BRUCE HORNSBY'S 'CAMP MEETING'

BRUCE HORNSBY'S 'CAMP MEETING'
Keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Bruce Hornsby, who earned a best new artist award in 1986, has recorded a straight-ahead jazz project. Titled Camp Meeting, the project is due August 7th on Sony/Legacy. Hornsby is joined on the set by bassist Christian McBride and veteran drummer Jack DeJohnette. The set includes new versions of classics by jazz greats John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell, as well as a '70s composition by pianist Keith Jarrett. Hornsby also tackles a previously unrecorded Ornette Coleman composition titled "Questions And Answers." The set also includes two original compositions. While Hornsby says he has always been inspired by jazz musicians, the idea for Camp Meeting came five years ago when he joined guitarist Pat Metheny onstage to play a Miles Davis composition with the University of Virginia jazz band. "I played a piano intro and afterward Pat said that I should make a jazz record," stated Hornsby. "He felt I had developed my own way of playing the jazz repertoire. I wasn't ready to make the record at that time. Playing jazz is a lifetime study, and I knew that I had to do some serious shedding before I could undertake this project." Hornsby first gained national attention in 1986 with his band The Range. Their debut album The Way It Is and the title track single earned him the best new artist Grammy. Hornsby has since recorded several pop-oriented solo albums, and has also written tunes for others, notably "The End Of The Innocence" for Don Henley, which was recently re-recorded by India.Arie.

DR. JOHN TOUR SCHEDULE

Dr. John will perform the following concerts:
June 22 - The Theatre, W. Palm Beach, FL
June 23 - Tampa Theatre, Tampa, FL
July 13 - Meadowbrook Park, Hamden, CT
July 14 - Belleayre Music Festival, Highmount, NY
July 20 - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
August 11 - Bite of Oregon, Portland, OR
August 12 - Blues & Roots Festival, Burnaby, BC
August 15 - Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO
August 16 - River Run Lodge, Sun Valley, ID
August 17 - Harry O's, Park City, UT
August 18 - Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO
August 19 - Blues Festival, Pinedale, WY
August 21 - Community Concert Hall, Durango, CO
August 23 - Belly Up,n Solana Beach, CA
August 25 - Starts at the Ridgetop, Nevada City, CA
September 1 - Long Beach Blues Fest, Long Beach, CA
September 7 - BB King's Blues Club, New York, NY
September 9 - BB King's Blues Club, New York, NY
September 15 - Harvest Jazz & Blues Fest, Fredericton, NB
September 28 - Wildwood Springs Lodge, Steelville, MO
September 29 - Wildwood Springs Lodge, Steelville, MO
September 30 - Big Spring International Park, Huntsville, AL
October 6 - The Glenn, Austin, TX
October 11 - Blues Alley, Washington, DC
October 12 - Blues Alley, Washington, DC
October 13 - Blues Alley, Washington, DC
October 14 - Blues Alley, Washington, DC
October 27 - Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
October 28 - Voodoo Music Experience, New Orleans, LA

SUZANNE VEGA - BEAUTY & CRIME ALBUM AND TOUR

Over 20 years into her storied career, singer Suzanne Vega shows that she remains one of the freshest voices in popular music today with the release of Beauty & Crime, her seventh album and her debut for Blue Note Records. Revolving around the theme of New York, the city where Vega was raised and still lives, the 11 original songs on Beauty & Crime present Vega's signature poetry and folk-pop songcraft illuminated by lush orchestral arrangements that are juxtaposed against cutting-edge beats.

From the driving opener "Zephyr & I," which recounts a conversation with the seminal graffiti artist while strolling down West End Avenue, to the ghosts of Lower East Side haunts depicted in "Ludlow Street," to "New York is a Woman," which personifies the city as a hard-luck lady whose beauty still shines, Vega captures the spirit of her hometown's past, present and future. The album also includes two of her most personal songs yet, a love song for her husband ("Bound") and a dedication to her daughter ("As You Are Now").

The sessions, recorded in both New York and London, were produced by Jimmy Hogarth (Sia, Corinne Bailey Rae, KT Tunstall), mixed by Tchad Blake, and included an eclectic cast including orchestral arranger Will Malone (Dido, Seal, Corrine Bailey Rae), background vocalist and vocal arranger KT Tunstall, guitarists Gerry Leonard (David Bowie) and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), bassist Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith), as well as members of Vega's touring band, bassist Mike Visceglia, and drummer Doug Yowell.

With the release of her self-titled debut on A&M Records in 1985, Vega began paving a path for an entire generation of female singer-songwriters to follow in the 1990s. Her 1987 album Solitude Standing established her as an international star, first with its surprise hit "Luka," and again later when UK electronic dance duo DNA released a remixed version of the a cappella "Tom's Diner" (the song has since been remixed upwards of 25 times). Vega's other albums include Days of Open Hand (1990), 99.9 F° (1992), Nine Objects of Desire (1996), and Songs in Red and Gray (2001).

Catch Suzanne Vega on the Beauty & Crime Tour this fall! Advance tickets go on sale June 4th on www.suzannevega.com and on sale to the public on June 8th. See all the upcoming dates below:

07/12/07 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom*
09/15/07 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Waryas Park
09/16/07 - Great Barrington, MA - Mahaiwe Theatre
09/18/07 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere
09/19/07 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live (WXPN Studios)
09/20/07 - Somerville, MA - Somerville Theatre
09/22/07 - Lebanon, NH - Lebanon Opera House
09/23/07 - Brattleboro, VT - The Latchis Hotel and Theatre
09/25/07 - MONTREAL, QC - LaTulipe
09/26/07 - TORONTO, ON - Mod Club
09/29/07 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
09/30/07 - Chicago, IL - Park West
10/03/07 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
10/04/07 - Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre
10/05/07 - Iowa City, IA - Englert Civic Theater

BLUE NOTE RECORDS SIGNS GUITARIST LIONEL LOUEKE

Blue Note Records proudly announces the signing of guitarist Lionel Loueke, one of the brightest and most original young stars in Jazz today. Loueke will enter the studio in September to record his major label debut, which will be released in early 2008. On June 14, Loueke was the opening performer at Blue Note Records' Somethin' Else jazz club at the 2007 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The Jazz Journalist Association has also just nominated Loueke for Up & Coming Musician of the Year in their 2007 Jazz Awards. The winner will be announced later this month in New York City.

Born in Benin, Africa, Loueke has already forged a remarkable career path. His musical studies brought him from West Africa to Paris, France, and later to the United States where he studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles. It was at the Monk Institute that Loueke first met and gained the admiration of Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter. Before even graduating from the Institute, Loueke had already started performing in Blanchard's sextet, becoming an integral member of that progressive band both as a performer and a composer, and appearing on Blanchard's first two albums for Blue Note Records, Bounce and the Grammy-nominated Flow.

Loueke has released several independent recordings, including In A Trance (Space Time), Gilfema (Obliqsound) and Virgin Forest (Obliqsound). He is also currently a member of Hancock's touring band.

AMOS LEE TOUR DATES UPDATED

Amos Lee's road adventures continues, check out if he hits a town near you:

Jun 28 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
Jun 29 Jacksonville, OR Britt Festival
Jun 30 Eugene, OR WOW Hall
Jul 2 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
Jul 3 Spokane, WA Big Easy
Jul 4 George, WA Gorge Amphitheater
Jul 6 Minneapolis, MN Basilica Block Party
Jul 10 Glasgow, Scotland ABC2
Jul 11 London, UK Jazz Cafe
Jul 13 Rotterdam, Holland North Sea Jazz Festival
Jul 16 Antwerp, Belgium Rivierenhof Festival
Jul 18 Tarvicio, Italy No Borders Festival
Jul 24 Brooklyn, NY Southpaw
Jul 28 Tulsa, OK D Festival
Aug 3 Bethlehem, PA Music Fest
Aug 5 Newport, RI Newport Folk Festival
Aug 29 Denver, CO Botanic Gardens
Aug 30 Boulder, CO Chautauqua Auditorium
Sept 2 Turin, NY Moe.Down
Sept 16 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Music Festival

ROBBEN FORD ‘ TRUTH’

Blues guitarist, Robben Ford (Yellowjackets), has a new album arriving on Concord Records named Truth.  The album is scheduled to be available on August 7.

THE DINING ROOMS ‘INK’

Another great achievement from this excellent Italian group -- an album that's head and shoulders above anything they were doing just a few short years ago! The Dining Rooms seem to deepen their sound more and more with each new record -- hitting a range of tones and colors that take them far beyond their initially simple rhythms, and into a space that's filled with thoughtful lyrics and sensitively-penned tunes! Most of the tracks here hit a groove that's somewhere between mid and downtempo -- about half of which feature vocals by guests who include Toco, Dodo Nkishi, Sean Martin, Renaud Chaure, and George Anne Kalweit. There's a fair bit of Fender Rhodes sliding through the tunes, and some warm acoustic basslines as well -- really grounding the music in a classic sort of style, even though the overall execution is fairly contemporary. Titles include "Ceremony", "Free To Grow", "Thank You", "Fatale", "Ink", "Cobra Coral", "On The Beach", "Hear Us Now", "Etage Noir (parts 1 & 2)", and "Appuntamento A Trieste".

FEMI KUTI US & CANADA CONCERT DATES

Femi Kuti will perform the following concerts:
June 30 - Festival International de Jazz, Montreal QC
July 1 - High Life Festival, Toronto ON
July 2 – Summerfest, Milwaukee WI
July 6 - Ottawa Blues Festival, Ottawa ON
July 7 - Quebec Festival, Quebec City QC
July 8 - Paradise in Boston MA
July 11 – SummerStage, New York NY
July 12 - Theater in Living Arts, Philadelphia PA
July 13 - 9:30 Club, Washington DC
July 14 - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta GA
July 16 - Stubb's BBQ, Austin TX
July 18 – Orpheum, Flagstaff AZ
July 19 - House of Blues, San Diego CA
July 20 - House of Blues, West Hollywood CA
July 21 - The Fillmore. San Francisco CA
July 25 – Showbox, Seattle WA
July 26 - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC
July 27 - Horning's Hideout, North Plains OR
July 29 - The Depot, Salt Lake City UT
July 30 - Belly Up, Aspen CO
July 31 - Boulder Theater, Boulder CO
August 2 - Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre, Apple Valley MN
August 3 – Lollapalooza, Chicago IL.

PAUL ANKA’S ‘CLASSIC SONGS, MY WAY’

Originally due in May, Paul Anka's Decca debut has been renamed "Classic Songs, My Way" and is now due Aug. 28. As previously reported, the album is a blend of new recordings of Anka's own hits and pop/adult contemporary staples like Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now," Billy Joel's "I Go to Extremes," Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" and the Killers' "Mr. Brightside." Anka took a bizarre detour with his prior album, 2005's "Rock Swings," released by Verve. On that project, he recast alternative rock evergreens like R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Oasis' "Wonderwall" with big-band backing.

TOCO ‘OUTRO LUGAR’

The CD features beautiful bossa work from the up-and-coming Toco -- a session recorded in Rio with production by S-Tone, and featuring some wonderful acoustic guitar from the legendary Roberto Menescal! Menescal's presence here really helps give the record a classic grounding -- a sense of depth and history that surpasses even Toco's great debut -- and which is made even better by the presence of Rosalia De Souza on guest vocals on a number of tracks! As with Rosalia De Souza’s recent Rio sessions, there's a sound here that's warmer, jazzier, and even more traditionally bossa-based than previous Schema releases -- with a bit less of a dancefloor focus in the rhythms, and a lot more live instrumentation! All numbers feature small combo backing, and titles include "Litoral", "Zum Zum", "Assuntos Banais", "Bom Motivo", "Samba Noir", "Barracao", "Voz Da Lapa", and "Contradicao", which features guest vocals from Coralie Clement. Great stuff here and I recommend you go out and purchase this one for your collection.

REMASTERED & EXPANDED: ‘THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM’ FROM DIANA ROSS

BET Lifetime Recipient Award winner Diana Ross has another vaulted album being prepared for release as an expanded edition. Originally released in 1973, Last Time I Saw Him from Diana Ross is being expanded to include a whole of treasures, remastered and including an extra special bonus, the 4-channel quadraphonic version originally released in Japan only.  Ccool boutique label, Hip-O Select, has remastered the original Motown album, scrounged until it found the Japanese Quad version (same track-listing) and then squeezed until it found 10 unreleased session tracks as well as a final unedited bonus cut of the Top 20 R&B hit, “Last Time I Saw Him.”  The album didn’t fare too well due to Diana’s preoccupation with her Mahogany film/soundtrack project.  It is all packaged over 2-CDs and has a new booklet with new notes and detailed recording credits and info.  Last Time I Saw Him is scheduled to street on August 7.

WJJZ ANNOUNCES MAXIMUM SIGNAL INCREASE

Greater Media Philadelphia announces Smooth Jazz 97.5 WJJZ is now broadcasting with the maximum permissible signal for an FM radio station in the Northeast, beginning the week of June 18th, 2007. The new signal strength will mean a significant improvement in the sound quality and reach of WJJZ's coverage throughout the Delaware Valley, including Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Camden, Gloucester and Wilmington, Delaware.

"This is the last piece of the puzzle," said Station Manager Jim Brown. "Greater Media has made a substantial investment to bring Smooth Jazz music back to this area. The community was very disappointed to lose this format and Greater Media responded. We are thrilled to be able to offer the Smooth Jazz sounds to the people of the Delaware Valley." "WJJZ is very special in that the station reflects the market," said Program Director Michael Tozzi. "Most stations cover one segment of the market place, whereas WJJZ goes well beyond those boundaries. Our music finds common ground for the people in the community and it's a beautiful thing."

"I've been an engineer in this business for 40 years and this project is right at the top of the list when it comes to career highlights," said Greater Media Vice President of Engineering Milford Smith. "This work represents an extremely important signal improvement for the listeners in the Delaware Valley and I am really proud to be part of the project." Michael Tozzi will make the official announcement this Friday, June 22nd at 7pm, at the West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival. The event is expected to attract over 200,000 adults through the culture and enthusiasm of Jazz, Art and 97.5 WJJZ. Performances at the three day festival will include Pieces of a Dream, Pat Martino, WAR, Roy Ayers and many more.

SEAL CONCERT DATES

Seal will perform the following concerts:
July 6 - Tower of London Festival, London, UK
July 16 - Rosengarten Amusensaal, Mannheim, Germany
July 18 - Festspielhalle, Baden-Baden, Germany
July 19 - Festspielplatz, Straubing, Germany
July 20 - Blue Balls Festival, Lucerne, Switzerland
July 21 - Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland.

EUGE GROOVE'S 'BORN TO GROOVE'

Euge Groove released his fifth solo album, titled Born 2 Groove, on Tuesday (June 19th). The new set consists of all-original tracks that Groove recorded with a crew of gospel-inspired musicians. The project features guest appearances by Jeffrey Osborne and one-time Temptations vocalist Ali Ollie Woodson. The project was produced by Groove with Paul Brown. Born 2 Groove is another step in the musical evolution of the saxophonist born Steve Grove, whose previous set, Just Feels Right, found him exploring the sounds and recording methods of the '70s. Groove says he has definitely evolved musically since his days as a session player and Tower Of Power horn member through his current status as a popular solo recording artist. He said: "I think I've changed tremendously and part of that is growth and hopefully having a bigger repertoire in my brain to kinda pull from. But some of that is just not being so afraid. It's like in the beginning you want to keep within the confines of what the format is doing, and now it's like: All right, I've been there, I've done the status quo thing, it's been all right, you know? I think I'm gonna be OK. Why not try to push the envelope a little bit?" Groove's first single is the title track "Born 2 Groove," which is rising into the Top 10 on the national smooth jazz airplay charts.

GRAHAM HAYNES 'FULL CIRCLE'

Since the late 80s Graham Haynes has long been known as an artist unrestrained by boundaries and styles, first experimenting with improvisation in the Five Elements and later co-creating influential group M-Base Collective with alto saxophonist Steve Coleman and world-class vocalist Cassandra Wilson. Studying music with masters from Africa, South Asia, and Europe, the son of celebrated jazz drummer Roy Haynes draws from a rich background of music adapted from his father's associations with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. Today, Graham still aspires to deconstruct jazz and twist it into a modern vehicle for musical expression.

His first album in almost seven years, Full Circle re-establishes the forward thinking Graham Haynes as a master, sculpting music to fit his artistic vision. From the rings of Haynes' cornet on the opening track "Turandot Overture and excerpt from Act III," you'll be invited to his kinetic soundscape. Haynes delivers a lush, jazzy lullaby in the form of "Circle One," where LaTanya Hall's poignant vocals, perfectly complement the soothing horns and jagged drums. Retaining the uncanny ability to meld tempos and genres while threading together a fully realized collection, he moves from powerful breakbeats in "1st Quadrant" to the calm, cushioned "Quarter Circle" with gorgeous harpsichord drips. Therein lies the formula for the entire album: a pushing and pulling at the boundaries of music while remaining balanced enough to keep listeners on their toes, hungry for more.

Graham Haynes will give a special live performance for his Full Circle record release party at Nublu, NYC Saturday 6/30.

KIRK WHALUM RECORDING NEW CD 'ROUND TRIP'

Smooth jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum is reportedly working on an album of all-new material, to be called Round Trip. The new set will be the follow-up to his Rendezvous Entertainment debut, titled Kirk Whalum Plays The Babyface Songbook. Producer Rex Rideout has been tapped to collaborate with the smooth jazz star, who has also drafted talented family members for the project. Appearing on the CD will be Kirk's bass-playing son Kyle Whalum, his uncle Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum on piano, and nephew Kenneth Whalum on saxophone. Whalum previously worked with Rideout on Forever, For Always, For Luther 2, which featured Whalum's smash version of "Give Me The Reason."

FEDERICO AUBELE BACK ON TOUR!

After a short break, Federico Aubele picks up his acoustic opening slot on Bebel Gilbertos tour. Up next are Chicago & Toronto with demand for Federico so strong that a show has been added at The Drake hotel on June 28th. Federico will close this run of tour dates with a performance at the NYC Summerstage during the Latin American Music Conference. Federicos new record, Panamericana will be released on September 18 and there will be tours of North America and Europe to follow.

Federico Aubele Acoustic Set
6/24: @ Park West, Chicago, IL (w/ Bebel Gilberto) SOLD OUT
6/27: @ Mod Club, Toronto, Ontario (w/ Bebel Gilberto) SOLD OUT
6/28: @ The Drake Hotel, Toronto, Ontario
6/30: Montreal Jazz Festival @ Salle Wilfrid Pelletier, Montreal, Quebec (w/ Skye)
7/10: @ Central Park Summerstage, New York, NY
8/18: Federico Aubele (DJ Set) @ Moorea Pool & Mix Lounge, THEHotel, Las Vegas

RHYTHM DYNAMICS CD 'JAZZ MY SOUL' CONTINUES TO CLIMB THE JAZZ CHARTS

The Jazz Explorers, "Jazz My Soul" release by Rhythm Dynamics moved to #2 on the WNMC Top 10 Jazz List for 6/1 - 6/7. The Jazz Explorers is # 7 on Top 25 Musician Profiles on allaboutjazz.com. "Jazz My Soul" moved up from #17 to #15 on the Roots Music Report Jazz Chart last week. This extraordinary project features great performances by a unique gathering of jazz legends, including George Cables, Dave Liebman, Carmen Lundy, Billy Hart, Sonny Fortune, Victor Lewis and Cecil McBee with a strong supporting cast. "Jazz My Soul" propels contemporary mainstream jazz forward with power and subtlety.
"Jazz My Soul" by The Jazz Explorers, released by Rhythm Dynamics, is receiving superb reviews.
"Tim Duffy ...a romantic, especially with Carmen Lundy's interpretation of his song, "Autumn"...a premier appearance... her embellished phrasing reminds me of the great past jazz singers, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRea and Dakota Staton...should be played over and over on those fragile late nights..." Dick Crockett, 88.7 fm Sacramento, CA

"This is one of the finest releases of 2007 .... outstanding artists ... Just fantastic!" Jacques Emond, CKCU-FM Ottawa, CA

"I have had great pleasure in playing almost every track of this superb recording on my national jazz Program "Jazz Hour" [broadcast nationally to 180 stations in Australia]...strong composition and arrangement ... superb musicianship...what a treat the two vocals by Carmen Lundy were! She is a great singer and George Cables piano is unique and full of power as usual - and originality. Thank you so much for the album which I will treasure and always add tracks to my playlist from." Barry O'Sullivan BLU FM 89.1,

"We really like this CD...You need to have this CD in your collection...Very good." Gi Dussault, Upper Room, Bridgeport, CT

"HYP-Notic, cool ...vocals that will mezmerize you into a trance. That's what this CD by Jazz Explorers is all about. The vocals by Carmen Lundy and the group will haunt you. ... The band is superb and tight. A must have!" Leon Reyes KVMR Radio 89.5 FM Nevada City/Sacramento Ca

"... highly enjoyable CD... excellent compositions and playing ... very high quality vocals from Carmen Lundy." Martin Wright, Radio 3ZZZ, AU

"Many compliments for your music... An embrace and all the best." Bruno Pollacci, ANIMAJAZZ Pisa,

"...skilled songwriting, expert soloists, relaxing yet exciting... fresh...new... jazz for the 21st century. I haven't heard anything quite like it. Superb recording quality, great production..." Rick Brunermer, Jazz Fan,

"What a great sound..." Michael Criddle OzRadio Triple H-FM AU

SMOOTH JAZZ FORMAT SWITCH AT WFMR-FM 106.9

In the city of Milwaukee's second radio format change in a week, WFMR-FM (106.9) is dumping classical music in favor of the "smooth jazz" that WJZI-FM (93.3) dropped last week.

The move marks a return to the smooth jazz format that the station now known as WFMR said it pioneered in the mid-1990s. The station hit the air in 1995 with a playlist that included David Sanborn, George Benson, Kenny G and Al Jarreau, all of whom will be featured again at the station.


Tom Joerres, president and general manager of WFMR owner Lakefront Communications L.L.C., said the decision by WJZI to drop the smooth jazz format opened the door for WFMR to return to its roots, when it went under the call letters WFMI. WFMI was forced to drop the format in 1997 after WJZI hit the air in 1996 with a noticeably stronger signal.

Last week, WJZI dumped smooth jazz for mainstream adult contemporary format that is expected to attract an "underserved" 35-54 female audience, a WJZI executive said.

Joerres said the format switch, expected to take place Monday night at midnight, will double the station's audience.

He noted that one of Wisconsin Public Radio WHAD's digital channels, which requires a special receiver to pick up, continues to broadcast 24-hour classical music.

The station also said that the Federal Communications Commission recently granted WFMR a construction permit to move its antenna from its original Menomonee Falls location to its studio and tower location on McKinley Avenue in Milwaukee. The move will not only provide high-definition, but broadcasts will be centered in the metropolitan area. The new signal is set to debut in August and will be comparable in Milwaukee to other local radio stations.

MOCEAN WORKER'S 'CINCO DE MOWO!

Cinco De Mowo! follows up Mocean Worker's (pronounced Motion Worker) 2005 release Enter The Mowo!, which has gone on to become Adam Dorn's (a.k.a. Mocean Worker) biggest record to date after having success at radio across the country. It's also where Dorn's true vision for the definitive Mocean Worker sound began to gel. Shedding the expectations of the electronica scene with which he was often associated at the outset of his career, Dorn began to more liberally embrace his jazz and funk influences, while keeping the focus on crafting songs with undeniable hooks.

On the fifth album of his career, appropriately titled Cinco De Mowo!, Adam Dorn has assembled the quintessential feel-good summer record of 2007 - already #1 on both the KCRW chart and CMJ's RPM chart, coinciding with his photo on the magazine's cover. More than just funky break beats, tunes like "Shake Ya Boogie," "Tickle It" and "Sis Boom Bah" find their way deep into the sub-conscious with melodies that reverberate long after the record has ended. In what has become the incomparable Mocean Worker sound, Dorn mixes and matches the best of modern beat-making with live musicians like trumpeters Herb Alpert ("Changes") and Steven Bernstein ("Shake Your Boogie"), bassist Marcus Miller ("Brown Liquor"), alto saxophonist Cochemea Gastelum ("Les & Eddie" and "Son of Sanford") and vocalists Morley ("I Got You") and Alana Da Fonseca ("Que Bom"). Dorn concludes: "I really just want people, all kinds of people to put this record on and have a nice time, enjoy themselves, clean their houses, drink themselves into a stupor, whatever it takes, it's all good."

ARTIST LINE-UP FOR THE 25TH SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ FESTIVAL

Randall Kline, the Executive Director of SFJAZZ--the leading non- profit jazz organization on the West Coast--today announced the complete artist line-up for the 25TH Anniversary San Francisco Jazz Festival. The Festival will begin with John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension on September 22.

The season will continue through November 30 and will include some of the most illustrious names in music, including: Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Pharoah Sanders, Ahmad Jamal, Ravi Shankar, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Caetano Veloso, Kurt Elling, Youssou N'Dour, Dr. John, Isaac Delgado, Fred Hersch, Jacky Terrasson, Kronos Quartet with Glenn Kotche, Jason Moran, and this year's Beacon Award Winner, Pete Escovedo and his Latin Jazz Orchestra.

Over 25 years, the San Francisco Jazz Festival has grown from a three-day event called ”Jazz in the City,” to a year-round, internationally recognized celebration of jazz. The Festival's 25TH Anniversary season commemorates years of unforgettable performances with a schedule that touches on highlights from the past quarter-century while pointing the way ahead to many more years of music. With over 30 world-class artists from every corner of the globe presented at San Francisco's most revered venues, this fall will be a delight for music fans of every stripe.

“The 25th Anniversary season is an opportunity to revisit favorite artists while presenting the Festival debut of some exciting new talents,” said SFJAZZ Executive Director Randall Kline. “All these artists, whether established or on the cutting edge, are at the forefront of their respective musics.”

For the 25TH Anniversary, SFJAZZ is presenting special “encore performances” by Festival veterans including Ornette Coleman (10/28), Dee Dee Bridgewater (10/19), Caetano Veloso (11/17), Ahmad Jamal (10/21), Herbie Hancock (11/10) and more.

SFJAZZ is proud to present the world premiere of “New Work” by the special pairing of the Kronos Quartet with Wilco percussionist Glenn Kotche (10/25-26); the West Coast premiere of the SFJAZZ/Duke University commissioned multimedia work “In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall 1959” by pianist Jason Moran (11/2); a “New Work Showcase” by the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra and the Jon Jang Seven (10/19); and the new major work from Grammy-nominated percussionist John Santos, “Traditions in Transition”--a suite exploring the past, present, and future of Afro-Latin music--created in collaboration with SFJAZZ's own High School All-Stars, and joined by special guests (11/11).

Over the years, SFJAZZ has been known and lauded for its unique musical pairings and thematic presentations. This Festival is no exception with offerings that include “New Orleans on Nob Hill” with Dr. John, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Big Chief Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias (10/27); “Ritmo Latino” with the Conga Kings: Candido, Patato and Giovanni Hidalgo (11/9); a piano double bill with Herbie Hancock and Gonzalo Rubalcaba (11/10); Dutch supergroup Willem Breuker Kollektief in “Live Jazz + Silent Film: Faust” (10/31); a coda to the Spring Season Monk Tribute with “Monk's Music” featuring T.S. Monk Sextet and Monk's Music Trio (10/24); and Dorado Schmitt's Django Reinhardt Festival Band with Cuban clarinetist and saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera (11/4).

Vocal talents in the San Francisco Jazz Festival include Grammy-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater (10/19); a double bill with Grammy-winner Kurt Elling and Nancy King (11/10); rising star singers Jacqui Naylor and Spencer Day (11/3); and “World Voices” including Cape Verdean singer Sara Tavares (10/21); Brazilian superstar Caetano Veloso (11/17); Senegalese master Youssou N'Dour (11/30); Portugese chanteuse Cristina Branco (11/11); and a special winter concert with legendary Israeli vocalist Chava Alberstein (12/9).

Always on the lookout for new talent, this Festival presents up-and-coming artists on the national and international scene including a double bill of cutting-edge groups Happy Apple and Kneebody (11/7); saxophonist Anat Cohen (10/27); and Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen (11/4).

Each fall, SFJAZZ honors a member of our community who has played a vital role in preserving the traditions and fostering the growth of jazz in the Bay Area. The 2007 honoree, legendary percussionist Pete Escovedo, is an exemplar of everything the Beacon award stands for. He will lead his Latin Jazz Orchestra with Special Guests for the SFJAZZ Beacon Award concert on October 27.

One of the many benefits of SFJAZZ Membership is unparalleled access to the music and musicians. The 2007 Spring Season continues this tradition with a variety of exciting SFJAZZ Members-Only events and other special perks: Tuesday, September 18, 6PM, “Coltrane: The Story of a Sound” Listening Party with New York Times critic Ben Ratliff, held on the release date of Ratliff's book of the same title. Sunday, October 28, 2PM, Jacky Terrasson, solo piano.

SFJAZZ, in addition to being the largest non-profit jazz presenter on the West Coast, is a year-round education organization that offers a dynamic and innovative array of artistic and educational programs in the concert hall, classroom, and community. This spring, SFJAZZ offers the following education programs in connection with the SFJAZZ Spring Season.

* “Inside Jazz”presentations are pre-concert talks taking place one hour before curtain time at selected concerts. They are led by jazz artists, scholars, and industry professionals and are free to ticket holders for the event to follow and offer insight and appreciation of selected concerts and films.

* SFJAZZ Family Matinees are discount-priced afternoon performances featuring artists in shorter programs that give families with children a chance to experience world class music first-hand. See ticket order form for pricing.

* SFJAZZ Discover Jazz: History & Appreciation Course is a weekly evening music appreciation course for adults offering entertaining, informative insights into jazz music, history and culture.

SFJAZZ, now in its 25th year, is the largest non-profit presenter of jazz in the western United States. SFJAZZ presents over 100 concerts a year to over 100,000 fans and is dedicated to advancing the art form of jazz and cultivating new jazz audiences through artistic and education programming, including: The San Francisco Jazz Festival, SFJAZZ Spring Season, SFJAZZ Collective, SFJAZZ Summerfest, SFJAZZ Education and SFJAZZ Membership.

VANESSA WILLIAMS CONCERT TO OFFER INTIMATE EVENING TO FANS

New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Vanessa Williams are offering a spectacular evening to a limited number of fans through an exclusive online promotion for her July 22, 2007 concert at NJPAC: One ticket holder will win the Ultimate Vanessa Williams Fan Pack: Two backstage passes, access to Vanessa's pre-show sound check and dinner for two at NJPAC's Theater Square Grill. Additionally, five non-ticket holders will each win An Intimate Evening with Vanessa Williams, which includes a pair of premium ticket seats and backstage passes to meet the singer/actress/Broadway star.

To enter visit http://www.meetvanessa.com, http://www.myspace.com/newjerseyPAC or Vanessa Williams' MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/175437040 between 12:00:00 AM Eastern Time ("ET") on 6/16/07 and 11:59:59 PM ET on 7/10/07 and complete the official entry form. Entrants must submit a short essay of no more than 100 words explaining why they should meet Vanessa. There is a limit of one entry per person/household/email address for the duration of the promotion period; multiple entries from any one person, household or email address will void all but the initial entry. Winners will be selected from among all valid entries received in a random drawing held 7/11/07 by Meetvanessa.com. Winners will be notified by phone and posted on Meetvanessa.com and Vanessa Williams' and NJPAC's official MySpace pages.

JEFF KASHIWA TO RELEASE 'PLAY'- TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Smooth Jazz saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa has a new album coming out on July 31 that will feature 12 new tracks. The CD is entitled Play. Kashiwa is currently on the road and will be appearing at the following venues:

6/23/2007 City Of Southfield Civic Center in Detroit The Sax Pack
6/24/2007 City Of Southfield Civic Center Detroit The Rippingtons Reunion Band
6/30/2007 Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center Redondo Beach Coastal Access
7/4/2007 Fourth of Jul-Ivar's Celebration Seattle Coastal Access
7/13/2007 House of Blues Dallas The Rippingtons Reunion Band
7/14/2007 One World Theater Austin The Rippingtons Reunion Band
8/1/2007 Spirit Cruise New York City The Rippingtons Reunion Band
8/2/2007 The Birchmere Alexandria The Rippingtons Reunion Band
8/3/2007 Summer Nights Series @ Penn's Landing Philadelphia Ken Navarro
8/4/2007 IMAC Theater Huntington The Rippingtons Reunion Band
8/12/2007 Long Beach Jazz Festival Long Beach The Sax Pack
8/16/2007 Scullers Boston The Rippingtons Reunion Band
8/17/2007 Scullers Boston The Rippingtons Reunion Band
8/18/2007 Scullers Boston The Rippingtons Reunion Band
8/24/2007 Chastain Park Atlanta The Rippingtons Reunion Band
8/25/2007 Icicle Ridge Winery Leavenworth The Northwest All Star Band
9/14/2007 Hyatt Newporter Newport Beach The Rippingtons Reunion Band
9/15/2007 Mablehouse-Barnes Amphitheater Mableton The Sax Pack
9/16/2007 Thorton Winery Temecula The Rippingtons Reunion Band
9/23/2007 Jazz'Salive! San Antonio The Rippingtons Reunion Band
9/28/2007 Lyman Center New Haven The Sax Pack
9/29/2007 IMAC Theater Huntington The Sax Pack
10/13/2007 San Bernadino County Fair in Victorville The Rippingtons Reunion Band

THE WQCD 101.9 FM SMOOTH JAZZ SHOWS

WQCD (101.9 FM) today launches an ambitious summer schedule featuring "40 shows in 80 days." They are spread over several programs, including the "Smooth Cruise" series that starts tonight and runs Wednesdays through Aug. 29. The cruises leave at 6:30 and 9:30 from Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers, and tonight's artist is Down to the Bone. Call Spirit Cruises at (866) 211-3812.The CD101.9 concert series at Jones Beach starts June 28 and runs Thursdays at 8 p.m. through Aug. 30. They're free. The "After Work Free Jazz" series starts July 6 and continues every Friday, 5-8 p.m., through September at Moda, 135 W. 52nd St. These are also free. The year-round Sunday Brunch series continues through the summer at Moda, noon-2 p.m., and the season ends with the Liberty Jazz Festival, Sept. 8-9 at Liberty State Park.

CHUCK LOEB JOINS 'REUNION' ON EUROPEAN TOUR

Chuck Loeb is headed to Europe for a series of concerts as part of the band REUNION, which includes: Jim Beard (piano, keyboards), Till Brönner (trumpet, vocals), Dennis Chambers (drums), Tim Lefebvre (bass), and Eric Marienthal (sax). At four of the concerts, we will be joined by my long-time friend and very special guest, Michael Franks. The dates and cities are as follows;

June 27 Tiblisi, Georgia
June 29 Rheingau, Germany
June 30 Ludwigshaffen, Germany
July 01 Zurich, Switzerland (tentative)
July 03 Munich, Germany
July 05 Canaries, Spain with special guest Michael Franks
July 06 Canaries, Spain with special guest Michael Franks
July 07 San Javier, Spain with special guest Michael Franks
July 10 Madrid, Spain with special guest Michael Franks
July 12 Villingen, Germany
July 13 Almunecar (near Malaga), Spain
July 14 Rotterdam, Holland (North Sea Jazz)
July 15 Hamburg, Germany

After he returns from Europe, Loeb will be playing some dates as part of the group Metro, which also will include Wolfgang Haffner (drums), Tim Lefebvre (bass), and Mitchell Forman (keys). Details to follow. Then later in the summer, he'll be going back to Europe as part of a jazz trio that includes with Wolfgang Haffner (drums), and Dieter Ilg (bass). They will be playing at a wonderful place in Berlin called the A-Train.

14th INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL JAZZ FESTIVAL

Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the International Istanbul Jazz Festival will take place July 3 - 18 this year. Generously sponsored by GARANTİ BANK, the Istanbul Jazz Festival will present 40 concerts and host more than 200 artists.


NORAH JONES AT ISTANBUL JAZZ FESTIVAL
One of the most popular female singers of our times, Norah Jones is coming to Turkey for the jazz festival right after releasing her latest album "Not Too Late." Jones will be on stage at the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre on the evening of August 1, Wednesday.

A SPECIAL "EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB"
This year, the
International Istanbul Jazz Festival introduces an important novelty: In the heart of Istanbul, a very special and unique venue will be converted into a jazz club! The garden of the French Cultural Center at the entrance to İstiklal Street in Beyoğlu will house the European Jazz Club - one of the most beautiful festival spots. It is also the intention of the European Jazz Club to build a platform for European and Turkish artists to perform together at the threshold of 2010 when Istanbul will be the European Capital of Culture. It is highly probable that, after the concerts in the European Jazz Club, the night will continue with fascinating jam sessions.

The first concert in the European Jazz Club will be by one of Turkey's best jazz vocalists Sibel Köse and her group on July 4, Wednesday at 22.00. They will be accompanied by the world-renowned Dutch pianist Michiel Borstlap.

With their album "5 O'clock Tea" released last year, South Maxico became a big success in Switzerland and Europe. This year, they will be the second guest at the European Jazz Club on July 7, Saturday at 22.00. The experienced jazz guitarist Max Schultz is leading the quartet. The group also features a Turkish musician on percussion: Mehmet İkiz.

"The major common denominator of Turkish music and jazz can be improvisation." This is the idea on which The Bosporus Project work to mix the Istanbul-origin Turkish music with jazz. At their concert on July 10, Tuesday at 22.00 the band will be accompanied by one of the most prominent French jazz musicians of the tenor sax, Stéphane Spira.

The last concert at the European Jazz Club will be by one of Turkey's best musicians, Selçuk Sun on July 13, Friday at 22.00. In this very distinctive concert, Sun will be accompanied by Bodil Niska, the esteemed Norwegian tenor sax player.

ROBERT PLANT & THE STRANGE SENSATION - FROM ROCK TO WORLD MUSIC
One of the guests of this year's jazz festival will be the legendary Robert Plant. The voice of the celebrated rock group Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant will meet festival-goers at the Open Air Theatre, July 4, Wednesday at 21.30. Plant is a must-see with his powerful voice and stage performance that is reminiscent of his early years.

BOB DYLAN CLASSICS FROM BRYAN FERRY
Seven years later, Bryan Ferry is once again at Istanbul Jazz Festival! Ferry will be performing at the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre stage on July 5, Thursday at 21.00. Ferry will perform songs from his new album: "Dylansque". The album features some of the most beautiful interpretations of Dylan classics such as "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", "Times They Are A-Changin" and "Positively 4th Street".

THE UNFORGETTABLE VOICE OF THE BEE GEES: ROBIN GIBB
One of the most important concerts of the festival this year is that of the Bee Gees' soloist Robin Gibb. Gibb will be presenting a very special project on July 10, Tuesday at 21.00 at the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre. Organised in memory of the world famous producer, Arif Mardin, and Ahmet Ertegün, the concert of Robin Gibb will feature the most loved Bee Gees classics, as well as the Gibb's solo songs from his singular musical career.

A MODERN REPRESENTATIVE OF THE "BIG BAND" TRADITION: JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA & WYNTON MARSALIS
Another must-see of the festival is the concert by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra conducted by Wynton Marsalis on July 11, Wednesday at 21.00 at Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre. The orchestra is one of the most prominent followers of the Big Band tradition with their varied approach to jazz. Currently, Wynton Marsalis is the art director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and with his technical wisdom and deep knowledge of classical jazz, surprises the audiences with a different and modern style as can be seen in his latest album, "From The Plantation to the Penitentiary".

MICHAEL BOLTON SINGS SINATRA
Almost 53 million copies of his albums were sold to date. He received countless musical awards - this alone sums up the musical career of Michael Bolton and makes him one of the most prominent pop stars. However, he will be presenting his latest project "Bolton Swings Sinatra" at the Istanbul concert. Bolton will be playing and singing classics from the legendary Frank Sinatra at Sepetçiler Kasrı on July 3, Tuesday at 22.00.

TOGETHER AGAIN AFTER MANY YEARS: JOE SAMPLE TRIO & RANDY CRAWFORD
A major jazz/funk band of the 70s, The Crusaders' famous "Street Life" brought these two musicians together for the first time. Randy Crawford and Joe Sample come together once again 30 years after the release of this album! Crawford and Sample will meet jazz-lovers at Esma Sultan Yalısı on July 12, Thursday at 22.00 for a night full of jazz, R&B, soul, pop and latin music.

SPIKE LEE AND TERENCE BLANCHARD
"The Jazz under The Stars" series will be hosting world famous trumpet player
Terence Blanchard and director Spike Lee on July 17, Tuesday on the Sepetçiler Kasrı stage at 22.00. Already staged in London, New York and Chicago, "The Movie Music of Spike Lee & Terence Blanchard" concerts made a big hit wherever they appeared. Visiting Istanbul for the first time, this project is an awe-inspiring concert experience featuring the famous trumpet player Terence Blanchard - known for his film scores, his band and a chamber orchestra of 20 musicians. The host of the night will be Spike Lee.

ALTERNATIVE SOUNDS AT THE "NEW FOLKS SERIES" OF THE FESTIVAL
BLONDE REDHEAD AT THE ISTANBUL MODERN
One of the leading alternative rock bands of our day, Blonde Redhead have after each album added to their fans a plethora of devoted audiences. Renowned with albums with striking names as "Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons" and "Misery Is A Butterfly" and songs such as "Elephant Woman" and "Falling Man", the band made a big success with their latest album "23" released this year. Blonde Redhead will be performing on July 3, Tuesday at 21.30 at the Istanbul Modern Sculpture Garden.

TWO MAGICAL SOUNDS : "ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS" AND JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
Istanbul will host two magical sounds at the most vital concert of the New Folks section of the Jazz Festival on July 8, Sunday. The star of the night will be Antony & The Johnsons who won Great Britain's most prominent contemporary music award, the Mercury Award in 2005. Famous with Antony Hegarty's unique and alluring voice, the band is one of the best and most original catches of the recent years. Hegarty's charming voice is often compared to Aaron Neville, Nina Simone and Bryan Ferry. Before the concert of Antony & The Johnsons, song and lyrics writer José González who is most loved in Turkey with his singles "Heartbeats" and "Crosses" will take the stage at 20.00.

DOWN TO THE BONE - SUPERCHARGED

Led by Stuart Wade, Down To The Bone's music has been irresistible from the start with its critically acclaimed 1997 debut, Manhattan to Staten. Its five succeeding discs proved it to be one of the most enthralling and consistently hard-hitting bands to emerge out of the U.K.'s jazz-funk scene. Following their recent Best Of album, Supercharged - Down to the Bone's seventh original album - the band pulls off the uncanny feat of simultaneously beefing up its sonic palette, while retaining its raw intensity. In lesser hands, the addition of the three horns (here, billed as the D.C. Horns) to support Paul "Shilts" Weimar's scalding tenor saxophone riffs and melodies would extinguish the group's energetic groove. But the rhythmic engine of drummer Adam Riley, alternating bassists Richard Sadler and Julian Crampton, and guitarist Tony Remy keeps the fire burning.

Supercharged packs a punch from beginning to end. While echoes of Sly & the Family Stone, Maceo Parker, Tower of Power, Cold Blood, Booker T. & the MGs, and the Average White Band permeate the disc, Down To The Bone remains true to its signature sound with all-out funk grooves. Corrina Greyson and returning collaborator, Hil St. Soul lend their voices on the contagious, mid-tempo groove "Smile to Shine" and the more aggressive romp, "Shake It Up." The one track that demands immediate attention is "Electric Vibes," featuring legendary vibraphonist Roy Ayers, whom Wade says that it was a lifetime dream to finally collaborate with. "Ayers is linked with practically every funk movement in the U.K. since the '70s," Wade claims. "There's a whole new generation in London, mainly the broken beat cats, who do soul music -- people like I.G. Culture, Kaidi Tatham, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Daz-I-Kue." On Supercharged, Wade takes the group's powerful sound to a funkier destination with an expanded roster of talented musicians at the helm.

AL GREEN TO MAKE FIRST APPEARANCE AT 30th ANNUAL FREIHOFER'S JAZZ FESTIVAL

Legendary soul singer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer among major jazz artists
that will perform on Amphitheatre Main Stage

Legendary soul and gospel singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Al Green will make his first appearance at the 30th Annual Freihofer's Jazz Festival at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Sunday, June 24. Green, whose career spans four decades, is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest soul singers of our time.

Green became a household name in the 1970s after a number of celebrated hits including, "Let's Stay Together" and "I'm Still in Love with You," topped the charts. In the ensuing years, Green had seven number one albums and 16 Top 10 singles in the US alone. Yet, at the height of his career, personal tragedy propelled Green into ministry - a commitment that would take him away from R&B and popular music for many years.

In the 1990's Green re-emerged on the music scene, enjoying successful collaborations with popular contemporary singers like Annie Lennox and Lyle Lovett, and renewed interest in his music as a result of its use in film and television scores. In 1995 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Today, Green is an ordained minister who divides his time between his church in Memphis and concert tours that take him around the world. Currently celebrating the 40th anniversary of his soul career, Green will be touring Europe and North America throughout 2007.

Other headliners scheduled to perform on SPAC's main Amphitheatre stage during the Festival include:

- George Benson, the eight-time Grammy Award-winning singer/guitarist/songwriter who was part of the first Jazz Festival at SPACin 1978

- Neo-classic soul artist and two-time Grammy-winner India.Arie whose 2006 album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship went gold just weeks after its release
master jazz fusion violinist and pioneer

- Jean-Luc Ponty who will perform selections from his critically acclaimed new release the Acatama Experience

- Veteran alto sax master and contemporary/smooth jazz artist David Sanborn making his 10th festival appearance

- The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band featuring Slide Hampton, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Roy Hargrove and vocalist Roberta Gambarini in a performance paying tribute to Dizzy Gillespie's 1978 festival performance

A unique feature of the Freihofer's Jazz Festival tradition is the Gazebo stage. Strategically located on SPAC's back lawn, the gazebo serves as a showcase for emerging talents across the jazz spectrum and a space that allows fans a more up-close musical experience.

Artists scheduled to appear on the Gazebo stage at this year's Festival include:

- Jazz virtuoso saxophone and clarinet player Anat Cohen
- Holistic New African soul-jazz singer Somi
- Vocalist Sachal Vasandani whose recently released debut album has earned critical raves
- Bassist, singer and composer Esperanza Spalding
- Jazz drummer Carl Allen who will also be appearing on the main stage with his band New Spirit

Also appearing on the gazebo stage for the first time will be Hayes Greenfield & Jazz-a-ma-Tazz. Designed to be a fun, educational and interactive music performance for children, Hayes and his band introduce elements of the jazz experience including call and response, scat singing, dancing and interpretive sound. Participation by the audience is a central feature of the program.

"As the Freihofer's Jazz Festival celebrates a milestone thirty years, we are proud to celebrate that wonderful history with a host of jazz artists who collectively represent the full, rich spectrum of the jazz tradition. From timeless talents like Al Green, George Benson and Jean-Luc Ponty to new artists like Sachal Vasandani, Somi and many other up-and-comers who are moving jazz in exciting new directions, this year's Festival will be a showcase for the music and the artists who've expanded the vocabulary of modern jazz," said Marcia J. White, SPAC President and Executive Director.

WJZI SMOOTH 93.3 MILWAUKEE SWITCHES FORMATS

After 11 years of Smooth Jazz, WJZI-FM (Smooth 93.3)/Milwaukee flips to a
mainstream Adult Contemporary (AC) format. The move fills a void in the market since the demise of Asult Contemporary. WLTQ in 2003 where WJZI PD Stan Atkinson held programming reins for six years. Atkinson moves from nights to mornings with 20-year market vet Ellen Stout beginning June 25. Milwaukee Radio Alliance VP/GM Bill Hurwitz said, "There's an opportunity to attract the underserved 35-54 female audience, and we have in Stan Atkinson someone who can not only program to attract and retain listeners but also a talent who can entertain."


"Ellen and I will have good, clean fun in the morning... a station you can
tune to with kids in the car, and not worry about what we'll say next,"
added Atkinson. "We have the most talented, notable females in the market,
and they'll be anchoring all prime dayparts." 11-year market vet Julie Davidson joins for middays, and Patti Genko will handle afternoons. Terry Love rounds out the roster in nights.

TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS TOUR DATES

Toots & The Maytals will perform the following concerts:
June 9 - Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett NY
June 13 - Recher Theatre, Towson MD
June 15 - International Jazz Festival, Rochester NY
July 15 – GuilFest, Guildford UK
July 18 – Picturedrome, Holmfirth UK
July 22 - Victoria Park, London UK
August 8 - Tweeter Center, Camden NJ
August 10 - Post-Gazette Pavilion, Burgettstown PA
August 11 - Nissan Pavilion, Bristow VA
August 14 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs NY
August 15 - Virginia Beach Amphitheatre, Virginia Beach VA
August 17 - Greek Theatre, Los Angeles CA
August 18 - Viejas Concerts in the Park, Alpine CA
August 19 - Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheatre, Tucson AZ
August 21 - Sandia Casino Amphitheater, Albuquerque NM
January 4 - Jam Cruise, Ft. Lauderdale FL
January 5 – Jam Cruise, Ft. Lauderdale FL
January 6 – Jam Cruise, Ft. Lauderdale Fl
January 7 – Jam Cruise, Ft. Lauderdale FL
January 8 – Jam Cruise, Ft. Lauderdale FL
January 9 – Jam Cruise, Ft. Lauderdale FL

DIANA KRALL TOUR DATES

Diana Krall will perform the following concerts:
June 8 - Yoshi's, Oakland CA
June 9 – Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA
June 14 - Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas NV
June 15 – Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV
June 16 – Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV
June 17 – Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV
June 19 - Wente Vineyards, Livermore CA
June 20 - Mountain Winery, Saratoga CA
June 21 – Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA
June 24 - Wells Fargo Center, Santa Rosa CA
July 7 - Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City NJ
July 8 - New Jersey PAC, Newark NY
July 9 - Constellation PAC, Canandaigua NY
July 10 - Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence RI
July 12 - Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford CT
July 13 - Cape Code Melody Tent, Hyannis MA
July 14 - Bank of America Pavilion, Boston MA
July 16 - Wolf Trap, Vienna VA
July 18 - Chastain Park, Atlanta GA
July 19 - Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville TN
July 21 - Fox Theater, Detroit MI
August 7 - Les Schwab Amphitheater, Bend OR
August 8 - Cuthbert Amphitheatre, Eugene OR
August 9 - Keller Auditorium, Portland OR
August 11 - Chateau Ste. Marie, Woodinville WA
August 12 – Chateua Ste. Marie, Woodinville, WA
August 14 - Harvey's Outdoor Amphitheatre, Stateline NV
August 15 - Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco CA
August 17 - Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles CA
August 18 – Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
August 19 - Santa Barbara County Bowl, Santa Barbara CA
August 21 - Pechanga Casino, Temecula CA
August 22 – Bayside, San Diego CA
August 23 - Dodge Theater, Phoenix AZ
August 26 - Georgia O'Keefe Museum, Santa Fe NM
August 27 - Red Rocks, Morrison CO
August 28 - Santa Fe Opera House, Santa Fe NM
August 29 - Fox Theatre, St. Louis MO
August 31 - Riverside Theater, Milwaukee WI
September 2 – Ravinia, Highland Park IL
September 22 - Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey CA

NORAH JONES & ORNETTE COLEMAN TOPLINE GASTEIZ JAZZ FESTIVAL

Composer, singer and pianist Norah Jones, jazz innovator Ornette Coleman, film director Spike Lee and Spain's Niño Josele and Buika will be the main attraction of the 31st Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival de Jazz, being held in the Basque city from July 15th to 21st. For one week a year Vitoria-Gasteiz takes over the baton of New Orleans and becomes the world-wide capital of jazz. The Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival celebrates its 31st festival in 2007 and it is the most prestigious jazz festival in Spain. Over the years, many important artists have appeared for the first time in Spain at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, and they include Bobby McFerrin, Roy Hardgrove, Madeleine Peyroux, and Jamie Cullum, among many others. Sonny Rollins and Wynton Marsalis were the last big stars to come to Vitoria-Gasteiz, and the city commemorated Marsalis’ stay with a statue of the man himself in the Paseo de la Florida, and he paid homage to the city performing for the first time a musical suite dedicated to Vitoria-Gasteiz.

CHICAGO TOUR DATES

Chicago will perform the following concerts:
June 6 - Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa FL
June 8 – BJCC, Birmingham AL
June 9 - Botanic Gardens, Memphis TN
June 10 - Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta GA
June 12 - Filene Center, Vienna VA
June 13 - Bank of America Pavilion, Boston MA
June 14 - Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville CT
June 16 - Bethel Woods Center, Bethel NY
June 17 - Tweeter Center, Camden NJ
June 19 - Casino Rama, Rama ON
June 20 – Casino Rama, Rama ON
June 22 - Jones Beach, Wantagh NY
June 23 - PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel NJ
June 24 - Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City NJ
June 26 - Riverbend Music Centre, Cincinnati OH
June 28 - Post-Gazette Pavilion, Pittsburgh PA
June 29 - DTE Energy Theatre, Detroit MI
June 30 - Charter One Pavilion, Chicago IL
July 3 - Zoo Amphitheatre, Oklahoma City OK
July 6 - Sleep Train Amphitheatre, Concord CA
July 7 - Greek Theatre, Los Angeles CA
July 8 - Open Air Theatre, San Diego CA
July 19 - Rock Fest, Farwell MI
July 20 - Great Jones Fair, Monticello IA
July 21 – RockFest, Cadott WI
July 22 - RockFest in Farwell MI
July 23 - Porter County Fair, Valparaiso IN
July 24 - Elkhart County Fair, Goshen IN
July 27 - Navy Concert, Norfolk VA
July 28 - Innsbrook Pavilion, Richmond VA
July 29 - Booth Amphitheatre, Cary NC
August 1 – Biltmore, Asheville NC
August 3 - Beau Rivage, Biloxi MS
August 4 – Beau Rivage, Biloxi MS
August 17 - Casablanca Casino, Mesquite NV
August 18 - Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas NV
August 19 - Peppermill Casino, Wendover NV
August 21 - Breeden Fieldhouse, Bozeman MT
August 23 - Spirit Mountain Casino, Grande Ronde OR
August 24 - Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights WA
August 25 - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville WA
August 26 – Chateua Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville WA
August 29 - Britt Pavilions, Jacksonville OR
August 31 - Mountain Winery, Saratoga CA
September 1 – Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA
September 2 - California State Fair, Sacramento CA
September 6 - East Idaho State Fair, Blackfoot ID
September 7 - Rock Jam, Grand Junction CO
September 9 - Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson KS
September 11 - Clay County Fair, Spencer IA

BOZ SCAGGS TOUR DATES

Boz Scaggs will perform the following concerts:
July 7 - Radisson Hotel, Sacramento CA
July 8 - Grand Sierra Resort, Reno NV
July 10 - Wells Fargo Center, Santa Rosa CA
July 13 - Mountain Winery, Saratoga CA
July 14 – Mountain Winery, Saratoga CA
July 17 - Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim CA
July 18 - Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay, San Diego CA
July 20 - Canyon Club, Agoura Hills CA
July 21 - House of Blues, Las Vegas NV
July 24 - Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis MA
July 27 - Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City NJ
July 28 - North Fork Theatre, Westbury NY

LEGACY OF SOUL SINGER OTIS REDDING TO BE COMMEMORATED IN 2007

December 10, 2007 will mark the 40th Anniversary of the death of legendary soul singer, Otis Redding. Ranked # 21 on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artist of All Time" list, Redding emerged onto the music scene in the early 1960's, quickly establishing himself as a superstar artist and savvy businessman. In just a few years, he amassed a string of timeless hits, such as "I've Been Loving You Too Long," "Satisfaction," "Try a Little Tenderness," and "Respect," that would crossover into the mainstream, establish him as an international celebrity and strongly influence artists of all genres for generations to come. "Respect," which Redding penned in 1965, was a Top 10 hit for him and later became a # 1 smash for Aretha Franklin in 1967. It remains one of the most well-loved and recognizable songs of all time.

Tragically and way before his time, Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash in December, 1967 at the youthful age of 26, leaving his wife, Zelma and three children to mourn his death. Although he was very young at the time of his passing, Redding had already made an enormous impact on the music industry. He had released numerous hit albums and smash singles before his death and "Sittin on the Dock of the Bay," released posthumously, became his 17th straight hit, first million-seller and one of
his most popular songs.

On May 11th of this year, Otis Redding was inducted into the famed Hollywood's Rock Walk, along with The Mamas & The Papas and Al Kooper. This prestigious honor serves as the perfect commencement to a number of events the Redding family is presenting in 2007 to celebrate what would have been his 66th birthday on September 9th, to commemorate the anniversary of his passing and to recognize the outstanding legacy of his career.

First in the series of festivities will be a week-long tribute in Redding's hometown, Macon GA, celebrating the anniversary of Redding's September birthday. These events include a concert, An Evening of R-E-S-P-E- C-T, on September 14th. The concert will showcase Redding's sons Dexter and Otis III, The Macon Symphony Orchestra and other celebrity artists and will benefit THE BIG "O" YOUTH EDUCATIONAL DREAM FOUNDATION.

The foundation, which was established by Redding's widow, Zelma Redding, was created to empower youth to remain confident, motivated and interested in education through music and arts programs. It was always a personal mission of Redding's to encourage young people to stay in school. Before his passing, he had developed programs to be held at his ranch where he invited people from all areas of the music industry to lecture to children on the importance of education and learning. Of her husband's efforts, Zelma Redding says, "Otis would tell me," 'If it takes music to get the
attention of these young people, then let's educate them through music.'

Coinciding with the musical tribute will be the unveiling of Otis Redding: I've Got Dreams to Remember, a special exhibition at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon. The exhibit features behind-the-scenes photographs taken by a wide range of noted professionals in the U.S. and in France. In addition, more than 175 artifacts vividly tell the story of Redding's rise to stardom, including rare, hand-written song lyrics,posters, letters and promotional memorabilia. The exhibition is on display

September 14, 2007 through September 10, 2008 and is curated by Ellen Fleurov, president of Crossroads Traveling Exhibition, Atlanta, and a nationally recognized independent scholar, writer and curator. The exhibit will travel across the U.S. throughout 2008 and 2009 and there are plans to present An Evening of Respect in other cities. These and other to-be-announced commemorations are being made possible with gracious support from various companies and organizations who are helping the
Redding Family keep the legacy of Otis Redding alive.

2007 TD CANADA ATLANTIC JAZZ FESTIVAL, 21st EDITION

Organizers have announced the headline roster for the 21st Atlantic Jazz Festival, slated to run this year from July 13 to 21 in Halifax. Scheduled to take place in a variety of venues throughout the city, headliners announced this past Wednesday include guitarist Bill Frisell and his trio of Joey Baron and Tony Scheer, Jerry Granelli’s V16 combo, South African trumpet legend Hugh Masakela, and 2007 Juno Award winner Jon Ballantyne.

For blues fans are the Downchild Blues Band, and slide guitarist Ellen McIlwaine with tabla player Cassius Khan. For Latin music lovers are East Coast groups HavanaFax (opening for Masakela), Salsa Picante (with Toronto world soul group Mr. Something Something), and El Viento Flamenco with Gypsophilia. Avant garde acts will include keyboardist Andy Milne with saxophonist Dani Oore, and music/spoken word quartet Language Arts, while the acoustic series will feature saxophonists David Mott and Kirk MacDonald, and cellist Matt Brubeck with pianist David Braid. The Jazz Sub-Pop-Terranean Series presents Montreal improv instrumental trio Torngat; Tallboys, the Brubeck collaboration with guitarist Kevin Breit and drummer Jesse Stewart; and UK sound artist Max Tundra.

Among the headliners for The Late Night Series are Canadian keyboard giant Doug Riley, Paul Cram’s Guerrilla Vacation, Montreal pianist Marianne Trudel, and Montreal saxophonist Christine Jensen’ and her quartet. Local music showcases include a CD launch by veteran bassist Jamie Gatti, the all-star collaboration TONIC, and Doris Mason’s Ella Fitzgerald Tribute.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ATLANTIC JAZZ FESTIVAL 2007
Friday July 13: Bill Frisell with Joey Baron & Tony Scherr, Jerry Granelli’s V16
Saturday July 14: Mamani Keita & Nicholas Rapac, Louis Mhlanga, Kojo, Zumbi, Ellen Mcilwaine, Torngat, CMW Faculty Concert

Sunday July 15: Slavic Soul Party, Hylozoists, Synchronics, Dave James’ Jazz Hoods, Paul Cram’s Guerilla Vacation, Bill Brennan, Roy Patterson

Monday July 16: Hugh Masakela, Havanafax, Clas Larsson, Jamie Gatti CD Release, See Through Trio, Andy Milne & Jon Ballantyne, Horsepower Blues, Brandi Disterheft Trio

Tuesday July 17: Downchild Blues Band, Morgan Davis, Shirley Jackson & Good Rockin’ Daddies, Tonic, Andy Milne & Dani Oore, Marianne Trudel & Richard Whiteman, Uncle Fester & Fresh Kils’ Tonic Remixed, Doug Riley Quintet

Wednesday July 18: Beyond the Pale, Talhambra, KC and the Sunshine Men, Scott ‘n’ the Rocks, Doris Mason’s Ella Fitzgerald Tribute, Language Arts, Christine Jensen Quartet, Brubeck/Braid, Barry Romberg’s Random Access Quartet, Tonic

Thursday July 19: Salsa Picante, Mr. Something Something, Tom Daniels, Sillan & Young, Simon Fisk, Dan Weiss Trio, V16 / Sanctuary, Tallboys, Doug Riley Quintet

Friday July 20: Canefire, Afromusica, Los Primos Big Band, Holly Carr / Men With Gloves, Andy Cragg Nonet, Barriomatic Trust, Murley/Davidson/Braid Quintet, Joel Harrison & Harvest, Max Tundra, V16

Saturday July 21: Gypsophilia, El Viento Flamenco, Tuesday Night Big Band, Chebucto Big Band, Big Valley Swing Orchestra, Tthunderbolts, CMW Showcase with Howard Levy / Greg Amirault Quartet, Soul Jazz Orchestra & People Project
for more information visit www.jazzeast.com

ELDAR RE-IMAGINATION

"Eldar has the fastest hands in jazz...melds Russian soul (in the ballads) with American razzle-dazzle." -- Billboard

Jazz pianist Eldar documents his transition from youthful prodigy to creative artist with the release of re-imagination. Born and raised in Russia, Eldar's mother nurtured his burgeoning talent and he soon became a student of the classical Russian School of Music where he refined his technique. However, it was when his father introduced him to jazz legends Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock that he "fell in love with jazz for life." From the age of nine, Eldar's awards and accolades accumulated and peaked with a performance at the Grammy Awards in 2000 and a first place recipient award in the Peter Nero Piano Competition. His previous album, 2006's Live At The Blue Note, cemented Eldar as one of the most formidable jazz musicians of his generation.

On re-imagination, Eldar explores in-depth compositions by reflecting on people, places and events in his life. He conceived the project as a pseudo suite, weaving together nine originals and two standards into an autobiographical narrative arc. The opening track, “I Remember When,” was written for his parents and his "wonderful" upbringing. "Prairie Village" recalls the time he spent in his first American hometown, a suburb of Kansas City. Also featured on the disc is "Place St. Henri" by Oscar Peterson, whom Eldar cites as his foremost influence. To top it all, master turntablist DJ Logic brings a unique, distinctive edge and texture to the music seldom found on jazz records. With re-imagination, Eldar finally manages to get the range, virtuosity and fun of his renowned live shows onto an album. For those who have not yet experienced Eldar live, check out this video to get a taste and be prepared to buy your tickets when he comes near your town on his US tour. He wowed audiences recently at his sold-out release party at Joe's Pub proving that he can break physical barriers with his piano playing on record and on stage. As Downbeat Magazine's Robert Doerschuk states, "it's what he does when the razzle-dazzle dies down and we sense substance within and beyond his pyrotechnics" that truly sets him apart from the pack.

AMOS LEE TOUR DATES

Amos Lee will perform the following concerts: June 29 at Britt Festivals in Jacksonville OR, July 4 at Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic in Quincy WA, July 13 at North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam Netherlands, August 5 at Newport Folk Festival in Newport RI, August 29 at Botanic Gardens Amphitheatre in Denver CO, and September 2 at moe.down in Turin NY.

JOSS STONE TOUR DATES

Joss Stone will perform the following concerts: June 8 at Central Park SummerStage in New York NY, June 11 at Avalon in Boston MA, June 13 at Filene Center in Vienna VA, June 16 at Revolution in Ft. Lauderdale FL, June 22 at Glastonbury Festival in Pilton UK, June 24 at Knowsley Hall Music Festival in Prescot UK, July 1 at Concert for Diana in London UK, July 11 at Henieken Music Hall in Amsterdam Netherlands, July 14 at Jazz Oopen in Stuttgart Germany, July 17 at Wiesen Festival in Wiesen Austria, July 20 at Summer Festival in Lucca Italy, July 22 at Gurtenfestival in Bern Switzerland, July 29 at Fuji Rock Festival in Nigata Japan, August 30 at Deer Valley Resort in Deer Valley UT, September 1 at Jazz Aspen in Aspen CO, September 6 at Britt Pavilion in Jacksonville OR, September 8 at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas NV, September 14 at Austin City Limits Festival in Austin TX, September 20 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago IL, and October 31 at Ahoy in Rotterdam Netherlands.

‘STILL KOOL’ FROM KOOL AND THE GANG

The upcoming new album of material by Kool & the Gang called “Still Kool,” is scheduled for July 10 on New Door Records.    As a bonus to this album, there will be included a Limited Edition bonus disc of 5 songs featuring the following songs “Celebration,” Hollywood Swinging,” Summer Madness,” Joanna,” and the Eumir Deodato-produced “Ladies Night.”                        

MICHAEL FRANKS TOUR DATES

Jazz singer Michael Franks is currently on the road and has scheduled a batch of upcoming appearances:

June 22 – Richmond, VA @ Kanawha Plaza/Fridays at Sunset Series
July 20 – New Orleans, LA @ House Of Blues
July 21 – Lithonia, GA @ Stewart Amphitheatre
July 27 – Indianapolis, IN @ Music Mill
July 28 – Detroit, MI @ Chene Park
Aug 26 – Carry, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheater
Oct 1 – Tokyo, Japan @ Billboard Live Nation
Oct 2 – Tokyo, Japan @ Billboard Live Nation
Oct 3 – Tokyo, Japan @ Billboard Live Nation
Oct 5 – Osaka, Japan @ Billboard Live Nation
Oct 6 – Osaka, Japan @ Billboard Live Nation

BOB MARLEY’S TO BECOME FIRST ARTIST TO HAVE MUSIC AVAILABLE VIA NEW TECHNOILOGY FORMAT

Bob Marley's masterpiece Exodus celebrates its 30th anniversary this summer, and will be commemorated with the release of an exclusive new version of the album. Starting today, limited edition copies of the recording will be available on USB Memory Stick via Bob Marley's official website. The event marks the very first artist-specific album to be released using this groundbreaking format.

Described by Time Magazine as "the best album of the 20th century," Exodus catches Marley at the height one of his most introspective, rebellious and creative periods, and it will now continue to make history by offering an alternative way for fans to purchase music, introducing them to the exciting technology available in today's music marketplace. In addition to the launch of this new format, the multi-layered promotion will also include a variety of added value and content to be released via Bob Marley's official site.

4000 limited edition reusable USB Memory Sticks feature not only the 10 original songs on Exodus but also audio and video content, including three video tracks recorded at London's Rainbow Theatre in June 1977. Fans that join the Bob Marley Passport Fan Club will receive the Exodus USB and also receive an exclusive carrying case, a 10% discount at the Bob Marley shop on the site, as well as a quarterly newsletter. Passport members will also have access to rare Bob Marley audio, video, and photos, as well as future digital media.

Also available June 4th, a variety of new and unique Bob Marley music and memorabilia never officially available before will be accessible for purchase to all Bob Marley site visitors:

-- EXODUS 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION CD -- Featuring the 10 tracks on the
original release and now reissued as a special 30th Anniversary Edition
packaged -- for the first time - in a quality 'hardback' case.

-- DELUXE CD/ DVD- Limited to just 5000 copies, this version features not
only the album but also a separate DVD with 12 tracks from Marley's
historic Rainbow concerts in the summer of 1977.

-- LP- The return of the original and legendary 10-track vinyl album, as
first released in June 1977.

-- EXODUS 30th ANNIVERSARY BOOK -- A new special edition 144-page hardback
book that is lavishly illustrated with many previously unpublished
pictures and includes contributions from such writers as the esteemed
commentator and critic Richard Williams, Lloyd Bradley (author of the
acclaimed Bass Culture), Vivien Goldman, Robert Christgau, Neil Spencer
and the celebrated poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. The book, which features
over 200 images, is introduced by Chris Blackwell, the founder of
Island Records.

-- Exodus T-shirt based on the original tour T-shirt

Released in 1977, Marley recorded the Exodus album in exile. Having escaped an assassination attempt in Jamaica, he arrived in London during the first week of 1977 and set to work recording his fifth studio album. Exodus became the album that transformed Marley's career, a recording of extraordinary creative maturity, which resonated with audiences around the world. The album established Marley as the Third World's first superstar, a legacy that survives thirty years after the album's release

FIRST WESTCHESTER JAZZFEST TO FEATURE RICK BRAUN, PETER WHITE & BOB BALDWIN

The first Westchester Jazz Festival is set to launch this coming July 4th weekend with a lineup that will include the Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Peter White, and Richard Elliot, along with keyboardist Bob Baldwin. The event is set for July 7th at Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. Also set for the event are local musicians, including flautist Ragan Whiteside and guitarist Lou Volpe. More artists are expected to be announced. Baldwin, who also consults several radio stations, will be unveiling his new CD, The Sanctioned Bootleg, Vol. I, at the event.

PRINCE SIGNS WITH COLUMBIA - NEW ALBUM IN STORES JULY 24

Columbia Records is proud to work once again with Prince in the release of "Planet Earth" -- the latest full-length studio collection from the multi-platinum Grammy-winning artist -- available in North America on Tuesday, July 24, the culmination of a worldwide launch beginning July 16.

"Guitar," the first single from "Planet Earth," will be serviced to all radio formats on June 11. Prince's long-term musical proteges, Wendy & Lisa, are among the musicians appearing on "Planet Earth." Prince has recently announced the first dates of his upcoming World Tour, beginning August 1 at the O2 Arena in London, where the first of 15 concert dates sold-out in record time. Six additional dates have been added and will go on-sale next week.

"'Planet Earth' is a fantastic album and promises to be a musical milestone for Prince," said Rob Stringer. "The Columbia label is thrilled to be working with an iconic artist like Prince in this exciting stage of his amazing career."

"Guitar," the first single from Prince's upcoming new album, "Planet Earth," will be available free, for a promotional period, exclusively from Verizon Wireless. John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Verizon, noted, "When Prince, who has consistently been on the cutting edge of music, harnesses innovative technology to deliver his fresh new music, that's a tremendous opportunity for music lovers across the country. At Verizon, we're committed to delivering hot multimedia services to the public in a way that's powerful, direct and relevant."

Prince is planning to make his next single available as a free download to mobile phone users to build excitement for his forthcoming album, Planet Earth. Fans can download the song "Guitar" using the new Verizon Wireless V Cast song ID feature. The phone will identify the song for subscribers who hold the phone near a speaker, and also give information about websites where fans can view the accompanying video.

Prince is set to unveil a new fragrance called 3121 and has recently announced concert dates for Los Angeles and London.

MARC ANTOINE TO RELEASE ‘HI-LO’ IN JULY 2007

Smooth jazz guitarist Marc Antoine is set to release his eighth album, entitled Hi-Lo Split after a type of poker game. This will be his first project for Peak Records. Antoine is known for his acoustic Latin and flamenco guitar style, which he returns to after experimenting with techno sounds on 2005's Rendezvous release, Modern Times.According to smoothjazzvibes.com, among the 11 songs on Hi-Lo Split is a cover of the Classic IV's 40-year-old hit single, "Spooky." Antoine, who lives in Spain, used mostly local musicians for the CD. Other song titles include "For A Smile," "Silk & Steel" and "Tomorrow."

BONEY JAMES’ NEW CHRISTMAS CD

Boney James is wrapping production on a brand-new Christmas CD, due to be released this fall. Christmas Present (Concord) is James' second holiday collection, and his first in 11 years since Boney's Funky Christmas. On this new set, trumpeter Rick Braun will guest on "The First Noel" while vocalist Angie Stone sings "Merry Christmas Baby" and Chante' Moore does "Santa Baby." Other tracks planned include Joni Mitchell's "River" and everyone's favorite Charlie Brown holiday song, "Skating," originally done by Vince Guaraldi. Boney's current CD, Shine, is the gift that just keeps giving: the new single, "Hypnotic," is the second Number One from the project

MAYSA LEAK HITS THE SMOOTH JAZZ CHARTS WITH ‘FEEL THE FIRE’

Smooth jazz vocalist Maysa Leak landed back on the charts this week with her new Shanachie CD Feel The Fire. The new set offers up more R&B favorites re-interpreted by the former Incognito singer, following her 2006 release Sweet Classic Soul. On the new set Maysa covers the Peabo Bryson title tune, as well as Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine," Norman Connors' "You Are My Starship," Stevie Wonder's "I Can't Help It," Evelyn "Champagne" King's "I'm In Love," and the Commodores' "Zoom," among others. Feel The Fire debuted this week at Number 30 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Maysa will perform Saturday, June 9th, at B.B. King's Blues Club in New York City. For more dates, go to maysa.com.

NEW CLASSICAL CD DUE FROM LEE RITENOUR

Guitarist Lee Ritenour is hard at work on his second classical crossover album with pianist Dave Grusin, who collaborated with him on a similar project called Two Worlds seven years ago. That album spent a year on the Billboard Classical Crossover chart and was nominated for a Grammy. This upcoming album will also feature the talents of smooth jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, along with James Taylor, opera diva Renee Fleming and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. The project is reportedly halfway to completion. Ritenour is currently enjoying a Top 20 smooth jazz hit with "Forget Me Nots" from his latest CD, Smoke N Mirrors.

PAUL TAYLOR & REGINA BELLE ON SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO

Smooth jazz saxophonist Paul Taylor is getting spins at urban radio with the tune "How Did You Know" featuring veteran pop singer and Grammy winner Regina Belle. The smooth jazz star says that it was a label hookup -- he and Belle are both signed to Peak Records -- that facilitated the collaboration. Taylor says that his manager, Andi Howard, was instrumental in inviting Belle to contribute to Taylor's Ladies Choice CD. He said: "Regina Belle, she's a wonderful vocalist I've known of for years. You know, we happen to be on the same label so I don't think it was that hard to really -- you know, my manager, Andi Howard, got her to grace my record with her vocals and it was wonderful." Belle earned a Grammy for her Aladdin soundtrack duet "A Whole New World" with Peabo Bryson. Taylor's Ladies Choice debuted at Number One on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.