GERALD WILSON - LEGACY

Gerald Wilson, jazz's reigning composer/orchestrator pays homage to his adopted hometown, Chicago on his fifth Mack Avenue Records release, Legacy. Composers Igor Stravinsky and Giacomo Puccini also receive Wilson's musical tips of the hat. Wilson's son, guitarist/composer Anthony Wilson, and grandson Eric Otis are also represented by a composition/orchestration apiece, thus extending Gerald's musical legacy. The Gerald Wilson Orchestra assembled for Legacy comprises many of the great jazz artists who've been Gerald's collaborators for the lion's share of his Mack Avenue canon. A first-class rhythm section of pianist Renee Rosnes, guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash anchors the group. Trumpeters Sean Jones, Jeremy Pelt, Tony Lujan, Freddy Hendrix, Frank Greene and Mike Rodriguez and trombonists Dennis Wilson, Douglas Purviance, Luis Bonilla and Alan Ferber stud the brass section. Antonio Hart, Dick Oatts, Kamasi Washington, Ron Blake, Jay Brandford and Gary Smulyan comprise the reeds. Al Pryor continues as Wilson's producer for this collection of tributes and portraits.

His new suite "Yes, Chicago Is..." is an affectionate series of sketches-what Wilson calls a "romantic ballad" that delineates one of his favorite cities. (He wrote and recorded "State Street Suite," an earlier civic valentine, in 1993.) Commissioned by the Chicago Jazz Festival, it recalls some key personal junctures. Wilson lived in the Windy City for a better part of a year at the age of fifteen, when the Chicago World's Fair was there. Later on, as a member of the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra (which he joined in June of 1938), he used the town as his home base. And while stationed at the Great Lakes Naval facility (1942-'44), Wilson took advantage of the fact that he didn't have to live on the base and moved into town. The suite begins appropriately with "A Jazz Mecca." "I always loved Chicago," the 92 year-old Wilson says. "It's such an exciting city, and it's one of the great jazz cities-a real 'jazz mecca.' I tried to capture some of the flavor of the Chicago I've known: the wonderful Regal Theatre, the great sports teams and the El Grotto nightclub, where I played six weeks with my band in 1946."

Wilson's fans won't be surprised that he's an admirer of 20th Century musical giant Igor Stravinsky. One of his mentors, the late Phil Moore, brought the Russian composer to Wilson's attention. Italian opera great, Giacomo Puccini, however, might raise a few eyebrows. "They're both dedicated to Wynton Marsalis," he relates. "He's been so good to me, playing my music at Lincoln Center. I took a small excerpt (just a couple of bars) from 'Nessun Dorma' from Puccini's opera, Turandot-and wrote the 'Variations on a Theme by Giacomo Puccini.' I did the same with Stravinsky. I write short pieces these days so I don't need much material for inspiration."

"Variations on Clair De Lune" fulfills a childhood desire: Wilson's first musical studies were on piano; he always liked the piece and wanted a chance to do something with it. The twist is that Wilson had pianist Avery Parrish, composer and player of the bluesy "After Hours," in mind. "Avery was a brilliant pianist," he reminds us. "He could play as much piano as Art Tatum or Earl Hines."

Wilson clearly revels in his working relationship with Mack Avenue Records. His previous releases for the label are: New York, New Sound (2003), In My Time (2005), Monterey Moods (2007) and Detroit (2009). "They're so nice to me and our arrangement is so comfortable," he says. His albums receive maximum exposure-in the press, on radio and on Internet sites like YouTube. "I love working with Al Pryor and Gretchen Valade has given me carte blanche to do what I want."

Legacy lives up to its name in offering a forum for the composing and orchestration talents of Wilson's progeny: his son, guitarist Anthony Wilson, and his grandson, Eric Otis. "Anthony has been writing for quite a while now," Gerald points out. "He's well aware of how I work but he's got his own point of view. That number of his, 'Virgo,' was commissioned by the Hollywood Bowl for a concert that my band was on, sharing the bill with pianist Hank Jones in 2008. He's taken that piece and added more material to it for this album."

Eric Otis- grandson of Wilson and R&B pioneer Johnny Otis, and son of guitarist and musical auteur Shuggie Otis-is also a guitarist. ("So many young people play and write their music on the guitar these days," Gerald muses.) Eric has been Wilson's transcriber for quite some time and, as such, he's had a unique insight into his grandfather's musical methodology. "It's been an educational process," Otis offers, "and a very practical education. I've watched how he works, how he sketches out his compositions, and how he voices his chords; that's something I couldn't have gotten from a classroom. I'm at the point where I can now use all the things that I've learned."

"September Sky," Otis's first orchestration, was midwifed by his grandfather. "I began writing it on the guitar in 1999 and for some reason I put it away. Last year I pulled it out of the drawer and I completed it; I finished it to my satisfaction and then orchestrated it. It's an accumulation of everything he's taught me over the years." 

For Wilson's part, he couldn't be prouder of his offspring. "I've had a very fulfilling career," he maintains. "I've reached all of my goals. I've played and written for all of the greatest jazz orchestras [Lunceford, Ellington, Basie and Benny Carter among them], I've written for movies and television, I've written for concert orchestras and I've maintained my own band for many decades. But it goes beyond my accomplishments to see that members of my family are carrying on the music in their own ways." "Everything I write," Wilson asserts, "from here on in, is going to be jazz. It's the language I speak and it's my music." Gerald Wilson's Legacy will beleased on Mack Avenue Records on June 21, 2011.   Catch the Gerald Wilson Orchestra at the Catalina Bar & Grill on Sunday, June 12 · 7:30pm.   

NEW RELEASES: BOOTSY COLLINS, DENNIS COFFEY, APRIL STEVENS, PHILLY ALL STARS & MORE...

Afro Latin Via Dakar (Various Artists)
Afro Latin Via Kinshasa (Various Artists)
Al Di Meola – Pursuit Of Radical Rhapsody
Ambrose Akinmusire – When The Heart Emerges Glistening
Anthony David – As Above So Below
At Jazz – For Real
Azymuth – Aurora
Beggar & Co. – Legacy
Bootsy Collins – Funk Capital of The World
Bryan Forsloff – The Final Touch
Dennis Coffey – Dennis Coffey
Don Sebesky – Giant Box
Drew Davidson – Spin Cycle
Eric Bibb – Troubadour Live
Fab Semperi – Jazz Di Mezzaluna
Femi Kuti – Africa For Africa
Francis Lai – Claude Leluch and Francis Lai – L’Integrale
Idrissa Diop & Cheikh Tidiane Tall – Diamonoye Tiopite L’Espogue De L’Evolution
Ike & Tina Turner – Come Together/Nuff Said
Ike & Tina Turner – River Deep – Mountain High
Isaac Albaniz – Spanish Music For Classical Guitar
Jazz Chronicles – Jazz Chronicles II
Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel – Funk Supreme
Kathy Sledge - Heart
L’Orchestre Kanaga De Mopti - L’Orchestre Kanaga De Mopti
Luna Blanca – Provence
Mark Mosley - TLC
Melba Moore – Never Say Never
Melba Moore – Read My Lips
Nino Tempo & April Stevens – Hey Baby! The Nino Tempo & April Stevens Anthology
Nostalgia 77 – Hush
Orchestre Poly Rhythmo De Cotonou – Cotonou Club
Philly All Stars – Philly Classics Revisited
Raf Vilar – Studies In Bossa
Ray Charles – Live In Concert
Reel People & Others – Golden Lady
Ryan Shea Smith – Stay Awhile
Stanley Turrentine – Salt Song
Tab Benoit - Medicine
Tata Vega – Full Speed Ahead
Tata Vega – Totally Tata

ARETHA FRANKLIN – A WOMAN FALLING OUT OF LOVE

Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love, the much-anticipated new album from the undisputed “queen of soul,” was made available exclusively at Walmart stores and Walmart.com beginning on May 3. The CD features eleven tracks – including the debut single “How Long I’ve Waited” plus one bonus track. It's Franklin’s 38th studio album in an amazing career that has seen her win no fewer than 18 Grammy® Awards. The album, is the very first on the legendary artist’s own label, Aretha’s Records and is reflective of the great diversity of material and styles at which Aretha excels, offering ballads, blues-infused tracks as well as an acknowledgment of gospel roots in the duet “Faithful” with Karen Clark-Sheard. As the album's executive producer, Franklin's vision for the project was fulfilled in no uncertain terms.   She's tapped into many genres of music that she has addressed during her vast and legendary career -- pop, blues, jazz and, of course, soul.  The album is, clearly, a work that is contemporary and classic which is evidenced by her collaborations with both modern day hit makers and established masters.

ARETHA: A WOMAN FALLING OUT OF LOVE – TRACK LISTING:
1. How Long I’ve Waited - Written and Produced by Aretha Franklin
2. Sweet Sixteen - Written by Riley B. King and Joe Bihari, Produced by Aretha Franklin
3. This You Should Know - Written and Produced by Aretha Franklin
4. U Can’t See Me - Written and produced by Curtis Boone
5. Theme From A Summer Place - Lyrics by Mack Discant, Music by Max Steiner, Produced by Aretha Franklin.
6. The Way We Were - Written by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman and Marvin Hamlisch, Produced and Arranged by Marty Paich
7. New Day - Written Kecalf Franklin Cunningham and Norman West, Produced by Brian Garrett and Joseph Hall
8. Put It Back Together Again – Written by Norman West
9. Faithful (featuring Karen Clark-Sheard) – Produced by Sanchez G. Harley and Co-Produced by Jacqui Whittman
10. His Eye Is On The Sparrow (Performed by Eddie Franklin) – Written by Charles H. Gabriel and Civilla H. Martin, Produced by Aretha Franklin             
11. When Two Become One – Written by Curtis Boone

Bonus Track:
12. My Country 'Tis of Thee - Lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith, Music from Thesaurus Musicus, 1744, Arrangement

CD Returning To New York

CD Returning To New York

SIRIUSXM CHANNEL LINEUP

SiriusXM has revealed its new channel lineup taking effect on Wednesday, May 4. The new lineup consolidates many of the channels on the same number on both systems. Among the changes are the merger of Willie’s Place and The Roadhouse into one channel, the addition of Sirius Hits 1 and 20 on 20 to both services, and the move of Enlighten to Internet Only on the music side. Formerly XM Only The Power gains a spot on the Sirius lineup, the traffic/weather channels are trimmed from 12 to 8, and consolidation of Sirius Left and America Left into SiriusXM Left on the satellites with additional programming of SiriusXM Left Plus online. No word on when the new leased channels will appear, but Channels 141 to 147 appear to be set aside from them. The new lineup also does not take into account any pending changes to the Canadian channels once the merger of Sirius Canada and XM Canada is complete. SiriusXM has a FAQ guide to all the changes here.

The new lineup is as follows:
New Channel Name (Category)
2 Hits 1 (Pop)
3 20 on 20 (Pop)
4 40′s on 4 (Pop)
5 50′s on 5 (Pop)
6 60′s on 6 (Pop)
7 70′s on 7 (Pop)
8 80s on 8 (Pop)
9 90′s on 9 (Pop)
10 The Pulse (Pop)
11 XM Kiss (Clear Channel)
12 XM Mix (Clear Channel)
13 XM Music Summit (Clear Channel)
14 XM Pop2K (Pop)
15 BBC Radio 1 (Pop)
16 The Blend (Pop)
17 Love (Pop)
18 Limited Engagements (Pop)
19 Elvis Radio (Rock)
20 E Street Radio (Rock)
21 Underground Garage (Rock)
22 Pearl Jam Radio (Rock)
23 Grateful Dead (Rock)
24 Margaritaville (Rock)
25 Classic Rewind (Rock)
26 Classic Vinyl (Rock)
27 Deep Tracks (Rock)
28 The Spectrum (Rock)
29 Jam_ON (Rock)
30 The Loft (Rock)
31 Coffeehouse (Rock)
32 The Bridge (Rock)
33 1st Wave (Rock)
34 Lithium (Rock)
35 XMU (Rock)
36 Alt Nation (Rock)
37 Octane (Rock)
38 Boneyard (Rock)
39 Hair Nation (Rock)
40 Liquid Metal (Rock)
41 Faction (Rock)
42 The Joint (Reggae)
44 Hip-Hop Nation (Hip-Hop R&B)
45 Shade 45 (Hip-Hop R&B)
46 Backspin (Hip-Hop R&B)
47 The Heat (Hip-Hop R&B)
48 Heart and Soul (Hip-Hop R&B)
49 Soul Town (Hip-Hop R&B)
50 XM The Groove (Clear Channel)
51 BPM (Dance & Electronic)
52 Electric Area (Dance & Electronic)
53 Chill (Dance & Electronic)
56 Willie’s Roadhouse (Country)
57 XM Nashville (Clear Channel)
58 Prime Country (Country)
59 The Highway (Country)
60 Outlaw Country (Country)
61 Bluegrass Junction (Country )
62 XM The Village (Country)
63 The Message (Religion)
64 Praise (Religion)
66 Watercolors (Jazz/Standards)
67 Real Jazz (Jazz/Standards)
68 Spa (Jazz/Standards)
69 Escape (Jazz/Standards)
70 BB King’s Bluesville (Jazz/Standards)
71 Siriusly Sinatra (Jazz/Standards)
72 On Broadway (Jazz/Standards)
73 XM Cinemagic (Jazz/Standards)
74 Metropolitian Opera (Classical)
75 Pops (Classical)
76 Symphony Hall (Classical)
78 Kids Place Live (Family & Health)
79 Radio Disney (Family & Health)
80 Book Radio (Family & Health)
81 Doctor Radio (Family & Health)
82 RadioClassics (Family & Health)
84 ESPN Radio (Sports)
85 ESPN Xtra (Sports)
86 Mad Dog Radio (Sports)
87 XM / 210 SIRI Fantasy Sports Radio (Sports)
88 NFL Radio (Sports)
89 XM / 209 SIRI MLB Network Radio (Sports)
90 NASCAR Radio (Sports)
91 College Sports Nation 1 (Sports)
92 SIRI European Soccer / PBP (Sports)
92 XM / 207 SIRI NHL Home Ice (Sports)
93 SIRI Horse Racing / PBP (Sports)
93 XM / 208 SIRI PGA Tour Network (Sports)
94 SIRI Sporting News Radio / PBP (Sports)
94 XM IndyCar Radio (Sports)
96 Laugh USA (Comedy)
97 Blue Collar Radio (Comedy)
98 The Foxxhole (Comedy)
99 Raw Dog Comedy (Comedy)
100 Howard 100 (Howard Stern)
101 Howard 101 (Howard Stern)
102 Playboy Radio (Entertainment)
103 Spice Radio (Entertainment)
104 Stars Too (Entertainment)
105 XM / 206 SIRI The Virus (Entertainment)
106 Road Dog Trucking (Entertainment)
107 Stars (Entertainment)
108 OutQ Gay Radio (Entertainment)
109 Cosmo Radio (Entertainment)
110 Martha Stewart Living (Entertainment)
111 XM / 204 SIRI Oprah Radio (Entertainment)
112 CNBC (News/Public Radio)
113 Bloomberg Radio (News/Public Radio)
114 Fox News Channel (News/Public Radio)
115 CNN (News/Public Radio)
116 HLN (News/Public Radio)
117 MSNBC (News/Public Radio)
118 BBC World Service (News/Public Radio)
119 XM C-Span Radio (News/Public Radio)
120 World Radio Network (News/Public Radio)
121 XM / 205 SIRI XM Public Radio (News/Public Radio)
122 NPR Now (News/Public Radio)
123 SIRI NPR Talk (News/Public Radio)
123 XM PRX Public Radio (News/Public Radio)
124 POTUS (Politics)
125 Patriot (Politics)
126 Fox News Talk (Politics)
127 SiriusXM Left (Politics)
128 The Power (Politics)
129 Catholic Channel (Religion)
130 SIRI EWTN Catholic Radio (Religion0
131 Family Talk (Religion)
132 Boston/Philadelphia/Pittsburgh (Traffic/Weather)
133 New York City (Traffic/Weather)
134 Washington/Baltimore/Atlanta (Traffic/Weather)
135 Chicago/Detroit (Traffic/Weather)
136 Miami/Orlando/Tampa (Traffic/Weather)
137 Dallas/Houston/Phoenix (Traffic/Weather)
138 St. Louis/Minneapolis/Las Vegas (Traffic/Weather)
139 San Francisco/Seattle/San Diego (Traffic/Weather)
140 Los Angeles (Traffic/Weather)
148 CNN En Espanol (Spanish)
149 ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
150 Caliente (Spanish)
151 SIRI Iceberg Radio (Canadian)
151 XM The Verge (Canadian)
152 SIRI CBC Radio 3 (Canadian)
152 XM Air Musique (Canadian)
153 SIRI ESPACE Musique (Canadian)
153 XM Sur La Route (Canadian)
154 SIRI L’Oasis Francophone (Canadian)
154 XM Scoreboard (Canadian)
155 SIRI Latitude Franco (Canadian)
155 XM Canada 360 (Canadian)
156 SIRI Sports Extra (Canadian)
156 XM Radio Parallele (Canadian)
157 SIRI Sports Express (Canadian)
157 XM Calendrier Sportif (Canadian)
158 SIRI The Score (Canadian)
158 XM Quoi De Neuf (Canadian)
159 SIRI CBC Radio One (Canadian)
159 XM ATN Asian Radio (Canadian)
160 SIRI Premiere Plus (Canadian)
160 XM Laugh Attack (Canadian)
161 SIRI Bandepart (Canadian)
162 SIRI Canadian Weather Network (Canadian)
163 XM Bollywood and Beyond (Clear Channel)
164 XM Sixx Sense (Clea Channel)
165 XM Extreme Talk (Clear Channel)
166 XM America’s Talk (Clear Channel)
167 XM ReachMD (Clear Channel)
168 XM Talk Radio (Clear Channel)
169 XM Fox Sports Radio (Clear Channel)
175 XM MLB En Espanol (Sports)

Dedicated Sports Play-By-Play Channels are located on Channel 211-220 on Sirius and 176-189, 190-210, 212-222, and 225-239 on XM.

DAVE KOZ 2011 TOUR DATES

Six-time Grammy® nominee Dave Koz will follow his series of spring festival appearances with three distinctly different outings. On June 17th, Dave and his band will launch the summer leg of the “Hello Tomorrow Tour 2011” at the One World Theatre in Austin, TX. The run will conclude with an August 14th headlining show at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Koz’s hometown of Los Angeles. See below for Koz’s 2011 itinerary. Following the summer tour, he’ll set sail on the sold-out Dave Koz & Friends At Sea cruise to Alaska, which departs from Seattle, WA on August 26th and returns September 2nd. Tickets for his 2012 Mediterranean Cruise are already on sale and it will depart from Barcelona, Spain on September 26th, 2012 and continue on to Naples, Rome and Florence, Italy as well as Nice and Toulon, France. The Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2011 will kick off the day after Thanksgiving (November 25th) at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, GA. Trumpeter/composer/producer Rick Braun, South African singer/guitarist Jonathan Butler and Dutch saxophone star Candy Dulfer will join Koz for the 14th anniversary of the tour. The four will perform hits from their respective catalogues and jam on new arrangements of holiday favorites. Wow, talk about a busy musician, and not to mention his daily and weekly radio shows!

Koz’s iTunes: Live from Soho will be released on iTunes June 14th. Recorded this spring at New York City’s Apple Store Soho, the six-song collection features a variety of the saxophonist’s greatest hits, including two from Hello Tomorrow, his new album: “Put The Top Down,” which spent 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Mediabase Smooth A/C chart – the longest stint at No. 1 of any of Koz’s chart-topping hits – and his version of the Burt Bacharach-Hal David classic “This Guy’s In Love With You,” which hit No. 1 on the Breakouts for Hot Dance Club Play chart. Hello Tomorrow debuted at No. 1 on both Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and iTunes’ Jazz Album chart and was named the “Best Smooth Jazz Album of 2010” by iTunes. It was hailed as “an event record” (The New York Times), “[an] inspired and deeply catchy collection of tunes” (Advocate.com)and “one of the most ambitious recordings in Koz’s catalog” (AllMusic.com). “Start All Over Again,” which featured vocals by singer-songwriter Dana Glover, was a Top 5 hit and “Anything’s Possible,” Koz’s latest single, was recently #1 Most Added at radio.

Dave Koz 2011 Tour Dates
Dave Koz 2011
5.13.11 Sacramento, CA, In The Grove - Radisson
5.14.11 Palm Springs, CA, Palm Springs Smooth Jazz Festival
5.15.11 Newport Beach, CA, Hyatt Newporter Jazz Festival
6.17.11 Austin, TX, One World Theatre
6.18.11 Houston, TX, House of Blues
6.19.11 Dallas, TX, Dallas Symphony
7.08.11 Las Vegas, NV 8:00, Boulder Station Hotel & Casino
7.09.11 Temecula, CA, Thornton Winery
7.10.11 Temecula, CA, Thornton Winery
7.15.11 Richmond, VA, Fridays at Sunset
7.16.11 Apple Valley, MN, Weesner Amphitheatre
7.17.11 Beausejour, MB, CA, Lyric Theatre
7.21.11 Westbury, NY, NYCB Theatre
7.22.11 Verona, NY, Turning Stone Resort & Casino
7.23.11 Columbus, OH, Jazz & Rib Fest
7.24.11 Winter Park, CO, Winter Park Jazz Festival
8.05.11 Hammond, IN, The Venue at Horseshoe Casino
8.10.11 Napa, CA, Napa Valley Opera House
8.11.11 Fresno, CA, Tower Theatre
8.12.11 San Diego, CA, Humphreys
8.13.11 San Jose, CA, San Jose Jazz Festival
8.14.11 Los Angeles, CA, Hollywood Bowl (Special Guests Bobby Caldwell and Sheila E)

8.26.11- 9.02.11 Seattle, WA, Juneau, AK, Skagway, AK, Tracy Arm Fjord, AK, Victoria, BC 4:00pm Dave Koz and Friends at Sea Aboard Royal Carribean's Rhapsody of the Seas

Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2011
11.25.11 Atlanta, GA, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
11.26.11 Sarasota, FL, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
11.27.11 West Palm Beach, FL, Kravis Center - Dreyfoos Hall
11.28.11 Naples, FL, Philharmonic Center for the Arts
11.29.11 Melbourne, FL, Maxwell C. King Center
11.30.11 Clearwater, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall
12.02.11 Chicago, IL, Auditorium Theatre
12.03.11 Columbus, OH, Palace Theatre
12.04.11 Cleveland, OH, Playhouse Square

12.05.11 North Bethesda, MD, Strathmore Music Center

12.06.11 Newport News, VA, Ferguson Center for the Arts

12.07.11 New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre

12.09.11 Temecula, CA, Pechanga Resort & Casino

12.10.11 Oakland, CA, Paramount Theatre

12.14.11 Mesa, AZ, Mesa Arts Center/Ikeda Theatre

12.15.11 Palm Desert, CA, McCallum Theatre

12.16.11 Cerritos, CA, Cerritos Center for Performing Arts

12.17.11 Cerritos, CA, Cerritos Center for Performing Arts

12.18.11 El Paso, TX, Plaza Theatre

12.20.11 Santa Barbara, CA, The Granada Theatre

12.21.11 Modesto, CA, Gallo Center for the Arts

BLUE NOTE JAZZ CLUB 30TH ANNIVERSARY

In honor of its 30th anniversary, the Blue Note Jazz Club is opening its doors throughout New York City during the month of June for the inaugural Blue Note Jazz Festival.  More than 80 shows featuring many artists who have performed at the Blue Note for years will take the city by storm at this year's largest New York jazz festival. More than 60,000 tickets are available. The festival will feature a diverse group of high-profile artists including Dave Brubeck, Chris Botti, Nancy Wilson, Bobby McFerrin, Brian Wilson, The Roots, Chaka Kahn, Roberta Flack, El Gran Combo, Jon Hendricks, Kathleen Battle, McCoy Tyner, Youssou N'Dour, Bill Frisell, Meshell Ndegeocello, Madeleine Peyroux and many more. In addition to presenting a special series of shows at the Blue Note, the club has scheduled shows at the Beacon Theatre, Town Hall, BB King Blues Club & Grill, Highline Ballroom, Terminal 5, Joe's Pub, Mercury Lounge, Rose Hall at Lincoln Center, Le Poisson Rouge, The Lehman Center for Performing Arts, and the Katonah Museum of Art.

"Thirty years ago, I never could have dreamed that the Blue Note would become what it is today," owner and operator Danny Bensusan said of his famed jazz club. "It wasn't easy to convince the artists to play here at first. We had help from some of the musicians who believed in what we were trying to do – Ray Brown and Dizzy Gillespie, in particular – and as we started bringing in bigger names, the reputation of the club grew. Once they played the Blue Note, they always wanted to come back, because there is an intimacy here between the audience and the musician that is appealing to everyone."

"To celebrate our 30th year, we're presenting musicians all over New York who have played the Blue Note since the beginning, as well as new ones who we hope will continue to come back for many years," Mr. Bensusan said of the festival. The Blue Note shows in particular will feature many of the club's long-time artists, like Jon Hendricks, who will be celebrating his 90th birthday, Lee Konitz, who performed at the Blue Note within the first few weeks of the club's opening, and Dave Brubeck among others.

While the Blue Note Jazz Festival celebrates the club's accomplishments and legendary artists, Mr. Bensusan believes the Blue Note's future success will come from exposing new artists, captivating new audiences and investing in jazz education. In light of this, the Blue Note Jazz Festival will include a series at the Mercury Lounge devoted to young up-and-coming artists in a variety of genres, as well as the new Spontaneous Construction Series at the Blue Note presented by Search & Restore, which pairs young, experimental artists together for the first time. Additionally, the Blue Note Jazz Festival will sponsor educational programs for the non-profit organization JazzReach and its "ELLINGTON!" program at the Highline Ballroom which will host hundreds of New York City Public School students each day over a period of three afternoons.

For Mr. Bensusan, the Blue Note Jazz Festival is a reflection of where the Blue Note has been, but most importantly, an indication of what lies ahead. "I'm proud that after 30 years, the Blue Note has become an important institution in New York and that with the Blue Note Jazz Festival, we are continuing to expand and work toward making the Blue Note as good as it can be."

Since its inception in 1981, the Blue Note has become a cultural institution in New York and one of the premier jazz clubs in the world. Jazz is undoubtedly America's music, and while the Blue Note strives to celebrate the music's great history, the club is a place where progression and innovation - the foundation of jazz - are encouraged and practiced on a nightly basis. After 30 years of success, the Blue Note continues to carry the torch for jazz proudly.

NEW RELEASES: AZYMUTH, DENNIS COFFEY, MARK MOSLEY, PHILLY ALL STARS...

Afro Latin Via Dakar (Various Artists)
Afro Latin Via Kinshasa (Various Artists)
Al Di Meola – Pursuit Of Radical Rhapsody
Ambrose Akinmusire – When The Heart Emerges Glistening
Anthony David – As Above So Below
At Jazz – For Real
Azymuth – Aurora
Beggar & Co. – Legacy
Bootsy Collins – Funk Capital of The World
Bryan Forsloff – The Final Touch
Dennis Coffey – Dennis Coffey
Don Sebesky – Giant Box
Drew Davidson – Spin Cycle
Eric Bibb – Troubadour Live
Fab Semperi – Jazz Di Mezzaluna
Femi Kuti – Africa For Africa
Francis Lai – Claude Leluch and Francis Lai – L’Integrale
Idrissa Diop & Cheikh Tidiane Tall – Diamonoye Tiopite L’Espogue De L’Evolution
Ike & Tina Turner – Come Together/Nuff Said
Ike & Tina Turner – River Deep – Mountain High
Isaac Albaniz – Spanish Music For Classical Guitar
Jazz Chronicles – Jazz Chronicles II
Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel – Funk Supreme
Kathy Sledge - Heart
L’Orchestre Kanaga De Mopti - L’Orchestre Kanaga De Mopti
Luna Blanca – Provence
Mark Mosley - TLC
Melba Moore – Never Say Never
Melba Moore – Read My Lips
Nino Tempo & April Stevens – Hey Baby! The Nino Tempo & April Stevens Anthology
Nostalgia 77 – Hush
Orchestre Poly Rhythmo De Cotonou – Cotonou Club
Philly All Stars – Philly Classics Revisited
Raf Vilar – Studies In Bossa
Ray Charles – Live In Concert
Reel People & Others – Golden Lady
Ryan Shea Smith – Stay Awhile
Stanley Turrentine – Salt Song
Tab Benoit - Medicine
Tata Vega – Full Speed Ahead
Tata Vega – Totally Tata

THE 2011-2012 CONCERT CALENDAR

APRIL 2011

Brian Bromberg Band, Randy Brecker @ Jazz Base,
Wyomissing, PA, Apr 1

Gerald Albright, Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun @
Sovereign Performing Arts Center, Reading, PA, Apr 1

Steve Tyrell @ Miller Center For The Performing Arts,
Reading, PA, Apr 1

Chieli Minucci @ Special EFX @ Abraham Lincoln Hotel,
Wyomissing, PA, Apr 1

Lee Ritenour @ Knight Concert Hall, Miami, FL, Apr 1
Euge Groove @ Crowne Plaza, Wyomissing, PA, Apr 1
Herb Alpert @ Viper Alley, Linconshire, PA, Apr 1
Ashford & Simpson @ Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, Apr 1-3
Chris Botti, Lasells Stewart Center, Corvallis, OR, Apr 1-2
Gerald Veasley @ Jazz Base, Wyomissing, PA, Apr 1-2

The Rippingtons ft. Russ Freeman, Philippe Saisse Trio @ Crowne Plaza,
Wyomissing, PA, Apr 2

Tower Of Power @ Grand Theatre, Kingston, ON, Apr 2
Lionel Richie @ Rochford Wines, Coldstream, VIC, Australia, Apr 2
Buddy Guy @ House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ, Apr 2
Doobie Brothers, WAR @ Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, HI, Apr 2
Chaka Khan @ Paragon Casino Resort, Marksville, LA, Apr 2
Fourplay @ Scottish Rite Cathedral, Wyomissing, PA, Apr 2
Herb Alpert @ Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL, Apr 2
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Folly Theatre, Kansas City, MO, Apr 2

Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson @ Crowne Plaza,
Wyomissing, PA, Apr 2

Houston Person @ Miller Center For The Performing Arts,
Reading, PA, Apr 2

Lionel Richie @ Leconfield Wines, McLaren Vale, SA, Australia, Apr 3
Lee Ritenour @ Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA, Apr 3
Brian Simpson, Jeff Kashiwa @ Crowne Plaza, Wyomissing, PA, Apr 3
Rick Braun @ Miller Center For The Performing Arts, Reading, PA, Apr 3

Brian Culbertson, Kenny Lattimore @ Berks Jazz Festival
Scottish Rite Cathedral, Wyomissing, PA, Apr 3

Buddy Guy @ University At Buffalo Ctr for Arts, Buffalo, NY, Apr 4
Fourplay @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Apr 4-5
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, Apr 4-5
Lee Ritenour @ B.B. King’s Blues Club, New York, NY, Apr 5
Lee Ritenour @ Blues Alley, Washington, DC, Apr 7-10
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Jazz Showcase, Chicago, IL, Apr 7-10
Buddy Guy @ Massey Hall, Toronto, ON, Apr 8
Brian Culbertson @ Earl Klugh Wknd of Jazz, Colorado Springs, CO, Apr 8
Average White Band @ Showcase Live, Foxboro, MA, Apr 8
Pink Martini @ Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN, Apr 8-9
Dionne Warwick @ Ritz Theatre, Tiffin, OH, Apr 9
Buddy Guy @ Palace Theatre, Greensburg, PA, Apr 9
The O’Jays @ Atlantic City Hilton, Atlantic City, NJ, Apr 9

Russell Thompkins & New Stylistics, The Manhattans, The Chi-Lites,
Gerald Alston @ Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville, IN, Apr 9

Jeff Golub, Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Marion Meadows,
Michael Lington, Warren Hill, Steve Cole, Nick Colionne,
Jeff Kashiwa, Jackiem Joyner, Jessy J, Mindi Abair, Maysa,
Euge Groove, Erica Darius, Jonathan Butler, Norman Brown,
Richard Elliot @ JW Desert Ridge Jazz Festival, JW Marriott
Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Phoenix, AZ, Apr 9-10

Buddy Guy @ Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, Apr 10
Kenny G @ MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, Mar 10-12
Tower of Power @ Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, Apr 11
Smokey Robinson @ Polk Theatre, Lakeland, FL, Apr 12
Tower Of Power @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Apr 12
B.B. King @ State Theatre, Sydney, Australia, Apr 12-13
Pink Martini @ Kennedy Center for Perf Arts, Apr 12-16

George Benson, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Candy Dulfer,
Eric Darius, Euge Groove, Gerald Albright, Jeff Golub,
Kirk Whalum, Marion Meadows, Michael Lington, Mindi Abair,
Norman Brown, Peter White, Richard Elliot, Warren Hill @
Seabreeze Jazz Festival, Pier Park, Panama City Beach, FL
Apr 13 – 17

Buddy Guy @ Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO, Apr 13
Lee Ritenour @ Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis, IN, Apr 13
Buddy Guy @ Pantages Theater, Tacoma, WA, Apr 15
Jamiroquai @ The o2 Arena, London, UK, May 15
The Souljazz Orchestra @ Block 33, Thessalonki, Greece, Apr 15
Mavis Staples @ Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide, Australia, Apr 15
Smokey Robinson @ Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte, NC, Apr 15
Maceo Parker @ Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA, Apr 15-16

Average White Band, Tower Of Power @
Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA, Apr 15-16

Buddy Guy @ Red Robinson Show Theatre, Vancouver, BC, Apr 16
B.B. King @ Hisense Arena, Melbourne, Australia, Apr 16
The Souljazz Orchestra@ Bowness Hall, Calgary, AB, Apr 16

Average White Band, Tower Of Power @
Whitaker Center, Harrisburg, PA, Apr 17

Eric Benet @ The Indigo2 at the o2, London, UK, Apr 17
The Ohio Players @ Crawfish Festival, Biloxi, MS, Apr 17

The Souljazz Orchestra @ Once Upon A Festival,
Kasteel Laarne, BE, Apr 17

Mindi Abair @ Seabreeze Jazz Festival, Pier Park Amphitheatre,
Panama City, FL, Apr 17

The Spinners, Village People @ Magic City Casino, Miami, FL, Apr 17
Lee Ritenour @ Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, Apr 17-18
Buddy Guy @ Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna, BC, Apr 18

Roy Hargrove, McCoy Tyner, Madeleine Peyroux, Ron Carter,
Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Michel Camilo, Kenny Barron,
Jose James, Christian Scott, Robert Clasper @ Benefit For Japan,
The Blue Note, New York, NY, Apr 18-19

Tower Of Power @ Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA, Apr 19-21
Lee Ritenour @ Solid Dove Underground, Denver, CO, Apr 20
Mindi Abair @ Capitol Theatre, Clearwater, FL, Apr 20
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ La Cigale, Paris, France, Apr 20
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 20

The Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Aaron Neville
@ The Palais Theatre, Saint Kilda, Australia, Apr 20

Chicago @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, Apr 21
Buddy Guy @ Cascade Theatre, Redding, CA, Apr 21
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Rialto Theatre, Atlanta, GA, Apr 21-22
Buddy Guy @ Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center, Davis, CA, Apr 22
Chaka Khan @ House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ, Apr 22
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ Victoire 2, Montpellier, France, Apr 22
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 22-24
Boz Scaggs @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, Apr 24
WAR @ The Crawfish Festival, Biloxi, MS, Apr 24
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ Printemps De Bourges, Bourges, FR, Apr 24
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ La Chabada, Anges, France, Apr 26
B.B. King @ Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, HI, Apr 27
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 27
Ceu @ New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 27
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ Le Raza, Utrecht, Netherlands, Apr 28

Angela Bofill, Maysa, Dave Valentin @ Ferst Center,
Atlanta, GA, Apr 28

Maceo Parker @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA, Apr 28
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Apr 28-30
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 29
Ceu @ North Beach Bandshell Transatlantic Festival, Miami, FL, Apr 29
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ MC Theater, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Apr 29
Mindi Abair @ Hammerson Hall, Mississauga, Ontario, Apr 29
Maceo Parker @ Belly Up Tavern, Solona Beach, CA, Apr 29
Patti LaBelle, Kenny G @ Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC, Apr 29
S Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ Espace Senghor, Bruxelles, Belgium, Apr 30
Stephanie Mills @ Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, Apr 30

Mindi Abair, Dave Koz, Kenny Lattimore, Rick Braun, Ray Parker Jr.,
Brian Simpson @ Tri-C Jazz Fest, Cleveland, OH, Apr 30

MAY 2011
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, May 1
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, May 1
Ceu @ Highline Ballroom, New York, NY, May 1
Jesse Cook @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, May 1
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA, May 2
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA, May 3
Ceu @ Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, May 3-4
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ Scala, London, UK, May 5
The Whispers, Stephanie Mills @ Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, May 5
Joe Lovano @ Tribeca Performing Arts Center, New York, NY, May 5
Ceu @ Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, CA, May 6
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ Nachtleben, Frankfurt, Germany, May 6
Mindi Abair @ Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 6
Ali Campbell @ The Indigo2 at the o2, London, UK, May 6
Brian Culbertson @ Pizza Express, London, UK, May 6-10
Mindi Abair @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, May 7
Ceu @ El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, May 7

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo @ Funkhaus Europa Party,
Mulheim, Germany, May 7

Chris Botti @ Knoxville Aud & Coliseum, Knoxville, TN, May 7

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra @ Rams Head On Stage,
Annapolis, MD, May 10

Brian Culbertson @ The Stables, Milton Keyes, UK, May 11
Larry Carlton @ Blue Note Milano, Milan, Italy, May 11-12
Brian Culbertson @ Pizza Express, El Maidstone, UK, May 12
Brian Culbertson @ The Cinnamon Club, Cheshire, UK, May 13
Larry Carlton @ Matosinhos Jazz Festival, Portugal, May 13
Candy Dulfer @ Smooth Jazz Cruise, New York, NY, May 13

Mindi Abair, Euge Groove @ Newport Beach Jazz Fest, Hyatt
Regency, Newport Beach, CA, May 13

Herb Alpert @ Dimitrou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, May 13-15
Larry Carlton @ Scala Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany, May 14
The Whispers @ The Indigo2 at the o2, London, UK, May 14
Larry Carlton @ Int’l Guitar Festival, Heinsberg, Germany, May 15
Candy Dulfer @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, May 15
Larry Carlton @ Centralstation Halle EG, Darmstadt, Germany, May 16
Chris Botti @ Durham Perf Arts Center, Durham, NC, May 17
Herb Alpert @ Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, CA, May 17
Larry Carlton @ Metropool, Wemenstraat, Netherlands, May 18
Larry Carlton @ North City Jazz & Blues Festival, Kosovo, Serbia, May 19
Herb Alpert @ Eli & Edythe Broad Stage, Santa Monica, CA, May 19
Mindi Abair @ Cotton Club, Tokyo, Japan, May 19-21
Joe Lovano @ Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, May 20
Brian Culbertson, Cube Hotel Biberwier-Lermos, Tyrol, Austria, May 20

Herb Alpert, Lani Hall @ Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall,
Costa Mesa, CA, May 20

Jackiem Joyner, Nick Colionne @ Cube Biberwier-Lermoos,
Tyrol. Austria, May 21

Chris Botti @ Belk Theater, Charlotte, NC, May 21

Nils, Nick Colionne, Jackiem Joyner @ Cube Biberwier-Lermoos,
Tyrol, Austria, May 22

Sade @ The o2 Arena, London, UK, May 31

JUNE 2011
Dennis Coffey @ Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA, June 2

Herbie Hancock, Natalie Cole, Incognito ft. Maysa, Boney James,
Take 6, WAR, Najee, Will Downing, Soul II Soul, Oleta Adams,
Jonathan Butler, Patti Austin, Chuck Brown, Larry Graham &
Graham Central Station, George Duke, Marcus Miller,
David Sanborn, Hiroshima, Phil Perry, Ruben Studdard,
Alex Bugnon, Michael Franks, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot @
Capital Jazz Fest, Merriweather Post Pavilion,
Columbia, MD, June 3-5

Dennis Coffey @ Bell House, Brooklyn, NY, June 4
Dennis Coffey @ Brighton Music Hall, Allston, June 5

Warren Hill, Paul Taylor. Marion Meadows @ Thornton Winery,
Temecula, CA, June 5

Lee Ritenour @ Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, CA, June 5
Dennis Coffey @ World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA, June 7
Dennis Coffey @ Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH, June 8
Dennis Coffey @ Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL, June 9
Dennis Coffey @ Bonnaroo, Manchester, June 11
Natalie Cole @ Rochester Int’l Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY, June 10
Herb Alpert, Lani Hall @ Viper Alley, Lincolnshire, IL, June 11

Dianne Reeves, Fourplay, Eddie Palmieri @ Playboy Jazz Festival,
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, June 11

John Scofield, Ronnie Laws, Stanley Jordan, Walter Beasley,
Fred Wesley @ Playboy Jazz Festival, Hollywood Bowl,
Los Angeles, CA, June 12

Herb Alpert, Lani Hall @ Old Town School of Folk Music,
Chicago, IL, June 12

Fourplay, Strunz & Farah @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, June 12
Herb Alpert, Lani Hall @ Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, June 13
Sade, John Legend @ 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD, June 16
Jack Jones @ Scullers Jazz Club, Allston, MA, June 17-18

Mindi Abair, Euge Groove @ The Grove – Radisson,
Sacramento, CA, June 18

Boney James @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, June 18
Sade, John Legend @ Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA, June 18
Sade, John Legend @ Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA, June 19
Sade, John Legend @ Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, June 21
Sade, John Legend @ Verizon Center, Washington, DC, June 22
Hugh Masekela @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, June 22
Chris Standring @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, June 24
Sade, John Legend @ Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ, June 24
Sade, John Legend @ Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, June 25

Warren Hill, Marcus Anderson @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival,
Avalon, CA, June 25

Babyface, Nick Colionne, Pamela Williams @ Grant
Amphitheatre, Littlejohn, CO, June 25

Pieces Of A Dream, Joey Summerville, Marcus Anderson @ Grant
Amphitheatre, Littlejohn, CO, June 25

Jackiem Joyner, Marion Meadows, Peter White
@ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, June 26

Euge Groove, Nick Colionne@ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, June 26
Sade, John Legend @ Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON, June 28
Sade, John Legend @ Bell Centre, Montreal, QC, June 30

JULY 2011
Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, The Skatalites, Jimmy Cliff
@ Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 1

Santana, B.B. King Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks @ Montreux
Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 2

B.B. King, Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, Robert Randolph,
Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks @ Montreux Jazz Festival,
Montreux, Switzerland, July 3

Sade, John Legend @ Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT, July 3
Al Jarreau @ Royal Festival Hall, London, UK, July 3

George Benson @ Montreux Jazz Festival,
Montreux, Switzerland, July 4

George Benson, Randy Crawford, Dr. John, Diana Krall
@ Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 5

Sade, John Legend @ TD Garden, Boston, MA, July 6
Brian Culbertson @ Chene Park Amphitheatre, Detroit, MI, July 6

Trombone Shorty, Leon Russell, Dr. John @ Montreux Jazz Festival,
Montreux, Switzerland, July 6

Brian Culbertson @ Fraze Pavilion, Kettering, OH, July 7

Richard Bona, Raul Midon, Andreas Vollenwieder @ Montreux
Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 7

Ziggy Marley, Youssou NDour, Alpha Blondy @ Montreux Jazz
Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 8

Sade, John Legend @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN, July 8
Down To The Bone @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, July 8
Sade, John Legend @ Quickens Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH, July 9
Dave Koz @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, July 8
Mindi Abair @ Maxwell C. King Center, Melbourne, FL, July 9
Neil Diamond @ The o2 Arena, London, UK, July 9 & 11
Sade, John Legend @ Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH, July 10

Mario Biondi, Natalie Cole @ Montreux Jazz Festival,
Montreux, Switzerland, July 10

Sting @ Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 11
Asa, Seal @ Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 12

Esperanza Spalding, Return to Forever with Chick Corea,
Jean Luc-Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White @ Montreux
Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 12

Sade, John Legend @ Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA, July 12-13

Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Wayne Shorter @
Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 13

Chris Botti, Bobby McFerrin, Yellowjackets @ Hollywood Bowl,
Los Angeles, CA, July 13

Paul Simon @ Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 14
Femi Kuti @ Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 14
Brian Culbertson @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, July 14-17
Sade, John Legend @ BankAtlantic Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, July 15
Liza Minnelli @ Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 15
Sade, John Legend @ American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL, July 16

Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, Bootsy Collins @ Montreux
Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 16

Jeffrey Osborne @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, July 17
Mindi Abair @ Jacksonville Beach, Jacksonville, FL, July 19
Sade, John Legend @ Amway Center, Orlando, FL, July 17

Mindi Abair, Jeff Golub, David Pack @ Hyatt Newport Beach
Summer Concert Series, Newport Beach, July 22

Mindi Abair, Euge Groove @ Rodney Strong Winery,
Healdsburg, CA, July 23

Sade, John Legend @ Totyota Center, Houston, TX, July 23
Sade, John Legend @ American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, July 24
Lee Ritenour, Jessy J @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, July 24
Al Jarreau @ Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham, UK, July 24
Al Jarreau @ Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK, July 25
Sade, John Legend @ Sprint Center, Kansas City, KS, July 26
Fourplay @ Blue Note, New York, NY, July 26-31
Gladys Knight, James Ingram @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angels, CA, July 27
Sade, John Legend @ Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO, July 28
Sade, John Legend @ FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN, July 29
Vanessa Williams @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, July 29-30

Herb Alpert, Lani Hall, David Benoit @ Thornton Winery,
Temecula, CA, July 30

Sade, John Legend @ Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC, July 31

AUGUST 2011
Sade, John Legend @ The Palace at Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI, Aug 3

Mindi Abair @ Balcones Heights Jazz Festival,
Balcones Heights, TX, Aug 5

Sade, John Legend @ United Center, Chicago, IL, Aug 5-7

Keiko Matsui, Sax Pack featuring Jeff Kashiwa, Kim waters, Steve Cole
@ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, Aug 7

Mindi Abair @ Houston International Jazz Festival, Houston, TX, Aug 7
Sade, John Legend @ Target Center, Minneapolis, MN, Aug 9
Sade, John Legend @ Pepsi Center, Denver, CO, Aug 11
Brian Culbertson @ Rainbow Lagoon Park, Long Beach, CA, Aug 12
Sade, John Legend @ Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC, Aug 13
Sade, John Legend @ Key Arena, Seattle, WA, Aug 14
Lee Ritenour @ Guitar Town, Copper Mountain, CO, Aug 14

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue @ Thornton Winery,
Temecula, CA, Aug 14

Dave Koz, Spyro Gyra, Bobby Caldwell, Sheila E,
Larry Graham & Graham Central Station @
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 14

Sade, John Legend @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland, OR, Aug 15
Sade, John Legend @ Power Balance Pavilion, Sacramento, CA, Aug 16
Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chaka Khan, Cassandra Wilson
@ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 17

Sade, John Legend @ Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 19-21
Jonathan Butler, Maysa, Eric Darius @ Thornton Winery,
Temecula, CA, Aug 21

Sade, John Legend @ Cricket Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA, Aug 23
Jack Jones @ Town Plaza, Los Gatos, CA, Aug 24
Sade, John Legend @ HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA, Aug 25
Sade, John Legend @ Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA, Aug 26-27

Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Chris Botti, Peter White, Sheila E, David Benoit,
Warren Hill, Jeffrey Osborne, Keiko Matsui @ Dave Koz & Friends At
Sea Alaska, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Aug 26-Sep 2

Jack Jones @ South Point Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 27-28
Sade, John Legend @ Honda Center, Anaheim, CA, Aug 30-31

George Benson, George Duke, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn
@ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 31

SEPTEMBER 2011
Sade, John Legend @ US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ, Sept 2
Jimmy Cliff @ The Indigo2 at the o2, London, UK, Sept 3
George Benson, Brian Simpson @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, Sept 3

Angela Bofill, Maysa, Dave Valentin @ The Blue Note,
New York, NY, Sept 5-7

Quincy Jones, Patti Austin, Brothers Johnson @ Hollywood Bowl,
Los Angeles, CA, Sept 7

Norman Brown, Richard Elliot @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, Sept 9

Mindi Abair KIFM Smooth Jazz 98.1 Jazz At The Beach, Oceanside
Amphitheatre, Oceanside, CA, Sept 17

Chris Botti @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, Sept 18

Jazz Attack featuring Peter White, Rick Braun, Gerald Albright
@ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, Sept 25

Herbie Hancock @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Sept 26
Brian Culbertson @ Chrome at Santa Fe, Las Vegas, NV, Sept 30

OCTOBER 2011
Brian Culbertson @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, Oct 1
Mindi Abair @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 6
Max Weinberg Band @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 7
The Rippingtons @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 8
The Rippingtons, Acoustic Alchemy @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, Oct 9
Dotsero, Warren Hill @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 9
Pat Metheny @ Blue Note, New York, Oct 11
Johnny Mathis @ The o2 Arena, London, UK, Oct 12
Lee Ritenour @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 13

Mindi Abair @ Rehoboth Beach Convention Center,
Reheboth Beach, DE, Oct 13,15,16

Marion Meadows @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 14

Chieli Minucci & Special EFS, Tim Weisberg, Acoustic Alchemy
@ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 15

Candy Dulfer @ Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, Oct 15
Norman Brown @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 20
Nick Colionne @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 21
Jack Jones @ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, UK, Oct 21
Jack Jones @ York Barbian Centre, York, UK, Oct 22

Mindi Abair, Chris Standring, Keiko Matsui
@ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 22

Paul Brown, Michael Lington, Nils, Jessy J @
European Jazz Cruise, Venice, Italy, Oct 23-30

Fourplay, Norman Brown, George Duke, Eric Benet, Phil Perry,
Rachelle Ferrell, Patti Austin, Roy Ayers, Maysa, Conya Doss,
Pieces Of A Dream, Walter Beasley, Chante Moore,
Nick Colionne, Down To The Bone, Gerald Veasley,
Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, Eric Robertson,
Frank McComb, Angela Johnson, Anthony David,
Gerald Veasley, Capital Jazz Super Cruise V, Miami/Cozumel/
Belize/Ocho Rio, Oct 23-30

Rick Braun @ Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Avalon, CA, Oct 24
Jack Jones @ Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, UK, Oct 24
Jack Jones @ The Sage, Gateshead, UK, Oct 25
Jack Jones @ Town Hall, Birmingham, UK, Oct 27
Jack Jones @ Cliffs Pavilion, South-On-Sea, UK, Oct 29
Jack Jones @ Fairfield, Croydon, UK, Oct 30
Jack Jones @ London Paladium, London, UK, Oct 31

NOVEMBER 2011
Jack Jones @ The Broadway, Peterborough, UK, Nov 1
Chick Corea @ Blue Note, New York, NY, Nov. 1-27
Jack Jones @ The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK, Nov 2

DECEMBER 2011
Manhattan Transfer @ Blue Note, New York, NY, Dec 8-11

JANUARY 2012
Smokey Robinson, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Boney James,
Eric Darius, Patrice Rushen, Jonathan Butler, Gerald Albright,
Rick Braun, Candy Dulfer, Jeff Golub, Rahsaan Patterson,
Joe Sample, Brian Simpson, Peter White, Alonza Badden,
Brian Culbertson @ Smooth Jazz Cruise, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Jan 15-29

FEBRUARY 2012
Jack Jones @ Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL, Feb 25-26

CLASSIC DINO: THE BEST OF DEAN MARTIN & DINO: THE ESSENTIAL DEAN MARTIN

Capitol/EMI will release two collections of Dean Martin's music on June 7, just in time for Father's Day.  A new title, Classic Dino: The Best Of Dean Martin gathers 14 classic tracks, and the Platinum-certified Dino: The Essential Dean Martin has been expanded from a single disc to a 2CD package featuring 36 of Martin's top hits and signature songs. The expanded edition of Dino: The Essential Dean Martin includes a previously unreleased studio version of “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody.”  Recorded by Martin on April 28, 1950, the master was presumed lost until it was recently unearthed in the Capitol vaults.On  the same date, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) will release a new 60+ page hardcover book and musical collection titled Cool Then, Cool Now featuring never before seen photos compiled from personal collections and family archives, and includes a 2CD, 28-song collection, spanning Dean Martin's musical career. Previously announced, NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and TIME-LIFE will release three new DVD collections featuring The Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show on May 24. The single DVD, double DVD and six-DVD Collectors Edition sets capture material never before released from some of the shows greatest episodes during its nine-year run on television from 1965 to 1974.

A famed star of the silver screen, television icon, Grammy® Award-winning singing sensation and member of the renowned "Rat Pack," Dean Martin's show business legacy is legendary. His musical career features such classics as "Ain't That A Kick In The Head," "That's Amore," "Mambo Italiano," "Everybody Loves Somebody," "Sway," "Volare," and more, releasing dozens of album recordings over his lifetime. Starring in dozens of well-known movies including Ocean's Eleven, Rio Bravo, The Caddy, and Who Was That Lady?, for which Martin received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, coupled with a highly popular television career, Dean Martin certainly earned his nickname as the "King of Cool."

Classic Dino: The Best Of Dean Martin tracklisting:
1. That's Amore

2. Ain't That A Kick In The Head

3. Memories Are Made Of This

4. I'll Always Love You (Day After Day)

5. Sway

6. You Belong To Me

7. Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu)

8. Powder Your Face With Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)

9. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You

10. Return To Me (Ritorna-Me)

11. The Door Is Still Open (To My Heart)

12. Everybody Loves Somebody

13. Houston

14. I Will

Dino: The Essential Dean Martin 2-CD tracklisting:

Disc 1

1. Ain't That A Kick In The Head

2. That's Amore

3. Memories Are Made Of This

4. Just In Time

5. I'd Cry Like A Baby

6. Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu)

7. Under The Bridges Of Paris

8. Sway

9. Love Me, Love Me

10. If

11. Mambo Italiano

12. Angel Baby

13. Let Me Go, Lover

14. Standing On The Corner

15. You Belong To Me

16. Powder Your Face With Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)

17. Innamorata (Sweetheart)

18. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody (previously unreleased)

Disc 2

1. On An Evening In Roma (Sott'er Celo De Roma)

2. Money Burns A Hole In My Pocket

3. Cha Cha Cha D'Amour (Melodie D'Amour)

4. I'll Always Love You (Day After Day)

5. Kiss

6. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You

7. Return To Me (Ritorna-Me)

8. The Door Is Still Open (To My Heart)

9. Houston

10. Send Me The Pillow You Dream On

11. Everybody Loves Somebody

12. In The Chapel In The Moonlight

13. Little Ole Wine Drinker, Me

14. I Will

15. (Remember Me) I'm The One Who Loves You

16. In The Misty Moonlight

17. Somewhere There's A Someone

18. Gentle On My Mind

http://www.deanmartin.com/

www.facebook.com/DeanMartin

www.twitter.com/DinosPlace

THE REBIRTH OF CD101.9 SMOOTH JAZZ IN NEW YORK...MAYBE!

If you were a fan of New York’s CD101.9 Smooth Jazz…well now there is a rumor that the station (or a variation of the former) may be on its way back. Based on yesterday’s registrations of 1063NewYork.com and CD1063NewYork.com the return of Smooth AC could be in the offing. The CD moniker was used on Emmis’ Smooth Jazz/AC “CD 101.9” WQCD from 1988 until 2008 when it switched to Rock WRXP. With this new signal covering much of New York’s commercial district, the format will help flank top ranked “106.7 Lite-FM” from a potential full-powered competitor.

Here is some background…a translator that has been shuffling across the New York area in recent months has finally gained approval to reach its intended final destination. 106.5 W293BU Union City, NJ has gained a Construction Permit to relocate to 106.3 and broadcast from 4 Times Square with 99 watts covering much of Manhattan as well as portions of Brooklyn, Queens, and New Jersey. The translator has been rebroadcasting Country programming from the HD2 subchannel of Clear Channel’s 106.7 WLTW in recent weeks, something that will continue once the station moves to 106.3 and increases power. It does appear a new old format is in line for the move.

A bit of history…WQCD ran an experiment from November 22, 2004 until August 2005, when the station's playlist included chill music, a form of relaxing music based on the music found in the beaches of Ibiza. Their ratings were not satisfactory, and the experiment ended. The station retained the tagline, "CD101.9, Your Chill-Out Station" during its successful transition back to the standard smooth jazz format.WQCD's on-air staff remained unusually stable in the generally volatile radio climate, led by morning host Dennis Quinn. Midday host Deborah Rath had been with parent company Emmis since 1988, as a veteran of both WRKS and WQHT's original incarnation "Hot 103.5". Afternoon drive host Paul Cavalconte was a veteran of New York jazz, classical and rock stations, including WQCD's generational predecessor WNEW. Evening host Sharon Davis called WQCD home for nearly a decade as well, but on February 5, 2008, CD101.9 and Smooth Jazz all came to an end.

SMOOTH JAZZ 104.7FM IS BACK IN DETROIT!

News of a new smooth jazz FM station is always good news to us! Believe it or not, Smooth Jazz is back in Detroit for all of the passionate V98.7 listeners who lost their radio station more than a year ago. Now Smooth Jazz is being broadcast on 104.7FM The Oasis. The station now bills itself as playing your favorite Smooth Jazz artists including Kenny G, Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, David Benoit, Chris Botti, Patti Austin, Brian Culbertson, George Benson, Boney James, Keiko Matsui, David Sandborn and Najee. The station also simulcasts on 107.5 WGPR HD. Broadcast Architecture Owner Allen Kepler says “the tide is turning for this truly unique radio format and we’re thrilled to be working with Tim Martz, Drew Scott and the team at Martz Communications Group. The vision of Martz to offer a format to the many passionate fans in Detroit is nothing short of genius. Smooth jazz veteran Sandy Kovach co-hosts the morning show along with music icon Kenny G. Saxophonist Dave Koz does PM Drive. Koz was a long-time afternoon host in Detroit. The reason for the return was simply demand and according to Tim Martz, “over 700,000 listeners have been searching for Smooth Jazz on Detroit radio since V98.7 changed format over a year ago. We're pleased to partner with independent and locally-owned WGPR to bring Smooth Jazz back to southeast Michigan, and to join the Smooth Jazz Network family." Broadcast Architecture has been for the past 20 years the world’s leading has been providing stations with Smooth Jazz programming, research and consulting for 20 years. They launched the Smooth Jazz Network in January of 2007. Earlier this year, Broadcast Architecture turned the Smooth Jazz format back on Reno, Nevada. In 2010, they launched a new radio format they call Smooth AC™ (Adult Contemporary), mixing in non-Smooth Jazz vocals into the mix. The new format is currently taking hold in several markets across the US.

DIANE SCHUUR - THE GATHERING

Two-time Grammy Award winner and one of contemporary jazz’s leading vocalists, Diane Schuur, has signed with Vanguard Records. She will be releasing her label debut, The Gathering, on June 7th. With a distinguished career that spans nearly three decades, Schuur’s new album is unique in both material and style, and features special guests Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Mark Knopfler, Larry Carlton and Kirk Whalum. The Gathering is a collection of 10 classic country songs, mostly written during the golden era of the 1960s, and is the first time Schuur has featured this genre of music. On selections like Willie Nelson’s “Healing Hands of Time,” Roger Miller’s “When Two Worlds Collide,” Merle Haggard’s “Today I Started Loving You Again” and Tammy Wynette’s “Til I Can Make It on My Own,” Schuur’s great vocal versatility shines through.

The Gathering was recorded almost entirely in one day in early December in Nashville, TN. The singer has always wanted to record there and work with some of the city’s top musicians. Her new association with Vanguard allowed her to achieve that dream. “I knew when the label approached me it was time to do something I always wanted to do,” Schuur says, “and the way it came together seems like magic.” The album sessions started at 9 a.m. on December 6th, 2010, and by late afternoon all ten songs had been completed. Produced by Music City veteran Steve Buckingham, almost all the recording was done totally live, and most of the finished versions on the album are first takes. Other songs on The Gathering include “Why Can’t He Be You,” “Beneath Still Waters,” “Don’t Touch Me,” “’Til I Get It Right,” “Am I That Easy to Forget,” and “Nobody Wins.”

Vocalist/Pianist Diane ‘Deedles’ Schuur has built a stellar career by embracing and exploring nearly every corner of the 20th century American musical landscape. Her expressive and powerful vocal deliveries have placed her amongst jazz greats such as Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. Schuur has performed in some of the most prestigious venues including New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and twice at the White House. With an illustrious recording career that began in the 1980s, Schuur has received numerous awards including two Grammys: Timeless (1986) and Diane Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra (1987). The recording with the Basie Orchestra spent an impressive 33 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz charts and received three Grammy nominations: Pure Schuur (1991 - which reached the No. 1 spot on the Contemporary Jazz charts), Love Songs (1993) and ‘The Christmas Song’ from the compilation album Christmas Collection (1993). She has proven her staying power with a steady flow of releases including Heart To Heart – a collaborative recording with B.B. King that entered the Billboard Jazz charts at No. 1, Love Walked In, Swingin’ For Schuur with Maynard Ferguson, Midnight (produced by Barry Manilow), Schuur Fire with the Caribbean Jazz Project and Some Other Time, a tribute to her late mother.

The Gathering Track Listing

1. Why Can’t He Be You

2. Healing Hands of Time (with Mark Knopfler & Kirk Whalum)

3. Beneath Still Waters

4. ‘Til I Can Make It On My Own

5. Don’t Touch Me (with Alison Krauss)

6. Today I Started Loving You Again (with Vince Gill & Larry Carlton)

7. ‘Til I Get It Right

8. Am I That Easy To Forget

9. When Two Worlds Collide

10. Nobody Wins

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!!!"