DEAN MARTIN'S "FOREVER COOL" A HIT

Around the world, entertainment superstar Dean Martin has the market cornered on charisma, easygoing charm, playful wit, and gracious humility, all of which combine to make him infinitely cool to each new generation of fans. The new CD was released worldwide on August 14 by Capitol/EMI, Martin's new all-star collaborations album, Forever Cool, debuts at #39 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, with first week sales totaling 17,242. Available in CD and deluxe CD/DVD packages and digitally, Forever Cool has also enjoyed widespread critical acclaim and strong first-week showings on youth-leaning charts from iTunes, Amazon.com and Borders, among others. I bought the CD on the day of release and I just love it - - as a matter of fact it’s in my CD play (in my car) and is on constantly.

At iTunes, Forever Cool reached #3 on the Vocal chart during its first week. Ranked #5 overall at Borders for the week in a youth-heavy Top 10 Albums chart, Forever Cool was joined by the soundtracks to High School Musical, Hanna Montana and Hairspray and new and recent releases from Amy Winehouse, Dave Matthews Band and Common among the chain's top sellers for the week. At Amazon.com, the CD peaked at #22 and the deluxe CD/DVD peaked at #72 in overall popular music sales during their debut week, fueled by multiple custom programs at the online retailer, including a Flashplayer trailer, a "Music For Entertaining" feature and an August Bonus Book feature.

Dean Martin's inter-generational popularity has never been more evident. Across the online spectrum, Dino's star power has skyrocketed to new heights. At MySpace, he counts more than 16,500 friends, and his recently-revamped, interactive official Website (http://www.deanmartin.com) has had 154,000 hits in the past week alone. AOL Music, ARTISTdirect and MP3.com have featured Forever Cool alongside High School Musical and Dave Matthews Band. Last week, Yahoo! Music, which boasts more than one million visitors per day, premiered the new music video for Forever Cool's "Baby-O," a playful romp pairing Martin with 19-year-old American Idol finalist Paris Bennett. TV's "Entertainment Tonight" has joined the Forever Cool party with significant coverage, including two feature profiles during the album's release week, and a third to air on "Weekend ET" this weekend. "No matter what age you're at, you kind of want to be cool, and there was nobody cooler" said Dean Martin's Forever Cool collaborator Kevin Spacey.

Prior to the release of Forever Cool, the phenomenal sales of Capitol/EMI's 2004 collection Dino: The Essential Dean Martin, which collects 30 of Martin's key recordings for both Capitol and Reprise on one CD, provided the strongest signal yet of Dino's continued prominence in the pop-music firmament. I highly recommend this release as well. As the week's highest-charting new entry, it was Billboard's "Hotshot Debut", and it has sold more briskly than any previous Martin recording, going gold within months and platinum within a year. Dino also hit the Top 5 on Apple's iTunes Music Store album chart. As writer Bill Zehme observed in a 2004 Playboy feature, "Dean provides smooth, winking succor to generations anew."

More than 40 years after knocking the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" out of the #1 chart position with "Everybody Loves Somebody" in 1964, Dean Martin continues to enthrall music fans around the world. Said famed producer Phil Ramone, "I think Dean's whole re-birth, so to speak, is that young people have realized how cool he is and how funny he is ... and he could sing.” Said Martin's daughter, Gail Martin, "It gives me a warm glow to know that everybody -- all ages, all generations -- just seem to adore him and want more of him. That's exciting, and it doesn't surprise me."

Forever Cool's 14 tracks pair Martin's original vocals with new arrangements and an all-star group of collaborators in a salute to the unparalleled talent and charisma of the man known around the world as Dino. The album's inspired new recordings, woven together with several rare and previously unreleased clips of Martin's witty studio banter, feature Grammy winner Joss Stone, two-time Oscar(R) winner Kevin Spacey, saxophonist Dave Koz, Grammy winner Shelby Lynne, trumpeter Chris Botti, international superstar Robbie Williams, "American Idol" finalist Paris Bennett, country music star Martina McBride, French entertainment icon Charles Aznavour, Italian chart-topper Tiziano Ferro and other music greats. The new album swings, swaggers, rocks, rolls and whispers, gently closing with a previously unreleased a cappella version of "Lullaby" sung by Martin. "It's like a cocktail party on a record," said Forever Cool executive producer Jane Ventom, "where all sorts of wonderful, unique guests get up and make music with the host."

Forever Cool's production team includes EMI Music Marketing vice president of A&R Jane Ventom and Dean Martin's business manager Laura Lizer as executive producers and Rob Christie as producer, with recording and mixing by co- producer and 15-time Grammy winner Al Schmitt (Norah Jones, Ray Charles, Diana Krall, Quincy Jones, etc.). Select tracks were produced by 12-time Grammy winning producer Phil Ramone (Tony Bennett, Paul Simon, Ray Charles, etc.), Grammy-winning producer, arranger and conductor Patrick Williams (Frank Sinatra, B.B. King, Barbra Streisand), and Bobby Colomby (Chris Botti). The album's tracks were recorded and mixed at Capitol Studios in Hollywood.

"Offstage, I want to be like Dean Martin -- funny, handsome, charmin...," said Robbie Williams. "I've got it nailed (laughs)." Echoed Shelby Lynne, "I'm not gonna lie. I'd love to be Dean Martin." Martin's effortless vocalizing has become a modern shorthand for cool, as evidenced by the use of his songs in films like Goodfellas, Casino, Swingers, Out of Sight, L.A. Confidential, A Bronx Tale and Payback, as well as top- rated television programs, including "The Sopranos," "Ugly Betty" and "Dancing With The Stars." Martin's music has also been featured in major brand TV advertising for Nissan, Microsoft, Marriott Hotels, Carl's Jr., Heineken, this year's Superbowl-premiered Budweiser commercial with "Ain't That a Kick In the Head," and many others.

"He made music that's going to stand the test of time and be around forever," said Spacey. "People will always be listening to Dean Martin." Dean Martin's approach to life with an easy smile, a graceful melody and an aura of unflappable cool is a style that was made to last forever.

For more information, click to Dean Martin's official Website: http://www.deanmartin.com.

SEAL TO RELEASE “SYSTEM”

Grammy-winning vocalist and songwriter Seal will release a new album, "System," on Warner Bros. Records on November 13, 2007. It is the best-selling artist's fifth studio album and first since 2003's "Seal IV."

The London-born Seal first emerged from Britain's house music scene in the early '90s providing vocals and lyrics for techno artist Adamski's 1990 hit "Killer." The Top Ten debut single, "Crazy," followed, and Seal would go on to earn critical acclaim and worldwide commercial success over four albums with a genre-defying fusion of soul, pop, rock, R&B, and propulsive grooves. "System," with its shimmering melodies, glistening layers of synths and acoustic guitar, and supple, electronic beats, "is a return to my roots," Seal says. "I wanted to go back to the guitar, to the very first instrument I wrote 'Crazy' and 'Killer' on, and get back to the fundamentals of what I really love to do."

To help him deliver what he calls "a quintessential Seal album," Seal turned to British musician and songwriter Stuart Price, who co-wrote and produced Madonna's "Confessions on a Dancefloor," as well as Grammy-winning remixes for No Doubt and Coldplay. "It was quite evident from the first track that Stuart and I were on the same page," Seal says, "that I'd found someone who was able to elaborate on and execute my vision for this record. He loved the songs and I loved his production technique and we just took it from there. He's one of those rare people who plays instruments, understands music theory, and gets what a singer goes through when he is singing a song."

Indeed Seal's prodigious vocal gifts -- his soaring, husky baritone that has become a signature on such hits as "Prayer for the Dying," "Kiss From a Rose," and "Don't Cry" -- amplify the dreamy atmosphere on new tracks "Swoosh," "Amazing," ("System's" lead-off single), and "Wedding Day," an emotional ballad Seal wrote the morning he wed supermodel Heidi Klum, with whom he has three children.

"Family, my wife and children, that's my reason for being," Seal says. "Everything is done with them in mind, so perhaps that's the reason this new album is up-tempo. It does feel like a celebration of life. I am finally in a content and happy place to the point where I feel like I need to sing about it. It's made me want to address things that are close to home. That's why the album is called 'System.' It's saying that against the odds, we have chosen to take control of our emotional system. Not being a victim of a system that's already in place, but creating our own."

To read Seal's personal blog, listen to streaming audio, and watch music video clips, please visit his website at www.seal.com.

The track-listing for "System" is as follows:
1. "Swoosh"
2. "Amazing"
3. "Just Like Before"
4. "Loaded"
5. "Wedding Day"
6. "System"
7. "Silence"
8. "The Right Life"
9. "Rolling"
10. "Immaculate"

VAN HUNT MAKES HIS BLUE NOTE RECORDS DEBUT

Blue Note Records has released Grammy-award winning recording artist Van Hunt's The Popular Machine. The digital EP will give fans a preview of Hunt's forthcoming self-produced, full-length album, Popular, which Blue Note will release on January 15, 2008. The four-track EP will include "turn my TV on" and "the lowest 1 of my desires" from the upcoming album plus acoustic versions of hit single "Character" and "The Night is Young;" the latter two are from Hunt's 2006 album, On The Jungle Floor, which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart.

Van will be debuting songs from the EP and January's Popular release at several unplugged shows in Los Angeles in August. Here are Van Hunt’s concerts dates:
8/23 - Temple Bar - Santa Monica, CA
8/26 - Zanzibar - Santa Monica, CA

SIMPLY RED NEWS

Simply Red is scheduled to appear on the Magic 105.4 radio show in Regents Park on September 9th. Simply Red are headlining at the Malta Music Festival on November 2nd, tickets are due to go on sale this Friday. Also, the official story of Simply Red "If You Don't Know Me By Now" will be released by Carlton Books on September 10th. In addition the DVD 'Stay - Live At The Royal Albert Hall' will be released on October 22nd.

UPCOMING RELEASE: PAUL HARDCASTLE

Trippin’ Records has just informed us that a new Paul Hardcastle CD is being prepared for release in February 2008. His last album, Jazzmasters V recently went straight to number #1 on the Billboard charts.

MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL ATLANTA

The lineup for the Montreux Jazz Festival Atlanta has been announced and this year’s festival will feature a diverse range of performers representing everything from blues and R&B to jazz and funk music. The 2007 Montreux Jazz Festival Atlanta will be held Labor Day weekend, August 31 through September 2, 2007, at Underground Atlanta.

The Montreux Jazz Festival Atlanta will kick-off on Friday, August 31 with the ‘Blues, Bourbon & Barbeque Boat Ride, a new addition to the festival weekend. The great music continues throughout the weekend with amazing artists such as songwriter and vocalist, Chrisette Michele, jazz vocalist Ledisi, producer extraordinaire and retro-funk/hip-hop vocalist Sleepy Brown, Radio Disney stars Jacob Latimore, Kacie Lynch and Dylan Cheek, soul singer Leela James and more. The Montreux Club Crawl keeps the music going after hours in Underground Atlanta. Six clubs in Kenny’s Alley, House, Irish Pub, Island Oasis, Jamaica Jamaica, Motions and Sugar Hill.

The FREE Montreux Jazz Festival Atlanta will be a weekend packed with fun activities that the entire family can enjoy. In addition to a variety of music from stages on Upper Alabama, in Kenny’s Alley and a stage inside Underground Atlanta, local music artists such as Jason Bitten, Delores Major, Wayne McDowell, Theresa Morton and Myrna Clayton will be featured. The weekend’s festivities will also include an interactive Kid’s Zone, arts & crafts and food vendors.

The 2007 Montreux Jazz Festival Atlanta Line-up for Labor Day Weekend
*Line-up and times are subject to change. Line-up as of 8/13/07. 

Montreux Jazz Festival Atlanta Around The City 
‘Blues, Bourbon & Barbeque Boat Ride
Stone Mountain
Friday, August 31, 2007 
8:00 pm – Departure
11:00 pm – Arrives back at dock
Aretha Franklin w/Naturally 7
Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Saturday, September 1, 2007


Montreux Jazz Festival at Underground Atlanta
Saturday, September 1
Main Stage
1:00 pm – Gordon Chambers
2:30 pm – Film: Weather Report: Live @ Montreux 1976
4:00 pm – Ledisi
7:00 pm – Sleepy Brown


Fat Matt’s Blues Stage
3:00 pm - Bill Sheffield
4:15 Chicago Joe
5:15 Tommy Brown
6:15 Big Robert T
7:15 Lola


Montreux Jazz Festival at Underground Atlanta
Sunday, September 2
Main Stage
1:00 pm – Jacob Latimore/Kacie Lynch/Dylan Cheek
2:30 pm – Saskia Laroo
4:30 pm – Chrisette Michele
5:30 pm – Film: Marvin Gaye: Live @ Montreux 1980
7:00 pm – Leela James


Fat Matt’s Blues Stage
3:00 Frankie’s Blues Mission
4:15 The Cazanovas
5:15 T-Bone Smith
6:15 The Electromatics Featuring Jon Liebman
7:15 Chicken Shack with Eddie Tigner



  

FRANK SINATRA – A VOICE IN TIME

The Frank Sinatra box set - Frank Sinatra: A Voice in Time (1939-1952), is scheduled to be released on September 25.  This collection will be include historical Sinatra timeframes that include The Big Band Years, Teen Idol, The Great American Songbook, and The Sound of Things to Come.  This set will feature previously 11 unreleased air checks and two previously unreleased alternate takes.  All of the 80 tracks have been remastered and inlcude 120-page hardcover book.

MILES DAVIS - EVOLUTION OF THE GROOVE

In honor of Miles Davis' 81st birthday on Saturday, May 26, the long-awaited release of Evolution Of The Groove Miles Davis Remix EP premieres tracks with Nas, Carlos Santana, Olu Dara and an A-list contemporary music ensemble featuring Miles' nephew Vince Wilburn, Jr., on drums and programming, guitarist Pat Thrall (Pat Travers Band, Meat Loaf) and bassist Charley Drayton (Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop, Divinyls).

Executive produced by Steve Berkowitz and Vince Wilburn, Jr., and co-produced by Wilburn, Jr., Thrall, and Drayton, Evolution Of The Groove was recorded mainly at the Hit Factory in New York City. Nas' vocals on the track "Freedom Jazz Dance," co-produced by jazz funk legend Lenny White (Return To Forever), were recorded at DARP Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Tracks on Evolution Of The Groove remix EP include "Freddie Freeloader," "Freedom Jazz Dance" featuring Nas, "It's About That Time" featuring Carlos Santana (this is a longer version that the one originally included on 2006's "Cool & Collected"), "Honky Tonk" and "Black Satin." Both an homage to Miles and a continuation of the spirit and intention of his music, Evolution Of The Groove imagines Miles Davis in the 21st century, the lyricism of his horn and the power of his musical vision blending with contemporary hip-hop, jazz and rock in provocative new ways and seductive new grooves

NEW RELEASES...

Billie Holiday – Remixed & Reimagined (Columbia/Legacy)
Bruce Hornsby, Christian McBride & Jack DeJohnette – Camp Meeting (Legacy)
Dave Brubeck – Indian Summer (Telarc)
David Ruffin – So Soon We Change (Collector’s Choice)
David Ruffin – Gentleman’s Ruffin (Collector’s Choice)
Dean Martin – Forever Cool (Capitol/EMI)
Delfonics – Live In Concert (DVD, Soul Concerts)
Diana Ross – Last Time I Saw Him (Hip-O Select)
Edwin Starr – Live In Concert (DVD, Soul Concerts)
Fats Domino – Greatest Hits: Walking To New Orleans (Capitol/EMI)
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Live In Concert (DVD, Soul Concerts)
James Brown – The Singles Volume 3 (1964-1965 (Hip-O Select)
Kirk Whalum – Ultimate Kirk Whalum (Mosaic Contemporary)
Melba Moore – Live In Concert (DVD, Soul Concerts)
Miles Davis – Steamin’ With The Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige)
Najee – Rising Sun (Heads Up)
Natalie Cole – Inseparable (Mosaic Contemporary)
Patti Austin – Patti Austin (Mosaic Contemporary)
Stewart Copeland – The Stewart Copeland Anthology (Koch)
Thelma Houston – A Woman’s Touch (Shout! Factory)

JOHN SCOFIELD TOUR DATES

Here are John Scofield’s upcoming tour datess:
August 18 @ Summer Music Series, Lowell MA
August 26 @ Deer Valley Resort, Park City UT
August 31 @ Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago IL
September 1 @ Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit MI
September 13 @ Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC
September 15 @ Roseland Theater, Portland OR
September 16 @ Earthdance, Laytonville CA
September 19 @ Hawkins Amphitheatre; Reno NV
September 20 @ Montalvo Arts Center; Saratoga CA
September 21 @ The Fillmore; San Francisco CA
September 22 @ The Fillmore; San Francisco CA
October 4 @ Regattabar; Cambridge MA
October 5 @ Regattabar; Cambridge MA
October 6 @ Spaulding Auditorium; Hanover NH
October 7 @ Stone Church; Newmarket NH
October 9 @ Kuumbwa, Santa Cruz CA
October 10 @ Yoshi's, Oakland CA
October 11 @ Yoshi's, Oakland CA
October 12 @ Yoshi's, Oakland CA
October 13 @ Yoshi's, Oakland CA
October 14 @ Yoshi's, Oakland CA
October 16 @ Blue Note, New York NY
October 17 @ Blue Note, New York NY
October 18 @ Blue Note, New York NY
October 19 @ Blue Note, New York NY
October 20 @ Blue Note, New York NY
October 21 @ Blue Note, New York NY

All dates August 18 through September 22 are with Medeski, Martin & Wood.

FREE DOWNLOADS!

Check out our new feature - free downloads. Come back and check out the Jazz Chill Corner everday as we now will feature free downloads. Enjoy the music! See the banner on the left column.

KOOP RETURNS WITH "KOOP ISLANDS"

The Atlantic recording group KOOP has announced details of their much-anticipated new album, "KOOP ISLANDS." The collection -- which follows the Swedish nu-jazz duo's 2003 breakthrough, "WALTZ FOR KOOP" -- arrives in stores across North America on October 9th.

KOOP -- aka Oscar Simonsson and Magnus Zingmark -- is a true original, known for their groundbreaking sample-based amalgamation of jazz, hip-hop, dance, and electronica. Where "WALTZ FOR KOOP" was fueled by the duo's love of breezy Sixties jazz, the new collection sees KOOP venturing to the Caribbean in search of new musical inspiration. "KOOP ISLANDS" conjures up the exotic sensations of a late-night yacht cruise to Jamaica, effortlessly melding the characteristic KOOP vibes with a blend of Latin-tinged rhythms and calypso melodies. Joining KOOP on their remarkable tropical journey are a number of guest vocalists, including Yukimi Nagano, Mikael Sundin, and ex-Galliano frontman Rob Gallagher (all of whom were featured on "WALTZ FOR KOOP"), as well as the acclaimed Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun.

Among the many highlights of "KOOP ISLANDS" is the syncopated "Come To Me," featured earlier this year on an episode of ABC's blockbuster "Grey's Anatomy." In addition, the Big Band-flavored track was used in a series of ABC promos from early April through the May sweeps.

To herald the new album's upcoming release, KOOP will make a rare U.S. concert appearance, slated for August 15th at Los Angeles' famed El Rey Theatre. The show is presented by KCRW, and produced by Bossa:Nova. When performing, Simonsson and Zingmark magically transform KOOP from a two-man studio project into a full-scale orchestra, complete with multiple singers and up to 9 live instruments. KOOP themselves play piano/accordion (Simonsson) and sampler (Zingmark). Emerging from Stockholm's inventive jazz scene in the late 1990s, KOOP drew immediate notoriety for their unique and passionate musical fusion. "WALTZ FOR KOOP," the duo's second album, established KOOP as true pioneers, unafraid to blend such diverse styles as bossa nova, Detroit techno, and acid house into their own 21st Century retro-cool groove. In the four years since its initial release, the collection slowly but surely grew to become an international sensation, finding its way into the hearts of more than 160,000 record buyers around the globe. A number of world tours followed, as well as hundreds of remixes for artists ranging from like-minded British duo Zero 7 to legendary Afro-Peruvian songstress Susana Baca.

NEW RELEASE: JOHN COLTRANE

Concord’s Prestige imprint will release a Interplay, a 5-CD box collection of John Coltrane’s side-man sessions, highlighting the late ‘50s Coltrane periods.  Various musicians are included in each of the sessions.  This box set will contain a 60-page booklet filled with photos and notes., and all the music has been digitally remastered from the original analogue tapes.  It’s scheduled for release on September 18.

KEN “SPIDER’ WEBB

For those of you who remember the voice of Ken ‘Spider’ Webb on WBLS back in the day, did you know that he can be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio’s “Soul Town’ Channel 53, Monday through Friday from 6AM to 12PM EST? Ken ‘Spider’ Webb began his on-air broadcasting career in July 1971 when he became the very first morning drive-time man for New York’s WBLS-FM 107.5. By 1983, he had raised WBLS’ morning ratings to the number #1 position. Over the years, he has worked at WRKS-FM, WLIB-AM, WQCD-FM, and WWRL-AM. By the early 90’s Ken was involved in Internet streaming and continues to do so today with his own company, Webb Internet Radio. It’s an Internet radio and marketing and advertising company.

A PETER WHITE CHRISTMAS TOUR DATES

Peter White, Mindi Abair and Rick Braun have just finished work on their new holiday-themed CD. It will be released in November and it will concide with their 5th annual Christmas concert tour. Tracks on the CD will include “I Can’t Wait For Christmas”, and “The Best Part Of Christmas”. Tour dates are as follows:

November 24 – Huntington Beach, CA @ Hyatt Regency
November 25 – Santa Rosa, CA
November 27 – Annapolis, MD @ Ramshead
November 28 – Cleveland, OH @ Allen Theater
November 29 – Harrisburg, PA @ Sunoco Performance Theatre
November 30 – Huntington Station, NY @ IMAC
December 1 – Uncasvile, CT @ Mohegan Sun
December 2 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
December 3 – Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
December 4 – Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
December 5 – Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theater
December 6 – Indianapolis, IN @ Music Mill
December 7 – Atlanta, GA @ Ferst Center for the Arts
December 9 – Destin, FL @ The Mattie Kelly Arts Centre
December 11 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckard Hall
December 12 – Jacksonville, FL @ The Florida Theatre
December 13 – Stuart, FL @ Lyric Theatre
December 15 – Dallas, TX @ The Palladium
December 16 – Houston, TX @ Verizon Theater
December 18 – Austin, TX @ One World Theatre
December 20 – Sacramento, CA @ Radisson Hotel Ballroom
December 21 – Fresno, CA @ Tower Theatre
December 22 – San Diego, CA @ Speckles

THIEVERY CORPORATION ADDS TOUR DATES

Thievery Corporation have added two more dates to their current mini-tour. They will appear at the Echo Project, Atlanta on October 13, and with their band at The House of Blues @ Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas on October 26. Thievery are setting plans for a full blown world tour in 2008 and are currently recording their upcoming album.

TONY BENNETT: THE MUSIC NEVER ENDS

Netflix the world's largest online movie rental service, today announced a multi-platform campaign for the release of "Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends." Developed through Netflix’s Red Envelope Entertainment banner, the deal includes exclusive television, retail and worldwide distribution agreements through partnerships with Thirteen/WNET New York, Target and Warner Home Video. “Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends” is produced by Clint Eastwood, in association with RPM Productions, and is edited by Joel Cox ("Million Dollar Baby"). The films chronicles and celebrates the life of legendary recording artist, 15-time Grammy(R) Award-winner and consummate performer, Tony Bennett. The films is written, directed and co-produced by veteran producer Bruce Ricker.

"Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends" will be available to the more than six million Netflix subscribers for DVD rental and PC-based instant watching on September 25. Netflix will also merchandise the documentary to subscribers based on their rental history. Tony Bennett will actively promote the film through an extensive media campaign which will begin with the film's U.S. premiere on September 10 in New York. Target will share a day-and-date release with Netflix on September 25, with a six-week window as the exclusive retailer of the film.

Warner Home Video has acquired the rights to distribute the film within the U.S. and will release a two-disc special edition on November 13. This collector's edition of the documentary will include an extra 60 minutes of Tony Bennett concert footage from the 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival. VDI Entertainment has secured the rights to distribute Warner Home Video's edition of the film in Canada on the same date. Warner Home Video's strong interest in the film prompted the company to broaden their role in the project and take exclusive distribution rights for all media outside of North America.

PAOLO NUTINI ANNOUNCES MAJOR NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Recording artist Paolo Nutini has unveiled details of his upcoming North American tour, a two-month itinerary combining headlining dates with a series of co-headlining shows pairing the Scotland-born singer/songwriter with fellow British soul sensation Amy Winehouse. Nutini and his band kick off their tour in Buffalo, New York on September 7th, with the first of ten Nutini/Winehouse shows taking place at New York City's Central Park SummerStage on September 12th. Tickets for Nutini's own headlining shows -- which will run through the end of October -- go on sale Tuesday, July 24th via his website: www.paolonutini.com. [see below itinerary]

In the meantime, Nutini -- whose acclaimed debut album, "THESE STREETS," is proving a popular and critical phenomenon -- is appearing at some of summer's biggest festivals, including a recent performance at the 2007 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee, and upcoming shows on August 4th at the Virgin Festival in Baltimore and August 5th at Lollapalooza 2007 in Chicago. Paolo and his band have also been appearing at a number of major UK festies, including: the Isle of Wight Festival 2007 on June 10 -- where Paolo dueted with Mick Jagger on "Love In Vain" during The Rolling Stones' festival-closing set; the Live Earth spectacular at Wembley Stadium on July 7th; his native Scotland's annual T In The Park on July 8th; and the upcoming V Festival 2007 on August 18th and 19th.

In other news, "Last Request" -- the latest single from "THESE STREETS" -- is proving a blockbuster at Triple A outlets nationwide, hitting #3 with a bullet on this week's chart. "New Shoes," the album's first single, was a #1 smash at the format, and a top 40 favorite at Hot AC, where it logged four consecutive months on the airplay chart.

On Tuesday, July 3rd, Nutini made his second in-concert appearance on NBC's "The Today Show," performing live in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza as part of the Toyota Summer Concert Series. Paolo -- whose song, "Million Faces," was featured on a recent episode of ABC's smash, "Grey's Anatomy" -- is also making waves at VH1, where the "Last Request" video is currently in "Medium" rotation. Earlier this year, VH1 named Paolo as one of its "You Oughta Know" artists, placing him among such previous VH1 YOK artists as James Blunt, KT Tunstall, Corrine Bailey Rae, the Fray, and Regina Spektor. "Last Request" recently had its all-day premiere on mtvU, where it is already among the channel's most popular new clips.

The 20-year-old tunesmith has been all over TV in recent months, with performances on a number of high-profile programs, including NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Show with Conan O'Brien," and "The Today Show"; ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live"; and two visits to his fellow Scotsman Craig Ferguson's nightly CBS talker, "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson." Moreover, Nutini's songs have been featured in such network series as NBC's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," the CW's "One Tree Hill," and ABC's "What About Brian" and "Men In Trees."

Released January 30th, "THESE STREETS" is quickly shaping up as one of the best-received debuts of 2007. Both People and USA Today awarded the album three-and-a-half stars, with the latter hailing, "the breath of talent (Nutini) shows... a series of thoughtful, evocative tunes that defy easy characterization." The New York Daily News noted that "voices like Nutini's come around just a few times in a generation. Better, 'THESE STREETS' shows he's found the songs to milk his for all its worth."

In addition, the New York Times' Jon Pareles offered high praise for Paolo's recent SRO show at New York's Bowery Ballroom. "(Nutini's voice is) cracked and raspy, with the edge of David Gray, the quavers of Jeff Buckley, and a streak of the blues. His phrasing is elastic and unpredictable; he jumps into lines after the beat and stretches them with syncopated moans... The songs take on a precocious gravity."

Born and raised in Paisley, Scotland, Nutini has quickly become a true star in the UK, where he recently received a "Best Male Solo Artist" nod from the annual Brit Awards. Produced by Ken Nelson (Coldplay, Ray LaMontagne, Badly Drawn Boy), "THESE STREETS" made a spectacular top 3 chart entry upon its July 2006 release, fueled by reams of critical celebration and the undeniable power of Paolo's impassioned blue-eyed soul.

Hailed by Billboard as one of their "Five To Watch," and named one of Rolling Stone's "10 Artists To Watch 2006," Nutini released his North American debut EP, "THE LIVE SESSIONS," last September to instant rave reviews, including a declaration from the New York Daily News' Jim Farber naming Paolo "the most thrilling new singer of the season."

PAOLO NUTINI
North American Tour - Fall 2007
*co-headlining with Amy Winehouse

SEPTEMBER
7 Buffalo, NY Albright-Knox Art Gallery
8 Toronto, ON Toronto Islands Park
9 Montreal, QC Parc Jean Drapeau
10 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground Ballroom
12 New York, NY Central Park SummerStage*
13 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre*
14 Austin, TX Stubb's Bar-B-Q
15 Austin, TX ACL Festival/Zilker Park
18, 19 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern LG*
21, 22 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre*
23 Del Mar, CA Del Mar Fairgrounds
24 Vancouver, BC Orpheum Theatre*
25 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre*
26 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
28 Minneapolis, MN State Theater*
29 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom*

OCTOBER
1 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
2 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
4 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
5 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
6 Boston, MA Avalon Ballroom
8 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls Theater
10 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room
11 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
12 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre
13 Des Moines, IA Val Air Ballroom
14 Saint Louis, MO The Pageant
16 Omaha, NE Sokol Auditorium
17 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theatre
19 Park City, UT Harry O's
21 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
23 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
24 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
26 Nashville, TN Wildhorse
27 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
28 New Orleans, LA Voodoo Island

TONY BENNETT SINGS THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

Tony Bennett jumps into the Great American Songbook arena with the September 25 release of Tony Bennett Sings the REAL American Songbook, Volume 1 is set for release on September 25..  Nice.  The CD will include 15 cuts.  Also, the book - Tony Bennett in the Studio: A Life of Art and Music, will be released in October.  In addition to this, Snowball, a classic Christmas holiday album of standards from Tony Bennett, will be re-released on September 25 in a Deluxe Edition that will be prepared with a bonus DVD that features selections from a network TV special (Tony Bennett: A Family Christmas) and will include 7 song performances.

THE VERY BEST OF MICK JAGGER

THE VERY BEST OF MICK JAGGER, the first overview of his distinguished solo career, is set for release in the U.S. on October 2, on Atlantic/Rhino Records. It's a vivid reminder of the compelling gifts that brought Jagger fame in the first place. As an embodiment of all that rock 'n' roll can mean, he is virtually without peer and that is made plain on this compelling 17-track collection, which includes three previously unreleased performances.

But Mick, for better or worse, is also one of those figures who has far eclipsed the realm of rock 'n' roll to become one of the most recognizable names and faces in the world, as celebrated for who he is as for what he's accomplished. Indeed, he is a "musician and songwriter," one of the greatest singers in rock 'n' roll history, and a restless, adventurous artist.

The earliest track on the album is "Memo From Turner," a raw, R&B burner (showcasing Ry Cooder on slide guitar) that was featured in the seminal 1970 film "Performance," in which Jagger also starred. The most recent track, "Old Habits Die Hard," also references Jagger's film career. It originally appeared on the soundtrack (produced by Jagger and former Eurythmic Dave Stewart) of the 2004 film "Alfie," and it won a Golden Globe® for "Best Original Song." In between those two peaks, separated by more than three decades, Jagger released four solo albums: "She's The Boss" (1985), "Primitive Cool" (1987), "Wandering Spirit" (1993), and "Goddess In The Doorway" (2001). Ten selections from those albums appear on THE VERY BEST OF, including "God Gave Me Everything," which Jagger cowrote with Lenny Kravitz; "Joy," on which Bono contributes a guest vocal; "Sweet Thing," the singer's irresistibly sensual 1993 single; and "Evening Gown," a paean to lasting love that closes out this set.

THE VERY BEST OF also includes two dynamic collaborations on Motown songs, a favorite source of material for Jagger over the years. Reggae legend Peter Tosh, one of the founding members of The Wailers, was among the first artists signed to Rolling Stones Records in the late '70s. For Tosh's 1978 album, "Bush Doctor," he and Jagger collaborated on a seductive duet on The Temptations' hit, "(You Got to Walk And) Don't Look Back," which was written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White.

Then, in 1985, Jagger teamed up with David Bowie to scorch Martha & The Vandellas' classic "Dancing in the Street," which was released as a single as part of the Live Aid effort to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The song went to #1 in England, and the video for it premiered at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia.

The sizzling "Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup)," was produced by John Lennon and recorded by Jagger in 1973 in Los Angeles. The track features an all-star lineup that includes guitarists Danny Kortchmar and Jesse Ed Davis, keyboardist Al Kooper, bassist Jack Bruce, drummer Jim Keltner, and, on background vocals, singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson. It has never previously been released.

The album's two additional previously unreleased tracks are demos from Jagger's "Wandering Spirit" session with producer Rick Rubin. Jagger had sketched out "Charmed Life" (with his daughter Karis on backing vocals) but then decided the track didn't fit with the rest of the album. The rhythmically charged version on THE VERY BEST OF has been remixed by producer Ashley Beedle. "Taking the bare bones of the song and getting to the finished version with Ashley Beedle was a great creative collaboration," remarks Jagger.

Meanwhile, as they were making "Wandering Spirit," Rubin suggested that Jagger spend a day recording with The Red Devils, a torrid L.A. blues band. "The difficult decision I was faced with when listening to the tracks I recorded with The Red Devils, and having to choose only one, reminded me what a great band they were," says Jagger. One of the results of that session is Jagger's previously unreleased rollicking version of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Checkin' Up On My Baby."

While, for the most part, Jagger shuns self-revelation in his songs, this collection constitutes as rich a portrait of the singer as can be imagined. It shows him embracing a wide variety of musical forms -- blues, reggae, rock 'n' roll, dance music, ballads -- and impressing his own inimitable mark on them. It shows him addressing matters of the body and the spirit and celebrating all the ways that music engages us in our lives and in the lives of others. It shows Mick Jagger as a musician, singer, and songwriter, in short, and that's finally who he is. The very best of him is very good indeed.

"It was such a disparate time with lots of ups and down -- fortunately mostly up -- like you do generally have in life," explains Jagger. "For me, it's a great thing to listen to since all the songs speak to a certain time and make things come alive for me."

THE VERY BEST OF MICK JAGGER will be available at all retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested list price of $18.98. The album will also be available at digital retail outlets for a suggested price of $11.99, with ringtones available for six of the tracks.

THE VERY BEST OF MICK JAGGER
Track Listing

1. God Gave Me Everything
2. Put Me In The Trash
3. Just Another Night
4. Don't Tear Me Up
5. Charmed Life*
6. Sweet Thing
7. Old Habits Die Hard
8. Dancing In The Street
9. Too Many Cooks*
10. Memo From Turner
11. Lucky In Love
12. Let's Work
13. Joy
14. Don't Call Me Up
15. Checkin' Up On My Baby*
16. (You Gotta Walk And) Don't Look Back
17. Evening Gown

*Previously Unreleased

CAPITOL/EMI TO RELEASE ‘HOLLYWOOD’S GREATEST HITS’, 2-CD SET

Some of the greatest film directors and composers working today, including Francis Ford Coppola, Ang Lee, Spike Lee, John Barry, Gustavo Santaolalla and David Shire, celebrate the impact music has on our movie-going experience in "Lights! Action! Music!", a new television documentary premiering exclusively on WLIW New York Public Television tonight at 9:30pm ET. On August 14, Capitol/EMI will release a new 2-CD companion titled "Hollywood's Greatest Hits," showcasing 45 classic compositions featured in "Lights! Action! Music!". Following tonight's premiere, WLIW will distribute the program to public television stations nationwide throughout August (check local listings).

"Hollywood's Greatest Hits" is a unique recording achievement. Produced by Dan Lieberstein, the project was crafted with the purpose of preserving the legacy of these great film scores. Since the written scores for many of these films have been lost through the decades, each composition included on "Hollywood's Greatest Hits" was first painstakingly transcribed by expert musicians around the world before it could be recorded. The project was then taken to the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and recorded using the latest audio technology. "Hollywood's Greatest Hits" is a recording that will enrich any film lover's library and impress any audiophile.

"In Lights! Action! Music!", using classic examples of unforgettable scores from films such as "The Great Train Robbery", "Rocky" and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three", many of today's top filmmakers and composers reveal their inspiration and let movie-goers in on the creative process that makes motion pictures emotional. Movie audiences might not take conscious note of the music in a movie that is not a musical, but these passionate interviews about the art of scoring for film will spark a new appreciation for the role just a single note in the opening scene can take on. Director Mira Nair ("Monsoon Wedding"), points to the score's ability to tell audiences "from the first tone, the first note, that you're going to have a bloody good time at this movie."

Composer John Barry, whose work includes "Out of Africa" and ten James Bond films, describes how music is often an "emotional signpost" in movies. Francis Ford Coppola marvels at a composer's ability to "come up with a musical expression of the entire movie in just a few notes," as David Shire did with the opening notes for "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three". And Spike Lee, whose frequent musical collaborator Terence Blanchard also appears in the program, explains, "As a director, you've seen the film a million times. For me, the film never really becomes a film until the score is put in."

As demonstrated in "Lights! Action! Music!" and "Hollywood's Greatest Hits," a great movie score helps make that world real and unforgettable, and makes you want the movie not to end. Try imagining Rocky Balboa climbing those steps in Philadelphia without Bill Conti's heroic theme and one starts to understand.

MARCUS JOHNSON RELEASES 10th SOLO CD

Keyboardist Marcus Johnson released his tenth solo CD, The Phoenix, on his own Three Keys label. The first single from the set is his smooth jazz composition "The Road To Los Suenos." The tune was inspired by Johnson's trip to a resort in Costa Rica. The new album features 11 original songs, 10 of them co-written by Johnson himself. His piano skills get support from fellow keyboardist and singer Frank McComb, vocalist Nicki Gonzalez, saxophonist Phillip Martin, and guitarist Stanley Cooper on the recording. Johnson's most recent release was the charity CD In Concert For A Cause, which raises money for the Washington, D.C. area's YMCA "Building Bridges" program.

ULTIMATE SANTANA ARRIVES IN STORES OCTOBER 6 ON ARISTA

First Ever Compilation to Include Explosive Hits From Arista Years Starting In 1999 - And Original First-Generation Columbia Hits, 1969-'71. Features three previously unreleased tracks - collaborations with Chad Kroeger of Nickelback ("Into the Night"), Tina Turner ("The Game Of Love"), and a new track to be announced.

For the first time, the entire 20th and 21st century scope of Santana is presented together on one volume - from the Woodstock era rock and blues band that single-handedly brought West Coast Latin rhythms into the progressive-FM stream in the 1970s, up through their mega-platinum Grammy Award-winning years as Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductees in 1998, and Arista recording artists beginning in 1999. ULTIMATE SANTANA, a career-spanning celebration of an artist and their music, is highlighted by three previously unreleased tracks - separate collaborations with Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, Tina Turner, and a new track in the works - and will arrive in stores October 16th on Arista. The first single and newly recorded track "Into The Night" with Chad Kroeger goes for adds at all formats August 20th and video debut news will be announced soon.

ULTIMATE SANTANA marks the first anthology to include touchstone tracks from the band's earliest hitmaking years on Columbia Records alongside the groundbreaking collaborations that highlighted their three consecutive blockbuster Arista albums: Supernatural (1999), Shaman (2002), and All That I Am (2005). All three albums were produced by Carlos Santana and Clive Davis - a welcome reunion for the executive who first signed Santana to Columbia Records and oversaw their formative years on the path to international superstardom starting in 1969.

Three decades later, Supernatural became - and remains - anunsurpassed industry phenom, 15-times RIAA platinum in the U.S. alone, the #6 best-selling album in Soundscan history, with nearly double that number of sales worldwide. The album spent 102 weeks on the Billboard chart including 12 weeks at #1 -- no album since then has logged more than 8 weeks at the top. The album's success was fueled by the smash single "Smooth" (co-written by and featuring Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty) which spent 12 weeks at #1 on the hot 100, Santana's first #1 single; and "Maria Maria" (featuring Product G&B), 10 weeks at #1 pop, and 3 weeks at #1 R&B.

Most significantly, Supernatural generated an all-time record-breaking nine GRAMMY awards for a single album project, including Album Of the Year and Best Rock Album, as well as Record Of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration, all for "Smooth," plus Best Pop Performance by a Duo/Group for "Maria Maria," and Best Rock Performance by a Duo/Group for "Put Your Lights On" (featuring Everlast). There were also premiere Latin GRAMMY Awards (the show's first year) for Record Of The Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo/Group for "Corazon Espinado" (featuring Mana). ALL four of these hits are included on ULTIMATE SANTANA.

Supernatural was a hard act to follow -- but 2002's Shaman gave Santana a second consecutive #1 multi-platinum album. The lead single track was "The Game of Love" featuring Michelle Branch -- which is also heard here in a previously unreleased version featuring Tina Turner. The album also included "Why Don't You and I," a track with Chad Kroeger, who joins Carlos on the new sure-to-be smash hit single "Into The Night." The third in this series of collaborative albums was 2005's All That I Am, which entered the Billboard 200 albums chart at #2. From that album, ULTIMATE SANTANA highlights the anthemic rock performance "Just Feel Better" (featuring Steven Tyler of Aerosmith).

The ultimate triumph of ULTIMATE SANTANA, is how phenomenal the earliest recordings on Columbiasound next to their most recent post-millennial work. From Santana's self-titled debut album -- released on Tuesday, August 19, 1969, following their historic Saturday afternoon performance at the Woodstock Music & Art Fair -- comes their first Top 10 single, "Evil Ways." From their second album, 1970's Abraxas, come two songs that appeared back-to-back on the LP and are inextricably linked forever, Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va" and Fleetwood Mac's "Black Magic
Woman," plus a third original Santana staple, "Samba Pa Ti."

1971's appropriately titled Santana III is sampled with two singles that extended their run of Top 40 hits, "Everybody's Everything" and "No One To Depend On." Finally, ULTIMATE SANTANA jumps ahead five years to "Europa" from Amigos, the 1976 album that introduced new lead singer Greg Walker, who stayed in the band for more than a decade.

2007 represents 40 years since the original Santana Blues Band played its first shows at Bill Graham's Fillmore West in San Francisco. Today, Santana is virtually unique among all the first generation Bay Area bands as the only one to have sustained its success on the charts and on the road as a sold-out stadium attraction. Their track record boasts 20 RIAA gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums (including their first 14 consecutive certifications) and lifetime sales of more than 90 million albums worldwide. ULTIMATE SANTANA pays homage to the full spectrum of Carlos Santana's longevity, creativity, and soulful musical conscience.

ULTIMATE SANTANA (tentative track listing)

"Into The Night" (featuring Chad Kroeger) - previously unreleased
New track - title/artist to be announced
"Smooth" (w/Rob Thomas) - from album Supernatural (released June 15, 1999)
"Maria Maria" (w/Product G&B) - from album Supernatural (released June 15,1999)
"Put Your Lights On" (w/Everlast) - from album Supernatural (released June 15, 1999)
"Corazon Espinado" (w/Mana) - from album Supernatural (released June 15,1999)
"The Game of Love" (w/Michelle Branch) - from album Shaman (released Oct. 22, 2002)
"The Game of Love" (w/Tina Turner) - previously unreleased
"Why Don't You and I" (w/Chad Kroeger) - from album Shaman (released Oct. 22, 2002)
"Just Feel Better" (w/Steven Tyler) - from album All That I Am (released Nov. 1, 2005)
"Oye Como Va" - from album Abraxas (released Sept. 1970)
"Black Magic Woman" - from album Abraxas (released Sept. 1970)
"Evil Ways" - from album Santana (released Aug. 19, 1969)
"Everybody's Everything" - from album Santana III (released Sept. 1971)
"Europa" - from album Amigos (released March 1976)
"SambaPaTi" - from album Abraxas (released Sept. 1970)
"No One To Depend On" - from album Santana III (released Sept. 1971)

SOUL EXPRESS, GUITARS & SAXES, & JAZZ ATTACK AT 20th LONG BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL

Jody Watley, Lalah Hathaway,and Everette Harp are among the artists set to appear at the upcoming 20th Long Beach Jazz Festival this summer. Others scheduled to appear at the Aug. 10-12 event are Chris Stranding, plus Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Golub, Tim Bowman, and Warren Hill performing as “Guitars & Saxes”, and Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot, and Peter White taking the stage as “Jazz Attack”. Watley will join Everette Harp and Chris Standring for the ‘Soul Express” show.The concert will tale place at Rainbow Lagoon Park and will feature some surprise guests.

GAMBLE & HUFF PIR CATALOG LICENSED TO SONY BMG MUSIC

Sony BMG Music Entertainment has entered into an historic agreement to license the complete catalog of music from Philadelphia International Records (PIR), the groundbreaking hit-making label founded by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971, to be released through Sony BMG Music Entertainment's Commercial Music Group and Legacy Recordings.

The monumental PIR reissue project will be conducted under the direct auspices of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the Grammy-winning multi-platinum- selling writing and production team who created one of the most recognizable and influential catalogs of pop and soul music ever
recorded.

The Gamble-Huff collaborative chemistry generated a series of massive hits throughout the 1960s including "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (a regional hit for Dee Dee Warwick later covered by Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations), the Soul Survivors' "Expressway To Your Heart," the team's first Top 5 record, and the Intruder's 1968 breakout "Cowboys To Girls," blueprints for the emerging trademark sound of Philly Soul. In 1971, Gamble and Huff founded PIR as the outlet for their creative vision. Building a stable of Philly-based talent -- including Patti LaBelle, Archie Bell & the Drells, Jerry Butler, the Ebonys, the Intruders, the O'Jays, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Billy Paul, MFSB, the Three Degrees, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, to name a few -- PIR recordings reached the tops of the charts from day one, at one point selling more than 10 million records in a nine month period, with hits like Billy Paul's "Me & Mrs. Jones," a Grammy-winning #1 pop and R&B smash, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me By Now," and the O'Jay's "Backstabbers" and "Love Train."

"We are extremely glad and ecstatic about being back home with Sony BMG to continue the partnership that helped launch this incredible music 35 years ago," said PIR co-founders Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. "This is a fantastic opportunity to bring the sounds of Philly Soul to new and established audiences in fresh and exciting ways. We're honored to know that the R&B and soul music we love so much will continue to provide the soundtrack to the lives of so many fans, young and old, all over the world."

"The sounds of PIR are a vital and indispensable part of American pop music history," said John Ingrassia, President of Sony BMG Music Entertainment's Commercial Music Group. "It's a thrill and an honor to be working directly with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff to find new ways of bringing classic Philly Soul music into the lives of music fans everywhere."

In the early 1960s in Philadelphia, songwriter and performer Kenny Gamble and in-demand session pianist Leon Huff wrote more than 14 songs together during their first chance meeting. That fortuitous encounter led to one of the most prodigious songwriting and production partnerships in R&B and pop music history.

By 1973, PIR was second only to Motown as the largest African-American owned company in America. Over the years, the Gamble and Huff team has been responsible for 70 #1 pop and R&B singles and 175 RIAA gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications. To-date, the Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff partnership has produced more than 3,500 songs and won 5 Grammys.

Having been covered or sampled by a vast array of artists including Jay-Z, Babyface, Nelly, OutKast, Angie Stone, Simply Red (whose 1989 version of "If You Don't Know Me By Now" was a #1 record earning Gamble and Huff the Best R&B Song Grammy), Bette Midler, Mary J. Blige, Michael Buble, Kanye West, 50 Cent and T.I., among many others, Gamble and Huff songs and productions have entered the musical DNA of contemporary culture. It has been reported that one of Gamble and Huff's songs is played on the radio somewhere in the world every 13.5 minutes.

One of the most sought-after and heavily licensed catalogs of music in the world, the sounds of Gamble and Huff have figured prominently in television programs, films and advertising spots for more than 30 years. MFSB's #1 hit from 1974, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)," is best-known
as the theme song for "Soul Train" while the O'Jay's funk/soul classic "For The Love Of Money," first released in 1973, enjoyed a massive resurgence as the theme song for Donald Trump's reality show, "The Apprentice" in 2004. Gamble-Huff songs may be heard in the soundtracks for a host of recent Hollywood films including the Bernie Mac-Ashton Kutcher romantic comedy "Guess Who" (2005) and Eddie Murphy's 1996 hit "The Nutty Professor." Gamble-Huff songs have been used in high-profile television ad campaigns for Verizon, Old Navy, the Gap and Coors Beer, among many others.

With a catalog that has lasted more than 35 years, Gamble and Huff continue to receive national and international accolades with the duo's music being prominently featured on such top-rated shows as Donald Trump's "The Apprentice," "Dancing With The Stars," and "American Idol," which have showcased such Gamble and Huff produced hit recordings as "For The Love Of Money," "If You Don't Know Me By Now," "Don't Leave Me This Way" and others throughout their respective seasons. Most recently, the NBC "Today" show honored Gamble and Huff for their more than 45 years of creative work as music producers.

Gamble and Huff and the PIR catalog have been bestowed with countless accolades and honors including the 1999 Trustees Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS & the Grammy Foundation) for their "significant contributions ... to the field of recording." For their historic contributions to dance, soul and disco music, Gamble and Huff were inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in September 2005. As prolific songwriters for a host of artists, Gamble and Huff were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994. Gamble-Huff artists and productions have received multiple awards from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. Gamble and
Huff were recipients of the prestigious Ivor Novello Award, presented in London by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, in 2006.

PIR became the birthplace, incubator and launching pad for the Philly Soul sound, a unique blend of R&B rhythms, sweet soul vocals, deep funk grooves, pulsing horn charts and lush string arrangements with melodic structures combining elements of pop, jazz and world music. A sophisticated sound lovingly crafted in the studio by some of the 20th century's most influential producers and production teams -- including Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead, Bunny Sigler, Dexter Wansel, Joe Tarsia and others -- Philly Soul set the stage for disco, smooth jazz, adult contemporary music and more.

The new PIR licensing agreement will allow Legacy Recordings and theSony BMG Music Entertainment Commercial Music Group to release PIR recordings drawn from the entire history of the label. The PIR reissue project will consist of releases in physical and digital media (including ringtones and other cell phone and PDA applications) and will include artist-specific and thematic compilations, new additions to the "Essentials" series, live and unreleased material, and many more secret finds and rarities to be mined from the deep and coveted collection of classic recordings in the PIR vaults. The PIR reissue project will debut in October with two new double-disc collections: "The Essential Lou Rawls" and "The Essential Teddy Pendergrass."

A major roll-out for the PIR reissue project is being planned for 2008 -- the 45th anniversary of the first Gamble-Huff collaboration – with major releases scheduled throughout the year.

Legacy Recordings, the Grammy Award-winning catalog label of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, produces and maintains the world's greatest catalog of digitally remastered titles in the historic reissue field, encompassing the genres of pop, rock, jazz, blues, R&B, folk, country, gospel, Broadway musicals, movie soundtracks, world music, comedy and more. Legacy's primary resource is the vast 20th century archives of Columbia Records (including ARC, Brunswick, OKeh, and Vocalion), the Epic family of labels (including PIR), the archives of RCA Records (including Victor, Bluebird, Buddah, Kama Sutra, Groove and Vik), the BMG family of labels including Arista (including Amy Mala Bell), Jive, Profile, Silvertone, and Windham Hill, as well as such associated imprints as American, Bang!, CTI, Mainstream, Monument, Ode, and others.

ALLEN TOUSSAINT TOUR DATES

Allen Toussaint, will perform the following concerts:
August 11 @ North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh NC
August 12 @ Blues & Roots Festival, Burnaby BC
August 16 @ River Run Lodge, Sun Valley ID
September 20 @ Delacourte Theatre, Central Park, New York NY
September 30 @ San Francisco Blues Festival, San Francisco CA
October 6 @ Brevard College, Brevard NC
October 18 @ Billboard Live, Osaka Japan
October 19 @ Billboard Live, Fukuoka Japan
October 21 @ Billboard Live, Tokyo Japan
October 22 @ Billboard Live, Tokyo Japan
November 1 @ Coolidge Auditorium, Washington DC
November 4 @ Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield CT
November 16 @ University of Wyoming, Laramie WY
February 10 @ Oneida Casino, Green Bay WI
February 11 @ Oneida Casino, Green Bay WI
February 12 @ Oneida Casino, Green Bay WI
March 7 @ Mondavi Performing Arts Center,Davis CA

BETTYE LAVETTE"S CD 'SCENE OF THE CRIME'

Transcendent soul stylist BETTYE LaVETTE returns to the New York stage to perform at Highline Ballroom September 24, the night before the release of her eagerly awaited new CD (and second from Anti- Records), titled "THE SCENE OF THE CRIME." Recognized as the "Sexiest Female Vocalist Alive" by Esquire, BETTYE is sure to deliver a rousing set of songs filled with majesty, richness and strength packed with more than enough raw visceral emotion to raise the hair on the back of the neck of any fully alive, blood pumping, breathing human being.

On "THE SCENE OF THE CRIME," BETTYE is backed by the freewheeling renegade Southern rock band Drive By Truckers and produced by the DBT's own Patterson Hood, David Barbe and Bettye LaVette. The forthcoming disc is already generating a buzz with journalists including Josh Freedom du Lac from the Washington Post: "Mark your calendar, cuz this one's absolutely worth getting," August Brown of the Los Angeles Times: "'Scene'... is full of simmering open space that lets her hard-fought revelations on love and liquor resonate," and USA Today's Ken Barnes: "this album... just rips, with some truly sublime peaks."

Recorded in the classic soul mine of Muscle Shoals' FAME Studios, the set is fraught with dire psychological elements. "THE SCENE OF THE CRIME" represents a volatile bid to dispel the shadow still cast by BETTYE's simmering frustration over her stillborn Muscle Shoals-recorded 1972 masterpiece "Child of the Seventies," an album that Atlantic Records maddeningly -- and inexplicably -- shelved before anyone heard it.

BETTYE's vocals, a richly calculated union of blunt force trauma and unspeakable tenderness, boil over with long-carried need to flout that blow. Using a hand-picked set of titles by a diverse set of writers (from Willie Nelson to Elton John), BETTYE foments another artistic revolution as she quells an aching personal thwart. "THE SCENE OF THE CRIME" equation is enhanced further by contributions from two Muscle Shoals mainstays, keyboardist Spooner Oldham and bassist David Hood (who just happens to be father of Drive By Truckers guitarist Patterson Hood), and the sound achieved -- gritty, restrained, fuzz-gilded, deep soul-rock grooves -- provides ideal support.

The result of this striking convergence is profound, a resonant, emotional conquest of forty five years of hurt and bad memories. BETTYE is captured in full fury, cementing the promise of 2005's extraordinary "I've Got My Own Hell to Raise," a glorious reintroduction which also re-asserted her as one of America's most forceful and accomplished soul singers. Now, "THE SCENE OF THE CRIME" delivers an even more intimate session with the unrivaled singer. It also underscores the might of the Drive By Truckers, a young band who have been steadily increasing their own cachet. This powerful, multi-generational mixture brings a remarkable gravity, and "THE SCENE OF THE CRIME" is a passionately declarative artistic achievement, one that could only have originated with the incomparable BETTYE LAVETTE.

BRIAN CULBERTSON TO HOST 1ST ANNUAL INLAND EMPIRE JAZZ FESTIVAL

Jazz great Brian Culbertson and film star Vivica A. Fox will host the First Annual Inland Empire Jazz Festival on August 24-26, 2007 at Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park in Ontario, California. Featuring jazz styles including New Orleans, Dixieland, Bebop, Mainstream, Jazz Fusion, Free Funk and more, the event will benefit Operation REAPP which serves economically deprived and at-risk students. Performers scheduled to appear include:Brian Culbertson, Steve Cole, Vivica A. Fox, A. Ray Fuller, Michael Ward, Paul Jackson Jr., Marcus Coleman, Jakiem Joyner, Jeanette Harris, Gerald Albright, L.A. Mambo Combo and others.

"There will be two stages of live music plus roving bands throughout the park," says Annetta Bryant, executive director of the Inland Empire Jazz Festival. "Our company is proud to have been chosen by Operation REAPP to develop this event as a fundraiser and to bring awareness to the education challenges of our youth, who will be well represented during this event." Operation REAPP is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1997 by Queen Mc Glone. The organization is dedicated to providing educational support to underprivileged and at-risk youth, grades K-12.

MADELEINE PEYROUX TOUR DATES

Madeleine Peyroux will perform the following concerts: 
August 11 @ Festival at Sandpoint, Sandpoint ID
August 22 @ Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood CA
August 24 @ Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater, Reno NV
August 25 @ Rodney Strong Vineyards, Healdsburg CA
August 26 @ Mountain Winery, Saratoga CA
August 28 @ John Van Duzer Theatre, Arcata CA
September 14 @ Festival de Jazz, Ouro Preto Brazil
September 15 @ Teatro Ipatinga, Belo Horizonte Brazil
September 18 @ Via Funchal, Sao Paulo Brazil
September 20 @ Casa Fasano, Sao Paulo Brazil
September 22 @ Centro de Concencoes Brasilia, Brasilia Brazil
September 26 @ Teatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
September 28 @ Bourbon Hall, Porto Alegre Brazil
October 2 @ Teatro Castro Alves, Salvador de Bahia Brazil
November 7 @ Southern Theatre, Columbus OH
November 8 @ University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
November 10 @ Performing Arts Center, Yellow Springs PA
November 11 @ Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA
November 13 @ South Orange PAC, South Orange NJ
November 14 @ Whitaker Center, Harrisburg PA
November 15 @ Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood NJ
November 17 @ Garde Arts Center, New London CT
November 18 @ Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield CT.

CD101.9 LIBERTY JAZZ

New York’s CD101.9 has just added another concert to the Liberty Jazz series. This one is set for September 8 and 9 and set to appear are Bob James, Earl Klugh, Branford Marsalis, Kyle Eastwood, Joshua Redman, and Gil Parris.

BLUE NOTE TOKYO PERFORMANCE LINEUP

Eddie Palmieri / Brian Lynch Jazz Quartet – Aug. 1, 2, 3

Canizares ‘Suite Iberia’ Guitarra Flamenca – Aug. 4, 5

Sophie Milman – Aug. 7, 8, 10, 11

Akikio Yano Group – Aug. 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23

Dee Dee Bridgewater – Aug. 24, 25 ,26

Michael Feinstein – Aug. 27, 28 ,29

Jimmy Scott – Aug. 30, 31; Sept.. 1

Bobby Hutcherson – Sept. 2, 3, 4, 5

Eldar – Sept. 6

Junko Onishi Trio – Sept. 7, 8

Roy Hargrove Quintet – Sept. 9, 10, 11

Kurt Elling – Sept. 12, 13

Lee Ritenour w/ Alex Acuna, John Beasley, Brian Bromberg & special guest Bill Evans –Sept. 14, 15, 16

Eric Benet w/ Michael Paulo Band – Sept. 17, 18

Bob James Band feat. David McMurray and DJ Rob Swift – Sept. 20, 21, 22

Chick Corea Rendezvous in Tokyo Duet w/ Hiromi Uehara – Sept. 24, 25, 26

Chick Corea Rendezvous in Tokyo Trio w/ John Pattitucci and Antonio Sanchez – Sept. 28, 29, 30

Chick Corea Rendezvous in Tokyo Duet w/ Bela Fleck – Oct. 1, 2, 3

Dave Koz with special Guest Kelly Sweet – Oct. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ,9

Ivan Lins – Oct. 10, 11, 12, 13

Carol Welsman – Oct 19, 20

Dave Holland Quintet w/ Chris Potter, Robin Eubanks, Nate Smith and Steve Nelson – Oct. 23, 24, 25, 26

Tuck and Patti – Oct. 27, 28, 30

Sam Moore – Oct. 31; Nov. 1, 2, 3,

Gonzalo Rubalcaba Quintet – Nov. 21, 22, 23

Average White Band – Nov. 24, 25, 26 ,27

ZAP MAMAN - SUPERMOON

"Marie Daulne, founder of Zap Mama, has been a major figure in world music since the early '90s, crunching genres from Congolese traditional to rap via what was initially an a cappella quintet...In all that time she's never released a tighter, more immediate record than the new Supermoon." -- Billboard


Marie Daulne, the founder and fronting member of Zap Mama, stands with one foot firmly planted in tradition and the other in the progressive sounds and sensibilities of a new century. Born in the Congo and raised in Belgium, Marie's journey to self-realization through music started with Adventures In Afropea I, the group's 1993 debut recording on David Byrne's label Luaka Bop. It wove together music from Zaire, Tanzania, Syria, France and Spain and reached #1 on the Billboard World Music Charts. Follow-up albums Sabsylma and A Ma Zone not only earned the band a Grammy nomination, but also cemented the group's reputation as one of the most innovative and stylistically diverse acts in contemporary world music. No wonder luminaries from Erykah Badu, U-Roy and Talib Kweli to Black Thought and ?uestlove of The Roots signed up to work with the band.

The release of Supermoon opens a new chapter of this continuously unfolding story. An engaging blend of world, jazz, pop, funk, reggae and soul, the album includes guest appearances by stellar figures from around the globe: Drummer Tony Allen, bassists Meshell Ndegeocello and Will Lee, guitarists David Gilmore and Michael Franti, pianists Leon Pendarvis and Robbie Kondor, percussionist Bashiri Johnson and more. Notable tracks include the lead song "Supermoon," the meditative "Affection," and the playful "Gati." "With Supermoon, I reveal the way I chose to live when I started my career," says Daulne. "It's very intimate...You're seeing me very close up. I hope that's a kind of intimacy that people will understand. I'm opening a door to who I am." With this type of down-to-earth honesty and a genuine interest in working to protect human rights and fight global poverty with Amnesty International and the UN, Marie Daulne continues to mesmerize us all.

Source: giantstep.net

ALICIA KEYS, COMMON, EYKAH BADU & RAFAEL SAADIQ HEADLINE HEINEKEN RED STAR SOUL CONCERTS

Heineken USA announced today the artist lineup for the return of Heineken Red Star Soul, an original and proprietary series of music events and concert series created by Heineken. The series kicks off on August 15 with a concert hosted by VIBE Magazine and Heineken at Los Angeles' BOULEVARD3 featuring performances by GRAMMY(R) Award winner Common and debut-breakout star Chrisette Michelle, with the hottest beats to be provided by D-Nice.

Following the kick-off concert event in L.A., Heineken Red Star Soul continues throughout the fall, with stops across the U.S. featuring a roll call of today's music headliners and the stars of tomorrow. Other notables slated to perform at Heineken Red Star Soul concerts include GRAMMY(R) Award winners Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, Raphael Saadiq and DJ Jazzy Jeff and Raheem DeVaughn, whose star continues to rise following his contributions to last year's Red Star Soul series.

Respected and recognized for his distinct sound and socially-conscious lyrics, Common's Heineken Red Star Soul performances coincide with the release of his much-anticipated seventh album "Finding Forever" (July 31 release date). And, after turning heads with her breakout performances during last year's Heineken Red Star Soul concert series, Chrisette Michelle shot to stardom on the music scene with much critical and fan acclaim. She re-ups with Heineken Red Star Soul and joins Common on the road to feature songs from her major label debut on Def Jam, "I Am" for this ground-breaking concert series.

"Heineken Red Star Soul was created to honor the achievements of soul and R&B musicians and others who inspire others with their talent and tenacity," said Andy Glaser, brand director, Heineken USA. "Heineken Red Star Soul shines a spotlight on these artists, enabling them to continue to bring new musical experiences to live audiences while celebrating the independent spirit that lives in each of us. With our concert performances and by honoring our Heineken Independent Achievers, we salute luminaries and rising stars who continue to make valuable contributions to soul and R&B music."

Following the kick-off in Los Angeles, Heineken Red Star Soul will bring special music events and concerts to select cities across the U.S. Scheduled locations, dates and artist lineup (subject to change) include:
o Cleveland, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 8/28 - Raphael Saadiq, Chrisette Michelle and Teadra Moses.
o Detroit, Seldom Blues, 9/4 – Common and Raheem DeVaughn
o Chicagi, Crobar, 9/13 – Erykah Badu and Chrisette Michelle
o Atlanta, Opera, 9/18 – Common, DJ Jazz Jeff and Emily King
o Washington, D.C., Love, 9/26 - Common and Teadra Moses
o Philadelphia, World Café Live, 10/3 - Erykah Badu and Raheem DeVaughn.
o New York, Spotllight ive, 10/23 – Alicia Keys and DJ Cassidy

Performers at each Heineken Red Star Soul concert will be supported by a star-studded lineup of DJs, including Jazzy Jeff, D-Nice and Cassidy. Additional artists may be added throughout the series. Heineken Independent Achiever Award. During each stop of Heineken Red Star Soul, a member of the local music community will be honored with the Heineken Independent Achiever Award. The Heineken Independent Achiever Award, established in 2006, recognizes individuals who demonstrate the hustle, integrity and drive necessary to make it while inspiring others.

Eight award recipients were selected by a committee consisting of music industry luminaries and winners will be announced in mid-August. The star- studded committee, featuring Bryan-Michael Cox and Kenny Burns, reviewed dozens of entries and offered their expertise to the search for independent spirits with the power to inspire others. Each of the committee's honorees will accept their award on-stage during the Heineken Red Star Soul concert in their hometown.

“Serving on the selection committee for the Heineken Independent Achiever Award was an incredibly rewarding experience for me," said Cox. "Knowing the honor and opportunity that receiving this Award will bring to these distinguished recipients, I am honored to be associated with the program and salute Heineken for its vision and its commitment to soul music and the broader music community."

In addition to three-time GRAMMY(R) Award-winning songwriter and producer Cox and industry insider Kenny Burns, the selection committee for the Heineken Independent Achiever Award included Vice President of Writer Publisher Relations, BMI, Catherine Brewton; and recipients of the 2006 Heineken Independent Achiever Award for Atlanta and Washington, D.C., founder of Atlanta's FunkJazzKafe, Jason Orr and current Jive artist Raheem DeVaughn.

STEVIE WONDER’S COLLECTION OF #1 HITS BROUGHT TOGETHER

He's an icon, an indisputable musical genius, and an extraordinarily influential figure. Now the wonder that is Stevie Wonder can be heard on his first single-CD collection to feature only #1 hits. The 20-selection "Stevie Wonder Number 1's" (Motown/UMe), released August 21, 2007, leads the latest group of albums in the new platinum-selling "Number 1's" series from UMe (see below), all of which are available only in earth friendly and fully recyclable eco-paks. "Stevie Wonder Number 1's," his most up-to-date career-spanning single disc, brings together more than 40 years of classic as well as contemporary #1's, from 1963 to 2005, each track digitally remastered.

His first chart-topper, "Fingertips Part 2" (#1 R&B/#1 Pop), led to two other #1's from the '60s -- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (#1 R&B) and "I Was Made To Love Her" (#1 R&B). The '70s kicked off with his first self-produced #1, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (#1 R&B), and continued with a slew of songs from immortal ballads to monster jams that helped define the decade: "Superstition" (#1 R&B/#1 Pop), "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" (#1 Pop/#1 Adult Contemporary), "Higher Ground" (#1 R&B), "Living For The City" (#1 R&B), "You Haven't Done Nothing" (#1 R&B/#1 Pop), "Boogie On Reggae Woman" (#1 R&B), "I Wish" (#1 R&B/#1 Pop), "Sir Duke" (#1 R&B/#1 Pop) and "Send One Your Love" (#1 Adult Contemporary). The '80s brought "Master Blaster (Jammin')" (#1 R&B), "That Girl" (#1 R&B), "I Just Called To Say I Love You" (#1 R&B/#1 Pop/#1 Adult Contemporary), "Part-Time Lover" (the first single ever to be #1 R&B/#1 Pop/#1 Adult Contemporary/#1 Dance), "Overjoyed" (#1 Adult Contemporary) and "Skeletons" (1 R&B). "Stevie Wonder Number 1's" wraps up with "So What The Fuss" (#1 Urban Adult Contemporary) from his most recent album, 2005's "A Time To Love."

"Stevie Wonder Number 1's" is the latest addition to the "Number 1's" brand which launched in April 2007. Following on August 28 will be "Number 1's" for R&B and Pop superstars the Jackson 5 (including hits from The Jacksons and Michael Jackson) and Kool & The Gang; country greats Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty; and genre collections covering Classic Rock (The Who, Rod Stewart, Doobie Brothers, Elton John, Guess Who, etc.), Modern Rock (INXS, Hole, Alien Ant Farm, Smash Mouth, etc.), Hard Rock (Poison, Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Scorpions, etc.) and Classic Disco (Village People, Irene Cara, Edwin Starr, etc.).

STEVIE WONDER - 2007 TOUR DATES
August 23 San Diego, CA - Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
August 25 Lake Tahoe, NV - Harvey's Lake Tahoe Outdoor Amphitheatre
August 26 Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion At Concord
August 28 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
August 30 Troutdale, OR - McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater
August 31 Woodinville, WA - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
September 4 Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
September 5 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
September 10 Chicago, IL - Charter One Pavilion @ Northerly Isl.
September 12 Rochester Hills, MI - Meadow Brook Music Festival
September 14 Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
September 16 Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion
September 18 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
September 20 Boston, MA - Bank Of America Pavilion

DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL ARTIST LINEUP

Artists slated to appear at the upcoming Detriot Jazz Festival this coming Labor Day Weekend include: Herbie Hancock, Regina Carter, Bill Charlap Trio, Patti Austin & the Gerald Wilson Big Band, Yusef Lateef, The Classical Jazz Quartet with Stefon Harris, Ron Carter, Lewis Nash, and Kenny Barron, Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, Poncho Sanchez, Kenny Garrett, Kurt Elling, Dave Brubeck, Russell Malone, Charles Tolliver Big Band, Mavis Staples, Sean Jones Sextet, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and Sachal Vasandani

DEBUT SAX PACK ALBUM

Jeff Kashiwa’s latest release is Play and says that he and fellow saxophonists Kim Waters and Steve Cole will head into the studio later this month to begin recording the debut album by the Sax Pack. Kashiwa came up with the idea for the Sax Pack touring package a few years ago, and this year teamed with Waters and Cole for the 2007 edition. The musicians' separate recording agreements kept them from recording together under the Sax Pack name until now.

BELA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES TOUR DATES

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones will perform the following concerts:
August 6 @t Mariner Theatre, Homer AK
August 8 @ Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield WI
August 9 @ Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre, Apple Valley WI
August 10 @ Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee WI
August 11 @ Cain Park, Cleveland Heights OH
August 12 @ Kresge Auditorium, Interlochen MI
August 17 @ Harrah's North, North Kansas City MO
August 18 @ Fraze Pavilion, Kettering OH
August 28 @ Anderson Center, Binghamton NY
August 29 @ Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield ME
August 30 @ Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield ME
August 31 @ Summer Music Series, Lowell MA
September 1 @ LL Bean Discovery Park, Freeport ME
September 2 @ Rhythm & Roots Festival, Charlestown RI
September 3 @ Brookhaven Amphitheatre, Farmingville NY
September 14 @ Austin City Limits Festival, Austin TX
September 19 @ Alabama Theatre, Birmingham AL
September 21 @ Orpheum Theatre, Madison WI
September 22 @ Dominican University, River Forest IL
September 23 @ Bijou Theatre, Knoxville TN
September 24 @ Bijou Theatre, Knoxville TN
September 25 @ Carolina Theatre, Greensboro NC
September 26 @ Carolina Theatre, Durham NC
September 28 @ Brookgreen Gardens, Pawleys Island SC
September 29 @ Ichthus Farm, Wilmore KY
October 6 @ Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, San Francisco CA
October 7 @ Cascade Theatre, Redding CA
October 8 @ Humboldt State University, Arcata CA
October 9 @ University of California, Santa Barbara CA
October 10 @ Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim CA
October 11 @ Fonda in Los Angeles CA

KOOL & THE GANG ISSUES FIRST STUDIO DISC IN A DECADE, ‘STILL KOOL’ FEATURES SOULFUL GROOVES & CLASSIC COVERS

Legendary groovemeisters Kool & The Gang are back on the scene with "Still Kool" on New Door Records/UMe), the chart-topping band's first studio release in ten years. Combining soulful R&B, pop, hip-hop, Urban AC and more, the disc showcases the extraordinary versatility that has won them the status of musical icons - while venturing into new sonic territory in collaboration with some talented protégés. The band that vaulted up the pop charts with such indelible tracks as "Celebration," "Ladies Night" and "Joanna" delivers a fleet of silky, melodic tunes on "Still Kool," with its trademark blend of irresistible grooves, expressive horn lines and infectious chorus hooks. On songs like "Miracles," "Dave," "Steppin' Into Love" and "Too Low for Zero," Kool & The Gang relay messages of compassion and hope with the same grace and musicality that have made them a household name for decades. But the purveyors of such booty-rocking standards as "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging" don't fail to flex their funk -- on both old-school workouts ("Bang Bang With the Gang") and hip-hop jams ("Give It Up," "Livin' in the 21"). In addition, the troupe puts its signature on such classic covers as Marvin Gaye's "What's Happening Brother" (which is performed in a medley with the original "Is What It Is") and Christopher Cross' "Sailing."

The new album, the band's first studio outing since 1996's "State of Affairs," finds the R&B giants joining forces with fiery 23-year-old vocalist Jirmad Gordon; the youthful phenom had been working on a solo project with bassist and co-founder Robert "Kool" Bell's son, Hakim Bell (who contributed to "Still Kool" as co-writer, co-producer and rapper). "We knew Jirmad was a dynamite singer, but we thought at first he might be a little too young to sing for the band," Kool recalls. "But when he came into the studio with us, he really rose to the challenge." "Jirmad is a rising star," adds sax player/keyboardist/singer/flautist Khalis Bayyan, who produced and wrote numerous tracks on "Still Kool." "He's got the chops and the passion. It turned out to be a perfect fit - after all, we were even younger than he is when we started." In addition to contributing vocals, Gordon also contributed lyrics to one song on the disc, the randy club anthem "Give It Up," which he co-wrote with longtime Kool & The Gang keyboardist Curtis F. Williams.

The tumultuous state of the world is a frequent focus of the band's new material. "Miracles" was initially written after Bayyan narrowly survived a terrifying car crash but took on new depth when it embraced the story of the "lost boys" of Sudan. "Livin' in the 21" argues for "a little faith" amid the new century's turmoil. "Dave," inspired by the classic sci-fi film "2001: A Space Odyssey," turns that movie's computer-and-astronaut dialogue into a plea for a better future. Opener "America," meanwhile, explores immigration and the various borders that divide us. But these more sober questions are balanced by plenty of party grooves and romantic interludes - and the result is quintessentially Kool.

Recorded in New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles at Sony, 4th Quarter and Alley Cat Studios, "Still Kool" was produced by Khalis Bayyan, George Brown and Curtis F. Williams.

BLACK MUSIC ANNOUNCES LONG BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES

Black Music America Digital Channel (BMA Digital) today announced the start of its "BMA Digital Channel Cool Sounds Long Beach Jazz Festival Sweepstakes." The sweepstakes launched Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 12:00 a.m. PT. Three (3) southern California area Charter Digital Cable(R) subscriber's online sweepstakes entries will be selected randomly to receive one pair of VIP tickets for one day at the 20th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival scheduled for August 10-12, 2007. Charter is the first cable system to launch BMA Digital (channel 946) in the Los Angeles area. BMA Digital is a co-presenting sponsor of the Long Beach Jazz Festival Pavilion. Sweepstakes entries are available online at http://www.blackmusicamerica.com/longbeach/index.htm.

In addition to the VIP ticket giveaway, one Charter Digital Cable(R) subscriber online or festival attendee entry will be randomly selected to win a grand prize package of a trip for two to Mall of America. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, Mall of America is the largest fully enclosed retail and entertainment complex in the United States. Winner will receive roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations and a $100 gift certificate. The grand prizewinner will be drawn from all entries received by August 30 at 11:59 p.m. and posted online August 31, 2007 at
http://www.blackmusicamerica.com/longbeach/index.htm.

"We are committed to presenting fun, interactive promotional opportunities for Charter SoCal digital subscribers and community residents," said Pete Rhodes, co-founder and CEO, BMA Digital.

As part of its sponsorship, BMA Digital will host live performances from the Pavilion stage headlined by Minneapolis based jazz ensemble Joto. Featuring members of the hit-making R&B group Mint Condition, Joto is scheduled for multiple performances on Saturday, August 11. For more information on BMA Digital or the 20th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival visit http://www.blackmusicamerica.com or log onto http://www.longbeachjazzfestival.com.

Black Music America Digital Channel is the leading interactive urban music service, reaching households through digital cable. Branded as BMA Digital, Black Music America delivers multimedia content encompassing video, audio and enhanced graphics to more than 1 million consumers of African American arts and culture. With its headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Black Music America was founded in 1984 as CBLS (Cities(TM) Best Looking Sound) and maintains its position in the industry as the oldest African American owned, 24-hour commercial cable music service. BMA Digital delivers localized programming and marketing services through Comcast Cable (channel 937) in Minneapolis and St. Paul and Charter Communications (channel 946) in Long Beach, California. The BMA Digital companion website, http://www.blackmusicamerica.com averages over 100,000 monthly visitors worldwide.

QUEEN LATIFAH'S SECOND JAZZ ALBUM DUE

Queen Latifah is putting the finishing touches on her second album of jazz music, to be called Trav'lin Light. The project, due September 25th, also features special guests Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Joe Sample, George Duke, Christian McBride, and Stevie Wonder. On Trav'lin Light, Latifah pays tribute to some of her favorite singers of the past, including Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, Mary Wells and Roberta Flack.

SOUL BALLET 'LAVISH'

Composer and instrumentalist Rick Kelley is ready to release the newest CD from Soul Ballet, titled Lavish, on September 11th. The Artizen Music Group release features guest appearances by two of the label's owners, Rick Braun and Richard Elliot. The first single from the set is "Smooth Vegas," which features Elliot on saxophone. Soul Ballet last topped the smooth jazz charts with "Cream," a track from the 2005 release DreamBeatDream. Kelly, who in addition to music continues to succeed as an actor, says that his love of contemporary pop and hip-hop helped shape the musical feel of Lavish. Lavish will be the seventh CD from Soul Ballet since the self-titled 1996 debut.

BLUE NOTE RECORDS’ SOMETHIN’ ELSE JAZZ CLUB - A HIT AT 2007 BONNAROO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

Blue Note Records’ Somethin’ Else Jazz Club made its debut at the 2007 Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival last week in Manchester, Tennessee, and was an absolute hit with both fans and critics. The 500-capacity club—which was designed to resemble a downtown New York City jazz club, complete with table seating, wait service, air conditioning, and walls decorated with classic Blue Note photography and album artwork—was greeted with long lines that brought an estimated 10,000 listeners through its doors over the course of the festival.

Enthusiastic audiences were treated to a wide variety of stand-out performances that were a testament to the vitality of jazz and its appeal to a wider audience. The opening night featured a stunning solo set by Blue Note’s newest signing, African guitarist Lionel Loueke, and a smoking soul jazz performance by two Blue Note legends, saxophonist Lou Donaldson and Hammond B3 organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, which nearly burned the tent down.

Other highlights included two of the finest piano trios around led by Jacky Terrasson and Robert Glasper, the funky explorations of Mago featuring keyboardist John Medeski and drummer Billy Martin, and a driving late-night set by The Philadelphia Experiment which featured drummer Ahmir Thompson from The Roots, bassist Christian McBride, and keyboardist Uri Caine, as well as a surprise guest appearance by the actress Gina Gershon who contributed a thrilling Jew’s harp solo.

Check out what Jon Pareles had to say about Somethin’ Else in The New York Times:

“This year’s Bonnaroo had a new addition: a jazz stage set up like a club, in a dark room with tables and wait service. It was constantly packed, with a line, for music primarily from the roster of Blue Note Records, which sponsored the stage in a wise marketing move. Since Bonnaroo’s audience prizes virtuosity and nuance, why not offer them in the highly evolved form of jazz? Younger musicians like the pianist Robert Glasper are already meeting contemporary music on their own terms; he played one piece based on a hip-hop groove from J Dilla, and another that mingled Radiohead’s ‘Everything in the Right Place’ with Herbie Hancock’s ‘Maiden Voyage.’ Older musicians, like the 80-year-old saxophonist Lou Donaldson and the organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, didn’t need updating at all.”

Reid Davis also posted a rave review on his PASTE magazine blog:
“Bonnaroo may have taken some zigs and zags from its jamband roots, but it still hosts plenty of folks who dig the extended jam, the righteous solo. Why it took so long for straight-up jazz to get here I have no idea, but the idea is incredibly logical, and almost inevitable. And leave it to Blue Note Records to do it up right, with an air-conditioned, tent-housed club called ‘Somethin’ Else’—the name both a nod to Cannonball Adderley’s monumental album and a nice fit with the local hierarchy of This, That and The Other... Bottom line: a terrific idea.”
 

EARTH, WIND & FIRE TO APPEAR AT 12th ANNUAL BERMUDA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Fans of the R&B group Earth Wind & Fire get ready to "Groove" in Bermuda where the legendary band will put an exclamation point on an already jam-packed 12th Annual Bermuda Music Festival hosted by the Bermuda Department of Tourism." From October 3rd - 6th, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Natasha Bedingfield, The O'Jay's and now Earth Wind & Fire will fill four nights with "Mighty Mighty Music" during what looks to be one of Bermuda's most high profiled Music Festivals being hosted, once again, by Steve Harvey.

"We have an incredible group of talent performing at this year's Bermuda Music Festival," said Bermuda's Premier, Minister of Tourism and Transport, Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, JP, MP. "The addition of Earth Wind and Fire makes this year's music festival one of the hottest tickets Bermuda has ever seen.”

Earth, Wind & Fire are one of the most musically accomplished, critically acclaimed, and commercially popular funk bands of the '70s. Conceived by drummer, bandleader, songwriter, kalimba player, and occasional vocalist Maurice White, Earth Wind & Fire's all-encompassing musical vision incorporated jazz, smooth soul, gospel, pop, rock & roll, psychedelia, blues, folk, African music, and, later on, disco. White founded Earth, Wind & Fire in Chicago in 1969. Their breakthrough album, That's the Way of the World (1975), yielded "Shining Star," a Grammy Award-winning #1 hit on both the pop and R&B charts.

Earth, Wind & Fire's conquest of the Seventies continued with an unbroken run of multiplatinum albums: Gratitude (1975), Spirit (1976), All 'n All (1977), The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 (1978) and I Am (1979). After a short-term hiatus, Earth, Wind & Fire bounced back in 1987 with a strong album (Touch the World) and single ("System of Survival"). They became an active recording and touring entity again, albeit at a less frantic pace. A career-spanning box set, The Eternal Dance, was released in 1992. Maurice White retired from the road in 1996 but remains Earth, Wind & Fire's producer and guiding light. The band's most recent studio recording, In the Name of Love, appeared on the Pyramid/Rhino label in 2007.

Now in its 12th year, The Bermuda Music Festival is going back to its roots and will be held at the National Sports Centre, the site of the first festival. This year's festival is being produced by George Wein and his company, Festival Productions, Inc. Past performers include: Kenny G, Seal, Natalie Cole, India.Arie, Gladys Knight, Anita Baker and Isaac Hayes, to name a few.