THE GROOVE BOUTIQUE, ASBURY JAZZ FEST & RHYTHM & BLUES FEST

RAFE GOMEZ & THE GROOVE BOUTIQUE ON QVC!
Rafe Gomez will bring jazz chill music to television in August when he debuts The Groove Boutique on QVC! This will be a one hour, bi-monthly program that will feature Rafe Gomez spinning and selling CD's of the same type of chilled-out sounds that he features on his weekly syndicated Groove Boutique radio show. Some of the releases that will be featured on The Groove Boutique on QVC will include CD's by Soul Ballet, Greg Adams, Kriztal's Vintage Chill series, Four 80 East, John Tropea, Fishbelly Black, Bobby Caldwell, and many more. We'll pass on the airdate details once it becomes available.

THE 17th ANNUAL ASBURY PARK JAZZ FESTIVAL
Smooth jazz pianist, Alex Bugnon, will headline the 17th annual Asbury Park Jazz Festival to be held in Asbury Park, New Jersey on June 25 and 26. Admission is free to the public and will also feature performances by the Poncho D Band, the Nu Horizon Band, the Excel Band, Synthasoul, Al Wright Unit, the Lady Lana Quartet, Dennis Grant and the Sons, Vincent G. Walker and Testimonies of Joy.

THE 2005 BAM RHYTHM & BLUES FESTIVAL
The 2005 BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Rhythm & Blues Festival at Metrotech Center is already on motion with free outdoor concerts every Thursday through August 11. The concerts are held at MetroTech Commons, located at the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues in Brooklyn, New York. Performers set to appear include - Lalah Hathaway (June 23), Eddie Palmieri (June 30), Amp Fiddler (July 7), The Wailers (July 14), Raul Midon (July21), Sharon Jones and Dap Kings (July 28), James Ulmer Blood (August 4), Elaine Elias and Lonnie Liston Smith (August 11).

DANNY FEDERICI + NEW RELEASES

DANNY FEDERICI - OUT OF A DREAM
Keyboardist Danny Federici is releasing his second smooth jazz instrumental set Out Of Dream on July 26 on VS Records. In it he features two covers –the Rolling Stones' Miss You and Bob Dylan’s Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. Federici has been a sideman for Bruce Springsteen for the past three decades as a member of the famed E Street Band and has enlisted the help ofmany musicians on his new project. Joining him on the album are percussionist Daniel de Los Reyes (Sting, Shakira), guitarists Jon Johnson(Earth Wind & Fire), Todd Parsnow (Kirk Franklin, Bootsy Collins) and bassist Juan Van Dunk (the Police, KC & The Sunshine Band).

NEW & REISSUED ALBUMS RELEASED THIS WEEK...
B.B. King - Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums (MCA/UME box set)
Carole King - One To One (Wounded Bird, 1982 album)
Earl Klugh - Earl Klugh (Blue Note, 1976 album)
Earl Klugh - Living Inside Your Love (Blue Note, 1977 album)
Down To The Bone - Spread Love Like Wildfire (Narada Jazz)
Eric Benet - Hurricane (Warners)
Jamiroquai - Dynamite (Epic)
Manhattan Transfer - The Manhattan Transfer Live (Wounded Bird, 1987 album)
Marvin Gaye - Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums (Motown/UME box set)
Maynard Ferguson - Maynard Ferguson (Wounded Bird, 1971 album)
Maynard Ferguson - M.F. Horn (Wounded Bird, 1972 album)
Miles Davis - Elevator To The Gallow/Ascenseur pour l'echafaud (Verve,soundtrack to the film by Louis Malle)
Ronnie Laws - Every Generation (Blue Note, 1980 album)
UB40 - Who You Fighting For (Epic)

FUTURE RELEASES...Due out on September 13 on Columbia/Legacy is a new Miles Davis boxed set -The Cellar Door Sessions 1970. The six-CD package also features Keith Jarrett on electric piano, John McLaughlin on guitar, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Gary Bartzo on sax, Michael Henderson on bass, and Airto Moreirera on percussion. Keith Jarrett's latest (by the way) is Radiance released on ECM.

A series of Quincy Jones re-releases are being assembled by Dreamworks Records for release on August 9. Included in the batch are 1989's Back OnThe Block, 1994's Q's Jook Joint, and 1999's compilation, From Q With Love.The prior two releases were originally released on Qwest, and the compilation was from Warner Bros.

Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Angie Stone and Celine Dion, are among a series of artists who are participating on another Luther Vandross tribute album. This new Clive Davis project is being produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and will feature the artists doingtheir interprations of Luther's songs. No release date has been announced.

SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO MOST ADDED

Lots of new product are making the smooth jazz radio airwaves and here's a sampling of what is new and in current rotation at smooth jazz radio stations worldwide...

O'2L - Doyle's Brunch (Peak)
Bobby Caldwell - Perfect Island Nights (Music Force Media Group)
Brian Culbertson - It's On Tonight (GRP)
Brian Simpson - It's All Good (Rendezvous)
David Pack - The Secret Of Moving On (Peak)
Down To The Bone - Spread Love Like Wildfire (Narada Jazz)
Everette Harp - All For You (A440 Music Group)
Jeff Kashiwa - Peace Of Mind (Native Language)
Joyce Cooling - This Girl's Got To Play (Narada Jazz)
Larry Gittens - T-Voyce (Human Feel)
Lee Ritenour - Overtime (Peak)
Marion Meadows - Player's Club (Heads Up International)
Paul Anka - Rock Swings ( Verve)
Planet9 - Rearview (Plan 9 Partners)
Ralph MacDonald - Home Grown (Antisia)
Richard Elliot - Metro Blue (ARTizen)
Tha' Hot Club - In The V.I.P. Room (Shanachie)
Urban Nights - Urban Knights IV (Narada Jazz)
Walter Beasley - For Her (Heads Up International)
Victor Fields - Victor (Regina)

JAZZ FESTIVAL UPDATES

SIOUX FALLS JAZZFEST 2005
The annual Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival, JazzFest 2005, is once again scheduled to be an outstanding two-day outdoor musical event, featuring two stages with free admission to the public. The festival is located at Yankton Trail Park is Sioux Falls, Idaho and will take place on July 15 and 16, 2005. This year's performers include Buddy Guy, Claudia Acuna, Dan Mahar, DNR Showband and Revue, Dotsero, Greyhounds, Guitarboy, Hailey Soyland Band, Jazz Portraits, Joe Bonamassa, Kelly Hunt, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Red Road, South Dakota Jazz Orchestra, That's The Time, The Stallions, The Tommy Castro Band, and Violet.

OLD PASADENA JAZZFEST 2005
The Old Pasadena JazzFest is set for a return to Brookside Park in Pasadena, California on July 15 and 17, 2005. Set to hit the stage at the Old Pasadena JazzFest this year are James Ingram, Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot & Peter White, Will Downing, Groovin' For Grover featuring Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber & Kirk Whalum, Lalah Hathaway, Brian Culbertson, Triple Threat featuring Everette Harp, Paul Jackson Jr. & Bobby Lyle, Jesse Cook, Eric Darius, Marion Meadows, Marcus Johnson, Mike Phillps, and The Unwrapped Allstars Shilts (from Down To The Bone), Christine Day, Andre Delano, Kevin Toney Band and Michael Manson.

PROVIDENCE SOUNDSESSION '05
Providence's Soundsession '05 is New England's premier summer music festival and it is set for July 18 through July 23, 2005 with a multitude of performers across many genres. Scheduled to appear at the Providence, Rhode Island Soundsession '05 are Ursula Rucker, Noble Society, Osmany Paredes, Edwin Pabon, Tortured Soul, Roy Ayers, Ex-Centric Sound System, Bahamadia, Othello Molineaux, Ron Carter, Yerba Buena, Organs, and renowned Haitian performer Emiline Michel. If you have never heard of her, Emiline Michel is a captivating performer, versatile vocalist, accomplished dance, songwriter and a producer. Her music combines traditional rhythms with social, political and inspirational content. She has recorded for several record labels in France, Canada and the U.S.

RODNEY STRONG VINEYARDS CONCERTS
A series of smooth jazz music concerts are scheduled at the Rodney Strong Vineyards in Sonoma County, California. Here's a sampling of what is to come...

Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot & Peter White - July 2
Michael McDonald - July 20
David Sanborn & Down To The Bone - August 20
Susan Tedeschi & The Blind Boys Of Alabama - August 28
Guitars & Saxes, Najee and more! - September 10
Summer Storm featuring Norman Brown, Peabo Bryson, Everette Harp & Brenda Russell - September 24
Euge Groove & Jesse Cook - October 15

SUMMER STORM TOUR

Norman Brown's Summer Storm is currently on tour around the U.S, and just recently completed an appearance at the 27th annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl. Norman Brown, along with fellow Summer Storm musicians - Brenda Russell, Everette Harp and Peabo Bryson are hopingto produce a live CD/DVD project of their tour for future release. Here are the remaining 2005 dates for the Summer Storm Tour...

July 21 - Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere
July 22 - Richmond, VA @ Kanawha Plaza
July 23 - Lithonia, GA @ Stewart Amphitheater
July 24 - Charlotte, NC @ NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Aug 7 - Woodville, WA @ KWJZ Festival - Chateau St. Michelle
Aug 12 - Long Beach, CA @ Long Beach Jazz Festival
Aug 20 - Concord, CA @ Concord Chronicle PavilionAug 25 - Cleveland, OH @ Palace Theatre
Aug 26 - Kettering, OH @ Praze Pavilion For The Performing Arts
Aug 28 - Apple Valley, MN @ Music In The Zoo
Sept 23 - Las Vegas, NV @ Texas Station Casino
Sept 24 - Healdsburg, CA @ Rodney's Strong Winery

JAZZ CHILL MUSIC NEWS

Singer Norah Jones will perform at a 10th anniversary concert for on-line retailer Amazon.com. The Amazon.com show will be her only scheduled performance for 2005. The event will only be open to the company's employees, however, it will be available to the public via the Amazon.com homepage. It's set for July 16 in Seattle, WA.

If you like Incognito, Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai, then you will likethe latest music from jazz-funk group Down To The Bone, Spread Love Like Wildfire is their latest release and it's due out on June 21 on the Narada Jazz label.

Hidden Beach is set to release the solo debut album by singer Lina - The Inner Beauty Movement. Her sound is jazz-soul and the first single off the album is Smooth.

From Warner Brothers on June 21 is A Change Is Gonna Come, the debut album from Leela James. Her sound is reminiscent of the classic music of Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight.

Ladybug Mecca (formerly of the hip-hop group Digitable Planet) will releaseher first solo effort on June 28 via Nu-Paradigm Entertainment entitled Trip The Light Fantastic.

MARCUS JOHNSON TOUR DATES

The Marcus Johnson Project will embark on their Lessons In Love tour this summer. Here are the concert dates...

June 17 - Columbia, SC @ The State Museum
June 26 - Washington, DC @ Barbecue Battle
July 13 - Lago, MD @ Wine-down Wednesdays Kick-Off
July 17 - Pasadena, CA @ Old Pasadena Jazz Festival
July 30 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
Aug 5 - Richmond, VA @ Friday's At Sunset Kanawa Plaza
Aug 6 - Washington, DC @ Ft. Dupont Park
Aug 13 - San Diego, CA @ Encanto Street Fair
Aug 26 - Charlotte, NC @ Jazz Cafe

NEW RELEASES + JAZZ NEWS

Look for the following new releases out this week...Occasion: Connick On Piano 2 (Marsalis Music) from Harry Connick Jr., along with special guest Branford Marsalis; Chavez Ravine (Nonesuch/Perro Verde) from Ry Cooder; Listen Here (Concord), from Eddie Palmieri with special guests Michael Brecker, Regina Carter, John Scofield, Christian McBride, Nicolas Payton, David Sanchez, and others; Breaking The Sound Barrier (Verve) from the Wayne Shorter Quartet; More Coltrane For Lovers (Verve) from John Coltrane; Ella & Louis For Lovers (Verve) from Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong; and That Old Feeling: Classic Ballads From The Judy Garland Show (Savoy Jazz) from Judy Garland with special guests including Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand.

From Verve Forecast Records...Lizz Wright - Dreaming Wide Awake; and Jackie Greene - Sweet Somewhere Bound (both out now), plus Hope And Desire from Susan Tedeschi out on September 20.

Latoya London, of American Idol fame, will release her debut album Love & Life on September 20 via Concord. The album will also feature songs either written or produced by David Foster, Narada Michael Walden, and Barry J.Eastmond. The first single Appreciate is due for release in August and features a guest appearance by the Roots' Black Thought.

Cafe All-Stars: Love Pages...due out July 26 is the compilation CD Love Pages, that features contributions by a number of artists backed by a group of session musicians known collectively as Café Soul All-Stars. The set features George Benson, Peabo Bryson, Glenn Jones, Vesta, Christopher Williams, Jon Lucien and Roy Ayers. It’s from YOU Entertainment.

XM Radio Satellite Radio News...Grammy award winning reggae band Steele Pulse will perform a live set at the XM Performance Theatre. You can check them out on Friday, June 16 on XM channel 101 at 8PM eastern time.

Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and Eric Grant of The O'Jays will be sitting in for an interview with Soul Street's Bobby Bennett. This is set forSunday, June 19 on XM channel 60.

Mindi Abair and Greg Jasperse will perform at the upcoming Smooth Jazz at Sunset Jazz Festival in St. Joseph, Michigan on July 9, 2005.

LIVE 8 AFRICA CALLING CONCERT

An additional Live 8 concert has been scheduled for July 2 at the Eden Project in Cornwall, England. Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'Dour are the driving forces behind this particular Live 8 concert that will feature African musicians. Africa Calling (as it is being called) will feature performances by Angelique Kidjo, Daara J, Salif Keita, Thomas Mapfumo, Blacks Unlimited, Shikisha, Tinariwen, as well as Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'Dour. The event (as are the other Live 8 concerts) is intended to raise awareness of poverty in Africa ahead of the July 6-8 G8 summit of worldleaders in Gleneagles, Scotland.

KIRK WHALUM 2005 CONCERT SCHEDULE

June 18 – Big Bear Lake, CA @ Snow Summit Ski Resort (Luther Vandross Tribute)
June 19 – Louisville, KY @ St. Stephen’s Baptist Church
June 24 – Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theatre (Groovin’ For Grover w/Gerald Albright & Jeff Lorber
June 25 – Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Civic Center (Groovin’ For Grover w/Gerald Albright & Jeff Lorber
June 26 – Detroit, MI @ Southfield Civic Center
July 8 – Omaha, NB @ Riverfront Jazz Festival – Lewis & Clark Landing
July 9 – Dallas, TX @ Main Stage – Market Festival
July 15 – Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Opera House (Groovin’ For Grover w/Gerald Albright & Jeff Lorber)
July 16 – Norfolk, VA @ Town Point Park (Groovin’ For Grover w/ Gerald Albright & Jeff Lorber)
July 16-23 - Alaska @ TD Jakes Cruise – Holland America Oosterdam
July 17 – Pasadena, CA @ Brookside Park (Groovin’ For Grover w/ Gerald Albright & Jeff Lorber)
Aug 7 – Houston, TX @ Geoge R. Brown Convention Center (w/John Stoddart)
Sept 3 – Nashville, TN @ Riverfront Park (Groovin’ For Grover w/ Gerald Albright & Jeff Lorber)
Sept 4 – Nashville, TN @ Riverfront Park
Sept 5 – Half Moon Bay, CA @ Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay (Groovin’ For Grover w/ Gerald Albright & Jeff Lorber)
Sept 17 – San Diego, CA @ Embarcadero Marina Park North
Oct 7 – Bermuda @ Royal Navy Dock Yard (Groovin’ For Grover w/ Gerald Albright & Jeff Lorber)
Oct 16 – Avalon, CA @ Catalina Island Casino (Luther Vandross Tribute)
Oct 28 – Cerritos, CA @ Cerritos Performing Arts Center
Oct 29 – Las Vegas, NV @ Boulder Station Hotel Casino
Nov 5-12 – Holland America Oosterdam (Dave Koz & Friends At Sea)

ELDAR ON SONY CLASSICS

Sony Classics has just released the self-titled debut album by jazz pianist Eldar. The album has just now become #1 on the Jazzweek Radio Chart after a debut at #7. The pianist has launched a major tour in support of the album. He’ll be performing at jazz clubs across the country in the comingmonths. Here is a sampling of where he will be appearing in the next few weeks…

June 14-15 – New York, NY @ Dizzy’s Coca-Cola (Jazz at Lincoln Center at New Time Warner Building)
June 23 – Boston, MA @ Scullers
June 24-25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Zanzibar
June 26 – Washington, DC @ Blues Alley
June 27 – Annapolis, MD @ Ram’s Head
June 29 – Cleveland, OH @ Nighttown
June 30-July 1 – Rochester, NY @ Woodcliff Lodge

EARTH WIND & FIRE TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

September 20 is the latest release date for Illumination, the new album from the Earth Wind & Fire. The CD boasts 12 new songs and includes guest turns from Brian McNight, Floetry and Kenny G. Producers include Raphael Saadiq and Wil.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas. Here is the track listing for Illumination...

Love Together
Pure Gold
Love's Dance
Show Me The Way featuring Raphael Saadiq
This Is How I Feel featuring Sleepy Brown, Big Boi & Kelly Rowland
Lovely People featuring Wil.I.Am
Pass You By
The One
To You featuring Brian McNight
Elevated featuring Floetry
Liberation
Work It Out
The Way You Move bonus track featuring Kenny G

MINNEAPOLIS, MN AREA CONCERTS

If you should happen to be in the Minneapolis, MN area, here’s a sampling of who’s appearing where in the coming weeks…

Seal with the Minnesota Orchestra @ Orchestra Hall on June 13
Johannes @ Bellanotte on June 15
Alicia Wiley @ Bellanotte on June 22
Donna Summer @ Mystic Lake on June 26
Santana @ Excel Energy Center on June 29
Aisha Baker featuring Billy Hollaman at Bellanotte on June 29
Hall & Oates @ Minnesota Zoo on July 1
The Rippingtons @ Rossi’s on July 14
Dave Koz @ Minnesota Zoo on July 23
Brian Culbertson @ Rossi on August 13
Nick Colionne @ Burnsville Art and All That Jazz Festival on August 20
Norman Brown’s Summer Storm @ Minnesota Zoo on August 28

TOWER OF POWER 2005 CONCERT SCHEDULE

June 16 – Victoria, BC. Canada @ Save-On Foods Memorial Centre
June 17 – Vancouver, BC, Canada @ General Motors Place
June 18 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
June 19 – Portland, OR @ Arelene Schnitzer Concert Hall
June 21 – Sacramento, CA @ Cache Creek Casino
June 22 – Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre of the Arts
June 24 – Santa Ynez, CA @ Chumash Cashino
June 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
June 26 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Dodge Theatre
June 27 – Tucson, AZ @ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre
June 29 – Denver, CO @ Universal Lending Pavilion
July 7 – Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Amphitheatre
July 8 – Robinson, MS @ Grand Casino – Tunica
July 9 – Gulfport, MS @ Grand Casino – Gulfport
July 10 – Biloxi, MS @ Biloxi Grand Casiono
July 13-14 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort
July 15-16 – Boston, MA @ Fleet Boston Pavilion
July 19-20 – Rama, Ontario, Canada @ Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
July 21 – Clio, MI @ Clio Area Amphitheatre
July 22- Chicago, IL @ TBA
July 23 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Jerome Duncan Ford Theatre
July 24 – Chester, WV @ Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort
July 26 – Reading, Pa @ Reading Eagle Theatre
Aug 3 – Reno, NV @ Reno Hilton
Aug 4 – Kelseyville, CA @ Konocti Harbor Inn
Aug 16–17 - San Mateo, CA @ San Mateo County Fair
Aug 18 – Monteray, CA @ Monteray County Fairgrounds
Aug 20 – Owensboro, KY @ Executive Inn Exposition Center
Aug 23 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark
Aug 24 – New York, NY @ BB King’s
Aug 25 – New Haven,CT @ Toad’s Place
Aug 26 – Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues
Aug 27 – Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere
Sept 2-4 – Las Vegas, NV @ Suncoast Hotel & Casino
Sept 22 – Bakersfield, CA @ Kern Country Fair
Sept 23 – San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s
Sept 24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Los Angeles County Fair
Sept 28 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Sept 29 – Oct 2 – Seattle, WA @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
Oct 11 – Fresno, CA @ Big Fresno Fair – Paul Paul Theatre
Oct 15 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Oct 16 – Petaluma, CA @ Mystic Theatre

BRIAN BROMBERG - CHOICES

Bass player Brian Bromberg has just re-released Choices. The album was originally released last year, however, Bromberg went back into the studio to remix and remaster the entire disc. One track was removed and replaced with the smooth jazz radio hit Relentless that is a duet with sax player Richard Elliot. The song Relentless was only previously available on the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards compilation CD. His remixed Choices album includes guest musicians Jeff Lorber, Brian Culbertson, David Benoit and Eric Marienthal. Bromberg is currently on tour worldwide with Lee Ritenour, Patrice Rushen, Ernie Watts and Alex Acuna.

JAZZ CHILL NEWS

Several new Blue Note releases to mention…for August 9 look out for Blue Note Trip: Looking’ Back and Blue Note Trip: Movin’ On, and on August 16, Jazzanova Blue Note Trip as compiled by Jazzanova themselves.

From Capitol Records comes several new Nat King Cole releases…Cole Espanol on June 28, and on September 27 look for El Mundo De Nat King Cole, Best Of Nat King Cole, and The Christmas Song. Also on Capitol is Ultra Lounge’s Christmas Cocktails on September 23.

Chuck Mangione and Spyro Gyra headline the 2005 Cool Cars and Smooth Jazz concert series in Auburn Hill, Michigan. The free concert series will be held from June 30 through August 4 at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum. Other artists participating include Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor, and Alexander Zonjic & Friends with special guests Ken Navarro and Michael Brock.

GEORGE BENSON 2005 TOUR DATES

George Benson is currently on tour in North America and will then hit a series of European venues later in the summer. Here’s information of where and when you can catch George Benson in concert in the coming months…

June 10-11 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Golden Nugget Hotel
June 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Hollywood Bowl (Playboy Jazz Festival)
June 17 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
June 18 – Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Theatre
June 19 – Toledo, OH @ Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Festival
June 24 – Charleston, WV @ Clay Center Maier Foundation Hall
June 25 – Oyster Bay, NY @ FOTA Pavilion
June 26 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Meijer Gardens
July 6 – Tiblisi @ Jazz Festival
July 8 – Paris, France @ Grand Rex
July 9 – Lucca, Italy @ Piazza Napoleone
July 10 – Brescia, Italy @ TBD
July 11 – Umbria, Italy @ Umbria Jazz Festival
July 13 – Montreux, Switzerland @ Montreux Jazz Festival
July 15 – Graz, Austria @ Jazz Festival
July 16 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Landesmuseum
July 17 – Carthage, Tunisia @ TBD
July 19 – Corsica @ Les Nuits de la Guitare de Patrimonio
July 20 – Near Linz Austria @ Clam Castle
July 22 – Szegad, Hungary @ TBD
July 28 - Lisbon, Portugal @ TBD
July 29 – Mallorca, Spain @ Casino de Mallorca, San Palladium Jazz Voyeur
Festival
July 30 – Tarragona, Spain @ Montroig del Camp, Bonmont Golf Glub
July 31 – Marbella, Spain @ Tenis Court, Hotel Puente Romano
Aug 12-13 – Lincoln City, OH @ Chinook Winds Casino
Aug 20 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Adrian Phillips Hall
Aug 27 – Park City, UT @ Deer Valley Ski Resort
Oct 22 – Palm Desert, CA @ McCallum Theatre

JAZZ CHILL NEWS

Breeze On By by Donny Osmond has charted! As of June 2, 2005, the song is #25 on the Smooth Jazz charts. As we reported before, Donny Osmond is currently on an extensive North American tour, to be followed by a U.K. tour thereafter. Congratulations go out to Donny Osmond on this fantastic achievement!

The world famous Apollo Theatre in New York hosts performances by the Neville Brothers on Friday, June 10, and Chaka Khan on Saturday, June 18th.

Roy Ayers will perform on July 21 at Herbert Von King Park in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn in New York (at Greene Street & Marcy Avenue). Platinum Pied Pipers will also perform. Their latest is Triple P on Ubiquity Records.

Giant Step Records will hold a celebration in honor of their 15th anniversary by holding a concert at the Central Park Summerstage in New York City. The Giant Step 15th Anniversary Show will feature Femi Kuti, the Brazilian Girls and special guests on July 17.

Some new CD’s of note…Senor 007 by Ray Barretto, is a classic re-release from 1965 where Ray Barretto takes on the James Bond soundtrack themes. The songs have been rearranged Latin style – this one is highly recommended! Hip Jazz music is the theme on the CD I Spy by Earle Hagen. This CD features jazzy big-band music from the classic 60’s spy drama I Spy , starring Robert Culp and Bill Cosby.

Blue Note Records is set to release the latest from Terence Blanchard, entitled Flow on June 7. This is his second release on Blue Note.

If you are looking for some cutting edge Jamaican dub music, check out Trojan: Dub Massive Chapter One and Trojan: Dub Massive Chapter Two. It's from avant-garde musician and producer Bill Laswell, known for his previous 'reconstructions' projects with Santana, among others.

Jamiroquai, Johnny Hallyday, Joss Stone, Laura Pausini, Sting, Yannick Noah and Youssou N'Dour are among those signed to appear at the upcoming Live Aid II concerts on July 8. The five cities hosting the event are Berlin, London, Paris, Philadelphia and Rome.

NEW JAZZ RELEASES

Three Keys Music announces the release of Grown And Sexy, as this new CD showcases various Three Keys roster artists. The CD features Tony Terry, Alyson Williams, Marcus Johnston, Nick Colionne, Yahzarah and Nicole Mitchell.

True Blue Music and Mosaic Records – known for carrying some of the finest jazz LP and CD recordings from all the major labels including Blue Note, Columbia and Verve, plus a bunch of independent labels, is currently offering a flurry of reissued releases for those who are true jazz purists. Here’s a sampling of what they have available this month:

Cannonball Adderly – Cannonball In Europe (recorded at the InternationalJazz Festival in Comblain-La-Tour, Belgium, remastered in 24-bit)
June Christy – Ballads for Night People (from 1959 with five added songs, remixed and remastered in 24-bit)
Thad Jones & Mel Lewis – Live At The Village Vanguard (with three bonus tracks, remixed and remastered in 24-bit)
Stan Kenton – Viva Kenton! (from 1959 with six additional tracks from the 1961 album Artistry In Bossa Nova, remixed and remastered in 24-bit)
Sarah Vaughan – Complete On Mercury: Vol. 1, 1954-56 (99 tracks on 6 CDs)
Sarah Vaughan – Complete On Mercury: Vol. 2, 1956-57 (84 tracks on 5 CDs and including 10 duets with Billy Ekstine)
Bill Evans – Montreux II (from the 1975 Montreux Jazz Festival and with bassist Eddie Gomez)
Art Blakely & The Jazz Messengers – Paris Jam Session (from a 1959 concert by the Messengers (Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Walter Davis and Jymie Merritt, plus guests Barney Wilen and Bud Powell)
Red Garland – All Mornin’ Long (from 1957 with John Coltrane and Donald Byrd)
Mose Allison – Local Color (with bassist Addison Farmer and drummer Nick Stabulus)

NIAGARA SMOOTH JAZZ DESTIVAL

The city of Winona, Ontario is set to host the upcoming Niagara Smooth Jazz Festival as a group of American and Canadian smooth jazz artists are set to take to the stage on June 11 and 12. Set to perform on June 11 are Dave Koz and Friends (Marc Antoine, Jeffrey Osborne and Praful), Pieces Of A Dream, The Clayton-Scott Group, Alfie Zappacosta, and Chantal Chamberland. On June 12 performers include Kenny G, Alexander Zonjic, Coral Egan, Jeff Lorber, Robert Michaels, Kevin Whalum and Karen Gale-Thornton.

NEW RELEASES

From Wounded Bird records: two Blood, Sweat and Tears albums making it to CD, as New Blood (1972) and New City (1975) get the remastered treatment. Also from Wounded Bird are several previous Jimmy Cliff releases Wounded Bird (1974), Follow My Mind (1975) and Give Thanx (1978), plus from guitarist Eric Gale are Island Breeze/Blue Horizon (1982 and 1983 albums).

Columbia releases Chris Botti’s When I Fall In Love in dual disc format.

From Master Classics: Anthology (Deluxe Edition) from Lena Horne.

From Eagle Vision: Chic – Live At Montreux 2004 (DVD).

From Red Distribution: Joe Cocker – Live at Montreux 2004 (DVD), and Bonnie Raitt- Live at Montreux 1977 (DVD).