THE JUNE CONCERT LISTINGS

Chris Botti @ Symphony Hall, Boston, MA, June 3
Joe Cocker @ The Warfield, San Francisco, CA, June 3
Chris Botti @ Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, June 4
Bettye LaVette @ Twilight Alive, Kingsport, TN, June 4
Anthony Hamilton @ Nokia Live Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 4
The Sax Pack @ The Claremont, Berkeley, CA, June 5
Bettye LaVette @ The Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, Minneapolis, MN, June 5
Diana Krall @ Palace Theatre, Waterbury, CT, June 5
Buddy Guy @ Spirit of Suwannee Park, Live Oak, FL, June 5
Richie Havens @ Narrows Center, Falls River, MA, June 5
Joe Cocker @ Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 5
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Amphitheater At The Wharf, Orange Beach, AL. June 5
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre At Encore Park. Atlanta, GA, June 6
Chris Botti @ Conference Center, Monterey, CA, June 6
Richie Havens @ One Longfellow Square Portland, ME, June 6
James Taylor @ 02 Arena, London, UK, June 6
Joe Cocker @ Humphrey’s, San Diego, CA, June 6
Anthony Hamilton @ Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA, June 6
Will Downing @ Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, June 6
Regina Belle @ Capital Music Festival, Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, June 6
Joe Cocker @ Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, June 7
Diana Krall @ Flynn Center, Burlington, VT, June 7
The Sax Pack @ Clark County Amphitheater, Las Vegas, NV, June 8
Joe Cocker @ Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO, June 9
Diana Krall @ Stanley Theatre, Utica, NY, June 9
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC, June 9
Steely Dan @ Performing Arts Center, Durham, NC, June 9
Joe Cocker @ Sandia Casino Amphitheatre, Alburquerque, NM, June 10
Diana Krall @ ArtPark, Lewiston, NY, June 10
Laura Isibor @ Pontiac Garage @ HOB, Dallas, TX, June 10
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Merriweather Post Pavillion, Washington, DC, June 10
Joe Cocker @ Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort, Mescalero, NM, June 11
Anthony Hamilton @ Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH, June 11
King Sunny Ade @ Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA, June 11
Bela Fleck @ Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC, June 11
Bobby Caldwell @ The Rrazz Room at The Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, June 11-14
The Sax Pack @ Jazz in the Wood, Overland Park, KS, June 12
Bela Fleck, King Sunny Ade @ Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN, June 12
Anthony Hamilton @ Opera House, Detroit, MI, June 12
Steely Dan @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, June 12
Laura Isibor @ Vinyl, Atlanta, GA, June 12
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Borgata Event Center, Atlantic City, NJ, June 12-13
Joe Cocker @ Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK, June 13
Bettye LaVette @ Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago, IL, June 13
Bela Fleck @ Thirsty Ear Festival, Sante FE, NM, June 13
Steely Dan @ Minzer Partk Amphitheatre, Bosa Raton, FL, June 13
Buddy Guy @ Elk Creek Vineyards, Owenton, KY, June 13
Diana Krall @ Bank of American Pavilion, Boston, MA, June 13
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Jazz In The Woods – Corporate Woods, Overland Park, KS, June 13
Regina Belle @ Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, June 13
Anthony Hamilton @ Arie Crown Theatre, Chicago, IL, June 13
Joe Cocker @ Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX, June 14
Bela Fleck @ Red Butte Gardens, Salt Lake City, UT, June 14
Kenny G, King Sunny Ade @ Playboy Jazz Festival, Hollywood, CA, June 14
Diana Krall @ Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI, June 14
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Bethel Performing Arts Center, Bethel, NY, June 14
Joe Cocker @ Arena Theatre, Houston, TX, June 15
Steely Dan @ Barbara B. Mann Center, Ft. Myers, FL, June 15
Laura Isibor @ World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA, June 15
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Agganis Arena, Boston, MA, June 16
Anthony Hamilton @ New Jersey Performing Arts, Newark, NJ, June 16
King Sunny Ade @ Belly Up, Solana Beach, CA, June 16
Laura Isibor @ Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, Washington, DC, June 16
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, June 17
Maxwell @ DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids, MI, June 17
Laura Isibor @ SOB’s, New York, NY, June 17
Bela Fleck @ Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ, June 17
Kirk Whalum, John Stoddard @ Healing Center Baptist Church, Memphis, TN, June 17
Tower Of Power @ Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI, June 18
King Sunny Ade @ Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA, June 18
Steely Dan @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St. Augustin, FL, June 18
Anthony Hamilton @ WaMU Theatre At Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, June 18
Tower Of Power @ Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY, June 19
Peter White @ KIFM Jazz At The Beach, Oceanside, CA, June 19
Buddy Guy @ Mountain Stage, Charleston, WV, June 19
Steely Dan @ The Wharf, Orange Beach, A:, June 19
King Sunny Ade @ The Independent, San Francisco, CA, June 19
Maxwell @ The Venue/Horsehoe Hammond, Hammond, IN, June 19
Will Downing @ Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ, June 19
Mindi Abair @ Hyatt Newporter, Newport Beach, CA, June 19
Diana Krall @ Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, PA, June 19
Richie Havens @ Stephens Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY, June 19
Anthony Hamilton @ DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC, June 19
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ MGM Grand Theater At Foxwoods, Ledyard, CT, June 19
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Calvin Theatre, Northampton, MA, June 19
Bela Fleck @ Telluride Music Festival, Telluride, CO, June 19, 21
Laura Isibor @ Joe’s Pub, New York, NY, June 20
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA, June 20
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, NY, June 20
King Sunny Ade @ Truckee Regional Parl, North Tahoe, CA, June 20
Buddy Guy @ Showboat, Atlantic City, NJ, June 20
Tower Of Power @ West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA, June 20
Maxwell @ Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI, June 20
Kenny G @ Mable House Barnes Amphitheater, Mableton, Georgia, June 20
Diana Krall @ Borgata Spa & Resort, Atlantic City, NJ, June 20
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ, June 21
Simply Red @ Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, UK, June 21
King Sunny Ade @ Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Boonville, CA, June 21
Diana Krall @ Telos Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA, June 21
Buddy Guy @ Filence Center, Vienna, VA, June 21
Teena Marie @ Philly West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA, June 21
Anthony Hamilton @ Pier Six Pavilion, Baltimore, MD, June 21
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Value City Arena At Jerome Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH, June 21
Tower Of Power @ Foxwoods MGM Grand Theater, Mashantucket, CT, June 21
Laura Isibor @ House Of Blues, Chicago, IL, June 22
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN, June 23
Buddy Guy @ Johnny Mercer Theatre, Savannah, GA, June 23
King Sunny Ade @ Winspear Centre, Edmonton, AB, June 23
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Rams Head, Annapolis, MD, June 23
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA, June 24
Maxwell @ Paramount, Seattle, WA, June 24
King Sunny Ade @ Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, AB, June 24
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit, MI, June 24
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Manchester Men Arena, UK, June 24
Buddy Guy @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA, June 24
Bettye LaVette @ Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, June 24
Kenny G @ Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA, June 25
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT, June 25
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Birmingham NIA Arena, UK, June 25
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Allstate Arena, Chicago, Il, June 25
Will Downing @ Chene Park, Detroit, MI, June 25
Anthony Hamilton @ Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, June 25
Bettye LaVette @ NYC Rockin’ The River Cruise, New York, NY, June 25
Bettye LaVette @ North By Northwest, Philadelphia, PA, June 26
Maxwell @ Pearl, Las Vegas, NV, June 26
Buddy Guy @ Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, Saskatoon, SK, June 26
Richie Havens @ Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, WI, June 26
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, QC, June 26
George Benson, Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds. Ledisi, Jazz Attack feat. Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 26
Anthony Hamilton @ Bell Auditorium, Augusta, GA, June 26
King Sunny Ade @ Vancouver International Jazz Fest, Vancouver, BC, June 26
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson @ Fraze Pavillion for the Performing Arts, Kettering, OH, June 26
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Cardiff CIA, UK, June 27
The O’Jays, Michael McDonald @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 27
Richie Havens @ Calumet Theatre, Calumet, MI, June 27
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Feihofers Jazz Festival, Saratoga, NY, June 27
Diana Krall @ Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, June 27
Joe Cocker @ Ameristar Casino, Kansas City, MO, June 27
Regina Belle @ St. Kitts Music Festival, Warner Park Stadium, St. Kitts, WI, June 27
Peter White, Mindi Abair @ Rodney Strong Winery, Healdsburg, CA, June 27
Simply Red @ Heroes’ Square, Budapest, Hungary, June 27
King Sunny Ade @ Jazz Fest International, Victoria, BC, June 27
Anthony Hamilton @ BJCC Concert Hall, Birmingham, AL, June 27
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Rodney Strong Winery, Healdsburg, CA, June 27
Sax For Stax feat. Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum @ South Coast Winery, Temecula, CA, June 27
Patti LaBelle, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez, Dred Scott Trio, Wallace Roney Quintet, John Ellis Quintet @ Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 27
George Benson, Bettye LaVette, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Bonerama, Aaron Parks, Julian Lage @ Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 28
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Ottawa Jazz Fest, Ottawa, ON, June 28
Maxwell @ BET Awards, Los Angeles, CA, June 28
Anthony Hamilton @ Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte, NC, June 28
Diana Krall @ Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI, June 28
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO, June 28
Patti LaBelle, Robin Thicke, Chuck Brown, Keiko Matsui @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 28
George Benson @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 28
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Wembley Arena, London, UK, June 28
Joe Cocker @ Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, June 28
Maxwell @ Dodge, Phoenix, AZ, June 29
King Sunny Ade @ Triple Door, Seattle, WA, June 29
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto, ON, June 30
Joe Cocker @ Fraze Pavilion, Kettering, OH, June 30
King Sunny Ade @ Weesner Amphitheatre, Apple Valley, MN, June 30
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Buddy Guy @ Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI, June 30

BRIAN CULBERTSON TO HOST WEEKDAY MORNING SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO SHOW

The Broadcast Architecture Smooth Jazz Network has just announced that Smooth Jazz musician, producer and broadcaster Brian Culbertson will be the new weekday morning drive air talent for the Network, effective immediately. Brian has been the acclaimed weekend morning host for the Network since early 2007, and the transition to hosting the coveted 6-10AM weekday slot.

Culbertson joins radio veteran Miranda Wilson (mid-days), Smooth Jazz icon Dave Koz (afternoon drive), and radio vet Maria Lopez in the Network's lineup. The Network's weekend lineup is enhanced by the addition of Allen Kepler 6-10AM, with "Smooth Jazz Weekend" and "The Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown", followed by the best-selling instrumentalist of all time, Kenny G (10AM-2PM), Grammy winner Norman Brown (2-7PM), and hit music legend Paul Hardcastle (7PM-12M). Based on this information it would appear that he is replacing Ramsey Lewis.

Recently named the "2009 International Instrumentalist of the Year" at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, Culbertson (a keyboardist, trombonist, writer, arranger, and producer) is considered by many to be the most exciting live performing instrumentalist on the scene today.

Inspired by his father, music educator Jim Culbertson, Brian Culbertson has been a fast and fierce study of music, gravitating to all styles of dynamic music. Since his 1994 debut Long Night Out, Brian has been credited with bringing a youthful yet no less masterful energy to popular instrumental music with hit albums and singles. His sixth album Nice & Slow (2001) topped Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart for six weeks straight. And its follow-up, Come on Up (2003) included his blazing cover of Earth Wind & Fire's "Serpentine Fire," impressing Maurice White enough to want to work with him. The proof is all over his milestone tenth project, Bringing Back The Funk, a historic and completely unprecedented revisiting to the land of the sho' nuff uncut `70s-style funk of ages.

Adding to the excitement of Brian's weekday morning drive debut, he and Network partner Dave Koz are embarking on their "Dave Koz and Brian Culbertson Side by Side Tour" this summer, where they are sure to meet up with their legions of listeners and fans.

Broadcast Architecture, the world's leading Smooth Jazz research and consulting firm, launched the Smooth Jazz Network in January of this year. Smooth Jazz Network programming is heard in over 30 Markets in the U.S. and Worldwide.

Listen to Brian on the Smooth Jazz Network on the following stations:
Anchorage, AK - 105.7 / KNIK
Augusta, GA - 92.3 / WAEG
Chicago, IL - 87.7 / WLFM
Cincinnati, OH - 1480 AM / WCIN
Columbus, OH - 103.5 / WJZA
Green Bay, WI - 97.3 / WAUN
Honolulu, HI - 101.1 / KORL
Lansing, MI - 92.9 / WJZL
Lexington, KY - 102.1 / WKYL
Milwaukee, WI - 106.9 / WJZX
Norfolk, VA - 107.7 / WJCD
Oklahoma City, OK - 103.7 / KOCD
Polson, MT - 1340 AM / KQJZ
Redding, CA - 96.1 / KKXS
Reno, NV - 92.1 / KJZS
Salisbury, MD - 97.1 / WQJZ
Santa Barbara, CA - 106.3 / KMGQ
Sun Valley, ID - 107.5 / KYZK
Tallahassee, FL - 97.9 / WJZT
Traverse City, MI - 101.9 / WLDR (HD) Tri Cities, WA - 101.9 / KUJJ

NATALIE COLE RECIEVES KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

OneLegacy, the non-profit, federally designated organ and tissue recovery organization serving the seven-county greater Los Angeles area as part of the national organ transplantation network, facilitated the transplant of a kidney to Natalie Cole a couple of weks ago via a directed donation from a deceased donor."

As stewards of the organ donation process, OneLegacy collaborates with area hospitals to support families facing the loss of a loved one," said Tom Mone, OneLegacy CEO and Executive Vice President. "One such family generously agreed to donate organs to people in need of a life-saving transplant. Having heard of Ms. Cole's need for a kidney, the family asked that one of their loved one's kidneys be transplanted to Ms. Cole if they were a match."

In accordance with the family's request, OneLegacy donation coordinators then determined through tests that the kidney would be a biological match for Ms. Cole and coordinated the recovery process. Directed donation is a specific request made by a donor or donor family to direct a recovered organ to a specific transplant recipient. While rare, this practice is recognized by the California Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) and occurs most frequently when the donor or donor family are related to the recipient or know the recipient personally.OneLegacy is the non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation in the seven-county greater Los Angeles area. With 200 hospitals, 12 transplant centers and a diverse population of 19 million.

GAMBLE & HUFF NAMED BMI ICONS AT 57th ANNUAL POP AWARDS

Leading music rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) held its 57th Annual Pop Awards on May 19, 2009, honoring Gamble & Huff as BMI Icons. Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, the invitation-only ceremony was hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Vice President/General Manager, Los Angeles, Barbara Cane and also recognized the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed pop songs. The evening’s capstone was a musical tribute to Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. Gavin DeGraw sang “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” Estelle performed “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” and Michael Bublé delivered his rendition of “Me and Mrs. Jones.” Named BMI Icons in recognition of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers,” Gamble & Huff join an elite list of previous BMI Icons that includes the Jacksons, Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Ray Davies, Carlos Santana, Dolly Parton, and Hall & Oates.

Their career output of over 3,000 songs places them among the most prolific professional songwriters of all time. Gamble and Huff continue to write and produce, with their most recent production the Labelle “Back To Now” album. On September 19, 2005, Gamble and Huff were inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding achievements at a ceremony held in New York City. In 2008, Gamble and Huff were the first recipients of the newly created :Ahmet Ertegun Award" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 375,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. BMI reported $901 million for its 2008 fiscal year in performing right collections. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world for 70 years. The U.S. corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.

MAXWELL - BLACKsummer'snight

With his long awaited fourth studio album, BLACKsummers'night, is the long-awaited fourth studio albulm from Maxwell. It’s slated for release by Columbia Records on July 7, and the contemporary soul artist Maxwell will return to the concert stage for first leg of a major North American tour kicking off June 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and finishing July 31 in Miami. BLACKsummers'night is the first full-length Maxwell release since Now, his critically-acclaimed third studio album, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in August 2001. Along his 2009 tour route, Maxwell will headline the main stage of the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 4, appear at the BET Music Awards in Los Angeles on June 28, and perform on the CBS "Late Show with David Letterman" on July 10.

Maxwell's 2009 summer tour dates mark the artist's first extended run of evening's length concerts since breaking a six-year hiatus from live performance with his standing-room-only US tour in October 2008. When all 144,000 tickets for that tour sold-out within minutes of going on sale, the itinerary was extended from 26 to 33 cities. Maxwell's live performances were met with unanimously positive critical responses. The New York Times praised Maxwell's Radio City Music Hall concert as "exquisite" and "powerful" while the Boston Herald lauded his "awesome talent." Maxwell premiered new songs from BLACKsummers'night during his 2008 fall tour, among them "Pretty Wings," "Bad Habits," "Help Somebody," and "Cold."

Maxwell first rocketed to fame when he redefined classic soul music for a new generation with the release of his critically-acclaimed debut album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, in April 1996. Fueled in part by the RIAA gold single, "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)," the Grammy-nominated Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite was certified platinum in March 1997, less than a year after its release, and achieved double platinum status, in recognition of sales of more than 2 million copies in the US alone, in 2002. Maxwell followed up with his MTV Unplugged EP, released in July 1997 and certified gold in September 1999. His second full-length album, Embrya, was released in June 1998 and certified platinum in May 1999. Another Maxwell single, the hit "Fortunate," was certified gold in June 1999. To date, Maxwell has achieved 10 gold and platinum certifications from the RIAA for his albums and singles.

BLACKsummers'night is the sensuous opening installment of the artist's monumental BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT trilogy. (The trilogy's subsequent chapters, blackSUMMERS'night and blacksummers'NIGHT, are slated for release in 2010 and 2011 respectively.) "Pretty Wings," the first single from BLACKsummers'night, became available through digital service providers on Tuesday, April 28 while a video for the song premiered that same day on BET's "106 & Park" and on musze.com, Maxwell's website.BLACKsummers'night reunites Maxwell with long-time collaborator Hod David, who serves as co-producer and co-writer of the album. Striving for an emotional authenticity and real world sound for the album, Maxwell and Hod recorded the entire album live in the studio with an a-list ensemble of elegantly sympathetic musicians.

Maxwell - BLACKsummers'night North American Tour - Summer 2009
June 17- Grand Rapids, MI @ DeVos Performance Hall
June 19 - Hammond, IN @ The Venue/Horseshoe Hammond
June 20 - Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theatre
June 23 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount
June 24 - Vancouver, BC @ The Centre
June 26 - Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl
June 28 - Los Angeles, CA @ BET AWARDS
June 29 - Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge
July 1 - Austin, TX @ Bass
July 2 - San Antonio, TX @ Majestic Theater
July 4 - New Orleans, LA @ Essence Festival (Superdome)
July 12 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
July 13 - Louisville, KY @ Palace Theatre
July 15 - Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
July 16 - Cleveland, OH @ Allen Theatre
July 18 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz
July 19 - Buffalo, NY @ Sheas PAC
July 21 - Albany, NY @ The Palace
July 22 - New Jersey @ NJPAC
July 24 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata
July 25 - Foxwoods, CT @ Foxwoods
July 27 - Norfolk, VA @ Chrysler Hall
July 28 - Savannah, GA @ Johnny Mercer
July 30 - Tampa, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
July 31 - Miami, FL @ The Knight Center

musze.com
myspace.com/maxwell
twitter.com/_maxwell_
columbiarecords.com

SAN FRANCISCO'S KKSF-FM 103.7 DROPS SMOOTH JAZZ FORMAT

I'm getting really tired of reporting that yet another smooth jazz radio station has switched formats. San Francisco's KKSF-FM (103.7) flipped on Monday, May 18 at 3 PM when owner Clear Channel replaced the mellow tunes with a station called "103.7 The Band," which plays rock music from the 60's through the 80's from artists such as Elton John, the Doobie Brothers, the Eagles, Journey, Creedence Clearwater Revivial, Fleetwood Mac, The Band, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, etc. Clear Channel cited economic considerations and the results of "exhaustive market research", for abruptly switching the music format from 20 years of Smooth Jazz to Classic Rock & Roll. The first song played under the Classical Rock & Roll format was "Everybody's Everything" by Santana. It's unknown if www.kksf.com will continue to stream Smooth Jazz music over the internet.

WLFM-FM (87.7 THE L) SWITCHES TO SMOOTH JAZZ

Following WNUA-FM/Chicago's flip to Spanish AC, Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network has relocated to WLFM-FM (87.7 The L) in Chicago. "The L" as they will be referred to plans on reinstituting what it calls "that cutting-edge community-responsive approach to Smooth Jazz in Chicago." Veteran Chicago radio exec Patrick Kelley will oversee "The L," serving as Senior VP/Market Manager. Hopefullly we'll see an edgier smooth jazz format unique to the U.S., and maybe even sounding more like London's Jazz FM (hint hint). We'll wait to see what happens and if it works maybe the folks at Broadcast Architecture get the message that spinning the same old (you know) songs may get people to listen to the format.

According to Patrick Kelley, "We are very excited to build this station around the passion Chicagoans have for contemporary jazz." He added, "One of our main goals is to create a station that has a very strong Chicago identity. We want our listeners to be comfortable riding the 'L' all day and all night long from the first position on the dial. We're launching a radio station that represents the best of what Chicago radio listeners have heard for the past 22 years." Much of the station's programming and personalities will be familiar to WNUA listeners, who have been pointed by Clear Channel to yoursmoothjazz.com for their fix. Network hosts include Dave Koz, Miranda Wilson, Kenny G and Brian Culbertson (a Chicago native).

87.7 FM outlets promote their programming to FM listeners and operate as FM stations, but are licensed to carry video content receivable on analog televisions, in addition to audio programming receivable on FM radios -- although they carry no visual advertising content and promote their programming to radio listeners, rather than to television

AL B. SURE - HONEY I'M HOME

Singer Al B. Sure is about to release his new album entitled "Honey I'm Home," the 13-track CD is his first new studio project in more than 15 years. Ten of the songs were written and co-produced by the artist himself. It’s due out on the Hidden Beach Records label on June 23. The lead single, "I Love It (Papi Aye, Aye, Aye)," was co-produced by his longtime writing and producing partner Kyle West and also features cellist Tina Guo. Rounding out the set are two covers -— Sting's "Fragile" and Michael Jackson's "Lady in My Life" —- and an interlude version of Sure!'s first No. 1 R&B hit (No. 7 pop), 1988's "Nite and Day."

Al B. Sure’s debut album from 1988, In Effect Mode, sold more than two million copies, topping the Billboard R&B chart for seven straight weeks. The album included his memorable single "Nite And Day", which topped the R&B singles chart and reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. He received numerous Grammy and American Music Award (AMA) nominations, and won an AMA for Best New R&B Artist. He also received several Soul Train Awad nominations, and won the award for Best New Artist. He also won several New York Music Awards. He most recently was a DJ on Los Angeles radio station HOT 92.3 (KHHT) and played old school and R&B, on weekdays 10am - 1pm. He was one of 590 Clear Channel employees let go on 4/28/2009.

"Honey I'm Home" Tracklisting:
1. "Nite and Day (Interlude)"
2. "I Love It! (Papi Aye, Aye, Aye)"
3. "I'm Glad"
4. "Top of Your Lungs!"
5. "All I Wanna Do"
6. "Lady in My Life"
7. "Dedicate My All"
8. "Bye the Way, By the Way"
9. "Only You!"
10. "Whatcha Got?"
11. "Fragile"
12. "4 Life!"
13. "Never Stop Loving You"

WAYMAN TISDALE DIES

Jazz bassist, Wayman Tisdale, who became a successful jazz musician after retiring from pro basketball, died today following a two-year battle with cancer at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, hospital, where his wife took him when he had trouble breathing early on Friday. Tisdale was preparing to return to the recording studio next week to work on a project with jazz guitarist Norman Brown Doctors discovered Tisdale's bone cancer after he broke his leg in a fall down a flight of stairs, according to the official biography on his Web site. During his basketball career, Tisdale averaged 15 points and six rebounds a game over a 12-year NBA career, during which he played with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, according to the NBA Web site. His jazz recording career began in 1995 - two years before his 1997 NBA retirement - with a debut CD that rose to No. 4 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart and crossed over onto the R&B charts, the bio said. Tisdale released his debut CD, Power Forward, in 1995. In 2002, he was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. In an ESPN internet chat, Tisdale claims his musical influences include funk bands of the 1970s. His albums include Power Forward (1995), In The Zone (1996), Decisions (1998), Face to Face (2001), Presents 21 Days (2003),Hang Time (2004), Way Up! (2006), and Rebound (2008). Some of his more famous songs include "Ain't No Stopping Us Now," "Can't Hide Love" and "Don't Take Your Love Away" -- were top radio hits. Tisdale is survived by his wife, four children and one granddaughter. He was 44 years old.

BETTYE LAVETTE - A CHANGE IS GONNA COME SESSIONS

After a powerhouse performance at the Presidential Inauguration this past January, Bettye Lavette shines a new light on that past with her latest, "A CHANGE IS GONNA COME SESSIONS." The digital-only EP for Anti- Records, available exclusively through iTunes starting June 16, revisits Bettye’s forgotten post-Atlantic Records years as a nightclub singer, Broadway performer, and touring cast member opposite Cab Calloway in "Bubbling Brown Sugar."

The EP opens with a stirring solo version of Sam Cooke's posthumous Civil Rights anthem "A Change Is Gonna Come," a song which Bettye sang with Jon Bon Jovi in January as part of the "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" concert. Joining Bettye for these aessions are pianist and musical director Al Hill, veteran bassist John Heard who has accompanied such luminaries as Count Basie, Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Art Pepper, drummer Danny Frankel (k.d. lang, Lou Reed), and Tom Hagerman from DeVotchKa on strings.

A mix of standards and soul classics from Bettye’s 1970s stage and nightclub repertoire rounds out the 6-song set, including songs by Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Bill Withers, and Jimmy Reed. A rendition of Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child," a song that Bettye first performed with show-stopping magnificence in "Bubbling Brown Sugar" highlights BETTYE's vocal mastery.

This nod to the past is just the latest step in a nearly five-decade career that has truly come full circle and is now pointed straight ahead: from early promise to a masterwork ("Child of the Seventies") shelved by Atlantic Records; from Broadway to obscurity; from a triumphant return with her 2005 Anti- debut "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise," to a Grammy nomination for "The Scene of the Crime"; and most recently her devastating performances honoring The Who at the Kennedy Center Honors in December 2008, paired with Jon Bon Jovi at the Lincoln Memorial for President Obama's inaugural celebration in January, and alongside Sir Paul McCartney at a Radio City Music Hall benefit for the David Lynch Foundation in April.

The track listing for Bettyes iTunes exclusive "A CHANGE IS GONNA COME SESSIONS" is as follows:
1. "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke)
2. "'Round Midnight" (Thelonious Monk)
3. "God Bless The Child" (Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog)
4. "Lush Life" (Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn)
5. "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers)
6. "Ain't That Lovin' You" (Jimmy Reed)

ANDREA FULTZ - THE GERMAN PROJEKT

A new album by singer Andrea Fultz, entitled, "The German Projekt," features jazz-imbued arrangements of classic songs by Brecht-Weill and Friedrich Hollaender and which is being released on May 12. Joined by violinist Dina Maccabee, accordionist Rob Reich, percussionist Micha Patri, bassist Eugene Warren, and pianist Adam Shulman, whose credits include work with Stefon Harris, Paula West, and Bobby Hutcherson, Fultz began to delve into the songs and arrangements that evolved into "The German Projekt." She and her band, augmented by a three-man horn section, will appear at a CD release event at Yoshi's in Oakland on Monday, May 18.

Although several Weill compositions, such as "Mack the Knife" (aka "Moritat"), "My Ship," and "September Song," have become jazz standards, most of his oeuvre remains in the cabaret or art song realm. "Alabama Song," which opens "The German Projekt" and is sung in English, was previously recorded by the Doors and David Bowie (whom Fultz calls "my absolute hero!"); Marianne Faithfull and Dee Dee Bridgewater have released more extensive Weill collections.

Sonny Rollins, who counts Friedrich Hollaender among his favorite composers, has recorded "Falling in Love Again" ("Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt"), the theme from "The Blue Angel," and frequently performs the song in concert. (Early in his career, Rollins was fond of Hollaender's "This Is the Moment," and was playing it the night that Miles Davis first hired him.)
"It is a big thing for me to represent German culture in America," says Fultz, the daughter of a German mother and American father. "I really think this music is brilliant. Brecht and Weill and Hollaender are so timeless."

In addition to "Alabama Song," the CD contains six other Brecht-Weill compositions: "Bilbao Song," "Denn wie man sich bettet so liegt man," "Barbara Song," "Seeräuber Jenny," "Surabaya Johnny," and "Mäckie Messer" ("Mack the Knife"). Hollaender is represented by two songs from The Blue Angel ("Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt," "Kinder, heut Abend da such ich mir was aus"), "Johnny," and the ballad "Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte." Fultz sings Hanns Eisler and Bertolt Brecht's "Song of a German Mother" with Eric Bentley's English lyrics.

Andrea Fultz is looking to take the "German Projekt" music to clubs and festivals in the U.S. and abroad. "This music is about the context, it's not about singing flawlessly or bebopping," she says. "It's so different for me to sing in German. It's given me more freedom than any other music before."

WDJS 106.5 FM DAYTON DROPS SMOOTH JAZZ FORMAT

Well here is another smooth jazz station flipping formats. As a matter of fact it’s the second one in just the past week. After a five-year run as Dayton’s flagship smooth jazz radio station, Clear Channel’s WDSJ-FM (106.5 FM/) has changed its format from smooth jazz to country music. The change was made official Friday, May 1. WDSJ in the past had enjoyed a large following
in the Dayton market, eastern Indiana and the northern suburbs of Cincinnati since its switch to smooth jazz. WDSJ aired programming from Broadcast Architecture’s “Smooth Jazz Network.”

The new country station will be known as “The Bull.” WDSJ is licensed to Greenville, Ohio, and is based in the Dayton, Ohio metropolitan area. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications. According to information on a Clear Channel website, the smooth jazz format was no longer financially viable, especially in the current economy.

WDSJ salesman and radio personality Clay “The Cooker” Collins stated that the staff learned about the change just two days before the actual switch. “We were shocked,” Collins said.

Clear Channel will now air four hours of smooth jazz including the Smooth Jazz Top 20 on WLQT Lite 99.9FM on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, smooth jazz programming can be streamed on the web at www.yoursmoothjazz.com, and www.iheartradio.com, downloaded onto I-phones, Blackberries and can also be heard for free with any HD Radio Reciever at 99.9-2 HD-FM. Of the seven Clear Channel stations in the Dayton area, WDSJ was the only one to change formats.

THE JUNE CONCERT CALENDAR

Chris Botti @ Symphony Hall, Boston, MA, June 3
Joe Cocker @ The Warfield, San Francisco, CA, June 3
Chris Botti @ Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, June 4
Anthony Hamilton @ Nokia Live Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 4
The Sax Pack @ The Claremont, Berkeley, CA, June 5
Diana Krall @ Palace Theatre, Waterbury, CT, June 5
Richie Havens @ Narrows Center, Falls River, MA, June 5
Joe Cocker @ Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 5
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Amphitheater At The Wharf, Orange Beach, AL. June 5
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre At Encore Park. Atlanta, GA, June 6
Chris Botti @ Conference Center, Monterey, CA, June 6
Richie Havens @ One Longfellow Square Portland, ME, June 6
James Taylor @ 02 Arena, London, UK, June 6
Joe Cocker @ Humphrey’s, San Diego, CA, June 6
Anthony Hamilton @ Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA, June 6
Regina Belle @ Capital Music Festival, Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, June 6
Joe Cocker @ Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, June 7
Diana Krall @ Flynn Center, Burlington, VT, June 7
The Sax Pack @ Clark County Amphitheater, Las Vegas, NV, June 8
Joe Cocker @ Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO, June 9
Diana Krall @ Stanley Theatre, Utica, NY, June 9
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC, June 9
Joe Cocker @ Sandia Casino Amphitheatre, Alburquerque, NM, June 10
Diana Krall @ ArtPark, Lewiston, NY, June 10
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Merriweather Post Pavillion, Washington, DC, June 10
Joe Cocker @ Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort, Mescalero, NM, June 11
Anthony Hamilton @ Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH, June 11
Bobby Caldwell @ The Rrazz Room at The Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, June 11-14
The Sax Pack @ Jazz in the Wood, Overland Park, KS, June 12
Anthony Hamilton @ Opera House, Detroit, MI, June 12
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Borgata Event Center, Atlantic City, NJ, June 12-13
Joe Cocker @ Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK, June 13
Diana Krall @ Bank of American Pavilion, Boston, MA, June 13
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Jazz In The Woods – Corporate Woods, Overland Park, KS, June 13
Regina Belle @ Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, June 13
Anthony Hamilton @ Arie Crown Theatre, Chicago, IL, June 13
Joe Cocker @ Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX, June 14
Kenny G @ Playboy Jazz Festival, Hollywood, CA, June 14
Diana Krall @ Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI, June 14
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Bethel Performing Arts Center, Bethel, NY, June 14
Joe Cocker @ Arena Theatre, Houston, TX, June 15
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Agganis Arena, Boston, MA, June 16
Anthony Hamilton @ New Jersey Performing Arts, Newark, NJ, June 16
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, June 17
Tower Of Power @ Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI, June 18
Anthony Hamilton @ WaMU Theatre At Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, June 18
Tower Of Power @ Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY, June 19
Peter White @ KIFM Jazz At The Beach, Oceanside, CA, June 19
Mindi Abair @ Hyatt Newporter, Newport Beach, CA, June 19
Diana Krall @ Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, PA, June 19
Richie Havens @ Stephens Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY, June 19
Anthony Hamilton @ DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC, June 19
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ MGM Grand Theater At Foxwoods, Ledyard, CT, June 19
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, NY, June 20
Tower Of Power @ West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA, June 20
Kenny G @ Mable House Barnes Amphitheater, Mableton, Georgia, June 20
Diana Krall @ Borgata Spa & Resort, Atlantic City, NJ, June 20
Simply Red @ Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, UK, June 21
Diana Krall @ Telos Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA, June 21
Anthony Hamilton @ Pier Six Pavilion, Baltimore, MD, June 21
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Value City Arena At Jerome Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH, June 21
Tower Of Power @ Foxwoods MGM Grand Theater, Mashantucket, CT, June 21
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN, June 23
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit, MI, June 24
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Manchester Men Arena, UK, June 24
Kenny G @ Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA, June 25
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Birmingham NIA Arena, UK, June 25
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Allstate Arena, Chicago, Il, June 25
Anthony Hamilton @ Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, June 25
Richie Havens @ Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, WI, June 26
George Benson, Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds. Ledisi, Jazz Attack feat. Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 26
Anthony Hamilton @ Bell Auditorium, Augusta, GA, June 26
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson @ Fraze Pavillion for the Performing Arts, Kettering, OH, June 26
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Cardiff CIA, UK, June 27
The O’Jays, Michael McDonald @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 27
Richie Havens @ Calumet Theatre, Calumet, MI, June 27
Diana Krall @ Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, June 27
Joe Cocker @ Ameristar Casino, Kansas City, MO, June 27
Regina Belle @ St. Kitts Music Festival, Warner Park Stadium, St. Kitts, WI, June 27
Peter White, Mindi Abair @ Rodney Strong Winery, Healdsburg, CA, June 27
Simply Red @ Heroes’ Square, Budapest, Hungary, June 27
Anthony Hamilton @ BJCC Concert Hall, Birmingham, AL, June 27
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Rodney Strong Winery, Healdsburg, CA, June 27
Sax For Stax feat. Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum @ South Coast Winery, Temecula, CA, June 27
Patti LaBelle, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez, Dred Scott Trio, Wallace Roney Quintet, John Ellis Quintet @ Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 27
George Benson, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Bonerama, Aaron Parks, Julian Lage @ Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 28
Anthony Hamilton @ Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte, NC, June 28
Diana Krall @ Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI, June 28
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO, June 28
Patti LaBelle, Robin Thicke, Chuck Brown, Keiko Matsui @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 28
George Benson @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 28
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Wembley Arena, London, UK, June 28
Joe Cocker @ Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, June 28
Joe Cocker @ Fraze Pavilion, Kettering, OH, June 30
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI, June 30