DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED…

The newly expanded Detroit International Jazz Festival will welcome a wide spectrum of musical artists on Labor Day weekend, the 27th annual celebration September 1-4. A partial list of headliners for the 2006 Detroit Jazz Festival includes a Friday evening Motown blast off with the Funk Brothers and Temptations Revue starring Dennis Edwards. Other performers will include Brazilian Jazz great Sergio Mendes, premier Jazz vocalist Diane Schuur with the Wayne State University Jazz Big Band, New Orleans icon Dr. John, Jazz legend Ahmad Jamal, and Pop and Roots stars Joan Osborne, Taj Mahal, Richie Havens, Marcia Ball, The Gerald Wilson Big Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Papa Lou Donaldson, Mose Allison, and Beau Soleil avec Michael Doucet, among many others.

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO KWKX (98.9FM); JAZZMASTERS 5 CD; STANLEY CLARKE/GEORGE DUKE PROJECT & MORE…

Seattle smooth jazz radio station – KWKZ (98.9FM) has sacked their morning DJ. Nick Morrison had been doing the 5-10 a.m weekdays and 6 a.m. – noon Saturdays a little more than a year, and was fired for poor ratings, according to program director Carol Handley, who will fill in for the time being……….The new Jazzmasters 5 album coming soon – no word as of yet exactly when, but we will be the first to announce the release dates. Select songs from the forthcoming CD are already receiving airplay on smooth jazz radio stations. Keep posted……….Euge Groove, Brian Culbertson,Eric Darius, Peabo Bryson, Jonathan Butler, Gerald Albright, Wayman Tisdale, Mindi Abair, Najee, Paul Taylor, Jeff Golub, Peter White, Richard Elliot and Bobby Caldwell headlined the recently held Lexus Jazz Festival in Newport Beach, CA. The event took place at the Hyatt Regency on the weekend of June 9-11, 2006……….The Stanley Clarke/George Duke Project is back together again and have just brought their distinct sound to the JVC New York Jazz Festival on Tuesday, June 13. One of the world’s most sought after pianists and the king of the acoustic and electric bass – George Duke and Stanley Clarke – teamed up in 1981 to form the Clarke/Duke Project. Together they scored a Top 20 pop hit with Sweet Baby and recorded three albums. Now after a 16 year hiatus, they have resumed touring. With other concerts being scheduled around the world.

BURT BACHARACH ANNOUNCES TOUR DATES

Burt Bacharach is in the midst of a tour in support of his latest CD At This Time released late last year.

Here are Bacharach’s tour dates between now and early next year:
June 27 – Brevard, NC @ Brevard Music Center
June 29 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
June 30 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
July 1 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
July 2 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
July 3 – Westhampton Breach, NY @ Westhampton Beach Performance. Center.
Aug. 20 – San Diego, CA @ Embaracadero Marina Pk. S.
Aug. 27 – Cerritos, CA @ Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts
Sept. 16 – Denver CO @ Paramount Theater
Sept. 22 – Saratoga, CA @ Garden Theater
Oct. 4 – Austin, TX @ Paramount Theater
Oct. 6 – Houston, TX @ Jones Hall
Oct. 7 – Houston, TX @ Jones Hall
Oct. 8 – Houston, TX @ Jones Hall
Nov. 4 – Coachella, CA @ Spotlight 29 Casino
Nov. 16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall
Nov. 17 – Pittsburgh @ Heinz Hall
Nov. 18 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall
Nov. 19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall
Feb. 17 – Key Largo, FL @ Ocean Reef Cultural Center
Feb. 18 – Miami, FL @ Performing Arts Center
Feb. 19 – Lakeland, FL @ The Lakeland Center
Feb. 20 – Lakeland, FL @ The Lakeland Center
Feb. 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Walt Disney Concert Hall

FAREED HAQUE, BETH ORTON, BONNIE RAITT, CHICAGO AFROBEAT PROJECT & SEU JORGE HEADLINE MADISON WI-AREA CONCERTS

Upcoming Madison, Wisconsin-area concerts of interest in the coming weeks include - Michael Buble at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center on June 22; Seu Jorge at UW Memorial Union on June 27; Beth Orton at the Barrymore Theatre on July 22; Bonnie Raitt at Overture Center on August 24; and Fareed Haque and the Chicago Afrobeat Project at the Orton Park Festival at Orton Park, August 25-27.

RPM RECORDS/COLUMBIA RECORDS TO RELEASE 'TONY BENNETT: DUETS/AN AMERICAN CLASSIC' ON SEPTEMBER 26

Tony Bennett will mark his 80th birthday on August 3 this year, launching the beginning of a multi-tiered celebration honoring this milestone. RPM Records/Columbia Records will release a new recording, TONY BENNETT: DUETS/An American Classic, which will be in-stores internationally on September 26. Recorded live in the studio, the CD features Tony performing duets of his best loved songs with many of the top names in music: Bono, Michael Buble, Elvis Costello, Dixie Chicks, Juanes, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, John Legend, Paul McCartney, George Michael, Sting, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor and Stevie Wonder. Instrumental musical guests on the album include trumpeter Chris Botti and violinist Pinchas Zukerman.

TONY BENNETT: DUETS/An American Classic was recorded in three cities earlier this year: Capitol Studios in Los Angeles; Bennett Studios in Englewood, NJ and Abbey Road Studios in London. Producer Phil Ramone supervised the live sessions in which each guest artist performed side by side with Bennett. Tony's touring quartet provided the accompaniment for
the recording sessions with additional orchestrations added with musical arrangements by Jorge Calandrelli. Bennett's sons are involved in the project: Danny Bennett, who is the singer's manager, is the recording's Executive Producer and Dae Bennett is the audio engineer. For many of the guest artists, the "live" approach to the sessions was a new and thrilling experience. Despite the existence of technology that allows artists to record duets without being together physically, it was essential to Bennett's recording style that each artist perform and record directly with Tony.

"I was on the road all last year and there is nothing like that live dynamic, so working live in the studio with Tony has been a great experience," commented John Legend, who received the "Best New Artist" Grammy Award the night before recording his duet with Tony. "I would like to try that for my own recordings." The CD's 18 songs, each selected by Bennett, are integral elements from Tony's hit catalog such as I Wanna Be Around (with Bono), Because of You (with k.d. lang), The Shadow of Your Smile (with Juanes), Cold, Cold, Heart (with Tim McGraw) and Rags to Riches (with Elton John). Also featured are some of Bennett's personal favorites including Smile (with Barbra Streisand), Sing You Sinners (with John Legend), The Very Thought of You (with Paul McCartney) and Are You Havin' Any Fun? (with Elvis Costello).

Appropriately, the recording's only vocal solo showcases Bennett performing his signature song, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, accompanied only by Bill Charlap on piano. "Each duet artist brought their own soul and sensibility to their song performance and it was a wonderful gift for my birthday to be able to record with these talented musicians," commented Bennett. TONY BENNETT: DUETS/An American Classic is part of an overall campaign in honor of Bennett's 80th birthday. Sponsored by Target, the first event will be a star-studded party to be held on August 3 in New York City. That same date will see the release of the CD's first single to a variety of radio formats. Extensive multi-media corporate sponsored campaigns with
Target and Yahoo! will be implemented for the CD launch. Target will offer added value items, including an edition of the album including several additional duets as well as a "making of" DVD. Darrell Tucker, vice president of merchandising for Target stated, "The Target Corporation is honored to partner with Tony Bennett on the occasion of his 80th birthday and this exceptional Duets CD project. He is an entertainer of singular artistry and a person of impeccable integrity. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to be a part of the celebration."

Later this fall, a prime-time network special, also sponsored by Target, featuring Tony and special guest artists will be aired. Legacy Recordings is slated to release a limited-edition boxed set collection as well as reissues of Tony Bennett titles previously unavailable on CD throughout the fall of 2006 and into 2007 along with the complete digitization of Bennett's entire catalog. A documentary on Tony's life and career, executive produced by Clint Eastwood, is in the works for 2007, as is an art book of Tony's original paintings.

Tony Bennett, who first joined Columbia Records in 1950, has been signed to the label longer than any other recording artist in its history. With over 50 million records sold worldwide, more than 100 recordings to his credit and thirteen Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Grammy Album of the Year Award, Bennett's career is unparalleled in the industry.

"Tony Bennett never fails to bring a rare and special artistry to his music while showing an incredible generosity of spirit toward the world and his fans," said Steve Barnett, Chairman, Columbia Records. "It's an honor and a privilege to wish Tony a very happy 80th birthday and to thank him for giving us the gift of so much magic and so much music over the years."

Track Listing for TONY BENNETT: DUETS/An American Classic
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams /STING
Smile/BARBRA STREISAND WITH PINCHAS ZUKERMAN (Violin)
Put On A Happy Face/JAMES TAYLOR
The Shadow Of Your Smile/JUANES
Rags To Riches/ELTON JOHN
The Very Thought Of You/PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lullaby Of Broadway/DIXIE CHICKS
Cold, Cold Heart/TIM MCGRAW
The Best Is Yet To Come/DIANA KRALL
For Once In My Life/STEVIE WONDER
Are You Havin' Any Fun?/ELVIS COSTELLO
Because Of You/K.D. LANG WITH CHRIS BOTTI (Trumpet)
Just In Time/MICHAEL BUBLE
Sing You Sinners/JOHN LEGEND
The Good Life/BILLY JOEL
I Wanna Be Around/BONO
How Do Keep The Music Playing/GEORGE MICHAEL
I Left My Heart In San Francisco/TONY BENNETT WITH BILL CHARLAP (Piano)

JAZZ BASSIST JOSEPH PATRICK MOORE RELEASES A DECADE’S WORTH OF MUSIC

Decade, the newest release by Joseph Patrick Moore on Blue Canoe Records, contains material compiled from his recording efforts spanning the years 1996-2005. Unlike other compilation or "best of" recordings, Decade is not a testimonial of past achievements but a preface, or glimpse, into the artist's future. Joseph Patrick Moore is a master bassist, equally proficient with upright and electric instruments; his technical virtuosity and artistic curiosity have taken him in pursuit of many musical styles. It is apparent that Moore's works are inspired by mainstream jazz and contemporary jazz as well as r&b, gospel and pop. The result of this exploratory approach to composition is fresh, imaginative, and adds an air of excitement and serves as a foil to the all too often boring and overworked state of academic classroom jazz.A great sense of adventure thrives in this compelling 80 minute, 19 song CD. Moore pays tribute to mentors Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis with original compositions Herbie and Pause 1. His solo bass version of The Police tune Masoko Tanga and the full-band vocal rendition of Men at Work's Down Under (in the spirit of Hancock's Possibilities and Davis’ Tutu) are evidence that pop music is an excellent source of inspiration of jazz arrangements. JPM's abilities come full circle on the title track: he composed and played all the instruments on this soon to be smooth jazz anthem.If you are searching for music with rich textures and groove oriented arrangements, look no further than Joseph Patrick Moore's Decade 1996-2005 on Blue Canoe Records. Aptly titled, it is a remarkable odyssey through the world of contemporary jazz.

CARLOS SANTANA TO PERFORM AT OPENING NIGHT AT THE BOWL ON JUNE 23; LAUNCHES SECOND LEG OF 2006 WORLD TOUR WITH EUROPEAN, JAPAN & U.S. DATES ADDED

Carlos Santana will be honored with another milestone induction on Friday, June 23 when he becomes part of the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame during their Seventh Annual ceremony. Founded in 2000, the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, "celebrates those consummate creators and performers, who, through their talent and effort, have established themselves as true superstars -- with appearances on screen, stage, recordings, and at the Bowl -- whose contributions to the arts have made them part of the fabric of American culture." The June 23 date also marks "Opening Night At The Bowl," one of the world famous venue's biggest evenings all year. Carlos will perform on a special bill that includes Andre Watts, Blue Man Group and John Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The gala event, which begins at 8:30PM, benefits Music Matters, the Los Angeles Philharmonic's educational initiative, dedicated to creating innovative music education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds. Recently, Music Matters has added extra focus towards supporting Los Angeles public schools and their renewed commitment to restoring arts education for all students.

Next, Carlos Santana and the Santana Band - fresh off their first tour of South America in over two decades and an initial leg of European dates this spring , will take to the road again for an itinerary stretching through September. As their global circuit continues, the 2006 World Tour picks up in early July with shows in Europe and Japan. Santana's Stateside sweep commences in late July with West coast dates through mid-August, followed by East coast concerts spanning most of September. Besides Carlos Santana on guitar, the Santana Band's current line-up includes (alphabetically): Tommy Anthony (guitar, backing vocals), Dennis Chambers (drums), Jeff Cressman (trombone), Bill Ortiz (trumpet), Karl Perazzo (percussion, timbales), Raul Rekow (congas, percussion), Benny Rietveld (bass), Chester Thompson (keyboards) and Andy Vargas featured on vocals.

The July European dates begin with two shows in Germany - Oberhausen and Liepzig - on the 5th and 6th, respectively, that are make-ups for concerts previously scheduled in May. From July 9-12, Santana will perform the last four days of the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, followed by three dates in Italy: July 14 in Lucca (with John Mayer opening), July 15 in Naples (with Robert Plant opening), July 17 in Perugia and July 18 in Udine. From there, Santana travels to Japan for shows in Shizuoka (July 22) and Osaka (July 23).

Santana's domestic 2006 World Tour itinerary kicks off with West coast U.S. dates beginning on July 27 in San Diego, CA at Viejas Concerts at Bayside. The schedule features shows in Phoenix, AZ (July 27) and Las Vegas, NV (July 29) in addition to concerts spanning the length of California, concluding with an August 6 show at the Sacramento Valley's Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Marysville. Neo-soul star Anthony Hamilton, who belts out the memorable track Twisted on the new Santana album All That I Am, will be featured as the opening act for all the West coast tour dates.

The East coast leg of Santana's 2006 World Tour -- featuring the Salvador Santana Band opening and Los Lonely Boys as the second act - launches with a September 15 concert at Mansfield, MA's Tweeter Center. Other highlights include September 16 at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY, September 23-24 at the Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Event Center, and September 28 at the Sound Advice Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, FL.

Santana's 38th and latest album All That I Am - their third for Arista Records in partnership with music legend Clive Davis - spotlights a diverse mix of stellar guest artists including Steven Tyler, Mary J. Blige, Michelle Branch, Sean Paul, Big Boi, Joss Stone, Los Lonely Boys, Bo Bice, Anthony Hamilton, Kirk Hammett and more. The disc follows up 2001's GRAMMY-winning Shaman, and 1999's 25X platinum Supernatural, which won a record-tying best of nine GRAMMYs for a single recording project. Over the course of his extraordinary career, 11X GRAMMY® winner Carlos Santana has performed live for over 100 million people worldwide, a number that grows this year as myriad more fans have the opportunity to embrace the celebration of music and spirit that is the essence of a Santana concert.

That same sublime music and spirit has led to countless honors and awards over the years, including Carlos' forthcoming induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. Earlier in 2006, Carlos received the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame Award which, in addition to Santana's musical legacy, honored the work of the Milagro Foundation, established in 1998 by Carlos and his wife, author Deborah Santana, as well as their many other humanitarian endeavors. Ms. Santana's first book, the acclaimed memoir "Space Between The Stars: My Journey To An Open Heart," published by Random House's One World/Ballantine Books, has just been released in a soft cover edition featuring a newly created personal discussion and reading group questions section (the hardcover and audio editions were published in 2005). Deborah Santana is currently working on future works of both fiction and non-fiction.

Recently, she visited New Orleans' Katrina-devastated 9th ward, and in a piece featured (in its entirety) on Santana.com wrote, "My father was born in Louisiana. The people struggling there are my relatives, as is every person in the human family...2000 children still have no schools, playgrounds or libraries. Charity Hospital has been operating in tents that the Army loaned from Iraq and Afghanistan, which reminds me -- why are we spending $60 million per hour on destroying and rebuilding Iraq when we cannot rebuild one great American city?" Deborah and Carlos Santana encourage all Americans to participate in a call to action in support of New Orleans.

SANTANA 2006 WORLD TOUR DATES
JULY - EUROPE & JAPAN
July 5 Oberhausen, Germany - Kopi Arena (replacement for May 24 show)
July 6 Leipzig, Germany - Arena (replacement for May 26 show)
July 9-12 Montreux, Switzerland - Montreux Jazz Festival
July 14 Lucca, Italy (w/opener John Mayer)
July 15 Naples, Italy (w/opener Robert Plant)
July 17 Perugia, Italy
July 18 Udine, Italy
July 22 Shizuoka, Japan
July 23 Osaka, Japan

JULY & AUGUST - WEST COAST U.S. featuring Anthony Hamilton as opener
July 27 San Diego, CA - Viejas Concerts at Bayside
July 28 Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion
July 29 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
July 31 Irvine, CA May 20 - Verizon Amphitheater
August 1-2 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
August 4 Concord, CA - Chronicle Pavilion
August 5 Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
August 6 Marysville, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre

SEPTEMBER - EAST COAST U.S. featuring Salvador Santana Band opening and Los Lonely Boys as second act:
September 15 Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center
September 16 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
September 17 Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
September 20 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
September 22 Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater
September 23-24 Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Event Center
September 26 Bristow, VA - Nissan Pavilion at Stone Ridge
September 28 West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Amphitheater
September 29 Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre
September 30 Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre

BRUCE CONTE REJOINS TOWER OF POWER; 2006 TOUR SCHEDULE UPDATED

Bruce Conte played lead guitar with Tower of Power during its most prolific period, beginning with its third album release. Now after more than a 20-year absence, Bruce returns. He has been rehearsing with the band, and will be touring with them, effective immediately. In the meantime, Tower of Power is reprising it successful 2005 tour with Tom Jones for a few selective dates. Tower of Power opens for Tom and his band, which includes Tower alumnus, Herman Matthews on drums. Last year the Horn Section would join Tom for Down To The Nightclub. Tom has performed Nightclub periodically, over the years in his live shows.

Tower of Power 2006 Tour Schedule
June 15th - Grand Prairie, TX @ Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie appearing with Tom Jones
June 16th - Bossier City, LA @ Horseshoe Casino Riverdome appearing with Tom Jones
June 17th - Robinsonville, MS @ Bluesville Showroom Horseshoe Casino appearing with Tom Jones
June 18th -Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater appearing with Tom Jones
June 20th - Louisville, KY @ Whitney Theater appearing with Tom Jones
June 22nd - Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park Amphitheater appearing with Tom Jones
June 23rd - Cherokee, NC @ Harrah's Cherokee Smoky Mountains Casino appearing with Tom Jones
June 24th - Newport News, VA @ Ferguson Center for the Arts appearing with Tom Jones
June 25th - Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Opera House appearing with Tom Jones
July 7th - Imatra, Finland @ Imatra Big Band Festival
July 11th - Aachen, Germany
July 12th - Jena, Germany
July 14th - Montreux, Switzerland @ Stravinski Auditorium
July 15th - Rotterdam, Netherlands @ North Sea Jazz Festival
July 16th - Karsruhe, Germany
July 18th - Bochum, Germany
July 19th - Kassel, Germany
July 20th - Samso, Denmark @Samso Festival
July 22nd - Graz, Austria
Aug.15th - San Mateo, CA @ San Mateo County Fair Grandstand
Aug.16th - Oroville, CA @ Feather Falls Casino
Aug.17th - Monterey, CA @ Monteray County Fairgrounds
Aug.18th - Oroville, CA @ Feather Falls Casino
Aug. 25th – Las Vegas, NV @ Suncoast Hotel & Casino
Aug. 26th – Las Vegas, NV @ Suncoast Hotel & Casino
Aug. 27th – Las Vegas, NV @ Suncoast Hotel & Casino
Sept.15th - San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay
Sept.16th - Mammoth Lakes, CA @ Canyon Meadows Amphitheatre
Sept. 20th - Bakersfield, CA @ Kern County Fair – Bud Pavillion
Sept. 22nd - Alton, IL @ Argosy Casino
Sept. 24th - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Sept. 27th - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theatre
Sept. 28th -York, PA @ Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center
Sept. 29th - New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
Sept. 30th - Peekskill, NY @ Paramount Center for the Arts
Oct.1st - Plains, PA @ The Waterfront Banquet Facility
Oct.3rd - Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere
Oct.5th - Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Resort & Casino - Showroom
Oct.6th - New Brunswick, NJ @ State Theatre
Oct.7th - Englewood, NJ@ The Bergen Performing Arts Center
Oct.8th - Wilmington, DE @ Grand Opera House
Nov.1st - Lancaster, CA @ Lancaster Performing Arts Center
Nov.2nd - Highland, CA @ San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino
Nov.4th - Albuquerque, NM @ Route 66 Casino
Nov.10th - Agoura Hills, CA @ Canyon Theater
Nov.11th - Cerritos, CA @ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
Nov.24th - Tahoe City, NV @ Harrah South Shore Room

AWARD-WINNING SINGER/PIANIST/COMPOSER PATRICA BARBER TO RELEASE ‘MYTHOLOGIES’, NEW JAZZ SONG CYCLE BASED UPON GREEK MYTHOLOGY, ON BLUE NOTE AUGUST 15

In 2003, the acclaimed singer-pianist-composer Patricia Barber became one of the few Jazz musicians ever to be awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, and she took the opportunity to create one of the most ambitious and affecting works of her career. Mythologies is a song cycle based on Greek mythology, which uses characters from The Metamorphoses of Ovid as the basis for each of the 11 songs, giving these timeless stories a uniquely contemporary and compelling musical setting.

Barber, whom TIME magazine once referred to as a cross between Susan Sontag and Diana Krall, has now recorded Mythologies for release on Blue Note Records on August 15. Built around her dynamic quartet, Mythologies also features a guest saxophonist, vocal soloists, a gospel choir, and children hip hop artists.

MYTHOLOGIES TRACK LISTING
1. The Moon
2. Morpheus
3. Pygmalion
4. Hunger
5. Icarus (for Nina Simone)
6. Orpheus/Sonnet
7. Persephone
8. Narcissus
9. Whiteworld/Oedipus
10. Phaethon
11. The Hours

SOUL-JAZZ CROONER VICTOR FIELDS NEW SINGLE IS A DIANE WARREN COMPOSITION

Song stylist Victor Fields must fall in love with the songs he selects to sing in order to be able to infuse the material with the inspired passion he's known for on his soulful jazz recordings. He has always wanted to record a Diane Warren composition as she is arguably one of this era's best pop writers of heartfelt, anthem-like love songs. Fields delivered a gorgeous version of Warren's Show Me The Way Back To Your Heart on his recently released Victor album. The track is being serviced to smooth jazz radio stations as the third single from the critically-acclaimed disc and will start collecting radio adds on June 19th.

The timing of the single release meshes with the pact recently inked between online retailer CD Baby and retail distributor Super D. Fields, who releases his albums independently through his own Regina Records label, has online distribution through CD Baby. With Super D providing retail distribution for CD Baby's artists, all three of Fields' albums are now available in record stores worldwide. His previous album releases were 52nd Street (2002), featuring appearances by Chris Botti, Jeff Lorber and Gerald Albright, and Promise (1999), which was produced by Grammy-nominee Kashif.

Work has already commenced on Fields' next album, which is tentatively slated for release this fall. For the third consecutive time, Fields will enter the recording studio with guitarist Chris Camozzi handling production duties. The fourth collection will be decidedly aimed towards the smooth jazz audience, although it will of course retain elements of R&B and adult contemporary.
Victor was released on Valentine's Day. It's a diverse, sophisticated collection of jazz, urban, adult pop and even Broadway-esque songs sung with elegance and grace. Fields is a classic crooner in the vein of such legends as Nat King Cole and Luther Vandross. The Bay Area resident has received praise from respected media outlets including USA Today, Chicago- Tribune and Los Angeles Times.

JAZZ CHILL NEWSBITS: JVC JAZZ FESTIVAL, BRAND NEW HEAVIES, KING BRITT, REGINA CARTER, CHAKA KHAN & OTHERS…

Jazz Chill Corner Newsbits……….BET will honor Chaka Khan at the BET Awards ’06. The event is scheduled to take place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 27. Khan will receive the BET Lifetime Achievement Award………. King Britt will perform a DJ Session at Zanzibar (CA) on June 9……….Maceo Parker appears at Irving Plaza in New York City on June 14……….The Brand New Heavies are back in swing and will appear at Warsaw in New York City on July 10……….Stanley Clarke and George Duke are back as the Clarke/Duke Project and have scheduled a series of key concert appearances during the summer, one of which will be at the JVC Jazz Festival. The Clarke/Duke Project will perform on July 13 at Avalon in New York. Also slated to perform at the New York JVC Jazz Festival include the Marcus Miller Band at Irving Plaza on June 16; Chris Botti and Lizz Wright on June 17 at Carnegie Hall; Smokey Robinson at Carnegie Hall on June 22; and Herbie Hancock and guests at Carnegie Hall on June 23……….Rainer Truby will perform an exclusive DJ set at Cielo (NY) on September 7.......... Verve is set to release Regina Carter's latest CD entitled - I'll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey on June 13. The album pays tribute to the memory of her late mother, Grace Carter, in a swinging journey through the some of the classic songs of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s that her mother loved during her youth. With effervescent arrangements featuring dare-devilishly spontaneous improvisations and interplay between Carter and her bandmates, I'll Be Seeing You is a feel-good foray into the joys of small-group swing and classic mid-century songs.

DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER & LALO SHIFRIN TO PERFORM AT 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP

Jazz legend Dee Dee Bridgewater and film score composer Lalo Schifrin are to appear together on July 7 during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Cologne, Germany. They will be performing as part of the Sixth Cologne Jazz Night which is designated as part of the 2006 FIFA World Cup arts and culture program in the city. Paris-based Dee Dee Bridgewater, born in 1950 in Memphis, Tennessee, is without doubt one of the greatest living jazz sopranos, her imposing stage presence and supreme improvisation skills continuing a long tradition encapsulated by her idol Ella Fitzgerald. Lalo Schifrin (born 1932 in Buenos Aires) shares a connection to Fitzgerald, as he once accompanied the Grande Dame of jazz as a pianist. Schifrin's music is best known from the movies, as he rates as one of the world's leading cinematic composers (Mission Impossible, Rush Hour, Dirty Harry). The star duo will be backed by the Cologne Music Academy Big Band conducted by Professor Joachim Ullrich. The program is drawn from Schifrin's collected works.

BRAZILIAN SINGER MARISA MONTE TO SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASE TWO NEW ALBUMS ON METRO BLUE SEPT. 12; ‘UNIVERSO AO MEU REDOR’ & ‘INFINITO PARTICULAR’

On September 12th, Blue Note/Metro Blue Records will simultaneously release two individual albums from the Brazilian superstar Marisa Monte Universo ao meu redor is a collection of Samba songs both old and new, and Infinito Particular is a contemporary Pop record on which Monte returned to various unrecorded songs from over the course of her 15 years of songwriting. Each of the two albums presents a unique identity, and shows the remarkable breadth of Monte’s musicianship, as singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and musicologist. The albums, which were released in Brazil this spring and have already sold platinum, feature an impressive array of guest collaborators as well, including David Byrne, Philip Glass, Seu Jorge, Carlinhos Brown and Arnaldo Antunes.

Monte will be announcing fall 2006 U.S. tour dates to support the album releases in the coming weeks. It will be her first U.S. tour since 2000. At the end of the tour for her last solo release Memories, Chronicles & Declarations in 2001, Monte had spent almost two solid years traveling the globe and decided to stay home for awhile and focus on studio projects including 2003’s runaway success Tribalistas, her collaboration with Carlinhos Brown and Arnaldo Antunes that went quadruple-platinum in Brazil, became a hit in Europe, and earned five nominations at the 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in the United States. During the recording of Tribalistas Monte became pregnant and gave birth to her first child the same month the CD was released. By necessity, she scaled back all plans for touring and promotion and spent the next couple years at home raising her son. This period gave her the opportunity to explore two projects from which these new albums, Monte’s "non-identical twins" as she jokingly refers to them, were conceived.

Universo ao meu redor (The Universe Around Me), co-produced by Monte and Mario Caldato, is her first-ever recording to focus entirely on the great Brazilian tradition of Samba. Having grown up immersed in Samba (her father Carlos was one of the directors of the famous Portela Samba school in Rio de Janeiro), Monte was aware that there were many songs that were passed along orally that weren’t being recorded and were in danger of being lost. So she began researching these songs and their histories by interviewing Samba composers, as well as their family members & colleagues. Universo ao meu redor places several of her discoveries that date back as far as the 1940s, including songs by Jayme Silva, D. Yvonne Lara, Casemiro Vieira, Moraes e Galvao, and Argemiro Patrocinio, alongside new Samba songs written by Monte with Brown and Antunes and other contemporary composers such as Paulinho da Viola. Ex-Talking Heads frontman David Byrne also makes a guest appearance on the song Statue of Liberty, which he co-wrote with Monte.

During the same time that Monte was doing her Samba research, she also began to sort through her large collection of cassette tapes on which she had documented her songwriting process from the beginning of her career. As she went through the hundreds of tapes, digitizing them for preservation, she came across the early sketches of songs that had since been recorded and made popular, but also many songs that she had abandoned and not yet returned to finish.This inspired Monte, along with songwriting partners both old (Brown, Antunes, Nando Reis, Pedro Baby, and Dadi) and new (Seu Jorge, Adriana Calcanhotto, Marcelo Yuka, Leonardo Reis and Rodrigo Campelo), to readdress some of this unfinished material and bring it to life. The result is the 13 tracks on Infinito Particular (Infinite Private), which was co-produced by Monte and Alê Siqueira, and also features arrangements by Eumir Deodato, João Donato, and the renowned American Classical composer Philip Glass.

Marisa Monte was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1967. Her father, Carlos Monte, was one of the directors of the Portela Samba school, and she begin her musical studies, including piano, drums & music theory, at a very early age. Despite coming of age during the height of the Musica Popular Brasileira movement—MPB was the post-bossa nova popular music of Brazil—Monte’s first interest was in Classical music and Opera, and so inspired by her idol Maria Callas she traveled to Italy at age 18 to study Classical singing. It was while abroad that Monte first fully recognized the musical richness of her homeland, and decided to return to Brazil and join the ranks of the MPB, following in the footsteps of her greatest influences, including Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Jorge Ben, Caetano Veloso, Nara Leão and Maria Bethânia, and establishing herself as a star in her own right.

Monte’s self-titled debut album in 1989 was an instant hit in Brazil, with stunning interpretations of everything from Gershwin and Kurt Weill to Brazilian pop, R&B and an old Carmen Miranda tune. One of her biggest fans, New York City-based guitarist Arto Lindsay, then took on a mentor’s role, helping her craft a string of critically acclaimed international releases that further explored her eclectic and original vision. Mais (1991), Rose And Charcola (1994), A Great Noise (1996), and Memories, Chronicles And Declarations (2000), as well as Tribalistas (2003), her successful collaboration with Carlinhos Brown and Arnaldo.

CHUCK LOEB BUSY IN THE STUDIO AND TOUR UPDATE

Guitartist Chuck Loeb has been quite busy lately with back-to-back concert performances and recording sessions. He’s just finished appearing at the Capital Jazz Festival (June 4), where he appeared with Chieli Minucci and Paul Jackson, Jr. It was their first project as a trio and we hope to hear more of that in the coming months. Looking further ahead at his schedule is a four-day ruin at The Iridium in New York City, June 15 through 18 with a special band comprising of Eric Marienthal (sax), Anthony Jackson (bass), Jim Beard (piano), and Josh Dion (drums). This concert will also feature music from each of these unique artists. From June 30th through July 8th, Loeb will be appearing at the 15th annual Canary Islands Jazz Festival. He and his special Iridium concert band (including German trumpeter Till Bronner), will be playing a series of shows on the various islands. The two final shows will be the gala 15th anniversary shows and will feature invited guests including the great guitarist Hiram Bullock, Paul McCandless, and Brazilian singer, songwriter and guitarist Rosa Passos. Loeb then heads off to the Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, California for a July 15th concert.

Studio-wise, Chuck Loeb had a guest soloist spot on Will Downing’s latest CD, Soul Symphony; he wrote one song and played on saxaphonist Andy Snitzer’s new CD, Some Quiet Place (Native Language, 2006); guested on Nelson Rangell’s new CD, Soul To Souls; played on Marion Meadows new CD, Dressed To Chill; and on Everette Harp’s latest CD, In The Moment, for which he wrote two new songs as well as a guest soloist. He is also close to completing a new CD and hopes to have it out in the next 6 months Talk about bust – wow!.

KENNY GARRETT, GARY BURTON QUARTET REVISTED, BAABA MAAL, PAQUITO D’RIVERA & OTHERS APPEAR AT SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CONCERTS IN JUNE

Gary Burton Quartet Revisted with Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez at Yoshi’s in Oakland (June 8-11); Paquito D’Rivera Quintet at Herbst Theatre (June 11); Goapele at Yoshi’s in Oadland (June 14-15); Baaba Maal at Masonic Center (June 16); Javon Jackson Quartet with Benny Green at Yoshi’s in Oakland (June 20-21); & Kenny Garrett at Yoshi’s in Oakland (June 22-25).

DEBUT CD FROM ROB WHITE

Let It Ride, the debut album from saxophonist Rob White, preceded by the first single Fin De Semana – which is in its sixth week of chart climbing and national spins, just jumped eleven spots on the Smoothjazz.com Top 50 to come in at number 47, and is receiving a noteworthy number of spins on jazz, smooth jazz and urban AC radio – was released nationwide to stores on May 30. For the eleven-song disc, featuring Rob White on soprano and alto saxophone performing original songs and covers, executive producer Beau Huggins, who molded the careers of Najee, Alex Bugnon, Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson and Meli’sa Morgan, paired White with seasoned producer, Yasha. Together, the two have created a musical masterpiece in Let It Ride, filled with special moments – including A House Is Not A Home, a tribute to Luther Vandross. "The chemistry between White and Yasha was undeniably unique," says Charli Huggins, Orpheus Music V.P. Yasha, who helped create the sounds of Najee and Alex Bugnon agrees. ‘When Rob began to play I Wish I Wasn’t it sounded like a Heather Headley song. But when I told him to play two octaves higher, he made it a Rob White song. I saw Najee and Sweet Love all over again," Yasha exclaims. Additional proof of their chemistry is in Summer Groovin’, which almost made the cut list. But Beau said he hears "something special in that song, and proof that Yasha took Rob to a professional level he did not believe was attainable."

THE DAKOTA JAZZ CLUB WELCOMES PAT MARTINO, THE YELLOWJACKETS, EST, KEVIN MAHOGANY & RED HOLLOWAY

Minneapolis’ premier jazz club, The Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant has booked a stellar lineup of artists as part of that city’s Hot Summer Jazz Festival. Scheduled to take to the stage will be Pat Martino, touring in support of his new recording on Blue Note celebrating the music of Wes Montgomery on June 4-5; The Yellowjackets, who are celebrating 26 years of being one of the most successful fusion bands in the genre’s history on June 13; E.S.T. - Esbjorn Svensson Trio, the winners of the 2004 Hans Koller Prize for European Jazz Artist of the Year and numerous Swedish Grammies including Jazz Album of the Year in 1996, 1998 and 2003 on June 18-19; and Kevin Mahogany and Red Holloway on June 26-27. Kevin Mahogany has just recently been recognized by Newsweek magazine as "the standout vocalist of his generation," and Red Holloway has performed alongside the ranks of Dexter Gordon, Lionel Hampton, Jack McDuff, Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Sonny Rollins, and Lester Young.

BILL WITHERS TO BE HONORED AT 19TH ANNUAL ASCAP RHYTHM & SOUL MUSIC AWARDS

Bill Withers has sung his way into the hearts of millions of fans worldwide with such memorable classics as Ain't No Sunshine, Grandma's Hands, I Want To Spend the Night,In The Name Of Love, Just The Two Of Us, Lean On Me, Lovely Day and Use Me, to name a few. He has received nine Grammy Award nominations, and won three for Best R&B Song for Ain't No Sunshine, Just The Two Of Us, and for the re-recording of Lean On Me by Club Nouveau.

He has received a Clio Award, two NAACP Image Awards and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005. His music and unique voice have been used in countless television and radio commercials, motion pictures and television programs, and his songs have been recorded by hundreds of artists from a variety of genres including Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Liza Minnelli, Sting, Will Smith, Lionel Hampton, The Temptations, Tom Jones, Joe Cocker, Mick Jagger and Crystal Gayle, just to name a few.

"Bill's music and lyrics have extraordinary accessibility and universal appeal making him one of America's premier singer/songwriters," said Marilyn Bergman. "The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award is an honor that he richly deserves." The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award is given to ASCAP members who have had a major impact on the legacy of Rhythm and Soul music. Bill Withers joins a select group of recipients including Peabo Bryson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Rick James and Chaka Khan.

Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 240,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. ASCAP also represents the repertories created by the international affiliates of 70 foreign performing rights organizations. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members

CORINNE BAILEY RAE LAUNCHES DEBUT ALBUM WITH SOLD-OUT U.S. SHOWS & APPEARANCES ON ‘GOOD MORNING AMERICA’ & ‘THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO’

When singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled debut album entered the U.K. album chart at #1 in March, she made chart history as the first female British artist to do so with a debut album of original songs. Corinne Bailey Rae is currently certified double Platinum there, and Gold in numerous other countries, with worldwide sales already well over one million. Now Bailey Rae is poised to take North America, launching the album with performances on "Good Morning America" (June 19th, the day before the album's release) and "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" (June 27th) as well as a series of sold-out shows in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. While in the States, Bailey Rae will also tape appearances on PBS' "The Tavis Smiley Show" and A&E's "Breakfast with the Arts." Dates are being finalized for a full North American summer tour.

Early reaction has been astounding with Starbucks signing on to carry Corinne Bailey Rae at its Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada, a cross-platform You Oughta Know campaign at VH1, VH1 Soul and VH1.com and a BET award nomination. And this week iTunes is featuring an acoustic version of lead single Put Your Records On as Single of the Week. "Rae's music sticks in your mind like a pleasant scent you wish would linger," said Blender while Entertainment Weekly said, "Corinne Bailey Rae is so 5 minutes from now ... Think a warm, sultry blend of Norah Jones Cool and Macy Gray Soul, with songwriting that shows flashes of Fiona Apple."

Put Your Records On spent three weeks atop the U.K. Airplay chart and is now climbing the charts at Smooth Jazz and AAA radio in the States. The accompanying video has already been added by VH1 Soul, where it was recently the #1 most played video. Now it's going into rotation at VH1 and Bailey Rae will be the focus of a massive cross-platform (VH1, VH1 Soul, VH1.com) You Oughta Know campaign beginning June 5th, which will include coverage on VH1 News, live performances, a VH1 Soul Listening Party and an appearance on VH1's Top 20 Countdown. Bailey Rae will also play her favorite videos in a Top 10 Countdown on VH1 Soul. Put Your Records On has been bumped up to "Very Cool" rotation at BETJ and has already earned her a nomination for the "BETJ Cool Like That" award. The BET awards will take place on June 27th.

Bailey Rae is one of six new emerging artists hand-picked by AOL Music for its innovative "Breakers" program. The four-month series of promotions includes an "AOL Sessions" performance, prime placements throughout the network and heavy rotation on AOL Radio. Clear Channel has also singled out Bailey Rae as one of today's most notable new artists, tapping her for its Spring 2006 "NEW!" program, which features three rising artists from five formats on its stations' websites.

In addition to carrying the album in its Company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada, Starbucks' customers will be introduced to Corinne Bailey Rae with overhead in-store play; web site promotion; programming and promotional spots on Hear Music(TM) Channel 75 on XM Satellite Radio; and a special contest in which Starbucks Hear Music, XM Satellite Radio and Capitol Records are offering the chance to win a trip for two to see one of Corinne's performances on her European tour.

Confirmed US shows are as follows, additional North American dates to be added soon:
June 21 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
June 23 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas
June 26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
June 27 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord

DIANA KRALL TO RELEASE NEW CD IN SEPTEMBER

Verve has just announced that Diana Krall will release her next studio album on September 12. The new album is being produced by Krall and Tommy LiPuma and it will feature covers of various standards, including From This Moment On, How Insensitive, and It Could Happen To You. Her previous album, The Girl In The Other Room was released in 2004 and has sold 872,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Krall is scheduled to perform at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass in Aspen, CO on June 23, before heading off to Europe for a series of concerts.

UK/COLOMBIA AFRO-LATIN BEATS PHENOMENON SIDESTEPPER WITH FREE NEW DOWNLOAD AND U.S. WEST COAST DATES

Sidestepper is the alter-ego of UK-to-Columbia transplant producer Richard Blair. His eclectic Latin beats collective Sidestepper is back with a brand new single available for free download and a smattering of West Coast dates. His new Palm Pictures single Paloma - download it for free here: www.palmpictures.com/sidestepper .

Paloma is a hypnotic afro-latin groove with sexy male/female call & response, sophisticated rhythmic syncopations and horn arrangements reminiscent of Fela. Paloma (dove, in Spanish) is often used as a metaphor for unrequited love, as singer Ivan Benavides demonstrates on the track. The form and melody, the horns and the lyrics are all very Colombian, coming from a tradition of popular dance music derived from Colombian Cumbia. The groove was inspired by a few 70's funk tunes in Richard Blair’s collection. While working on beats that could maintain this funky feel yet adapted to the Colombian swing, Richard created Paloma in a style that is basically Cumbia and dancehall with a little Afro-beat. Road-tested at sound system parties, where Richard dj'd with live percussion, rappers, guitar and even horns, the beat was a solid hit, and when Ivan and Richard began to compose for a forthcoming album, they knew I was always going to be "ranking." In other words, boom! Sidestepper is the brainchild of UK-to-Colombia transplant producer Richard Blair, who has been living and working in Colombia for more than 10 years. Sidestepper’s pioneering trail has been blazing away since 1997, when Richard’s prowess as a musician, producer, engineer and DJ forged Sidestepper’s unique concept: a seductive blend of Latin, Afro-Colombian, Jamaican and electronic sounds, all filtered through the ears of an English dub-head. Live, Sidestepper is a thunderous blend of bass and beats, tropical, salsa, Vallenato and Cumbia vocals, dance, rap, guitar, drums and live dub effects.

Tour dates:
June 25 - Boonville CA - Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
June 28 - Davis CA - UC Davis
June 30 - San Francisco CA - The Independent
July 1 - Los Angeles CA - Grand Performances
July 2 - Los Angeles CA - Temple Bar

JAZZ GREAT LARRY CORYELL TO PLAY CLUB PASSIM ON JUNE 2, 2006

Legendary Jazz guitarist Larry Coryell will play Club Passin on June 2, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. One of the world’s acknowledged guitar masters, Larry Coryell first played Club Passim in the 1960s, Dubbed "the Godfather of Fusion" by Dan Ouellette of Down Beat Magazine, Larry has recorded more than 70 albums over the past 35 years as a bandleader, soloist and 'featured accompanist'. Born in Galveston, Texas, Larry arrived in New York City via Seattle in 1965, and began honing his formidable instrumental skill as the basis for his musical expression. National recognition then came during his tenure with the Gary Burton Quartet in 1967. The late 60s thru early 70s saw Larry as one of the most in-demand guitarists in rock, jazz and all musical genres. During that time Larry was featured in sessions with Jimmy Webb, the 5th Dimension, Charles Mingus, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea and John McLaughlin. 1974 Larry formed The 11th House, the most popular and successful Fusion band of its time. After The 11th House disbanded, Larry was signed by Clive Davis to Arista Records, where he made a series of solo albums, followed by a direct-to-disc recording with the Brecker Brothers.

"We are honored to have a legendary artist such as Larry Coryell perform in Club Passim," said Matt Smith, manager of Club Passim. "Through his skillful playing, he has earned a reputation as one of today’s guitar virtuosos. This is a must-see performance for those who love jazz." Larry Coryell's recordings and live concert performances have run the gamut from clubs large and small, and concert venues large and small from the 1980s thru today. His appearance at Club Passim offers students and aficionados of jazz to hear from one of today’s masters. About Passim Passim Folk Music and Cultural Center is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to the cultivation and preservation of folk music. Through its diverse programming – Club Passim, Passim School of Music, Archive Project, and Culture for Kids– Passim Center reaches out to people of all ages, backgrounds, and communities. For 47 years in the heart of Harvard Square, the Passim Center has been a cornerstone of the arts community of New England, fostering both performers and audiences alike. For more information click to, http://www.passimcenter.org.

NEW JAZZ AND CHILL RELEASES FROM EVERETTE HARP, JAZZ INVADERS, LALO SHIFRIN, LIQUID SOUL, TAMBA TRIO, THE YELLOWJACKETS & MORE...

Anjani Thomas – Blue Alert
Anthony Braxton – Duo Victoriaville 2005
Baden Powell & Vinicius De Moraes – Afro-Sambas
Bernard Woma – Live At The Pito Bar
Bill Potts – Brasilia Nueve – How Insensitive
Billie Holiday – Lady Day Live
Carlos Lyra – Bossa Nova
Carlos Lyra – Preciso Cantar/Er & Elas
Chet Baker – Chet Baker With Len Mercer & His Orchestra
Chet Baker – Cologne Concert
Diana Ross - Diana
Dick Hyman – Brasilian Impressions
Dr. John – Mercernary
Ellis Regina – Aquarela Do Brasil
Ellis Regina – Como & Porque
Ellis Regina – In London
Eric Clapton –Eric Clapton: Deluxe Edition
Everette Harp – In The Moment
Gal Costa & Caetano Veloso - Domingo
Gilles Peterson – Gilles Peterson Back in Brazil (Various Artists)
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Gold
Jazz Invaders – Up & Out
Jeanette Lindstrom – In The Middle Of This Riddle
Joao Gilberto - Brasil
Jimmy McGriff – Groove Grease
John Lee Hooker – The Definitive Collection
John Mayer – Dhammapada
Karen Bernod – Life @ 360 Degrees
Keith Jarrett – Tokyo Solo
Kenny Dope & Keb Barge – Kenny Dope & Keb Barge Presents Kay Dee Records (Various Artists)
Lalo Shifrin – Letters From Argentina
Lionel Richie – Time
Liquid Soul – One-Two Punch
Lucio Alves, Roberto Menescal & Sylvia Telles – Bossa Session
Marion Meadows – Dressed To Chill
Mark Isham – Pure Mark Isham
Melvin Sparks – Groove On Up
Michael Bolton – Bolton Swings Sinatra: The Second Time Around
Miles Davis – Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions
Mohammed Jimmy Mohammed - Takkabel
Nara Leao – Meus Sonhos Dourados
Nara Leao – Dez Anos Depois
Nara Leao – Nara
Nara Leao – Onde E Quando
Native – Impressions
Nina Simone – Songs To Sing: The Best Of Nina Simone
Nomo – New Tones
Omar – Sing (If You Want It)
Phil Sunkel – Jazz Concerto Grosso
Quartet Tres Bien – Quartet Tres Bien
Raul A. Fernandez – From Afro-Cuban Rhythms to Latin Jazz
Ray Barretto – A Man And His Music
Ray Barretto – Rican/Struction
Ray Mantilla – Good Vibrations
Rayse Biggs – For The Love Of It
Rotary Connection – Black Gold Of The Sun – The Very Best Of The Rotary Connection
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’65 – Herb Alpert Presents
Shadowfax – Pure Shadowfax
Tamba Trio– Tempo/Avanco
Tuck & Patti – Pure Tuck & Patti
Yellowjackets – Twenty Five (CD/DVD)
Various Artists – Experience Brazil
Various Artists – Big Band: Remixed + Reinvented
Various Artists – Bonita Bossa Nova
Various Artists – Hot As Hell – Contemporary Jazz & Soul From Helsinki
Warren Parker- Hawaiian Eye
Zeena Parkins – In Despite

VERVE ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF RARE ALBUMS AS RHAPSODY EXCLUSIVES

The Verve Music Group has announced an exclusive program with Rhapsody(R), the award-winning online music service from RealNetworks(R), to make a number of its classic, out-of-print recordings available to consumers as digital releases. Verve has had much success in bringing back titles that either had been deleted from its catalog or were never-before-available and making these titles available as digital-only tracks and albums. Verve and Rhapsody are making this exclusive content available in response to consumer interest.

"Today's consumer lives an on-demand lifestyle and The Verve Music Group is thrilled to have Rhapsody embrace the delivery of out-of-print music to meet the consumer demand for it," says Ron Goldstein, President and CEO of The Verve Music Group. "Verve can now achieve the full potential of its amazing catalog by re-releasing these classic recordings in the digital space." The program will launch with 28 titles. These titles, which are currently unavailable for purchase anywhere in America, was released to Rhapsody beginning on May 23rd and will be available exclusively through the service for three months. Consumers will be able to stream, download, or purchase these classic recordings via the Rhapsody service as well as transfer them to compatible portable devices. Rhapsody and Verve will support this exclusive relationship with a variety of album features and promotions as well as outreach to core music audiences.

"We're very excited to be adding nearly 30 out-of-print titles from Verve Records to Rhapsody," said Tim Quirk, GM of Music Content and Programming. "Rhapsody's infinite shelf space means there's always room for more great music from influential Verve artists such as Art Blakey, EllaFitzgerald, and Oscar Peterson."

Verve titles coming to Rhapsody through the program include:
Albert Mangelsdorff, Jaco Pastorius, and Alphonse Mouzon "Trilogue" (Live)
Alphonse Mouzon "By All Means"
Anita O'Day "Anita"
Art Blakey "The Complete Art Blakey on EmArcy"
Art Tatum "I Got Rhythm Vol. 3 (1935-44)"
Baden Powell "Estudos"
Ben Sidran "I Lead A Life"
Ben Sidran "Puttin' In Time On Planet Earth"
Ben Sidran "The Cat In The Hat"
Ben Webster and Don Byas "Ben Webster Meets Don Byas"
Bill Evans "Symbiosis"
Clark Terry "Clark After Dark"
Dexter Gordon and Slide Hampton "A Day in Copenhagen"
Don "Sugar Cane" Harris "Fiddler On The Rock"
Don Ellis "Soaring"
Duke Ellington "Collages"
Ella Fitzgerald "Songs In A Mellow Mood"
Freddie Hubbard "The Hub Of Hubbard"
George Duke "I Love The Blues, She Heard Me Cry"
Helen Merrill and Ron Carter "Duets"
Jean-Luc Ponty "Sunday Walk"
Joe Henderson "Mirror Mirror"
Marlena Shaw "Out Of Different Bags"
Monty Alexander "The Duke Ellington Songbook"
Oscar Peterson "Bursting Out With The All-Star Big Band"
Stephane Grappelli and the Diz Disley Trio "Violinspiration"
The Jan Hammer Trio "Maliny Maliny"

HERBIE HANCOCK SIGNS ON TO 2006 INDY JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE-UP

Herbie Hanock has joined the artist line-up for the 2006 Indy Jazz Fest being presented by Kroger, held June 16-18 in Indianapolis. Herbie Hancock, the internationally known acoustic, electronic jazz and R&B performer, will replace Wynton Marsalis, who due to a medical condition, had to cancel several of his summer appearances.

CHRIS BOTTI & DAVID HOLMES SET TO APPEAR AT 20th ANNUAL GLASGOW JAZZ FESTIVAL

The 20th annual Glasgow International Jazz Festival is gearing up to take place in venues throughout Glasgow from June 23 to July 2. Artists scheduled to appear this year include: Dennis Rollins Badbone (June 29); David Holmes (June 30); The James Taylor Quartet (July 1); and Chris Botti (July 2). Local talent will include Jeannie Maxwell & the Jazzwegians, George Penman’s Jazzmen and Dave Wilson and the Uptown Shufflers. For more information click to www.jazzfest.co.uk.

MICHAEL BUBLE U.S TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED; ‘IT’S TIME’ SELLS 1.5 CDS

Michael Bublé will be hitting the road across the U.S. this summer with a string of tour dates announced. His album, It’s Time has sold 1.5 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Bublé’s recent live CD/DVD set Caught In The Act (Reprise) has sold 235,000 units.

Here are Michael Bublé’s U.S. tour dates:
June 22: Madison, Wisc. (Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center)
June 24: Moline, Ill. (Mark of the Quad Cities)
June 25: Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines Civic Center)
June 27: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Van Andel Arena)
June 28: Toledo, Ohio (Stranahan Theatre)
June 29: Kettering, Ohio (Fraze Pavilion)
July 1: Wilkes-Barre, Penn. (Wachovia Arena)
July 2: Hershey, Penn. (GIANT Center)
July 6: Greenville, S.C. (BI-LO Center)
July 8: Pensacola, Fla. (Pensacola Civic Center)
July 9: Baton Rouge, La. (Baton Rouge River Center Arena)
July 11: Birmingham, Ala. (BJCC Concert Hall)
July 12: North Little Rock, Ark. (ALLTEL Arena)
July 18: Albuquerque, N.M. (Sandia Casino Amphitheater)
July 19: El Paso, Tex. (The Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center)
July 21: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Santa Barbara Bowl)
July 22: Fresno, Calif. (William Saroyan Theatre Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center

DR. JOHN RELEASES ‘MERCERNARY’ AND SETS 2006 SUMMER TOUR SCHEDULE

Dr. John released his brand new full-length studio album Mercernary on Tuesday, May 23 on Blue Note Records. Following on from the release of the mini-album Sippiana Hericane (released in November to raise money for the victims of the New Orleans disaster) Mercernary is a tribute to the legendary American songwriter Johnny Mercer (1909 – 1976). The album features new interpretations of some of Mercer’s most popular songs including Moon River, Lazy Bones and That Old Black Magic as well as an original composition by Dr. John entitled I Ain't No Johnny Mercer.

The full track listing for Mercenary is as follows: 1. Blues In The Night; 2. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby; 3. Personality; 4. Hit the Road To Dreamland 5. I’m An Old Cow Hand; 6. Dream; 7. Lazy Bones; 8. That Old Black Magic; 9. Come Rain Or Come Shine; 10. Moon River; 11. Tangerine; 12. I Ain’t No Johnny Mercer; and 13. Save The Bones For Henry Jones.

Dr. John is currently on tour with his band The Lower 911, and have a series of bookings confirmed through September. The full tour schedule for Dr. John and The Lower 911 is listed below.

Dr. John’s 2006 tour schedule with his band The Lower 911.
6/3/2006 Los Angeles, CA @ Sheraton Gateway LAX
6/9/2006 Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center (w/ Neville Brothers & Wynton Marsalis)
6/10/2006 Oyster Bay, NY @ Planting Fields (w/ Neville Brothers & Wynton Marsalis)
6/11/2006 Charlottesville, VA @ Charlottesville Pavilion (w/ Neville Brothers & Wynton Marsalis)
6/13/2006 Schenectady, NY @ Proctor Theater (w/ Neville Brothers & Wynton Marsalis)
6/16/2006 Chicago, IL @ Ravinia (w/ Neville Brothers & Wynton Marsalis)
6/17/2006 Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Festival
6/18/2006 Indianapolis, IN @ Indy Jazz Festival (w/ Neville Brothers & Wynton Marsalis)
6/21/2006 Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park (w/ B.B. King & The Neville Brothers)
6/23/2006 Clayton, MO @ St. Louis Jazz Fest
6/24/2006 Syracuse, NY @ The Syracuse Jazz Festival
6/25/2006 Norfolk, VA @ Townepoint Park
6/29/2006 Bend, Or @ Tower Theatre
6/30/2006 Portland, OR @ Waterfront Blues Festival
7/1/2006 Vancouver, BC @ Vancouver International Jazz Festival
7/2/2006 Victoria, BC @ JazzFest International
8/5/2006 Bethlehem, PA @ Zoellner Arts Center
8/6/2006 Litchfield, CT @ Litchfield Jazz Festival
8/17/2006 Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Gardens
8/19/2006 San Jose, CA @ San Jose Jazz Festival
8/20/2006 San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Music Festival
8/31/2006 Lowell, MA @ Boarding House Park
9/3/2006 Charlestown, RI @ Ninigret Park
9/4/2006 Detroit, MI @ Detroit International Jazz Festival
9/8/2006 Milwaukee, WI @ Potawatomi Casino
9/9/2006 Morton, MN @ Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel
9/14/2006 Kansas city, MO @ Beaumont Club
9/15/2006 Eureka Springs, AR @ Big Time Fest
9/16/2006 Stamford, CT @ Arts, Crafts & Blues on Bedford
9/22/2006 Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theater (w/ Buddy Guy & George Thorogood)
9/23/2006 Del Mar, CA @ Festival Del Mar

FREIHOFERS JAZZ FESTIVAL TO FEATURE, HERBIE HANCOCK, GERALD ALBRIGHT, SMOKEY ROBINSON, GEORGE DUKE & ETTA JAMES

Freihofers Jazz Festival presented by Chrysler is scheduled for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on June 24 and 25. This year’s Jazz Festival will showcase a diverse group of artists including, Smokey Robinson, Herbie Hancock Quintet, Jamie Cullum, Arturo Sandoval, Groovin’ For Grover featuring Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum & Jeff Lorber, Etta James, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Stanley Clarke/George Duke Project, Susan Tedeschi, Sonya Kitchell, and many others.

RAYSE BIGGS RELEASES DEBUT CD 'FOR THE LOVE OF IT'

Smooth jazz trumpet player Rayse Biggs released his long awaited solo CD For The Love of It on May 20, 2006. This innovative musician continues to enchant audiences with his improvisational style. Known for his dual horn playing technique, Rayse Biggs is in a jazzy class of his own. The playing of two horns a (Fluglehorn and Trumpet) during his performance has gained him star status with national and international audiences. A sought after performer and arranger, Biggs has toured and performed with Detroit's own Kem, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Norman Connors, Aretha Franklin, Dennis Edwards and Temptations Review and many many more. The CD For The Love of It has taken 12 years to complete. The CD features some of Detroit's best musicians, Derek Benford, Carl Holmes, Duke Billingslea, Ron Otis, David Myles and Dave McMurray.

SMOOTH JAZZ ARTIST & COMPOSER BRENDA RUSSELL RECEIVES TONY AWARD NOMINATION

Smooth jazz singer and composer Brenda Russell has received a Tony Award nomination for the Original Score for the Broadway smash "The Color Purple". Russell’s music and lyrics were written in collaboration with Allee Willis and Steven Bray. This honor was one of eleven nominations the attendance record-breaking show received, including "Best Musical," "Best Book of a Musical," and "Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical."

ERIC CLAPTON ANNOUNCES FALL U.S. TOUR

Clapton Revives His Classics and Rocks European Shows, First Leg of U.S. Tour Focuses on Midwest and East Coast

Following a 14 country sold-out European tour with an impressive seven-night run at London's Royal Albert Hall and a historic show in Moscow's Red Square, Eric Clapton will travel to the U.S. for the first leg of an American tour. European fans have shown great enthusiasm for the varied set list featuring rarely played Derek And The Dominos masterpieces Got To Get Better In A Little While, Layla and Let It Rain along with Clapton classics such as Pretending, I Shot The Sheriff and Cocaine mixed with the newer soulful tunes from the latest Clapton album Back Home. As the London Times headline read, "The guitar hero reawakens," and the Manchester Evening News review said, "Clapton's guitar playing just keeps getting better."
The U.S. tour will begin on September 15 in Minneapolis and will travel to 13 U.S. states plus two Canadian shows in Toronto and Ottawa, along with two nights at Madison Square Garden. Further news and show dates of this tour will be announced shortly. Adding additional guitar power and excitement to the shows, Clapton has assembled an impressive band. The 2006 tour band will consist of: Eric Clapton, Guitar, as well as Doyle Bramhall II and Derek Trucks also on Guitar, Chris Stainton and Tim Carmon on Keyboards, Willie Weeks on Bass, Steve Jordan on Drums, The Kick Horns: Simon Clarke, Roddy Lorimer, and Tim Sanders on Brass, and backing vocals by Michelle John and Sharon White. The Robert Cray Band will serve as the opening act for U.S. shows.

CURRENT LIST OF U.S. TOUR DATES
September 16, 2006 (Sat), Minneapolis, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
September 18, 2006 (Mon), St. Louis, MO @ Savis Center
September 20, 2006 (Wed), Chicago, IL @ United Center
September 21, 2006 (Thur), Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
September 23, 2006 (Sat), Detroit, MI @ Palace
September 24, 2006 (Sun),Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Center
September 26, 2006 (Tue), Ottawa, ON @ Scotiabank Place
September 28, 2006 (Thur), New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
September 29, 2006 (Fri), New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
October 3, 2006 (Tue), Boston, MA @ Bank North Garden
October 6, 2006 (Fri), Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
October 7, 2006 (Sat), Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
October 9, 2006 (Mon), Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
October 10, 2006 (Tue), Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
October 12, 2006 (Thur), Charlottesville, VA @ Charlottesville Arena
October 14, 2006 (Sat), Duluth, GA @ Gwinnet Civic Center
October 15, 2006 (Sun), Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center
October 17, 2006 (Tue), Charlotte, NC @ New Charlotte Arena
October 18, 2006 (Wed), Birmingham, AL @ Birmingham-Jefferson Arena
October 20, 2006 (Fri), Orlando, FL @ TD Waterhouse Center
October 21, 2006 (Sat), Jacksonville, FL @ Veterans Memorial Arena
October 23, 2006 (Mon), Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena

GAMBLE & HUFF, ASHFORD & SIMPSON & JERRY BUTLER ADDED TO 2006 R&B PIONEER FOUNDATION AWARDS

A stellar list of presenters has been announced for the 2006 R&B Foundation Pioneer Awards, according to Kayte Connelly, Executive Director of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. The Fourteenth Pioneer Awards are scheduled for June 29, 2006 at the Park Hyatt Bellevue in Philadelphia, PA. Confirmed presenters (listed alphabetically) include legendary performer/ songwriters Ashford & Simpson; the "Iceman" Jerry Butler, Chairman Emeritus of the R&B Foundation; producer/songwriters Gamble & Huff who are credited with being the architects of the Philadelphia Sound; promoter and COO of Electric Factory Concerts Larry Magid; award-winning guitarist/singer and R&B Foundation Board Member, Bonnie Raitt; and renowned keyboardist, band leader and R&B Foundation Advisory Board Member, Paul Shaffer. Smokey Robinson and Patti LaBelle were previously announced as hosts. Previously announced individual honorees for the 2006 Pioneer Awards are Chubby Checker, Bettye LaVette, Barbara Mason and producer Thom Bell. Groups who will be receiving the awards are the DelFonics and Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly. Lifetime Achievement honoree is Motown Founder Berry Gordy and the late Otis Redding will be recognized with the Legacy Tribute. Each individual honoree receives a $10,000 honorarium while groups share a $15,000 stipend.

SMOOTH JAZZ 98.1 CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY WITH GERALD ALBRIGHT, WAYMAN TISDALE, EUGE GROOVE,

San Diego’s Smooth Jazz 98.1 is celebrating their 31st Anniversary Festival this Memorial Day weekend with 50 musicians, 35 clubs, two stages – all in one day! It all starts on Saturday, May 27 at 1 PM as the Gaslamp Quarter will groove to the sounds of Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, Wayman Tisdale, Steve Oliver, Euge Groove, Rob Whitlock and a host of others.

SERGIO MENDES, LANI HALL, GOTAN PROJECT & OTHERS TO TOPLINE KCRW WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL

KCRW’s World Music Festival series comes to the Hollywood Bowl June 25 through September 10. Scheduled to appear are Sergio Mendes, India.Arie, Lani Hall, John Legend, Marcelo D2, Maogani Quartet and host Raul Campos on June 25; Thievery Corporation & Os Mutantes on July 23; Gotan Project, Zero 7 featuring Jose Gonzalez and Sia, & Herbert on August 27; Bob Marley: Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival with Ziggy Marley on August 23; and Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams and Neko Case on September 10.

CD101.9 ANNOUNCES SMOOTH CRUISE SCHEDULE

New York’s smooth jazz station, CD101.9 is hosting a series of smooth cruises as they call it, featuring the sounds of some favorite smooth jazz artists. The cruises board at Pier 63 Chelsea Piers and sail along the Hudson River via Spirit Cruises for what promises to be a ‘smooth’ and beautiful evening. Smooth jazz artists scheduled to appear are: Down To The Bone (June 21); Bobby Caldwell (June 28); Pieces Of A Dream (July 5); David Benoit (July 12); Mindi Abair (July 19); Phil Perry (July 26); Brain Culbertson (August 2); Marion Meadows (August 9); Spyro Gyra (August 16); and The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman (August 23). Each cruise will be hosted by a CD101.9 radio personality, including Paul Calvalconte, Linda Bruno, Sergio Dean, Sharon Davis, Deborah Rath, Robin Marshall, Meryl Kubrick, Amy McLane, Liz Andrews, and Batt Johnson. Looks like the only person missing is the Groove Boutique’s Rafe Gomez – what’s up with that!

JOE CLAUSSELL, LOUIS VEGA, KENNY DOPE, JODY WATLEY, LUISITO QUINTERO, BLAZE, SEAU JORGE & TONI BRAXTON UPCOMING APPEARANCES

Jody Watley appears at the World Café Live in Philadelphia on May 24…Vivian Green at SOB’S in New York City on May 30…The Hiro Ballroom in New York City presents Nuyorican Soul Session 1 on May 30, with Luisito Quintero, Louis Vega & Kenny Dope of Masters At Work, Joe Claussell, Blaze, Anane and Francis Mbappe….Seau Jorge at the Central Park SummerStage in New York City on July 2…Toni Braxton has signed with the Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to perform six nights a week, beginning August 8 through March 2007. She’ll perform in a full-scale musical production called, "Toni Braxton: Revealed."

ANDRE DELANO RELEASES NEW SINGLE FROM ‘FULL CIRCLE’ CD

Smooth jazz artist Andre Delano, has just released his new single Why Not from his debut album, Full Circle on 7th Note Entertainment. This captivating infectious track takes listeners on a musical freedom ride and features noted smooth jazz pianist/composer Kevin Toney. Andre Delano has toured with well-known artists such as Maxwell, Jeff Lorber and Doc Powell. Delano has also recorded and performed with some of music's biggest stars taking him to audiences around the world. Artists include Stevie Wonder, Usher, Bobby Womack, Chieli Municci, Peter White and Bobby Lyle. His debut solo album, Full Circle, reflects a diverse mixture of jazz, blues and funk. The album is especially significant to Andre because it explains his struggle as an artist who just wants to break free. The album was recently released on the new, independent label, 7th Note Entertainment, Inc. His last single, Footsteps is currently receiving major spin on smooth jazz radio stations across the country.

RAFE GOMEZ & THE GROOVE BOUTIQUE ON QVC – AGAIN!

Rafe Gomez of The Groove Boutique is headed to QVC for a second go-round, and this time he will be spinning and selling the latest jazziness from Down To The Bone, Jeff Lorber, Soul Ballet, Euge Groove, Greg Adams, and Nicole Henry. He'll also be featuring a wide selection of chill CDs, including The Gershwin Project, The Porter Project, Cabana Beach Club Volumes 1 & 2, and Lost Sunset Lounge - as well as his own Groove Boutique:Volume One, which was the top seller on his last QVC appearance. Rafe Gomez’s special guests will be keyboardists Marcus Johnson and Jason Miles, who will both be performing tracks from their latest CDs. The Groove Boutique with Rafe Gomez on QVC is scheduled for Sunday morning June 4 at 4AM EST (1AM PST).

MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD UPDATED 2006 TOUR SCHEDULE

6/4/06 Hunter NY - Mountain Jam
6/9/06 Snowmass CO - Chili Pepper
6/10/06 Bellvue CO - Mishawaka Amphitheatre
6/17/06 Manchester TN - Bonnaroo Music Festival
6/20/06 Prague Czech Republic - Slovansky Ostrov
6/29/06 Ljubljana Slovenia - Jazz Festival Ljubljana
7/1/06 Warsaw Poland - Warsaw Summer Jazz Days
7/5/06 Milwaukee WI - Summerfest
7/10/06 Vitoria Spain - Polideportivo de Mendizorroza
7/15/06 Sioux Falls SD - South Dakota Jazz and Blues Festival
7/22/06 Detroit Lakes, MN - 10,000 Lakes Fesltival
8/12/06 Oyster Bay, NY - Long Island Jazz Festival
9/1/06 Willisau, Switzerland - Willisau Jazz Festival

TEENA MARIE'S 'SAPPHIRE' FEATURES GUESTS RICK JAMES, SMOKEY ROBINSON & GERALD ALBRIGHT

First Single Ooh Wee Soars to #8 on Urban AC and R&B Adult Radio Charts

Teena Marie released her second Cash Money Classics album Sapphire, on May 9th. The album is a follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2004 album, La Dona, which heralded her return to the music industry after a 10-year absence. The new album already boasts a hit single-the captivating Ooh Wee, which is currently #8 on both the Urban AC and R&B Adult radio charts, garnering a combined listening audience of more than 16 million fans.

Sapphire is the thirteenth album from the effusive vocalist. The new album holds a special place in Teena Marie's heart for many reasons, but the most poignant reason for the singer is that many of the tracks were inspired by her friendship with the late Rick James, who is often credited with mentoring the multi-talented vocalist/producer/arranger. Other guests on the new CD include the legendary Smokey Robinson, Kurupt, Gerald Albright, and her 14-year-old daughter Alia Rose.

A multi-instrumentalist herself, the new album was produced by Teena Marie, and includes the songs Baby Who Is It, Ladies Choice, and Cruise Control, among others. With the exception of her debut album, Wild And Peaceful (1979), Teena Marie has maintained a production-hand in all of her albums. The popular songstress and 3-time Grammy nominee has delivered an arsenal of genre defying albums along the way, including Lady T (1980), Starchild (1984), Naked To The World (1988), which featured the #1 classic Ooo La La La, and 1994's independently released Passion Play. Ms. Marie has also released 10 compilation albums since her national debut on Motown Records in 1979.

DAVID SANBORN & BRIAN AUGER TO TOPLINE MELLON JAZZ CONCERTS

The Allegheny County Parks Department in Pennsylvania and Mellon Jazz just announced an exciting series of Mellon Jazz-sponsored events to be presented as part of the 2006 County Parks series, with Harold Betters to present a noontime concert on Friday, July 21, in the courtyard of the Allegheny County Courthouse; renowned keyboardist Brian Auger bringing his Oblivion Express band to the newly renovated South Park Amphitheater stage on Friday, July 28 at 8 p.m.; and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist David Sanborn entertaining at Hartwood Acres on Sunday, August 13 at 7:30 p.m.

One of the most celebrated saxophonists in contemporary music, David Sanborn was born in 1945 in Tampa, Fla., and has achieved musical preeminence despite a bout with polio during his childhood in Missouri. Recipient of six Grammy awards, Sanborn has recorded more than 20 albums, treating audiences to a repertoire that moves effortlessly between pop and jazz. Sanborn-lead bands have performed some of the most danceable music of our time, and Sanborn has collaborated with a long list of contemporary music giants, including Albert King, Gil Evans, Paul Butterfield, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Sonny Rollins.

The global reach of Brian Auger's acclaim as a jazz and rock keyboardist reflects his international background - born in Bahir, India in 1939 and a leading figure on the British musical scene during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Auger moved to San Francisco in the mid-1970s, and has toured extensively since the early 2000s with the latest edition of his band "Oblivion Express." Unchanged since the days of disco, his band's tongue-in- cheek name belies the lasting contribution this gifted keyboardist has made to pop, rock and jazz music. Prominent among his collaborators are Led Zeppelin founder Jimmy Page, legendary blues harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson, blues bandleader Long John Baldry and his featured vocalist Rod Stewart, and jazz songstress Julie Tippetts.

For more information on Mellon Jazz activities click to the Mellon Jazz link at http://www.mellon.com.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA GETS 'BACK TO BASICS' ON NEW JAZZ RELEASE

Paying tribute to the music that inspired her, pop icon Christina Aguilera will release her third studio album, Back To Basics, August 15th on RCA Records. A modern take on vintage jazz, soul and blues from the 1920s, '30s and '40s, the album is wildly inventive with a throwback style creating a sound that's gritty and raw. Back To Basics reunites her with producer Linda Perry as well as creating new collaborations with producers such as DJ Premier. The sexy upbeat first single, Ain't No Other Man, produced by DJ Premier and Charles Roane, is set for release on June 12th. It will be world-premiered on the MTV Movie Awards on June 8th.

"This is a concept album that follows a bold, set vision," stated Aguilera. "The touchstones are Billie Holiday, Otis Redding, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald... what I used to call my 'fun music' when I was a little girl." Back To Basics utilizes an orchestra, choir, string quartet and jazz horns, as well as techniques that offer a vintage sound and sensibility. I Got Trouble incorporates a scratchy blues feel, while Candy Man recalls the tight harmonies of all-girl groups from the '30s and '40s, Save Me From Myself is an emotionally naked, raw-sounding song dedicated to her husband. Thank You, dedicated to her fans, features DJ Premier splicing bits of Genie In A Bottle with fan voicemail messages. Also sure to appeal to Aguilera fans is the risque song Nasty Naughty Boy (which has a '20s burlesque feel) and the sassy club track Still Dirrty.

One of the most accomplished performers of the last decade, Christina Aguilera has sold over 25 million albums worldwide, achieved four #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and has won three Grammy Awards and a Latin Grammy Award, as well as two top five albums in the United States. She has collaborated with other great artists including Herbie Hancock, Andrea Bocelli and Sean "Diddy" Combs.

A major contributor to the fight against AIDS, Aguilera has participated in the "Whats Going On?" cover project for AIDS Project Los Angeles' Artists Against AIDS. In 2004 she became the new face for the cosmetic company MAC and spokesperson for MAC AIDS Fund. In 2005 Aguilera got involved in awareness campaigns with YouthAIDS and ALDO. She also sponsors and is actively involved in the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh for battered women and children.

NICOLA CONTE TO APPEAR IN NEW YORK CITY CONCERT

On Thursday, May 25, Giant Step Records proudly presents a long overdue DJ set by Italian quintessential producer-jazzman Nicola Conte. This will be his first NY appearance since Summerstage over five years ago and his first headlining set in a NY club. Nicola Conte’s unique way of feeling jazz is strictly bound to the music of the late Fifties/early Sixties, as he founded the Fez collective in Bari, Italy - where Nicola Conte’s first productions originated and developed, in the midst of the acid jazz movement to bands like Paolo Achenza Trio, Quintetto X, Fez Combo and Intensive Jazz Sextet. Taking inspiration from the Fez, Conte involved himself in the international new jazz scene as both a DJ and producer, producing records for a variety of artists including the Paolo Achenza Trio, Quintetto X and Balanco among others. Through his remixes, he achieved finesse in turning pure jazz rhythms into club-electronic music. His works for the likes of Greyboy, Eli Goulart, Yoshinori Sunahara, Truby Trio, RE: Jazz, The Dining Rooms, Sunaga t Experience, Five Corners Quintet and others are fundamental to understand Nicola Conte’s opus. Fortified by these experiences, Conte defined his own sound with his 2000 release Jet Sounds– an elegant symbiosis of typically Italian sounds, with connections to the world of cinema and influenced by jazz, bossa nova and psychedelia. Conte followed with Bossa Per Due in June 2001 to great critical fanfare, scoring an underground hit with the title track.With such divergent influences, it is no surprise that Conte would tap the likes of Thievery Corporation, Koop and Kyoto Jazz Massive to rework tracks from Bossa Per Due for his 2002’s Jet Sounds Revisited – once again, Nicola Conte turned what was old into something vibrant and new – just a taste of what will be heard from the decks of Mr. Conte.