SERGIO MENDES - CELEBRATION: A MUSICAL JOURNEY

Sergio Mendes is about to be celebrated with his first ever career retrospective. Marking the 50th anniversary of his debut album, the two-CD Celebration: A Musical Journey (Emarcy/Verve), released 4th April, 2011, brings together more than three dozen selections spanning the entire career of the master of the bossa nova beat. The collection ranges from the classic "The Look Of Love" to recent collaborations with will.i.am and The Black Eyed Peas ("Mas Que Nada" is featured on the soundtrack to the 3-D animation feature RIO premiering April 15) to new recordings guesting Siedah Garrett and Ivete Sangalo. Celebration: A Musical Journey's earliest tracks were culled from 1961's Dance Moderno and groups Bossa Rio and the Sergio Mendes Trio. But it was Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 which sparked global stardom. Performing "The Look Of Love" at the 1968 Oscars, their version went Top 10, quickly followed by the hits "The Fool On The Hill" and "Scarborough Fair." Enjoying immense popularity, Mendes added soul and funk to his jazz and pop, but always with a Brazilian rhythm. In the '80s, he scored with the Adult Contemporary #1 and pop Top 10 "Never Gonna Let You Go" and in 1992 won a Grammy for Brasileiro. From the 60s to now, Mendes and his cool factor is ever present. In 2006, his CD, Timeless, spotlighted hip-hop artists, including The Black Eyed Peas with a re-recording of early gem "Mas Que Nada" alongside Gracinha Leporace, Mendes' wife. 2008's Encanto found neo-soulster Ledisi and Spanish-language favorite Juanes as guests. Adding new recordings with Sangalo and Garrett, among them a remake of "The Fool On The Hill," Celebration: A Musical Journey brings up to date the extraordinary career of Sergio Mendes.


Tracklisting:
CD1
Outra Vez
Garota De Ipanema
So Danco Samba
Mas Que Nada
Going Out Of My Head
Constant Rain
Night And Day
The Look Of Love
So Many Stars
The Fool On The Hill
Scarborough Fair
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
Pretty World
Wichita Lineman
Norwegian Wood
Masquerade
What The World Needs Now Is Love
Pais Tropical
Viramundo
After Sunrise
Promesa De Pescador

CD2
Never Gonna Let You Go
My Summer Love
The Sound Of One Song
Kisses Daylight
Sarara (Bring Me The Sunlight)
Cinnamon & Clove
Rio de Janeiro
Holografico Olodum
Mas Que Nada
The Frog
Waters Of March
Y Vamos Ya
So Tinha De Ser Com Voce
Magalenha
The Fool On The Hill
Chove Chuva

Source: Universal Music Enterprises

iNETRADIO.COM LAUNCHES UNIQUE MUSIC CHANNELS

iNetRadio, where you can hear "what you want, when you want it," now offers users a unique selection of music channels that have become scarce on the traditional radio dial. Thanks to an outpouring of requests from iNetRadio users, classic formats ranging from Big Band Standards to 50's Rock to Beautiful Music have all found a home at iNetRadio. This includes Blues and both Traditional and Smooth Jazz. iNetRadio allows users to combine their favorite music channels with instant access to news, weather, sports, and many other programs, making iNetRadio stand apart from other sites that just offer either music or talk. Users can also add their favorite podcasts to iNetRadio, making the choice of content virtually limitless. It's all together in one versatile player so there's no need to search the net for content, save a lot of sites as favorites, or download a different app for each site. "While these formats may not garner enough support in a given broadcast area, they have a significant following throughout the U.S. and around the world. We've heard from these listeners, and now they have a place to hear their favorites," said Bob Bayne, Co-Founder and VP/Music Programming at iNetRadio. Even some newer formats, such as the recently launched "90's Dance" channel can be considered niche as most radio stations don't focus full-time on specific decades. iNetRadio offers several music channels organized in decades, including Hits, Country, and Rock. "Many listeners have a music period that they're fond of, that brings back memories. We want to give them a pure experience regardless of the era or style of music," commented Bayne. iNetRadio is available as a free app and as a player for desktop or laptop computers.

http://www.inetradio.com/
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inetradio/id365802037?mt=8

THE HITMAN RETURNS: DAVID FOSTER & FRIENDS

Hitman David Foster and the hugely successful Foster & Friends franchise has returned with another extraordinary night of music which is thrillingly captured on his latest DVD and CD "The Hitman Returns: David Foster & Friends." Which was released on 143/Reprise Records on March 1st. . PBS is now simultaneously broadcasting the show beginning in early March as part of their Great Performances Series. "Hitman Returns" was filmed before a sold out crowd last year at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The lineup of talent lead by Foster as maestro of ceremonies includes performances by Seal, Donna Summer, Martina McBride, Earth, Wind & Fire, Natalie Cole, Ruben Studdard, All-4-One,"Glee" star Charice, Chaka Khan, Jackie Evancho, Lara Fabian and other artists whose careers have been touched by Foster, a 15-time Grammy winning producer and songwriter. The first David Foster & Friends Hitman Show on PBS was one of the highest rated pledge shows of the last decade and was viewed by millions of fans. David Foster's four decade career includes writing and producing with a who's who in music including Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Jennifer Holiday, Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Madonna, Michael Jackson, George Harrison, Diana Ross, Sonny & Cher, Rod Stewart and scores of others. The Hitman also discovered, signed and produced Michael Bublé and Josh Groban whose CDs have sold well over 20 million copies apiece. He is currently producing "America's Got Talent" runner up -- 10 year old Jackie Evancho as well as writing a Broadway musical about Betty Boop. The success of the Foster & Friends franchise also includes sold out tours around the world. "This turned out to be one incredible show. I was thrilled to be able to get some of my very favorites on this go round who weren't free last time out including Earth, Wind & Fire and Chaka Khan. There were so many magic moments that night. I'm especially proud of the terrific combinations of talent including a medley with Chaka, Seal and Michael Bolton, a breathtaking duet with Natalie Cole and Ruben Studdard and a standout performance by Charice, Ne-Yo and Robert Randolph. And of course, accompanying the great Donna Summer on keyboards for 'Last Dance' brought me right back into the studio when we first recorded the song," commented Foster about the show. Once of the highlights from the show/CD is the duet between Donna Summer and Seal, where they sing Unbreak My Heart/Crazy/On The Radio – simply irresistible!

Now word comes to us that the enormously successful Foster & Friends Hitman show is returning to Las Vegas for a series of shows at the Mandalay Bay Events Center with the first two performances scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1st and on Thanksgiving Weekend Friday, Nov. 25th. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale in May. Foster, the multi-talented 16-time Grammy winning producer, songwriter and maestro of ceremonies will once again host a lineup of talent including a return visit by show stopping “Glee” star Charice. His Mandalay Bay shows and the national tour of Foster & Friends previously included performances by Earth Wind & Fire, Jackie Evancho, Donna Summer, Andrea Bocelli, Seal, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Josh Groban and scores of others. “I love bringing all different sorts of talent together on stage for one night. These upcoming Foster & Friends shows will continue the tradition of one big party along with exciting combinations of artists performing together,” commented Foster. "In a dizzying showcase, David Foster shows he is the rare music genius who can summon the greatest stars of both past and future generations," raved John Katsilometes from the Las Vegas Sun about the Hitman's previous Vegas show. The original "Hitman" show broadcast from Mandalay Bay was one of PBS' most successful pledge shows. Foster, who is scheduled to appear on The Today Show on Wednesday, March 9th also will be visiting local PBS stations nationwide where fans will have the opportunity to make a pledge to their local station during the broadcast. Premiums will include the new DVD/CD and tickets to one of the "Hitman" Las Vegas shows.Check your local listings for a schedule of airtimes for the "Hitman Returns: Foster & Friends" "Great Performances" show on PBS. For more information on David Foster, go to www.davidfoster.com

40th ANIVERSARY OF CTI RECORDS CONTINUES...

Masterworks Jazz continues the celebration of the 40th anniversary of CTI Records, the beloved jazz label founded in 1970 by producer Creed Taylor with the release of 6 more classic reissues. They include: White Rabbit by George Benson, All Blues by Ron Carter (first time on CD in the U.S.), Prelude by Deodato, Pure Desmond by Paul Desmond, Concierto by Jim Hall, and Milt Jackson's Sunflower. The reissues are packaged in eco-friendly softpack sleeves that replicate the original gatefold LP design and their iconic covers most with photos by Pete Turner.
 
White Rabbit is perhaps George Benson's finest album for CTI, featuring the signature title track arrangement of the Jefferson Airplane classic – a 1972 Grammy® nominee for Best Jazz Performance by a Group.

All Blues by Ron Carter makes its debut on CD in the U.S. (it was previously only released in Japan). Carter was voted Bassist of the Year in DOWNBEAT's Readers' Poll in 1973, 1974 and 1975, highlighting his work with CTI.

Deodato's Prelude includes his Grammy®-winning hit title track, an arrangement of Richard Strauss's fanfare from Also Sprach Zarathustra, used as the main theme in 2001: A Space Odyssey. This song is the biggest hit the CTI label would ever have. The album's title track won 1974 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, and rose to No. 2 on the U.S. pop charts.

Pure Desmond by Paul Desmond was not only highly praised but it also brought to the spotlight the considerable talents of Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert. It also features Ron Carter on bass and Connie Kay on drums. Paul Desmond was voted by DOWNBEAT's readers into its Jazz Hall of Fame in 1977.

For his work on Concierto, Jim Hall received a Grammy® nomination in 1975 for Best Jazz Performance by a Soloist. He was also named Guitarist of the Year in DOWNBEAT's Jazz Poll in 1974, the year before he recorded Concierto.

Sunflower is the most revered album by Milt Jackson, one of the greatest of jazz vibraphone players, and most acclaimed improvisational blues instrumentalists of all time. He was a founding member of the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet, voted by DOWNBEAT's readers into its Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999.

Sony MASTERWORKS Jazz kicked off the 40th anniversary celebration with the release of CTI Records: The Cool Revolution, a deluxe 4-CD multi-artist box set retrospective in the Fall. Receiving rave reviews The Associated Press dubbed it "…the most comprehensive anthology to date" and NPR said it was "… as striking a portrait of the Jazz World in the '70s as you'll find anywhere."

Also released in the Fall was the double-CD restoration of California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium (1971) which included 90-minutes of music rarely heard and never before available. It is the most complete version of the historic Hollywood Palladium all-star concert recorded July 18, 1971. It doubles the content of the original five-song LP release with five additional tracks - three of them previously unreleased - and restores the original concert sequence for the first time. Creed Taylor hand-picked a dream team of CTI artists for the occasion: Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Hank Crawford, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Johnny Hammond, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham and Airto Moreira. Liner notes are by multi-Grammy winning musician-producer Bob Belden who says California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium "...ranks up there with the greatest jazz concerts of all time…"

The celebration also included reissues of the first set of 6 classic CTI albums: She Was Too Good To Me by Chet Baker, God Bless the Child by Kenny Burrell, Red Clay by Freddie Hubbard, StoneFlower by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Morning Star by Hubert Laws (first time on CD), and Stanley Turrentine's Sugar.

In addition, Sony also released the following 180-gram vinyl LP reissues of 4 classic CTI albums using the original gatefold sleeve designs accompanied with digital download cards: Red Clay by Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine's Sugar, White Rabbit by George Benson and Prelude by Deodato.

In the 1970s, CTI, its music, its style and its discriminating quality transformed contemporary jazz. The roster worked almost like a repertory company, in which great musicians took turns in the spotlight and accompanying each other. The albums they and their colleagues created set new standards in their look as well as their sound. "[Creed Taylor's] plan was ingeniously simple, yet famously maverick: record top-tier musicians, keeping their artistic integrity intact while also making their art palatable to the people. CTI thus achieved that rare balance of jazz and commercialism," writes Dan Ouellette in the liner notes. CTI surpassed the majors and fellow indies to be named the #1 Jazz Label of 1974 by Billboard. The immediate success of CTI's recordings has echoed across the decades in a profound influence on jazz, pop, R&B and hip-hop.

KEIKO MATSUI - THE ROAD...

Keiko Matsui is a citizen of the world. She tours relentlessly and has brought her music to virtually every corner of the globe. Her music transcends boundary and her unique melting pot of musical influences have garnered her a devout international following. “Music has no borders and it creates a oneness among people,” confides the Japanese born pianist, composer and producer. “There have been many occasions when I have felt like music saved me. There is a connection between my fans and I and together in my music we are sharing harmony.” An activist by nature, Keiko (pronounced Kay-Koe means ‘happy, celebratory child’ in Japanese) has not only used her music to speak to the world but she has lent her voice to causes championed by organizations like The United Nations World Food Programme, Be The Match Marrow Registry and The National Donor Program and Marrow Foundation. With over a million and a half albums sold and scores of sold out concerts across the globe, Keiko Matsui is one of the brightest stars in instrumental music. Her free spirit and creative genius have afforded her the luxury to share the stage with everyone from Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis to Hugh Masakela and Bob James. Her latest release on Shanachie Entertainment is The Road…, Keiko’s long awaited, self produced and 22nd album released in the US. “Keiko Matsui is beyond category,” states Danny Weiss, VP of Jazz A&R for Shanachie Entertainment. “She is a great jazz player, of course, but her music has such strong classical, world and new age influences that the result is truly unique. But it is in her compositions that Keiko's genius outshines all others - her amazing melodies are simply breathtaking!”

The Road… is Keiko Matsui’s first new recording in four years and a follow-up to her acclaimed 2007 South African inspired Moyo, which features Hugh Masakela among others. “It is unusual for me to have such a long space between my albums so when I started recording this CD it was like a miracle,” says Keiko. “It is also the first time that I invited my band members from the road who have been going through my survival tour!” The Road… is a riveting collection of timeless, passionate, cathartic, emotional and exotic melodies, lush harmonies and global rhythms. “I have been constantly on the go touring and supporting my family,” shares the strikingly beautiful and introspective single mother of two. “When I started this project I spent a lot of time reflecting on the soul and where it comes from. I am on a new journey and have come this far and I still find that this life is wonderful…even the challenges create a beautiful tapestry and the road continues…” Keiko’s soul searching includes the ethereal shape-shifting title track, which exemplifies her ability and brings to mind some of the brilliance heard in great cinematic scores.

One of the most salient and recognizable elements of Keiko Matsui’s music is her gift for crafting memorable melodies, which she describes as a “mirror or reflection of herself at any given moment.” “I have always wanted to write melodies that stay in people’s hearts like traditional music or classical music, where the music lives on for centuries.” Keiko exhibits her affinity for melody on The Road’s opening track “Secret Pond,” which was inspired by a letter she once received. “A fan in the US sent me a note and told me that my music brings people back to the roots of their soul,” shares the soft-spoken yet commanding pianist. “His words have stayed with me and this song is about where we all begin our journey in this life.” “Embrace & Surrender” is another song that magnifies Keiko’s unmatched ability to make a song sing and exude tenderness and warmth. Her emotional attachment to the meaning behind this song transcends every note. “Playing this melody I expressed so much emotion that I was in tears. It is about the love that is found in you that is really deep but not carnal. There is something that connects everyone. We all have the ability to send love and receive love and we are all surrounded by a love from the universe.”

A high point on The Road… is Keiko Matsui’s collaboration with revered Cameroonian bassist, guitarist and vocalist Richard Bona, who co-wrote the songs “Nguea Wonja” and “Touching Peace.” “Richard is such a great artist and I believe that he has a special spiritual element that he connects to that when he plays and when he sings I feel like I am hearing an angel,” declares Keiko. The spirited dance-inducing “Nguea Wonja” (which means to ‘take pride in the road you are traveling on your journey’) and the divine ballad “Touching Peace” affirm the virtuosic brilliance and versatility of both artists. Bona also joins Keiko on the impressionistic “Falcon’s Wing,” which shines light on the pianist’s classical influences. “I love falcons,” she says. “I saw a beautiful picture of one that inspired me and following the song “Secret Pond” it was a natural progression to take flight and fly.”

Keiko Matsui is a consummate artist and freely at home in any musical context. As The Road… demonstrates she borrows from such diverse idioms as jazz, classical, rock, blues, world music, traditional music of the world and beyond. Keiko draws upon the appeal of all of these influences on “Bohemian Concerto,” an exhilarating show stopping number and the final song she composed for The Road... “This song came to me at the last minute while I was on a three-week Eastern European tour,” explains Keiko. “I had written the melody in a notebook but somehow the song just stayed in my head and I was singing it the entire tour. I could hear the string arrangements and everything. I felt like something was telling me to record this song.”

The road of life is sometimes circular and Keiko Matsui returns to her early beginnings on The Road…, joining forces with one of the first musicians she ever recorded with, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, who appears on four of the album’s tracks, including the deeply moving “Awakening.” “It was great to finally connect with him. He was the first drummer I recorded with in the 80s along with Nathan East when I was a student. The two also later joined me on my US recording debut. “Awakening” also features saxophonist Kirk Whalum, who Keiko records with for the first time on The Road… He also appears on the song “Affirmation.” “His music and spirituality are always connected,” says Keiko. He is wonderful.” The idea of spirituality and music being intertwined is a recurring theme in Keiko Matsui’s music. She has often said that when she creates music it is as if she is offering her music as a prayer.

Keiko’s composing ritual is one of patience and dedication. “I always set aside special time for composing charts,” explains the dynamic artist. “I sit in front of the piano in a quiet space and wait to hear a melody come from somewhere. It may take all day but when I hear it I catch it and take note.” Although Keiko has always had a connection to music it was not something she originally thought she would do professionally until she came to the US and experienced the responses from the audiences. She does not come from a musical family; her father was a businessman and her mother had an affinity for traditional Japanese dance but both supported her musical endeavors once they gleaned the happiness it brought their daughter.

Keiko Matsui made her US recording debut in 1987 with the recording A Drop of Water. Under Northern Lights followed in 1989 and her subsequent albums of note include, No Borders (1990), Night Waltz (1991), Cherry Blossom (1992), Doll (1994), Sapphire (1995) and Dream Walk (1996), which remained on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart for over 15 months and further cemented her reputation as a force to reckon with. In 1997, she launched a tour dedicated to raising awareness of breast cancer, and released a four-song CD entitled A Gift of Hope that benefitted the Y-Me Breast Cancer Organization. Her music was prominently featured in Say It, Fight It, Cure It, a Lifetime special profiling several courageous women battling breast cancer. “My fans come from all backgrounds and I have been approached by various foundations to join in their efforts. When I hear of a cause that resonates with me that I can dedicate my music to then I am always willing. It is my way to show gratitude and give back,” states Keiko Matsui. In 1999, the pianist performed at "A Golden Moment," a skating concert featuring Olympic figure skaters Kristi Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski, Ekaterina Gordeeva, and Katarina Witt, which benefitted the Susan G. Komen Foundation. 1998 saw the release of her album Full Moon And The Shrine which was accompanied by the acclaimed PBS-TV special Keiko Matsui: Light Above The Trees. In 2000, the special earned Keiko a National Smooth Jazz Award for “Best Long-Form Video Achievement” and she was honored with an award for “Best Female Artist.” She claimed the award again in 2001. During this time she released the poignant recording The Ring, which was meant to communicate a message of peace, compassion, and humanity to listeners around the world.

Keiko Matsui’s CD Deep Blue (2001) topped Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts for three consecutive weeks. Keiko is the first Japanese artist to achieve this honor. In 2003 she enjoyed success with her recording The Piano, which featured reinventions of some of her most loved original works. In 2004 the title track of Keiko’s Wildflower was used to support the United Nations World Food Programme’s efforts in Africa. "I decided I wanted to support the WFP after learning about the tremendous problems in Africa and how humanitarian assistance can change people’s lives for the better," shares the activist." Keiko has also collaborated with A3M (Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches) in numerous charity concerts. In addition proceeds from her 2001 mini-CD, A Gift of Life, went to The National Donor Program and Marrow Foundation in support of A3M. In December 2009, the highly sought-after pianist was asked to put together a Christmas show at the Blue Note club in Tokyo, which was a major success and in November 2010 she made her highly anticipated debut at the Blue Note in NY, which was sold out. Keiko also recently recorded and toured with Bob James on a 4 Hand Piano project that will be released in 2011. Keiko depth as a composer has also allowed her to contribute music to soundtracks in Japan, the U.S. and Russia.

Fortunately for us The Road… continues for Keiko Matsui and she is inviting us along for the ride. “Music, touring and recording are not like a job for me but more like my calling. It is these experiences that energize me,” says Keiko. “ I look forward to sharing the oneness with people when I am on the road. We all need to stop fighting and come together. Music has a magical power that brings people together and I am hoping my music will help to bring harmony to the earth. This album is so special and important to me. I hope my music can reach inside my fans and touch and move their souls.”

ARETHA FRANKLIN - TAKE A LOOK: ARETHA FRANKLIN ON COLUMBIA

The 50th anniversary of Aretha Franklin's arrival on the popular music scene is set for a major celebration in 2011. Signed to Columbia Records by the legendary John Hammond in the spring of 1960 (soon after her 18th birthday), Aretha released her debut album, Aretha (With The Ray Bryant Combo), on February 27, 1961. Her coming of age at Columbia as a young artist in New York is one of the great stories in the annals of popular music, and set the stage for her ascendance as the Queen of Soul at Atlantic Records.

Take A Look: Aretha Franklin Complete On Columbia marks the first time that Aretha's entire Columbia output, including master takes, unissued performances, rare mono mixes and studio conversations, have been preserved in one deluxe 12-disc (11 CDs + DVD) box set. The package is available for pre-order at www.arethafranklin.net in advance of its March 22, 2011, release at all physical and digital retail outlets through Columbia/Legacy. The suggested retail price for the box is $169.98. Take A Look also includes a comprehensive 64-page booklet with never-before-seen photos by ColumbiaDon Hunstein; recollections by John Hammond, who signed the young gospel singer; a discography of Aretha's Columbia LPs and singles; and an expansive essay "Bold Soul Ingenue" by Daphne A. Brooks, Professor of English and African American Studies at Princeton University. staff photographer

Columbia/Legacy will also release Aretha Franklin: The Great American Songbook on March 22nd. This single-CD collection of evergreens composed by Billy Strayhorn, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer and Hank Williams, among others, is drawn entirely from the repertoire of Take A Look. Liner notes were written by Anthony Heilbut, author of The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times (Simon & Schuster, 1971).

The wide range of studio and live recordings that Aretha made for Columbia from the summer of 1960 to the fall of 1965 have been a source of controversy and heated critical debate for nearly a half-century. There is unanimous agreement, however, that Aretha's years at Columbia were a necessary step in her artistic evolution.

Aretha, who turns 69 on March 25th, still commands the oft-cited R word (for R-E-S-P-E-C-T). Her voice remains one of the glories in American music. She has won 18 Grammys; was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987; has performed at two presidential inaugurations; and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 – the nation's highest honor. She was also recognized as "the greatest singer of the rock era,'" according to a Rolling Stone poll published in November 2008.

"The golden anniversary of Aretha's introduction to the pop world from her gospel beginning at Chess Records is a singular moment in America's musical, social and cultural heritage," says Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Legacy Recordings. "Take A Look is a long-overdue tribute to an American icon."

Take A Look begins with expanded editions of Aretha's seven original Columbia albums:

• Aretha (with the Ray Bryant Combo) (released February 27, 1961)
• The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962)
• The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin (1962)
• Laughing On The Outside (1963)
• Unforgettable – A Tribute To Dinah Washington (1964)
• Runnin' Out Of Fools (1965)
• Yeah!!! In Person With Her Quartet (in two sequences: the original 1965 album recorded live in the studio with overdubbed applause, followed by a new previously unreleased version without the overdubbed ambience)

Two CDs reflect Aretha's collaborations with the influential producers Bobby Scott and Clyde Otis -- collaborations that were either shelved or issued as singles, but never on LP:
• Tiny Sparrow: The Bobby Scott Sessions (1963)
• Take A Look: The Clyde Otis Sessions (1964)

Two CDs are new compilations:
• A Bit of Soul (the full album as it was compiled in 1965, but never released)
• The Queen In Waiting (includes Aretha's last seven Columbia recordings which were produced by Bob Johnston, who was noted for his work during this time with Bob Dylan; the disk also features new recordings of Aretha's songs that Columbia "sweetened" after she left the label)

A bonus DVD, Aretha '64! Live on The Steve Allen Show, features Aretha singing and playing piano on the legendary comedian's television program, syndicated by Westinghouse TV, in the spring of 1964. The performances include "Lover Come Back to Me," "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody," "Won't Be Long," "Skylark," and "Evil Gal Blues."

The lavish 64-page booklet was designed by Michael Boland for The Boland Design Company. It contains:
• A 3,700-word essay by Daphne A. Brooks, distinguished professor of English and African American Studies at Princeton University; author of Bodies in Dissent: Spectacular Performances of Race and Freedom, 1850-1910 (Duke University Press, 2006), Jeff Buckley's Grace (Continuum 33 1/3 series, 2005) and the forthcoming Subterranean Blues: Black Women and Sound Subcultures (Harvard University Press)

• An excerpt from John Hammond's 1977 autobiography, On Record, in which he reflects on the joy of discovering a singular talent, and the heartbreak of losing her to Atlantic Records

• Newly published photographs by Vernon L. Smith and the Columbia staff photographers Don Hunstein, Hank Parker and Sandy Speiser

• Complete discography of albums and singles

In every case, the CD jackets replicate the original LP jackets, including back cover liner notes. These include liner notes written by many of the most prominent music journalists of the day, including Frank Driggs (Aretha With the Ray Bryant Combo); Pete Welding (The Electrifying Aretha Franklin); Billy James (The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin); Leonard Feather (Unforgettable); and Dan Morgenstern (Yeah!!! In Person With Her Quartet).

After leaving Columbia in 1966, Aretha proceeded to earn 30 consecutive Top 10 hit singles over the next seven years, 15 of which went to #1 R&B. At the end of the '60s and into the '70s, she was a powerful figure in the Civil Rights and anti-war movements, Black power, and the rise of feminism.

Author David Ritz was Aretha's collaborator on her candid autobiography, From These Roots (Villard Books, 2000). It remains the definitive account of her life and charts the course of modern R&B, alongside Ritz's biographies of Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Smokey Robinson, Jerry Wexler and others.

Of Aretha's Columbia years, Ritz writes: "We see a teenager turn into a woman, and a woman blossom into an artist of astounding emotional depth."

"Hearing Aretha on Columbia is like seeing a sunrise," he continues. "The colors dazzle; the world expands; our hearts are excited by possibility, hope, a glimpse of glory. An Aretha love song, even when the story is sad, soars with a spirit that defies defeat. Whether forlorn ballads or broken-hearted blues, Aretha draws on the highest power of inspiration. The material may be secular, but the source remains spiritual. Her message and inspiration come from the same place: the mysterious, inexhaustible nature of love."

Take A Look was compiled and produced by Grammy Award-nominated producer Leo Sacks, who has supervised more than 300 compilations, remixes and new recordings for Legacy which have been vital to preserving the works of such American masters as Earth, Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, The Isley Brothers, Luther Vandross and the producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. The package was mastered by Mark Wilder, who has won three Grammy Awards for his work preserving the legacies of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Miles Davis. "These stunning performances capture a gritty soul about to take flight," Sacks says.

Aficionados, collectors and Aretha's devotees will rejoice at the care and devotion that Legacy has accorded her rich catalog in the time-honored tradition of comparable deluxe commemorative box sets by Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley, among others. Historical accuracy, attention to detail and painstaking studio archival restoration has endeared Legacy to music lovers everywhere.

http://www.arethafranklin.net/

SEAN SMITH - TRUST

Jazz bassist/composer Sean Smith makes a welcome return to recording with Trust —his third album as a leader, his first since 2001, and the debut release for his own imprint, Smithereen Records. Smith’s swinging, finely attuned quartet, which consists of guitarist John Hart, saxophonist John Ellis, and drummer Russell Meissner, is dedicated to exploring Smith’s original compositions.“Trust is such a big part of what we do,” Smith says. “I trust that these guys are going to interpret my pieces without me telling them very much. Oftentimes they make them sound better than I had envisioned. They’ll suggest something, or go with an idea and trust that it will be the right thing at the moment.” Among the 12 highly melodic, evocative originals on the new CD are the bracing opener “Betting Blind,” an homage to Wayne Shorter titled “Wayne’s World,” the deceptively simple “Homemade Japanese Folk Song” (performed in a round), and the samba “Margin of Error.” “Melody is incredibly important to me,” Smith says. “The other foundations are crucial, but melody is usually what the tunes are based on, not a set of chord changes that sound good to play on.” Over the past two decades, the Connecticut native has earned the respect and confidence of his musical peers with his commanding technique, rich tone, prolific output as a composer, and chameleon-like ability to match his shading to a multitude of rarefied musical settings. He’s performed and recorded with many of jazz’s most influential and revered artists, including Benny Carter, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Gerry Mulligan, Tom Harrell, Peggy Lee, Andy Bey, and Jimmy Scott. A productive four-year stint with pianist Jacky Terrasson greatly heightened his international profile. Smith’s compositions have been recorded by jazz luminaries such as Phil Woods, Bill Charlap, Leon Parker, Gene Bertoncini, Bill Mays, and vocalist Mark Murphy, who added lyrics to Sean’s “Song for the Geese” and used it as a title track for his 1998 Grammy-nominated album. The bassist’s debut as a leader was the 1999 Chiaroscuro album Sean Smith Quartet Live!, with alto saxophonist Allen Mezquida, pianist Bill Charlap, and drummer Ron Vincent. Smith followed with Poise (Ambient, 2001), which once again featured Mezquida and Charlap as well as guitarist Keith Ganz and drummer Russell Meissner. Critic Ira Gitler has called Smith’s work “thought-provoking music for both head and heart.”

Smith’s career was threatened by a March 2007 incident related to his volunteering for a local animal shelter, when a dog he had never walked before turned out to be a dangerous animal. The dog bit off the end of his left middle finger, and Smith was plunged into an intense post-surgery rehabilitation that required him to, as he puts it, “relearn how to play several times.” He kept working throughout the ordeal, and though he’s fully recovered now, the experience changed his life—and the way he plays his instrument. “It forced me to prioritize my own music,” says Smith. “For that, I’m grateful.” The Sean Smith Quartet has been together for a dozen years in one form or another. Now that Smith has established his own label, might jazz fans anticipate more frequent recordings from them? “I can’t tell you how empowering it is for an artist to have complete control over every aspect of a project—not only the music but the entire presentation. It’s exciting,” says Smith. “I’m already looking forward to the next CD with the quartet as I have many compositions I’d like to record.” The Sean Smith Quartet will perform at Birdland, New York City, on Monday, April 4, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.

JAN HAMMER - MIAMI VICE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

Miami Vice: The Complete Collection is finally available for digital download. The classic compilation, originally released in 2002 by One Way Records, has been out of print for five years and has become a highly sought after item among avid fans of Hammer and of the landmark television series. The CD, when available from third party sellers on eBay and Amazon, has sold for prices ranging from $250 for used to over $500 for "new" copies. For a limited time, Miami Vice: The Complete Collection can be exclusively downloaded from the official Jan Hammer website for $19.98, with select individual tracks also available for download for ninety-nine cents each. It's also available at Amazon and eMusic.

Miami Vice: The Complete Collection is more than a compilation of 1985's Miami Vice and 1986's Miami Vice II.. While Miami Vice: The Complete Collection does in fact include all seven of Jan's original compositions featured on the two soundtracks, it also includes assorted tracks from three other albums: Miami Vice lll (which was a 1988 Europe only release), Jan’s Escape From Television and Snapshots 1.2 , as well as twenty-two compositions written for the show and that he recorded specifically for this album in 2002, plus a bonus track recorded in 2004. Included with the full album download from Jan's website is a PDF of the twelve-page booklet written for the original two-CD release.

Jan Hammer's musical career is as firmly rooted in the fundamentals of classical, jazz and rock as it is committed to the future of electronics, synthesized sound, the possibilities of interactive media, television, film and animation. His walls are lined with Grammy awards and gold and platinum plaques from around the world. His name is found on scores of recordings spanning the 1970s to the '90s -- solo albums, collaborations with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeff Beck, Al Di Meola, Mick Jagger, Carlos Santana, Stanley Clarke, Neal Schon, Elvin Jones and many others.

Jan's association with Miami Vice began in the fall '84, when the producers of the show enlisted him to begin the rigorous weekly schedule of scoring the series. In 1985, "Miami Vice Theme" (MCA Records) hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and, in so doing, became the first and only original version of an instrumental theme for television to reach this pinnacle of success. "Miami Vice Theme" became a top 5 international hit and earned Jan two Grammy awards: “Best Pop Instrumental Performance” and “Best Instrumental Composition.” The Miami Vice soundtrack album stayed #1 on the Billboard Top Album chart for 12 weeks, hitting quadruple-platinum in the U.S. alone, with worldwide sales in excess of 7 million as of this writing.

Miami Vice II as well as Jan's Escape From Television were both million-selling albums for Jan in 1987, both featuring “Crockett’s Theme,” which had become a smash European hit, topping the charts in six countries. "Crockett's Theme" has been included on over 100 CD compilations in addition to Escape from Television, including Virgin's double-platinum Pure Moods. Recently, Hammer collaborated with urban vocalist TQ on a rap version, which was the #1 downloaded track for several weeks on iTunes in Europe.

Jan's Miami Vice music continues to be tapped for television, film and commercials, most recently in Nike's LeBron James ad, featuring James' South Beach athletic shoe.

MICHAEL BUBLE "CRAZY LOVE" TOUR ADDS NEW DATES...

It's 2011 and Michael Bublé fans are still insane for Crazy Love. Following a run of critically acclaimed sold out shows around the world, the Canadian superstar has added 16 additional shows of "The Crazy Love Tour," it was announced today by the tour's national promoter Beaver Productions. Beginning with a June 1st date in Austin, Texas, the tour continues through Memphis, Milwaukee, Des Moines and several other markets. A full itinerary appears below. "A performer in peak form. You are witnessing one of the greats," raved the Orange County Register upon reviewing the "Crazy Love" show. Tickets are expected to go on sale for most dates in late March. In other Bublé news, "Hold On," the third single from Bublé's multi-platinum Grammy nominated Reprise Records Crazy Love CD will be released on February 8th. It follows the mad popularity of his back to back smash singles "Haven't Met You Yet" and "Hollywood" -- both written by Bublé. The Grammy nominated Crazy Love CD was recently re-released in a deluxe 2-CD package Crazy Love Hollywood Edition that includes eight additional tracks and became a global holiday best seller. Worldwide sales for Crazy Love CDs have now surpassed 7 million units! Overall sales of Michael Bublé since his debut CD are over 30 million. Prior to the next leg of the tour, Bublé will be co-hosting "Live with Regis & Kelly" on March 18th. Bublé has recently teamed up with Beringer Vineyards who are the official wine sponsor of "The Crazy Love Tour."

MICHAEL BUBLÉ CRAZY LOVE TOUR DATES 2011:
6/1/11 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
6/3/11 Memphis, TN FedEx Forum
6/4/11 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
6/5/11 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
6/7/11 Toledo, OH Huntington Center
6/8/11 Wilkes-Barre, PA Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
6/10/11 Pittsburgh, PA CONSOL Energy Center
6/11/11 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
6/12/11 Providence, RI Dunkin Donuts Center
6/14/11 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino
6/15/11 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino
6/17/11 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
6/18/11 Albany, NY Times Union Center
6/21/11 Springfield, MO JQH Arena
6/23/11 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
6/24/11 Moline, IL i-Wireless Center
6/25/11 Duluth, MN AMSOIL Arena


212-991-4290

NEW RELEASES...

Aretha Franklin – Great American Songbook
Avery Sunshine – Avery Sunshine
Best Of Black Jazz Records (Various Artists)
Best Of For Loves (Various Artists)
Billy Hart – Sixty Eight
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Live Forever: The Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, September 23, 1980
Bossa Nova & The Rise Of Brazilian Music In The 1960’s (Various Artists)
Brownswood Bubble Vol. 6 Presented By Gilles Peterson (Various Artists)
Bushman – Bushman Sings The Bush Doctor – A Tribute To Peter Tosh
Carlos Nino & Jesse Peterson – Turn On The Sunlight
Charles Bradley – No Time For Dreaming
Chico Mann – Analog Drift
Dario Carnovale Truo – Exit For Three
Deborah Jordan – What You Se
Dimlite – My Heart Wears Acedia Schreds
Ella Fitzgerald – 12 Nights In Hollywood Vol. 1 & 2
Ella Fitzgerald – 12 Nights In Hollywood Vol. 3 & 4
Ennio Morricone – Deluxe Edition
Esther Phillips – Here’s Esther – Are You Ready/Good Black Is Hard To Crack
Geno Young – Ear Hustler
Henry Franklin – Shanghai
Henry Franklni- Soul Of The Rain
Jamiroquai – Rock Dust Light Star
Jason Stein’s Locksmith Isadore – Three Kinds Of Happiness
Joelle Leandre, Nicole Mitchell & Dylan Van Der S – Before After
Kahil El’Zabar w/Nona Hendryx – It’s Time
Kenny Dope – Dope Stuff: The Best Of Dope Wax Records
Kurt Elling - Gate
Masa Sextet – Deep Cover
Stan Getz – Stan Getz Quintets – The Clef & Norgran Studio Albums
Sidi Toure – Sahel Folk
Tony Cook – Back To Reality
Worldwide Family, Vol. 1 (Various Artists)
Ya Dig! The Ultimate Collection Of Ricky Tick Records (Various Artists)

PHIL PERRY TOPLINES SMOOTH JAZZ NEW YORK

Smooth Jazz New York kicks off Valentine’s weekend with A Valentine’s Cruise with Phil Perry featuring two special sailings and performances on February 11, 2011. With Phil Perry’s rich and tender jazz sounds resonating against breathtaking skyline views of Manhattan, guests can start their weekend of romance as they sail aboard The Spirit of New York departing Pier 61 at the Chelsea Piers at 6:30pm for a sunset/evening cruise or at 9:30pm for a moonlight cruise. Board the luxurious Spirit of New York cruise ship for a two-hour celebration of love and enjoy smooth jazz sounds aptly accompanied by unobstructed views of the world’s premier skyline under under romantic moonlit skies. “With Valentine’s Day falling on a Monday, we wanted to do something special to set a romantic tone for the entire weekend… when people can take the time to kick back and celebrate without having to go to work the next day,” says Sam Kimball, Smooth Jazz New York co-founder. “Phil Perry was absolutely the artist of choice, for his repertoire of love songs, sensuous grooves, and passionate R&B melodies,” Kimball adds

Perry first came to the attention of soul music fans as the lead singer of the Montclairs in the early 1970s, He has released 10 solo albums over the last two decades; most recently his Christmas 2009 CD entitled “The Gift of Love.” A well respected singer-songwriter, his songs have been performed by such notable performers as Aretha Franklin, Patti Austin, Bobby Caldwell, and Lee Ritenour, among others. As one of the most sought-after background vocalists in the music business, Perry’s warm, rich tones can be heard on the recordings of top artists including Bill Withers, George Duke, Barbara Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Anita Baker, Boz Scaggs, Rod Stewart, Peabo Bryson, and Chaka Khan.

Tickets for these two special Valentine’s cruises are $59.50 per person now through February 10, 2011 and $69.50 per person on the day of the cruise. Smooth Cruise tickets include world-renowned jazz entertainment and a two-hour cruise. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Optional buffet dinner and beverages are available for an additional fee and may be purchased on-board or in advance at the time tickets are ordered. For more details about the A Valentine’s Cruise with Phil Perry or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.smoothjazznewyork.com/ or http://spiritofnewyork.com/New-York/smooth-cruises http://www.spiritofnewyork.com/New-York/smooth-cruises, or order by phone at (866) 211-3812.

Smooth Jazz New York is a subsidiary of Marquee Concerts, producers of the CD101.9 Smooth Cruises for the last 12 years. With CD101.9 off the air, enthusiasts of this genre of music have come to rely on Smooth Jazz New York to fill the void. The organization produces and promotes New York's biggest and best Smooth Jazz shows and serves as the portal for live jazz shows in the New York Metropolitan area. Learn more at http://www.smoothjazznewyork.c/om.

'70s SOUL JAM CONCERT

This Valentine's weekend Marquee Concerts, the nation's leading promoter of jazz, soul, and R&B musicians, reunites some of the hottest super-groups for its "70's Soul Jam Valentine's Concert" on February 12, 2011 at the Beacon Theatre. Fans of "Soul Train" and the sensational sounds of the '70s won't want to miss this one-time event featuring two shows at 3pm and 8pm. The LA Music Examiner described the re-emergence of Soul/R&B groups as "evenings packed with much-loved hits that get the crowd moving" and the audience "singing along to every word." "The "70's Soul Jam Valentine's Concert" brings together some of the greatest musicians of the period," notes Sam Kimball, co-founder of Marquee Concerts. "For fans who first fell in love listening to these Soul hits, this will be an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime show."

The concert will kick off with Philly soul group THE STYLISTICS, who spun out 12 straight Top Ten hits that included "You Are Everything," "Betcha by Golly, Wow," "I'm Stone in Love With You," "Break Up to Make Up" and "You Make Me Feel Brand New." These crowd-pleasing ballads feature the extraordinary falsetto of Russell Thompkins, Jr.

Detroit-based THE DRAMATICS are best known for their R&B hit "Watcha See Is Watcha Get." The single was the Dramatics' first major national hit, peaking at number three on the R&B charts. The following year their single "In the Rain" shot to the number one spot on the R&B charts.

Jersey City standouts, THE MANHATTANS, sold millions of records over four decades. They won NAFTA's "Most Promising Group" in 1969, and in the late 1970's recorded and released the songs they are best known for, "Kiss and Say Goodbye" and "Shining Star."

"The Manhattans were one of those classic R&B vocal groups who managed to achieve incredible career longevity by adapting their style to fit changing times," writes Steve Huey, Rovi. "Formed in the '60s as a doo wop-influenced R&B quintet, the Manhattans reinvented themselves as sweet, smooth soul balladeers during the '70s."

The "70's Soul Jam Valentine's Concert" also features Philly R&B quintet BLUE MAGIC, who hit the Top 40 of the R&B singles chart with their first three 45s before crossing over with "Sideshow," which went gold, topped the R&B charts, and became a Top Ten pop hit. Their next single, "Three Ring Circus" made the R&B Top Ten and the pop Top 40. Known for their smooth ballads, the group stayed high on the Soul charts with "Stop to Start" and "Chasing Rainbows" before landing a big hit with the dance tune "Magic of the Blue."

Rounding out this impressive bill of artists, Motown favorite NEW BIRTH has its roots in the music of gospel singers Leslie and Melvin Wilson. Their hits include the R&B Top Ten single "I Can Understand It," "It's Been a Long Time," "Wildflower," and R&B hit, "Dream Merchant." New Birth was originally named the NITE-LITERS and had chart action with R&B hits: "K-Jee," "Afro-Strut," and "Pull Together."

Tickets for the Saturday, February 12, 2011 shows at 3pm and 8pm are $45.50, $65.50, and $79.50. The Beacon Theatre is located at 2124 Broadway, New York, NY. For tickets and information, visit http://www.marqueeconcerts.com/ or http://www.ticketmaster.com/. To purchase tickets by phone, call 800-745-3000.

NEW RELEASES COMING SOON...

Ace Records (UK) plan the release of a compilation disc featuring Jackie DeShannon, whose “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” a memorable version of Hal David/Burt Bacharach’s timely hit. The 26-track CD is called Come And Get Me – The Complete Liberty and Imperial Singles Volume 2 and is currently slated for UK release on January 31.

T-Bird Records will reissue Sheffield Steel (1982) by Joe Cocker on January 24.

Legacy Recordings plan the DD reissue of Free (1972 – CTI) by Airto Moreira, scheduled for February 15.

Atlantic Records has assembled a 2-CD ‘best of’ collection of 30 Aretha Franklin hits that will be released on March 22. The album is called - 30 Greatest Hits.

Ghostlight Records will release a CD version of Steppin’ Out Live by Ben Vereen on February 15.

Friday Music plans the CD reissue of the excellent L Is For Lovers (1986) by the great Al Jarreau on February 15.

Domino Jazz UK will release a 2-CD Live set featuring Miles Davis called The Unissued Japanese Concerts 1964. This set is scheduled for February 21.

There is new Gil Scott-Heron coming on February 22, a collaboration with Jamie XX called We’re New Here. The album will be released on all formats (CD/DD/LP).

MRI Records will reissue Hawaii Five-O (1969) by The Ventures on March 1.

Verve Forecast plans Contact by Boney James for a March 29 release date.

Concord Jazz will re-release a CD version of McLemore Avenue (1970) by Booker T & The MGs on May 10.

Concord Jazz also plans The Staples Singers CD reissue of Be Altitude: Respect Yourself (1972), which contains the awesome Ingram/Rice cover of “Respect Yourself”, and “I’ll Take You There”. It’s scheduled for May 10.

Fantasy Records plan the reissue of Taylored In Silk (1973) by Johnny Taylor as a CD set on May 10.

TAKE A LOOK: ARETHA FRANLKIN COMPLETE ON COLUMBIA

The 50th anniversary of Aretha Franklin's arrival on the popular music scene is set for a major celebration in 2011. Signed to Columbia Records by the legendary John Hammond in the spring of 1960 (soon after her 18th birthday), Aretha released her debut album, Aretha (With The Ray Bryant Combo), on February 27, 1961. Her coming of age at Columbia as a young artist in New York is one of the great stories in the annals of popular music, and set the stage for her ascendance as the Queen of Soul at Atlantic Records.

Take A Look: Aretha Franklin Complete On Columbia marks the first time that Aretha's entire Columbia output, including master takes, unissued performances, rare mono mixes and studio conversations, have been preserved in one deluxe 12-disc (11 CDs + DVD) box set. The package is available for pre-order at www.arethafranklin.net in advance of its March 22, 2011, release at all physical and digital retail outlets through Columbia/Legacy, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. The suggested retail price for the box is $169.98.

Take A Look also includes a comprehensive 64-page booklet with never-before-seen photos by Columbia staff photographer Don Hunstein; recollections by John Hammond, who signed the young gospel singer; a discography of Aretha's Columbia LPs and singles; and an expansive essay "Bold Soul Ingenue" by Daphne A. Brooks, Professor of English and African American Studies at Princeton University. Columbia/Legacy will also release Aretha Franklin: The Great American Songbook on March 22nd. This single-CD collection of evergreens composed by Billy Strayhorn, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer and Hank Williams, among others, is drawn entirely from the repertoire of TAKE A LOOK. Liner notes were written by Anthony Heilbut, author of The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times (Simon & Schuster, 1971).

The wide range of studio and live recordings that Aretha made for Columbia from the summer of 1960 to the fall of 1965 have been a source of controversy and heated critical debate for nearly a half-century. There is unanimous agreement, however, that Aretha's years at Columbia were a necessary step in her artistic evolution. Aretha, who turns 69 on March 25th, still commands the oft-cited R word (for R-E-S-P-E-C-T). Her voice remains one of the glories in American music. She has won 18 Grammys; was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987; has performed at two presidential inaugurations; and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 – the nation's highest honor. She was also recognized as "the greatest singer of the rock era,'" according to a Rolling Stone poll published in November 2008.

"The golden anniversary of Aretha's introduction to the pop world from her gospel beginning at Chess Records is a singular moment in America's musical, social and cultural heritage," says Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Legacy Recordings. "Take A Look is a long-overdue tribute to an American icon."

Take A Look begins with expanded editions of Aretha's seven original Columbia albums:
•Aretha (with the Ray Bryant Combo) (released February 27, 1961)
•The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962)
•The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin (1962)
•Laughing On The Outside (1963)
•Unforgettable – A Tribute To Dinah Washington (1964)
•Runnin' Out Of Fools (1965)
•Yeah!!! In Person With Her Quartet (in two sequences: the original 1965 album recorded live in the studio with overdubbed applause, followed by a new previously unreleased version without the overdubbed ambience)

Two CDs reflect Aretha's collaborations with the influential producers Bobby Scott and Clyde Otis -- collaborations that were either shelved or issued as singles, but never on LP:
•Tiny Sparrow: The Bobby Scott Sessions (1963)
•Take A Look: The Clyde Otis Sessions (1964)

Two CDs are new compilations:
•A Bit of Soul (the full album as it was compiled in 1965, but never released)
•The Queen In Waiting (includes Aretha's last seven Columbia recordings which were produced by Bob Johnston, who was noted for his work during this time with Bob Dylan; the disk also features new recordings of Aretha's songs that Columbia "sweetened" after she left the label)

A bonus DVD, Aretha '64! Live on The Steve Allen Show, features Aretha singing and playing piano on the legendary comedian's television program, syndicated by Westinghouse TV, in the spring of 1964. The performances include "Lover Come Back to Me," "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody," "Won't Be Long," "Skylark," and "Evil Gal Blues."

The lavish 64-page booklet was designed by Michael Boland for The Boland Design Company. It contains:
•A 3,700-word essay by Daphne A. Brooks, distinguished professor of English and African American Studies at Princeton University; author of Bodies in Dissent: Spectacular Performances of Race and Freedom, 1850-1910 (Duke University Press, 2006), Jeff Buckley's Grace (Continuum 33 1/3 series, 2005) and the forthcoming Subterranean Blues: Black Women and Sound Subcultures (Harvard University Press)

•An excerpt from John Hammond's 1977 autobiography, On Record, in which he reflects on the joy of discovering a singular talent, and the heartbreak of losing her to Atlantic Records

•Newly published photographs by Vernon L. Smith and the Columbia staff photographers Don Hunstein, Hank Parker and Sandy Speiser

•Complete discography of albums and singles

In every case, the CD jackets replicate the original LP jackets, including back cover liner notes. These include liner notes written by many of the most prominent music journalists of the day, including Frank Driggs (Aretha With the Ray Bryant Combo); Pete Welding (The Electrifying Aretha Franklin); Billy James (The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin); Leonard Feather (Unforgettable); and Dan Morgenstern (Yeah!!! In Person With Her Quartet).

After leaving Columbia in 1966, Aretha proceeded to earn 30 consecutive Top 10 hit singles over the next seven years, 15 of which went to #1 R&B. At the end of the '60s and into the '70s, she was a powerful figure in the Civil Rights and anti-war movements, Black power, and the rise of feminism.

Author David Ritz was Aretha's collaborator on her candid autobiography, From These Roots (Villard Books, 2000). It remains the definitive account of her life and charts the course of modern R&B, alongside Ritz's biographies of Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Smokey Robinson, Jerry Wexler and others.

Of Aretha's Columbia years, Ritz writes: "We see a teenager turn into a woman, and a woman blossom into an artist of astounding emotional depth."

"Hearing Aretha on Columbia is like seeing a sunrise," he continues. "The colors dazzle; the world expands; our hearts are excited by possibility, hope, a glimpse of glory. An Aretha love song, even when the story is sad, soars with a spirit that defies defeat. Whether forlorn ballads or broken-hearted blues, Aretha draws on the highest power of inspiration. The material may be secular, but the source remains spiritual. Her message and inspiration come from the same place: the mysterious, inexhaustible nature of love."

Take A Look was compiled and produced by Grammy Award-nominated producer Leo Sacks, who has supervised more than 300 compilations, remixes and new recordings for Legacy which have been vital to preserving the works of such American masters as Earth, Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, The Isley Brothers, Luther Vandross and the producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.

The package was mastered by Mark Wilder, who has won three Grammy Awards for his work preserving the legacies of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Miles Davis.

"These stunning performances capture a gritty soul about to take flight," Sacks says.

Aficionados, collectors and Aretha's devotees will rejoice at the care and devotion that Legacy has accorded her rich catalog in the time-honored tradition of comparable deluxe commemorative box sets by Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley, among others. Historical accuracy, attention to detail and painstaking studio archival restoration has endeared Legacy to music lovers everywhere.

http://www.arethafranklin.net/

ST. LUCIA JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINEUP

In celebration of the 20th anniversary, six time Grammy winner and multi-Platinum artist John Legend will headline this year's Saint Lucia Jazz Festival. Singer, songwriter and pianist, Legend has sold more than five million albums worldwide, garnered multiple hit singles ("Ordinary People," "Used to Love U," "So High," "Save Room," "Heaven," "Another Again") and has received countless awards. Legend demonstrates a rare ability to fuse classic old school soul music with the edgy flavor of 21st century hip-hop. From April 30 to May 8, 2011, this year's festival lineup is comprised of an international roster of renowned musicians from jazz, R&B, pop, soul and world music from the United States, UK, France, Africa and Saint Lucia, including:

•Ledisi – Singer-songwriter Ledisi returns to the jazz festival stage sharing highlights from her Grammy nominated albums Lost & Found and Turn Me Loose.

•Regina Carter – American jazz violinist, Regina Carter, lauded as one of the finest violinists of her generation, will share African folk tunes from her newest album, Reverse Thread.

•Bad Ass Brass – Influenced from the sounds of traditional New Orleans brass bands but adding their own unique twist, the group won the opportunity to play at this year's jazz festival through a contest in the UK hosted by the Saint Lucia Tourist Board.

•Maceo Parker – American funk and jazz saxophonist, who had a long term association with the late, great James Brown, will perform hits from his latest album Roots & Grooves, which won a Jammie for best Jazz Album in 2009.

•Saint Lucian Collective – An ensemble of Saint Lucian's jazz icons who will perform a melange of sweet pulsating Caribbean beats.

"As the leading and longest running jazz event in the Caribbean, year after year we welcome thousands of visitors from all corners of the globe to our legendary island to celebrate the premier voices in the music industry," said Saint Lucia Tourist Board Director of Tourism Louis Lewis. "We're thrilled to be marking our 20th anniversary with another sensational lineup. Combined with our world-class resorts, unique activities, exotic cuisine, unspoiled nature and warm people, this is still the best party in the Caribbean." The festival will have multiple complimentary daily shows of acoustic, new age, jazz, soul, reggae, and R&B sounds held in a variety of locations and venues around the island, including Jazz on the Square in Castries and Fond d'Or Jazz in Dennery. Headliners will perform at the main stage performances which will be held at Pigeon Island National Park and Gaiety in Rodney Bay, the island's epicenter of musical entertainment, featuring local clubs, lounges and restaurants. Several resorts on the island will be celebrating the jazz festival with special packages. For a full concert schedule, festival tickets and updates, visit the official Saint Lucia Jazz website http://www.stluciajazz.org/.

ThejaZZVnU NOW STREAMING 24/7

ThejaZZVnU, a private internet radio station, recently debuted a 24/7 streaming music website specifically geared towards jazz. With six different genres of jazz, visitors can preview a little taste of what the site has to offer before becoming a member. ThejaZZVnU offers members the ability to browse a library of thousands of jazz songs, ranging from Vocal Jazz, Latin Jazz, Classic Jazz, Instrumental Jazz, Smooth Jazz, and Urbane Jazz, bookmark songs, and listen to songs anytime, anywhere. In announcing ThejaZZVnU’s launch, Godsey Tross, President/CEO stated, “We are thrilled to reveal the birth of ThejaZZVnU, offering jazz music enthusiasts an around-the-clock, six genre music mix for listening pleasure, and we know our audience will find this to be a stimulating and an engaging experience.” This innovative jazz station has been created to meet the diverse and changing music needs of millions of young internet radio listeners and experienced jazz lovers around the world. ThejaZZVnU is keeping jazz alive and romantic, and moving into the future with six separate and personalized jazz genres for listeners to experience anytime, anywhere, and as often as they want.

The “Urbane Jazz” genre signals the emergence of a new generation of jazz musicians and listeners. This genre is influenced by past and current generations of musicians, popular American, and International music cultures and roots, and is a fusion of deep funk, soulful instrumental and vocal jazz, and popular contemporary music. “We are beyond excited about this station, and committed to creating a unique jazz format and sound that is global in nature, providing our members, listeners, and visitors to the site with a wide variety of music they would not otherwise hear on Terrestrial Stations or other Internet Radio Stations,” stated Tross. Listeners can join and become a “Jazz-ite” member with access to the best blends of romantic jazz music, rich in sound and of CD quality from a music catalogue consisting of over 275,000 songs. There is also access to three hours of LIVE music provided by ThejaZZVnU hosts Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM EST/US.

Other features of the website include: Featured Jazz Artists - Shining the spotlight on an artist for a week, and playing a different song from their collective body of work each day. Community Board - Providing a forum where registered members can post messages and interact with the global community. Chat Room - Where members can meet and share information of common interest with other members of the jazz community. ThejaZZVnU’s mission is “To provide music lovers around the world and from all walks of life with a distinctive blend of jazz music that is enjoyable, romantic, relaxing and entertaining.” Tross adds, “The development of this station and website is the result of a true labor of love, dedication and countless hours spent crafting its texture, nuances and intricacies for one purpose, to share our love of jazz with jazz lovers around the world. We are extraordinarily proud of the considerable contribution ThejaZZVnU will bring to online radio listeners and the global jazz community.”

SMOOTH JAZZ NEW YORK PRESENTS A VALENTINE'S CRUISE WITH PHIL PERRY

Smooth Jazz New York kicks off Valentine’s weekend with A Valentine’s Cruise with Phil Perry featuring two special sailings and performances on February 11, 2011. With Phil Perry’s rich and tender jazz sounds resonating against breathtaking skyline views of Manhattan, guests can start their weekend of romance as they sail aboard The Spirit of New York departing Pier 61 at the Chelsea Piers at 6:30PM for a sunset/evening cruise or at 9:30PM for a moonlight cruise. “With Valentine’s Day falling on a Monday, we wanted to do something special to set a romantic tone for the entire weekend… when people can take the time to kick back and celebrate without having to go to work the next day,” says Sam Kimball, Smooth Jazz New York co-founder. “Phil Perry was absolutely the artist of choice, for his repertoire of love songs, sensuous grooves, and passionate R&B melodies,” Kimball adds. Perry first came to the attention of soul music fans as the lead singer of the Montclairs in the early 1970s, He has released 10 solo albums over the last two decades; most recently his Christmas 2009 CD entitled “The Gift of Love.” A well respected singer-songwriter, his songs have been performed by such notable performers as Aretha Franklin, Patti Austin, Bobby Caldwell, and Lee Ritenour, among others. As one of the most sought-after background vocalists in the music business, Perry’s warm, rich tones can be heard on the recordings of top artists including Bill Withers, George Duke, Barbara Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Anita Baker, Boz Scaggs, Rod Stewart, Peabo Bryson, and Chaka Khan. Smooth Jazz New York is a subsidiary of Marquee Concerts, producers of the CD101.9 Smooth Cruises for the last 12 years. With CD101.9 off the air, enthusiasts of this genre of music have come to rely on Smooth Jazz New York to fill the void. The organization produces and promotes New York's biggest and best Smooth Jazz shows and serves as the portal for live jazz shows in the New York Metropolitan area. Learn more at http://www.smoothjazznewyork.com.

UPCOMING RELEASES TO LOOK OUT FOR...

Virgin UK will release a 3CD Box of selected works by Tangerine Dream when the band were at their peak. With albums like Stratosfear (1976), Rubycon (1975), Ricochet (1975), Cyclone (1978), which featured vocals, and Force Majeure (1979), this collected set containing 23 timeless songs will be a good pickup. The Box, called The Virgin Years: 1974-1978, is scheduled for release on January 17.

Masterworks Jazz has delivered an LP reissue of Prelude (1972) by Deodato on December 7 (last night). Prelude is the album that contained that contagiously funky adaptation of Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra”. The album contains the longer version of the song (so you know). The particularly good news here is that Masterworks Jazz will reissue the album on CD planning for January 25.

Ace Records (UK) plan the release of a compilation disc featuring Jackie DeShannon, whose “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” a memorable version of David/Bacharach’s timely hit. The 26-track CD is called Come And Get Me – The Complete Liberty and Imperial Singles Volume 2 and is currently slated for UK release on January 31.

Legacy Records and Columbia Records will release Aretha Sings The Great American Songbook (a practice that seems to be in great favour by Sony, singing the Great American Songbook) from Aretha Franklin on February 1.

J Records will go a step further and stick their fingers in the collected albums of Rod Stewart Sings The Great American Songbook, baking the “best” tracks into a ‘best of’ called The Best of Rod Stewart Sings the Great American Songbook. February 1.

Epic Records and Legacy will deliver The Intimate Luther Vandross on February 1.

Legacy Records will release Bitches Brew Live featuring Miles Davis on February 8.

The timing could not be more perfect for the release of Desire- in time for the Valentine’s holiday. Long considered the purveyor of sexy and sensual sides, Hardcastle gathers many of his most intimate soundscapes from the past 20 years, complimented by three brand new tracks, ‘Valentines,’ featuring the vocals of daughter Maxine, ‘Ready or Not,’ and ‘Dont You Know (Ibiza Chill Mix),’ the sum of which is, as the title suggest, the ultimate album of seduction.Named after one of the most popular hits, ‘Desire’ seems the apt title for the assemblage of songs rife with feeling and emotion that will surely provide the perfect soundtrack for any holiday or occasion that speaks of feelings for a loved one. A must have for Hardcastle fans and lovers alike.

Time/Life will release a 9 DVD Box collection called The Best of Soul Train on February 15.

429 Records will release Live at the Royal Albert Hall featuring Joan Armatrading on CD and CD/DVD and planned for February 22.

Fantasy Records has pencilled in June 7 of 2011 for the reissues of Explorations (1961) by the Bill Evans Trio, Thelonius Alone In San Francisco (1959) from Thelonius Monk, In New York (1958) by Chet Baker, and Easy Living (1986) by Ella Fitzgerald.

NEW RELEASES FROM MARCOS VALLE, RON ISLEY, SUNSET LOUNGE ORCHESTRA & MORE...

Aloe Blacc – You Make Me Smile
Bad Jazz Troupe – Looking For Jupiter
Ben L’Oncle Soul – Ben L’Oncle Soul
Best Of Bossa Lounge (Various Artists)
Brad Rambur – Can’t Put It Down
Café Del Mar Recommends Music For Dreams (Various Artists)
Cal Harris Jr. – Inside Out
Charley Langer – Never The Same
Chieli Minucci – Without You
Chris Bennett – Sail Away
Houston Person – Moment To Moment
In The Christmas Groove (Various Artists)
IRMA Christmas Box: Snowy Tunes In An Icy Lounge Style
Jazz 2010 (Various Artists)
Kirk Whalum – More of Everything Is Everything: The Music Of Donny Hathaway
Klyde Jones – Waltz Of The Wild Rose
Leon – All For Love
Lisa McClowry – It Wouldn’t Feel Like Christmas
Lyambiko – Something Like Reality
Marcos Valle – Estatica
Mario Biondi – Yes You Live
Mark Mosley – TLC
Melba Moore – Closer (Reissue)
Peven Everett – Home Cookin’ An Acoustic Album
Ron Isley – Mr. I
Rudiger Baldauf – Own Style
Sister Sledge – We Are Family: The Essential Sister Sledge
Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra – Hooked Up Classics
Sunset Lounge Orchestra – The ABBA Cool Down Experience
Sunset Lounge Orchestra – The Michael Jackson Cool Down Experience Part 2
Sunset Lounge Orchestra – The Santana Cool Down Experience
Sunset Lounge Orchestra – The U2 Cool Down Experience
Sylvia Bennett – It’s Christmas Time With Sylvia Bennett
Tom Jones – Greatest Hits Rediscovered

DAVE KOZ & ALEX BUGNON TEAM @ SMOOTH JAZZ NEW YORK

Smooth Jazz New York has announced that saxophone sensation and six-time Grammy nominee Dave Koz will take the stage along with keyboard artist Alex Bugnon for a one-time only Valentine's show kicking off a weekend of love on Friday, February 11, 2011 at 8 pm. For lovers of contemporary jazz and romantic favorites, this special concert at the Best Buy Theater in New York City's Times Square will be the hottest ticket in town. Music magazine concertlivewire.com describes Dave Koz's performances as packing "brassy -- and sassy -- appeal" that confirms his top spot in the current jazz scene, along with mounting crossover appeal. His concerts are "refreshing, technically impressive demonstration of instrumental and vocal precision." Often compared to David Sanborn in style, Koz is known for his sultry, soulful, and high energy performances. A platinum-selling artist, Koz first made a splash on the contemporary jazz scene with his self-titled album and went on to be nominated for six Grammy awards and an NAACP Award for Saxophonic. In 1994, Koz began hosting a syndicated radio program, "The Dave Koz Radio Show" (formerly "Personal Notes"), featuring the latest music and interviews with a Who's Who in the genre. After a career spanning nearly two decades, Koz recently released a new album, Hello Tomorrow, his first with Concord Records. The album features new collaborations with Grammy-winning producers Marcus Miller and John Burk as well as a guest appearance from legendary trumpet player, Herb Alpert. Alex Bugnon lends to the evening his white hot, slow-burning style that draws on a mixture of funk, R&B, gospel, and his experience touring with such musical legends as Patti Austin, Freddie Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire, and Keith Sweat. "I'm thrilled to be back in the great jazz town of New York City," Koz says. "We're going to make this a special evening for lovers - and for lovers of smooth jazz. Music, like romance, has the ability to touch souls in a way that words can't do." Smooth Jazz New York is a subsidiary of Marquee Concerts, producers of the CD101.9 Smooth Cruises for the last 12 years. With CD101.9 off the air, enthusiasts of this genre of music have come to rely on Smooth Jazz New York to fill the void. The organization produces and promotes New York's biggest and best Smooth Jazz shows and serves as the portal for live jazz shows in the New York Metropolitan area.

http://www.smoothjazznewyork.com/.

ICON RELEASES FROM EL DEBARGE, ALEXANDER O'NEAL, BILLIE HOLIDAY & OTHERS...

The new year kicks off with more than a dozen new releases in the Icon series from Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) featuring great artists and great songs at a great price. The 14 new collections of greatest hits, signature tunes and fan favorites, released January 4, 2011, embrace a variety of music genres including R&B and jazz.  Releases include albums from a resurgent El DeBarge to love song collections just in time for Valentine's Day from Motown legends Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, jazz immortals Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, and R&B's Brian McKnight to "best ofs" from  The S.O.S. Band, Alexander O'Neal and Cherrelle, three Tabu artists now exclusive to UMe. Each album boasts 12 tracks. The Icon albums are as follows:

--El DeBarge – Icon (Universal Motown/UMe): Hot on the heels of his recent acclaimed solo comeback album, the smooth singer is heard with classic earlier performances both solo and as lead singer for the DeBarge family group, including "Rhythm Of The Night," "Time Will Reveal" and "You Wear It Well."

--The SOS Band – Icon (Tabu/UMe): The flagship group for Tabu Records scored super-sized '80s hits thanks to producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, including "Take Your Time (Do It Right)," "The Finest" and "Just Be Good To Me" (heard here in its rare 12" vocal remix).

--Alexander O'Neal – Icon (Tabu/UMe): Contemporary and classic, the R&B singer hit in the '80s and '90s with a pair of gold albums and the singles "Fake" (here in a rare extended version), "Criticize" and "Never Knew Love Like This," a duet with labelmate Cherrelle.

--Cherrelle – Icon (Tabu/UMe): Soaring to #1 R&B in 1988 with the Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis-helmed "Everything I Miss At Home" as well as the Top 10 R&B "Saturday Love" with labelmate Alexander O'Neal (here in its rare extended version), the singer earlier hit Top 10 R&B with her debut "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On."

--Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Icon – Love Songs (Universal Motown/UMe): R&B's and Motown's most revered male-female duo recorded immortal classic after immortal classic, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing," "Your Precious Love" and "Come On And See Me."

--Billie Holiday – Icon – Love Songs (Verve/UMe): The legend's greatest love songs on Decca, Verve and MGM include her brilliant interpretations of the standards "All The Way," "Crazy He Calls Me," "It Had To Be You" and "Come Rain or Come Shine" plus the rarely anthologized "Everything I Have Is Yours."

--Ella Fitzgerald – Icon – Love Songs (Verve/UMe): The First Lady of Song helped create the Great American Songbook with her renditions of the Gershwins' "Someone To Watch Over Me" and "I've Got A Crush On You," Cole Porter's "From This Moment On" and Irving Berlin's "Always."

--Brian McKnight – Icon – Love Songs (Universal Motown/UMe): The R&B singer with an impressive 16 Grammy nominations and three platinum-plus albums notched five solo R&B Top 10s in the '90s and all of them are here--"One Last Cry," "Anytime," "The Only One For Me," "Crazy Love" and "Back At One."