MARVIN GAYE - WHATS GOING ON - SUPER DELUXE EDITION

On May 21, 1971, Motown Records released an album unique to its vast, already classic catalog: a suite of protest songs, railing, albeit softly and with an undeniable groove, about the planet's woes and the pain of war. With What's Going On, Marvin Gaye forever changed the sound and subject matter of popular music, influencing and inspiring every generation since. Formerly Motown's reigning smooth-faced, smiling, mass-appeal artist, this album was Gaye's departure for the bearded, brooding, reflective, angry artist he would become. His first self-production, the album was written, sung and solely produced by Gaye.Forty years on, the album remains a timeless classic. Speaking boldly and passionately about social issues on the street unlike any other album before, What's Going On provided a soundtrack to life in America—and still does. It was a smash from the start and it's still one of Rolling Stone magazine's top ten Greatest Albums of All Time. Two songs from this album are in the Grammy® Hall of Fame, which honors the most important recordings in history.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary, Motown/UMe proudly announces the release of What's Going On – Super Deluxe Edition, on May 17, 2011. This new Super Deluxe Edition includes two CDs and one vinyl LP, 14 unreleased tracks, copious rarities, all complemented by an oversized booklet with two essays and rare photos from the original cover shoot. Inside as well is a reproduction of the album graphics, which showcased, for the first time at Motown, the song's lyrics—and identified the musicians. Leading off this lovingly produced, double-gatefold 12x12 package is a newly remastered version of the original album, which delivers a deeper, warmer sound than in previous reissues. Added to the album on Disc 1 are several outtakes from sessions that led up to the recording of the LP—the original mix of the title song Marvin presented to Motown's legendary Quality Control meeting, where it was summarily rejected; and song demos which show Marvin wrestling with the rejection—as well as the album's three mono single releases, each of which reached No. 1 R&B and Top 10 pop: "What's Going On" (in a very different mix than the LP), "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)," plus their B-sides, of which two are alternate takes from the familiar LP versions.

Disc 2 of What's Going On – Super Deluxe Edition is a document of the album's aftermath, when Marvin Gaye, reluctant to tour and shy about becoming the "spokesman of his generation," holed up in Motown's Studio B in Detroit with like-minded musicians—among them the young guitarists Ray Parker Jr. and Wah Wah Watson, and the 20-year-old bassist Michael Henderson, fresh from a Miles Davis tour—and simply jammed over several days. These tracks, mostly instrumental, are as brooding and funky as the What's Going On album cover. The rest of the disc includes Gaye's final sessions in Detroit; among the few tunes he recorded was a sequel of sorts to the album, the politically tinged non-LP single "You're The Man," which hit the R&B top 10 in spring 1972. Also included are two rare alternate takes of the song. Capping this special release is the first ever 12-inch vinyl LP of the "Detroit Mix" of What's Going On, the original, darker mix of the entire album, left behind when Gaye decided to finish the overdubs in Los Angeles.

Inside is an LP-sized booklet with rare photos from the sessions, the original lyrics, detailed recording annotations and two essays: one by Gaye biographer David Ritz describing the "Why" Marvin Gaye created his first-ever self-produced album, and another detailing the "How" by Ben Edmonds, author of What's Going On: Marvin Gaye and The Last Days Of The Motown Sound. The anniversary will also be marked on stage this summer when Rickey Minor, Stevie Wonder and Friends (including special guest Janelle Monae) perform a July 24 Hollywood Bowl concert concluding with a tribute to What's Going On. In May of next year, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the National Symphony Orchestra with John Legend and The Roots will collaborate for a special What's Going On concert to note the 40th anniversary of Gaye's legendary performance at that venue.

LES NUBIANS - NU REVOLUTION

Les Nubians, who managed the difficult trick of scoring an urban radio hit with French language neo-soul have returned with another fantastic release. Les Nubians, consisting of two bi-cultural sisters from France, Hélène and Célia Faussart--were being hailed as one of the most appealing and innovative artists on the urban music scene world-wide. There followed a near gold-selling album, collaborations with the likes of Talib Kweli and the Red, Hot and Riot collective, and Grammy nominations. Then suddenly they seemed to disappear but all along they were busy refining their craft. Now Les Nubians return with Nü Revolution, their highly-anticipated third album to be released on April 19, 2011 by Shanachie Entertainment. It fully delivers on the promise of their breakthrough efforts with a relentlessly enchanting and energized mix

of R & B, hip-hop, African music and other world elements. "The main difference between this album and the others," muses Hélène Faussart, "is that Nü Revolution is more uptempo. This album is a celebration of life! We wanted to bring and spread this energy, this joy in a time of uncertainty." Indeed Nü Revolution may be the most impressive representation of Les Nubians' "Afropean Soul" to date.

Featuring special guests ranging from African music legend Manu Dibango, whose "Soul Makossa" crossover classic gets a politically charged make-over to indie soul icon Eric Roberson, with South African

pop stars Freshly Ground, Ghanian-American MC Blitz The Ambassador and Polish MC John Banzaï along for the ride. Somehow, Les Nubians manage to make the blend of so many diverse elements seem logical and organic; it flows quite naturally from their multicultural lives. The infectiously funky dance track "Afrodance" expresses this reality by celebrating hairstyles as an expression of personal style and cultural identity. "Your hair is a statement of who you are and how you live with your true nature," Célia Faussart notes. "That's why since the first album we insisted on bringing back natural Black hair by using traditional braids and hair-dos and dreadlocks because we need to embrace ourselves to the fullest. Our mother always said "natural is beautiful" but it's not easy to cope with everyday! And, yes, it is a political statement saying who we are and that we will not compromise. This message has been used by the same way during the

70's as a symbol of liberation, destruction of the old establishment and affirmation of identity."

"Déjà vu," with guest vocal by Eric Roberson tells of a man and woman meeting in a club while "Fraicheur Souhaitée (Freshness Desired)" presents romantic longing through a personals ad. Nü Revolution also

delivers provocative messages, as on "Femme Polyandre (Polyandrous Woman)." "Polyandrous woman" is the female version of a polygamous man," Les Nubians explain. "This idea came from a conversation between women friends where we were wondering if there was a word for it. Why some man could 'marry' several women and not the inverse? We also appreciate the different qualities in a variety of people! Women are naturally very complex. If you listen to the voices in their mind, you would be amazed! There is a joke saying that a woman needs three men: one for the money, one for romance and one for sex. The ideal

situation would be to have all those three men in one!"

The women of Les Nubians were shaped by many influences. Les Nubians has its genesis in a small town in the South West region of France where the Paris-born sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart lived as teenagers after returning from several years' residence with their parents in the African country of Chad. With a French father and a Cameroonian mother, Hélène and Célia experienced cultural dissonance in the rural Bordeaux region. After their father's death, Célia joined her sister in Bordeaux and they helped found a cultural collective, Les Nouveaux Griots, a "griot" being a traditional African storyteller and historian, all with the goal of increasing awareness of African and Urban cultures. A chance meeting with jazz legend Abbey Lincoln,

who encouraged the sisters to sing, led to the formation of Les Nubians. In the beginning they sang acapella due to their difficulty finding musicians who would back them. Their unique sound led to a recording deal with Virgin Records and in 1998 their debut album, Princesses Nubiennes was released in Europe, where initially it enjoyed only modest sales. But the albums innovative mix of hip hop, neo soul and African music found an audience in America and "Makeda" the first single from Princesses Nubiennes became an urban radio hit. The video for "Makeda" garnered heavy rotation on BET and VH-1 Soul while a DJ Spinna re-mix generated strong club play. Characterized by a marriage between Sade and Erykah Badu, "Makeda" was the right sound at the right time. Massive media attention, successful tours and a Grammy nomination followed as well as nominations for two NAACP Image Awards and two Soul Train Lady Of Soul Awards; one of which Les Nubians took home as 1999's winner for Best New Artist Group or Duo.

In 2003, Les Nubians released their second album One Step Forward a conscious evolution of their style. They sang more in English on this album, largely as a result of their American experiences, which made

them far more fluent in English." Restlessly creative, the sisters graced 2005 not with a new Les Nubians album but with a spoken word project that brought together talented spoken word artists under Les Nubians' umbrella. By now Les Nubians was in demand around the world as a performing act, which they felt fostered both personal and artistic growth--the fruit of which is revealed on Nü Revolution. Their pan-African vision remains as vibrant and clear as ever, as expressed on "Africa For The Future" from the new album.

"Africa is our past, present and future," Les Nubians asserts. This song is about accepting and rejoicing through our body and mind that Africa is vibrant and 10,000,000 times ALIVE! Africa FOR the future

also to say that we have to prepare the future of the continent. It's in the NOW that we create the future. ACTION time is NOW!!!"

2011 MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED

Founded by Claude Nobs in 1967, over the years the Montreux Jazz Festival has become an unmissable event for music fans in Switzerland and around the world. Its stages have been graced by all of music’s greats, from Miles Davis to Ray Charles and from David Bowie to Prince. Whereas Jazz constitutes the Festival’s historic core, other styles of music were quickly integrated into the Festival, bound together by a common thread of mutual curiosity and enthusiasm. Having made its reputation with its ambitious programming choices, the Montreux Jazz Festival offers musicians an ideal platform and an intimate setting for the duration of its two weeks. Here is the lineup for the Montreux Jazz Festival, set for July 1 through the 16th:

July 1 @ Auditorium Stravinski

Invitation to Illumination with Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin featuring Cindy Blackman Santana, Dennis Chambers, Etienne Mbappe, Raul Rekow, Karl Perazzo & David K. Mathews

July 1 @ Miles Davis Hall

The Skataklites, Jimmy Cliff

July 2 @ Auditorium Stravinski
Santana ‘The Hits!”, DerekTrucks & Susan Tedeschi

July 2 @ Miles Davis Hall
B.B. King, Charles Bradley

July 3 @ Auditorium Stravinski
B.B. King – Welcome to the Chairman of the Board With Special Guests: Carlos Santana, Shemekia Copeland, John McLaughlin, Robert Randolph, Susan Tedeshci, Derek Trucks

July 3 @ Miles Davis Hall
Bilal, Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme, Raphael Saadiq

July 4 @ Auditorium Stravinski
George Benson with Orchestra “Live Breezin’ – recreating the moment”, Robert Randolph & The Family Band

July 5 @ Auditorium Stravinski
Gala Night – Tommy LiPuma 75th Birthday With Special Guests: George Benson, Randy Crawford, Dr John, Diana Krall, Rhythm Section: Larry Goldings, Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, Joe Sample, Produced by Tommy LiPuma

July 6 @ Miles Davis Hall
Trombone Shorty & New Orleans Avenue 7/6, Leon Russell, Dr John & Lower 911

July 7 @ Miles Davis Hall
Richard Bona & Raul Midon, Andreas Vollenwider & Friends

July 8 @ Auditorium Stravinski
Ziggy Marley, Youssou NDour et le Super Etoile de Dakar, Alpha Blondy & The Solar System

July 10 @ Miles Davis Hall
Mario Biondi, Natalie Cole

July 11 @ Auditorium Stravinski
Sting ‘Symphonicity” – Performing his greatest hits with Orchestra conducted by Sarah Hicks

July 12 @ Auditorium Stravinski
Seal – “The Commitment Tour 2011”, Asa

July 12 @ Miles Davis Hall
Esperanza Spalding – Chamber Music Society, Return To Forever IV – “Hymn of the 7th Galaxy” With: Chick Corea, Jean Luc-Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Frank Gambale

July 13 @ Auditorium Stravinski

Quincy Jones presents The Q Project Tribute to Miles Davis with: Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Sean Jones, Sean Rickman

July 13 @ Miles Davis Hall

Black Dub with: Daniel Lanois, Brian Blade & Trixie Whitley, Lamb, Mogwai

July 14 @ Auditorium Stravinski

Paul Simon

July 14 @ Miles Davis Hall

Femi Kuti, Mos Def & Robert Glasper Experiment

July 15 @ Miles Davis Hall

Liza Minnelli

July 16 @ Auditorium Stravinski

Deep Purple with Symphonic Orchestra

July 16 @ Miles Davis Hall

Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, Bootsy Collins – “Funk Capitol of the World Tour”, Cody Chestnutt

PHILLY ALL STARS - PHILLY CLASSICS REVISITED

Being a huge fan of MFSB and the Salsoul Orchestra, you’ll just love this new release entitled Philly Classics Revisited by the Philly All Stars!  The music on here is played by a group that features plenty of talents from the legendary Sigma Studios scene of the 70s! As you'd guess from the title, most of the cuts here are remakes of earlier Philly cuts – mostly Gamble & Huff favorites from back in the day – but redone here in a session from the start of the 80s, so most of the classic elements are still very firmly intact! Plus, the players are all the right choice to make the record come off just right – a lineup that includes Norman Harris on guitar, Lenny Pakula on organ, Vince Montana on vibes, Ronnie Baker on bass, Earl Young on drums, and Larry Washington on congas – about as great a Philly rhythm section as you could hope for! Vocals are by a well-chosen group too – David Simmons, Ron Tyson, and Joe Freeman – who might be best known for his work with The Ethics and Love Committee. By all indications it appears that these cuts were produced with musicians from the Salsoul Orchestra.  If you know you’re history, these same set of guys started off as part of MFSB, then migrated off to become the Salsoul Orchestra when Gamble & Huff pissed them off one too many times by ripping them off of their royalties and song credits. In any event, overall there is a very strong Gamble & Huff vibe running through the set – and titles include "Philly Medley (parts 1 & 2)", "Bad Luck", "I Don't Love You Anymore", "Backstabbers", "Love Train", "The Love I Lost", and "TSOP Medley".

NEW RELEASES FROM ART OF NOISE, BOBBY DARIN, FRANK SINATRA, MARVIN GAYE, SANTANA...

Chrome Dreams has released The Complete Peter Gunn by Henry Mancini..

A 2CD ‘best of’ released for Manhattan Transfer called Chanson D’amour: The Very Best of Manhattan Transfer with 40 songs is out now.

Salvo Records (UK) has released a Remaster and Expansion of the first The Art Of Noise album, Into Battle With The Art of Noise (1983). The reissue contains 18 previously unreleased tracks and includes a 12-page booklet.

Masterworks Jazz (CTI) has reissued a CD version of Salt Song (1971) from Stanley Turrentine on April 12.

Love Swings (1961) by Bobby Darin is on time for an April 19 vinyl LP reissue.

Legacy Recordings will release new collections on May 10 that include CDs for Dave Brubeck, Dionne Warwick, Teena Marie, and The Intruders.

Mobile Fidelity plan the SACD release of The Carnegie Hall Concert – June 18, 1971 featuring Carole King on May 17.

A 40th Anniversary reissue of What’s Going On? (1971) from Marvin Gaye is in the works for a May 17 release date. Currently, the title is scheduled for both CD and DD.

To mark Peggy Lee’s 91st birthday, Capitol/EMI will make available 22 albums that Lee recorded for Capitol for digital download for the first time on May 24.

AAO Music will release Guitar Legend featuring Santana on June 7.

Concord Records plans the reissue of Ring-A-Ding Ding! (1961) by Frank Sinatra on June 7.

Atlantic Records will release a 2CD compilation, 30 Greatest Hits for Aretha Franklin on June 21.

Concord Records plans a release of the Improv material from Tony Bennett in an accumulated set called The Best of the Improv Recordings, which is planned for July 12.

SADE - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION

Sade are back with The Ultimate Collection to be released on May 3 and  the must--have, 29-track, two-disc album will include four new, never-before heard songs including a remix to "The Moon And The Sky" (featuring Jay-Z). The Ultimate Collection also features 15 tracks that were not included on Sade's 1994 Best Of album. Sade recently announced, the second leg of their ultimate summer tour kicking off on June 16th, marking their highly anticipated return to the world stage in ten years.

Here is the tracklisting:
Disc 1
1. Your Love Is King
2. Smooth Operator

3. Hang On To Your Love

4. The Sweetest Taboo

5. Is It A Crime

6. Never As Good As The First Time

7. Jezebel

8. Love Is Stronger Than Pride

9. Paradise

10. Nothing Can Come Between Us

11. No Ordinary Love

12. Kiss Of Life
13. Feel No Pain+
14. Bullet Proof Soul+

Disc 2
1. Cherish The Day
2. Pearls
3. By Your Side+
4. Immigrant+
5. Flow+
6. King Of Sorrow+
7. The Sweetest Gift+
8. Solider Of Love+
9. The Moon And The Sky+
10. Babyfather+
11. Still In Love With You**
12. Love Is Found**
13. I Would Never Have Guessed**
14. The Moon And The Sky (Remix Featuring Jay-Z)**
15. By Your Side (Neptunes Remix)+

+ Not on Best Of
** Never Released Before

NEWSBITS...CARLOS SANTANA, HAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL, FREIHOFER'S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL...

Carlos Santana...
Effective immediately, all companies related to Santana and music icon Carlos Santana have relocated from Northern California to Las Vegas, NV, under the new corporation Cristalino, Inc. The holding company is run by the executive team of Michael and Maria Vrionis. Offices are located at 6000 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 6-A, Las Vegas, NV, 89119-3125; the telephone number is 702-331-9400. The mailing address for Cristalino, Inc. is 2375 E. Tropicana Ave., Suite 8, Box 270, Las Vegas, NV, 89119. "It is an honor to be working with Carlos Santana on the next phase of building the Santana brand and strategizing on future projects and partnerships with Cristalino," said Michael Vrionis. "The environment and energy of Las Vegas are great inspirations." Previously, these companies were based at 121 Jordan Street in San Rafael, CA. Remaining at that address is Universal Tone Management, also run by Michael and Maria Vrionis, which handles Carlos Santana's personal management. Cristalino, Inc. has contracted with Universal Tone to oversee all of its Nevada-based operations. Businesses comprising Cristalino, Inc. are the music label Guts & Grace Records, Inc.; Starfaith LLC, the administrative entity overseeing music publishing issues, and Santana Tesoro, LLC, DBA River Of Colors, the licensing entity for branded products including Carlos by Carlos Santana Shoes, hats, and purses, Maria Maria Restaurants, and signature musical instruments and gear.


Seeds for the move to Las Vegas were sown when longtime San Francisco Bay Area resident Carlos Santana and the Santana Band became the first artist-in-residence at the new Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The acclaimed show Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through The Hits (premiered in 2009. The next dates are planned for April/May, 2011. "My time in Las Vegas has been so exciting that I decided to buy a home here last year and move the band's base to Las Vegas," said Carlos Santana. "It is wonderful to be exploring this new phase of my life in the beautiful State of Nevada."

For 40 years and as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 90 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won 10 Grammy® Awards, including a record-tying nine for a single project, 1999's Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Smooth"). In 1998, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, whose website notes, "Guitarist Carlos Santana is one of rock's true virtuosos and guiding lights." Among many other honors, he has also been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." His latest album, Guitar Heaven...The Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time (Arista) -- featuring "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" -- came out in September 2010. With its release, Santana joins the Rolling Stones as one of only two acts in music history to score at least one Billboard Top 10 album every decade beginning with the 1960s. Guitar Heaven… is Santana's 29th Billboard Top 200 charting release, 12th Top 10 album debut, and third Top 10 debut in the past five years. Currently, Santana is preparing to go on the road with the Guitar Heaven 2011 Tour, beginning with a leg in Asia and Australia this March. A European itinerary commences in June.

Hampton Jazz Festival...
This June 24-26, 2011 the 44th annual Hampton Jazz Festival returns to Hampton, Virginia for yet another soulful weekend of unforgettable entertainment. This highly anticipated event will feature the top jazz, pop, R&B, and blues performers in the nation. This year’s line-up includes: Anthony Hamilton, Chaka Khan, Boyz II Men, Boney James, Charlie Wilson, KEM, Chrisette Michele, Soul of Summer featuring Jonathan Butler, Eric Darius, and Maysa, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Stephanie Mills, David Sanborn, George Duke, Marcus Miller and Laura Izibor.

Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival...
The Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival, one of the most celebrated and longest-running jazz events in the world, marks its 34th year at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, June 25 and 26, with a dynamic lineup of more than 20 acclaimed artists and ensembles on two stages. Highlights include festival debuts by Michael McDonald, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Tia Fuller, the Lionel Loueke Trio, Hilary Kole and Pedrito Martinez among others. Special festival features include: Sing the Truth! featuring Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright in a celebration of the music and civil rights legacies of Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta; andDee Dee Bridgewater in her acclaimed tribute to Billie Holiday, "To Billie With Love." A Night in Treme: The Musical Majesty of New Orleans featuring music inspired by the HBO series "Treme," which depicts the famous, culturally rich New Orleans neighborhood.

2011 WINTERPARK JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP

The the lineup for the much-anticipated Winter Park-Fraser Valley Jazz Festival has just been announced. The 29th Annual Winter Park Jazz Festival presented by Winter Park Resort, July 21-24 in Winter Park’s Hideaway Park, features live music from local, regional and national acts. This year’s schedule includes the O’Jays, Arturo Sandoval, Dave Koz, Will Downing and Najee, to name a few.


Saturday, July 23: with the O'Jays, Najee, Alex Bugnon and Dotsero

• O’Jays: The faces in this legendary band may have changed, but the smooth, soul sounds stay strong to this group’s roots, which date back to the 1960s. The O’Jays originally formed in Canton, Ohio, where all five original members attended high school together. Today, the trio of the O’Jays is known for its classic soul songs.
• Najee: A native New Yorker and a revolutionary of urban contemporary jazz, Najee began his iconic career playing clarinet, saxophone and flute in his hometown of Queens, New York. Najee’s Grammy nominated, platinum selling debut album, Najee’s Theme, was followed by Day By Day which also achieved platinum status. Tokyo Blue, Just an Illusion and Share My World all attained gold status.
• Alex Bugnon with special guest Nelson Rangell: Alex Bugnon, a two-time Soul Train Music Award winner, is a jazz pianist and composer from Switzerland. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and the Mozart Academy in Salzburg and started recording in 1989. His debut album, Love Season and his follow-up Head Over Heels reached the pop charts and the R&B Top 40. Joining Bugnon onstage in Winter Park is Nelson Rangell, a Denver-based saxophonist who emerged in the late 1980s. Critics say Rangell is one of the most exciting and diverse contemporary jazz performers. He plays soprano, alto and tenor sax, as well as flute and piccolo.
• Dotsero: This band is named after a small mountain town in Colorado that means “something unique,” according to Ute Indian legend. Specializing in smooth jazz, this band is noted for being as fun to watch as it is to listen to with its exciting brand of music.

Sunday, July 24: with Dave Koz, Will Downing, Arturo Sandoval

• Dave Koz: Saxophonist Dave Koz’s career spans 20 years and a dozen albums. Koz, a six-time Grammy nominee, has established himself as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary music. His latest album, Hello Tomorrow, is produced by Grammy winners John Burk and Marcus Miller.
• Will Downing: Prepare to swoon! According to his website, “women love Will Downing, and men love the women who love him.” Will Downing’s recording career spans two decades, during which the Brooklyn native has secured his place as one of the leaders in romantic, soulful music.
• Arturo Sandoval: Sandoval is a protégé of the legendary jazz master, Dizzy Gillespie, who was the first musician to bring Latin influences into American jazz. Sandoval was born in Cuba, but now calls Miami home. He is renowned at playing jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, and is a classical artist, pianist and composer.

WILLIE NELSON & WYNTON MARSALIS – HERE WE GO AGAIN: CELEBRATING THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES

Given the rousing artistic and commercial success of the first recorded collaboration of legendary country troubadour Willie Nelson and jazz statesman Wynton Marsalis on 2008’s Blue Note album Two Men With the Blues, it’s not surprising that the pair would rendezvous again. The New York Times called it “a smart and heartfelt record,” while Entertainment Weekly wrote that “Willie and Wynton may seem like an odd couple, but this live disc makes the country legend and jazz master sound like natural partners with Marsalis’ usual horn-fronted band doing the driving and Nelson settling in perfectly with his off-beat vocal phrasing.” The first meeting of these kindred spirits took place at The Allen Room at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center for two nights in 2007; their encore appearance was also staged at the heralded jazz house—this time for two sold-out nights at Rose Theater in February 2009 with special guest Norah Jones. Rather than rehash the previous material Nelson and Marsalis had first presented, the threesome paid homage to the music of the late Ray Charles, the iconic star of soul, r&b, country, jazz and pop.

On March 29, Blue Note released the category-defying album from those shows, Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles, a 12-tune song cycle about the ups and downs of love. It features tunes that Charles put on the musical map, including “Hallelujah I Love Her So,” “Cryin’ Time,” “Hit the Road Jack,” “Busted,” “Makin’ Whoopie” and arguably his greatest hit, “What’d I Say.” All the tunes feature new, original arrangements by Marsalis and artists within his Jazz at Lincoln Center circle. The songs are rendered in a variety of styles, including gospel two-beat, boogaloo, country ballad, bolero, hard bop, r&b, waltz and 4/4 swing. Instrumental support at the concert came via the trumpeter’s working quintet—tenor saxophonist Walter Blanding, pianist Dan Nimmer, bassist Carlos Henriquez and drummer Ali Jackson—and Nelson’s longtime sidekick, Mickey Raphael, on harmonica. Marsalis arranged the set list as a story line about love: “You fall in love, you get lost and busted, and then you try to come back,” he says.

“It’s what I call root-groove music,” explains Marsalis. “The root music cuts across all the boundaries and genres in American music.” He adds, “There was a time in the early ‘50s when artists would come up and be influenced by all types of music.” Nelson agrees: “You have to love all kinds of music to put your own interpretation on [the songs].”

Nelson, who praises Charles’s classic country disc I Can’t Stop Loving You, says, “He did more for country music with that one album than any of us could have done because he opened country songs and country music to millions of his fans and brought a whole lot of people together.”


The track listing for Here We Go Again is as follows:
1. Hallelujah I Love Her So (Gospel 2-beat / Boogaloo / 4/4 Swing)
2. Come Rain or Come Shine (Walking Ballad)
3. Unchain My Heart (Bolero with Habanera bass)
4. Cryin' Time (Country Ballad)
5. Losing Hand (Dirge with Chain-Gang Shuffle)
6. Hit The Road Jack (Gospel 2-beat / 4/4 Swing)
7. I’m Moving On (Boogaloo with Afro-Latin Backbeat / 4/4 Swing)
8. Busted (Gospel 12/8 Shuffle)
9. Here We Go Again (Rhythm & Blues 12/8 Shuffle)
10. Makin’ Whoopie (Hard-Bop 2-beat / 4/4 Swing)
11. I Love You So Much (It Hurts) (Waltz)
12. What'd I Say (Boogaloo)

TOWER OF POWER 2011 TOUR DATES

Freso off of the release of their two disc (CD + DVD), Tower of Power has been funkin' the house since 1968. Just in case you want to experience them live here a batch of confirmed dates for the year.

Tower Of Power 2011 Tour Dates:
Markham, Ontario: April 8 - Markham Theater For The Performing Arts
Markham, Ontario: April 9 - Markham Theater For The Performing Arts
Alexandria, VA: April 11 - The Birchmere Music Hall
Annapolis, MD: April 12 - Ram’s Head Tavern
Norfolk, CT: April 14 - Infinity Hall
Glenside, PA: April 15 - Keswick Theater With AWB
Glenside, PA: April 16 - Keswick Theater With AWB
Harrisburg, PA: April 17 - Whitaker Center
Boston, Mass: April 19 - Scullers Jazz Club
Boston, Mass: April 20 - Scullers Jazz Club
Boston, Mass: April 21 - Scullers Jazz Club
Wichita, KS: May 5 - Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Dallas, TX: May 6 - House Of Blues
Austin, TX: May 7 - One World Theater
Houston, TX: May 8 - House Of Blues
New Orleans, LA: May 10 - House Of Blues
St. Louis, MO: May 13 - Lumiere Theater and Casino
Chicago, IL: May 17 - House Of Blues
Cleveland, OH: May 18 - House Of Blues
Stroudsburg, PA: May 19 - Sherman Theater
Los Angeles, CA: May 28 - Greek Theater
Aptos, CA: May 29 - Cruz Blues Festival
San Mateo, CA: June 15 - San Mateo County Fair
San Mateo, CA: June 16 - San Mateo County Fair
Stockton, CA: June 18 - San Joaquin Fair
Petaluma, CA: June 22 - Sonoma Marin County Fair
Pleasanton, CA: June 25 - Alameda County Fair
Paris, France: July 1 - TBA
London, England: July 9 - TBA
Hamburg, Germany: July 15 - TBA
Telluride, CO: August 5 - Telluride Jazz Celebration
San Diego, CA: August 19 - Humphrey’s By The Bay
Reno, NV: August 20 - Boomtown Hotel And Casino
Las Vegas, NV: Sept 16 - South Point Casino
Las Vegas, NV: Sept 17 - South Point Casino
Las Vegas, NV: Sept 18 - South Point Casino
Pomona, CA: Sept 23 - LA County Fair
Santa Barbara, CA: Sept 24 - The Granada
Jacksonville, FL: Oct 14 - The Florida Theater
Clearwater, FL: Oct 15 - Clearwater Jazz Festival
Grand Ronde, OR: Oct 22 - Spirit Mountain Casino

TDK LIFE ON RECORD

TDK Life on Record has announced the retail availability of its anticipated new line of premium audio equipment in the United States and Canada, following a successful debut at Austin's The FADER FORT by FIAT. The bold new line, which has received a number of positive reviews in 2011, features 2 and 3 Speaker Boomboxes; a 360-degree Sound Cube; two Belt Drive Turntables; and audiophile-quality Headphones. In addition to online availability in the United States and Canada, shoppers will find the 2 Speaker Boombox on the shelves of Best Buy stores throughout North America, with additional in-store availability set for April 2011.  With a majority of the new TDK Life on Record audiophile products available today at Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com and Canadian retailer Future Shop (both in stores and online), the Turntables will be available throughout the region in April. Additional retailers will also begin offering selected products in April, including J&R, La Curacao, Sears.com and Nebraska Furniture Mart.

This new line of premium audio equipment from TDK Life on Record blends the warm experience of analog with the precision and convenience of digital technology. The integration of a unique visual equalizer – a "visual heartbeat" – brings the music to life, driving the listening experience by creating a strong visual connection with the music. Featuring generous controls and fine tuning features, the products let listeners control and customize their listening experience. Each product embodies hi-fidelity sound and combines clean, striking designs with precision performance to enhance the music experience.

"In designing the new TDK Life on Record premium audio products, we hoped to create bold products that connect what people love about analog with the convenience and style of new digital technology," said Steve Swenson, Global Brand Manager for TDK Life on Record. "The response to what we created has exceeded our expectations. With the products on shelves for people to discover, we are excited to hear about their first-hand listening experiences with the new line."

The new lineup of TDK Life on Record audio products includes:

Boomboxes -TDK Life on Record brings this original music culture icon back to life – combining dynamic sound performance, premium surfaces and features that let you customize music your way. Like the music itself, the TDK Boombox is an out-loud expression of your musical identity. It is the perfect combination of digital precision and analog ideals, recalling a time when music was tangible and tactile, as well as warm and vibrant. An innovative equalizer gives the music a visual heartbeat, while touch-sensitive buttons and generous controls deliver simple and intuitive interaction. Digital data streaming allows premium audio decoding and playback while charging Apple iPod and iPhone devices.

3 Speaker Boombox -Availability: Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com and Future Shop/Futureshop.com. A dedicated, high excursion 6-inch subwoofer driver and two 6-inch coaxial drivers deliver dynamic, full range sound and a striking, retro look.

2 Speaker Boombox - Availability: Best Buy and Future Shop/Futureshop.com. Two powerful six-inch coaxial drivers deliver balanced, full range sound while the integrated handle and tailored shoulder strap make the boombox easily portable.

Inputs for both 2 and 3 Speaker Boomboxes include USB, 3.5mm and auxiliary ports for connections to an iPod, iPhone, smartphone or USB flash drive. Users can also plug in a guitar or microphone and mix with other music sources.

Sound Cube - Availability: Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com and Future Shop/Futureshop.com. The Sound Cube Audio System is designed to fill your space with sound. Refining the hi-fi audio system to its most essential parts, the Sound Cube is a movable and sharable centerpiece for out-loud expressions of personality. This audio system's compact, sleek frame belies both its powerful sound, and its advanced capabilities. As a showpiece, the Sound Cube is as visually arresting as it is sonically impressive, with sound ports on each of its four sides delivering 360 degrees of sound. With its tailored handle and lightweight and solid frame, the Sound Cube begs to be seen and shared with the world. Two powerful 5 1/4-inch coaxial drivers deliver full range sound. Play your iPod/iPhone music while charging using the USB to 30 pin Apple cable. Inputs include USB, 3.5mm and auxiliary ports for connections to an iPod, iPhone, smartphone or USB flash drive. Users can also plug in a guitar or microphone and mix with other music sources.

Belt Drive Turntables - Availability: Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com and Future Shop/Futureshop.com. TDK Life on Record brings the warmth of analog into the modern age with these advanced belt drive turntables. A perfect balance of performance and style, the exposed belt drive isolates the platter from motor noise, and is continuously monitored by an optical speed sensor and is adjusted to a perfect 33 1/3 or 45 rpm. The uniquely illuminated tone arm and graphic equalizer provide the warmth and visual heartbeat to the modern, yet classic design, along with the freedom to use almost any stylus and cartridge from standard to truly premium through a universal connection. The TDK Life on Record USB Belt Drive Turntable is the essential next step in the vinyl revival. With an integrated pre-amp, USB output, cable and included software (for Windows® OS), listeners can import/convert tracks from vinyl to MP3 format on the fly with minimal effort. By simply dropping the needle on the USB Turntable vinyl owners can archive an entire record collection to digital format.

Headphones - Availability: Amazon.com and Future Shop/Futureshop.com. The TDK Life on Record High Fidelity Headphones re-imagine the personal listening experience. For the professional and the aficionado, the ST800 headphones prioritize function, comfort and craftsmanship alongside technical superiority, high fidelity and sonic range. With metallic detailing and genuine leather accents, they are visually stunning, exuding a sense of casual luxury while the multi-directional cup design delivers optimal fit and comfort. Sonically tuned by the TDK Life on Record Audio Research Lab, the ST800 headphones deliver authentic sound, optimized for any genre, at any volume. High-performance 50mm drivers deliver amazing clarity and range. On-ear volume and mute controls are always within your reach, and an in-line equalizer with visible display lets you adjust bass and treble levels separately.

U.S. Pricing:

$499 - 3 Speaker Boombox

$399 - 2 Speaker Boombox

$299 - Sound Cube

$399 - USB Belt Drive Turntable

$299 - Belt Drive Turntable

$249 - Headphones

SIMPLY RED - FAREWELL: LIVE IN CONCERT AT SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

In 2010, after 25 years of success, Mick Hucknall announced his decision to disband Simply Red and in 2011 took the band on a final tour of the world – a celebration of all that they have achieved, and a final farewell to the band's many fans. To mark the end of Simply Red's career, Capitol/EMI will release a concert album and film of one of the band's final and most spectacular gigs on this tour, shot against the backdrop of the iconic Sydney Opera House. Titled Farewell – Live In Concert At Sydney Opera House, the concert will be released on CD/DVD on May 17; the audio will be available for digital download on the same date. This beautifully filmed concert features the band performing a host of their hits, spanning the length of their career, and is combined with an exclusive, previously unseen interview with Mick Hucknall.

The seeds of Simply Red were sown in Manchester in the early 1980s. Mick Hucknall had formed the punk band Frantic Elevators and, after they disbanded, he put the first Simply Red incarnation together. Simply Red introduced themselves to the world in 1985 with the hit single "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)," a Valentine Brothers cover taken from their debut album Picture Book which also featured the U.S. number one "Holding Back The Years." They went on to release a further nine critically acclaimed and commercially successful studio albums, reaching sales of more than 50 million. Propelled by Hucknall's voice and passion, Simply Red are unique among their peers and have an ability to effortlessly glide between their own highly original material and totally exceptional covers of other people's songs that suddenly become their own. During the course of their career, they played 1100 concerts and performed in front of more than eleven million people. They have been awarded three Brit Awards, two Ivor Novello Awards, the MOBO Special Achievement Award, and a World Music Award.

SIMPLY RED: Farewell - Live In Concert At Sydney Opera House

CD

1. Out On The Range
2. Your Mirror
3. Heaven
4. Enough
5. For Your Babies
6. You Make Me Feel Brand New
7. If You Don't Know Me By Now
8. It's Only Love
9. Sunrise
10. Come To My Aid
11. The Right Thing
12. Money's Too Tight (To Mention)
13. Stars
14. Fairground
15. Something Got Me Started
16. Holding Back The Years

DVD
1. Out On The Range
2. Your Mirror
3. Jericho
4. Heaven
5. To Be With You
6. Enough
7. For Your Babies
8. You Make Me Feel Brand New
9. If You Don't Know Me By Now
10. It's Only Love
11. Sunrise
12. Come To My Aid
13. Fake
14. The Right Thing
15. Money's Too Tight (To Mention)
16. Ain't That A Lot Of Love
17. Stars
18. Fairground
19. Something Got Me Started
20. Holding Back The Years

http://www.simplyred.com/

MARK HARPER – THE MARK HARPER PROJECT

Mark Harper is a seasoned guitarist, performer, and multi-platinum award winner, who is introducing yet another side of his creative abilities to the world. Mark began his professional career at the young age of 12. He continued to practice and develop his style while playing with various bands in the Flint area. During this time, Mark had to balance his love for music with his ever-increasing athletic abilities. In the end, when push came to shove, he “leaned” toward the notes. Now the notes have scripted a musical journey that is reflective of his heart and soul. The early musical influences in his life were as varied and as accomplished as Mark himself is proving to be. Those influences include people such as: George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Al McKay, Phil Upchurch, Kenny Burrell, Lee Ritenour, and Larry Carlton. Through the years Mark was able to gather influences from different genres of music as well. His style is reflective of those influences and can be heard in the music he has contributed to; i.e., Kirk Franklin’s, The Nu Nation Project, Tom Braxton’s Bounce, and Tower of Power’s Great American Soul Book. In addition to these projects, Mark can be heard on many others. Mark has also had a broad live stage presence, having performed with: Kirk Whalum, Toby Keith, Charlie Pride, Ronnie Laws, Yolanda Adams, BeBe Winans, and Phyllis Hyman. As Mark begin to transition his career he spent 6 years as a member of the Wayman Tisdale band. He then went on to be the lead guitarist for the famed funk sensation, Tower of Power. Now Mark is launching his sound with his own band. The unique sound of Mark can be heard and experienced on his new release, The Mark Harper Project. This project captures Mark’s creative, technical, writing, and production abilities. The release offers 11 new songs and fresh arrangements of two classic songs: One Less Bell and Sailing. Mark is also the leader of The Mark Harper Acoustic Band. The Mark Harper Project and The Mark Harper Acoustic Band are exciting to see and listen to. The Acoustic Band, specializing in Jazz, Latin Jazz, CuBop, and other styles of music, provide the listener raw excellence with great musical imagery. The Mark Harper Project band provides that same imagery through Cool Jazz, Smooth R&B, and wonderful vocal ballads. Mark says, “To me music soothes and is often a vehicle G-D uses to heal. It is my desire to allow Him to use me as an instrument to provide comfort, joy, and healing in the life of others. I believe it is my purpose in life to reflect all that he has to offer through the gifts and talents He has given me, with the chief one being my guitar.”

SMOOTH JAZZ NEW YORK 2011 CONCERT SCHEDULE

Smooth Jazz New York has announced it's an all-star line up for the 2011 Smooth Cruise Series, now in its 14th year aboard The Spirit of New York cruise ship.  Offering hot contemporary jazz with cool Manhattan skyline views, the Smooth Cruises sail every Wednesday night from June 29th thru August 31st. Each week, the luxurious Spirit of New York plays host to two shows at 6:30pm and 9:30pm, embarking from Pier 61, Chelsea Piers. Featuring longstanding contemporary jazz favorites and acclaimed newcomers, the series has something for smooth jazz fans old and new and has become a New York City summer tradition. This summer's roster includes ten shows featuring 14 of the world's greatest jazz acts in an intimate setting, every Wednesday evening from June 29th through August 31st with 2 Shows/sailings at 6:30pm and 9:30pm. "We're excited to offer fans both old and new a diverse line up featuring some of smooth jazz's most prolific artists; innovators who have really crafted this music genre over the last two and three decades -- plus newcomers who have embraced the style in their own unique ways," says Bill Zafiros, co-founder of Smooth Jazz New York.

THE 2011 SMOOTH CRUISE SCHEDULE:
June 29: Jonathan Butler
July 6: Bobby Caldwell
July 13: Spyro Gyra
July 20: Jazz Attack featuring Gerald Albright, Peter White, & Rick Braun
July 27: The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman
August 3: Najee
August 10: Kirk Whalum & Jeff Golub
August 17: Norman Brown & Richard Elliot
August 24: Rachelle Ferrell
August 31: Pieces of a Dream

http://www.smoothjazznewyork.com/

NEWSBITS…THE E FAMILY, BONEY JAMES, TOWER OF POWER, AIRBORNE…

The E Family - Now And Forever
The Latin sounds of the Escovedo Family (Pete Escovedo, Sheila E., Juan Escovedo and Peter Michael Escovedo) is set to break down the doors with their all new project, only made available exclusively on their website entitled, The E Family - Now And Forever. The collection of songs will feature some of the hottest names in music! George Duke, Raphael Saadiq, Joss Stone, Israel Houghton, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gloria Estefan and many more. Cheers to the Escovedo's for keeping the groove going!

Tower Of Power - 40th Anniversary The Fillmore Concert

Two disc (CD + DVD) release from one of the seminal bands of the Soul and Funk scene of the late 60's, early 70's, Tower of Power has been funkin' the house since 1968. This live concert CD and DVD is loaded with extras, and includes original band members Emilio Castillo, Doc Kupka, David Garibaldi, Rocco Prestia, Mic Gillette, Greg Adams, Skip Mesquite, Chester Thompson, Lenny Pickett, and Bruce Conte. There are two additional bonus features on the DVD that are also must haves. One is the "East Bay Tour," with Emilio, Doc, Rocco and David Garibaldi taking the fans on a tour of their old stomping grounds.

Boney James - Contact
Urban Soul Jazz Sax Artist Boney James is set to bring the sensual, soulful touch of his brass sax appeal to all of his fans all over the world with another offering entitled, Contact. This time, he has a guest list featuring R&B stars Donell Jones, Letoya Luckett and Heather Headley. We are sure more details surrounding this album will come very soon and we will be right here to bring it to you. It's great to see Boney come back following the car accident suffered last year in May.

Airborne - Back In The Dayze Airborn Anthology

Back In The Dayz - Airborne Anthology takes you onboard a magical and musical journey to a motivating, high energy, intensely creative, yet peaceful serenity of island passion and complex urban emotion where the compassion of Airborne raises up the spirit of humility and reflects the empathy and moral obligation we as people of dignity must adhere to. Inspiring compositions of depth and character by a world class jazz group. Airborne the proclaimed "Musical Peacemakers" of Contemporary Jazz formed in 1988 celebrates years of recordings, jazz festivals, gigs, and the whole ups and downs of being musicians. The members have toured Europe, Japan and across the USA. Airborne has many successful CD's and has received worldwide airplay and international acclaim. Airborne, the multi-cultural contemporary jazz group from New Haven, CT USA is moving forward with their 8th CD Back In the Dayz - Airborne Anthology. This project is a wonderful collection of new material and edited and re-mastered compositions from other Airborne CD's. 

LEON RUSSELL – THE BEST OF LEON RUSSELL

Leon Russell's top 1970s classics have been gathered for a new CD and digital collection, The Best Of Leon Russell, released today (April 5) by Capitol/EMI. In addition to the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee's major chart hits and album standouts, the 16-track collection features "If It Wasn't For Bad," the lead single from The Union, Russell's 2010 collaborative album with Elton John, and his live performance of "Jumpin' Jack Flash/Youngblood" from 1971's Album of the Year Grammy winner, The Concert for Bangladesh. In addition to "If It Wasn't For Bad" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash/Youngblood," The Best Of Leon Russell features a broad sampling of Russell's album singles and popular songs, including "A Song For You," "Shoot Out On The Plantation," "Delta Lady," and "Hummingbird" from his acclaimed 1970 self-titled album, which peaked at #60 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, "Stranger In A Strange Land" and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" from 1971's Leon Russell and The Shelter People, which reached #17 on the Top 200 Albums chart, "Tryin' To Stay 'Live" from 1971's Asylum Choir II, which peaked at #70 on the Top 200 Albums chart, "This Masquerade," "Out In The Woods," and Billboard Hot 100 single "Tight Rope," from 1972's Carney, which hit #2 on the Top 200 Albums chart, Billboard Hot 100 single "If I Were A Carpenter" from 1974's Stop All That Jazz, which reached #34 on the Top 200 Albums chart, Billboard Hot 100 singles "Lady Blue" and "Back To The Island" from 1976's Will O' The Wisp, which peaked at #30 on the Top 200 Albums chart, and his #1 Billboard Country chart single "Heartbreak Hotel" with Willie Nelson, from 1979's Willie & Leon: One For The Road, which hit #3 on Billboard's Country Albums chart and #25 on the Top 200 Albums chart.

On March 14, Leon Russell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Award for Recording Excellence will be introduced by Elton John. The ceremony was televised exclusively by FUSE on Sunday, March 20 at 9pm ET/PT, 8pm CT. On April 2, Russell and John will performed on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." On June 16, Russell will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at a ceremony in New York City. Leon Russell is currently on tour and will perform at Stagecoach in Indio, CA on May 1. Additional tour dates will be announced.

http://www.leonrussellrecords.com/

The Best Of Leon Russell [CD, digital]
1. Tryin' To Stay 'Live
2. Shoot Out On The Plantation

3. If It Wasn't For Bad (Elton John & Leon Russell) [from The Union]

4. A Song For You

5. Hummingbird

6. Tight Rope

7. Delta Lady

8. Stranger In A Strange Land

9. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

10. This Masquerade

11. Out In The Woods

12. If I Were A Carpenter

13. Heartbreak Hotel (with Willie Nelson) [from Willie & Leon: One For The Road]

14. Lady Blue

15. Back To The Island

16. Jumpin' Jack Flash / Youngblood (Medley) (Live) [from The Concert For Bangladesh]

 

ADAM CRUZE - MILESTONE

New from drummer and composer Adam Cruz is Milestone. "I've had a vision to do something with my composing for a long time," says Cruz. "But I've also felt a certain ripening needed to happen. This is a big step for me. I've invested a lot of time in practicing and studying, working at my relationship with the piano and developing a compositional voice. I've just turned 40 and I'm happy the record is coming out now. There's a certain amount of growth and maturity that I have gone through, deepening my dedication as a drummer and composer, particularly over the last decade." Comprising eight original compositions, and featuring a true all star band including Miguel Zenón, alto sax; Steve Wilson, soprano sax; Chris Potter, tenor sax; Steve Cárdenas, electric guitar; Edward Simon, piano, and Ben Street, bass, Milestone, which was made possible by a grant by the Aaron Copland Recording Fund, marks a before and after in Cruz's development as an artist.

For the past decade, Cruz has been a member of pianist Danilo Perez's trio, which also features bassist Ben Street. But, in a business known for brief, constantly changing partnerships, he has chosen to develop and maintain long-standing working relationships such as those with pianists Perez and Simon, saxophonists David Sanchez and Steve Wilson, and the Mingus Big Band. And even before that, Cruz had established his name working with artists such as trumpeters Charlie Sepúlveda and Tom Harrell, saxophonists Chris Potter, Pharaoh Sanders, and Paquito D'Rivera, guitarist Charlie Hunter and, perhaps most notably, touring and recording with pianist Chick Corea. In 2000, he started playing with Pérez, developing a personal and professional relationship that, Cruz says, "has been very transformative" for him. "I've done a lot of growing up while playing with Danilo. He's a very special musician and his uniquely passionate spirit is infectious. Working in the trio this last decade I came to recognize that there was more being asked of me in life as a creative force, as an artist, and I'm really grateful for those challenges.

That maturation is reflected in the music in Milestone, which achieves a rare balance between smart, detailed writing and freedom. Also, while this is a date led by a drummer, the overall sound of the recording, from the design of the pieces to the ensemble playing, reflects Cruz's approach, by which the requirements of the music supersede any other needs -- or, as he succinctly puts it: "music before drums." Most of the songs on the album were written with specific players in mind, and the writing certainly brings out the best from the standout, hand-picked ensemble.

Born in New York City, Cruz is the son of Ray Cruz, a timbalero who played with Mongo Santamaría, Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz. "I used to sit in on his gigs when I was a little boy. Music is second nature to me," reminisces Cruz. His parents separated when he was four, and when his father moved out, he left him a drum kit as a gift. "My father also played drums, and he passed down his interest in the drum set to me. But of course I'm indebted that he couldn't resist teaching me clave, cáscara and basic tumbaos on the congas as well. He also taught me to read music and exposed me to those timeless Miles Davis records of the 50's and 60's that I still cherish today."

Cruz played drums throughout his youth and because he was exposed early on to jazz, Latin music and other styles, he says he never thought about styles or what kind of music he was playing. He studied at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University from 1988 to 1990. There he studied piano with Kenny Barron ("He taught me my first piano voicings," says Cruz) and met saxophonist David Sanchez, who was already making a name for himself on the scene. David proved to be a key supporter for Cruz's career. He then transferred to Manhattan's New School, studying with teachers such as Kenny Washington, Joe Chambers, Louis Nash, Portinho, Maria Schneider and Victor Lewis (who recommended Cruz for the Mingus Big Band job). His time at the school was "a challenge," says Cruz, as his career was taking off, while he was getting calls from Paquito D'Rivera, Charlie Sepulveda, the late pianist Hilton Ruiz. Still, Cruz graduated, receiving his BFA in 1993.

Cruz, who didn't grow up speaking Spanish, is part of a generation of players who happen to be jazz musicians of Latin descent rather than Latin jazz musicians. In fact, he defines himself as a "mixed" American. "It's an interesting thing", he says. " To find a way to integrate and live with all these parts of my heritage, to identify with them all, without feeling like my identity is caught exclusively in any one aspect of my musical heritage". "The clave language is part of my DNA," says Cruz. Perhaps because of, not in spite of that, Milestone features few explicit references to Latin music. Two notable exceptions are "Emjé," paced briskly by a cáscara rhythm, and "Outer Reaches," which hints at a Puerto Rican bomba groove. Cruz is surrounded by strong and original musical personalities, most of them leaders in their own right working precisely in new fusions of jazz and indigenous Latin rhythms. However, Cruz speaks in Milestone with a very personal, original voice.

"That's why I had to take my time honing in to what was truer and more original to myself rather than copying an idiom and just plugging in my notes," he says. "That's why I've been working on this music, off and on, for 10 years. My wife always asks me 'How do you have so much patience?' and I always answer the same way: "Well, it's not right till it's right. And I'll know when it's right". Now, with Milestone, it's right.

UPCOMING ADAM CRUZ APPEARANCES:

June 7-8 - Jazz Standard, New York, NY

June 21 -Scullers, Boston, MA

THE LEGACY OF SAMMY DAVIS JR.

Tracey Davis, the matriarch and heiress to the Sammy Davis Jr. rights has executed an unparalleled deal with Rick Appling who will produce a feature film and a series of documentaries based on her copyrights interest in books as well as her ownership granted to her by her father through a trust. Tracey is the daughter of the Hollywood marriage between Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt. Britt, was the Swedish film star that graced the cover of Life Magazine in 1959. Tracey is an entrepreneur and author who scored great success with her best-selling book, Sammy Davis Jr.: My Father. Tracey shares a loving relationship with her mother and is working on her next book, May Britt: My Mother. Tracey states that, “For film projects of this magnitude, I know my father would have wanted to incorporate his friends, Clint Eastwood, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, and Quincy Jones. One thing I remember about my dad is that he would always say to me, 'I enjoyed and admired the up and coming cats.' I know that he would have loved Jay-Z, P Diddy, Savion Glover, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Usher, and Spike Lee.”

Chairman of LaRoda LTD, Barrett LaRoda negotiated and finalized the deal on behalf of Tracey Davis. LaRoda says, “Tracey has always been known as the enforcer and protector of her father’s legacy. I am extremely proud that she is going to once again share her father with the world. This is truly a legacy building block project.” Tracey has only assigned her rights once before and that was to entertainment tycoon, Quincy Jones. Tracey has decided to grant her rights to independent film maker, Rick Appling. Sammy, known to be an advocate of the independent industry and he himself, had many independent projects. Appling was groomed in the film industry by John Daly, who was a producer of thirteen Oscar winning movies including Platoon. Appling says, “God is Good. Being chosen to do the Sammy Davis Jr. story is one of my greatest accomplishments to date. I look forward to working with Tracey as her experience, knowledge, and love for her father I know will come across to the audiences of these films.”

Sammy Davis Jr., known as "Mr. Entertainment, had a successful recording, Broadway theatre, film and television career, but his passion was dancing, live performing and concerts.

MAD MEN: A MUSICAL COMPANION (1960-1965)

If you were in the early '60s milieu of "Mad Men," the groundbreaking AMC series about the glamorous and ego-driven Golden Age of advertising, what music would you listen to on the radio? Those songs are heard on Mad Men: A Musical Companion (1960-1965) (Hip-O/UMe), released March 29, 2011. The two-CD package features nearly three dozen pop favorites of the era. With both major hits and rediscovered tracks from a wide spectrum of artists, from Chuck Berry, Dusty Springfield and Sonny & Cher ("I Got You Babe" is heard over the end credits of the Season Four finale) to Dean Martin, Jackie Wilson, Connie Francis, Stan Getz, Tom Jones, Roger Miller and Ella Fitzgerald, Mad Men: A Musical Companion (1960-1965) exudes the romance and innocence of much of the music of the time, often used to great ironic effect in the series.

Tracklisting:
Disc One
1.   Connie Francis - Everybody's Somebody's Fool
2.   Brook Benton/Dinah Wahsington - Baby (You've Got What It Takes)
3.   Lloyd Price -Lady Luck
4.   Brook Benton - Frankie & Johnny
5.   Jackie Wilson - I'm Comin' On Back To You
6.   James Booker - Gonzo
7.   Clarence "Frogman" Henry -But I Do
8.   Ricky Nelson - Travelin' Man
9.   Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd - Desafinado
10. Bruce Channel - Hey! Baby
11. Dave "Baby" Cortez - Rinky Dink
12. Earl Grant - Swingin' Gently
13. Joe Harnell - Fly Me To The Moon
14. Etta James - Something's Got A Hold On Me
15. Patti Page - Most People Get Married
16. Billy Vaughn - A Swingin' Safari

Disc Two
1.   Mel Torme - Comin' Home Baby
2.   Ella Fitzgerald - Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home
3.   Jack Jones - Wives And Lovers
4.   Roger Miller - King Of The Road 5
5.   Dean Martin - You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You
6.   Chuck Berry - You Never Can Tell
7.   Dusty Springfield - I Only Want To Be With You
8.   Leslie Gore - That's The Way Boys Are
9.   The Impressions - Talking About My Baby
10. Jackie Ross - Selfish One
11. Manfred Mann - Doo Wah Diddy Diddy
12. Junior Walker & The All Stars - Shotgun
13. Marvin Gaye - Ain't That Peculiar
14. Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual
15. Sam The Sam & The Pharoahs -Wooly Bully
16. Sir Douglas Quintet - She's About A Mover
17. Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe

UPCOMING SMOOTH JAZZ, SOUL & R&B RELEASES...

Brothers Johnson - Winners (reissue) (March 8)
Peabo Bryson - Reaching for the Sky/Crosswinds (Reissue) (March 22)
Aretha Franklin - Take a Look: Complete on Columbia (March 22)
Solomon Burke - Hold On Tight (March 22)
Boney James - Contact (March 29)
Bonnie Pointer - Like a Picasso (April)
Smokey Robinson - The Solo Albums V (April)
Kathy Sledge - Heart (April)
Kim Burrell - Love Album (April)
Brian McKnight - Just Me (April 12)
Les Nubians - Nu Revolution (April 19)
Dave Grusin - An Evening with Dave Grusin (April 26)
Patti Austin – Sound Advice (May)
Sade - The Ultimate Collection (May 3)
Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin (May 10)
Corea, Clarke & White - Forever (June 7)
Aretha Franklin - A Woman Falling Out of Love (May)
Hiromi - Voice (June 7)

On The Horizon (no date set)
Brown Baby Girl - TBA
Roberta Flack - Let It Be Roberta (Beatles Tribute)
Daryl Hall - TBA
Major Harris - Always
Jill Scott - The Light of the Sun
Tamia - Live Album
U-Nam - George Benson tribute album
Jody Watley - Chameleon
Bobby Womack - The Best is Yet To Come

TONY BENNETT - DUETS II

Singer Tony Bennett will celebrate his 85th birthday this fall with a new album, Tony Bennett: Duets II – which his set for release on September 20th. Bennett has already begun the live recording process with several artists during Grammy week in February at LA's famed Capitol Studios. Additional sessions are planned for the coming months in New York, Nashville and Italy. Tony Bennett: Duets II, produced by Phil Ramone follows up Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic, the 2006 Grammy Award-winning album which became Bennett's best-selling recording to date. An all-star roster will join Tony live in the studio including Mariah Carey, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse. Some of country's biggest names will also join the round-up including Faith Hill, Willie Nelson and Carrie Underwood. From the international pantheon: angel-voiced tenor Andrea Bocelli from Italy and Latino singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz from Spain. Josh Groban and John Mayer are also slated to collaborate with Bennett as well as Michael Buble and k.d. lang, who were both featured on the original Duets album. "I love the Great American songbook and have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to introduce many of these songs to the public... It is a thrill to perform them once again with artists that I admire to create new interpretations of the music I love so much," says Bennett. The recording sessions for Tony Bennett: Duets II are also being filmed by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Dion Beebe and will be released as a documentary in conjunction with the new album, providing an in-depth study of Bennett's creative and artistic process.

NEW RELEASES FROM AL DIMEOLA, SERGE GAINSBOURG, NINA SIMONE & OTHERS...

Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra - Ayodegi
Airborne – Back In The Dayz: Airborne Anthology
Al DiMeola – Pursuit Of Radical Rhapsody
Amos Lee – Amos Lee
Andrea Pozzo Trio – Blue Daniel
Aretha Franklin – Complete Columbia Recordings
Arthur’s Landing – Arthur’s Landing
Brazil Bossa Beat (Various Artists)
Bryan Forsloff – The Final Touch
Bushman – Bushman Sings The Bush Doctor: Tribute To Peter Tosh
Charlie Haden Quartet – Sophisticated Ladies
Contemporary Afro Beat (Various Artists)
Dee Brown – A Little Elbowroom
Drew Davidson – Spin Cycle
Earl Hagen – I Spy Vol. 2 The LP’s
Ella Fitzgerald & Oscar Peterson – Ella & Oscar
Eraldo Volonte – My Point Of View
Esther Phillips – Here’s Esther: Are You Ready/Good Black Is Hard To Crack
Frank Sinatra – Best Of Vegas
Guido Manusardi – Blue Train
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall – I Feel You
James Brown – Singles Vol. 10 1975-1979
Kurt Elling – The Gate
Lawson Rollins – Espirito
Link Quartet - 4
Louis Landon – Reality Not Fantasy
Luna Blanca – Provence
Mark Mosley – TLC
Nina Simone – Original Album Classics: Sing The Blues/Emergency Ward/Baltimore
Pierre Anckaert Trio Vs. Monkey Robot – 74 Miles Away
Raf Vilar – Studies In Bossa
Rhapsodia Trio – Chant de Joie et de Regret
Rippingtons ft. Russ Freeman – Dote D’Azur
Rise - Messages
Ryan Shea Smith – Stay Awhile
Serge Gainsbourg – Comme Un Boomerang: Best Of Serge Gainsbourg
Stan Getz & Cal Tjader – Stan Getz & Cal Tjader Sextet
Stefania Tschantret – Love For Sale
Tal Babitzky - Moments
William Scott – Kooly
Zuill Bailey & Awadagin Pratt- Brahms