VIVIAN GREEN - BEAUTIFUL

R&B singer and songwriter Vivian Green is set to release her long-awaited new album, Beautiful, on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 on E1 Music. The album's track, "Beautiful," broke into the Top 20 at Urban AC radio, and is currently #15 and rapidly rising. The new video for "Beautiful" (directed by Chris Stanford) has been added to soul network Centric. To celebrate the release of her album, Green will perform at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA on 4/5 and S.O.B.'s in New York City on 4/6. In contrast to her first two albums, which were recorded in a variety of studios with multiple producers, Vivian approached the recording of "Beautiful" in a more intimate, organic manner. With the exception of "Save Me" and "I Know How," which she cut with Jason Farmer (Keyshia Cole, Rihanna, Wyclef Jean) in the producer's seat, Vivian recorded the entire album with Grammy-nominated producer Anthony Bell, a longtime friend and collaborator who made key production contributions to her first two albums, and whose extensive resume also includes work with Jazmine Sullivan, Jewel, Musiq, Raheem DeVaughn and Jill Scott.

Vivian is now leaking another track from her forthcoming new album entitled "When We're Apart." Click here to listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rp8aS-zQRw

The final track listing for "Beautiful" is:

01. "Beautiful"

02. "When We're Apart"

03. "I Know How..."

04. "Better Man (skit)"

05. "Better Man"

06. "Save Me"

07. "Too Intense"

08. "Somewhere"

09. "Caught Up"

10. "Search Is Over"

11. "So Far Gone"

12. "Jordan's Song"

13. Bonus Track: "One Of None"

THE APRIL CONCERT CALENDAR

John Mayer @ GM Place, Vancouver, BC, Apr 1

Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour @ Macky Auditorium Concert Hall,
Boulder, CO, Apr 1

Norah Jones @ The Paramount Theatre, Charlottesville, VA, Apr 1
Norah Jones @ Warner Theatre, Washington, DC, Apr 2
Michael Buble @ Rose Garden, Portland, OR, Apr 2
Norah Jones @ Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, Apr 3
Michael Buble @ Key Arena, Seattle, WA, Apr 3
Bobby Caldwell @ The Soiled Dove Underground, Denver, CO, Apr 3
Chris Botti @ Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Tokyo, Japan, Apr 3

George Benson @ Cape Tow Int’l Convention Centre,
Cape Town, South Africa, April 3-4

John Mayer @ Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary, AB, Apr 3
Najee @ B.B. King’s, New York, NY Apr 3
John Mayer @ Rexall Place, Edmonton, AB, Apr 4
Vivian Green @ SOB’s, New York, NY, Apr 5
Chris Standring @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Apr 5
John Mayer @ Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Apr 6
Baaba Maal @ Telus Center, Toronto, ONT, Apr 6
Vivian Green @ The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, Apr 6
Michael Buble @ Oracle Arena, Oakland, A, Apr 6
Lionel Louke @ Capilano College, Vancouver, BC, Apr 6
Pat Metheny @ Creative Arts Theatre, Morgantown, WV, Apr 6
Dee Dee Bridgewater @ Casa da Musica, Oporto, Portugal, Apr 6
John Mayer @ MTS Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Apr 7
George Winston @ Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville, PA, Apr 7
Pat Metheny @ Univ of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, Apr 7
Melody Gardot @ Olympia, Paris, France, Apr 7-9
Lionel Louke @ Mondavi Center @ UC Davis, Davis, CA, Apr 7-10
John Mayer @ Fargodome, Fargo, ND, Apr 8
Michael Buble @ US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ, Apr 8
Pat Metheny @ Ferst Center For The Arts, Atlanta, GA, Apr 8
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Apr 8
Baaba Maal @ Wisconsin Union Theatre, Madison, WI, Apr 8
George Benson @ Winston-Salem Sate Univ., Winston-Salem, NC, Apr 8

Pink Martini @ Renee & Harry Segerstrom Concert Hall,
Costa Mesa, CA, Apr 8-10

Peter White @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Apr 8-11

Pat Metheny @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, Apr 9
Spyro Gyra @ One World Theatre, Austin, TX, Apr 9
Chris Standring @ Spaghettini, Seal Beach, CA, Apr 9
Michael Buble @ Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 9
King Sunny Ade @ Highline Ballroom, New York, NY, Apr 9
Karla Bonoff @ The Birchmere Music Hall, Alexandria, VA, Apr 8
Corinne Bailey Rae @ Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC, Apr 9
George Winston @ Music Center At Strathmore, N. Bethesda, MD, Apr 9
George Benson @ Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, Apr 9
Baaba Maal @ Venue TBD, Chicago, IL, Apr 10
Pat Metheny @ Fillmore Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL, Apr 10
George Benson @ Bergen PAC, Englewood, NJ, Apr 10
Dee Dee Bridgewater @ Tivoli Koncerthouse, Copenhagen, DEN, Apr 10
John Mayer @ United Center, Chicago, IL, Apr 10
George Benson @ Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington, DC, Apr 11
Pat Metheny @ University of Florida Phillips Ctr, Gainesville, FL, Apr 11
Corinne Bailey Rae @ Roseland Theatre, Portland, OR, Apr 11
Angelique Kidjo @ Kulturfabrik, Krefeld, Germany, Apr 11
Roberta Flack @ Philharmonic Center For The Arts, Naples, FL, Apr 11
Dave Grusin, Patti Austin @ Adrienne Arsht Center Miami, FL, Apr 11
George Winston @ Tryon Fine Arts Center, Truon, NC, Apr 12
Corinne Bailey Rae @ Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA, Apr 12
Angelique Kidjo @ Kesselhaus, Berlin, Germany, Apr 12
Ceu @ The Triple Door, Seattle, WA, Apr 12-13
Angelique Kidjo @ Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany, Apr 13
Baaba Maal @ Buchanan Hall, Arcata, CA, Apr 13
Pat Metheny @ Nokia Theatre, Grand Prairie, TX, Apr 13
Dee Dee Bridgewater @ Philharmonie Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Apr 13
Baaba Maal @ Laxson Auditorium, Chico, CA, Apr 14
Ceu @ Alladin Theatre, Portland, OR, Apr 14
Pat Metheny @ Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX, Apr 14
Carole King @ Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan, Apr 14, 16
Baaba Maal @ Mondavi Performing Arts Center, Davis, CA, Apr 15
Angelique Kidjo @ Botfrabrick, Frankfurt, Germany, Apr 15
Corinne Bailey Rae @ Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, Apr 15

Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau @ Longwood Gardens,
Kennett Square, PA, Apr 15

George Winston @ Peace Center For Performing Arts,
Greenville, SC, Apr 15

Madeleine Peyroux @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Apr 15-18
Pat Metheny @ Lensic PAC, Santa Fe, NM, Apr 16
Ceu @ Coachella, Indio, CA, Apr 16
Angelique Kidjo @ Cully Jazz Festival, Zurich, CH, Apr 16
Michael Franks @ One World Theatre, Austin, TX, Apr 16
Bobby Caldwell, Diane Schuur @ Arkley Center, Eureka, CA, Apr 16
Pink Martini @ Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA, Apr 16
Nick Colionne @ Borders Book Store, Panama City Beach, FL, Apr 16
Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau @ Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, Apr 16
Nick Colionne @ Seabreeze, Panama City Beach, FL, Apr 16 -18
Baaba Maal @ Royce Hall Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 17
Take 6 @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Apr 17
Pat Metheny @ Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ, Apr 17
Corinne Bailey Rae @ Coachella, Indio, CA, Apr 17
Steele Pulse @ Copper Mountain Resort, Copper Mountain, CO, Apr 17
Angelique Kidjo @ La Cigale, Paris, France, Apr 17

Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau @ Staller Center For Arts,
Stonybrook, NY, Mar 17

Baaba Maal @ Campbell Hall, Santa Barbara, CA, Apr 18
Norah Jones @ Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA, Apr 18
Pat Metheny @ Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ, Apr 18
Ceu @ The Independent, San Francisco, CA, Apr 18
Take 6 @ Kennedy Center For Perf Arts, Washington, DC, Apr 18

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ Philharmonic Center For The Arts,
Naples, FL, Apr 18

B.B. King @ Temple Hoyne Bluell Theatre, Denver, CO, Apr 19
Norah Jones @ Arlene Schnitzel Hall, Portland, OR, Apr 19
Pat Metheny @ Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 19
Dee Dee Bridgewater @ Athens Concert Hall, Athens, Greece, Apr 19
Baaba Maal @ Zellerbach Auditorium, Berkeley, CA, Apr 20
Steel Pulse @ Roseland Theater, Portland, OR, Apr 20
Pat Metheny @ Campbell Hall, Santa Barbara, CA, Apr 20
Simply Red @ Credicard Hall, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Apr 20
Angelique Kidjo @ Amager Nio, Copenhagen, DL, Apr 20


Jack Jones @ The Rrazz Room At Hotel Nikko,
San Francisco, CA, Apr 20-25

Pat Metheny @ Spreckels Theatre, San Diego, CA, Apr 21
Norah Jones @ The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, Apr 21
Steel Pulse @ Showbox, Seattle, WA, Apr 21
Simply Red @ Chevrolet Hall, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, April 21
Ceu @ Dakota Bar & Grill, St. Paul, MN, Apr 21-22

Baaba Maal @ Scottsdale Center For The Performing Arts,
Scottsdale, AZ, Apr 22

Angelique Kidjo @ Cosmopolitan, Oslo, Norway, Apr 22
Kenny G @ Arena Theatre, Houston, TX, Apr 22
Corinne Bailey Rae @ Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL, Apr 22
Baaba Maal @ Scottsdale Ctr For Perf Arts, Scottsdale, AZ, Apr 22
George Winston @ Phelps Stokes Auditorium, Berea, KY, Apr 22
Pat Metheny @ Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, Reno, NV, Apr 23
Steel Pulse @ New Orleans Jazz Fest, New Orleans, LA, Apr 23

Peter White @ Hammerson Hall Living Arts Centre,
Mississauga, Ontario, Apr 23

Ceu @ Green Dolphin, Chicago, IL, Apr 23
Simply Red @ Citibank Hall, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Apr 23
Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau @ Symphony Center, Chicago, IL, Mar 23
B.B. King @ Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield, MI, Apr 23
Norah Jones @ Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 23
Mavis Staples @ Kennedy Center For Perf Arts, Washington, DC, Apr 23
Incognito @ The Legion, Prince George, BC, Apr 23-24
Pink Martini @ Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth, TX, Apr 23-25
Norah Jones @ Spreckels Theatre, San Diego, CA, Apr 24
Corinne Bailey Rae @ St. Andrews Hall, Detoit, MI, Apr 24
Steel Pulse @ Festival Int’l de Louisiane, Lafayette, LA, Apr 24
Nick Colionne @ Tri C Jazz Fest, Cleveland, OH, Apr 24
Angelique Kidjo @ Gotakallaren, Stockholm, Sweden, Apr 24
Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau @ Krannert Center, Urbana, IL, Mar 24

Baaba Maal @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,
New Orleans, LA, Apr 24

Pat Metheny @ Zellerbach Auditorium, Berkeley, CA, Apr 24
Baaba Maal @ Houston Int’l Festival, Houston, TX, Apr 25
Steel Pulse @ Sam Houston Park, Houston, TX, Apr 25
Norah Jones @ Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, Apr 25
Pat Metheny @ Napa Valley Opera House, Napa, CA, Apr 25
B.B. King @ House Of Blues, Chicago, IL, Apr 25
Ceu @ Highline Ballroom, New York, NY, Apr 25
Corinne Bailey Rae @ Queen Elizabeth, Toronto, Ontario, Apr 26
Simply Red @ Lunar Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Apr 26
Pat Metheny @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, CA, Apr 26
Mindi Abair, earl Klugh, Boney James @ Emory University, Atl, GA, Apr 26
Baaba Maal @ UNC Chapel Hill Memorial Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, Apr 27
Angelique Kidjo @ Gazarte, Athens, Greece, Apr 27
Angelique Kidjo @ Gazarte, Athens, Greece, Apr 28
Pat Metheny @ Aladdin Theatre, Portland, OR, Apr 28
Corinne Bailey Rae @ Club Soda, Montreal, QC, Apr 28
Norah Jones @ Kiva Theatre, Albuquerque, NM, Apr 28
Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau @ Flynn Center, Burlington, VT, Mar 28
Simply Red @ Movistar Arena, Santiago, Chile, Apr 28-29
Norah Jones @ Plaza Theatre, El Paso, TX, Apr 29
Baaba Maal @ Lisner Auditorium, Washington, DC, Apr 29
Pat Metheny @ Washington Center For Perf Arts, Olympia, WA, Apr 29
Baaba Maal @ Fillmore East, New York, NY, Apr 30
Pat Metheny @ Meany Hall, Seattle, WA, Apr 30
Corinne Bailey Rae @ House Of Blues, Seattle, WA, Apr 30
Peter White @ Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY, Apr 30
Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau @ Weinberg Center, Frederick, MD, Mar 30

NEW RELEASES FROM BOB SINCLAR/SLY & ROBBIE, JOSE FELICIANO, JOSE JAMES, SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA & OTHERS...

Belleusche – The Liberty
Bickley Rivera – Chillin’ After Five
Bob Sinclar/Sly & Robbie – Made In Jamaica
Brazilian Groove Band – Anatomy Of A Groove
Dee Dee Bridgewater – Eleanora Fagin: To Billie With Love From Dee Dee
Dira – Something About The Girl
Garricha – Estrella Solitaire
Georgia Anne Muldrew – Kings Ballad
Guiseppi Logan – Guiseppi Logan Quintet
Guy ‘Pop Du’ Johnson – Life Is Good
Jean F. Cochois – Gold In The Attic
Jose Feliciano – Free Soul: The Classic Of Jose Feliciano
Jose James – Black Magic
Julian Vaughn – The Purpose Project
LEMS – Ping Pong Box
Limbo – Out Of Body
Main Gazana – Tot For Tat
Nina Simone – Free Soul: The Classic Of Nina Simone
Orleya – Chill Out Hits Of The World:The String Sessions
Peet Project – Pink Spirit
Peter Thomas – Jerry Cotton: FBI’s Top Man Music From The Original Series 1965-1969
Prince Sampson – Living In The Moment
Raheem DeVaughn – Love And War Masterpiece
Ronny Jordan – The Rough & The Smooth
Rurals – Rural Soul
Soulpersona – Solacoaster
Soul Jazz Dynamiters – Soul Jazz Dynamiters
SoulJazz Orchestra – Rising Sun
Various Artists – Ambient Summer
Various Artists – Bar Jazz Vol. 1
Various Artists – Everyday Blue Note Mixed By Gilles Peterson
Various Artists – Lola Luna Paris Lounge
Various Artists – Lounge Affair – Pop Meets Lounge Vol. 2
Various Artists – Mezzanine De Lalcazar 8

MINDI ABAIR IN HI FI STEREO

Mindi Abair has wrapped up recording sessions for a new CD, Mindi Abair in Hi Fi Stereo, and it's set for release the last week of May by Concord Records. Abair co-produced it with Rex Rideout, a familiar face in smooth jazz. “He’s an amazing producer,” she says. “We had everyone together in a room and just played and had a blast. I really feel that the spirit of these sessions shines through. Everyone left a little of their heart and soul on these recordings, and I can feel the energy of all of us as I listen back now.” Guests performers on the CD include vocalist Lalah Hathaway, vocalist Ryan Collins, and David Ryan Harris. The CD has 10 original songs and a cover of James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” which features Hathaway. Abair, who made her major-label debut in 2003 with It Just Happens That Way, following that with Come As You Are, Life Less Ordinary and Stars. Her hit singles include “Lucy’s,” “Flirt,” “Salt and Lime,” “Save the Last Dance,” “Make a Wish,” “True Blue,” “Bloom,” “Out of the Blue” and “Smile.”

Mindi Abair in Hi Fi Stereo track listingL
1. Any Way You Wanna (Abair/Theard)
2. All Star (Abair/Rodrigues)
3. L’Esprit Nouveau (Abair/Stevens)
4. Get Right [featuring Ryan Collins] (Abair/Collins/Rodrigues)
5. Be Beautiful [featuring David Ryan Harris] (Harris)
6. Down For The Count (Abair/Theard)
7. Girls’ Night Out (Abair/Hager)
8. Let The Whole World Know (Sing Your Song) (Abair/Rodrigues)
9. It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World [featuring Lalah Hathaway] (Brown/Newsome)
10. Take Me Home (Abair/Theard/Parlapiano)
11. The Alley (Abair/Lee/Gore/Tate/Belled)

QUINCY JONES - SOUL BOSSA NOSTRA

Some of today's biggest recording artists and producers have joined together to celebrate the music of multi-Grammy winning producer, composer and arranger Quincy Jones by recording contemporary versions of popular recordings from his massive catalog for a new album from Interscope Records entitled Q: Soul Bossa Nostra. A "family celebration," Q: Soul Bossa Nostra will be released May/June, 2010. Renowned for blending musical genres as he did with his 1989 multi-Grammy winning "Album of the Year" Back on the Block and 1995's platinum Q's Jook Joint, Q: Soul Bossa Nostra will feature an assortment of artists and producers from the Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop worlds such as Usher, Ludacris, Akon, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, T-Pain, Robin Thicke, LL Cool J, John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Wyclef Jean, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, Three 6 Mafia, David Banner, BeBe Winans, Mervyn Warren, Jermaine Dupri, DJ Paul, and Scott Storch, among others who wanted to pay tribute to these works by Jones.

Jones, who serves as Executive Producer for the album commented, "Q: Soul Bossa Nostra features some of my favorite artists and producers on the scene today from the Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop worlds performing selections from my catalog that people really loved when they were originally recorded. Each artist picked a song that really resonated with them for different reasons - some of them having a connection because they remembered their parents playing the track when they were growing up. I am honored that everyone wanted to be a part of this celebration of these songs. They all made them their own, and knocked them out of the park."

Jones continued, "Each of these songs had incredible artists and unique stories from when we originally recorded them. I think that these new interpretations will not only introduce these songs to a whole new generation of music fans, but inspire them to seek out the original recordings and show that these songs really stand the test of time…that's the ultimate mark of a great tune."
The first single from Q: Soul Bossa Nostra, available March 24th, will be Akon's interpretation of the 1977 Brothers Johnson classic "Strawberry Letter 23." The album will also include Jennifer Hudson (produced by Scott Storch) performing acclaimed songwriter Rod Temperton's "You Put A Move On My Heart," from Jones' 1996 album Q's Jook Joint; Ludacris and Naturally 7 (produced by Naturally 7) on the title track "Soul Bossa Nostra," a hip-hop revamp of Jones' 1962 single "Soul Bossa Nova" which was re-born as the Austin Powers theme song and was sampled by Ludacris on his 2005 single "Number One Spot" for which he garnered a VMA; and Usher, Robin Thicke, LL Cool J, Trey Songz, Tyrese and Tevin Campbell with Barry White's original vocals (produced by Jermaine Dupri) on "Secret Garden," originally recorded on 1989's Back On The Block.

Commented singer/producer Akon, "Quincy Jones is a musical legend and an incredible mentor. Just being around him and watching him work over the years has taught me how to develop as an artist and grow as a producer. When Quincy called and told me about this album, I said you have to let me do "Strawberry Letter 23" and the funny thing is that's the song he was thinking about already. We brought a new modern feel to this classic and I think everyone's going to really enjoy it."

Also contributing to Q: Soul Bossa Nostra singer/actress Jennifer Hudson commented, "When I was asked to work on a project honoring Quincy Jones' songs my answer was an immediate YES!!!. He is an icon in our industry and to have been fortunate enough to work with him is just amazing. He is a true artist, genius and professional. It was an unforgettable experience and I truly hope I will have the chance to collaborate with him again very soon!!"

Additional tracks on Q: Soul Bossa Nostra will feature Jamie Foxx (produced by David Banner and Warryn Campbell) on the Grammy Award-winning classic "Give Me The Night," originally recorded in 1980 by Jones, George Benson and Rod Temperton; John Legend (produced by Ted Chung) on the Brothers Johnson/Siedah Garrett-penned ballad "Tomorrow," from Back On The Block; T-Pain and Robin Thicke (produced by T-Pain) on a re-make of Michael Jackson, James Ingram and Jones' Grammy nominated dance staple "P.Y.T." from Thriller; Mary J. Blige and Q-Tip (produced by Q-Tip) on the funk classic "Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me," originally written by Stevie Wonder for Jones' multi-Grammy winning 1980 album The Dude; BeBe Winans (produced by Mervyn Warren) on Bernard Igher's sultry "Everything Must Change" from Jones' 1974 album Body Heat – the title track being sampled in 1996 by Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur on their hit "How Do You Want It;" and Wyclef Jean on "Oluwa (Many Rains Ago),"

Jones and Caiphus Semenya's Emmy Award-winning title track from 1977's hit television mini-series Roots. Rounding out the album are performances by Snoop Dogg (produced by Terrence Martin) on the Brothers Johnson disco classic "Get The Funk Out Of My Face;" Talib Kweli (produced by Quincy Jones) on Jones' synthesizer infused theme song from the 1967 television show Ironside; and Three 6 Mafia and David Banner (produced by David Banner) on "Hickky Burr (Wrath of Katrina)," Jones and Bill Cosby's collaboration for the theme song of 1969's The Bill Cosby Show.

A 27-time Grammy Award winner (the most of any living musician) and the all-time most nominated Grammy artist with a total of 79 nominations, Quincy Jones' career has spanned six decades and encompassed the roles of composer, arranger, conductor, instrumentalist, record producer, record executive, film and television producer, magazine founder, multi-media entrepreneur and humanitarian.

SMOOTH JAZZ 94.7 KSSJ SACRAMENTO FLIPS FORMATS

Sacramento’s Smooth Jazz station 94.7 KSSJ has flipped formats – this was effective March 3rd at 12:00 PM. In a press release the station management announced as follows:

“As we all know, the one thing we can count on in life is change. It’s in that spirit that I must tell you that the format on 94.7 KSSJ is going to change Wednesday, March 3rd at 12:00 pm. Playing Smooth Jazz favorites is one side of who we are – it’s the side you hear. The other side is the reality that operating a radio station is a business – that’s the side we see. In the past few years, the business side of KSSJ has become increasingly difficult. There are many reasons for it, but the unfortunate fact is that the audience for the station can no longer sustain the business of the station. In that way, we’re no different from a retail business that doesn’t have enough customers to keep the doors open.”

Entercom Communications, the parent company of KSSJ, pulled the plug on the smooth jazz format and instead brought alternative music back to Sacramento. The company's no stranger to the alternative music format. Entercom was the parent company of KWOD 106.5 FM, an alternative music station that relaunched as an all-90s station called "The Buzz." The format flip came as a surprise to the Sacramento market. No announcement was made prior to the launch of the alternative station, branded simply as "RADIO 94.7."The latest Arbitron ratings show KSSJ was Sacramento's 23rd-most listened to station in town among individuals between the ages of 18- and 49-years-old. Entercom-owned KRXQ, branded as "98Rock," was the most-listened to station among 18- to 49-year-old individuals, and among 25- to 54-year-old individuals.

31st TRI-C JAZZFEST CLEVELAND

The 31st Annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland kicks off spring with a line-up of artists and packed with the variety that JazzFest fans have come to love. From a red carpet birthday salute to the music of Henry Mancini, the jazz of iconic pianist Ramsey Lewis, to fan favorite The Roots and an evening with the Smooth Jazz All-Stars, this year's fest offers something for everyone.JazzFest continues its tradition of spotlighting up-and-coming artists with the "Debut Series," this year featuring the Gerald Clayton Trio and the Theo Croker Group. "Women in Jazz" salutes Antonio Carlos Jobim, the Grammy-winning songwriter of "The Girl from Ipanema," while the prodigious Charlie Haden plays double duty, appearing with his Quartet West and Joe Lovano, and closing out JazzFest with TCJF SoundWorks, now in its second year. Haden is the Tri-C JazzFest Distinguished Artist-in-Residence. For the young, and young at heart, Joe Hunter reprises his "Jazz for Kids" series at the Children's Museum of Cleveland, while Omar Sosa offers a joyful mix of jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms at the Museum of Contemporary Art. From France, the 10-piece Orchestre National de Jazz pays homage to Robert Wyatt, a member of the venerable 1960's and 70's band Soft Machine.

Here's a partial performance listing from the 2010 Tri-C JazzFest lineup:

Friday, April 16, 8:00 p.m. – Happy Birthday Henry Mancini!, Allen Theatre, PlayhouseSquare

Saturday, April 17, 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. – Jazz for Kids Featuring Joe Hunter & Friends, Children's Museum of Cleveland

Saturday, April 17, 8:00 p.m. – The Roots, Produced by Jill Newman Productions, Allen Theatre, PlayhouseSquare

Sunday, April 18, 4:00 p.m. – Debut Series with the Gerald Clayton Trio and the Theo Croker Group, East Cleveland Public Library

Monday, April 19, 7:00 p.m. – Jack Wilkins and the Cleveland Jazz Initiative Showcase, Brothers Lounge (Tickets $10)

Tuesday, April 20, 8:00 p.m. – The Eddie Baccus Organ Summit with Special Guest Tony Monaco, Karamu House

Wednesday, April 21, 8:00 p.m. – Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet, MOCA Cleveland

Thursday, April 22, 8:00 p.m. – Charlie Haden's Quartet West with Special Guest Joe Lovano, Tri-C Metropolitan Auditorium

Friday, April 23, 8:00 p.m. – An Evening with Ramsey Lewis and Patti Austin, Allen Theatre, PlayhouseSquare

Saturday, April 24, 8:00 p.m. – Orchestre National de Jazz "Around Robert Wyatt", Tri-C Metropolitan Auditorium

Saturday, April 24, 8:00 p.m. – Smooth Jazz All-Stars, Allen Theatre, PlayhouseSquare

Sunday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. – TCJF SoundWorks Plays Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra with Special Guest Charlie Haden, East Cleveland Public Library

LEGACY REISSUES INCLUDE ISAAC HAYES, DAVE MASON, ANGELA BOFILL & OTHERS...

Legacy Recordings, the world's foremost catalog music label, is continuing its on-going digital reissue initiative with a fresh round of classic album titles, from a variety of genres, to be released for the first time in the online digital realm in early 2010. "Legacy is delighted with this year's first set of digital releases," said Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Legacy. "With acknowledged classics and forgotten treasures from a variety of genres, we believe we're offering something for every discriminating music fan." The Legacy Recordings winter 2010 Digital Audio Longplay release schedule includes:

Blood, Sweat & Tears - New Blood (1972), No Sweat (1973), New City (1975) - Though New Blood, the fifth BS&T album, marked a number of significant personnel changes, including the departure of lead singer David Clayton-Thomas, the band's drummer and album producer Bobby Colomby carpe diemed the project into the Top 40 with a setlist that ran that gamut from Bob Dylan's "Down In The Flood" to Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage" with a single, "So Long Dixie," penned by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. BS&T's No Sweat, released in 1973, was produced by American jazz legend Steve Tyrell and features a cover of Traffic's "Empty Pages." 1975's New City marked Clayton-Thomas' return to the BS&T line-up with killer performances of "Ride Captain Ride," John Lee Hooker's "One Room Country Shack" and "Got To Get You Into My Life."

Angela Bofill - Too Tough (1983) - Bronx-born Latina R&B singer-songwriter-performer Angela Bofill came on strong with 1983's Too Tough, her second album for Arista. The album is a showcase of soulful ballads and dancefloor smashes performed by Angela and her band of heavy-hitters, including Sheila E on percussion, Randy Jackson on bass, Marc Russo on horns, and Narada Michael Walden on drums and keyboards kicking out an amazing setlist of fantastic originals and a definitive interpretation of "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" featuring Boz Scaggs sharing co-lead vocals.

Jan Hammer Group - Oh, Yeah? (1976) - Prague-born keyboard wizard Jan Hammer won a pair of Grammys in 1985 for his "Miami Vice Theme," a veritable touchstone for the decade. A profoundly influential ensemble player and solo artist, Hammer helped outline the possibilities of jazz-rock fusion with edge-cutting albums like Oh, Yeah?

Isaac Hayes - U-Turn (1986) - A forgotten hot-buttered-soul classic from the mid-1980s, U-Turn includes Hayes' emotionally charged interpretation of Freddie King's "Hey Girl" alongside the old-school anti-crack screed "Ike's Rap VIII" and the most sensuous "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" ever recorded.

Dave Mason - Mariposo de Oro (1978) - English singer-songwriter-guitarist-bon-vivant Dave Mason first rose to fame as a founding member of Traffic, who made many of his songs, notably "Feelin' Alright" into enduring hits. By the mid-1970s, Mason hit his stride as a solo artist with his easy-going flow of contemporary soft-rock. Mariposo de Oro finds Dave in prime, especially on album's Top 40 single, a distinctively plaintive read of the Shirelles' "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"

Legacy Recordings, the world's premier catalog music label, has opened its vaults to create the Legacy Digital Reissue initiative, making an incredible selection of classic albums and deep catalog rarities available for the first time in the digital realm. Drawing from the vast resources of the Sony Music archives, spanning the entire history of commercial recordings, the ongoing Legacy Digital Reissue program offers music fans an opportunity to rediscover old favorites, experience forgotten musical rarities, and explore an incomparably rich variety of genres, artists and sounds from the last 125 years.

www.LegacyRecordings.com

PATTI LABELLE, MARUCS MILLER, FRANKIE BEVERLY HEADLINE SUNFEST

SunFest, Florida's largest music, art and waterfront festival, has announced several national acts scheduled to appear at the 28th annual event being held April 28-May 2, along one of the most scenic sections of Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach. National acts scheduled to perform include Ben Harper and Relentless7, Patti LaBelle, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Damian Marley, and, Marcus Miller.

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will perform Friday evening, April 30. They are internationally renowned musical artists, known for their soulful and mellow jazz sound. The musicians have been performing together since 1977 when the group released its first of a string of nonstop gold albums, the self-titled Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. Other gold albums include Inspiration, Joy in Pain, and Back to Basics. The group has racked up 24 Top 40 singles. Favorite hits include "Happy Feelings," "We Are One" and "Can't Get Over You."

Patti LaBelle will perform Friday evening, April 30. As an R&B and Soul singer, Patti has been the main singer for the Bluebelles and Labelle. When singing with Labelle, her breakthrough song "Lady Marmalade" made it to the #1 spot on the charts. She then went on to a solo act and has come out with hits including "On My Own," "If you Only Knew," and "I'm in Love Again."

Damian Marley will perform Sunday afternoon, May 2. Marley is the son of reggae legend Bob Marley. In 2006 Marley became the first Jamaican reggae artist to win multiple Grammy Awards in one night. He won Best Reggae Album for his record Welcome to Jamrock, and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the single "Welcome to Jamrock". His albums include Mr. Marley, Halfway Tree and Welcome to Jamrock.

Marcus Miller will perform Sunday afternoon, May 2. He was born and raised in New York and is a musician, producer, and composer. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist including the bass guitar, clarinet, keyboard, and saxophone. He was a part of the Saturday Night Live Band and has toured with many people including Luther Vandross, Miles Davis, and Roberta Flack. Miller has also won many Grammy Awards as a professional producer.

Singer-songwriter and two-time Grammy Award winner Ben Harper will perform Sunday evening, May 2. Harper is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, and live performances. His hit singles include "Steal My Kisses," "With My Own Two Hands," "Diamonds On The Inside," "Brown Eyed Blues" and "Wicked Man." His gold albums include Fight for Your Mind, Burn to Shine and Live from Mars.

More entertainment announcements will be made as they are confirmed.

VIVIAN GREEN - BEAUTIFUL

R&B singer and songwriter Vivian Green is set to release her long-awaited new album, Beautiful on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 on E1 Music. The title track, "Beautiful" was #1 most added at Urban AC radio last week with over 32 stations adding the record (beating out Mariah Carey and Chrisette Michelle). The track is just outside the Urban AC top 20 and climbing fast. In contrast to her first two albums, which were recorded in a variety of studios with multiple producers, Vivian approached the recording of Beautiful in a more intimate, organic manner. With the exception of "Save Me," which she cut with Jason Farmer (Keyshia Cole, Rihanna, Wyclef Jean) in the producer's seat, Vivian recorded the entire album with Grammy-nominated producer Anthony Bell, a longtime friend and collaborator who made key production contributions to her first two albums, and whose extensive resume also includes work with Jazmine Sullivan, Jewel, Musiq, Raheem DeVaughn and Jill Scott.

Green released her debut album, A Love Story, in 2002. The album was certified Gold and featured the hits "Emotional Rollercoaster" and "Fanatic." She followed it up with her sophomore album, in 2005, Vivian, which featured the hit singles, "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)" and "I Like it But I Don't Need It." Green sold close to 800,000 between the two releases. Ms. Green also has a well-earned reputation as a riveting live performer, and has shared stages with such artists as Maxwell, Teena Marie, Betty Wright, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Anthony Hamilton, and Common.

Vivian portrayed Billie Holiday in the Cole Porter biopic "Delovely," and appeared in the ABC series "American Dreams" as Brenda Holloway, and performed Holloway's classic Motown song "Every Little Bit Hurts." She also wrote "Dear God" for Boyz II Men for their platinum-selling album "Evolution" and wrote the music for David E. Talbert's popular all-star stage play "Love in the Nick of Tyme," which debuted in 2007.

CAREFUSION JAZZ FESTIVAL NEW YORK

CareFusion, a leading global medical device company, and festival producer George Wein today announced the schedule for the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York, which takes over the city June 17 - 26 with 45 concerts at 20 venues throughout New York City. "I am grateful that CareFusion came forward to re-ignite the tradition of New York's annual jazz festival in June. With more than 1,000 jazz events taking place throughout New York every month, it's an exciting challenge to program a 10-night festival," said Mr. Wein, CEO of New Festival Productions, LLC. "We booked the festival using the underlying theme of "accentuate the positive," which includes partnering with some of the city's hottest venues from Manhattan to Queens, from Brooklyn to the Bronx. Together, we have booked a stellar festival filled with great music for all tastes and at all prices."

As in past years, some of the great legends of jazz will make their only major New York appearances. At Carnegie Hall, the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York presents Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette on June 17; An Evening with Chris Botti, June 19; The Genius of Joao Gilberto, June 22; and Herbie Hancock, Seven Decades: The Birthday Celebration featuring the birthday honoree himself, Herbie Hancock, plus Terence Blanchard, Bill Cosby, Joe Lovano, Wayne Shorter and others, June 24.

For the free concert of a lifetime, head to Central Park SummerStage on June 23 for dynamic sets starring the McCoy Tyner Quartet featuring Ravi Coltrane, Esperanza Spalding and Francisco Mela plus the Stanley Clarke Band featuring Hiromi. The festival continues with the best in jazz at concert halls, clubs, parks, museums and libraries across the city.

"The CareFusion Jazz Festival Series uses jazz to shine a light on patient safety and those working to improve health care," said David Schlotterbeck, chairman and CEO of CareFusion. "We are especially excited to bring back the New York Jazz Festival this year and support and preserve the arts in New York City and the surrounding communities."

For the complete schedule of the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York, click to http://www.nycjazzfestival.com/. For more information about the CareFusion Jazz Festival Series, click to to http://www.carefusionjazz.com/.

SEABREEZE JAZZ FESTIVAL

The 12th Annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival will be held April 16th-18th at the Pier Park Amphitheater in Panama City Beach, Florida. Pier Park became the new home for the ResortQuest Seabreeze Jazz Festival last year and the response from attendees was overwhelming positive. Nick Colionne will be the Seabreeze Jazz Festival host again this year. Other Jazz artists include Fourplay (Bob James, Larry Carlton, Harvey Mason, & Nathan East) Tower of Power, The Sax Pack (Jeff Kashiwa, Kim Waters, & Steve Cole), Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Euge Groove, Oli Silk, Brian Simpson, Marc Antoine, Jessy J, Steve Oliver, Jackiem Joyner, Shilts, Alex Bugnon, Gerald Veasley, Matt Marshak, Drew Davidsen, Ken Ford, Joey Sommerville, BK Jackson, RomanStreet, Jones and Co. and more! Festival activities begin on Thursday April 15th at 7:00 pm with a Smooth Jazz Dinner Cruise aboard "The Solaris". On Friday April 17th, the Seabreeze Jazz Fest Golf Tournament begins at 8:00am and at 3 pm there will be a Seabreeze Meet & Greet CD Signing at Borders Books at Pier Park where artists will be available for photos and CD signings. The Jazz swings into high gear on Friday at 6:00pm as artists take the stage and concludes with a "Chill Out" after party at 11:00pm. The festival resumes at 10:00am on Saturday, with more jazz greats taking the stage and includes a Smooth & Swanky after party beginning at 10:30pm. Jazz artist take the stage again at 10:00am on Sunday and the festival ends at 8:30pm on Sunday.

GRACE JONES PERFORMS AT 18 ANNUAL ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION

The legendary Grace Jones will perform for guests at the 18th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Viewing Party. The gala event, which will take place March 7, 2010, at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, has brought some of the most iconic musicians to the stage over the years, but none as theatrical as the incomparable Grace Jones.

Ms. Jones' first album, Portfolio, released in 1977, resulted in a string of dance-club hits that transformed the international club scene. Her following albums Fame and Muse generated considerable success in the market and solidified her as a major recording artist. Jones later adapted to the emerging New Wave music to create a different style for herself. This resulted in the acclaimed albums Warm Leatherette, Nightclubbing and Living My Life.

Equally known for her roles in the fashion, art and film communities, Jones has established a presence that has stood the test of time. Born in Jamaica and raised in Syracuse, New York, she began her career as a successful high-fashion model. Starring roles followed in such films as the James Bond blockbuster "A View to a Kill", "Conan the Destroyer" with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the vampire thriller "Vamp." Jones took the art world by storm when she became the muse to famed artists Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, resulting in an iconic series of portraits by Warhol and Haring's famous series of body paintings. With her dramatic visual makeover created in partnership with Jean-Paul Goode, Jones starred in the concert special "A One Man Show" and created a persona that has intrigued fans and established her as an international entertainment icon.

MARK ISHAM PERFORMS AT HOUSTON ST.

Jazz trumpeter Mark Isham has earned him Grammy, Emmy and Clio awards, plus to multiple Academy Award nominations, for his musical accomplishments. In addition to receiving critical acclaim for his jazz albums, Isham is known for his groundbreaking electronic music. He is one of the most celebrated Hollywood film composers today, with credits for over 50 movies and several television scores, and has collaborated with musicians Mick Jagger, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and more. Isham will take the stage with his band Houston Street on Sunday, February 28, 2010. The show will be at the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood located at 6725 West Sunset Boulevard from 7:30 to 9:30 P.M. As a special bonus for coming, attendees will receive a free MP3 of a Mark Isham and Houston Street Band song performed at the show the very next day. The evening’s show will be recorded and Isham will be mixing the performance himself afterwards.

Houston Street is Mark Isham’s latest musical endeavor. The group explores a wide variety of music, including musical influences ranging from Radiohead and Ornette Coleman to Lennon and McCartney, by tearing it down to its basics and building it back up again through collective improvisation. Isham’s mesmerizing jazz trumpet will be accompanied by Jeff Babko on keys, Doug Lunn on bass, and Tom Brechtlein on drums.

To make reservations for Mark Isham and the Houston Band, call 323-466-2210.
www.isham.com

SADE - SOLDIER OF LOVE

For a second consecutive week, Sade’s Soldier Of Love (Epic), has retained the # 1 spot on the charts fending off the competition with 694,000 units sold. The album exploded onto the charts last week selling an astonishing 502,000 copies making it the best sales week for an album by a group since AC/DC in 2008. Soldier Of Love marks Sade's eighth album to rank in the top 10 among Billboard's 200 making them the first group since Led Zeppelin to hold this accomplishment. The attention grabbing first single "Soldier of Love" continues to heat up the airwaves across multiple radio formats and the video remains one of the most played videos for two consecutive months.

Entertainment Weekly featured Soldier Of Love in their "Must List" and gave the album an "A," Rolling Stone wrote, "it's unimpeachably excellent," and The Boston Globe calls it, "a rich and rewarding album." But the accolades don't stop there. Associated Press raved, "like a long-ago lover not quite forgotten, Sade has returned to steal our hearts with more beautiful, uncategorizable music," Billboard was quoted as saying, "it's been 10 years since Sade released an album, but be forewarned – the giant has awoken," while People Magazine reminds us that "Sade remains the voice of comfort to the wounded heart."

Known for their one of a kind timeless sound, Sade has enjoyed phenomenal success both internationally and stateside throughout the span of their twenty-five year career. Since the release of their debut album, Diamond Life in 1984 the band has seen all five of their studio albums land in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart selling a total of more than 50 million albums worldwide to date. They've been nominated for American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and have won three Grammy Awards – first in 1986 for Best New Artist, then in 1994 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for "No Ordinary Love", and again in 2002 for Best Pop Vocal Album with Lovers Rock.

http://www.sade.com/

BETTYE LAVETTE - INTERPRETATIONS

Betty LaVette’s latest CD latest CD, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook is due May 25. Produced by Bettye, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others, before concluding right where the very idea for "Interpretations" started: Bettye’s visceral show-stopping rendition of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" from the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, which appears here as a bonus track. That performance - which first brought Bettye together with Stevens (the event's producer) and Mathes (its musical director) - served notice that Bettye is no mere singer. As an extraordinary interpreter of song, she doesn't merely mold a piece of music to suit her tastes; she is a conjurer of deep, emotional truths: "Bettye LaVette punched a hole right through her version of Pete Townshend's 'Love Reign O'er Me,' letting all the song's emotion pour out in a way that its creators never conceived," observed the New York Daily News. Townshend himself came up to Bettye after her performance, took her hands into his and said, "You made me weep."

Throughout Interpretations, her performances are a revelation not just of raw emotion, but of the inexorable ties between British rock 'n' roll and the American blues and R&B, which when combined, catalyzed popular music. That Lennon, McCartney, and so many others who crossed the Atlantic in their wake, were deeply influenced by American music is no great secret. What Bettye demonstrates here so convincingly is the degree to which rock 'n' roll and American soul remain bound by bloodlines.

The Beatles' pre-psychedelic Rubber Soul classic "The Word" takes on an almost religious fervor, while Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" is transformed from a majestic pop song into a stark, almost desperate expression of devotion. Profound alienation becomes intense longing on Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," and the wistful naiveté of The Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin" matures into a deep and unshakeable lament. Bettye inhabits these songs, revitalizes them and exposes the humanity that makes these 13 tracks not just pop songs, but enduring works of art.

The full track listing for Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook is as follows:

The Word (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
No Time To Live (James Capaldi/Stephen Winwood)
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Bennie Benjamin/Gloria Caldwell/Sol Marcus)
All My Love (John Baldwin/Robert Plant)
Isn't It A Pity (George Harrison)
Wish You Were Here (David Gilmour/Roger Waters)
It Don't Come Easy (Richard Starkey)
Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul McCartney)
Salt Of The Earth (Michael Jagger/Keith Richards)
Nights In White Satin (David Hayward)
Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad (Eric Clapton/Bobby Whitlock)
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Elton John/Bernard Taupin)
Love Reign O'er Me (Peter Townshend) [BONUS TRACK]

CHUCK LOEB JOINS FOURPLAY

Guitarist Chuck Loeb has announced that a few weeks ago he received a call from some of his favorite musicians in the world: Bob James, Harvey Mason, and Nathan East who invited him to join the band Fourplay. Loeb will be taking over the guitar chair from Larry Carlton, who has decided to focus more on his own projects for now. His first show with the band is scheduled for April 18th at The Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Destin Florida. After that he will head in to the studio to start work on the new Fourplay CD

Fourplay has had the distinct privilege of enjoying the past 12 years of its 20 year history with legendary guitarist Larry Carlton. As Larry takes his leave to delve further into his solo career, the band extends their heartfelt gratitude for his contributions and wishes him continued success in all his pursuits.Larry Carlton will remain an integral part of our musical family & legacy. Fourplay now welcomes its newest member, multi-faceted virtuoso guitarist, Chuck Loeb. His musical contributions will undoubtedly enhance the creativity and pursuit of excellence Fourplay his enjoyed in the studio and on the stage. Fourplay thanks its many loyal fans and promises that this latest incarnation will inspire the band to explore new avenues of creativity while maintaining its core musical values.

For nearly two decades, the contemporary jazz quartet known as Fourplay has enjoyed consistent artistic and commercial success by grafting elements of R&B, pop and a variety of other sounds to their unwavering jazz foundations. In the course of ten recordings – five of which have climbed to the top of Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Album charts – the supergroup has continued to explore the limitless dimensions and permutations of jazz while at the same time appealing to a broad mainstream audience. The Fourplay story begins in 1990, with keyboardist Bob James, who had already established himself as a formidable figure in keyboard jazz – not just as an instrumentalist but as a composer and arranger as well – with solo recordings dating as far back as the mid 1960s. In 1990, James reunited with his old friend, session drummer Harvey Mason (Herbie Hancock, Sergio Mendes, James Brown), during the recording of James’ Grand Piano Canyon album. Also involved in the project were guitarist Lee Ritenour (Sergio Mendes) and bassist/vocalist Nathan East (Barry White, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins).The Grand Piano Canyon sessions marked the genesis of the group that eventually came to be known as Fourplay. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1991, and included a blend of jazz, R&B and pop.

The original lineup of James/Ritenour/East/Mason stayed together for three successive albums, including Elixir (1994), a set that features some high-profile guest vocalists: Phil Collins, Patti Austin and Peabo Bryson. East also delivers some noteworthy vocal contributions on Elixir, and has continued to do so throughout most of Fourplay’s subsequent studio outings. Ritenour, whose guitar work in tandem with James’ keyboards served as the cornerstone of the early Fourplay sound, left the lineup in the mid-1990s and was replaced by Larry Carlton (The Crusaders, Joni Mitchell, Quincy Jones). Carlton made his first studio appearance with the band with the release of 4 in 1998. 4 included compositions by all four members, as well as an impressive crew of guest vocalists: El Debarge, Babyface Edmonds, Kevyn Lettau and Shanice.

Following the 1999 release of Snowbound, a mix of traditional and contemporary holiday songs, Fourplay shook things up a bit with Yes Please!, an album that challenged the standard definitions of contemporary jazz by incorporating elements of blues, funk and even Celtic music. JazzTimes critic Hilarie Grey called Yes Please! “an expansive album that incorporates each artist’s strengths, and in the process travels in some unexpected directions.” Grey added: “Yes Please! works where similar projects fail simply because it lets its artists play, without imposing artificial boundaries.”

The sense of experimentation continued with the 2002 release of Heartfelt. The material in this set emerged from a series of improvisational performances that were assembled into full compositions. As a result, the tunes have less clearly defined melodies, but the overall album is both exploratory and accessible at the same time. Journey, released in 2004, is a laid-back affair, but complex at the same time. Consistent with Fourplay’s eclectic philosophy, Journey incorporates a range of stylistic elements – as evidenced by such high points as the delicate cover of the 1993 Sting hit “Fields of Gold” and the bossa nova flavored “Rozil.” X followed in 2006, with guest vocals by blue-eyed-soul icon Michael McDonald, who delivers an inspired rendition of Steve Winwood’s “My Loves Leavin’.” JazzTimes called X “a softly funky, superbly crafted and unapologetically low-key album.”

Fourplay joins the prestigious roster of artists on the Heads Up International label with the September 23, 2008, release of Energy. Carlton promises that the band’s maiden voyage with Heads Up “will be a continuation in the growth of the Fourplay sound. We look forward to delivering the next chapter in the Fourplay story and having Heads Up deliver it to the world.” East is equally optimistic. “I look forward to an adventurous, classy and soul-filled record that showcases our talents individually and collectively,” he says. “Until the last note is played, it’s hard to predict the exact direction. That’s what we love about jazz – the improvisation that happens in the moment.”

We wish Chuck Loeb the best of luck in the next step of his career!

JAZZ CHILL CORNER NEWS...

Robert Glasper - Double Booked
Fresh off the road with R&B hearthrob Maxwell and working with Mos Def, Grammy Nominated Robert Glasper is spending some quality time with his trio. Hear tunes from Double Booked on the dates below. Robert Glasper tour dates inlcude: Feb. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21: Village Vanguard, New York, NY; Feb. 27: Regatta Bar, Boston MA; Mar. 12-13: Bohemian Caverns, Washington DC; and Mar. 18-19: Dazzle's, Denver CO.

Maysa - A Woman In Love
Maysa’s newest release, A Woman In Love, who has amassed an impressive collection of work, both as the lead singer from Incognito and as a solo artist, has totally outdone herself on this CD, from “‘Round Midnight” and “Willow Weep For Me” to her new single, “Am I Wrong (For Lovin’ You?” and her duet with Will Downing on “Love Theiry.” Maysa covers all the bases here, from straight-ahead to R&B to Neo-Soul, all with her signature jazz sensibility.

Kim Waters – Love Stories
Sax man Kim Waters’ new release, Love Stories, is a collection of songs that begs to be enjoyed late at night with a glass of wine, a full moon streaming through the window, and a lushly romantic vibe in the air! Every song on the CD is a winner, including the original vocal featuring Kenny Lattimore (“One More…”), and a fantastic version of the Rose Royce classic, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore,” with vocals by Dana Pope. Waters launched his solo career with a series of R&B recordings on the Warlock label (beginning with 1989’s Sweet and Saxy), and has sold over a million units of both his original material and thematic projects like his sax tribute to The Platters.

Hulon - First Impressions
First Impressions is the debut release from sax player Hulon, who is being billed as ‘jazz music’s cool new sensation.” The tracks on this CD include a killer version of War’s “Cisco Kid,” the funky “Sax On The Beach” and “Sax Machine”, to the romantic with “Follow Me” and “Cool Blue.”

In other news...
Bobby Caldwell and Diane Schuur have teamed up and have a brand new show called Sing ‘n Swing, and you can catch their performances in Kohler, Wisconsin on February 12 and in Eureka, California on April 16.

Bobby Caldwell upcoming tour dates:
Feb. 12: Kohler Memorial Theatre, Kohler, WI (with Diane Shuur)
Feb. 13: California Center For The Arts, Escondido, CA
Feb. 14: Marines’ Memorial Theatre, San Francisco, CA
Apr. 3: The Soiled Dove Underground, Denver, CI
Apr. 16: Arkley Center, Eureka, CA (with Diane Schuur)

New releases out now include:

Abbey Lincoln - Through The Years

Adriana Evans - Walking With The Night

Bamboos - 4

Bei Bei & Shawn Lee - Into The Wind

Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea

Darnell Kenricks - Smooth Soul Cafe

Fanga - Sira Be

Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here

Myra Melford's Be Bread - Whole Tree Gone

Sade - Soldier Of Love

Various Artists - Luxury Soul

Upcoming releases to look out for: Cassandra Wilson - Silver Pony (Blue Note) - Spring 2010, and Jason Moran - TEN (Blue Note) - Summer 2010.

LIONEL LOUKE - MWALIKO

Mwaliko (pronounced mwah-LEE-koh) which is Swahili for "invitation" is the follow up to Loueke's 2007 acclaimed debut,Karibu. Mwaliko is a series of searching, innovative, intimate duets with Richard Bona, Marcus Gilmore, Angelique Kidjo and Esperanza Spalding. Loueke also includes three new tracks featuring his longtime trio with Massimo Biolcati on bass and Ferenc Nemeth on drums and displays Loueke's inspired mix of acoustic and electric guitar. Originally from the small West African nation of Benin, Loueke has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past several years. Praised by his mentor Herbie Hancock as a musical painter, he has appeared on numerous standout recordings such as Hancock’s Grammy-winning River: The Joni Letters (2008) and Terence Blanchard’s Grammy-nominated Flow (2005). Loueke’s 2007 Blue Note debut, Karibu, established him as a one of the brightest new stars on the scene, and prompted The New York Times to declare him a startlingly original voice and one of the most striking jazz artists to emerge is some time.

Lionel Loueke tour dates:

Feb. 18: Jazz Showcase, Chicago, IL
Feb. 19: Jazz Showcase, Chicago, IL
Feb. 20: Jazz Showcase, Chicago, IL
Feb. 21: Jazz Showcase, Chicago, IL
Feb. 25: Jazz Standard, New York, NY

Feb. 26: Jazz Standard, New York, NY

Feb. 27: Jazz Standard, New York, NY

Feb. 28: Jazz Standard, New York, NY

Mar. 8: Blues Alley, Washington DC

Mar. 11: Regattabar, Boston, MA

Mar. 13: Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, GA

Mar. 25: Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

Mar. 26: Mancheseter Craftsman Guild, Pittsburgh, PA

Apr. 6: Capilano College, Vancouver, BC

Apr. 7: Mondavi Center, Davis, CA
Apr. 8: Mondavi Center, Davis, CA
Apr. 9: Mondavi Center, Davis, CA
Apr. 10: Mondavi Center, Davis, CA

WE ARE THE WORLD 25

Quincy Jones, producer, and Lionel Richie, co-writer, of the iconic 1985 philanthropic anthem "We Are The World," have announced details surrounding the world premiere and global distribution of the contemporary version of the song and accompanying video We Are The World 25 For Haiti. Recorded on February 1st in the same studio as the original 25 years earlier (Henson Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios) the new version, in which Jones and Richie serve as executive producers and producers, was created in collaboration with executive producers Wyclef Jean, Randy Phillips and Peter Tortorici; producers Humberto Gattica and RedOne; and co-producers Rickey Minor, Mervyn Warren and Patti Austin to benefit the Haitian earthquake relief efforts and the rebuilding of Haiti. This production was made possible through financial support from Visa Inc.

The world premiere of We Are The World 25 For Haiti will air during NBC's coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics this Friday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 C.T. Shortly after the premiere, details about a multi-network international roadblock simulcast will be announced. Academy Award-winning writer-director Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby), whose own personal efforts as well as those of Artists for Peace and Justice have already saved countless lives in Haiti, filmed the private recording session to create the accompanying video and "behind-the-scenes" production, and serves as Film Director and as an Executive Producer with Jones, Richie, Jean, Phillips and Tortorici. Immediatley following the world premiere, fans will immediately be able to download the song and view exclusive footage from the recording session on the official website: WORLD25.org. Downloads will also be available on iTunes, and through a partnership with YouTube, the video will be viewable on the "We Are the World 25" YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/wearetheworld). Immediate donations will be made possible by clicking on the "Donate Now" button on YouTube or by downloading the song on iTunes.

Commented Jones, "It warmed my heart to see that the experience during the recording of We Are The World 25 For Haiti embodied the same enthusiasm, sense of purpose and generosity as the original recording 25 years ago. Every one of the artists who participated, regardless of genre or generation, walked into the room with their hearts and souls completely open to coming together to help the people of Haiti. Through the contributions of their voices to this new rendition of 'We Are The World,' and with the help of our partners, the We Are The World Foundation will be the most transparent not-for-profit foundation ever created."

"When I was first approached about recording a new version of We Are The World, I was lukewarm because the first effort was so iconic, then Haiti happened and I realized that this was the kind of crisis for which the song was originally written," said Richie. "The new version takes the copyright to a different place while staying true to the iconic nature of the original. What a better way to help rescue our Haitian brothers and sisters in distress, bring a heightened awareness to that country's plight and needs, and bring some of the world's greatest talent together. The result speaks for itself so DOWNLOAD TO DONATE!"

All proceeds will go to the We Are The World Foundation, a newly created not-for-profit organization founded by Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie whose other board members will include Wyclef Jean, Paul Haggis, Randy Phillips, Peter Tortorici and Ambassador Luis Moreno of the Inter-American Development Bank. The Foundation is dedicated to raising money and making grants to charitable organizations with meaningful and efficient relief and development programs that are responding to the continuing crisis in Haiti. Charities are currently being identified whose relief programs best fit the Foundation's vision of marshalling the support of the community for the benefit of the victims of disaster and poverty. Grants will soon be made and the funds put to work towards charitable and relief efforts. Until then, The Foundation will hold and guard the funds dedicated to this important work.

"I am touched by the enthusiasm and support we are seeing from the entertainment community," said Wyclef Jean. "With the continued efforts of the global community, we increase our chances of successfully bringing Haiti much needed relief; and taking the next step in reconstructing a 21st century Haiti."

"Careers are often measured by the positive effect of one's actions on the human condition, not just by the accumulation of wealth," said Randy Phillips, President & CEO, AEG Live. "When AEG Live and I were asked to help squire this effort by Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, we knew this would leave an indelible mark on our souls and on the rebirth of the island nation of Haiti. Our mantra throughout the entire process was simply: FOR HAITI!"

Upon its original release, We Are the World quickly became the fastest selling single in history and in the years that have followed, USA for Africa has raised and distributed more than $63 million in revenue from the sales of more than 7 million units of the album, single and cassettes, plus nearly 2 million digital sales and related merchandise. Just over half the total was spent on emergency relief (food, medicine, and refugee services) and the balance was used to support more than 500 different relief, rehabilitation and development projects in 18 different countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

We Are The World 25
Artist & Creative Roster

WYCLEF JEAN
JANET JACKSON
P!NK
CARLOS SANTANA
JENNIFER HUDSON
JAMIE FOXX
SUGARLAND
ADAM LEVINE
JASON MRAZ
EARTH WIND & FIRE
NATALIE COLE
THE JONAS BROTHERS
T PAIN
BRIAN WILSON
JUSTIN BIEBER
NICOLE SCHERZINGER
INDIA.ARIE
JULIANNE HOUGH
MARY MARY
MELANIE FIONA
BEBE WINANS
MYA
TYRESE GIBSON
ANTHONY HAMILTON
RAPHAEL SAADIQ
GLADYS KNIGHT
KERI HILSON
JOEL & BENJI MADDEN
HEART
BRANDY
KIDADA JONES
MUSIQ SOULCHILD
MILEY CYRUS
AKON
JORDIN SPARKS
CELINE DION
ROB THOMAS
KATHARINE MCPHEE
JEFF BRIDGES
RANDY JACKSON
BUSTA RHYMES
KID CUDI
USHER
WILL.I.AM
KANYE WEST
LL COOL J
ISAAC SLADE (AKA THE FRAY)
SNOOP DOGG
NICOLE RICHIE
TREY SONGZ
ETHAN BORTNICK
TARYLL JACKSON
TAJ JACKSON
TJ JACKSON
VINCE VAUGHN
DRAKE
FREDA PAYNE
FAITH EVANS
ROBIN THICKE
RASHIDA JONES
BARBRA STREISAND
JIMMY JEAN LOUIS
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS
ZAC BROWN
LIL WAYNE
TONY BENNETT
JOSH GROBAN
SEAN GARRETT
HARRY CONNICK, JR.
AL JARDINE
BONE THUGS AND HARMONY (BIZZY BONES)
AR RAHMEN
FERGIE
MARY J BLIGE
ORIANTHI
MANN
NIPSEY HUSSLE
IYAZ
KEITH HARRIS
NIKKA COSTA
NI BRAXTON
FARNSWORTH BENTLEY
PLAIN PAT
IL TRIO

SOURCE We Are The World 25 For Haiti
http://www.World25.org

JOHN LEGEND JOINS GEORGE BENSON & SERGIO MENDES @ CURACAO NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL

Grammy award winning singer and pianist, platinum selling artist, John Legend will headline the first ever Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival, September 3-4th 2010. Legend is expected to wow the crowds along with music legends George Benson and Sergio Mendes as well as other international acts. The Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival will be held in the World Trade Center Curaçao, but will also include a number of exciting, vibrant and energetic jazz concerts all over the island a full week before the festival. John Legend made his break-through with hits like “Ordinary people” and “P.D.A. (We Just Don’t Care).” In 2008, he collaborated with Estelle and Andre 3000 to release his third studio album, Evolver. The popular R&B and soul singer with the distinctive voice is a certified star, his many Grammy awards a testament to the success of his career.

“The North Sea Jazz Festival is an unprecedented event for Curaçao and to have John Legend headline this all encompassing musical experience is a coup for Curaçao, the Festival and the fans,” says Brenda Benjamin, Director of Marketing, and Curaçao Tourist Board. “Including Mr. Legend, we could not have a better line-up of illustrious musicians to kick off this Jazz Festival. Curaçao visitors who come for the jazz festival will not only love the event but will want to experience everything our unique island has to offer from remarkable diving to historic sites, beautiful beaches, high-end shopping and fun casino entertainment.”

www.Curacaonorthseajazz.com

JOE SAMPLE, DAVID SANBORN & CASSANDRA WILSON - JAZZ IN THE GARDENS

Jazz legends David Sanborn, Cassandra Wilson and Joe Sample are set to take the stage during the 5th Annual "Jazz in the Gardens" hosted by #1 rated, nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner, Saturday, March 20th and Sunday, March 21st at Sun Life Stadium (formerly Dolphin Stadium), 2269 Dan Marino Blvd, Miami Gardens, Florida 33056. Internationally-known and well-respected, these jazz musicians are at the top of the genre, oftentimes pulling in audiences of over 6,000 on their own bill. Sanborn, Wilson and Sample are just three of the artists on the star-studded line-up for the nearly sold-out festival. Other confirmed artists include the queen of R&B, Mary J. Blige; R&B crooner, Robin Thicke; Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter, John Legend; 90s R&B/pop super group, Boyz II Men; funk/R&B diva, Teena Marie; Grammy nominated R&B vocalist, Melanie Fiona; and R&B newcomer, K'Jon.

Jazz in the Gardens, a two-day weekend festival now in its fifth year, has grown to be one of the top cultural events in South Florida. The jazz festival delivers a diverse mix of music genres that range from jazz, R&B, Caribbean and African sounds. Having something to offer all music aficionados at an affordable price, the 4th Annual Jazz in the Gardens shattered expected ticket sales, enjoying an attendance of almost 40,000, which was more than double the sales of the 2008 festival. In 2009, the Jazz in the Gardens crowd enjoyed the hip-hop flavor of Common, the beautiful neo-soul melodies of Erykah Badu, the smooth R&B of Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds and the crowd-stopping soul of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, among other a-list artists.

The iconic David Sanborn truly merits his position as a saxophonist, unrivaled as a player who straddles the pop and jazz worlds while commanding respect in both. In pop, he is justly famed for his standout solo on David Bowie's 1975 hit "Young Americans" -- one of many celebrated recording projects that evolved out of Sanborn's live supporting roles. Indeed, his matchless tone has additionally been sought to bolster performances by the esteemed liked of Eric Clapton, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder -- many of whom have likewise gone on to enlist Sanborn's inimitable sax presence in the studio. Sanborn's high visibility live and on record is only part of his story. His music has been heard in films, most notably on the Michael Kamen penned scores for the "Lethal Weapon" movies. His television work includes the theme for "Saturday Night Live," sitting in regularly with the Late Night with David Letterman band, and hosting the dearly-remembered "Night Music." The six-time Grammy winner has consistently recorded his own albums, and since his first album Taking Off from 1975, through his acclaimed Closer from 2005, he has rarely gone over two years between releases. Sanborn's new album, Here and Gone, is the 23rd solo album of Sanborn's extraordinary career and features guests such as Eric Clapton, Sam Moore and Joss Stone.

One of the many jazzmen who started out playing hard bop but went electric during the fusion era, Joe Sample was, in the late '50s, a founding member of the Jazz Crusaders along with trombonist, Wayne Henderson; tenor saxophonist, Wilton Felder; and drummer, Stix Hooper. Sample, a hard-swinging player who could handle chordal and modal/scalar improvisation equally well, stuck to the acoustic piano during the Crusaders' early years -- but would place greater emphasis on electric keyboards when the band turned to jazz-funk in the early '70s. Although Sample had recorded as a trio pianist on 1969's obscure Fancy Dance, 1978's Rainbow Seeker was often described as his first album as a leader. Since the early 1980's, he has enjoyed a successful solo career and has guested on many recordings by other performers and groups, including Miles Davis, George Benson, Jimmy Witherspoon, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan and The Supremes.

Defying categorization and convention, Cassandra Wilson never fails to surprise and inspire. Sexy, honey-velvet vocals wrapped around her own jazzy blue compositions or inventive interpretations of others' material led TIME magazine to name her "America's Best Singer" in recent years. Wilson's journey can be traced back to Mississippi where she was raised by musician and educator parents. In the eighties, Wilson moved to New Orleans and performed with Earl Turbinton and Ellis Marsalis. Quite by accident, she was relocated to East Orange, New Jersey where she made the decision to take her chances on the New York jazz scene. Her development can be tracked through her discography. From the standards on Blue Skies to the Grammy-winning New Moon Daughter, to the combination of originals and interpretations played by a collection of Mississippi and New York musicians on both the 2001 release, Belly of the Sun, and 2003's Glamoured, to the 2006 T-Bone Burnett produced Thunderbird, Cassandra continues to evolve. On her acclaimed 2009 release, Loverly, Wilson returns to a more stripped down jazz setting, and gives a tantalizing, rhythmically driven collection of jazz standards new luster.

www.jazzinthegardens.com

THE MARCH CONCERT CALENDAR

John Mayer @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI, Mar 1
Pat Metheny @ Congress Hall, Warsaw, Poland, Mar 1
John Mayer @ Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, Mar 2
Chris Botti @ Fisher Auditorium, Indiana, PA, Mar 2
George Winston @ Saint Joseph College, West Hartford, CT, Mar 2
Pat Metheny @ Philharmonie Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Mar 2
Pat Metheny @ Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, Germany, Mar 3

Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald @ Westpac Arena,
Christchurch, NZ, Mar 3

John Mayer @ Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, Mar 4
George Winston @ Stage One, Fairfield, CT, Mar 4
Pat Metheny @ Die Glocke, Bremen, Germany, Mar 4
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ Town Hall, New York, NY, Mar 4
Patti Labelle @ Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ, Mar 4
Mavis Staples @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Mar 4-7
Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald @ Vector Arena, Auckland, NZ, Mar 5
John Mayer @ Ford Center, Oklahoma City, OK, Mar 5
Norah Jones @ Brady Theater, Tulsa, OK, Mar 5
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ The Keswick, Philadelphia, PA, Mar 5
Bill Frisell @ Scullers Jazz Club, Allston, MA, Mar 5
Patti Labelle @ Niagra Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagra Falls, ON, Mar 5
Pink Martini @ Kahilu Theatre, Kamuela, HI, Mar 5-6
John Mayer @ Toyota Center, Houston, TX, Mar 6
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ House of Blues, Boston, MA, Mar 6
Bela Fleck & The Africa Project, Rialto Center For Arts, Atlanta, GA, Mar 6

Joshua Redman, Kurt Elling @ Luckman Fine Arts Complex,
Los Angeles, CA, Mar 6

Cassandra Wilson @ New Jersey PAC, Newark, NJ, Mar 6

George Winston @ Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center,
Old Saybrook, CT, Mar 6

Norah Jones @ The Midland, Kansas City, MO, Mar 6
Pat Metheny @ Kolner Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany, Mar 6
Norah Jones @ Oepheum, Omaha, NE, Mar 7
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ 9:30 Club, Washington, DC, Mar 7
John Mayer @ Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX, Mar 8
Pat Metheny @ Konzerthaus, Dortmund, Germany, Mar 8
Dee Dee Bridgewater @ Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium, Mar 8
George Winston @ Firehouse Center For Arts, Newburyport, MA, Mar 8-9
Norah Jones @ Civic Center, Des Moines, IA, Mar 9
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ Massey Hall, Toronto, ON, Mar 9

Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald @ Araneeta Coliseum,
Manila, Philippines, Mar 9

John Mayer @ American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, Mar 9
Boz Scaggs @ Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines, Mar 9
John Scofield @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Mar 9-10
Pat Metheny @ Alte Ope, Frankfurt, Germany, Mar 10
Pink Martini @ Billboard Live, Tokyo, Japan, Mar 10
Michael Buble @ Amway Arena, Orlando, FL
Dee Dee Bridgewater @ Sortie Quest Theatre, Beziers, France, Mar 10
John Mayer @ New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA, Mar 10
Norah Jones @ E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron, OH, Mar 11
Pat Metheny @ Festpielhaus, Baden-Naden, Germany, Mar 11
Gladys Knight @ McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Mar 11
Spyro Gyra @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Mar 11-14
Norah Jones @ Whitney Hall, Louisville, KY, Mar 12
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ Cobb Energy Center, Atlanta, GA, Mar 12
George Winston @ The Sanctuary Concepts, Chatham, NJ, Mar 12

Bettye LaVette, Maria Muldaur @ The Community Theater At Mayo Center,
Morristown, NJ, Mar 12

John Mayer @ Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH, Mar 12
Pat Metheny @ Volkshaus, Zurich, Switzerland, Mar 12
Delfeayo Marsalis @ Kennedy Center For Perf Arts, Washington, DC, Mar 12
Smokey Robinson @ McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Mar 12
Michael Buble @ Bank Atlantic Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Mar 12
John Mayer @ Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY, Mar 13
Michael Buble @ St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL, Mar 13
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ James K. Polk Theater, Nashville, TN, Mar 13
Dionne Warwick @ Park Lane Hilton, London, UK, Mar 13
Keiko Matsui @ McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Mar 13
Joshua Redman, Kurt Elling @ Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium, Mar 13
Norah Jones @ Murat Theatre, Indianapolis, IN, Mar 13
Pink Martini @ Melon Ax Hall, Seoul, South Korea, Mar 13
McCoy Tyner @ Manchester Craftsmen, Pittsburgh, PA, Mar 13
Michael Buble @ Gwinnett Civic Center, Atlanta, GA, Mar 14

Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ Robert Orpheum Theater,
St. Louis, MO, Mar 14

George Winston @ The Cultural Arts Center, Glen Allen, VA, Mar 14
McCoy Tyner @ McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, Mar 15
Pat Metheny @ Teatro Smeraldo, Milan, Italy, Mar 15
Tower Of Power @ B.B. King’s, New York, NY, Mar 15
Norah Jones @ Overture Hall, Madison, WI, Mar 15

Pink Martini @ Dewan Filharminik Petronas,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mar 15

John Mayer @ Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC, Mar 15
John Mayer @ John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesbille, VA, Mar 16
Pat Metheny @ Saschall, Florence, Italy, Mar 16
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ Park West, Chicago, IL, Mar 16
Michael Buble @ Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA, Mar 16
John Mayer @ Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA, Mar 17
Norah Jones @ The O’Shaughnessy, St. Paul, MN, Mar 17
Pat Metheny @ Rome Auditorium, Rome, Italy, Mar 17
Michael Buble @ Peterson Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Mar 17
Pink Martini @ Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, Mar 17
Bobby McFerrin @ The Birchmere Music Hall, Alexandria, VA, Mar 17-18
Pat Metheny @ Palapartenope, Naples, Italy, Mar 18
Average White Band @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Mar 18
Bettye LaVette, Maria Muldaur @ Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown,
NY, Mar 18

Maceo Parker @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Mar 18-21

Bettye LaVette, Maria Muldaur @ Flynn Center For The Performing Arts,
Burlington, VT, Mar 19

John Mayer @ FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN, Mar 19
Pat Metheny @ Teatro Team, Bari, Italy, Mar 19
Michael Buble @ DCU Center, Worchester, MA, Mar 19
Norah Jones @ Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI, Mar 19
Average White Band @ The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, Mar 19-20
John Mayer @ Scottstrade Center, St. Louis, MO, Mar 20

Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ Commodore Ballroom,
Vancouver, BC, Mar 20

Michael Buble @ Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, Mar 20
Norah Jones @ Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL, Mar 20

Bettye LaVette, Maria Muldaur @ Quick Center Of The Arts,
Fairfield, CT, Mar 20

Johnny Mathis @ Philharmonic Center For The Arts, Naples, FL, Mar 21

Al Jarreau, Dee Dee Bridgewater @ Walt Disney Concert Hall,
Los Angeles, Cam Mar 21

George Winston @ Avalon Theatre, Easton, MD, Mar 21
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA, Mar 21
Dianne Reeves @ Billboard Live, Tokyo, Japan, Mar 21-22
John Mayer @ Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO, Mar 22
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, Mar 22
Pat Metheny @ Teatro Metropolitan, Catania, Italy, Mar 22
John Mayer @ Pepsi Center, Denver, CO, Mar 23
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, Mar 23
Michael Buble @ Wolstein Center, Cleveland, OH, Mar 23

Pink Martini @ Emerald Coast Conference Center,
Fort. Walton Beach, Fl, Mar 23

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Mar 23
Kenny G @ Vilar Center For The Arts, Beaver Creek CO, Mar 24
Michael Buble @ U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH, Mar 24
McCoy Tyner @ Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA, Mar 24-28
John Mayer @ The Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA, Mar 25
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May @ Avalon, Los Angeles, CA, Mar 25
Norah Jones @ Wang Theatre, Boston, MA, Mar 25
Michael Buble @ Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI, Mar 25
Gladys Knight @ ArtsBlock: Grand Theater, Wausau, WI, Mar 25
Michel Camilo @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Mar 25-29
John Mayer @ HP Pavillion, San Jose, CA, Mar 26
Gladys Knight @ Overture Hall, Madison, WI, Mar 26
Norah Jones @ MGM Foxwoods, Mashantucket, CT, Mar 26
Cassandra Wilson @ Ford Center For Perf Arts, University, MS, Mar 26
Dee Dee Bridgewater @ Laurie Auditorium, San Antonio, TX, Mar 26
The Four Tops, The Temptations @ 02 Arena, London, UK, Mar 26
Lorna Luft @ McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Mar 26

Pink Martini @ Times-Union Center For Performing Arts,
Jacksonville, FL, Mar 26-27

Steve Tyrell @ McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Mar 27
Michael Buble @ Allstate Arena, Chicago, IL, Mar 27
Norah Jones @ WaMU Theatre at Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY, Mar 27
Ashford & Simpson @ The Birchmere Music Hall, Alexandria, VA, Mar 27
Cassandra Wilson @ MSU Riley Center, Meridien, MS, Mar 27
Dee Dee Bridgewater @ Paramount Theatre, Boston, MA, Mar 27-28
Tower Of Power @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Mar 28
Michael Buble @ Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, Mar 28
John Mayer @ Rose Garden, Portland, OR, Mar 30
Michael Buble @ Pepsi Center, Denver, CO, Mar 30
Norah Jones @ Lyric Opera House, Baltimore, MD, Mar 30
Pink Martini @ Severance Hall, Cleveland, OH, Mar 30

Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea, Lenny White @ La Plaza De Armes,
Azarecas, Mexico, Mar 30

George Winston @ Metropolis PAC, Arlington Heights, IL, Mar 30-31
John Mayer @ Key Arena, Seattle, WA, Mar 31

Michael Buble @ The E Center, Salt Lake City, UT, Mar 31

SADE - SOLDIER OF LOVE

Sade is back after nearly a decade with Soldier Of Love (Epic Records), which is being released on Tuesday, February 9th. The new album was recorded in England and features the stunning and powerful hit single of the same title "Soldier of Love" which has already garnered much critical acclaim from both the press as well as her loyal fans. The accomplishments of Soldier Of Love so far are astounding. The single, "Soldier of Love" - which Sade co-produced with Mike Pela, and was written by Sade along with longtime collaborators Andrew Hale, Stuart Matthew man and Paul Spencer Denman continues to make radio history. In less than four weeks "Soldier of Love" propelled into the top five at both Urban Hot AC and Smooth Jazz radio charts, making it one of the fastest moving records of the year. The track reached the top of the Urban AC chart three weeks ago and remains the # 1 song at both Urban AC and Smooth Jazz today. Sade is now the first group since the Isley Brothers in 2001 to earn a #1 spot as a lead act on the R&B Chart. The intriguing and seductive video, which Sophie Muller directed is currently the # 1 most played video on both VH1 Soul, and BET Centric and this past week became the # 4 most played video on VH1 proper.

Tomorrow, Sade will kick things off with a performance on BET's 106 & Park, followed by a phenomenal TV campaign which includes appearances on The Today Show, Letterman, The View, Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen Degeneres. Upon pre-order release at iTunes, the album immediately entered the Top 5 on the overall album chart. Soldier Of Love is currently the # 1 album pre-order at Amazon as well.

Known for their one of a kind timeless sound, Sade has enjoyed phenomenal success both internationally and stateside throughout the span of their twenty-five year career. Since the release of their debut album, Diamond Life in 1984 the band has seen all five of their studio albums land in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart selling a total of more than 50 million albums worldwide to date. They've been nominated for American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and have won three Grammy Awards – first in 1986 for Best New Artist, then in 1994 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for "No Ordinary Love", and again in 2002 for Best Pop Vocal Album with Lovers Rock.

http://www.sade.com

MICHAEL BUBLE - SPECIAL DELIVERY

Reprise Records announced today that beginning February 9th, Michael Bublé fans in the online community will have an opportunity to purchase Special Delivery – via digital download - a group of six Bublé recorded songs that are currently unavailable in the marketplace. Special Delivery includes Bublé’s interpretations of classics including “These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You),” “Dream A Little Dream,” “I’m Beginning To See The Light,” “Mack the Knife,” “Orange Colored Sky” and "Softly As I Leave You.” These songs are now available for the first time at iTunes and all digital retailers in one digital package – perfect timing for Valentine’s Day. These songs were previously available in limited edition and special packages. Bublé, who is scheduled to appear on the Ellen Show on Feb. 9th and the Today Show on Feb. 12th is expected to begin his “Crazy Love” Tour on March 10th in Orlando, Florida. The multi- platinum Canadian has just received a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album on his previous release, Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden… His current CD Crazy Love has remained a staple on the Billboard Top 200 since its release last October.

Michael Buble Crazy Love Tour Dates:
Mar 10 – Amway Arena, Orlando, FL
Mar 12 – Bank Atlantic Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Mar 13 – St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL
Mar 14 – Gwinnett Civic Center, Atlanta, GA
Mar 16 – Wachovia Center, Philadelphia,PA
Mar 17 – Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Mar 19 – DCU Center, Worchester, MA
Mar 20 – Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Mar 23 – Wolstein Center, Cleveland, OH
Mar 24 – U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
Mar 25 – Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
Mar 27 – Allstate Arena, Chicago, IL
Mar 28 – Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Mar 30 – Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
Mar 31 – The E Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 2 – Rose Garden, Portland, OR
Apr 3 – Key Arena, Seattle, WA
Apr 6 – Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
Apr 8 – US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
Apr 9 – Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
May 6 – Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, UK
May 8 – SECC, Glasgow, UK
May 9 – MEN Arena, Manchester, UK
May 11 – Liverpool Arena, Liverpool, UK
May 12 – Newcastle Arena, Newcastle, UK
May 14 – LG & NIA, Birmingham, UK
May 15 – O2 Arena, London, UK
May 16 – O2 Arena, London, UK
May 18 – Bercy, Paris, France
May 19 – Gelredome, Arnhem, Netherlands
May 22 – Arena Di Verona, Verona
May 23 – Medio Forum, Milan, Italy
May 25 – Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
May 16 – Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
May 28 – 02 Arena, Berlin, Germany
May 30 – Sportpalais, Antwerp, Belgium
May 31 – Kopi Arena, Oberhausen, Germany
June 1 – Colorine Arena, Hamburg, Germany
June 22 – BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
June 23 – Instrust Bank Arena, Wishita, KS
June 26 – Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
June 27 – Qwest Center, Omaha, NE
June 27 – Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
June 30 – Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
July 2 – Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT
July 3 – Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT
July 6 – Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA
July 7 – Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, VA
July 9 – RBC Center, Raleigh, NC
July 10 – Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
July 11 – Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL
July 13 – Civic Center, Pensacola, FL
July 14 – New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
July 16 – Toyota Center, Houston, TX
July 17 – AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
July 18 – American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Aug 5 – Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Aug 7 – Scotiabank, Ottawa, ON
Aug 9 – John Labatt Centre, London, ON
Aug 10 – Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
Aug 13 – MTS Centre, Winnipeg, MB
Aug 14 – Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon, SK
Aug 17 – General Motors Plaza, Vancouver, BC

TONY BENNETT PAINTS LOUIS PRIMA

The world knows Tony Bennett as a peerless interpreter of the American songbook. His singing career just entered its sixth decade and he has 15 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and two Emmy Awards. He was named a Kennedy Center Honoree and NEA Jazz Master and the United Nations presented him with their Humanitarian Award and Citizen of the World Award. Yet as a child growing up in Queens New York he wanted to be a painter. He studied at the School of Art and Design in Manhattan and continued with private studios and teachers. It's an open secret that art is as much a part of his life as music.

Bennett paints under his family name of Benedetto. He lives out his visual passions through this alter ego: As Tony Bennett tours the world, Anthony Benedetto paints and sketches a rarified daily scene, from intimate musical gatherings to international cityscapes. The United Nations twice commissioned his artwork, including their 50th Anniversary "Peace" and "Brotherhood" (purchased by Oprah Winfrey). Three Bennett originals are part of the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection, including his portrait of Duke Ellington, which was recently accepted into the National Portrait Gallery. Bennett's work is also on permanent display at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio and is part of the collection at the National Arts Club in New York. Bennett's work graced the collections of the late Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra and artist Robert Rauschenberg and is owned by President Bill Clinton, Carol Burnett, Whoopi Goldberg, Donald Trump and Katie Couric, among a select few. The first book of his paintings, "Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen," was released by Rizzoli in 1996 and his second, "Tony Bennett In the Studio" was published in 2007. At 83, he is a master of the arts and has earned his status of living legend.

Legendary performer and 15-time Grammy Winner Tony Bennett graced the stage at the New Orleans Jazz Festival in 2009 to the delight of fans that attended that exhilarating performance. This year, the singer who paints under his family name Benedetto, will participate as the official visual artist of the Festival by painting the image to be displayed on the Festival's annual poster. Bennett's portrait of his friend and colleague, the late Louis Prima will be reproduced as the 2010 New Orleans Jazz Festival poster in honor of the centennial anniversary of Prima's birth, a New Orleans native, which is celebrated in December of this year. To view the poster image, visit nojazzfest.com

Bennett, who is an accomplished visual artist with three of his original paintings included in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution, commented, "Louis Prima was an absolute original and I was thrilled to be asked by the Jazz Festival to paint his portrait for this year's poster art – he was an exceptional performer and a dear friend and he embodied the buoyant spirit of New Orleans."

Quint Davis, producer/director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, said, "Tony Bennett's performance at the 2009 Jazz Fest was a highlight for everyone who attended. We are honored to present his portrait of Louis Prima as this year's Festival poster. This tremendous tribute to one of New Orleans' great musicians by one of America's great musical artists is the kind of celebration of our culture to which Jazz Fest itself is dedicated."

2010 marks the centennial year of Louis Prima's birth. Prima's contributions to the American music scene are measured by the decade. In the 1930's he took his New Orleans trumpet and vocal style to New York and Los Angeles where, with his New Orleans Gang, he helped define an era. Prima wrote Sing, Sing, Sing, the Swing Era anthem immortalized in Benny Goodman's later cover. The success of the Big Band sound led Prima to form a 22-piece orchestra that regularly topped the Big Band Era charts of the 40's. Big Bands having faded by the 50's, Prima moved to Las Vegas were he fashioned the Witnesses with New Orleans' great tenor saxophonist Sam Butera and defined yet another music scene. That band's shuffle beat combined with its New Orleans jazz roots laid the foundation for early Rock & Roll. Prima relaunched his recording career in 1957 with Just a Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody; two songs that Prima combined so successfully that Van Halen's David Lee Roth had a hit with Prima's joinder in 1985. In 1958 Prima won the first Vocal Category Grammy for That Old Black Magic. In 1966 he gave voice to King Louis in Disney's The Jungle Book, the album of which went gold.

In 1982 Sing Sing Sing was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, followed in 1999 by his 1957 album The Wildest. During his five-decade career he recorded nearly 800 songs and was a regular on The Ed Sullivan Show where he showcased the incredible talent of Butera, Keely Smith and Gia Maione. Even after his passing in 1975, Louis Prima still spins gold: The Louis Prima Capital Collectors Series compilation CD went gold in 2008 – and top the charts: His Live From Las Vegas hit the Billboard Top Jazz Album chart in 2005. If you don't know Prima, you No Capicia.

Bennett's silk-screened poster is the first edition in a new generation of poster series for Jazz Festival, "Performance Art: The Musical Artist As Visual Artist," which will showcase the visual artistry of musical performers. Bennett's poster, titled "The Chief of New Orleans: A Portrait of Louis Prima" will be available in four numbered editions: 12,500 unsigned posters on archival vellum paper, 23" x 35" ($69); 2,000 artist-signed prints on museum-standard 100% cotton rag paper, 24" x 37" ($295); 500 artist-signed remarques bearing a hand drawing by the artist and the estate-stamped signature of Louis Prima, 25"x 39" ($795); and, 300 C-marques (over-painted canvases) 26" x 40" ($995). The Bennett editions are available for pre-ordering on the website.