuring since he is such a seasoned winemaker. It was a lot of fun and I hope to continue this new ‘Culbertson’ label for years to come.”

“Culbertson” Pinot Noir will be flowing freely tonight at Jamieson Ranch at an exclusive tasting and performance by Culbertson to be attended by Napa Valley VIPs to launch the wine conceived as part of the long-term partnership between the winemaker and Culbertson’s Napa Valley Jazz Getaway that will take place for the third time June 11-15, 2014. The stellar marquee for this year’s Getaway boasts performances by Culbertson along with contemporary jazz, R&B and funk giants Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Ohio Players, Morris Day & The Time, Earl Klugh, Eric Benét, Mavis Staples, Average White Band, comedian Keenen Ivory Wayans and many more. Jamieson Ranch will host thousands of passionate wine and jazz aficionados that travel from all over the world for the festival when the June 14 & 15 concerts take place outdoors on their sprawling grounds.

“Working with Brian Culbertson and Napa Valley Jazz Getaway helps fulfill one cornerstone of the core vision of the Jamieson Ranch experience: to bring light into people’s lives through music, art and film. Brian’s music truly fills one’s soul with light!” said Jamieson Ranch Vineyards President Bill Leigon.

Nakamura elaborated, “A few months back, we had the opportunity to host celebrated jazz musician and Napa Valley Jazz Getaway founder Brian Culbertson for a private blending session. I provided him with Pinot lots from different vineyards featuring various clones, and assisted him as he custom-crafted his own wine. The result is a beautiful 2012 Reata ‘Culbertson’ Pinot Noir, sourced from select Sonoma Coast vineyards. It was interesting to participate in this process with a musician, who approached the blending process much as I do as a winemaker: seeking harmony and balance with the selection of different ‘notes’ -blending components, in this case.”

“Culbertson” Pinot Noir is available by bottle, case and packaged with an autographed copy of Culbertson’s new CD, “Another Long Night Out,” and a pair of Riedel wine glasses decorated with the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway logo. To purchase the wine or for more information, please visit www.JamiesonRanch.com, www.BrianCulbertson.me or www.NapaValleyJazzGetaway.me.

About Napa Valley Jazz Getaway

Founded by award-winning contemporary jazz hitmaker Brian Culbertson, the third annual Napa Valley Jazz Getaway will take place in California Wine Country June 11-15, 2014. Jazz and wine enthusiasts flock to Napa Valley to celebrate the good life with their favorite musicians at this unforgettable lifestyle experience curated by Culbertson, the Getaway’s Artistic Director, host and featured performer. Festival goers will be treated to spectacular concerts starring legendary jazz, R&B and funk artists at the Lincoln Theater and Jamieson Ranch Vineyards as well as at more intimate shows and VIP events hosted by winery partners. Throughout the Getaway, fans have opportunities to meet and get to know the musicians while feasting upon fine local cuisine, during wine tastings and post-concert Late Night Hangs at The Westin Verasa Napa. Silent and live auctions are held each year to benefit The GRAMMY® Foundation, which funds music education programs. For more information, please visit www.NapaValleyJazzGetaway.me and www.BrianCulbertson.me.

About Jamieson Ranch Vineyards

Jamieson Ranch Vineyards is the southernmost winery in the Napa Valley, one of the world’s foremost winemaking regions.  The estate’s more than 300 acres of gently rolling hills and terraced vineyards sit above the picturesque San Pablo Bay, affording visitors unparalleled views from a wraparound veranda. Guests are invited to sample small production wines from their portfolio, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the cellar or treat themselves to their newly launched food and wine pairing program, Napa Comfort Food: Wood-Fired|Wine-Friendly.  www.JamiesonRanch.com

 

Kirk Whalum – The blessed Sax Player

Soulful, passionate, stirring…these are the words most often used to describe Kirk’s music. Forged from his Memphis, (TN) gospel roots and his 1980‘s initiation into the thriving Houston, TX nightclub scene, Kirk’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his. The 80’s were highlighted by Kirk’s stepping out of his blossoming sideman role and forming his own band. It was there that Kirk ultimately developed both his “voice” and songwriting in the crucible of the local club scene––especially at a rooftop club called Cody’s. It was also in Houston where jazz pianist Bob James “discovered” him and brought him on tour, which led to five successful albums with Columbia Records, including Cache, Kirk’s first #1 album. As well, Kirk and Bob received a Grammy nomination for their collaboration album, Joined at the Hip. After moving to Los Angeles, Kirk became an in demand session player for top artists like, Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Quincy Jones and most notably, Whitney Houston, amongst many others. It’s his sax heard on the mega-hit, “I Will Always Love You.” Kirk soon followed that career high point with his phenomenal hit album released on Warner Bros. Records, For You, perhaps the most successful of over 25 solo recordings to date; others include his eclectic Gospel According to Jazz series, (Chapters 1, 2 and 3).

An ordained minister, Kirk has earned his Masters of Art in Religion. It’s in this spirit that he serves his community, frequently performing at nursing homes, schools and missions. There is also his daily fifteen minute podcast, Bible In Your Ear (BIYE), in which he invites you to listen along as he reads through the Bible in a year. In addition to music and ministry, Kirk has a passion to educate young, aspiring musicians and as such he currently serves as Chief Creative Officer of the STAX Music Academy and the STAX Museum of American Soul Music in his hometown of Memphis, TN.

Kirk is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgements for his musical excellence including three Dove Award nominations, an NAACP Image Award nomination and has won two Stellar Awards-Gospel music’s highest honor. An eleven time Grammy nominee, Kirk won his first Grammy award for Best Gospel Song (“It’s What I Do”-featuring Lalah Hathaway) alongside life-long friend and gifted writer, Jerry Peters.

His latest release (on Mack Ave. Records) is perhaps his most ambitious to date. On Romance Language Kirk pays homage to the much revered 1963 ballads album, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. Kirk’s release features the brilliant and lush vocals of his brother Kevin. As the original recording is only six songs, Kirk rounds out this album with his romantic interpretations of some modern day ballads such as Brandy’s “Almost Doesn’t Count,” which features the dulcet voice of his 83 year old uncle, Peanuts Whalum.

In addition, Kirk is very proud that Romance Language is the first album produced in LiveAudio, a 3D listening experience for the JAMBOX wireless speaker.

In a career spanning decades, Kirk has a sound that is uniquely his; it is a sound that leaves an indelible imprint on the listener.

Kirk Whalum published with permission of Bettie Grace Miner.

Napa Valley Jazz Getaway

Single-day tickets went on sale today for the star-studded concerts taking place June 12-15, 2014 as part of the third annual Napa Valley Jazz Getaway, a wine and jazz festival set in scenic California Wine Country. Available at TicketFly (www.TicketFly.com), tickets are priced at $99 apiece except for the June 13show, which cost $129 each and includes entry to an exclusive The GRAMMY® Foundation benefit wine reception and silent auction. A limited number of discount tickets for each concert are available to Napa residents.

Multiday ticket sales for the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway founded and directed by contemporary jazz-R&B instrumentalist Brian Culbertson have been robust with the five-day VIP Package selling out in one week when they went on sale last October. Until now, tickets for the 2014 festival have only been available in four-day Gold Packages and two-day Silver Packages, which are being scooped up voraciously by fans from all over the world that will gather in Napa to enjoy the full schedule of concerts starring A-list contemporary jazz, funk and R&B artists; daily Wine Down at The Westin wine tastings held at the official Getaway host hotel, The Westin Napa Verasa; a Cigar Event offering cigars and a performance by saxophonist Michael Lington; and “Another Long Night Out” Late Night Hangs. Single-day tickets are popular with nearby Bay Area residents as well as Napa locals, the latter of which are eligible to receive a $20 discount per ticket by using an access code provided to local businesses and via a targeted email sent by the Napa/Yountville Chamber of Commerce.

After a pair of sold-out opening night dinner concerts happening simultaneously on June 11, Napa Valley Jazz Getaway will stage four days of concerts with the June 12 & 13 shows taking place at The Lincoln Theater and the June 14 & 15 shows to be held on the majestic grounds of the Jamieson Ranch Vineyards. The Thursday night lineup showcases the Legends of Jazz featuring Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour and Earl Klugh with special guest Eric Marienthal and more. Friday Night Funk Night headlines The Ohio Players and special guest comedian Keenen Ivory Wayans. The weekend concerts move outdoors with Saturday spotlighting Brian Culbertson & Friends, Morris Day & The Time, Average White Band and Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Eric Benét, Mavis Staples, Eric Darius and Jazz in Pink featuring Gail Jhonson, Althea Rene and Karen Briggs fill the marquee on the final day of the 2014 Getaway.

A boundless creative force, showman, multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter responsible for 26 No. 1 hits, Culbertson will release his 14^th album, “Another Long Night Out,” on February 25. He will be in Napa on February 27 to perform a short set at a private event for invited tastemakers to celebrate the release of the contemporary jazz record featuring an all-star cast and uncork his new custom-crafted wine, Culbertson Pinot Noir, which he personally blended with Jamieson Ranch Vineyards’ winemaker Nori Nakamura.

Four-day Gold Packages ($499) and two-day Silver Packages ($229) remain available through the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway website (www.NapaValleyJazzGetaway.me).

Dictionary of Keyboard Grooves

Dictionary of Keyboard Grooves (The Complete Source for Loops, Patterns & Sequences in All Popular Styles). By Gail Johnson. For Piano/Keyboard. Musicians Institute Press. Softcover with CD. 48 pages. Published by Musicians Institute Press (HL.695556).

ISBN 0634018787. 9×12 inches.

The first comprehensive source for keyboard grooves complete with transcriptions and tips on loop construction! Covers: dance, funk, jazz, Latin, reggae, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll grooves. All loops are fully scored and fully compatible with all samplers and recording software. This book/CD pack can serve as a sample library or a style manual for keyboardists who want to learn new patterns. The CD is filled with keyboard grooves that can be sampled and looped in a groove and includes MIDI files that can be edited (as far as tempo & key), then used in songs, as play-along tracks, or as a learning tool for knowledge of voicing and style. Files are in .wav audio and MIDI format. The book includes sampling tips, notation for all grooves, and much more helpful info.

This book is available at this website.

Jessy J 2014 Jazz Calendar

Make every day New this Year with the brand new limited edition 2014 Jazz Calendar.

You get this calendar at http://www.jessyj.com/store/.

PROTUR BIOMAR GRAN HOTEL & SPA Home of the Mallorca Smooth Jazz Festival 2014

 

The high-quality 5-star Protur Biomar Gran Hotel & Spa (Hotel video and pictures) in Sa Coma, Majorca, lies only 300 metres from the beach, right on the Punta de n’Amer natural park. Perfectly suited for a vacation for two, the Protur Gran Hotel & Spa offers facilities, ambience and services that turn the mere stay into a wonderful experience.

Between the hotel’s landscaped gardens of the hotel two stylish and exclusive outdoor pools are arranged with deck chairs and Balinese beds. Here, guests can take advantage of the Mallorcan sun or enjoy delicious cocktails and snacks at the main pool bar, without leaving the pool.

The indoor pool enables swimming during the months when temperatures are low. At the Protur Biomar Gran Hotel & Spa you can relax any time of the year in the Biomar Spa, a spa and wellness centre of more than 3,500 m² with all types of massages and treatments for relaxing and rebalancing body and mind.

The Protur Biomar Gran Hotel & Spa’s cuisine will also seduce you. The main buffet restaurant‘s show cooking display offers international flavours. The intimate Azafrán restaurant offers typical Spanish cuisine made with our chef’s personal touch. The restaurant La Toscana is all about best pasta and Italian products, while Asian cuisine can be found at the Asian restaurant. Finally, theres’s the Terrace Grill, a barbecue serving the best quality meat and fresh fish directly from the grill to the plate.

On stage, we welcome some of the biggest and most successful international stars of the Contemporary and Smooth Jazz scene:
PETER WHITE | RICHARD ELLIOT | NICK COLIONNE | JESSY J | GREGG KARUKAS | ELAN TROTMAN | SPENCER DAY | PAUL SHILTS WEIMAR

Here you can order your exclusive Hotel Package:
2 nights (May 1-3, 2013) incl. half-board & 4 concerts: from 238,00 Euro per person in a double room
2 nights (May 2-4, 2014) incl. half-board & 6 concerts: from 289,00 Euro per person in a double room
from 3 nights* (May 1-4, 2014) incl. half-board & 8 concerts: from 406,00 Euro per person in a double room.

Smooth Jazz And Fine Dining – Plate & Vine

Plate & Vine is dedicated to your & our sustainability…

…which is the reason we carefully source the ingredients we serve. Virtually all of our meat and produce comes from sustainable farms and ranches using the most responsible practices. Most are local and many are organic. We are proud to work with fellow artisans and purveyors throughout Northern California and the Bay Area. Locally-Sourced ingredients make our Regionally-Inspired menu items more flavorful, authentic, healthy, and sustainable.

The thing about freshness is that it’s fleeting. Use an ingredient too soon, or too late, and you don’t capture it at the very pinnacle of its flavor. It is around this very basic concept that we created Plate & Vine, a uniquely California-style restaurant dedicated to using locally-sourced foods in most things we make.

Local foods, you see, aren’t frozen, picked before they’re ripe for shipping or transported thousands of miles. They are, instead, fresh, organic, sustainable and grown in some of the most fertile soil in the world. If the experience of choosing foods from your own garden and preparing them yourself that very day could be turned into a restaurant – Plate & Vine would be that restaurant.

So eat, drink and enjoy the treasures of Contra Costa County and the Greater Bay Area. Because unless you’re from here, odds are you traveled farther than your meal did. Enjoy! Join us on Tuesday evening Dec 31st for a delicious dinner, live entertainment, champagne toast at midnight, and even options to stay overnight! David Correa & Cascada perform at New Year’s Eve dinner.

Plate & Vine Restaurant, 1970 Diamond Blvd, Concord, California 94520

Smooth Jazz And Printed Medium – Jazz Inside Magazine

 

Keyboardist, Composer, Producer Jason Miles – is featured in the December 2013 issue of Jazz Inside Magazine (print and digital). With a long list of album and artist credits, Jason discusses the serendipitous events that led to his many associations, his Bebop and mainstream jazz background, and the innovative soundscapes he contributed to recordings by Miles Davis, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Michael Brecker, The Crusaders, Ruben Blades, Freddy Cole, George Benson, Joe Sample, Herb Alpert., Vanessa Williams, Grover Washington Jr. and others.

This expanded 80-page issue of Jazz Inside Magazine also includes a feature on bassist Mark Dresser. The new Jazz Outside section, guided by Associate Publisher, Nora McCarthy, includes features on drummer William Hooker, Amina Claudine Myers, Andrew Lamb, Giuseppe Logan, and Lucian Ban. This issue also includes an expanded 25-page CD Review section, and a comprehensive calendar of hundreds of clubs, concert and event listings.

For more information visit http://jazzinsidemagazine.com.

Holiday Special Offer

Holiday Special Offer

When you buy one of the New SONG BOOKs you get to take any CD for $10 plus free shipping within the US

Or

pick up to 4 CDs for $11 each with free shipping in the US

offer good for orders placed until Dec 24th.

NILS GUITAR HITS

features note by note guitar transcriptions of 11 songs incl. tablature and chord diagrams.

The second book

NILS GUITAR HITS FOR SAX AND TRUMPET

features lead sheets of the same 11 songs in Concert, Bb, and Eb keys.

Both books will come with a Jam track CD, which enables you to play along with the tracks. It’s the songs without the lead guitar.

Brian Culbertson – The Christmas Song

With the holiday season on his mind, contemporary jazz-R&B star Brian Culbertson recently took a break from recording his forthcoming “Another Long Night Out” album, sat down at the Mason & Hamlin grand piano in his studio and played a stark, emotionally stirring rendition of “The Christmas Song.” Enjoying his newfound freedoms as an independent recording artist, Culbertson recorded the seasonal classic and put it on iTunes (http://bit.ly/BCChristmasSong), Amazon (http://bit.ly/bcChristmasSong)  and other major digital outlets.

“It is a solo piano piece of an arrangement I did many years ago. I have performed it on my Christmas tours, but had never recorded it until recently,” said Culbertson of the heartfelt, contemplative beauty. “Being able to spontaneously record and then swiftly release something new for fans is one of the energizing perks of the new music industry.”

Culbertson’s first full-length indie release and 14^th album overall, “Another Long Night Out” is slated for release in late February. The project is a reimaging of his debut album, “Long Night Out,” which will mark its 20^th anniversary in February. Culbertson, a multi-instrumentalist who wrote the eleven songs and played most of the instruments on the original album that he recorded in his crowded Chicago apartment while he was a 20-year-old student at DePaul University, is producing the set featuring performances by Lee Ritenour, Russ Freeman, Jonathan Butler, Rick Braun, Candy Dulfer, Eric Marienthal, Chuck Loeb, Steve Lukather and Paul Jackson Jr. along with a stellar collective of contemporary jazz musicians and a 33-piece orchestra playing arrangements by David Benoit.

Additional information about Culbertson, who will bring in the New Year on stage with his band at a New Year’s Eve Gala at the Hyatt Regency in Huntingdon Beach, Calif., is available at www.BrianCulbertson.me.

Saxophonist Jarez Hits the Road with Coolio

Following the sizzling release of “On Top of the World,” R&B saxophonist Jarel Posey (AKA “Jarez”) will be touring in the States and overseas with hip hop music rapper Coolio.

Jarez’s tour dates are not the normal jazz venues and haunts you would expect either. He tours regularly on the hip hop scene, incorporating the smooth sounds of jazz into cutting edge beats. Jarez is perhaps one of the few jazz artists able to successfully blend the two diverse musical genres. In fact, for several years, Jarez toured with Coolio around the world, dazzling audiences unfamiliar with jazz with his playing skills and showmanship.

“Touring in over 30 countries, the experience was an unforgettable one,” explained Jarez. “Performing is one of the most satisfying experiences because I have a spiritual connection with the audience when I’m playing. To have them feel what I feel – well, it’s a divine connection. It is a double blessing and joy to be able to bring the gift of jazz to an audience not typically familiar with it, and yet have them embrace and welcome it.”

Just as his touring schedule challenges the public’s perception of jazz, “On Top of the World” marks a strategic release for this entrepreneurial artist. While the music itself appeals to a broad audience base, Jarez desires to unite the younger generation with jazz. By adding a splash of urban groove with luxurious melodies, Jarez paints a musical tapestry that is culturally rich and brazenly accessible. It is music that inspires change within the contemporary jazz landscape.

The saxophonist’s commitment to America’s future includes having served as a spokesperson for Environmental Justice and Climate Change’s (EJCC) campaign, which served Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in an educational initiative regarding global warming. This opportunity also lent him a chance to develop his fan base even further with selections from one of his previous CD releases, ” SAXOHOLIC ,” providing the musical signature for the accompanying radio show, “Just Environment” which broadcasted weekly on from Atlanta’s Clark University’s WCLK 91.9, “The Jazz of the City,” and live online at www.wclk.com.

His ability to expand his musical outreach to fans of all ages included multiple appearances on “Cooking with Coolio.” Jarez also assisted in the production of Coolio’s cookbook  of the same name, along with ongoing management of various aspects of Coolio’s business operations.

For information on Jarez and to view all available tour dates, please visit www.jarezmusic.com.

Smooth Jazz And Books – Ultra Smooth Jazz Play-A-Long Book

With the worldwide success of The Super Groovers previous music instructional book series Ultra Smooth Jazz Grooves for Bb & Eb Sax, Flute, Guitar and Keyboards containing 8 measure grooves in various smooth jazz styles, they decided to create a play-a-long book of full length songs from their two albums Supergroovin and Mainline Connection.

They picked songs that would give the music student a variety of styles to choose from, ranging from the pop/jazz style of You Are The Only One In My Life , minor blues of To The T and A Cry For Peace , funky/blues of Super Groover , latin style of Groovin With The In Crowd and Villefranche Sur Mer , gospel style of To Our Loved Ones , reggae style of Right Track Wrong train To Jamaica , funky/jazz of Mainline Connection , Keeping The Past Alive and the bonus track Destinasian and lastly the funky jazz/swing feel of Spritual Seeker .

The audio files that come with the book contains full rhythm backing tracks. You can buy this item at Amazon.com.

 

Kim Waters – The Saxiest Saxman

 

With the release of his 1989 debut album, Sweet and Saxy, saxophonist-band leader-composer-arranger-producer KIM WATERS was instantly established among the premier Urban Jazz hit makers. Now, after over two decades as a music superstar with 16 Top Ten and 14 #1 singles, 4 #1 CDs and sales in excess of a million album units, Kim again elevates his already luminous career profile to an even higher pinnacle with MY LOVES, his 19th solo album and major label debut.

Resplendent with all the KIM WATERS signature in-the-pocket grooves, seductive melodies, virtuoso improvisations, state-of-the-art production and inspired contributions from his musicians and guest vocalists, MY LOVES, with an even deeper focus on the distinctly rich Urban Music mother-lode, is a soulful, 11-track hymnal in praise of romance – always the essential emotional subtext of any KIM WATERS album – in all its varied shadings, hues, depths, grandeur, yearnings and joyous fulfillments.

Imagine an evening-long party where two guests, meeting for the first time, realize they’ve found their forever partners. MY LOVES compellingly portrays the next once-in-a-lifetime hours with a most inviting “It’s a Party in Here,” one of Kim’s very best jazz creations to date. The spell has been cast, and next up is “I Wanna Love You,” co-written by Kim, guest vocalist Glen Jones and destined to become a soul power-ballad classic beyond this first 2013 appearance. And there are few moments ever better than “Watching the Sunset” with your soul-mate in a shimmering musical mood of exquisite, the best is yet to come promise.

Then it’s “High Steppin’” back to the party as your host and groovemeister KIM WATERS keeps the good-time vibe going big time with the very singular brewing of hot and cool Waters jazz jams. The expressive title song is dedicated to all lovers new-found and life-long, and especially to Kim’s special loves, Waters daughters Kimberly and Kayla (who is a 2013 Howard University Summa cum laude graduate!).

Next, the mood turns mellow with “Flamenco Nights,” featuring Kim’s sensuous sax lines embraced by a sumptuous orchestral ambiance with lush harmonies and insinuating rhythms followed by ”My Love is All I Have to Give,” a toast from our host to all his friends and one of Kim’s strongest power-ballad declarations. Then once again, it’s dance time with a scintillating mix of beats, hooks, lines and singer (Kim’s spellbinding solo saxophone) to introduce “The Groove Sensation.”

Another of Kim’s special loves, his wife Dana Pope, brings her vocal talents and individual artistry to the classic soul anthem “Loving You” in a memorable interpretation sure to remain in the mind and heart for all the “Sunny Days” and star-filled moonlight evenings of “Red Wine and You” and the everlasting love all KIM WATERS albums celebrate.

In truth, one look at the titles of his hit albums from only the past decade proves that KIM WATERS knows quite a lot about romance and love with such stellar achievements as Love’s Melody, One Special Moment, From The Heart, Someone to Love You, In the Name of Love, All For Love, You Are My Lady and Love Stories, his classic 2010 collection. Inspired by such jazz icons as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Paul Desmond and Cannonball Adderley, Kim was born into a musical family. The Maryland native picked up his first instrument, the violin, at the age of eight. “That didn’t go over well with the fellas,” says Waters, who later found his true calling on the alto and soprano saxophones at age 13. Shortly afterwards he began playing in a band with his brothers, James (who he still performs with) and Eric, and his old friend, jazz piano legend Cyrus Chestnut. Over the years, KIM WATERS has shared stages with many of the best including Ray Charles, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Phyllis Hyman, Gerald Albright and Grover Washington, Jr. to name a very few. Waters recently relocated to Elk Grove, California from his longtime Baltimore area home.

MY LOVES is sure to further captivate all KIM WATERS fans and earn him innumerable new ones as well again affirming that he has rightfully been acclaimed The #1 Urban Jazz Saxophonist and is here to stay! In this regard, Kim once stated, “I enjoy helping others and it is my hope that my music in some way brings positivity to the world. I believe that the world cannot live without new music – I know I can’t!”

Kim Waters published with permission of Bettie Grace Miner.

Smooth Jazz And Fine Dining – The Lobster Pot

The Lobster Pot has been a Tampa Bay tradition for over 35 years. There’s a reason why this special place has stayed on the map and is home to the romantic at heart. The Lobster Pot in Redington has won the award “Best Lobster in Tampa Bay” for 20 years and now the Lobster Pot Bistro is following in its footsteps!

This restaurant offers Live Music Wednesday through Sunday.

Smooth Jazz fans will like the music of Allon Sams, who plays there Thursday, November 07, 2013 (8:00 pm), Repeat every Thursday until November 25, 2013!

Another great artist is Peggy Morris, who plays sax, flute, clarinet and is a vocalist with a jazz vibe and a “Dulfer” like sound.

The Lobster Pot Bistro, 731 Bayway Blvd, Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767

A New Bona Fide CD

A couple weeks ago, my friend Marc Antoine called me up and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He wants to produce a new Bona Fide CD.

My name is Slim Man. I’ve produced and recorded 11 CDs with the Slim Man band. What a lot of folks don’t know is that I have another band, Bona Fide. Bona Fide allows me to write, produce and perform instrumental music. It’s a blast to be able to do that–to be able to explore a different style.

Bona Fide has released 3 CDs, all of which were very well received. We had a number one song, X Ray Hip, from the first CD, Royal Function. We were named Best New Artist at The Oasis Awards in 2001.

Bona Fide is a fun and funky instrumental band. No vocals. Just a lot of incredible musicianship, and some great writing and production, all in the name of fun and funkiness.

Marc Antoine is an amazing guitar player, a wonderful producer and arranger, and a great friend. He was listening to some Bona Fide CDs, and offered to produce a new CD. He offered to write some songs, play guitar, and produce and mix the whole CD. He started sending me some song ideas. They got me all juiced up. Marc is bringing a whole new wonderful flavor and perspective to the Bona Fide sound.

So we’ve decided to do a CD. We want to do 8 songs, and for the 9th song, we want to do something epic…15 or 20 minutes long, something that’s a musical journey, a soulful symphony.

We want to do it right, we need to do the recording, and the mixing and the mastering. In addition to the Bona Fide band, we will include some guest soloists, some Big Name Players. We’ll be recording and mixing all this stuff at Marc’s studio in Madrid, Spain.

How could I refuse? So we are asking for your support, for your help. We have already started, we just need some help in getting this thing finished. It’s gonna be really rewarding…for all of us!

Find out all about the new Bona Fide CD on Kickstarter.  Listen to a song, watch a video…everything you need to know is right here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slimman/a-new-bona-fide-cd-the-first-in-8-years

Smooth Jazz And Photography – Smoothjazzphoto.com

Smoothjazzphoto.com is the website of photographer Christian Nordström from Munich, Germany. Christian comments:

“For over 30 years I have been working in photography. With the upcoming digital camera revolution, I was able to use the Years of Experience for even more creative work.

In 1998 I founded the Internet & New Media company “Mastermark Ltd.” in Ireland with a German office in Munich. Our portfolio contained the creation of 360° Virtual Tours with Immersive Imaging, Location & Event Photography and classic Web Design.

Today I work as a freelance Press Photographer on numerous Concerts and Events worldwide and as a Publisher of Photographic Books and Calendars.

I only use Nikon Equipment ;-)”

The Arizona Jazz Festival

The endless Arizona sky will be filled with a galaxy of stars day and night during the Arizona Jazz Festival slated for October 25-27, 2013 at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. More than 13,000 contemporary jazz and soul fans from across the nation are expected to flock to the lavish desert resort to enjoy performances by a stellar slate of Grammy-winners and chart-toppers along with a weekend of revelry. Tickets are on sale now for the three-day festival or as a single-day event and are available online at www.arizonajazzfestival.com and by calling 602.244.8444.

The Arizona Jazz Festival opens with an evening of seduction starting with the tantalizing pairing of saxophonist Eric Darius and R&B vocalist-producer Lyfe Jennings, who will set the mood for marquee-topper Maxwell, a Grammy-winning soul balladeer. Stick around for the official after-party at the resort.

Live music begins Saturday when nattily-attired guitarist Nick Colionne and new jazz swagger sax player J. White hit the stage followed by a trio set by saxophonists Warren Hill and Tom Braxton with blues-based guitar slinger Jeff Golub. Powerhouse tenors Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot and Euge Groove will blow a fierce sax storm in the desert before ten-time Grammy winner Chaka Khan belts out a song list filled with her massive crossover hits. The Queen of Neo Soul Erykah Badu will reign over majestic grooves and Baduizms preceding a set by “Uncle” Charlie Wilson, a 2013 BET lifetime achievement award winner, crooning cuts from his Grammy-nominated R&B songbook. After the concert, a number of the festival artists will head into the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa for an all-star jam.

It’s going to be a great-looking Sunday when saxophonists Jessy J and Michael Lington link with keyboardist Jonathan Fritzen to open the final day followed by a neo soul session from vocalist Eric Benet. Emerging saxmen Elan Trotman and Dominic Amato will accompany R&B chanteuse Melanie Fiona for an outing. Captivating multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson will inject a potent dose of funk-jazz into the mix during a high-octane performance before fellow blue-eyed soul man Robin Thicke blurs the lines during a set list certain to include the #1 summer smash “Blurred Lines.” Closing the festival is edgy multiplatinum R&B personality and reality television star Keyshia Cole.

“We pulled out all the stops for the Arizona Jazz Festival, which is perhaps the most spectacular lineup we have ever presented. While every festival that BTWconcerts.com produces and promotes is special, this is our hometown festival. We look forward to hosting guests from all over the U.S. that are passionate about jazz and R&B. It’s going to be an unforgettable weekend of live music and partying,” said Brad Laughlin of BTWconcerts.com, which also produces the Las Vegas Jazz Festival and the San Diego Jazz Festival.

The Arizona Jazz Festival offers reserved seating with ticket prices starting at $240.00 for the entire weekend or $65.00 for a single-day seat. For the enthusiast, tickets can be upgraded to include the Rock Star Experience that provides VIP tent access, a complimentary meal and drinks, artist meet & greets, Arizona Jazz Festival commemorative bag, t-shirt, poster and laminate, and entry to the Friday night after-party and Saturday night all-star jam.

About BTWconcerts.com

Phoenix, Arizona-based BTWconcerts.com is one of the premiere concert producers in the Southwest. Among the star-studded jazz and R&B concerts and multiday music and lifestyle festivals that the company promotes are the Arizona Jazz Festival (http://arizonajazzfestival.com), Las Vegas Jazz Festival (http://www.lvjazzfestival.com) and San Diego Jazz Festival (http://www.sandiegojazzfest.com).

Music Under The Stars feat. Marc Antoine

Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises has tapped legendary contemporary jazz guitarists Paul Brown and Marc Antoine to perform on two special “Music Under the Stars” voyages aboard its intimate, 540-guest Silver Spirit this year.

Marc Antoine will perform aboard Silver Spirit’s seven-day Mediterranean cruise (#5334), sailing November 2 from Rome to Barcelona with calls in Livorno, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Porto Mahon, and Palma de Mallorca.

These unique music-themed sailings will each feature two concerts on stage in the elegant Show Lounge, as well as an outdoor performance during a sail-away cocktail party on the ship’s pool deck (when departing Monte Carlo and St. Bart’s), where the artist will have a chance to meet and mingle with guests. Plus autographed copies of the musician’s latest CD will be delivered to each guest’s suite.

Antoine, whose career is highlighted by numerous number-one hits on the contemporary jazz charts, has performed with such music royalty as Sting, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Cher, Queen Latifah and others, and has composed and performed for six major movie soundtracks. He tours regularly with contemporary jazz artists Dave Koz, Chris Botti, and Jeff Lorber.

In expressing his excitement about the upcoming voyage, Antoine said, “It will be great to perform in the Mediterranean and visit my beloved Spain and France with music lovers from around the world.”

To book these special “Music Under the Stars” voyages, guests or their travel agents should call Silversea at toll-free (877) 569-8106 and reference the booking code MUSIC-MED for the Mediterranean cruise and MUSIC-CAR for the Caribbean cruise.

The Reservation number in Europe is +44 844 251 0839 or +49 69 920399340 or 1-877-568-8106 in USA.

The picture is created by famous California artist Moira Love to prepare these wines label commemorating these voyages. This picture is entitled Barcelona By Night (Marc Antoine Voyage 5334).

Music Under The Stars feat. Paul Brown

These unique music-themed sailings will each feature two concerts on stage in the elegant Show Lounge, as well as an outdoor performance during a sail-away cocktail party on the ship’s pool deck (when departing Monte Carlo and St. Bart’s), where the artist will have a chance to meet and mingle with guests. Plus autographed copies of the musician’s latest CD will be delivered to each guest’s suite.

Paul Brown will entertain guests on Silver Spirit’s 10-day Caribbean cruise (#5338), sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on December 13. Destinations include Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Bart’s, San Juan, Samana, and Grand Turk.

“We’re excited and honored to have these two renowned artists performing aboard our beautiful Silver Spirit,” said Ellen Bettridge, Silversea’s president of the Americas. “I know our guests will enjoy an extraordinary music experience.”

Double GRAMMY-winning Paul Brown has produced more than 50 number-one hits on the contemporary jazz charts. The guitarist, producer, and composer has worked on projects with such music legends as Al Jarreau, George Benson, Patti Austin, Luther Vandross, Kirk Whalum, Boney James, Larry Carlton, Rick Braun, and many others.

“I’m looking forward to spending a week with my fans, playing the music I love in a great intimate setting, and making new friends,” remarked Brown about his upcoming cruise. To book these special “Music Under the Stars” voyages, guests or their travel agents should call Silversea at toll-free (877) 569-8106 and reference the booking code MUSIC-MED for the Mediterranean cruise and MUSIC-CAR for the Caribbean cruise.

The Reservation number in Europe is  +44 844 251 0839   or   +49 69 920399340  or  1-877-568-8106 in USA.

The picture is created by famous California artist Moira Love to prepare these wines label commemorating these voyages. This picture is entitled Afternoon in St. Barts  (Voyage 5338 –  Paul Brown).