GRETCHEN PARLATO SIGNS WITH OBLIQSOUND

ObliqSound has announced the signing of its newest artist, vocalist Gretchen Parlato. Gretchen Parlato has appeared as a guest on three previous ObliqSound releases, and will release her debut ObliqSound album in 2009. The album will combine Parlato's vocals in duo and ensemble, working with Lionel Loueke on guitar and vocals, Aaron Parks on piano and Fender Rhodes, Kendrick Scott on drums, and Derrick Hodge on acoustic and electric bass. Parlato was just named one of the top rising star female vocalists in Downbeat Magazine's 56th Annual Critics Poll, and is the first female vocalist signed to six-year-old independent label ObliqSound.

Parlato was the first vocalist ever to be selected for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, chosen by none other than Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard. She took first prize in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocals Competition in 2004. Since then, Parlato has toured internationally with her own band and as a guest for many others. Notable performances include La Villette in Paris with Wayne Shorter, the Hollywood Bowl with Oscar Castro-Neves, Gal Costa, Ivan Lins, and Dianne Reeves, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Her recording credits include Terence Blanchard's 2005 Grammy-nominated album Flow and most recently, Esperanza Spalding's 2008 self-titled album.
In addition to her upcoming US, European and Australian tours, she can be heard this fall on Kenny Barron's upcoming release The Traveler. For more information about Gretchen Parlato, click to www.gretchenparlato.com and www.myspace.com/gretchenparlato

JOHNNY CASH REMIXED

Compadre Records/Music World Music has announced the release of "JOHNNY CASH REMIXED," featuring bold new interpretations of Johnny Cash classics from top music remixers and producers who were recruited to take the original master recordings and infuse them with the sounds and technology of modern music styles such as hip hop and dance music. The album, which includes a performance from Snoop Dogg, will be available in stores and online on October 14. A vinyl deluxe-edition will be available on September 23 in select independent record stores.

"Johnny Cash Remixed" is a tribute to the legacy of an American music icon whose work has touched every contemporary genre, and has the blessing and support of the custodians of Johnny Cash's legacy.

"My father made his stead by defying the expected and accepted way of things," says John Carter Cash, son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash and Executive Producer of the Academy Award©-winning film "Walk the Line." "He set the standard at the same time. He would have loved this remix record. While it stays true to the original recordings, this CD touches on undiscovered ground. This is what my father was about: staying true to tradition while creating groundbreaking new music."

Johnny Cash classics were licensed from Cash's first record label, the legendary Sun Records, also the first record label home of luminaries such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison. The original tracks, recorded with Cash's first band the Tennessee Two from 1956-1959, were pure and stark, with only the essentials; guitar, light percussion and Johnny Cash's unmistakable voice and presence. The new mixes maintain this fantastic charm and personality while filing out the sound and creating daring re-interpretations.


The remixed tracks (and remixers) include "I Walk The Line" featuring Snoop Dogg (QDT, the new production team led by Snoop Dogg -- featuring Snoop, Teddy Riley and DJ Quik), "Country Boy" (Sonny J, whose album will be released in August on Astralwerks US), "Get Rhythm" (Philip Steir, the only remixer allowed to work with the Reprise Records Frank Sinatra collection), "Leave that Junk Alone" (Alabama 3, creators of "The Sopranos" theme song), "Folsom Prison Blues" (the legendary Pete Rock), "Hey Porter" (Mocean Worker, whose remix of Elvis Presley's "Burnin' Love" was used as a soundtrack to Honda's Super Bowl TV commercial), "Sugartime" (Kennedy, cornerstone of the new UK Dirty Pop movement), "Trail to Mexico" (indie favorite Mexican Industry of Sound/MIS), "Doin' My Time" (The Heavy, critically acclaimed UK-based band) and "Wide Open Road" (Count de Money), among others.

A documentary following the making on this album is also in production, produced by Phear Creative in NYC. This short film features interviews from select remixers, filmed in their home studios, including Snoop Dogg captured at the Cash Recording Cabin in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

"Johnny Cash Remixed" is Executive Produced by John Carter Cash, Snoop Dogg, and Mathew Knowles for Music World Productions, Inc. and Co-Executive Produced by Brad Turcotte for Compadre Records/Music World Music and Gregg DeMammos for DeMammos Entertainment.
For more information and track samples, please visit: http://www.johnnycashremixed.com/

VERNON NEILLY & FRIENDS: A TRIBUTE TO STEVIE WONDER

"Vernon Neilly & Friends: A Tribute To Stevie Wonder is set for worldwide release on July 15th, 2008. For smooth jazz and Stevie Wonder fans alike there will be an opportunity to preview and cast their vote on the new single from the album – " I Was Made To Love Her" featuring U-Nam early at www.smoothjazztop20.com beginning July 12th. This single will also be the feature track at MyJazzNetwork.com starting July 14th and several tracks from the CD premiered at SmoothJazz.com on July 15th .The album is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com (see the Amazon link here at The Jazz Chill Corner).

Vernon is an internationally known, award winning touring artist/producer with over 30 years of industry experience, and his resume includes performance and producing credits with the likes of well know music icons like Teena Marie, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, Mary Wells, rap star 'Warren G.', Howard Hewitt, 'The Dramatics' and Motown hit producer Norman Whitfield just to name just a few.

Guest performers on "Vernon Neilly & Friends" include: Parisian smooth jazz guitarist U-Nam (No. 1 Commercial Jazz single of 2007, 'Street Life') and saxophonist Michael Paulo (Al Jarreau, Earth Wind & Fire, Peter White), also Grammy Award winning and internationally known touring bassist Juan Nelson (Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals), and internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso Greg Howe (Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Enrique Iglesias.

Smooth jazz listeners who have been captivated by Stevie Wonder's musical genius through the years will have every opportunity to fall in love all over again, as this CD provides a glimpse of Stevie Wonder like you've never heard him before! With captivating arrangements of timeless classics of Stevie Wonder's best hits you will be treated to original re-makes of songs such as, 'I Wish', 'Superstition', 'Isn't She Lovely', 'Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing', 'Sir Duke', to name a few.

KENNY GARRETT - SKETCHES OF MD

Kenny Garret has signed with Mack Avenue Records for his September 23 release of "Sketches of MD", an excursion into open-ended melodies over grooves that reflect the artistry of key sidemen from Miles Davis' many groups - from John Coltrane to Kenny himself. Consisting of five compositions, Sketches of MD is a relaxed yet live record of some music Kenny performed at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City with his band (Benito Gonzales on piano, Nat Reeves on bass, and Jamire Williams on drums) and special guest, tenor saxophone legend Pharoah Sanders. Kenny Garrett chose Detroit-based Mack Avenue as the home for his live project for a couple of reasons. "I see Mack Avenue as an independent label with big ideas.

Breaking down "Sketches of MD", Garrett continues, "I wanted to document the band I took on the road for Beyond the Wall while we were working with Pharoah and also write some new songs. The idea of doing the Miles-related songs just evolved." The result, captured before a captive audience in New York City, is a soul-stirring energy exchange. "That's because this music was as new to the audience as it was to the band," Garrett explains.

Kenny Garrett began his career in 1978 when he joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra, then led by Duke's son, Mercer Ellington. Three years later, he played in the Mel Lewis Orchestra (playing the music of Thad Jones) and also the Dannie Richmond Quartet (focusing on Charles Mingus's music). In 1984, he recorded his first album as a bandleader, Introducing Kenny Garrett. Since then, he has released a total of 14 albums as a leader, and has had numerous GRAMMY nominations. In addition to Sanders, Garrett has performed and recorded with Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, McCoy Tyner, Brian Blade, Marcus Miller, Roy Haynes, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones and Mulgrew Miller.

JASON MILES – 2 GROVER WITH LOVE

Producer/artist/arranger/composer and keyboardist Jason Miles is about to release his second tribute to jazz and soul saxophonist Grover Washington. "2 Grover With Love" will be released on August 19th, 2008 and is the highly anticipated follow up to 2000's heartfelt tribute, "To Grover With Love," which sold over 100,000 CDs.

2009 marks the 10th anniversary of Grover Washington's death, and this album pays tribute to the great legacy of Washington and his incredible compositions of the '70s and '80s. Miles says, "I started listening to 'Come Morning,' the follow up to 'Winelight,' and started to love those songs. I then listened to 'Strawberry Moon,' and realized that I was on one of the songs on the CD, 'Summer Nights,' written by Marcus Miller. I knew at that point that there was definitely another Grover project to do, but it had to be done a certain way."

"2 Grover With Love" is an homage to the CTI records style of music, basing great songs with inspired playing by top artists. Miles decided to cut the record live in the studio, just as Washington did on many of his albums. Miles enlisted the talents of Chuck Loeb on guitar, Gerald Veasley on bass, Buddy Williams on drums, and Ralph Macdonald on percussion. "2 Grover With Love" also features Maysa (singing an inspiring version of "Mr. Magic"), Najee, Andy Snitzer, Kim Waters, Jay Beckenstein, Dean Brown and Dominic Farrinacci. After only one day of rehearsal, the album was recorded live at Bennett studios in New Jersey.

The result is an innovative, contemporary jazz look at the '70s and '80s versions of Grover's great legacy. Miles has crafted music for Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller, Gato Barbieri, David Sanborn, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, The Crusaders, Michael Brecker and many others. He has also produced ambitious musical tributes to both Weather Report ("Celebrating the Music of Weather Report") and Ivan Lins ("A Love Affair, The Music of Ivan Lins"). He has received four Grammy nominations as a producer, and his album, "A Love Affair..." garnered musician Sting a Best Male Pop Vocal for the track, "She Walks This Earth." "A Love Affair..." also featured Grover Washington's last studio performance.

Recently, Jason has produced Suzy Bogguss's new CD, "Sweet Danger," which has garnered great critical acclaim. His latest projects have been Soul Summit Live at The Berks Jazz Festival and Global Noize, his genre-bending project with DJ Logic. He also produced the CD "Enjoy" by KOCH Recording artist The Bjorkestra.

Jason has been playing more live concerts to bring his concepts to the live stage. He has performed 2 major shows at the last 5 Berks Jazz Festivals and has also performed in many other venues including an appearance at 2007 Casablanca Jazz Festival, Rehoboth Beach, Tri C Jazz. He will tour this summer in conjunction with the release of "2 Grover With Love."

The tracklisting of "2 Grover With Love":
1. Summer Nights
2. Bright Moments
3. Making Love To You
4. Mr. Magic
5. Strawberry Moon
6. Moonstreams
7. Reaching Out
8. Reed Seed
9. The Saddest Thing
10. Stolen Moments
11. To Grover With Love

HERB ALPERT & LANI HALL

Legendary trumpet player Herb Alpert and his wife, internationally renowned GRAMMY-winning singer Lani Hall, have signed with the Boston, MA-based booking agency Ted Kurland Associates (TKA) for worldwide representation. TKA will exclusively represent Alpert and Hall both for their performances as a duo. The move to TKA comes after Alpert and Hall's rare tour together this spring, where their legendary chemistry was spotlighted at intimate evenings of American and Brazilian jazz and American popular standards at sold-out shows for the entire tour cities. Stops on their itinerary, with engagements on the east and west coasts, included: Los Angeles' REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater in the Walt Disney Concert Hall; Joe's Pub in NYC; Yoshi's in San Francisco; Blues Alley in Washington, DC; Seattle, WA's Jazz Alley; and Sculler's Jazz Club in Boston, MA.

"Herb Alpert is truly one of the great musical icons performing today. Our agency is extremely honored to have the privilege of serving him as a new client," said Ted Kurland. Alpert and Hall were accompanied on the road by a trio of top-flight musicians: Bill Cantos (piano), Michael Shapiro (drums) and Hussain Jiffry (bass). As they embarked on tour, Alpert commented, "My love for jazz is rooted in its spontaneity and its never ending search for personal truth and creative freedom. It is with that freedom that we're doing this tour, playing original arrangements of classic American standards with the color of Brazilian music scattered throughout, hopefully creating an exciting and unique musical blend without ever closing the space for spontaneity.""Ted Kurland is a class act himself," Alpert added. "We are excited about our new relationship."

The tour showcased Hall's elegant, stirring vocals entwined with Alpert's warm, expressive trumpet lines on classics of the American popular songbook including "Let's Face The Music And Dance" (Irving Berlin), "Night And Day" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" (Cole Porter), "That Old Black Magic" (Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer) and -- rightly featuring Alpert's one lead vocal of the set -- "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" (Lerner & Lowe). On a contemporary note, Alpert and Hall blended the 2006 Corinne Bailey Rae hit "Like A Star" into a set-piece with "A Taste Of Honey" (Bobby Scott/Ric Marlow), a song that netted Alpert three GRAMMYs in 1965. Also featured were two compositions by the combo's pianist, Bill Cantos --"Morning Coffee" and "Who Are You?"In addition to considering future live performance options, Herb Alpert and Lani Hall are in discussions regarding a future album and DVD project.

CHILL SOUNDS FOR HOTELS & RESORTS

The days of background music has come a long way since the elevator. No longer are badly played covers of middle-of-the-road top 40 hits acceptable. London's leading music stylists, Audio Sushi, manage and create amazing background music for bars, hotels, restaurants and retail stores.

Background Music has come a long way since the elevator. No longer are badly played covers of middle-of-the-road top 40 hits acceptable. London's leading music stylists, Audio Sushi, manage and create amazing background music for bars, hotels, restaurants and retail stores. Music is one of the most significant environmental choices a business makes today. What once was the remit of the enthusiastic employee with a few CDs, the music selection business has now become both an essential branding tool and a key factor in the success of any bar or shop. An example is the Sol Melia Caribe Tropical Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, where chill sounds were broadcast in the lobby areas – quite relaxing indeed.

Audio Sushi’s talented music stylists will plan, create and implement customised background music for bars, night clubs, stores and restaurants. Audio Sushi works with its clients to gain an understanding of their brand and the audience they wish to speak to which helps them design the best possible customised background music. The tailor-made music is delivered on a hard-drive that connects to any sound system and is remotely updated each month. Audio Sushi's music supply is licensed for public broadcast worldwide.

Background music comes to the forefront at Audio Sushi. For more information click to: http://www.audiosushi.net/Background_Music.aspx

KENNY GAMBLE & PATTI LABELLE - I AM AN AMERICAN

Grammy Award winner Kenny Gamble has just released “I Am An American” which features special guest performances by Patti LaBelle and the Temple University Symphony Orchesta & Choirs. The recording of "I Am An American," a song adopted by U.S. spiritual leader the late Father Divine and his International Peace Mission movement, has been produced by legendary music producer and songwriter and recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Kenneth Gamble, the co-founder of Philadelphia International Records (known for hundreds of classic hits by such artists as The O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass and Patti LaBelle among many others). "I Am An American" will be released by Sony BMG Masterworks and will be available at all digital service providers on July 1st.

Father of the "Philadelphia Sound," Kenny Gamble teams up with Patti LaBelle and the Temple University Symphony Orchestra and Choirs to bring America its new ode to patriotism, "I Am An American." Full of huge orchestral crescendos, excerpts from important speeches in American history and original words, along with Ms. LaBelle's powerful and soulful voice, "I Am An American" has all the making of being one of the great patriotic tunes of our time. When Temple University honored Gamble and his wife Faatimah for their community work in Philadelphia, the famed music man was inspired by hearing the prestigious educational institution's choir and orchestra and envisioned using them for "I Am An American." Adding Patti Labelle - with whom he has worked many times since their childhood days in Philly - was Gamble's idea and the powerhouse vocalist's performance on the song showcases a whole new side of her artistry, her first classically-oriented recording.

The writer of songs of empowerment such as "Wake Up Everybody" and "Love Train," Kenny Gamble views "I Am An American" as a recording meant to inspire, uplift and encourage a sense of pride in the nation: "In recent times, Americans have been depressed about many things and not always happy about the country. The words of this song and the performance by Patti LaBelle and the Temple choirs and orchestra can lift the spirits for America that has always been destined to be a country standing for freedom, justice and equality. It is the first time in the history of humanity that we have people of all creeds, colors and races in one place at one time. This recording is about being proud to be an American because, in 2008, we are doing a lot of great things. I'm hopeful that 'I Am An American' will be a new song for our country, that it will raise our morale and raise the consciousness of the people at a time when destiny has put us at a turning point in our history as a nation."

Historically, patriotic music has helped narrate the birth of our country, describe the struggles we overcame, and layout the bright future that we see for ourselves as a nation. Kenneth Gamble has kept true to this musical tradition, paying homage to where this country came from and where it is going. "I Am An American" may become one of our country's great anthems -- musically waving our country's flag for all to hear.

UPCOMING NEW RELEASES FROM DIANA ROSS, EDDY GRANT, BOBBI HUMPHREY, DAVID SANBORN & OTHERS…

DIANA ROSS - EVERYTHING IS EVERYTHING
Just released on June 17 is a Diana Ross 38-year-old second album "Everything Is Everything" that is finally getting a CD upgrade, complete with bonus tracks and alternate versions of several tracks. The Hip-O-Select/Motown release contains the album's original 11 songs, plus a previously-unreleased cover of the Beatles' "Something," alternate versions of "Ain't No Sad Song" and "Baby It's Love," as well as remixes of "Come Together" and "I'm Still Waiting." Also included is a never-before-released cover of "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" from the film "The Happy Ending." "Everything Is Everything" was originally released back in 1970, the same year as her self-titled solo debut, but it failed to yield a hit single as big as her No. 1 pop hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." However, "I'm Still Waiting" reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart, and Ross' cover of Aretha Franklin's "I Love You (Call Me)" was nominated for a Grammy. Diana Ross will be on tour in North America throughout the summer.

EDDY GRANT - THE VERY BEST OF EDDY GRANT: ROAD TO REPARATION
Mercury is set to release an 11-track ‘The Very Best Of Eddy Grant: Road To Reparation” for Eddy Grant. The album is scheduled for release on July 1 and will contain the UK chart hit “Gimme Hope Jo’anna,” ‘Do You Feel My Love,” “I Don’t Wanna Dance,” and “Living On The Frontline.”

VERVE ORIGINALS SERIES
Verve is re-issuing a series of past releases from Walter Beasley, Norman Brown, George Duke, and Will Downing. These will be re-released as part of their ‘Originals’ series. The Walter Beasley CD, simply entitled Walter Beasley, will include a bonus track which is a 12” remix of the original album track called “I’m So Happy.” The other titles are “Just Between Us” from Norman Brown, “A Dream Fulfilled” from Will Downing, and “Faces In Reflection” from George Duke. The release date is July 1.

NICK COLIONNE - NO LIMITS
Nick Colionne's new album, “No Limits”, arrives July 8th on Koch Records. His previous CD was “Keepin' It Cool”, which featured the smash smooth jazz single "Always Thinking Of You."Blue Note is preparing a batch of reissues set for release on July 22. Look out for the following releases: Fancy Dancer (Bobbi Humphrey); Set Us Free (Reuben Wilson); Heritage (Eddie Henderson); Elegant Soul, and Soul Symphony (The Three Sounds); and Howlin' for Judy (Jeremy Steig).

DAVID SANBORN - HERE AND GONE
Saxophonist David Sanborn will release “Here And Gone” on August 12th. The Decca Records release will feature several special guests, including Eric Clapton, Joss Stone, Sam Moore, Derek Trucks, Anthony Wilson, Steve Gadd, and Christian McBride will also add their skills to the set. ”Here And Gone” is David Sanborn's tribute to such '60s R&B-oriented jazz musicians as Hank Crawford and David "Fathead" Newman and was produced by Phil Ramone.

THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTIONS
Also watch for Definitive Collection series titles for the following artists: Diana Ross & the Supremes; The Four Tops; Gladys Knight & The Pips; Jr Walker & The All-Stars; DeBarge; Martha Reeves & The Vandellas; The Marvelettes; Mary Wells; Smokey Robinson & The Miracles; and The Temptations. These are out August 26.

NATALIE COLE - STILL UNFORGETTABLE
Grammy winner Natalie Cole will release “Still Unforgettable” on September 9th, 17 years after releasing “Unforgettable...With Love”, the album of American Songbook standards that included a duet with her late father, Nat "King" Cole. That album sold more than 14 million copies worldwide and earned Natalie five Grammy Awards. The new CD will be released and marketed through a co-venture between Cole, DMI Music, and Rhino/WEA. “Still Unforgettable” will feature 14 new tunes, including "The Best Is Yet To Come," "Nice 'N' Easy," and "Something's Gotta Give." The set includes another duet between Cole and her father on his hit "Walking My Baby Back Home" thanks to audio technology. Natalie Cole’s most recent album was “Leavin'”, released in 2006 on Verve. That project found Cole singing a range of '60 and '70s pop and R&B hits.

PATTI AUSTIN - THE SECRET GARDEN
Patti Austin is set to make a cameo appearance on the new CD by singer, songwriter and longtime friend Seidiah Garrett’s next CD. She’s performing on one of the album's tracks: a remake of the all-star ballad "The Secret Garden." The original version of "The Secret Garden" first appeared on Quincy Jones' 1989 album and featured performances by Barry White, El DeBarge, and others.producer of a record. So the whole day's work was about how to approach that lyric, how to make the song believable, and how to make it sound each time that you sing it... how to make it sound like it's just a thought that just popped into your head and you're having this conversation."

THE JULY CONCERT CALENDAR

Chip Shelton & Peacetime @ John Birks Gillespie Auditorium, New York, NY, July 1
Zap Mama @ Wolftrap, Vienna, VA, July 1
Federico Aubele @ World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA, July 1
Neville Brothers @ The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, July 1
Joss Stone @ Taste Of Chicago, Chicago, IL, July 1
Stevie Wonder @ Fiddler’s Green, Englewood, CO, July 1
Solomon Burke @ Grand Casino, Basel, Switzerland, July 1
Paul Simon @ Laugardalsholl, Reykjavik, Iceland, July 1
Steely Dan @ Festival International de Jazz, Montreal, QC, July 1-2
Victor Wooten @ Riga Ritmis Festival, Riga, Latvia, July 2
The Bad Plus @ Cankarjev Dom Cultural & Congress Center, Ljubjana, Slovenia, July 2
Return To Forever @ Utenos Arena, Vilnius, Lithuania, July 2
Susan Tedeschi @ Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA, July 2
Solomon Burke @ Festival de Jazz, Strasbourg, France, July 2
Herbie Hancock @ Jazz Festival, Istanbul, Turkey, July 2-3
The Bad Plus @ Narodni dom Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia, July 3
Susan Tedeschi @ Fraze Pavollion, Keettering, OH, July 3
Solomon Burke @ Barbican Festival, London, UK, July 3
Paul Simon @ Marquee, Cork, Ireland, July 3
B.B King @ Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville, WA, July 3
The Whispers @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, July 3-6
Return To Forever @ Congress Hall, Warsaw, Poland, July 4
Steely Dan @ Casino Rama, Orillia, ON, July 4
John Legend @ Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, July 4
Chip Shelton & Peacetime @ Cleopoatr’a Needle, New York, NY, July 4
Al Green @ Horseshoe Casino Riverdome, Bossier City, LA, July 4
Stevie Wonder @ Reno Events Center, Reno, NV, July 4
Boz Scaggs @ Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ, July 4
B.B King @ Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights, WA, July 4
Ramsey Lewis Trio @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, July 4-5
Quincy Jones, Joan Baez, Herbie Hancock, Buddy Guy, Leonard Cohen, Mick Hucknall, Return To Forever, Gnarls Barkley @ Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 4-19
Return To Forever @ Budapest Arena, Budapest, Hungary, July 5
Steely Dan @ Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa, ON, July 5
Solomon Burke @ Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, UK, July 5
Donna Summer @ Filene Center At Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA, July 5
Al Green @ Grand Casino & Hotel, Tunica, MS, July 5
Herbie Hancock @ Festival, Faro, Portugal, July 5
Stevie Wonder @ Shoreline, Mountain View, CA, July 5
Susan Tedeschi @ Rothbury Festival, Rothbury, MI, July 5
Richie Havens @ Guilfest, Surrey, UK, July 5
B.B King @ Maryhill Winery, Goldendale, WA, July 5
Paul Simon, Toots @ The Maytals @ Cornbury Music Festival, Charlbury, UK, July 5
Herbie Hancock @ Festival, Lisbon, Portugal, July 6
Solomon Burke @ Traumzeitfestival, Duisburg, Germany, July 6
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Castello Sforzesco, Galliate, Italy, July 6
John Legend @ Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ, July 6
Return To Forever @ Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia, July 6
Susan Tedeschi @ Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI, July 6
Paul Simon @ Liverpool Summer Pops, Liverpool, UK, July 6
k.d. lang @ Montreuz Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 6
Richie Havens @ Solidays, Paris, France, July 6
B.B King @ Les Schwab Amphitheater, Bend, OR, July 6
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Reigen, Vienna, Austria, July 7
Federico Aubele @ Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa, Canada, July 7
Susan Tedeschi @ Weesner Amphitheater, Apple Valley, MN, July 7
Van Morrison @ Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada, July 7
k.d. lang @ Villa Arconati, Bollate, Italy, July 7
Herbie Hancock @ Festival, Valencia, Spain, July 8
Victor Wooten @ A38, Budapest, Hungary, July 8
Donna Summer @ Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavollion, Gilford, NH, July 8
Return To Forever @ Olympia Hall, Paris, France, July 8
Amos Lee @ The Gig Theatre, Kitchener, Ontario, July 8
Stevie Wonder @ Sleep Train Pavillion, Concord, CA, July 8
Nick Colionne @ Potomac Jazz & Seafood Festival, Colton’s Point, MD, July 8
Van Morrison @ Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont, IL, July 8
Roy Ayers, Tom Browne, Wayne Henderson, Miki Howard, Lonnie Liston Smith @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, July 8-13
Return To Forever @ Vienne Jazz Festival, Vienne, France, July 9
Amos Lee @ Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, Ontario, July 9
B.B King @ Solano County Fair, Vallejo, CA, July 9
Herbie Hancock @ Festival, Malaga, Spain, July 9
Carole King @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, July 9
Donna Summer @ Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT, July 9
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Cordoba Guitar Festival, Cordoba, Spain, July 9
Susan Tedeschi @ Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI, July 9
Paul Simon @ Montreux Jazz Fest, Montreux, Switzerland, July 9
Van Morrison @ Fox Theatre, Detroit, MI, July 9
Mindi Abair @ Animal Crackers Jazz Series, Racine, WI, July 9
k.d. lang @ Theatre Am Tanzbrunnen, Cologne, Germany, July 9
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival, Rome, Italy, July 10
Steely Dan @ Bethel Woods Arts Center, Bethel, NY, July 10
Victor Wooten @ Reigen, Vienna, Austria, July 10
Carole King @ Hard Rock Casino & Hotel, Hollywood, FL, July 10
Herbie Hancock @ Blue Note Festival, Ghent, Belgium, July 10
Spyro Gyra @ Polideportivo Municipal, Madrid, Spain, July 10
Return To Forever @ Via Jazz Festival, Madrid, Spain, July 10
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA, July 10
k.d. lang @ Volksbuhne, Berlin, Germany, July 10
Van Morrison @ Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA, July 10-11
Amos Lee @ Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA, July 11
B.B King @ Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, CA, July 11
Return To Forever @ Cap Roig Festival, Girona, Spain, July 11
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ The Sportmans Lodge, Studio City, CA, July 11
Steely Dan @ Sands PAC, Canadaigua, NY, July 11
Al Green @ Freedom Hill, Sterling Heights, MI, July 11
Chris Standring, Everette Harp, Phil Perry @ Riverfront Jazz 7 Blues Festival, Omaha, NE, July 11
Stevie Wonder @ White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, WA, July 11
Spyro Gyra @ Auditorio El Porton, Malaga, Spain, July 11
Donna Summer @ Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, Bethel, NY, July 11
Susan Tedeschi @ High Falls Brewery, Rochester, NY, July 11
Solomon Burke @ JazzFest, Vienna, Austria, July 11
Medeski Martin & Wood @ All Good Music Festival, Masontown, WV, July 11
Paul Simon @ Palais des Sports, Paris, France, July 11
Stevie Wonder @ White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, WA, July 11
Richie Havens @ BluesFest, Windsor, ON, July 11-12
Tony Bennett @ Caesars Palace, Atlantic City, NJ, July 11-12
Amos Lee @ ZpoNential Music Festival, Camden, NJ, July 12
Herbie Hancock @ North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam, Netherlands, July 11-12
Spyro Gyra @ Auditorio Parque Almansa, Murcia, Spain, July 12
B.B King @ Pine Mountain Amphitheatre, Flagstaff, AZ, July 12
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ The Arena Pier Ten, San Juan, PR, July 12
Medeski Martin & Wood @ Jefferson Center, Roanoke, VA, July 12
Denny Jiosa, Bobby Hebb @ Watertown Jazz Festival, Watertown, NY, July 12
Carole King @ Foxwoods, Mashantucket, CT, July 12
Chip Shelton & Peacetime @ Minton’s Playhouse, New York, NY, July 12
Gilberto Gil, Elba Ramalho, Mart’nalia @ Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 12
Anita Baker @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI, July 12
Al Green @ Rochester International Jazz Festival, Chicago, IL, July 12
Federico Aubele @ Kalamitsi Camping Area, Thessaloniki, Greece. July 12
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Castello Banf, Mantalcino, Italy, July 12
Victor Wooten @ North Sea Festival, Rotterdam, Netherlands, July 12
Esperanza Spalding @ Outdoor Festival, Frederiksberg, Denmark, July 12
Stevie Wonder @ GM Place, Vancouver, BC, July 12
Donna Summer @ Bank Of America Pavillion, Boston, MA, July 12
Susan Tedeschi @ Marvin’s Mountaintop, Masontown, WV, July 12
Paul Simon @ Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands, July 12
Van Morrison @ Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ, July 12
Mindi Abair @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, July 12
Carole King @ MGM Grand Theatre, Mashantucket, CT, July 12
Michael McDonald @ Trump Taj Majal, Atlantic City, NJ, July 13
The Bad Plus @ Kulturzelt Kassel, Kassel, Germany, July 13
Medeski Martin & Wood @ Bijou Theatre, Knoxville, TN, July 13
Solomon Burke @ Rhythm & Blues Festival, Peer, Belgium, July 13
B.B King @ Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, AZ, July 13
Al Green @ Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO, July 13
Steely Dan @ National City Pavillion, Cincinnati, OH, July 13
Spyro Gyra @ Auditorio Parque Majuelo, Malaga, Spain, July 13
Oleta Adams @ Metrotech Plaza, New York, NY, July 13
Donna Summer @ Lebreton Flats Park, Ottawa, Ontario, July 13
k.d. lang @ Zelt-Musik Festival, Freiburg, Germany, July 13
Mindi Abair, Ellis Hall @ SLC Jazz Festival, Ellington Square, Salt Lake City, UT, July 13
Carole King @ Fallsview Casino, Niagra Falls, ON, July 13
Herbie Hancock & Chaka Khan @ Montreux Jazz Fesival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 13-14
Esperanza Spalding @ Jazzopen Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, July 14
Amos Lee @ Highline Ballroom, New York, NY, July 14
Carole King @ Fallsview Casino, Niagra Falls, NY, July 14
Federico Aubele @ Lycabetous Theatre, Athens, Greece, July 14
Paul Simon @ Tanzbrunnen Koeln, Cologne, Germany, July 14
Victor Wooten @ Colos Saal, Aschagffenurg, Germany, July 14
Larry Coryell Trio @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, July 14-17
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Lorca Jazz Festival, Lorca, Spain, July 15
Al Green @ The Filene Center, Vienna, VA, July 15
Steely Dan @ Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL, July 15
Solomon Burke @ Jazz Festival, Antibes, France, July 15
Amos Lee @ Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA, July 15
Medeski Martin & Wood @ Workplay Theatre, Birmingham, AL, July 15
Paul Simon @ Forest National, Brussels, Belgium, July 15
Esperanza Spalding @ Pori Jazz Festival, Pori, Finland, July 15-18
Chuck Mangione @ The Blue Note, New York, NY, July 15-20
Al Green @ Chastain Park, Atlanta, GA, July 16
Donna Summer @ Pier Six Pavillion, Boston, MA, July 16
Amos Lee @ Rams Head, Annapolis, MD, July 16
Medeski Martin & Wood @ Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, TN, July 16
Down To The Bone featuring Shilts, Smooth Jazz Cruise, Pier 61, New York, NY, July 16
k.d. lang @ Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway, July 16
Tony Bennett @ BB King’s Bar & Grill, New York, NY, July 16 & 18
Steely Dan @ Red Rocks, Morrison, CO, July 17
Susan Tedeschi @ River Run, Ketchum, ID, July 17
Medeski Martin & Wood @ Madison Theatre, Cincinnati, OH, July 17
Paul Simon @ Jazzopen Pariser Platz, Stuttgart, Germany, July 17
k.d. lang @ Tivoli Theatre, Copehagen, Denmark, July 17
Richie Havens @ Theatre Antique, Vienne, France, July 17
Donna Summer @ PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ, July 18
Al Green @ Seneca Niagra Casino, Niagra Falls, NY, July 18
Susan Tedeschi @ Grand Targhee Festival, Alta, WY, July 18
Amos Lee @ Rex Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, July 18
Solomon Burke @ Jazzan Der Donau, Straubing, Germany, July 18
Medeski Martin & Wood @ Bomhard Theatre, Louisville, KY, July 18
Regina Carter Quartet @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, July 18-21
Susan Tedeschi @ Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, CO, July 19
Solomon Burke @ Pohodafestival, Trencin, Slovakia, July 19
Amos Lee @ Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, MI, July 19
Paul Simon @ Moon And Stars, Locarno, Switzerland, July 19
Esperanza Spalding @ Stockholm International Jazz & Blues Festival, Stockholm, Sweden, July 19
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Lake Stage-Gyula Kazz Festival, Gyula, Hungary, July 19
Return To Forever @ Grugahalle, Essen, Germany, July 19
Victor Wooten @ Garana Jazz Festival, Garana, Romania, July 19
Steely Dan @ Sandia Resort, Alburquerque, NM, July 19
Donna Summer @ Nikon At Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, July 19
Burning Spear @ Center Town Stage, Casablanca, Morocco, July 19
k.d. lang @ RAI, Amsterdam, Netherlands, July 19
Sheila E, The Pete Escovedo Orchestra @ JazzFest West in Bonelli Park, San Dimas, CA, July 19
Van Morrison @ Stockholm Jazz Fest, Stockholm, Sweden, July 19
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Garana Jazz Festival, Garana, Romania, July 20
Marion Meadows @ Ocean Pier Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA, July 20
Solomon Burke @ Gurten Festival, Bern, Switzerland, July 20
Amos Lee @ House Of Blues, Cleveland, OH, July 20
Medeski Martin & Wood @ Whistler Music & Arts Festival, Whistler, BC, July 20
Al Green @ House Of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ, July 20
Steely Dan @ Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, July 20
Paul Simon @ Palco Baltera, Riva de Garda, Italy, July 20
Donna Summer @ Seneca Allegany Casino, Salamanca, NY, July 20
George Duke @ Bonelli Regional Park, San Diego, CA, July 20
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings @ The Hollywood Bowl, July 20
Susan Tedeschi @ Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO, July 20
Toots & The Maytals @ Max Fisher Music Center, Detroit, MI, July 20
Lionel Richie @ Ameristar Casino Hotel, Chicago, IL, July 20
Michael McDonald @ Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury, Westbury, NY, July 20
k.d. lang @ Riverenhof, Duerne, Belgium, July 20
Richie Havens @ Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY, July 20
Return To Forever @ Indigo2, London, UK, July 21
Natalie Walker @ Joe’s Pub, New York, NY, July 21
Pacifika @ Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA, July 21
k.d. lang @ Blue Balls Festival, Lucerne, Switzerland, July 21
Van Hunt @ Apache Café, Atlanta, GA, July 21-25
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Piazza Unita D’Italia, Trieste, Italy, July 22
Christian McBride, Perry Hughes, Dwight Adams @ Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, Detroit, MI, July 22
The Bad Plus @ Nice Jazz Festival, Nice, France, July 22
Steely Dan @ Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheatre, Tucson, AZ, July 22
Susan Tedeschi @ Red Butte Gardens, Salt Lake City, UT, July 22
Solomon Burke @ Debaser Medis, Stockholm, Sweden, July 22
Paul Simon @ Castillo, Udine, Italy, July 22
Amos Lee @ Newport Music Hall, Columbis, OH, July 22
Dave Mason @ BB King’s Bar & Grill, New York, NY, July 22
Donna Summer @ Casino Rama Entertainment Centre, Rama, Ontario, July 22-23
Soulalive, Christian Scott & Sam Kininger @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, July 22-25
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Langnau Jazz Nights, Langnau, Switzerland, July 23
Return To Forever @ Nice Jazz Festival, Nice, France, July 23
Amos Lee @ Headliners Music Hall, Louisville, KY, July 23
Steely Dan @ Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, July 23
Lalah Hathaway @ Wolf Trap National Park For Performing Arts, Vienna, VA, July 23
Brian Culbertson @ Smooth Jazz Cruise, Pier 61, New York, NY, July 23
Solomon Burke @ Folkets Park, Malmo, Sweden, July 23
Paul Simon @ Castle Esterhazg, Eisenstadt, Austria, July 23
k.d. lang @ New Theatre, Oxford, UK, July 23
Buddy Guy @ Oregon Garden, Silverton, OR, July 23
Anita Baker @ Hard Rock, Hollywood, FL, July 24
Federico Aubele @ Nice Jazz Festival, Nice, France, July 24
Susan Tedeschi @ Rose Quarter/Theatre Of The Clouds, Portland, OR, July 24
k.d. lang @ City Hall, Sheffield, UK, July 24
Buddy Guy @ Tulalip Amphitheatre, Tulalip, WA, July 24
Donna Summer @ Caesars Palace, Atlantic City, NJ, July 24-26
Hiroshima @ Hyatt Newporter, Newport Beach, CA, July 25
Janis Ian @ BB King’s Bar & Grill, New York, NY, July 25
Amos Lee @ The National, Richmond, VA, July 25
B.B King @ Riverfest Amphitheatre, Little Rock, AR, July 25
Federico Aubele @ Blue Balls Festival, Luzern, Switzerland, July 25
Kenny G @ Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, CA, July 25
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Canal Street Festival, Arendal, Norway, July 25
Susan Tedeschi @ WaMU Theatre, Seattle, WA, July 25
Solomon Burke @ Autostadt Jazz & Blues Fest, Wolfsburg, Germany, July 25
Paul Simon @ Zitadelle, Mainz, Germany, July 25
Mindi Abair @ Four Seasons Resort Aviara, Carlsbad, CA, July 25
John Legend @ Highline Ballroom, New York, NY, July 25
Buddy Guy @ Little Creek Casino, Shelton, WA, July 25
Donna Summer @ Caesars Atlantic City, Atlantic City, NJ, July 25-26
The Bad Plus @ 10,000 Lakes Festival, Detroit Lakes, MN, July 26
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center, New York, NY, July 26
B.B King @ Amphitheatre at the Wharf, Orange Beach, AL, July 26
Amos Lee @ Floydfest, Blue Cow Pavillion, Floyd, VA, July 26
Medeski Martin & Wood @ 10,000 Lakes, Desroit Lakes, MN, July 26
Steely Dan @ The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, July 26
Solomon Burke @ Arendal Jazz & Blues Festival, Arendal, Norway, July 26
k.d. lang @ Sage, Gateshead, UK, July 26
Mindi Abair @ Hyatt Westlake Plaza, Westlake Village, CA, July 26
Buddy Guy @ Britt Pavillion, Jacksonville, OR, July 26
Clementine @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, July 26-27, July 29-31
Spyro Gyra @ Glenora Winer Cellars, Dundee, NY, July 27
Youssou N’Dour @ The Hollywood Bowl, July 27
B.B King @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA, July 27
Amos Lee @ Mountain Stage, Charleston, WV, July 27
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA, July 27
Donna Summer @ Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, Westhampton Beach, NY, July 27
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Corte Malatestiana, Fano, Italy, July 27
Susan Tedeschi @ San Francisco Jazz Festival, San Francisco, CA, July 27
Mindi Abair @ Wine Notes at Marymour Park, Redmond, WA, July 27
Buddy Guy @ Ironstone Vineyards, Murphy’s, CA, July 27
Susan Tedeschi @ Humphrey’s, San Diego, CA, July 28
Steely Dan @ Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA, July 28
Toots & The Maytals @ Jones Beach Theater, Wantaugh, NY, July 28
Paul Simon @ Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, Italy, July 28
k.d. lang @ Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, July 28
Toots & The Maytals @ Humphrey’s, San Diego, CA, July 29
Spyro Gyra @ Wiggins Waterfront Park, Camden, NJ, July 29
Amos Lee @ The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC, July 29
Paul Simon @ Cavea Auditorium, Rome, Italy, July 29
B.B King @ Performing Arts Theatre, Roanoke, VA, July 29
Buddy Guy @ The Mointain Winery, Saratoga, CA, July 29
k.d. lang @ Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK, July 29
Spyro Gyra @ Spirit Cruise Ship, New York, NY, July 30
Andre Delano @ Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood, CA, July 30
GQ, Change, BB&Q Band @ BB King’s Bar & Grill, New York, NY, July 30
Amos Lee @ Neighbourhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC, July 30
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Piazza Grande-Polo Della Qualita, Caserta, Italy, July 30
Return To Forever @ The Fillmore Miami Beach, Miami, FL, July 30
Spyro Gyra @ Smooth Jazz Cruise, Pier 61, New York, NY, July 30
Toots & The Maytals @ Bank Of America Pavillion, Boston, MA July 30
k.d. lang @ Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, UK, July 30
Buddy Guy @ Marin Veteran’s Auditorium, San Rafael, CA, July 30
Steely Dan @ Chateau St. Michelle Winery, Woodinville, WA, July 30-31
Return To Forever @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, July 31
Anita Baker @ Casino Rama, Rama, Ontario, July 31
B.B King @ Cape Code Melody Tent, Hyannis Port, MA, July 31
Toots & The Maytals @ Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA, July 31
Buddy Guy @ Legacy Resort Casino, Reno, NV, July 31

EDDY GRANT - THE BEST OF EDDY GRANT - THE ROAD TO REPARATIONS

A true great of Caribbean music, Eddy Grant may be the only major artist in the world who owns every song he has recorded in a 40-year plus career. Now Grant has entered into an exclusive licensing arrangement with Universal Music Enterprises for the distribution of that catalogue so fans may access those recordings as he returns to the stage. The Reparation World Tour reaches the U.S. August 1-28 and October 2-30. The first album to be issued under the deal is The Very Best Of Eddy Grant – The Road To Reparations (Mercury/UMe), released July 8, 2008.

Eddy Grant has gained an enormous amount of press in the UK, including: the BBC's, "Later, with Jools Holland," an interview with Gary Crowley from BBC London radio, and featured interview in the Daily Telegraph, not to mention his participation in July's O2 Wireless Festival and Nelson Mandela's 46664 Concert in Hyde park later this month. "Electric Avenue" will also be featured in a new movie out this August, "Pineapple Express" starring Seth Rogan from "Knocked Up."

Spanning his solo career from 1979 to 2005 - from his second album, Walking On Sunshine, to his latest, Reparation, the collection includes 11 classic tracks selected by Grant himself. Notable among them are his two biggest hits in the U.S. (the #2 pop "Electric Avenue" and Top 30 pop "Romancing The Stone") and three U.K. Top 10s ("Gimme Hope Jo'Anna," "Do You Feel My Love" and #1 "I Don't Wanna Dance).

Born in Guyana but raised in North London, Grant founded The Equals, in the mid-'60s the first multicultural pop-rock outfit to achieve global acclaim ("Baby Come Back"). While it was not fashionable at the time to be associated with Jamaican culture, he also experimented with reggae,
creating records for other artists as a writer-producer. His solo breakthrough came with Walking On Sunshine, which boasted the title track as well as his first solo hit, the #11 U.K. "Living On The Frontline." 1981's Can’t Get Enough then yielded "Do You Feel My Love."

But it was the next year's Killer On The Rampage, recorded at his studio in his new home in Barbados, that made him an international star. His blend of social commentary lyrics with a complex yet pop friendly sound deftly mixing international influences was epitomized by "Electric Avenue," which talked about tensions in the streets over a pulsating instrumental track of new-wave synthesizers and funky grooves. The Very Best Of Eddy Grant also adds the album's "War Party."

In 1984, Eddy Grant wrote the title song for the hit adventure film "Romancing The Stone," showcasing Grant's wailing, rock-style guitar solo. His Going For Broke album that year included "Romancing The Stone," "Come On Let Me Love You" and "Boys In The Street." He returned to the international pop scene in 1988 with "Gimme Hope, Jo'Anna," an anti-apartheid message (Jo'Anna meaning Johannesburg) wrapped in a funky, catchy Caribbean-pop melody. The most recent track on The Very Best Of Eddy Grant is "Gotta Be Positive" from 2005's Reparation.

Over the years, Grant's classic works have been covered by artists as diverse as Prince Buster, Jaheim, UB40, Pato Banton, and The Clash. Now the original returns, both on stage and with The Very Best Of Eddy Grant – The Road To Reparation.

Current tour dates for Eddy Grant:
Aug 1- Toronto , CAN @ Mod Club
Aug 3- Montreal, CAN @ Osheaga Festival
Aug 4 - Boston, MA @ Paradise
Aug 5 - New York, NY @ BB Kings
Aug 6 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Aug 8 - Washington DC @ Birchmere
Aug 9 - Richmond, VA @ Toads Place
Aug 10 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety
Aug 12 - Chicago, IL @ Martyrs
Aug 13 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
Aug 15 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird
Aug 16 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety
Aug 18 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Aug 19 - Vancouver, BC @ Richards
Aug 21 - Portland, OR @ Wonder
Aug 22 - San Francisco, CA @ Slims
Aug 23 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
Aug 24 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
Aug 26 - Los Angeles, CA El Rey
Aug 28 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues

DONNA SUMMER LAUNCHES TOUR

This summer Donna Summer will embark on a North American tour to promote her brand new album 'Crayons.' The "Stamp Your Feet" featuring a new set, design and costumes will include material from Summer's new album 'Crayons' as well as her classic hits. 'Crayons,' is Donna Summer’s first album of all new studio material in 17 years, debuted at #17 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart making it Summer's highest debuting album since 1983's "She Works Hard For The Money."

Adding to her list of accomplishments is the recent success "I'm A Fire," the first single from 'Crayons' which rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Charts making it her 13th #1 single to top the club charts and her 19th #1 charting single across all charts. The remix for the
second single "Stamp Your Feet" is also poised to top the dance chart.

'Crayons' contains a potent mix of up-tempo tunes and ballads and it showcases incredible new material, all-co written by Donna (who wrote or co-wrote the majority of her hits of the 70's and 80's). Working with Donna were renowned writers and producers including: Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, Pink), Danielle Brisebois (Natasha Bedingfield, New Radicals), JR Rotem (Sean Kingston, Rihanna), Toby Gad (Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield), Evan Bogart (co-writer of Rihanna's smash "SOS" and the son of legendary record executive, Casablanca Records founder and Donna's mentor, Neil Bogart), and Lester Mendez (Shakira, Santana).

Donna's long list of musical accomplishments include: 19 #1 Billboard singles, 12 Gold and Platinum singles, 5 Grammy Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 2 Double Platinum albums, 1 Platinum album, 8 Gold albums. Her song "Last Dance" won both Oscar and Golden Globe awards.

Donna Summer "Crayons" Tour Dates
7.5.08 FILENE CENTER AT WOLF TRAP Vienna, VA
7.8.08 MEADOWBROOK U.S. CELLULAR PAVILLION Gilford, NH
7.9.08 MOHEGAN SUN ARENA Uncasville, CT
7.11.08 BETHEL WOODS CENTER FOR THE ART Bethel, NY
7.12.08 BANK OF AMERICA PAVILLION Boston, MA
7.13.08 LEBRETON FLATS PARK Ottawa, ON
7.16.08 PIER SIX PAVILION Baltimore, MD
7.18.08 PNC BANK ARTS CENTER Holmdel, NJ
7.19.08 NIKON AT JONES BEACH THEATER Wantagh, NY
7.20.08 SENECA ALLEGANY CASINO Salamanca, NY
7.22.08 CASINO RAMA ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE Rama, ON
7.23.08 CASINO RAMA ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE Rama, ON
7.25.08 CAESARS ATLANTIC CITY Atlantic City, NJ
7.26.08 CAESARS ATLANTIC CITY Atlantic City, NJ
7.27.08 WESTHAMPTON BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Westhampton Beach, NY
8.8.08 RIVER ROCK CASINO RESORT Richmond, BC
8.9.08 RIVER ROCK CASINO RESORT Richmond, BC
8.10.08 NORTHERN QUEST CASINO Airway Heights, WA
8.13.08 THE MOUNTAIN WINERY Saratoga, CA
8.15.08 PEPPERMILL HOTEL CASINO Reno, NV
8.16.08 PARAMOUNT THEATRE Oakland, CA
8.17.08 WELLS FARGO CENTER FOR THE ARTS Santa Rosa, CA
8.20.08 VIEJAS CONCERTS IN THE PARK Alpine, CA
8.22.08 HOLLYWOOD BOWL Los Angeles, CA
8.23.08 HOLLYWOOD BOWL Los Angeles, CA
8.27.08 CAESARS WINDSOR Windsor, ON
8.28.08 CAESARS WINDSOR Windsor, ON
8.30.08 RAVINIA FESTIVAL Highland Park, IL
8.31.08 MYSTIC LAKE CASINO Prior Lake, MN

FRANK MCCOMB, LEDISI & LALAH HATHAWAY HEADLINE PENN'S LANDING CONCERTS

The Bank of America Sounds of R&B Series, which begins Penn's Landing Corporation's series of Free Friday night concerts through July and August, features innovative, inspirational, and critically acclaimed national recording artists. Each artist expresses a mastery of the genre and a passion for exploring new directions in R&B. As part of the Summer Season 2008 at Penn's Landing, presented by Independence Blue Cross, this free concert series, beginning at 7:30 p.m. each week, is sponsored by Bank of America and a partnership with WDAS 105.3 and CW Philly 57.

In developing the 2008 series, Penn's Landing Corporation Program Director Keeya Branson-Davis comments, "This much-anticipated series is an opportunity for audiences to hear and see some of the best performers in R&B music today -- for free! Each performer in the series was selected for their incredible ability to interpret R&B music in their own unique style. All of the performers are true artists who will deliver stellar performances that will become memorable experiences for everyone who attends the concerts this summer."

The series kickoff features the budding talents of R&B newcomer Kevin Michael on Friday, June 27, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. So far, Michael's style shows dedication to R&B roots along with adventurous experiments with style and fusion. Noted for his "irresistible blend of soul, funk, R&B, and pop," Michael creates songs with hip-hop inflection, snappy pop phrasing and layered vocal harmonies, poignant lyrics, and an occasion Caribbean flavor. Michael gained attention on the music scene after his collaboration with Wyclef Jean on "It Don't Make Any Difference To Me."

Dubbed the most exciting live band on the international soul/jazz circuit, Fertile Ground brings its passionate and timely message of peace and love to the Penn's Landing stage on Friday, July 11, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. This cross-cultural fusion band supports their bold spiritual message with a mix of funk, Afrobeat, bebop, Latin and Caribbean music, reggae, R&B, US garage band style, modern soul, and hip-hop. This eclectic fusion produces an original sound strong enough to stand up to the proud political messages of their lyrics.

Friday July 18, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. features contemporary jazz singer and keyboardist Frank McComb. Sprouting from humble beginnings, McComb began pursuing music as a young boy, nestled on the piano bench of his church under the tutelage of his Aunt. His early dedication paid off when McComb, fresh out of high school, was asked to join the Rude Boys, a male R&B vocal group signed with Atlantic Records. Just a few years later, McComb took over as music director of the group. Soon after, he moved to Philadelphia and signed with Motown Records. Gradually, he transitioned from major labels to start his own company, Boobeescoot Music. Finally enjoying the freedom to produce and disseminate his music in his own way, McComb continues to release some of the most authentic jazz, R&B and soul albums of his time.

On Friday, July 25, 2008 at 7:30 p.m., Penn's Landing welcomes two-time Grammy nominee Ledisi. Born into a musical family, Ledisi began performing at the tender age of eight in a performance with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. From this powerful start, Ledisi went on to award-winning performances in California musical theater, five years of intensive study of opera and piano, and a series of independent albums with her group Anibade. In a 2007 career turning point, Ledisi signed with major record label Verve and collaborated with composer/keyboardist Rex Rideout in the Grammy-nominated "Lost and Found." In her music, Ledisi dares to cover taboo topics with elegance, soulful musicality, and an inspiring independent spirit.

Lalah Hathaway, daughter of revered R&B artist Donny Hathaway, also performs on the final night of the Bank of America Sounds of R&B Series, Friday, July 25, 2008. Lalah signed her first record deal with Virgin Records while still a student at the Berklee College of Music and has performed on over 200 recordings in the R&B, jazz and pop music fields. She has just released her 5th solo CD, "Self Portrait," with the legendary Stax Records, and is proudly continuing the legacy of timeless soul music.

Penn's Landing Corporation is the non-profit organization responsible for funding and producing public programming on the Great Plaza, Philadelphia's Delaware Waterfront Park. Independence Blue Cross is the presenting sponsor of the 2008 Summer Season at Penn's Landing. All events produced by Penn's Landing Corporation are FREE to the public and on the Great Plaza, the heart of Penn's Landing, Philadelphia's premier riverfront entertainment destination.

WDAS 105.3 is the new and proud radio partner for the Bank of America Sounds of R&B series. Personalities from the station and the promotional crew will be on site each week. The Bank of America Sounds of R&B series is also proudly supported by CW Philly 57. The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) is part of the CBS Stations Group.

WDAS FM is part of the Clear Channel Worldwide the largest independent radio group with six stations in Philadelphia -- WDAS FM, Power 99 FM (WUSL), Q-102 (WIOQ), My106.1 (WISX), Rumba (WUBA-AM) and Radio 1045 (WRFF).

HERBIE HANCOCK - LIVE FROM THE ABBEY ROAD

On June 26th, Herbie Hancock will perform selections from his GRAMMY Award winning Album of the Year 'River: The Joni Letters' on the new season of Sundance Channel's acclaimed original music series 'Live From Abbey Road.' Corrine Bailey Rae will join the legendary jazz musician for their only live performance to date of the album's title track "River." Hancock also recruited talented young singer Sonya Kitchell, who is performing with him on tour this spring and summer, as well as the world-class musicians Wayne Shorter and Vinnie Colaiuta to accompany him for the session. Be sure to tune in June 26th at 10pm to sample some of the "ceaselessly eclectic set" (Daily Variety, 6.16.08) Hancock's performing on the road.

You can watch "River" from 'Live From Abbey Road' here: http://www.sundancechannel.com/videos/230322927

The critical praise continues for Herbie Hancock; now for his 'River of Possibilities ' tour which included a performance at the Playboy Jazz Fest last week and at Carnegie Hall as part of the JVC Jazz Fest this Monday, June 23rd. Hancock's "intimate reinvention" (NY Times, 9.9.07) of Joni Mitchell songs, 'River: The Joni Letters' (Verve) garnered two GRAMMY awards this year including the prestigious Album of the Year prize. Also, this week the Jazz Journalists Association named Hancock Artist of the Year.

"(At the 30th Playboy Jazz Festival) Hancock coursed through funk, jazz and Joni Mitchell interpretations with an easy shifting stylistic focus that managed to both settle into deep grooves and hit heights of spontaneous invention."
- Orange County Register (CA), 6.16.08

For more information click to:
http://www.herbiehancock.com/
http://www.shorefire.com/clients/herbiehancock
http://www.ververecords.com

SMOOTH JAZZ II FROM THE WEATHER CHANNEL

The Weather Channel has released a follow-up second compilation of smooth jazz selctions, "Smooth Jazz II," The strong enthusiasm expressed by consumers about music they hear during "Local on the 8s" on The Weather Channel is the impetus behind the network's venture into the music business. Midas Records is the licensing partner with The Weather Channel for the smooth jazz series. The first compilation of music taken from the network's local forecasts, "The Weather Channel Presents Smooth Jazz," climbed to the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart after its release last fall.

The Weather Channel has also recently released the second DVD compilation of network programming. Epic Conditions, a high-energy series of sports performed during peak weather conditions, is available in standard and Blue Ray formats at Best Buy. The licensing partner, Madacy Entertainment, reported that the DVD version was its #1 title during the first week after its release on May 26. Many of the titles of the new "Smooth Jazz II" music compilation have a strong reference to weather in their titles and in their moods. These include: "Rainbow Seeker" by Joe Sample and "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" by David Benoit. Another selection on the CD is the Jeff Lorber hit, "Pacific Coast Highway," which evokes a feeling a riding to the beach surrounded by sunshine and blue skies. Lorber, who says that The Weather Channel is one of his favorite networks, comments, "I love the music that's played on The Weather Channel and I'm honored to be part of their compilation."

Other songs in the "Smooth Jazz II" compilation that The Weather Channel are: "Restless Heart" by Chris Geith, "Big Country;" by Eric Marienthal, "Brave New World" by Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons, "Friday's Child" by Bradley Joseph, "Breakfast At Igor's" by Spyro Gyra, "La Salsa En Mi" by Bernie Williams, , "Wade in the Water" by the Ramsey Lewis Trio, "Now's The Time" by the Charlie Parker Quartet, and "Lydian" by Norman Brown. The CD is available at all major music store outlets.

ACTOR TERRENCE HOWARD TO RELEASE - SHINE THROUGH IT

Columbia Records has announced the release of Shine Through It- the avidly awaited debut album of new music written, produced and performed by Terrence Howard - on Tuesday, September 2. For Shine Through It, Howard has written, arranged and produced 11 original songs for a collection heralded in the Los Angeles Times (May 3, 2008) as a "stylish retro neo-soul album...Howard and his backing outfit...conjure up a smooth blend of flamenco guitars, swooning violins, hard drums and dazzling trumpet lines that recall an eclectic combination of John Legend, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass and a dash of Cab Calloway."

Produced by Terrence Howard, Shine Through It was recorded at Spiral Recording in Hollywood with Terrence Howard on vocals and lead guitar; Miles Mosley (Lauryn Hill, Herbie Hancock, Common, Chris Cornell, Jonathan Davis), who also co-produced, on upright bass, guitar, drums and piano; Kamasi Washington (Gerald Wilson, Roy Hargrove) on tenor sax; Serafin Aguilar on trumpet; Kenneth Crouch (Mariah Carey, Patti LaBelle, Eric Clapton) on keyboards and Tom Lea on viola.

Covering a Los Angeles listening session for Shine Through It, People (April 21, 2008), noted, "The album chronicles everything from broken relationships on 'It's All Game' to self-reflection on 'Plenty' and the celebration of love on his single, 'Love Makes You Beautiful.' Howard told the audience that he began writing songs at age 16 in his 'rainbow colored notebook,' and discussed recording an "emotionally sobering" song that began as a letter to his ex-wife. The collection of songs is highly reminiscent of a live, big band, jazz feel, which Howard backs up by
playing the guitar."

Songs on Shine Through It include "Love Makes You Beautiful," with its flamenco melody and haunting flute, inspired by watching people made beautiful from being in love; the dramatic, soulful "Shine Through It," with its piano and acoustic guitar groove building to a cinematic climax of strings and horns expressing the light of spirituality; the highly personal "No. 1 Fan"; the island rhythms, south-of-the-border horns, hip-hop rhythms and Cuban flair in "Mr. Johnson's Lawn"; "I Remember When," with its warm vibe, and whistling intro recalling adolescent romance; the jaggedly bombastic "War"; the soulful, romantic "Sanctuary" (inspired by Howard's chance meeting with Seal and Heidi Klum at a Hollywood party); the instrumental "Spanish Love Affair," with its horn solo, Latin guitars and Middle East feel; "She Was Mine," a sophisticated jazz-blues shuffle about falling in love at a stop light; and "Plenty," with its "Super Fly" vibe and ominous hip-hop undercurrent.

Raised in Cleveland with many summers spent in New York City, Terrence Howard, an aspiring songwriter and musician since early adolescence, landed his first film and television acting roles in the late 1980s before his breakthrough performance in the 1995 film, "Mr. Holland's Opus." A succession of theatrical and television films -- including "Ray," "Crash," "Lackawanna Blues," "Hustle & Flow," "Four Brothers," "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," and "Brave One" -- established Terrence Howard as a major screen talent. His most recent film, "Iron Man," opened at #1 across America with the highest-grossing opening weekend of 2008, the second-highest grossing premiere ever for a non-sequel film, and the 10th biggest movie opening weekend of all-time.

Howard's role as "DJay" in the 2005 musical-drama "Hustle & Flow" earned him numerous accolades (including Oscar, Golden Globe and Image Award nominations for Best Actor) while his musical performances in the film brought home several high profile honors including the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song ("It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp") and the Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Critics Choice Award for which Howard received the award for Best Song ("Hustle and Flow").

"Music has always been the road that leads to where I'm headed," says Terrence. "Film is my vocation, my 9 to 5. In the movies, I'm doing what somebody else is asking me to do. Music is my own personal form of expression. My responsibility, like the sun's, is to shine. Even if the planet is covered with clouds, I must say what I have to say."

NEW RELEASE FROM AL GREEN, CASSANDRA WILSON, ESPERANZA SPALDING, HIL ST. SOUL & MORE...

Al Green – Lay It Down (Blue Note)
Al Turner – Movin’ (MegaWave)
Al Viola – Solo Guitar (VSOP)
Alex Lattimore – Promise (Alex JDot Prods.)
Bebo Valdes – Bebo Rides Again (Universal)
Berardo Jazz Connection – Do It! (Family Affair)
Bittersweet – Drama (Quango)
Bobby Hutcherson – Head On (Blue Note)
Brian Blade – Seasons Of Change (Verve)
Buddy Rich – Speak No Evil (Wounded Bird)
Evan Parker – Boustrophedon (EMC)
Cassandra Wilson – Loverly (Blue Note)
Claudine Longet – Best Of Claudine Longet (Pid)
Dam Funk – Burgundy City (Stones Throw)
Dark Chocolate – Island Gypsy (Megawave)
David Benoit – Heroes (Peak)
Duane Carter – Never Say Never (ISMS)
East Of West – Crossing Borders (EOW)
Elizabeth Shepherd – Parkdale (Do Right)
Ennio Morricone – Ruba Al Prossimo Tuo (Digitmovies)
Eric Darius – Goin’ All Out (Blue Note)
Esperanza Spalding – Esperanza (Heads Up)
Five Corners Quintet – Hot Corners EP (Ricky Tick)
Francisco Mora Catlett – Outerzone (Premier Cru)
Herb Harris – Some Many Second Chances (Herb Harris Music)
Hil St. Soul – Black Rose (Shanachie)
J-Live – Then What Happened? (BBE)
Jackson Conti – Sujinho (Kindred Spirits)
Jim Adkins – City Streets (Clear Image)
Johani – Haka Lolyt (Timmion)
John Abercrombie & John Ruocco – Topics (Challenge)
John Niems – Coming Out Swinging (Wild Sky)
Johnny Pate – Outrageous (MGM/Duty Groove)
Joyce – Feminina/Aqua E Luz (Odeon)
Juicebox – Popcorn (Hippo)
Keith Mansfield – Nightbird (Amphonic)
Ken Navarro – The Grace Of Summer Light (Positive)
Keni Burke – Changes (RCA)
Kid Loco – Italian Job (Temposphere)
Lalo Shifrin – Mission Impossible & Other Thrilling Themes (Pid)
Lawson Rollins – Infinita (Infinita)
Lawson Rollins – Infinita (Infinita)
Magnus Boo – Painbody (Moserobie)
Marcos Valle – The Best Of Marcos Valle (Far Out)
Mario Castro-Neves – Brazilian Mood (Phase 4)
Michael Haggins – Traffic (Cuate)
Mick Hucknall – Tribute To Bobby (Rhino)
Mindi Abair – Stars (Peak)
Minimatic – Spaggiari Revient EP (Vadim)
Nomo – Ghost Rock (Ubiquity)
O’Jays – The Essential O’Jays (Phil Int’l)
Os Ipanemas – Call Of The Gods (Far Out)
PS105.4 Project – Pillars And Dreams (Independent)
Paco De Lucia – Best Of Paco De Lucia (Pid)
Pete Rugolo – Behind Brigitte Bardot (Warner)
Pulpo – Pulpo’s Hot Bread (Mambo Project)
Rone-Iff – Journey Of Deliverance (Rone-iff.com)
Sleepwalker – Brotherhood/Resurrection (Tokyo Night Mix) (Jazzmin)
Solomon Burke – Like A Fire (Shout Factory)
Sonantes (Ceu) – Sonantes (Six Degrees)
Stan Getz – Voyage (Blackhawk)
Steffen Kuehn – Trumpop (Stef)
The G… - The Sweetness (The G…Prods)
Unforscene – Fingers And Thumbs (Tru Thoughts)
Various Artists – Bossa A La Mode: Quatro (Rambling)
Various Artitsts – Bossa Nova Jazz (Verve)
Various Artists – Club Jazz Set (Rambling)
Various Artists – Grand Gallery Presents Love! Stevie (Grand Gallery)
Various Artists – Verve Remixed 4 (Verve)
Various Artists – Verve Unmixed 4 (Verve)
Various Artists – I Like It Like That – Fania Remixed
Victoria White – Upside (Kalimba)
Voodoo Village – Sleight Of Hand (40 West)
Wayman Tisdale – Rebound (Rendezvous)

MICK HUCKNALL - TRIBUTE TO BOBBY

One of the most distinctive vocalists in Britain tips his hat to one of the greatest from the American South with the June 17 release of Mick Hucknall's Tribute To Bobby. The solo debut from the leader of Simply Red features sizzling versions of songs popularized by the great Bobby "Blue" Bland. Tribute To Bobby was recorded last summer at Mick Hucknall's home studio in England with longtime collaborator Andy Wright behind the boards. While the12 songs on the new collection benefit from 21st-century production, Mick's worldly wise delivery ensures they remain grounded in the emotional honesty of the blues.

Tribute To Bobby opens with Mick Hucknall's insistent take on "Farther Up The Road," which had been Bobby Bland's first #1 R&B single in 1957. The CD draws heavily from the legendary bluesman's '50s and '60s hits for Duke Records, including "Stormy Monday Blues," "Chains Of Love," "I Pity The Fool," and "Cry, Cry, Cry." It's a body of work that is among the most respected in blues history, and Mick's passionate interpretations of these classics do them full justice. From Simply Red's first U.S. #1 single, 1986's "Holding Back The Years," it was clear that Mick Hucknall possessed one of pop's great voices; and Tribute To Bobby makes it clear that his contemporary take on soul has always been two steps from the blues. The heartache and resolution in the music of Bobby "Blue" Bland are fixtures of modern life in the urbanjungle -- whether that be Bobby's home turf of Memphis or Mick's in Manchester.

"His music has this sophistication to it, a jazz tinge," explains Hucknall of his affinity for Bland's brand of blues. "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."

Tribute To Bobby Track Listing
1. "Farther Up The Road"
2. "Ain't That Lovin' You"
3. "I'm Too Far Gone (To Turn Around)"
4. "Poverty"
5. "Yolanda"
6. "Stormy Monday Blues"
7. "I Wouldn't Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me)"
8. "I'll Take Care Of You"
9. "Chains Of Love"
10. "I Pity The Fool"
11. "Cry, Cry, Cry"
12. "Lead Me On"

DIRK QUINN - QUINNTET

Sunset is set to release Dirk Quinn's QuinnTet, a daring fresh CD from Philadelphia's finest jazz funk ensemble and the debut CD on Sunset Jazz Recordings, the newly created jazz label. Since starting his music career, guitarist Dirk Quinn has gained a name as one of the most intense jazz, soul -funk artists in the music scene, a work horse on the road playing live in places everywhere from small coffee houses to music festivals throughout the entire summer. When the guitarist began to work on his acoustic music, this year, he discovered that rather than go that direction with his follow up CD, he started creating new music with his band. The result is this nine song incredible CD by incredible jazz musicians.

"We would show up at our live shows and realize we had something special ," Dirk recalls. "I continue to play acoustic shows every week, 'Sometimes at 10AM" The guitar aficionado continues to say as he laughs. "We then began to record some of the stuff we played live. We all added some great layers to the music. And it all ended up on this new CD."

With QuinnTet, Dirk Quinn's band have taken that quintessential jump from being great performing artists to being great recording artists. Quinn's astounding guitar work has had a ground breaking effect in the live music world and he has set some high standards for his second studio CD. "Dirk wanted his next CD to be produced at a high level and he wants this CD to be more than just something for his fans to leave with at his shows," says Don Lichterman, the head of the Sunset Records group of Distributed Labels. As far what inspires Dirk Quinn - Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Theloniuos Monk, David Brubeck along with the more contemporary sounds of Bela Fleck, John Scofield, Ahmad Jamal and Jaco Pastorius -- are some of the artists that come to mind when describing his music. Lichterman goes on to say that "Quinn began heavily turning his musical direction to a more free form and improvisational sound" and "his guitar wizardry is the focal point of his live shows."

Lichterman says this is one of the best full length CDs he has listened to in a long time drawing comparisons to The Word, Robert Randolph and Soulive. "I've always wanted to bring fresh new sounds and even reinvent myself with every project; I never really wanted to ever fall into doing the same old thing all the time," says Quinn from his latest show held in Reading Pennsylvania last weekend.

Quinn has been easily recognized for his astounding abilities on his guitar. He makes no bones about knowing the time spent playing in the studio is ultimately how this CD evolved this year. "Nowadays, we have the ability to play over the basic layers that had been the basis of our music and I have learned to intertwine melodies along with a defined arrangement in each song, " he says about the new QuinnTet CD. "We did not intend to change the way the music is today, but it all needs to work within my grooves and melodies within music". Lichterman says that is what "I look for in developing music - it can be a 98 piece orchestra or one person with an acoustic guitar -- when it works, it is easy to see which is the case with these guys live." Lichterman ends the interview by saying that "this CD by Dirk is amazing for the label and I have it playing in my car all the time."

Having grown up outside of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Quinn has now made the elevation from playing tiny coffee houses around the east Coast of the United States to headlining weekend long music festivals, Quinn's goals with his music go well above his individual melodious limits. "I am making the attempt to build a new scene and a new style of jazz funk that will hopefully inspire people to say that they want to grow up playing improvisational jazz music from the Philadelphia area," he says. "I have followed the careers of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, how they evolved as artist in the jazz community and they would just play live as much as possible every day - - and I truly believe music fans always want to see live improvisational music."

You can see how Quinn has broken through to a higher level of playing with this QuinnTet CD in stores this month at Sunset Jazz Recordings. The band will play live at key events throughout the summer - a July 4th show at the Phoenixville Music festival, the Rex fest in Milford, PA and the Endless Summer Music Festival in New Jersey - along with a very special show at the World Cafe Live on WXPN will culminate the summer tour for Dirk Quinn.

"I am still creating music every day, Quinn says. "What Don (Lichterman) has done by giving us this worldwide reach is open up avenues for me to create more creative music. We have definitely elevated our situation as band by signing with Sunset."

FRANKIE VALLI SOLO REISSUES

Collectors’ Choice Music has announced that itis releasing eight Frankie Valli solo albums as four two-fers all available on June 24. "Solo/Timeless"; "Close Up/Valli"; "Our Day Will Come/Lady Put The Light Out"; and "Frankie Valli…Is The Word/Heaven About Me."

Included on the new reissues are all of Frankie Vallis solo hits. Included on "Solo" is "Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You" and "The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore)." "Timeless" (release in 1968) features "To Give (The Reason I Live)."

"Solo" and "Timeless." Valli's debut features a cover photo with the signer standing on a silver platter being held up by the other three members of the Four Seasons. The CD includes "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You" and "The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore)." "Timeless," from 1968, includes "To Give (The Reason I Live)."

"Close Up" and "Valli": Frankie Valli shifted to Motown’s pop label and then to Private Stock in 1975. When he left Motown, he paid a reported $4,000 for the master of a song he thought could be a hit. The song was "My Eyes Adored You," which appeared on "Close Up." Also featured in "Close Up" is the disco smash "Swaerin’ TO God". "Valli," recorded in 1976, includes Boz Scaggs’ "We’re All Alone."

"Our Day Will Come" and "Lady Put The Light Out": features Frankie Valli's disco version of the Ruby & the Romantics hit is the lead track on his first album during the disco era; abd "Lady Put the Light Out" featured three contributions from the Raspberries’ Eric Carmen.

"Frankie Valli . . . Is The Word" and "Heaven About Me": Frankie Valli then moved to the Warner/Curb label for his 1978’ relasese "Frankie Valli. . . Is The Word," which followed his cameo in "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band." (It's where he met Barry Gibb.) Gibb was commissioned to write the title song for the film adaptation of "Grease," which Valli recorded and became a No. 1 hit. "Heaven Above Me," released on MCA/Curb in 1980, featured "Where Did We Go Wrong," a duet with Chris Forde that Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio co-wrote.

BILLY JOEL - THE STRANGER DELUXE EDITIONS

Legacy Recordings is about to release the 30th Anniversary of Billy Joel's breakout album "The Stranger" with the release of two special editions - a 2 CD Legacy Edition and a Deluxe Limited Edition including 2 CDs plus a bonus DVD - of the best-selling multi-platinum collection which catapulted Joel into the upper ranks of pop music superstardom. Each of the 30th Anniversary editions of "The Stranger" will be available online and in stores on Tuesday, July 8, 2008.

Originally released in September 1977, Billy Joel's fifth studio album, "The Stranger," marked the first of Joel's highly successful collaborations with producer Phil Ramone, whose mastery of the recording studio provided a sublime sonic context for Joel's timeless songs and classic performances. "I was very happy that we chose Phil Ramone," said Billy Joel in a recent interview for the 30th Anniversary edition of "The Stranger." "He got it right away." Billy Joel's first Top 10 album, "The Stranger" is still the iconic performer's best-selling non-compilation album ever. Ranked at #67 on Rolling Stone's prestigious "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list, "The Stranger" has earned the coveted RIAA Diamond Album certification (presented in recognition of US sales of more than 10 million copies). "

The resulting collection became one of the top-selling albums of the year (peaking at #2 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart); won two Grammys (Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Just The Way You Are," "The Stranger" was nominated for Album of the Year); overtook Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as Columbia Records Top Selling Album of the time, and generated four indelible singles -- "Just The Way You Are (#1 Adult Contemporary, #3 Pop Singles); "Only The Good Die Young" (#24 Pop Singles); "She's Always A Woman" (#2 Adult Contemporary, #17 Pop Singles); and "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" (#17 Pop Singles) – that remain radio staples to this day.

The Stranger - 30th Anniversary" will be available in two configurations from Legacy Recordings. The limited deluxe edition of "The Stranger" includes a CD of the original album, in its entirety, remastered by producer Phil Ramone; a CD of a previously unreleased concert featuring Billy and his band, "Live At Carnegie Hall 1977," recorded at the historic Manhattan venue on June 3, 1977, one month prior to the sessions for "The Stranger" album and newly restored for the new editions of "The Stranger"; and a DVD showcasing two live promotional videos from "The Stranger" and the long-awaited release of Billy's fabled appearance on the BBC's "Old Grey Whistle Test," a seldom-seen sixty minute cavalcade from 1978 that has aired only once on the UK's BBC2.

Rounding out the limited deluxe edition of "The Stranger -- 30th Anniversary" package is a 48 page booklet with liner notes from Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke and a multitude of photos, including never-before- seen images from the original photo shoot for the album.
Also available is "The Stranger -- 30th Anniversary" Legacy Edition which includes the CD of the original album, in its entirety, remastered by producer Phil Ramone; the previously unreleased, newly restored "Live At Carnegie Hall 1977" CD; and a 24 page booklet with liner notes by David Fricke and unseen photos from the album's original photo shoot.

The Stranger -- 30th Anniversary Edition
Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings
CD 1 -- The Original Album
1. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
2. The Stranger
3. Just The Way You Are
4. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
5. Vienna
6. Only The Good Die Young
7. She's Always A Woman
8. Get It Right The First Time
9. Everybody Has A Dream
Produced by Phil Ramone in association with Home Run
Music and Lyrics by Billy Joel

CD 2 -- Live At Carnegie Hall, June 3, 1977
1. Intro
2. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)
3. Prelude/Angry Young Man
4. New York State Of Mind
5. Just The Way You Are
6. She's Got A Way
7. The Entertainer
8. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
9. Band Intro
10. Captain Jack
11. I've Loved These Days
12. Say Goodbye To Hollywood
13. Souvenir

Produced for release by Phil Ramone and Bruce Dickinson
"The Old Grey Whistle Test" DVD
"Miami 2017"
"Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"
"New York State Of Mind"
"The Entertainer"
"She's Always A Woman"
"Root Beer Rag"
"Just The Way You Are"
"Souvenir"
"Ain't No Crime"
"Only The Good Die Young"

PLUS Live Promotional videos:
"The Stranger"
"Just The Way You Are"

Billy Joel has sold more than 100 million records over the course of a career spanning more than 40 years, Billy Joel ranks as one of most popular recording artists and respected entertainers in the world. Billy Joel has had 33 Top 40 hits and 23 Grammy nominations since signing his first solo recording contract in 1972. He received the Recording Industry Association of America Diamond Award, presented for albums that have sold more than 10 million copies, for his "Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II."

Billy Joel received Grammy awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1978 for his song "Just the Way You Are"; Album of the Year in 1979 for "52nd Street"; and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1979 for "52nd Street" and in 1980 for "Glass Houses" In 1990, he was presented with a Grammy Legend Award. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992, he was also presented with the Johnny Mercer Award in 2001. In 1999 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and in 2004 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His other awards include the ASCAP Founders Award, the BMI Career Achievement Award, the American Music Awards Award of Merit, and the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal.

Taking its name from a key track on The Stranger, "Movin' Out," a Broadway musical based on Joel's music, choreographed and directed by Twyla Tharp, was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and took home two including Best Orchestrations -- Billy's first Tony Award win -- and Best Choreography.

Over the years, Billy Joel has donated his time and resources to a variety of charitable causes, and he has recently launched an ongoing educational initiative to provide seed money, musical scholarships, and endowments to a variety of East Coast colleges, universities, and music schools. For his accomplishments as a musician and as a humanitarian, he was honored as the 2002 MusiCares Person of the Year by the MusiCares Foundation and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences; he has also received a humanitarian award from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

The net proceeds of Billy Joel's latest composition, "Christmas in Fallujah," inspired by soldiers' letters from Iraq, are being donated to Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit organization that builds specially adapted homes for disabled service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

When it was announced earlier this year that Billy Joel -- who holds the Madison Square Garden record for the longest sequence of sold-out shows by a single artist (12) -- would perform the last concerts at New York's fabled Shea Stadium, more than 110,000 tickets were sold out in 45 minutes. Joel's historic "Last Play At Shea" sold-out concerts are scheduled for July 16 and 18.

2008 TANGLEWOOD JAZZ FESTIVAL TO FEATURE ELIANE ELIAS & JANE MONHEIT

The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced the addition of vocalists Nnenna Freelon and Spencer Day, and pianist, Mulgrew Miller to the 2008 Tanglewood Jazz Festival lineup. They will be the special guests of Marian McPartland for the live taping of "Piano Jazz" for NPR in celebration of Ms. McPartland's 90th birthday on August 29 - 31, 2008. Returning again this year is the popular Jazz Café, an informal, cabaret style venue that features emerging talent. This year's artists in the Jazz Café are the Aaron Parks Quintet, the Kate McGarry Trio, the Jason Palmer Quintet, the Spencer Day Quartet, and the Alex Brown Trio. The full lineup also includes Dianne Reeves, Terence Blanchard, Donal Fox, Christian Scott, Eddie Daniels, Mark O'Connor, Jane Monheit, Joe Locke, Eliane Elias, and Edmar Castaneda.

Here is the full Tanglewood Jazz Festival concert schedule:
Aug 29 - Aaron Parks Quartet, Edmar Castaneda Trio with special guest Joe Locke, Eliane Elias "Something For You" A Tribute to Bill Evans

Aug 30 - Kate McGarry Trio, A Celebration of Marian McPartland's 90th Birthday with special guests Nnenna Freelon, Mulgrew Miller, Spencer Day, a live taping for "Piano Jazz" on NPR, Jason Palmer Quintet, Donal Fox: Scarlatti Jazz Suite Project with special guest Christian Scott, Dianne Reeves

Aug 31- Spencer Day Quartet, Eddie Daniels Quartet, Mark O'Connor's "Hot Swing" with special guest Jane Monheit, Alex Brown Trio, Terence Blanchard's "A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)" with a 35 piece orchestra

IRENE CARA FEATURING HOT CARAMEL: HOW CAN I MAKE YOU LOVE ME

Just the other day I was listening to one of the dozen or so Irene Cara songs off of my iPod and thought to myself…"what a beautiful voice and it’s sad that she’s not making music anymore." Well now with the news of her new CD…it’s definitely great news! The long awaited Irene Cara CD is due to release a new single this summer called "How Can I Make You Love Me". The Oscar and Grammy winning composer and actress has been developing a girl band called "Hot Caramel" and much of the music features songs produced, written and played by Cara and the women in her band. Although the record will be promoted as Adult Contemporary, there are some terrific classic rock re-makes as well as acid jazz, hip-hop and R&B ballads featured on the CD simply named, "Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel." "How Can I Make You Love Me" hits radio in June and I encourage all you radio programmers to give it a spin.

Hot Caramel is a combination of eclectic and talented musicians, producers, song writers and vocalists. Hot Caramel blends hip-pop, R&B, Rock, Jazz, Latin Dance and soul to generate a unique sound setting them apart from the more manufactured girl groups out today. The debut album is called Irene Cara Featuring Hot Caramel and is due out end of summer. The first single of the album is called, How Can I Make You Love Me, which is being released to radio the first week of June. Hot Caramel members include; Errica Poindexter, Yvonne Poindexter, Audrey Martell, Donna Hairston, Lafrae Olivia Sci, Sheryl Bailey and of course Irene Cara as lead vocals

UNWRAPPED VOL. 5.0: THE COLLIPARK CAFÉ SESSIONS

Hidden Beach Records is releasing a CD full of smooth jazz instrumental covers of Southern hip-hop hits, entitled "Unwrapped Vol. 5.0: The Collipark Cafe Sessions" . It’s set for release on June 24. This will be the first new "Unwrapped" CD since volume four was released in 2005.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, the series' 2001 debut has sold 183,000 units. "I was so turned off by all the copycat projects," says Hidden Beach president Steve McKeever in explaining the series' hiatus to Billboard.com. "We'd decided to step aside when we started getting e-mails and requests to do another one."The timing coincided with a hip-hop/jazz hybrid project that Collipark Studios had started on its own. "I felt Hidden Beach and its 'Unwrapped' series was a no-brainer," says Mr. Collipark. "You have to do a project like this right; with someone who knows that older audience. My label knows what the youth want. So we felt this would be a great partnership to make a CD that both parents and children will enjoy."

The lead single from Unwrapped Vol. 5.0: The Collipark Café Sessions will be a cover of Lil' Jon & the EastSide Boyz' "Get Low." In addition to "Unwrapped" production newcomers like Abdul Ra'oof (executive producer), Fred Wesley, Kofi Burbridge and Wirlie "Wyl-e" Morris, the 11-track CD features returning regulars like Hidden Beach artist Mike Phillips, Jeff Lorber, Peter Black and Patrice Rushen.

The track list for "Unwrapped Vo. 5.0":
"Get Low"
"A Bay Bay"
"Salt Shaker"
"Soul Survivor"
"Splash Waterfalls"
"Sensual Seduction"
"Walk It Out"
"Crank That"
"Shawty"

KCRW’S WORLD FESTIVAL AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

KCRW's World Festival is returning to the Hollywood Bowl this June, celebrating a decade-long partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association that features fresh talent alongside the hottest and most recognized names at the legendary venue. The 2008 season offers one of the strongest line ups yet, with appearances by Gnarls Barkley, Feist, Devendra Banhart, Thievery Corporation, UB40, Ozomatli and more. Over the last ten years, KCRW (89.9 FM and KCRW.com) built the World Festival from a small series to a blockbuster hit at the Bowl, and one of the few series to ever sell out all season performances.

"KCRW and the L.A. Philharmonic have enjoyed an enduring and successful partnership. Since 2000, the KCRW World Festival has enjoyed sold-out shows repeatedly, and is considered the hottest - and coolest - ticket of the summer," said KCRW DJ Tom Schnabel, who is also the Program Advisor ofWorld Music at the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall.

KCRW's eclectic approach to radio programming can also be seen in the line-ups for the six-show series, which showcase sounds from around the globe and pair the best of the best from a variety of genres and formats. KCRW's World Festival kicks off on June 22 with a full band performance by Thievery Corporation featuring special guest Seu Jorge, and Bebel Gilberto, Los Amigos Invisibles, and Argentine singer-songwriter Federico Aubele.

Influential Brazilian artist Gilberto Gil and Venezuela-raised world-folk savant Devendra Banhart share the stage on June 29, along with The Album Leaf, featuring Mike Heron from The Incredible String Band.Three KCRW favorites make their Hollywood Bowl debut on the same night. Canadian songstress Feist joins the soulful Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, with the eclectic global pop of Pacifika starting off the show on July 20.

Grammy winners Gnarls Barkley also make their debut Hollywood Bowl, sharing the bill with Senegalese superstar Youssou N'Dour, who was selected as one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2007. Purveyors of experimental noise-pop, Deerhoof, will open the show on July 27.

The seventh annual Reggae Night features the Bowl debut appearance of the U.K.'s pioneering pop reggae band UB40 with legendary singer/ producer Beres Hammond and renowned dancehall singer Barrington Levy on August 3.

Ozomatli return to the Hollywood Bowl for the final night of the series on September 11, with its socially-conscious mash-ups of hip-hop, salsa, cumbia, dub, and Middle Eastern funk. Michael Franti & Spearhead, Mexican singer Lila Downs and Tijuana's electronica leaders Nortec Collective, performing with a mariachi band, round out the bill.

KCRW's WORLD FESTIVAL AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
June 22 - Thievery Corporation (full live show featuring special guest Seu Jorge), Bebel Gilberto, Los Amigos Invisibles, Federico Aubele. Hosted by Jason Bentley

June 29 - Gilberto Gil, Devendra Banhart, The Album Leaf (featuring Mike Heron from The Incredible String Band). Hosted by Anne Litt

July 20 - Feist, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Pacifika. Hosted by Nic Harcourt

July 27 - Gnarls Barkley, Youssou N'Dour, Deerhoof. Hosted by Garth Trinidad

August 3 -Reggae Night: UB40, Beres Hammond, Barrington Levy. Hosted by Tom
Schnabel

September 21 - Ozomatli, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Lila Downs, Nortec Collective.
Hosted by Raul Campos

SMOOTH JAZZ RETURNS TO DENVER: K-HIGH 101.9 (KKHI-FM)

Bustos Media has switched the format of Regional Mexican KDGQ-FM/Denver to Smooth Jazz KKHI-FM. KKHI-FM will be known as as "K-High 101.9" using Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network with local talents Kenny Cortes in mornings and Steve Hamilton in middays. Smooth Jazz Network's Dave Koz will air in afternoons and Maria Lopez will handle nights. Also joining KKHI-FM as VP/General Manager is market vet Chuck Lontine.

Kenny Cortes was formally with Lincoln Financial's cross-town station KJCD-FM (Smooth Jazz 104) where he woke up Denver listeners for over 8 years; and Steve Hamilton was formally with Entercom's crosstwon KOSI-FM in during middays.

Bustos Media CEO Amador Bustos commented, " We will put our improved 101.9 FM signal to its best and highest use, by filling an evident music vacuum in the Denver metro, with the outstanding Smooth Jazz format produced by Broadcast Architecture in combination of some outstanding local talent."

This is great news for the Denver metro area since listeners have been without a smooth jazz station since earlier in the year.