GLORIA MADUKA - OF LOVE AND ANGELS

Nigerian-born singer-songwriter Gloria Maduka releases "Love Illusion" ahead of her debut album Of Love and Angels. The album is an eclectic mix of alternative rock, pop, reggae, and soul, with her unique style of delivery blending all the tracks on the album together. The Of Light and Angels album is a testimony that anyone can go as far as they can dream. The first single release from the album, ‘Love Illusion’, has already been heard across airwaves. Maduka chose as a first single ‘Love Illusion’ based on feedback from fans who stated that the song spoke directly to their own personal situations. It has a simple but powerful message throughout the lyrics: matters of the heart are to be taken seriously as it is easier to fall in love than to fall out of it. Maduka wanted her debut single to be one that her fans would fall in love with. “It is a very personal album that speaks about life and love experiences” – Said Maduka. “The assortment of the stories contributes to the overall vibe of the album. The songs have been a work-in-progress for many years as I traveled through my own journey of life to develop an album that my fans would be able to identify within their own experiences.”

Maduka, who has formed The Gloria Maduka Foundation, an organization created exclusively for charitable purposes to aid helpless children, the elderly and individuals with physical and mental limitations, has developed a unique trademark which is enhanced by her ability to also write and sing in Yoruba and Spanish. Her techniques with the conga, bongo, and djembe among other percussion instruments set her apart from other female artists. Consequently, her passion for percussion has been infused into her music and is heard throughout her music. Aside from her impending album and single releases, Maduka has performed a special song ‘Into The Light’, for the soundtrack of the horror movie ‘Mansion of Blood’ starring award winning actors Gary Busey, Robert Picardo and Terry Moore set to be in theatres worldwide October 2011.

RICK BRAUN SINGS WITH STRINGS

Rick Braun has been playing trumpet since he was a kid. No news there for the legions of fans his richly melodic playing style has attracted since the release of his first album, Intimate Secrets in 1993. Less known is the fact that he's been a singer, and a good one (backing Rod Stewart and Sade among others, with vocals as well as his stellar trumpet) for most of his life, as well. Rick Braun Sings With Strings brings both those skills front and center, and it does so in a way that dips back into the music he's been captivated by since he first picked up a horn.   "This album," says Rick, "feels a lot like coming home. I grew up hearing this music all around the house. Singing it, playing it. Listening to my mom, who was a singer and piano player. She was one of those people who knew every part of a song - the verse, the chorus, the refrain, all the lyrics."  The album will no doubt produce similar comfort feelings for anyone with a love for song. And not just Great American Song. Because what Braun and producer/arranger Philippe Saisse have put together in this eminently listenable recording is a gathering of tunes unlimited by boundaries of origin or style. Some are familiar. Songs such as "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," "And I Thought About You" and "The Things We Did Last Summer" have been memorable themes from the soundtrack of American love life for decades. Rick also especially recalls "I've Never Been In Love Before" and "Time After Time" as "tunes I've known since I was a kid."

Others are less familiar, but no less memorable. "Once Upon A Summertime" is an English version of Michel Legrand's gorgeous French song, "La Valse des Lilas"; "It's Love" is from the musical Wonderful Town by the brilliant songwriting team of Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Leonard Bernstein; and "Say It (Over and Over Again)" was written by Loesser and Jimmy McHugh for a 1940 Jack Benny film titled Buck Benny Rides Again. The French song "Plus Je T'embrasse," sung as a duet by Rick and French singer Jasmine Roy, may have unfamiliar lyrics for American listeners, but the melody immediately recalls its origins in the old pop song, "Heart of My Heart." "Lucky To Be Me," which was given strong consideration as a title for the album, was one of three tunes - along with "It's Love" and "Plus Je T'embrasse" - that were inspired by hearing a Blossom Dearie album. And Philippe Saisse, in addition to his lush orchestrations, encouraged the inclusion of "The Good Life," based on Sasha Distel's French song "La Belle Vie." But what links the soaring melodies of all these songs is their embracing lyricism and deep emotional intimacy. Delivered via the jaunty, expressive story telling qualities of Rick's singing and the warm sound of his flugelhorn (he does not play trumpet on this album), the results are prime examples of the way a gifted jazz artist can find the inner heart of a song. "I've always wanted to play lyrically," says Rick. "For me, that's where I live." And it's where his singing lives, as well.

Rick's not the first trumpet player to match instrumental prowess with engaging vocals. He's preceded by, among others, Louis Armstrong, Bunny Berigan, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, Chet Baker, Clark Terry and Jack Sheldon. Their range extends from Armstrong's innovative vocal style to Baker's extraordinary balladry to Terry's unique scat singing. "I'm a big fan of Chet's," says Rick. "For both his singing and his playing. I'm much more of an inside player, and my inspirations are minimalist players, like Chet and Miles Davis." Which isn't surprising, listening to the airy flugelhorn solos that surround Rick's vocals on every track. Miles once said that the notes one doesn't play are as important - maybe even more so - than the notes one does play. And that principal applies as well to singers such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis, Jr. - whom Rick also lists as inspirations. Like those high visibility vocal stars, Rick sings with a respect for the vital balance between words and music, for the many-layered connections between the inner story of a song and the beauty of its melody. He does so with the same respect for phrasing that one finds in a Sinatra or a Bennett performance. But what Rick does with that phrasing, with his use of the "minimalist" approach that he cites as an important element in his music, is his own creative craftwork. And that, as much as anything, is what makes this album so fascinating. At a time when the male jazz vocal field has been far too sparsely populated, Rick Braun Sings With Strings makes a convincing case for the arrival of a potential new star of the jazz vocal art.

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ROBERT DAVI - DAVI SINGS SINATRA: ON THE ROAD TO ROMANCE

There are actors who can sing, and singers who can act and iconic screen star Robert Davi is known in inner circles as the "singer who can act."  Davi, who studied opera as a young man, always intended to make singing his career, but as fate would have it his screen career took flight and there was no looking back.  Now after 100 movies with remarkable diversity, hit television credits and his directorial film debut, Davi is returning to his first love, making his major recording debut with a tribute to his mentor the legendary Frank Sinatra.  Davi Sings Sinatra: On The Road To Romance is scheduled for release October 24, 2011 on Sun Lion Records, distributed through Fontana/Universal Music.   In commenting, Jim Urie, CEO and President of Universal Music Group Distribution stated: "If we distributed coffee instead of music we'd label Davi 'bold, rich and full flavored'.  We are extremely pleased and excited to have him as part of the Universal Music Group family."  Fontana president Ron Spaulding further stated: "Robert is a national treasure who brings to life all the richness of the American Songbook with this heartfelt and vocally stunning tribute to the Master himself."

The project came together under the guidance of Disney Music Group Chairman Bob Cavallo and was produced by the legendary 14 time Grammy® Award winning and 33 time Grammy® nominated producer Phil Ramone. Recorded with a thirty piece orchestra at the famed Capitol Studios in Hollywood, where Sinatra recorded many of his albums, Davi Sings Sinatra has all new arrangements by Nic Tenbroeck and was engineered by Dan Wallin. It was mixed by the incomparable Al Schmitt, who has 18 Grammys and more that 150 gold and platinum selling albums to his credit. States Schmitt: "Robert sounds like he's been singing these songs all his life.  His phrasing and uniquely beautiful baritone voice blend perfectly with the arrangements and the result is what great music is all about."

As an actor, Davi has been compared to the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum and Lee Marvin.  He has worked with the biggest names in Hollywood, from Marlon Brando to Clint Eastwood, appearing in such movies as Die Hard, Showgirls, The Goonies and considered one of the top three Bond villains of all time in License to Kill.  His television credits are just as vast, starting with the hit NBC television series Profiler and continuing with Stargate: Atlantis and most recently Criminal Minds.  In making his directorial debut and starring in the 2007 award winning film The Dukes, about a one-time rock stars now on hard times, Davi showcased his singing ability.  However, it was his motion picture debut in Contract on Cherry St., which made the most profound impact of all—sharing the screen with Frank Sinatra.  And now "it's time for me to go home," Davi says.  "To spend time with my first love, singing and at the same time pay tribute to the legend who was my greatest mentor and the man who was very dear to me."

Backed by a 50-piece orchestra, Davi has been performing Davi Sings Sinatra to sold-out audiences and high critical acclaim in New York and Los Angeles.  Forthcoming live performances include Los Angeles and Las Vegas.  For further information go to www.DaviSingsSinatra.com.

Davi Sings Sinatra: On The Road To Romance Track List:
1. Day in Day Out
2. Nice 'n Easy
3. All The Way
4. I've Got the World On A String
5. Witchcraft
6. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
7. Nice Work If You Can Get It
8. Summer Wind
9. Rainy Day
10. The Best Is Yet To Come
11. Mam'selle
12. Too Marvelous For Words

THE JOSHUA REDMAN STORY

Joshua Redman is one of the most acclaimed and charismatic jazz artists to have emerged in the decade of the 1990s. Born in Berkeley, California, he is the son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman and dancer Renee Shedroff. He was exposed at an early age to a variety of music and instruments, and began playing clarinet at age nine before switching to what became his primary instrument, the tenor saxophone, at age ten. The early influences of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Cannonball Adderley and his father, Dewey Redman, as well as the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, Earth, Wind and Fire, Prince, the Police and Led Zeppelin drew Joshua more deeply into music. But although Joshua loved playing the saxophone and was a dedicated member of the award-winning Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble and Combo from 1983-86, academics were always his first priority, and he never seriously considered becoming a professional musician.

In 1991 Redman graduated from Harvard College summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Social Studies. He had already been accepted by Yale Law School, but deferred entrance for what he believed was only going to be one year. After moving to New York City, he found himself immersed in the New York jazz scene, and began jamming and gigging regularly with some of the leading jazz musicians of his generation, including Peter Bernstein, Larry Goldings, Kevin Hays, Roy Hargrove, Geoff Keezer, Leon Parker, Jorge Rossy, and Mark Turner. In November of 1991, Redman was named the winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition. This was only one of the more visible highlights from a year that saw Redman beginning to tour and record with jazz masters such as his father, Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Elvin Jones, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Paul Motian, and Clark Terry.

Now fully committed to a life in music, Redman was quickly signed by Warner Bros. Records and issued his first, self-titled album in the spring of 1993, which subsequently earned Redman his first Grammy nomination. That fall saw the release of Wish, where Joshua was joined by the all-star cast of Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins. He toured extensively with Metheny throughout the latter half of that year. His 1994, MoodSwing, introduced his first permanent band, which included three other young musicians who have gone on to become some of the most important and influential artists in modern jazz: pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade. Over a series of celebrated recordings including Spirit of the Moment: Live at the Village Vanguard; Freedom in the Groove and Timeless Tales (for Changing Times), Redman established himself as one of the music’s most consistent and successful bandleaders. In 1998, Joshua formed his second acclaimed quartet, featuring pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson, and made its recorded debut on the 2000 album Beyond. The dynamic interplay and uncommon rapport of this group inspired Redman to write and record his first long-form composition, Passage of Time, which was released in 2001.

From 2000-2007, Redman was the Artistic Director for the Spring Season of the non-profit jazz-presenting organization SFJAZZ. With the creation of the SFJAZZ Collective in 2004, Redman led the eight-piece band, consisting of a multi-generational cast of accomplished musicians. The Collective’s repertoire features both commissioned works and new arrangements of the work of great modern jazz composers.

Also in 2007, Nonesuch Records released Back East, featuring Joshua alongside three stellar bass and drum rhythm sections (Larry Grenadier & Ali Jackson, Christian McBride & Brian Blade, Reuben Rogers & Eric Harland) and three very special guest saxophonists (Chris Cheek, Joe Lovano and Dewey Redman). Compass, released in January 2009 (Nonesuch), featured Joshua with a group of collaborators (bassists Larry Grenadier and Rueben Rogers, and drummers Brian Blade and Gregory Hutchinson).

Since 2009, Joshua has been performing with a collaborative band called James Farm featuring pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland.

In addition to his own projects, Redman has recorded and performed with musicians such as Brian Blade, Ray Brown, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, the Dave Matthews Band, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell, Aaron Goldberg, Larry Goldings, Charlie Haden, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove, Roy Haynes, Billie Higgins, Milt Jackson, Elvin Jones, Quincy Jones, Big Daddy Kane, Geoff Keezer, B.B. King, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, DJ Logic, Joe Lovano, Yo Yo Ma, Branford Marsalis, Christian McBride, John Medeski, Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, Paul Motian, MeShell Ndegeocello, Leon Parker, Nicholas Payton, John Psathas, Simon Rattle, Dewey Redman, Dianne Reeves, Melvin Rhyne, the Rolling Stones, the Roots, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Scofield, Soulive, String Cheese Incident, Clark Terry, Toots Thielemans, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Mark Turner, McCoy Tyner, Umphrey’s McGee, US3, Bugge Wesseltoft, Cedar Walton, Stevie Wonder, and Sam Yahel.

Joshua Redman has been nominated for two Grammys and has garnered top honors in critics and readers polls of DownBeat, Jazz Times, the Village Voice and Rolling Stone. He wrote and performed the music for Louis Malle’s final film Vanya on 42nd Street, and is both seen and heard in the Robert Altman film Kansas City.

TROMBONE SHORTY - FOR TRUE

Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews follows his Grammy nominated Backatown CD with For True, to be released Sept 13 on Verve Forecast. The album features Andrews' band, Orleans Avenue, as well as a string of legendary performers with whom he recently shared the stage, including Jeff Beck, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Ledisi, Warren Haynes, Ivan and Cyril Neville, The Rebirth Brass Band and more. Troy wrote or co-wrote all 14 tracks on the new album including co-writes with Ledisi, Kid Rock, the legendary Lamont Dozier and more. The CD was produced and engineered by Ben Ellman (except “The Craziest Thing” produced by George Drakoulias). The singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has earned unanimous raves on 5 continents in the past year alone with his patented high energy “SUPAFUNKROCK” sound. He was praised in the media from Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly to NPR and the New York Times following the 2010 release of 'Backatown', which spent 10 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart and still reigns in the top 10 over a year after its release. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue have been everywhere since, performing on The Late Show With David Letterman, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Austin City Limits and more. Troy has made additional appearances on Good Morning America, Tavis Smiley, NFL Kickoff (joining Dave Matthews Band), ESPN and a recurring role on the hit HBO series Tremé, on which he played himself.

For True Track Listing
1. Buckjump (Feat. Rebirth Brass Band - Horns; 5th Ward Weebie - Vocals; Ben Ellman & Charlie Smith - Percussion)
2. Encore (Feat. Warren Haynes - Guitar; co-write w/Lamont Dozier)
3. For True
4. Do to Me (Feat. Jeff Beck - Guitar)
5. Lagniappe Part 1 (Feat. Stanton Moore - Drums)
6. The Craziest Thing
7. Dumaine St.
8. Mrs. Orleans (Feat. Kid Rock - Vocals; Robert Mercurio - Bass)
9. Nervis (Feat. Ivan Neville - Vocals and Clavinet; Cyril Neville - Vocals)
10. Roses (Feat. Lenny Kravitz - Bass)
11. Big 12 (Feat. Ben Ellman - Harmonica)
12. Unc
13. Then There Was You (Feat. Ledisi - Vocals)
14. Lagniappe Part 2 (Feat. Stanton Moore - Drums)

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HERBIE HANCOCK - A TRUE ICON OF MODERN MUSIC

Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. Throughout his explorations, he has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice. With an illustrious career spanning five decades and twelve Grammy® Awards including the 2007 Album Of The Year for River: The Joni Letters, he continues to amaze audiences. There are few artists in the music industry who have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B than Herbie Hancock. As the immortal Miles Davis said in his autobiography, "Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven't heard anybody yet who has come after him."

Born in Chicago in 1940, Herbie was a child piano prodigy who performed a Mozart piano concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age eleven. He began playing jazz in high school, initially influenced by Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. He also developed a passion for electronics and science, and double-majored in music and electrical engineering at Grinnell College. In 1963, Miles Davis invited Herbie to join the Miles Davis Quintet. During his five years with Davis, Herbie and his colleagues Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Tony Williams (drums) recorded many classics, including ESP, Nefertiti and Sorcerer. Later on, Herbie made appearances on Davis' groundbreaking In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew, which heralded the birth of jazz-fusion.

Herbie's own solo career blossomed on Blue Note, with classic albums including Maiden Voyage, Empyrean Isles, and Speak Like a Child. He composed the score to Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film Blow Up, which led to a successful career in feature film and television music. After leaving Davis, Herbie put together a new band called The Headhunters, and, in 1973, recorded Head Hunters. With its crossover hit single "Chameleon," it became the first jazz album to go platinum.

By mid-decade, Herbie was playing for stadium-sized crowds all over the world and had no fewer than four albums in the pop charts at once. In total, Herbie had eleven albums in the pop charts during the 1970s. His '70s output inspired and provided samples for generations of hip-hop and dance music artists. Herbie also stayed close to his love of acoustic jazz in the '70s, recording and performing with VSOP (reuniting him with his Miles Davis colleagues), and in duet settings with Chick Corea and Oscar Peterson.

In 1980, Herbie introduced the trumpeter Wynton Marsalis to the world as a solo artist, producing his debut album and touring with him as well. In 1983, a new pull to the alternative side led Herbie to a series of collaborations with Bill Laswell. The first, Future Shock, again struck platinum, and the single "Rockit" rocked the dance and R&B charts, winning a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental. The video of the track won five MTV awards. Sound System, the follow-up, also received a Grammy in the R&B instrumental category.

Herbie won an Oscar in 1986 for scoring the film ‘Round Midnight, in which he also appeared as an actor. Numerous television appearances over the years led to two hosting assignments in the 1980s: Rock School on PBS and Showtime's Coast to Coast. After an adventurous 1994 project for Mercury Records, Dis Is Da Drum, he moved to the Verve label, forming an all-star band to record 1996's Grammy-winning The New Standard. In 1997, an album of duets with Wayne Shorter, 1+1, was released.

The legendary Headhunters reunited in 1998, recording an album for Herbie's own Verve-distributed imprint, and touring with the Dave Matthews Band. That year also marked the recording and release of Gershwin's World, which included collaborators Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Kathleen Battle, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea. Gershwin's World won three Grammys in 1999, including Best Traditional Jazz Album and Best R&B Vocal Performance for Stevie Wonder's "St. Louis Blues."

Herbie reunited with Bill Laswell to collaborate with some young hip-hop and techno artists on 2001's FUTURE2FUTURE. He also joined with Roy Hargrove and Michael Brecker in 2002 to record a live concert album, Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall, a tribute to John Coltrane and Miles Davis.


Possibilities, released in August 2005, teamed Herbie with many popular artists, such as Sting, Annie Lennox, John Mayer, Christina Aguilera, Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, Joss Stone and Damien Rice. That year, he played a number of concert dates with a re-staffed Headhunters, and became the first-ever Artist-In-Residence at the Tennessee-based festival Bonnaroo.

In 2007, Hancock recorded and released River: The Joni Letters, a tribute to longtime friend and collaborator Joni Mitchell featuring Wayne Shorter, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and co-produced by Larry Klein. He enlisted vocalists Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza, Leonard Cohen and Mitchell herself to perform songs she wrote or was inspired by. The album received glowing reviews and was a year-end Top Ten choice for many critics. It also garnered three Grammy nominations, and two wins for Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Album of The Year. This marked only the second time in history a jazz album has won music's highest honor with the last taking place almost 50 years prior.

To cap off his illustrious career to date, Verve records released Then and Now: The Definitive Herbie Hancock in 2008. This essential collection is the first-ever career retrospective of the jazz visionary's unparalleled work.  Herbie Hancock also maintains a thriving career outside the performing stage and recording studio. He is the Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, and serves as Institute Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the foremost international organization devoted to the development of jazz performance and education worldwide. He is also a founder of The International Committee of Artists for Peace (ICAP).

Now in the fifth decade of his professional life, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: in the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music. Though one can't track exactly where he will go next, he is sure to leave his inimitable imprint wherever he lands.

JOE COCKER - HARD KNOCKS

Joe Cocker is without a doubt, a true musical legend. With 40 years and counting as a major force in pop music, the singer with that unmistakable blues/soul voice has earned countless accolades for his artistry—Grammys, Golden Globes, Academy Awards and platinum selling albums worldwide.  The iconic singer is now signed to 429 Records in North America and is gearing up for the release of  Hard Knocks, his 21st album. Hard Knocks is a collection of 9 all new songs plus a cover version of the Dixie Chicks' "I Hope."  Produced by Matt Serletic (Matchbox 20, Carlos Santana), Hard Knocks has the timeless 'Cocker' sound fusing rhythm and blues, soul, and pop into an undeniable infectious mix of unique contemporary style. The album will be available on 429 Records on November 22nd.  The recording sessions took place in Serletic's own Emblem Studios in Los Angeles involving a host of acclaimed musicians like Ray Parker Jr., Tim Pierce and Joel Shearer on guitar, Josh Freese, Matt Chamberlain and Dorian Crozier on drums, Chris Chaney on bass and Jamie Muhoberac on keyboards. The songs were mixed by Chris Lord-Alge and mastered by Bob Ludwig. Songwriters Kara Dioguardi of recent American Idol Fame and Marc Broussard contributed songs to the collection. Says Cocker, "I don't really know what you would call this album: 'rock/pop'? It's a little more pop than I've been into for quite a while so it would scare me sometimes. I would do the basic tracks and then Matt would go away and do some of these overdubs and he had all these electronic things on there. It was sometimes like 'Oh, my god!'. But I wanted to work with Matt very much. And I always knew what kind of record we would be making."

Hard Knocks Track listing:

· Hard Knocks

· Get On

· Unforgiven

· The Fall

· So It Goes

· Runaway Train

· Stay The Same

· Thankful

· So

· I Hope

TONY BENNETT - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

In celebration of the artist's 85th birthday, Columbia Records/RPM Records/Legacy Recordings will release Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection, an extraordinary compilation chronicling the entire career of the great American pop vocalist as documented in the albums and singles he's made for Columbia Records (beginning in 1952 through the present), as well as his recordings for Roulette (an historic encounter with Count Basie and Orchestra in 1959), MGM (1972-73), Improv (Bennett's own label from 1973-76) and Fantasy (a pair of sublime titles with pianist Bill Evans, released in 1975-76).

Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection will be available exclusively at select Barnes and Noble retail locations on Tuesday, November 8.  Len Riggio, Chairman of Barnes and Noble commented, "Tony Bennett's amazing career seems to be ascending as he celebrates his 85th birthday, therefore we are excited about the opportunity to sell his new Duets album as well as the historic collection of his entire lifetime in music. 

Assembled chronologically, Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection presents the breathtaking entirety of Bennett's recorded repertoire, more than a thousand individual songs spanning six decades, across 73 CDs and 3 DVDs. At the core of the collection are Tony's original albums, each with its original jacket design and original sequencing and, in many cases, bonus material.  In addition to Bennett's best-selling album titles, this monumental anthology includes two newly curated collections -- "Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights" (2 CDs) and "The Columbia Singles" (6 CDs) -- available exclusively in this set.

"The Columbia Singles" brings together for the first time all of the singles Bennett recorded for Columbia Records, the label he signed with in 1950.  Most of them recorded in the early 1950s, "The Columbia Singles" includes the a-sides and b-sides that were not included on individual albums. "Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights" collects rare tracks, previously unreleased outtakes, guest appearances on other artist's albums, soundtrack songs and more beginning with the recently discovered 1946 V-Disc recording of "St. James Infirmary Blues" that "effervescent delight," which was Tony's very first known recording.  Nestled among the "Rarities" are two tracks from another fabled concert Bennett gave at the Latin Casino in Philadelphia with the Count Basie Orchestra, which was recorded and never released.

Tony Bennett fans will rejoice at the inclusion of a pair of rare previously unreleased full album sets on Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection: On The Glory Road and Live at the Sahara, two mythic sessions, recorded June 1962 and April 1964 respectively, at the height of Tony's early 1960s career. A lost Tony Bennett masterpiece, On The Glory Road had been recorded, assigned a catalog number and assembled, only to be left on the shelf when Tony's "(I Left My Heart In) San Francisco" (originally the b-side to "Once Upon A Time") became a national hit and a compilation album of the same name was released instead.  A smattering of tracks from Glory Road have been released but this is the first time the whole album has been presented in its originally intended form. Live at the Sahara is a live document of Tony's incandescent performances at the legendary Las Vegas casino during the swinging 1960s.  Culled from four different nights, the performances on this album have never been heard before.

Rounding out Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection are three DVDs, each covering an essential aspect of Tony's career: Tony Bennett Sings... with the London Philharmonic, a rarely seen BBC "Show of the Week" from 1971 (released as the Get Happy LP);  MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett, the 1994 breakout performance that introduced Tony to a whole new generation of fans while earning the 1995 Album of the Year Grammy;  Tony Bennett: An American Classic, the 2006 star-studded Rob Marshall-directed television special celebrating Tony's 80th birthday that won 7 primetime Emmys.

Tony Bennett is an artist who moves the hearts and touches the souls of audiences. He's not just the singer's singer but also an international treasure honored by the United Nations with its Citizen of the World award, which aptly describes the scope of his accomplishments.  Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in the Astoria section of Queens, New York.  Tony's big break came in 1949 when comedian Bob Hope noticed him working with Pearl Bailey in Greenwich Village. His initial fame came via a string of Columbia singles in the 1950s, including such chart-toppers as "Because of You," "Rags To Riches" and a cover of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart." He has placed two-dozen songs in the Top 40, including "I Wanna Be Around," "The Good Life," "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" and his signature hit, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." One of only a few artists to have albums chart in the 1950s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, and the new millennium, he's introduced multitudes of songs into the Great American Songbook that have become pop music standards. Thus far, Tony has earned 15 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tony Bennett became a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2005, was named an NEA Jazz Master in January of 2006.  His 2006 CD released in honor of his 80th birthday, DUETS became a multi-platinum hit, won three Grammys and is the singer's best selling recording to date. A multiple Emmy winner, Tony's AN AMERICAN CLASSIC TV special, directed by Oscar winner Rob Marshall ("Chicago," "Memoirs Of A Geisha"), won 7 Emmy Awards in 2007. Tony is a dedicated painter whose interest in art began as a child. He continues to paint daily, even while touring. He has exhibited work around the world, and three of his original paintings are part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institutions in Washington, D.C. Throughout his career, Tony Bennett has always put his heart and time into humanitarian concerns. The United Nations presented him with their 2007 Humanitarian Award. In 2001, Tony established the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, one of the highest rated public high schools in New York City. With his wife Susan, they founded Exploring the Arts, a non-profit organization that supports arts programs in 14 NYC public high schools in all five boroughs.

Tony Bennett celebrated his 85th birthday on August 3, 2011.  In honor of this milestone, Tony's new Duets II CD will be released in September, featuring Tony performing duets with many celebrated artists including Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban and Amy Winehouse. "It amazes me to realize that it has been over 60 years since I was signed to Columbia Records," writes Tony Bennett in his introduction to Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection.  "Being with Columbia has provided me with the ultimate music education: I've been blessed to perform, record and be properly involved with such brilliant musicians as Count Basie, Stan Getz, Ralph Burns, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Duke Ellington, and many other great artists.. To be an artist with Columbia was an adventure into the very heart of the creative arts world. My ambition has always been to create a hit catalogue rather than hit records. Columbia gave me the platform to do so, and I have been fortunate enough to introduce some three dozen songs into the "Great American Songbook." To me there is no such thing as an old song, just a great song. No other country in the world has produced more popular standards than the United States – and those wonderful songs can all be found on Columbia."

Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection
1. Rarities
2. Rarities, vol. 2
3. The Columbia singles, vol. 1
4. The Columbia singles, vol. 2
5. The Columbia singles, vol. 3
6. The Columbia singles, vol. 4
7. The Columbia singles, vol. 5
8. The Columbia singles, vol. 6
9. Cloud 7
10. Tony
11. The Beat Of My Heart
12. Long Ago And Far Away
13. Basie/Bennett
14. In Person!
15. Hometown, My Town
16. To My Wonderful One
17. Alone Together
18. A String Of Arlen
19. Tony Sings For Two
20. My Heart Sings
21. Mr. Broadway
22. On The Glory Road
23. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
24/25. Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
26. I Wanna Be Around
27. This Is All I Ask
28. The Many Moods Of Tony
29. When Lights Are Low
30. Who Can I Turn To
31. If I Ruled The World
32. The Movie Song Album
33. A Time For Love
34. Tony Makes It Happen
35. For Once In My Life
36. Yesterday I Heard The Rain
37. Snowfall
38. I've Gotta Be Me
39. Tony Sings The Great Hits Of Today!
40. Something
41. Love Story
42. Get Happy
43. Summer Of '42
44. With Love
45. The Good Things In Life
46. Listen Easy
47. Tony's Greatest Hits, vol. 7
48. Sunrise, Sunset
49. Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs
50. 10 More Rodgers & Hart Songs
51. Life Is Beautiful
52. Tony Bennett & Bill Evans
53. Tony Bennett & Bill Evans: Together Again
54. Tony Bennett/The McFarlands & Friends...
55. The Art Of Excellence
56. Bennett/Berlin
57. Astoria
58. Perfectly Frank
59. Steppin' Out
60/61. MTV Unplugged
62. Here's To The Ladies
63. Bennett On Holiday
64. The Playground
65. Bennett Sings Ellington
66. Our Favorite Things
67. Playin' With My Friends
68. A Wonderful World (with k.d. lang)
69. The Art Of Romance
70. Duets – An American Classic
71. Duets 2
72. Christmas With Tony Bennett
73. A Swingin' Christmas
74. Live At The Sahara: From This Moment On
75. Tony Bennett Sings... with the London Philharmonic (DVD)
76. An American Classic (DVD)

OUR FAVORITE BERES HAMMOND SONGS

Reggae stars pay homage to Beres Hammond, the godfather of reggae soul, in the ultimate way as they cover his songs in Our Favorite Beres Hammond Songs, a double-disc album from VP Records. Spanning over 30 years of recording soulful reggae music in his signature smoky-sweet baritone, Hammond's catalog is filled with hits for the picking. Now reggae and dancehall stars honor his legacy by putting their touch on his classics. The 23-track compilation features the talents of Jah Cure,Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, Tessanne Chin, Marcia Griffiths and Nadine Sutherland, just to name a few. The project is the brainchild of acclaimed reggae producer and longtime Beres Hammond collaborator, Donovan Germain, who composed the covers at his own studio at Penthouse Records in Jamaica. Some of Beres' biggest hits are covered on this definitive collection, including "Putting Up Resistance," "Tempted To Touch," and "No Disturb Sign," which appears twice with a dancehall remix featuring Assassin. Beres himself also participates with "Fire & Ice," staying in the mix as the various contributing artists carry his songs to different and perhaps even new ears. Beres Hammond has always been covered by musicians in and out of the genre. Now with this official compilation from some of the artists he has influenced, fans can get a new take, and taste, of his signature sounds.

Disc One

Step Aside - Tessanne Chin

Love From A Distance - Lukie D

I'm So In Love - Singing Melody

Groovy Little Thing - Tarrus Riley

Irie & Mello - Nikki Burt

Black Beauty - Duane Stephenson

Putting Up Resistance - Sherieta

Full Attention - Stevie Face

Love Means Never To Say You're Sorry - Cameal Davis

Double Trouble - Romain Virgo

No Disturb Sign - Alaine

Disc Two

Emptiness - Jah Cure

Tempted To Touch - Busy Signal

Reggae Calling - Marcia Griffiths

Freedom - Torch

Got To Get Away - Chevaughn

One Step Ahead - Nadine Sutherland

If Only You Knew - Hezron

Preacher Man - A. J. Brown

Lovely Day - Tony Curtis

What One Dance Can Do/She Loves Me Now/

Come Back Home (Medley) - Richie Stephens and Niquet Goldson

Fire & Ice - Beres Hammond

No Disturb Sign (Remix) - Alaine and Assassin

TONY BENNETT & AMY WINEHOUSE - BODY AND SOUL

Body And Soul, Amy Winehouse's final recording, a duet with her hero Tony Bennett, will be released by Columbia Records in September in aid of the Amy Winehouse Foundation. The song was recorded in March of this year at Abbey Road Studios in London for Tony Bennett's upcoming Duets II album. The Foundation will be set up by her family to help a number of charities connected with children and young people. Amy's father, Mitch Winehouse said, "We wanted to make a positive difference and help a range of causes close to Amy's heart.  This could include help for children in trouble, suffering from health problems, children's hospices and more. "While it is separate from my campaign to find more help for young addicts, that may be one of the areas that Foundation contributes to.  We intend to raise funds and distribute them to individual projects who apply for help.  I couldn't be happier that everyone involved with Amy and this recording felt they wanted to contribute. "Amy was so excited to be working with Tony Bennett and really looking forward to her fans hearing this new recording.  The fact that Amy's voice is sounding as amazing and beautiful as ever and she is singing with the great Tony Bennett seems the most fitting tribute of all at this very difficult time."  "Body and Soul" will be included on Tony Bennett's forthcoming 85th Birthday CD, Duets II.

SUPER DUPER HITS: THE BEST OF JOSS STONE

Joss Stone's top singles and album standouts spanning her S-Curve and Virgin Records catalog have been gathered for the first time for a new collection titled Super Duper Hits: The Best Of Joss Stone. Virgin/EMI will release the 13-track CD and digital collection on September 27. At the age of 16, Grammy and Brit Award-winning singer Joss Stone rocketed to worldwide fame and acclaim with the 2003 release of her debut album, The Soul Sessions.  The Gold-certified album included "Fell In Love With A Boy" (Stone's re-working of The White Stripes' "Fell In Love With A Girl)," as well as her version of Willie Garner's "Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' on Me?), Pt. 1." Stone's second album, 2004's Mind, Body and Soul, showcased her songwriting talent as well as her soulful singing style with the singles "You Had Me," "Right To Be Wrong," "Don't Cha Wanna Ride," and "Spoiled" among the Platinum-certified album's standout tracks.  The Platinum-certified Introducing ... Joss Stone, released in 2007, reached #2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and featured "Tell Me 'Bout It," "Baby Baby Baby," "Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now," and "Bruised But Not Broken."  Released in 2009, Stone's fourth album, Colour Me Free, hit #10 on the Billboard Top 200 and featured the singles "Free Me" and "Stalemate." The new collection also includes Stone's version of Nat King Cole's "L-O-V-E," heard in an ad for Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle fragrance.Joss Stone's new album, LP1, was released on July 27 by her own Stone'd Records and Surfdog Records.  Stone is on tour in Europe this summer, and she is also a member of a new band, SuperHeavy, along with Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, Damian Marley and film composer A.R. Rahman.

Super Duper Hits: The Best Of Joss Stone

1.  Fell In Love With A Boy

2.  Super Duper Love

3.  You Had Me

4.  Right To Be Wrong

5.  Don't Cha Wanna Ride

6.  Spoiled

7.  Tell Me 'Bout It

8.  Baby Baby Baby

9.  Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now (featuring Common)

10.  Bruised But Not Broken

11.  L-O-V-E

12.  Free Me

13.  Stalemate (featuring Jamie Hartman)

HDDEN BEACH PRESENTS THE ORIGINAL JILL SCOTT FROM THE VAULT VOL. 1

Jill Scott’s so-called “Vault” at Hidden Beach got populated with extraordinary unheard masters simply because of the remarkable output of its creator. Like many artists with every record made to date, Jill always over cut for the project. With each and every record it was always painful process of eliminating one song or another purely based on the technical limitations of a single CD or the expected appetite for a new album listening experience. The only consolation prize being, as we would start the next album we knew there were gems polished and ready to be enjoyed and admired by millions. The final proper album for Hidden Beach by Jill Scott – rarities and unreleased material from her time at the label – sounding as freshly emotional and timelessly soulful as all her other great work for the label! These are the sounds and the style we think of with Jill Scott – some blueprint era soul and jazzy beatcraft and live drums, warm and genuine vocals, bits of piano and strongs, and great songs! Includes ""I Don't Know (Gotta Have You)", "Wondering Why? (You Don't Talk To Me)" "The Light" (plus bonus piano mix), "Dear Mr & Mrs Recording Industry", "I'm Prettier", "Holding On" and more. Deluxe edition includes 20 page booklet, and the bonus "And I Heard (Do You Understand) (Live) and it's enhanced with the video "North Side Philly Love (Live)".  The Silver Foil Deluxe packaging contains bonus tracks and mixes plus a never seen before Jill Scott performance before the release of her first album…plus a 20-Page Booklet containing lyrics and liner notes directly from the producers…A Collector’s Edition for real fans!

Hidden Beach Presents The Original Jill Scott From The Vault Vol 1. Track Listing
01. Intro –Love To Love Prelude 0:20
02. I Don’t Know [Gotta Have You] 3:51
03. Wondering Why? [You Don't Talk To Me] 3:49
04. The Light [Original Mix] 4:12*
05. Wake Up Baby 3:55
06. Lovely Day 4:16
07. Dear Mr. &Mrs Record Industry 3:39
08. Love To Love 3:37
09. Running Away [Suite] 12:14*
10. I’m Prettier 4:13
11. Comes To Light [Everything] 4:45
12. Holding On 4:54

Bonus Tracks
14. The Light [Piano Mix] 3:12
15. And I Heard…[Do You Understand] LIVE 9:47*
Enhanced Video:North Side Philly Love{LIVE] 3:45*

*Tracks which are only available on Deluxe

SAMMY FIGUERORA AND HIS LATIN JAZZ EXPLOSION - URBAN NATURE

Sammy Figueroa & his Latin Jazz Explosion is a true ensemble, balancing dazzling displays of virtuosity with touches of classical elegance, swinging Latin rhythms and sophisticated fusion, with Sammy always anchoring the music with his rich expressive playing. Remarking on Sammy's creativity and ease on his instrument, saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins has pronounced that "there is no better percussionist than Sammy Figueroa." After two decades as New York's number-one percussionist, recording and performing with artists such as Miles Davis, the Brecker Brothers, Sonny Rollins and pop stars David Bowie, Chaka Khan, and Mariah Carey to name a few, Sammy was ready for a change. He moved to South Florida where, between the extraordinary Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and a community of excellent musicians from Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Argentina, he discovered a vibrant Latin jazz scene, rich with musical opportunities. Gathering together some of the best players in town, Sammy and his band made their debut at the Hollywood Jazz Festival in 2002. He hasn't looked back since. The band's first two albums, And Sammy Walked In and The Magician, each received Grammy® Nominations for Best Latin Jazz Album and their exciting performances have gained them enthusiastic fans throughout the United States and Europe.

The Latin Jazz Explosion features the brilliant pianist Silvano Monasterios and accomplished bassist Gabriel Vivas (both from Venezuela), Alex Pope Norris on trumpet, saxophonist John Michalak and the young Puerto Rican drummer Nomar Negroni. On Urban Nature the group is joined by special guests Ed Calle on sax, Mike Orta on piano and Venezuelan percussionist José Gregorio Hernandez. Urban Nature is a salute to the creativity that Sammy, a native New Yorker, has experienced during his time in Miami. These are not the gritty streets of New York City: it's a place where condo towers, fast cars, culture clash and urban poverty meet the vibrant blue and green of sky and sea, where violent storms swiftly transition into incredible sunsets, where mangos block your driveway at certain times of year and where alligators might be lurking in the canals alongside I-95. This album was created as a team effort between Sammy, composer/arrangers Silvano Monasterios and Gabriel Vivas, and producer Rachel Faro. Monasterios and Vivas offer seven signature pieces, composed specifically for Sammy and this album.

The album opens with the clarion call of "Gufillo," an original piece by Monasterios, featuring one of Sammy's hand-blurring solos. This segues into the title track, a catchy, yet majestic cha-cha by Vivas. Mike Orta's original "Latin What?" features a quirky raw solo by Calle on tenor sax. "Zuliana" follows, a delicate folk-influenced tune by Silvano Monasterios dedicated to his father's home province in Venezuela.

Monasterios' "7th Door On Your Left" is in 7/8 meter and just about seven minutes long. This magic number takes the listener through a winding, relaxed journey that leads into "Cuco y Olga," a tribute to the late, great Mongo Santamaria. The last three tunes on the album, all originals by Vivas and Monasterios, further establish the group's characteristic sound. "Cha Cha 'Pa Ti" is a sinuous cha-cha, its melody winding around a steady base of repetitive rhythm parts. "Queen From The South" is Silvano's homage to one of the many beautiful women in his native land. The album closes with "Funny Talk," Vivas' tribute to Sammy's famous sense of humor. "The Latin feel in jazz has been around since jazz began," says Sammy. "It's all about the rhythm, the movement and certain swing. When you hear it, you don't have to be Latin to like it. It just does something to your system that one cannot explain. On this album we had the opportunity to successfully combine the joy of Latin rhythms with the sophistication of jazz harmonics. I hope the listener will enjoy this music as much as we have playing and recording it."

Urban Nature is set for release on August 30.

Tour Schedule:

August 31 - Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL

September 2 - Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis, IN

September 4 - Detroit International Jazz Festival, Detroit, MI

September 16 - Jazz At The Palm, West Palm Beach, FL

September 18 - Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, CA (with Sonny Rollins)

October 6 - Sculler's Jazz Club, Boston, MA

October 10 - Kennedy Center, Washington DC (with Sonny Rollins)

October 12 - Zinc Bar, New York, NY

October 14 - Nashville Symphony, Nashville TN (with Sonny Rollins)

October 15 - Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Clearwater, FL

October 22 - Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens, Banyan Bowl, Pinecrest FL

http://www.sammyfigueroa.com/

THE MILES DAVIS FAN PROJECT

On August 1, 2011, Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, launched "The Miles Davis Fan Project," an innovative online initiative designed to introduce the music of the American jazz composer-trumpeter-bandleader to a digital audience via Facebook. Throughout the month of August, 40 classic Miles Davis tracks - representing multiple aspects and phases of the iconic Davis canon from the post-bop cool of Kind of Blue through the ferocious fusion of Bitches Brew to the meditative Mobius cosmos of In a Silent Way - are being featured on Facebook via social sound sharing platform SoundCloud, powered by RootMusic's BandPage application.

The tracks feature an active "Like" button which prompts fans to 'vote.' The ten recordings accruing the most "Likes" from fans online will be assembled for Blue Flame, a fan-christened digital-only album to be released on September 26. By mid-August, more than twenty thousand "Likes" had been cast on Facebook with some songs grabbing more than twenty-five hundred "Likes." More than thirty-five thousand plays have been racked up between the various contenders for final inclusion on the album. An online Facebook poll for "The Miles Davis Fan Project" album title resulted in a landslide victory for Blue Flame, suggested by Jennifer Sammons of Los Angeles, California:

"I was introduced to Miles Davis' music by my Dad (D. J.) who was a huge fan," said Sammons. "I became further intrigued with Miles after seeing the actor Michael Wright portraying him! Upon reading Miles' bio, I realized that listening to his music is like taking an amazing journey through this musical genius' incredible life that began with that mystical magical 'blue flame'!"

"'The Miles Davis Fan Project' is yet another example of how Miles transcends genres and continues to speak to new generations," said Adam Block, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Legacy Recordings. "This is the first time we've put the music of an artist of this stature in the hands of fans via social media and asked them to create a collection of songs as a new release. That so many fans have chosen to engage, and to utilize the new technologies available to them, testifies to Miles' enduring appeal and eternal 'nowness.'"

In addition to A&R-ing the tracklist for "The Miles Davis Fan Project" album, online fans are being invited to name the album, create the official artwork for the release, and describe what Miles and his music means to them in personal testimonials to be featured in a digital booklet coming with the online release. The first online fan-assembled collection of its kind, the release of Blue Flame coincides with the 20th anniversary of Davis' passing on September 28, 1991. Fully endorsed by Miles Davis Properties, LLC, "The Miles Davis Fan Project" is engaging younger fans native to a digital environment and providing an introduction to the music of Miles. The final tracklisting, sequencing and artwork for Blue Flame will be revealed on September 26.

On September 20, Legacy Recordings will release Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol.1, the first offering in a series of rare and previously unreleased live recordings from around the world from the legendary artist.

http://www.milesdavis.com/

http://www.legacyrecordings.com/

KID CREOLE AND THE COCONUTS - I WAKE UP SCREAMING

August Darnell's alter ego Kid Creole is back in stride with his first high profile studio album in over 10 years, I Wake Up Screaming. The new album explores the vibrant mind of Darnell with a variety of themes and styles ranging from the lilting tropical love paean “Verily Verily Verily” to “Stony And Cory,” echoing Darnell’s early days with Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band. Mixed by Brennan Green (Chinatown Records, New York) and Lars Nissen (Denmark), the album features co-compositions and co-productions with Andy Butler of Hercules & Love Affair. The album was preceded in July by the dream-like dancefloor winner, “I Do Believe,” complete with mixes by Brennan Green, Faze Action, 40 Thieves and Emperor Machine. Darnell first came to prominence during the mid-‘70s in New York, forming Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band with his brother Stony Browder before producing a slew of eccentric projects for ZE Records including Cristina, Don Armando’s Seventh Avenue Rumba Band and Gichy Dan, as well as sporting his trademark zoot suit and fedora for the first time for the debut recordings by Kid Creole & The Coconuts. Signing on to Chris Blackwell’s Island Records and Seymour Stein’s Sire imprint, Darnell would become one of the ‘80s’ most unique and recognizable figures, scoring a brace of unforgettable chart hits mixing heavyweight tropical grooves with plenty of lyrical bite – “Stool Pigeon,” “Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy,” “I’m A Wonderful Thing Baby” and more. The new Kid Creole album won't be out until September, but that doesn't mean you have to wait until then for a taste of the new music. "I Do Believe" is a work of art in true Creole style, co-written by Hercules & Love Affair's Andy Butler, and the EP features Faze Action, 40 Thieves, and album producer Brennan Green. I Wake Up Screaming will be released on September 12.

I Wake Up Screaming Tracklist

1. Stony and Cory

2. I Wake Up Screaming (In the Tropics)
3. Somebody's Got to Lose
4. I Do Believe
5. Long Live the King
6.. Verily Verily Verily
7. Tudor-Jones
8. Attitude
9. This Is My Life
10. We're Rockin' Out Tonight
11. Love Remains
12. Blow Me up
13. Just Because I Love You

KYLE WOLVERTON - SOUL GROOVE

The live jazz show September 10 promises to be the hottest night of the Summer in the Seattle area as "Best New Artist of the Year nominee" Kyle Wolverton brings his electrifying urban jazz show to the Kirkland Performance Center. Since the release of Kyle's debut CD, Soul Groove, the project has surprised many long-time smooth jazz lovers with not one, but two Billboard hits. The first single from the album "Miss Peaches" is a track steeped in '70s funk and R&B. The smooth follow up single "Can't Stop The Feeling" hit the power rotation on virtually every jazz station in the country on its ride to the top 10. Wolverton now lives in Los Angeles where he has assembled one of the most dynamic ensembles to join forces in years. The six-piece group features players who have toured with Stevie Wonder, The Jazz Crusaders, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Sheila E, Wayne Shorter and many more. The result is a sound that is a blend of urban, smooth, and Latin Jazz.

Kyle had the luxury of growing up in a very musical household. Kyle's father, and younger brother Joel also play the saxophone. If Kyle wasn't falling asleep at night to the sounds of his dad practicing, Zoot Sims, Billy Vaugh, or Boots Randolph were most likely playing on the record player. Kyle began playing at the age of nine. Wolverton's sound has been compared to Grover Washington Jr. and Gerald Albright. In addition to studying the works of legendary performers like fellow Seattle sax players Kenny G and Jeff Kashiwa, Kyle also was influenced heavily by The Yellowjackets, and David Sanborn. Kyle has always been a huge fan of Hip Hop and R&B. The influences of Stevie Wonder, Prince, Luther Vandross, and Michael Jackson can be heard throughout the critically acclaimed debut CD. Previously, Wolverton has played KWJZ's Summer Concert at the St. Michelle Winery as well as Jazz Alley. The show at the Kirkland Performance Center promises to be an extremely memorable homecoming for Wolverton. The intimate, 400 seat theater will play host to one of the biggest urban jazz shows to hit the stage in years.

NICK ASHFORD DEAD

Nick Ashford, who with wife Valerie Simpson wrote such legendary Motown songs as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand," has died after a prolonged battle with throat cancer, his publicist announced. He was 70. Their songs were spun into hits by, among others, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston and Ashford & Simpson themselves – including the '80s hit "Solid As a Rock." Ashford and Simpson's relationship went back to 1964, when they (she a 17-year-old from the Bronx, he a 21-year-old from Michigan) met in a Harlem church and decided to write songs together. They wed 10 years later. They had their first hit in 1966, when Ray Charles recorded "Let's Go Get Stoned." Motown quickly signed them to write for Ross, Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and the relationship with that label lasted seven years. Simpson cut her two solo albums for Motown. But in 1973, said Ashford, "We felt it was time for growth, to reach out as artists." The duo moved to the Warner Bros. label and also started producing albums for others, which they found less satisfying artistically but highly lucrative, allowing them to purchase a four-story Manhattan townhouse with a staff of five, and a 14-room Westport, Conn., estate with a pool, tennis courts and a barn that doubled as a stable for horses.

In recent years, Ashford & Simpson recorded and toured sporadically, and in 1996, they opened the restaurant and live entertainment venue, Sugar Bar in New York City. They were given writing credit on Amy Winehouse’s 2007 CD Back To Black for the single "Tears Dry On Their Own". The track is based on a sample of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's 1967 Motown classic hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". They had began performing their act in small, intimate venues, such as Feinstein's at the Regency in New York and the Rrazz Room in San Francisco, and in January 2009, they released a CD and DVD of their live performances entitled The Real Thing. On June 22, 2009, they made a guest performance at a party at Tribeca Rooftop, New York, to celebrate Virgin Atlantic's Birthday party. They also made their first appearance in Tokyo, Japan in November 2009, and performed 8 shows in 4 days at Blue Note Tokyo .

Ashford died in New York on August 22, 2011, of complications from throat cancer. Besides Simpson, Ashford is survived by their two daughters, Nicole and Asia.

JILL SCOTT RELEASES SECOND SINGLE FROM THE LIGHT OF THE SUN

As a follow-up to the #1 Urban charting radio single "So In Love" - which is currently at eight weeks and counting at #1 - Grammy award-winning singer/actress Jill Scott is releasing her second single, "So Gone (What My Mind Says)," today! Off her #1 album in the country The Light Of The Sun, "So Gone" is already garnering rave reviews from critics such as Los Angeles Weekly which called the new single a "sexy medley... that song should come with a cold shower."

"So Gone (What My Mind Says)" tells the story of a celibate woman who takes matters into her own hands, becoming "Dick-matized" by a service-man named "Diamond-Chip-Dick" played by rapper Paul Wall. The song talks about the perils of getting caught in the glove of sexual inhibitions versus the value of personal connection and companionship. "Sometimes we can get to a point where it's all about the physical pleasure of it all and not about the person, you become hypnotized..." comments Jill. "For this record and for this time, my journey to finding love has been more of a journey about finding myself."
Beginning August 23rd through August 29th, 2011, Scott's The Light Of The Sun can be downloaded from iTunes for $8.99 with a free video download of "Hear My Call."

Currently on the blockbuster 2011 North American Tour Summer Block Party Presented by Budweiser Superfest, which continues through August 28th, critics are also raving about the Jill Scott Live Experience. Amongst Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, Newsweek, People, Time Out NY and others, Boston Globe remarked, "Jill Scott does not waste her breath or time..." while Washington Post remarked, "a romantic journey from pleasure, to pain, to confusion and finally to acceptance, with enough rest stops for fun and laughter as balance."

Recently seen performing on The Today Show, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Live! With Jimmy Kimmel outdoor series, Live! With Regis & Kelly as well as her sold out co-headline arena tour with fellow R&B crooner Maxwell, Scott will be performing favorites off her new album such as "So In Love" and "Shame" amidst classics such as "Is It The Way" and "He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat)." The Multi-platinum winning singer/actress critically acclaimed fourth studio album The Light Of The Sun has made TIME Magazine's Summer 2011 Highlights and USA TODAY's Playlist will be joined by special guests, Grammy nominated R&B singer Anthony Hamilton and groove specialists Mint Condition with music provided by DJ Jazzy Jeff and hosted by party starter Doug E. Fresh. Scott's Summer Block Party, produced by Live Nation/ Haymon Ventures, will make stops at amphitheaters around the country through August 28th; tickets are currently available through Ticketmaster.com.

Fans looking to get more of the Jill Scott Experience can catch her performing songs off her new album, such as "Blessed," at the '33rd Annual UNCF An Evening Of Stars,' which airs September 25th on BET.

"Throughout the course of her 90-minute [...] Scott dug deeply and nearly exclusively into the female condition, celebrating its joys and pondering its challenges in unsparing detail."
- Los Angeles Times

"Jill Scott does not waste her breath or time. The gifted singer was onstage for little more than an hour Tuesday at the Bank of America Pavilion, yet nearly every note and nuance seemed perfectly placed to give the packed house an emotionally rich concert."
- Boston Globe

"Brimming with fierce independence, soul singer Jill Scott came out firing Sunday at a packed Charter One Pavilion and didn't let up for 90 minutes."
- Chicago Tribune

"Since she emerged on the musical scene in 2000, Scott -- and her 'in-your-face voice' -- has always been the true adult in a room full of immature wannabes. Now [...] there's really no denying that recent life experiences have moved the girl from Philly even closer to the head of the class."

- Newsweek

"The singer mixed classic hits with cuts from her new disc, The Light Of The Sun, and was backed by a back-flipping break-dancer and three bow-tie-wearing gents on backing vocals."

- Time Out New York

"The sequence of songs she masterfully performed at the Verizon Center on Sunday traced a romantic journey from pleasure, to pain, to confusion and finally to acceptance, with enough rest stops for fun and laughter as balance."

- Washington Post

Jill Scott Summer Block Party Dates:

8/19/11 - Atlanta - Chastain Park Amphitheater

8/20/11 - Atlanta - Chastain Park Amphitheater

8/21/11 - Virginia Beach - Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach

8/23/11-  Raleigh - Walnut Creek Amphitheatre

8/24/11-  Charlotte - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

8/27/11-  Dallas - Gexa Energy Pavilion

8/28/11-  Houston - Reliant Center