JOE MCBRIDE - LOOKIN' FOR A CHANGE

New from Joe McBride is an iintriguing new recording, Lookin' For A Change, that reinterprets a dozen contemporary pop songs via straight-ahead jazz arrangements. Along out with the help of a live trio - guitarist Dan Wilson, bassist Roger Hines and drummer Elijah Gilmore - the album includes a collection of songs originally written and recorded by a range of pop luminaries, including Gnarls Barkley, Coldplay, John Mayer, Seal and several others. These reinterpretations, along with three original compositions from McBride's own inspirational well, make for an engaging juxtaposition of the best elements of contemporary pop and traditional jazz.

Lookin’ For A Change opens with a buoyant take on Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," wherein McBride augments his energetic piano work with a vocal line reminiscent of Al Jarreau. Further into the set, McBride injects Corrine Bailey Rae's "Like a Star" with a Latin groove that's full of energy without being overbearing. In the home stretch, McBride's rendition of Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" puts a gentler jazz spin on this passionate ode without sacrificing any of the emotional impact of the source material. The set closes with the infectiously rhythmic title track, an appeal for greater tolerance and understanding in a rapidly evolving society. Written by McBride, the song is laced with subtle but unmistakable hints of R&B and funk amid the predominantly jazz-flavored arrangement. This is McBride at his best, sending a clear and positive message without delivering a heavy-handed sermon.

“To be honest, I really wanted to try to reach a different audience with my new album,” McBride says. “I’m all about growth. It’s all about making the old things new. It’s okay to look back for just a moment, but the more important idea is to keep our eyes on the future.”Happily living in Cleveland when he’s not on tour, McBride enjoys playing locally and keeping busy in the studio. He says, “I’m grateful to God that he has given me the ability to play music and to share it with others.”

THE WEATHER CHANNEL TUNES OUT SMOOTH JAZZ

The smooth jazz music that for years has played in the background of the Atlanta-based Weather Channel’s “Local On the 8s” segments has been replaced with soft rock songs instead.“ I think we’ve been doing an injustice to our viewers playing, for the lack of a better word, elevator music on the segments for all these years,” said Geoffrey Darby, the cable network’s new executive vice president of programming, The old sound was so popular, the network released a CD of “Weather Channel Smooth Jazz” that went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Current Contemporary Jazz Album Chart. But all that smoothness let the programming slip too far into the background. This wasn’t great for the audience or the network’s advertisers who prefer viewers who are awake. Now, instead of hearing Spyro Gyra in the background while the announcer is intoning the latest local update (“Sunny and 75”), listeners hear tracks from the Rolling Stones (“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”).“People would have it on but they wouldn’t be watching and they wouldn’t be listening,” said Darby, who pushed for the change after joining the network in February. “We wanted music that would get their attention —- and this has.” It’s really to bad that smooth jazz has gotten such a bad rap after all these years, but the reality is that the genre has really shot itself in the foot by releasing boring and bland music for so many years. In any event it is time to move on to the next level/ Hey – anybody ever check out Blu 102.7 broadcasting out of Sante Fe, New Mexico. The good new is that you can hear a really cool mix of Jazz, Rhythm, World and Chill, but the bad news is that they are no longer streaming on the web. I bet it has to do with the royalty problem that is causing many stations to no longer stream. Let’s hope they can come back online soon because it is really a format worth looking into. If you have some time check out their playlist.

FREDDIE HUBBARD - WITHOUT A SONG: LIVE IN EUROPE 1969

In its continuing series of unearthing previously unissued archival music by the legends of jazz, Blue Note Records has released Without a Song—Live in Europe 1969 by trumpeter icon Freddie Hubbard, who passed away last December at the age of 70. Recorded at shows in England and Germany, the album features seven tracks performed with an all-star quartet, comprising pianist Roland Hanna, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Louis Hayes. The album captures Hubbard at the peak of his career during 1969's Jazz Wave on Tour that was produced by Sonny Lester and recorded by Malcolm Addey. After years of being in the Blue Note vaults, last year producer Michael Cuscuna sent the tapes to Hubbard, who enthusiastically embraced the idea of letting the music finally being released."

Freddie said that this was some of his best playing ever captured on tape," says Cuscuna, who enlisted Addey to remix and master the live recordings in 24 bit. "Freddie was like a schoolboy when he heard these tapes. He was jumping up and down. He was thrilled. He was full-steam ahead with the release and wanted to do publicity surrounding it. He wanted to show who the real Freddie Hubbard was." Trumpeter and bandleader David Weiss, who worked closely with Hubbard from 2000 to his death, listened with him to the tapes Cuscuna delivered. In the liner notes to Without a Song, Weiss writes, "Freddie and I listened to the three concerts the music on this CD is culled from while we were working on what turned out to be his final album, On the Real Side. Every day while driving back and forth from the studio, we would pop this music into the CD player and soak it all in. Freddie really enjoyed this music."

The Jazz Wave tour featured several acts that traveled together and played 25-30-minute sets at each stop throughout Europe. Other performers on the bill included the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, Jeremy Steig, Kenny Burrell and Jimmy McGriff. The tour was documented with a 1970 double-LP Blue Note release, Jazz Wave. On that compilation, only Hubbard's stunning rendition of "Body and Soul" was released. The rest of the material of the tour was shelved. Recorded in Bristol and London, England, and at a date in Germany, Without a Song features Hubbard breathing fire, swinging mightily and musing lyrically throughout, including on the title track, "The Things We Did Last Summer," "A Night in Tunisia" and one of the leader’s hit tunes, "Hub-Tones," in a truncated version that served as the end song of his sets during the tour. The album also includes Red Garland's "Blues By Five" (a rarely played tune that Miles Davis once covered) and the avant-leaning, tempo-shifting original, "Space Track." In regards the latter, Cuscuna says that it wasn't originally slated to be on the album, but Hubbard requested it. “

These performances show the range of these guys and the way they approached hard bop,” says Cuscuna. Weiss adds in the liners, “This recording captures Freddie at one of the creative high points of his career when all his experiences of the past decade—performing with Art Blakey and playing on all those classic Blue Note recordings—seem to have reached an apex. He was still pretty early in his career as a bandleader at this point but except for Louis Hayes, this was not his regular working band at the time which might account for the program being mostly being made up of standards with a couple of originals sprinkled in.” Without a Song captures Hubbard during a period when he was one of jazz’s most important artists whose influence continues to hold sway today. “As these recordings once again attest, Freddie was the complete package,” says Weiss. “[He had a] huge, fat sound, incredible range, as harmonically complex as they come but also quite the lyricist and boasted perhaps the most prodigious technique in the history of jazz trumpet. And as these recordings yet again prove, he gave it his all at all times, night after night, year after year.”

CAROL DUBOC - BURT BACHARACH SONGBOOK

Golf Note Music has announced the latest release from Carol Duboc, who ishailed as "one of the most interesting and dynamic jazz singers of her generation" by Jazz Times Magazine. The platinum-selling vocalist, songwriter and arranger will introduce her new Burt Bacharach Songbook in stores and online on August 18, 2009. Duboc served as producer and arranger, and brings her unique jazz sensibility to a collection of contemporary pop classics by Burt Bacharach Bacharach and lyricist Hal David. Selections on the CD range from a playful take on "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" to a paired down, heartfelt version of "Anyone Who Had a Heart." Duboc's trademark sensuality comes through in her simmering interpretation of "Walk on By" and her refreshing perspective as a songwriter is highlighted on the disc's only original track "My Melody." The album also features intricate and effortless contributions by world-renowned flautist, Hubert Laws as well as musicians Danny Embrey on guitar, Joe Cartwright on piano, Bob Bowman on bass, Tim Cambron on drums and Luis Conte on percussion.

Carol Duboc first stepped out as a solo artist with her debut album With All That I Am in 2001. She immediately began earning critical acclaim as one of the top new jazz singers on the music scene. Sandy Shore of smoothjazz.com announced "Smooth Jazz has a new poster girl!" She has sold over three million records as a writer and arranger and has worked with Patti LaBelle, Tom Jones and Jeff Lorber, among many others. Her writing and arranging success has included, among other things, the song "This Word is All" on Patti LaBelle's Gems CD, which went Gold, as well as the title cut, "Precious", on Chante Moore's Gold CD. Carol also penned the hit single "Never Do You Wrong" for Stephanie Mills, and the song "That Boy" on Jade's Jade To The Max CD, which attained Platinum status. The Burt Bacharach Songbook is Duboc's fifth release following her four critically acclaimed albums beginning in 2002, and her big screen debut as "Pumpkin" in Be Cool in 2005, which starred John Travolta, Uma Thurman and Danny DeVito. Duboc's music can be heard on radio stations across the country.

QUINCY JONES TO HEADLINE 14TH ANNUAL BERMUDA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Quincy Jones will be joined by a number of A-list artists for a once-in-a-lifetime performance at the14th Annual Bermuda Music Festival from October 29 - 31, 2009. Named by Time Magazine as one of the six most influential Jazz artists of the 20th Century, Quincy Jones stands as one of the most successful and admired creative artists and executives in the entertainment world. Quincy Jones is celebrated as the producer and conductor of We Are The World, the number one best-selling single of all time, as well as for collaborating on some of Michael Jackson's most popular albums including "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad."

Kicking off this year's Bermuda Music Festival on October 29(th) will be the Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, record producer and actor Ne-Yo. Ne-Yo has wowed audiences with his talents since 2006 with his multi-platinum chart topping debut, In My Own Words. He has written chart-topping hits for Mario, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna and Beyonce and is also the voice behind So Sick and Miss Independent. Ne-Yo most recently performed at the 2009 BET Awards and is currently on tour in the UK.

Over the past 14 years, Bermuda has welcomed an unparalleled lineup of star performers to its pristine pink sand beaches for the Bermuda Music Festival including: Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Kenny G, Seal, Natalie Cole and Isaac Hayes, to name a few. Last year, Tickets for the 2009 Bermuda Music Festival will go on sale to the public through the Internet, by phone and at on island ticket outlets beginning Wednesday, July 22(nd) at 8:00 a.m. ADT. For additional details and package information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Bermuda Music Festival website at www.bermudatourism.com/bermuda_music_festival.aspx or call 1-800-309-8497. There is an eight ticket purchase limit per person, per performance.

THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER TO PERFORM FOR THE SOCIETY OF SINGERS

The Manhattan Transfer are set to perform a benefit concert for the Society of Singers (SOS), which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The show will take place on the evening of September 11, at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood The Manhattan Transfer, which consists of Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Alan Paul and Cheryl Bentyne, was founded more than 35 years ago by Hauser, who dreamed of blending jazz, R&B, pop, rock 'n' roll, salsa and swing into a vocal group without limits. In the early 1970’s, performances at Max’s Kansas City, Trude Heller’s and Reno Sweeney in New York City soon developed for them a cult fan base, and it was at the latter venue that Ahmet Ertegun, found and chairman of Atlantic Records, saw them and offered then a recording contract which resulted in the release of their first album, The Manhattan Transfer (1975). The album included the group;s first successful single, the gospel tune “Operator”. The group has released more than two dozen albums, enjoyed 18 charting singles (including the Top 10 pop hit "The Boy from New York City") and won eight Grammy Awards in a variety of categories; in 1981, they became the first group to win Grammys in both pop and jazz categories in a single year. In 2006, The Manhattan Transfer released The Symphony Session, a collection of the group's successes re-arranged for symphonies and popular orchestras, and The Definitive Pop Collection, a two-disc collection of the group's tunes which would cause one to believe they were only from the group's popular music repertoire. Instead, it's a hodge-podge of the group's songs distributed by their contracts with the Atlantic company. Also that year their second concert DVD was released: The Christmas Concert, and was broadcasted by PBS in select locations. Four Quarters Entertainment will release Manhattan Transfer's new CD entitled The Chick Corea Songbook in September.

THE AUGUST CONCERT CALENDAR

Roberta Flack @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 1
Steely Dan @ Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, Aug 1
El Chicao @ Monteray Bay Berry Festival, Santa Cruz, CA, Aug 1
Bobby Caldwell @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, Aug 1
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena At Harvey’s, Lake Tahoe, NV, Aug 1
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson @ Texas Station, North Las Vegas, NV, Aug 1
Bob James, Earl Klugh @ Blue Note Jazz Club, New York, NY, Aug 1-2
Malo, The Pete Escovedo Orchestra @ Monteray Bay Berry Festival, Santa Cruz, CA, Aug 2
Bela Fleck @ Summersfest, New York, NY, Aug 3
Greg Karukas, Blues Alley, Washington, DC, Aug 2
Diane Schurr @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 2-5
Bela Fleck @ Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield, ME, Aug 4
Bela Fleck @ Paramount Theatre, Rutland, VT, Aug 5
The Wailers @ Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre, Portland, OR, Aug 5
Najee @ Smooth Cruises Chelsea Piers, New York, NY, Aug 5
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Peabo Bryson @ Soundboard Theatre Motor City Casino, Detroit, MI, Aug 6
Freda Payne @ Iridium, New York, NY, Aug 7
The Wailers @ Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom, Snoqualmie, WA, Aug 6
Bela Fleck @ Franco Folies Festival, Montreal, QC, Aug 6
Bobby Hutcherson featuring Renee Rosnes@ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 6-10
Bela Fleck @ Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, Orkney Springs, VA, Aug 7
The Wailers @ Edmonton Folk Festival, Edmonton, AB, Aug 7
Chris Botti @ Tanglewood, Lenox, MA, Aug 7
Steely Dan @ Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, CT, Aug 7
Erykah Badu @ Chene Park, Detroit, MI, Aug 7
Mindi Abair @ King Center For The Performing Arts, Melbourne, FL, Aug 7
Latin Jazz All Stars @ Creole, New York, NY, Aug 7-8
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Peabo Bryson @ Atlantic City Hilton, Atlantic City, NJ, Aug 8
Diana Krall @ Pearl Concert Theatre, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 8
The Wailers @ Regina Folk Festival, Regina, SK, Aug 8
Bela Fleck @ Folk Festival, Edmonton, AB, Aug 8
Steely Dan @ Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ, Aug 8
Leela James @ The Grand Ballroom At Regency Center, San Francisco, CA, Aug 8
Will Downing, Angie Stone @ New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ, Aug 8
Erykah Badu @ Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, Aug 8
Bettye LaVette @ Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival, Clarksdale, MS, Aug 8
Teena Marie, Spirit Fest – Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, Aug 8
Bettye LaVette @ San Jose Jazz Festival, San Jose, CA, Aug 9
Etta James & The Roots Band @ The Birchmere Music Hall, Alexandria, VA, Aug 10
Bela Fleck @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Aug 10-11
Peter White, Mindi Abair @ Scullers Jazz Club, Allston, MA, Aug 11
Russell Taylor @ SOB’s, New York, NY, Aug 11
Buddy Guy @ Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA, Aug 11
Lee Ritenour Group, Annekei @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 11-15
Buddy Guy @ The Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 12
Bela Fleck @ Rio Theater, Santa Cruz, CA, Aug 12
Eliane Elias @ Iridium, New York, NY, Aug 12
Diana Krall @ Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA, Aug 12
Peter White, Mindi Abair @ Spirit of New York Cruise Ship, New York, NY, Aug 12
Peter White, Mindi Abair @ Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, Aug 13
Chico DeBarge @ SOB’s, New York, NY, Aug 13
Will Downing @ Jean Kiosk Park, Benton Harbor, MI, Aug 14
Peter White, Mindi Abair @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Aug 14
Brian Culbertson @ PNC Banks Arts Center, Holmdale, NJ, Aug 14
Steely Dan @ Mud Island. Memphis, TN, Aug 14
Buddy Guy @ Primm Valley Resort, Primm, NV, Aug 14
Arturo Sandoval @ Blues Alley, Washington, DC, Aug 14-15
Buddy Guy @ Historic Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA, Aug 15
Brian Culbertson @ Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT, Aug 15
Steely Dan @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA, Aug 15
Mindi Abair @ Nicollet Commerce Park, Burnsville, NY, Aug 15
Will Downing @ Mahalia Jackson Theatre, New Orleans, LA, Aug 15
Diana Krall @ Peppermill Reno Tuscany Ballroom, Reno, NV, Aug 15
John Legend, India.Arie @ Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 15
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson @ Ironstone Vineyard, Murphy’s CA, Aug 16
Bonnie Raitt @ Wolf Trap Filene Center, Vienna, VA, Aug 16
Tania Maria @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 16-18
Bonnie Raitt @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA, Aug 18
Bonnie Raitt @ Palace Theatre, Louisville, KY, Aug 19
Tower Of Power @ San Mateo Fair, San Mateo, CA, Aug 19
Marion Meadows @ Smooth Cruises Chelsea Piers, New York, NY, Aug 19
Sax For Stax w/Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright @ Snoqualmie Resort, Snoqualmie, WA, Aug 19
Akiko Yano Trio feat. Will Lee & Chris Parker@ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 19, 20, 22, 23
Tower Of Power @ Humphrey’s By The Bay, San Diego, CA, Aug 21
Michael Franks @ House Of Blues, New Orleans, LA, Aug 21
Sister Sledge @ Indig02, London, UK, Aug 21
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Peabo Bryson @ Spirit Mountain Casino, Grand Ronde, OR, Aug 21
Sax For Stax feat. Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum @ The Hyatt Newporter, Newport Beach, CA, Aug 21
Bonnie Raitt @ Ravinia, Highland Park, Il, Aug 21-22
Michael Franks @ House Of Blues, Dallas, TX, Aug 22
Steely Dan @ Gibson Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 21, 22, 24. 25
Phil Perry @ Smooth Cruises Chelsea Piers, New York, NY, Aug 22
Al Green @ Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino, Tulsa, OK, Aug 22
The Wailers @ Belleayne Music Festival, Highmount, NY, Aug 22
Tower Of Power @ The Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 23
Michael Franks @ City Of Gardena Jazz Festival, Gardena, CA, Aug 23
Diana Krall @ Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA, Aug 23
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Peabo Bryson @ JVC Jazz The Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 23
The Wailers @ Chicken Box, Nantucket, MA, Aug 24-25
Ramsey Lewis Trio @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 24-29
Bonnie Raitt @ White River State Park, Indianapolis, IN, Aug 25
Neville Brothers, Dr. John @ The Keswick, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 25
Laura Isidor @ Billboard Live, Osaka, Japan, Aug 26
The Wailers @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH, Aug 26
Roy Ayers @ Blue Note Jazz Club, New York, NY, Aug 25-30
George Benson, Ledisi @ Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 27
Al Green @ Tulalip Amphitheatre, Tulalip, WA, Aug 27
Al Green @ McMenamins Amphithreatre, Troutdale, OR, Aug 28
Diana Krall @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR, Aug 28
The Wailers @ Joey Harrison Surf Club, Ortley Beach, NJ, Aug 28
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Peabo Bryson @ Humphrey’s, San Diego, CA, Aug 28
Steely Dan @ Palms, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 28
Laura Isidor @ Billboard Live, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 28-29
Teena Marie @ Country Club Hillsm Chicago, IL, Aug 29
Mindi Abiar @ Idyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CA, Aug 29
King Sunny Ade @ Capital One Bank Theatre, Westbury, NY, Aug 29
Tower Of Power @ River Rock Casino, Richmond, BC, Aug 29
Sax For Stax w/Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright @ John Hay High School, Cleveland, OH, Aug 29
Teena Marie @ Fox Theater, Detroit, MI, Aug 29
Al B. Sure! @ Spotlight, Coachella, CA, Aug 29
Bonnie Raitt @ Red Rocks, Morrison, CO, Aug 30
Steely Dan @ Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL, Aug 30
Bettye LaVette @ Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, San Francisco, CA, Aug 30
Kora Jazz Trio @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 30-31
Bettye LaVette @ Jimmy Mak’s, Portland, OR, Aug 31

CEU - VAGAROSA

Brazilian singer-songwriter Ceu, who instantly grabbed worldwide attention with her Grammy-nominated debut album (2007), has returned with a fresh new album, VAGAROSA. The album was released internationally on July 7th. On this new release, Ceu once again teamed up with artist/ producer Beto Villares to produce and record her new compositions. The result is a fresh, modern Brazilian sound which incorporates elements of soul, samba, dub, hip-hop and electronica. With the release of Vagarosa, Ceu takes her place as one of the most fascinating & creative performers currently working on the Global stage. VAGAROSA (her second album), arrives four years after her debut, finds her sticking to the style that first brought her to the attention of the world music and hipster-lounge communities. On thins new release she is still throwing in surprisingly capable reggae grooves ("Cangote," the first full song on this CD, boasts a deep dub bassline and some extremely haunting organ); and still multitracking her vocals into a conversation. It`s a lilting yet heady blend that she pulls off with an utter confidence that`s fascinating in such a young artist. Ceu`s songs flirt with a Tom Waits-like clatter sometimes, but always resolve themselves into drifting bliss. For insatance, her psychedelic take on Jorge Ben`s "Rosa Menina Rosa," the only song on VAGAROSA she didn`t write, works itself into a whirling storm of reverb and phasing effects, yet never loses its essential breeziness. Computer-generated vinyl crackle turns up on the album intro, as well as "Somnambulao" ("Sleepwalking. The last track, "Espa¿onave," throws in field recordings of rain forest creatures and multi-tracked vocals alongside fuzzed-out guitar, creating a feel reminiscent of the work of the similarly brilliant Mexican art-pop princess Natalia Lafourcade. VAGAROSA is an impressive, assured album well worth a listener`s time, whether one speaks Portuguese or not.

Vagarosa Track Listing:
1. Sobre O Amor E Seu Trabalho Silencioso (Ou Intro Do Cangote)
2. Cangote
3. Bubuia
4. Grains De Beaute
5. Vira Lata
6. Comadi
7. Papa
8. Ponteiro
9. Primeiro Desenho
10. Cordao Da Insonia
11. Rosa Menina Rosa
12. Sonambulo

Céu is currently performing select U.S. dates with upcoming appearances scheduled as follows:

July 17 - The Roxy - Los Angeles, CA

July 18 - Herbst Theatre - San Francisco, CA

July 21 - The HighLine Ballroom - New York, NY

MAXWELL - BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT A HUGE SELLER!

Singer Maxwell has entered the Billboard Top 200 at #1 this week with his long-awaited fourth studio album, BLACKsummers'night, one of the year's most heavily-anticipated event records. With first week's sales of 316,499, according to SoundScan, BLACKsummers'night is enjoying the highest debut sales week, and best overall sales week of Maxwell's career. BLACKsummers'night is #1 on the SoundScan Album Retailer chart and is #1 on the Current R&B chart. Released on Tuesday, July 7, on CD and in a Limited Edition Deluxe CD/DVD set, BLACKsummers'night is the first full-length Maxwell release since Now, his critically-acclaimed third studio album, also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 in August 2001.

Maxwell recently returned to the top of the nation's singles charts when "Pretty Wings," the first single from BLACKsummers'night, rocketed to the #1 slot on America's Urban Adult radio stations less than eight weeks after its release after completing an earlier run as the nation's #1 Greatest Gainer/Most-Added song at the Urban Mainstream format. "Pretty Wings" has spent four weeks in the #1 slot of Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart, where it's closely followed by "Cold," another single from BLACKsummers'night. Each a chart-topper on iTunes, BLACKsummers'night reached #1 on the iTunes R&B Albums chart while "Pretty Wings" hit #1 on the iTunes R&B Singles chart. "Bad Habits," the lead track and second single from BLACKsummers'night, is the nation's #1 Most Added song at Urban Adult radio according to Mediabase, the music industry's first mass-airplay monitoring service.

Maxwell began redefining 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. His third studio album, Now, entered the Billboard 200 at #1 in August 2001. To date, Maxwell has achieved 10 gold and platinum certifications from the RIAA for his albums and singles.

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. BLACKsummers'night is the opening installment of the artist's monumental BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT trilogy. (The trilogy's subsequent chapters, blackSUMMERS'night and blacksummers'NIGHT, are set for release in 2010 and 2011 respectively.)

Maxwell - BLACKsummers'night North American Tour - Summer 2009
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 @ Foxwoods
July 27 - Norfolk, VA @ Chrysler Hall
July 28 - Savannah, GA @ Johnny Mercer
July 30 - Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
July 31 -Miami, FL @ Waterfront Theatre at the American Airlines Arena

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

EL CHICANO, MALO & THE PETE ESCOVEDO ORCHESTRA IN CONCERT

Latin legends Sapo and El Chicano will rock the crowds at the Monterey Bay Berry Festival on the weekend of August 1-2 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. The festival opens at 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day with the Berry Carnival closing at 11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 p.m. on Sunday. Among the bands performing will be Sapo featuring Richard Bean; El Chicano; The Pete Escovedo Orchestra; Malo, featuring Jorge Santana; Lava; the Tommy Castro Band; The Backyard Blues; La Ventana Band;and Los Morros Del Norte.

According to their press release millions of delicious, nutritious, mouth-watering strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries will be ripe for the celebration. Tasty dessert treats and entertainment are just part of the fun over the weekend. There will be arts and crafts booths, a wide range of Festival food selections, and gooey contests for young and old happening each day. New attractions include the Gold Coast Arabian Classic and Amateur Horse Show, a Muscle Car Show and a wellness faire to learn about the nutritional values of eating berries.

Saturday, August 1 Schedule:
12 Noon: Lava
1:45 p.m.: The Backyard Blues
3:30 p.m.: Tommy Castro Band
5:30 p.m.: Sapo
7:30 p.m: El Chicano

Sunday, August 2 Schedule:
12:15 p.m.: La Ventana
2 p.m.: The Pete Escovedo Orchestra
4 p.m.: Malo

http://www.berryfestival.org/
www.myspace.com/saporichardbean
http://www.elchicanomusic.com/
http://www.peteescovedo.com/
http://www.malomusic.com/
http://www.lavamusicrocks.com/
http://www.tommycastro.com/
http://www.backyardblues.com/
www.myspace.com/laventanabandcom
http://www.morrosdelnorte.com/

NEW RELEASES FROM TEENA MARIE, NICOLA CONTE, MAXWELL, JOE JACKSON, CEU & OTHERS...

Al B. Sure! – Honey I’m Home
Alonzo Wright – Bitz Of Pieces (OTH)
Ceu – Vagarosa (Six Degrees)
Chokolate – To Whom It May Concern (Chokolate Music)
Clara Moreno – Miss Balanco (Far Out)
Count Basie- Basie Land – Remastered (Verve)
Crusaders – Images – Remastered (Verve)
Dee Alexander – Wild Is The Wind (Blujazz)
El Super Mini Combo – Nacional (Super Mini Combo)
Emma Tricca – Minor White (Cbird)
Fernando Porto – Auto-Retrato (EMI)
Freddie Hubbard – High Energy – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Freddie Hubbard – The Baddest Hubbard – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Freddie Hubbard – Polar Arc – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Freddie Hubbard – Liquid Love – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Freddie Hubbard – Windjammer – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Freddie Hubbard – Bundle Of Joy – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Freddie Hubbard – The Love Comments – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Freddie Hubbard – Skugly – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Gato Barbieri – Chapter 3: Viva Emiliano Zapata – Remastered (GRP)
Grover Washington Jr – A Secret Place (Verve)
Herb Ellis & Charlie Byrd – The Midnight Roll – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Herb Ellis & Charlie Byrd – Guitar Guitar – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Herculaneum – Herculaneum III (Clean Feed)
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Honest Jons)
Irene Cara – Carasmatic (Wounded Bird)
Isaac Hayes – Hot Buttered Soul - Remastered
Ivan Lins – Ivan Lins & The Metropole Orchestra (Biscoito Fina)
JJ Band (Chicles and Chakackas – JJ Band (Polydor/Sonorama)
Jeffrey Osborne – Greatest Hits Live! (E1 Music)
Joe Cocker – Joe Cocker (A&M/Hip-O Select)
Joe Jackson – King Pleasure Time: The Remixes (Ryodisc)
Joelle Leandre & George Lewis – Transatlantic Vision (Rogue Art)
Jorge Ben – Salve Simpatia (Som Livre/Bomba)
King Curtis – Get Ready (Wounded Bird)
Lars Bartkuhn – New Continent (Sonar Kollektiv)
Laura Nyro – Mother’s Spiritual – Remastered (Columbia)
Lee Fields & The Expressions – New World (Truth & Soul)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Easy (Tamla/Univ.)
Maxwell – BLACKsummers’night (Columbia)
Moments – A Moment With The Moments (Rhino)
Moments – My Thing (Rhino)
Moments – The Moments Live At The Miss Black America Pageant (Rhino)
Moments – The Other Side Of The Moments (Rhino)
Neville Brothers – Live At Tipitan’s
Nicola Conte – Presents Viagem 2 (Far Out)
Nomo – Invisible Cities (Ubiquity)
Olli Ojajarvi Trio – Out Of Mind (Ricky Tick)
Paul Dunmall Sun Quartet – Ancient & Furure Airs (Clean Feed)
Peggy Lee – Jump For Joy – Remastered (DRG)
Quincy Jones – Quincy Jones Explores The Music Of Henry Mancini (Verve)
Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Virgo Red – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Starbooty – Remastered (Wounded Bird)
Sammy Davis Jr. – Sammy’s Swingiest Sides (26f)
Santucci Scoppa – New Tradition (Arision)
Soulive – Up Here (Royal Family)
Stefania Rava – Send In The Clows (Deja Vu)
Steve Kuhn & Joe Lovano – Mostly Coltrane (ECM)
Sunil Dev – Music Of Sunil Dev (Heavenly Sweetness)
Teena Marie – Congo Square (Stax)
Terry Callier – Hidden Conversations (Mr Bongo)
Various Artists – Island Life: 50 Years Of Island Records (Universal)
Various Artists – Le Bresil Au Cinema (Universal)
Various Artists – Present – The Soundtrack From The Surf Movie By Thomas Campbell (Brush Fire)
Various Artists – Revolution (Rapster)
Various Artists – Shapes 09:01 (Tru Thoughts)
Warren Wolf – Raw (WW Music)
Wes Montgomery – Down Here On The Ground (Verve)