TINA TURNER 2008-09 WORLD TOUR

Due to increased demand, Tina Turner has added additional concerts to keep up with fan the demand surrounding her upcoming North American tour. he initial round of concerts went on sale May 10 and the launch date for October 1 in Kansas City, MO sold out in virtually two minutes. More performances were added last week and now, second nights have been added in San Jose, CA; Newark, NJ; and Uniondale, NY, while a third performance was added on in the Los Angeles area. The updated North American itinerary includes 28 shows across the U.S. and into Canada through mid-December.

Tina Turner also has plans to launch a European outing early next year. Listed below (in addition to the North American dates) is a partial listing of the European legs of the tour. We expect more European dates to be added soon. The concert is expected to feature a major production to complement hits spanning Turner's four-decade career. Turner's most recent studio album, "Twenty Four Seven," was released in 1999. Last fall, the eight-time Grammy winner released "Celebrate: The Best of Tina Turner," a 95-minute DVD taken from a 1999 concert that celebrated her 60th birthday. The legendary singer has sold 170 million records during her career, according to her bio, and is one of the most successful female rock artists of all time.

Her last tour in 2000 was said to be her last, and grossed $110 million. At the time, it was the top-selling tour by a female artist, although this record has since been beaten by Madonna and Cher.

Tina Turner's World Tour Dates:
Oct 1 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center

Oct 3 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
Oct 4 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
Oct 6 - Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena

Oct 8 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center

Oct 9 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center

Oct 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center

Oct 14 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center

Oct 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center

Oct 19 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion

Oct 20 – San Jose, CA @ HP Pavillion
Oct 22 - Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena

Oct 24 - Phoenix, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena

Oct 30 - Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
Nov 2 - Fort Lauderdale, FL @ BankAtlantic Center

Nov 5 - Orlando, FL @ Amway Arena

Nov 9 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena

Nov 13 - Toronto, Ontario @ Air Canada Centre

Nov 16 - Boston, MA @ TD Banknorth Garden

Nov 17 – Boston, MA @ TD Bankworth Garden
Nov 23 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center

Nov 26 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
Nov 27 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
Dec 3 - Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum

Dec 4 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
Dec 6 - Hartford, CT @ XL Center

Dec 8 - Montreal, Quebec @ Bell Centre

Dec 12 - Toronto, Ontario @ Air Canada Centre
Dec 23 - Antwerp, Belgium @ Sportpaleis Antwerp

Feb 7 - Vienna, Austria @: Stadthalle Vienna

Feb 8 - Vienna, Austria @ Stadthalle Vienna

Mar 3 - London, UK @: O2Arena
Mar 4 - London, UK @ O2Arena
Mar 7 - London, UK @ O2Arena
Mar 8 - London, UK @ O2 Arena

Mar 11 – London, UK @ O2Arena

Mar 12 – London, UK @ O2Arena
Mar 21 - Arnhem, Netherlands @: Gelredome
Mar 30 - Manchester, UK @ MEN Arena Manchester
Mar 21 - Manchester, UK @ MEN Arena Manchester

THE CONCERT CALENDAR

MAY 2008
Stanley Clarke @ Jazz Café, London, UK, May 22
The Yellowjackets,@ Jazz At The Bistro, St. Louis, MO, May 22
The Bad Plus, The Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA, May 22
Mike Stern @ Gluck-Haufe-Halle @ Dillenburg, Germany, May 22, 2008
Walter Beasley @ Scullers, Boston, MA, May 23
David Sanborn @ South Point, Las Vegas, NV, May 23-25
Paul Anka @ Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ, May 23
David Foster & Friends w/Andrea Boccelli, Michael Buble & Josh Groban @ Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas NV, May 23
Stephen Marley @ Hard Rock, Las Vegas, NV, May 23
Louie Vega @ SeOne Club, London, UK, May 24
Najee @ Lexington Opera House, Lexington, KY, May 24
Walter Beasley @ Scullers, Boston, MA, May 24
Spyro Gyra @ Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort, Tamuning, Guam, May 24
The Yellowjackets @ Hoogland Center For The Performing Arts, Springfield, IL, May 25
Lizz Wright @ The Roxy, West Hollywood, CA, May 28
Chris Botti @ Blue Note Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, May 28-31
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr @ The Carlyle. New York, NY, May 28-31
Bobby Caldwell @ Nikko Hotel, San Francisco, CA, May 29-June 1
Return To Forever @ Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX, May 29-30
Najee @ Lula’s Jazz Club, Toronto, CAN, May 30
Eric Roberson & Carol Riddick @ City Theatre, Detroit, MI, May 30
Marion Meadows @ The Soiled Dove Underground, Denver, CO, May 30
Gerald Veasley @ New Life Christ Fellowship, Coatsville, PA, May 31
Najee @ Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo, NY, May 31
Lizz Wright @ The Walnut Room, Denver, CO, May 31
Alicia Keys – Trump Taj Majal, Atlantic City, NJ, May 31
Frank McComb & Sy Smith @ City Theatre, Detroit, MI, May 31

JUNE 2008
Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington, DC, June 1
Return To Forever @ Verizon Wireless Center, Houston, TX, June 1
Lizz Wright @ Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN, June 1
Esperanza Spalding @ Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Festival, San Juan, PR, June 1
Steve Tyrell @ Blue Note Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, June 1-4
Lizz Wright @ Schuba’s, Chicago, IL, June 2
Chuck Loeb @ Catalina’s Bar and Grill, Los Angeles, CA, June 2-4
Return To Forever @ Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO, June 3
Gerald Veasley @ Catalina’s Bar & Grill (Bossa), Los Angeles, CA, June 3
Maceo Parker @ Knotty Pine, Victor, ID, June 4
Lizz Wright @ The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI, June 4
Maceo Parker @ Boulder Theatre, Boulder, CO, June 5
Lizz Wright @ House of Blues, Cleveland, OH, June 5
Chuck Loeb @ Anthology, San Diego, CA, June 5
Gerald Veasley @ Anthology (Bossa), San Diego, CA, June 5
Ron Carter, Russell Malone @ Mulgrew Miller – The Golden Striker Trio - @ Blue Note Tokyo, June 5-10
Return To Forever @ Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR, June 6
Maceo Parker @ Telluride Jazz Celebration, Telluride, CO, June 6
Spyro Gyra @ North Folk Theatre at Westbury, Westbury, NY, June 6
Earth, Wind & Fire @ Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV, June 6-7
Spyro Gyra @ Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, June 7
Maceo Parker @ KTAO Solar Center, Taos, NM, June 7
The Yellowjackets @ Naperville Jazz Festival, Naperville, IL, June 7
Return To Forever @ Britt Music Festival, Medford, OR, June 7
Caribbean Jazz Project @ WLOQ Festival, Winterpark, FL, June 7
Maceo Parker @ Belly Up, Aspen, CO, June 8
Return To Forever @ Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA, June 8-9
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, June 10
Return To Forever @ The Grand, San Francisco, CA, June 11-12
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, June 11
Maceo Parker @ House Of Blue, Atlantic City, NJ June 12
Sophie Milman @ Blue Note Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, June 12-15
Return To Forever @ Gibson Amphiteatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 13
Spyro Gyra @ Center For The Arts Of Homer, Homer, NY, June 13
The Bad Plus @ Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, ONT, June 13
Maceo Parker @ Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh, PA, June 13
Erykah Badu @ House Of Blues, Las Vegas, NV, June 13
Johnny Mathis @ Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV, June 13-14
Frank Sinatra Jr., Dee Dee Bridgewater, Boz Scaggs, and Al Green @ The Rochester International Jazz Festival 7th Edition, Rochester NY, June 13-21, 2008
Chuck Mangione & Spyro Gyra @ House Of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ, June 14
The Bad Plus & Caribbean Jazz Project @ Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY, June 14
Return To Forever @ Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, June 14
George Duke @ Rhythm and Ribs Festival, Kansas City, MO, June 14
Mike Stern @ Hua Hin Festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand, June 14
Andy Narell @ Pan Jazz 2008, New York, NT, June 14
The Yellowjackets @ Orange County Pavillion PAT, Santa Ana, CA, June 15
Herbie Hancock @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, June 15
Mike Stern @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, June 16-21
Return To Forever @ Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO, June 17
The Yellowjackets @ Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY, June 17
Mandrill @ Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, June 17
Maceo Parker @ JVC Jazz Festival, New York, NY, June 18
Stevie Wonder @ Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY, June 18
Return To Forever @ Holland Performing Arts Center, Omaha, NE, June 18
Herbie Hancock @ Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA, June 18
Lizz Wright @ New York Socity for Ethical Culture, New York, NY, June 19
Return To Forever @ The Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, June 19
Maceo Parker @ Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY, June 19
Al Green @ Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario, June 19
Return To Forever @ Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL, June 20
Maceo Parker @ Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto, Canada, June 20
Al Green @ Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY, June 20
Jill Scott @ JVC Jazz Festival Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, June 20
Herbie Hancock @ Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, BC, June 20
Stevie Wonder @ Trump Taj Majal, Atlantic City, NJ, June 21
Sergio Mendes @ JVC Jazz Festival Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, June 21
Mandrill @ West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival, Philadelphia, Pa, June 21
Return To Forever @ Freedom Hill, Detroit, MI, June 21
Zap Mama @ JVC Jazz Festival, New York, NY, June 21
Maceo Parker @ Vancouver Jazz Festival, Vancouver, Canada, June 21
Marion Meadows @ Santa Fe Station Casino, Las Vegas, NV, June 21
Mandrill @ Blender Theater at Grqamercy, NYC, June 22
Return To Forever @ Murat Theatre, Indianapolis, IN, June 22
Herbie Hancock @ Confederation Park, Ottawa, Canada, June 22
Maceo Parker @ Victoria Jazz Festival, Victoria, Canada, June 22
Natalie Cole @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, June 22-24, June 26-29
Maceo Parker @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, June 23-24
Mike Stern @ Blue Note, Nagoya, Japan, June 23
Herbie Hancock @ Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, June 23
Mandrill @ Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis, MD, June 23
George Benson @ Green Valley Ranch, Las Vegas, NV, June 23
Return To Forever @ Plain Dealer Pavillion, Cleveland, OH, June 24
The Bad Plus @ New York Society For Ethical Culture, New York, NY, June 24
Esperanza Spalding @ New York Society For Ethical Culture, New York, NY, June 25
Return To Forever @ Sony Centre, Toronto, Canada, June 25
Stevie Wonder @ Marcus Amphitheater, Milwaukee, WI, June 26
Return To Forever @ Confederation Park, Ottowa, Canada, June 26
Esperanza Spalding @ Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, June 26
Theivery Corporation, Seu Jorge, Bebel Gilberto & Federico Aubele @ Central Park Center Stage,New York, NY, June 26
The Bad Plus @ Glasgow International Jazz Festival, Glasgow, Scotland, June 26
Dave Koz @ House Of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ, June 27
Herbie Hancock @ Jardin de la Fontaine, Nimes, France, June 27
Al Green @ Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, June 27
Lizz Wright @ Café 939 at Berklee, Boston, MA, June 27
Mike Stern @ Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto, Canada, June 27
Maceo Parker @ Calgary Jazz Festival, Calgary, Canada, June 27
Return To Forever @ Pelletier Hall/Place des Arts, Montreal, Canada, June 27
The Bad Plus @ Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple, UK, June 27
Steely Dan @ Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ, June 27
Stevie Wonder @ Grant Park, Chicago, IL, June 28
Gil Scott-Heron @ JVC Jazz Festival Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, June 28
Return To Forever @ Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, Saratoga, NY, June 28
Herbie Hancock @ Camp Santo, Orleans, France, June 28
Mike Stern @ Syracuse Jazz Festival, Syracuse, NY, June 28
Maceo Parker @ Saskatoon Jazz Festival, Saskatoon, Canada, June 28
Sakesho @ Jazz Fest, Syracuse, NY, June 28
Hiroshima @ Thorton Winery, Temecula, CA, June 29
The Bad Plus @ Jazz Café, London, UK, June 29
Al Green & Lizz Wright @ Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, Quebec, June 29
Herbie Hancock @ La Defense, Paris, France, June 29
Maceo Parker @ Edmonton Jazz Festival, Edmonton, Canada, June 29
Al Green @ Foxwood’s Resort Casino-MGM Grand, Ledyard, CT, June 29
Lizz Wright @ Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto, Ontario, June 29
Herbie Hancock @ Amphitheatre, Vienne, France, June 30
Ramsey Lewis Trio @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, June 30-July 2

CHUCK LOEB & METRO SPECIAL EDITION

Guitarist Chuck Loeb is once again hitting the road this summer with his fellow musicians under the banner Metro Special Edition. Joining the tour are Mitchal Forman (keyboards); Gerald Veasley (bass); David Wecki (drums); Eric Marienthal (sax); and Randy Brecker (for the July tour dates only). Here’s a listing of where you can catch Metro Special Edition:

June 2 – Catalina’s Bar and Gril, Hollywood, CA
June 3 – Catalina’s Bar and Grill, Hollywood, CA
June 4 – Catalina’s Bar and Grill, Hollywood, CA
June 5 – Anthology Jazz Club, San Diego, CAJuly 10 – San Javier, Spain
July 11 – Peniscola, Spain
July 12 – Rotterdam Jazz Festival, Rotterdam, Holland
July 13 – TBA, Germany or Italy
July 14 – Option Club, Madrid, Spain
July 15 – TBA, Germany or Italy
July 16 – TBA, Germany or ItalyJ

July 17 –Pori, Finalnd
July 18 – Stockholm Jazz Festival (tentative)
July 19 – Stockholm Jazz Festival (tentative)
July 29 – Blue Note, New York, NY

August 10 – Marciac Jazz Festival

Also this summer Chuck Loeb will be appearing at The A-Trane Club in Berlin, Germany for his Trio performances. These will feature Wolfgang Haffner and Dietier Ilg. Concerts dates are August 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23.Chuck Loeb joined Heads Up International with the worldwide release of Presence (HUCD 3117), an album that recognizes the importance of the human element – not just in the crafting of music, but in everyday life. "Nowadays, there’s a lot of music that gets created in a laboratory," says Loeb, who enlisted musicians various incarnations of his live band to craft the album. "We all have computers, and we do things long distance. But it never ceases to amaze me how, as soon as you put the live musicians into the equation, it’s their presence that brings the thing to life. That’s the idea behind the album title – the effect that an individual’s personality has on the music, both in the context of a recording and in a live setting."

One of the highlights on the album is a laid back interpretation of Steely Dan’s 1974 classic, "Rikki Don’t Lose That Number," a track with a healthy dose of playful counterpoint between Loeb and saxophonist/flutist Dave Mann. "Steely Dan always brings an intelligence to their music," says Loeb, a longtime fan of the perennially smart-sounding pop/rock/jazz combo. "They try to sneak as much stuff as possible into a pop song without getting too heady and turning off the audience. That’s my goal as well."

SANTANA: MULTI-DIMENSIONAL WARRIOR RELEASE & LIVE YOUR LIGHT TOUR HITS THE FILLMORE

Tonight and tomorrow (Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday,May 21), Santana will return to the city in which they formed over four decades ago to perform two special concerts at The Fillmore in San Francisco. An extraordinary opportunity to see Santana live in an intimate venue, the dates come on a break in-between the just-wrapped east coast North American leg of Santana's 2008 "Live Your Light" World Tour and the European leg, which begins June 20. The shows will feature the band spotlighting tracks from their forthcoming 2-CD compilation Multi-Dimensional Warrior (Columbia/Arista/Legacy). The career spanning anthology, set for release August 5, will present twenty-eight tracks personally selected by Carlos Santana. This should definitely be a treat!

Carlos Santana and the original line-up of the Santana band first played The Fillmore in 1968. Then under the auspices of legendary promoter Bill Graham, the venue was at the heart of the era-defining San Francisco music scene of the day. Their set received an epic ovation, and accelerated Santana's evolution from Bay Area icons to a globally renowned act, a transformation that came into dramatic focus during their incendiary set at Woodstock the following year.
Now here we are forty years later, after performing live to well over 100 million people worldwide, Santana's celebration of Multi-Dimensional Warrior at The Fillmore is perfectly suited for a project that looks back over the long arc of the band's enduring history. Carlos has called the double-CD set "a love letter to his fans," and in choosing material for it, emphasized album cuts and personal favorites that call forth the band's hypnotic musical power and give deeper insight into Santana's complex creative journey.

Multi-Dimensional Warrior is evenly divided between tracks with vocals and fully instrumental compositions, with the former comprising Disc One, and the latter, Disc Two. Spanning 1970 to 2004, it is the first compilation to include selections from Santana's three major label associations: Columbia, Polydor/Polygram and Arista/BMG. Carlos Santanasupervised new overdubs for five of the tracks, personally laying fresh guitar lines on "Spirit" and "Right Now."

Previously, Santana's most recent album release was 2007's Ultimate Santana, the only single-disc retrospective spanning the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' recent albums for Arista and signature classics from their seminal Columbia years. In addition to the 2008 hit single "Into The Night," a new track featuring Chad Kroeger on vocals, the compilation's previously unissued material includes a version of "The Game Of Love" with Tina Turner singing lead. Other highlights include the #1 GRAMMY-winning smash "Smooth," featuring Rob Thomas, as well as "Oye Como Va," "Black Magic Woman" and "Evil Ways."

Following their two Fillmore dates, the band will prepare to return to the road -- and much larger venues -- for the remainder of their 2008 "Live Your Light" World Tour.

It’s no concidence that on May 15, the special fine art and memorabilia exhibition "A Tribute To Miles Davis and Carlos Santana" opened at the Lush Life Gallery, part of The Jazz Heritage Center (JHC) in the Fillmore. The gallery specializes in jazz-themed art mediums, and is partnering with Legacy Recordings -- Sony BMG Music's award-winning catalog division -- to honor these two music legends with a one-of-a-kind show coinciding with Davis' birthday month (May), and Santana's forthcoming Legacy release Multi Dimensional Warrior.

"A Tribute To Miles Davis and Carlos Santana," which runs through July 30, was curated by JHC Executive Director Peter Fitzsimmons in association with Legacy. The exhibition features multi-media works of art including limited edition photographs and sculptures and original paintings. Rare artifacts and memorabilia related to music legends Miles Davis and Carlos Santana will also be on display.

Show highlights include original oil paintings of Miles Davis and Carlos Santana from the Jazz Master Series by world renowned portrait painter BRUNI, whose work is in the collections of museums including the Smithsonian Institution, where her canvas of Duke Ellington hangs. Renowned sculptor Ed Dwight -- who was American's first African American astronaut trainee -- will be represented with mixed media images and limited edition bronze pieces capturing Davis. JHC Resident Artist and "Youth Jazz N' Art" instructor Rhonel Roberts will also exhibit original paintings.

Photographically, the exhibition will include limited editions of rare silver gelatin prints of Miles Davis from the archives of ICON Collectibles -- The Art Of Music and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Additional images of Davis will be provided courtesy of the estate of Jerry Stoll and JHC Public Art Panel contributor Mark Brady. Carlos Santana photographs, memorabilia, artifacts and collectibles will be on display courtesy of Santana Management.

WARREN HILL - LA DOLCE VITA

Smooth jazz saxophonist, vocalist, and composer Warren Hill is set to release his 11th studio album, "La Dolce Vita," on June 24th, 2008. "La Dolce Vita" is Hill's first studio album since 2005's "PopJazz" and features an amazing cast of all-stars, including first call bassist Nathan East (Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Fourplay), renown guitarists Paul Jackson Jr. (Elton John, Lionel Richie, Chicago) and Dean Parks (Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon), drummer extraordinaire Ricky Lawson (Whitney Houston, Al Jarreau, George Benson), iconic keyboardist Greg Phillingaines (Michael Jackson, Toto, Quincy Jones) plus Jeff Golub & Phillipe Saisse.

Revered among industry insiders as an artist whose records have consistently repositioned the musical target, Warren Hill's career truly has been one of the most successful and critically acclaimed in the history of Contemporary Jazz. Fans and newcomers alike will not be disappointed with "La Dolce Vita" as it blends the sultry and soulful with the rhythmic and funky in such a unique way that this collection seems destined to again push the bar of Contemporary Jazz more than a bit higher.

Warren Hill was born and raised in Canada, Hill actually began studying guitar at age 7. An insatiable passion for music gained him early recognition as a true virtuoso and lead to his fronting various Toronto high school rock bands as a multi-instrumentalist as well as a singer/guitarist. Expanding his musical horizons and satisfying a growing passion for saxophone eventually landed him a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, where his graduation performance attracted the attention of legendary record producer Russ Titleman. At Titleman's urging Hill moved to Los Angeles, immersed himself in the local music scene and an RCA record deal soon followed. His first CD, "Kiss Under the Moon," was released in 1991. He has since gone on to record innumerable #1 radio chart hits, receive countless industry awards/accolades and sell over a million albums worldwide.

Warren Hill is currently touring in support of "La Dolce Vita".

TRACKLISTING FOR "LA DOLCE VITA":
Mojo
La Dolce Vita
Sunshine
Daydreamer
Gimme Some
The Jive Samba
Skinny Dippin’
We’ll Survive
Warm Rain
Hill Be Jammin’
Light My Fire

FRANK SINATRA - SIRIUSLY SINATRA

SIRIUS Satellite Radio is about to commemorate the legacy of Frank Sinatra, one of the most iconic entertainers of the 20th century, with a day-long broadcast celebration of his life and musical career. The broadcast will air on Siriusly Sinatra channel 75 on Wednesday, May 14th starting at 9 am EDT. The day-long tribute to Frank Sinatra on the 10th anniversary of his passing will feature a special edition of Nancy for Frank, hosted by Nancy Sinatra and her daughter, A.J. Lambert, which will start at 1 pm EDT. Frank Sinatra, Jr. will host As I Remember It, a personal retrospective on his father starting at 4 pm EDT.

SIRIUS will start the broadcast event at 9 am EDT with the premiere of a new "Live in Vegas" edition of The Chairman's Hour, Siriusly Sinatra's unique and innovative weekly show hosted by Frank Sinatra himself through the use of archival materials. SIRIUS will broadcast the classic 1966 "Sinatra at the Sands" performance accompanied by the Count Basie Orchestra at 8 pm EDT. Other exclusive programming includes Playing Favorites, with guest hosts Linda Ronstadt and Michael Feinstein, each playing their favorite Sinatra songs and sharing stories respectively at 10 am and 10 pm EDT.

SIRIUS will also broadcast a 90-minute program featuring interviews and commentary on Nothing but the Best, a new collection of essential tracks from the Frank Sinatra songbook, including remastered favorites like "Strangers in the Night," "Summer Wind," "The Way You Look Tonight," "My Kind Of Town," plus many more songs. Sirius will feature the only coast-to-coast broadcast of this special edition program at 11 am and rebroadcast at 6 pm EDT. Nothing but the Best will be available for sale on May 13th. For encore and up-to-date programming information, click to http://www.sirius.com/siriuslysinatra.

In addition, the United States Postal Service will immortalize Sinatra with a commemorative stamp on May 13, 2008. In a career studded with accolades, Sinatra won an Academy Award(R), several Grammy(R) awards, received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1971, and was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983. Sinatra also gave generously to many charities. He was born in Hoboken, NJ, on December 12, 1915 and died on May 14, 1998.

Siriusly Sinatra, is the only 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, commercial-free channel to broadcast the entire spectrum of Sinatra's career as well as artists and songs from the standards era. Produced by SIRIUS and the Sinatra family, the channel features regular blocks of Sinatra's music, archival performances and is the home of Nancy for Frank, a weekly show hosted by his daughter, Nancy Sinatra.

UPCOMING MUSIC RELEASES: JASON MILES/DJ LOGIC, BOBBY WOMACK, JOHN MAYALL, GERALD ALBRIGHT & OTHERS...

Just released is Global Noize from Jason Miles and DJ Logic. On the whole, it’s a fantastic mix of Jazz, Electronica Funk and World Music. The CD is full of contributors including Karl Denson (Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Lenny Kravitz), MeShell Ndegeoceollo, Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin & Wood), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), John Popper (Blues Traveler), Cyro Baptiste (Herbie Hancock), Bernie Worrell (Talking Heads, Parliament-Funkadelic), Christian Scott, Herb Alpert, and others.

Due out on May 27 is a ‘best of’ for Bobby Womack. This collection is called The Best Of Bobby Womack: The Soul Years, and will contain 22 digitally re-mastered tracks.

Eagle Rock Records will reissue The Masters (2000) by British bluesman John Mayall, along with Live At The Marquee 1969 (2000), each of which is scheduled for June 3.

Legacy Records is reporting new titles from Patti LaBelle, the first is Live in Washington, DC from a 1979 performance. The second is a 2-CD Essential collection title. One of the other Essential titles coming on the same day is a 2-CD The Essential O'Jays. These are both planned for June 10, 2008.

Gerald Albright is just about ready to release his second CD on the Peak Records Label. The new release, Sax For Stax, offers a tribute to the spirit of Memphis and its legenday Stax Records label. Sax For Stax is due for release on June 24, and it includes new versions of the Staple Singers’ "Respect Yourself" featuring Ledisi; Johnny Taylor’s "Cheaper To Keep Her" and "Who’s Making Love, and the Dramatics’ "What You See Is What You Get" featuring Earth, Wind & Fire vocalist Philip Bailey. Also included is a collaboration with Will Downing on "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Memphis Passion" with Kirk Whalum.

VICTORIA WHITE - CAN'T BUY LOVE

With the smooth jazz and urban radio success of her sensual and exotic, easy grooving debut single “Can’t Buy Love,” Victoria White keeps on adding to the list of cool all-star jazz and R&B company she keeps.

The first artist signed to Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White’s Kalimba label, the jazz and R&B influenced singer/songwriter was already vibing with him, longtime EWF guitarist Sheldon Reynolds—who produced her critically acclaimed debut The Upside—and smooth jazz keyboard star Brian Culbertson, who played on the track “Keep On Going.”

Now, with “Can’t Buy Love” spinning on stations ranging from college and commercial terrestrial outlets around the country to Sirius Satellite Radio’s Jazz Café Channel and key internet portals like smoothjazz.com, groovinu.com and groovesuite.com, she’s hanging with more of smooth jazz’s biggest names.

Rising this week from 42 to 30 on the smoothindiestar.com chart on smoothjazz.com, she’s sharing space with guitarists Brian Hughes, Chris Standring and Steve Oliver and saxman Jimmy Sommers. She’s also on smoothjazz.com’s Top Ten SPINcreased chart (with +27 spins this week) with Culbertson, Wayman Tisdale, Earl Klugh, David Benoit, Eric Darius and Nils. In addition, she’s on the Smooth Jazz Chart with Tisdale, Benoit, Culbertson and saxophone sensation Mindi Abair.

The Radio & Records Indicator chart shows White receiving airplay everywhere from Southern California’s KSBR to Little Rock, Arkansas to Springfield, Missouri, in addition to DMX Cable Radio’s Jazz Vocal Blend Channel. “Can’t Buy Love” is a true coast to coast sensation, earning spins in such major cities as Boston, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Houston, Oakland and Las Vegas.
Most of the songs on The Upside were recorded in a unique, cross-country way, with White sending Reynolds the guitar and vocal tracks she recorded at home in South Carolina and Reynolds adding the bass, drums, percussion and other instrumentation that takes her brilliant melodies and lyrics to the next creative level.

“My song ‘Keep On Going’ pretty much sums up my journey as an artist trying to be heard and accepted in this business,” she says. “I’m singing to tell people, whatever you’re good at, go after it, don’t stop no matter how many obstacles you face.”

STEVE TYRELL - BACK TO BACHARACH

Steve Tyrell will bring his brand of Bacharach to New York City's Blue Note Café and a number of other East Coast venues this summer in support of his upcoming album "Back to Bacharach," set for release on June 24th, 2008. "Back to Bacharach" (on New Design Records and KOCH Records) is the new classic, CD from Grammy winning singer/songwriter/producer extraordinaire 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, Nicholas 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."

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.

"This album is different from any I'll ever do," states Tyrell, who in the last decade has been at the forefront of a renaissance in recordings from the Great American Songbook via his previous six projects. "The music of my friends Burt and Hal has been a lifelong collaboration. Their songs are my songs. It's a very unique situation." "I like to say 'Back to Bacharach' was 40 years in the making," Steve concludes. "There is no other music like this in my life. And I am honored to share it with the world...my way."

"Back to Bacharach" will be released on Tyrell's own New Design Records, distributed by KOCH Records on June 24, 2008.

STEVE WINWOOD - NINE LIVES

Steve Winwood's new album, "Nine Lives," his first for Columbia Records, has just entered the Billboard Top 200 at #12, giving the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer his highest chart debut, and best first week's sales, of the SoundScan era.News of "Nine Lives" chart success comes on the eve of Winwood's extensive North American summer tour with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, launching May 30 at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

On "Nine Lives", Eric Clapton, Winwood's former bandmate in Blind Faith, lends his signature guitar work to "Dirty City," the album's first single, which held the #1 added single spot for three weeks in a row and peaked at the overall #2 spot on AAA Radio.

Released on April 29, the much-anticipated "Nine Lives" is Winwood's first full-length studio album since the artist released "About Time" on his own independent label, Wincraft, in 2003. Each of the nine tracks on the aptly-titled "Nine Lives" paints a musical portrait of spiritual transformation as Winwood continues the exploration of soul, rock, blues and world music which began in 1957, when, at the age of 9, he played guitar in his father's band in Birmingham, England.

Songs on "Nine Lives" include "I'm Not Drowning," "Fly," "Raging Sea," "Dirty City," "We're All Looking," "Hungry Man," "Secrets," "At Times We Do Forget," and "Other Shore." "Nine Lives" arrived in the wake of a transcendent live collaboration between Winwood and Clapton at the Chicago Crossroads Guitar Festival in July 2007. The pair's staggering on-stage chemistry in Chicago led to three historic Steve Winwood & Eric Clapton concerts at New York's fabled Madison Square Garden in February 2008. All three of Winwood's MSG shows with Clapton sold-out within minutes.

Winwood (who turns 60 this year) was perhaps the youngest member of the original British pop music invasion of the mid-1960s. A prodigious guitarist and keyboard player in the Birmingham R&B scene by his mid-teens, Winwood cut his musical chops as a back-up musician for an impressive array of American rock & roll and blues pioneers - including Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley – during their UK tours.

In 1962, Steve and his older brother, Muff Winwood, began playing with Spencer Davis and drummer Pete York in The Rhythm & Blues Quartet, an ensemble which would eventually morph into the Spencer Davis Group. An intensely powerful and emotional vocalist and formidable songwriter, Steve Winwood launched an enormously influential "blue-eyed soul" movement with hits like "Keep On Runnin'," "Somebody Help Me," and, especially, the massively successful pop-soul anthem, "Gimme Some Lovin'." Originally released in 1966, "Gimme Some Lovin'" entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1996. Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group in 1967 to form the groundbreaking jazz-rock ensemble Traffic.

In 1966, as "Gimme Some Lovin'" transformed the pop landscape, the 18-year-old Steve Winwood entered into his first collaboration with Eric Clapton, recording three songs - "Steppin' Out," "Crossroads," and "I Want To Know" - as the Powerhouse (a group which also included future Cream bassist Jack Bruce). Winwood and Clapton would join forces again in 1969 to create Blind Faith, one of pop music's first bona fide supergroups, with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Rick Grech.

Following the break-up of Traffic in 1974 (they would reform and successfully tour in the 1990s), Steve Winwood launched a successful solo career which reached an apogee in the mid-1980s with the release of four classic albums in a row: "Arc of a Diver" (1981, platinum); "Talking Back To The Night" (1982); "Back In The High Life" (1986, 3x platinum), which featured the #1 smash, "Higher Love," which earned Winwood a trio of Grammys including "Record of the Year"; and the #1 Billboard chart-topping "Roll With It" (1988, 2x platinum).

Through his unparalleled five-plus decades career, Steve Winwood has remained an in-demand session player, contributing his signature sound to an amazing variety of projects for artists including Jimi Hendrix ("Electric Ladyland"), Joe Cocker ("With A Little Help From My Friends"), Leon Russell ("Leon Russell"), Lou Reed ("Berlin"), George Harrison ("Dark Horse," "George Harrison"), Toots & the Maytals ("Reggae Got Soul"), Marianne Faithfull ("Dangerous Acquaintances"), David Gilmour ("About Face"), Tina Turner ("Break Every Rule"), Billy Joel ("The Bridge"), James Brown ("Gravity"), Rosanne Cash ("King's Record Shop"), Jimmy Buffett ("Hot Water"), Phil Collins ("But Seriously"), Etta James ("Right Time"), Paul Weller ("Stanley Road"), and Christina Aguilera ("Back To Basics"), among many others.

Steve Winwood Summer Tour 2008 w/Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
2008-05-08 Berklee Performance Center - Boston, MA (w/o Petty)
2008-05-19 The Scala - London, UK (w/o Petty)
2008-05-30 Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids, MI
2008-05-31 The Palace of Auburn Hills - Auburn Hills, MI
2008-06-03 Air Canada Centre - Toronto, ON
2008-06-05 Wachovia Center - Philadelphia, PA
2008-06-06 Wachovia Center - Philadelphia, PA
2008-06-08 Nissan Pavilion - Bristow, VA
2008-06-10 Post-Gazette Pavilion - Burgettstown, PA
2008-06-11 New England Dodge Music Center - Hartford, CT
2008-06-13 TD Banknorth Garden - Boston, MA
2008-06-14 Tweeter Center - Mansfield, MA
2008-06-17 Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
2008-06-18 Prudential Center - Newark, NJ
2008-06-21 Darien Lakes Performing Arts - Darien Center, NY
2008-06-22 Blossom Music Center - Cuyahoga Falls, OH
2008-06-25 Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA
2008-07-02 United Center - Chicago, IL
2008-07-03 Verizon Wireless Music Center - Noblesville, IN
2008-07-05 Marcus Amphitheater - Milwaukee, WI
2008-07-08 Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
2008-07-09 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Atlanta, GA
2008-07-11 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Charlotte, NC
2008-07-12 Walnut Creek Amphitheatre - Raleigh, NC
2008-07-15 BankAtlantic Center - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2008-07-16 St. Pete Times Forum - Tampa, FL
2008-07-19 Mile High Music Festival - Denver, CO
2008-07-20 Quest Center Omaha - Omaha, NE
2008-07-22 Sprint Center - Kansas City, MO
2008-07-23 Target Center - Minneapolis, MN
2008-07-25 Harris Park - London (w/o Petty)
2008-07-26 Empire Square Live - Belleville (w/o Petty)
2008-08-07 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Maryland Heights, MO
2008-08-09 MTS Centre - Winnipeg, MB
2008-08-11 Pengrowth Saddledome - Calgary, AB
2008-08-12 Rexall Place - Edmonton, AB
2008-08-15 The Gorge - George, WA
2008-08-16 The Gorge - George, WA
2008-08-20 Jobing.com Arena - Glendale, AZ
2008-08-22 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Irvine, CA
2008-08-23 Golden Gate Park - San Francisco, CA
2008-08-26 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Selma, TX
2008-08-27 American Airlines Center - Dallas, TX
2008-08-29 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Woodlands, TX

BOZ SCAGGS EXPANDS TOUR

Boz Scaggs has expanded his current tour and has added additional dates extending out to October. Here is the full schedule going forward:

May 11 - Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu HI
May 12 - Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului HI
May 17 - Harrah's in Laughlin NV
June 13 - South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset MA
June 14 - Newport Yachting Club in Newport RI
June 15 - Filene Center in Vienna VA
June 17 - Keswick Theatre in Glenside PA
June 19 - Eastman Theatre in Rochester NY
June 20 - Warner Theatre in Torrington CT
June 21 - Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua NY
June 22 - FOTA Pavilion in Oyster Bay NY
June 25 - Casino Rama in Rama ON
June 26 - Freedom Hill Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights MI
June 27 - Ravinia in Highland Park IL
June 28 - Fraze Pavilion in Kettering OH
July 1 - Peace Center in Greenville SC
July 2 - Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta GA
July 4 - Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City NJ
July 5 - Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis MA
July 6 - Westhampton Beach PAC in Westhampton Beach NY
July 10 - Moondance Jam in Walker MN
July 12 - Star of the Desert Arena in Primm NV
July 26 - Lumberjack Days in Stillwater MN
July 30 - Concerts at Wente Vineyards in Livermore CA
August 1 - California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles CA
August 2 - Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys CA
August 3 - Rodney Strong Vineyards in Healdsburg CA
August 6 - Humphrey's in San Diego CA
August 7 - Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim CA
August 9 - Montbleu Resort in Lake Tahoe NV
August 10 - Mountain Winery in Saratoga CA
August 13 - Woodland Park in Seattle WA
August 15 - River Rock Casino in Richmond BC
August 16 - Red Robinson Theatre in Coquitlam BC
August 17 - Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre in Portland OR
August 19 - Deer Valley Resort in Deer Valley UT
August 20 - Belly Up in Aspen CO
August 21 - Paramount Theatre in Denver CO
August 23 - Riverwind Casino in Norman OK
September 2 - Casino Regina in Regina SK
September 6 - Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem PA
September 9 - North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly MA
September 12 - Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant MI
September 14 - Ryman in Nashville TN
October 11 - Cerritos Center in Cerritos CA

AL GREEN – LAY IT DOWN

Blue Note Records has announced that Al Green’s new release, "Lay It Down" is set for release on May 27, and it features collaborations with Corinne Bailey Rae, Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, and Ahmir ‘?uestlove’ Thompson. Al Green duets with John Legend on "Stay With Me (By The Sea)", and with Corinne Bailey Rae on "Take Your Time". In addition to a full slate of concert appearance, Al Green is also appearing on the Tonite Show with Jay Leno on May 21, and on The Late Show with David Letterman on June 5.

Al Green Tour Dates:
5/23 - Sonoma, CA - Field of Dreams
5/24 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Hotel & Casino
5/25 - Aptos, CA - Aptos Village Park
6/19 - Toronto, ON - Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
6/20 - Rochester, NY - Eastman Theatre
6/27 - New York, NY - Carnegie Hall
6/28 - Montreal, QC - Montreal Jazz Festival
6/29 - Ledyard, CT - Foxwoods Resort Casino- MGM Grand
7/4 - Bossier City, LA - Horseshoe Casino Riverdome
7/5 - Tunica, MS - Grand Casino & Hotel
7/11 - Sterling Heights, MI - Freedom Hill
7/12 - Chicago, IL - Rochester International Jazz Festival
7/13 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
7/15 - Vienna, VA - The Filene Center
7/16 - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park
7/18 - Niagara Falls, NY - Seneca Niagara Casino
7/20 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
8/31 - Denver, CO - Denver Botanic Gardens
9/1 - Beaver Creek, CO - Vilar Center for the Arts
9/3 - Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden Amphitheater
9/5 - Tacoma, WA - Emerald Queen Casino
9/6 - Richmond, BC - River Rock Casino Resort
9/7 - Coquitlam, BC - Red Robinson Theatre
9/13 - Primm, NV - Star of the Dester Arena
9/14 - Tucson, AZ - Desert Diamond Theater
9/17 - Lemoore, CA - Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino
9/20 - Los Angeles, CA - The Greek Theatre
9/21 - Valley Center, CA - Harrah's Rincon- Open Sky Theatre

NICK COLIONNE – NO LIMITS

Just announced is the release of guitarist and vocalist Nick Colionne's new album "No Limits" to be released July 8th, 2008. Nick Colionne joined the ranks of today's premier jazz artists with his 2004 album "Just Come On In," which included the mega-hits "High Flyin'" and "It's Been Too Long" which hit #2 (and top 10 for the year) and #16 on the R&R Smooth Jazz Chart,
respectively. Colionne is a guitarist and vocalist whose "live" performances defy categorization. His shows incorporate all the music he loves best and the influences he's had throughout his career, from jazz to R&B to funk to blues. You're as likely to hear Nick sing the blues as you are to hear his blazing jazz licks, or even the occasional hint of metal, recalling the beginning of his career as a heavy metal guitarist. He has taken that diverse musicality and run with it on "No Limits," creating an album that is both unique and varied.

His most recent album, "Keepin' It Cool," propelled him to the top of the charts once again with the single "Always Thinking of You," which stayed on the R&R charts for an incredible 45 weeks and was also top 10 for the year. Colionne titled the new album "No Limits" to describe where he is at in terms of his music, saying, "the project 'No Limits' is my latest adventure. I call it an adventure because I wanted to explore doing some different things with my music and not limit myself to one genre or style of playing." Colionne teamed up with two Grammy-award winning writers for the album: Jim Peterik who wrote "The Eye of The Tiger," the theme from the film "Rocky," and Paul Richmond who wrote "Shining Star" for The Manhattans. From the upbeat title track to the dreamy "Headin' Wes Before Dawn" and Brazilian-feeling "Ports of Call" to the dance infused "Steppin' Back," "No Limits" is an album that has something for everyone. Colionne explores new genres and sounds to create an album both diverse and limitless.

Track listing
(All songs written by Nick Colionne unless otherwise noted)
1) No Limits
2) Steppin' Back
3) The Big Windy Cat
4) Melting Into You, vocal (Written by Jim Peterik and Nick)
5) Until Tonight
6) Hard Line, vocal (Written by Jim Peterik and Nick)
7) Ports Of Call
8) On The Edge
9) Headin' Wes Before Dawn (Nick's tribute to Wes Montgomery)
10) Take A Walk With Me
11) Godfather J (Nick's tribute to James Brown)
12) Anyway, vocal (Written by Paul Richmond)
13) Anyway, instrumental (Written by Paul Richmond)

NEW RELEASES FROM BILLY GRIFFIN, KID CREOLE, CHICO HAMILTON, CHRIS STANDRING, STANLEY JORDAN, STEVE WINWOOD & OTHERS.,,

3 Na Massa – 3 Na Massa (Nublu)
Abbey Lincoln – Naturally (New Edition)
Al DiMeola – Beautiful Love – The NYC Session (Pid)
Alfonzo Blackwell – Dance To This (Utopia)
Angilley – Havana Club (Angilley/UK)
Antonio Allen – Foreve & Always (Orpheus)
Atlantic Starr – All In The Name Of Love/We’re Movin’ Up (Warner)
Bar-Kays – Nightcruising (Mercury-PTG/Netherlands)
Bill Cosby – Bill Cosby Presents Badfoot Brown & The Bunions Bradford Funeral & Marching Band (Uni/Dusty Groove)
Billy Griffin – Believe It Or Not: The Billy Griffin Collection (Columbia/UK)
Bob Baldwin – Newurbanjazz.com (Nu Groove)
Bobbi Humphrey – Freestyle (Epic/Japan)
Carlos Santana – Plays Blues At Montreux 2004 (Eagle Rock DVD)
Carly Simon – This Kind Of Love (Hear Music)
Chico Hamilton – Film Music Of Chico Hamilton: Sweet Smell OF Success & Repulsion (Decca-Harkit/UK)
Chico Hamilton – It’s About Time EP (Joyous Shout)
Chico Hamilton & Others – Alternate Dimensions of El Chico (Joyous Shout)
Chieko Kinbara – Sweetest Day – Romance For Strings (Grand Gallery/Japan)
Chris Standring – Love & Paragraphs (Ultimate Vibe)
Chuito & The Latin Uniques – From The Street (Speed/Fania)
Cinematic Orchestra – Live At The Royal Albert Theatre (Domino)
David Axelrod – Seriously Deep (Polygram/Dusty Groove)
Diplomats Of Solid Soul – Diplomats Of Solid Soul feat. The Diplomettes (Record Kicks/Italy)
Don Cherry – Love At Café Montmartre 19966 Vol. 2 (ESP)
Elis Regina – Elis Regina In London (Philips-Universal/Japan)
Ennio Morricone – Escalation (Digitmovies/Italy)
Glen Anthony Henry – Relax & Love (Unique/Germany)
Earl Klugh – The Spice Of Life (Koch)
East Of West – Crossing Borders (EOW)
Eddie Gomez – Street Smart (Sony Japan)
Five Corners Quintet – Chasing The Jazz Gone By (Pid)
Franco Micalizzi – Non C’E Due Senza Quattro (Beat/Italy)
Grover Washington Jr – Inner City Blues (Verve)
Impressions – Three The Hard Way/First Impressions (Curtom/American Beat)
Jan Hammer – First Seven Days (Sbme Special Mkts)
Jazz Crusaders – Old Socks New Shoes New Socks Old Shoes (Verve)
Jazzanova – Neujazz (Sonar Kollektiv/Germany)
Jean Luc Ponty – Tchokola (Sbme Special Mkts)
Jessica Williams – Songs For A New Century (Origin)
Joe Sample – Song Lives On (Pra)
Johnny Mathis – A Night To Remember (Columbia)
Juicebox – Popcorn 69 (Hippo/Netherlands)
Kenny Rankin – Professional Dreamer (BMG/Japan)
Kenny Rankin – Here In My Heart (BMG/Japan)
Kissy Asplund – Plethora (R2/UK)
Larry Carlton & Guests – Jazz King (Sony BMG Europe)
Larry Graham – Fired Up (Warner)
Larry Graham – Just Be My Lady (Warner)
Larry Graham – Victory (Warner)
Lizz Fields – Pleasureville (Lizz Fields)
Luiz Henrique & Walter Wanderley – Popcorn (Verve/Japan)
Kid Creole – Going Places: The August Darnell Years 1970-1983 (Strut)
Kissy Asplund – Plethora (R2/UK)
Marc Antoine – Comme Il Se Doit (EMI/France)
Marcos Valle – Samba ’68 (Verve/Japan)
Miles Benjiman – Fell Glorious (Tru Thoughts/UK)
Millie Jackson – Soul For The Dancefloor (Spring-Kent/UK)
Mo’ Horizons – New Bohemian Freedom (Hi-Note Music)
Niles Petter Molvaer – Re Vision (Universal/Sweden)
Nina Simone – Baltimore (Legacy)
Norio Maeda & Playboys Enraku No Playboy Kouza – The Playboy Manual (Takt-Ultra Vybe/Japan)
Paradise – Love Is The Answer (Priority-Boogie Times/France)
Pat Metheny – Day Trip Live (Nonesuch)
Peggy Lee – Make It With You/Where Did They Go (Capitol)
Peggy Lee – Classics (Curb)
Ramsey Lewis – Live At The Bohemian Cavers In Washington DC (Verve)
Robert Ruff – Shaza Ra (Baystate/Japan)
Rodney Franklin – In The Center (Columbia/Japan)
Saravah Soul – Saravah Soul (Tru Thoughts/UK)
Shel Silverstein – Hairy Jazz (Elektra/Warner)
Shungo Sawada – Hit & Hit In Bossa Nova (Columbia/Japan)
Stan Getz – Jazz Profiles (Pid)
Stanley Jordan – State Of Nature (Mack Avenue)
Steel An Skin – Reggae Is Here Once Again (EM/Japan)
Steve Winwood – Nine Lives (Columbia)
Swingers – Jazz Video (Rotary-Arision/UK)
Sy Smith – Conflict (Sy Smith)
Tamba Trio – Tamba Trio (Polygram/Japan)
Tetine – Let Your X’s Be Y’s (Soul Jazz/UK)
Tomas Doncker – Inside Out (Groovysexymusic)
Toots Thielmans & Ellis Regina – Aquarela Dp Brasil (Universal/Japan)
Trio 3 – Time Being (Pid)
Various Artists – Big Hits From The Hill – Flamin’ Hotz Funk, You Down? (Flamin’ Hotz)
Various Artists – Easy Beatles – Irrestistable In-Sound Interpretations From the 60’s & 70’s (Bureau/Germany)
Various Artists – Future Soul (Freestyle/UK)
Various Artists – Solar – The Ultimate 12" Collection (Solar-PTG/France)
Various Artists – Spiritual Jazz – Esoteric, Modal & Deep Jazz From The Underground 1968-1977 (Jazzman/UK)
Velben – Formless (Traveler/Finland)
Vince Guaraldi – Lost Cues From The Charlie Brown TV Specials Vol. 2 (D&D)
Yosuke Yamashita – Mina’s Second Theme (Victor/Japan)

SONY BMG JOINS NOKIA COMES WITH MUSIC

Nokia has announced that SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT has officially joined Nokia Comes With Music, a revolutionary way for people to discover and enjoy music with their Nokia device. "As one of the leading major music companies in the world, our collaboration with SONY BMG means we can offer a huge range of fantastic music from both international and local artists via Comes With Music," said Tero Ojanpera, executive vice president and head of the Nokia Entertainment and Communities business. "It's great to have them on board as we move forward with bringing our unlimited music bundle to the market."

People who buy a Nokia Comes With Music device will have a year of access to the SONY BMG rich catalog of music. Consumers will be able to download tracks to both their mobile device and computer through the Nokia Music Store during the first twelve months that they own their Nokia device. At the end of the one year period, they can keep their downloaded tracks and, should they purchase a new compatible device or computer, they can transfer their downloaded material by substituting their new device or computer for the original devices. As a result, music fans who participate in the Comes With Music experience will be able to keep their downloads on their device and/or computer for the rest of their lives.

Consumers will have a number of attractive options for continuing to get new music after the Nokia Comes With Music subscription is over: they will be able to continue to purchase additional tracks from the Nokia Music Store, or move on to a Nokia "unlimited access" subscription service to enjoy new releases and catalog tracks not downloaded during the initial year. Comes With Music is expected to launch in the second half of 2008 on a range of Nokia devices in selected markets.

Here’s how it all works…
Nokia Comes With Music enables people to buy a Nokia device with a year of unlimited access to tracks from a range of great artists - past, present and future. Once the year is complete, customers can keep all their music without having to worry about it disappearing when their subscription is over. Universal Music Group International and SONY BMG ENTERTAINMENT are part of the launch and Nokia is in discussion with many other international labels.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

Sly and the Family Stone will perform the following concerts: April 25 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA; April 26 at the House of Blues in Hollywood, CA; and May 3 at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, Il.

DJ Louis Vega is at Hudson at 365 West West 58 Street in New York City on May 5th from 6-10PM.

Erykah Badu, Chaka Khan, John Legend, Frankie Beverly & Maze, and the Emotions are some of the acts booked to participate in the 9th annual Fantastic Voyage, which sets sail from Miami on May 18th . The seven-day, six-night cruise via the Royal Caribbean International's Freedom of the Seas will make stops in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and CocoCay, Bahamas. The cruise will feature performances by Maze, the Emotions, Khan, The Stylistics, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and SWV. Also set for performances on board are Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith and Wayne Henderson.Badu and Legend will perform at a special shore show for cruise passengers only at Puerto Rico's Coliseum in San Juan.

Thievery Corporation have announced a string of full-band US tour dates for the month of June as part of the Outernational Music tour. The shows will begin on June 20th in San Francisco and will end with the band’s hometown of Washinton, DC. The concerts will also feature performances by Bebel Gilberto, Sue Jorge, Federico Aubele, and Turntables On The Hudson.

Outernational tour dates:
June 20 @ The Greek Theatre, San Francisco, CA
June 21 @ Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV (w/Gnarls Barkley)
June 22 @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
June 24 @ STubbs BBQ, Austin, TX
June 26 @ Summerstage, New York, NY
June 20 @ Merriweather Pavillion, Washington, DC

Federico Aubele along with Natalie Clavier have announced concerts in Europe. Federico Aubele will also be joining Theivery Corporation for four of their shows during the Outernational Music Tour.

Federico Auble and Natalie Clavier concert dates are as follows:
July 1 @ Ottawa Bluefest, Ottawa, ON
July 11 @ Balaton Sound Festival, Zamardi, HUN
July 24 @ Nice Jazz Festival, Nice, FRA
July 25 @ Blue Balls Festival, Luzern, SWI
August 1 @ The Big Chill, Herefordshire, UK

Gilles Peterson is set to appear at Cielo in New York City on August 7.

DAVE KOZ SUMMER TOUR

Grammy-nominated pop instrumentalist Dave Koz will kick off an extensive summer tour of the U.S. on June 6th in El Paso, TX. And the saxophonist extraordinaire has been tapped to close Kennedy Center's NSO Pops concert season in Washington, DC, which will present "A Date with Dave Koz" on May 15th, 16th and 17th. Koz will be backed by the National Symphony Orchestra with Oscar-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch conducting.

The "Dave Koz & Friends" tours have been mainstays of the summer concert season, but this year the spotlight will be on Dave, as he tours solo for the first time in more than eight years. Per Dave Koz, "I'm extremely excited -- I've been waiting to do this tour for a long time," says Koz. "We've enlarged the band and are raring to go for the summer. It's a chance for us to really break it down, get super-creative and have some serious fun playing for the fans."

Dave Koz recently performed on the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast on CBS earlier this year, will be playing songs from the Grammy-nominated At The Movies, which was produced by the legendary Phil Ramone and spent eight weeks at #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart last year. The CD was included in the recent Dave Koz At The Movies Double Feature collection, which featured bonus tracks and a DVD with Koz and guests Barry Manilow, Donna Summer, Johnny Mathis and Peter White performing classic movie themes such as "Moon River" (from Breakfast at Tiffany's), "The Shadow of Your Smile" (from The Sandpiper) and "It Might Be You" (from Tootsie).

Dave will also be playing hits and fan favorites from his extensive catalogue, which includes the gold-certified Lucky Man, The Dance, which was also certified Gold and contained five Top 5 contemporary jazz hits, and Saxophonic, which produced another four Top 5 singles and garnered Koz two Grammy nominations spanning two consecutive years.

After the summer outing, Koz will tour Japan, then embark on the fourth annual "Dave Koz & Friends At Sea" cruise on Holland America Line's m/s Westerdam. This year's cruise departs Ft. Lauderdale for the Caribbean on November 2nd and returns November 9th. Click to http://www.davekozcruise.com/ for further details.

Here are the Dave Koz summer tour dates (subject to change):
May 15 - Washington, DC @ Kennedy Center
May 16 - Washington, DC @ Kennedy Center
May 17 - Washington, DC @ Kennedy Center
May 24 - San Diego, CA @ Downtown San Diego/San Diego Gaslamp Assn.Festival
June 6 - El Paso, TX @ Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center
June 7 - Jenks, OK @ Oklahoma Aquarium
June 13 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
June 14 - Indianapolis, IN @ Military Park/10th Annual Indy Jazz Festival
June 15 - Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
June 20 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Cabaret
June 21 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Cabaret
June 25 - Boston, MA @ Scullers Club
June 27 - Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues
June 29 - Hampton, VA @ Hampton Jazz Festival
July 11 - Fresno, CA @ Tower Theatre
July 12 - Napa Valley, CA@ Robert Mondavi Winery
July 17 - Homewood, CA @ Lake Tahoe Music Festival Homewood Resort
July 23 - Detroit, MI @ Chene Park
July 25 - Apple Valley, MN @ Weesner Amphitheatre
July 26 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
August 9 - Oyster Bay, NY @ Long Island Jazz Festival/Planting Fields Arboretum
August 16 - Temecula, CA @ Thornton Winery
August 17 - Temecula, CA @ Thornton Winery
August 22 - Las Vegas, NV @ Sunset Station Hotel & Casino
September 13 - Camarillo, CA @ Camarillo Old Town Art and Jazz Festival
September 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre (KTWV Wave Fest)

EMUSIC SALES REACH 200 MILLION DOWNLOADS

eMusic, the world's largest digital retailer of independent music and the world's second-largest music service after iTunes, recently announced that it has sold more than 200 million downloads since establishing its current subscription model in November 2003. The total comprises music downloads sold in the U.S. and the E.U., where eMusic has been available in all 27 E.U. nations since September 2006. The company is now selling more than 7 million tracks a month across all territories. The 200 millionth track downloaded was "Fiery Crash" from Andrew Bird's "Armchair Apocrypha" (Fat Possum Records). eMusic also reports that it has sold 40 million downloads since the launch of Amazon MP3 on September 25, 2007.

"As more choices emerge for consumers in the digital music space, eMusic continues to grow, attracting new customers and selling more music every day," said eMusic President and CEO David Pakman. "We've been ahead of the curve on DRM-free formats and price since day one, and we believe these numbers show that eMusic continues to sell more digital music than any other service apart from iTunes. "Most importantly, we are doing a great job satisfying customers' needs, helping them discover music they otherwise would not have found, and giving them a reason to spend money on music," he added.

The company reached the 200 million download mark in less than a year and half since hitting 100 million downloads in December 2006 -- less than half the time it took to reach 100 million downloads. These royalty-bearing downloads reflect how eMusic is helping independent labels gain market share by selling albums and songs that wouldn't have sold otherwise to customers interested in music outside of the mainstream.

eMusic offers the serious music fan a place to find the best online music in all genres, including indie rock, classical and jazz. With deep relationships with the world's top independent labels, guidance from the best music editorial experts and a passionate music community, eMusic caters to music fans aged 25+. It provides all tracks in the universally compatible MP3 format at prices as low as 27 cents (17p/ 23c) a track.

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.

CHICAGO TOUR DATES

Chicago will perform the following concerts:
April 25 @ Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului HI
April 26 @ Waikiki Shell in Honolulu HI
May 2 @ Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando FL
May 4 @ Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood FL
May 8-9 @ Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls ON
June 3 @ Dodge Theatre in Phoenix AZ
June 5-6 @ Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City CA
June 7 @ Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord CA
June 10 @ Sandia Casino in Albuquerque NM
June 11 @ Coors Amphitheatre in Englewood CO
June 12 @ Starlight Theatre in Kansas City MO
June 14 @ CW Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands TX
June 15 @ Superpages in Dallas TX
June 17 @ Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati OH
June 18 @ Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey PA
June 20 @ Charter One Pavilion in Chicago IL
June 21 @ DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston MI
June 22 @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights MO
June 24 @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta GA
June 26 @ Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden NJ
June 27 @ Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh NY
June 28 @ Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City NJ
June 29 @ Bethel Woods Center in Bethel NY
July 1 @ Bank of America Pavilion in Boston MA
July 2 @ PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel NJ
July 3 @ Saratoga PAC in Saratoga Springs NY
July 4 @ Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville CT
July 6 @ Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion in Gilford NH
July 8 @ Plain Dealer Pavilion in Cleveland OH
July 9 @ Filene Center in Vienna VA
July 12 @ Dover Downs Hotel in Dover DE
July 16 @ Jazz Festival in Stuttgart Germany
July 18 @ Cirkus in Stockholm Sweden
July 19 @ Sentrum Scene in Oslo Norway
July 21 @ Horsens Ny Teater in Horsens Denmark
July 22 @ Stadtpark Open Air in Hamburg Germany
July 23 @ Spaudau Zitadelle in Berlin Germany
July 25 @ Kongresshaus in Zurich Switzerland
July 26 @ Piazza Lucca in Lucca Italy
July 28 @ Sporting Club in Monte Carlo
July 29 @ Casino de Paris in Paris France
July 31 @ British International Motor Show in London UK
August 7 @ Roger's Sports Complex in Fort Dodge IA
August 8 @ Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls IA
August 9 @ Hall County Fair in Grand Island NE
August 10 @ Divots Event Center in Norfolk NE
August 14 @ Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden WA
August 15 @ Southwest Washington Fair in Chehalis WA
August 16 @ Lane County Fair in Eugene OR
August 19 @ Benton-Franklin County Fair in Kennewick WA
August 20 @ Expo Idaho in Boise ID
September 6 @ Seneca Allegheny Casino in Salamanca NY.
All dates June 3 through July 4 are with the Doobie Brothers.

ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL FEATURES BOZ SCAGGS, FRANK SINATRA JR., DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER, AL GREEN AND OTHERS…

Frank Sinatra Jr. & His Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater with special guest Richard Bona Band, Boz Scaggs, and Al Green will headline the seventh annual Rochester International Jazz Festival (http://www.rochesterjazz.com) presented by M&T Bank. The nine-day Festival, June 13-21, will deliver a diverse lineup of creative improvised music with more than 800 artists from around the world performing in 250 concerts. The festival is being held in 15 venues in Rochester's downtown cultural district, the Festival is presented in several series, the Eastman Theater Headliner Series, more than 59 free shows on three outdoor stages and 150 concerts in the Club Pass Series. For a complete concert schedule, artist bios, photos and past festival photos visit http://www.rochesterjazz.com.

This year's Eastman Series features two special concerts:
"Gillespiana" - A Tribute To Dizzy Gillespie with special guests Jeanie Bryson (Dizzy's daughter); Byron Stripling; Gerry Niewood and a 21-piece Jazz Orchestra conducted by Jeff Tyzik
Jazz at the Philharmonic - Celebrating the Jam Session starring CarmenLundy, Houston Person, Eric Alexander, Vince Herring, Nicholas Payton, Jeremy Pelt, Slide Hampton, Peter Bernstein, Cedar Walton, Eric Reed, Peter Washington, David Williams, Kenny Washington, and Louis Hayes.

Three of the Festival's Kilbourn Hall Concerts will be filmed in high definition by WXXI Television for broadcast nationwide on PBS. This is the third year that WXXI will be filming at the Festival. Six, half-hour shows filmed in high definition last year will be broadcast nationwide this year. Back for its second year, the highly praised Nordic Series will showcase groups from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Faroe Islands, many of which have never played before in the U.S. Nightly Jam Sessions led by Bob Sneider and his Trio are back for the seventh year starting at 10:30 p.m. nightly at The Rochester Plaza.

Here is the 2008 Artist Lineup:
Al Foster Quartet, Al Green, Alison Brown Quartet, Amina Figarova Sextet, Six Classic Jazz Films from Retro Rochester, Barbara Dennerlein, Beady Belle, Beaucoup Blue, Ben Britton Band, Ben Riley, Bill Tiberio Band, Billy's Band, Blake Tartare, Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, Boz Scaggs, Breit-Thomson, Carmen Lundy, Carolyn Wonderland, Catherine Russell, Cedar Walton, Cindy Blackman Quartet, Crittendon, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Dave Rivello Ensemble, Dave Samuels Caribbean Jazz Project, David Liebman Quartet, David Murray's Black Saint Quartet, David Williams, Dee Dee Bridgewater "A Malian Journey", Denis Parker & Scott Goudie "Rowdy Blues", Devon Allman's Honeytribe, Dharma Jazz, DJABE, Downchild Blues Band, Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers, Eastman Community Music School – Latin Jazz Combo, Saxology, Jazz Combo Showcase, Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra - Combo, Eddie Daniels Quartet, Eric Alexander, Eric Reed, Frank Sinatra Jr. "Sinatra Sings Sinatra", "Gillespiana" - Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie Directed by Jeff Tyzik, Guy Barker & Ian Shaw "Made in The UK", Henderson-Owens 3 Featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith, Herb Smith, Houston Person, Howard Alden, Iro Haarla Quartet, Jacky Terrasson, Jacob Anderskov, Jae Sinnett Quartet, Jake Shimabikuro, JazzKamikaze, Jeremy Pelt, Joe & Pat Labarbera, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Locke "Force of Four", John Beck Quartet featuring Mike Cottone, John Scofield Trio, John Viviani & Filthy Funk, Juliette Lloyd, Kenny Washington, Kris Davis Quartet, Kristian Blak & Yggdrasil "Ravnating", Lou Donaldson Quartet, Louis Hayes, Medeski Martin & Wood, Miguel Zenon Quartet, Music Educators Jazz Ensemble, Music Music Music, Nate Rawls Band, Neocollage, New Energy Jazz Orchestra, New Horizons Big Band, New York's Finest Jazz Ensemble, Nicholas Payton, Ola Kvernberg Trio, Peter Bernstein, Peter Washington, Rachel Z, Richard Bona Band, RIJF All Star Jam Session, Robi Botos Trio, Robin McKelle, Rochester Metro Jazz Orchestra, Sachal Vasandani, Saturday Night Fish Fry, Shirantha Beddage Quartet, Slide Hampton & Friends, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Soulive, Soulstew, Spam All Stars, Stephanie McKay, Supergenerous, Taylor Eigsti & Julian Lage, The Bad Plus, The Buddhahood, The Kentucky Headhunters, The Nighthawks, The Skatalites, The Sliding Hammers, The Yellowjackets, Third World, Tierney Sutton Band, Tim Blane, Timo Lassy Band, Todd Londagin Quartet, Trio East, Vince Herring, Wild Magnolias, and Wildbird & Peacedrums.

The Rochester International Jazz Festival is produced by John Nugent, Founder, Co-Producer and Artistic Director, and Marc Iacona, Co-Producer and Executive Director. Founded in 2002, it has become one of nation's largest and fastest growing music festivals, drawing fans from all acrossthe U.S. and around the world. Attendance has grown annually from 15,000 in 2002 to a record 121,000 in 2007.

VICTOR WOOTEN - PALMYSTERY

Accomplished bass player, Victor Wooten is in the midst of a tour in support of his new CD, Palmystery, which was released on April 1, 2008. In keeping with the ongoing philosophy of genre-bending eclecticism that has driven all of his solo work, Wooten's Heads Up debut embraces a range of styles – jazz, funk, pop, soul, gospel, world music and more – and boasts a diverse guest list that includes Mike Stern, Richard Bona, Keb' Mo' and others. Wooten is a four-time Grammy Award-winner, an original member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and the only three-time winner of Bass Player Magazine's Bass Player of the Year.

Palmystery's April 1 release date is simultaneous with the release of The Music Lesson, Wooten's new novel published by Berkley Trade Paperback (The Penguin Group USA). The Music Lesson is the story of a struggling young musician who is unexpectedly visited by a mysterious, seemingly mystic music teacher who guides him through a spiritual journey of higher education in both music and life. The themes of spirituality and mysticism at the core of The Music Lesson dovetail perfectly with those of Palmystery.

Victor Wooten tour dates:

April 24 – Las Vegas, NV @ Canyon Club Las Vegas
April 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crash Mansion
April 26 – San Juan Capistrano, CA @ Coach House
April 27 – Solana, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
April 28 – San Francisco, CA @ Slims
April 29 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlows
May 1 – Anchorage, AK @ Bear Tooth Theatre & Pub
May 2 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
May 3 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre
May 4 – Seattle, WA @ Triple Door
May 6 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Paladium
May 7 – Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen
May 8 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theatre
May 9 – Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre

LIN ROUNDTREE – SUMTHIN ‘ GOOD

On her latest release, Linn Rountree offers up a soulful collection of songs designed to warm even the coldest night. Lin Rountree and the production team of Billy Meadows and Dana Davis have scored another hit with this follow up to Rountree's magical debut project Groovetree. As DJ Fazio of JazzMonthly.com said about his 2005 release, Groovetree, "When you think 'groove', think Lin Rountree..." In talking about his new release, Lin Rountree said, "Sumthin' Good was a great project to record because we didn't stray too far from what made us successful on Groovetree.Great grooves with great melodies played by great musicians. On Sumthin' Good, you will hear a progression, almost a maturation of sorts, in our sound and concepts. You will feel a little more punch on the mid-tempo songs and more soul on the easy grooves."

During the past few years, Lin has received international acclaim for his music and performances and has been dubbed a member of the "new generation" of future smooth jazz stars. He has also shared the stage/studio with the likes of KEM, Dwele, Tim Bowman, George Benson, Peter White, Conya Doss Deitrick Hadden and a host of others. "For Your Love f/Tim Bowman," the first release from the 2005 Groovetree, stayed on the SJ Charts for 15 weeks as Lin's sound drew strong comparisons to Rick Braun and Chris Botti showing the world that Rountree is the real deal.

Punching grooves aren't all that Sumthin' Good serves up. According to Rountree, "There's a beautiful ballad ('All The Way') co-written by Roberto Valley (bassist with Paul Brown). Mr. Carl Robinson contributed 'She's Just A Woman' for you reggae lovers. The legendary Perry Hughes (guitarist with Earl Klugh and Bob James) kicks in some lead guitar and a KILLER solo on 'Chillin' On. ' There's even two vocal tracks this time, one featuring international soul sensation Amp Fiddler ('Kiss on Ya Soul'), and the other with up-and-coming R&B superstar 19-year-old Valencia ('Get Away'). All in all, we think Sumthin' Good is indeed that. We hope you will too!"

Through a partnership with industry moguls Hank Caldwell and Kendall Minter of NDN, LLC, Lin recently signed a national distribution deal with Ryko/Warner Bros. and is poised to release Sumthin' Good, Lin's sophomore effort. Sumthin' Good is scheduled to be released April 2008.

NEW RELEASES FROM DIANNE REEVES, FRANK SINATRA, LOU RAWLS, JAMES BROWN & OTHERS...

Bobby Darin – The Best Of Bobby Darin (Capitol/EMI)
Bobby Ricketts – Skin To Skin (Third Wave)
Bradley Leighton – Soul Collective (Pacific Coast Jazz)
Dean Martin – The Best Of Dean Martin (Capitol/EMI)
Dianne Reeves – A Little Moonlight (Blue Note)
Donn Bynum – Do You Feel Me (Great Sax)
Frank Sinatra – Sinatra At The Movies (Capitol/EMI)
Freddie Jackson – The Best Of Freddie Jackson (Capitol/EMI)
Gal Costa – Gal (Philips/Dusty Groove)
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Black & Blue (PIR/Japan)
James Brown – Singles Volume 5: 1967-1969 (King/Hip-O Select)
John Coltrane – The Impulse! Albums: Volume Five (Verve)
John Legend – Live From Philadelphia (VD/Sony)
John Mayer – Continuum (features new song ‘Stay’/Columbia)
Kim Bankston – So Jobim (Kimstar)
Latimore – Latimore (Glades)
Laura Nyro – Nested (Iconoclassic)
Lou Rawls – Love Songs (Capitol/EMI)
Malena – Fried Samba (Freestyle/UK)
Nat King Cole – The Best Of Nat King Cole (Capitol/EMI)
Os Ipanemas – Call Of The Gods (Far Out/UK)
Patrick Adams – Master Of The Masterpiece Vol 2 – More Of The Best Of Patrick Adams (P&P)
Patrick Yandall – Laws Of Groovity (Zangi)
Phyllis Hyman – Somewhere In My Lifetime (Arista/Japan)
Rodney Franklin – You’ll Never Know (Columbia/Japan)
Rodney Franklin – In The Center (Columbia/Japan)
Sylvia Bennett – Songs From The Heart (Out Of Sight)
Was (Not Was) – Boo! (Ryodisc)
Wiley & The Checkmates – We Call It Soul (Rabbit Factory)
Yusef Lateef – 10 Years Hence (Atlantic/Wounded Bird)
Various Artists – Future Soul (Freestyle/UK)

MICK HUCKNALL – TRIBUTE TO BOBBY

Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall first ever solo album - ‘Tribute To Bobby’, is a collection of soul classics originally recorded by the legendary Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland. After a fantastic career with Simply Red, Mick Hucknall has decided to do something different, and last June, he emerged from his home recording studio with a brand new album, a tribute to Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland – one of his heroes and inspirations.

“His music has this sophistication to it, a jazz tinge. There’s also the darkness of his lyrics – Bobby sings with a really twisted pain and sorrow. He’s one of the vocalists who influenced my singing style long before I became a slave to pop success”. A master class in soul, blues and R&B, Hucknall transforms the thoughtfully selected covers into his own, and succeed in producing an intensely passionate and diverse album. Hucknall’s passion and respect for the project is unquestioned “I’m doing this album for myself, it’s my own personal odyssey. I feel more at home here. This is the beginning for me, I hope my old fans come along, and I hope we can make some new friends with it too” he says.

Produced by long time collaborator Andy Wright, the album is characterised by Hucknall’s striking emotional honesty, musical sincerity and his utterly unique voice. Embracing the spirit of Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, one of many standout tracks on the album is ‘Stormy Monday Blues’, a thriving journey into the world of jazz and blues.

Other highlights on the album are many and include the first single 'Poverty' and ‘Cry Cry Cry’, a raw and soulful track that fits Hucknall perfectly. Alongside ‘I’ll Take Care Of You’, ‘I Pity The Fool’, and the stellar ‘Farther Up The Road’ means the album is consistently rewarding and hugely addictive. Mick Hucknall’s ‘Tribute To Bobby’ is set for released on May 19, 2008.

THE SUPREMES – LET THE MUSIC PLAY: SUPREME RARITIES 1960-1969

Motown/Hip-O-Select is gearing for an April 29 release of nearly 50 rare Supremes tracks, that will see the light of day on a new double-disc set, "Let the Music Play: Supreme Rarities 1960-1969." "Let The Music Play: Supreme Rarities 1960-1969" includes alternate versions or vocals on favorites such as "You Can't Hurry Love," "Back in My Arms Again," "Someday We'll Be Together" and "I'll Set You Free," plus extended or alternate mixes of "Uptight," "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Don't Let True Love Die." Also included will be several covers, ranging from Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual" to the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," a spin on the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" renamed "I Saw Him Standing There" and "MacArthur Park."Heres the track listing for "Let the Music Play:

Supreme Rarities 1960-1969":
Disc one:
"You Can Depend On Me"
"Tears Of Sorrow" (Motown version)
"Because I Love Him"
"Hey Baby" (version 1)
"Too Hot"
"You're Gonna Come To Me" (version 1)
"You're Gonna Come To Me" (version 2)
"It Makes No Difference Now" (alternate version)
"Come On Boy" (alternate version)
"Just Call Me" (stereo mix)
"I Saw Him Standing There"
"Not Fade Away"
"Ooowee Baby" (alternate mix)
"It's All Your Fault" (version 1)
Hits Medley: "Come See About Me"/"Baby Love"/"Stop! In The Name Of Love"
"Cupid" (alternate extended mix)
"Take Me Where You Go" (alternate version)
"Back In My Arms Again" (alternate vocal)
"You Can't Hurry Love" (alternate vocal)
"Mickey's Monkey"
"Uptight" (alternate mix)
"It's Not Unusual"
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
"Come And Get These Memories" (alternate mix)
"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" (alternate mix)
"Let The Music Play" (alternate vocal)

Disc two:"Don't Let True Love Die" (extended version)
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
"Every Time I Feel The Spirit"
"Believe In Me"
"The Beginning Of The End Of Love" (stereo mix)
"People" (Unedited Version)
"Over The Rainbow"
"Wish I Knew"
"I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You"
"I'll Set You Free" (alternate vocal)
"Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone"
"In The Evening Of Our Love"
"Love Child" (extended version with alternate vocal)
"Those Precious Memories"
"I'm Livin' In Shame" (version 1)
"MacArthur Park"
"You're Gonna Hear From Me"
"Canadian Sunset"
"Autumn Leaves"
"The Look Of Love"
"Someday We'll Be Together" (alternate vocal)

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.