DANILO PEREZ – ACROSS THE CRYSTAL SEA

In his work with the Wayne Shorter Quartet and with his own trio, Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Perez has been acclaimed for his Pan-American originality and musical fearlessness. On his new orchestral CD "Across the Crystal Sea," which was arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman, Perez draws deeply on his lyrical gifts. Produced by Tommy LiPuma, with renowned engineer Al Schmitt at the controls, the new CD will be released by Emarcy/Universal on August 26.

The Panamanian-born pianist found "Across the Crystal Sea" to be the biggest challenge of his career--and one of its highlights. "It was a big test for me," says Perez. "My experience with Wayne has taught me to go to unknown places. But when it came to working with Claus, it was another kind of adventure. . . . As the musical director, he provided me with both a story and a landscape, and then told me, 'I want you to paint.'" "Across the Crystal Sea" features Perez in a trio with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash, augmented by percussionist Luis Quintero. Vocalist Cassandra Wilson performs on "Lazy Afternoon" and "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings," the album's sole standards.

The remaining six tracks are Ogerman's, which he says are "based on classical themes I've known all my life and have always wanted to adapt and record." In addition to his original composition "Another Autumn," Ogerman drew on themes by Sibelius, Rachmaninoff, Massenet, Manuel de Falla, and choral composer Hugo Distler. Producer Tommy LiPuma knew and loved Claus Ogerman's work with Antonio Carlos Jobim, beginning in the 1960s, and especially his "outrageously great" 1965 Bill Evans Trio album, "With Symphony Orchestra," "where Claus took classical themes and used them as vehicles for Bill to play on."

When LiPuma and Ogerman met in 1966, "we found a kinship with each other that started a 42-year friendship." They later collaborated on nearly a dozen projects, beginning in 1976 with the triple-platinum "Breezin'" and two other George Benson recordings; Joao Gilberto's 1977 classic "Amoroso;" three Ogerman solo discs, including "Cityscape" with Michael Brecker; "Sleeping Gypsy" by Michael Franks (1977); Dr. John's "City Lights" (1978); and Diana Krall's 2001 album, "The Look of Love."

In 2001 LiPuma, who'd already produced four CDs with Perez, approached the pianist about doing an orchestral album and at the same time sent Perez's recordings to Ogerman. "It took a few years, but Claus called me, told me how fantastic Danilo was and that he was starting to put some material together," says LiPuma. "We decided on the same formula as the Bill Evans album." The ravishing results may be heard in "Across the Crystal Sea," a tour de force for Danilo Perez and, for his producer, "one of my personal favorites" from his own distinguished discography.

Danilo Perez was born in Panama on December 29, 1965 and began his musical studies at age three; by ten he was studying classical piano at the National Conservatory of Music. Perez earned a bachelor's degree in electronics and came to the United States in the early 1980s, eventually landing at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he has lived ever since. He completed his studies in jazz composition and worked with Terence Blanchard, Jon Hendricks, and Paquito D'Rivera before joining Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra in 1989 for a four-year stay.

Perez debuted as a leader with "Danilo Perez" in 1992, followed by "The Journey," both for RCA/Novus. He teamed with producer Tommy LiPuma for "Panamonk" in 1996 (called "a masterpiece of jazz synthesis" by the New York Times); the Grammy nominees "Central Avenue" (1998) and "Motherland" (2000); and 2003's "Till Then." The pianist also released two CDs through ArtistShare: "Danilo Perez Trio Live at the Jazz Showcase" (2005) and "Danilo Perez Big Band/Panama Suite" (2006).

Perez has been a member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet since 2000 and appears on three of the saxophonist's CDs--"Footprints Live!" (2001) and the Grammy winners "Alegria" (2003) and "Beyond the Sound Barrier" (2005).

Currently, Perez is Artistic Director of the Panama Jazz Festival, which he founded in 2003, and President of the Danilo Perez Foundation, founded in 2005 to promote Panamanian art and culture. He serves as the Ambassador of Goodwill for UNICEF, Artistic Advisor of the Mellon Jazz Up Close series at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and faculty member of the New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music.

Perez also tours with his trio: bassist Ben Street and drummer Adam Cruz, and will be appearing with them this fall: 9/11 Bates College Jazz Festival, Lewiston, ME; 9/12-13 Regattabar, Boston; 10/10 Hartford (CT) Jazz Festival; 10/14-19 Jazz Showcase, Chicago; 11/21-22 Jazz at Lincoln Center Monk Festival, New York City.

UB40, THE WHISPERS, AARON NEVILLE & ALICIA KEYS HEADLINE BERMUDA MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Bermuda Department of Tourism announced today that additional tickets to the 2008 Bermuda Music Festival have been released and are available to visitors looking to attend the highly sought after event. From October 1-4, 2008, Bermuda will make headlines all over the world as celebrities, locals and visitors alike join together for four days of sun, music and sand. Tickets and travel packages are available exclusively to overseas travelers by calling 877-887-2835 or via email at jazzfesttravel.com. Ticket supply is limited.

Kicking off the 13th annual event on October 1st at the Fairmont Southampton Beach Club will be the soulful sounds of R & B legends, The Whispers. On October 3rd, British reggae band, UB40 is sure to bring fans to their feet. Finally, on Saturday October 4th, the Bermuda Music Festival will come to a close with an evening full of sounds from international superstar Alicia Keys.

With the magnitude of the talent performing at this years' music festival, this event will give us an incredible opportunity to highlight Bermuda's tourism product like never before," said Rock Newman, Executive Producer of the 2008 Bermuda Music Festival. "By releasing additional tickets to the U.S. market, we are affording ourselves the chance to do just that."

In addition to the all star talent lineup, festival attendees will enjoy performances by: Lyfe Jennings, Collie Buddz, Aaron Neville and variety of Bermuda's most outstanding local talent. Hosts for the 2008 Bermuda Music Festival include a few of the world's most famous and renowned comedians: Dick Gregory, Bill Bellamy and of course, returning for his third time, Steve Harvey.

LONG BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL

Southern California’s premiere music festival presenting the best in Jazz and Rhythm & Blues for the 21st year. The Long Beach Jazz Festival takes place the weekend of August 8, 9, and 10, 2008. Once again, the festival venue is the breath-taking seaside setting of Rainbow Lagoon Park on Shoreline Drive in Long Beach, California, where for two decades now thousands of faithful music fans have made the Long Beach Jazz Festival an annual family affair.

The smoothly soulful and classily jazzy singer KEM kicks off the 3-day festival Friday night, previewing material from his highly anticipated third project, Album III (his first in three years). Additionally, a special appearance by chef G. Garvin, the entertaining host of TV One’s popular cooking show, “Turn Up the Heat,” will share techniques and recipes from his new book "Dine in with G. Garvin" (slated for release the first week of October).

2008’s lineup also includes singer/composer Michael Franks - the master of poetically sensual and witty lyrics - tenor saxophone superstar Kirk Whalum and conga drum master Poncho Sanchez, a torchbearer of jazz and funk with tropical Latin flair. An amazing assemblage of soul-jazz legends will perform under the umbrella title “The Superstars of Jazz Fusion” starring vibraphonist Roy Ayers, keyboard wizard Lonnie Liston Smith, trumpeter Tom Browne, founding Jazz Crusaders trombonist Wayne Henderson and singer extraordinaire Miki Howard.

Female musicians are thoroughly represented by the piano artistry of frequent LBJF participant Keiko Matsui, the versatile spice of saxophonist/singer Mindi Abair, and the sweet, fleet-fingered guitar style of Joyce Cooling.

Old school soul music lovers will swoon for the sounds of West Coast vocal legends The Whispers and the Grammy Award-winning Commodores, while neo soul fans can check out the rousing and righteous sounds of acclaimed singer/songwriter Chrisette Michele, funk-soul-jazz party starter’s Down to the Bone, and modern soul-jazz stars Nick Colionne on guitar and Euge Groove on sax.

Tickets are available through Rainbow Promotions, LLC at (562) 424-0013, or online at Ticketmaster.com. VIP tickets are $150 per seat for Friday and $175 per seat /per day on Saturday and Sunday—includes dinner, wine service and access to mingle with jazz artists. Reserved box seat tickets are $60 per seat on Friday and $75 per seat/per day on Saturday and Sunday. General admission/lawn seating is $45 (prior to July 30) and $50 at the gate. For the Friday show, gates open at 5PM, with a show time of 7PM until 11:30PM. For the Saturday and Sunday shows, gates open at 11:00AM with show times of 12 NOON until 10:30PM.

For more information click to www.longbeachjazzfestival.com

NEW RELEASES

2000 Black – Next Set A Rockers (Virgo)
Andrea Pozzo Trio with Alan Farrington – Drop This Thing (Déjà vu)
Anthony David – Acey Duecy (Universal)
Archie Bell & The Drells – I Can’t Stop Dancing (Atlantic)
Average White Band - Shine
Bajofondo – Mar Dulce (Decca/Surco)
Baker Brothers – Transition Transmission (Peddler/P-Vine)
Brian King – Caribbean Sunset (A King’s Dream)
Buddy Guy – Skin Deep (Silvertone/Zomba)
Burning Spear – The Best Of Burning Spear (Virgin)
Cedar Walton – Seasoned Wood (High Note)
Chante Moore – Love The Woman
Chris Greene Quartet – Soul And Science Vol 2. – ElectricBoogaloo (Single Malt)
Dells – Then And Now (Dellsaway)
Diana Ross – Everything Is Everything (Motown/Hip-O-Select)
Elza Soares – Elza Pedo Passagem (Odeon/EMI)
Eumir Deodato – Ideias (Odeon/EMI)
Francisco Mora Cartlett – Outerzone (Premier Cru)
Gene Shaw – Breakthrough (Argo/Dusty Groove)
Gilberto Gil – Banda Larga Cordel (Warner)
Henry Grimes & Rashid Ali – Going To The Ritual (Porter)
IG Culture – Zen Badizm
Jane Morgan – Time (Kapp)
Jazzpects – Double Consciousness (Jasspects)
Jesse Bayline – Firesight
Juhani – Haka Loylyt (Timmion)
Kat 010 – Natural Phenomenons (010)
Keith Mansfield – Night Bird (Amphonic)
Kylie Auldist – Just Say (Tru Thoughts)
LTC – Different View (Ricky Tick)
Leleo – Maravilhas (Acid Jazz)
Liquid Spirits – Liquid Spirits EP (Kindred Spirits)
Lori Fine & Others – Footworks Featuring Lori Fine (Sony)
Manhattans – One Life To Live (Virgo)
Marcos Valle – Conecta Ao Viso No Cinemathique (EMI)
Maria Muldaur – Yes We Can! (Telarc)
Marina Machdo – Tempo Quente (EMI)
Maxi Priest – The Best Of Maxi Priest (Virgin)
Mel Torme – The Capitol Singles Collection (Capitol/EMI)
The Moments – Not On The Outside, But On The Inside, Strong! (Stang)
Muhsinah – Pre-Lude (Circulations)
Natural Self – Art Of Vibration (Tru Thoughts)
New Mastersounds – Plug & Play (One Note)
Nomo – Ghost Rock (Ubiquity)
OV Wright – Bottom Line (Hi/Victor)
Pato Banton – The Best Of Pato Banton (Virgin)
Peter Tosh – The Best Of Peter Tosh (Virgin)
Polly Bergen – All Alone By The Telephone (Columbia)
Quantic Presents Flowering Inferno – Death Of The Revolution (Tru Thoughts)
Roswell Rudd – Keep Your Heart Right (Sunnyside)
S Pearl Sharp – Higher Ground (Poets Pay Rent Too)
Sabrina Malheros – New Morning (Far Out)
Saturday Knights – Mingle (Light On The Attic)
Secondo – Matter Of Scale (SoulJazz)
Selben – Formless (Traveler)
Sergio Pires – Electrofunksamba (Dende)
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 – Sean Kuti & Egypt 80
Serge Gainsbourg – Ye Ye (Mimimatic Rmx)/Le Quizz (Minimatic Rmx) (Tour Eiffel)
Shades Of Brown – S.O.B. (Cadet/Dusty Groove)
Smell Trio – Naiko (Déjà Vu)
Soil & Pimp Sessions – Planet Pimp (Victor)
Tamba Trio – Tamba Trio (RCA/Japan)
Teddy Thompson – A Piece Of What You Need (Verve)
Various Aritists – Eccentric Soul – The Tragar & Note Labels (Numero)
Various Artists – Funkin’ The Spirit – Groovy Rhythms & Soul Gems Collected By Blue Note (Blue Note)
Various Artists – Funky Jazz Brothers – Crunching Funky Beats & Grooves From The Blue Note Team (Blue Note)
Various Artists – Groove Train – Get Off At Blue Note Groove Station (Blue Note)
Various Artists – House Connection – Around The Shibuya Corner (King)
Various Artists – Jazz Connection – Around The Shibuya Corner (King)
Various Artists – Music Turns Me On – Mixed By Osumi (Living Room)
Various Artists – On The Corner – Fantastic Fusion Grooves From The Jazz Funk Masters (Blue Note)
Various Artists – Outer Space Disco Funk Ignites Blue Note & TK Dance Floors (Blue Note)
Various Artists – Routine Jazz Presents Noulvelle Vague – A Compilation of Club Jazz Bands from Japan (Routine)
Various Artists – Sonorama Rmx Collection (Sonorama)
Various Artists – Soul Unsigned EP2 (Soul Unsighed)
Various Artists – Strut ‘N’ Get Up – Funky Fat Slices Of Groove Cut From The Blue Note (Blue Note)
Warren Hill – La Dolce Vita (Koch)
Ziggy Marley & Melody Makers – The Best of Ziggy Marley & Melody Makers (Virgin)

AL JARREAU - CHRISTMAS

The summer may be heating up, but Al Jarreau has Christmas on his mind. This fall, the seven-time Grammy winning vocalist will release his first-ever Christmas album - his first album of newly recorded music since 2006's sensational "Givin' It Up" with George Benson. "AL JARREAU CHRISTMAS" includes the singer's distinctive vocal spin on a dozen yuletide classics. On October 14, this holiday collection will be available from Rhino Records at all physical outlets for a suggested list price of $18.98. The digital release will be available for $9.99.

"AL JARREAU CHRISTMAS" opens with "Winter Wonderland," written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934 for Guy Lombardo, who hit #2 with the song's timeless melody. The album is packed with festive favorites including "The Christmas Song," "Come All Ye Faithful," and "White Christmas," the ageless tune written by Irving Berlin and first sung by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical, "Holiday Inn." The album also features Jarreau's versions of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Carol Of The Bells," "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," "Some Children See Him" and "Gloria In Excelsis," a sacred song used in the Roman Catholic Mass.

After singing with Reprise in 1975, Jarreau has become a master of both studio and stage. The only artist to ever win Grammy awards in pop, jazz and R&B, Jarreau is one of the most exciting and critically acclaimed performers of our time. During his career, Jarreau has earned scores of awards and accolades from around the world, including a platinum album, "Breakin' Away" (1981), and four gold albums -- "This Time" (1980), "Jarreau" (1983), "High Crime" (1984) and "L Is For Lover" (1986). In February 2008, Jarreau handpicked his favorite romantic tunes for "LOVE SONGS." Spanning three decades, this 14-song compilation is available now from Rhino.

Jarreau was recently featured on opening night of the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the renowned festival, which was emceed by Bill Cosby. He will embark on a tour of Southeast Asia in September and the United States in December.

AL ARREAU CHRISTMAS ALBUM"
Track Listing
1. "Winter Wonderland"
2. "Hark The Herald Angels Sing"
3. "White Christmas"
4. "Carol Of The Bells"
5. "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"
6. "The Christmas Song"
7. "I'll Be Home For Christmas"
8. "Gloria In Excelsis"
9. "Christmas Time Is Here"
10. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
11. "Some Children See Him"
12. "The Little Christmas Tree"

SHILTS - JIGSAW LIFE

What do you get when you combine unforgettable hooks and atomic energy? You get a sound that is fresh, unique and totally Shilts. The former frontman for the funk-fortified Down to the Bone and groove jazz specialist, Shilts has signed with nuGroove for the release of his new CD, Jigsaw Life.

"nuGroove was the original home for Down to the Bone. I’m excited to have Shilts back with us. When I heard cuts from this release, I was ecstatic. The songs are unbelievable. There was so much good material on this release that we had a hard time picking the first single," said David Chackler, President and Co-owner.

Paul "Shilts" Weimar originally hails from London, England and has been playing saxophone since his early teens. His career has spanned all forms of jazz, soul, rock and pop music. He has toured all over the world and performed with a host of international artists, such as The Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, Rick Braun, Jeff Lorber, Peter White and many more. Eventually Shilts became the most visible and identifiable member of the UK jazz group Down To the Bone. In his eleven years with the group, he remained excited creating a separate identity for himself. He did this with his highly anticipated debut, See What Happens, which earned a 2001 Smooth Jazz Award nomination, followed by his second and highly acclaimed follow up, HeadBoppin. His third and latest release, Jigsaw Life, is a powerful showcase of Shilts’ multitude of performing and composing talents, focusing not only on his tenor brilliance but also his instantly infectious melodies.

"I’ve been lucky that I’ve played in so many different styles of music…soul, fusion, pop, big band, smooth jazz. I’ve brought all those different styles in this CD. I’ve tried to make each track sound different. The jigsaw to me is different styles of music," said Shilts.

Jigsaw Life opens with "Piece by Piece." One of the first songs that Shilts chose for the album, it was originally a tune he wrote for Rick Braun and Richard Elliot but never recorded. On second glance, Shilts decided to crank up the tempo and enriched the funk. Additionally, for the first time in 20 years, Shilts decided to play the soprano. Unfortunately, he no longer owned a soprano. Luckily, Yamaha was gracious enough to loan him one and "Piece by Piece" blossomed into a duet between the soprano and tenor.

Destined to be a summer hit, the upbeat dance track and first single to go to radio, "Back on The Hudson" was untitled for a long time. "I was performing in New York with Down to the Bone on the Spirit Cruises and decided I wanted to play it during the set to test out the new tune. Everyone loved it and asked me the name…I didn’t have one." In celebration of the location, Shilts name the song "Back on The Hudson."

In contrast to the rowdy "Back on The Hudson," the sole ballad on Jigsaw Life is "A Promise is a Promise" with a stunning soprano ballad melody. "This one is for the ladies," said Shilts.
Keeping to the spirit of making each song unique on Jigsaw Life, Shilts enlisted the aid of a string quartet for "Broken Silence." Simple and emotionally powerful with a soprano lead, the song slowly builds with a Hammond B-3 and acoustic guitar added to the mix with a dynamic electric guitar solo at the end.

"One of my favorites is track seven, "Outside the Box," said Shilts. "It’s the furthest away from any other tracks on the album. I originally was going to call it "Southern Fried Sax." It has a bluesy, southern soul sort of sound with a trio of tenor saxophones interacting with one another…a dirty, nasty, funky groove, yet very minimalist." With the exception of the guitar, Shilts plays all the instruments for this party track.

This is just a small sampling of the pieces of the music that make up Jigsaw Life.

TOWER OF POWER: THE EAST BAY ARCHIVE VOLUME 1

"The East Bay Archive Volume 1" produced by David Garibaldi, was recorded in Boston on April 23, 1973, jus weeks before another landmark album Tower of Power album would be released. The original recording is part of David Garibaldi’s personal collection of rehearsals and Tower of Power live shows. The April 1973 show is being featured on "The East Bay Archives Volume 1", that includes band members Emilio Castillo, Doc Kupka, Rocco Prestia, David Garibaldi, Greg Adams, Mic Gillette, Lenny Pickett, Bruce Conte, Chester Thompson, Brent Byars, and Lenny Williams. "The East Bay Archives Volume 1" includes every song that was on the "Tower of Power" album, with the exception of ‘Clever Girl", and "Will I Ever Find Another Love". There are 18 songs on this double CD release, including a never before released instrumental written by Chester Thompson entitles "Check It Out". Note that the "Tower of Power" album was the third release for the Oakland-based band and it was their most successful album to date. It was released in the spring of 1973 and the album peaked at #15 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart at the time, and it received a gold record award for sales in excess of 500,000 copies. The album also spawned their most successful single "So Very Hard To Go". The album also charged two other singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "This Time It’s Real" and "What Is Hip?" The East Bay Archive Volume 1" is set for release on August 26.

001. ANNUAL SMOOTH JAZZ FESTIVAL BREGENZ – LICENSE TO CHILL

Goodbye James – hello Candy. Only a couple of weeks ago the Bregenz Festival Hall was under the motto "Quantum of Solace" – but soon that is going to be: Enjoy a "Quantum of smooth jazz"...

Neusäß, 09.06.2008: While hot action scenes have rounded off the shooting programme for "Quantum of Solace" – the 22nd episode of the famous "My name is Bond"– special agen – saga - on the roof of the Bregenz Festival Hall, preparations for the just as promising 1st episode of a festival are in full swing: the 1st Annual Smooth Jazz Festival which is taking place here (in Bregenz, Austria) on the 29th and 30th of August. Not only does the smooth entertainment GmbH, Neusäß, provide the suitable background music for a shaken vodka martini with this event, but it also stages yet another world premiere in the studio theatre in Bregenz – and this mission is everything but secret. On the contrary: we are more than pleased to share all the news...

First Mission: What is Smooth Jazz?
The term "Smooth Jazz" is not one commonly used in this part of the world, so let’s start with a short definition: first: Smooth Jazz is not Jazz – or not only, at least. Secondly: Smooth Jazz is no muzak*!! But: Smooth Jazz is – a touch of Soul, a touch of RnB (not too much), a touch of Jazz, too. While wikipedia.de claims that Smooth Jazz is a variety of Jazz, we claim: Smooth Jazz is the play list of the "Cafe del Mar" – CDs. It is emotion. An attitude towards life which finds no echo in the mainstream–scores of the charts. It is chill-out music at its finest, but definitely with a light savoir-vivre- and laissez-faire-feeling at its heart. In the U.S and in Dubai the fans of this floating sound number millions already, prominent artists are e.g. Candy Dulfer, Sade, Carlos Santana, Simply Red, Nora Jones, Sting, but also the German band De Phazz with singer Pat Appleton.

Second Mission: Why Bregenz?
Smooth Jazz is casually cultivated lifestyle, paired with a dose of coolness, cultivated indulgence and culture – an ambience completely in line with the Bregenz Festival Hall. On the one hand a touch of "Casino Royale", on the other a breeze of beach-feeling à la "Cafe del Mar". Concerts with well-known artists will take place on both nights. The location: the studio theatre, the "rough diamond for events" of the Bregenz Festival Hall, set up as a multifunctional "Black Box" which will transform into a chilled-out party lounge on the occasion of the 1st Annual Smooth Jazz Festival. Moreover an outdoor lounge will be open to all – not only festival guests – from the afternoon.

Third Mission: Which Acts?
The Festival line-up sparkles with highlights: On the first night the Italian band Gabin will hit the stage with groovy beats. Then the American guitarist Chieli Minucci, who has already performed with artists like Jennifer Lopez and Anastacia, the saxophonist Marion Meadows, from the U.S. as well, and the Swiss-born pianist Alex Bugnon will take you away into the world of Smooth Jazz. De Phazz from Heidelberg is the closing climax of the first-night live acts, and will put the audience in the mood for the following after-show-party with elements of Dub, Jazz, Soul, Trip-Hop, Latin, Drum`n`Bass and Ambient; we have of course booked well-known clubbing-scene djs for both party nights.

The second night will be opened by De Phazz singer Pat Appleton with her own band, then big names in the world of Smooth Jazz, Peter White, Jaared and Candy Dulfer, follow onto the stage. The saxophonist from the Netherlands has already performed with international stars like Prince, Beyonce, Aretha Franklin and Pink Floyd and will put the heat on the audience for the following after-show-party. On this weekend a visit to Bregenz will even be doubly rewarding: on both days of the Festival the Bregenz town fair takes place during daytime, which each year attracts 120,000 guests to a visit at the lake promenade.

Other performers also appearing include Praful & Sound System, Adani & Wolf, and Rocco Ventrella.

The Performers...

GABIN
The duo Gabin is not from France, as the name might suggest, no, they call Italy their home. The faces behind the pseudonym are the musicians Massimo Bottini and Filippo Clary, whose approaches to music come from two different perspectives. While Clary works in Rome as a renowned dj and rocks the city’s nightlife there, Bottini is up to his tricks as a Jazz-bassist and can adorn himself with collaborations with such well-known Jazz personalities as Billy Cobham or John Scofield. Their own musical vision meets somewhere in the middle. Influences from Jazz and Soul meet Downbeat-sounds and Latin-rhythms. Discreetly used synthetic elements lend this lush music cocktail the necessary drive

CHIELI MINUCCI
The American Jazz-guitarist and composer with Italian roots was born in New York in 1958. His father, Ulpio Minucci, was a successful concert pianist and composer. Cieli himself is probably best known today as head of the Grammy-nominated Jazz-band "Special EFX", with whom he has recorded 23 cds. Moreover, he has worked together with world stars such as Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Jessica Simpson, and Anastacia. From the world of Jazz Marion Meadows, Jay Beckenstein, Gerald Veasley, Lao Tizer, Nestor Torez and Bob Baldwin have cooperated with Minucci, and his compositions for movies and television have earned him several Daytime Emmy Award nominations. He took home the award twice.

MARION MEADOWS
The saxophonist Marion Meadows (soprano-, tenor- and baritone sax) has style – in terms of outfit as well, as he prefers black and with his black dreadlocks, he is surely a favourite with the Jazz-loving ladies. As a musician he sets an example for countless smooth-saxophonists, who all try to follow suit with the casually cool, but still powerfully emotional Meadows sound. By now he has published nine cds and has worked together with a number of well-known artists like Brook Brenton, Eartha Kitt, Phyllis Hyman, Jean Carne, The Temptations, Michael Bolton or Angela Bofill.

ALEX BUGNON
Jazz-pianist and composer Alex Bugnon was born in 1958 in Montreux. His hometown regularly hosts the Montreux Jazz Festival – thus, Bugnon has more or less grown up with Jazz. Before moving to the U.S.A he studied music at the Conservatorium in Paris for two years. He then went to the Berkley School of Music and performed with gospel groups as a sideline. In 1990 he moved to New York, where he played in the background as a session musician with artists like Patti Austin, Freddie Jackson and Keith Sweat. He made it into the charts with his debut album "Love Season" just as with its successor, "Head over Heels"; in the R&B charts he even secured a place among the top 40. All following releases were placed in the R&B charts, too. After not having published an album under his own name for five years, the Jazz branch of Narada records offered him a contract and brought him to the market as a solo Jazz artist. He returned to the Jazz-charts with his album "Alex Bugnon" and further releases followed suit. Alex Bugnon has won two Soul Train Music Awards.

DE PHAZZ
The Heidelberg band De Phazz was founded in 1997 by pit Baumgartner as an open band -project. They got famous, among others, with their radio hit "The Mambo Craze" from their second album "Godsdog". The name "De Phazz" is derived from destination f(ph)uture jazz. The music, which might be familiar from a couple of TV commercials, is very varied and includes elements from Dub, Jazz, Soul, Trip-Hop, Latin, Drum`n`Base, Ambient and R&B, but also elements of Turntablism are woven into their music. The band itself developed more and more into a Live-Act and appears mainly in clubs and on open airs; the music is often accentuated by light and colour displays, projections and dances. The formation of the band itself keeps changing, too – its members include or have included musicians like Karl Frierson (vocals), Oli Rubow (drums), Susanne Horn (vocals), Pat Appleton (vocals), Roy Randolph (percussion, vocals) or Frank Spaniol (saxophone).

PAT APPLETON
Pat Appleton, daughter of a German mother and a Liberian father has found her way into music business during her time as a student of political sciences, when she took on a job as a singer in a party- and dance combo. She soon realised that being an ambassador for music suited her far better than lending her voice to politics, as originally planned. She therefore chucked her father’s dream of becoming President of Liberia and completed a vocal training. After a diversity of engagements as a lead- or background interpreter for numerous Pop- and Jazz bands as well as excursions into advertising and film soundtracks, she joined the Heidelberg sound-collective De Phazz in 1999, where she is creative as a composer and texter as well. Last but not least she is also a popular guest-singer with Bands like the Jazzkantine of the Nighthawks, with whom she has also written and published songs. As "one of the most important voices of contemporary German Jazz" (3sat) Pat Appleton tours the world with De Phazz today. Last September she presented her first solo album "What’s Next?"

PETER WHITE
An Englishman who accentuates his music with genial charm and musical playfulness. The result: Smooth Jazz with a spiritedness which many others in this genre lack. Born in Luton in 1954, White devoted himself to music already as a child. His father encouraged him to learn many instruments – the recorder, the clarinet, cornet, the trombone, violin, mouth organ, the piano – but his father’s instruments were not his – his was the guitar. But here his father could not help him. Therefore he helped himself, experimented with a few simple chords and imitated melodies from the radio. Like many musicians, White was strongly influenced by the Beatles and the guitar-driven Beat sound of the sixties. After his first electric guitar, which he had bought as a teenager, had burnt in a fire, however, he had to make do with an acoustic guitar. He made the best of it: White discovered his love for acoustic music. Shortly after he had left school at 18 he got an engagement in a hotel resort in the South of England, where he played over the summer. After that he travelled to London and joined a band managed by Miles Copeland (manager of Sting, R.E.M.). It was Copeland who arranged the contact between the 20-year-old White and Al Stewart, with whom he toured England and the US shortly after. He worked with Stewart as a pianist at first, and later also as a guitarist, composer and co-producer. In 1979 Stewart moved to Los Angeles, formed the band Shot in the Dark and a record label called Lobster Music. In 1990 he published his first solo album ("Reveillez-Vous"). The album soon became a favourite with Jazz-djs and Jazz-Radio stations. White has published more successful albums and is known throughout the world today.

JAARED
The alto- and soprano-saxophonist Jaared was born in Washington in 1967. He began playing the saxophone at the age of seven – on the recommendation of a doctor. The reason: he suffered from asthma as a child. To prescribe lessons on a wind instrument with such a diagnosis might sound strange at first, but actually the doctor was aiming at strengthening the lungs. The patient must have taken his medicine obediently, as he is a most well known Jazz-musician today. Jaared stands for neat, casually light Smooth Jazz. A major influence on him was David Sanborn, whose music had left an impression on Jaared even as a teenager; he made a name for himself in the music scene of Washington DC in the 80ies, where he performed with a diversity of artists: Starting with Ju Ju House of the Go-Go-Funk band EU up to Mary Ann Redmond, a highly distinguished Soul-/Rock-singer made along the lines of Tina Turner and Etta James. Even though he took part in a couple of R&B-Gigs, too, when he started recording albums of his own in 2000 the musician decided to concentrate on Smooth Jazz (in a time when he also toured the U.S. side by side with Jazz-guitarist Peter White). His debut album "Forward" was published in 2001, followed by "Hangtime" a year later.

CANDY DULFER
"If I want sax, I call Candy" Megastar Prince once said adoringly – and he is not the only one with whom Candy Dulfer rings a bell – the Dutchwoman has long since made a name for herself internationally as a saxophonist. The daughter of the well-known Jazz saxophonist Hans Dulfer soon knew that she would be treading in her father’s footsteps. Candy starts playing the sax as a six-year-old; at 14 she has a band of her own (Funky Stuff) with whom she works together up to the present day. In 1987 she put the heat on the audience as a supporting act for Madonna, and one year later she should have opened Prince’s shows in the Netherlands. When she received a cancellation at short notice she wrote him a letter of complaint. Which apparently was worth the effort: the man from Minneapolis invited her as a guest onto his stage. Since that day she repeatedly went on tours with him, could and can be heard on many of his albums. In 1990 Candy Dulfer`s first solo album "Saxuality" appeared and was an immediate success. Candy tours almost all of Europe and even performs in the U.S. With rewards: a Grammy Award nomination in the category "Best Pop-Album Instrumental". During the last years Candy Dulfer has worked together with Dave Stewart, Van Morrison, Pink Floyd, Aretha Franklin and Beyoncé. At the end of July 2007 the 10th album of the Dutch artist appeared. On 13 tracks Candy celebrates her maturity as a musician and plays with the most diverse elements form Pop, Soul and Jazz. Elements from Hip Hop and Rap are even more prominent here than in the past.

For more information click to www.smoothjazzfestival.de

DAVID SANBORN - HERE AND NOW

New from David Sanborn is "Here And Gone" which is a tribute to the sound of Hank Crawford, David "Fathead" Newman, Ray Charles, etc. Backing Sanborn are Steve Gadd (drums) and Christian McBride (bass). Guests include Eric Clapton, Joss Stone, Sam Moore, Derek Trucks and Anthony Wilson. Here And Gone was produced by yet another legend and longtime friend: Phil Ramone. "Joss is a real phenomenon," Sanborn says. "It takes a forceful talent to take a song ["I Believe It to My Soul"] that Ray Charles not only wrote but really defined and put your own identity on it." Sanborn, who has been friends with Eric Clapton for many years and a collaborator with him on several previous projects, asked Eric to play on Percy Mayfield's "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town." "Fortunately he agreed not only to sing on it but play on it! But he's got such a great understanding of what the music is about and the way it should be presented." Sanborn's song selection - like "I've Got News For You" which features Sam Moore of Sam & Dave fame - gives the listener a glimpse to his sense of humor.

Sanborn, an unrivaled player who straddles the pop and jazz worlds while commanding respect in both, has worked with Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder and The Rolling Stones to name just a few. Remember David Bowie's "Young Americans" or the Saturday Night Live theme - that's Sanborn. Night Music - his groundbreaking music television show on NBC - was produced by SNL's creator Lorne Michaels and featured a remarkably diverse guest artist list including Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, Sonny Rollins, the Pixies, Leonard Cohen and Al Green. Many of these episodes are on YouTube. As a child, David had polio. His doctor suggested he play a wind instrument to improve his lung strength. His father took him to a basketball game in his hometown of St. Louis. Hank Crawford performed during halftime, Sanborn was inspired and immediately took up the sax - the rest is history. Sanborn will tour later this summer in support of Here And Gone which is due for release on August 12.

DONN BYNUM - DO YOU FEEL ME

Saxophonist Donn Bynum has made his living playing with legends like the Commodores, Bootsy Collins, Brothers Johnson and more. The summer of 2008 marks his debut solo release with "Do You Feel Me. Do You Feel Me" is dynamic testament to this master tradesman’s many years of sharing his music around the world.

While other kids were making college plans, saxophonist Donn Bynum was creating a future with his horn. At the tender age of 18, Bynum joined legendary Bootsy Collins for several shows before attending Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. After graduating, Bynum joined the world famous Commodores and ventured on several world tours of Europe, Asia, Africa, as well as the USA. Playing sax, flute, keyboards and drums, Bynum would also join the Commodores for concerts in Bermuda, Nassau Bahamas, and the Virgin Islands with an appearance on the "Motown 25th Anniversary" television show.

Bynum performed for several years with international recording artists The Brothers Johnson, and appeared on the TV show Motown Live. Later, Bootsy’s Rubber Band called him back for more international touring and recording. During this time, he played on Bootsy’s CD entitled Bootsy’s New Rubber Band Live in Japan.

As a studio musician, Bynum was featured on the song "Make My Funk The P-Funk," along with funk master keyboardist Bernie Worrell. Bynum has also recorded and performed with stellar award-winning gospel artist Kenny Smith and many others.Do You Feel Me is his solo debut.
http://www.myspace.com/donnbynum

WHAT’S GRACENOTE?

It was 10 years ago this month, as the Internet era was exploding and digital music was getting a foothold in the entertainment industry, that a three-person start-up in California with the world's first digital music database was founded. The company, now called Gracenote®, began developing technology that has since become an essential ingredient in products offered by the biggest names in the digital entertainment, Internet, mobile and automotive industries - from online portals and communities such as Yahoo! and AOL, to devices and applications from Apple, Panasonic, Toyota, and Sony Ericsson, to online commerce sites such as iTunes. Today, Gracenote products are global in scale and will be used by more than 250 million consumers worldwide in 2008, in more than 200 countries and regions with content in more than 80 languages.

Ever since the first album, Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon," was entered into its growing digital music database, Gracenote's Global Media Database has been used to identify the album, artist and songs associated with nearly every CD ripped on a computer. The database has now grown to more than seven million CDs and 90 million song tracks, providing more digital music data and boasting more searches by more consumers than any other source of digital music Gracenote is celebrating a decade of developing groundbreaking products and services that are featured in millions of car stereos, tens of millions of mobile phones and media players, and hundreds of millions of consumer electronics devices around the world. The Global Media Database and MusicID® music recognition system have crossed over from the PC to the wireless industry, with Mobile MusicID becoming the standard application for music identification on mobile phones. MediaVOCS™ allows voice-controlled music navigation and playlisting, which is taking the automotive industry in an important in-car entertainment direction. Products such as Discover™ for music recommendations, Playlist™ for automated playlist generation, lyrics for access to authorized song lyrics, and cover art, album reviews and artist biographies significantly enrich music services offered by the leaders in digital media.
This year, Gracenote also expanded its digital media product line by crossing over into video. The new Gracenote Video Platform gives consumers, device manufacturers, and content owners the most effective way to search, identify, manage, and enjoy expanding video collections when accessed from their computers, mobile phones, DVD players, and other consumer electronics devices. The Gracenote database is the largest digital catalog of video works ever complied providing detailed, rich data for over 300,000 DVDs and nearly one million total unique video programs.

"Gracenote is one of the few companies with technology that spans the life of the digital entertainment industry, and we continue to be instrumental in developing solutions that make digital media accessible to consumers," said Craig Palmer, Gracenote president. "We are poised for more innovation and growth as the transition from physical media to digital media accelerates and digital media permeates more and more consumer products, while 'always-on' connectivity offers an unprecedented opportunity for commerce, discovery, community, and new dynamic media formats."

In June, Gracenote rounded out its 10 years of innovation and milestones by agreeing to merge with Sony Corporation of America (SCA), providing Gracenote with a closer connection to the content and digital services community that will accelerate adoption of its technology, and giving the company the resources necessary to rapidly expand development of next generation products for the entire industry.

Gracenote, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, is a global leader in embedded technology, enriched content, and data services for digital entertainment solutions within the Internet, consumer electronics, mobile, and automotive markets. Formerly known as CDDB®, Gracenote delivers a substantially improved consumer experience in digital media devices and applications, plus media monitoring and other data services to the recording industry, making it an integral part of the digital media economy. Gracenote powers leading services including Apple iTunes, Yahoo! Music Jukebox, Winamp; home and automotive products from Alpine, Panasonic, Philips and Sony; and mobile music applications from Samsung, Sony Ericsson, KDDI (Japan), KTF (Korea), Musiwave (Europe), and others. Gracenote is headquartered in Emeryville, California.

B.B. KING TO HOST SHOW ON XM RADIO

Blues music icon B.B. King will begin hosting his own weekly music show for XM Radio beginning in September 2008, it was announced recently by the company. The program will feature a broad range of blues and gospel music hand-selected by King, along with stories about the artists and other personal anecdotes from the bluesman's epic career. In anticipation of King's hosting debut, today XM relaunched its dedicated blues channel "Bluesville" as "BB King's Bluesville" (XM 74)."I love the blues and am looking forward to sharing my passion, stories and my favorite music with all the folks who listen to XM, one of the few places where the vibrant sounds of the blues still thrives," said B.B. King.

For more than 60 years, Riley B. King - better known as B.B. King - has defined the blues for a worldwide audience. Since he started recording in the 1940s, he has released over 50 albums, many of them classics, won 14 Grammy(R) Awards, been inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of the Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Grammy(R) Lifetime Achievement Award and the NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) Chairman's Award, among many other awards. In a special ceremony at the Library of Congress, Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington presented B.B. with a "Living Legend" medal in honor of his achievements as a musician and ambassador for the blues. After 10,000 concerts, B.B. King continues to bring his music to audiences around the globe spending the better part of each year on the road with his beloved guitar, "Lucille."

On August 26, Geffen Records will release B.B.'s newest T Bone Burnett-produced album, "One Kind Favor," and, on September 13, King – one of few living musicians in the world to be so honored -- will preside at the opening of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in his hometown of Indianola, MS.

B.B. King was born September 16, 1925, on a plantation in Itta Bene, Mississippi, near Indianola. In his youth, he played on street corners for dimes, and would sometimes play in as many as four towns a night. In 1947, he hitchhiked to Memphis, TN, to pursue his music career. Memphis was where every important musician of the South gravitated, and which supported a large musical community where every style of African American music could be found. B.B. stayed with his cousin Bukka White, one of the most celebrated blues performers of his time, who schooled B.B. further in the art of the blues.

XM is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 9.3 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2008 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information. XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Ferrari, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota, is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2008. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. XM programming is also available through XM Radio Online, the exclusive home on the Internet for XM's commercial-free music channels; as downloads of original XM shows via podcasts from XM's Web site or the Apple's iTunes Store; and as streams of commercial-free XM music channels to AT&T and Alltel wireless customers through XM Radio Mobile

THE AUGUST CONCERT CALENDAR

Spyro Gyra @ Radisson Hotel, Scranton, PA, Aug 1
Eddy Grant @ Mod Club, Toronto, CAN, Aug 1
Amos Lee @ The Social, Orlando, FL, Aug 1
Maxi Priest @ BB King’s Bar & Grill, Aug 1
Gladys Knight & Peabo Bryson @ Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury, Westbury, NY, Aug 1
B.B King @ South Shore Music Circus, Cohasset, MA, Aug 1
Jesse Palter Quintet @ Music Hall Jazz Café, Detroit, MI, Aug 1
Return To Forever @ House Of Blues, Orlando, FL, Aug 1
Federico Aubele @ Big Chill Festival, Eastnor Castle, UK, Aug 1
Susan Tedeschi @ Hampton Beach Casino, Hampton Beach, CA, Aug 1
Paul Simon @ Teatro Greco Romano, Taormina, Italy, Aug 1
k.d. lang @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham, UK, Aug 1
Buddy Guy @ Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 1
Akiko Yano & Marc Ribot @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 1-3
Return To Forever @ Cobb Energy Center, Atlanta, GA, Aug 2
Pieces Of A Dream @ Equus Run Vineyards, Midway, KY, Aug 2
B.B King @ Community Theatre, Morristown, NJ, Aug 2
Steely Dan @ Harvey’s Outdoor Arena, Lake Tahoe, NV, Aug 2
Amos Lee @ State Theatre, St. Petersburg, FL, Aug 2
Hiroshima @ Houston International Jazz Festival, Houston, TX, Aug 2
Marion Meadows @ Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville, WA, Aug 2
Susan Tedeschi @ Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, MA, Aug 2
Toots & The Maytals @ Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 2
Van Morrison @ Audley End, Essex, UK, Aug 2
Russell Thompkins Jr. & The New Stylistics @ BB King’s Bar & Grill, New York, NY, Aug 2
Richie Havens @ Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI, Aug 2
Buddy Guy @ Spotlight Showroom, Coachella, CA, Aug 2
Toots& The Maytals @ Reggae Rising, Piercy, CA, Aug 3
Hiroshima @ Jones Plaza, Houston, TX, Aug 3
Eddy Grant @ Osheaga Festival, Montreal, CAN, Aug 3
B.B King @ Hampton Beach Casino, Hampton Beach, NH, Aug 3
Buddy Guy @ Viejas Concerts In The Park, Alpine, CA, Aug 3
Gilles Peterson @ Central Park Summer Stage, New York, NY, Aug 3
UB40 @ The Hollywood Bowl, Aug 3
Susan Tedeschi @ Gathering Of The Vibes, Bridgeport, CT, Aug 3
k.d. lang @ Brighton Dome, Brighton, UK, Aug 3
Richie Havens @ Sleeping Bear Dunegrass, Empire, MI, Aug 3
John Scofield @ Standford Jazz Festival, Palo Alto, CA, Aug 3-4
Return To Forever @ Merritweather Post Pavillion, Baltimore, MD, Aug 4
Steely Dan @ Honda Center, Anaheim, CA, Aug 4
Amos Lee @ The Music Farm, Charleston, SC, Aug 4
Will Calhoun, Stanley Jordan @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 4-6
Esperanza Spalding @ UB On The Green, Buffalo, NY, Aug 5
Eddy Grant @ BB King’s, New York, NY, Aug 5
Amos Lee @ Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA, Aug 5
Toots & The Maytals @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI, Aug 5
Return To Forever & Bela Fleck & The Flecktones @ The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 5
Steely Dan @ Palomar Starlight Theater, Pala, CA, Aug 5
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones @ Mann Center, Philadelpha, PA, Aug 5
Return To Forever & Bela Fleck & The Flecktones @ Bank Of America Pavillion, Boston, MA, Aug 6
Marion Meadows & Alex Bugnon @ Smooth Jazz Cruise, Pier 61, New York, NY, Aug 6
Eddy Grant @ Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 6
Sonny Rollins @ Central Park Summerstage., New York, NY, Aug 6
Marion Meadows @ Spirit Cruse Ship, New York, NY, Aug 6
Buddy Guy @ Anselmo Valencia Tori Amph., Tucson, AZ, Aug 6
.B King @ Charlottesville Pavillion, Charlottesville, VA, Aug 6
Esperanza Spalding @ Nighttown, Cleveland, OH, Aug 6
Toots & The Maytals @ Resch Center, Green Bay, WI, Aug 6
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones @ Bank Of America Pavillio, Boston, MA, Aug 6
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA, Aug 6-7
Gilles Peterson @ Cielo, New York, NY, Aug 7
Return To Forever @ United Place, New York, NY, Aug 7
Amos Lee @ High Point Theatre, High Point, NC, Aug 7
Buddy Guy @ The Joint, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 7
Richie Havens @ Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY, Aug 7
Mindi Abair @ Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA, Aug 7-8
Cassandra Wilson @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 7-11
Steely Dan @ Pearl Concert Theater, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 8
Guitars & Saxes @ Hyatt Regency, Newport Beach, CA, Aug 8
Eddy Grant @ Birchmere, Washington, DC, Aug 8
B.B King @ Biltmore, Asheville, NC, Aug 8
Buddy Guy @ Iseta Casino & Resort, Alburquerque, NM, Aug 8
Amos Lee @ Cannery, Nashville, TN, Aug 8
Steely Dan @ Pearl Concert Theater, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 8
Toots & The Maytals @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI, Aug 8
Toots & The Maytals @ Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN, Aug 8
Donna Summer @ River Rock Casino Resort, Richmond, BC, Aug 8-9
KEM, Michael Franks, Kirk Whalum, Poncho Sanchez, The Superstars of Jazz Fusion w/Roy Ayers, Lonnie
Liston Smith, Tom Browne, Wayne Henderson & Miki Howard, Keiko Matsui, Mindi Abair, Joyce Cooling, The hispers, The Commodores, Chrisette Michele, Down To The Bone, Nick Colionne, Euge Groove @ The Long Beach Jazz Festival, Long Beach, CA, Aug 8-10
The Yellowjackets & Mike Stern @ Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA, Aug 9
Buddy Guy @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO, Aug 9
Richie Havens @ LL Bean Summer Concert Series, Portland, ME, Aug 9
Amos Lee @ The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN, Aug 9
B.B King @ Ferguson Center, Newport, VA, Aug 9
Chaka Khan @ Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ, Aug 9
Steely Dan @ Ironstone Amphitheatre, Murphys, CA, Aug 9
Eddy Grant @ Toad’s Place, Richmond, VA, Aug 9
Mindi Abair @ 21st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival, Long Beach, CA, Aug 9
Pointer Sisters, Michael Henderson, Ray Parker Jr. @ Country Club Hills, Chicago, IL, Aug 9
Burning Spear @ Uppsala Reggae Festival, Uppsala, Sweden, Aug 9
Mindi Abair @ Long Beach Jazz Festival, Long Beach, CA, Aug 9
Burning Spear @ Reggae Sundance, Eersel, Netherlands, Aug 10
Esperanza Spalding @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI, Aug 10
Toots & The Maytals @ Park West, Chicago, IL, Aug 10
Eddy Grant @ Variety, Atlanta, GA, Aug 10
Nicola Conte @ Locus Festival, Locorotondo, Italy, Aug 10
B.B. King @ Filene Center, Vienna, VA, Aug 10
Kenny Loggins @ Avalon Ballroom, Catalina Island, CA, Aug 10
Chaka Khan @ Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA, Aug 10
Donna Summer @ Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights, WA, Aug 10
Richie Havens @ Nashua River Valley Folk Festival, Lancaster, MA, Aug 10
Amos Lee @ Park West, Chicago, IL, Aug 11
Chaka Khan @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY Aug 12
Eddy Grant @ Martyrs, Chicago, IL, Aug 12
Amos Lee @ The Pageant, St. Louis, MO, Aug 12
Buddy Guy @ Charlottesville Pavillion, Charlotesville, VA, Aug 12
Jill Scott, Wyclef Jean @ Central Park Summerstage, New York, NY, Aug 12
Candy Dulfer @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 12-16
Phil Perry @ Smooth Jazz Cruise, Pier 61, New York, NY, Aug 13
Amos Lee @ Uptown Theatre, Kansas City, MO, Aug 13
Eddy Grant @ Fine Line, Minneapolis, MN, Aug 13
Donna Summer @ The Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA, Aug 13
Buddy Guy @ Filene Center At Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA, Aug 13
Solomon Burke @ The Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 13
Nicola Conte @ Stadtgarden, Cologne, Denmark, Aug 14
Toots & The Maytals @ CW Mitchell Pavillion, The Woodlands, TX, Aug 14
John Scofield @ Canterbury School, New Milford, CT, Aug 14
Buddy Guy @ Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 14
Chaka Khan @ Warner Theatre, Washington, DC., Aug 14-15
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA, Aug 14-17
Anita Baker @ Pier Six Concert Pavillion, Baltimore, MD, Aug 15
Steve Nardella @ Memphis Smoke, Royal Oak, MI, Aug 15
Buddy Guy @ Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY, Aug 15
Toots & The Maytals @ Superpages Center, Dallas, TX, Aug 15
Eddy Grant @ Bluebird, Denver, CO, Aug 15
Donna Summer @ Peppermill Hotel Casino, Reno, NV, Aug 15
Amos Lee @ Lyons Folk Festival, Lyons, CO, Aug 15
Steely Dan @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI, Aug 15
Smokey Robinson @ Trump Marina, Atlantic City, NJ, Aug 15-16
Larry Carlton @ Suncoast Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 15-17
George Duke @ Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula, CA, Aug 16
Buddy Guy @ Hampton Beach Casino, Hampton Beach, NH, Aug 16
Eddy Grant @ Variety, Atlanta, GA, Aug 16
Jeffrey Osborne @ Sante Fe Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 16
Andre Delano @ Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula, CA, Aug 16
Medeski Martin & Wood @ Jackson Hole Music Festival, Jackson Hole, WY, Aug 16
Amos Lee @ Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO, Aug 16
Donna Summer @ Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA, Aug 16
Chaka Khan @ Seneca Events Center, Niagra Falls, NY, Aug 16
Anita Baker @ nTelos Wireless Pavillion, Portsmith, VA, Aug 16
Steely Dan @ Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL, Aug 16
Toots & The Maytals @ Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre, Oklahoma City, OK, Aug 16
Van Morrison @ Kenwood, London, UK, Aug 16
Marion Meadows @ Sea Walk Pavillion, Jacksonville, FL, Aug 17
Amos Lee @ Belly Up, Aspen, CO, Aug 17
Smokey Robinson @ Ameristar Casino Hotel, Chicago, IL, Aug 17
Buddy Guy @ Bank Of America Pavillion, Boston, MA, Aug 17
Donna Summer @ Wells Fargo Center For The Arts, Santa Rosa, CA, Aug 17
Satoru Shionoya Trio @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Aug 17-20
Eddy Grant @ Neumos, Seattle, WA, Aug 18
John Mayer @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Charlotte, NC, Aug 19
Eddy Grant @ Richards, Vancouver, BC, Aug 19
Buddy Guy @ Pier Six Pavillion, Baltimore, MD, Aug 19
Stanley Clarke, Marcus Muller, Victor Wooten @ Keswick Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 19
Toots & The Maytals @ Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheatre, Tucson, AZ, Aug 19
Richard Elliot & Rick Braun @ Smooth Jazz Cruise, Pier 61, New York, NY, Aug 20
John Mayer @ Post-Gazette Pavillion, Pittsburgh, PA, Aug 20
Keb Mo, Robert Cray @ Keswick Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 20
Amos Lee @ Oregon Zoo Amphitheater, Portland, OR, Aug 20
Donna Summer @ Viejas Concerts In The Park, Alpine, CA, Aug 20
Steely Dan @ Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX, Aug 20
Buddy Guy @ National City Pavillion, Cincinnati, OH, Aug 20
Chaka Khan @ Nokia Theatre, Grand Prairie, TX, Aug 21
Eddy Grant @ Wonder, Portland, OR, Aug 21
Buddy Guy @ Meadow Brook Music Festival, Rochester, MI, Aug 21
Toots & The Maytals @ Valley View Casino, Valley Center, CA, Aug 21
Rich Braun, Richard Elliot @ Keswick Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 21
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Terrace Stage, Bethel, NY, Aug 21
Mindi Abair @ Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base, Wyomissing, PA, Aug 21
Mindi Abair @ Michigan State Fair, Detroit, MI, Aug 22
Buddy Guy @ Caesars, Elizabeth, IN, Aug 22
Mindi Abiar @ Smooth Jazz at South Shore Washington Park, Michigan City, IN, Aug 23
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Chinese Culture Centre, Calgary, Canada, Aug 23
Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Expo Latino Festival, Calgary, Canada, Aug 24
Buddy Guy @ Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Saint Paul, MN, Aug 24 Mindi Abiar @ Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, Aug 26
Steely Dan @ Ruth Finley Person Theater, Santa Rosa, CA, Aug 26-27
Pieces Of A Dream @ Smooth Jazz Cruise, Pier 61, New York, NY, Aug 27
Mindi Abair @ Ramshead On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Aug 27
Adele @ 9:30 Club, Washington, DC, Aug 27
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Aspen Jazz Festival, Aspen, CO, Aug 28
Mindi Abair @ Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA, Aug 28
Buddy Guy @ Ravinia Festival at Ravinia Park, Highland Park, IL, Aug 28
Les Nubians @ Studio B, Brooklyn, NY, Aug 28
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Owsleys Golden Road, Denver, CO, Aug 29
Mindi Abair @ IMAC/Inter-Media Art Center, Huntington, NY, Aug 29
Sadao Watanabe @ Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA, Aug 29-31
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Fox Theaterm Boulder, CO, Aug 30
Buddy Guy @ Summerfest Grounds, Milwaukee, WI, Aug 30
Mindi Abair @ Mohegan Sun Casino Wolf Den, Uncasville, CT, Aug 30
Global Noize w/Jason Miles, DJ Logic, Karl Denson, Christian Scott, Bernie Worrell, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, John Popper, Vernon Reid, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Herb Alpert, Dean Brown, Carl Burnett, Brian Dunne, james Genus, Falu, Suphala @ Harry O’s, Park City, UT, Aug 31

UPCOMING NEW RELEASES

NEW HEADS UP INTERNATIONAL RELEASES
Heads Up International has announced some upcoming releases due soon from George Duke (Dukey Treats); Fourplay (Energy); SMV comprised of Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller & Victor Wooten (Thunder); Taj Mahal (Maestro); and Take 6 (The Standard). No release dates have been announced; however, both "Dukey Treats" from George Duke, and "Energy" from Fourplay are both available for pre-release purchase directly at the Heads Up International website.

TIM BOWMAN SIGNS WITH TRIPPIN ‘N’ RHYTHM
Tim Bowman has signed with Trippin ’N’ Rhythm as this marks his highly anticipated return from a long recording hiatus with his fifth release. Coming off a string of hit records and his most recent #1 chart topper, "Summer Groove", Tim Bowman has firmly established himself in the smooth jazz rank and file as one of the formats most dynamic and prominent players. "I’m really excited about being part of the Trippin "N" Rhythm family and looking forward to making good music together," says Bowman. President/CEO of Trippin "N" Rhythm, Les Cutmore, comments "Having long been a fan of Tim’s music and seeing how he commands an audience in his live shows, I have been courting Tim for some time now. I’ve always believed that stylistically he was a perfect fit for the company and let’s face it the fans love this guy. The long courtship is finally over, the marriage has been recorded and we couldn’t be happier, as we embark together on this new adventure." The new CD is set to hit retail this September 3rd, and it features guest appearances by smooth jazz musicians Kirk Whalum and Jeff Lorber

SHEILA E. & THE PETE ESCOVEDO ORCHESTRA
Sheila E. along with her father, legendary Latin jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo, brothers Juan and Peter Michael and the Pete Escovedo Orchestra have just completed their first family album, Love's All Around, scheduled for release early next year. They are all headlining JazzFest West (formerly the Old Pasadena JazzFest) in San Dimas, California, on July 19. "We just started playing together again because of the CD. We're playing the new songs from the record, which we've actually written, to see everyone's reaction. So far it's been extremely positive; everyone really loves the new songs. So we know we're on the right track to get the buzz going with the family," Sheila said from her office in Van Nuys, California. Sheila E. is scheduled to perform with the Pete Escovedo Orchestra featuring Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo at JazzFest West (formerly the Old Pasadena JazzFest) on Saturday, July 19 at 8 p.m. JazzFest West will be held at Bonelli Park, 120 Via Verde, in San Dimas, California. If you are looking for some of Sheila E.’s earlier releases, word is that Rhino Encore will re-release several of Sheila E.’s Prince-related albums, including Sheila E,. Romance 1600, and Sex Cymbal. These are scheduled for release on July 29. All are available via Amazon.com (see the Amazon link here at The Jazz Chill Corner).

Earth, Wind & Fire’s "Live In Japan" DVD is scheduled for release on August 26 from Eagle Rock Entertainment.

New from Joan Osbourne is "Little Wild One" on the Time/Life label out on September 9.

Telarc has announced the August 26 release for ‘Vinho Do Porto" from The Portinho Trio.

"Love & Life" from Eric Benet will be released Reprise Records on Sept. 2.

MARILYN SCOTT - WITH EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE

New from Marilyn Scott is ‘With Every Time We Say Goodbye", a 10-song collection comprised of standards such as the Cole Porter-penned title track. The title track sets the pace for the album as Marilyn's exceptionally soothing vocals take the listener to another time and place. On ‘With Every Time We Say Goodbye", Marilyn Scott is taking her love for jazz to the ultimate place her heart has always desired, to make an acoustic jazz album in New York City the way the legends used to do it - with the singer and musicians all cutting and working out arrangements together in the studio.

The outstanding musicianship that accompanies Ms. Scott on Every Time We Say Goodbye comes from a seasoned East Coast quintet led by acclaimed pianist Cyrus Chestnut and produced for the Japan-based Venus Records imprint by label president Tetsuo Hara and veteran jazz musician/producer Todd Barkan - his partner of 15 years. Although the physical CD is currently only available as a Japanese import, jazz fans can download the album on iTunes or purchase the CD from Marilyn's website, though soon it will also be available on Amazon.com. (see the Amazon link here at The Jazz Chill Corner).

The artist spreads her wings on Irving Berlin's "I Got Lost in His Arms" with a distinct flavor and rhythm that recalls Ella Fitzgerald paired with Joe Pass. Sister blues shows up on "Detour Ahead," where Marilyn shows the incredible diversity and confidence in her vocal style as jazz and blues intermingle and remind us of how close they are but a world apart with vocal tones and inflection. The arrangements offer new shades to familiar favorites when jazz was king, as do Marilyn's crafty and eloquent vocal interpretations.

The Songs:
1. Every Time We Say Goodbye (5:54)
2. Got Lost In His Arms (4:02)
3. Lonely Town (5:29)
4. Detour Ahead (4:30)
5. Do You Know The Way To San Jose (4:22)
6. Autumn In New York (5:04)
7. I Love Paris (4:20)
8. Cry Me A River (5:02)
9. Caravan (3:17)
10. Somewhere (4:39)

The Players:
1. Marilyn Scott - vocals
2. Cyrus Chestnut - piano
3. Paul Bollenback - guitar
4. Gerald Cannon - bass
5. Willie Jones III - drums
6. Ken Peplowski tenor sax/clarinet

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.