NEW MUSIC: DIGITABLE PLANETS, ROY AYERS, JOE BATAAN, INCOGNITO, CARLEEN ANDERSON, CURTIS MAYFIELD & FREEDOM DANCE JAZZ

DIGITABLE PLANETS - BEYOND THE SPECTRUM: THE CREAMY SPY CHRONICLES
Digable Planets formed in the early '90s, when Butterfly (b. Ishmael Butler, Brooklyn, NY) met Ladybug (B. Mary Ann Vieira, Silver Springs, MD) while attending college in Massachusetts. The two later hooked up with Doodlebug (b. Craig Irving, Philadelphia, PA), in Washington DC, and began recording. Their first single, Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat), hit the R&B Top Ten while their debut, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), was a critical and commercial success. After embarking on an ambitious tour, which included several live musicians, the Planets returned in late 1994 with their best album. Blowout Comb continued the group's jazz-rap fusion, but also saw them branching out to embrace the old school sound of the street as well. After Blowout Comb, Digable Planets gradually dissolved due to the dreaded "creative differences." Ten years later, the group has reunited, recently completing a tour and assembling a collection of hits, remixes and rarities for Blue Note. Beyond The Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles contains some of contemporary music's first gems and exclusive tracks that have spanned the decade and remain head-boppin' jams for the hip-hop generation.

ROY AYERS - MY VIBES: THE BEST OF THE UNO MELODIC YEARS
This new release includes Roy Ayers 1983 record Lots Of Love plus a later set from 1999! Lots Of Love is an incredible album by Roy - but one that's often overlooked because it was a rare indie effort issued between his years at Polydor and Columbia! The session is Roy's only full album for Uno Melodic - the label he formed to showcase the talents of Sylvia Striplin, Ladies Of The Eighties, and others. Rest assured though, this collection does highlight Ayers groove! Highlights include Chicago, Black Family, the warmly jazzy Lots Of Love, an instrumental with vibes along strings; and the bass bumping Everybody. Other songs include And Then We Were One, DC City, Drive, and Fast Money. Lots Of Love takes up the first 8 tracks on the 16 track CD - and the remaining 8 are from a 1999 session that has Roy grooving in a bit more of a modern way - using more electric percussion at the bottom, but still bringing plenty of warm soul and jazzy touches to the tracks. Tracks include Juice, Wanna Do, Vibes, E Funk, Doing The Do, Bad Baby, and Rapped Up In Your Love.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - FREEDOM JAZZ DANCE BOOK 2
Here’s an 11-track collection of modern dancefloor jazz that includes a fair bit of previously unissued numbers! The groove vibe throughout is contagious with just the right electric augmentation to kick things up a notch or two without dampening the soul. Tracks include Lead The Way by Soulstance, 1974 by Jukka Eskola, My Love Samba by Luis Ferri, Solifer Lento by Dalindeo, Some Kind Of Blues (jazz mood inst) by S-Tone Inc, Heroes of The Conquest by The Invisible Session, Stars by Paolo Fedreghini & Marco Bianchi, Mr. Bond by Quartetto Moderno, and Yes & No by Quintetto Lo Greco.

INCOGNITO - ELEVEN
The 11th release by Incognito makes it clear that the group has had an influence that goes far beyond a straight run of just 11 records. Eleven features lead vocals by Maysa Leak, Imaani and Carleen Anderson, plus some great keyboard lines by Ski Oakenfull. Group leader, Bluey, is the one who has a sense of groove, and love of classic 70s-influenced soul comes through very strongly on all tracks - hitting an on-the-money sound that makes the group, and this latest album, stand head to head with some of the best soul acts of classic years. Another winner from Incognito - not a bit of fluff at all - and a sublime batch of tracks that includes Jacaranda, Show Me Love, We Got Music, Let The Mystery Be, Will I Ever Learn, I'll Get By, As Long As It's You, and When Tomorrow Brings You Down.

JOE BATAAN - JOE BATAAN ANTHOLOGY: THE MERICANA & SALSOUL STUDIO ALBUMS
Four albums and 34 tracks worth of material by the legendary Joe Bataan, all one 2-CD package! Joe’s best is compiled here, along with a great set of notes - and the package is essential stuff for anyone with an ear for funk, Latin, disco, or soul. Tracks include The Bottle, Chico & The Man, Johnny, Latin Strut, Peace Friendship Solidarity, Aftershower Funk, Woman Don't Want To Love Me, When You're Down (Funky Mambo), Ling Ting Chong, Rap O Clap O, I See Hiney, Mestizo, Forever, and Sadie.

ROY AYERS - ROY AYERS REMIXED VOL. 3: MYSTIC VOYAGE/I AM YOUR MIND/MYSTIC BOUNCE (2 x 12 inch LP)
More remixes from the Roy Ayers catalog. Here we have 2 different tunes, but handled in ways that really differ greatly from each other! First is the soulful I Am Your Mind (part 2) - a track that's got a gently gliding groove and spoken part by Roy on the original, but which opens up with a pulsating groove on a Pepe Bradock remix that only further augments the Ayers genius! Mr V also serves up a mix of the tune that really retains the flavor of the original - and goes for a warmly grooving dancefloor mode that Roy would certainly appreciate! A remake of the classic Mystic Voyage is the second track on the set - handled in a completely different way by DJ Marky & XRS, who turn things up to supersonic speed, and push the track much more into the realm of drum n bass. The track's returned to its mellower roots on Mystic Bounce - a slower groove by Jeremy Newell that kicks back nicely with a jazzy approach to soul

CURTIS MAYFIELD -BACK TO THE WORLD...The brilliance of Curtis Mayfield is reflected in this 70’s era reissue. The arrangements are by Rich Tufo, production is by Mayfield, and titles include Future Song (aka Future Shock), Keep on Trippin, Can't Say Nothin, Back To The The World, and Right On For The Darkness.

CARLEEN ANDERSON - SOUL PROVIDENCE
Carleen Anderson is daughter of James Brown diva Vicki Anderson - and with a pedigree like that, she's got a lot to live up to. But with a record like this, she more than lives up to her heritage - and in fact even surpasses it - by going farther than Vicki ever did! The arrangements have a great feel that mix the folksy qualities of some of her recent work with the more straightforward groove of earlier sets - and Carleen's vocals still have that wonderfully rich feel that belies her gospel roots, yet come across with a leaner, smoother style more tuned towards the grooves of the set. Titles include A Different Me, Gotta Believe In The Future, Whose Business, Careful, Parting The Waters, My Door Is Open, Just Like Me, and a remake of Wanna Be Where You Are, done as a duet with Paul Weller! Note by the way that Carleen also contributes lead vocals to Incognito’s latest – Eleven.

UPCOMING MUSIC NEWS

THE WOOD BROTHERS...Chris Wood of Medeski Martin & Wood has teamed up with his older brother Oliver to form the Wood Brothers. The Wood Brothers recently recorded at Allaire Studios in upstate New York. Chris Wood’s other musical brother, John Medeski, produced the session.

JACKIE ALLEN...Chicago-based vocalist, Jackie Allen, recorded her debut for Blue Note this past June in the windy city. Allen enlisted Chicago stalwart Eric Hochberg to produce the date which consists of a variety of love songs, standards, covers and originals. Additional recording and mixing took place recently.

BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES...Bela Fleck and the Flecktones will return with The Hidden Land on January 31, 2006, their first Columbia studio release since 2003’s Little Words. Bela Fleck is currently in the midst of a trio tour with bassist Stanley Clarke and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. He is planning to regroup with the Flecktones for a North American tour next year.

PAT MARTINO...Pat Martino has recorded his tribute to guitar hero Wes Montgomery in August in New York City. The band - comprised of pianist Dave Kikoski, bassist John Pattitucci and drummer Scott Robinson– tackled a mix of Montgomery originals and songs closely associated with Wes, all newly arranged by Martino. Some of the songs included are Four On Six, Groove Yard, God Bless The Child, and Besame Mucho.

STEFON HARRIS...Stefon Harris has recorded his fifth album as a leader for Blue Note earlier this month. The date included Duke Ellington’s often overlooked New Orleans Suite plus some better known Ellington pieces.

JOE LOVANO...Joe Lovano will record his latest installment for Blue Note this December. The date will consist, in part, of a re-exploration of Miles Davis’ Birth of the Cool album to be orchestrated by the legendary Gunther Schuller. This recording will feature Lovano’s Nonet plus a larger orchestrated group and will reunite Lovano and Schuller for the first time on record since their modern classic Rush Hour which was released on Blue Note in 1995.

DON BYRON... Don Byron is set to embark on his latest recording adventure also this December. This time around Byron will be approaching the music of legendary bluesman Junior Walker. The date will feature vocalist Dean Bowman, guitarist David Gilmore, George Colligan on organ, bassist Brad Jones, and drummer Rodney Holmes.

LADY SINGS THE BLUES...Paramount Pictures and Motown are finally releasing the DVD edition of the 1972 Billie Holiday biopic Lady Sings The Blues. Film and TV producer Suzanne de Passe (an Oscar nominee for the "Lady" screenplay) recently explained the film's long-delayed Nov. 8 DVD was "because there were aspects of the deal that belonged to Paramount and also belonged to Mr. (Berry) Gordy. And I think it took all this time for people to read what they had and come together and make it happen."

ARISTA RECORDS TO RELEASE SANTANA LIVE BY REQUEST DVD ON NOVEMEBER 13, 2005

On the heels of the release of his 38th album, All That I Am which hits stores yesterday November 1, Arista Records will be releasing Santana's Live By Request DVD in stores November 15th. These releases are the follow up to the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy award winning artist's two smash hit records, Supernatural & Shaman, two albums which in a few short years have sold over 30 million copies worldwide. This DVD presents compelling live performances of tracks from the past two massively successful albums, as well as showcasing outstanding performances of Santana classics.

Live By Request includes several of Santana's unforgettable hits. Showcasing both new and vintage Santana, the DVD highlights several Billboard chart toppers with performances of hit singles Smooth with Rob Thomas, Game Of Love with Michelle Branch, and Maria Maria with Product G&B - as well as incredible performances of career-defining classics such as Oye Como Va, Evil Ways, and Black Magic Woman, to name a few.

Carlos Santana performs on average over 110 shows a year and this DVD captures one of his many classic concerts, recorded for the award winning show "A&E Live By Request."

Track Listing:
1. Smooth Featuring Rob Thomas
2. Black Magic Woman
3. Yaleo
4. Game of Love Featuring Michelle Branch
5. Oye Como Va
6. Evil Ways
7. Maria Maria Featuring Product G&B
8. Foo Foo
9. Blues Jam
10. Soul Sacrifice
11. Europa
12. Adouma

JEN RATHBUN BRINGS COFFEE, CHOCOLATE AND MEN TO JAIJAI JACKSON'S "WOMAN OF JAZZ" RADIO SHOW

Indie musician and jazz vocalist Jen Rathbun will be presented Wednesday, November 9, 2005 at 8 PM (PST) on Jaijai Jackson’s "Woman of Jazz" program. This show, which focuses on emerging jazz artists, will air on www.xradio.biz/lasvegas. Jaijai Jackson (daughter of legendary bassist Chubby Jackson) will interview Jen Rathbun about her music and her life. Between interview segments Jaijai will showcase music from Jen’s latest jazz album Coffee, Chocolate & Men, a unique selection of original jazzy cabaret tunes full of humor and double-entendre.

When asked about Jen, Mikel Gore of Entertainment Headline News said, "You would swear looking at her ‘live’ pictures in the Houston Chronicle that you were transported in time and were listening to Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, or one of the great torch singers of the past. No one in the music business today, writes jazz like Rathbun". Her fans agree that Jen Rathbun is a rising star. Her hit single Married, Buried or Gay recently reached the number one spot on the Texas Top 40 charts.

Born in El Paso, Texas, Jen has always been involved in music, from grade-school piano lessons to her vocal performance degree, and subsequent masters degree in Music Therapy. After several years of applying her music therapy skills to assist brain injured patients, she decided to pursue music full time. "It was really rewarding to work with the patients, but the opportunity arose to pursue my big dream, and I just had to take it."

Not long after she made the switch to performing, she entered and won the National Singer/Songwriter Auditions in 2003, which garnered her a trip to Nashville. There, her jazz album Coffee, Chocolate & Men was born. "You don’t normally think ‘jazz’ when you think of Nashville, but those Nashville players are unbelievably fantastic. I’m so proud of this album."

XRadio.Biz promotes rising jazz artists through Jaijai Jackson’s Las Vegas based show "Woman of Jazz". Listeners all over the world can tune in at www.xradio.biz/lasvegas to hear Jackson’s interviews of the brightest up and coming jazz musicians, including Jen Rathbun. Additional information about Jen Rathbun is available on her web site at www.JenRathbun.com. Her CD, Coffee, Chocolate & Men is available on iTunes and Amazon.com.

MICHAEL BUBLE - CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Canadian singing sensation Michael Buble headlines his first-ever television special, recorded live at L.A.'s famed Wiltern Theatre. PBS’ Great Performances will broadcast Michael Buble: Caught in the Act on Wednesday, December 7, 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET (check local listings). The special presents the playful and charming Buble, accompanied by a soaring 27-piece band, reinventing every standard he sings -- from a heartfelt version of Try a Little Tenderness and a swinging I've Got You Under My Skin to a rocking Latin-themed Sway and a dancing-in-the-aisles Save the Last Dance for Me. Italian pop star Laura Pausini adds a dash of international glamour to a sizzling duet version of You'll Never Find Another Love.

PAUL ANKA ROCK SWINGS - LIVE IN MONTREAL

PBS will broadcast Paul Anka Swings – Live In Montreal on Tuesday, December 6, 2005, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) in close captioned and in stereo, The concert was taped at the July 2005 Montreal Jazz Festival, Paul Anka Rock Swings – Live In Montreal captures this legend at his best. Whether singing from his latest CD, Rock Swings -- swing-style covers of songs by Michael Jackson, Spandau Ballet and Eric Clapton - or delivering his own greatest hits, such as Diana, Times of Your Life and You Are My Destiny -Paul Anka is a performer for all generations.

FLAMENCO CHILL FROM RONI BENISE, JESUS DE ROSARIO & SERGIO MONROY

RONI BENISE – NIGHTS OF FIRE
Benise: Nights Of Fire is an upcoming television special starring high-energy guitarist Roni Benise, takes viewers on a passionate and exotic journey of Spanish music and dance, from Cuban salsa to Spanish flamenco to Brazilian samba. Traditional Flamenco artists, De La Guarda performers, Broadway dancers and featured soloists join to interpret Benise's vision of wild, yet refined, musical artistry. Nights of Fire is a spectacular journey of Spanish music and dance that pushes the bar of tradition with unprecedented passion. The wild and beautiful sounds of Spanish guitar master Roni Benise evoke a romantic voyage through an exotic territory of cultural fusion. Merging his innovative vision with the creative minds of director Amy Tinkham and Brazilian born choreographer Alex Magno, 19 dancers and other performers join Benise to break all the traditions and rules of Spanish music and dance. World-class musicians include a Havana horn section on his Cuban Salsa numbers, such as Salsa Salsa and a 10 piece orchestra backing bold and beautifully arranged ballads such as Mi Amor and Long Kiss. Benise: Nights Of Fire airs on PBS on Sunday, December 11, 2005, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET (check local listings).

IBERIA – ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
The original soundtrack of Iberia, the documentary that was directed by Carlos Saura and was inspired by the suite by the Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz. The record features the fusion of Albéniz's music with flamenco and different Spanish musical genres.

JESUS DE ROSARIO – SIN TANTO
The Madrid guitarist Jesús de Rosario presents this new project that includes bulerías, rondeñas, rumbas and mineras. He counts on the guest appearances of Antonio Carmona, Bernardo Parrilla, Sara Baras and Tomatito.

SERGIO MONROY - MONROY
The first album by Sergio Monroy, the flamenco pianist who, alongside others like Dorantes and Diego Amador, is opening up a niche for the piano in the world of flamenco.

ERIC CLAPTON RENEWS CONTRACT WITH REPRISE RECORDS

Legendary Singer-Songwriter and Guitarist Continues 25-Year Relationship With Label

Eric Clapton has renewed his recording contract with Reprise Records, extending his nearly 25-year relationship with the label. Clapton, arguably the best and most acclaimed rock guitarist of his generation, is a 16-time Grammy award winner, four-time Grammy Hall of Fame award winner, a member of the Songwriters' Hall of Fame, and triple inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not only as a solo artist, but also as a member of influential '60s blues-rock bands Cream and the Yardbirds. Clapton has released 27 solo albums and scored seven Top Ten singles on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart, including the Number One hit from 1974, I Shot The Sheriff.

Clapton first signed with Reprise in 1981. Among some of the prolific bluesman's releases on the label include the studio albums Another Ticket (1981), Money and Cigarettes (1983), Behind the Sun (1985), August (1986), and the highly touted Journeyman in 1989, as well as the best-selling live album 24 Nights (1991) and Live in Montreux (1997). Over the next decade, Clapton had two additional Number One albums: the Diamond-certified Unplugged (1992), selling more than 10 million in the US alone, and From the Cradle (1994). Most recently, Reprise released Back Home, Clapton's 14th album of original songs, which the Los Angeles Times said shows "Clapton's reconnection with his deep blues roots."

In May 2005, Clapton reunited with his bandmates in Cream, bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker, for a four-night stand at London's Royal Albert Hall - the power trio's first shows together in 37 years. On October 4th, Reprise released a double-disc live DVD, entitled Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005, along with an accompanying CD set that captures highlights from the historic reunion. Beginning October 24th, Cream played three sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden. Clapton will make a rare appearance on NBC's "Today Show" on November 18th, performing a solo acoustic version of his song Back Home.

CHRIS BOTTI & BURT BACHARACH

After releasing his new album To Love Again and having the highest chart debut of his career, Chris has been touring the country and bringing the sounds of his exquisite trumpet playing live to crowds across the country. With the month of November here, Chris isn't slowing down a bit with even more touring, special television tapings, and even a guest appearance on a music legend's new album!

This week, Chris will be taping three special TV performances for the longtime-running and popular daytime drama "The Young and The Restless." You can check it out on Friday, December 9 and Monday. December 12! Tune in and watch as Chris performs his sensual sounds on both airdates and even brings a special surprise with him for the December 12th airing! Next week, Chris will be performing LIVE for a taping of the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in NYC. Victoria's Secret will be adding the passionate and steamy sounds of Chris Botti as the most beautiful women in the world strut the runway in the world's sexiest outfits. The TV air-date has not yet been announced as of yet.

In addition, Chris will be lending his gifted talents to one of most music's most influential artists' new album. Chris Botti guests on Burt Bacharach's new album At This Time, a deeply reflective and moving record that marks music icon Burt Bacharach's most political and thought-provoking album yet. Chris appears on the tracks In Our Times, and Dreams. From being one of this generation's best new artists to getting the chance to work with one of music's most legendary, the collaboration is another remarkable milestone in Chris's groundbreaking career.

KENNY "BABYFACE" EDMONDS TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Still riding high from the debut of his much anticipated CD, Grown & Sexy, and his "by invitation-only" performances this past summer, 10-time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter/producer, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, is confirmed to embark on at 13 city tour this fall, beginning November 23, 2005, at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA. A consummate performer who absolutely commands the stage, Babyface delighted fans and music industry tastemakers this summer with rare, exclusive performances at various W Hotels across the country as well as selected concert dates. Once again, audiences will get the opportunity to witness Babyface's superstar magnitude as he performs a repertoire of hits ranging from songs he has either written and/or produced for others (Boyz II Men, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton) to his very own #1 hit singles (Whip Appeal, For The Cool In You, Change The World). Joining Babyface on stage will be special guest Rob Lewis Presents The Movement Orchestra.

Babyface continues to be a staple in the Pop & R&B music scene as one of the greatest hitmakers in the history of popular music. Reviews of his 9th and latest CD, Grown & Sexy, have been nothing short of spectacular. Entertainment Weekly stated that Grown & Sexy "is as catchy as ever." People declared that Babyface "makes adult, ultra-romantic R&B that is as smooth as satin sheets."

The tour dates are as follows:
11/23 - Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
11/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern LG
11/26 - San Diego, CA @ 4th and B
11/27 - Anaheim, CA @ The Grove
11/29 - Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre
12/3 - Merrillville, IN @ Star Plaza Theatre
12/4 - Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion
12/6 - Detroit, MI @ Palace Of Auburn Hills
12/8 - Upper Marlboro, MD @ The Show Place Arena
12/9 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Music Box at the Borgata
12/10 - New York, NY @ Apollo Theatre
12/12 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
12/13 - Atlanta, GA @ Civic Center

SMOKEY ROBINSON TO PERFORM AT MOTOWN FOREVER TRIBUTE

Smokey Robinson and other Motown artists reunite to illuminate Detroit for one nostalgic evening of magical memories and music, celebrating "Motown Forever: Motown Historical Museum's 20th Anniversary Gala and Tribute to Esther Gordy Edwards." With Berry Gordy as the Honorary Tribute Chair, this exciting, historical event will take place at the Detroit Marriott-Renaissance Center on Saturday, November 12, 2005. "'Motown Forever' will serve as this year's annual benefit gala for Motown Historical Museum. Many of Motown's celebrities and other luminaries are attending to honor their leading lady and founder of the Motown Historical Museum, Esther Gordy Edwards remarkable job with the Motown Historical Museum over the past 20 years. Mrs. Edwards, a former Senior Vice-President at Motown Records, was responsible for managing the careers of many world-famous Motown artists. She was very influential in their careers and their lives, serving as a mentor and sometimes as guardian.

NEW MUSIC FROM JOYCE, GILLES PETERSON, ENNIO MORRICONE, ROY AYERS, EDDIE KENDRICKS, BOBBY WOMACK & OTHERS

HAVANA – LIFE: LIVING IN FEARLESS EMOTION
Underground soul artist, Havana, debuts her new album Life: Living In Fearless Emotion. She will be showcased as a Scion/Toyota featured artist (December 2005) and was the featured artists on Myspace in September 2005. Independently selling over 3,500 copies of her debut single, Shine, underground soul vocalist, Havana, released her debut album Life: Living In Fearless Emotion (Skoolcraft Music) on September 20th, 2005. After building a string Internet buzz, Havana, has garnered the interest of many notable industry insiders. This highly anticipated CD showcases production from some of the underground’s illest beatsmith’s including Nicolay (Foreign Exchange), Symbolic One (Strange Fruit, Art of Onemind) and Waajeed (Bling 47, Pied Pipers).

Life touches on situations we can all relate to and also offers inspirational tunes that are based on overcoming adversity and living life to the fullest. A new staple of in California’s underground soul culture, Havana, has performed live shows alongside other soul acts such as Adriana Evans, Dwele, Platinum Pied Pipers and The Rebirth. This project is destined to shine.

Havana is currently performing and making appearances in promotion of her debut album, Life. She will also be featured on the Scion/Toyota Volume 13 promotional CD that will be distributed to 500,000 consumers via retail, auto shows and lifestyle events in December 2005.
GILLES PETERSON – PRESENTS THE BBC SESSIONS VOLUME 1
The tracks included on this set were all recorded exclusively for the Gilles Peterson BBC radio show, and it includes not just up-and-comers from the global groove underground, but also some surprisingly well-known acts. The CD features 28 tracks in all. Tracks include Telescopic by Heritage Orchestra, The Audience by Matthew Herbert Big Band, Who Is It by Bjork, Gabrielle by Peven Everett, Dreamy Days by Roots Manuva, Round The Bend by Beck, Impoverished Jam by NERD, This Room by Fat Freddy’s Drop, Meltin Pot by The Roots, Romance by Beth Gibbons, The Corner by Common, Red Clay by Dwele, Seedpod by Homelife, Sow Into You by Roisin Murphy, I’m Doin’ Fine by Amp Fiddler, This World by Zero 7, Sometimes by Bilal, Knives And Forks by Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) & Steve Reid, The Seed by Cody Chestnutt, and Jam by Plantlife.

JOYCE FEATURING DORI CAYMMI – RIO BAHIA
A great new release by one of the best Brazilian artists ever – Joyce, who only seems to get better with age, and teamed up with Dori Caymmi on guitar. It’s a groove mix of breezy vocals, bossa rhythms, and light guitar. Tracks include Mercador De Siri, Rio Bahia, Jogo De Cintura, Saudade Da Bahia, Demoro, Pra Que Chorar, Joazinho Boa Pinta, and Flor Da Bahia.

ROY AYERS – MASTERCUTS PRESENTS THE ESSENTIAL ROY AYERS
This disc includes tracks from Roy Ayers work for the Uno Melodic label, including some real gems from the early 90’s that have not been available for awhile. Some of the tracks are remakes of older Ayers songs and the sound is full of jazzy vibes and sexy soul all around. Standout tracks include Chicago, the Afro Funk jammer Black Family, the vibesy Mystic Vibrations, and the jazzy changes Drive. Other cuts include Lots Of Love, Unity, Poo Poo La La, Doing The Do, And Then We Were One, and Juice.

EDDIE KENDRICKS – KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ – THE MOTOWN SOLO ALBUMS YEARS VOL. 1
This 2-CD collection features the first four solo albums Eddie Kendricks recorded for Motown. On these tracks he sounds even hipper, deeper and more sophisticated than he was when he was a member of The Temptations. These albums have been in the vaults for years and we are finally happy to see them all together in one set. The albums are All By Myself (1971), People Hold On (1972), Eddie Kendricks (1973) and For You (1974). A total of 33 tracks in all. Songs include Can I, Let’s Go Back To Day One, It’s So Hard For Me To Say Goodbye, If You Le Me, Girl You Need A Change Of Mind, My People Hold On, Date With The Rain, Eddie’s Love. Just Memories, Only Room For Two, Someday We’ll Have A Better World, Any Day Now, Can’t Help What I Am, Keep On Truckin’, One Tear, Shoeshine Boy, Deep And Quiet Love, If, Let Yourself Go, and Each Day I Cry A Little. The collection is available as a limited edition.

VARIOUS ARTISTS – MUSIC FOR A BACHELORETTE’S PAD- SWINGING LOUNGE TUNES FROM THE ATLANTIC AND WARNER VAULTS
Here is another one of those 50’s and 60’s compilation sets that features a hip batch of tunes that’s aimed at the female side of the seduction scene. The CD features 24 tracks – mostly pulled from the Atlantic/Warner catalog from the 50’s and 60’s, but also featuring a few surprising bits from more recent years. Tracks include Hey Stuff from Valerie Capers, Teach Me Tiger ’65 by Nino Tempo & April Stevens, An Occasional Man by Ann Richards, Free Spirits by Chris Connor, T’Aint Nobody’s Bizness If I Do by Nancy Harrow, Caravan by The Sheik’s Man, It Don’t Mean A Thing by Mavis Rivers, Manana by Lavern Baker, Mas Que Nada by Ella Fitzgerald, Evil Gal Blues by Ann Richards, and Able Mable by Mable John.

LUIZ BONFA – LE ROI DE LA BOSSA NOVA
Recorded in Paris at the height of his success – this one is a rare French session by bossa nova guitarist Luiz Bonfa. In addition to his smooth guitar sound, he is supported by some occasional vocals from time to time and a nice bit of flute as well. The CD also features 4 tracks from the EP En Direct Du Brasil – also recorded in Paris – and titles include Lila, Bonfa Nova, Cantiga Da Vida, Amor Por Amor, Santeleco, Balaio, Sorrindo, Bossa Em Re, Voce Chegou, Sincopado Triste, and Mania De Maria.

ENNIO MORRICONE -MORRICONE HAPPENING – ACID SIDES OF THE MAESTRO This collection includes 25 tracks pulled from some of his lesser-known soundtracks and the overall vibe here is slow, mellow, and spacious. The CD features work from the soundtracks to Bluebeard (Barbablu), Burn, Crescente E Moltiplicatevi, La Cosa Buffa, plus a few others – and tracks include Knowing The Ins & Outs, Ballabile No. 4, Samba In Tribunale, Organo Allegro, Zherzi A Parte, Quemada Secondo, Preuldio Alla Prima Moglie, Qui Ci Scappa Il Morto, L’Aliante, and Pazza In Cielo.

BOBBY WOMACK – HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
This album is pulled from Bobby Womack’s years at Columbia Records and the songs were recorded in both Los Angels and in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The set includes some great Womack originals, plus a few more great numbers by Prince Phillip Mitchell. Songs include Home Is Where The Heart Is, Something For My Head, A Little Bit Salty, How Long, Standing In The Safety Zone, and One More Chance On Love. The CD also features 5 bonus cuts that include Caught Up In The Middle, Never Let Nothing Get The Best Of You, Wind It Up, Trust Your Heart and It’s Party Time.

IMPULSIVE! REWORKED AND REMIXED
New from Impulse! Is Impulsive! – a collection of reworked classic songs from the catalog of Impulse! Records. Mining a generation of experimental, visionary DJs/producers, Impulsive!
Re-imagines legendary jazz tracks from composers like Charlie Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie, Pharoah Sanders, Yuseff Lateef and more. The music of Impulse! was a crucial component to the development of jazz music in the 60’s and 70’s, allowing its artists a home to work out their most creative ideas, and that spirit continues today with Impulsive!. As with the Verve Remixed edition, an "unmixed" version is also available.

New Music Releases For The Week Of November 2
Burt Bacharach – At This Time (Columbia)
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – Express Yourself (Collectibles)
Chico Hamilton – Gongs East (Collectibles)
Diana Krall – Christmas Songs: Count Your Blessings (Verve)
Dusty Springfield – Live At The Royal Albert Hall (DVD, Red Dist.)
Freddie Jackson – Personal Reflections (Artemis/Media World)
George Benson – Live In Montreux 1986 (DVD, Red Dist.)
Isaac Hayes – Ultimate Isaac Hayes: Can You Dig It? (2-CD, Stax)
John Coltrane – Live At The Half Note Nov. 8, 1963 (Passport)
Miles Davis Quartet w/John Coltrane – Live In Zurich (Gambit)
Nat King Cole – The Nat King Cole Collection (DVD, Koch)
Nels Cline – Immolation/Immersion (Strange Attractors)
Santana – All That I Am (Arista)
Sylvie Lewis – Tangos And Tantrums (Cheap Lullaby)
Various Artists – The Complete Verve Remixed Deluxe Box (4-CDs, includes unreleased bonus tracks, Verve)
Various Artists – Live8 At Eden – Africa Calling (DVD, Rhino)
Various Artists – WDAS 105.3FM – Classic Soul Hits (Collectibles)
Wes Montgomery Quartet – Live In Belgium 1965 (Gambit)

SMOOOTH JAZZ NEWS AND BEYOND

CANDY DULFER TOUR DATES
Two shows have been added to Candy Dulfer’s upcoming European tour. Candy and her band will be performing in Landskron/Villach (Austria) on December 2nd and Luzern (Switzerland) on December 14th.

SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO NEWS
In Detroit radio, smooth jazz is king an Infinity-owned smooth jazz WVMV-FM (98.7) quietly took over the overall No. 1 spot in the summer Arbitron ratings, released last week. The smooth jazz station has been No. 1 in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 age group, but never in the overall 12 plus bracket.

America’s favorites weatherman Al Roker is bringing his daily weather forecasts to WQCD-FM (CD 101.9), Emmis Communications’ smooth jazz station in New York. Beginning October 27, Roker’s local weather forecasts will air four times daily, three times in the morning drive and once during afternoon drive. New York is the second top 10 market for the Al Roker Radio Network, which was launched by United Stations Radio Networks earlier this year. Roker’s daily newscasts also air on WMET-AM, IDT’s Talk station in Washington, D.C. WQCD was up slightly in the just released Summer ratings to a 3.0 overall share rating from a 2.9 in the spring.

THIEVERY CORPORATION RELEASE THE TIME WE LOST OUR WAY ON 7 INCH VINYL
The latest 7" vinyl from ELS Music showcases the vocal talents of longtime Thievery Corporation collaborator and multi-lingual songstress LouLou. Taken from Thievery Corporation’s new album, The Cosmic Game, The Time We Lost Our Way finds LouLou crooning wistfully within a framework of stoned hip-hop beats and placid horns. On the B-side, LouLou lilts delicately on Thievery Corporation’s rare and classically lush dub tune Language Symbolique previously available only on the CD compilation Den Of Thieves.

RAFE GOMEZ AT NIKKI MIDTOWN (NEW YORK)
Starting this past October 26, and continuing each and every Wednesday, the place to be if you are in New York City will be Rafe Gomez’s "After Work Groove" at Nikki Midtown (151 East 50th Street, between Lexington and 3td Avenue). Rafe Gomez will weave a sumptuous blend of the same kind of sophisticated flavor that he offers on his weekly radio groove fest, including the tastiest in bossa, Brazilian, Latin, acid, uptempo smooth, nu and old school soul jazz.

REALNETWORKS TO WEBCAST SPECIAL SANTANA CONCERT LIVE FROM NYC, ON NOV 1, SAME DAY NEW ALBUM, ALL THAT I AM, HITS STORES

Audio Selections From Live Concert to Benefit Santana's Milagro Foundation

RealNetworks and Arista Records today announced they are teaming up to give rock fans worldwide exclusive pre-release access starting this week to Carlos Santana's hotly anticipated new album, All That I Am, and an opportunity to see a webcast of a live performance by Santana and special guests at New York City's famed Hammerstein Ballroom on Tuesday, November 1st. All That I Am, to be released November 1, is available now via ReaNetworks award-winning Rhapsody online music service.

All That I Am is the 38th album by music icon and guitar hero Carlos Santana, and the third Santana album on Arista Records. In addition, Rhapsody users will also have exclusive access to a special live recording of the Santana composition Foo Foo that will be available as part of a Rhapsody-exclusive edition of Santana's new album. Fans can listen to the new album and more than thirty other albums from Santana's four decade career through Rhapsody by visiting http://www.rhapsody.com .

To celebrate the release of All That I Am, Rhapsody is hosting a special Santana concert, "Rhapsody presents: Santana 'All That I Am' Live from New York," at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Tuesday, November 1st. Real will offer a live webcast of the event via http://www.rhapsody.com/santana at 8 p.m. EDT/5:00 p.m. PDT, giving fans around the world the opportunity to experience this historic event. The star-studded concert will give fans everywhere the chance to see Carlos Santana and a number of special guests deliver unique and passionate performances of songs from All That I Am and other hits from Santana's career.

Performances from the event will be available through Rhapsody, RollingStone.com, the RealPlayer Music Store, and the RealPlayer's RealGuide in coming weeks. Select tracks from the live concert will be available for download via Rhapsody with proceeds benefiting Santana's Milagro Foundation, which serves at-risk, underrepresented and disadvantaged youth through educational programs and health services.

All That I Am is the follow up to Santana's multi-platinum and GRAMMY award winning Arista Records albums Supernatural and Shaman. All That I Am features a star-studded gathering of world class guest artists including Steven Tyler, Michelle Branch & The Wreckers, OutKast's Big Boi, Mary J. Blige, Metallica's Kirk Hammett, Sean Paul, Los Lonely Boys, Joss Stone, will.i.am, Anthony Hamilton, Bo Bice and Robert Randolph.

OCTOBER 2005 CD RELEASES: JAZZ, SMOOTH JAZZ & CHILL MUSIC

Aaron Weinstein – A Handful Of Stars (Arbors Records)
Acoustic Alchemy – Best Kept Secret (DVD, Verve)
Alain Caron – 5 (Bhm)
Alexandre Cunha – Bate Papo (Tratore)
Amanda Carr – Carr Toons (Original Music Service)
Amanda Carr – Liver In San Giorgio (Original Music Service)
Amina Figarova – September Suite (215 Records)
Amy Stephens – My Many Moods (Oa2)
Anthony Wilson Trio – Savivity (Groove Note)
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Fotografia: Os Anos Dourados De Tom Jobim (2-CD, Planet Rhythm)
Baden Powell – Baden Powell Live – DVD (Fremeaux)
Barbara Russell – Lerner In Love: The Lyrics Of Alan Jay Lerner (LML Music)
Ben Monder – Oceana (Sunnyside)
Bette Midler - Bette Midler Sings The Peggy Lee Songbook
Billy Cobham’s Glass Menagerie – Live In Riazzino, Switzerland (DVD, TDK)
Bob James – One (Koch)
Bob James – Two (Koch)
Bobby McFerrin – Live In Montreal (DVD, Verve)
Boris Vanderiek – Blue & Sentimental (A Records)
Brad Wheeler – The Future Was Yesterday (Origin)
Bradley Lubman – Insomniac (Tzadik)
Brian Bromberg – Brian Bromberg (Artistry)
Carter/Cobham/Harrison – New York Cool: Live At The Blue Note (HighNote)
Charlie Byrd with the Woody Herman Big Band – Bamba-Samba Bossa Nova (Universal)
Chick Corea Elektric Band – Live At Montreux 2004 (DVD, Red Dist.)
Chris Botti –To Love Again (Sony)
Chris Botti – Embraceable You (DualDisc/Sony)
Claudia Quintet – Semi-Formal (Cuneiform)
Craig Chaquico – Holiday (Higher Octave)
Dave Holland Quintet – Live In Freiburg (DVD, TDK)
Dave’s True Story – Project Remix (Bepop)
David Garfield – Tribute to Jeff Porcaro (Crr)
David Rothenberg – Bangalore Wild (Wild Foundation)
Don Cherry – Don Cherry’s Multikulti (DVD, Kultur)
Eyal Maoz – Edom (Tzadik)
Fourplay – An Evening Of Fourplay Volumes One and Two (DVD, Red Dist.)
Geoffrey Keezer – Wildcrafted: Live At The Dakota (MaxJazz)
George Cartwright – Ghostly Bee (Innova)
Giba Favery – Hard Samba (Tratore)
Gonzalez Jerry & Fort Apache – Rhumba Para Buhaina (Random Chance)
Groove Armada – Another Late Night (Azuli)
Guillermo Gregorio – Coplanar (New World)
Harry Connick Jr. – Harry For The Holidays (DualDisc. Columbia)
Hilary Noble & Rebecca Cline – Enclave (Zoho Music)
Jack Teagarden – Time For T (Sounds Of Yesteryear)
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey – The Sameness Of Difference (Hyena)
James Gregory - Tibet
Jamie Cullum – Catching Tales (Verve Forecast)
Jane Monheit – Season (Epic)
Jean Michel Pilc – Live At The Iridium New York (Dreyfus Music)
Jesse Cook – The Ultimate Jesse Cook (Narada 2-CD)
Jim Caruso – Caruso Live And In Person (LML Music)
Jimmy Smith – Christmas ’64 (Verve)
Joe Locke & The Milt Jackson Tribute Band – Rev-Elation (Sharp-Nine)
Joe McPhee – Pieces Of Light (Altavistic UMC)
Joel Harrison – Harrison On Harrison (HighNote)
John Coltrane – One Up, One Down: Live At The Half Note (2-CD, Impulse)
Julius Tolentino – Just The Beginning (Sharp Nine)
Kenny G – The Greatest Holiday Classics (Arista)
Kyoto Jazz Massive - Spellbinder
Laura Welland – Dissertation On The State Of Bliss (Oa2)
Les Baxter – Fruit Of Dreams (El)
Loren Stillman – It Could Be Anything (Fresh Sound New Talent)
Mat Maneri – Pentagon (Thirsty Ear)
Meat Beat Manifesto – Off Centre (Thirsty Ear)
Moacir Santos – Choros And Alegria (Adventure Music)
Moreno – Jazz Tzigane (Forte Dist.)
Niacin – Organik (Magna Carta)
Nina Simone – The Soul Of Nina Simone (DualDisc/Columbia)
Nina Simone – A Very Rare Evening (Mambo Maniacs)
Nina Simone – Live At Montreux 1976 (DVD, Red Dist.)
No Limit – Homerun (Double Moon)
Ofra Haza – At The Montreux Jazz Festival (COP Int’l.)
Oregon – Moon And Mind (Universe/Italy)
Paris Combo – Living Room (DRG Records)
Paul Gonsalves – Humming Bird (Dutton Vocalion/UK)
Paul Motian Trio – Live At The Village Vanguard (Winter & Winter/JMT)
Pharoah Sanders – Anthology: You’ve Got To Have Freedom (Universal/UK)
Pharoah Sanders w/ Norman Connors & Phyllis Hyman – Love Will Find A Way (Hep Cat)
Ray Brown with Shelly Manne & Joe Sample – The Tree (Test Of Time)
Rebecca Pidgeon – Touch On Crime (The Lab)
Reese Project – Vicodin Dreams (95 North)
Richie Hart – Greasy Street (Zoho Music)
Rick Braun – Yours Truly (Artizen)
Rod Stewart – Thanks For The Memories- The Great American Songbook Vol. 4 (J)
Rodney Jones – Dreams And Stories (Savant)
Rosemary Clooney – A Very Special Christmas With Rosemary Clooney (Sumthing Else)
Roy Ayers – The Essential Roy Ayers: Mastercuts (Mastercuts)
Roy Ayers – My Vibes (Charly)
Russ Freeman, Richard Twardzik, Jimmy Rowles & Clare Fischer – Mosaic Select: Jazz Piano Trios (3 CDs, Mosiac Select)
Shakatak – Easier Said Than Done
Shirley Horn – But Beautiful: The Best Of Shirley Horn (Verve)
Simply Red – Simplified (Verve)
Soft Machine Legacy – Live In Zaandam – May 10, 2005 (MoonJune)
Spider Saloff – Like Glass (Kopaesthetics)
Stan Getz & Jan Wroblewski – Live In Warsaw (Harkit/UK)
Steps Ahead – Steps Ahead (Collectibles)
Steve Lehman – Damien As A Posthuman (Pi Recordings)
Sun Ra Arkestra w/Lester Bowie, Don Cherry, John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, Philly Jo Jones & Sun Ra – East Berlin And West Berlin (DVD, Transparency)
Susan Tedeschi – Hope And Desire (Verve Forecast)
Susie Arioli – Learn To Smile Again (Justin Time)
Susie Arioli – Learn To Smile Again (Justin Time)
Terry Durham – Crystal Telephone (Dutton Vocalion/UK)
Tetuzi Akiyama – Pre-Existence (Locust)
Threadgill Pyeng – Of The Air (Random Chance)
Tim Garland – If The Sea Replied (Sirocco Jazz)
Toby Driver – In The Li Li Library Loft (Tzadik)
Tok Tok Tok – About (Bhm)
Urban Knights – The Best Of The Urban Knights
Various Artists – Searching For Soul: Rare & Classic Soul, Funk & Jazz From Michigan 1968-1980 (Luv N Haight)
Various Artists – Martha Stewart Living – Jazz For The Holidays (Columbia)
Various Artists – Impulsive! Revolutionary Jazz Reworked (Impilse!)
Various Artists – Impulsive! Unmixed (Impulse!)
Victor Wooten – Show Off Hands (Welk)
Victor Wooten – What Did He Say (Welk)
Vince Ector – Renewal Of The Spirit (Mambo Maniacs)

NEW CHRIS BOTTI ALBUM CHART DEBIT COINCIDES WITH JAZZ TRUMPETEER'S MOST SUCCESSFUL SALES WEEK EVER

To Love Again, the much-anticipated new album of pop jazz standards from acclaimed trumpeter Chris Botti, has debuted at #18 on the Billboard Top 200 best-selling album, making history as the first album release from a jazz trumpeter to debut in the Top 50 during the SoundScan era. In addition to its Top 200 breakout, To Love Again has debuted at #1 on the Jazz Traditional Album Sales and the Jazz Overall Album Sales charts, according to SoundScan. With first week's sales of 43,853 copies, it's Botti's best sales week ever. To Love Again has already reached a higher position on the Top 200 than any of Chris's previous albums, including his previous release, the RIAA Gold- certified When I Fall In Love. (When I Fall In Love debuted at #124 before its rise up the charts, peaking at #1 on the Top Jazz Albums chart and #37 on the Top 200.)

Chris Botti has launched a major U.S. tour in support of To Love Again (see full itinerary following). To Love Again, which is available as both a traditional CD and as a DualDisc, showcases Chris Botti's inimitable velvet tone and sublime trumpet phrasings on 13 newly recorded pop and jazz standards featuring nine stand-out vocal performances by some of the greatest singers in modern pop, jazz, and rock. Joining Chris on To Love Again are guest vocalists Sting (What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?), Paula Cole (My One And Only Love), Michael Buble (Let There Be Love), Jill Scott (Good Morning Heartache), Paul Buchanan (Are You Lonesome Tonight?), Gladys Knight (Lover Man), Renee Olstead (Pennies From Heaven), Rosa Passos (Here Comes That Rainy Day), and, yes, that Steven Tyler (on Charlie Chaplin's Smile).

Rounding out To Love Again are the instrumental tracks What's New?, I'll Be Seeing You, Embraceable You, and To Love Again. As on his last album, Chris Botti is joined once again by the London Session Orchestra, who provide lush tonal coloration to the album's arrangements.

The DualDisc edition of To Love Again features an exclusive short film, "Live From Studio A," shot in the famed studio at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. Chris and his quartet jammed as the cameras rolled and the result is four live songs and twenty three minutes of gorgeous sounding (and looking) contemporary jazz. Two of the four songs performed live on the DualDisc, To Love Again, and I'll Be Seeing You, also appear on the audio CD in their original/studio versions with full orchestra. The other two songs, a pair of Miles Davis classics, Flamenco Sketches and Milestones, do not appear on the audio CD in any form. As a bonus for jazz aficionados, Flamenco Sketches features guest saxophonist David Sanborn. To Love Again follows the extraordinary success of Botti's groundbreaking last album, When I Fall In Love, which has sold more than 500,000 copies to-date.

Chris Botti Tour Dates
10/28/05 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Raymond F. Kravis Center For The Performing Arts
10/29/05 - Melbourne, FL @ Maxwell King Center For The Performing Arts
10/30/05 - Naples, FL @ Performing Arts Center
11/02/05 - Durham, NC @ The Carolina Theater / Durham
11/03/05 - Annapolis Junction, MD @ Ramshead
11/04/05 - Easton, PA @ Pennsylvania State Theatre
11/05/05 - Lebanon, NH @ Lebanon Opera House
11/07/05 - San Diego, CA @ Dave Koz Cruise
11/08/05 - San Diego, CA @ Dave Koz Cruise
11/09/05 - San Diego, CA @ Dave Koz Cruise
11/17/05 - Morristown, NJ @ Morristown Community Theatre
11/18/05 - Troy, NY @ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
11/19/05 - Westville, CT @ Southern Connecticut State College
11/25/05 - Honolulu, HI @ Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Concert Hall
11/26/05 - Honolulu, HI @ Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Concert Hal
12/01/05 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wilshire Ebell Theatre
12/02/05 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wilshire Ebell Theatre
12/06/05 - New York, NY @ The Blue Note - New York
12/07/05 - New York, NY @ The Blue Note - New York
12/08/05 - New York, NY @ The Blue Note - New York
12/09/05 - New York, NY @ The Blue Note - New York
12/10/05 - New York, NY @ The Blue Note - New York
12/11/05 - New York, NY @ The Blue Note - New York
01/07/06 - Englewood, NJ @ Bergen Performing Art Hall
01/08/06 - Columbus, OH @ Ohio Theatre
01/13/06 - Texarkana, TX @ Perot Theatre, Theatre
01/19/06 - Green Bay, WI @ Meyer Theatre
01/20/06 - Cedarburg, WI @ Cedarburg Performing Art Center
01/21/06 - Jasper, IN @ Jasper Community Arts Center
02/03/06- Greenvale, NY @ Tilles Center For The Performing Arts

FRANK SINATRA DUETS ALBUMS RE-RELEASED AS 2-CD COLLECTION

New 2-CD Collection Includes Both All-Star Collaborative Albums, Plus a Previously Unreleased Willie Nelson Duet of My Way

28 Duets on New Commemorative Collection Include Charles Aznavour, Anita Baker, Tony Bennett, Bono, Jimmy Buffett, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Kenny G, Lena Horne, Chrissie Hynde, Julio Iglesias, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Luis Miguel, Liza Minnelli, Lorrie Morgan, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Jon Secada, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Barbra Streisand, and Luther Vandross.

December 12, 2005 marks the 90th anniversary of Frank Sinatra's birth. Combined, Frank Sinatra's final studio albums, the immensely popular all-star collaborations Duets and Duets II, have sold more than four million units in the U.S. since their original 1993 and 1994 release. On November 22, Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing presents Frank Sinatra - Duets and Duets II: 90th Birthday Limited Collector's Edition, a new 2-CD commemorative package with both original Duets albums, plus a previously unreleased version of My Way, as sung by Willie Nelson and Sinatra. Regarded by many as the greatest popular singer of the 20th Century, Frank Sinatra's dynamic entertainment career spanned an unparalleled seven decades, and he became a household name around the world, also known as "Ol' Blue Eyes" and "The Chairman of the Board."

From 1953 to 1960, Sinatra recorded more than 17 albums for Capitol Records. During Sinatra's years with Capitol, he pioneered and perfected the idea of the "concept album" by recording and sequencing songs on his LPs to strike and complete a specific mood. In 1956, Frank Sinatra was the first artist to record in the newly-built Capitol Studios at Hollywood & Vine in Los Angeles. In June and July 1993, Sinatra returned to his Capitol Records' Studio A home to record his first new album in more than nine years. He was joined by many of the world's most popular contemporary recording artists for what was referred to as "The Recording Event of The Decade." For the recording of Duets and Duets II, Sinatra and his collaborators were accompanied by a 54-piece orchestra. The albums' Musical Director and Conductor was Patrick Williams, one of the music and film industries' most acclaimed conductors. Both albums also feature the work of another great talent, the world-renowned artist LeRoy Neiman. The albums' original covers display Neiman's specially commissioned paintings of Frank Sinatra, both of which are included in Duets - 90th Birthday Edition.

From his first recording sessions in the 1930s until his death in May 1998, Frank Sinatra earned global acclaim as a recording artist and conductor, film producer, director and actor, and radio and television personality. Sinatra's impact on American culture endures to this day, reflected not only in the new music and countless young artists he's inspired, but also as an icon of timeless suave cool. The CD will be released on November 22.

CLUB MODERNO, TONI BRAXTON, GWEN MCRAE & SINEAD O'CONNOR

Club Moderno - Clube Da Esquina - features 14 tracks that bring together some of the best key recordings from EMI/Odeon Brazilian catalogue. Songs include Trio Cruzado by Nelson Angelo & Joyce, Calibre by Lo Borges, Catavento by Alaide Costa, Monte Azul by Beto Guedes, Chuva Na Montanha by Lo Borges, Aqueles Coisas Todas by Toninho Horta, Saidas E Bandeiras by Milton Nascimento, Clube Da Esquinha 2 by Nana Caymmi, and Nada Sera Como Antes by Elis Regina.

Multiple platinum and Grammy winning superstar Toni Braxton has the #1 R&B record this week - Libra. The Blackground/Universal release also lands in the Top 5 on The Billboard Top 200 Album Chart this week at #4. Libra, which is Braxton's sixth studio album - hit stores on September 27th, features the hit song Trippin. The hot single was the #2 most added song at the Urban Adult Radio format when it debuted at the end of September. Toni's eagerly awaited new album was helmed by star producers such as Scott Storch and Vincent Herbert, with the highly regarded disc faithfully embodying the trademark Braxton soulfulness which has made the spirited vocalist a worldwide phenomenon.

Two classic albums from Gwen McRae are finally available on CD – Let’s Straighten It Out and Melody Of Life, both now available on one CD. Let’s Straighten It Out features Latimore’s Let’s Straighten It Out, plus Love Insurance, Cradle Of Love, At Bedtime, and Early Morning Love. Melody Of Life features more of the dance floor classics that McRae is known for, including All This Love I’m Givin’, I Can Only Think Of You, I Found A Love and The Melody Of Life, a total of 14 all together.


Sinéad O’Connor is back with the Roots Reggae inspired Throw Down Your Arms. Though several of her older tracks incorporated her reinterpretation of the reggae sound, Throw Down Your Arms, delves deeper into the genre as she went to Jamaica to work with the legendary production team Sly & Robbie who recruited Jamaica's most esteemed musicians for the project. The record features Sinéad's take on inspirational Roots Reggae songs from the 1970s by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Lee Perry and others

BOB MARLEY, DETROIT INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, CANDY DULFER & MARTHA STEWART HOLIDAY MUSIC

Bob Marley and the Wailers 1977 concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre will finally make it’s DVD debut on November 8. The 12-song concert features such songs as Trenchtown Rock, I Shot The Sheriff, No Woman, No Cry and Jamming, among others. The concert was previously available on VHS (minus bonus features).

Sony BMG has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to brand market compilations for special occasions. The first series of Christmas-holiday themed disc will feature jazz and smooth jazz artists such as Chris Botti, Grover Washington Jr., Luther Vandross, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Louis Prima, Tony Bennett, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Eartha Kitt, Chick Corea, Louis Armstrong, Steve Tyrell, Russell Malone, and the Dexter Gordon Quintet. The collections will be available on October 18 via Epic.

The recent 2005 Detroit International Jazz Festival drew an estimated one million people into downtown Detroit - nearly doubling attendance over the previous year. This year's Festival featured one of the strongest Jazz lineups of any festival in the country in recent years, including Dave Brubeck, David "Fathead" Newman, McCoy Tyner, Medeski Martin & Wood, Les McCann, Gerald Wilson and Charles McPherson. For the first time, the Festival also featured significant blues, R&B, and funk acts, including The Funk Brothers, Dr. John and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Over the years, the festival has hosted Jazz legends such as Woody Herman, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden, Earl Hines, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and Harry Connick, Jr.

Candy Dulfer will join Van Morrison for his shows next week in Amsterdam. He plays the Carré theatre on October 10th and 11th. Both shows are sold out. More dates have been added to her tour schedule as follows:

Nov. 18 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
Nov. 19 – Ludwigsburg, Germany @ Scala
Nov. 30 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Volkshaus
Dec. 1 – Bern, Switzerland @ Bierhubeli
Dec. 3 – Rankwell, Austria @ Altes Kino
Dec. 4 – Koln, Germany @ Gloria Theatre
Dec. 6 – Aschaffenburg, Germany @ Colos-Saal
Dec. 8 – Herisau, Switzerland @ Casino
Dec. 10 – Worgi, Austria @ Komma Club
Dec. 11 – Gleisdorf, Austria @ Forum
Dec. 18 – Praha, Czech Republic @ Lucerna Music Bar
Dec. 16 – Luxembourg, Luxembourg @ Den Ateller
Dec. 17 – Paris, France @ Cabaret Sauvage
Dec. 18 – Tongeren, Belgium @ De Velinx

KENNY G - THE GREATEST HOLIDAY CLASSICS A COLLECTION OF SEASONAL FAVORITES IN STORES OCTOBER 18

10 Tracks From His Best-Selling Holiday Albums – Wishes, Faith and Miracles

Arista recording artist Kenny G – the biggest-selling instrumental musician and biggest-selling jazz musician of the modern era, with total global sales of more than 75 million albums, singles and videos since 1982 - has personally selected the tracks for The Greatest Holiday Classics, an indispensable collection of 15 seasonal tunes that will arrive in stores October 18th. Ten of the tracks originate from Kenny G's trio of holiday releases: 2002's RIAA gold Wishes, 1999's triple-platinum Faith - A Holiday Album, and 1994's Miracles - The Holiday Album - the biggest-selling seasonal album in history, at 8-times platinum and counting. The four brand new recordings featured on this album include We Wish You A Merry Christmas, My Favorite Things, Jingle Bell Rock and Jingle Bells. The balance of the tracks are holiday favorites: Deck The Halls, the medleys of Hark The Herald Angels/O Come All Ye Faithful, and Rudolph/Frosty The Snowman (from Wishes); Ave Maria, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! and the medley of We Three Kings/Carol Of The Bells (from Faith); and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Miracles, Winter Wonderland, and The Chanukah Song (from Miracles).

The Greatest Holiday Classics, Kenny G's sixteenth album for Arista Records, follows up the release of the RIAA gold At Last ... The Duets Album last November 2004. The all-star project featured a stellar lineup of great guest performers (vocalists and fellow instrumentalists) from different musical genres showcased alongside Kenny G in stunning performances of classic and contemporary songs. Among his distinguished guests were Barbra Streisand (The Music That Makes Me Dance), LeAnn Rimes (Everything I Do) I Do It For You), Gladys Knight (Misty), Earth Wind & Fire (The Way You Move), Yolanda Adams (I Believe I Can Fly), Burt Bacharach (Alfie), and Arturo Sandoval on the title tune tribute to Etta James, At Last.

DAMON COOPER, MOJO CLUB, JAMIE CULLUM, DONNY OSMOND & SAMBA PARADE

Singer and guitarist Damon Cooper debuts with They Call Me Coop. The album is very smooth overall with some neo-soul thrown in to give it a very nice vibe. Tracks include My Heart, I Love You, Wanna Be Your Lover, Soul Seduction and Will You Be My Lady.

Feeling Good by the Mojo Club is the next volume in a series that features a mix of funk, soul, Latin and punk from the 60’s and 70’s. This is a 2-CD set for a total of 24 tracks that includes Z'Avez Pas Lu Kafka by Suzanne Gabriello, In The Name Of Love by Jenny Evans, Let The Music Play by Charles Earland, Speaking Of Happiness by Gloria Lynne, Tema De Kiko by The Youngsters, Pop Mod by Claude Bolling, Joker by Ambros Seelos, Blows by Gerson King Combo, Ape Shuffle by Lalo Schifrin, The Rock by East Coast, Stand Up & Be Counted by The Flames, Pick Up The Pieces One By One by AABB, I Don't Need No Doctor by Nick Ashford, and Up Above The Rock by Ray Bryant.

Jamie Cullum is celebrating the release of his newest album Catching Tales with two upcoming U.S appearances. He’ll perform on October 11 at the Irving Plaza in New York City, and on October 14 at The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA.

Smooth jazz radio has made its way to Lansing, Michigan as WJZL 92.7 FM switches formats from a sports-talk station. Smooth instrumentals and soft vocals will now fill the airwaves.

New smooth jazz artist Donny Osmond is lining up 2006 tour dates with four appearances scheduled at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He’s been booked for March 2-5, June 22-25, October 19-22 and December 14-17,2006. He is currently developing a new syndicated talk-show tv pilot that will hopefully hit the airwaves in 2006.

Samba Parade (Various Artists) features many key numbers from the samba revival years of the 70s! This set brings together 22 tracks from the legendary EMI/Odeon catalog including Juiso Final by Nelson Cavaquinho, Samba De Roda by Quinteto Violado, Falsa Baiana by Roberto Silva , Sensibilidade Da Bossa by Novos Baianos, Danca Da Solidao by Paulinho Da Viola, O Ultimo Dos Mohicanos by Moreira Da Silva, Casa De Bamba by Djalma Pires, Maracangalha by Dorival Caymmi, and Ensaboa Mulata by Cartola.

JAZZ CHILL MUSIC NEWS

Kyle Eastwood’s latest, Paris Blue, is already an international hit as it is currently the number #1 Jazz Album in France.

Chris Jasper, formerly of the Isley Brothers and Isley Jasper Isley has a new album out entitled – Amazing Love. Many of the songs are reminiscent of the Isley Brothers style, so fans will truly enjoy this outing from keyboardist and songwriter Chris Jasper.

Felton Pilate (of ConFunkShun) has released a solo project Nothing But Love Spoken Here. This is smooth and romantic album with plenty of falsetto-led ballads. If you like the old Philly soul sound of the 70’s, then pick this one up and make sure you play it in the late evening to set the mood.

Gilberto Gil, Rokia Traore, Patti Austin, Neneh Cherry, Peter Gabriel and Youssou N’Dour will perform at an October 8 concert in Geneva as part of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations.

New from Morcheeba is The Antidote as they progress from the downtempo trip-hop groove towards a nouveau rock direction. On this one they work with vocalist Daisy Martey.

Enrique Herdia "El Negri" of La barieria del Sur makes his solo debut with a tribute album to composer Agustin Lara. The CD is entitled El ultimo beso (The Last Kiss).

Illumination is the new album from the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire, with 13 tracks produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Will I Am and Raphael Saadiq. The album is more in the neo-soul vein with tracks including Lovely People featuring Will I Am (Black Eyes Peas), Show Me The Way featuring Raphael Saadiq, Work It Out and Elevated People featuring Floetry.

Soul diva Betty LaVette returns with I’ve Got My Own Hell To Raise which is already making headwaves on the European scene as clubs and DJs throughout have added select tracks ti their playlists. It’s definitely a great comeback album worth checking out.

NEW JAZZ CHILL CD RELEASES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 4...

2 Good To Go – Early Morning
Alex Bugnon – Free (Narada)
Anders Jormin – Xieyl (ECM)
Andrew Hill – Andrew !!! (Blue Note)
Andrew Hill – Blue Black (Test Of Time)
Arild Anderson – Electra (ECM)
Carlos Giffoni – Welcome Home (Important)
Cream – Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-4-5, 2005 (2-CD, Warner Bros..)
Cream – Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-4-5, 2005 (2-DVD, Warner Bros.)
Cream – Farewell Concert (1968, DVD, Image Entertainment)
Don Cherry – Where Is Brooklyn (Blue Note)
Dr. John – Live At Montreux: 1995/1986 (DVD, Eagle Rock)
Dr. John – Live At Montreux: 1995 (Eagle Rock)
Enrico Rava – Tati (ECM)
Erwin Helfer Trio – Careless Love (The Sirens Records)
Esquivel – Merry Xmas From The Space-Age Bachelor Pad (Bar None)
Freddie Hubbard – Artist Selects: Freddie Hubbard (Blue Note)
Gerald Levert - Voices (Rhino)
Gerald Wilson – Artist Selects: Gerald Wilson (Blue Note)
Gilfema – Gilfema (Obliqsound)
Ike Quebec – Consequence (Blue Note)
Jane Monheit – The Very Best Of Jane Monheit (Warlock)
Jeff Kaye – Just Like Me (Jazzed Media)
Jeffrey Osborne – From The Soul (Koch)
Joyce – The Essential Joyce: 1970-96 (Mr. Bongo)
Kenny Burrell – Artist Selects: Kenny Burrell (Blue Note)
King Curtis – Sweet Soul/Everybody’s Talkin (Ambassador Soul Classics)
Kirk Whalum – Performs The Babyface Songbook (Rendezvous)
Linda Eder – By Myself: The Songs of Judy Garland (MaxJazz)
Lou Donaldson – Artists Selects: Lou Donaldson (Blue Note)
Marian McPartland – Piano Jazz with Bruce Hornsby (The Jazz Alliance)
Merzbow - Merzbata (Important)
Michael Buble – It’s Time (Warner Music)
Paris Combo – Paris Combo (DRG)
Pyramid – Pyramid (Video Arts/Japan)
Rita Lee – Bossa N Beatles (Ghordo Music)
Robert Glasper – Canvas (Blue Note)
Sarah DeLeo – The Nearness Of You! (Sweet Sassy Music)
Si Se – More Shine (Giant Step)
Sylvie Lewis – Tangos And Tantrums (Cheap Lullaby)
Triptych Myth – Beautiful (Aum Fidelity)
Urzula Dudziak – Magic Lady (Harkit/UK)
Various Artists – A Charlie Brown Christmas: 40 Years (Peak)
Will Downing – Soul Symphony (GRP)

NEW CD FROM BURT BACHARACH WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ELVIS COSTELLO, DR. DRE & CHRIS BOTTI

Columbia Records will release At This Time, a new album by Burt Bacharach, with melodies performed by an orchestra of more than 35 musicians, on Tuesday, November 1st. Bacharach wrote lyrics for nine of the album's 11 songs, many with collaborator Tonio K. Collaborations on At This Time include Elvis Costello, with whom Bacharach teamed on the Grammy-winning album, Painted From Memory in 1998. Costello performs Who Are These People, perhaps the CD's most-controversial and haunting track, with music by Bacharach and lyrics by Bacharach and Tonio K.

Also contributing is Dr. Dre, with whom Bacharach started collaborating a couple of years ago. The original project changed, but Dre contributed drum loops for three of the tracks that Bacharach describes as "adventurous." Trumpeter Chris Botti co-wrote Dreams with Bacharach and performs on that track, as well as on In Our Time. Other vocals are performed by singers John Pagano, Josie James and Donna Taylor.

At This Time will be released in the UK by Sony BMG Music. The project was originally commissioned for the UK, but Columbia saw its universal musical and emotional themes and appeal and is releasing it in the U.S., as well. UK release date is October 24th.

Six decades into one of songwriting's most successful and honored careers - marked by 48 Top 10 hits, nine #1 songs and more than 500 compositions and a landmark 47-year run on the charts, Bacharach's music continues to set industry records and creative standards. The recipient of three Academy Awards and six Grammy Awards (including the 1997 Trustees Award with collaborator Hal David), he revolutionized the music of the 1950s and 60s and is regularly bracketed with legendary names such as Lennon and McCartney, Paul Simon, Leiber and Stoller, Cole Porter and the visionaries who pioneered new forms of music from the second half of the 20th Century in the 21st Century.

GET YOUR JAZZ CHILL GROOVE GOING WITH SWISSGROOVE.CH

Here’s a Internet radio station that we highly recommend – it’s called SwissGroove and quite simply put it’s just great. Their sound is a mix of smooth jazz, funk, chill, Brazilian with some Latin-tinged and dance grooves thrown in. Below is a recent sample playlist. Be sure to check them out at www.swissgroove.ch.

Michael McDonald – I Want You
Rodney Hunter – Is This Your Body
Maysa – Dangerous Summer Nights
Eric Clapton –One Chance
Tom & Joyce – Vai Minha Tristeza
Steel Mascara – Random Rufus
Simply Red – Perfect Love
Pieces Of A Dream – Who U Wit?
Lucio Alves – Little Boat
Kyoto Jazz Massive – Deep In Your Mind feat. Victor Davies
Bonobo – Flutter
Depeche Mode – Precious
Kleer – Get Tough
Nicola Conte – Several Shades Of Dawn
Steve Cole – Keep It Live
Joan Osborne – Ladder
Steely Dan – Josie
Trio Exklusiv – Figure Out
Gilbero Gil – Extra
Roy Ayers – I Did It In Seattle
Doobie Brothers – You Belong To Me
Lin Roundtree - Groovetree
Heavy – Do For You
The Temptations – Get Ready (New Version)
Calm – Introducing Bluendo
Madeka – Mokote The Shadow Of The Earth
Gabin – Gabin Vs. Cal’s
Groove Collective – In Your Mind
Labi Seffre – I Got The
Incognito – Roots (Back To A Way Of Life)
Roman Andren – Amber Lady
Ian Pooley – Since Then
Paulinho DaCosta – Love Till The End
Café All Stars – Used To Be
Chieli Minucci – Got It Goin’ On

ROD STEWART'S GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK CONTINUES WITH VOLUME 4 IN STORES OCTOBER 18

Multi-Platinum Great American Songbook Phenomenon Tops 13 Million Worldwide Sales

J Records recording artist Rod Stewart's chart-topping, multi-platinum, and now Grammy Award-winning The Great American Songbook series will add a fourth title with the release of Thanks For The Memory... The Great American Songbook: Volume IV, due to arrive in stores on October 18th. Produced by Steve Tyrell and Clive Davis, Thanks For The Memory... is highlighted by vocal duets featuring Rod with Sir Elton John (on Ray Charles' signature remake of Makin' Whoopee) with Chaka Khan (on Sam Cooke's You Send Me), and with Diana Ross (on the Gershwin's I've Got A Crush On You, from 1940's Strike Up The Band, echoing the original duet by Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland). The new album is the follow-up to 2004's #1 Stardust...The Great American Songbook: Volume III, also produced by Tyrell and Davis, which won Rod's first Grammy this year for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Performing on the album Thanks For The Memory are a number of guest star appearances of major virtuoso instrumentalists who span several generations: guitarist George Benson on Harold Arlen's Let's Fall In Love, trumpeter Chris Botti on I Wish You Love, trumpeter Roy Hargrove on My One And Only Love, and Dave Koz on Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You). Other solo performances by Rod slated for Thanks For The Memory include a pair of Irving Berlin standards, Blue Skies and I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, Jerome Kern's Long Ago & Far Away, Vernon Duke's Taking A Chance On Love, Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine, and the title song, Bob Hope's eternal theme, Thanks For The Memory.

In anticipation of the upcoming holiday season, a deluxe 4-disc box set entitled The Great American Songbook will package together Thanks For The Memory... The Great American Songbook: Volume IV along with Stardust...The Great American Songbook: Volume III, 2003's As Time Goes By ... The Great American Songbook, Volume II, and the album that started it all in 2002, It Had To Be You ... The Great American Songbook. The four albums - which are now the biggest-selling ongoing series of new music recordings in history - have cumulative sales of more than 13 million copies worldwide. The box set will arrive in stores on November 15th.

COOL RELEASES FROM KING BRITT, HIRD, MARTIN DENNY, LARRY HEARD & MARC COURTNEY JOHNSON

KING BRITT - This Is King Britt
Here is a fantastic collection of King Britt’s work! This is 2-CD set that features 26 tracks from a wide variety of sources which covers the true range of his talents. Disc 1 features King Britt himself while Disc 2 is comprised of his remixes for other artists.



MARTIN DENNY - Primitiva
Primitiva is one of Martin Denny's best albums!. This CD comes in both mono and stero mixes and it includes all the elements that you would typically expect from Denny – complete with a wealth of odd added percussion - including gongs, cymbals, tuned logs, steel drums, chimes, and "chromatic bamboo"!

LARRY HEARD - Loose Fingers Soundtrack From The Duality Double-Play Excellent work from Larry Heard as he displays a jazzy sensibility on the keys that really sets him apart.

HIRD - Moving On
Very nice keyboard plus cool soul and rhythms on this set from the Scandinavian scene. Multiple tracks can be heard on chill and smooth jazz stations worldwide.




MARC COURTNEY JOHNSON - Marc Courtney Johnson & The Dan Cray Trio

Marc Courtney Johnson is a new jazz vocalist hailing from Chicago, with a sound reminiscent of Al Jarreau and George Benson. The Dan Cray Trio provides wonderful support for Marc on the set -- allowing for lively rhythms, long runs on the piano, and the right sort of energy to match Johnson's lyrically flowing style.

JAZZ CHILL CORNER NEWS BITS

The Dionne Warkwick: 45th Anniversary Spectacular, is a television special that will be filmed at the Kodak Theatre on January 26 & 27, 2006. American Airlines has been set as the "official airline and exclusive carrier" for the special. More than 100 stars will participate in the All-Star Salute to the legendary Dionne Warwick, whose professional career began in 1961. Warwick has had over 60 Top 100 records in her 45-year career and has sold over 100 million records worldwide.

Singer-Songwriter Maxwell is set to releasea new album for Columbia/Sony Urban Music in February 2006, his first since 2001’s Now.

Smooth jazz guitarist Nick Colionne has signed with Narada Jazz. Colionne’s new album, his fifth, will be released in early 2006. As a solo artist, Nick Colionne has scored top 10 hits on the Radio & Records (R&R) charts, honored in 2005 with a Smoothie Award from internet jazz hub, smoothjazz.com, as well as nominated for 2005’s "Best Jazz Jazz CD" prize by the Chicago Music Awards.

MusicNet, the world’s leading business-to-business digital music service has announced that it has expanded its catalog of licensed music to 2 million tracks. MusicNet who’s distribution partners include Yahoo!, HMV, Virgin Digital, AOL, iMesh, Cdigix amd others, offers a suite of fully customized digital music experiences, including the ability to buy digital music subscriptions, portable subscriptions and downloads.

XM Satellite Radio has now surpassed the 5 million subscriber count, increasing its leads as the nation’s number one satellite radio company. Upcoming XM programming highlights include comprehensive coverage of Major League Baseball playoffs and the World Series, the debut of National Hockey League games on XM, and the launch of Take Five, a new 24-hour talk radio channel aimed at women, featuring satellite radio broadcasts of high-profile programs such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Innova Recordings has just released Beyond, an album of new electro-acoustic music by composer Barry Schrader.

Stevie Wonder’s long awaited album, A Time 2 Love will finally be released on October 10 on the Motown label. Guests on the CD include Bonnie Raitt, Prince, Kim Burrell, India.Arie, Paul McCartney, and Wonder’s daughter Aisha.

Keith Jarrett held his first solo concert at Carnegie Hall in New York in more than 10 years on September 26. He is set for three upcoming solo concerts in Japan – October 14 and 20 in Tokyo and October 17 in Osaka. His most recent release is the live album, Radiance, which recently debuted No. 5 on Billboard’s Top Jazz Album chart.

Marcus Miller with special guests Take 6 will perform two shows at B.B. King’s in Times Square, New York City on Saturday, October 1. Rafe Gomez (of Groove Boutique fame) will be spinning his vibe selections in between sets.

Apple has begun selling iTunes music cards in the United Kingdom. These pocket size cards are available in British denominations of 15 pounds ($26.50) and 25 pounds ($44.17), and are used to credit a user’s iTunes Music Store account. Stateside, these cards have been available in the U.S. (through Amazon) since November 2004.

Singer Melba Moore’s latest track, My Heart Belongs To You is garnering major spins on the European club circuit. The remix by Jon Cutler is a hot commodity in places like Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Ibiza, Spain. Other hot dance floor remixes enjoying worldwide popularity include Roy Ayers’ Holiday (DJ Spinna and Kenny Dope remixes), Mica Paris’ Bodyswerve (GN remix), Jamiroquai’s Give Hate A Chance (RedSoul remix), Francois K’s Mindspeak, Bob Sinclar’s Love Generation (Booty mix), Angelique Kidjo’s Makumba (b.b.t.l. remix), Anane’s Move, Bounce, Shake, Bah Samba’s Calma (Louis Vega remix), Roy Ayers’ Tarzan, and Vincent Montana Jr.’s What Love Does (Louis Benedetti remix).