FUN 'N SUN SMOOTH JAZZ FESTIVAL, NORMAN BROWN'S SUMMER STORM, DAVID BENOIT, MINDI ABAIR, NELSON RANGELL & OTHER NEWS...

Chaka Khan, Mindi Abair, Euge Groove, Steve Oliver and Joyce Cooling headline the Clearwater (FL) Fun ‘N Sun Smooth Jazz Festival set for April 21-22 at nearby Coachman Park.

Candy Dulfer and Jason Miles team up for several concerts together as they perform at the Old Pasadena Jazz Fest in Pasadena, CA on July 22, and at the Rodney Strong Vinery in Healdsburg, CA on July 29.

Norman Brown’s Summer Storm is headed for the Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Music Festival in California, with a performance set for August 12. Norman Brown’s Summer Storm features Patti Austin, Norman Brown, Alex Bugnon and Paul Taylor.

Yerba Buena and Nouvelle Vague are among the acts set to appear at the three-day Seattle Bumbershoot music festival that will take place over the Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-4. The festival goes beyond music and will also feature two comedy stages, reading by authors and a film festival, among many other attractions.

Mindi Abair’s new single True Blue was last week’s #1 Most Added Song on the Smooth Jazz Radio charts. Her new album is Life Less Ordinary releasing this week.

MSN is celebrating the return of the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage musical event by bringing select performances into homes around the globe April 28-30 and May 5-7. MSN has entered into an agreement with the 2006 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Musical Festival to be the exclusive webcast provider with concert performances by globally popular artists such as Elvis Costello, the Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffet, as well as well- known New Orleans music legends including Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and Buckwheat Zydeco.

Grammy award nominated jazz pianist David Benoit will perform with the Asian America Youth Orchestra on April 23 at the Norris Theatre for the Performing Arts in Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

The Brand New Heavies are reuniting with former lead singer N’Dea Davenport and former label Delicious Vinyl. Their new album, Get Used To It, will be released on June 27. The Brand New Heavies are also embarking on a 25-city nationwide tour in July and August.

Nelson Rangell’s new CD Soul To Souls features five new compositions, as well as his new arrangements of Stevie Wonder’s Send One Your Love, Joe Samples’ Free As The Wind, Earl Klugh’s Vonetta and Dizzy Gillespie’s bebop classic Night In Tunisia. Guitarists Chuck Loeb and Earl Klugh appear as guest musicians, as do bassists Herb Lowe and Brian Bromberg and others.