RAY, GOODMAN & BROWN, KCMS-FM, PANAMA JAZZ FESTIVAL, APPLE, MARCUS JOHNSON, NINA SIMONE, KENNY G, FLAMENCO JAZZ & CHILL, OUR NEW ORLEANS

RAY, GOODMAN & BROWN - A MOMENT WITH FRIENDS
Classic soul group, Ray, Goodman & Brown preview their new album – A MomentWith Friends available exclusively for now at soultracks.com. First as the Moments and then as Ray, Goodman & Brown, this trio has provided some ofthe greatest soul music of the last four decades, including Love On A TwoWay Street and Special Lady. A Moment With Friends is a salute to thegreat soul songs of the 60s and 70s. For this week alone, Ray, Goodman & Brown have agreed to offer this CD at a special price (including free shipping), plus autographed at soultracks.com.

KCSM 91.1FM
San Francisco’s own KCSM(91.1FM) has the distinction of being the nation’sonly true 24-hour broadcast radio jazz station. Even New York City,considered the center of the musical form does not have a station thatplays only jazz with no news and information breaks. There is a station in New Jersey, however, it only plays 20 hours of jazz. Many other stations have opted the route of smooth jazz radio instead. The station features their daily Jazz Datebook listing live performances from around the Bay Area. DJs also interview musicians and offer historical and musical insights.

PANAMA JAZZ FESTIVAL
The third annual Panama Jazz Festival is scheduled for January 19-21, 2006. The three day event will feature the Randy Weston African Group, the David Sanchez Group, the Kurt Rosenwinkel Group featuring Mark Turner, the New England Conservatory Ensemble, the University Panama Big Band, led by Vitin Paz with special guests, Santi Debriano and the Sounds of Ashe From theUniversity of Massachusetts, the Carlos Garnett Quartet, Maurice Smith’sTribute Band, Folk Panamanian Musicians, among other national and international musicians.

APPLE SELLS 100 MILLION DOWNLOADS IN EUROPE
Apple has confirmed that it is growing close to selling 100 million iTunes downloads in the European market. To celebrate, Apple has announced amajor prize for the music fan who grabs the winning track download. The winning package includes a 17-inch iMac G5, 3 30GB iPod, 10,000 free iTunes downloads and two tickets to see Robbie Williams perform live. Stateside, Apple has crossed the 500 million download milestone and is headed for the billionth download.

NINA SIMONE & KENNY G CDs
Upcoming CDs in the coming months include: Nina Simone’s Nina Sings The Blues (RCA) and Silk And Soul (Legacy), both due on January 17 and Kenny G’s The Essential Kenny G (Legacy) on January 24.

MARCUS JOHNSON NEWS
D.C's own Marcus Johnson will perform selection from his Smooth Jazz Christmas album as he appears live at Borders bookstore in downtown Silver Spring, MD on December 6 at 7PM.

JAZZ AND CHILL FLAMENCO STYLE
Flamenco singer Diego Clavel surprises listeners once again with his latest release Por solea. Which is a very complicated, exhaustive and in-depthwork about the world of soleares. Released in digipack format, this new CD features the participation the guitarists Antonio Carrión and Paco Cortés. El Barrio's seventh release – Las playas de invierno (The Winter Beaches) is a surprising, committed and mature record. In this release, El Barrio remains faithful to his musical influences and continues moving between flamenco and rock like a fish in the water of the Cádiz beaches that inspire his oeuvre. Solo compass. From Utrera (featuring various artists) is an authentic gypsy party recorded live in Utrera, with the participation of artists from everyage group. Gitanos de Utrera are responsible for the singing and dancing,with accompaniment by the guitarists Paco Fernández, Antonio Moya and "Pitín de Utrera"."

OUR NEW ORLEANS COMPILATION ALBUM DUE

Our New Orleans, Nonesuch Album of Newly Recorded Songs by New Orleans Musicians, Benefits Gulf Coast Hurricane Victims via Habitat for Humanity;to Be Released December 6 Artists Include Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dr. John, Randy Newman,Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Wild Magnolias,Buckwheat Zydeco, and Others

Nonesuch Records is releasing a benefit album of newly recorded songsfeaturing artists from the New Orleans music community - across a wide variety of styles - to document the depth, richness, and profound musicality of that unique city. Net proceeds from the sale of Our New Orleans will be donated to Habitat for Humanity International to aid those affected by the recent hurricanes along the Gulf Coast. A portion of those funds will be earmarked to help provide housing for New Orleans musicians through the recently announced Musicians' Village. Several of New Orleans' best-known musicians have recorded songs that are integral to their lives and that express their feelings about the city and the recent events there. The album was made swiftly and simply, over the course of a month, in several one-day sessions in cities across the country. Our New Orleans will be released December 6, 2005.

For this special project, Nonesuch has joined forces with others in theartistic community. Nick Spitzer, host of "American Routes" - a nationally syndicated weekly public radio music show produced in New Orleans - contributed liner notes to the record, as did Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Ford, also a Crescent City resident. Nonesuch's parent company - Warner Bros. Records, part of the Warner MusicGroup - is donating all of the production costs for Our New Orleans as part of the Group's larger efforts on behalf of hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast. Many others involved in creating the album are also generously donating their time and services.

Our New Orleans track listing:
1. Allen Toussaint - "Yes We Can Can" (producer, Joe Henry)
2. Dr. John - "World I Never Made" (producers, Mark Bingham/Hal Willner)
3. Irma Thomas - "Back Water Blues" (producer, Joe Henry)
4. Davell Crawford - "Gather by the River" (producers, Mark Bingham/Hal Willner)
5. Buckwheat Zydeco - "Cryin' in the Streets" (producer, Ry Cooder)
6. Dr. Michael White - "Canal Street Blues" (producers, Mark Bingham/Doug Petty)
7. Wild Magnolias - "Brother John Is Gone/Herc-Jolly-John" (producers, Doug Petty/Matt Sakakeeny)
8. Eddie Bo - "When the Saints Go Marching In" (producer, Nick Spitzer)
9. Dirty Dozen Brass Band - "My Feet Can't Fail Me Now" (producer, Joe Henry)
10. Carol Fran - "Tou' les jours ç'est pas la même" ("Every Day Is Not the Same") (producer, Nick Spitzer)
11. BeauSoleil - "L'ouragon" ("The Hurricane") (producers, Michael Doucet /Nick Spitzer)
12. Preservation Hall Jazz Band - "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans" (producers, Doug Petty/Matt Sakakeeny)
13. Charlie Miller - "Prayer for New Orleans" (producers, Mark Bingham/Hall Willner)
14. The Wardell Quezergue Orchestra featuring Donald Harrison - "What a Wonderful World" (producers, Joel Dorn/Adam Dorn)
15. Allen Toussaint - "Tipitina and Me" (producer, Joe Henry)
16. Randy Newman featuring the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra with members of the New York Philharmonic - "Louisiana 1927" (producer, Steve Epstein)

SOULTRACKS READERS CHOICE AWARD WINNERS, ENJA, DIANA KRALL, ANITA BAKER, AL GREEN, DONALD FAGAN, GLADYS KNIGHT, DERRICK JORDAN, ALICIA KEYS

SoulTracks Announces 2005 Readers Choice Award Winners
SoulTracks (www.soultracks.com), the leading online resource for classic and modern soul music, has announced the winners of its 2005 Readers Choice Awards, the largest international awards dedicated to independent soul music – i.e., music released by artists independent of the major international record labels.

For eight days in November, SoulTracks conducted an online poll of its substantial readership to choose the Best Male Vocalist, Best Female Vocalist, Best Duo or Group and Best Album of 2005. The ten nominees in each category were among the brightest stars of independent soul music, ranging from classic soul performers like the Chairmen of the Board to hot newcomers such as P.J. Morton. The voter response was overwhelming and from virtually every continent, causing SoulTracks to add online voting stations throughout the eight day event and demonstrating the growing interest in independent soul music both in the U.S. and abroad.

“We were overwhelmed by the interest shown by soul music fans around the world in our event,” said SoulTracks founder and publisher Chris Rizik. “Broadcast radio has focused so much on hip-hop, that it has often overlooked the tremendous soul music that is being released by extremely talented signed and unsigned artists. The thousands who participated in these awards demonstrated the thirst fans have for music that is fresh, exciting and also uplifting and positive. We saw substantial votes coming in from virtually every age group and country.”

The major award winner in the album category was Frank McComb for his CD Straight From the Vault. The top duo or group was the L.A.-based group The Rebirth, and the top male and female vocalists were Rahsaan Patterson and Meli’sa Morgan, respectively.

The top five vote-getters in each category will be spotlighted on SoulTracks in December, with the winners receiving special recognition. In addition, SoulTracks will be running a contest where it will be giving away CDs by the winners in all four awards categories. To enter, readers should send their email entries to CD giveaway (at) soultracks.com between Dec. 1 – Dec. 5, 2005.

Best Album
Frank McComb – Straight From the Vault (winner)
Angela Johnson – Got To Let It Go
Janita – Seasons of Life
P.J. Morton – Emotions
Conya Doss – Just Because

Best Duo or Group
The Rebirth (winner)
Cooly’s Hot Box
Tortured Soul
Chairmen of the Board
Steve Butler feat. Ron Haynes

Best Male Vocalist
Rahsaan Patterson (winner)
Frank McComb
Will Wheaton
Gordon Chambers
P.J. Morton

Best Female Vocalist
Meli’sa Morgan (winner)
Sy Smith
Angela Johnson
Conya Doss
Sunny Hawkins

SoulTracks.com is the leading online soul music resource, with more than 200,000 monthly visits by over 100,000 monthly readers. SoulTracks includes biographies of hundreds of classic and modern soul artists as well as CD reviews, news and “where are they now?” features. In October, 2005 SoulTracks was rated the most popular soul music website in the world by web ranking company Alexa.com. www.soultracks.com

WORLD RENOWNED VOCALIST ENJA RELEASES HER HIGHEST-EVER ALBUM DEBUT WITH AMARANTINE

Album Charts at #8 in Its First Week of Sales
One of the top-selling vocalists of all time, Enya follows her 13 million-selling album A Day Without Rain with the chart-topping debut of her sixth album, Amarantine, from Reprise Records. Amarantine hit the #8 spot on the U.S. album chart in its first week of sales after its November 22 release, the highest debut ever for an Enya album. The album entered the Top 10 charts in 14 other countries around the world, and the Top 15 in four more. With more than 65 million total album sales to date, Enya is one of the world's best selling musical artists.

Recorded in Ireland, Amarantine is classic Enya and once again, the record is a product of the extraordinary and long-standing creative partnership Enya has enjoyed throughout her career with producer/arranger Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan. With its atmospheric blend of sublime melodies, symphonic caverns of sound and classical motifs, Amarantine will delight her legion of fans, to whom Enya's music acts as an oasis of calm and beauty in a world of clamor and chaos

CHRISTMAS MUSIC FROM DIANA KRALL, ANITA BAKER & AL GREEN
Aside from new Christmas releases from Diana Krall and Anita Baker, comes a reissue from Al Green. The sleeper among reissues might be Feels Like Christmas by Al Green (Right Stuff), simply because more people may have missed it the first time around. Diana Krall's Christmas Songs (Verve) is at the top of this year's jazz/standards/cabaret crop, Krall sticks with lovely renditions of standards like White Christmas and Winter Wonderland. Anita Baker — Christmas Fantasy (EMI), puts a lot of jazz-style reworking into familiar tunes like I'll Be Home for Christmas, and it pays off.

NEW CD DUE FROM STEELY DAN'S DONALD FAGAN
Steely Dan principal Donald Fagen is back on the solo trail with Morph The Cat his first solo album in 13 years with release set for early next year. He's joined by fellow musicians as drummer Keith Carlock, guitarists Wayne Krantz, Jon Herington and Hugh McCracken, clarinetist Lawrence Feldman, pianist Ted Baker and saxophonist Walt Weiskopf, among others. Morph the Cat is the follow-up to 1993's Kamakiriad, which debuted at No. 10 on The Billboard 200. Plans are in the works to release a boxed set featuring that set, Morph the Cat and Fagen's 1981 solo debut, The Nightfly.

Here is the track list for Morph the Cat:

"Morph the Cat"
"H Gang"
"What I Do"
"Brite Nitegown"
"The Great Pagoda of Funn"
"Security Joan"
"The Night Belongs To Mona"
"Mary Shut the Garden Door"
"Morph the Cat" (Reprise)

DERRICK JORDAN RELEASES EVERYONE LOVES BRAZIL
Unlike his other CDs, this CD features only Brazilian flavored sambas and bossa novas - 26 songs that were written over a 27 year period, the earliest dating back to 1976 when Derrik was a music student at Bennington College. The oldest song on the CD, Share Your Love, was recorded by Angela Bofill on her first LP Angie which nearly went gold and received a lot of airplay in NYC in 1978. The CD features the talents of many wonderful local musicians including Bob Stabach, Steve Sonntag, Dan DeWalt, Charlie Schneeweis and Johnny Yuma as well as Erik Lawrence and Eugene Uman. Guest vocalists include Alexandra Colmant on the title track and award-winning singer Lisa Sokolov.

GLADYS KNIGHT TO PERFORM AT NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CONCERT
Gladys Knight will be among the acts that will perform at this year's Nobel Peace Prize concert, to be held December 11th in Oslo, Norway. The event, which will honor 2005 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei of Egypt, will be hosted by actresses Salma Hayek and Julianne Moore.

ALICIA KEYS AND BONO RECORD AFRICA DUET
Alicia Keys and U2 frontman Bono have recorded the single Don't Give Up (Africa), originally a 1986 duet between Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush, for release through iTunes next Tuesday. The song, which they first performed together last month at the annual New York fundraiser for Keep a Child Alive, will benefit that organization's efforts to bring medicine to families dealing with HIV/AIDS.

AIR JAMAICA JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

Walter Elmore, Executive Producer of the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, announces 2,624 subscribers in the first 21 days since the series has debuted using What I Want Podcastings' services
This January brings a refreshing beginning for jazz and blues lovers: the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival. Scheduled from January 26-28, this year's lineup will include John Legend, Patti LaBelle, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, James Ingram, Al Green, Air Supply and more. With the release of their podcast series, the popularity of this festival is exploding online. Recently, Walter Elmore hired What I Want Podcasting, a business podcast development firm that specializes in creating podcasts that integrate corporate branding. "This has never been done before; we are absolutely the first concert to use this technology. I am thrilled with the success of this new marketing tool, and it hasn't even been a full month since our debut," says Elmore. "What I Want Podcasting has developed a great synergistic fit for our market."

The latest addition to the list is four-time Vibe Award nominee and winner of the MOBO Award for Best R & B Artist, John Legend. Riding high on the successful major label debut of his album Get Lifted, Legend has earned his reputation as a singer, songwriter, pianist -- delivering classic R & B, with a spin. Legend will perform on the first evening of the three-day festival. "I think it really comes down to our choice of artists," Elmore adds. "We are always looking to please our listening and viewing audience. We do that by booking artists that have an international impact, and who complement the wonderful atmosphere we have created here over the years."

This year the festival, also called The Art of Music, developed a podcast concert series created by What I Want Podcasting. It can be found on iTunes, Yahoo! Podcasts, Odeo, and any other podcast directory, by simply typing in "Jazz & Blues." Here is a link to their most recent podcast of the Thursday Night Lineup: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/2005-AirJamaica.html.
The podcast concert series has had over 5,300 listeners in 21 days, and 49.5% of them have subscribed to the feed after listening to it, totaling 2,600. This is the first concert podcast series in the world; it is using the cutting-edge technology of podcasting to bring on-demand audio and video to its online audience. "It just seems like a perfect fit. We want those people
who are looking for jazz and blues content to find our site, get a taste of the concert to come, and book a flight!" Walter Elmore states.

By using What I Want Podcasting to develop their series, Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues has followed up on their international notoriety for being the best jazz and blues festival in the Caribbean. For more information on attending the festival, please contact http://www.airjamaicavacations.com/.

For more information on What I Want Podcasting, visit http://www.WhatIWantPodcasting.com, or email info@whatiwantpodcasting.com.

ACCLAIMED JAZZ TRUMPETER CHRIS BOTTI TO APPEAR ON DAYTIME'S NUMBER ONE DRAMA, "THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS," FRIDAY, DEC. 9 AND MONDAY, DEC. 12, ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Botti will be playing the processional at the long-awaited wedding of Y&R characters Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman) and Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc) on Friday, Dec. 9. On Monday, Dec. 12, he will perform "My One and Only Love," the latest single from his recent CD, To Love Again, along with "Someone to Watch Over Me."

Although the wedding is a culmination of the love story of Lauren and Michael, fans know that Lauren's evil arch-enemy, Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown), is lurking in the shadows. The happy couple's lives could be in grave danger as Sheila prepares to get her long-sought revenge.

Since the release of his first solo album in 1995, Chris Botti has earned both critical acclaim and mainstream appreciation. A native of Oregon, he joined Paul Simon's band in 1990, where he remained for the next five years, and, in 1995, recorded his solo debut, First Wish. After scoring the 1996 film "Caught," Botti returned in 1997 with his second LP, Midnight Without You, which was followed by Slowing Down the World two years later. His 2002 watershed album, Night Sessions, peaked at Number Two on the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart while his seasonal collection, December, released the same year, hit Number Seven on the same chart. To Love Again follows the extraordinary success of Botti's groundbreaking last album, When I Fall In Love.

HIGHER GROUND CD, TOSCA, GILLES PETERSON, GROOVE BOUTIQUE, REMIX HOTEL, BLUE NOTE LIVE

BLUE NOTE RELEASES HIGHER GROUND BENEFIT CD OF HIGHLIGHTS FROM JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER'S LANDMARK HIGHER GROUND HURRICANE RELIEF BENEFIT CONCERT

The CD's performers include Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Wynton Marsalis, Bette Midler, Art & Aaron Neville, Dianne Reeves, James Taylor, Cassandra Wilson & Buckwheat Zydeco. Blue Note Records has released Higher Ground, a CD that documents Jazz at Lincoln Center's Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert, a landmark evening of musical offering that was mounted by Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Artistic Director, Blue Note recording artist and New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis on September 17, less than three weeks after Hurricane Katrina imparted its devastation upon the Gulf Coast.

The concert and auction produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center have already raised over $2 million to date, and all proceeds from sales of the CD will also go directly to the Higher Ground Relief Fund established by Jazz at Lincoln Center and administered through the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, a non-profit community foundation, to benefit the musicians, music industry related enterprises and other individuals and entities from the areas in Greater New Orleans who were impacted by Hurricane Katrina and to provide other general hurricane relief.

The concert, which took place at Rose Theater in Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City and was televised nationally on PBS and broadcast on XM Satellite Radio and NPR member radio stations in the U.S. and worldwide, boasted a remarkable array of talent including Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Wynton Marsalis, Bette Midler, Art & Aaron Neville, Dianne Reeves, James Taylor, Cassandra Wilson & Buckwheat Zydeco.

Higher Ground collects the highlights of the evening from Shirley Caesar's rousing opener This Joy through Cassandra Wilson's prayerful reading of Duke Ellington's Come Sunday with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. These 15 tracks pay tribute to the city of New Orleans, one of the greatest musical and cultural centers in all the world, through a multitude of musical moods & styles: Early to Modern Jazz, Gospel, New Orleans Funk, Folk, & Pop.

Other standout moments include New Orleans-born trumpeter Terence Blanchard's emotive and sweeping performance of Over There, Art & Aaron Neville's funky take on Go To The Mardi Gras, Diana Krall's laidback rendition of Basin Street Blues featuring Cyrus Chestnut on piano, James Taylor's heartfelt Never Die Young, Norah Jones' sweet solo piano reading of Randy Newman's I Think It's Going To Rain Today, and Wynton Marsalis' celebratory tribute to New Orleans icon Louis Armstrong on Dippermouth Blues.

The full track listing is as follows:
1. This Joy- Shirley Ceasar
2. Over There- Terence Blanchard
3. Go To The Mardi Gras- Art & Aaron Neville
4. Basin Street Blues- Diana Krall
5. Never Die Young- James Taylor
6. The House I Live In- Dianne Reeves
7. New Orleans Blues- Marcus Roberts
8. I Think It's Going to Rain Today- Norah Jones
9. Dippermouth Blues- Wynton Marsalis Hot Seven
10. I'm Gonna Love You Anyway- Buckwheat Zydeco
11. Is That All There Is- Bette Middler and the LCJO
12. Just A Closer Walk With The- Irvin Mayfield, Jr.
13. Here's To Life- The Jordan Family
14. Blackwell's Message- Joe Lovano
15. Come Sunday- Cassandra Wilson and the LCJO
16. Havana Blues- Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
17. Bring Back New Orleans- Peter Cincotti

TOSCA AT IRVING PLAZA
Irving Plaza in New York City will host Tosca on Wednesday December 7. Tosca is Richard Dorfmeister (of Kruder & Dorfmeister fame) and Rupert Huber, an accomplished classical pianist and composer. These two artists create a live Tosca show which includes vocalists Rob Gallagher (Galliano / Two Banks of Four), Ras Mc Tweed (Rockers Hi-Fi) and MC Earl Zinger! A visual performance by Fritz Fiske, the legendary visionary behind the Kruder & Dorfmeister shows will round off this evening.

GILLES PETERON DIGS AMERICA
Gilles Peterson has delighted dance floors and listeners to his radio show by joining the dots between musical styles and eras. His record collection is so serious he keeps it in a separate house known as Brownswood. Regular listeners to Petersonís radio show (Worldwide airs on BBC Radio 1 weekly in the UK and is syndicated around the world) are occasionally treated to a Brownswood Basement selection where all the records are oldies, all on vinyl, and none have been re-issued. By popular demand this compilation features some of the Brownswood Basement rarities from the USA.

REMIX HOTEL
Remix Magazine is returning to South Beach in Miami for its 5th annual Remix Hotel. Billed as three days of “total technology immersion,” Remix Hotel will showcase equipment and software manufacturers demonstrating their latest products for remixers, producers and discjockeys. Remix Hotel Miami will be at the National Hotel on Collins Avenue from March 22nd-24th, 2006. There is no cost to attend and online registration is at www.remixhotel.com.

BLUE NOTE MIX ON THE GROOVE BOUTIQUE
Blue Note Records has partnered with Jazz D.J. Rafe Gomez, host of nationally syndicated radio mix show The Groove Boutique and QVC's "The Groove Boutique With Rafe Gomez", to offer fans a new one hour, streaming Blue Note Mix featuring a seamless blend of old school flavors and new grooves from Blue Note artists past and present. Featured tracks in this streaming Blue Note Mix include tasty sounds from Soulive, Horace Silver, Grant Green, Reuben Wilson, Richard Groove Holmes, and many more. You can check out the Blue Note Mix at www.grooveboutique.com It is Mix # 14.

BLUE NOTE LIVE @ SYMPHONY SPACE, NYC
Blue Note Live: Music & Conversation is a new series at Symphony Space in NYC. Each presentation is hosted by Bruce Lundvall, President and CEO of Blue Note Records. These intimate conversations and performances each with a Blue Note artist take place at Symphony Space, located at 95th Street & Broadway in NYC. The upcoming artist list for Blue Note Live: Music & Conversation includes Stefon Harris on December 8th and Bill Charlap on January, 12, 2006. For more information on this wonderful new series, please visit www.symphonyspace.org.

JAZZ CHILL MUSIC NEWS

Miles Davis had made the final list of the 2006 class of inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The induction is to be held March 13 at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. A&M Records co-founders Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss will receive a lifetime achievement award in the non-performer category. Inductees in the side-men category have yet to be announced. Artists are eligible for the Rock Hall 25 years after the release of their first album. The 2005 class featured Buddy Guy, the O'Jays and Percy Sledge.

The Chicago-based electronica artist Mark Andrushko of Delicate Noise debut CD titled Diversion is his first solo release and gives a taste of precise engineered electronica. 12 songs that combine trip-hop, atmospheric, minimalism and synth-pop, Delicate Noise is a fresh voice of electronic music. Future Music Magazine has said, "Influenced by Massive Attack and Depeche Mode, this music is indeed delicate if not exactly noise. Slow tempo electronica with spoken effected vocals and a nicely ambient mix with plenty of space. Atmospheric stuff put together with a lot of care."

Diana Krall doing Christmas songs on the aptly titled Christmas Songs is sure to please her fans, jazz lovers, and anyone looking for a smooth-sounding, wholly predictable holiday disc. Krall delivers exactly what one would expect with these 12 mainstream tunes, seven of which are backed by the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

Hallmark announced today that Michael McDonald's Through the Many Winters, A Christmas Album, has gone Gold. The ten-track album reached Gold status (500,000 copies sold) two week safter its release and a full week before Thanksgiving, a holiday that is acknowledged to kick off Christmas shopping. Hallmark is the only specialty retailer to have achieved Platinum and Gold certification of their CDs, sold only at their retail outlets. Hallmark CDs are sold exclusively by more than 4,000 Hallmark Gold Crown(R) stores and are available for a limited time. Each CD has a focused, seasonal or event.

eMusic, the world's No. 2 digital music download service, selling more than 3 million tracks monthly, today announced its first retail promotional partnership with computer and electronics retailer CompUSA. Under the agreement, CompUSA consumers will get 100 free eMusic downloads with the purchase of any item at any of their 244 retail stores across the United States. All songs in eMusic's vast and rich 900,000 track catalog are available to CompUSA customers under this promotion. In addition, CompUSA will sell prepaid download cards for eMusic songs that allow customers to buy tracks on an a la carte basis-and own them forever-at a substantially lower price than other mainstream services. Cards will be available for 15 songs priced at $7.50 ($.50 per song); 20 songs at$9.99 ($.50 per song); and 65 songs at $29.99 ($.46 per song).

David Hoffman and Paul Adams team up as the Neurons for Dance and afro-influenced percussion, jungle beats and worldly jazzy grooves. Club deejays will love the adventurous Wild Men of Bornerneo. Funky rhythms, turntablist scratching, stellar trumpet playing, and exotic flute characterize the amazing Funky Tao Duty.

Robin Avery recently released her second album—The Way You Hold Me - a smooth jazz album that adds pop, Caribbean, and R&B flavors. All but two of the tracks were co-written by Avery and her life partner, keyboardist and producer Paul Banman. With a variable lineup that features Banman on keyboards, Avery delivers an album loaded with charming melodies. Saxophonist Warren Hill joins the ensemble for the cover of Drive.

ELVIS COSTELLO, CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL 2006, PATTI LABELLE, JILL SCOTT

Deutsche Grammophon will release a live recording of Elvis Costello with the 52-member Metropole Orkest jazz orchestra, which was captured at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands in July, on February 24. My Flame Turns Blue features versions of Costello's Clubland and Watching The Detectives, a lyrical version of Charles Mingus' Hora Decubitus, and performances of other Costello compositions that haven't previously appeared on any of his official releases. The package will also feature a bonus disc featuring a 45-minute suite from Il Sogno.

Cape Town International Jazz Festival - 2006
The 7th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival, affectionately known as 'Africa's Grandest Gathering' and acknowledged as the biggest Jazz event on the African continent, will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday 31 March and Saturday 1 April 2006. Artists scheduled to perform include Manu DiBango & Soul Makossa Gang, the Chucho Valdés Quartet featuring Mayra Caridad Valdés, Latin Grammy Award winner Nestor Torres, Tina Schouw and Friends, Freddy Cole, Louie Vega's "Elements of Life" 12-piece project, featuring vocalists Blaze, Anane and Luisito Quintero on percussion, Terence Blanchard, Miriam Makeba, Sipho 'Hotstix' Mabuse, and Mario Canonge Trio featuring Horacio El Negro Hernandez.

Patti Labelle and Jill Scott are teaming up to record the single What About Love? from the Broadway musical version of "The Color Purple." The duet will be released as a bonus track on a cast album due Jan 24 via Angel Records.The cast recording is being produced by Jay D. Saks, while the single is produced by James Poyser.

MICHAEL BUBLE CAUGHT IN THE ACT ON DVD AND TV

Concert of Live Show in Stores This Week; PBS Great Performances Telecast Scheduled to Air in December

International singing star Michael Bublé has finally been caught in the act -- a true cause for celebration. He was caught performing a stunning concert, filmed and recorded at LA's famed Wiltern Theatre earlier this year. The deluxe DVD package, which includes a bonus CD of additional tracks, is scheduled to be in stores this week. The entire show of Caught In The Act is scheduled to air on Thirteen/WNET New York's Great Performances series Wednesday, December 7 at 8 p.m. (ET) on PBS, and later throughout the month (check local PBS listings).

Bublé, who has been performing around the world for rabid fans of all ages, has critics raving about his talent. "He had 'em dancing in the aisles... a natural showman... belted out standards like a master," raved the Toronto Star about his recent performance. "Backed by a 12-piece band playing arrangements that would make Nelson Riddle smile, Bublé can sing and swing. He moves easily between ballads and up-tempo numbers. Michael Bublé has arrived and in fine style," echoed Robert Nesti of the Boston Herald.

Caught In The Act includes guest performances by trumpet virtuoso Chris Botti, an exquisite duet of the standard, You'll Never Find with sensational Italian diva Laura Pausini and a hilarious surprise visit by Josh Groban. Whether performing a reeling version of the Nina Simone classic Feelin' Good, Van Morrison's Moondance, the Bublé penned No. 1 single Home or the show-stopping version of Save the Last Dance for Me, the DVD clearly shows this phenomenal artist at the peek of his talent. With fresh versions of How Sweet It Is and Try A Little Tenderness, he's equally at home with ballads such as You Don't Know Me and That's All. The Vancouver native's love for the music and entertaining is clear throughout the show. The DVD also includes exclusive behind the scenes footage of Michael and his band backstage at the Wiltern.

The Las Vegas Hilton has signed Bublé for an exclusive Valentine's Weekend performance that has the singer playing February 10, 11, 12 and 14. Contest winners from all over the globe will be flying to celebrate Valentine's Day with their favorite singer.

This past year alone, Bublé has circled the globe no less than a dozen times performing sold-out shows throughout the U.S., Europe and Australia. His current platinum CD, It's Time which included the No. 1 Bublé penned smash single Home, along with his self-titled debut have sold over 7 million CDs worldwide.

Caught In The Act, a co-production of Thirteen/WNET New York and Reprise Records, was directed by David Horn. "Michael may be influenced by his predecessors -- Sinatra, Bobby Darin, et al, but the effect is no simple impersonation. He loves these singers and he loves their songs but there's no question his sound and musical instincts are all his own," echoed Horn. "And, best of all, he's really funny, a natural showman. He plays with the style, as much as he honors it," commented Horn.

SIMPLY RED ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL 2006 TOUR DATES

We've got the new dates for you and they are hot off the press:

July 11th Salzburg Arena, Austria
August 18th Freiburg Brauereihof, Germany
August 19th Bonn Museumsplatz, Germany
August 22nd Hannover Parkbuhne, Germany
August 23rd Gelsenkirchen Ampitheater, Germany
August 25th Losheim/Saar Strandbad, Germany
August 26th Heilbronn Wertwiesenpark, Germany
August 27th Coburg Schlossplatz, Germany

DAVE KOZ RADIO SHOW NEWS

If you are a fan of Dave Koz, then you need to take note that this weekend your local smooth jazz radio station will feature a special edition of The Dave Koz Radio Show! You can join Dave as he celebrates this Thanksgiving weekend by bringing you back, by popular demand- -an encore presentation of the show with Kenny G! Also on The Dave Koz Radio Show, guitarist George Benson digs into the listener mailbag to answer a question....saxophonist Steve Cole shares his “must-have” CD's...plus Dave willl jump back into time to relive a Smooth Jazz classic.

The Ninth Annual Dave Koz and Friends: A Smooth Jazz Christmas tour is well under way, their first stop Lake Tahoe. It is still not too late to claim your seat to this must-see Christmas show! Joining Dave this year, vocalist Patti Austin, composer and pianist David Benoit and guitarist and vocalist Jonathan Butler.

CHARLIE HADEN & THE LIBERATION MUSIC ORCHESTRA, TEMPO CABLE CHANNEL, CARLY SIMON CONCERT BROADCAST, JAMIE CULLUM & LEELA JAMES ON VHI

Bassist and composer Charlie Haden appears at Yoshi’s in San Francisco December 6th through the 11th along with his group – the Liberation Music Orchestra. Haden and his band have just released their new Verve CD, Not In Our Name. The Liberation Music Orchestra includes Haden, Alan Broadbent (piano), Tony Malaby & Chris Cheek (tenor sax), Miguel Zenon (alto sax), Michael Rodrigues & Seneca Black (trumpet), Curtis Fowlkes (trombone), Joe Daley (tuba), Steve Cardenas (guitar), and Matt Wilson (drums).

MTV Networks launched the Tempo cable channel (on November 21) across the Caribbean (and in the U.S. in 2006) as it targets all people with a passion for the Caribbean lifestyle. The channel provides a mix of original and acquired programming that is vibrant, relevant to its audience and true to the spirit of the Caribbean and its culture. Tempo joins MTV Network's roster of popular and highly-targeted cable networks which includes VH1, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET and SpikeTV. Among the many programs broadcast will be the two and a half hour concert series "Tempo Live and Direct." Bringing the power of music to the people, the series will showcase five groundbreaking events taking place on various islands in the Caribbean. The concerts will feature an array of artists including Beres Hammond, Doug E. Fresh, Elephant Man, The Game, Jimmy Cliff, Krosfyah, Lady Saw, Luciano Machel Montano, Rihanna, Rupee, Toots and the Maytals, Wyclef Jean and many more! At launch, systems covering 20 Caribbean countries, including Anguilla, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Curacao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and the U.S. Virgin Islands will carry Tempo on an expanded basic level of service to more than 300,000 homes.

Pop music legend Carly Simon meets legendary ocean liner Queen Mary 2 during the much anticipated broadcast of Carly Simon: A Moonlight Serenade on the Queen Mary 2, airing nationwide on more than 100 PBS stations starting December 1. Simon's historic performance was recorded in QM2's Queens Room, the largest ballroom at sea, and marks the first time that a television special was taped during a transatlantic crossing. The 90-minute program showcases Simon's inspired renditions of romantic standards from her chart-topping album, Moonlight Serenade, as well as some of her most-loved greatest hits, and includes behind-the-scenes footage of the renowned singer exploring the elegant surroundings of the grandest passenger liner ever built. The full concert DVD on Columbia Records went on sale November 22 and was directed by veteran concert filmographer Jim Gable who has worked with other such music icons as Sting, the Rolling Stones and Cyndi Lauper.

Jamie Cullum and Leela James join the lineup of featured performers on VH1’s broadcast of "The Second Annual UK Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony" airing on November 26t. The second annual "UK Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony" took place at the famed Alexandra Palace in London on November 16th and premieres on VH1 as a two-hour live extravaganza on Saturday November 26th 9:00 PM ET. VH1 Classic will air the entire, unexpurgated ceremony on Sunday, November 27th at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT and again at 11:00 PM ET/8:00 PM PT.

SMOOTH JAZZ NEWS & BEYOND

The 13th edition of the Umbria Jazz Winter Festival runs from December 28 through January 1. Among those scheduled to perform are John Scofield, the Joe Loche Trio, George Mraz and Lewis Nash, as well as Birelli Nagrene and Christian Escoude in a tribute to Django Reinhardt.

Other performers scheduled to perform in Italy in the coming months include:
Michael Buble appears in Padua, Italy on November 25; in Turin on November 26; November 28 in Ancona; and in Milan on December 2.

The Manhattan Transfer are in Catania, Italy on November 21.

Tracy Chapman is in Milan, Italy on December 10.

Jamie Cullen is in Genoa, Italy on January 23 and in Milan on January 24.

Simply Red is set for Milan, Italy on December 12 and in Rome on December 15.

A Peter White Christmas will hit the Emerald Coast of Florida on December 10 at the Arts Center at Okaloosa-Walton College. The show features a unique blend of contemporary smooth jazz with traditional holiday music. The show features guitarist Peter White, trumpeter Rick Braun and sax player Mindi Abair as they perform jazzy version of seasonal classics, a few original holiday songs and some of their best-known hits.

Michael Franks heads into the studio to begin recording his new CD which is set for release sometime in 2006.

JOHN MAYER TRIO TO RELEASE CONCERT CD

Network LIVE, a joint venture between America Online, XM Satellite Radio and AEG, will present the John Mayer Trio at New York City's Bowery Ballroom next Wednesday, November 23rd at 9:00pm to celebrate the November 22nd release of Try! John Mayer Trio Live In Concert. Through Network LIVE's partnership with AOL and XM Radio, millions of John Mayer fans will have access to this intimate performance in real-time and on demand.

Tuesday's highly anticipated live release from the John Mayer Trio comes on the heels of a six-week Trio tour that revealed the blues, soul, and rock partnership of John Mayer, Pino Palladino, and Steve Jordan. Try! was recorded at various venues throughout the tour, and features brand new songs such as Who Did You Think I Was, Gravity, and Vultures, along with
classic Jimi Hendrix and Ray Charles covers, as well as workings of Mayer's Grammy-award winning Daughters and Something's Missing.

The John Mayer Trio will perform on Good Morning America on Tuesday, November 22nd and The Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, November 24th. Fans in the New York area will be treated to a special in-store performance by the Trio at Tower Records Village location on November 22nd. Performances on the CBS Early Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien are scheduled for December. The John Mayer Trio will release a live album - Try! John Mayer Trio Live In Concert -on Aware/Columbia Records on November 22, 2005.

LAUNCH OF JAZZ PLANET TO TAKE PLACE NOV. 21, WEBSITE OFFER COMPLETE ONLINE MUSIC LICENSING ACCESS

Jazzplanet.net, the website that will license the recorded performances and compositions of hundreds of independent Jazz artists through a complete online process, announces its start date of November 21st, 2005. The site will feature a huge inventory of independently recorded Jazz that is free and clear for licensing to the Film, TV, Commercial and related industries. Jazz Planet will also provide an extensively cross- referenced database that keys in on Jazz genres; the moods, style, era, and instrumentation, as well as artist info and tracks from world-class Jazz artists who do not have a record label behind them.

Conceptualized and created by Jazz drummer, Peter Donald, Jazz Planet is the only website that specializes in Jazz and all of its genres and provides tools for the end user to become more knowledgeable about Jazz music. Jazz Planet draws from an International community of Jazz musicians offering the opportunity to digitize, archive and license tracks to the world of media production. For members of the music industry and jazz enthusiasts alike, Jazz Planet offers substantial knowledge of jazz and an extensive, organized collection of tracks from artists of the highest caliber. Among the many musicians that will be featured on the site, included are the world-renowned drummer, Peter Erskine (recently having toured with Diana Krall); soprano sax master Dave Liebman and the incomparable tenor saxophonist, two time Grammy Award Winner, Ernie Watts.

"In the past 10 years, recording has become much less expensive due to computer technology and, with the same technology, it has become standard practice to incorporate pre-existing music tracks into the production process." says Donald. "This is a natural fit for the content provider and the end user." Jazz Planet creates a place where music supervisors/editors, producers, directors and other creatives will have easy access to a wide variety of Jazz recordings at a reasonable price. The music can be previewed, downloaded for demo and licensed with final tracks immediately accessed.

Licensing has become a $4 billion a year industry. This creates the opportunity for the independent musician, who has a catalogue of self-financed recordings, to realize more return on his/her investment. It also exposes the music to a larger audience thus promoting the artist with increased CD sales and greater demand for live performances. Ultimately, jazzplanet.net plans to be the most vital Internet destination for jazz content without the high costs and time consuming process of dealing with major labels and publishers. The site will provide a user-friendly service for licensing needs, while educating the user and exposing gifted musicians to a larger segment of Jazz enthusiasts.

SEU JORGE - THE LIFE AQUATIC STUDIO SESSIONS

When The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou premiered last December, critics and moviegoers were impressed not only with Oscar(R)-nominated writer/director Wes Anderson's screen comedy, but with the soundtrack as well. It spent more than a month on Billboard's Top 10 Soundtrack Chart and remains today a Top 30 hit. Now Hollywood Records is set to release a CD featuring the never-before-released complete studio sessions that acclaimed Brazilian performer Seu Jorge recorded for the film's soundtrack. Featuring covers of David Bowie songs performed in Portuguese,the CD gives a refreshing twist to a host of rock 'n' roll classics. The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions arrives in stores Nov. 22, while an exclusive digital version of the album will available on iTunes Nov. 15 and will feature a Seu Jorge cover of Bowie's Space Oddity not available anywhere else.

As with all Wes Anderson films (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums), music is an exceptionally important component. Fans have come to admire Anderson's use of unusual music choices, turning four previous soundtrack CDs of Anderson films into bestsellers topping 200,000 in sales. For The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Anderson and co-producer Randall Poster worked with Seu Jorge in a Rome studio to lay down the Bowie tracks, recorded as simple guitar/vocal songs. For the film Anderson used performances Jorge delivered live on camera, while the studio sessions remained unreleased. Now, for the first time, the full recordings of those intimate studio sessions is available. Said David Bowie himself of Jorge's performances, "Had Seu Jorge not recorded y songs acoustically in Portuguese I would never have heard this new level of beauty which he has imbued them with." Seu Jorge not only contributed several songs to the original Hollywood oundtrack CD, but co-starred in the film as well. The recording sessions, held in Rome, resulted in a harvest of remarkable interpretations of David Bowie songs, several now available for the first time.

Tracks on The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions include: Starman, Rebel Rebel, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide, Life on Mars?, Five Years, Lady Stardust, When I Live My Dream, Suffragette City, Oh! You Pretty Things, Ziggy Stardust, Changes, Queen Bitch and the Jorge original Team Zissou.

Seu Jorge grew up in a "favela," an urban slum in Rio de Janeiro, but managed to escape through sheer talent and desire. He was seen around the world starring in the acclaimed Brazilian film City of God. In The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Jorge plays a sailor/troubadour who sings bossa ova-flavored Portuguese interpretations of Bowie tunes played on the cavaquinho, a Brazilian guitar. A singer as much as he is an actor, Seu Jorge recently launched a U.S. concert tour, which drew raves, including a major profile in the New York Times. His newest solo CD Cru (which means "raw" in Portuguese) earned a 3-star review in Rolling Stone.

STEVIE WONDER, PHYLLIS MCGUIRE & BARRY MANILOW, 2006 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL & CAYMAN JAZZ FEST 2005

Stevie Wonder will be honored at the Dec. 10 Grammy Jam at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. The event will also feature performances by India.Arie, Eric Benet, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, Slash, Chris Brown, Angie Stone, Tamia, Aaron Neville, George Benson, former Stone Temple Pilots principals Dean and Robert DeLeo, George Duke, Josh Groban, Raphael Saadiq, Hootie & the Blowfish and Ray Parker Jr. All proceeds will benefit the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Arts and Music Education Initiative. His latest Motown album is entitled A Time To Love.

The McGuire Sisters' Phyllis McGuire duets with Barry Manilow on his upcoming new album, The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties. due January 31 via Arista. Manilow teams with producer Clive Davis on his first new album in five years. McGuire and Manilow perform a medley of Sincerely and Teach Me Tonight.

The 2006 Essence Music Festival has tentatively relocated to Houston (from New Orleans) as a result of the Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts. The event is scheduled for July 1-3, 2006 and this past year featured performances by Alicia Keys among many others.

The second Annual Cayman Jazz Fest 2005 is set to launch on December 1 – 3, 2005 and it features smooth jazz favorites including Al Jarreau, George Duke, Earl Klugh, plus Ravi Coltrane, Arturo Tappin, and Yolando Adams.

TRACY CHAPMAN HERALDS CHANGE AT HBO; SONG TO BE FEATURED IN NETWORK'S NEW IMAGE SPOTS

Tracy Chapman's current single, Change, has been chosen by HBO to be featured in their newest series of image spots. The Grammy-winning singer/songwriter's music will promote the network's Original Series programming. Airing from November 20th through January 1st across all HBO channels, this marks the first time that Chapman has allowed her music to be used in this way.

Change is the first single from Chapman's acclaimed new Elektra/Atlantic album, Where You Live. The song has bulleted into the top ten at Adult Album Alternative radio stations nationwide. Chapman recently wrapped up a sold-out, cross-country U.S. tour. She is now in the midst of a major headlining tour of Europe, which will run through December 13th and include concerts in Ireland, Scotland, England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, France, Switzerland, and Italy.

PATTI LABELLE, ARETHA FRANKLIN AND DENNIS EDWARDS & THE TEMPTATIONS REVUE TO TOPLINE MISTLETOE JAM

Singing legend Patti LaBelle was added to the lineup for the first ever Mistletoe Jam, announced by Tom Joyner this week, host of the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Show radio show and host of the new hit 'Tom Joyner Show' syndicated television series. Ford presents the Tom Joyner Mistletoe Jam on December 10 at the Joe Louis Arena where music fans will get a once in a lifetime chance to experience the best of gospel, R&B, soul, and Motown, hosted by Joyner and comedian J. Anthony Brown. In one amazing night, fans will be treated to artists' classic hits and holiday themed performances by musical icon Aretha Franklin, the distinctive sounds of Patti LaBelle, R&B songstress Faith Evans, gospel greats Yolanda Adams and CeCe Winans, and Dennis Edwards and the Temptations Revue. Additional sponsors for the memorable evening include Kodak and Allstate.

Famed musical director and Detroit native, Greg Phillinganes, will create a spectacular night in his hometown. Phillinganes, an acclaimed keyboard player/songwriter/musical director, has worked with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross. "We've created a night of great music and entertainment," says Tom Joyner, whose syndicated radio show reaches more than 8 million listeners weekly in over 115 markets. "Motown hasn't seen anything like this." Tickets are currently on sale with a portion of all proceeds being donated to the Tom Joyner Foundation. Created by Tom Joyner, the not-for-profitfoundation is dedicated to helping students continue their education at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Tickets are available at the Joe Louis Arena Box office, all Ticketmaster outlets including Marshall Fields and Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 248-645-6666. Tickets are priced at $75, $60, and $45.

MARCUS MILLER - MASTER OF ALL TRADES CONCERT DVD

Highly Anticipated 2-Disc Live DVD to be Released on March 22, 2006

KOCH Records, in conjunction with American Treasures, announces the release of Marcus Miller - Master of All Trades. The new 2-DVD set will be released on March 22, 2006 and is loaded with extras, including numerous interview segments with esteemed artists Herbie Hancock, Lalah Hathaway, Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross, Stanley Clarke, Bill Withers and many others.

The live concert was recorded at the famed Knitting Factory in Hollywood, CA in October of 2002. Marcus and his incredible band at the time - Poogie Bell, Dean Brown, Roger Byam, Bruce Flowers, and Michael "Patches" Stewart - are joined on a few numbers by talented vocalists Lalah Hathaway and Raphael Saadiq, and rip through an amazing set, showcasing Marcus' incredible talents.

Miller is a true Master of All Trades. He has been dubbed "the Superman of Soul," and is often thought of as one of the best electric bassists in the world. His acclaimed album M2 won the 2001 Grammy™ for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Miller's compositions have been recorded by Aretha Franklin (Jump to It), Jay-Z (Can't Knock the Hustle), Luther Vandross (Power of Love/Love Power), EU (Da Butt), and Miles Davis (Tutu).

In addition, Marcus Miller as a bassist has performed on over 400 CDs including recordings by artists as diverse as Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, Bill Withers, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, and LL Cool J. Marcus Miller the producer has worked with jazz legends (Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, David Sanborn), extraordinary singers (Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Take 6, Al Jarreau), and hip hop artists (Me'shell Ndegeocello). He is also the composer of film and TV scores whose music has given life to at least a dozen feature films including "Boomerang" (Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry), "Siesta" (Ellen Barkin and Gabriel Byrne), the hit TV series "Everybody Hates Chris" and even an animated children's film, "Trumpet of the Swan."

Marcus Miller - Master of All Trades showcases not only Marcus' incredible talents, but brings the viewer inside the studio and on tour with Marcus and his band, delving into his life and career as well. This 2-disc set is a must-have for Marcus' fans everywhere!

NEW MUSIC RELEASES WEEK OF NOV. 15

A Man Called Adam – Space-Tranquil Volume Uno (AZL)
Abbey Lincoln – Talking To The Sun (Enja)
Albert Mangelsdorff – Shake Shuttle & Blow (Enja)
Alex Graham – Goodlife (Origin)
Attila Zoller – Common Cause (Enja)
Bill Evans – Kohl Concert 1976 (Gambit)
Bill Evans – Complete February 1972 Paris ORTF Performance (Gambit)
Bill Evans - Live In Rome 1979 (Gambit)
Bill Ransom – Generations (Bongo Time)
Billie Holiday – Ghost Of Yesterday (USD)
Blossom Dearie – Tweedlesum & Tweedledee (Daffodil)
Bob Marley – The Legend Live (Drive-Thru)
Box – Ten Variations On An Unknown Theme (Origin)
Boz Scaggs – The Collection (Cube version, Legacy)
Carli Munoz – Maverick (Pelosenel)
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – Express Yourself (Collectibles)
Chet Baker – Strollin’ (Enja)
Chick Corea – Rendezvous In New York: Chick Corea & Bobby McFerrin Duet (DVD, Image Ent.)
Chick Corea – Rendezvous In NewYork: Three Quartets Band (DVD, Image Ent.)
Chico Hamilton – Three Faces Of Chico/Gongs East (Collectibles)
Elemer Balazs – Refracting Sounds (Budapest Music)
Elvin Jones – Going Home (Enja)
Elvin Jones – It Don’t Mean A Thing (Enja)
Elvin Jones – Youngblood (Enja)
Frank Sinatra – The Collection (Cube version, Legacy)
Gentle Giant – On Reflection: The Ultimate Anthology (3-CD, DRT Entertainment)
Gloria Cooper – Dedicated To You (Origin)
Isley Brothers – Greatest Hits Live (DVD, Eagle Entertainment)
Isley Brothers – The Collection (Cube version, Legacy)
Italian Instabile Orchestra – Litania Sibilante (Enja)
Jason Smith – Think Like This (Alternity)
Jazzanova – Remixes 2002-2005 (SKY)
Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band – River Is Deep (Enja)
Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band – Obataia (Enja)
John Scofield – Shinola (Enja)
Kenny Barron – What If? (Enja)
Kenny Barron – Scratch (Enja)
Kevin Mahogany – You Got What It Takes (Enja)
Kevin Mahogany – Songs And Moments (Enja)
Luther Vandross – The Collection (Cube version, Legacy)
Makoto Ozone, James Genus & Clarence Penn – The Trio (Concord)
Michele Rosewoman & Quintessence – Guardians Of The Light (Enja)
Miles Davis – The Collection (Cube version, Legacy)
Miles Davis Quartetr with John Coltrane – Live In Zurich (Gambit)
Nat Yarbrough – Triple Play (Capri)
Odyssey Band – Back In Time (PI)
Patti LaBelle – Gold (2-CD. MCA/UME)
Project Z – Lincoln Memorial (Abstract Logix)
Santana – Live By Request (DVD, Arista)
Satoko Fujii – Toward, To West (Enja)
Satoko Fujii – Future Of The Past (Enja)
Stephen Scott – Vision Quest (Enja)
Sylvie Courvoisier – Y2k (Enja)
Tete Montoliu & Orquestra Taller De Musics – Taller De Musics (DiscMedi Blau)
Various Artists (Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan) – For Lovers (3-CD, Verve)
Various Artists (Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Stan Getz) – For Lovers (3-CD, Verve)
Wayne Krantz – 2 Drink Minimum (Enja)
Wes Montgomery Quartet – Live In Belgium 1965 (Gambit)

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: MERRY MIXMAS, ELVIS COSTELLO & ALLEN TOUSSAINT, UB40

DEAN MARTIN & JULIE LONDON GLOW ON MERRY MIXMAS
New from Capitol vaults is Merry Mixmas which features remixes of popular Christmas songs from classic crooners. Merry Mixmas is a set containing 15 songs ranging from Bing Crosby to the silky sultriness of Julie London, and from the smooth vocals of Lou Rawls to the crooning elegance of Dean Martin. Merry Mixmas is, simply put, an album that gives you all of the classics with an update that refreshes rather than detracts. Featured songs include Winter Wonderland from Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole's All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) , Dean Martin's Baby, It's Cold Outside, Ella Fitzgerald's classic, Sleigh Ride, Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Lou Rawls is a gorgeous and tasty remix that elevates the standard to a higher plane for this set, changing percussively as the song progresses. Also included on this set is Nancy Wilson's The Christmas Waltz, Julie London's sexy I'd Like You For Christmas and a few other gems.

ELVIS COSTELLO & ALLEN TOUSSAINT TO RETEAM
Verve Records has announced that Elvis Costello is scheduled to head into the studio the week of Thanksgiving to begin a collaboration with songwriter/arranger/pianist Allen Toussaint. Joe Henry will produce the album for Verve. New Orleans veteran Toussaint recently performed with Costello at a number of New York benefits for the victims of hurricane Katrina. Toussaint, who has written such songs as Dr. John's Right Place, Wrong Time and Lee Dorsey's Workin' in a Coal Mine, appeared as a pianist on some of Costello's early 1980s albums.

NEW ALBUM IN '06 FROM UB40
UB40 will finally release their latest album Who You Fighting For? in North American on January 24 via Rhino. The album was previously released in the UK this past summer and it has spawned several hit singles. The album contains the covers of the Jamaicans' The Things You Say You Love, Matumbi's After Tonight and Lennon & McCartney’s I'll Be on My Way. UB40 is scheduled to be on tour for the rest of 2005, with shows due to begin Nov. 23 in Belfast and wrap Dec. 22 in Birmingham, England. A three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand will get underway Feb. 4, 2006 in Perth.

OTTMAR LIEBERT INTERPRETS HOLIDAY CLASSICS IN LATEST CD

Renowned nouveau flamenco guitarist, Ottmar Liebert has put a fresh bloom on an inspiring collection of traditional, classical, and new songs in his latest CD, the appropriately titled Winter Rose. Liebert breathes new life into holiday favorites with sensitive, even haunting, arrangements of O Little Town of Bethlehem and O Holy Night. The CD also includes fresh interpretations of classical music, including Fauré's Pavane and Les Roses D'Isphahan and Tchaikovsky's Le Café from The Nutcracker. But perhaps the greatest delight are the six new songs written by Liebert especially for Winter Rose, including Westcoast, The Longest Night, Kora/River of Stars, and A Sweet Persimmon. Each captures the essence of the season. The result is an album that is both familiar and inventive, heartwarming and evocative. For Winter Rose Liebert teams up with an unusually talented and diverse team of musicians, including the versatile Jon Gagan on fretless and fretted electric bass guitars, saz (Turkish stringed instrument) and keyboards, and Robby Rothschild on cajon (drum box) and kora (African harp). Winter Rose is also a pioneering album for the music industry, issued under a Creative Commons license rather than a typical copyright. Instead of threatening to punish fans who file-share music, this license actually encourages fans to share the music, or even sample songs to create create original "mash-ups" of their own.The new album is available on CD as well as via instant download from Ottmar Liebert's ListeningLounge (http://www.ottmarliebert.com). Songs from Ottmar Liebert as well as other artists sell for $1 each. All music sold on the ListeningLounge is digitally encoded at a much higher quality than is available on any other music download service, and employs no restrictive copy controls (digital rights management) making it easy to transfer the music to MP3 players or burn CDs.The ListeningLounge also proudly presents Ottmar Liebert's Tears in the Rain, an album of solo guitar improvisations available exclusively via download. These songs were recorded as naturally as possible, with all the warmth and character of a live performance and none of the electronic sound processing usually applied to studio recordings. As with most albums on the Listening Lounge, customers who want to burn their own CDs can also download a printable booklet for Tears in the Rain.

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: FRANK MCCOMB, MATISYAHU, CHRISTMAS JAM, SERGIO MENDES, DARREN MOTAMEDY, WJZW SMOOTH JAZZ 105.9, MINDI ABAIR & PEABO BRYSON

Singer Frank McComb has written, produced, programmed and sang every note on his latest album – Straight From The Vault. And from the first notes of the opening song, White Line In The Sky, it is clear that this is another fine disc that McComb's rabidly loyal fan base will eat up. His latest album, Straight From The Vault is a rich blend of soul, jazz and pop music that radio programmers should take notice of. The disc also includes three instrumentals, including the smooth George Duke-like Morning Glory. This is an album for lovers of classy, jazzy soul to seek out.

Bill Laswell has produced the debut studio album for Hasidic reggae rapper Matisyahu - entitled Youth, to be released Jan. 31 via Epic/Or Music/J Dub. Matisyahu’s previous release Live At Stubb's, reached No. 2 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart and No. 14 on the Top Heatseekers survey. The album has sold 87,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Youth will feature two songs from Live At Stubb's: King Without A Crown and Warrior.

John Scofield, Ivan Neville and John Medeski join the lineup for Warren Haynes' 17th Annual Christmas Jam concert set for Dec. 17 at the Civic Center Arena in Asheville, N.C. Also scheduled to perform are Trey Anastasio, Ray Lamontagne, Electric Hot Tuna, Audley Freed, Kevn Kinney, Edwin McCain, Dave Schools, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Marty Stuart , Patterson Hood and Jason Isbell. The 2003 and 2004 events raised $100,000 each, bringing the total for the last four years to more than $300,000.

Brazilian-legend Sergio Mendes returns with his new album, Timeless, due Febuaray 14, 2006. This project is being produced by the Black Eyes Peas’ will.i.am. This new disc will feature Mendes collaborating with Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, John Legend, Q-Tip and Erykah Badu, and it will be released through Concord Records and Starbucks Hear Music.

Seattle sax-player Darren Motamedy easily blends jazz, urban, pop, funk, hip-hop and blues on his latest album, Intimate. This is Motamedy's 8th release since 1989’s First Generation and since then he has performed alongside Ray Charles, Chris Botti, David Lanz and the Rippingtons. For those of you in the Seattle-area, he can be seen leading the Monday night jam sessions at the Waimes Brewing Co. in Kirkland.

The WJZW 105.9 Smooth Jazz Vol. 3: The Sound of DC recently debuted at #27 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart. The CD features songs by Marcus Johnson – 18th & M; Richard Elliot – Your Secret Love; Chaka Kahn – Through The Fire; Nils – Pacific Coast Highway; Pieces Of A Dream – Love’s Silhouette; Michael McDonald – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough; Ken Navarro – You Are Everything; Bass X – Vonnie; Spur Of The Moment – In My Corner; Paul Hardcastle – Serene; Otis Redding – The Dock Of The Bay; and Derryck Dawkins – Italy.

And speaking of WJZW 105.9 FM, the station’s very own Marcus Johnson will be appearing tonight (Nov. 11) and tomorrow in Atlanta as he promotes his soon-to-be holiday classic, Smooth Jazz Christmas. Here’s the schedule of where you can catch him: Nov. 11 – South Beach Bistro & Bar, Atlanta; Nov. 12 – Bluelights Entertainment Restaurant, Atlanta; and Nov. 18 – Los Angeles Athletic Club, Los Angeles. Additional dates will be announced shortly that will feature music and artists from both the Smooth Jazz Christmas and the Sound of DC. albums. Marcus Johnson (and Jacqui Allen) can be heard weekday mornings on Smooth Jazz 105.9 from 5:00 am to 8:30 am.

The All-Star Smooth Jazz Cruise is set to sail from Nov. 12-20th along with Rick Braun, Boney James, Al Jarreau, Peter White, Brian Culbertson, Euge Groove, Joyce Cooling and Mindi Abair. The ship will be cruising out of Galveston, TX and stopping in Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.

Mindi Abair joins Peter White and Rick Braun as part of A Peter White Christmas Tour featuring Mindi Abair and Rick Braun. It kicks off after Thanksgiving and the show will feature Mindi’s original music as well as classic Christmas songs and 2 of Mindi’s original Christmas songs. One of Mindi’s original Christmas songs, I Can’t Wait For Christmas, is being featured on the Bath And Body Works Christmas CD along with songs by Melissa Etheridge, Barenaked Ladies, Guster, Diana Krall, Dean Martin, Ashanti, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child, Sarah McLachlan, Jessica Simpson, Aretha Franklin, Cyndi Lauper, Tony Bennett, Liz Phair, Rachael Yamagato, Wham!, Peter Droge and Martina McBride.

PEABO BRYSON - LIVE IN CONCERT: LADIES REQUEST
When you think of Peabo Bryson, you remember songs such as Tonight, I Celebrate My Love, the ever-popular hit duet with R&B legend Roberta Flack; Show And Tell; A Whole New World from the Disney movie Aladdin recorded with Regina Belle; and Feel The Fire. This special 10-song DVD from Time Life features 'live' performances of some of Bryson's most popular and highly successful love ballads. Bryson is certainly no stranger to music, as a multiple GrammyAward-winner and one of the premiere male love balladeers in contemporary music. "This type of music is in my soul, and I'm sharing what I would like for others to feel through music. I want to make husbands and wives remember their love, girlfriends remember boyfriends, and let those who are still looking know that love is real," says Bryson.

With a music career that spans more than twenty-five years, Bryson's unprecedented international success has resulted in him being the first artist in music history to have records topping four different music genre charts including pop, adult contemporary, classical crossover, and contemporary jazz.. Currently serving as the spokesperson for Time Life Classic Soul BalladsCollection, which recently reached 3 million CD's sold, Bryson adds, "partnering with Time Life allows the music that we all remember and have experienced to continue to be recognized. I am proud to be a part of a reputable company that treasures the music of life and soul. Performing "Live In Concert" allows me to do what I do best, which is share my musical gift with the ladies." Peabo Bryson Live In Concert: Ladies Request is now available in retail stores nationwide.

RAFE GOMEZ, SOULIVE, LEWIS TAYLOR & ISLEY BROTHERS

RAFE GOMEZ MIX #14
Check out the latest online mix (Mix 14) from Rafe Gomez (Groove Boutique) as he offers a seamless blend of old school sounds and new grooves from the one and only Blue Note Records! Featured tracks include tastiness from Soulive, Horace Silver, Grant Green, Karl Denson, Richard Groove Holmes, and many more. It's over an hour long, it's FREE, and it's ready to be dug! www.grooveboutique.com.

SOULIVE OPENING FOR DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
Smooth jazz band Soulive have announced that they will be opening for the Dave Matthews Band this December. Dates are as follows: 12/3 – Detrot, MI @ Joe Lewis Arena; 12/4 – Toronto, Canada @ Air Canada Centre; 12/6 – State College, PA @ Jordan Center; 12/7 – Rochester, NY @ Blue Cross Arena; and 12/9 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden.

LEWIS TAYOR – STONED
Stoned is a special new package of Lewis Taylor's UK album Stoned, Pt 1 but it includes five additional tracks to get Americans caught up. The title cut, Positively Beautiful and Back Together show the experimental rock side of his brain while other tunes are quieter soul numbers. Taylor's music revisits raw seventies funk, swirling Beach Boys harmonies and Marvin Gaye style heartache, sometimes all in one single track. As a triple threat - a singer/songwriter, instrumentalist and producer - the Brit is said to possess a natural ease and musical depth seen in legends like Stevie Wonder. With 4-star reviews from USA Today, Mojo, Q and Uncut, get ready to discover this talented artist and his album, which The LA Weekly called "one of the finest albums of the year."

THE ISLEY BROTHERS – SUMMER BREEZE: GREATEST HITS LIVE ON DVD
Eagle Rock Entertainment, the leading independent source for high quality music audio/visual programming, will release the Isley Brothers: Summer Breeze- Greatest Hits Live on DVD on November 15th, a seamless live set of classics from the songbook of one the true fountainheads of R&B, funk and soul.

NEW MUSIC RELEASES WEEK OF NOV. 8

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Live At The Rainbow (June 1977 London concert, DVD, Universal)
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Africa Unite: The Single Collection (Island)
Cyndi Lauper – The Body Acoustic (Daylight/Epic)
Daryl Hall & John Oates – Our Kind Of Soul Live (DVD, Image)
Eros Ramazzotti – Calma Aprante (Columbia International)
Fahir Atakoglu – If (Far & Here Music)
Lounge Art Ensemble – Music For Moderns (Fuzzy Music)
Marcus Johnson – Smooth Jazz Christmas (Three Keys)
Melissa Scott – Why Now (FeetFirst)
Nat King Cole – The Nat King Cole Collection (DVD, 3-discs, Koch Vision)
Nat King Cole – The Complete Capitol Transcription Sessions (Blue Note)
Sonny Rollins – The Essential Sonny Rollins: The RCA Years (2-CDs, RCA/Legacy)
Steve Tyrell – Quite Frank: The Songs Of Sinatra (Hollywood)
Yerba Buena Stompers – Duff Campbell’s Revenge (Diamond Stack)
Various Artists – Quiet Revolution: 30 Years of Windham Hill (Sony Legacy)
Various Artists – New York For Lovers (Verve)
Various Artists – Paris For Lovers (Verve)

SANTANA JOINS AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS LINEUP

ABC will televise the American Music Awards on November 22 live from Los Angeles. The show will include performances from Santana and Los Lonely Boys as they perform their collaboration of I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love off of Santana’s latest All That I Am. Other performers are Cyndi Lauper and Sarah McLachlan teaming on Time After Time, from Laupers newest Epic Album – The Body Acoustic. The Rolling Stones and Sheryl Crow will also appear in performances, among others.

BOOZOO BAJOU TO PERFORM AT BLU 102 ANNIVERSARY PARTY

KLBU 102.9 (BLU 102) chill radio in Santa Fe, New Mexico is about to celebrate their 2nd year anniversary. The station known for their superb and unique chill selections with their moniker "dance music for intelligent people" will host a party on November 16 at the El Paseo Music Hall. The event will include a performance by German duo Boozoo Bajou. Doors open at 8pm, Boozoo at 9pm. Admission is $10, and includes the afterparty (10p-2am) at El Paseo Bar and Grill with local deejays Melanie Moore, Donovan, Feathericci, 13 Pieces and JonRa in a 2 x 4.

FLOETRY RELEASES FLO'OLOGY

Natalie Stewart (the Floacist) and Marsha Ambrosius (the Songstress) return with their new album Flo’Ology. The pair flourished in the spoken word circuit before their Dreamworks released debut album Floetic (2002) earned six Grammy nominations, six Soul Train awards and a NAACP nomination for best new artist. With their new album, Flo'Ology, the London duo remains true to form by uniting passionate vocals and elegant spoken word with the rhythms of classic soul, funk and a little bit of island spice! Working with producers who really spoke to them, they enlisted the help of Rafael Saadiq on I Imagination and Whiteleaf Productions on I'll Die and Closer. In addition, the London ladies brought in Scott Storch to work on the tunes My Apology and the first single SupaStar which features a back and forth with the one and only Common. "The highest compliment that anyone could give Flo'Ology is to say we've changed. People are so scared to for some reason, but that's what life is. That's what this album is all about."

JOSE PADILLA & BRAZILIAN GIRLS TO PERFORM AT BANG! MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jose Padilla (of Café Del Mar fame) and the Brazilian Girls are among the many acts performing at the first annual Bang! Music Festival. www.bangmusicfestival.com. More than 15,000 revelers are expected to celebrate the start of the Miami winter season 2005-06, on Saturday, November 26, 2005, during this 13-hour, outdoor party-a-thon. More than just another mega outdoor "club" party with a singular music message, Bang! aims to be a preview — or Best Of — all that Miami promises for the season ahead. So rather than limiting itself to a purely house music format like similar Miami events which have come before, Bang! will be a celebration of the city’s nightlife diversity. The festival will include performances which equally celebrate established and emerging stars in electronic, pop, retro, Latin, and, yes, house genres, presented on thematic stages.

WORLD RENOWNED FEMALE VOCALIST ENJA RELEASES NEWEST ALBUM AMARANTINE

One of the top-selling female vocalists of all time, Enya, follows her 13 million selling album A Day Without Rain with the release of her sixth album. The newest album, Amarantine, will be available on November 22, 2005 from Reprise Records.

Recorded in Ireland, Amarantine is classic Enya and once again, the record is a product of the extraordinary and long-standing creative partnership Enya has enjoyed throughout her career with producer/arranger Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan. With its atmospheric blend of sublime melodies, symphonic caverns of sound and classical motifs, Amarantine will delight her legion of fans, to whom Enya's music acts an oasis of calm and beauty in a world of clamor and chaos.

With more than 65 million album sales to date, Enya is one of the world's biggest selling artists. Yet her path to the top has hardly been a conventional one, not least because she's achieved her success by eschewing the usual trappings of celebrity, keeping her private life her own and letting her music do the talking.

Born Eithne Ní Bhraonain in Gweedore, County Donegal into a musical family, her own training was in classical music rather than on the Irish folk scene. Her career took flight and Enya rapidly became the biggest-selling Irish solo artist of all time. Watermark, her 1988 Reprise debut, was driven by the chart-topping success of the single Orinoco Flow, and the album sold eight million copies. Three years later, Enya followed with Shepherd Moons, which sold ten million and earned her first Grammy Award®. Four years later came another Grammy with 1995's The Memory of Trees.

In 2001 two of Enya's songs May It Be and Aníron appeared in the film "The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring" after the director Peter Jackson personally asked her to contribute to the film. Enya, Nicky and Roma were all nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for May It Be. Now comes Amarantine, Enya's most rounded and fully realized work to date, music that is as timeless and enduring as the amaranth itself, the mythical flower that never fades.

Amarantine tracklisting
1. Less Than A Pearl
2. Amarantine
3. It's In The Rain
4. If I Could Be Where You Are
5. The River Sings
6. Long Long Journey
7. Sumiregusa
8. Somebody Said Goodbye
9. A Moment Lost
10. Drifting
11. Amid The Falling Snow
12. Water Shows The Hidden Heart

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.