THE WEATHER CHANNEL PRESENTS: THE BEST OF SMOOTH JAZZ

The Weather Channel has released a smooth jazz CD collection, The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz, that has turned out to be a genre hit. The CD, issued in October on Nashville's Midas Records, just recently reached Number Two on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. The 12-track collection features tunes by Jeff Lorber, Dave Koz, Chick Corea, 480 East, Joyce Cooling, Najee, and Pieces Of A Dream. The music has become familiar to viewers who watch the cable channel's "Local on the 8s" weather updates. The new CD also includes three tracks exclusively recorded for the Weather Channel: Mark Krumowski's "Wait a Minute," Ryan Farish's "Holding Hands" and Jeanne Ricks' "Simple Pleasure." Additional releases are being planned.