New Chill Compilations, Tour Info & Forthcoming Music

XM Satellite Radio Celebrates Wes Montgomery and Flora Purim...In acknowledgement of their upcoming birthdays, XM Satellite Radio will feature the music of Wes Montgomery and Flora Purim on March 3, 2005. Various selections of their music will be played throughout the day on XM channel 70.

Upcoming Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick & Stevie Wonder Albums...Both Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick are in the studio working on new albums slated for release in the coming months. Coincidentally, both albums with will feature duets with various artists. Dionne's album is entitled My Friends And Me and will feature duets alongside Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder. Aretha's will feature Gloria Estefan, among others. Stevie Wonder's long awaited release A Time 2 Love is finally due out on May 3, 2005.

The Crusaders and Regina Carter Tour Asia...The Crusaders are on tour in Japan with the following dates scheduled: March 2-3 at the Blue Note in Fuoka, Japan; March 7-12 at the Blue Note in Tokyo, Japan; and March 14-15 at the Blue Note in Osaka, Japan. Regina Carter plays the Hong Kong Cultural Center Concert Hall on March 11 in Wanchai, Hong Kong and theShanghai Concert Hall in Shanghai, China on March 13.

Wayne Shorter On European Tour... Upcoming performances are scheduled forMarch 3 at the National Concert Hall (Dublin, Ireland); March 8, Halle AuxGrains (Brussels, Belgium); March 9, Cirque Royal (Brussels, Belgium); March 14, Konserthuset (Oslo, Norway); March 15, Stavanger Konserthus(Stavanger, Norway); March 18, Stokholm Konserthuset (Stokholm, Sweden); March 19, Koln Philharmonic (Koln, Germany); and March 20, Konzerthaus(Vienna, Austria).

New Chill Compilations Out Now...For those in the mood for some lounge, 24 Hours In Paris features artists like Sporto Kantes, Cocosuma, I:Cube,Chateau Flight, DJ Gregory, Alexkid & Klanguage. Marco Fullone compiled G Lounge-Milano, Vol. 2, (lounge/house), and this double-CD features tracks and remixes for artists such as Blaze, Llorca, Brent Laurence, Markus Enochson, John Dahlback, Jay 'Sinister' Sealy vs. Earth Wind & Fire, J-Jaywith Jo Jo Hailey, Julius Papp, Scott Wozniak, Gregory Del Piero, Dr.Kucho!, Claude Monnet, DJ Gregory Suges feat. Syreeta Neal and Grant Nelson. Music from the latest Emmanualle movie is now available in the form of Claude Challe pres. Emmanualle. It features various artists performing astring of downtempo, mellow and jazzy tunes from the film. Studio-Finest In Lounge & House presents tracks from Rodney Hunter, Quantic, Marcos Valle, Amp Fiddler, Can7, Ultra Nate, and Inaya Day. Jimpster: Selected Remixes 2000-2003 is from remixer/producer Jamie and features a collection of his best and includes Lisa Shaw, John Beltran, Reunion, Fragile State, BlueSix, Intelligent Jazz and many more. Truby Trio: Recreated includes production and remixes by the likes of Louie Vega, Tiefschwartz, FreeformFive, Fabrice Lig, Whignomy Brothers, Yam Who!, Senor Coconut and Sumo. It's a double-CD full of hot grooves! Om Lounge, Vol. 9 features Jazzanova, Kaskade, Rebirth, Jeff Bennett and Beanfield. And finally, on Most Rated Disc 2, Bini & Martini provide a deep house and tribal mix onthe Defected label featuring Praise Cats, M Gee, Martin Solveig, DannyMarquez & Perry, B-Glory featuring Jocelyn Brown, Jon Cutler featuring E-Man, Soulsearcher and Copywright.

Upcoming Jazz Festivals, New Releases & More

Sony and BMG are set to release a series of Jazz Moods CDs from the following artists on April 19: Aretha Franklin Jazz Moods - 'Round Midnight (Columbia);Chet Baker Jazz Moods - Cool (Columbia); Dexter Gordon Jazz Moods - 'Round Midnight (Columbia); Esther Phillips Jazz Moods - Hot (Epic); Stanley Turrentine Jazz Moods - Cool (Epic) and
Tony Bennett Jazz Moods - Cool (Columbia).

New and Upcoming Releases...Beegie Adair An Affair To Remember; Bill Connors Return; Bill Frisell Richter 858 (Hybrid SACD); Bireli Lagrene & Gipsy Project Move; Bobby Caldwell Perfect Island Nights; Brian Bromberg Metal; Caribbean Jazz Project Here & Now: Live In Concert; Cassandra Wilson Traveling Miles (Miles Davis Tribute); Dafinis Prieto About The Monks; David Binney Bastion Of Sanity; Denis Solee With The Beegie Adair Trio Sinatra On Sax; Don Ellis Tears Of Joy; Don Ellis Connection; Grachen Moncur III Exploration; Groove Collective Live: Brooklyn, NY 04.20.02; Jeff Coffin Bloom; Jeff Parker Relatives; Joe Johnson Life Of The Party; Julie Dexter Conscious; Kazu Matsui The Stone Monkey; Ken Navarro Love Colored Soul; Klaus Schulze Mirage; Lettuce Live In Tokyo; Martin Taylor Valley; Mica Paris If You Could Love Me; Michel Camilo Solo; Niles Pacific Coast Highway; O2L Doyle's Brunch; Pamela Williams Sweet Saxsations; Paul Taylor Nightlife; Ravi Coltrane In Flux; Roomfull Of Blues Standing Room Only; Ted Greene Solo Guitar; Urban Nights Urban Knights 6; and Vince Guaraldi Alma-Ville.

The First Annual Sonoma Jazz Festival will take place Memorial Day Weeked (May 26-29, 2005) in Sonoma, California. Headliners include Diana Krall, TonyBennett, Boz Scaggs, Steve Winwood, Regina Carter and Lizz Wright. Tickets go on Sale Feb. 28.

The Jazz Channel and St. Lucia Tourist Board present the 14th annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival, April 29th-May 8th, 2005. The lineup to date for St. Lucia Jazz 2005 includes R&B artists New Edition, The Isley Brothers featuring Ron Isley, Chanté Moore and Kenny Lattimore; UB40, Beenie Man; Pharoah Sanders, Chris Botti, Kevin Mahogany, Earl Klugh; and Dave Koz.

Worth Checking Out ...

DJ Smash Presents Phonography 2 on the Blue Note label. This 14-track DJ mixed compilation features a variety of innovative, percussive and electronica tracks by such artists as Soulive feat. Talib Kwell, Don Byron, Jason Moran, Bobby McFerrin, St. Germain, Charlie Hunter feat. Mos Def, Greg Osby, Bob Belden Project feat. Jimi Tunel, Medeski Martin & Wood, Bob Belden Project feat. Cassandra Wilson & Dianne Reeves, Goran Kajfes, Marc Moulain, Henri Salvador and Wild Magnolias.

The sound of Salsoul, Philly International and MFSB are still alive thanks to composer, arranger and vibe player Vince Montana Jr. He was responsible for developing the classic Philly Sound of the mid-seventies that saw Lou Rawls, The Trammps, The O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Loleatta Holloway and many others find success on the charts. He most recently has worked on projects with Masters At Work and India, among others. His latest album Heavy Vibes is an anthology of his music catalogue and is reminiscent of the Salsoul Orchestra and MFSB sound that he pioneered. The 2-CD set is fresh and energetic and includes various remixes and songs such as Heavy Vibes, It Looks Like Love and What Happened To The Music.

Other CDs worth mentioning...Soul Magic by Uschi Classen (soulful and nu eclectic jazz); The African Divas by Frederic Galliano (fusion of African music with electronic club elements); Squaredancing In A Roundhouse by legendary Chicago house DJ Derrick L. Carter; Pansoul by Motorbass (minimalist grooves of past and present disco); Re: by Reunion (NuJazz, grooving and danceable), Around The House by Herbert & D. Siciliano; and Cerrone featuring Jocelyn Brown , You Are The One / Hooked On You (vocal house and deep jazzy house), with remixes by Jamie Lewis and Dimitri From Paris available from Purple Music. On the smooth jazz side, West Coast Coolin' by Norman Brown, Journey by Fourplay, Diary by Torquato Moriano, Lazy by Regina Belle, Midnight Moon by Craig Chaquico, Soul Shadows by Joe Sample, and Firelfy by Greg Adams.

If you are in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area then you should know that WDNA-FM Public Radio in Miami, Florida presents Nu-Groove New Directions In Music every Saturday from 4-6PM ET on 88.9FM. The program is hosted by Ari and features the best of chill, house, funk, broken-beats, lounge, latin groove, brazil beats, and electronica. You can listen to them on the web at www.dna.org and best of all it's commercial free!

Hot on the heels of the Verve, Blue Note and Warner Brothers remix offerings, Motown Remixed is set to be released on March 29th. The disc will include Marvin Gaye's Lets Get It On (remixed by Paul Simpson and Miles Dalto), the Jackson 5's I Want You Back (Z-Trip), Eddie Kendricks' Keep On Truckin' (DJ Spinna), the Supremes My World Is Empty Without You (Tranzition), and as previously reported, Smokey Robinson's Quiet Storm (Rafe Gomez & David Baron, and featuring Roy Ayers on vibes).

Verve Remixed 3 Track Listings & More

Verve Remixed 3 details...we finally have the track information for this much-anticipated release. All in all, the mood is visionary, danceable, and groovilicious as some of the worlds most adventurous remixers have mined the Verve vaults for another incredible disc. Note that the two previous editions (Verve Remixed and Verve Remixed 2) have both sold in excess of 500,000 copies combined. Verve Remixed 3 includes the following 13 songs:

Nina Simone Little Girl Blue - Postal Service Remix
Billie Holiday Speak Low - Bent Remix
Anita O'Day Sing, Sing, Sing - RSL Remix
Sarah Vaughan Fever - Adam Freeland Remix
Shirley Horn Come Dance With Me - Sugardaddy Remix
Blossom Dearie Just One Of Those Things - Brazilian Girls Remix
Astrud Gilberto The Gentle Rain - RJD2 Remix
Sarah Vaughan Peter Gunn - Max Sedgley Remix
Jimmy Smith Stay Loose - Lyrics Born Remix
Hugh Masekela The Boy's Doin' It - Carl Craiig Remix
Nina Simone Lilac Wine - The Album Leaf Remix
Billie Holiday Yesterdays - Junior Boys Remix
Dinah Washington Baby, Did You Hear? - Danger Mouse Remix

According to Billboard Magazine, Ray Charles' Genius Love Company album skyrockets from position 15 to number 1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, increasing sales 202% from the previous week with 224,000 copies sold last week. Genius Loves Company has thus far sold 2.4 million copies since its release.

New and noteworthy releases from the Bluenote label... as Bluenote RVG releases Ray Charles: O Genio: Live In Brazil DVD. It features Ray Charles in great form with his big band and the Raelettes from a 1963 concert taped in Brazil. 26 performances in all on this 105 minute disc in black and white.

Bluenote CD releases due on 3/1 include Tina Brooks True Blue; Grant Green Feeling The Spirit; Herbie Hancock Speak Like A Child; Wayne Shorter Night Dreamer and Ike Quebec Heavy Soul.

Lenny White, Stanley Clarke, Wayne Shorter and Michel Petrucciani's 1989 all-star concert The Manhattan Project is now available on DVD (58 minutes/color), and also on the Bluenote RVG label.

Verve Records releases vocalist/guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel's fourth album Deep Song on 3/1. This outing includes an all-star lineup as Kurt is joined by high-profile musicians Brad Mehldau on piano, Joshua Redman on tenor sax, along with Larry Grenadier on bass and either Al Jackson or Jeff Ballard on drums.

Rick Braun and Chuck Loeb play at the Lite 100.5FM Smooth Jazz Concert Series at the SBM Auditorium at Manchester Community College, in Manchester CT on Mar. 15. In the meantime, Chuck Loeb will perform at the Sun Valley Mall in Concord CA on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 6PM.

Lenny Williams' latest release My Way includes a current rendition of the Tower of Power classic, So Very Hard To Go. Lenny Williams was Tower Of Power's lead singer during their breakout period in the '70s. He has recorded some 20 releases since leaving the band.

The Tower of Power are on the road with bookings out as far as 2006!. Next month they hit Pennsylvania (Rex Theatre, American Music Theatre, Keswick Theatre, Kirby Center For The Performing Arts); Maryland (Rams Head Live); New Jersey (State Theatre); New York (Inter-Media Art Center); Vermont (Paramount Theatre); Massachusetts (Scullers Jazz Club); and Connecticut (Mohegan Sun Casino). In June, they'll appear with Tom Jones at multiple venues in the US and Canada.

Jocelyn Brown's latest release, Black Skin Blue-Eyed Boys, is available as a single with a remix by Joe Jam and Joe Samba on the Afro Vision label.

The Latest News

The Thievery Corporation's new album The Cosmic Game was released this week (Feb. 22). The new album and has garnered excellent reviews from critics. The duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton have concocted a diverse array of dancehall MC's, smokey-voiced chanteuses and Brazilian percussionist to create an ambitious piece of work. They perform a DJ set this Friday (Feb. 24) in New York at the Hiro Ballrooom in the Maritime Hotel.

Al Di Meola performs a live set this evening (Feb. 23) on XM Satellite Radio in the Beyond Jazz channel (72) at 11PM ET. The legendary guitarist performs songs from his latest studio release Flesh On Flesh, as well as some of his classic songs from the past.

Jazz songstress Angela Scappatura releases her debut CD A Littel Bit of Sugar. The singer/songwriter is currently touring in support of the release.

Chanteuse Nora York's new release What I Want has been released and showcases her refreshing talents. She is currently appearing at Joe's Pub in New York.

Herbie Hancock's next album is set for release on Sept. 13 via Nashville-based Vector Records. The set will pair Hancock with Sting, Annie Lennox, John Mayer, Carlos Santana, Damien Rice and Trey Anastasio. The pianist is currently in the midst of a tour with Directions in Music, featuring saxophonist Michael Brecker and trumpeter Roy Hargrove.

Sheile E appears at the Modern Drummer Festival on May 28-29, 2005 in Newark NJ at Prudential Hall at NJPAC. Sheila E will perform with Santana bandmates Karl Perazzo and conga master Raul Rekow. Other renowed drummer slated to perform at the festival include Chad Smith, Ian Paice, Keith Carlock, Rodney Holmes, Jason Bittner, Zoro, Jojo Mayer, Chris Adler and Danny Carey

New! News! News!

This weekend on the Dave Koz Radio Show...this weekend's program welcomes Greg Adams who's had quite an impressive resume in the business. He performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in music like Santana, Huey Lewis and the News, Luther Vandross, The Eurythimics, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King and many more great talents, and is also one of the founding members of Tower of Power. His latest release is Fly. Euge Groove also joins the show. Check your local listings for stations and schedule.

This year's upcoming 15th Annual Berks Jazz Festival will feature a lineup including performances by Boney James, Chris Botti, Jeff Golub, Steve Cole, Michael Lington, Joyce Cooling, and the Miles to Miles Tribute with Jason Miles.

Diana Krall will open the 20th Annual TD Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz Festival. The festival begins June 24 and runs through July 3, 2005. Diana will perform on Friday, June 24 at 8PM at the Orpheum Theatre.

Dreyfus Records releases the Bireli Lagrene Gipsy Project CD Move on Feb. 22.

Herbie Hancock's Speak Like a Child will be released on the Blue Note RVG Edition label on Mar. 1. The album was originally recorded in 1968.

Verve Remixed 3 Update

No word yet on which songs or artists are being remixed, however, we do know that mixers Carl Craig, Postal Service, Bent, RSL, Adam Freeland, Sugardaddy, RJD2, Max Sedgley, Lyrics Born, The Album Leaf, Junior Boys and Danger Mouse are tied to the project. The Verve release is set for April 5.

New Jazz & Then Some

Charlie Hunter & Bobby Previte's Groundtruther, Drums of Death (with DJLogic)
Bugge Wesseltoft, Moving
DJ Spooky, Drums Of Death (with Dave Lombardo & Vernon Reid)
Matt Bianco & Basia, Matt's Mood (3/08)
Patches Stewart, Blow (3/22)
William Parker, Luc's Lantern (3/22)
George Duke, DUKE (3/29)
Rainer Truby, Abstract Jazz Journey (3/29)

Herb Alpert & Pat Metheny Reissues

The Shout! Factory music label has embarked on an ambitious plan of re-releasing a series of classic Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass albums, many of which are being made available on CD for the first time ever. This month you will find The Lonely Bull (1962); South Of The Border (1964); and Lost Treasures (1965), which includes previously unreleased tracks and hard to find rarities all picked by Alpert himself. In the coming months expect an expanded edition of the 1965 release Whipped Cream & Other Delights (in April); to be followed by three more releases in June: Going Places (1965); What Now My Love (1966); and S.R.O. (1966).

Nonesuch will soon release five remastered versions of previously released Pat Metheny sets, including several with bonus tracks. The CDs are: Song X (1985); Still Life (1987); Letter From Home (1989); We Live Here (1994); and Quartet (1996). Each were previously available on the Geffen label. His latest group CD is The Way Up.

Now Playing On Smooth Jazz Radio

We've collected a selection of some of the more popular songs that are currently being played on Smooth Jazz radio stations all around the world. Some are old and some are new, but the one thing they each have in common is that they are worth being noticed (and played of course). Here is our list: Andy Summers featuring Sting 'Round Midnight; Matt Bianco featuring Basia Ordinary Day; Lee Ritenour featuring Maxi Priest Waiting In Vain; Kenny G Pick Up the Pieces; Dave Koz Let It Free; Chuck Loeb Tropical; Jeff Lorber Ooh La La; Charlie Hunter & Norah Jones More Than This; Vanessa Williams You Are Everything; Larry Coryell & Wes Montgomery Angel On Sunset; Adani & Wolf featuring Ernest Ranglin Daylight; Tha' Hot Club I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby; Everette Harp Can You Hear Me; Pete Belasco Deeper; Mindi Abair Come As You Are; Bobby Caldwell Can't Get Over You; Tim Bowman Summer Groove; Kenny G featuring Earth, Wind & Fire The Way That You Move; Michael McDonald Tracks Of My Tears; Seal Walk On By; David Sanborn Tin Tin Deo; Greg Adams Firefly; Randy Crawford Give Me The Night (Chill Mix); Fourplay Fields Of Gold; B-Tribe Sometimes; Pamela Williams Fly Away With Me; Chris Botti No Ordinary Love; Hall & Oates I'll Be Around; Pieces Of A Dream It's Go Time; Anita Baker How Does It Feel; 3rd Force Believe In Me; Paul Brown Moment By Moment; Michael Lington Two Of A Kind; Lin Roundtee featuring Tim Bowman For Your Love; Smokey Robinson Quiet Storm ( Rafe Gomez Chill Remix); Kirk Whalum & Wendy Moten All I Do; Kenny Garrett Simply Said; Alexander Zonjic Leave It With Me; and Richard Elliot Your Secret Love.

Leon Ware's New R & Bossa

Singer-songwriter Leon Ware has released his latest album "A Kiss In The Sand" which is a blend of R&B and Brazilian jazz, or "R&Bossa," as described by Ware. The new album (his 10th) features bassist Victor Bailey and James Ingram and is a throwback to the "quiet storm" genre and will appeal to both the smooth jazz and adult R&B stations. If you are in the Los Angeles area, Leon Ware will be appearing tonight (Feb. 16) at the Catalina Bar & Grill.

Youssou N'Dour Wins Grammy Aard

Senegalese singer and musician, Youssou N'Dour won his first ever Grammy Award for his album "Egypt," the winner for the best contemporary world music album The album is a mix of traditional drumming of Senegal's Wolof ethnic group, African-rooted Cuban sounds and American soul and rock. The album to date has sold over 400,000 copies worldwide.

London's Jazz FM to Become Smoother

102.1 Jazz FM in London will relaunch itself as Smooth FM within the next six months in an attempt to appeal to a much wider audience of listeners. The station is obviously having an identity crisis by currently calling itself "Jazz FM" while playing a wide ranger of R&B and Motown, in fact, you'll hear everything but jazz (at least during the daytime hours). By rebranding, the station will continue fill their daytime schedule music from artists such as Marvin Gaye, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Diana Krall and Michael Buble, among others. One would hope that they could sprinkle more "chill"sounds in their format.

New Jazz Releases

Here are some new recently announced CDs and DVDs set for release during February and March:

NEW JAZZ CDs
Andy Summers - The X Tracks - features jazz tracks from 1997-2000 (Fuel 2000 Records; Feb. 8)
Astrud Gilberto & Shigeharu Mukai - So & So - two-CD set available on Feb. 14 (Columbia/Japan)
Astrud Gilberto & Stanley Turrentine - Astrud Gilberto with Stanley Turrentine - features two previously unreleased bonus tracks (CTI/Epic; Feb. 15)
Bob James - Explosions - from 1965 with Barre Phillps & Robert "Cleve" Pozar (Calibre ESP-Disk; Mar. 22)
Carmen McRae - Fine and Mellow - 2 CDs (Navarre: Mar. 29)
Chieli Manucci - Got It Goin'On! (Shanachie; Mar. 22)
Chuck Loeb - When I'm With You (Shanachie: Feb. 22)
Jane Monheit - In The Sun (Silverline: Mar. 22)
Jeff Lorber - Flipside (Narada: Feb 15)
Luiz Bonfa - Solo In Rio 1959 - includes 14 bonus tracks (Smithsonian/Folkways)
Marcus Miller - Silver Rain - features Gerald Albright, Kenny Garrett, Kirk Whalum, Macy Gray and Gregoire Maret (Koch; Mar. 8)
Monty Alexander - Live At The Iridium! (Telarc)
Nina Simone - Baltimore (CTI/Epic; Feb 15)
Nina Simone - Fodder On My Wings (Sunnyside 1144: Mar. 15)
Sakesho - We Want You To Say... - with Andy Narell, Mario Canonge, Michel Alibo and Jean Philippe Fanfant (Heads Up; Mar. 22)
Stan Getz - Tempus Fugit (Recall: Mar. 8)
Tito Puente - Doctor Feel Good - 2 CDs (Navarre: Mar. 29)
Yellowjackets - Altered State - both CD and SACD hybrid available (Heads Up; Mar. 22)

NEW JAZZ DVDs
Al Di Meola - One of These Nights - recorded live in Germany 2004 (Music Video Dist.; Feb. 15)
Cassandra Wilson - Travelling Miles (Blue Note: Feb 15)
Dianne Reeves - Live In Montreal - recorded live at the Montreal International Jazz Festival (Image Entertainment)
Lena Horne - An Evening With Lena Horne - from the Supper Club in New York City, Sept. 1994; with the Donald Harrison quintet and the Count Basie Orchestra (Blue Note)
Various Artists - Jazz Legends Live 8 - features Bob James, Lee Ritenour and Carmen McCrae (Quantum Leap; Feb. 15)

The Brazilian Girls Tour Dates

We've got the full tour schedule for the Brazilian Girls as they trek across the US and Canada to promote their debut Verve Forecast album. Their innovative sound has been getting lots of airplay on internet radio and people are starting to notice. If you have the chance to see them live here is where they will be in the coming weeks:

Feb. 16: Cleveland, OH (Fusion)
Feb. 17: Toronto, Canada (The Revival)
Feb. 18: Detroit, MI (Shelter)
Feb. 19: Chicago, IL (Metro)
Feb. 21: Minneapolis, MN (Quest)
Feb. 24: Baltimore, MD (13th Floor)
Feb. 25: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
Feb. 26: Philadelphia, PA (The Five Spot)
March 2: Seattle, WA (Chop Suey)
March 4: San Francisco, CA (Cafe du Nord)
March 6: Los Angeles, CA (Knitting Factory)
March 8: Los Angeles, CA (Temple Bar)
March 10: Montreal, Canada (Main Hall)
March 12: Boston, MA (Paradise Rock Club)

Ray Charles Sweeps 47th Grammy Awards

The late and great Ray Charles scored 8 wins at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards last night including Record of the Year and Album of the Year for Genius Loves Company. Other winners were Norah Jones (Best Pop Vocal Performance for Sunrise and for Best Pop Collaboration for Here We Go Again w/Ray Charles); Jill Scott (BestUrban/Alternative Performance for Cross My Mind); Bill Frisell (Best Contemporary Jazz Album for Unspeakable); Nancy Wilson (Best Jazz Vocal Album for RSVP - Rare Songs, Very Personal); Herbie Hancock (Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for Speak Like a Child); Charlie Haden (Best Latin Jazz Album: for Land ofthe Sun); and a series of Various Artists won Best Pop Instumental Album for their performances on the little-known and little heard Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar.

Concord to Release New Steely Dan CD

Concord Records is set to release the latest Steely Dan CD "Piano Jazz' on March 15. The 16-track set is taken from a recent appearance on Marian McPartland's "Piano Jazz" show on National Public Radio. Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are joined on the CD with pianist Marian McPartland, bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Keith Carlock. Songs include Steely Dan's' 'Josie','Black Friday' and 'Chain Lightning", plus a bunch of timeless jazz standards like 'Moon Indigo' and 'Limbo Jazz'. Their last album"Everything Must Go" debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart back in 2003.

New Miles Davis CDs Available

Columbia Records is in the process of re-releasing a batch of Miles Davis albums in either remastered editions and in the DualDisc format, as well as offering a few unreleased surprises from their vaults. So far, 4 albums have been issued since January with more on the way in the coming months. In January, Columbia released: Amsterdam Concert (Import); Kind Of Blue (DualDisc); My Funny Valentine: Miles Davis In Concert: and Tribute To Jack Johnson (The Original Recording Remastered. If you are a Miles Davis collector, then you will welcome these new rarities being issued on CD:

Seven Steps To Heaven - recorded in New York and Los Angeles in 1963 (Columbia/Legacy; Mar. 15)
Miles Davis In Europe - recorded at the Festival Mondial Du Jazz Antibes, Juan Les-Pin, France on July 27, 1963 (Columbia/Legacy; Mar. 15)
The Best Of The Seven Steps To Heaven Box - recorded 1963-64 (Columbia/Legacy; Mar. 15)
Four And More: Recorded Live In Concert - recorded at the Philharmonic Hall in New York City on Feb. 12, 1964 (Columbia/Legacy; Mar. 15)
Miles In Tokyo - recorded at Kohseinenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan on July 14, 1964 (Columbia/Legacy; Mar. 15)
Miles In Berlin - recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie, Germany on Sept. 25, 1964 (Columbia/Legacy; Mar. 15)
Juan Les-Pins Sessions - on 2-CDs and recorded July 1969 (Columbia/Legacy; fall 2005 release)
Live At The Cellar Door - three 2-CD sets (Columbia/Legacy; fall 2005 release)

Free MP3 Downloads

Just in case you were not aware, Amazon.com offers free MP3 music downloads. They literally have thousands of tracks available encompassing every format that you can think of - from jazz, pop, country, dance, electronic, soundtracks, classical and more. New songs are added weekly and you will find both emerging as well as established ones. Best of all it's all legal.

Carlos Santana Tour Information

Carlos Santana has signed on to appear at the upcoming Oscars Awards show on February 27. He will perform the Oscar-nominated best song " Al Otro Lado Del Rio" from the film 'The Motorcyle Diaries". According to his official Website, his new Arista album is due out in the spring with a summer tour planned. Here's a listing of Santana's North American tour dates:

Feb. 11: Los Angeles (The Avalon) Tsunami Benefit Peapod with Herbie Hancock, Earth, Wind & Fire, James Brown, Macy Gray, Justin Timberlake, and the Black Eyes Peas.

May 30: Tampa FL (Ford Ampitheatre)
June 1: Miami, FL (American Airlines Arena)
June 7: Columbia, MD (Merriweather Post Pavilion)
June 8: Philadelphia, PA (Penn's Landing)
June 11: Atlantic City, NJ (Borgata Casino)
June 12: Atlantic City, NJ (Borgata Casino)
June 14: Holmdel, NJ (PNC Bank Arts Center)
June 15: New York, NY (Madison Square Garden)
June 17: Mansfield, MA (Tweeter Center)
June 18: Wallingford, CT (Oakdale Theatre)
June 21: Montreal, Canada (Bell Centre)
June 22: Quebec, Canada (Colissee Pepsi Arena)
June 24: Toronoto, Canada (Molson Amphitheatre)
June 25: Clarkson, MI (CTE Energy Music Theatre)
June 26: Cuyahoga Falls, OH (Blossom Music Center)
June 29: Minneapolis, MN (Xcel Center)
July 2: Chicago, IL (Taste of Chicago)
July 3: Milwaukee, WI (Summerfest)

The Dave Koz Radio Show Valentine's Day Special

This weekend's Dave Koz Radio Show will feature a special Valentine's Day edition offering great tips on romance from artists like Eric Mariental, Gerald Albright, Paul Hardcastle and others. The show will also include some soothing smooth jazz from the likes of Chuck Loeb, Michael McDonald, Kenny G, Taylor Dayne, Sade, Stevie Wonder, and many others.

Smooth Jazz Cruises

The All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise 2005 hosted by Rick Braun has been scheduled for November 13-20, 2005 and is a one week Gulf of Mexico Cruise on Carnival Cruises. The year's performance lineup will feature Rick Braun, Peter White, Mindi Abair, Brian Culbertson, Joyce Cooling, Euge Groove, Michael Lington, Craig Chaquico, Marion Meadows, Nick Colionne, Alan Hewitt, plus other artists to be announced. In addition, both Al Jarreau and Boney James will each participate in pre-cruise concerts (11/12 and 11/12, respectively).

The Dave Koz & Friends At Sea Cruise on Holland America Cruises is set for November 5-12, 2005 out of San Diego, CA. and will head for the Mexican Riviera. Featured acts thus far include Dave Koz, George Duke, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Golub, Patti Austin, Chris Botti, Praful, Marc Antoine, David Benoit, Jonathan Butler, Jeffrey Osborne, Wayman Tisdale, and famed chill music DJ Marc Gorbulew

New Electronic Music Releases

Call it new jazz, lounge, house, groove, chill, latin groove or whatever else you want to, but the reality is that this music is hip, cool, fresh and without boundaries. Here a list of some of the best new releases available:

Benny Sings - I Love You
De-Phazz - Natural Fake
De Vibroluxe - Cracq Magic International
Havana Boys - The H.B. Source
Jeff Bennet's Lounge Experience - Ancient Keys
John Dahlback - Shades of a Shadow
Martin Solveig - Sur la Terre
Pink Martini - Hang on Little Tomato
Planalto - Hornito!
Soda Inc. - Full Moon
Ursula 1000 - Ursuladelica
Various Artists - A Trip in Lounge
Various Artists - Bar 1 Autumn 04
Various Artists - Buddah-Bar VII
Various Artists - G. Lounge-Milano, Vol. 2
Various Artists - Hi-Jazz Vol. 3
Various Artists - Martini Mood, Vol. 3
Various Artists - Mash Chapter, Vol. 3
Various Artists - Mood Lounge
Various Artists - Music is The Best 01
Various Artists - Natural Ibiza
Various Artists - Rambutan Fruit, Vol. 4
Various Artists - Shapes Yellow
Various Artists - Studio Finest in Lounge & House
Various Artists - Supperclub Vol. 8
Various Artists - Rewind! 4

London Bookings

Michael McDonald performs at the London Hammersmith Apollo on March 13; Matt Bianco at Shepherd's Bush Empire, March 24; and The Four Tops and Temptations at The Royal Albert Hall on Nov. 5-6, 2005.

Cheltenham Jazz Festival Update

Ornette Coleman and Herbie Hancock will perform at the upcoming festival which takes place from April 28 - May 2, 2005.

Cape Town International Jazz Festival Lineup

Cesaria Evora, Dave Holland, Dhafer Youssef, Mahotella Queens, Ramon Valle, Sammy Webber, Yuri Honing, Yellowjackets and Terence Blanchard will perform at the upcoming festival, which takes place in Cape Town, South Africa on March 26-27, 2005.

St. Lucia Jazz Festival Lineup

UB40, Chante Moore and the Isley Brothers headline the upcoming St. Lucia Jazz Festival, which takes place from April 29 - May, 2005.

Al Green Performs at the Grammy Awards

Al Green is slated to join Stevie Wonder, Bono, Alicia Keys, and Norah Jones at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in the "Across the Universe" chorus, which will raise money and awareness for Tsunami Relief. The track will later be available for download with proceeds split between various charitable organizations. The 47th Annual Grammy Ceremony takes place Sunday, Feb. 1, 2005 and will air on CBS.

Blue Note New Releases

Blue Note Records has several recent and upcoming noteworthy releases that we are passing on for you to checkout...

Bobby Darin - The Swinging Side of Bobby Darin (1/25/05)
Various Artists - Blue Note Plays Jobim (2/01/05)
Various Artists - Blue Note Plays Sting (2/01/05)
Various Artists - Blue Note Plays Ray Charles (2/01/2005)
Bobby McFerrin - Spontaneous Inventions (2/15/05)
Various Artists - The Manhattan Project (2/15/05)
Amos Lee - Amos Lee (3/01/05)
Keren Ann - Nolita (3/15/05)
Al Green - Everything's OK (3/15/05)
Michael Petrucciani - Power of 3 (2/15/05)

More Music On the Radio...Really?

Now that satellite and internet radio have clearly caught on, companies like Clear Channel Radio are realizing that they need to compete with this growing market. Clear Channel has recently launched a "Less is More" campaign across all of their 1,200 terrestrial radio stations publicizing a reduction of interruptions from talk and commercials. The question is, how "less" are we talking about? In any event, it is a step in the right direction. What's next on their agenda - perhaps stations with unrestricted playlists, mmmmm that would be nice!

Verve Remixed 3 & Other Releases

Verve has just announced that the latest in the series of Verve remixes Verve Remixed 3 is scheduled for release on April 5. No details are available on which tracks and remixers are involved. We'll pass on the information as we receive it. As usual, the accompanying CD Verve Unmixed 3 will also be available on the same day. Here is a partial listing of some other upcoming Verve Music Group releases:

Wes Montgomery - Smokin ' at the Half Note - Reissue (2/15/05)
Various Artists - Deff Jazz (Verve, 3/15/05)
Jamie Cullum - Coast to Coast (Verve, 3/22/05)
Various Artists - Jazz in Paris-Saint German Des-Pres - Box Set (Verve, 4/05/05)
George Howard - The Very Best of George Howard - Reissue (GRP, 5/10/05)
John Klemmer - The Very Best of John Klemmer - Reissue (GRP, 5/10/05)
Antonio Carlos Jobim - The Composer of Desafinado Plays - Reissue (Verve, 6/07/05)
Wes Montgomery - California Dreaming (SACD) - Reissue (Verve, 6/07/05)
Lizz Wright - TBD - New Release (Verve, 6/21/05)
Brian Culbertson - TBD - New Release (GRP, 6/28/05)
Freda Payne - After the Lights Go Down - Reissue (Impulse, 7/12/05)
Paul Brown - TBD - New Release (GRP, 7/19/05)
Gato Barbieri - Chapter 4 Alive in New York - Reissue (Impulse, 7/26/05)
Herbie Hancock - TBD - New Release (Verve, 8/02/05)
Larry Carlton - The Very Best of Larry Carlton - Reissue (GRP, 8/9/05)
Lee Ritenour - World of Brazil - Reissue (Verve, 8/09/05)
Will Downing - TBD - New Release (GRP, 8/9/05)
Thievery Corporation - Sounds From the Verve Hi-Fi 2 (Verve, 9/15/05)
John Coltrane - Live at the Half Note - Reissue (Impulse, 9/20/05)

Radio Revenues Top $21.4B

Stand back satellite and internet radio as the traditional U.S. radio industry is gleaming over the fact that they had they biggest year ever in terms of radio advertising revenue - a whopping $21.4 billion, which is up 2 percent from 2003. While I love radio - I do hate the limited playlists or should I say "safe" playlists. A big thank you to the satellite and internet stations for filling in the gap and for letting people out there know that there is plenty great music available.

Grammy Award 2005 Nominees

With the 47th annual Grammy Awards coming up next Sunday on CBS, here's a list of our favorite categories that are up for awards:

Jazz Vocal Album: American Song, Andy Bey; Twentysomething, Jamie Cullum; Accentuate the Positive, Al Jarreau; The Dana Owens Album, Queen Latifah; R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal), Nancy Wilson.

Contemporary Jazz Album: Journey, Fourplay; Unspeakable, Bill Frisell, In Praise of Dreams, Jan Garbarek; The Hang, Don Grusin; Strength, RoyHargrove (The RH Factor).

Jazz Instrumental Solo: What's New, Alan Broadbent; I Want to be Happy, DonByron; Speak Like a Child, Herbie Hancock; Buleria, Solea y Rumba, Donny McCaslin; Wee, John Scofield.

Reggae Album: Black Magic, Jimmy Cliff; The Dub Revolutionaries, Sly and Robbie; African Holocaust, Steel Pulse; True Love, Toots and the Maytals; Def Jamaica, Various Artists.

Contemporary World Music Album: Cositas Buenas, Paco De Lucia; Bebel Gilberto, Bebel Gilberto; Roots, Gipsy Kings; Oyaya!, Angelique Kidjo; Egypt, Youssou N'Dour.

Pop Instrumental Album: Pure, Boney James; Saxophonic, Dave Koz; Forever,For Always, For Luther, Various Artists; Henry Mancini, Pink Guitar,Various Artists; EP 2003: Music for the Epicurean Harkener, Mason Williams.

In addition, for Best R&B Album, My Everything, Anita Baker; I Can't Stop, Al Green; and Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2, Jill Scott, and for Album of the Year - Genius Loves Company by Ray Charles.

Smooth Jazz RIAA Gold Album Certifications

Queen Latifah's The Dana Owens Album and Kenny G's At Last...The Duets have each been recently certified gold by the Recording IndustryAssociation of America for album sales exceeding 500,000 in the United States. Both albums were released in the latter part of 2004.

dZhihan & Kamien - Fakes

Two years ago dZihan & Kamien released their album 'Gran Riserva', and now finally they have put our their newest release 'Fake'. 'Fake' is a two CD set, with the first side featuring some of the remixes that dZihan & Kamien have worked on in the last couple of years, including reworked songs for Billie Holiday, Serge Gainsbourg, Tosca, Nitin Sawhney and others...while the second side is focused on all new music in the distinctive style that they are known for.

Louis Vega - Elements of Life: Extensions

Louis Vega's long-awaited house and latin-inspired album is finally here and in available in two versions: the standard release as well as the 'Extensions' version which features remixes of the original album. My personal picks are the reworking of the '70s hit 'Jungle Fever' and 'A Better Day' featuring Blaze.

Flamenco Chill, Vol. 2 (Various Artists)

If you enjoyed the first release, well then you will like the second release of Flamenco Chill which has just been released. This compilation once again features the summery and melodic flamenco-inspired chill sound you would expect from Ibiza. 'Cafe del Mar' founder Jose Padilla had a hand in compiling the songs and also contributed several tracks. This once is really nice and enjoyable!

Dianne Reeves Tour

Jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves is currently on tour and is scheduled for a series of 26 performances between now and May 5. She'll perform in venues across the US plus an overseas leg that will include stops in Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland and Portugal.

Pete Belasco - Deeper

Pete Belasco's second album is nothing short of a masterpiece. It's romantic, cool, sexy, intimate, and passionate with bits of Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Ronald Isley and Maxwell mixed in. The overall mood is steamy soul and deep groove jazz that will certainly put a spell on you. Belasco wrote all of the songs and plays most of the instruments on DEEPER. The album indulges in a consistent sound filled with atmosphere and textures that will keep you listening to it over and over. I encourage radio stations to certainly add tracks from this album in their current rotation and applause those who already have. This is absolutely one album that should not be overlooked by anyone. I encourage you to go out and buy this CD to add to your collection.

New Smooth Jazz CD Releases

3rd Force Driving Force (Higher Octave)
Carol Duboc All Of You (Gold Note Music)
Chuck Loeb When I'm With You (Shanachie)
David Lanz Best Of (Narada)
Gail Johnson Keep The Music Playing (Philly the Kid)
Jeff Lorber Flipside (Narada)
Jess Cook Montreal Live (Narada)
Julia Fordham That's Live (Vanguard)
Linda Ronstadt Hummin' To Myself (Verve)
Nicolas Bearde All About Love (Right Groove)

Bob Marley's 60th Birthday Celebration!

To coincide with Bob Marley's 60th birthday celebration, Sanctuary/Trojan will release a 2 CD collection called The Essential Bob Marley and the Wailers. The set will be released on April 5. In addition, SIRIUS Satellite Radio will present a day-long tribute on their commercial-free channel 30. The program will feature plenty of Marley's music along with personal reflections form son Ziggy Marley, James Brown, Sly and Robbie, UB40, Billy Idol and Chris Blackwell (founder of Marley's records label, Island Records).

Thievery Corporation Album & Tour Update

The Thievery Corporation's new album The Cosmic Game is now available for pre-order through amazon.com. The album is a mixture of dub, rock, Brazilian, Indian and easy-listening sounds. The album will be released worldwide on Feb. 22. Thievery Corporation has so far scheduled 3 select DJ shows to promote the album. Here is the schedule so far as we know: 2/19 at the Regency, San Francisco, CA.; 2/22 at the Gas Company Lofts, Los Angeles, CA., and 2/24 at the Hero Ballroom, New York, NY.

The Latest Industry News

Atlantic Records is set to release Adapt or Die: 10 Years of Remixes by Everything But The Girl. Album should be released sometime in March.

Check out The Brazilian Girls self-titled album which has been described as being cool, hip, danceable, sexy and exciting. The album is out now while the group is currently on tour in the U.S. They'll be making a stop in Miami, FL for a concert appearance at the Miami International Film Festival on Feb. 10.

Santana is currently in the studio working on a new Arista album which is set for release in the latter part of the year. The band will soon be touring Latin America in advance of the album's release. Their last album Shamen sold in excess of 2.4 million copies in the U.S.

Chiara Civello - Last Quarter Moon is the debut of Italian singer, songwriter and pianist Chiara Civello. The album includes lots of Brazilian influences and will definitely put her on the road to success. If you want to catch her live show here are some dates and venues where you can see her: Feb. 21 at the Quest Club (Minneapolis, MN); Feb. 23 in Westbourough, MA; and Feb 24 at Joe's Pub in New York City.

Natalie Cole is on the road and is scheduled to make stops in Florida and Tennessee in the next week. Next on tap is Feb. 5 in Melbourne, FL at the King Center for the Performing Arts, followed by Feb. 7 in Naples at the Philharmonic Center. She'll perform in Nashville on Feb. 11 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

David Sanborn's new album is entitled Closer on the Verve label. He'll be performing twice on Feb. 11; first he'll be making an in-store appearance at FYE (in Manhattan) in the afternoon followed by his full show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. On Feb. 12, he heads for Chicago where he will perform at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

House Music Remixes
If you are looking for house music remixes here a list of a few that we think you might want to check out, Note that these are currently available only on vinyl.
Alicia Keys House Mixes Vol 1 (funky deep vocal house version)
Bill Withers Lovely Day
Cerrone Hooked On You (filtered house)
Everything But The Girl Adapt Or Die (classic deep house)
Jill Scott Crazy (funky tribal vocal funky house)
Jill Scott Golden (deep funky vocal house)
Louis Vega Elements of Life Extensions (groovin deep house)
Maxwell At The Party (funky vocal house)

New Thievery Corporation, Smokey Remix & More

New Thievery Corporation Music
The Thievery Corporation have recently released their latest remix EP, Babylon Rewound. This new release is a limited edition with only 50,000 copies pressed on CD EP and 2x12" vinyl and features 8 remixes as the group continues their foray with electronic music. The CD also includes the video for "The Richest Man in Babylon." In addition, their brand new album The Cosmic Game is set for release on Feb. 22!

Smooth Jazz Coming to Radio City
George Benson, David Sanborn and Slow Train Soul perform February 11, 2005 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Ray Charles Tribute at the Grammy's
The 47th Annual Grammy Awards will include a tribute to Ray Charles as Bonnie Raitt and Billy Preston will perform in segment honoring Charles. Ray Charles is posthumously nominated for seven Grammy, including album of the year for Genius Loves Company. The famed singer and musician died June 10 at his Beverly Hills, Calif., home of acute liver disease, The Grammys will be presented Feb 13 at the Staples Center in Los Angles and will air live on CBS.

New Orleans Jazz Music Fest Lineup Announced
The New Orleans Jazz Music & Heritage Festival 2005 announces the most diverse lineup to date, including the following: Isaac Hayes, Jamie Cullum, The Neville Brothers, Shirley Horn, Steel Pulse, and Toots & the Maytals. The festival runs from April 22 through May 1, 2005.

Remixed Smokey Robinson
Look out for Motown Remixed coming out March 29 which will feature the Rafe Gomez "chill" remix of Smokey Robinson's classic Quiet Storm. The track will feature a band that includes vibraphonist Roy Ayers and using Smokey's original voice. The track will also be included in an anthology of Smokey's music to be released in February. The longer version will be available on the Motown Remixed album.

Remixed Curtis Mayfield
More electronic music on the way as rumor has it that a Curtis Mayfiield remix project is in the works as well. More information on this as it becomes available.