LIONEL RICHIE ANNOUNCES COMING HOME TOUR

Tickets-for-Charity.com, the official online charitable ticketing partner of Lionel Richie's Coming Home Tour, and United Way of America today announced that beginning September 1, 2006, an exclusive pre-sale of tickets for Richie's upcoming fall 2006 concert tour will benefit United Way. The pre-sale includes premium seats and VIP packages at different price levels for every show on the tour. The 16-city tour will begin in Detroit on October 27 and end on November 25 in Oakland, CA. During the pre-sale period, which ends on September 22, tickets for the tour are only available at Tickets-for-Charity.com and every purchase benefits United Way. Lionel Richie's Coming Home album featuring the hit single, I Call It Love is in stores on September 12.

"We are thrilled that Lionel Richie's upcoming concert tour will benefit United Way and we thank Tickets-for-Charity for making it possible," said Brian Gallagher, President and CEO of United Way of America. "United Way is committed to making a difference in people's lives throughout the country. This is a great way for Lionel Richie fans to contribute to the work of United Way, such as ensuring children are ready for school or improving access to healthcare. Besides," Gallagher continued, "Lionel Richie is an incredible entertainer."

Tickets and VIP packages, including backstage passes to an exclusivepre-show party and a meet-and-greet with Lionel Richie, are available at http://www.tickets-for-charity.com for purchase at face value plus a pre-determined donation amount, which will benefit United Way, especiallyin the 16 tour cities.

"Based in theatres and small venues, Lionel Richie's Coming Home tour will be an intimate, unforgettable experience for fans," said Jord Poster, founder of Tickets-for-Charity. "They'll not only get access to some of the best seats in the house, they'll also receive the satisfaction of knowing they've helped United Way in their important work supporting communities
across the country."

"I have always believed in the work of United Way," said Richie. "They are there day-in and day-out in towns across America to make things better for young children, families, or those affected by crises like Hurricane Katrina. I couldn't be happier that this great organization will benefit from my tour thanks to Tickets-for-Charity."

United Way makes a difference every day in the lives of millions of Americans by addressing the underlying causes of critical issues facing communities. While local United Ways tackle issues based on local needs, common areas of focus include helping children and youth succeed, improving access to healthcare, promoting self-sufficiency, and strengthening
families.

Tickets-for-Charity offers fans access to great seats at their favorite sports, music and theater events that are not available anywhere else and - in the process - gives them an easy way to support important charitable causes. Tickets-for-Charity.com, which launched in August 2005, has raised more than $1.6 million for highly respected national charities through charitable sales for music and sports events, including The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang 2005-2006 Tour, Barbra Streisand's 2006 Tour and The Boston Red Sox 2006 Season.

UPDATED TOUR DATES INFO FOR BRIAN SIMPSON, JONATHAN BUTLER, KIRK WHALUM, KYLE EASTWOOD, MICHAEL LINGTON, WAYMAN TISDALE & PEANUTS WHALUM…

BRIAN SIMPSON
Sept. 10 – Jersey City @ NJ Liberty Park
Sept. 16 – Scotssdale, AZ @ AZ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (with Nils and Turning Point)

JONATHAN BUTLER
Sept. 8 – West Bend, WI @ Ziegler Moraine Jazz Festival
Sept 9 – Lithonia, GA @ Stewart Amphitheatre
Sept. 10 – Jersey City, NJ @ Liberty Park
Nov 4 –11 – Dave Koz Cruise – Mexican Riviera
Jan 20-27 – Smooth Jazz Cruise Hosted by Wayman Tisdale –Caribbean

KIRK WHALUM
Sept 10 – Jersey City, NJ @ Liberty State Park
Nov 4 –11 – Dave Koz Cruise – Mexican Riviera

KYLE EASTWOOD
Sept 16 – Mission Viejo, CA @ Lake Mission Viejo
Oct 10 – Dallas, TX @ W Hotel Dallas
Oct 12 – New Orleans, LA @ W Hotel New Orleans
Oct 16 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct 18 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho’s
Oct 20 – Palm Springs, CA @ Annenberg Theatre
Oct 21 – Avalon, CA @ Avalon Casino Ballroom

MICHAEL LINGTON
Sept 8 – West Bend, WI @ Ziegler Kettle Moraine Jazz Festival
Sept 9 – Huntington Beach, CA @ BB Jazz Festival
Sept 21 – Las Vegas, NV @ Santa Fe Station Casino
Nov 4 – 11 – Dave Koz Cruise – Mexican Riviera

PEANUTS WHALUM
Sept 20 – St. Louis, MO @ Brandt’s Red Carpet Lounge
Oct 5 – St, Louis, MO @ Brandt’s Red Carpet Lounge
Oct 12 – St. Louis, MO @ Brandt’s Red Carpet Lounge
Oct 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Brandt’s Red Carpet Lounge
Oct 26 – St. Louis, MO @ Brandt’s Red Carpet Lounhe
Nov 16 – St Louis, MO @ Brandt’s Red Carpet Lounge
Nov 23 – St. Louis, MO @ Brandt’s Red Carpet Lounge
Nov 30 – St. Louis, MO @ Brandt’s Red Carpet Lounge

WAYMAN TISDALE
Sept 10 – Jersey City, NJ @ Liberty State Park
Sept 12 – Mew York, NY NBA Store
Sept 13 – Springfield, VA @ Circuit City Washington, DC
Sept 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ City of Refuge Church
Sept 30 – Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Opera House
Oct 6 – Newport Beach, CA @ Hyatt Newport Beach
Oct 7 – Temecula, CA @ Thornton Winery
Oct 14 – Windsor, CA @ The Windsor Green
Nov 4 – 11 – Dave Koz Cruise – Mexican Riviera
Nov 20 – Harrisburg, PA @ Sunoco Performance Theatre
Dec 31 – Reston, VA @ Hyatt Regency Reston
Jan 20 – 27 – Smooth Jazz Cruise Hosted by Wayman Tisdale - Caribbean

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS...

Brian Culbertson is hitting the road throughout November and December with Bobby Caldwell, Warren Hill, Ray Parker Jr and Eric Darius on the Soulful Christmas tour.

Upcoming New York City area Jazz concerts…
Charlie Hunter 3 @ Jazz Standard on Sept. 7-10.
Gloria Lynne @ Trumpets on Sept. 7-8.
Luciana Souza ‘Brazilian Duos’ featuring Romero Lubambo @ Jazz Standard on Sept. 13-17.
Airto Moreira @ The Stone on Sept. 17.
Gabriela Anders @ 55 Bar on Sept. 17.
Beat Kaestli @ 55 Bar on Sept. 19.
Eliane Elias @ Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola on Sept. 19-24.
Michael Camilo & Tomatito @ Blue Note on Sept. 25-27.
Patrice Rushen featuring Terri Lyne Carrington @ Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola on Sept. 25-26.
Karrin Allyson @ Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola on Sept. 27-30.
Fourplay @ Blue Note on Sept. 28-29.
Chieli Minucci @ Trumpets on Sept. 30.

Boney James and Aaron Neville headline the Smooth Jazz CD101.9 concert at the Nokia Thaeter in New York on Oct. 13.

Simply Red have a new single, Oh What A Girl, coming out for release on September 25.

Jeanie Byron and Chuck Mangione headline the upcoming Cape May Jazz Festival, NJ coming up from Nov. 10-12, 2006.

NINA SIMONE GETS REMIXED AND REIMAGINED THIS FALL!

RCA and Legacy Recordings, has teamed up with producer Scott Schlachter to present the first release of a new series, Remixed & Reimagined. This brand-new collection includes many of Nina Simone’s most stand-out selections from her RCA Records period, namely those titles that sparked the imagination of the club world. Her music and life struck a powerful chord with the emerging club underground that was simmering in New York and Chicago during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s post-disco era. Fueled largely by the gay and multi-ethnic minorities that pioneered the movement, the flourishing subculture - and soon-to-be global dance music revolution - embraced Simone’s music and message. These tracks have been reinvented by some of contemporary dance and electronic music’s best producers, including Francóis K., Tony Humprhies, Mocean Worker, Coldcut, Nickodemus, Groovefinder, Madison Park & Lenny B., Chris Coco, DJ Logic, Organica, and more. Nina Simone: Remixed and Reimagined will be in stores 10/31!

NEW CD RELEASES FROM ALICE RUSSELL, BLAZE, TANIA MARIA, RANDY CRAWFORD, JAZZTRONICK, FLORA PURIM, AVERAGE WHITE BAND, CAROL RIDDICK & MORE…

Lots of new releases are listed, plus keep a look out for releases in the coming weeks and months from Boney James (Shine on Sept. 26), Kyle Eastwood, Diana Krall, Joyce Cooling, George Benson/Al Jarreau Duets Album, Steve Cole, Brian Culberton, and Jim Brickman.

Afrodizz - Froots
Alice Russell – Under The Munka Moon 2
Alphonso Johnson – Spellbound
Ann-Margret – Love Rush
Arista All Stars – Blue Montreux
Art Of Noise – What Have You Done With My Body, God?
Average White Band – The Definitive Groove Collection (2-CDs)
Ayetoro – Omo Obukun – The Afrobeat Chronicles Vol. 2
BB&Q Band - Genie
Birmingham Sound – The Soul Of Neal Hamphill Vol. 1 (Various Artists)
Blaze – Most Precious Love – Blaze Essentials
Blue Note Plays Billie Holiday (Various Artists)
Blue Note Plays Cole Porter (Various Artists)
Blue Note Plays Gershwin (Various Artists)
Blue Note Plays Rodgers & Hart (Various Artists)
Bonnie Raitt – VH1 Classic Decades Rock Live Presents Bonnie Raitt And Friends (CD/DVD)
Brisa Roche – The Chase
Buddy Greco – Route 66: A Personal Tribute To Nat King Cole
Bugz In The Attic – Back In The Doghouse
Carlos Garnett – Black Love
Carol Riddick – Moments Like This
Chaka Khan – The Platinum Collection
Chic – The Definitive Groove Collection (2-CDs)
Christina Aguilera – Back To Basics
Crusaders – Crusaders 1
Crusaders – The 2nd Crusade
DJ Logic – Zen Of Logic (with John Medeski & Charlie Hunter)
DJ Spinna – Intergalactic Soul
Dave Hollister – The Definitive Collection
David Grisman Quartet – Classic Dawg (DVD)
Dells –Oh, What A Night
Dexter Gordon – Great Encounters
Doc Powell – Doc Powell (w/Brian Culbertson, Kirk Whalum, Bobby Lyle)
Eliane Elias – Around The City
Eric Roberson –Erro Live Vol DC (CD/DVD)
Flora Purim – Nothing Will Be As It Was
Fontella Bass – The Very Best Of Fontella Bass – The Chess Collection
Fourplay – Fourplay X
Free Spirits Volume 1 (Various Artists)
Freddie Hubbard – Rose Tattoo
Gap Band – Gold (2-CDs)
Geri Allen – Timeless Portraits And Dreams
Grant Green – Live At Club Mozambique
Harvey Mason – Funk In A Mason Jar
Harvey Mason – Marching In The Street
Heritage Orchestra – Heritage Orchestra
Hermine Pinson – Changing The Changes In Poetry And Song
Horacee Arnold – Tales Of The Exonerated Flea
Imagination – Just An Illusion – The Best Of Imagination
JR Bailey – Just Me And You
James Brown – Live At Montreux 1981
Jane Bunnett – Radio Guantanamo
Jazz Allnighters 5 Compiled By Tatsuo Sunaga Sunaga T (Various Artists)
Jazz House Independent Vol. 5 – Jazzy House Meets Disco & Nu Soul (Various Artists)
Jazztronick – Remixes Part 1
Jazztronick – Remixes Part 2
Jazztronic & Others – Jazztronica 2
Jean-Luc Ponty – Fables
Jean-Luc Ponty – Aurora
Jean-Luc Ponty – Individual Choice
Jean-Luc Ponty – Open Mind
Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come: Film & Soundtrack Edition (CD/DVD)
Jody Watley – The Makeover: Journey To Electronic Soul
Juke Joint 2 Compiled By Boozoo Bajou (Various Artists)
John Lee Hooker - Crawlin’ King Snake
Julie Dexter & Khari Simmons – Moon Bossa
King Curtis – King Curtis Live At Fillmore West
Laurindo Almeida featuring Bud Shank – Brazillance Vol. 1
Lee Ritenour – Smoke ‘N’ Mirrors
Leon Ware – Leon Ware
Lou Rawls – The Lou Rawls Show: With Duke Ellington (DVD)
Luther Vandross – The Ultimate Luther Vandross
Mandingo – Primeval Rhythm Of Life
Maria Muldaur – Heart Of Mine: Maria Muldaur Sings Love Songs Of Bob Dylan
Monday Michiru – Free Soul Collection
Mongo Santamaria – Fuego
Monica Salmaso – Trampolim
Motown – The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 5 – 1965 (Various Artists)
Nancy Wilson – Turned To Blue
Natural Selection – Come On Over
Patrick Adams – Master Of The Masterpiece – The Very Best Of Patrick Adams
Patti LaBelle – The Definitive Collection
Randy Crawford & Joe Sample – Feeling Good
Ready Or Not Vol. 2 – Deep Jazz Grooves From The CBC Radio Canada Archives (Various Artists)
Rice And Beans Orchestra - Dante’s Inferno
Rodney Lee – Satellite Orchestra
Rurals – Nettle Soul
Sambajazz – Batida Diferente (Various Artists)
Sammy Davis Jr. – The Definitive Collection
Serge Gainsbourg – Monsieur Gainsbourg – The Originals
Sleep Walker – Voyage
Smokey Robinson – Pure Smokey
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Gold (2-CDs)
Soul Com Bossa – Compiled By Khari Simmons (Various Artists)
Tania Maria – Intimidade
Touch Of Class – Move Means Everything
Victor Davies – Hear The Sound
Wax Poetics – Issue #18 – August/September 2006
Willie Bobo – Lost And Found
Wilson Simonal – Wilson Simonal Canta Tom E Chico
Yma Sumac – Mambo

AARON NEVILLE TO HEADLINE SOUL TOUR WITH HIS QUINTET

On October 1, Aaron Neville will kick off a tour in support of his new soul album Bring It On Home ... The Soul Classics. The tour will feature Aaron joined by his quintet featuring brother Charles Neville. Neville puts a new twist on classic soul tunes from Rainy Night In Georgia, to Respect Yourself, to Ain't No Sunshine and others. "These are songs that I grew up listening to in New Orleans," says Aaron of these classic songs "And I can't wait to perform them on the road."

Of Neville’s new CD, Joe DiMuro, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Burgundy Records states "Legendary soul classics performed by one of the greatest soul voices of the 20th Century...it doesn't get better than that. Only a voice like Aaron's can make these soul classics new again. It's All Right has been one of the most added songs at AC Radio for two weeks in a row. This week It's All Right is also the second most added song at the Smooth Radio Format.

Bring It On Home ... An Evening Of Soul Classics Tour Dates (Partial List - Additional Dates Added Daily)
Sept. 8 - Meridian, MS (Riley Center for the Performing Arts – Mississippi State Theater)
Sept. 9 - Meridian, MS (Riley Center for the Performing Arts – Mississippi State Theater)
Oct. 2 - Saint Petersburg FL (Mahaffey Theater)
Oct. 3 - Stuart, FL (Lyric Theatre)
Oct. 4 - Tallahassee FL (Florida State University)
Oct. 6 - Atlantic City, NJ (House of Blues)
Oct. 7 - West Long Branch NJ (Monmouth State Univ. Pollak Theatre)
Oct. 8 - Boston, MA (Berklee Music Hall)
Oct. 9 - Annapolis, MD (Rams Head On Stage)
Oct. 13 - NY, NY (Nokia Theatre - CD 101 Festival)
Oct. 14 - Westhampton Beach, NY (Westhampton Performing Arts Center)
Oct. 16 - Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun Cabaret)
Oct. 17 - Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun Cabaret)
Oct. 18 - Alexandria VA (The Birchmere)
Oct. 20 - Chicago, IL (Live From Studio A - NBC Tower)
Oct. 21- Chicago, IL (Live From Studio A – NBC Tower)

BRIAN MCKNIGHT SIGNS TO WARNER BROS. RECORDS

Warner Bros. Records is pleased to announce that it has signed best-selling soul artist, composer, and producer Brian McKnight to an exclusive long-term recording contract. His first album for the label, titled "10," will be his tenth overall. It will be released in November of this year. "Warner Bros. has a long-standing tradition of success and integrity with their artists. I am honored to be a part of this amazing organization and I am looking forward to a long and great relationship," says Brian.

McKnight, whose multi-platinum albums include Back At One and Anytime, has sold more than 16 million records worldwide since his platinum self-titled debut was released in 1992. As a songwriter and producer, the Buffalo, New York native has recorded with some of the music industry's biggest stars, including Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake, Willie Nelson, Nelly, Vanessa Williams, and Kenny G. Rolling Stone magazine praised his last album, 2005's Gemini, calling it "painstakingly crafted contemporary R&B that is creative, innovative artistic expression." Brian has earned countless award nominations -- Grammy Award, MTV Music Award, and Blockbuster Award -- and received a Soul Train Award for Best Male Singer, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Male Artist and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist.

"Brian is a triple threat as a singer, songwriter, and producer," says Warner Bros. Records CEO Tom Whalley. "His ability to reach audiences of all ages and musical tastes is a testament to his talent and versatility. We're delighted that he is joining the Warner Bros. family." Brian will be a musical guest on the new Fox series "Celebrity Duets." The show, debuting with a two-hour episode on Aug. 29th, is an elimination contest that pairs recording stars with celebrities, with judges and viewers deciding the fate of each duo. The celebrities will compete for a $100,000 cash prize that will be donated to the charity of their choice.

NOUVELLE VAGUE RELEASES 'BANDE A' PART'

Nouvelle Vague’s Bande A’ Part moves musically between Jamaica to the Calypso Isle of Trinidad via Cuban salsa, Haitian voodoo and eventually back to the Brazilian coast. The arrangements and orchestrations are very colorful – a lot of percussion and acoustic guitars topped off with sensual feminine voices, accordions and steel drums. Nouvelle Vague also covers songs by ‘80s groups Yazoo, Visage and New Order on this release. In other words, think of the type of songs that are typically set in the Caribbean between 1940 and 1970, and imagine a young Jamaican with his acoustic guitar singing Blondie’s Heart Of Glass in his Kingston township and now you can envision what the overall sound of this album is like.

THE CD101.9 PLAYLIST: THE TOP 10 SMOOTH JAZZ SONGS

Here’s a snapshot of New York’s CD101.9 top ten as of August 24, 2006:
1. Ray Parker Jr – Mismaloya Beach
2. The Jazzmasters – Free As The Wind
3. Eric Darius – If I Ain’t Got You
4. Euge Groove – Chillaxin’
5. David Benoit – Beat Street
6. Peter White – What Does It Take
7. Corinne Bailey Rae – Put Your Records On
8. Mindi Abair – True Blue
9. Fourplay feat. Michael McDonald – My Love’s Leavin’
10. Wayman Tisdale – Get Down On It

GEORGE BENSON ADDED TO CD101.9 LIBERTY JAZZ FESTIVAL

George Benson has just been added to the CD101.9 Liberty Jazz Festival at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. The line-up as it stands now is as follows:

September 9: Alex Bugnon, Gato Barbieri, George Benson, Gil Parris, Norman Brown, Patti Austin, Paul Taylor & Raf Gomez.

September 10: Brian Simpson, Gerald Albright, Jeff Golub, Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, Rafe Gomez, Richard Elliot, Stanley Jordan & Wayman Tisdale.

SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISES WITH DAVE KOZ, JEFF GOLUB, GEORGE BENSON & OTHERS...

Dave Koz has assembled a stellar musical line-up featuring a broad range of contemporary jazz vocalists and instrumentalists to create the ultimate musical experience for his upcoming Dave Koz & Friends At Sea Cruise. Newly announced special guest David Sanborn joins Mindi Abair, Patti Austin, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Michael Lington, Jeffrey Osborne, Brian Simpson, Wayman Tisdale, Jeff Golub, Euge Groove, Kirk Whalum and Peter White. The cruise sets sail in November.

Jeff Golub and the Warren Hill Band set sail on the CD101.9 Smooth Cruise season finale on Aug. 30. The smooth jazz cruise will sail along New York’s Hudson Bay.

George Benson, Gerald Albright and Nick Colionne will headline yet another smooth jazz cruise, this one departing from Galveston, Texas. The cruise dates are Jan. 28 – Feb. 4, 2007 and will travel through Jamaica and Mexico.

LEGENDARY MUSICIAN MAYNARD FERGUSON DIES

Grammy Nominated Trumpeter Known for 'Gonna Fly Now,' the Theme to the Movie Rocky, was 78

Walter "Maynard" Ferguson, one of the most influential musicians and band leaders in the history of Jazz,passed away August 23, 2006 at 8:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, California. He was 78 years old. His death was the result of kidney and liver failure brought on by an abdominal infection. Ferguson's four daughters Kim, Lisa, Corby, Wilder and other family members were at his side when he passed away after this brief illness. He spoke by phone with his friend and manager Steve Schankman from St. Louis, longtime tour manager Ed Sargent, and friend, and fellow trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.

Ferguson had recently returned home to California from New York after several sold out performances in July at the famed Blue Note Club. During this time, Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau band also recorded a new album at Bennett Studios in Englewood, New Jersey. Maynard Ferguson, born May 4, 1928 in Montreal, started his career at the age of 13 when he performed as a featured soloist with the Canadian Broadcasting Company Orchestra. He played with some of the great Big Band Leaders of the 1940's including Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Barnett, Jimmy Dorsey and Stan Kenton. In 1945, at age 17, Ferguson became the leader of his own Big Band. The 78-year old musical phenomenon went on to record more than 60 albums, receiving numerous honors and awards including the GRAMMY(R) nomination for Gonna Fly Now. In 2005, Ferguson was awarded Canada's highest civilian honor, the "Order of Canada" from the Right Honorable Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. In addition to those accolades, Ferguson has been the recipient of DownBeat Magazine's prestigious "DownBeat" Award.]

"The Boss," as Ferguson is known, has been performing for packed houses for decades. His recent DVD release, "Live at The Top," captures one of his most memorable performances, a concert held at the Plaza Hotel in Rochester, New York in 1975, with Ferguson performing alongside fellow music pioneers Stan Mark, Ernie Garside and Bruce Johnston. Most recently, Ferguson and Big Bop Nouveau Band had been touring the United States. He was preparing for a Fall Tour beginning mid-September in Tokyo, Japan. He had also been invited to play for the King of Thailand's 80th birthday in January.

Ferguson's body will be cremated in his hometown of Ojai, California. Memorial contributions can be made to the Maynard Ferguson Music Scholarship Fund at University of Missouri - St. Louis, which was established by Steve Schankman at Maynard's 75th birthday celebration. Schankman and the Ferguson family are planning a memorial concert to take place in St. Louis which will feature many of the band's alumni and friends who Ferguson performed with during his more than 60-year musical career.

Maynard Ferguson's latest, and last, recording will be released later this year as a legacy to the life of Maynard Ferguson.

CONCERT NEWS: DAVE VALENTIN, PATTI AUSTIN, HERBIE HANCOCK, JAZZ ON THE ISLANDS & MORE…

Dave Valentin performs at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in New York City, Aug. 29 – Sept. 3.

Jazz legend Charlie Haden, Ernie Watts, Alan Broadbent and Rodney Green are set to perform at the River Run Centre in Ontario, Canada on Aug. 31. Their tour is to promote the latest album by the Charlie Haden Liberation Orchestra, Not In Our Name. Haden won a Grammy award in 2005 for the best Latin jazz performance on Land Of The Sun.

The Detroit Jazz Fest is scheduled for Labor Day weekend from Sept. 1-4 and headliners include Ahmad Jamal, Joe Locke & Milt Jackson Tribute, Detroit Jazz All Stars, Oscar Castro-Neves, The Funk Brothers, Buckwheat Zydeco, Lewis Nash Quartet, Lonnie Liston-Smith, Taj Mahal, Rachelle Farel, Dianne Shuur and many others. For more information click to www.detroitjazzfest.com.

Funk-inspired Brazilian drum ensemble, Wailing Junket, perform at Supperclub in San Francisco on Sept. 9.

Al Green is set to perform at the Charleston Music Heritage Festival being held on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC on Sept. 16.

Banco De Gaia will perform a mixed set of Banco dance-floor classics old and new at Boca in San Francisco on Sept. 16. Banco is currently touring the West Coast supporting his critically-acclaimed new album, Farewell Ferengistan.

Quincy Jones, Billy Dee Williams and Phylicia Rashad host the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 16-17. This 20th Anniversary Gala will also include appearances by Patti Austin, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Jane Monheit, Joshua Redmond, Wayne Shorter, Arturo Sandoval, John Pattitucci, George Duke, Andrew Hill, Terence Blanchard, Carl Allen, Danilo Perez, and others still to be announced.

"Jazz On The Islands" is a 10-day annual music festival with an international flavor is in the planning stages and will debut in 2007 in Bradenton, FL. The festival will include a series of live performances at outdoor venues along Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. The Bradenton Convention and Visitors Bureau will partner with a German firm, JazzRadio Ltd., which operates Europe’s only 24-hour commercial jazz station. The Berlin station, Jazz Radio 101.9 attracts visitors via satellite and on its popular Web site, www.jazzradio.net.

The upcoming Catalina Island, CA Smooth Jazz Extravaganza is gearing up for some smooth jazz weekends in October, with the following artists line-up: Peter White (Oct. 5); Marc Antoine (Oct. 12); and Jonathan Butler (Oct. 19). Also appearing at the Catalina Extravaganza for the first time will be new British keyboardist Oli Silk and brand new saxophonist Jesse Jay.

NEW RELEASES FROM DAVE HOLLAND, JODY WATLEY, GREGER HILLMAN & MARK WEINSTEIN

NEW RELEASES……….Dave Holland follows-up is critically Grammy-award winning album Overtime with Critical Mass, his first new studio album in five years. Critical Mass includes eight original compositions performed by Holland and his acclaimed quintet featuring Chris Potter, Steve Nelson, Robin Eubanks, and Nate Smith……….If you like Jobim and Bonfa, but with a modern twist, then you will surely enjoy the new album from Mark Weinstein called O Nosso Amor on Jazzhead Records. Weinstein is joined on this project by Romero Lubambo (guitar), Nilson Matta (bass), Paulo Braga (drums), Guilherme Franco and Jorge Silva (percussions)……….Jody Watley’s new release, The Makeover, features a collection of classics (her own and those of others) and a couple of new jams. The lead single Boderline completely twists the Madonna classic into a chilled-out gem which explains why its been embraced by lounge DJs here and abroad. Other hot tracks include Watley’s hot version of Love Hangover (produced by Chris Brann, Rodney Lee and Watley). Watley and producer Ron Trent rev up Bob Marley’s Waiting In Vain for the clubs, while DJ and producer King Britt reinvents Watley’s own Don’t You Want My Love………..Swedish saxophonist Greger Hillman has just released his new album, I Am Ready. Hillman has recorded with producers like Jason Scheff (Chicago), Peter Wolf (Frank Zappa), John Beasley (Miles Davis), Jeff Richman and Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets). His new release I Am Ready is out now via the Hillman Records label (www.hillmanrecords.com). The album, I Am Ready, contains ten original songs written and produced by Hillman. The title cut, I Am Ready, is a straightforward smooth jazz tune, which sets the mood for the rest of the record. Home At Last reflects on Hillman’s musical career as he goes full circle coming back to the style of music which got him started playing the sax some twenty years ago. "Having studied jazz, improvisation and composition and playing mostly jazz- and soul gigs for many years now, I wanted to go back to my roots," says Hillman.

RICHARD BONA RELEASES ‘TIKI’ HIS 4TH ALBUM

Bassist, vocalist and composer Richard Bona has released his fourth studio album out now entitled, Tiki. Bona takes his musical influences ranging from Afrobeat, Latin rhythms, jazz, pop, bossa nova and funk, and presents his own unique twist on it all with an underlying African exquisiteness on the soothing Tiki. From the lovely nursery rhyme Ida Bato to the jazzy ballad Esoka Bulu, the samba-influenced Akwa samba Yaya, or the lead song Please Don’t Stop which features vocals by John Legend. Richard Bona takes the listener on a journey from his African roots that shows both growth and maturity. Bona was born in Cameroon and grew up in a musical family, and after moving from Cameroon to Paris and finally to New York in 1985, he became one of the most in demand collaborators on the international jazz scene. He worked with a remarkable array of artists such as Paul Simon, Harry Belafonte, Chaka Khan, Queen Latifah, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Salif Keta to name a few. His debut album Scenes From My Life was released in 1999, followed by two critically acclaimed albums that made him a true ‘triple threat’ to the music world. Richard Bona is slated to perform at Joe’s Pub in New York City on September 6.

TOWER RECORDS FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY; SEEKS IMMINENT BUYER

Tower Records on August 20 filed for Chapter 11 in federal bankruptcy court. According to the filing in Delaware, eight entities own and operate the 89-store chain of music and entertainment stores plus a direct sales network and warehouse distribution facility under the Tower Records name. According to the filing, there are thousands of potential creditors, and among the 40 largest are Six Degrees Records ($1.9 million) in San Francisco; International Periodical ($1.3 million) in Chicago; City Hall Records ($595,000) in San Rafael, California; and Baker & Taylor Book ($437,000) in Chicago). Tower blames their demise to ‘industry-wide decline in the sales of physical music and video products" and "intense competition from music downloading (legal and illegal); ‘big-box’ retailers which use music and video as loss-leaders and other industry-wide factors." Tower has indicated that it would prefer to keep it business intact through the sale, through an asset liquidation, which includes the venerable Tower brand name could also occur. In the meantime, Tower is aiming to complete the sale within the October timeframe, a schedule that would allow the chain to focus on the all-important holiday buying season. We hope that Tower can find a means to this end so that music fans can still enjoy Towers’ huge inventory and selection. The last thing that we need is to depend on the likes of Target and Best Buy for our CD purchases.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY AND CLASSIC JAZZ TRUMPHET PLAYER, GUYMON ENSLEY RELEASES SOLO CD

Adult Contemporary and Classic Jazz Trumpet Player, Guymon Ensley is one of the hottest up and coming songwriter, arranger and performers from the Detroit Area. Ensley, a classically trained musician plays and arranges all genre’s of music. Whether it’s an eighteen-piece big band arrangement or a nine second jingle for kids, it is written, performed and recorded with the same professional intensity.The CD Meet Guymon Ensley is his first solo release. It is a Extended Play (EP) CD, featuring three of Guy’s smooth jazz works and an instrumental remix of Grandma’s Hands by sixties songwriter Bill Withers. During the 2006 Detroit Music Awards, Guymon Ensley was nominated for ‘Outstanding Jazz Composer’ and ‘Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist’. Guymon, the leader of two groups has received acceptance from worldwide audiences. "GEQ" the Guymon Ensley Quintet plays classic jazz, jazz standards, bebop and original compositions. In 2003, GEQ released their first CD Here Put This On. This unit has been together since 2001 and is a favorite at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, the world’s oldest jazz club. They recently completed their fourth international tour to Negril, Jamaica, the Hawaiian and Eastern Caribbean Islands. GEQ received the nomination for ‘Outstanding Modern Jazz Group’ during the 2006 Detroit Music Awards. Guymon Ensley and All Together Again perform the finest in Smooth Jazz and R&B. From the club setting to the concert or festival venue, they have become a sought after unit, representing a good time for everyone. Ensley is also the founder of GEQ Jazz Records, an independent record label dedicated to maintaining the integrity of jazz. For more information click to www.guymonensley.com.

RAY CHARLES & THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA TECHNOLOGICALLY PAIRED

Ray Sings,Basie Swings is the title of an upcoming album which pairs Ray Charles and the current line-up of the Count Basie Orchestra – however – Charles never actually recorded with the orchestra. The compilation combines the vocals of Ray Charles, and through modern technology, pairs him up with the Count Basie Orchestra. The project is a collaborative effort involving Concord Records and Starbucks Hear Music, and it will hit coffeehouses in the US and Canada beginning Oct. 3. The project began with a discovery by Concord head of A&R John Burk, who dusted off a recording from the vaults simply titled, "Charles/Basie". The compilation is actually a mash-up of sorts, as Charles never did perform with the Basie Orchestra on the lost recording. "I was disappointed that Ray wasn’t performing with the Basie band," said Burk. "But I thought that we could re-record the music with the current Basie Orchestra. These tapes were just waiting for technology to catch up so we can help Ray do what he always did so naturally – make magic happen," said Burke.

UPCOMING CONCERTS: MARCUS MILLER, LEE RITENOUR, NAJEE, ERIC DARIUS, PETE ESCOEDO, NONA HENDRYX, FRANK MORGAN, MAYSA & OTHERS…

Upcoming Concert Announcements……….Dr. John performs at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, CA on Aug. 18……….Maysa is at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, MA Aug. 18-19……….Chico Hamilton is at the Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors Festival; Aug. 18……….Ben Harper and Damian Marley are at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA on Aug 18 and 19……….The 17th Annual Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival presented by Southwest Airlines kicks off this weekend from Aug. 18-20. Musicians performing include Marcus Miller, Lonnie Liston-Smith, Claudia Villela, Mambo Tropical featuring Pete Escvedo, Mark Levine & The Latin Tinge, Roberta Gambarini, Ricardo Lemvo and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, among others……….Maysa performs at the North Shores Valley Pavillion in Nashville, TN on Aug. 20……….Dave Brubeck makes one of his regular stops over at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara for a concert on Aug. 23……….Nona Hendryx is at Funkrock @ Joe’s Pub in NY on Aug. 22……….Hil St. Soul at SOB’s in NY on Aug. 23……….The Downtown Berkeley Jazz Festival runs from Aug. 23-27 and will feature more that 50 performances from jazz and world music artists, and it is being held at a number of venues throughout downtown Berkeley, CA. For more information click to www.downtownberkelyjazzfestivalk.org.......... The Wailers at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Virginia Beach on Aug. 24……….Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Brian Bromberg and Alex Acuna perform at Yoshi’s in the San Francisco Bay area on Aug. 20 and at Kuumbwa in Monteray, CA on Aug. 21……….Frank Morgan and Ronnie Matthews at Joe’s Pub in NY for two shows; Aug. 25……….The Commodores at Grand Victoria Casino in Rising, IN; Aug. 25……….Keiko Matsui at the Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club on Miami Beach on Aug. 25……….Earth, Wind & Fire with Chris Botti at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, FL on Sept. 4……….Brian Culbertson and Eric Darius at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento, CA on Sept. 9………."Oh What A Classic Soul Night" features The Mighty Dells, Black Ivory, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, GQ, Howard Hewitt, The Floaters and Eddie Holman, at the Paradise Theatre in Bronx, NY on Sept. 30……….Najee performs at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento, CA on Oct. 7……….The San Francisco Jazz Festival will be taking place between Oct. 20 and Nov. 12 and this year the line-up includes Alice Coltrane, Marisa Monte, Heath Brothers, Arturo Sandoval, Andrew Hill and the legendary Sonny Rollins.

MICHAEL MANSON’S 2nd RELEASE ‘JUST FEELIN’ IT’ SET FOR RELEASE SEPT. 12

Chicago Bass Player Releases 2nd CD September 12, 2006

With the release of his previous CD, The Bottom Line, Michael Manson joined the ranks of today's premiere jazz artists as he moved from sideman to center stage. His first single Outer Drive reached the top 10 on the R&R Smooth Jazz. His passion and precision are displayed with both unrelenting power and laid-back grace on the album that, he says, "reflects the deepest expression of all I have felt making music for the last twenty years."

For Michael Manson, the bottom line has always been great music. Since he first picked up a guitar (not a bass), he has moved persistently from strength to strength, one association leading inevitably to another in a career that has brought him front and center with the most esteemed names in jazz, gospel, R&B, rock and pop. A native of Chicago, he joined City Lights and began performing regularly on Chicago's jazz circuit. In 1999, he was invited to play the Montreux Casino Lights Festival. Sharing the stage with the likes of Boney James, George Duke and Kirk Whalum, he made connections that would eventually lead to a spot performing on the Montreux Jazz Tour.

On Michael Manson's new CD Just Feelin' It, he is credited for writing and production. For this album Michael has collected the who's who of Smooth Jazz: Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Brian Culbertson, Nelson Range, Norman Brown, Paul Jackson Jr., the legendary George Duke and many more great jazz musicians. This album is a great mix of contemporary jazz, R&B and even a little gospel. For Michael Manson, love of musical communication, exploration, collaboration and celebration is clearly what it's all about. This sophomore release reflects Manson's unabating passion with joy and inspired artistry, "There are musical conversations that are intriguing and I hope the audience shares in that. But it is just great for musicians to communicate in that way. That's the joy of music. To make great music like that every night, that's what it's all about."

ADDITIONAL SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO STATIONS TO COME AS THE HD RADIO ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES 18 NEW HD2 MARKETS

The HD Digital Radio Alliance, a joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters to accelerate the rollout of HD digital radio, has announced that 18 new, local markets will begin HD2 multicast programming this fall, marking the third wave of stations rolling out side channels under the Alliance’s format-selection program. This latest wave will launch 140 additional HD2 channels and brings the total markets served by HD2 multicast programming to 68, all of which are in the top 100 markets In total, more than 600 radio stations nationwide belonging to Alliance members now offer HD2 multicast programming. "We’re even surprised by how fast this is moving," said Peter Ferrara, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance. "It’s only been eight months since the Alliance was formed and we are seeing HD digital radio broadcasts being launched at a much faster pace than expected. We are excited to be helping listeners discover the newest digital entertainment option around – and of course there’s no subscription fee.

The next 18 markets to roll out HD2 multicast programming are:
Austin, TX
Raleigh, NC
Nashville, TN
Greensboro, NC
New Orleans, LA
West Palm Beach, FL
Jacksonville, FL
Monmouth
Ocean Buffalo, NY
Oklahoma City, OK
Rochester, NY
Louisville, KY
Richmond, VA
Greenville, SC
Honolulu, HI
Tucson, AZ
Albany, NY
Ft. Myers, FL

Among those groups in the next wave are: CBS Radio, which has added stations in Austin, Buffalo, Rochester and West Palm Beach, and will launch their multicast format this fall.

MARKET / STATION / HD2 FORMAT
AUSTIN / KKMJ-FM / Oldies 60s & 70s
KAMX-FM / Oldies All 80s
KXBT-FM / Urban AC
BUFFALO / WYRK-FM / Young Country
WBLK-FM / Urban AC
WJYE-FM / Smooth Jazz
WBUF-FM / My HD
ROCHESTER/ WRMM-FM / Oldies 60s & 70s
WCMF-FM / Brother Wease Show (Eclectic)
WPXY-FM / Modern AC
WZNE-FM / IndieRock
WEST PALM BEACH / WEAT-FM / Hot AC
WBMX-FM / Old School Hip-Hop
WIRK-FM / Country Southern Rock Blend
WJBW-FM / Gospel
WPBZ-FM / Triple A

Emmis Communications has unveiled its next wave of HD2 channels in Austin. Emmis will roll out these multicast channels in the coming months.

KBPA-FM (BOB-FM) will air a smooth jazz channel on its secondary signal, KDHT-FM (HOT 93.3) will broadcast an "Old Skool" hip-hop channel, KLBJ-FM will air an Austin blues channel, KGSR-FM listeners hear a "Deep, Deep Tracks" channel, and KROX (101X) will play hard rock and metal on its HD2 channel.

And Greater Media has announced details of two new HD2 multicast channels in the New Jersey market. In addition to WDHA-FM and WMGQ-FM, Greater Media New Jersey will soon be able to double its program offerings to WRAT-FM and WJRZ-FM listeners with an HD radio.

New Multicast Formats: WRAT- FM HD 2: "RAT 2" will be the name of the new, female friendly, Rock-based format which will play a variety of artists ranging from the Pretenders to Coldplay. The multicast channel will complement WRAT’s current male dominated rock format.

SMOOTH JAZZ SUMMER NIGHTS WITH MICHAEL LINGTON, STEVE COLE & THE SAX PACK AT PENN’S LANDING

The Penn’s Landing Corporation will be bringing free smooth jazz to the Philadelphia waterfront as Smooth Jazz Summer Nights continues for a ninth season, on the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing. Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street, every Friday night in August through September 1. On Friday, August 18, gifted saxophonist, Steve Cole, brings his unique sound to the Philadelphia Waterfront, with his fresh and crackling brand of smooth sax jazz sounds inspired by his hometown of Chicago. Cole's trademark sound is a sizzling mix of modern funk textures and neo-soul sensibilities, mixed with catchy hooks and feisty horn textures on the choruses. It's guaranteed to make any audience a true fan. This year's series also features Michael Lington, one of the hottest acts on the contemporary jazz scene. On Friday, August 25th, Lington, who once toured with Little Richard, will grace the stage with a passionate, intense style that will have crowds wanting more. Lington's sound is unique. Critics have described him as "one to watch out for in the near future." Lington is in the studio now working on an upcoming album release. The grand finale of the series will be on Friday, September 1st, with an exciting performance by the Sax Pack. The Sax Pack, features three of the most talented saxophonists in the country; Jeff Kashiwa, who brings his classic style, Kim Waters, who adds a little funk and, last but not least, Steve Cole, who contributes his own eclectic mix to the trio.

ALICE SMITH ‘FOR LOVERS, DREAMERS, AND ME’

Alice Smith is an uncategorizable and rare artist whose commanding 4-octave voice lets her skip across genres effortlessly and transport you along with it. Based in NYC, but raised in Washington DC and Georgia, her references span the USA from country and classic rock to jazz and gospel. She is bringing back the American tradition of soul music with the raw emotions in her voice and relatable lyrics void of any pretense. For Lovers, Dreamers, and Me is a collection of songs that add an innovative twist to an undeniable groove. From the opening beat accompanied by piano and horn stabs, Smith reminds you that rock and soul came from the same place. The songs all have the anthemic quality of classic songwriting with a decidedly modern groove and vernacular. Whether singing about people’s need to escape the pressures of working in the cities for some relaxation in a natural environment or fighting off depression after life throws you a curve ball, her voice is full of honesty. Smith is already garnering raves from the press for her refreshing persona and songwriting. Her live shows with her band have become a touch act to follow, infecting the audience with the joy she puts into her work. For Lovers, Dreamers, and Me is sure to be one of the year’s most exciting albums from a new artist that will connect with you instantly. For Lovers, Dreamers and Me will be available in stores in North America Sept. 5, 2006.

Alice Smith Tour Schedule
Aug 22 - The Mercury Lounge, NYC
Aug 30 - Rockwood Music Hall, NYC
Sep 13 - Burlington, VT Higher Ground
Sep 14 - Boston, MA Avalon Ballroom
Sep 15 - New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Sep 16 - Atlantic City, NJ Borgatta Music Box
Sep 19 - New Haven, CT Toad's Place
Sep 20 - Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Sep 21 - Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Sep 22 - Carborro, NC Cat's Cradle
Sep 23 - Charleston, SC Center Stage at the Plex
Sep 26 - Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
Sep 27 - Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
Sep 28 - Nashville, TN City Hall
Sep 29 - Athens, GA Georgia Theatre
Sep 30 - Atlanta, GA Center Stage (Earthlink Live)
Oct 12 - Los Angeles, CA HOB
Oct 13 - Los Angeles, CA HOB
Oct 14 - Anaheim, CA HOB
Oct 15 - San Francisco, CA The Independent
Oct 16 - San Francisco, CA The Independent
Oct 18 - Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
Oct 19 - Vancouver, BC Richard on Richard's
Oct 20 - Seattle, WA The Showbox
Oct 21 - Seattle, WA The Showbox
Oct 22 - Seattle, WA The Showbox

NATALIE COLE TO RELEASE ‘LEAVIN’ HER 20th STUDIO ALBUM

Eight-time Grammy Award winner Natalie Cole is set to release her 20th studio album on September 26, marking an impressive milestone that speaks to her musicianship, her critically acclaimed abilities as a vocalist and her connection to her fans. Leavin’ also marks her first album of new material in nearly four years, a recording that returns Cole to her musical roots as one of our time’s best r&b/pop vocalists. The Verve Records release finds the acclaimed chanteuse, who has sold more than 30 million albums, working with Grammy Award winning producer Dallas Austin, a combination that has produced one of Cole’s most dynamic recordings to date. An eclectic mix of classic pop, r&b and rock tracks, the 12-song album mixes Cole’s stunning vocals with a list of classic songs from the likes of Fiona Apple, Aretha Franklin, Kate Bush, Sting, Shelby Lynne and others, as well as a new song, 5 Minutes Away, a writing collaboration between Cole, Austin and keyboardist Chanz Parkman.

The launch of the new CD will be led by a remake of the 1972 #1 Billboard R&B single, the Aretha Franklin smash Day Dreaming. Updated with a bit of hip-hop flavor, the song is the first single from the album, and marks the release of Cole’s first urban/pop single in nearly 16 years.The title track is a soulful recast of the Shelby Lynne song from her Grammy winning 2000 release I Am Shelby Lynne. She also tackles a rock standard by taking on Neil Young’s Old Man, an eloquent compliment to the original that shows the warmth and subtlety of her voice. Then there’s Fiona Apple’s hit Criminal, on which Cole and Austin gave a bluesy feel, as well as The More You Do It, a track that pays homage to her first husband and musical collaborator, the late Marvin Yancy. The track completes a trio of soulful cuts including the Isley Brothers Don’t Say Goodnight and the Etta James inspired Lovin’ Arms, each of which grants Cole the opportunity to move back to her 70’s roots with rich, shimmering vocals. Other highlights include remakes of songs written and made famous by Sting and Kate Bush.

UPCOMING CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENTS: BEAT KAESTLI, KEITH WASHINGTON, NICK COLIONNE, MATTHEW HERBERT, CARMEN LUNDY & MORE…

Upcoming Concert Announcements……….Beat Kaestli Quartet @ The Bacchus Room in New York on Aug. 16……….Guitarist Nick Colionne is the featured performer at the upcoming third annual Art and All That Jazz Festival on Aug. 19 in Burnsville, MN. Colionne, whose latest album has reached the Top 10 on the national smooth jazz charts is returning as headliner for the second consecutive year……….Keith Washington appears at the Old School Celebrity Funk Fest Cruise from Aug. 19-24. The cruise will de docking at Grand Cayman Island and Ocho Rios, Jamiaca along its voyage……….Matthew Herbert performs with full band and Skye (from Morcheeba) @ Irving Plaza in New York on Aug. 23……….Kenny Dope will be performing a special DJ set at Cielo in New York on Aug. 24……….Rainier Truby is in for an exclusive DJ set at Cielo on Sept. 7……….Jazz And The New Songbook Artists will be making a stop at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, CA and will feature Carmen Lundy, Regina Carter, Robert Glasper, Steve Turre and over a dozen more artists. It’s set for Sept. 10. Lundy is currently featured on 4 popular CDs: Geri Allen's Timeless Portraits and Dreams on Telarc, Jazz Vocalists Hear & Now on Concord Jazz, Hallmark Productions Vintage Collection, and on Mayra Casales' new release, Woman on Fire………. McCoy Tyner. Kenny Garrett, Antonio Jackson, Carmen Lundy, Omar Sosa, and Christian McBride will participate at this year’s sixth annual BeanTown Jazz Festival on Boston’s South End from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1……….Dimitri From Paris and Gilles Peterson will be mixing at the BBE 10th Anniversary on Sept. 30 at the Canvas Kings Cross Goods Yard in London, U.K.……….Spyro Gyra will be at the Community Hall at Fort Lewis College in Telluride, CO on Nov. 16.

'BONNIE RAITT AND FRIENDS' CD/DVD FEATURING NORAH JONES, BEN HARPER, ALISON KRAUSS & KEB’ MO’ RELEASED

Less than a year after VH1 Classic debuted "Decades Rock Live!", the network issues the first-ever DVD/CD release from the innovative series. VH1 Classic Decades Rock Live! Presents Bonnie Raitt and Friends featuring Norah Jones, Ben Harper, Alison Krauss and Keb’Mo’ will be released by Capitol Records on August 15th. This live concert series pairs celebrated artists of rock and roll with some of today’s hottest acts who have been influenced and inspired by these legends. Raitt was among the all-star artist line-up for the first season of "Decades Rock Live!" and the first episode of the series to air on VH1 Classic. Bonnie Raitt and Friends, which was recorded live at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ on September 30, 2005, will feature never-before-seen performance and interview footage, including four duets not included in the VH1 Classic broadcast of the concert. With two hours of concert and interview footage.

DVD track listing
1. Unnecessarily Mercenary (featuring Jon Cleary)
2. I Will Not Be Broken
3. God Was In The Water
4. Gnawin' On It
5. You (featuring Alison Krauss)
6. Papa Come Quick (featuring Alison Krauss)
7. No Gettin' Over You (featuring Keb’ Mo’)
8. Love Letter (featuring Keb’ Mo’)
9. Crooked Crown
10. Trinkets
11. Two Lights In The Nighttime (featuring Ben Harper)
12. Well, Well, Well (featuring Ben Harper)
13. Something To Talk About
14. Hear Me Lord
15. I Don't Want Anything To Change (featuring Norah Jones)
16. Tennessee Waltz (featuring Norah Jones)
17. Love Sneakin' Up On You (featuring All Special Guests)

CD track listing
1. Introduction
2. Unnecessarily Mercenary (featuring Jon Cleary)
3. I Will Not Be Broken
4. God Was In The Water
5. Gnawin’ On It
6. You (featuring Alison Krauss)
7. Love Letter (featuring Keb’ Mo’)
8. Two Lights In The Nighttime (featuring Ben Harper)
9. Well, Well, Well (featuring Ben Harper)
10. Something To Talk About
11. I Don't Want Anything To Change (featuring Norah Jones)
2. Love Sneakin' Up On You (featuring All Special Guests)

IN THE STUDIO WITH AMOS LEE, NORAH JONES, & SUZANNE VEGA

Currently In The Studio……….Norah Jones is currently in the studio recording her third album for Blue Note. This time around Jones is showcasing her continual growth and expansiveness as an artist by writing the material for the album. The record will feature her working band along with a number of special guests to be announced. The date is being produced by Lee Alexander……….Suzanne Vega has signed with the Blue Note label. Since her last album was released in 2001, Vega has been writing new material in her signature style of poetry meets pop. There is an intriguing theme of New York City interwoven into many of the new songs which Suzanne is currently laying down in demo form. We will be recording early this fall with producer and special guests to be determined……….Amos Lee has put the finishing touches his sophomore release for Blue Note. The Philadelphia native recorded in both his home city of Philadelphia and in Los Angeles with the assistance of producer Barrie Maguire. A prolific writer at 27, Lee whittled down a wealth of great new material he’s penned since his successful debut and mixed the tracks last month in NYC with mixer Kevin Killen. The album documents the diverse and soulful stylings of this exciting young singer/songwriter who is growing artistically by leaps and bounds. Special guests include vocalist Lizz Wright and slide guitarist Greg Leisz.

BOOZOO BAJOU JOINED BY NICOLE WILLIS, DENNIS BOVELL, MULATU ASTAQUE & HANNE HUKKELBERG ON ‘JUKE JOINT 2’

Boozoo Bajou follow their 2005 Dust My Broom release with a compilation of slow and easy rich, velvety soul, Juke Joint II. This aptly-titled collection takes the listener on a journey through the dusty, sultry backwoods of the deepest south, where soul music is still brimming with old school blues. Featured on Juke Joint II are tunes from Finland's Nicole Willis, Jamaica's Dennis Bovell, Ethiopian king of funk Mulatu Astaque, and Norwegian-born Hanne Hukkelberg. Juke Joint II demonstrates exactly what puts Boozoo Bajou ahead of the game-- their unique ability to make you slow down, relax, listen, and pay attention to the wonderful subtleties of their downtempo groove.

AARON NEVILLE NEW 'SOUL CLASSICS' ALBUM DUE SEPT. 19

This is Aaron Neville's first Sony BMG release. Due on September 19, the album comprises 13 all-time soul classics,including Otis Redding's (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay and Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, Ben E. King's Stand By Me and Bill Withers' Ain't No Sunshine. The set also features collaborations with Chris Botti, Chaka Khan, David Sanborn, Mavis Staples and Art Neville. "Legendary soul classics performed by one of the greatest soul voices of the 20th Century...it doesn't get better than that," says Joe DiMuro,EVP/General Manager of Sony BMG's Burgundy Records(http://www.burgundyrecords.com).

"By putting our own twist on it, we are making these beloved soul classics new again." Stewart Levine produced the album. Levine, who has worked with a bevy of platinum selling artists, including Jamie Cullum, Simply Red and B.B. King, has produced over 10 Grammy-award winning records. "This is very natural ground for Aaron, as he grew up immersed in the sounds of classic rhythm and blues. It's not a departure or some grand 'concept' -- it's a very natural fit for him and something he's wanted todo for a very long time," says Levine. "The idea behind the record was simplicity itself. We took these iconic songs and stripped them to their essence. We didn't want Aaron to cover them; we wanted him to redefine them. He did just that." "I am excited to be a part of Burgundy Records and look forward to giving my existing fans and, hopefully, new fans some brand new music,"says Aaron Neville. New Orleans' "first son" and four-time Grammy(R) award-winning artist, Neville has a trademark angelic voice and an impressive body of work to go along with it.

The Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group (SMG) recently launched its new record label, Burgundy Records. The Sony BMG SMG imprint plans to sign legendary multi-platinum artists and release new titles in conjunction withan innovative marketing campaign that will promote the artists through traditional and non-traditional channels.

Final Aaron Neville track listing and sequence
1. Rainy Night In Georgia (featuring Chris Botti)
2. Ain't No Sunshine
3. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
4. Stand By Me
5. You Send Me
6. Respect Yourself (featuring Mavis Staples)
7. When A Man Loves A Woman
8. Let's Stay Together (featuring Chaka Khan)
9. It's All Right
10. People Get Ready (featuring Art Neville and David Sanborn)
11. My Girl
12. Ain't That Peculiar
13. A Change Is Gonna Come

ANDRE DELANO ON TOUR AND PREPPING NEW ALBUM

Jazz fans coast to coast continue to experience the silky sounds of saxophonist Andre Delano at live performances across the country. West coast fans wait with anticipation as the East St. Louis native prepares to take the stage at the Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula, CA. Opening for Norman Brown’s Summer Storm, Delano will share the stage with music veterans Norman Brown, Patti Austin, Paul Taylor, and Alex Bugnon in a one night only (August 19, 2006) benefit performance to raise money for Children with Autism. Delano also wull be featured with Al Williams on Sunday, August 13, 2006 at the Long Beach Jazz Festival.

On July 21, 2006, Delano returned to his alma mater as the featured performer at Jackson State University’s Battle of the Saxes. The 1994 graduate wowed a sold-out crowd including high school buddies, new fans, music enthusiasts, city officials and onlookers from every Southern state. This fall, Delano's release Funkbone off his debut album Full Circle, can be hears on the Sony BMG Jazz compilation CD The Lounge Connection featuring other great artists like Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Alfonzo Blackwell, George Benson and many others. Delano continues his musical journey with the release of a Jazz Christmas album entitled First Christmas due for release in November.

GEORGE BENSON & AL JARREAU PAIR UP FOR NEW CD ‘GIVIN IT UP’

George Benson and Al Jarreau have teamed for their first collaborative album entitled, Givin’ It Up. Guest musicians on the album include Chris Botti, Jill Scott, Patti Austin, Chris Botti, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke and Vinnie Colaiuta. Songs include Sam Cooke’s Bring It On Home To Me featuring Paul McCartney, Billie Holiday’s God Bless The Child, Let It Rain, Paul Young’s Every Time You Go Away, John Legend’s Ordinary People, Miles Davis’ Four and Long Come Tutu, and Seals & Croft’s Summer Breeze. In addition, Jarreau has added lyrics and vocals to Benson’s Breezin’ and Benson performs an instrumental version of Jarreau’s Mornin’. The CD is due out on Oct. 24 on the Concord/Monster Music label. In the meantime Benson and Jarreau are on the road together appearing at the Westbury (NY) Music Theatre on Aug. 11 and at the Newport JVC Jazz Festival the weekend of Aug. 12-13.

NEWPORT JVC JAZZ FESTIVAL KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND; MSN VIDEO TO BROADCAST ONLINE

The JVC Newport Jazz Festival kicks off this Saturday, Aug. 12 over at Fort Adams State Park along the harbor. This year the festival has a great lineup including George Benson, McCoy Tyner, Arturo Sandoval, Dave Brubeck, Al Jarreau, The Bad Plus, Angelique Kidjo, Andy Bey, Chris Botti, Dr. John, Luciana Souza, John Pizzarelli and Jane Monheit, among many others. MSN Video has paired with the JVC Jazz Festival this year to watch the concerts online starting on Aug. 13.

JOHN MAYER, GIL PARRIS, BRAD MEHLDAU, PAT METHENY. DAVID BENOIT, ALEXANDER ZONJIC & MORE

Jazz Chill News Bits:……….John Mayer’s latest album, Continuum, is set for release on the Sony label on September 12. The new album features the hit single – Waiting On The World To Change……….Gil Parris has just been added to the CD101.9 Liberty Jazz Festival lineup. He joins Gato Barbieri, Norman Brown, Patti Austin, Alex Bugnon and Paul Taylor at the Sept. 9 concert at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Wayman Tisdale, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Jeff Golub, Richard Elliot, Gerald Albright, Peter White, Stanley Jordan and Brian Simpson headline the Sept, 10 concert……….Smooth jazz CD101.9 in New York is also presenting a series of summer evening cruises along the Hudson River with such artists as Spyro Gyra, The Rippingtons, Jeff Golub and the Warren Hill Band……….Brad Mehldau and Pat Metheny are collaborating on a new album, Metheny Mehldau, which is set for release on Sept. The 10 track album will feature each artist’s material, and will also Mehldau’s trio of bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. Songs on the album include Mehldau’s Unrequited and Metheny’s Ring Of Life. The duo are in the planning stages for a March 2007 tour……….The River Raisin Jazz Festival in Ohio is scheduled for Aug. 11-12 in St. Mary’s Park on the banks of the River Raisin in downtown Monroe. Artists set to appear in concerts include Rick Braun, Jesse Palter, Randy Scott, Joe McBride, Jeff McDonald Band, Sheila Landis & Brazilian Love Affair, Nick Colionne, David Benoit, and Alexander Zonjic & Friends.

DIANA KRALL'S LATEST CD 'FROM THIS MOMENT ON’ SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 19

Verve Records has announced a September 19 release date for Diana Krall’s latest CD, From This Moment On. It’s her firs studio recording of standards since 2001’s Platinum CD, The Look Of Love. From This Moment On features the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Diana Krall Quartet. Songs on the CD include: It Could Happen To You, Isn’t This A Lovely Day?, How Insensitive, Exactly Like You, From This Moment On, I Was Doing All Right, Little Girl Blue, Day In Day Out, Willow Weep For Me, Come Dance With Me, and You Can Depend On Me.

PHILADELPHIA’S SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO WJJZ TO SWITCH FORMATS

Billboard is reporting that Clear Channel smooth jazz WJJZ/Philadelphia’s air staff was on Wednesday, August 8, and that a format flip is imminent. Most likely, the smooth jazz station will flip to another adult format like rhythmic AC. As for now, PD Michael Tozzi remains with the station, using voice tracking in the interim. Coinciding with the speculation about the future of WJJZ are rumors of an impending format flip at sister AC WSNI/Philadelphia. WJJZ adopted the smooth jazz format in March 1993 under now-WNWV/Cleveland PD Bernie Kimble, who left the station after two years and was succeeded by CBS oldies WOGL PD Anne Gress.

CONTEMPORARY/SMOOTH JAZZ AND SOFT R&B FROM MS. JAZ

The smoky and soulful vocals of Cincinnati's Ms. Jaz are highlighted on her new live CD Me Too Live recorded in concert at the prestigious Chez Nora's "Rooftop". Ms. Jaz is backed by her stellar band helmed by musical director and bassist Kerry Jordan. The CD features a great live version of the title track which is a Ms. Jaz original. Plus, Ms. Jaz performs exciting takes on classic songs such as Boy From Ipanema and Sade's Sweetest Taboo. Ms. Jaz plans to tour extensively in 2006 and 2007 and she will be doing a Northeast press tour in September to promote the new CD.

Contemporary/Smooth Jazz and Soft R&B are the styles of music you will hear when attending a Ms. Jaz performance. Be it a festival or indoor venue, you will feel as though you are sitting front row at a national concert. Smoky and smooth are the words used to describe her vocals. Named among the "Top Ten Jazz Albums" in British Columbia in 2003, and named by Cincinnati's Citybeat Magazine as one of the "Top Local Artists to Produce a CD on A National Level", Ms. Jaz rose to popularity with her 2002 CD release Chances.

A Cincinnati based vocalist and writer; she has performed in various cities across the nation. She has shared the stage with such artists as jazz great Gumbi Ortiz, percussionist for guitar great Al Di Meola. Many have compared her smooth vocals to the great Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughan, Phyllis Hyman and Anita Baker. Ms. Jaz performed background vocals live in concert for Phil Perry, Windham Hill's hot vocalist at Cincinnati's Aronoff Center and opened for Regina Belle at the 1999 Applause Magazine Image Maker Awards Gala, Bobby Blue Bland, Marion Meadows and Pieces Of A Dream. 2004 was her debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) as the featured artist on a Jazz Cruise sponsored by the CSO.

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: MICHAEL ASHANTI, OCOTE SOUL SOUNDS, HUGH “PEANUTS” WHALUM & MORE...

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS……….R&B stylist, Michael Ashanti, has just released his highly anticipated debut CD project entitled All Of Me. Michael delivers soulful yet stimulating vocals that effortlessly soar over a cross-hybrid of R&B, jazz, gospel and pop. Michael’s style of music has been appropriately branded as soul fusion to signify the core presence of soul and gospel-influenced vocals woven through a diverse array of sound fabrics mainly rooted in Black Music……….The debut album from Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesadas, El Nino y El Sol, is in stores now. What you can expect on this collaboration between Martin Perna of Antibalas and Adrian Quesada of Grupo Fantasma is a hearty sonic stew of soulful flavors from afrobeat, Latin, psychedelic soul and beyond. You can also find digital single of the tracks Tamarindio (with a remix by Thievery Corporation) and Divinorum (with a remix by Quantic) now on Itunes. Ocote Soul Sounds are scheduled to appear in concert at the grand opening of Solar 1 in New York City. For more information click to www.solar1.org/education/cityso/music.html ……….Rendezvous Entertainment releases the debut self-titled CD from Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum on August 8. "Peanuts" has played with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Count Basie and is the uncle of smooth jazz saxman Kirk Whalum. If you should happen to be in the L.A. area on August 10, you can catch Kirk Whalum as he presents his uncle and mentor Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum at the Vic in Santa Monica for two shows at 8pm and at 10om.

JIM BRICKMAN RETURNS WITH “ESCAPE’ FEATURING MARC ANTOINE, GERALD LEVERT & SARA EVANS

SLG Records, a division of the Savoy Label Group, has announced the imminent release of platinum-selling artist Jim Brickman's new CD, Escape. The pianist, producer & composer has recently finished an album of all new solo piano and pop vocal compositions - Escape - which features special appearances by Sara Evans (the Academy of Country Music's "Female Vocalist of the Year" for 2006), R&B vocal star Gerald Levert and smooth jazz guitarist extraordinaire Marc Antoine. In addition, Brickman will embark on a five-month tour of North America beginning November 3rd. Jim Brickman's Escape is in stores October 3rd.

Brickman's first collaboration with SLG Records is a fine return to form for the chart-topping, multi-platinum artist. Escape is a lush, unabashed work of romanticism, both in the instrumental compositions and vocal ballads - a niche that he almost single-handedly dominates. Like his numerous gold and platinum-selling projects, Escape features an enchanting collection of gorgeous piano compositions, romantic piano and vocal ballads and rhythmic light jazz selections. Gerald Levert (who attended the same high school in Cleveland with Jim) adds his effortlessly fluid vocals on the beautiful lullaby, My Angel - it's a collaboration that reaches beyond musical genres and fits seamlessly into Brickman's repertoire. Other guest artists include jazz guitarist extraordinaire Marc Antoine, Jake Simpson (a fantastic singer who won "Star Search" and made a heartwarming appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show with a surprise appearance by his idol, Stevie Wonder), and Geoff Byrd, an incredible vocal talent who has been touring the past few months with Hall and Oates.

The singles being released to Adult Contemporary radio will be the evocative When It Snows featuring Geoff Byrd and Never Alone featuring Sara Evans on vocals with lyrics and music by Victoria Shaw. Both were produced by Dan Shea, the musical genius responsible for Brickman's chart-topping singles, Valentine and The Gift. Much like the Brickman/Martina McBride song Valentine (Jim's first #1 single on both the Adult Contemporary and Country charts), Never Alone matches that impeccable styling, unforgettable melodies and lyrical beauty.

Jim Brickman's remarkable career includes six Gold and Platinum selling albums, three #1 and twelve Top 10 Adult Contemporary radio hits, consistent debuts at #1 on Billboard Magazine's New Age chart, a Grammy nomination in 2003, SESAC "Songwriter of the Year" award, a Canadian Country Music Award for "Best Vocal/Instrumental Collaboration," a Dove Award presented by the Gospel Music Association for The Gift and sold out concert tours internationally.

The SLG relationship reunites Jim Brickman with Savoy Label Group's Steve Vining, who presided over Windham Hill Records when Jim first began his impressive run of blockbuster releases. The charismatic performer quickly became known as a fresh and vibrant recording and concert artist who created and performed enormously moving solo piano compositions as well as established himself as an Adult Contemporary radio iconoclast. Brickman also regularly handles TV hosting chores and presents most of his own concerts worldwide. He also finds time to run his own online marketing company, Brickhouse, which provides virtual and physical marketing services for a broad array of artists and management companies.

The Savoy Label Group (SLG) features not only the historic Savoy Jazz label but also the Denon, Denon Classics, Kin Kou and 429 Records labels. SLG is the North American unit of Columbia Music Entertainment (formerly Nippon Columbia), the oldest music company in Japan. Newly reorganized and now headed by Chairman Strauss Zelnick, Columbia Music Entertainment has re-emerged as a significant creative force with a stable of newly signed platinum-selling artists. SLG is one of the most successful marketers of adult music in the U.S. and focuses on classical, jazz, new age, world and adult alternative genres.

JAZZ CHILL CORNER NEWS BITS: THE ROYAL DAN: A TRIBUTE TO STEELY DAN, MADELINE PEYROUX, MASSIVE ATTACK & MORE

Jazz Chill Corner News Bits..........The Royal Dan: A Tribute is a new CD of Steely Dan tunes performed by an all-star ensemble. The Royal Dan revisits covers and is performed by a core band of drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, Yellowjackets bassist Jimmy Haslip, keyboardist Peter Wolf and master tenor saxist Ernie Watts. Other musicians involved include Robben Ford, Jeff Richman, Mike Stern, Al DiMeola, and Frank Gambale. Songs covered include Peg, Dirty Work, FM, Aja, and Josie. The CD is available on the Tone Centre label……….Madeline Peyroux appears at the Dunkin’ Donuts Newport Folk Festival in Newport, RI on August 6. The festival will feature a series of rock, roots and blues music from August 4-6, with additional performances from the likes of Odetta, Roseanne Cash, Bettye LaVette and David Gray……….Massive Attack are currently working on their upcoming album (their fifth). Actual recording has been put on hold for a bit as Massive Attack prepares for their first North American tour in eight years, which kicks off. Sept. 10 in Toronto. Weather Underground, is the title of the new album which will probably be released sometime in 2007. Massive Attack are currently scheduled to enter the studio sometime early in the year.

MARCUS MILLERTO HOST JAZZ CRUISES THAT BLEND JAZZ CRUISE AND JAZZ FESTIVAL

Jazz Cruises, LLC, the world's foremost and only producer of full-charter luxury jazz cruises, announces the inaugural sailing of the North Sea Jazz Cruise. The world-class Holland America's m/s Rotterdam will embark from Copenhagen on July 5, 2007, with ports-of-call in Warnemunde/Berlin, Germany; Gotenburg, Sweden; Oslo Norway; Hamburg-Elbe River/Germany, then dock in Rotterdam, The Netherlands where the ship will serve as a "floating hotel" for the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival July 13 - 17. Hosting and serving as artistic director is Grammy award winning bassist composer and producer Marcus Miller, who is assembling the world's greatest jazz musicians to be on board for this unique and spectacular cruise. A complete line-up will be announced shortly. In addition to the great performances which will be scheduled every evening, Miller will work closely with the artists and Jazz Cruises, LLC executive director Michael Lazaroff to create extra-curricular daytime events offering a unique opportunity for the artists and fans to bond beyond the experience of entertaining. Known as the innovators of the ultimate, first class, only full-charter jazz cruise, the North Sea Jazz Cruise is a natural extension for Jazz Cruises, LLC. As the creators of the original Jazz Cruise, now in its twentieth year, the Smooth Jazz Cruise, hosted by Wayman Tisdale and Dave Koz & Friends at Sea, they continue to set higher standards by offering unique opportunities that go above and beyond the ordinary. Blending the cruise with the festival, where the ship becomes a floating hotel is an exciting, unparalleled concept and truly represents the ultimate vacation package for the jazz music patron. Jazz Cruises is the producer and promoter of the only full-ship charters in the world dedicated to jazz music. Jazz Cruises, LLC controls and directs The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise hosted by Wayman Tisdale, Dave Koz & Friends at Sea and the North Sea Jazz Cruise, which will have its inaugural sailing in July, 2007. More information is available at http://www.jazzcruisesllc.com/ With 14 stages, over 200 performances by more than 1,200 artists, and 70,000 visitors yearly, the North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor jazz festival in the world. The festival is renowned for the many musical genres it presents, ranging from traditional New Orleans jazz, swing, bop, free jazz, fusion, avant-garde and electronic jazz to blues, funk, soul, hip-hop, r&b, world beat and Latin. After 30 years in The Hague, the North Sea Jazz Festival moved to Rotterdam in 2006. More information is available at http://www.northseajazz.com/

JODY WATLEY TO APPEAR AT VIRGIN MEGASTORE FOR 'THE MAKEOVER'

Grammy-winning artist Jody Watley is getting ready to transform the music scene once again with her extraordinary new album The Makeover. She'll be at Virgin Megastores with an in-store performance, autograph signing and a press Q&A at the Virgin Megastore in San Francisco on August 8. The Makeover is the latest artistic achievement for Jody Watley in a career that has included 6 Top Ten Hits, 15 Top R&B Hits, and 11 Dance Hits. Jody Watley has teamed with Virgin Megastore to offer her new album exclusively to Virgin Megastore customers.

The Makeover is a groove-laden odyssey of fresh sounds that find the Grammy Award winning artist doing "makeovers" of contemporary classics such as: Bob Marley's Waiting in Vain, Diana Ross' Love Hangover, Chic's I Want Your Love and Madonna's Borderline, in addition to inspired new material including A Bed of Roses with the UK's soul-jazz, broken beat outfit 4 Hero. The Makeover, heavily influenced by club culture that inspires Watley, features collaborations with some of the finest forward thinking trailblazers in the contemporary dance and electronic music landscape including: King Britt, 4 Hero, DJ Spinna, Ron Trent and Chris Brann yielding top-shelf, beat savvy results. The Makeover clearly exemplifies the importance of reinvention, endless creativity and, most importantly, why Jody Watley is such an unbeatable force in the global music scene. The album went on sale August 8.

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: HIL ST. SOUL, 20th ANNUAL CATALINA ISLAND JAZZTRAX MUSIC FESTIVAL & MORE...

Jazz Chill News Bits..........Hil St. Soul are in the midst of a tour of the Northeast as they promote their latest CD, Souldified. You can catch their performances as follows: August 19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Grape St. Pub; August 21 – Alexandria, VA & The Birchmere; August 22 – Annapolis, MD @ The Ram’s Head; and August 23 – New York, NY @ Sounds Of Brazil (SOB’s).......... The 20th Annual Catalina Island Jazztrax Festival is set for the first 3 weekends of October: October 6-8; October 13-15; and October 20-22. Artists scheduled to appear are Mindi Adair, Guitars And Saxes with Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot, Peter White and Jeff Golub, an All-Star Tribute to the music of Paul Hardcastle and Jazzmasters starring Chris Standring, Shilts, Gregg Karukas, plus Jeff Lorber, Chris Standring, and Jody Whatley & Soul Express……….Catalina Island (CA) also presents unplugged nights each Thursday under the stars at the Wrigley Ranch. Look for performances from Peter White (Oct.5); Marc Antoine (Oct.12); and Jonathan Butler (Oct. 19)……….

JAZZ CHILL NEWS BITS: PATTI AUSTIN, LEE RITENOUR, WAYMAN TISDALE, TONY BENNETT, MAYSA LEEK, TEENA MARIE, ANTHONY HAMILTON & MORE...

Patti Austin will be appearing at the YMCA Celebrity Classic fundraiser with a performance at Trail Creek Cabin in Wood River Valley, Idaho on August 6……….Smoke And Mirrors is the new album from smooth jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour. This new release features Ritenour’s classic guitar sound infused with touches of Latin, African and some smooth vocals as well……….George Duke, Jeff Lorber, and Toni Braxton join bassist Wayman Tisdale on his newest release, Way Up! There’s also a nice update of Kool & The Gang’s Get Down On It on the CD………..Maysa Leek performs at Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia on August 4 & 5, and at the Verison Wireless Theater in Houston on August 6.……….Teena Marie, Anthony Hamilton, Gladys Knight, Charlie Wilson, The Manhattan, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and India.Arie will perform at the 11th annual Berrmuda Music Festival, to be held Oct. 4-7 at Bermuda’a Royal Navy Dockyard. For additional information click to www.bermudamusicfestival.com. Legendary singer Tony Bennett has been chosen as the recipient for the 2006 Billboard Century Award, the magazine's highest honor for creative achievement. The award will be presented to Bennett in December at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

VERVE RELEASES 'BABY LOVES MUSIC' SERIES INSTALLMENT FEATURING JAZZ INTERPRETATIONS OF CLASSIC CHILDREN'S SONGS

Verve Records partners with Penguin books on hip incarnation of the Baby Loves Music series, inspired by the popular Baby Loves Disco family dance parties, rocking the nation's music clubs. The new CD launches a "Baby Loves Music" series from Verve.

This week, Verve Records releases Baby Loves Jazz: Go Baby Go, a new CD featuring jazz interpretations of classic children’s songs and more, performed by some of the hottest names in jazz including Sharon Jones (the Dap Kings), John Medeski (Medeski Martin and Wood), and Steven Bernstein (Sex Mob). Released by Verve Records in conjunction with a new series of books by Price Stern Sloan, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, the disc and book series share the same name. A national live concert tour is planned for August and September. Created by music industry veteran Andy Blackman Hurwitz, Baby Loves Music began as a way for parents to introduce their children to different genres without dumbing down the content or presentation; it’s real music played by real musicians. After the success of Hurwitz’s Baby Loves Disco parties (the country’s best DJs spinning real dance music in clubs across the nation for kids and parents), he expanded his idea to include Baby Loves Hip Hop (a forthcoming CD being produced by Prince Paul) as well as Baby Loves Salsa (featuring the Spanish Harlem Orchestra).

Go Baby Go, which was produced by Hurwitz and Bernstein, features a number of children’s favorite songs interpreted in a variety of jazz styles. For instance, the opening number -- "If You’re Happy and You Know It" -- is re-imagined with a N’awlins vibe and some of the words changed to reflect the project: "If you’re happy and you know it play those drums! If you’re happy and you know it, the beats will really show it…" It’s a disc both kids and parents will love.The album also features an unforgettable rendition of "Ten Little Monkeys" and takes "The Wheels on the Bus" on a funky trip. "Old MacDonald" is no longer a farmer here – he’s a bandleader, and the song takes stock of all the musicians in his group ("Old MacDonald had a band…"). Other songs on Go Baby Go include "I’ve Been Working on the Rail Road," "Scat Song," "Banana Boat Song," and originals such as the title track.

This upbeat and engaging record also includes brief interludes introducing kids to the different instruments used in jazz, such as the bass, the saxophone, and the trumpet. Baby Loves Jazz: Go Baby Go is sequenced to play through so that kids will be ready to go to sleep as the album winds down. The last three songs were specifically envisioned for bedtime -- the trilogy of "You Are My Sunshine," "Banana Boat Song," and "Lullabye" is perfect for soothing tots to sleep.Bernstein and Hurwitz called in a number of serious jazz cats to record this project.

The sassy Sharon Jones and the versatile Babi Floyd (Rolling Stones, Steely Dan) trade off on vocals, backed by Bernstein on trumpet, Briggan Krauss (Sex Mob) on saxophone, Medeski on keyboards, Ben Perowsky (Dave Douglas, John Zorn) on drums, and Brad Jones (Marc Ribot, Jazz Passengers) and Lonnie Plaxico (Dizzy Gillespie, Cassandra Wilson) on bass.

This all-star band will be going on the road this fall playing the music of Go Baby Go at Baby Loves Jazz concerts across the US. The group will be making its debut performance at the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival in September. A Baby Loves Jazz family dance party at Joe's Pub in New York on September 9th will also celebrate the release. For more information on these events, visit www.babylovesmusic.com.

The tour dates are as follows:
BABY LOVES JAZZ TOUR DATES
August 23 Millennium Park, Chicago, IL
September 9 Joe's Pub, New York, NY
September 16 Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, CA
September 17 Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, CA
October 7 World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA

Verve’s Baby Loves Jazz CD will be released in conjunction with the launch of four titles in the new Baby Loves Jazz book series from Price Stern Sloan, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. The titles feature a lovable cast of familiar characters and are the perfect tool for introducing young ones to the many different aspects of jazz. Whether it is the tinkling of the piano keys, the soothing sound of the sax, the excitement of the trumpet, or the skippity-bee-bop of scat, these books subtly teach children their numbers and colors while also introducing the sounds of jazz by using words, pictures, and music from the featured CD in each book.

In addition to the CD and books, Baby Loves Jazz will also be featured in a series of short animated segments on the Cartoon Network beginning in the fall. Baby Loves Jazz: Go Baby Go (B0007025-02) becomes available on CD this week. Suggested retail price is $14.98.