JAMES TAYLOR 2008 TOUR SCHEDULE

James Taylor has embarked on an ambitious tour and here are the tour dates.
April 8 - Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
April 10 - KKL Pavilion, Lucerne, Switzerland
April 12 - Teatro Verdi, Florence, Italy
April 14 - Teatro Smeraldo, Milan, Italy
April 15 - Gran Teatro, Rome, Italy
April 17 – Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, Germany
April 18 - Concert House, Odense, Denmark
April 20 – Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden
April 21 - Oslo Konserthuset, Oslo, Norway
April 23 - Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
May 22 - Virginia Beach Amphitheatre, Virginia Beach, VA
May 24- Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA
May 25- Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA
May 28 - Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, Raleigh, NC
May 29 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Charlotte, NC
May 31 - Pier Six Pavilion, Baltimore, MD
June 1 - Mann Center, Philadelpiha, PA
June 3 - Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
June 4 - Meadowbrook Music Festival, Rochester, MI
June 6 – Ravinia, Highland Park, IL
June 7 - Ravinia, Highland Park, IL
June 9 - Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, MO
June 11 - Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
June 14 - Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ
June 17 - Toyota Pavilion, Scranton, PA
June 18 - Filene Center, Vienna, VA
June 20 - PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel,NJ
June 21 - Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY
July 3 - at Tanglewood, Lenox, MA
July 4 – Tanglewood, Lenox, MA
July 6 - Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
July 8 - Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON
July 11 - Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon, SK
July 12 - Rexall Place, Edmonton, AB
July 13 - Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary, AB
July 16 - Propsera Place, Kelowna, BC
July 18 - GM Place, Vancouver, BC
July 19 - Save On Foods Memorial Centre, Victoria, BC
July 21 - Chateau St. Michelle Winery, Woodinville, WA
July 22 - Chateau St. Michelle Winery, Woodinville, WA
July 24 - Clark County Amphitheater, Ridgefield, WA
July 26 – Harveys, Lake Tahoe, NV
July 27 - Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
July 29 - Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
July 30 - Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
August 1 - Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA

NEW & NOTEWORTHY RELEASES FROM GRACE JONES, WAYMAN TISDALE, AL GREEN, MARCUS MILLER, SERGIO MENDES & OTHERS…

Saxophonist Jessy J has just released her debut CD, Tequila Moon. Jessy J's Tequila Moon was produced by guitarist Paul Brown and includes the smooth jazz hit title single.

Popular contemporary jazz bassist Gerald Veasley released his latest CD, Your Move, on the Heads Up International label on Tuesday, March 11th. The project finds Veasley offering up several original tunes, some co-written and produced by veteran guitarist Chuck Loeb. Veasley is the owner of the Jazz Base club in Reading, Pennsylvania, which is the site of the Berks Jazz Festival, kicking off March 28th. He will be conducting his seventh straight Bass Bootcamp for bass players during the festival. For more information about Bass Bootcamp and all things Berks, go to www.berksjazzfest.com

Bassist Marcus Miller has lined up a series of concert dates in support of his new CD, titled Free. Free features a cover of the Deniece Williams hit "Free" sung by Corinne Bailey Rae. The album also features guest appearances by guitarist Keb’ Mo’, singer Lalah Hathaway, and singer-actress Yaraji P Henson. Marcus Miller has been tapped to host the first Playboy Jazz Cruise, set for January 2009. Upcoming tour dates for Marcus Miller include: April 11 - New York, NY - B.B. King's; April 22 - Seattle, WA - Triple Door; April 24-27 - San Francisco, CA - Yoshi's; and April 28 - Santa Cruz, CA - Kuumbwa Center.

Chris Standring’s brand new single "Love And Paragraphs" is a big hit on the R & R national radio charts – and is currently moving up the charts. As a result of the success of this new single, Chris Standring is set to have a very successful year all around. As a matter of fact, he’s booked for a series of upcoming concerts. Here’s where he’s appearing in the next few months: April 23 – Reno, Nevada; April 24 – Love & Paragraphs Record Release Party, Los Angeles, CA; and July 25 – Walnut Creek @ Broadway Plaza.

Grace Jones is working on a new album, her first in many years. Word is that she’s working in Jamaica with Mikey Chung, Sly and Robbie and Uzziah ‘Sticky" Thompson. The still untitled album is expected t be release via an international label.

Elvis Costello’s next release, Momofuku, will arrive on April 22 on the Lost Highway label. The release will only be available on vinyl, with a digital download included in the package.

Donny Osmond’s newest is From Love With Donny (out on April 22).

The latest from Al Green is due out on May 27 via Blue Note Records. It’s entitled Lay It Down.

Fantasy Records is releasing Freedom Suite by Sonny Rollins on June 3. Also due for release from Fantasy (same date) are Fly With The Wind from McCoy Tyner, Incredible Jazz Guitar from Wes Montgomery, and Work Song by Nat Adderly.

Bassist Wayman Tisdale is putting the finishing touches on his upcoming CD release as country singer Toby Keith joins Wayman Tisdale on a remake of Barry White’s Hit "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up". The duo recently joined forces for a remake of Barry White’s hit "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" on Tisdale’s eighth album ‘Rebound,’ set for release on Rendezvous Entertainment on June 3rd.

Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis are collaborating on a new. Two Men With The Blues, out on June 10.

Sergio Mendes' latest album, "Encanto," will feature new collaborations with Juanes, plus Brazilian artists Carlinhos Brown and Vanessa da Mata, Fergie and Natalie Cole, among others. Concord Records and Starbucks Entertainment will release the set June 10 to Starbucks locations and other music retailers. Mendes’ who’s lat album was the Latin Grammy-winning album, "Timeless," released via the companies' Hear/Concord venture in 2006, has recorded four Antonio Carlos Jobim compositions for the new album, including "Agua de Beber," with previous collaborator will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. Other guest artists on the album include Ledisi, Herb Alpert and original Brasil 66 singer Lani Hall, and Italian rapper Jovanotti. Sergio Mendes "Timeless" sold 208,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Amos Lee will release Last Days At The Lodge on June 24.

Tom Jones has a new album in the works that is out on June 24, no title as of yet.

A Isaac Hayes album is in the works for release soon via Fantasy Records. The album is as yet untitled and is expected to hit stores on August 5

THE SAX PACK - FALLIN' FOR YOU

The Sax Pack just made their CD debut with Fallin' For You on Shanachie. Featuring smooth jazz saxophonists Jeff Kashiwa, Kim Waters, and Steve Cole, the album comes after three years of summer tours by the talented threesome. The new set includes covers of the '60s hit "Tequila" featuring guitarist Jeff Golub, the Norman Connors tune "You Are My Starship," and the War classic "The WorldIs A Ghetto." The set also includes original tunes such as "Maceo," a tribute to funk saxophonist Maceo Parker. Kashiwa came up with the concept and got the Sax Pack tour kicked off in 2004.

The Sax Pack's next live concert is scheduled for April 19th at the Sea Breeze Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. For the complete tour itinerary, go to www.thesaxpack.com. The well-known saxophonists are excited to create a show that combines their individual styles and diverse backgrounds for a fresh approach to the music that inspired them all to become musicians; jazz. Highlights of the tour will feature original music written specifically for The Sax Pack, as well as each sax player's signature hits and the classic funk, R&B and jazz tunes that will get fans out of their seats.

Here are the Sax Pack’s upcoming tour dates:
April 19 - @ Sea Breeze Jazz Festival, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
April 20 - @ Sax Pack CD Premier Party, Melbourne, FL
April 25 - @ Jazz At Jacks, Denver, CO
June 27 - @ State Theatre, Fresno, CA
June 28 - @ Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula, CA
July 4 - @ Hyatt Newport Beach 4th of July Celebration, Newport Beach, CA
August 2– Historic Third Ward Jazz Festival, Milwaukee, WI
August 3 – Historic International Jazz Festival, Houston, TX
August 16 – Genuine Jazz Festival, Breckinridge, CO
October 3 – Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, Avalon, CA
February 6, 2009 @ One World Theatre, Austin, TX

JOHN LEGEND HEADLINES INDY JAZZ FEST

The American Pianists Association (APA) has announced John Legend has replaced Aretha Franklin as the headliner as well as the performance schedule and complete artist line-up for the Kroger Indy Jazz Fest presented by Coca-Cola. Three days of live music and good food will make the Kroger Indy Jazz Fest presented by Coca-Cola perfect for Father's Day weekend June 13 - 15 at Military Park downtown Indianapolis.

Tickets went on sale March 28 at all central Indianapolis Krogers, online at http://www.indyjazzfest.net or for group tickets and information call 317-940-8198. Tickets can also be purchased at Military Park the day of the event (cash only). Children 14 and under enter the festival free when accompanied by a ticket holding adult.

The 2008 Kroger Indy Jazz Fest presented by Coca-Cola line-up includes:

Friday, June 13
6:15 - 6:45 Mike Milligan and Steam Shovel
6:45 - 7:45 Bettye LaVette
7:45 - 9:00 Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood
9:00 - 9:30 Claude Sifferlen Trio
9:30 - 10:30 Buddy Guy White

Saturday, June 14
3:15 - 4:15 Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache Band
4:15 - 5:15 Stephanie Browning Quartet
5:15 - 6:15 Dan Tepfer Trio (APA Jazz Fellow)
6:15 - 7:15 Freddie Hubbard
7:15 - 7:45 TBD
7:45 - 9:00 Dave Koz
9:00 - 9:30 Melvin Rhynes
9:30 - 11:00 John Legend White

Sunday, June 15
3:15 - 4:00 TBD
4:00 - 5:00 Robin McKelle Quartet
5:00 - 6:00 Aaron Parks Quartet
6:00 - 7:00 Ramsey Lewis, Legends of Jazz Tour presented by AARP
7:00 - 8:00 Paquito D'Rivera, Legends of Jazz Tour presented by AARP
8:00 - 9:00 Four Play, Legends of Jazz Tour presented by AARP

*All artists and times are subject to change
Ticket locations and prices:
Central Indiana Kroger Stores:
March 28 - April 30: $22 per day, $55 three-day pass
May 1 - June 13 at 10:30 pm: $25 per day, $65 three-day pass
indyjazzfest.net:
March 28 - June 12: $25 per day, $65 three-day pass,
$65 premium seating
Military Park:
June 13 - 15: $25 Friday, $35 Saturday,
$35 Sunday, $65 three-day pass

MICHAEL LINGTON BECOMES AMERICAN CITIZEN

NuGroove Saxophonist Michael Lington has become an American citizen. On March 20, 2008, Michael was sworn in with 6,007 other immigrants in Los Angeles, California. The Danish-born contemporary jazz superstar arrived in the United States in September 1990. "I am extremely proud of my Danish heritage and it will always be a big part of me, but becoming a U.S. citizen is a milestone in my journey and I am happy and excited about my future as an American. Growing up in Europe, in a wonderful city like Copenhagen is an experience I treasure. Then, having an amazing adult life and career in the United States makes me feel like I have been given the greatest gift... the best of both worlds," said Lington.

Michael Lington has demonstrated his contemporary saxophone chops with a steady stream of chart-toppers since his debut album in 1997 under the nuGroove label. (Michael was one of the first artists signed to nuGroove and returned "home" to resign with the label in 2008.) His CD, Stay with Me, yielded three Radio & Records national jazz hits with "Show Me" at #2; "Two of a Kind" at #2; and "Pacifica" at #6. Stay With Me also remained on the Billboard contemporary jazz chart for a total of 24 weeks. "Twice In A Lifetime" and "Sunset" from Vivid; and "Still Thinking of You" from Lington's Everything Must Change all went Top 5 as well. His duet with
Bobby Caldwell on "Tell It Like It Is" from his self-titled debut ascended both the jazz and adult contemporary charts.

In between touring his 2007 album, Song for You, and recording his upcoming 2008 release, Lington lends his artistry to the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, which raises funds for children's music programs and provides instruments to public schools all over the U.S. Michael participates in Create Now, where he mentors troubled teens in Los Angeles and Acre's of Love, a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive services; and "forever" homes for abandoned and AIDS children in South Africa.

For more information click to http://www.michaellington.com and http://www.thenugroove.com

STEVE TYRELL - BACK TO BACHARACH

New Design Records and KOCH Records have announced the release of "Back To Bacharach," a new classic, from Grammy winning singer and songwriter/producer Steve Tyrell. At the age of 19, Steve journeyed from Houston, Texas to New York City to work at pop and soul music giant Scepter Records. Upon arriving at Scepter Records and its adjacent Baby Monica Publishing Company, he immediately found himself surrounded by swiftly developing super teams such as Carole King & Gerry Goffin, Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson and Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil. But it was with a pair of outside contractors -- songwriting producers Burt Bacharach & Hal David -- that Steve would forge his most personal alliance, an alliance that lasted for nine years and enabled Tyrell to forge his initial mark in the music business.

Through his work with Bacharach & David, Tyrell got to work in motion pictures and at a very young age became one of the first music supervisors responsible for coordinating hit songs with the release of the films they appeared in. Those successes included the gold standard of foreplay songs, "The Look of Love" (recorded for the James Bond spy spoof "Casino Royale" by Dusty Springfield,) the theme for "Alfie" (sung by Cher in the film and by Dionne Warwick at the Academy Awards) as well as the theme from the legendary Jacqueline Susan film "Valley Of The Dolls" (which Tyrell helped make Dionne's first Number 1 Pop Hit record.) The film song that Steve played a major role in was "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" -- the one that earned Bacharach & David the Oscar® for 1969's Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. When looking for an artist to sing the song, Steve called in his friend from Texas, B.J. Thomas who recorded it for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

For music lovers the world over, those songs are indelibly bound to our DNA, haunting strands of melodious memories that bring forth a flood of emotions and associations. For Steve Tyrell, they represent milestones in a distinguished career and the joys and pains of his own personal life. It is because of his close proximity to the songs and their creators that Steve is able to bring something unique to his versions while being fortunate enough to include Dionne Warwick, Herb Alpert and 2008 Grammy Award winner Patti Austin as well as Bacharach himself on the CD to relive the golden moments.

The song that gets the Technicolor treatment on "Back To Bacharach" is Bacharach and David's anthem, "What the World Needs Now is Love," a song Steve believes is "more relevant now than it ever was." Bacharach's piano glues together the whole affair which features superstars Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Martina McBride and Dionne Warwick along with Tyrell. The all-star recording is for a worthy cause -- all proceeds will go to the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA) in remembrance of Steve's wife Stephanie (who passed away from Colon Cancer five years ago) and Jay Monahan, the late husband of television journalist Katie Couric. Close friends, Steve Tyrell and Katie Couric have worked together constantly since his wife's death, raising funds to benefit Colon Cancer research and co-hosting an annual benefit in Seattle called "Make The Evening Matter."

Other classics featured on the "Back To Bacharach" album are: "Walk On By," The Look Of Love," Close To You," "A House Is Not A Home," "This Guy's In Love," "One Less Bell To Answer," "Reach Out For Me," "I Say A Little Prayer For You," "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself," "Always Something There To Remind Me," "Don't Make Me Over" and the Oscar winning "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head."

Steve Tyrell's previous six albums have earned him a number of accolades, his first album "A New Standard" had a 90 week run on the Billboard Jazz charts and "Standard Time" and "This Time Of The Year" and "Songs Of Sinatra" were all Top 5 charters. "The Disney Standards," his last album was released in 2006 and achieved Top 10 status on the Billboard Jazz charts.
"Back To Bacharach" will be released on Tyrell's own New Design Records/ KOCH Records on May 27, 2008.

NEW RELEASES

Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble – PDP (Afrobomb)
Al Wilson – Searching For The Dolphins – The Complete Soul City Recordings & More 1967-1971 (Soul City/Kent/UK)
Allure – Kiss (SmoothLoung Ent)
Angela Bofill – Too Tough/Teaser (Arista-Expansion/UK)
Angela Johnson – Woman’s Touch (Purpose)
Art Matthews – It’s Easy To Remember (Baystate/Japan)
Baby Charles – Baby Charles (Record Kicks/Italy)
Beady Belle – Belvedere (Jazzland.Norway)
Bob Baldwin – NewUrbanJazz.com (NuGroove)
Bobby Watson – From The Heart (Palmetto)
Brian Culbertson – Bringing Back The Funk (GRP)
Brother Groove - Package Of Memories (Funky Juice/Italy)
Brownout – Homenaje (Freestyle/UK)
Buford Powers – Eclectic (Bufordpowers.com)
Chris McGregor – Very Urgent (Polydor/UK)
Conya Doss – Still (Conyadossings)
David Marq – The Hit It Project (Alexscar)
Dem Suite – Beaths & Pages (Trazmick)
Deodato – Os Catedraticos – Ataque (Equipe-Brazilmusica/Brazil)
Dusty Springfield – Live At The BBC DVD (Universal)
Ennio Morricone – Matrimonio Con Vizietto (Digitmovies/Japan)
Ennio Morricone – In Lounge Vol. 3 (Veritano/Japan)
Eric Lau – New Territories (Ubiquity)
Evelyn Champagne King – Smooth Talk (RCA//Japan)
Fanga – Natural Juice (Underdog/France)
Gerardo Frisina – Donke De/African Nite Life/Batucadas 12" (Schema/Italy)
Gerald Veasley – Your Move (Heads Up)
Giodo Manusardi – Piana Jazz (Dire/Sound Hills/Japan)
Herbie Hancock – My Point Of View (Blue Note)
Herbie Mann – Yardbird Suite (Savoy-Fresh Sound/Spain)
Herbie Mann & Chick Corea – Complete Latin Band Sessions (Monday Night At The Village Gate/Standing Ovation At Newport/Latin Mann/Roar Of The Greaspaint (Atlantic-Gambit/Spain)
Invisible Session – My Inspiration (Part 1 Attached Mix By Koom H/I’ll Be Your Wings (Mitchell & Dewbury Mix) (Schema/Italy)
Jamie Craig – The Lost Dream (Craig Sound Prods.)
Janko Nilovic – Last Impressions: Originals & Remixes (Vadim/France)
Jesse Cook – Frontiers (Koch)
Jessy J – Tequila Moon (Peak Records)
Jose James – Dreamer (Brownswood/UK)
Gnarls Barkley – Odd Couple (Atlantic)
Kenny Dorham – Una Mas (Blue Note)
Kenny Rankin – Inside Kenny Rankin (Little David-Valley/Japan)
Kaleta & Zozo Afrobeat – Country Of Guns (Tramp/Italy)
Kim Tolliver – Come And Get Me I’m Ready (Chess)
Larry Lagerberg – Footprints In Paradise (GrooveMeister Music)
Laurindo Almeida – Guitar From Ipanema (Capitol/Japan)
Lina – Morning Star (Mood Star)
Lonnie Smith – Drives (Blue Note)
Lou Donaldson – Here ‘Tis (Blue Note)
Mandingo – Primeval Rhythm Of Life (EMI/Australia)
Marcus Miller – Marcus (Concord)
Maria Bethania & Omara Portuondo – Maria Bethania & Omara Portuondo (Biscoito Fino/Brazil)
Marcina Arnold – About Time (Counterpoint/Japan)
Michael McDonald – Soul Speak (Universal/Motown)
Mombasa – African Rhythms & Blues 2 (Spiegelei-Sonorama/Germany)
Natalie Gardiner – California (Ramjac/Sweden)
Nico Fidenco – Blue Jeans (Digitmovies/Italy)
Niteflyte – Niteflyte (Ariola-BMG/Japan)
Novello – B3 Soul (NoGo)
Quadimode – Straight To The Land Of Freedom – Live At Liquidrooom (Geneon/Japan)
Rongetz Foundation – One Leg Dancer (Heavenly Sweetness/Netherlands)
Saravah Soul – Saravah Soul (Tru Thoughts/UK)
Sax Pack – The Sax Pack (Shanachie)
Scott Walker – Scott 3 (Fontana/UK)
Sergio Mendes & Brazil ’77 – Pais Tropical (A&M/Japan)
Sofi Hellborg – Drumming Is Calling (Ajabu/Germany)
Soul Vigilantes – Background Noise (Lovemonk/UK)
Stance Brothers – Kind Soul (Ricky Tick/Finland)
Stanley Turrentine – Look Out! (Blue Note)
Swing Out Sister – Beautiful Mess (Avex/Japan)
Sylvie Vartan – La Maritza (RCA/Japan)
Taniq – Life And Time Of Love (Crazatic)
Trina Broussard – Inside My Love (Expansion/UK)
Various Artists – Break N’ Bossa Chapter 8 (Schema/Italy)
Various Artists – Complete Motown Singles Vol 9 0 1969 (Motown/Hip-O Select)
Various Artists – Urge – Ultimate Rare Groove Experience (Bondelice/France)
Various Artists – Funky Nassau: The Compass Point Story 1980 to 1986 (Strut/UK)
Webster Lewis – Touch My Love (Epic-Expansion/UK)
Webster Lewis – Let Me Be The One (Epic-Expansion/UK)
Webster Lewis – On The Town (Epic-Expansion/UK)
Webster Lewis – 8 For the 80’s (Epic-Expansion/UK)

SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA - UNITED WE SING

Since 2000, Spanish Harlem Orchestra have established themselves as a standard bearer of contemporary Latin music. Lead by world-renowned pianist, arranger, and producer Oscar Hernández, the thirteen-member all-star ensemble has reintroduced the classic sounds of New York City Salsa to music lovers worldwide. United We Swing, is the Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s third album, is a follow-up to their 2004 Grammy award-winning album Across 110th St., and their 2002 Grammy nominated debut, Un Gran Día En El Barrio.

On United We Swing, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra continues in the same classic-meets-contemporary sound, but with refreshing originality. Nine of the songs are original compositions grounded in the unique identity the band has forged based on the musical legacy of El Barrio, a pulsating Eastside community in NYC located to the south of 125th St that gave rise to Boogaloo, Latin Soul, and Salsa.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra pays tribute to the legacy of Manhattans Palladium Ballroom, "the home of the mambo," with "En El Tiempo Del Palladium" (In The Times of The Palladium), that catered to Mambo dancers and featured the bands of the BIG-3: Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Machito. Tipica 73 icon, Sonny Bravo, arranged the Willie Tórres tune, "Se Forma La Rumba" (The Rumba Has Begun). Oscar advises "Sácala Bailar" (Take Her Dancing) and leads into the classic 1970s Fania-era hit, "Ahora Sí" (Now's The Time).

The rest of the album will satisfy Salsa lovers with "Que Bonito" (How Lovely) and "Salsa Pa'l Bailador" (Salsa For Dancers). The Joe Cuba cha-cha-cha, "Mujer Divina" (Divine Lady), is done in doo-wop three-part vocal harmony. "Soy Candela" (I Am Fire) keeps the pace burning and segues into a smoking "Plena Con Sabor" (Tasty Plena). "Danzón For My Father" is a piece originally recorded by Dave Valentin that Oscar composed as a tribute to his dad, Emilio Hernández.

Saving a surprise for the finale is always a great way to end a party and Oscar Hernández and SHO certainly do that with special guest Paul Simon. "Late In The Evening/Tarde En La Noche" is a reconfiguration of a Simon Top Ten hit from his 1980 One-Trick Pony album. Hernández, who collaborated with Simon on his Broadway musical, "Cape Man," arranged the piece with Simon singing the classic refrains.

From their 2002 debut album, Un Gran Día En El Barrio, SHO revived the classic 1970 NYC sounds with a new hard hitting point-of-view. Fueled by great singers Frankie Vasquez, Herman Olivera, Ray De La Paz and special guest Jimmy Sabater, the songs were hot and included back-in-the-day hits like Tito Rodriguez's "Mama Guela," Willie Colon's "La Banda," and others. It launched the band and garnered them a 2003 Grammy nomination for "Best Salsa Album" and a Latin Billboard Award for Salsa Album of the Year-Best New Group.

On their 2004 follow-up, Across 110th St., the Spanish Harlem Orchestra was augmented by the roaring trombones of Jimmy Bosch and Dan Reagan, singers Marco Bermudez, Willie Torres, Ray De La Paz and special guest Ruben Blades, who Hernández worked for in the 1990s as his musical director. It was slamming and garnered the group its first Grammy Award in 2005 for best Salsa Album."

Today, United We Swing, places Spanish Harlem Orchestra among Latin music's greatest bands by paying due to a neighborhood romanticized in Leonard Bernstein's "Westside Story" and Ben E. King's, "A Rose in Spanish Harlem." El Barrio is a hard urban incubator as described in Piri Thomas' book, "Down These Mean Streets," that in the midst of social despair has given the world unique Caribbean musical mixturs.

Here’a list of their upcoming tour dates:
March 30 - San Juan, Puerto Rico @ Hiram Bithorn Stadium
April 1 - Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Havey Theater
April 12 - Dublin, Ireland @ National Concert Hall
April 14 - Cork, Ireland @ Cork Opera House
April 16 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg @ Den Atelier
April 21 - Dusseldorf, Germany @ Tonhalle Dusseldorf
April 23 - Munich, Germany @ Philharmonic
April 24 - Frankfurt, Germany @ Alte Oper
April 25 - London, UK @ Jazz Cafe London
April 26 - London, UK @ Jazz Cafe London
May 1 - San Antonio, TX @ Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
May 2 - Houston, TX @ Miller Outdoor Theatre
May 4 - College Park, MD @ Ina and Jack Kay Theatre - Clarice Smith PAC
July 12 - San Juan, Puerto Rico @ The Arena Pier Ten

HERB ALPERT & LANI HALL NATIONAL TOUR 2008

Music icon Herb Alpert will embark on a rare tour together this spring with wife, singer, Lani Hall, performing an intimate night of American and Brasilian jazz accompanied by a trio of masterful musicians: Bill Cantos (piano), Michael Shapiro (drums) and Hussain Jiffrey (bass). Playing original arrangements, from a selection of American standards and Brasilian music, Herb Alpert's warm, expressive trumpet lines compliment Lani Hall's sensual, emotional voice, making this a unique and unforgettable evening for all. The tour kicks off with sold-out shows in San Diego, CA with shows March 21 & 22 at premiere live music venue and supper club Anthology; and, then April 3-4 in Los Angeles at REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater in the Walt Disney Concert Hall. In 2007, Alpert and Hall played a series of sold-out shows at Los Angeles nightclub Vibrato Grill Jazz, which inspired their upcoming 2008 tour.

Legendary trumpet player as well as producer, band leader and A&M Records label co-founder Herb Alpert is 9X GRAMMY(R) winner with 14 platinum and 15 gold albums to his name. Adding his unique style and sound to classic American standards with the color of Brasilian music scattered throughout Alpert creates an exciting musical blend without ever closing the space for spontaneity. GRAMMY-winning vocalist Lani Hall first rose to international fame as lead singer for Sergio Mendes & Brazil '66. All of Hall's musical endeavors have highlighted her expertise as a powerful jazz/pop song stylist as well as a masterful interpreter.

The east coast concert dates begin May 7 with a four-night run at New York City's famed East Village venue Joe's Pub at the Public Theater. The itinerary also includes shows at Washington DC's Blue's Alley (May 12-13) and Boston, MA's Scullers Jazz Club (May 15) before returning to the west coast for shows on May 20-21 at Seattle, WA's Jazz Alley. Also on the calendar are Northern California dates at the Napa Valley Opera House (May 23) and Yoshi's in San Francisco on May 24-25. Four of the scheduled sold out immediately once after they were announced.

Tour Dates:
March 21- San Diego, CA @ Anthology (Sold out)
March 22- San Diego, CA @ Anthology (Sold out)
April 3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Redcat (Sold out)
April 4 – Los Angeles, CA @ Redcat (Sold out)
May 7 – New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
May 8 – New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
May 9 – New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
May 10 – New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub (two shows)
May 12 – Washington, DC @ Blue’s Alley
May 13 – Washington, DC @ Blue’s Alley
May 15 - Boston, MA @ Scullers Jazz Club
May 20 – Seattle, WA @ Jazz Alley
May 21 – Seattle, WA @ Jazz Alley
May 23 – Napa, CA @ Napa Valley Opera House
May 24 – San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi’s
May 25 – San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi’s

THE SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO BACKLASH CONTINUES

It’s more bad news for the Smooth Jazz radio industry as yet another smooth jazz formatted radio station drops the format. Jacksonville radio stations WJSJ (105.3FM) and WSJF (105. FM) have dropped their Smooth Jazz format over this past weekend and flipped to become the “Coast” 105.3 FM and 105.5 FM, playing rhythmic adult contemporary music. This now makes five smooth jazz radio stations in the past few weeks to switch formats. The others were located in Houston (KHJZ 95.7FM) , New York (WQCD 101.9M), Washington, D.C. (WJZW-FM), and Denver (KJCD 104.3FM).

According to Terrence Rodda, general manager of the two Jacksonville stations that simulcast the same broadcast, …”the change was simply a business decision made because the smooth jazz format didn’t have a big enough audience..” Oh wow – is this really big news? Smooth jazz radio formats have never had a really big audience to begin with. It’s always attracted a niche audience and the ratings were always considered decent but never huge in comparison to more popular formats. All the stations have made money – but they want more (of course). So now they are dropping one by one like flies. Or maybe you could just say that they are all copycatting each other. Face it, smooth jazz radio has been around for 25 years, commanding decent ratings, and now all of a sudden it’s just not working. I put the blame on the station owners as well as the bland programming. There is so much new and exciting music out there and all they could do is play the same old stuff over and over again. As a matter of fact, I’ll save this subject for another posting.

Just a few short months ago it was it was noted that the Smooth Jazz radio format continued to grow and thrive as one of radio's longest running formats in comparison to others that have come and gone. Other format such as "Jammin Oldies", "Arrow", "Jack" and "Movin" have come and gone in many cities where smooth jazz stations continued to be successful. In January of this year, Broadcast Architecture launched the Smooth Jazz Network, featuring smooth jazz artists Dave Koz, Kenny G, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson, Paul Hardcastle and Ramsey Lewis as on-air hosts. So far the network has spread to 25 markets across the US and brand new stations have launched utilizing the network in Norfolk, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque. Currently there are more than 50 commercial radio stations across the US playing smooth jazz.

ST. LUCIA, SEABREEZE & MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVALS

ST. LUCIA JAZZ FESTIVAL
Anita Baker, Jonathan Butler, Najee, Angie Stone, Dianne Reeves, Dionne Warwick, Michael Bolton, Air Supply, Alex Bugnon, Nick Colionne, Ledisi and Wyclef Jean have been confirmed as performers for the 17th annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival, taking place May 2nd to May 11th. The St. Lucia Jazz festival will also feature events focusing on the Caribbean island's burgeoning culinary culture, with several restaurants being promoted during the week. More information about the festival click to www.stluciajazz.org

SEABREEZE JAZZ FESTIVAL
Dave Koz, Wayman Tisdale, Norman Brown, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Joyce Cooling, Four 80 East, Euge Groove, and the Sax Pack featuring Jeff Kashiwa, Kim Waters, and Steve Cole are among the headliners for this year's Seabreeze Jazz Festival, taking place April 16th through April 20th at the Gulf Place Outdoor Amphitheater outside of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the festival, which has expanded its events with a free jazz jam, a golf tournament, and a sunset dinner cruise. The festival is hosted by guitarist Nick Colionne, who will also perform. For more information about the Seabreeze Festival, click to www.seabreezejazzfestival.com

MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Steely Dan will perform at the festival on July 1 and July 2, with Aretha Franklin is set to at the 29th edition of the Montreal Jazz Festival, according to The Canadian Press. Franklin will perform on July 3rd and 4th at Salle Wilfred Pelletier in Place Des Arts. The Montreal Jazz Fest, which is billed as being the world's largest jazz celebration, kicks off on June 26th.

RAMSEY LEWIS - LEGENDS OF JAZZ TOUR

Smooth jazz radio host and noted pianist Ramsey Lewis has announced this year's Legends Of Jazz tour, based on the popular radio and PBS TV show he hosts. The tour will feature separate lineups in varying locations, with dates spread out through the fall. The tour will be sponsored by AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Ramsey Lewis will perform at ten dates on the tour with the Ramsey Lewis Trio trio. That Legends Of Jazz tour lineup will also feature saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera, and smooth jazz group Fourplay featuring Bob James, Larry Carlton, Nathan East and Harvey Mason. In addition, a second lineup under the Legends Of Jazz banner will feature vocalist Kurt Elling with his trio, saxophonist and flutist Ernie Watts and the Ethel String Quartet performing material from saxophonist John Coltrane.

Here’s a peek at Ramsey Lewis’ upcoming tour schedule (includes dates for the Legends Of Jazz tour and solo/trio dates:

March 14 - Wickenburg, AZ @ Webb PAC Trio
March 27 - New York, NY @ Jazz At Lincoln Center Trio
March 28 - New York, NY @ Jazz At Lincoln Center Trio
March 29 - New York, NY @ Jazz At Lincoln Center Trio
April 4 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Broadmoor Hotel Trio
April 5 - Palm Desert, CA @ McCallum Theatre Trio
April 11 - Chicago, IL @ McCallum Theatre Solo
April 13 - Washington, DC @ Kennedy Center Trio
April 24 - Newport News, VA @ Ferguson PAC Legends of Jazz
April 25 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre Trio
April 27 - Eugene, OR @ Hult Center Trio
June 14 - Boston, MA @ Hanover PAC Legends of Jazz
June 15 - Indianapolis, IN @ Indy Jazz Fest Legends of Jazz
August 9 - Highmount, NY @ Belleayre Music Festival Trio
August 16 - Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia Festival With Joffrey Ballet
August 27 - Philadelphia, PA @ Mann Center Legends of Jazz
September 5 - Washington, D.C. @ DC Convention Center Legends of Jazz
September 12 - Chicago, IL @ Ravinia Music Festival Legends of Jazz
October 17 - Rehoboth Beach, DE @- Jazz Festival Legends of Jazz
October 19 - Tucson, AZ @ Centennial Hall Legends of Jazz
November 7 - Miami, FL @ Knight Concert Hall Legends of Jazz
November 14 - New York, NY @ Town Hall Legends of Jazz

DAVID SANBORN TOUR DATES

Saxophonist and smooth jazz radio favorite David Sanborn is preparing for a string of tour dates that start at the end of March and continue through June. After the US trek of the tour, he’ll then head off for some Internation dates. David Sanborn has been working on a new album with producer Phil Ramone that will be released later in the year. Sanborn's most recent CD release was 2005's Closer. More recently, he made a cameo appearance on hip-hop artist Guru's Jazzmatazz Vol. 4: Back To The Future. Since his first release in 1975, Taking Off, David Sanborn has release 20 solo albums, and has appeared on countless other songs by other musicians.

Upcoming dates for David Sanborn include: March 26- Oakland, CA @ Yoshi's March 27 – Oakland, CA @ Yoshi’s
March 28 – Oakland, CA @ Yoshi’s
March 29 – Oakland, CA @ Yoshi’s
March 30 – Oakland, CA @ Yoshi’s
April 3- Seattle, WA @ Jazz Alley
April 4 – Seattle, WA @ Jazz Alley
April 5 – Seattle, WA @ Jazz Alley
April 6 – Seattle, WA @ Jazz Alley
April 14 - Palm Beach, FL @ Wellington's
May 5 - Tarrytown, NY @ Tarrytown Town Hall
May 3 - Huntington, NY @- IMAC
May 4 - Uncasville, CT@ Mohegan Sun
May 23 - Las Vegas, NV @- South Point Hotel & Casino
May 24 – Las Vegas, NV @ South Point Hotel & Casino
May 25 – Las Vegas, NV @ South Point Hotel & Casino
June 14 - Rancho Cucamonga, CA @ Lewis Family Playhouse

AN EVENING WITH NATALIE COLE

Grammy winner Natalie Cole has lined up a new series of tour dates. Natalie Cole’s most recent CD was 2006's Leavin', and kicked off her shows on March 14th at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, California. Natalie Cole will next travel to Malaysia to perform March 20th at the Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Anniversary 2008 gala dinner at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur.

Natalie Cole is also joining keyboardist and producer Jason Miles, smooth jazz artists Rick Braun and Richard Elliot, and others for this year’s Tri-C Jazz Festival taking place in Cleveland from April 17 through April 27. The program includes an April 19th show by Jason Miles in a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Motown featuring Bobby Caldwell, Walter Beasley, Kevin Mahogany, Maysa and DJ Logic. An Evening of Natalie Cole is set for April 25th, while Braun and Elliot will perform music from their hit R'N'R album as well as their own CDs on April 26th. Other performers for the festival include John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Vijay Iyer, Marcus Roberts, and Eddie Baccus Sr.

Upcoming Natalie Cole dates include:
March 29 - Halifax, NS @ World Trade & Convention Center
April 25 - Cleveland, OH @ Allen Theatre
May 7 - Boston, MA @ Symphony Hall
May 13- Waterbury, CT @ Palace Theater
May 14 - Englewood, NJ @ Bergen Performing Arts Center
May 16 - Morristown, NJ @ The Community Theatre At Mayo Center
May 17 - Bronx, NY @ Lehman Center For The Perf. Arts
May 18 - Stamford, CT @ Palace Theatre

RETURN TO FOREVER - TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED!

Return To Forever, the classic jazz-fusion group from the ‘70’s has reunited for its first tour in 25 years. This amazing group features keyboardist Chick Corea, guitarist Al Di Meola, bassist Stanley Clarke, and drummer Lenny White. The Return To Forever reunion will play more than 50 dates in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The tour kicks off May 29th in Austin, Texas, and will wrap up on August 7th in New York. Along the way Return To Forever will make stops at major music festivals, including Montreal, Canada; Montreux, Switzerland; and Saratoga Springs, New York.

In addition, original members Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke are producing a double-CD anthology to coincide with the tour. The reunion disc will include remixed and remastered tracks from classic Return To Forever albums issued between 1973 and 1976. Return To Forever originally disbanded after a five-year run that ended in 1977. But after a 1983 reunion tour, many thought Return To Forever might never return. Corea says another reunion was always a possibility, particularly with pressure from fans. "We never stopped talking about it ... but in the past couple of years we started talking more seriously about 'hey, when can we set some time down to actually get together and play?'" Corea told The Associated Press. "There were also a lot of requests from fans. One thing that became apparent as the decades flipped along was that people remembered the group, which was kind of surprising and also heartening."

Here is the complete list of Return To Forever tour dates:
May 29 – Austin, TX @ Paramount Theatre
May 30 – Austin, TX @ Paramount Theatre
June 1 – Dallas, TX @ Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
June 3 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre Denver
June 4 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
June 6 – Portland, OR @ Schnitzer Concert Hall
June 7 – Medford, OR @ Brit Music Festival
June 8 – Seattle, WA @ The Paramount-Seattle
June 9 – Vancouver, BC @ The Centre in Vancouver For Performing Arts
June 11 – San Francisco, CA @ The Grand at the Regency
June 12 – San Francisco, CA @ The Grand at the Regency
June 13 – San Francisco, CA @ The Grand at the Regency
June 14 – Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theatre
June 17 –St. Louis, MO @ Fox Theatre
June 18 – Omaha, NE @ Holland Performing Arts Center
June 19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
June 20 – Chicago, IL @ The Chicago Theatre
June 21 – Detroit, MI @ Freedom Hill Amphitheatre
June 22 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre
June 24 – Cleveland, OH @ The Plain Dealer Pavillion
June 25 – Toronto, ONT @ Sony Centre
June 26 – Ottawa, ONT @ Ottawa Jazz Festival/Confederation Park
June 27 – Montreal, QUE @ Places des Arts – Pelletier Hall
June 28 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga PAC – Freihofer’s Jazz Festival
July 2 - Vilnius, Lithuania @ Utenos Arena
July 4 – Warsaw, Poland @ Congress Hall
July 5 – Budapest, Hungary @ Budapest Arena
July 6 – Belgrade, Serbia @ Belgrade Arena
July 8 – Paris, France @ L’Olympia
July 9 – Vienne, France @ Vienne Jazz Festival
July 10 – Madrid, Spain @ Via Jazz Festival
July 11 – Girona, Spain @ Cap Roig Festival
July 12 – Lorca, Spain @ Lorca Festival
July 13- Valencia, Spain @ TBD Valencia, Spain
July 16 – Neuhardenberg @ Neuhardenberg Festival
July 18 – Montreux, Switzerland @ Montreux Jazz Festival
July 19 – Essen, Germany @ Grugahalie
July 21 – London, England @ Indigo2
July 23 - Nice, France @ Nice Jazz Festival
July 25 – San Sebastian, Spain @ San Sebastian Festival
July 30 – Miami, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theatre
July 31 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
August 1 – Orland, FL @ House of Blues Orlando
August 2 – Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
August 4 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavillion
August 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Mann Center for Performing Arts
August 6 – Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavillion
August 7 – New York, NY @ United Palace

EARL KLUGH - TH SPICE OF LIFE

Smooth jazz acoustic guitar virtuoso, EARL KLUGH, is releasing a long-anticipated ensemble recording, "THE SPICE OF LIFE," April 29th, 2008 on KOCH Records. The album is Klugh's first full-production release in nine years, and is the follow-up to his 2005 solo masterpiece, "Naked Guitar," which drew Klugh's eleventh career Grammy nomination.

This new collection, inspired by the music of Klugh's life, represents a wide-ranging creative vantage point available only to a very rare circle of talents. "THE SPICE OF LIFE" plays through with the authority and impact of a greatest-hits album, and at the same time, the fresh discovery of a journeyman still in the prime of his creativity. Its release coinciding with the awarding of the Album of the Year Grammy to fellow master jazz eclecticist Herbie Hancock, "THE SPICE OF LIFE" responds to a marketplace calling out for substance and the guiding hand of art in pop music.

The many pleasures of "THE SPICE OF LIFE" encompass lush orchestration, warm and vibrant production, and original solo guitar compositions -- all of these in Klugh's unfailingly positive, fresh and imaginative style. As ever, expanding the mind, refreshing the soul and evoking emotions -- in short, heightening the experience and enhancing the environment of life itself -- is the Earl Klugh signature. In an album full of highlights, Klugh reinterprets four of his favorite standards, and three-time Grammy winner and longtime collaborator Don Sebesky contributes five orchestral arrangements, including Earl's boyhood favorite "Canadian Sunset"; his reinterpretation of the Thelonious Monk classic, "Bye Ya"; and a beautiful, witty retro-style revival of "C'est Si Bon." Grammy-winning flute virtuoso Hubert Laws guests, and award-winning composer Eddie Horst arranges the chamber-group string accompaniment, on the Klugh original "Heart of My Life."

At a time when instrumental and vocal artists are under constant pressure to overuse the classics of the American pop-song canon, "THE SPICE OF LIFE" also features a clutch of memorable yet effortless Klugh originals, among them: the properly atmospheric "Ocean Blue," "Driftin'," a warmly melodic pop piece; the forward-looking funk "Sleepyhead," and "Snap!," a taste of the "old school" suggesting Klugh's Detroit childhood, where he first encountered everyone from Yusef Lateef and George Benson to Motown Records' ace house band, the Funk Brothers.

"One of the solo pieces I wrote is directly in the style of Antonio Lauro, a classical guitarist and composer from Venezuela," Klugh notes. "When I was young, there wasn't a lot of sheet music for classical guitar. Antonio's waltzes were some of the first transcriptions I ever had, and they are beautiful. I wrote and named the piece 'Venezuelan Nights' in honor of Antonio."
Klugh continues to be one of the most in-demand live artists globally. In 2007, Klugh introduced his concert series, Night of Guitars, featuring fellow guitar legends Bill Frisell, Russell Malone, Ray Parker Jr. and Peter White. He has recently returned from his second tour with The U.S. State Department and Thelonious Monk Institute in India.

And this April 3rd, Klugh presents his 5th Annual Weekend of Jazz at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO, joining world-renowned peers Ramsey Lewis, Boney James, Mindi Abair and fellow KOCH labelmate Sophie Milman.

Earl Klugh won the 1980 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for the million-selling album "One on One" with Bob James, and "Collaboration," his 1987 album with George Benson, was certified Gold by the RIAA. He has recorded over 30 albums in his multi-million-selling career, including four No. 1 albums on Billboard's Jazz Album chart and another 18 albums that charted in the Jazz Top Ten.

"THE SPICE OF LIFE" TRACK LISTING
1. Ocean Blue
2. Sleepyhead
3. Canadian Sunset
4. Venezuelan Nights
5. Driftin'
6. Snap!
7. Bye Ya
8. Heart Of My Life
9. Morning In Rio
10. C'est Si Bon
11. Lucy's World
12. My Foolish Heart
13. The Toy Guitar

BRIAN CULBERTSON - BRINGING BACK THE FUNK

Smooth jazz pianist Brian Culbertson is about to go off into a new direction with his new CD – Bringing Back The Funk. Funk music has been Brian Culbertson’s passion since he was a kid way back in the day. As a matter of fact, the cover image on the new CD Bringing Back The Funk is Brian as a boy listening to one of his favorite group at the time – Earth, Wind & Fire. Fast forward to 2008 when Brian decided to make plans for a new CD, and he thought of getting none other than Maurice White (leader and the visionary force behind Earth, Wind & Fire) to produce the CD. The end result is that he was able to coax the elusive Maurice White to come into the studio with him to executive produce Bringing Back The Funk. The sessions were recorded live in the studio (just like they used to do it back in the funk heyday), which in the end gives the sound of the album a truly classic feel. Brian Culbertson and Maurice White were able to assemble an all-star cast of musicians to take part in the project, including Bootsy Collins, Larry Graham, Gerald Albright, Ronnie Laws, plus the vocals of Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild and others. Brian Culbertson’s Bringing Back The Funk is scheduled for release on April 29. Here is the track listing:

1. Funkin’ With My Father (featuring Bootsy Collins)
2. Always Remember
3. Hollywood Swinging (featuring Musiq Soulchild & Gerald Albright)
4. The House Of Music (featuring Larry Graham & Ronnie Laws)
5. You Got To Funkifize (featuring Chance Howard)
6. The Groove
7. The World Keeps Going Around (featuring Ledisi)
8. Excuse Me…What’s Your Name?
9. Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything) (featuring Eddie Miller & David T. Walker)
10. Let’s Stay In Tonight

NEW YORK, DENVER, WASHINGTON, D.C. AND NOW HOUSTON LOSES IT'S SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO STATION!

Now comes the news that 95.7 KHJZ-FM in Houston, Texas has flipped formats to CHR (Contemporary Hits Radio). This now makes it four smooth jazz radio stations in the past few weeks to switch formats. The others were located in New York, Washington, D.C, and Denver . KHJZ-FM in Denver started the switch at 5:37PM on March 12 with a loop of Freestyler’s “Don’t Stop” and Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music” interspersed with announcements proclaiming that something new would occur on Thrusday, March 13 at 3:00PM.

In an earlier post we asked what was happening to smooth jazz radio as both WQCD-FM in New York, WJZW-FM in Washington, and KJCD-FM 104.3 in Denver when each one flipped formats, all within weeks of each other. What all of these stations have in common is the fact that they cite the same reasons for switching formats – ratings and money!. Let’s hope this is not pattern that other Smooth Jazz station owners will follow. In addition, all of the former Smooth Jazz radio stations can be picked up with an HD radio on HD2 ratio frequencies.

Just a few short months ago it was it was noted that the Smooth Jazz radio format continued to grow and thrive as one of radio's longest running formats in comparison to others that have come and gone. Other format such as "Jammin Oldies", "Arrow", "Jack" and "Movin" have come and gone in many cities where smooth jazz stations continued to be successful. In January of this year, Broadcast Architecture launched the Smooth Jazz Network, featuring smooth jazz artists Dave Koz, Kenny G, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson, Paul Hardcastle and Ramsey Lewis as on-air hosts. So far the network has spread to 25 markets across the US and brand new stations have launched utilizing the network in Norfolk, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque. Currently there are more than 50 commercial radio stations across the US playing smooth jazz.

LIVE NATION EXPANDS IN FLORIDA

Live Nation, the world's largest live music company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the majority of the live music assets of late Florida concert promoter Jon Stoll's Fantasma Productions. Fantasma and Live Nation have long been two of the most successful concert promoters in the state. The acquisition includes the Fantasma calendar of shows, two important outdoor mid-sized music venues and two outdoor festivals. As part of the agreement, Mr. Stoll's widow and Fantasma principal Lori Stoll will retain an interest in the profits of the acquired business for a period of years and take a senior position in Live Nation's Florida office. "Over the past year we have worked hard to strengthen our presence in the Florida market, and this agreement is a major step in that expansion," said Neil Jacobsen, President of Live Nation Florida. "This deal represents the union of two of our state's major live music players. Jon Stoll was a legend in the Florida music business and we are honored that Lori has agreed to become part of our team and continue the Stoll family tradition in Florida."

The acquisition, when completed, will include the leases for the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre and Grounds in Pompano Beach (capacity 2,900) and Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton (capacity 3,500), two important Southern Florida music venues. The additions will fill important niches in Live Nation's Florida venue portfolio which already includes the House of Blues in Orlando (capacity 2,100), the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa (capacity 19,000), Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach (capacity 19,000) and the newly-opened Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami Beach (capacity 2,100). The acquisition will also add two venues in the important mid-sized venue category in one of the top twenty markets in the United States.

"Jon spent his life creating special music events for Florida music fans," said Ms. Stoll. "I am pleased to have found partners at Live Nation who share that commitment to excellence and to have reached a deal that provides my family with stability and the opportunity to continue what Jon built."

Live Nation is the future of the music business. With the most live concerts, music venues and festivals in the world and the most comprehensive concert search engine on the web, Live Nation is revolutionizing the music industry: onstage and online. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "LYV." Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.livenation.com under the "About Us" section.

CHUCK LOEB - 50th ANNIVERSARY OF BOSSA NOVA

Smooth Jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb is planning a series of 50th anniversary of the Bossa Nova concerts, and he’s enlisted the help of several top notch fellow smooth jazz artists to come along for the ride. The concerts will be a celebration of the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto, and of course Stan Getz. It’s thanks to these 4 artists that the sound of Bossa Nova was able to spread throughout the world and eventually became a phenomenon. The show will be presented as an homage to these artists. The lineup for the shows includes Will Lee (bass); Eric Marienthal (sax); Rob Monsey and Matt King (keyboards); Cliff Almond (drums); Café (percussion); Lizzy Loeb (guitar); and on selected concerts – Chris Hunter (sax) and Tom Scott (sax).

Chuck Loeb has two new album projects in the works. He is currently working on a new album being produced by Jason Miles that will be released later this year. Other musicians joining Chuck Loeb on this project include Gerald Veasley, Ralph McDonald, Maysa, Buddy Williams and a few others. After that one is wrapped, he’ll start to work on another for release in May 2009.

The 50th anniversary of Bossa Nova concert dates are as follows:

April 2 – Irvington, NY @ Irvington Town Hall (Chris Hunter will replace Eric Marienthal on sax)
April 6 – Reading, PA @ Berks Jazz Festival WJJZ Concert, Sheraton Hotel Ballroom (with special guest Tom Scott)
April 10 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Manchester Craftsmans Guild
April 11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Manchester Craftsmans Guild
April 12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Manchester Craftsmans Guild
April 13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Manchester Craftsmans Guild
April 14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Concert at Duquesne University (Chuck Loeb only)
April 18 – Boston, MA @ Sculler’s Jazz Club
April 19 – Boston, MA @ Sculler’s Jazz Club
April 20 – New York, NY @ SOB’s

JAZZ SINGER JAMES TORME SIGNS WITH KOCH

KOCH Records has announced the signing of jazz singer James Torme. Torme's new album will be released in late 2008. James Torme, son of legendary singer Mel Torme, began his career in music early, often spending significant time with his father and other great musicians including Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis Jr., Peggy Lee and Buddy Rich. He is a uniquely gifted singer whose music infuses older jazz classics with soul and R&B influences. Considering his roots, this shouldn't be surprising. Being recognized for his contribution to the modern jazz scene, Torme was named the recipient of the 2007 Chuck Niles Jazz Music Award.

Today, Torme performs regularly all over the world with his quartet, and select performances with major symphony orchestras. James explains, "I've felt a sense of destiny about singing since I was very young. I'm so proud to be fulfilling that while carrying the torch for my dad and this incredible material."

Torme is also a businessman in his own right. As CEO of Torme Entertainment, LLC, James created TORME JAZZ on which James released his first full length album entitled "Live At On The Path." This live CD features timeless songs such as "Superstition," "Autumn Leaves," "Love For Sale," and "Ain't No Sunshine." He also released an EP called 'Coming Home' which featured the titled track made popular by his father, Mel Torme.

For more information on James Torme click to www.myspace.com/jamestorme, www.jamestorme.com, www.tormeentertainment.com

KOCH Entertainment, founded in 1987 and now in its twentieth year, is the leading and fastest-growing independent music company in the U.S. KOCH's operations encompass record and video labels as well as distribution companies in the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Entertainment is the market leader among independent labels and distributors in both the U.S. and Canada and its record label KOCH Records had the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for seven years in a row (2001 - 2007). KOCH Entertainment is a subsidiary of Entertainment One Ltd. which is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker symbol "ETO").

EMUSIC.COM NOW AT 3.5 MILLION TRACKS

eMusic, the world's largest retailer of independent music and the world's second largest music service after iTunes, announces that its worldwide catalogue has surpassed 3.5 million tracks with the addition of 43 new record labels and aggregators. The eMusic roster now includes important German electronic label Kompakt (Michael Mayer, Superpitcher), influential indie rock outfit Constellation Records (Do Make Say Think, Silver Mt Zion), and popular indie pop/rock/electronic imprint IAMSOUND Records (Cut Off Your Hands), among others.

eMusic (www.emusic.com) is a specialty digital entertainment retailer that has been at the forefront of offering MP3 downloads and customer-friendly prices since its inception in 1998. The company is focused on serving customers aged 25 and older by offering independent music and audio books in a universally compatible format at a great value. It is the world's largest retailer of independent music and the world's second-largest digital music service after iTunes, with more than 3.5 million tracks from 27,000 of the world's leading independent labels and thousands of titles from top audio book publishers. To super-serve its more than 400,000 customers, eMusic provides award-winning editorial content, a vibrant online community and unrivaled music discovery tools. eMusic's subscription-based service offers free music downloads or one free audio book at sign-up, giving consumers an inexpensive, low-risk way to explore great new music and books they wouldn't find otherwise. Based in New York with an office in London, eMusic is available in the U.S. and all 27 E.U. nations. eMusic.com Inc. is wholly owned by Dimensional Associates, Inc., the private equity arm of JDS Capital Management, Inc.

The retailer will also host a South by Southwest (SXSW) Showcase on Wednesday, March 12 at 8:00 p.m. at Maggie Mae's in Austin. The event will be recorded live for future release on eMusic and features a curated, international lineup of up-and-coming artists. Led by Bon Iver, an immensely talented and lauded singer-songwriter from Wisconsin, the showcase also features Frightened Rabbit (beloved young band from Scotland), Brooklyn high-school band the Hysterics (an MTV Breakout Star), Delorean (a dance-rock group from Barcelona), Day for Night (an unsigned NYC dream-rock band featured on NPR) and Peel (heralded Austin psych-rockers).

A free sampler featuring eMusic showcase artists plus an indispensable guide to what's "buzzed about" and "will soon be buzzed about" at SXSW -- compiled by eMusic's expert editorial staff of more than 200 writers -- is available at: http://www.emusic.com/features/hub/sxsw08/index.html.

Also at SXSW, eMusic President and CEO David Pakman will speak on the "Selling Music as a Service" panel at the Austin Convention Center on Thursday, March 13 at 4:15 p.m. "South by Southwest is the perfect chance for eMusic to shine a spotlight on some of the music we're most passionate about," said Pakman. "From indie rock to jazz to classical, more and more independent labels rely on eMusic to help customers discover and buy their music. Having sold more than 177 million MP3 downloads in the last four years, we've long been a leader in selling music in a DRM-free format at prices that customers want."

The lineup for the eMusic SXSW showcase is as follows:
8:00 p.m. - Day For Night
9:00 p.m. - The Hysterics
10:00 p.m. - Delorean
11:00 p.m. - Peel
12:00 a.m. - Frightened Rabbit
1:00 a.m. - Bon Iver

Labels recently signed to eMusic include:

Abeille Musique
Amalgam Entertainment
Amanda Music
AMP Digital Media
Chandos
Cloud 9 Dance
Constellation Records
Delicious Vinyl
Deetown Entertainment
Divucsa Music S.A.
EDINET Publishing Group
Eternal Yip Eye Records
Five Foot Two Records
Heads Up Records
Hudson Entertainment
IAMSOUND Records
Idol Distribution
Kompakt Distribution
Last Gang Records
Lions Gate Music & Publishing
Music Masters
Naïve
No Quarter Records
Oglio Records
Palo Duro Records
Rebel Rebel Management
Remote Control Records
Rooftop Media
Routenote
Ships at Night Records
Skaggs Family Records
Songcast
Soulspazm
Symphonic Distribution
Tallboy 7
Telarc
Twin Sisters Productions
United for Opportunity
UpTown Jazz
Verge Records
Warcon Entertainment
Watunes.com
Zojack World Wide
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CARLY SIMON - THIS KIND OF LOVE

First it was James Taylor, Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell, and now Carly Simon has joined the fold. Carly Simon is now on the roster of Starbucks' Hear Music label. Her first release for the company, "This Kind of Love," will be available April 29. Her new 13-track set has a Brazilian-heavy sound, and finds Simon collaborating with Jimmy Webb and Frank Filipetti. That trio was responsible for Simon's 1997 album "Film Noir." “This Kind of Love” is Carly Simon’s first album of original material since 2000's "The Bedroom Tapes." Her last two projects have featured standards. As a matter of fact, you can hear some tracks from her last two albums at www.myredlounge.com a site that streams music of the genre.

Inspired by and subtly infused with the rhythms of Brazilian music, This Kind of Love explores a wide swath of emotion-romance, reflection, melancholy, anger and humor. It's at once one of Simon's most personal albums as well as one of her most stylistically diverse outings.

Track list for "This Kind of Love":
"This Kind of Love"
"Hold Out Your Heart"
"People Say A Lot"
"Island""How Could You Ever Forget"
"Hola Soleil"
"In My Dreams"
"When We're Together"
"So Many People"
"They Just Want You To Be There"
"Last Samba"
"Too Soon to Say Goodbye"

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS - THIS YEAR'S MODEL: DELUXE EDITION

The two-CD THIS YEAR'S MODEL - DELUXE EDITION (Hip-O/UMe), now available, adds 11 b-sides, demos, live tracks, and alternate takes to the original album plus a second disc comprised of a previously unreleased concert recorded at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC, on February 28, 1978. Taped on the Starfleet mobile studio, this show was originally broadcast on WHFS in Maryland and only "Chemistry Class" has ever been issued before. Along with performances of several songs from THIS YEAR'S MODEL, including "Pump It Up," "Radio, Radio," "The Beat" and "No Action," this concert also features such Costello favorites as "Watching The Detectives," "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," "Less Than Zero" and "Waiting For The End Of The World."

THIS YEAR'S MODEL, produced by Nick Lowe, was harder and rawer than Costello's debut album, 1977's MY AIM IS TRUE, partly thanks to the singer-songwriter-guitarist's newly recruited band of keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas (no relation). The album outcharted its predecessor by reaching #30 in the U.S. and #4 U.K. THIS YEAR'S MODEL - DELUXE EDITION includes the U.K. album-only album tracks "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "Night Rally" plus the U.S. album-only "Radio, Radio."

Following THIS YEAR'S MODEL, Costello would crack the Top 10 in America and become a major pop culture figure. He would go on to spread his musical wings by delving into everything from country to sophisticated pop, classical to jazz, and collaborating with everyone from Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and Diana Krall to, most recently, R&B great Allen Toussaint. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him among its "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."

The added selections, subsequently issued in a 2001 two-CD package, include the b-sides "Big Tears" and "Tiny Steps"; AMERICATHON soundtrack contribution "Crawling To The USA"; demos for "Running Out Of Angels," "Greenshirt" and "Big Boys"; live "Neat Neat Neat" and "Roadette Song"; and alternate takes of "This Year's Girl" and "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea."

ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS - THIS YEAR'S MODEL
DISC ONE:
1 No Action
2 This Year's Girl
3 The Beat
4 Pump It Up
5 Little Triggers
6 You Belong To Me
7 Hand In Hand
8 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
9 Lip Service
10 Living In Paradise
11 Lipstick Vogue
12 Night Rally
13 Radio, Radio

Bonus material: b-sides, demos, live tracks, alternates, etc.
14 Big Tears
15 Crawling To The USA
16 Tiny Steps
17 Running Out Of Angels (demo version)
18 Greenshirt (demo version)
19 Big Boys (demo version)
20 Neat Neat Neat (live)
21 Roadette Song (live)
22 This Year's Girl (alternate Eden Studios version)
23 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea (alternate Basing Street Studios version)

ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS - Live At The Warner Theater, Washington, DC, February 28, 1978

DISC TWO:
1 Pump It Up*
2 Waiting For The End Of The World*
3 No Action*
4 Less Than Zero*
5 The Beat*
6 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes*
7 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea*
8 Hand In Hand*
9 Little Triggers*
10 Radio, Radio*
11 You Belong To Me*
12 Lipstick Vogue*
13 Watching The Detectives*
14 Mystery Dance*
15 Miracle Man*
16 Blame It On Cain*
17 Chemistry Class

* Previously Unreleased
For additional information click to:
http://www.ilovethatsong.com
http://www.elviscostello.com
http://www.shorefire.com

MATT SAVAGE SIGNS WITH SONY/ATV MUSIC

Sony/ATV Music Publishing have announced that jazz composer/pianist Matt Savage have signed an international sub-publishing agreement, covering all countries except the United States and Canada. The agreement with the acclaimed jazz prodigy includes Matt Savage's back catalogue and future works, beginning with all original compositions featured on the last six albums recorded by the Matt Savage Trio.

The Matt Savage Trio most recently appeared on the CBS show "Late Show with David Letterman," performing "El Fuego" from "HOT TICKET: Live in Boston." Following the Matt Savage Trio's broadcast, "HOT TICKET: Live in Boston" reached #2 in live jazz album sales on Amazon.com. In December, Matt Savage and his music were featured on "Piano Jazz," the acclaimed National Public Radio (NPR) syndicated series hosted by Marian McPartland.

The Matt Savage Trio released their sixth album in January, titled "HOT TICKET: Live in Boston," and it has hit #11 on the "Jazzweek" charts. “HOT TICKET: Live in Boston” was distributed by Palmetto Records (MRI/RED) and "HOT TICKET: Live in Boston" includes eight new Savage-penned songs and three original tracks revisited. The album was recorded during two concerts at Tufts University's Distler Performance Hall at the Granoff Music Center. In addition to Matt Savage on keyboards, the Matt Savage Trio is comprised of Dave Robaire on bass and Joe Saylor on drums. "HOT TICKET: Live in Boston" was produced by Grammy-nominated Jonathan Wyner and engineered by nine-time Grammy-winner, Tom Bates.

For more information on the Matt Savage Trio click to www.savagerecords.com and www.myspace.com/mattsavagetrio

ANOTHER SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO STATION BITES THE DUST

In an earlier post we asked what was happening to smooth jazz radio as both WQCD-FM in New York and WJZW-FM in Washington had flipped formats, both within weeks of each other. Now comes news that KJCD-FM 104.3 in Denver has done the same. The station owner, Lincoln Financial Media dropped Smooth Jazz programming on 104.3 KJCD-FM in Denver on Thursday, March 6. Lincoln Financial Media moved Sports 950 The Fan KKFN Denver to the 104.3 signal that had been home to KJCD at 1pm yesterday. KKFN will simulcast on 950 and 104.3 until the end of March, when a new format will debut on 950. The Smooth Jazz format will continue on 98.5 KYGO-HD2 and SmoothJazzDenver.com. T

he Fan offers a combination of local and syndicated programming, including The Sports Guys in mornings; Jim Rome in middays; Irv Brown, Joe Williams, and Jim Armstrong in afternoons; and Dan Patrick in nights. Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets games also move to the FM. KJCD's website at www.smoothjazzdenver.com gives listeners the details, citing "declining audience ratings over the past couple years combined with a decline in advertising support from our clients." What else is new?

Haven’t you noticed that the owners of WQCD-FM and WJZW-FM cited the same reasons for switching formats. Let’s hope this is not pattern that other Smooth Jazz station owners will follow. The Smooth Jazz programming will be streamed from the website and heard as an HD subchannel of Country clustermate KYGO, and station e-mail updates will continue.

SARAH MCLACHLAN TO RELEASE RARITIES, B-SIDES AND OTHER STUFF VOLUME 2

Pulled from Sarah McLachlan's illustrious recording career, the Rarities, B-Sides 2 And Other Stuff, Volume 2 collection contains Sarah McLachlan material never before available before on one CD. The collection includes live performances, rare recordings, remixes and soundtrack contributions. In addition, the album includes exceptional, one of a kind duets with Bryan Adams, Cyndi Lauper, Emmylou Harris, and more! The CD will be released on April 29, 2008 and see below for a tentative listing of the included songs. Note that the final CD package is being assembled as of this writing.

Since signing with Arista nearly two decades ago, every one of Sarah McLachlan's studio and live albums and videos have been certified gold, platinum, multi-platinum, or diamond by the CRIA, starting with Touch (1988) and Solace (1991), both platinum sellers. Her 1994 breakthrough, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (2x platinum) was followed by the digitally enhanced multimedia version of The Freedom Sessions (1995, gold). Sarah's landmark fourth album, the Diamond certified Surfacing (1997), contained two Grammy Award-winning tracks, as "Building a Mystery" won for Best Female Pop Vocal, and "Last Dance" was voted Best pop Instrumental. 1999's quadruple-platinum Mirrorball, and its platinum long-form videocounterpart, were both culled from that year's Lilith Fair tour, and spun off Sarah's third Grammy-winning performance, as "I Will Remember You" won for Best Female Pop Vocal. The 5 times platinum Afterglow followed in 2003,
and received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album, while its opening track, "Fallen" was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal.

***Note - Working Track listing below - Final to be announced shortly:
1. Ordinary Miracle
2. Blackbird
3. Time After Time (with Cyndi Lauper)
4. River
5. Don't Let Go (with Bryan Adams)
6. Angel (Live) (with Emmylou Harris)
7. Pills (Live) (with The Perishers)
8. The Rainbow Connection
9. Prayer of St. Francis
10. Unchained Melody
11. Silence (DJ Tiesto ISOS Remix

MINDI ABAIR, THE RIPPINGTONS, STEEL PULSE TO TOPLINE SUNFEST

SunFest, Florida's largest music, art and waterfront festival, will be held April 30-May 4, along one of the most scenic sections of Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach. National headline entertainment scheduled to perform include Sheryl Crow, Fergie, The Black Crowes, John Legend, Natasha Bedingfield, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Steel Pulse, Hellogoodbye, Stephen Marley, The Academy Is, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Little Feat, Hot Tuna, The Rippingtons, Classic Albums Live, Little River Band, Mindi Abair, and Morris Day & the Time. Additional entertainment announcements will be made as they are confirmed.

"SunFest is a kick-off to the summer festival and touring season," said Paul Jamieson, Executive Director of SunFest. "We're excited about our line-up and believe it is one of the best in years." SunFest 2008 will be held from April 30-May 4 along the Flagler Drive waterfront in West Palm Beach, Florida. SunFest of Palm Beach County, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in West Palm Beach, is a Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council Funded Project and is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Arts Council.

Sheryl Crow will perform on the WaMu Stage, Wednesday evening April 30. Sheryl Crow's lyrics touch (relate) personal issues that she has struggled with through life. Her new album, Detours, touches on the world around us and how it is changing. She is a three-time Grammy winner, with featured hits, "All I Wanna Do," "Strong Enough," "First Cut is the Deepest" and "My Favorite Mistake."

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Wednesday evening April 30. Clinton is internationally known as one of the fathers of funk and performs with Parliament Funkadelic.

Michael Franti & Spearhead will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Wednesday evening April 30. Michael Franti is an American poet and musician. The band Spearhead is a mix of hip-hop, funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. The band's hits include "Everyone Deserves Music," "We Don't Stop," and "Bomb the World."

Good Charlotte will perform on Thursday evening May 1 during New Music Night at SunFest. From the opening sounds of Good Charlotte's fourth album Good Morning Revival -- which launches with an artful, innovative sound collage that slides into the irresistible "Misery"-- the world-famous band has sold over nine million albums. Good Charlotte includes singer Joel Madden, guitarist Benji Madden, bassist Paul Thomas, guitarist/keyboardist Billy Martin, and new Good Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth.

Finger Eleven will perform on Thursday, May 1 during New Music Night at SunFest. Finger Eleven originated from Ontario as Rainbow Butt Monkeys. Their music varies from Rock to Country and dance to funk. They are known for their hits "Paralyzer" and "One Thing."

Fergie will perform on the WaMu Stage, Friday evening May 2. Fergie is best known as a member of the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas. Her first solo album, The Dutchess, went triple platinum, featuring hits songs "Glamorous," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Clumsy."

Hot Tuna will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Friday evening May 2. Hot Tuna has led American music with their acoustic and electric blues sound. Hot Tuna has been accompanied by some of the greatest musicians such as Erik Diaz and Barry Mitterhoff.

Little Feat will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Friday evening May 2. Little Feat's music goes beyond boundaries with a freewheeling combination of California rock and Dixie inflected funkboogie. Little Feat also expresses blues, country, folk, rock, and jazz in the mix of their music. The band's hits include "Rocket in My Pocket," "Rock and Roll Doctor," "Let it Roll," and "Easy to Slip."

Steel Pulse will perform on the Tire Kingdom Stage, Friday evening May 2. Steel Pulse is a well-known reggae band from England. Their music sends a message of hope, education, and activism to listeners. Their hit "Babylon the Bandit" earned them a Grammy Award.

The Black Crowes will perform on the WaMu Stage, Saturday evening May 3. The Black Crowes' music is a mix of rock, blues, country, gospel, and soul. Their just releases seventh album includes the hit "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution."

Classic Albums Live will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Saturday afternoon May 3. Classic Albums Live is a Canadian classic rock group that performs tributes to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones and more. At SunFest, they will perform
music from Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Doors.

Little River Band will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Saturday afternoon May 3. Little River Band is an Australian rock group that named themselves after a road sign, Little River. They are the first Australian band to make it big in the United States, with over 25 million records sold. Little River is known for their hits, "Take it Easy on Me," "Lady" and "Reminiscing."

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Saturday evening May 3. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' music mixes third wave ska and hard-core punk sounds. They have released seven albums, three EP's, and one live record. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are best known for their hit "The Impression That I Get."

The Academy Is will perform on the WaMu Stage, Saturday evening May 3. The Academy Is has a sound that mixes rock, indie and emo. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, The Academy Is was ranked one of the top ten artists to watch. Featured hits of The Academy Is include "We've Got a Big Mess on our Hands," "Neighbors" and "Sleeping with Giants."

Natasha Bedingfield will perform on the Tire Kingdom Stage, Saturday evening May 3. Natasha Bedingfield is a pop singer and songwriter known for her albums Pocket Full of Sunshine and Unwritten.

Stephen Marley will perform on WaMu Stage, Sunday afternoon May 4. Stephen Marley, son of Bob Marley, is a producer, singer, songwriter, and a multi-instrumentalist. He won five Grammy Awards, which is more than any reggae artist. His latest album Mind Control features hits "Mind Control" and "Chase Dem."

Mindi Abair will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Sunday afternoon May 4. Mindi Abair is a soul, jazz, and pop saxophonist with stellar melodies, insinuating rhythm and seductive vocals. Her album Life Less Ordinary includes hits "Do You Miss Me," "Ordinary Love" and "Long
Ride Home."

The Rippingtons will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Sunday afternoon May 4. The Rippingtons are considered a contemporary, smooth jazz group. In 2006, The Rippingtons celebrated their 20th anniversary and released their greatest hits album. The Rippingtons hits
include "Let It Rip" and "Wild Card."

John Legend will perform on the WaMu Stage, Sunday evening May 4. John Legend is a five-time Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and performer whose with his debut studio album Get Lifted featured the hit song "Ordinary People." His sophomore album Once Again, featured hit single "Save Room."

Morris Day & the Time will perform on the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Stage, Sunday afternoon May 4. Morris Day is an American composer, musician, drummer, and lead singer of the band The Time. The Time is a funk and dance ensemble band formed in the 80's known for hits "Jungle Love" and "The Bird" and appearance in the movie Purple Rain.

Hellogoodbye will perform on the Tire Kingdom Stage, Sunday afternoon May 4. Hellogoodbye is a punk rock group that started out as a small band in California. Their single "Here (In your Arms)" went platinum and helped launch their career.

More entertainment announcements will be made as they are confirmed. Reserved seats for the WaMu national headline performances will go on sale to the public on March 20. The purchase of reserved seats is available now to Club SunFest members. For tickets information for SunFest 2008 click to http://www.sunfest.com.

WHAT'S HAPPENING TO SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO?

Given the recent demise of two major market smooth jazz radio stations in New York and Washington, one has to wonder what’s happened to the format. A radio-industry Website recently pondered if it’s “time to sound a death knell for the format.” In New York, long-time smooth jazz station WQCD-FM 101.9 switched formats (Rock) after 20 years, and in Washington, 14-year smooth jazz station WJZW-FM 105.9 made the move to Oldies.

But let’s face it – both of these stations are corporate-owned and are in a world where it’s a numbers game. Ratings = advertising revenue = stock value – well you get the picture. It’s all actually a game where your numbers (and value) need to rise from quarter to quarter in comparison to your local competition, and if it doesn’t, then upper management looks for ways to enhance value. In these particular cases, it was determined that a format switch was necessary.

New York’sWQCD 101.9 and Washinton’s WJZW 105.9 still live on; however, you need to have and HD radio to tune in. Even if you did own an HD radio, these stations are not really what they used to be considering that they are totally automated without any radio jocks. The loss of both of these stations leaves smooth jazz listeners with really no alternative in both of those markets. Such a shame.

One bright spot for the format is a Seattle smooth jazz station - KWJZ-FM/ 98.9. KWJZ-FM has been a consistent top 10 ratings and rankings performer, according to Arbitron data. Among listeners 12 and older, KWJZ ranked sixth in fall, fourth in summer, among commercial stations in the market. One advantage for KWJZ is that it's part of a privately held company, which actually makes it less susceptible to the pressures to cut spending to satisfy Wall Street, a trend now sweeping many publicly traded radio companies. In fact, KWJZ just started a new television advertising campaign. Interestingly, those ads still use the word smooth -- as in "smooth out," the implication being that the station is an antidote to a hectic world. But neither they nor the new logo uses "jazz." The saxophone in the old logo has been replaced by a highly stylized suggestion of a sax.

JUDY GARLAND - GARLAND AT THE GROVE

DRG Records has announced the CD debut of the very first professionally-preserved Judy Garland concert recording -- her first official and legitimate "live" album, GARLAND AT THE GROVE. Every song Judy sang that night is being presented for the first time ever on one release, as the original LP deleted three songs. Those missing songs and all of the others have now been Digitally Remixed, Remastered and Restored in glorious 24-bit stereo sound here, from the original 3-track tapes made on that historic night.

Using Algorithmix EQ and restoration tools, Alan Silverman of Arf! Digital brought the sound back to life, and restored spectral imbalances in the original recording. The CD's producer Scott Schechter says this digital debut of GARLAND AT THE GROVE thus "presents the extra richness and fullness heard at the Cocoanut Grove that night, but not quite preserved on the original LP. Listening to this CD, you'll feel like you're at a glamorous 1950s nightclub, right in the audience, sitting at the best table at the Grove."

This CD release marks the 50th Anniversary of the year the album was recorded, 1958. GARLAND AT THE GROVE was recorded on the closing night of Judy's July 23rd-August 5th, 1958, 2-week engagement at the famed Cocoanut Grove, in Los Angeles, CA. Her label, Capitol Records, dispatched its remote recorders to capture Garland's performance using the then-new multitrack stereo sound. Yet it has taken nearly 50 years for the world to finally hear her entire nightclub act -- From the time Judy makes her entrance, to the post-performance announcement that the evening was recorded for an album, every second of tape is included here: All 13 songs are at last on this one CD.

The songs range from the old (Judy's movie masterpieces "The Trolley Song," "You Made Me Love You," "After You've Gone," and "Over The Rainbow") to newer songs she'd just cut for Capitol ("Day In, Day Out," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," and "Do It Again"), to songs that had either recently become concert stables or would be repeated on her later TV series ("Rock-a-bye Your Baby," and a sizzling "When The Sun Comes Out"). Another highlight is the star's take on the newest song in the lineup, the smash novelty song "The Purple People Eater." Judy is backed on GARLAND AT THE GROVE by the bright, swinging orchestra conducted by the Cocoanut Grove's resident musical director, Freddie Martin. Along with the sparkling sound, GARLAND AT THE GROVE features the original album artwork, and new detailed liner notes by Schechter, preeminent Garland-Minnelli historian, and author of "Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend," and "The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook."

TRACK LISTING:
1) Garland Overture
2) When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)
3) Day In, Day Out
4) I Can't Give You Anything But Love
5) Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart
6) Purple People Eater
7) Medley : You Made Me Love You / For Me and My Gal / The Trolley Song
8) Do It Again
9) When the Sun Comes Out
10) Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody
11) Over The Rainbow
12) After You've Gone
13) A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow
14) Swanee

STEVE WINWOOD - NINE LIVES

Steve Winwood has signed a new deal with Columbia Records. His label debut, "Nine Lives," will arrive April 29. The nine-track set is Winwood's first studio album since 2003's "About Time," which he released on his own Wincraft label. Steve Winwood is also teaming up with ex-bandmate Eric Clapton for a series of upcoming concerts. Eric Clapton, who played briefly with Winwood in Blind Faith in the late 1960s, contributes guitar on first single from the album "Dirty City," which is currently available, and it hit the U.S. radio outlets on February 25.

Both Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton were reunited last July at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago, which leads them to the upcoming three-shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden. They will be will be backed by bassist Willie Weeks, drummer Ian Thomas and keyboardist Chris Stainton.In addition, this summer, Steve Winwood will be back on the road in the U.S. as the support act for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Track list for "Nine Lives":
"I'm Not Drowning"
"Fly""Raging Sea"
"Dirty City"
"We're All Looking"
"Hungry Man"
"Secrets"
"At Times We Do Forget"
"Other Shore"

Steve Windwood Tour Dates
May 30 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
May 31 – Auburn Hills, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
June 3 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
June 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
June 6 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
June 8 – Bristow, VA @ Nissan Pavillion
June 10 - Burgettstown, PA @ Post-Gazette Pavilion
June 11 - Hartford, CT @ New England Dodge Music Center
June 13 - Boston, MA @ TD Banknorth Garden
June 14 - Mansfield, MA @ Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
June 17 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
June 18 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
June 21 - Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lakes Performing Center
June 22 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
June 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
July 2 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
July 3 – Noblesville, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
July 5 – Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheater
July 8 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
July 9 – Atlanta, GA @ Verizon Wirless Amphitheater
July 11 – Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Verizon Wirless Amphitheatre
July 12 – Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
July 15- Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ BankAtlantic Center
July 16 – Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
July 19 – Denver, CO @ Mile High Music Festival
July 20 – Omaha, NE @ Quest Center Omaha
July 22 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
July 23 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
August 7 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Verison Wireless Amphitheatre
August 9 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
August 11 – Calgary, AB # Penbrowth Saddletone
August 12 – Edmonton AB @ Rexall Place
August 15 – George, WA @ The Gorge
August 16 – George, WA @ The Gorge
August 20 – Glendale, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena
August 22 – Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphiteatre
August 23 – San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Park
August 26 – Selma, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

NO WOMAN NO CRY: MY LIFE WITH BOB MARLEY

The Weinstein Company has announced that they have acquired the rights to develop, produce and distribute the first ever biopic about the legendary Jamaican singer, songwriter, guitarist, and activist, Bob Marley and his wife Rita Marley. The feature film will be based on the autobiography "No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley" which was written by Rita Marley, the widow of the legendary reggae musician. The book is an intimate and epic account of their relationship, which went from the streets of Trenchtown to the heights of the international music and political worlds. Rudy Langlais ("The Hurricane") is set to produce the film from a script written by Lizzie Borden ("Working Girls"). Rita Marley will serve as executive producer.

Bob Marley was born under the name of Nesta Robert Marley in the Jamaican countryside town of Nine Miles in 1945. His father was a white Jamaican Marine Officer and Captain of English descent, while his mother was a young black Jamaican girl. After his father's death, Bob Marley moved with his mother to the Kingston ghetto of Trenchtown. There he began playing music, imitating American R&B, and soon formed a band with several other musicians, including Neville O'Riley Livingston and Peter Tosh, calling themselves The Wailers. Their music evolved into what they called "reggae," expressing their rebellious spirit against British colonial rule. Financed by Island Record owner and fellow Jamaican Chris Blackwell, Marley and the Wailers soon were brought to international attention and broke out into world fame. Marley went solo under Blackwell's direction and became an international legend, his music addressing everything from passionate love to revolution in the third world, to humanity's unity in the anthem "One Love." Bob Marley died of a long- gestating cancer in 1981. At the end of the century, Time Magazine and The New York Times named him the most important popular artist of the 20th Century and his record "Exodus" the important record of the century. He was also awarded the United Nations Medal of Peace for the Third World.

Production Executive, Ben Famiglietti brought this project to The Weinstein Company, along with Michael Cole, Co-Head of Production. They will oversee the project on behalf of The Weinstein Company. Eric Roth, EVP of Business and Legal Affairs negotiated the deal on behalf of The Weinstein Company. Mickey Freiberg from ACME Talent Literary along with Eric Weissmann from Weissmann, Wolf, Bergman, Colman & Silverman negotiated on behalf of Rudy Langlais and Lizzie Borden. Attorneys Bob Epstein, Marvin Zolt and Claude Ismael represented Rita Marley in negotiations."No Woman No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley" written by Rita Marley with Hettie Jones, was published by Hyperion in May of 2004.


Rita Marley was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, married Bob Marley in 1966 and remained married to him until his death in 1981. She was the mother of two of his children, who displayed musical talent like their parents. Rita was also a musician, and performed with a girl-group called
the I-Three who had been the back-up singers to Bob Marley and the Wailers. After having witnessed the visit of Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie to Jamaica in 1961, Rita Marley converted to the Rastafarian religion and introduced it to Bob as well. He began to devote his spiritual life to its
beliefs and adopted its traditions, which included wearing his iconic dreadlocks. As Marley's music and persona became more and more controversial in Jamaica, the political turmoil it stirred resulted in an assassination attempt on the eve of a concert in Kingston, at which Bob and Rita were shot. To this day, Rita Marley is a benefactor of numerous humanitarian causes. She continues to perform worldwide and lives in Ghana, West Africa.

Rita Marley stated, "Bob always told me, 'Wherever you are I will be there' and I didn't understand it until much later. Our lives began in a government yard in Trenchtown with hopes of reaching the world through music and through our dreams. I wrote my book to tell my story -- of the dreams we shared and those days we spent living and believing in our hope. I saw it and now we get to tell it through our movie. I've waited a long time to tell this story, about growing up in Jamaica and meeting Bob and making our music and falling in love and making our family. All that, and all that we went through went into this. Now is that time. This is my story."

The Weinstein Company (TWC) was created by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films Corporation in 1979. TWC is a multi-media company that officially launched on October 1, 2005. Dimension Films, the genre label that was founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, is also included under the TWC banner. During the Weinsteins' tenure at Miramax Films the company released some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful independent feature films which received 249 Academy Award(R) nominations and won 60 Oscars(R), have generated billions of dollars in worldwide box office receipts and billions more in home video sales. In its history, Dimension Films has released some of the most successful franchises including "Scream," "Spy Kids" and "Scary Movie.

The film will be released worldwide in 2009.

2ND ANNUAL PORT-AU-PRINCE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, has just kicked off the Port-au-Prince International Jazz Music Festival. It’s the 2nd Edition of this eight-day jazz festival celebrating Haitian and world jazz music. The festival started on March 2 and runs through March 9. The performances are being held at the historic "Canne a Sucre", Kiosque Occide Jeanty (Champ de Mars), and l'Institut Francais d'Haiti (French institute).

The Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival is a form of cultural exchange and it features nine international jazz bands coming from Brazil, United States, Mexico, Canada, Chile, Spain, Switzerland, France, as well as Haitian jazz musicians - Mushy Widmaier, Les Freres Courtois, Mark Richard, Jowee Omicil, Thurgot Theodat, among others.

The founder of the Jazz Festival is Joel Widmaier, who is himself a well-known Haitian drummer from the group Zekle (one of the bands at the heart of the 1980s Nouvel Jenerayson movement). Widmaier’s hopes that the Festival will help promote Haitian Jazz across the country and perhaps the world. "We have some excellent Haitian musicians playing jazz, and its a great movement to promote in Haiti. Joel and the festival organizing committee, which includes the embassies of the United States, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, and the Haiti Cultural Ministry, seek to build on the success of the Jazz Festival from last year. Due to the current political landscape in Haiti, the Festival is not expected to draw foreign visitors. However, for the Haitians of Port-au-Prince, the opportunity to listen to these styles of jazz is more food for the soul of a music loving nation.

Jazz music is not new to Haiti, the island has a long history of a rich musical culture. Following several decades after World War I and the two American occupations ( 1915 & 1934), jazz was being played everywhere in Haitian high society, dance halls, and in the military. Jazz Des Jeunes, the premiere Haitian orchestra of the 30's and 40's, adapted some form of American jazz and fused it with folklore to conjure up the term ' Haitian jazz". Before Konpa came along the mid 50's, Jazz Des Jeune inspired a whole new generation of Haitian musians, including some of Haiti's great's folklore/ jazz singers Gerald Dupervil, Edner Guinard (Jazz Guinard), Raoul Guillaume, Issa El Saieh, Toto Bissainthe, David Mettelus ( Ti-Coca), Dodolphe Legros, Guy Durosier, Joe Trovillog, Raoul Guillaume, Saxophonist Nemours Jean Baptiste and Weber Sicot.