SMOOTH JAZZ NEWS

New York’s Smooth Jazz CD101.9 will be sponsoring the upcoming Valentine’s Concert on Friday, February 10, 2006. The event will feature Richard Elliot, Rick Braun and Peter White and will take place at the Nokia Theatre in New York City. And speaking of CD101.9, we took a peek at their latest playlist and noticed that they have been heavily rotating the following smooth jazz songs lately: Euge Groove – Get Em Goin’; Walter Beasley – Coolness; Marion Meadows – Suede; Rick Braun – Shining Star; Richard Elliot - Mystique; Philippe Saisse – Do It Again; Paul Brown – Winelight; Chieli Minucci – The Juice; Paul Taylor – East Bay Bounce; and Jeff Lorber – Everybody Knows That.

San Antonio’s KQXT-FM radio personality David Munoz will host the January 14 Smooth Jazz Winterfest at the Lila Cockrell Theatre featuring Will Downing, Regina Belle and Gerald Albright. Downing’s latest CD is Soul Symphony and Regina Belle’s is the acclaimed George Duke-produced Lazy Afternoon. Munoz is the host of "The Saturday Night Jazz Show" and "The Sunday Morning Jazz Show" on KQXT-FM.

With its upwardly mobile demographic alternative jazz station KJAZ 98.1FM, is carving a niche in Bermuda’s competitive broadcasting market. In January, Marshall Griffin joined the station as the mid-day contemporary jazz personality and in December Valerie (VJ) Leader joined as the host of Smooth Jazz with Satin Doll.

Kirk Whalum continues on his concert trek with three more dates lined-up for his "I Said I Love You Tour". The confirmed concerts are: Friday, February 10 in San Diego, CA; Saturday, February 11 in Atlanta, GA; and Tuesday, and a special Valentine’s concert on February 14 in San Francisco, CA.

BCS Records will release Crystal Blue, the latest album from keyboardist and composer Billy Shields. The CD includes covers of Van Morrison’s Have I Told You Lately, Sade’s Cherry Pie, plus the title track Crystal Blue Persuasion (originally recorded by Tommy James & The Shondells back in the 60’s). The CD is pure smooth jazz with some sexy excursions into R&B grooves territory. Produced by Preston Glass (George Benson, Kenny G, Lionel Richie, Earth Wind & Fire), Crystal Blue is set for release in April 2006.