THE HERB ALPERT FOUNDATION

The Herb Alpert  Foundation announced  that they have renewed their commitment to help the prestigious Harlem School of the Arts by offering a $350,000 '2 to 1' matching grant program. To match this offering, HSA will be seeking $700,000 in new funding commitments in the next four months from corporations, individuals as well as other foundations to meet the challenge. Musician Herb Alpert, whose foundation has donated millions of dollars over the years to fund arts programs in schools all over the country, previously came to the rescue of HSA last year when they were about to close their doors. The first grant of $500,000 was also a matching gift that brought another $500,000 from other donors. So impressed was Alpert when he visited the school to see the remarkable progress they were making toward sustaining their music, dance and arts programs for the children in the community that he made an additional commitment to the school this year. "During my recent visit to HSA, I got to observe classes in music, arts and dance. The kids along with the teachers showed a tremendous commitment to these programs. It's imperative that their good work continues in the years ahead," commented Alpert. Yvette Campbell, the new President & CEO of The Harlem School of the Arts and a former professional dancer concurred:  "I am inspired and dedicated to see HSA on a path to become the premiere institution for arts education within NYC's cultural landscape as well as continuing to provide young people with the opportunity to take advantage of its quality arts programming with life skills that assure success: discipline, high standards, clear performance goals and high expectations." "The Alperts strongly believe that the arts play a fundamental role in all of our lives, and one of the core areas of their philanthropy is to support arts education for our youth, and particularly for youth in underserved areas and communities. For many decades, The Harlem School of the Arts has played a significant role in providing young people with the opportunities to find their creative voice and spirit, and the Alperts are hopeful that once again, through a new matching grant challenge, others will step up to help strengthen and sustain this important resource for the Harlem community," added Rona Sebastian, President of the Herb Alpert Foundation.

CHICK COREA - THE DEFINITIVE CHICK COREA ON STRETCH AND CONCORD

Since his earliest recordings in the 1960s, pianist, keyboardist, and composer Chick Corea has consistently taken the creative process to a level that transcends conventional musical doctrines. After spending his formative years with artists as diverse as Miles Davis, Herbie Mann, Stan Getz, and Sarah Vaughan, Corea helped redefine the boundaries of jazz as a founding member of the acclaimed Return To Forever, one of the most innovative and daring jazz fusion collectives of the last half-century. In more recent decades, as the leader of numerous projects that have explored various aspects of the musical landscape, he continues to be an influential force in modern jazz. In celebration of Corea’s 70th birthday this summer, Concord Music Group provides a look back at three decades’ worth of brilliant recordings in The Definitive Chick Corea on Stretch and Concord. The sweeping two-disc collection, the latest in CMG’s ongoing Definitive series begins with some of Corea’s best sessions with Stretch in the early 1980s and follows him through the end of the century to his work on Concord up to 2009. The Definitive Chick Corea on Stretch and Concord is set for release on June 7, 2011, just days ahead of the artist’s 70th birthday on June 12.

The collection is being released simultaneously with Forever, a new two-disc electric/acoustic set that Corea recorded live with Return To Forever bandmates Stanley Clarke and Lenny White, along with, on disc two, a few high-profile guests (Chaka Khan, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Bill Connors)  during a world tour in 2009. A previously unreleased version of Corea’s well-known “La Fiesta, ” captured during this tour, is the closing track on The Definitive Chick Corea. Even a quick glance at the range of material in this collection - 21 tracks in all  provides an impressive perspective on the breadth and depth of Corea’s imagination, according to veteran music journalist Don Heckman, who wrote the liner notes for the set. “Start with the all-star collectives of the early ’80s that find him in the company of such jazz stalwarts as Michael Brecker, Joe Henderson, Roy Haynes, Lee Konitz, and Gary Peacock, to name only a few, ” says Heckman. “Add the musical encounters with old friend and frequent collaborator Gary Burton, the first Origin tracks and a glimpse of Chick’s insightful approach to standards. And, in the 2000s, more unusual musical encounters, this time with Bobby McFerrin, Béla Fleck, Hiromi, John McLaughlin, and again Burton, as well as the Elektric and Akoustic Bands.”

As to the divine nature of the creative process, Heckman recalls a quote from Corea himself about the higher channel that every artist eventually dials into: “Your tastes can change from day to day, ” says Corea. “But the whole point of being an artist, with my groups, has always been spirituality, art as spirit. That’s our message, and translated into human rights terms, it’s freedom of expression. Freedom of thought, which is actually broader than freedom of religion . . . Freedom to think as you will. Which means freedom to pray, practice your own religion, play what music you want, say what opinions you have, communicate as you want. And that’s our premise.” The music within The Definitive Chick Corea on Stretch and Concord exemplifies Corea’s unwillingness to be restricted by artificial boundaries, says Nick Phillips, Concord Music Group’s Vice President of Catalog and Jazz A&R and co-producer in collaboration with Corea of this collection. “One of the many amazing things about Chick is just how restlessly creative he is not only as an instrumentalist, but also as a composer, ” says Phillips. “He’s a true artist who’s not driven by fickle trends, or some conventional norm about the way a jazz tune should be written or played. He’s driven purely by his own boundless creativity, and he has demonstrated that throughout his career. That’s what shines through on these tracks and that’s why each one is timeless.”

TRACK LIST:
Disc 1
Tap Step
Quartet No. 1
Folk Song
Duende
Windows
Armando’s Rhumba
Bud Powell
Dreamless
Wigwam
Spain
It Could Happen To You

Disc 2

Blue Monk

Bessie’s Blues

Johnny’s Landing

North Africa

The Fool on the Hill

Señorita

Crystal Silence

The Disguise

La Fiesta [previously unreleased]

THE BAR-KAYS - RETURN OF THE MACK

With their roots beginning in their hometown, the Home of the Blues, Memphis, Tennessee, the Bar-Kays are set to take Funk to a new level in 2011 with the release of the hit single, Return Of The Mack. The Bar-Kays, JEA/Right Now Records, and Bungalo/UMGD are united to launch this release which is sure to drive radio listeners to get up on their feet and dance as only the Bar-Kays can. Retrurn Of The Mack was originally recorded by English R&B singer, Mark Morrison, when it became a top 10 hit in Europe and a #2 hit in the USA. Best known for trailblazing the music industry with multiple Funk hits, the Bar-Kays are no strangers to breaking records with their track record of numerous charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" (U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #17, R&B #3) in 1967, and "Son of Shaft" (R&B #10) in 1972. In addition to their radio charting success, their music has been infused within some of the top box office films in America including Spies Like Us featuriing, featuring their single, Soul Finger, starring Emmy Award Winning Actors, Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase. Some other movies that the Bar-Kays' songs were used in include: Kickin' It Old School, Head Of State, and Superbad. "On behalf of Bungalo/UMGD, we are proud to work with such a prestigious and legendary group as the Bar-Kays in this innovative and collaborative partnership," says Robert (Leo) Rodgers, Sr. Executive Vice President, Bungalo/Universal Music Group Dist. Release dates and appearances related to the upcoming music launch to be announced.

WAR - THE MUSIC BAND

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) has acquired the rights to the catalog of WAR, the band that created such oft-covered and much-sampled funk-rock classics as "Why Can't We Be Friends?," "Low Rider," "Spill The Wine," "The Cisco Kid," "Slippin' Into Darkness" and "Summer."  WAR is the centerpiece of a long-term exclusive license agreement which brings the entire Avenue Records catalog to UMe, a division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company. During the next month - celebrating the 40th anniversary of the band on its own - several WAR albums will be made available for digital download for the first time and fans will be able to obtain a free classic track via Facebook.  WAR is also currently in the studio preparing a new album. Making their digital premieres on May 3rd will be 1997's Coleccion Latina, which brings together WAR's favorite tracks for Latin fans, and two original 1979 albums, The Music Band and The Music Band 2.  WAR will stage its always very popular annual show at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.  The May 28th concert will additionally feature Tower of Power and Tierra.  This spring and summer, WAR will perform coast-to-coast, including Fiesta Atlanta (May 1), the California State Fair (July 23) and the Los Angeles County Fair (September 16).

After two discs and the gold "Spill The Wine" with Eric Burdon as lead singer, WAR debuted as headliner with a self-titled album in 1971.  Later that year, All Day Music scored with the gold "Slippin' Into Darkness."  1972's The World Is A Ghetto, with the gold "The Cisco Kid" and gold title track, not only charted #1 but was named Billboard's Album of the Year and went quadruple platinum.  The multiplatinum Deliver The Word with the Top 10 "Gypsy Man" in 1973 continued the band's success as did 1975's multiplatinum Why Can't We Be Friends?.  The latter's gold title track as well as "Low Rider" became the group's most recognizable hits.  The following year's quadruple platinum Greatest Hits featured the new song "Summer," which went gold.  1987's The Best Of WAR...And More also earned platinum.  From "Why Can't We Be Friends?" being played for the world via a U.S.-Soviet space mission to "Low Rider" being the theme for the recent "Lopez Tonight" and "The George Lopez Show" sitcom; from national TV ad campaigns to major motion pictures, hit TV shows and blockbuster video games, the music of WAR has spanned cultures and generations, and continues to prove timeless.

BIANCA ROSSINI - KISS OF BRASIL

At the forefront of Los Angeles’ current wave of Brazilian music and becoming a significant voice in Brazilian music is Rio de Janeiro-born, Los Angeles-based Bianca Rossini, renowned for her sensuous performances of Bossa Nova, Samba and Bolero. Her multi-faceted career including feature film and television acting roles opposite stars including James Spader, Hector Elizondo, Richard Dreyfuss, Christian Slater, Dick Van Dyke and Dom DeLuise. Bianca also appeared in movies Moon Over Parador, The Fast One, Brainiacs, Mobsters, and Bad Influence. She has composed music for TV series The Sentinel and Chicago Hope. She produced and hosted more than 100 episodes for weekly Los Angeles TV talk show, "The Bianca Rossini Show," and has authored three books:Love in Black and White with photographs by Michael Kenna, Bilingual Edition (English/Portuguese) A Brazilian Heart - Rubies, Murder, Love and Other Poems, and Julia - Confessions of a Brazilian Super Model.  Kiss of Brasil, is singer songwriter Bianca Rossini’s Bossa Nova love letter to her homeland, has received airplay nationally and internationally on 30 stations and was named “Album of the Week” by Memphis, TN Jazz station WUMR (U 92 FM), Kiss of Brasil has been number one in the Brazilian Jazz category on CDBaby.com for more than 4 weeks and has been on CDBaby.com’s Bossa Nova, Brazilian Jazz, Latin, Editors and Staff’s Pick ‘s Top List for more than 8 consecutive weeks. GrooveJazzMusic.com identified Kiss of Brasil alongside Sade as gaining “Most Increased Play” last week with 17 new requests. “I am excited to hear that the music lovers in Memphis and around the world are enjoying my album Kiss of Brasil,” Bianca said. “I’ve been getting wonderful feedback from Bossa Nova fans internationally and I feel honored and thrilled to be featured in the same lineup with music greats like João Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Diana Krall, Pat Metheny, Sade and many others,” she added. Said Bossa Nova great Flora Purim, "I was enchanted by Bianca the first time I heard her sing, and now after listening to her album Kiss of Brasil, I'm as impressed with her songwriting as I am with her singing." For Rossini's debut album Kiss of Brasil, she partnered with BDM Records producer Peter Roberts (LaToya Jackson, Stan Bush, Vann Johnson) and co-wrote her songs with music industry luminaries including Marilyn Berglas, Harvey Mason, Peter Roberts, Ken Hirsch, Steve Rawlins and Patrick Lockwood. Kiss of Brasil also includes performances by Grant Geissman, Jimmy Roberts, Grecco Buratto, Roberto Montero, Marco Tulio and Sandro Feliciano.

Kiss of Brasil is receiving steady airplay on the following stations:

Billboard Kiss of Brasil airplay:
·     WEIB/Springfield, MA (“Ipanema Paraiso”)
·     KUAP/Little Rock, AR (“Circular”)
·     WVSU/Birmingham, AL (“Ipanema Paraiso”)

Smooth Jazz Kiss of Brasil airplay:
·     RTVE. ES Radio 3 SPAIN
·     KBCS 91.3FM, Bellvue, WA
·     KPFK-LA 90.7 FM, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, CA
·     KTSU/Houston, TX
·     WRTC/Hartford, CT
·     WFSS/Fayetteville, NC
·     Smooth Jazz Australia/Sydney, AUS
·     KUNV/Las Vegas, NV
·     WTCC/Springfield, MA
·     WCHG/Hot Springs, VA
·     KUR/Reading, PA
·     WBZC/Burlington, NJ (Philadelphia)
·     WUMR/Memphis, TN
·     KQXT/San Antonio, TX (Jazz show on A/C station)
·     WJAB/Huntsville, AL
·     KIHT/St. Louis, MO (HD-3 channel)
·     KCOZ/Springfield, MO
·     WMWM/Salem, MA

Internet Stations Playing Kiss of Brasil:

·     KHIHonline/Internet

·     GrooveSuite.com/Internet

·     WITD/Live365.com/Internet

·     RadioIO.com/Internet

·     JazzBayRadio.com/Internet

·     StrawberryJazz.com/Internet

·     JazzNet247.com/Internet

·     Newporter Jazz/Internet

·     Smooth Jazz Radio Channel/Internet

PABLO CRUISE - BEST OF

Red Red Records has announced that the Los Angeles based record company have partnered with classic hit makers Pablo Cruise. Through this agreement, Red Red Records (which is distributed BDG/Red Distribution) will release a Best Of live CD and DVD that will be available both digitally and physically. In addition, a limited edition vinyl album will be available. Pablo Cruise was formed in northern California in the mid '70's and the current band lineup includes original founding members Dave Jenkins (guitar and lead vocals,) Cory Lerios (piano and lead vocals,) Steve Price (drums) and the newest addition to the band Larry Antonino (bass and lead vocals.) Recorded live in July of 2010, this exciting release includes all their classic hits including "Love Will Find A Way," "What'cha Gonna Do?" "Cool Love" and "Don't Want To Live Without It." This liason between Red Red Records and Pablo Cruise re-unites the band with Grammy winning Producer/Engineer and label President Val Garay who originally produced their now classic Lifeline LP. Additionally, the album will include new studio recordings of two of the band's classic songs "A Place In The Sun," and "Love Will Find A Way" featuring amazing new vocalists Katrina and Ty Taylor. Songwriters Cory Lerios and Dave Jenkins are thrilled to have these great singers on board to join them in their rearrangements. "A Place In The Sun" will be re-recorded by Pablo Cruise featuring the vocals of Red Red Records recording artist Katrina. Katrina's debut CD In The Blink Of An Eye was recently released on the label and her first single "Shame On Me" is enjoying success at the Hot Adult Contemporary (HAC) format as well as the #1 on the Clear Channel new chart since February. Meanwhile, Ty Taylor who will be featured on Pablo's remake of "Love Will Find A Way" and his band Vintage Trouble are currently on the road playing to rave reviews all over Europe. The two song remakes will be co-produced and engineered by Val Garay, Jenkins and Lerios. Garay who is known for his production and engineering work with James Taylor, Elton John, Bonnie Rait, Linda Ronstadt and Queensryche to name a few, will be mixing the studio remakes as well as the live recordings.

PEGGY LEE - 22 CLASSIC ALBUMS FROM CAPITOL/EMI

Capitol/EMI will commemorate what would have been Peggy Lee's 91st birthday on May 26 by digitally releasing 22 classic albums from the renowned music and film star's Capitol Records catalog for the first time, including several out-of-print titles. The albums will be available for download purchase from all major digital service providers. Praised for her distinctive and sophisticated singing style, Peggy Lee is credited as a leading pioneer of the pop-jazz era. Between 1942 and 1972 (with a four-year break from 1952 to 1957), Peggy Lee recorded 592 Capitol masters (of the more than 1,100 total masters she recorded during her lifetime), including singles, album tracks and transcriptions. During that time, she had over 70 chart hits and a string of successful albums and Top 10 hits in three consecutive decades. The 22 albums making their digital release debuts tomorrow are from Lee's second tenure at Capitol Records, and feature such standout songs as "Fever," "The Best Is Yet To Come," "Why Don't You Do Right (Get Me Some Money Too)," "Pass Me By," "Happy Holiday," "Big Spender," "You Was!" (with Dean Martin), "It's A Good Day," "Ridin' High," "When I Rome (I Do As The Romans Do)," "Is That All There Is?," "I Feel It," "So What's New," "Call Me Darling," "Alright, Okay, You Win," "Nice n' Easy," "I'm A Woman," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "The Boy From Ipanema," "My Old Flame," "I'll Be Seeing You," "A Hard Day's Night," "Our Love Is Here to Stay," "Just For A Thrill" and "The Shining Sea" (written by Peggy Lee & Johnny Mandel), "I Like Men" (written by Peggy Lee and Jack Marshall, and "Then Was Then and Now Is Now" (written by Peggy Lee & Cy Coleman).

Lee's final release for Capitol and one of her most acclaimed albums, Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota, is being presented as it was originally released in 1972 since subsequent CD reissues replaced certain songs with alternate takes. A 12-time Grammy Award® nominee, Lee won a Grammy "Is That All There Is?" (Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Female), and she's been honored with the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards from ASCAP and The Society of Singers. She is also a Songwriter's Hall of Fame inductee and she was voted one of VH1's Greatest Women of Rock & Roll. Lee composed over 200 songs, and many of these compositions have entered the standards repertoire, having also been recorded by such singers as Tony Bennett, Nat "King" Cole, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Bing Crosby, Jack Jones, Mel Torme, kd lang, and Natalie Cole. In addition, she wrote the lyrics for all of the songs in Disney's Lady and The Tramp and gave voice to four of the film's characters. Lee starred in several movies, including Mr. Music with Bing Crosby, The Jazz Singer with Danny Thomas and Pete Kelly's Blues with Jack Webb, for which she received an Oscar® nomination for Best Actress.

I Like Men! (1959)
All Aglow Again (1960)
Pretty Eyes (1960)
If You Go (1961)
Basin Street East Proudly Presents Peggy Lee (1961)
Bewitching Lee (1962)
I'm A Woman (1963)
In Love Again! (1964)
In The Name Of Love (1964)
Pass Me By (1965)
That Was Then – This Is Now! (1965)
Guitars A La Lee (1966)
Big $pender (1966)
Extra Special! (1967)
Somethin' Groovy! (1967)
A Natural Woman (1969)
Is That All There Is? (1969)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
Make It With You (1970)
Where Did They Go (1971)
Norma Deloris Egstrom From Jamestown (1972)
Peggy Lee at Basin Street East: The Unreleased Show (2002)

http://www.peggylee.com/

MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY - GREATEST HITS

On June 21, Capitol/EMI will release a new 15-track collection of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly's Greatest Hits. Commemorating Black Music Month and the 35th anniversary of Maze signing with Capitol Records, the new Greatest Hits features the acclaimed R&B/soul band's top hits and signature songs, including "Joy And Pain" (live), "Workin' Together," "Golden Time of Day," "Southern Girl," "Back In Stride," "Running Away," and many others. The Maze journey first began in 1970, when Frankie Beverly started a group named Raw Soul in his hometown of Philadelphia.

In 1971, after some changes to the band's lineup, Beverly and Raw Soul relocated to San Francisco and their big break came when Marvin Gaye, inspired by the band's fresh material, selected them as his opening act for a West Coast tour. Gaye suggested the band change its name from Raw Soul to Maze, and the renamed Maze featuring Frankie Beverly signed with Capitol in 1976, releasing their self-titled debut album the following year.

Fueled by two hit singles, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly became the first in a series of seven Gold albums for the band and Capitol Records. Maze's decades of hard work, inspired creativity and active touring have consistently resulted in sold out concert tours, and regular radio airplay of their hits is testament to the band's enduring relevance. Maze featuring Frankie Beverly is currently on tour, with several U.S. dates scheduled through the summer.

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly: Greatest Hits
1. Workin' Together
2. Golden Time Of Day
3. Feel That You're Feelin'
4. Southern Girl
5. Joy And Pain (live)
6. Running Away
7. Before I Let Go
8. Love Is The Key
9. We Are One

10. Back In Stride

11. Too Many Games

12. I Wanna Be With You

13. Happy Feelin's (Live)

14. Can't Get Over You

15. Silky Soul

http://www.capitolrecords.com/

JILL SCOTT - THE LIGHT OF THE SUN

Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Jill Scott releases her new album The Light Of The Sun out June 21st, moved up one week due to overwhelming response. Featured in TIME Magazine's Top Summer Music list, the eagerly awaited fifth studio album releases on Warner Bros. Records. Bringing The Jill Scott live experience to stage, Scott performs on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (June 17th), Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel Outdoor Concert (June 23rd) and Live! With Regis & Kelly (June 30th). Performing her debut smash hit "So In Love" ft. Grammy-nominated singer Anthony Hamilton, the record has had the quickest rise to Top 5 Urban radio this year at #3. It's also the #1 greatest gainer for the 4th straight week, making it the biggest debut in Scott's career. The music video for the hit single premiere's on BET's 106 & Park on Monday, May 26th and officially online at EntertainmentWeekly.com simultaneously. TIME Magazine remarked "The R&B siren has three Grammys to her name, but The Light Of The Sun is about to up Jill Scott's diva cred, if the new record's first single, the sensationally sultry 'So In Love' is any indication." Recently performing at The White House for the American Poetry Workshop alongside actor Steve Martin and actor/rapper Common, Scott also graces the current cover of EBONY Magazine's June Music issue. Already a top pick on NPR and Billboard Magazine, AOL Black Voices remarks, "'So in Love' is without question, healing... this is why we need Jill Scott."

The Light Of The Sun was executive produced by Jill Scott and J.R Hutson (Pharrell, Faith Evans), as well as production by Dre & Vidal (Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey) and WarrynCampbell (Kanye West, Alicia Keys). Featured appearances include Doug E.Fresh, Southern rapper Paul Wall on "So Gone (What My Mind Says)" aka "Diamond-Chip Dick," a record where she's torn about letting the ex, aka the Maintenance Man, hypnotize her yet again with his sexual prowess. "Making You Wait," produced by J.R. Hutson, chronicles the desire to rekindle the coercion, seduction and beguiling of stripping. Philly native Eve and a trio of juicy back-up singers, The A Group, appears on the warm-up single "Shame," where Scott sings, "I'm magnificent. I'm a queen on a throne, I'm magnificent." Running the full gamut of emotions, the album also features "Rolling Hills" and the haunting "Hear My Call," in which she cries out to God to help heal her broken heart -- both which Scott performed on the BET one hour TV special performance and interview with Oscar-winning actress Mo'Nique. The Jill Scott Experience will perform live at the New Orleans Superdome July 4th weekend where she headlines the Essence Music Festival alongside Usher, Kanye West & Mary J. Blige.

http://www.missjillscott.com/.

ROD STEWART: THE HITS AT CAESARS PALACE

Legendary rock icon Rod Stewart confirmed his long-rumored return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for his first 18 concerts of his two-year Las Vegas residency, kicking off on August 24, 2011. Rod Stewart: The Hits. will be a concert celebration featuring a set list of the rock and R&B favorites which have defined Stewart’s unparalleled five-decade-long career. The spectacular, state-of-the-art production, presented by AEG Live, will be a culmination of Stewart’s seminal hits like “Maggie May,” “You Wear it Well,” “Hot Legs,” “You’re in My Heart,” and “Some Guys Have All the Luck” mixed with a few surprise rarities and sizzling covers. Rod Stewart: The Hits. is being designed to give audiences that intimate, only in Las Vegas concert experience – with no fan more than 120 feet from the magnificent stage.Stewart’s triumphant return to Las Vegas continues one of the most successful and critically-acclaimed 12 months of his career, highlighted by his just-wrapped The Heart & Soul Tour with Stevie Nicks – which is currently the #2 highest grossing tour on Billboard’s 2011 Boxscore chart. The tour has garnered Stewart enormous critical praise including The New York Post which declared Stewart “Forever Young,” US Weekly, which called his set list “…a non-stop jam session” and The Globe and Mail, which declared, “Rod Stewart competes with no one...” In addition to praise for his concert performance, Stewart was just honored with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award for his songwriting and received his 16th Grammy nomination for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.” Stewart’s incredible year began with his chart-topping, 33-date 2010 European summer tour - which included four sold-out dates at London’s O2 Arena - and continued with a sold-out, eight concerts at The Colosseum in Las Vegas in November of 2010. Dates for the limited engagement are August 24 – September 11 and November 3 – 20, 2011. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy™ Living Legend Rod Stewart has been lauded as having one of the most distinctive voices in pop music. In a career spanning five decades, with an estimated 250 million album and single sales he is indisputably one of the most successful singers, songwriters and performers of all time. Throughout his prolific career, Stewart has garnered an amazing 16 Grammy nominations and has performed for sell-out crowds throughout the world. With his career in its fifth decade, Stewart has achieved numerous solo hit singles worldwide, most notably in the UK, where he has garnered six consecutive #1 albums and his tally of 62 hit singles include 24 that reached the Top 10, six of which gained the number one position. His hit singles include “Maggie May,” “Tonight's the Night,” “Hot Legs,” “Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?,” “Forever Young,” “Young Turks,” "Rhythm of My Heart," “Some Guys Have All the Luck,” “Have I Told You Lately?,” “Stay With Me,” and “First Cut is the Deepest.” www.rodstewart.com.

HAMMOCK HOUSE AFRICA CARIBE PRODUCED/MIXED BY JOAQUIN "JOE" CLAUSSELL

Fania Records has announced the release of a deluxe 2-disc set entitled, Hammock House Africa Caribe produced and mixed by the legendary Joaquin “Joe” Claussell, with a worldwide release date of May 17, 2011. The project is a perfect marriage between old and new, a fresh take on classic sounds from the Fania archives. Late last year, Fania Records hand delivered the original multi-tracks (recording tapes) in a battered cardboard box to Joe Claussell’s NYC studio. Inside was a round metal reel wrapped with many feet of rolled magnetic tape, and a crumbling “Track Report” sheet from some matter-of-fact day in the 1970s. As Joe ecstatically explained, “When the carrier came to my place with all these boxes, I had an Indiana Jones moment, like when he opens the treasure chest and the glow of gold light shines up on his face. It was miraculous that they were still around, and the history of this stuff is just amazing.”

Michael Rucker, chief marketing officer of Codigo Group came up with the original idea of Hammock House Africa Caribe and knew that Joe Claussell was the right person for the job. Joe grew up Puerto Rican in New York – or more precisely Nuyorican, with all the simmering, sweltering swirl of identity that comes to pass for a kid growing up with nine brothers and sisters in roiling, toiling Brooklyn. DJ/producer/label-head Joe Claussell is perhaps the most influential and in-demand figure on the New York dance scene since Masters At Work. Responsible for some of the best deep and soulful house NYC has heard, Claussell’s Sunday night Body & Soul DJ gig is one of the most legendary house parties of the ’90s. Former owner of the landmark record store Dance Tracks, and long associated with the house labels Spiritual Life and Ibadan, they all reflect his deep love for and his eclectic and multicultural taste in dance music. Much of the global dance movement can be traced back to Claussell’s highly percussive style that incorporates Latin, African, Brazilian and other world rhythms with elements of jazz, rock, disco, and live instrumentation.

What you hear on Hammock House Africa Caribe are more than mere remixes. Each track was approached and assembled differently, each on its own terms. As Joe says, “Some songs were edited, some were time-stretched…many parts were re-recorded…some new parts were recorded on top.” Furthermore Joe elaborates, “I would listen to these songs and think what am I going to do to that?! A lot of them sounded perfect as they were. But the mentality of the ‘60s and ‘70s, when it came to music, people were just creating as artists – from the soul, from the heart. They took a lot of the technical stuff for granted. They were making music, not thinking about different mixes or anybody touching their art in the future. So I tried to keep the integrity of what’s there. Fania is very sacred to the Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage, so it was important that it get taken in by the right hands.”

The first disc is a live continuous mix by Claussell, but not like your average DJ mixing one track into another Joe’s states his goal for the mix-CD was to create an epic journey that begins in the Motherland (Africa) to moves to New York. “I wanted to do a futuristic mix, where stories are being created with soundscapes and tapestries, and segues work as introductions to each story. I wanted to create bridges through different rhythms, so I worked with my brother Jose, as well as other percussionists and musicians in the studio, to create parts that flow between. I mixed it live with four CD players, effects, and reel-to-reel, then took it into the studio and tightened up some of the levels through editing. I wanted to mix it live so you get more of a human feel from it, to stay true to the texture of this music. And I really wanted it to reflect on the process of working on this whole project. Looking back, I’m honored and grateful to get to work on such historical music – and music I grew up with.” Never has the past sounded so present. The second disc features nine classic Fania tunes from Lou Perez, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto and more all re-worked with the Joe Claussell touch.

Today Fania is home to more than 200 of the top artists’ catalogs in Tropical music. These artists mixed a cornucopia of styles that transcended the boundaries of traditional Latin music and set the path for the genres of Latin Big Band, Afro-Cuban Jazz, Boogaloo, Salsa and Latin R&B. They include Beny Moré, Sonora Matancera, Orquesta Aragón, Celia Cruz, La Lupe, Tito Rodrguez, Ray Barretto, Cortijo, Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Johnny Pacheco, Joe Cuba, Larry Harlow and Ruben Blades to mention a few. The more than 4,000 albums from the 1940s through the 1980s have been carefully documented, archived and placed in a special media storage facility for original recorded media. In addition, Fania has been remastering and reissuing these treasures in digital format, original remastered cds, box sets and vinyl. http://www.fania.com/.

NICOLA CONTE - LOVE & REVOLUTION

Nicola Conte’s newest release, Love & Revolution represents a bold new chapter in the career of Nicola Conte – quite possibly his most collaborative record to date, and easily his most righteous as well! Different from his previous releases, Love & Revolution is being released by Impulse Records, which in essence is perfect when you consider that this album is infused with a sense of spiritual jazz. This is actually the perfect vibe, especially in how Conte links together the best 60’s and 70’s aspects of the labels aesthetic. Collaborators on this project include vocals from Gregory Porter, Jose James, Alice Ricciardi, among others; plus Till Bronner, Fabrizio Boss, and Flavio Boltro on trumpet; Magnus Lindgren and Tim Warfield on tenor; as well as Timo Lassey on flute and baritone. Other musicians include Gaetano Partipilo, Pietro Lussu, Paolo Benedettini, Teppo Makynen, Bridgette Amofah, Nailah Porter, Fabrizio Bosso, and Pierpaolo Bisogno.

 

Nicola Conte - Love & Revolution 2-CD Bonus



Love & Revolution contains the benefits of beautiful arrangements from Magnum Lindgren in an album where the human voice is the protagonist, while blending seamlessly with a sound carpet (if you will) of extraordinary effectiveness. It is within this context that Nicola Conte assembled these extraordinary musicians for a live recording – reserving only a few additions during post production. The end result – absolutely amazing and wonderful to listen to! Over the years, Nicola Conte's continues to release the very best in jazz music and this release continues that tradition. Tracks include "Love From The Sun", "Here", "Black Spirits", "Quiet Dawn", "Shiva", "Ghana", "I'm The Air", "Ra In Egypt", and "All Praises To Allah". In addition, there is also a 2-CD version of Love & Revolution with 6 more cuts that include "Forest Flower", "Freedom Day", "The Black Apostles", and "Autumn In Our Town".

In support of Love & Revolution, Nicola Conte is about to launch a world tour with the first concert to be held at the Teatro Piccini in Bari, Italy on May 21.

Love & Revolution tracklist:
1 / Do You Feel Like I Feel (3:53)

2 / Love from the Sun (4:33)

3 / Here (3:50)

4 / Black Spirits (5:44)

5 / Mystery of You (4:22)

6 / Shiva (5:30)

7 / Ghana (5:09)

8 / Quiet Dawn (4:45)

9 / Scarborough Fair (4:03)

10 / Love and Revolution (3:35)

11 / Bantu (5:59)

12 / All Praises to Allah (4:30)

13 / Ra in Egypt (4:02)

14 / Temple of Far East (6:06)

15 / I'm the Air (4:19)

DANGER MOUSE & DANIELE LUPPI - ROME - STARRING JACK WHITE & NORAH JONES

It has been 5 years in the making for Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi’s spaghetti-western inspired album Rome (due out on May 17). The project assembles many of the surviving performers of classic '60s and '70s Ennio Morricone scores — and, in half a dozen memorable cases, pairs them up with the vocals of Norah Jones or The White Stripes' Jack White. The duo began to record for the album in Rome in October 2006, booking Forum Studios (formerly the Ortophonic Studios) founded by, among others, Ennio Morricone. It is, as Burton puts it, “a vast space underneath a church, filled with old mixing desks”. They also tracked down vintage instruments. “One of the biggest collectors was a Vespa engineer,” says Luppi. “We went to his garage and he showed us his collection of guitars from the Sixties. He didn’t want payment for us to use them, so we bought him a crate of wine.” More difficult was reuniting the musicians, many now in their seventies and eighties. They included studio backing band Marc 4, and I Cantori Moderni, a choir led by Alessandro Alessandroni, who whistles on many of the original Spaghetti Western soundtracks. Their plan, says Burton, “got more and more specific. We wanted to work at the same studio, with the same musicians and even the same microphones.”

“None of them knew who we were, but it was an emotional moment when they assembled for the first time in decades. There were tears and hugs,” says Luppi. “Although within an hour or two they were shouting and abusing each other – also just like the old times, apparently.” Some of Grammy Award winning Danger Mouse’s credentials include: forming Gnarls Barkley with Cee-Lo Green, produced Gorillaz Demon Days and Beck’s Modern Guilt, collaborated with James Mercer (The Shins) to form Broken Bells and paired up with Sparklehorse to create the album Dark Night of the Soul. You can listen to Rome in full at NPR.

Rome Tracklist:

01. Theme Of Rome

02. The Rose With The Broken Neck

03. Morning Fog (interlude)

04. Season’s Trees

05. Her Hollow Ways (interlude)

06. Roman Blue

07. Two Against One

08. The Gambling Priest

09. The World (interlude)

10. Black

11. The Matador Has Fallen

12. Morning Fog

13. Problem Queen

14. Her Hollow Ways

15. The World

NEWSBITS ON THE JAZZMASTERS, IRENE CARA, PATTI AUSTIN & NINA SIMONE

Paul Hardcastle & The Jazzmasters - VI
After a great deal of time and matter spent, Jazz master Paul Hardcastle has finally gained the approval for this next recording we are sure will knock your socks off! Coming very soon (June 2011) to a retail store near you is the 6th project from the critically acclaimed jazz artist and his endeavor "The Jazzmasters" appropriately titled, VI. And on this new deal comes a special track for the ages: A mix entitled, "Rainforest/What's Going On" featuring Soul Music Legend Marvin Gaye!!!

Irene Cara Featuring Hot CaramelIrene Cara returns to the music scene with a brand new band and a brand new sound. Having made an indelible mark as a youngster in the 80's with such world wide hits as Fame and Flashdance...What a Feeling she now is ready to embark on a whole new musical career as the leader of a group of brilliant female musicians, song writers, producers, and singers aptly called Hot Caramel. The group's unique blend of hip-pop/R&B/Rock/Jazz/Latin Dance and soul, is sure to set them apart from the barrage of manufactured girl groups in today's market. Sprinkled with scrumptious ballads, the record is simply called Irene Cara Featuring Hot Caramel.

Patti Austin - Sound AdviceSound Advice is Patti Austin’s 18h album releasing May 17 via Shanachie Entertainment, showcases this Grammy®-winning, internationally-popular entertainer doing what she does best, using her innate ability as a superb lyrical interpreter to touch, move, inspire and connect with music lovers globally. Whether it’s breathing new life into such classics as Frank Sinatra’s evergreen “My Way” (delivered in an intimate, almost understated and tender manner with piano accompaniment from the renowned Shelly Berg) and Bill Withers’ classic “Lean On Me” (with its rousing climatic build) or shining a new musical light on Brenda Russell’s “A Little Bit Of Love” and The Jacksons’ “Give It Up” (from the 1980 LP, Triumph which she notes is “my homage to my brother Michael Jackson), Patti Austin is at her brilliant vocal best. 

www.ninasimone.com

On Sunday, May 8, Simone, the only child of legendary music artist Nina Simone will re-launched www.NinaSimone.com to share with the world - the mother and the artist - from a daughter's perspective through the redesigned web site. Simone will be honoring her Mother this year by capturing the milestones, as well as the peaks and valleys of her mother's celebrated life. In addition to intimate details and personal stories, www.NinaSimone.com will explore the many nuances and flavors that made up the more than 40 albums in her library. The site will also feature "Nina Simone Radio," a 24 hour/7 day-a-week internet radio station providing hundreds of recordings spanning over four decades, interviews and special guest commentary. Other additions will include unreleased recordings, archived video performances and an expanded photo gallery with unpublished photos. An icon of American music and one of the most extraordinary artists of the twentieth century, Eunice Kathleen Waymon was born on February 21, 1933. She was a classically trained pianist, the consummate musical storyteller, a griot, who used her remarkable talent to create a legacy of liberation, empowerment, passion, and love through a magnificent body of work. She earned the moniker 'High Priestess of Soul' for she could weave a spell so seductive and hypnotic that the listener lost track of time and space as they became absorbed in the moment. She was who the world would come to know as Nina Simone. "The vision I've always held, with regards to my mother's legacy, is finally gaining momentum," stated Simone. "NinaSimone.com will allow fans around the world to have access to her life, enjoy her music and revel in her message like never before. Mommy's legacy continues and this is just the beginning." Popular Nina recordings include I Put A Spell On You, Four Women (whereby Simone recorded a newer version of the original classic for the movie soundtrack "For Colored Girls"), Nina's own anthem of empowerment, To Be Young, Gifted, & Black, and Feeling Good.

http://www.ninasimone.com/

http://www.simonesworld.com/

GERALD WILSON - LEGACY

Gerald Wilson, jazz's reigning composer/orchestrator pays homage to his adopted hometown, Chicago on his fifth Mack Avenue Records release, Legacy. Composers Igor Stravinsky and Giacomo Puccini also receive Wilson's musical tips of the hat. Wilson's son, guitarist/composer Anthony Wilson, and grandson Eric Otis are also represented by a composition/orchestration apiece, thus extending Gerald's musical legacy. The Gerald Wilson Orchestra assembled for Legacy comprises many of the great jazz artists who've been Gerald's collaborators for the lion's share of his Mack Avenue canon. A first-class rhythm section of pianist Renee Rosnes, guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash anchors the group. Trumpeters Sean Jones, Jeremy Pelt, Tony Lujan, Freddy Hendrix, Frank Greene and Mike Rodriguez and trombonists Dennis Wilson, Douglas Purviance, Luis Bonilla and Alan Ferber stud the brass section. Antonio Hart, Dick Oatts, Kamasi Washington, Ron Blake, Jay Brandford and Gary Smulyan comprise the reeds. Al Pryor continues as Wilson's producer for this collection of tributes and portraits.

His new suite "Yes, Chicago Is..." is an affectionate series of sketches-what Wilson calls a "romantic ballad" that delineates one of his favorite cities. (He wrote and recorded "State Street Suite," an earlier civic valentine, in 1993.) Commissioned by the Chicago Jazz Festival, it recalls some key personal junctures. Wilson lived in the Windy City for a better part of a year at the age of fifteen, when the Chicago World's Fair was there. Later on, as a member of the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra (which he joined in June of 1938), he used the town as his home base. And while stationed at the Great Lakes Naval facility (1942-'44), Wilson took advantage of the fact that he didn't have to live on the base and moved into town. The suite begins appropriately with "A Jazz Mecca." "I always loved Chicago," the 92 year-old Wilson says. "It's such an exciting city, and it's one of the great jazz cities-a real 'jazz mecca.' I tried to capture some of the flavor of the Chicago I've known: the wonderful Regal Theatre, the great sports teams and the El Grotto nightclub, where I played six weeks with my band in 1946."

Wilson's fans won't be surprised that he's an admirer of 20th Century musical giant Igor Stravinsky. One of his mentors, the late Phil Moore, brought the Russian composer to Wilson's attention. Italian opera great, Giacomo Puccini, however, might raise a few eyebrows. "They're both dedicated to Wynton Marsalis," he relates. "He's been so good to me, playing my music at Lincoln Center. I took a small excerpt (just a couple of bars) from 'Nessun Dorma' from Puccini's opera, Turandot-and wrote the 'Variations on a Theme by Giacomo Puccini.' I did the same with Stravinsky. I write short pieces these days so I don't need much material for inspiration."

"Variations on Clair De Lune" fulfills a childhood desire: Wilson's first musical studies were on piano; he always liked the piece and wanted a chance to do something with it. The twist is that Wilson had pianist Avery Parrish, composer and player of the bluesy "After Hours," in mind. "Avery was a brilliant pianist," he reminds us. "He could play as much piano as Art Tatum or Earl Hines."

Wilson clearly revels in his working relationship with Mack Avenue Records. His previous releases for the label are: New York, New Sound (2003), In My Time (2005), Monterey Moods (2007) and Detroit (2009). "They're so nice to me and our arrangement is so comfortable," he says. His albums receive maximum exposure-in the press, on radio and on Internet sites like YouTube. "I love working with Al Pryor and Gretchen Valade has given me carte blanche to do what I want."

Legacy lives up to its name in offering a forum for the composing and orchestration talents of Wilson's progeny: his son, guitarist Anthony Wilson, and his grandson, Eric Otis. "Anthony has been writing for quite a while now," Gerald points out. "He's well aware of how I work but he's got his own point of view. That number of his, 'Virgo,' was commissioned by the Hollywood Bowl for a concert that my band was on, sharing the bill with pianist Hank Jones in 2008. He's taken that piece and added more material to it for this album."

Eric Otis- grandson of Wilson and R&B pioneer Johnny Otis, and son of guitarist and musical auteur Shuggie Otis-is also a guitarist. ("So many young people play and write their music on the guitar these days," Gerald muses.) Eric has been Wilson's transcriber for quite some time and, as such, he's had a unique insight into his grandfather's musical methodology. "It's been an educational process," Otis offers, "and a very practical education. I've watched how he works, how he sketches out his compositions, and how he voices his chords; that's something I couldn't have gotten from a classroom. I'm at the point where I can now use all the things that I've learned."

"September Sky," Otis's first orchestration, was midwifed by his grandfather. "I began writing it on the guitar in 1999 and for some reason I put it away. Last year I pulled it out of the drawer and I completed it; I finished it to my satisfaction and then orchestrated it. It's an accumulation of everything he's taught me over the years." 

For Wilson's part, he couldn't be prouder of his offspring. "I've had a very fulfilling career," he maintains. "I've reached all of my goals. I've played and written for all of the greatest jazz orchestras [Lunceford, Ellington, Basie and Benny Carter among them], I've written for movies and television, I've written for concert orchestras and I've maintained my own band for many decades. But it goes beyond my accomplishments to see that members of my family are carrying on the music in their own ways." "Everything I write," Wilson asserts, "from here on in, is going to be jazz. It's the language I speak and it's my music." Gerald Wilson's Legacy will beleased on Mack Avenue Records on June 21, 2011.   Catch the Gerald Wilson Orchestra at the Catalina Bar & Grill on Sunday, June 12 · 7:30pm.   

NEW RELEASES: BOOTSY COLLINS, DENNIS COFFEY, APRIL STEVENS, PHILLY ALL STARS & MORE...

Afro Latin Via Dakar (Various Artists)
Afro Latin Via Kinshasa (Various Artists)
Al Di Meola – Pursuit Of Radical Rhapsody
Ambrose Akinmusire – When The Heart Emerges Glistening
Anthony David – As Above So Below
At Jazz – For Real
Azymuth – Aurora
Beggar & Co. – Legacy
Bootsy Collins – Funk Capital of The World
Bryan Forsloff – The Final Touch
Dennis Coffey – Dennis Coffey
Don Sebesky – Giant Box
Drew Davidson – Spin Cycle
Eric Bibb – Troubadour Live
Fab Semperi – Jazz Di Mezzaluna
Femi Kuti – Africa For Africa
Francis Lai – Claude Leluch and Francis Lai – L’Integrale
Idrissa Diop & Cheikh Tidiane Tall – Diamonoye Tiopite L’Espogue De L’Evolution
Ike & Tina Turner – Come Together/Nuff Said
Ike & Tina Turner – River Deep – Mountain High
Isaac Albaniz – Spanish Music For Classical Guitar
Jazz Chronicles – Jazz Chronicles II
Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel – Funk Supreme
Kathy Sledge - Heart
L’Orchestre Kanaga De Mopti - L’Orchestre Kanaga De Mopti
Luna Blanca – Provence
Mark Mosley - TLC
Melba Moore – Never Say Never
Melba Moore – Read My Lips
Nino Tempo & April Stevens – Hey Baby! The Nino Tempo & April Stevens Anthology
Nostalgia 77 – Hush
Orchestre Poly Rhythmo De Cotonou – Cotonou Club
Philly All Stars – Philly Classics Revisited
Raf Vilar – Studies In Bossa
Ray Charles – Live In Concert
Reel People & Others – Golden Lady
Ryan Shea Smith – Stay Awhile
Stanley Turrentine – Salt Song
Tab Benoit - Medicine
Tata Vega – Full Speed Ahead
Tata Vega – Totally Tata

ARETHA FRANKLIN – A WOMAN FALLING OUT OF LOVE

Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love, the much-anticipated new album from the undisputed “queen of soul,” was made available exclusively at Walmart stores and Walmart.com beginning on May 3. The CD features eleven tracks – including the debut single “How Long I’ve Waited” plus one bonus track. It's Franklin’s 38th studio album in an amazing career that has seen her win no fewer than 18 Grammy® Awards. The album, is the very first on the legendary artist’s own label, Aretha’s Records and is reflective of the great diversity of material and styles at which Aretha excels, offering ballads, blues-infused tracks as well as an acknowledgment of gospel roots in the duet “Faithful” with Karen Clark-Sheard. As the album's executive producer, Franklin's vision for the project was fulfilled in no uncertain terms.   She's tapped into many genres of music that she has addressed during her vast and legendary career -- pop, blues, jazz and, of course, soul.  The album is, clearly, a work that is contemporary and classic which is evidenced by her collaborations with both modern day hit makers and established masters.

ARETHA: A WOMAN FALLING OUT OF LOVE – TRACK LISTING:
1. How Long I’ve Waited - Written and Produced by Aretha Franklin
2. Sweet Sixteen - Written by Riley B. King and Joe Bihari, Produced by Aretha Franklin
3. This You Should Know - Written and Produced by Aretha Franklin
4. U Can’t See Me - Written and produced by Curtis Boone
5. Theme From A Summer Place - Lyrics by Mack Discant, Music by Max Steiner, Produced by Aretha Franklin.
6. The Way We Were - Written by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman and Marvin Hamlisch, Produced and Arranged by Marty Paich
7. New Day - Written Kecalf Franklin Cunningham and Norman West, Produced by Brian Garrett and Joseph Hall
8. Put It Back Together Again – Written by Norman West
9. Faithful (featuring Karen Clark-Sheard) – Produced by Sanchez G. Harley and Co-Produced by Jacqui Whittman
10. His Eye Is On The Sparrow (Performed by Eddie Franklin) – Written by Charles H. Gabriel and Civilla H. Martin, Produced by Aretha Franklin             
11. When Two Become One – Written by Curtis Boone

Bonus Track:
12. My Country 'Tis of Thee - Lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith, Music from Thesaurus Musicus, 1744, Arrangement

CD Returning To New York

CD Returning To New York

SIRIUSXM CHANNEL LINEUP

SiriusXM has revealed its new channel lineup taking effect on Wednesday, May 4. The new lineup consolidates many of the channels on the same number on both systems. Among the changes are the merger of Willie’s Place and The Roadhouse into one channel, the addition of Sirius Hits 1 and 20 on 20 to both services, and the move of Enlighten to Internet Only on the music side. Formerly XM Only The Power gains a spot on the Sirius lineup, the traffic/weather channels are trimmed from 12 to 8, and consolidation of Sirius Left and America Left into SiriusXM Left on the satellites with additional programming of SiriusXM Left Plus online. No word on when the new leased channels will appear, but Channels 141 to 147 appear to be set aside from them. The new lineup also does not take into account any pending changes to the Canadian channels once the merger of Sirius Canada and XM Canada is complete. SiriusXM has a FAQ guide to all the changes here.

The new lineup is as follows:
New Channel Name (Category)
2 Hits 1 (Pop)
3 20 on 20 (Pop)
4 40′s on 4 (Pop)
5 50′s on 5 (Pop)
6 60′s on 6 (Pop)
7 70′s on 7 (Pop)
8 80s on 8 (Pop)
9 90′s on 9 (Pop)
10 The Pulse (Pop)
11 XM Kiss (Clear Channel)
12 XM Mix (Clear Channel)
13 XM Music Summit (Clear Channel)
14 XM Pop2K (Pop)
15 BBC Radio 1 (Pop)
16 The Blend (Pop)
17 Love (Pop)
18 Limited Engagements (Pop)
19 Elvis Radio (Rock)
20 E Street Radio (Rock)
21 Underground Garage (Rock)
22 Pearl Jam Radio (Rock)
23 Grateful Dead (Rock)
24 Margaritaville (Rock)
25 Classic Rewind (Rock)
26 Classic Vinyl (Rock)
27 Deep Tracks (Rock)
28 The Spectrum (Rock)
29 Jam_ON (Rock)
30 The Loft (Rock)
31 Coffeehouse (Rock)
32 The Bridge (Rock)
33 1st Wave (Rock)
34 Lithium (Rock)
35 XMU (Rock)
36 Alt Nation (Rock)
37 Octane (Rock)
38 Boneyard (Rock)
39 Hair Nation (Rock)
40 Liquid Metal (Rock)
41 Faction (Rock)
42 The Joint (Reggae)
44 Hip-Hop Nation (Hip-Hop R&B)
45 Shade 45 (Hip-Hop R&B)
46 Backspin (Hip-Hop R&B)
47 The Heat (Hip-Hop R&B)
48 Heart and Soul (Hip-Hop R&B)
49 Soul Town (Hip-Hop R&B)
50 XM The Groove (Clear Channel)
51 BPM (Dance & Electronic)
52 Electric Area (Dance & Electronic)
53 Chill (Dance & Electronic)
56 Willie’s Roadhouse (Country)
57 XM Nashville (Clear Channel)
58 Prime Country (Country)
59 The Highway (Country)
60 Outlaw Country (Country)
61 Bluegrass Junction (Country )
62 XM The Village (Country)
63 The Message (Religion)
64 Praise (Religion)
66 Watercolors (Jazz/Standards)
67 Real Jazz (Jazz/Standards)
68 Spa (Jazz/Standards)
69 Escape (Jazz/Standards)
70 BB King’s Bluesville (Jazz/Standards)
71 Siriusly Sinatra (Jazz/Standards)
72 On Broadway (Jazz/Standards)
73 XM Cinemagic (Jazz/Standards)
74 Metropolitian Opera (Classical)
75 Pops (Classical)
76 Symphony Hall (Classical)
78 Kids Place Live (Family & Health)
79 Radio Disney (Family & Health)
80 Book Radio (Family & Health)
81 Doctor Radio (Family & Health)
82 RadioClassics (Family & Health)
84 ESPN Radio (Sports)
85 ESPN Xtra (Sports)
86 Mad Dog Radio (Sports)
87 XM / 210 SIRI Fantasy Sports Radio (Sports)
88 NFL Radio (Sports)
89 XM / 209 SIRI MLB Network Radio (Sports)
90 NASCAR Radio (Sports)
91 College Sports Nation 1 (Sports)
92 SIRI European Soccer / PBP (Sports)
92 XM / 207 SIRI NHL Home Ice (Sports)
93 SIRI Horse Racing / PBP (Sports)
93 XM / 208 SIRI PGA Tour Network (Sports)
94 SIRI Sporting News Radio / PBP (Sports)
94 XM IndyCar Radio (Sports)
96 Laugh USA (Comedy)
97 Blue Collar Radio (Comedy)
98 The Foxxhole (Comedy)
99 Raw Dog Comedy (Comedy)
100 Howard 100 (Howard Stern)
101 Howard 101 (Howard Stern)
102 Playboy Radio (Entertainment)
103 Spice Radio (Entertainment)
104 Stars Too (Entertainment)
105 XM / 206 SIRI The Virus (Entertainment)
106 Road Dog Trucking (Entertainment)
107 Stars (Entertainment)
108 OutQ Gay Radio (Entertainment)
109 Cosmo Radio (Entertainment)
110 Martha Stewart Living (Entertainment)
111 XM / 204 SIRI Oprah Radio (Entertainment)
112 CNBC (News/Public Radio)
113 Bloomberg Radio (News/Public Radio)
114 Fox News Channel (News/Public Radio)
115 CNN (News/Public Radio)
116 HLN (News/Public Radio)
117 MSNBC (News/Public Radio)
118 BBC World Service (News/Public Radio)
119 XM C-Span Radio (News/Public Radio)
120 World Radio Network (News/Public Radio)
121 XM / 205 SIRI XM Public Radio (News/Public Radio)
122 NPR Now (News/Public Radio)
123 SIRI NPR Talk (News/Public Radio)
123 XM PRX Public Radio (News/Public Radio)
124 POTUS (Politics)
125 Patriot (Politics)
126 Fox News Talk (Politics)
127 SiriusXM Left (Politics)
128 The Power (Politics)
129 Catholic Channel (Religion)
130 SIRI EWTN Catholic Radio (Religion0
131 Family Talk (Religion)
132 Boston/Philadelphia/Pittsburgh (Traffic/Weather)
133 New York City (Traffic/Weather)
134 Washington/Baltimore/Atlanta (Traffic/Weather)
135 Chicago/Detroit (Traffic/Weather)
136 Miami/Orlando/Tampa (Traffic/Weather)
137 Dallas/Houston/Phoenix (Traffic/Weather)
138 St. Louis/Minneapolis/Las Vegas (Traffic/Weather)
139 San Francisco/Seattle/San Diego (Traffic/Weather)
140 Los Angeles (Traffic/Weather)
148 CNN En Espanol (Spanish)
149 ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
150 Caliente (Spanish)
151 SIRI Iceberg Radio (Canadian)
151 XM The Verge (Canadian)
152 SIRI CBC Radio 3 (Canadian)
152 XM Air Musique (Canadian)
153 SIRI ESPACE Musique (Canadian)
153 XM Sur La Route (Canadian)
154 SIRI L’Oasis Francophone (Canadian)
154 XM Scoreboard (Canadian)
155 SIRI Latitude Franco (Canadian)
155 XM Canada 360 (Canadian)
156 SIRI Sports Extra (Canadian)
156 XM Radio Parallele (Canadian)
157 SIRI Sports Express (Canadian)
157 XM Calendrier Sportif (Canadian)
158 SIRI The Score (Canadian)
158 XM Quoi De Neuf (Canadian)
159 SIRI CBC Radio One (Canadian)
159 XM ATN Asian Radio (Canadian)
160 SIRI Premiere Plus (Canadian)
160 XM Laugh Attack (Canadian)
161 SIRI Bandepart (Canadian)
162 SIRI Canadian Weather Network (Canadian)
163 XM Bollywood and Beyond (Clear Channel)
164 XM Sixx Sense (Clea Channel)
165 XM Extreme Talk (Clear Channel)
166 XM America’s Talk (Clear Channel)
167 XM ReachMD (Clear Channel)
168 XM Talk Radio (Clear Channel)
169 XM Fox Sports Radio (Clear Channel)
175 XM MLB En Espanol (Sports)

Dedicated Sports Play-By-Play Channels are located on Channel 211-220 on Sirius and 176-189, 190-210, 212-222, and 225-239 on XM.

DAVE KOZ 2011 TOUR DATES

Six-time Grammy® nominee Dave Koz will follow his series of spring festival appearances with three distinctly different outings. On June 17th, Dave and his band will launch the summer leg of the “Hello Tomorrow Tour 2011” at the One World Theatre in Austin, TX. The run will conclude with an August 14th headlining show at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Koz’s hometown of Los Angeles. See below for Koz’s 2011 itinerary. Following the summer tour, he’ll set sail on the sold-out Dave Koz & Friends At Sea cruise to Alaska, which departs from Seattle, WA on August 26th and returns September 2nd. Tickets for his 2012 Mediterranean Cruise are already on sale and it will depart from Barcelona, Spain on September 26th, 2012 and continue on to Naples, Rome and Florence, Italy as well as Nice and Toulon, France. The Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2011 will kick off the day after Thanksgiving (November 25th) at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, GA. Trumpeter/composer/producer Rick Braun, South African singer/guitarist Jonathan Butler and Dutch saxophone star Candy Dulfer will join Koz for the 14th anniversary of the tour. The four will perform hits from their respective catalogues and jam on new arrangements of holiday favorites. Wow, talk about a busy musician, and not to mention his daily and weekly radio shows!

Koz’s iTunes: Live from Soho will be released on iTunes June 14th. Recorded this spring at New York City’s Apple Store Soho, the six-song collection features a variety of the saxophonist’s greatest hits, including two from Hello Tomorrow, his new album: “Put The Top Down,” which spent 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Mediabase Smooth A/C chart – the longest stint at No. 1 of any of Koz’s chart-topping hits – and his version of the Burt Bacharach-Hal David classic “This Guy’s In Love With You,” which hit No. 1 on the Breakouts for Hot Dance Club Play chart. Hello Tomorrow debuted at No. 1 on both Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and iTunes’ Jazz Album chart and was named the “Best Smooth Jazz Album of 2010” by iTunes. It was hailed as “an event record” (The New York Times), “[an] inspired and deeply catchy collection of tunes” (Advocate.com)and “one of the most ambitious recordings in Koz’s catalog” (AllMusic.com). “Start All Over Again,” which featured vocals by singer-songwriter Dana Glover, was a Top 5 hit and “Anything’s Possible,” Koz’s latest single, was recently #1 Most Added at radio.

Dave Koz 2011 Tour Dates
Dave Koz 2011
5.13.11 Sacramento, CA, In The Grove - Radisson
5.14.11 Palm Springs, CA, Palm Springs Smooth Jazz Festival
5.15.11 Newport Beach, CA, Hyatt Newporter Jazz Festival
6.17.11 Austin, TX, One World Theatre
6.18.11 Houston, TX, House of Blues
6.19.11 Dallas, TX, Dallas Symphony
7.08.11 Las Vegas, NV 8:00, Boulder Station Hotel & Casino
7.09.11 Temecula, CA, Thornton Winery
7.10.11 Temecula, CA, Thornton Winery
7.15.11 Richmond, VA, Fridays at Sunset
7.16.11 Apple Valley, MN, Weesner Amphitheatre
7.17.11 Beausejour, MB, CA, Lyric Theatre
7.21.11 Westbury, NY, NYCB Theatre
7.22.11 Verona, NY, Turning Stone Resort & Casino
7.23.11 Columbus, OH, Jazz & Rib Fest
7.24.11 Winter Park, CO, Winter Park Jazz Festival
8.05.11 Hammond, IN, The Venue at Horseshoe Casino
8.10.11 Napa, CA, Napa Valley Opera House
8.11.11 Fresno, CA, Tower Theatre
8.12.11 San Diego, CA, Humphreys
8.13.11 San Jose, CA, San Jose Jazz Festival
8.14.11 Los Angeles, CA, Hollywood Bowl (Special Guests Bobby Caldwell and Sheila E)

8.26.11- 9.02.11 Seattle, WA, Juneau, AK, Skagway, AK, Tracy Arm Fjord, AK, Victoria, BC 4:00pm Dave Koz and Friends at Sea Aboard Royal Carribean's Rhapsody of the Seas

Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2011
11.25.11 Atlanta, GA, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
11.26.11 Sarasota, FL, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
11.27.11 West Palm Beach, FL, Kravis Center - Dreyfoos Hall
11.28.11 Naples, FL, Philharmonic Center for the Arts
11.29.11 Melbourne, FL, Maxwell C. King Center
11.30.11 Clearwater, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall
12.02.11 Chicago, IL, Auditorium Theatre
12.03.11 Columbus, OH, Palace Theatre
12.04.11 Cleveland, OH, Playhouse Square

12.05.11 North Bethesda, MD, Strathmore Music Center

12.06.11 Newport News, VA, Ferguson Center for the Arts

12.07.11 New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre

12.09.11 Temecula, CA, Pechanga Resort & Casino

12.10.11 Oakland, CA, Paramount Theatre

12.14.11 Mesa, AZ, Mesa Arts Center/Ikeda Theatre

12.15.11 Palm Desert, CA, McCallum Theatre

12.16.11 Cerritos, CA, Cerritos Center for Performing Arts

12.17.11 Cerritos, CA, Cerritos Center for Performing Arts

12.18.11 El Paso, TX, Plaza Theatre

12.20.11 Santa Barbara, CA, The Granada Theatre

12.21.11 Modesto, CA, Gallo Center for the Arts