JAZZ CHILL MUSIC NEWS

ISAAC HAYES IN HOSPITAL
Isaac Hayes is being treated at a Memphis ,TN hospital (as of Tuesday, January 17) for exhaustion according to a spokesperson. Hayes just recently completed performances in Atlantic City, Washington, D.C. and in Tunica, Miss., and is best known for his 1971 number one hit Theme From Shaft, for which he won an Oscar for the best musical score. Hayes has also co-written hits for 60’s legends Sam and Dave such as Hold On, I’m Coming and Soul Man.

BARRY MAYO LEAVES WQCD (CD101.9)
Emmis Radio New York senior VP/market manager Barry Mayo has resigned his position and informed the company that he would not renew his contract when it expires on February 28. Mayo has overseen smooth jazz WQCD (CD101.9) since 2002. Mayo will remain until his replacement is named and will assist in the recruitment effort. He will also help acclimate his successor to what he calls "an extremely complex job." And since we are on the subject of WQCD (CD101.), the station has ranked 11th overall in the New York radio market. Following is the data from the fall Arbitrons. The number in parentheses is the percentage of the total radio audience listening to that station in an average quarter-hour. OVERALL: WLTW (7.4), WSKQ and WRSK (4.5), WHTZ (4.4), WQHT (4.3), WINS (4.2), WWPR (4.1), WPAT-FM (3.7), WBLS (3.5), WABC (3.4), WXRK (3.2), WQCD and WCBS-AM (3.1), WFAN, WAXQ and WKTU (2.7), WCAA (2.5), WQXR (2.3), WOR and WPLJ (2.2), WNEW (1.8), WCBS-FM (1.7), WLIB (1.4), WQDO (1.2), and WALK (1.0).

SMOOTH JAZZ KEZL IN FRESNO SIGNS OFF
Clear Channel smooth jazz KEZL Fresno, Calif., signs off after 17 years in the format. A message on the station's Web site directs listeners to AC sister KSOF, a local college station and to the stream for Clear Channel smooth jazz KIJZ Portland, Ore. Adult top 40 sister KALZ (Alice 102.7) is simulcasting on KEZL’s now vacated frequency at 96.7 and will eventually move to the latter dial position.

JASON MILES TO APPEAR AT THE BOWERY BALLROOM
Producer/keyboardist Jason Miles, will be performing his Grammy-nominated CD Miles to Miles at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City on Friday, January 20. Playing along with Jason will be an all-star band, including such heavyweights as Stefon Harris, Cyro Baptista, and more.

SANTA FE JAZZ & INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
The annual Santa Fe Jazz & International Music Festival has ended after just five seasons due to financial reasons. Simply put, some festival performances sometimes drew as much as 350 patrons. Organizers this year hope to produce a shorter program in July 2006, although no artists have been booked so far. In the past the festival has includes performances by such jazz greats as Dave Holland, Michael Brecker, Eliane Elias, Kurt Elling, Dave Douglas, Gary Burton, Brad Mehldau, and Luciana Souza.

PORTLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL
Dee Dee Bridgewater, New Orleans trumpeter Nicolas Payton, guitarist Bill Frisell, vibes player Stefon Harris, vocalists Susan Werner and Rene Marie, sax player Miguel Zenon, pianist Geoff Keezer, and the son of the legendary John Coltrane, Ravi Coltrane, will join McCoy Tyner, Eddie Palmieri, and Jim Hall for an all-star lineup at the 3rd annual Portland (Oregon) Jazz Festival, presented by Qwest. February 17-26, 2006.

INDY JAZZ FEST
The 2006 Indy Jazz Fest will be held June 16-18 in Military Park in downtown Indianapolis. Over the years the Indy Jazz Fest has included such artists as Tony Bennett, Bruce Hornsby, Patti LaBelle, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Aretha Franklin, Poncho Sanchez, Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, B.B. King, Chris Isaak, Jonny Lang and Norah Jones. For more information, go to www.indyjazz.com.