SMOOTH JAZZ & CHILL NEWS BITS: CANDY DULFER, INCOGNITO, PHIL PERRY, SMOKEY ROBINSON, STING, SI-SE & MORE...

Here’s a list of some hot upcoming concerts as Novo Soundz appear at the Supper Club in San Francisco on March 31; the Four Tops at the Bergen County Performing Arts Center (NJ) on April 1; the Average White Band and Tower Of Power at the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia on April 7-8; Si-Se appears at SOBs (Sounds of Brazil) in New York on April 13; and the Brazilian Girls are at the Fillmore in San Francisco on April 24……….Saxophonist Candy Dulfer performs on Prince’s new CD, 3121, which also happens to be this week’s #1 album and having sold in excess of 183,000 copies in its first week of release. Dulfer is featured in the horn section on four songs. Candy Dulfer will also play three special shows which commenced March 30 with Dutch hip hop artists Extince during the Dommelsch Double Dutch concerts. The concerts will take place at the LVC in Leiden on March 30, Marquis in Waalwijk on April 5th and Berlage in Eidhoven on April 13……….Incognito heads to London’s 102.2 Smooth FM studio on April 4 for a live broadcast performance. The lineup will include Bluey, Imaani, Tommy Momrelle, Matt Cooper and Francis Hylton. Later in the month Incognito will perform at London’s Jazz Café……….WQCD-FM (CD101.9) in New York is hosting a smooth jazz concert on May 19th at the Beacon Theatre, featuring David Sanborn and Spyro Gyra………Smokey Robinson has joined the ranks of Rod Stewart, Gladys Knight, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, James Darren, Barry Manilow, and the many other pop and R&B performers who have recently released standards albums. The album, Timeless Love, is to be released on June 13 via Universal/New Door. Songs include – I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Tea For Two, Love Is Here To Stay, Speak Low, Fly Me To The Moon, Moody’s Mood For Love and Time After Time. Robinson’s upcoming tour schedule includes the following dates: Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario on April 20; Whiting Auditorium in Flint, Michigan (April 21); Palace Theatre in Marion, Ontari (April 22); Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ (June 17); Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. (June 20); Carnegie Hall in New York, NY (June 22); Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga, NY (June 24); and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA (Aug. 26)……….Sting, Sheryl Crow and James Taylor are scheduled to perform at the upcoming 2006 Rainforest Benefit, being held at the Tiger Jam in Las Vegas on April 29 and at New York’s Carnegie Hall on May 19. Sting will also perform at the Rock in Rio festival in Lisbon on July 4. Sting’s other international stops include Tobago (April 23), Puerto Rico (April 27) and Moscow (July 28)……….Smooth jazz singer Phil Perry just completed a series of performances in Kuaala Lumpur, Malaysia. He’ll next be one of the headliners at the Las Vegas City of Light Festival on April 22. His latest release is Classic Love Songs on Shanachie……….Over 500 artists will be performing at the 49th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival being held Sept. 15-17 in Monterey, CA. Among those participating will be Bonnie Raitt, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, the Yellowjackets, Dianne Reeves, Robert Glasper, the McCoy Tyner Trio with special guests Bobby Hutcherson and Roy Hargrove, and the Charles Lloyd Quartet.

NEW RELEASES FROM MONTY ALEXANDER, PAMELA WILLIAMS, STRUNZ & FARAH, STEVE OLIVER, PRINCE, PIECES OF A DREAM & OTHERS...

Alphonse Mouzon – Funky Snakefoot
Benjamin Koppel – Ritmo!
Bernardi Jazz Connection – Way I Like It
Bobbi Humphrey – Fancy Dancer
Brazilian Octopus – Brazilian Octopus
Brighter Side Of Darkness – Love Jones
Brown Baby Girl – Brown Baby Girl
Caito – En Bossa Y Algo Mas
Chicago – Chicago XXX
Chris Botti – Christ Botti Live: With Orchestra & Special Guests (DVD)
Christian Scott – Rewind That
David Sills – Down The Line
Don Bagley – Jazz On The Rocks
Earl Grant – Beyond The Reef
Earth Kitt – The Bad Eartha…Plus
ESP 2 – A Tribute To Miles (DVD)
Gal Costa - Legal
Gene Harris – Tone Tantrum
George Benson – The Essential George Benson
George Duke – The Essential George Duke
Gerald Albright – New Beginnings
Herbie Mann – An Introduction To Herbie Mann
Incognito – 20th Century Masters: The Best Of Incognito
Jaco Pastorius Big Band – The Word Is Out
Janis Siegel – A Thousand Beautiful Things
Joey DeFrancesco – Organic Vibes
K.C & The Sunshine Band – Sound Of Sunshine (all instrumentals)
Lou Rawls – The Best Of Lou Rawls
Luis Quintero – Percussion Madness Presented By Louis Vega
Magnetic 4 – Nesse Mundo
Manfredo & Seu Conjungto (Manfredo Fest) – Bossa Nova Nova Bossa
Mantronix – Mantronix
Marci Di Marco Trio – Un Autunno A Parigi
Maria Nazareth – Sem Voce
Marion Meadows – I Believe I Can Fly
Marcos Valle – Vila Sesamo
Masa Collective With Valerie Etienne – Love Is Everywhere
Massive Attack – Collected
Matthias Vogt Trio – Changing Colors
Montefiori Cocktail – Un Sorso Di Montefiori Cocktail
Monty Alexander – Concrete Jungle: The Music Of Bob Marley
Novos Baianos – Vamos Pro Mundo
Orchester Pete Jacques – Round Trip To Rio
Osmar Milito – Osmar Milito E Deixa O Relogio Andar
Pamela Williams – Elixir
Paolo Fedregjini & Marco Bianchi – Several Additional Waves
Phil Perry – Heartbeats: Classic Love Songs
Pieces Of A Dream – Pillow Talk
Prince – 3121
Quantic – One Offs, Remixes & B-Sides
Ramsey Lewis – The Very Best Of Ramsey Lewis
Randy Weston African Rhythms Trio - Zep Tepi
Ray Nance – Body & Soul
Richard Groove Holmes – Workin’ On A Groovy Thing
Rosinha De Valenca – Rosinha De Valenca
Roy Ayers – West Coast Vibes
Sambrasa Trio – Sambrasa Trio Em Som Maior
Serge Gainsbourg – Less 100 Plus Belles Chansons
Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra – Strings & Things – Ubiquity Sessions Vol. 3
Som 3 – Som 3
Sophie Milman – Sophie Milman
Special Delivery – Special Delivery
Steve Oliver – Radiant
Steve ‘The Scotsman’ Harvey – Everyday People Project Vol. 1
Stoned Soul Picnic – Erotic Cakes/Funk Food
Strunz & Farah – Jungle Guitars
T-Connection – Something For The Weekend
Take Six – Feels Good
Taylor Eigsti – Lucky To Be Me
Teddy Pendergrass – Teddy! Live In ’70 (DVD)
The Invisible Session – To The Powerful
Tom Scott – The Very Best Of Tom Scott
Tony Allen – Lagos No Shaking
Torun Ericksen – Prayers & Observations
Tyrone Washington – Do Right
Various Artists – Late Night Motown
Various Artists – Soul Lounge 2 – 40 Soulful Grooves
Various Artists – Destination Paradise – Orchestral Grooves, Laid Back Beats & Soothing Soul
Various Artists – Lounge, Beat & Movie
Various Artists – Puppet Jazz Remixes
Various Artists – Modern Sounds From Italy 2
Various Artists – Dutch Rare Groove
Various Artists – Fusion With Attitude
Various Artists – C’era Una Volta Il Western
Various Artists - Lagos All Routes
Vox One – Pure Imagination
Yellowjackets – 20th Century Masters: The Best Of The Yellowjackets

XM SATELLITE ADDS NEW COMMERCIAL-FREE 'CHILL' MUSIC CHANNEL

XM Satellite, the nation's leading satellite radio company with more than 6 million subscribers, today unveiled its new channel lineup that will expand the total number of XM channels to more than 170 with the addition of 10 new commercial-free music channels and seven regional news and talk channels coming this spring and summer. Overall, XM's new channel line-up has 69 commercial-free music channels, the most commercial-free music channels in satellite radio. XM added a new commercial-free music channels on March 1: XM Chill (XM Channel 84), devoted to Chill music, among several new channels.

XM (Nasdaq: XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 6 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: the most commercial-free music, premier sports, talk, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Suzuki, Subaru, and Volkswagen/Audi, is available in more than 130 different vehicle models for 2006. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide

TONI BRAXTON TO APPEAR AT TABLE MOUNTAIN CASINO

Table Mountain Casino has announced that the soulful sounds and moving lyrics of Toni Braxton will be presented to another sold out Table Mountain Casino Event Center audience on April 11, 2006. This early sellout reinforces Table Mountain Casino's position as the entertainment destination of choice for those who are tired of binoculars and want an up-close and personal concert experience at an affordable price. Braxton is the latest SRO performance at Table Mountain Casino Event Center. The string of sellouts goes back to early 2005 and includes events as diverse as championship boxing and entertainers like Clint Black, Reba McEntire and Los Lobos.

Long time Toni Braxton fans and new converts alike will be immersed in Braxton's instantly-recognizable vocal style in the friendly 1,200 seat Table Mountain Casino Event Center. Braxton, who possesses one of the most distinctive and recognizable voices in contemporary music, returned to the international marketplace with her 2005 release of Libra, her sizzling debut set for Blackground/Universal Records. In her latest top selling CDs (More Than A Woman (2002) and Libra (2005)), the multiple Grammy award-winning artist is also delivering material that reflects her creative maturity and matches the power of her voice.

In this concert at Table Mountain, Braxton's musical magic is expected to feature songs from Libra that give a nod to the kind of finely-crafted songs that first propelled her to global fame over a decade ago. Now striking a perfect balance between today's radio-friendly grooves (exemplified by the album's hot first single, Please) and 'old school' flavored slow jams (such as Stupid and Midnight), Braxton at Table Mountain should be a very special evening as she joins with fans to explore the way love works.

Braxton, a multi-talented entertainer who began her career with her ten-million-plus selling self-titled 1993 debut album, has been buoyed by an instant radio and club response to Libra and Please. Concert goers should expect this sultry-voiced star of Broadway hit musicals "Beauty And The Beast" and the Tony Award winning "Aida" to present a lyrical and reflective mood during the Table Mountain casino concert. Songs like Finally and Sposed To Be emanate the smooth sensuality that is Toni's musical trademark and tracks like Stupid are throwbacks to '90s Braxton classics like Un-Break My Heart. Her new combination of insightful lyrics and powerful music blending with her traditional strengths as a performer are opening a new, more personal era for Toni Braxton and her fans.

Table Mountain Casino is owned and operated by the Table Mountain Rancheria Band of Indians who is proud to provide celebrity entertainment at affordable prices to Valley fans community.

NEW JAZZ CHILL CORNER MUSIC RELEASE PICKS FROM BRIAN BROMBERG, MARCOS VALLE, OSCAR CASTRO-NEVES, ROY AYERS, TANIA MARIA & MORE...

Billy Kilson’s B.K. Groove – Pots & Pans
Bossa Beats – Nu Brazilian Latin Jazz Funk Dancefloor Grooves (Various)
Bossa Rio – Alegria!
Brian Bromberg – Wood II
Chick Corea & Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Rendezvous In New York (DVD)
Chick Corea’s New Trio – Rendezvous In New York (DVD)
Chick Corea’s Now He Sings, Now He Sobs Trio – Rendezvous In New York (DVD)
Dennis Chambers – Planet Eartth
Don Cherry – Orient/Blue Lake
Ella Fitzgerald – Ella
Joe Bataan – Riot
Manfredo & Seu Conjunto – Bossa Nova Nova Bossa
Marco Montarroyos/Stone Alliance – Brazil
Marcos Valle – Villa Sesamo
Marcos Valle – Vontade De Rever Voce
Oscar Castro-Neves – All One
Quarteto Bossamba – Quarteto Bossamba
Rosinha De Valencia – Rosinha De Vanca
Roy Ayers – West Coast Vibes
S-Tone Inc – Naked Ground
Sambalanco Trio – Reencontro Con Sambalanco Trio
Sambrasa Trio – Sambrasa Trio Em Som Maior
Sansa Trio – Sansa Trio
Secret Love 2 – Another View On Folk By Jazzanova & Resoul (Various)
Skyy – Skyy Deluxe Anthology
Som Imaginario – Som Imaginario
Soul Generation – Beyond Body And Soul
Soul Lounge 2 – 40 Soulful Grooves (Various)
Tania Maria – Via Brasil, Vol. 1
Todd Isler – Two Step
Tom Ze – Nava Maria
Tortured Soul – Introducing Tortured Soul

VAN HUNT'S ON THE JUNGLE FLOOR DUE IN STORES APRIL 4

Hunt Confirmed for 'The Tavis Smiley Show' and 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' week of release with On The Jungle Floor, the follow-up to Van Hunt's Grammy-nominated debut album. The acclaimed singer-songwriter is taking to the airwaves and the road. He'll perform his new single, "Character," on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and guest on "The Tavis Smiley Show," and KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic." He will then join up with Anthony Hamilton, who's asked him to open on his U.S. tour. Hunt will headline a special show at Los Angeles' Roxy Theatre on April 4th. VH1.com will host an exclusive "Hear Music First on VH1.com" album listening party the week prior to the release of On The Jungle Floor, and AOL, MSN and MP3.com will host album listening parties the week of release. In addition, Hunt will enter AT&T's Blue Room on Tuesday, April 4th, and MSN.com has selected him as one of the artists for its "Ones To Watch" series (the feature will run from April 15 - May 15).

The New York Times Magazine called his 2004 Grammy-nominated debut "the perfect soundtrack for any seduction." With On The Jungle Floor, Hunt seals the deal. Produced by renowned producer Bill Bottrell and co-produced by Hunt, Hunt once again wrote, arranged and performed most of the 14 songs himself. They're raw and direct, funkier and freakier this time around, reflecting such eclectic influences as the Smiths, Rick James, Sly and The Family Stone, the Stooges and the Isley Brothers. In fact, Hunt selected the Stooges' No Sense of Crime as the album's lone cover song -- and on his blistering, blues-drenched rendition, the sexy, jagged grooves heard throughout On The Jungle Floor reach a peak. Rolling Stone Magazine says "On The Jungle Floor shows an impressive range."

Van Hunt has earned a reputation as a riveting performer and has opened for such artists as Kanye West, Coldplay and Seal. He recently performed at Vanity Fair's Academy Awards "Amped for Africa" party, which was hosted by Charlize Theron, and in the much-talked-about Sly And The Family Stone tribute at the 48th Annual GRAMMY(R) Awards. Upcoming tour dates are as follows:

VAN HUNT - TOUR DATES
4/4 Los Angeles, CA Roxy Theatre (headlining)
(Opening for Anthony Hamilton)
4/8 Augusta, GA Bell Auditorium
4/9 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
4/12 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
4/13 N. Charleston, SC Performing Arts Center
4/14 Birmingham, AL BJCC Concert Hall
4/15 Houston, TX Verizon Theatre
4/16 Dallas, TX Nokia Live
4/19 Oakland, CA Paramount Theatre
4/21 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
4/22 Las Vegas, NV Aladdin Theatre
4/28 St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre
4/29 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
4/30 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre
5/3 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
5/4 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater
5/5,6 Washington, DC Constitution Hall
5/10 Baltimore, MD Lyric Theatre
5/11 Cleveland, OH State Theatre
5/12 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
5/13 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre

MACYS MUSIC FESTIVAL, 101.5 FM MARTINI ON THE ROCKIES, DIANA ROSS JAZZ ALBUM, JAZZ IN PARIS REMIXED & MORE...

SMOOTH JAZZ & CHILL NEWS BITS...Earth, Wind & Fire, Patti LaBelle and Frankie Beverly & Maze have been signed to appear at the Macy’s Music Festival being held in Cincinnatti on July 28 and 29, at Paul Brown Stadium. Other performers include Charlie Wilson, Ciara, Jaheim, KEM, Vivian Green and Gerald Lavert……….Gerald Albright’s new CD, New Beginnings, will be released on March 28. The first single, We Got The Groove, is already very much in rotation at Smooth Jazz stations worldwide……….Two new radio stations went on the air in Denver, Colorado this week. Martini On The Rockies is being broadcast on KTNI 101.5 FM and features music from Norah Jones, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sheryl Crow, Linda Eder, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr., Rod Stewart and Tony Bennett. The other, Sassy 107 is heard on KSYY 107.1 FM and the format is designed for the active adult woman, with music from the likes of Carole King, Carly Simon, the Carpenters, James Taylor, America and Chicago……….Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down Quartet have a new album Duper Sessions, released on March 21 via Astralwerks. The 13-track Duper Sessions features a cover of Cole Porter’s Night And Day and Nightingales by Pregab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon. The Norwegian songwriter also put his own spin on Human Hands by Elvis Costello, with whom he toured with for a month last year……….Motown/UME will release Blue on June 30 from singer Diana Ross. The album of jazz standards was recorded more than 30 years ago and was intended as a companion to the 1972 soundtrack Lady Sings The Blues. The album was never released and shelved. The master tapes were only recently discovered in the Motown vault. Blue was produced and arranged by Gil Askey and features songs such as Cole Porter’s Let’s Do It, Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen’s But Beautiful, plus I Love Ya Porgy, Had You Been Around, Little Blue Girl, Smile, Easy Living, He’s Funny That Way and Duke Ellington’s Solitude. Most of the tracks were recorded during the Lady Sings The Blues sessions but were never released……….New from Univesal/France is Jazz In Paris Remixed. Much like the Verve series of remixes, this one features some lesser-known remixers. Tracks include Elephant Green by Pierre Michelot remixed by Pierre Audetat Stade, Ascensour Pour L’Echaufaud by Miles Davis remixed by Nicolas Repac, My Funny Valentine by Art Simmons remixed by Jeff Sarel, Les Loups Dans La Bergerie by Serge Gainsbourg & Alain Gourager remixed by Chris Bowden, The Midget by Art Blakely remixed by Art Konik, Ambiance Pourpre by Barney Wilen remixed by Soy Bean, and Everything Happens To Me by Chet Baker remixed by Various.

MAIN THEME "THE WINGS" FROM ACADEMY-AWARD WINNING SCORE GETS DANCE MIXES BY TOP DJs

Gustavo Santaolalla's Academy Award-winning score for the breakthrough American love story, Brokeback Mountain, is getting the dance floor treatment by some of the world's top DJs. The haunting, guitar-driven score's centerpiece track, The Wings, has been reworked into three sweeping dance epics by Gabriel & Dresden, Manny Lehman, Tony Moran and Warren Rigg. Remixes were shipped to major dance club DJs recently and they debut at #1 on Billboard's "Breakout" Hot Dance Club Play chart this week.

The Brokeback Mountain soundtrack continues to gather momentum in conjunction with the heavily-honored, groundbreaking film. More than 300,000 copies have been shipped worldwide and approximately 100,000 have been scanned in the U.S. The album was #1 on the iTunes Top 100 following its win for Best Song at this year's Golden Globes for A Love That Will Never Grown Old, performed by Emmylou Harris and written by soundtrack mastermind Gustavo Santaolalla with famed lyricist Bernie Taupin. That same week, the album was #1 on the Amazon Music Chart and #1 on the iTunes Soundtrack Chart. Over 60,000 digital tracks from the soundtrack sold within its first two weeks of release.

"The idea for club mixes originated with Grant Pavolka in our corporate communications department, and he helped Dahlia Ambach-Caplin A&R the various mixes. As with everything else we have done with the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack, the cooperation and support of James Schamus at Focus Features and Kathy Nelson at Universal Pictures has been especially rewarding," said Ron Goldstein, President & CEO of Verve Music Group. The remixers (who were chosen by Ambach-Caplin and Claudia Cuseta at Maxi Promotions) have taken Santaolalla's main theme and created three vastly different versions, each with something to please the most discerning club music fan. Classically-trained arrangers, Gabriel & Dresden, give the song a lengthy progressive house reworking that honors the heartbreaking, emotional score of the score. The "Collaboration Mix" by Manny Lehman, Tony Moran and Warren Rigg, lushly reproduces the song into a Balearic house mix. Manny Lehman's remix takes a more hard-hitting, tribal approach, and is primed for peak-hour "big room" consumption. A commercial release for the remixes is expected on April 11.

Verve Forecast, the adult music imprint of Verve Music Group, has been aggressively marketing the album by increasing its promotional presence with store window displays at major retailers in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco in anticipation of the score's award season attention. With these new club mixes, the label is reaching out to as many markets as possible.

Rufus Wainwright has also just completed a video for The Maker Makes, another breakout track from the soundtrack. MTV Networks fledgling channel Logo will host the video's world premiere later this month. The Brokeback Mountain soundtrack features Gustavo Santaolalla's Golden Globe and Academy Award nominated score, along with tracks from Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Teddy Thompson, Rufus Wainwright, Jackie Greene, Linda Rondstadt, Steve Earle, Mary McBride, and the Gas Band.

SMOOTH JAZZ ARTIST BRINGS FRESH NEW SOUND

Smooth jazz will get a well-deserved boost on April 1, 2006 as Horny Records recording artist, Rayse Biggs releases his long awaited album, For The Love Of It. Packed with a plethora of Detroit notables, this album has been generating street buzz for months.

For The Love Of It satisfies the appetite for smooth grooves and sophisticated moods. This music gives the expression of both letting go and complete control. It sends sound waves that move its listeners through the musical gratification that each track brings. It also underscores the rich, textured notes that only a true trumpet master can bring.

Known for his dual horn playing technique, producer, composer, and arranger Rayse Biggs is one of the most dynamic horn players in the industry today. Rayse was born in Detroit, Michigan and reared by some of the greatest jazz artists in the world. He has performed with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, Donald Byrd, Gene Dunlap, Bob James, Norman Connors, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, and Kem.

"If any sound on the contemporary jazz scene today is worthy of a Grammy, it's Rayse's," says Mark Morden of BroadBandPromos. "This is the kind of smooth jazz that crosses over into other genre markets, a style to really get excited about." The entire album has been perfected to achieve maximum listening pleasure. This one will be embraced by the true audiophile and casual listener alike. You will love For The Love Of It from the first utterance of sound to the finale. Rayse Biggs brings true musicianship to his audience.

ARTURO SANDOVAL TO OPEN JAZZ CLUB ON MIAMI BEACH

Arturo Sandoval, the world-renowned jazz musician, composer, trumpet player and pianist, is set to open his own jazz club in Miami Beach, Florida, on April 2, 2006. Located between Miami's famed Art Deco District and Bal Harbour in the Deauville Beach Resort, The Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club will showcase the talents of the Grammy Award-winning musician, as well as internationally recognized headliners such as Roberta Flack, Dee Dee Bridgewater, James Moody and Roy Haynes. The Deauville has an illustrious music history, having hosted some of the world's most prominent artists. The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Diana Ross, Buster Keaton, Judy Garland, Tito Puente and Barbra Streisand are among those who have performed at the hotel.

"The Deauville maintains the spirit of those great artists who shared their souls in each magnificent performance. Their energy is infused within its walls," commented Mr. Sandoval, in explaining why he personally chose the Miami Beach hotel as the site of his first jazz club. "Miami's music and nightlife scene is already packed with stars and charged with excitement, but the opening of a club by a jazz legend like Arturo Sandoval will bring our entertainment scene to a new level," noted William D. Talbert, president & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition to its "red hot" club scene, Miami is also home to numerous recording studios, is at the nexus of the Latin American music industry and regularly hosts numerous music awards, he noted. "Arturo has been one of Miami's great ambassadors over the years and we're delighted he has chosen Miami for his first club."

GRAMMY & DOVE AWARD-WINNING, MULTI-GENRE ACAPELLA SENSATION TAKE 6 RELEASE NEW ALBUM, 'FEELS GOOD', ON MARCH 21, 2006

"Feels Good" marks band's 11th release and is first release on band's imprint label Take 6 Records.

Ten-time Grammy & Ten-time Dove (GMA Music Award) winner Take 6 is gearing up for their latest release, Feels Good, the highly anticipated acapella project, scheduled for release on March 21st, 2006. The album will premiere on the group’s own recently launched Take 6 Records and combines the best elements of gospel, jazz, pop and R&B and ultimately adds up to a bold and soulful feast of sound. The launch of Take 6 Records marks a new era for the group where the members are not only employing their natural creativity but also branching out into the business side of music. Member Alvin Chea says, "This was a natural progression for us. Traditional record companies want to lock you into a particular category. If you are slightly askew of that, they really don’t know what to do with you. We decided to take the reigns on this project and in our careers so we could position our projects in the marketplace by how we felt lead." The result is an album that stays true to the vision & the sound that Take 6 fans have come to know and love over the years and drives that sound in new and exciting directions. With a staggering eighteen Grammy-Award nominations (ten wins, as aforementioned), Take 6 is the most nominated gospel, jazz, pop or R&B artist in Grammy history. Through the course of the group’s career, Take 6 has also received ten Dove Awards, one Soul Train award and two NAACP Image Award nominations and has reigned over Downbeat Magazine’s readers’ poll, having won "Favorite Jazz Vocal Group" for nine consecutive years. The group has received praise from such esteemed music industry icons as Quincy Jones, and has been honored to perform alongside music legends including Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, David Foster, Al Jarreau, Stevie Wonder, Denyce Graves, The Yellowjackets, The Winans and Wynton Marsalis among a host of others. The Take 6 style has also reached today’s pop culture. Their musical style and tight harmonies have influenced pop groups from Boyz II Men and Backstreet Boys to *NSYNC and has made a major impact in the initial development and influence of the gospel & Christian music genres worldwide

MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD: NOTE BLEU - THE BEST OF THE BLUE NOTE YEARS, 1998-2005 & UPCOMING TOUR DATES

Blue Note will release Medeski, Martin & Wood's Note Bleu - The Best Of The Blue Note Years, 1998 - 2005. Hard core Medeski, Martin & Wood fans will want the SPECIAL EDITION, which features bonus tracks not contained on the "regular version", plus a DVD of assorted videos, a 26 minute documentary, "Medeski Martin & Wood's The Dropper" directed by Marie-Pierre Jaury and produced by Jean-Stephane Michaux for Point Du Jour, live footage from the Texaco Jazz Festival (1998) in NYC, plus the Newport Jazz Festival (2005), and various goodies filmed during the Blue Note years. Both versions will feature tracks from all five Blue Note albums: Combustication, Tonic, The Dropper, Uninvisible, and End of the World Party (just in case). In the meantime, Medeski, Martin & Wood are on tour and here is where they are headed for next…

Medeski, Martin & Wood Confirmed Tour Dates
3/23/06 Sao Paulo Brazil - Bourbon Street
3/24/06 Santiago Chile - Teatro Oriente
3/26/06 Buenoa Aires Argentina - Teatro Gran Rex
4/5/06 Albany NY - The Egg (acoustic performance)
4/6/06 New York NY - The Concert Hall at the NY Society for Ethical Culture (acoustic performance)
4/7/06 Philadelphia PA - Kimmel Center (acoustic performance)
4/8/06 Huntington NY - Inter-Media Art Center (acoustic performance)
4/14/06 Live Oak FL - Wanee Music Festival
4/15/06 Charleston SC - Music Farm
6/9/06 Snowmass CO - Chili Pepper
6/17/06 Manchester TN - Bonnaroo Music Festival6
/29/06 Ljubljana Slovenia - Jazz Festival Ljubljana
7/1/06 Warsaw Poland - Warsaw Summer Jazz Days
7/5/06 Milwaukee WI - Summerfest
7/10/06 Vitoria Spain - Polideportivo de Mendizorroza
7/15/06 Sioux Falls SD - South Dakota Jazz and Blues Festival
7/22/06 Detroit Lakes, MN - 10,000 Lakes Fesltival
8/12/06 Oyster Bay, NY - Long Island Jazz Festival
9/1/06 Willisau, Switzerland - Willisau Jazz Festival

SMOOTH JAZZ & CHILL NEWS BITS: BUDDY GRECO, TELLURIDE JAZZ FESTIVAL, LEE RITENOUR, PRINCE, KIRK WHALUM & MORE...

SMOOTH JAZZ AND CHILL NEWS BITS…Legendary jazz pianist/vocalist Buddy Greco and his wife, singer Lezlie Anders, will launch the area's first Vegas-style, intimate dining and entertainment venue at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, March 23, in ribbon-cutting ceremonies at "Buddy Greco's Dinner Club," 68805 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City. The new dinner club, open for two shows nightly from Wednesday through Sunday, will feature headline entertainers, beginning with Buddy, March 24-26. Roberta Linn will appear March 29-April 2; Pete Barbutti, April 5-9; Barbara McNair, April 12-16; Buddy, April 19-May 7; and Fred Travelena, May 10-14. Also featured will be late-night jazz following the last dinner shows, up to 1:30 a.m., with well-known guest star performers who reside in or visit the desert. Greco, recognized internationally as one of the world's top jazz performers, has sold millions of records, been a Vegas headliner since the 50's, and played with music's all-time greats including Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole and many more……….The Telluride Jazz Festival has been scheduled for August 4-6 in Telluride, CO for the 29th year. A number of performers are being lined up for the festival, including Herbie Hancock, John Mayall, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Eyedentity, Soulive, Regina Carter Quartet, Terence Blanchard Sextet, Nnenna Freelon, and the Larry Coryell Trio……….Concord Records is planning to release Lee Ritenour And Friends on August 8………. Prince’s new CD 3121 features guest appearances from new Prince protégé Tamar as well as saxophonist Maceo Parker. The CD features splashes of rock, R&B and jazz, including the recent smooth jazz playlist favorite – Te Amo Corazon. Prince’s last album, Musicology, has sold 2 million copies in the United States according to Nielsen Soundscan……….Christina Aguilera is working on her latest, Back To Basics, for release on RCA on June 2. The CD will feature a mix of soul, jazz and blues, with production from Gang Starr principal DJ Premier, among others………. Kirk Whalum is currently on tour with the following upcoming dates: Brandt’s in St, Louis, MO (March 23 & 24); Single Island Municipal Beach in West Palm Beach, FL (March 25); The Blue Note in Tokyo, Japan (April 1-4); and The Blue Room in Atlanta, GA (April 14 & 15).

ARTURO SANDOVAL TO OPEN JAZZ CLUB ON MIAMI BEACH

Arturo Sandoval, the world-renowned jazz musician, composer, trumpet player and pianist, is set to open his own jazz club in Miami Beach, Florida, on April 2, 2006. Located between Miami's famed Art Deco District and Bal Harbour in the Deauville Beach Resort, The Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club will showcase the talents of the Grammy Award-winning musician, as well as internationally recognized headliners such as Roberta Flack, Dee Dee Bridgewater, James Moody and Roy Haynes. The Deauville has an illustrious music history, having hosted some of the world's most prominent artists. The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Diana Ross, Buster Keaton, Judy Garland, Tito Puente and Barbra Streisand are among those who have performed at the hotel.

"The Deauville maintains the spirit of those great artists who shared their souls in each magnificent performance. Their energy is infused within its walls," commented Mr. Sandoval, in explaining why he personally chose the Miami Beach hotel as the site of his first jazz club. "Miami's music and nightlife scene is already packed with stars and charged with excitement, but the opening of a club by a jazz legend like Arturo Sandoval will bring our entertainment scene to a new level," noted William D. Talbert, president & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition to its "red hot" club scene, Miami is also home to numerous recording studios, is at the nexus of the Latin American music industry and regularly hosts numerous music awards, he noted. "Arturo has been one of Miami's great ambassadors over the years and we're delighted he has chosen Miami for his first club."

SMOOTH JAZZ & CHILL NEWS BITS: MATISYAHU, KEM, NAT KING COLE, MALO, KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS, GEORGE BENSON, BRIAN CULBERTSON & MORE

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS…Rising reggae superstar Matisyahu has joined the lineup for this summer’s Lollapalooza, which will be held Aug. 4-6 in Chicago’s Grant Park……….R&B and popular smooth jazz crossover artist KEM’s sophomore CD, KEM Album II has crossed over and reached #5 on the Pop Albums chart and remains on the R&B Albums chart, and it has been certified gold after only two weeks of release. His hit single I Can’t Stop Loving You was designated Radio & Records’ and Billboard’s #1 Adult R&B Record of the Year for 2005. Nearing Platinum selling status, KEM Album II was self-produced by the multi-talented artist, and is the highly-anticipated follow-up to KEM’s 2004 certified gold debut, Kemistry, which delivered the sleeper hit, Love Calls. The single stayed in the Top 20 of radio airplay for more than a year. KEM is currently touring and his remaining tour dates include: San Diego, CA (March 23); Anaheim, CA (March 24); Los Angeles, CA (March 25); Oakland, CA (March 26); and Seattle, WA (March 28)……….Capitol/EMI is set to release The Very Best Of Nat King Cole on May 2. The CD will include 28 remastered Cole classics, from his 1940’s cuts with his Trio to his 1960’s solo singles. The new anthology also includes a previously unreleased version of Morning Star as it was originally recorded for the classic film, St. Louis Blues. Cole recorded nearly 700 songs for Capitol and during his 30-year career and he had more than 150 charted singles on Billboard’s Pop, R&B and Country charts. In January 2005, Nat King Cole made his first return in 40 years to Billboard’s Top 50 with the #41 debut of The World Of Nat King Cole CD. Cole’s last album to reach the Top 50, Unforgettable, peaked at #30 in 1965……….Thump Records will release a live set for Malo called Malo Live on April 25……….Several upcoming UMe imports include The Very Best Of African Soul by Manu Dibango and Wonderful Thing by Kid Creole And The Coconuts (both due on May 2)……….June 13 will see the release of The New Boss Guitar Of George Benson by George Benson……….Upcoming concert dates for smooth jazz pianist Brian Culbertson include: Washington, DC @ the Warner Theatre (March 24); Wyomissing, PA @ the Sheraton Reading Hotel Ballroom (March 25); Wyomissing, PA @ the Berks Jazz Festival (March 26); Jacksonville, FL @ the Jacksonville Jazz Festival (April 8); and Destin, FL @ the Seabreeze Jazz Festival at Seascape Resort (April 22).

SMOOTH JAZZ ARTISTS SET TO TAKE THE STAGE AT THE 6TH ANNUAL RIVIERA BEACH JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

The City of Riviera Beach (Florida) will host the 6th Annual Riviera Beach Jazz & Blues Festival on Friday, March 24, 2006 from 6 p.m. to midnight and Saturday, March 25, 2006 from 2 p.m. to midnight on Singer Island's Municipal Beach. Staged along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in the City known as the 'Best Waterfront City in Which to Live, Work and Play,' the Riviera Beach Jazz & Blues Festival attracts thousands of music lovers from around the country. It continues to grow in both popularity and magnitude and always delivers an impressive roster of A-list recording artists. The annual 'Jazz on the Beach' celebration provides family-oriented fun for all ages and is a 'must do' tourist attraction.

English duo Floetry will showcase their unique blend of Hip-hop and spoken-word poetry as the headliner on Friday, March 24, 2006. R&B icons Peabo Bryson and Jeffrey Osborne will contribute their trademark smooth vocals along with soul balladeer Percy Sledge. Rounding out the evening's star studded line-up will be smooth jazz favorites David Benoit, Mike Phillips and funk specialists the Zapp Band.

On Saturday, March 25, 2006, the Festival will shift into overdrive with a headline performance from the legendary diva Patti LaBelle. With multiple awards, platinum albums and an endless list of No 1 songs, this industry powerbroker is sure to perform to standing room only and bring down the house like only she can. Contemporary smooth jazz pioneer Najee will also perform along with fellow quiet storm favorites Alex Bugnon, Keiko Matsui and Kirk Whalum. The evening will also feature a performance by R&B crooner Eric Benet.

Scheduled Appearances and Performances:
Friday, March 24, 2006 - 6 p.m. – Midnight: Zapp Band, Percy Sledge, David Benoit, Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne & Floetry

Saturday, March 25, 2006 – 1–2 p.m.: Donna Richardson Joyner & Shirley Murdock

Saturday, March 25, 2006 – 2 p.m. – Midnight: Mike Phillips, Keiko Matsui, Najee, Alex Bugnon, Kirk Whalum, Eric Benet & Patti LaBelle

THE GROOVE BOUTIQUE RADIO STATION LISTINGS & BROADCAST TIMES

KDEC-FM10.5 – Decorah, IA (Sundays 7-9 p.m.)
KJJZ/K Jazz – Palm Springs, CA (Saturdays 10 p.m. – 12 midnight)
KJZY Jazzy 93.7 – Santa Rosa, CA (Saturdays 8 p.m. -12 midnight)
KKSJ/KTSJ – Lafayette, LA (Saturdays 10 p.m. – 12 midnight)
KTOY – Texarcana, TX (Sundays 7-9 p.m.)
WCIR/103CIR – Beckley, WV
WJSY/WSJF – Jacksonville, FL & St. Augustine, GA (Saturdays 8-10 p.m._
WQCD/CD101.9 – New York, NY (Saturdays 8 p.m. – 12 midnight)
WSBZ/106.3 The Seabreeze – Destin, FL (Saturdays 10 p.m. – 12 midnight)
WSSJ/Smooth Jazz 92.3 – St. Augustine Beach, FL (Saturdays 8-10 p.m.)
WWWS/AM 1400 Solid Gold Soul – Buffalo, NY (Saturdays 10 p.m. – 12 midnight)
WXJZ/Smooth Jazz 100.9 - Gainseville, FL (Saturdays 9-11 p.m.)

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: TOWER OF POWER, AVERAGE WHITE BAND, HERBIE HANCOCK, GLADYS KNIGHT, TOM BRAXTON & MORE...

CD101.9 FM in New York presents an evening of soul and funk when Tower Of Power and the Average White Bank team up for a concert on Sunday, March 26 at the Union County Arts Center in Rahway, NJ……….Herbie Hancock pays tribute to jazzmaster Toots Thielemans at Carnegie Hall, Thursday, March 16, along with Brazilian superstar Ivan Lins, Paquito D’Rivera, Joe Lovano, Eliane Elias, Oscar Castro-Neves, Kenny Werner and others……….New releases this week from…Bonnie Bramlett & Mr. Groove Band (Roots, Blues & Jazz); Donald Fagen (Morph The Cat); Etta James (All The Way); George Benson (In Your Eyes, 1983 album); Hugh Masekela (Hugh Masekela Presents The Chisa Years 1965-75 Rare And Unreleased); and Jazz Crusaders (Paris Concert November 9, 2004 DVD)………. Gladys Knight is working on her upcoming covers CD entitled Before Me . It’s doe out on June 6 via Verve Records, the set features songs originally performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Sammy Davis, Jr., among others. Knight is also slated for a handful of upcoming shows on her itinerary, including tomorrow (March 16) in Huntsville, Ala., and Saturday in Westbury, N.Y. A six-date European tour begins June 30 in Birmingham, England. Track listing for Before Me includes: Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, The Man I Love, Good Morning Heartache, Since I Fell for You, God Bless the Child, This Bitter Earth, I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good, Someone To Watch Over Me, But Not for Me, I'll Be Seeing You, Stormy Weather and Come Sunday……….Tom Braxton has released his fifth CD Bounce on the Rendezvous Music label. Produced by Wayman Tisdale, the CD features Al Green’s signature classic Let’s Stay Together, weaving old school vibes and smooth jazz work by Braxton……….The Dave Brubeck Quartet hit the Gold Circle Santa Cruz (CA) Civic Auditorium on March 15. Saxophonist Bobby Militello, bassist Michael Moore and drummer Randy Jones make up the rest of the Quartet……….Jazz greats of the past, present and future will finally get what the music world acknowledges is due to them at the new International Jazz Spectacular being scheduled for later this year. All jazz artists who released an album between June 1, 2005 and May 31, 2006 will be eligible for a nomination. The event will be presented on global television by IJA through Tamar Entertainment.

MR. SCRUFF, NICOLA CONTE, NOUVELLE VAGUE, DJ CAM, MIGUEL MIGS CONCERT NEWS...

Upcoming New York City Concerts:
Thursday, March 23rd: Mr. Scruff @ Cielo (NY) Thursday, March 23rd: Charles Webster DJ Set @ King King (CA) Friday, March 24th: Mr. Scruff @ Element (NY) Saturday, March 25th: Miguel Migs, DJ Harvey, Norman Jay & More @ Pawn Shop Lounge (FL) Friday, March 31st: Ursula 1000 @ Zanzibar (CA) Friday, April 21st: Nouvelle Vague @ Irving Plaza (NY) Sunday, April 23rd: Norman Jay DJ Set @ Cielo (NY) Thursday, April 27th: DJ Cam @ King King (CA) Wednesday, May 17th: Coldcut @ Irving Plaza (NY) - JUST ANNOUNCED Thursday, May 25th: Nicola Conte DJ Set @ Cielo (NY) - JUST ANNOUNCED

CASSANDRA WILSON'S NEW RELEASE - THUNDERBIRD OUT APRIL 4

Cassandra Wilson never fails to surprise and inspire. Sexy, honey-velvet vocals wrapped around her own jazzy blue compositions or inventive interpretations of others’ material led TIME magazine to name her "America’s Best Singer" in recent years. On her new CD Thunderbird, which Blue Note Records will release on April 4, 2006, she has collaborated with red hot producer T Bone Burnett to surprise, yet again.

"Working with T Bone took the songs into a whole other place," explained Wilson. "He guided me into the deepest recesses of the material, and that attention to detail and nuance allowed me to delve into my own innermost emotions." What’s emerged is a post modern and, at times, primal take on roots music that begins with the title itself.

The legend of the thunderbird is an ancient myth that survives today in some Native American cultures. In the eyes of the ancients, it was a divine and magical animal sent by the gods to protect them from the powers of evil. The thunderbird brought calm and growth to the region. For Cassandra, the spiritual and magical aspects to this creature perfectly described the environment from which these 10 songs grew.

Deftly combining her own compositions—the irresistible Go To Mexico, the sultry It Would Be So Easy, the lovely Poet and the spiritual and celebratory Tarot—with carefully chosen songs that spoke to her like Closer To You by Jakob Dylan, Easy Rider by Blind Lemon Jefferson, the traditional song Red River Valley and Willie Dixon’s I Want To Be Loved, Wilson has woven her plaintive, delicious voice in and out of these tales of betrayal, intimacy and wonder. T Bone contributed two songs to the album in Lost and Strike a Match.

"With Easy Rider, I had always heard the C.C. Rider version of this song covered, but never heard anyone do the Blind Lemon version, which resonated with me," Wilson says. "Jakob’s song Closer to You was, to me, the epitome of intimacy and I just had to do it, couldn’t help myself!" she teases.

The instrumentation chosen for the songs was also a different experience for Cassandra. The groundbreaking sound that Cassandra crafted with producer Craig Street in the mid-1990’s on such classic Blue Note recordings as Blue Light 'Til Dawn and the Grammy-winning New Moon Daughter, was defined by it’s sparse acoustic guitars. However, keyboards play a much larger role in many of the songs on thunderbird, courtesy of keyboardist (and sometimes electric bassist) Keefus Ciancia, who is also the co-producer of the album.

"I hadn’t worked with keyboards for a long time," says Cassandra, referring to her co-producer as "an alchemist. Keefus is amazing. He’s a texture person, very organic and between T Bone, Keefus and I came a lot of the nuances." Also on the album are uber musicians Marc Ribot and Colin Linden on guitar, Mike Elizondo on electric bass, Reginald Veal on acoustic bass and Jim Keltner, Bill Maxwell and Jay Bellerose on drums. Gregoire Maret also plays harmonica on Tarot.

Ultimately, T Bone was the glue that kept it all together and it was his "secret ingredients," as Cassandra describes them, that added that aural special something you just couldn’t put your finger on. So what were T Bone’s "special ingredients?" "I can’t talk about those," she says. "Otherwise, he’d have to kill me."

THE VERY BEST OF PEABO BRYSON RELEASED MARCH 7

Peabo Bryson is recognized as one of contemporary music's premier male vocalists and legendary soul balladeer, with a career spanning nearly three decades. His musical repertoire has earned many honors including an Oscar, multiple Grammy awards and numerous Billboard top listings. Time Life has created a special 16-song CD entitled the Very Best of Peabo Bryson available on March 7 in retail stores nationwide.

Bryson' portfolio of greatest hits includes Tonight, I Celebrate My Love, the ever-popular hit duet with R&B legend Roberta Flack; Show and Tell; Let The Feeling Flow; Can You Stop The Rain; Feel the Fire; Closer Than Close; the Oscar and Grammy-winning A Whole New World from Disney's hit movie Aladdin recorded with Regina Belle; and the Grammy-winning Beauty and the Beast recorded with Celine Dion.

His unprecedented international success resulted in being the first artist in music history to have separate records topping four different charts in 1992: A Whole New World (Alladin's Theme), which topped both the Pop and Adult Contemporary charts. During this time, Peabo teamed up with Tony Winner Lea Salonga and recorded the song We Kiss In A Shadow for the classical musical The King and I, which was No.1 on the Classical Crossover charts; while saxophonist Kenny G's multi-platinum Breathless which also featured Peabo on By The Time This Night Is Over topped Contemporary Jazz charts.

"For the first time in Bryson's career, his timeless music is available on1 CD for his loyal fans and music enthusiasts to enjoy worldwide. The Very Best of Peabo Bryson represents a blockbuster of greatest hits. He is the undisputed master of romantic ballads. As spokesperson for Classic Soul Ballads Collection on television, Peabo was seen by more than 75 million viewers and instrumental in the 3 million CD's sold", states Mike Jason, Senior Vice-President of Audio & Video, Retail at Time Life.

Bryson demonstrates a passion for the music he writes and produces which is evident in his live performance and continued sold out concerts. "My primary objective when writing a love ballad is to share what I would like for others to feel through music. When I perform Feel The Fire, Can You Stop The Rain, A Whole New World, or my other favorites, I want my audience to recognize that love is real," states Bryson.

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: CHRIS BOTTI, CESARIA EVORA, FELA KUTI, SERGE GAINSBOURG, TAKE 6, PAT MARTINO, ANDREW HILL & MORE...

JAZZ CHILL CORNER NEWS BITS…Chris Botti Live, his concert special airing on PBS is soon to be released on DVD. Last December in Los Angeles, Chris Botti, on the heels of his breakthrough Gold-certified album, When I Fall In Love, and the record-breaking follow-up, To Love Again, played two shows at the Wilshire Theatre. On the DVD, he is joined by Sting, Jill Scott, Paula Cole, Burt Bacharach, Renee Olstead, Paul Buchanan, and Gladys Knight. The DVD is scheduled for release later in the month……….Cape Verde native Cesaria Evora has released Rogamar, an ode to the sea. On this release, Evora teams with Ismael Lo on Africa Nossa, and as usual, lends her sweet, melancholy voice to songs that evoke familiar Cape Verdean themes that reflect her country’s mixed heritage as a Portuguese colony. All in all – this is a must have……….Miami R&B/Jazz/Rock band Sophia Darcell will release their second studio album this coming June. The CD entitled Soul Eclectic features the first single, Charades, which has been made available as a free download from the band’s web site (http://www.sophiadarcell.com). Their sound is reminiscent of the Brand New Heavies, Les Nubians, Sade, Incognito and No Doubt……….Releases out this week include: Aldo Romano (Chante); Blossom Dearie (Sweet Blossom Dearie); Dinah Washington (Through The Night With Dinah); Dom Minasi (The Vampire’s Revenge); Eric Darius (Just Getting Started); Fela Kuti (Koola Lobitos 64-68); Fela Kuti (Opposite People/Blood); Fela Kuti (Upside Down); Gonzalo Rubalcaba (Solo); Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass (Whipped Cream & Other Delights – Rewhipped); Joe Cocker (Gold); Larry Carlton (Fire Wire); Marco Cappelli (Extreme Guitar Project: Music From Down Town New York); Matisyahu (Youth); Martin Denny (The Best of Martin Denny’s Exotica); Monday Michiru (Routes); Nightmares On Wax (In A Space Outta Sound); Peabo Bryson (The Very Best Of Peabo Bryson); Ray Charles (Genius Sings Country & Western); Rolf Lislevand (Nuove Musiche); Sarah Jane Morris (After All These Years); Serge Gainsbourg w/ Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare & Ansel Collins (Gainsbourg Et Cetera – Live Au Palace 1979); Torun Eriksen (Players & Observations); Trilok Gurtu and the Frikyiwa Family (Farakala); Van Morrison (Pay The Devil); Wood Brothers (Ways Not To Lose); ………. Grammy award winners Jazz and R&B vocal group Take 6 are releasing their first independently released CD Feels Good on March 21……….Blue Note Records presents Pat Martino Remember ~ A Tribute to Wes Montgomery. This exceptional recording is one guitar icon's homage to another. Pat Martino utilizes his intimate knowledge of Wes Montgomery's music to demonstrate what it truly means to "get inside" another musician's head & heart. On Remember, Martino leads a first-rate band featuring pianist David Kikoski, bassist John Patitucci, drummer Scott Allan Robinson, and percussionist Danny Sadownick, covering such Montgomery classics as Four on Six, Full House, & West Coast Blues. Remember will be released on April 4, 2006. Pat Martino’s upcoming tour dates include: 3/30-4/2 San Francisco; 4/3 San Diego; 4/4-4/9 Los Angeles; 4/11-4/12 Seattle; 4/20-4/23 New York4/28 Houston; and 6/23-6/25 Washington DC……….Note Bleu - The Best of the Blue Note Years 1998 - 2005 from Medeski Martin & Wood will be released on April 4, 2006. A special edition will feature bonus tracks plus a DVD of assorted videos, a mini documentary made in France, live footage, and various goodies filmed during the Blue Note years. Both versions will feature tracks from all five Blue Note albums: Combustication, Tonic, The Dropper, Uninvisible, and End of the World Party (Just In Case)………. With his first recording for the label since 1990, the innovative, acclaimed pianist/composer Andrew Hill begins his third era with Blue Note Records with his new quintet recording, Time Lines. Hill first made a name for himself with a series of groundbreaking albums for the label between 1963–1970 that included Point of Departure, Black Fire & Judgment!..........Diana Krall has recorded a duet with Vince Gill which will appear on his next album due for release later this year. Vince and Diana also gave a brilliant performance of this duet Faint Of Heart at the Grand Ole Opry recently.

THE NEW BET J IS COOL LIKE THAT

BET Networks is pioneering yet another ground-breaking evolution in television programming. Jazz, the purest and oldest form of American music, has both chronicled and celebrated the African- American journey. Today Jazz is seen, heard and felt in a number of related genres including blues, soul, R&B, Caribbean and neo-soul music. African-American adults want to engage in this even more today, which is why BET Jazz is evolving effective March 1 into the new BET J. Now available on DIRECTV through its first satellite TV carriage agreement, BET J reflects these powerful cultural roots, and the overall diversity of music and culture today.

DIRECTV is launching BET J to continue its tradition of providing the most exciting and unique programming for its customers. BET J is available on Channel 330 on DIRECTV's TOTAL CHOICE(R) PLUS programming package. MTV Networks negotiated this new carriage agreement as part of its Affiliate Sales and Marketing representation of BET Networks. With the DIRECTV launch, BET J has built a total distribution platform that reaches approximately 21 million homes. In addition to DIRECTV, other distributors already carrying BET Jazz that will now offer the revamped channel for viewers include Charter Communications, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable.

BET J will offer engaging lifestyle, musical and cultural fare 24 hours a day. Advertising and marketing elements promoting BET J will carry the tagline "Cool Like That" to epitomize the new branding. The new slogan represents the sophisticated and chilled vibe of the rhythms, shows and artists being presented on the channel, from cool cats like Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Wynton Marsalis to smooth poetic divas like Jill Scott, India.Arie, and Erykah Badu. Examples of the new BET J programming blending with an already stellar jazz lineup include:

* SOUL SESSIONS -- Viewers will experience an old school/new school music overload as Neo-Soul, Alternative R&B, Classic Soul and Rhythm and Blues come together on weeknights and weekends in SOUL SESSIONS. It's an old school basement 'blue' room showcasing the best of Soul Music. From Alicia Keyes to Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross to Leela James: the best of Soul all under one roof. The Sessions are about to begin ...

* INFLUENCES -- An intimate chat with contemporary soul and R&B artists about the influence that traditional jazz has had on their music. Artists such as Floetry, Dwele, and Meshell Ndegeocello will not only reveal the musicians and vocalists who have influenced their music but will go even deeper, explaining how life experiences and world events
have shaped their musical journey.

* VIDEO SOUL GOLD -- A classic BET show from the past returns as Donnie Simpson hosts VIDEO SOUL GOLD, a weekly trip down memory lane. VIDEO SOUL was a BET mainstay and Donnie Simpson held down the fort showcasing hot new artists and their videos to an audience hungry to see themselves reflected on the small screen. The "Green-Eyed Bandit" returns in this vintage series that connects with old and new viewers alike.

* MY TWO CENTS -- A topical talk show with five fresh and original voices discussing the issues of the day stitched together with Classic Soul & R&B videos. Issues will range from the light -- discussing the latest celebrity hook-ups and break-ups of the moment -- to the heavy -- issues of race, skin color, sex and religion. With Kevin Powell, Selwyn Hinds, April Silver, Raquel Cepeda and Keith Boykin at the helm, this series will be charged with intense and riveting dialogue mixed with old and new school grooves from the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Floetry and more.

* THE BEST SHORTS: A BET J SHOWCASE -- Viewers can enjoy the best in drama, comedy, horror, suspense and more. Short films tell stories in a way no other medium can. Short Films have been and continue to be the purest form of filmmaking, as experienced and inexperienced filmmakers find unique ways to express their vision. This is unique opportunity to catch the best and brightest emerging filmmakers tell their stories, their way.

JUNIOR VASQUEZ MAKES DEBUT ON VOLUME 7 OF HIGHLY ANTICIPATED WHITE PARTY CD MUSIC SERIES FROM CENTAUR MUSIC

Centaur Entertainment is thrilled to announce that DJ/Producer Junior Vasquez will make his debut on the Centaur label with a new CD entitled Party Groove: White Party Volume 7. The new mix, Junior's first commercial CD in several years, is the latest addition to Centaur's highly acclaimed White Party series and is being presented in conjunction with Junior Vasquez Music. The official release date is set for January 10, 2006. "What an incredible way to start the 2006 year of music," says Centaur's President Nick DeBiase. "We're very excited to be working with Junior Vasquez and his new CD will definitely be one of the best dance albums of the year." "I tried to make it edgy, uplifting, anthemic and spiritual," says Junior."For many years I was criticized for playing pots-and-pans but I'm over that sound. I love great vocals with instrumentation that's tough-as-nails to underpin the song." Junior's well-publicized sobriety in the past year has certainly influenced him musically, taking him in the direction of more succinct and uplifting sounds. Junior describes his new CD as "not so different from Anthems 1 & 2," quickly pointing out that on this CD he has included a lot of the music that he did not produce himself. Two Junior Vasquez mixes that do appear include the Destiny's Child song Stand Up For Love, which is the 2005 World Children's Day Anthem and appears on their new #1's album, as well as Junior's exclusive new mix of Stupid Like U which features Deborah Cox. Junior is also proud to have included productions from Tom Stephan/Superchumbo, Offer Nissim, Rooster & Sammy as well as his favorite newcomers: Matt Piso and Tim Letteer.

ON MARCH 17th SHOUT! FACTORY RELEASES FIRST FULL ALBUM REMIX OF WHIPPED CREAM & OTHER DELIGHTS FROM HERB ALPERT

Legendary trumpeter, arranger, recording artist and music-industry trailblazer Herb Alpert has connected with a stellar crew of visionary remixers on Rewhipped, due March 7th on Shout! Factory. The 12-song collection serves up groovalicious takes on every track from Whipped Cream & Other Delights, the landmark, 4X GRAMMY-winning 1965 LP by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass that spent eight weeks at #1 when it was originally released.

Not content to merely hand off his originals for contemporary reinvention, however, Alpert has recorded tasy new trumpet solos for every track, personally revisiting each one with the passionate, signature sound for which he is renowned. The release of Rewhipped corresponds with Herb Alpert's March 13 induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, when he'll receive a Lifetime Achievement Award along with his fellow A&M Records co-founder, Jerry Moss, Rewhipped is the first project to remix an album in its entirety.

The list of producer-mixers adding 21st-century flavor to these classic recordings includes John King of famed production team the Dust Brothers ("A Taste of Honey"), L.A.'s fiercely eclectic collective Ozomatli ("Whipped Cream," "Love Potion #9"), jazz-funk masters Medeski Martin & Wood ("El Garbanzo"), avatars of electronica Thievery Corporation ("Lemon Tree"), sample-juggling genius Mocean Worker ("Bittersweet Samba"), film composers Anthony Marinelli ("Whipped Cream," "Love Potion #9," "Green Peppers," "Butterball," "Peanuts," "Lollipops and Roses") and Camara Kambon ("Ladyfingers"), and Teutonic turntablist DJ Foosh ("Tangerine").

Whipped Cream's sexy blend of jazz, pop, salsa, bossa nova and Dixieland set a new standard for stylish instrumental music and the all-time classic album continues to influence artists 40 years post-release. Rewhipped not only underscores Alpert's impact on the development of electronic music and remixing--his inventive use of overdubbed trumpet parts has been widely copied--it also stretches the original's global sensibilities, adding slinky breakbeats and unexpected arrangements, among other sonic innovations. GRAMMY winners Ozomatli took the remix idea to the extreme by providing a spicy vocal track to the previously instrumental "Love Potion #9."

Boasting contributions from drummer Hal Blaine and pianist Leon Russell and loosely based on a theme of delectable edibles, Whipped Cream & Other Delights (reissued by Shout! Factory in 2005 as part of the Herb Alpert Signature Series) spent eight weeks at #1 and more than a year in the Top 10, eventually logging nearly three years in the Top 40. "A Taste of Honey" was a Top 10 single and snagged "Record Of The Year," one of the album's four GRAMMY Awards. For his part, Alpert has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Whipped Cream's provocative cover, meanwhile - depicting a voluptuous model named Dolores Erickson wearing nothing but whipped cream - became an essential tableau of the era. The artwork for Rewhipped salutes this trailblazing iconography with a beguiling shot of cream-clad Guess girl Bree Condon.

In 1965, Whipped Cream & Other Delights was as cool as it got. Four decades later, Rewhipped cruises the cultural cutting edge courtesy of today's hippest remixers. Take it for a spin and get swanky.

TRACK LISTING
1. Whipped Cream, Anthony Marinelli Remix Featuring Ozomatli
2. A Taste of Honey, John King Remix
3. Green Peppers, Anthony Marinelli Remix
4. Ladyfingers, Camara Kambon Remix
5. Love Potion #9, Anthony Marinelli Remix Featuring Ozomatli
6. Peanuts, Anthony Marinelli Remix
7. Tangerine, DJ Foosh Remix
8. El Garbanzo, Medeski, Martin & Wood Remix
9. Lemon Tree, Thievery Corporation Remix
10. Lollipops and Roses, Anthony Marinelli Remix
11. Bittersweet Samba, Mocean Worker Remix
12. Butterball, Anthony Marinelli Remix

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: CHARLIE HUNTER, LARRY CARLTON, STANLEY JORDAN, MINA AGOSSI, JACK DEJOHNETTE & MORE...

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS…Washington, D.C. area upcoming concerts: French-African chanteuse Mina Agossi at La Maison Francaise on March 9. Her latest CD is Well You Needn’t , and on her current tour she is supported by bassist Remi Chaudagne and drummer Ichiro Onoe. Karrin Allyson is at the Kennedy Center’s Terrrace Theatre on March 17 as she showcases selections from her new CD, Footprints. Guitarist Larry Carlton appears at Blue Alley on March 27, and guitarist Gene Bertoncini will be at the Smithsonian Jazz Café in the Natural History Museum on March 3. His new CD is Quiet Now.……….In the twin cities area of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Stanley Jordan is line-up for March 6 and 7 at the Dakota Jazz Club; Chris Botti at the State Theatre on March 11; and Freddy Cole (and his trio) with his tribute to his brother Nat King Cole on March 19 at the Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. His special guests will be Irv Williams on saxophone and Doris Hines, vocal soloist……….A new double CD from Roy Ayers becomes available as 33 tracks, including some of the best of Roy’s work for Polydor in the 70’s come together in Destination Motherland – The Roy Ayers Anthology……….New from the Charlie Hunter Trio is Copperolis on the Radeadope label. Tracks include Cueball Bobbin’, The Pursuit Package, A Street Fight Could and Break Out, with nine songs in total. Rounding out the Charlie Hunter Trio are John Ellis on keyboards and horns and Derrek Phillips on drums……….Jack DeJohnette’s latest CD is Jack DeJohnette featuring Bill Frisell – The Elephant Sleeps But Still Remembers.



KIRK WHALUM, JEFF LORBER & GERALD VEASLEY HEADLINE RIVERWALK JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
The Riverwalk Jazz and Blues Festival is gearing up for April 28 and 29 in Montgomery. Alabama, The festival will feature such well-known jazz musicians as saxophonist Kirk Whalum, keyboard player Jeff Lorber, bass player Gerald Veasley, sax player Quintin Gerard W. and sax player Dee Lucas.

Since being discovered in 1983 by Bob James, Whalum has been a major force in smooth jazz. The sax player, who has seven Grammy nominations, became one of smooth jazz's biggest stars in 1998, when his album For You was on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz charts for more than 65 weeks, including 53 weeks in the top 10. His 2000 album Unconditional again topped the jazz charts, creating the No. 1 jazz hit Now 'Til Forever. More recently he has collaborated with guitarist Norman Brown and trumpet player Rick Braun.

Jeff Lorber released six albums while leading the Jeff Lorber Fusion in the '70s and '80s and received a Best R&B Instrumental Grammy nomination for Pacific Coast Highway. Since going solo, not only has he done well with his own music, but he's produced albums for artists such as Kenny G. and Michael Franks.

Quintin Gerard W. released his album debut, Fnkysax, last year. But the sax player, who studied under noted jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis in New Orleans, has already played with a who's who of jazz musicians, including Whalum, Lorber, Brown, Kenny Garrett, Najee and Dave Koz.

Veasley was a bass player in Joe Zawinul's band for seven years before going solo, leading a renowned "bass bootcamp," and releasing several acclaimed fusion albums, including his most recent, At the Jazz Base.

Lucas released his debut recording Remembrance on Mo Better Recordings in 2005, and is scheduled to release the CD Something to Ride 2 in spring of 2006.

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: THIEVERY CORPORATION, MICHEL CAMILLO, HAROLD MELVIN'S BLUE NOTES, BRIAN SIMPSON, PHILLIPPE SAISSE, JONATHAN BUTLER & MORE...

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS…….…Thievery Corporation have made available their unreleased track, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, originally recorded back in January 2006. This AOL Music DJ Sessions exclusive release features the Govinda Remix version woven together with other gems from the ERSL music catalogue. The track is now available for download from iTunes and AOL MusicNow……….Upcoming March concerts: Harold Melvinss Blue Notes, Sharon Paige, Blue Magic, Frankie Morales and Timothy Wilson will appear at the New Jersey University, and Leon Ware will appear at the Temple Bar in Los Angeles……….Michel Camillo’s latest release, Rhapsody in Blue, features covers of George Gerswhin songs, along with backup by the 95-piece Barcelona Symphony Orchestra. The album is also available in a Hybrid SACD version on the Telarc label……….Jonathan Butler recently performed at the largest Black History Month event ever, the Pan African Film & Arts Festival. The festival, which kicked of on February 9th in Los Angeles, celebrated its 14th anniversary and featured more than 150 movies by filmmakers from around the world. The opening night festivities, at which Butler performed his current single Rio, began with the critically acclaimed new film from South Africa, Tsotsi, nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign film……….Warner Latina releases Italian diva Laura Pausini’s Live in Paris 2005 CD along with a bonus DVD of the concert………..Watch for new CD’s coming out in the next couple of months from Dionne Warwick, Billy Griffin, Karrin Allyson, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Take 6, The Yellowjackets, Maria Muldaur, Bugge Wesseltoft, Bobby Lyle, Anthony Braxton, Nestor Torres, Fela Kuti, Nelson Rangell, India.Arie, and Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore……….Smokey Robinson has joined the cast of the Broadway play Chicago. Robinson will appear in the role of Billy Flynn and has contracted to stay with the show through June 2006……….Phillippe Saisse has signed with Rendezvous Entertainment and will be releasing an album, The Body And Soul Sessions on April 18. Saisse’s first single, Do It Again, hit the radio airwaves last week and was the most added song on the Smooth Jazz playlists. The single has also made its debut on the Radio and Records national airplay chart……….Brian Simpson will be doing a series of free performances at Borders and Books and Music stores this month: March 13 at the Washington, D.C. Borders (1801 K Street NW); March 14 at the Baltimore Borders Timonium (170 W. Ridgeley Rd.); March 16 at the Philadelphia Borders (1. S. Broad); and March 17 at the New York Borders in Columbus Circle. Kirk Whalum will join Simpson for the March 16 and 17 performances……….Dionne Warwick has signed on to appear at the upcoming 10th annual St. Kitts Music Festival this June……….Ultra cool public radio station KCRW and KCRW.com present a Tina Dico performance at Boca in San Francisco on March 22……….Atlanta-based quartet, Jiva release their debut CD, Sun & Moon, presenting a mix of styles from soul to Brazilian jazz to house grooves. Rhonda Thomas and Alex Lattimore provide the vocals……….Apple has announced the iPod Hi-Fi, it’s an all-new high-fidelity speaker system that works seamlessly with the iPod to redefine the home stereo system. According to Apple, iPod Hi-Fi delivers breathtaking acoustic performance and room-filling sound unlike any other speaker system designed for the iPod in an innovative, all-in-one design that can be powered from a wall socket or by six D-cell batteries. iPod Hi-Fi is easily controlled by the Apple Remote for an amazing stereo experience in any room in the house.