DIANA ROSS DELUXE EDITION

Here’s a brand new deluxe edition of Diana Ross’ legendary 1976 self-titled album, her studio LP in three years, following 1973′s Last Time I Saw Him. As with previously expanded editions of solo Diana albums, Diana Ross features the original remastered album with some bonus tracks across two discs. Notable highlights include original single masters, the ultra-rare “Coming Home,” released on a Japanese flexidisc for Coca-Cola; a cover of Elton John’s  “Harmony” along with two unreleased tracks from the album sessions, and alternate takes of nearly every track on the original album. The album is produced by Michael Masser. Included here is "Love Hangover" which was her fourth number one single. It was released in March 1976, and rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Soul Singles and Hot Dance Club Play charts simultaneously.

Diana Ross - Disc 1: Original LP, single versions and bonus tracks

1. Theme from “Mahogany” (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)

2. I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love)

3. Love Hangover

4. Kiss Me Now

5. You’re Good My Child

6. One Love in My Lifetime

7. Ain’t Nothin’ But a Maybe

8. After You

9. Smile

10. Sorry Doesn’t Always Make It Right

11. Together

12. I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love) (Single Version)

13. Love Hangover (Single Version)

14. One Love in My Lifetime (Single Version)

15. To Love Again (Alternate Version/Previously Unreleased)

16. We’re Always Saying Goodbye (Alternate Version/Previosly Unreleased)

17. This Christmas (Alternate Version/Previously Unreleased)

18. Coming Home (Stereo Mix from Japanese Coca-Cola promotional flexdisx)

Diana Ross Disc 2: Alternate Takes (all tracks previously unreleased) 

1. Theme from “Mahogany” (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) (Alternate Version)
2. I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love) (Alternate Version)
3. Love Hangover (Alternate Version #1)
4. Kiss Me Now (Alternate Version)
5. You’re Good My Child (Alternate Version)
6. One Love in My Lifetime (Alternate Version)
7. Ain’t Nothin’ But a Maybe (Alternate Version)
8. After You (Alternate Version)
9. Sorry Doesn’t Always Make It Right (Alternate Version)
10. Together (Alternate Version)
11. Theme from “Mahogany” (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) (Alternate Version #2)
12. Harmony
13. Le Lo Li
14. Go Where Your Mind Is
15. Diana Ross Interview (Excerpted)

PAUL McCARTNEY - KISSES ON THE BOTTOM

Paul McCartney is about to release a new studio album on February 7th, this time comprised of his favorite childhood pop standards, as well as two original compositions. For the new album entitled, Kisses on the Bottom, McCartney recorded his versions of the classic tracks at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, New York and London last year with producers Tommy LiPuma and Diana Krall. The album will feature two new collaborations: "My Valentine" with Eric Clapton, and "Only Our Hearts" with Stevie Wonder.

A deluxe edition of the album will be available on McCartney’s official site on February 14th, featuring two bonus tracks (“Baby’s Request”, “My One and Only Love”) in addition to longer liner notes and expanded packaging. Kisses on the Bottom (his 15th solo album) is McCartney's follow-up to Memory Almost Full has been described as a collection of classic songs that inspired the songwriting of the Beatles legend, and on "Bottom," the singer will reinterpret tracks made popular by Sam Cooke ("Home (When Shadows Fall)"), Ella Fitzgerald ("It's Only a Paper Moon") and Danny Kaye ("The Inch Worm"), among others. The album title comes from the lyrics of Fats Waller's 1935 hit "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself a Letter," which serves as the opening track on McCartney's album. Kisses on the Bottom will be reelased on February 7th via Hear Music/Concord.

Kisses on the Bottom tracklisting:
01 – I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
02 – Home (When Shadows Fall)
03 – It’s Only A Paper Moon
04 – More I Cannot Wish You
05 – The Glory Of Love
06 – We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me)

07 – Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

08 – My Valentine

09 – Always

10 – My Very Good Friend The Milkman

11 – Bye Bye Blackbird

12 – Get Yourself Another Fool

13 – The Inch Worm

14 – Only Our Hearts

15 – Baby’s Request (Deluxe Edition)

16 – My One and Only Love (Deluxe Edition)

2012 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES POWER LINEUP!

The 2012 Essence Musical Festival celebrates "The Power of Our Voice" during its 18th anniversary held in New Orleans July 6, 7 and 8. This year's theme reflects the audiences' turn to powerful voices whether through song, the political arena or community organizing for strength and inspiration during challenging times. The annual Festival promises to deliver a stellar line-up of musical artists as well as leading thinkers, authors, innovators and influencers who will empower and motivate the audience to make a difference in each of their communities. The annual weekend of entertainment and empowerment will feature an unprecedented three days of cultural celebrations over the festive Fourth of July holiday weekend in the Crescent City. With a combination of iconic musical performances and thought-provoking dialogue, the 2012 Essence Music Festival will be an unforgettable experience.

"The theme of this year's Essence Music Festival celebrates our most powerful voices. Whether it's Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul commanding respect or Rep. Maxine Waters demanding better conditions for our community, these powerful voices resonate with our audience like no other," said Michelle Ebanks, president, Essence Communications Inc. "As we all face a new reality in these critical times, we want to inspire our Festival-goers to leave this year's Festival even more resilient and motivated so that they can be empowered to create change in their own communities."

After another record-breaking year in 2011, this year's line-up promises to be a weekend to remember. Stellar acts leading the list of artists set to perform at the legendary Louisiana Superdome include: Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Fantasia, Stephanie Mills, Charlie Wilson, Keyshia Cole, Ledisi, SWV, Dru Hill, Raheem DeVaughn, Estelle, Goapele, Vivian Green, Kindred the Family Soul, Luke James, Eric Roberson, The Stylistics, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Bridget Kelly, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, The Stooges Brass Band and Khris Royal & Dark Matter. In addition, Essence will honor iconic singer Aretha Franklin with "The Power Award." The Queen of Soul previously performed at the Festival in 1995 and 2005.

In addition to the colossal music line-up, the audience can look forward to the annual Essence Empowerment Experience, which is free and open to the public at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Festival-goers will experience three full days of socio-political dialogue, health and wellness discussions and spiritual inspiration led by dynamic motivational speakers. The initial roster of leading authors, speakers and leaders include: Steve Harvey, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rep. Maxine Waters and Dr. Steve Perry. The weekend will culminate on Sunday with a rousing All-star Gospel tribute honoring gospel mega-stars Fred Hammond and Mary Mary.

Now in its 18th year, the ultimate destination for entertainment and inspiration hosted over 422,000 attendees last year. What began in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Essence magazine has now grown into one of the country's "Top 10 Leading Brand Events" by Advertising Age. The Essence Music Festival is the nation's largest annual gathering of African-American music and culture. Throughout its history, the Festival has featured an array of performers including Alicia Keys, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, Chaka Khan, Destiny's Child, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, The Isley Brothers, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Maxwell, The O'Jays, Prince, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams, among others.

FREDDIE HUBBARD - SPLASH

Freddie Hubbard is one of the most recorded trumpeters in jazz history, his huge catalogue covering stylistic bases ranging from straight jazz, soul-jazz, fusion to some of the most pioneering free jazz of all time. He's also got one of the most recognisable trumpet sounds in jazz history, identifiable after just one note, and had one of the most formidable techniques ever heard on the instrument. He made some legendary solo albums on the Blue Note, CTI and Atlantic labels and also performed with the likes of Herbie Hancock on 'Maiden Voyage', John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman on 'Free Jazz' and Oliver Nelson on 'Blues And The Abstract Truth'.

Splash, his sole release for the famous jazz label Fantasy, was originally released in 1981 but quickly became out of print. but now it's received a shiny makeover and has never sounded better. This is one of the key jazz/funk albums of the '80s featuring the likes of James Gadson and Paul Jackson Jr. and some of Hubbard's finest solos. But it has always attracted a legendary status, mainly due to its main vocal track ‘You’re Gonna Lose Me’ which was also the album’s only single. Recorded at Hit City West in Los Angeles and mixed at Fantasy, Splash was co-produced by Al Hall Jr and features Paul Jackson Jr and David T Walker on guitar, James Gadson on drums and vocalists Jeanie Tracy and Maurice “Mo” Long. The music is an exquisite mix of soul, funk and jazz and Hubbard’s superlative playing reaches its peak on the beautiful slow number ‘Mystic Lady’ and classic jazz/funk instrumental ‘Sister ’Stine’. The title track and ‘You’re Gonna Lose Me’ are vehicles for sublime vocalist Jeanie Tracy, with Hubbard also delivering exquisite solos on both.

THE 2012-2013 CONCERT CALENDAR

FEBRUARY 2012

Larry Carlton @ Dokkhuset, Trondheim, Norway, Feb 1

Peabo Bryson @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 1-3

Jack Jones @ Riverside Resort, Laughlin, NV, Feb 1-4

Mario Biondi @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, Feb 1-4

Rumer @ Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL, Feb 2

Vieux Farka Toure @ La Clef, St. Germain En Lave, France, Feb 2

Larry Carlton @ Folken Olavskleiv, Stavanger, Norway, Feb 2
Bobby Caldwell @ Catalina Bar & Gril, Hollywood, CA, Feb 2-4
Narada Michael Walden @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 2-5
Larry Carlton @ Sardinen, Bergen, Norway, Feb 3
Vieux Farka Toure @ Centre Culturel Juliobona, Lillebon, France, Feb 3
Larry Carlton @ Trollblues, Rauma Kulturhus, Andalsnes, Norway, Feb 4
Tony Bennett @ Caesars, Atlantic City, NJ, Feb 4
Bobby McFerrin @ Lehman Center for Performing Arts, New York, NY, Feb 4
Vieux Farka Toure @ The Arches, Glasgow, Scotland, Feb 5
Rumer @ Mod Club, Toronto, ON, Feb 6
Rumer @ World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA, Feb 7
Vieux Farka Toure @ The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, UK, Feb 7
Vieux Farka Toure @ Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, UK, Feb 8
Eric Benet @ The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, Feb 8
Jeff Lorber, Randy Brecker @ Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis,MN, Feb 8-9
Vieux Farka Toure @ Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, UK, Feb 9
Rumer @ Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY, Feb 9
Kenny Garrett @ Central Oklahoma Jazz Club, Edmond, OK, Feb 9
Eric Benet @ Carolina Theatre, Durham, NC, Feb 9
Vieux Farka Toure @ Brewery Arts Center, Kendal, UK, Feb 10
Michael Lington @ Santa Fe Station, Las Vegas, NV, Feb 10
Rumer @ Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA, Feb 10
Eric Benet @ Atlanta Civic Center, Atlanta, GA, Feb 10
Nicola Conte @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, Feb 10-11
Joe @ Boulder Station, Las Vegas, NV, Feb 11
Take 6 @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 11
Vieux Farka Toure @ St. George’s, Bristol, UK, Feb 11
Eric Benet @ Lumiere Place, St. Louis, MO, Feb 11
Vieux Farka Toure @ Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank, London, UK, Feb 12
George Benson @ Arizona State Capital Grounds, Phoeniz, AZ, Feb 12
Candy Dulfer @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 13-15
Vieux Farka Toure @ Band On The Wall, Manchester, UK, Feb 14
Angela Bofill @ Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, Warren, MI, Feb 14
Marsha Ambrosius @ House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ, Feb 14
Eric Benet @ Arie Crown Theatre, Chicago, IL, Feb 14
John Pizzarelli @ Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 14-17
Brian Culbertson @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Feb 14-19
Vieux Farka Toure @ Komedia, Brighton, UK, Feb 15
Angela Bofill, Melba Moore @ Birchmere Music Hall, Alexandria, VA, Feb 15
Vieux Farka Toure @ Turner Sims, Southampton, UK, Feb 16
Candy Dulfer @ Club Quattro, Hiroshima, Japan, Feb 17
Billy Cobham Band @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, Feb 15-18
Chris Botti @ Harrah’s, Atlantic City, NJ, Feb 18
Vieux Farka Toure @ Festival La Roue Waroch, Plescop, France, Feb 18
Marsha Ambrosius @ Detroit Opera House, Detroit, MI, Feb 18
Mindi Abair @ Punta Gorde Wine Jazz Festival, Punta Gorde, FL, Feb 18
Michael McDonald @ Eastside Cannery, Las Vegas, NV, Feb 19
Candy Dulfer @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 19-20
Chris Standring @ Cliffs Pavillion, Southend, UK, Feb 23
Robert Davi @ The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, Feb 23-25
The Five Quintet Corners @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 23-25
Melissa Manchester @ Boulder Station, Las Vegas, NV, Feb 24
Chris Standring @ Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London, UK, Feb 24-25
WAR @ House of Blues, Atlantic city, NJ, Feb 25
Jack Jones @ Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL, Feb 25-26
Robert Randolph & Family Band @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 27-27
Chris Standring @ Java Jazz Festival, Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb 29

MARCH 2012
Kenny Garrett @ Band On The Wall, Manchester, UK, Mar 1
Kenny Garrett @ Sardirview USF Club, Bergen, Norway, Mar 2
The Isley Brothers @ Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Mar 2-3
Jeff Lorber @ Java Jazz Festival, Jakarta, Indonesia, Mar 2-4
Kenny Garrett @ Sting Jazz Club, Stavanger, Norway, Mar 3
Chris Standring @ Java Jazz Festival, Jakarta, Indonesia, Mar 3-4
Kenny Garrett @ Porgy And Bess, Corbevoie, France, Mar 4
Santana @ Auditorio Telemex, Guadalajara, Mexico, Mar 7
Kenny Garrett @ Espace Carpeaux, Corbevoie, France, Mar 8

Brian Culbertson, David Benoit @ Del E. Webb Center for PAC,
Wickenberg, AZ, Mar 8

Mindi Abair @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, March 8-11
Kenny Garrett @ Maison des Artes, Evian, France, Mar 9
Santana @ Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico, Mar 9
Chicago @ Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Mar 9-10
Tower of Power @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, Mar 9-10
Kenny Garrett @ Theatre du Casino, Hyeres, France, Mar 10
Candy Dulfer @ Goois Jazz Festival, Bussim, Netherlands, Mar 10

Brian Culbertson, David Benoit @ Mesa Arts Center Piper Theatre,
Mesa, AZ, Mar 10

Kenny Garrett @ Salle Pleyel,, Paris, France, Mar 11
Santana @ Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, Mar 11
Candy Dulfer @ Luxor Live, Arnhem, Netherlands, Mar 11
Boz Scaggs @ Eastside Cannery, Las Vegas, NV, Mar 11
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland, Mar 12
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ KKL, Lucerne, Switzerland, Mar 13
Kenny Garrett @ La Passerelle, St. Brieuc, France, Mar 13
Kenny Garrett @ La Coursive, La Rochelle, France, Mar 14
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Rome Auditorium, Rome, Italy, Mar 14
Ron Carter @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, Mar 14-15
Kenny Garrett @ Cedac, Nice, France, Mar 15
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Athens Concert Hall, Athens, Greece, Mar 15
Michael Feinstein @ Smith Center for Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV Mar 15
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Palance Hall, Bucharest, Romania, Mar 16
Kenny Garrett @ Paradox, Tilburg, Netherlands, Mar 17
Kenny Garrett @ Bimhuis, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Mar 18
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Palace of the Arts, Budapest, Romania, Mar 18
Kenny Garrett @ Modo, Salerno, Italy, Mar 20

Brian Culbertson, David Benoit @ Carolina Theater of Durham,
Durham, NC, Mar 21

Kenny Garrett @ Moody, Foggia, Italy, Mar 21

Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Wiener Konzerthaus,
Vienna, Austria, Mar 21-22

Brian Culbertson, David Benoit @ Sunrise Theater, Ft. Pierce, FL. Mar 22
Kenny Garrett @ Ueffilo, Gioa, Italy, Mar 22
Roy Hargrove @ Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Mar 22-26

Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Stokholm Concert Hall,
Stockholm, Sweden, Mar 23

Brian Culbertson, David Benoit @ Parker Playhouse,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Mar 23

George Benson @ Sovereign Performing Arts, Reading, PA, Mar 23
Kenny Garrett @ Pizza Express, London, UK, Mar 23-25

Brian Culbertson, David Benoit @ Philharmonic Center for PAC,
Naples, FL, Mar 24

Liza Minnelli @ Borgata Events Center, Atlantic City, NJ, Mar 24
Toni Braxton, Babyface @ Caesars, Atlantic City, NJ, Mar 24

Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Goteborgs Konserthus,
Goteborg, Sweden, Mar 25

Brian Culbertson, David Benoit @ Capitol Theatre, Clearwater, FL, Mar 25
George Benson @ Knight Theater, Charlotte, NC, Mar 25
Kenny Garrett @ Budapest JazzClub, Budapest, Hungary, Mar 26-27
Marlena Shaw @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, Mar 27-31
Kenny Garrett @ Hodaly Center, pecs, Hungary, Mar 28
Kenny Garrett @ Grand Casino, Basel, Switzerland, Mar 29
Candy Dulfer @ Groene Engel, Oss, Netherlands, Mar 30
Chick Corea @ Universty of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC, Mar 30

Marcus Miller, Third World, Hugh Masekela, Dave Koz, Patti Austin,
Kevin Mahogany, Ron Carter, Lenny White, David Sanchez
@ Cape Town Jazz Festival, Cape Town, South Africa, Mar 30-31

APRIL 2012
Candy Dulfer @ Mezz, Breda, Netherlands, Apr 1
Chick Corea @ Miller Center for the Arts, Reading, PA, Apr 1
Jack Jones @ The Algonquin Hotel, New York, NY, April 1-30
Chick Corea @ Palaias Montcalm, Quebec, CAN, Apr 2
Lionel Ritchie @ MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 2

Chick Corea @ Markham Theate for Perf Arts,
Markham, Ontario, CAN, Apr 3

Chick Corea @ Massry Center for the Arts, Albany, NY, Apr 4
Paco de Lucia @ The Fillmore, Miami Beach, FL, Apr 5
Candy Dulfer @ Hedon, Zwolle, Netherlands, Apr 5
John Oates @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Apr 5-8
Chick Corea @ Manchester Craftsman’s Guild, Pittsburgh, PA, Apr 6
Candy Dulfer @ Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Apr 6
Kenny Garrett @ Regatta Bar, Boston, MA, Apr 6-7
Candy Dulfer @ P3, Purmerend, Netherlands, Apr 7
Candy Dulfer @ Tivoli, Utrecht, Netherlands, Apr 8
Michel Legrand @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, Apr 10-12
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Barbican, London, UK, Apr 11

Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Le Rocher de Palmer,
Cenon Aquitaine, France, Apr 12

Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Theatre Simone Signoret,
Confians St. Honrine, France, Apr 13

Sergio Mendes @ Adriene Arsht Center, Miami, FL, Apr 13
Candy Dulfer @ Bolwerk, Sneek, Netherlands, Apr 13

Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Espace des Arts,
Chalon-sur-SaA’n e Bourgogne. France, Apr 14

Kenny Garrett @ Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, Apr 14
Candy Dulfer @ Metropool, Hengelo, Netherlands, Apr 14
Jeff Lorber @ Pensacola Jazz Festival, Pensacola, FL, Apr 14-15
Candy Dulfer @ Patronaat, Haarlem, Netherlands, Apr 15

Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Maison de la Culture,
Amiens Picardie, France, Arp 16

Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Salle Pleyal, Paris, France, Apr 17
Candy Dulfer @ Kaufleuten, Zurich, Switzerland, Apr 17
Candy Dulfer @ KKL, Luzern, Switzerland, Apr 18
Frank Sinatra Jr. @ Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ, Mar 18
Esperanza Spalding @ Center for the Arts, Buffalo, NY, Apr 18
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ La Filature, Mullhouse, France, Apr 18
Nile Rodgers & Chic @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Apr 18-21
Candy Dulfer @ Volkshaus, Basel, Switzerland, Apr 18
Esperanza Spalding @ Metro Campus Auditorium, Cleveland, OH, Apr 19
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Flagey, Brussels, Belgium, Apr 19
Candy Dulfer @ Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands, Apr 21
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Arsenal, Metz Morraine, France, Apr 21
Esperanza Spalding @ Webster Hall, New York, NY, Apr 21
Chicago @ Pompano Beach Amphitheatre, Pompano Beach, FL, Apr 21
Chick Corea, Gary Burton @ Philharmonie, Luxenbourg, Apr 22
Candy Dulfer @ Underground, Lelystad, Netherlands, Apr 22
Esperanza Spalding @ Optheum Theatre, Boston, MA, Apr 22
Chris Standring @ Spaghettini, Seal Beach, CA, Apr 24
Esperanza Spalding @ Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA, Apr 24
Esperanza Spalding @ Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR, Apr 25
Paco de Lucia @ Smith Center for Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV Apr 25
Ramsey Lewis, Al Jarreau @ Smith Center for Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV Apr 25
Kenny Garrett @ Iridium, New York, NY, Apr 26-29
Esperanza Spalding @ The Music Box, Hollwood, CA, Apr 27
Jeff Lorber @ Mallorca Smooth Jazz Festival, Mallorca, Spain, Apr 27

Bugge “n Friends feat. Eric Truffaz, Ilhan Ersahin & Joaquin ‘Joe” Claussell
@ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Apr 27-29

Esperanza Spalding @ JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, Phoenix, AZ, Apr 28
The O’Jays @ Cannery, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 28
Eric Benet, Keith Sweat @ Clark County Gov’t Center, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 29
Omara Portuondo & Chucho Valdes @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Apr 30

MAY 2012
Esperanza Spalding @ House of Blues, Dallas, TX, May 1
Omara Portuondo & Chucho Valdes @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, May 1-5
Jack Jones @ The Algonquin Hotel, New York, NY, May 1-12
Esperanza Spalding @ House of Blues, Houston, TX, May 2
Esperanza Spalding @ New Orleans Jazz Festival, New Orleans, LA, May 3
Kenny Garrett @ Soiled Dove, Denver, CO, May 3-4
Manu Dibango @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, May 3-5
Brian Culbertson @ The Stables, Keynes, UK, May 4
WAR @ Cannery, Las Vegas, NV, May 5
Esperanza Spalding @ Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX, May 5
Brian Culbertson @ Pizza Express, London UK, May 5-11
Kenny Garrett @ Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA, May 6-7
Kenny Garrett @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, May 8-9
Kenny Garrett @ Catalina’s, Los Angeles, CA, May 10-13
Dave Koz @ Glendale Art-Pops Concert, Glendale, CA, May 11
Keiko Matsui @ Green Valley Ranch, Las Vegas, NV, May 12
Al Di Meola @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, May 16-18
Buddy Guy @ Smith Center for Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV May 19

Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson, Howard Hewett, Freddie Jackson
@ Cannery, Las Vegas, NV, May 19

The Manhattan Transfer @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, May 20-21
Esperanza Spalding @ La Cigale, Paris, France, May 23
Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, May 24-26
Esperanza Spalding @ Koko Club, London, UK, May 28
Lou Donaldson @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, May 28-30
Dionne Warwick @ The Sage, Gateshead, UK, May 30
Dionne Warwick @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham, UK, May 31

JUNE 2012
Neil Diamond @ BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, FL, Jun 1
Kenny Garrett @ Liviv Jazz Festival, Liviv, Ukraine, Jun 1
Dionne Warwick @ Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK, Jun 1
Stanley Clarke Band @ Santa Fe Station, Las Vegas, NV, Jun 1
George Benson @ Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, Jun 3
Neil Diamond @ St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL, Jun 3
Kenny Garrett @ Usadba Jazz Festival, Moscow, Russia, Jun 3
Dionne Warwick @ Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, UK, Jun 3
Dionne Warwick @ Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, UK, Jun 4
Neil Diamond @ Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA, Jun 6
Neil Diamond @ Jones Beach Theater, Wantaugh, NY, Jun 8
Kenny Garrett @ Blues Alley, Washington, DC, Jun 8-10
Neil Diamond @ Verizon Center, Washington, DC, Jun 14

Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Ortoabrsky Grand Concert,
St. Petersburg, Russia, Jun 14

Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Tchaikowsky Concert Hall,
Moscow, Russia, Jun 15

Neil Diamond @ Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT, Jun 16
Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Philharmonie, Luxembourg, Jun 17
Neil Diamond @ Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA, Jun 18
Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Meistersingeralle, Nurnberg, GER, Jun 18
Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Alte Oper, Frankfurt, GER, June 19
Neil Diamond @ Bell Centre, Montreal, QC, Jun 21
Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden, GER, Jun 22
Neil Diamond @ TD Garden, Boston, MA, Jun 23
Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Gasteig Philharmonie, Munchen, GER, Jun 23
George Benson @ Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, Canada, Jun 23
Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Liederhalle Hegelsaal, Stuttgart, GER, Jun 24
George Benson @ Royal Theatre, Victoria, Canada, Jun 24
Jeff Lorber @ Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY, Jun 25
Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Philharmonie Essen, Essen, GER, Jun 25
Curtis Stigers @ Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, Jun 25-29
Neil Diamond @ Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON, Jun 26
Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Berlin Philharmonie, Berlin, GER, Jun 26
Neil Diamond @ John Labatt Centre, London, ON, Jun 28
Esperanza Spalding @ Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, Quebec, CAN Jun 29
Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin @ Hamburg Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, GER, June 30

JULY 2012
Neil Diamond @ Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH, Jul 1
Neil Diamond @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit, MI, Jul 3
Neil Diamond @ United Center, Chicago, IL, Jul 6
Neil Diamond @ Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI, Jul 8
Neil Diamond @ Excel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, Jul 11
Neil Diamond @ Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Jul 13
Neil Diamond @ Rexall Place, Edmonton, AB, Jul 16
Neil Diamond @ Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB, Jul 18
Neil Diamond @ Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC, Jul 21
Neil Diamond @ Key Arena, Seattle, WA, Jul 23
Neil Diamond @ Rio Tinto Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT, Jul 28

AUGUST 2012
Neil Diamond @ HP Pavillion, San Jose, CA, Aug 7
Neil Diamond @ US Airways Casino, Phoenix, AZ, Aug 29
Santana @ North Sea Jazz Festival, Curacao, Aug 31

SEPTEMBER 2012
Neil Diamond @ MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, Sep 1
Jack Jones @ Andy Williams Moon River Theatre, Branson, MO, Sept 24-29

Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson @ Dave Koz & Friends At Sea: European Cruise,
Sept 26 – Oct 3

JANUARY 2013
George Benson, Rick Braun, Brian Culbertson, Richard Elliot,

Jeff Golub, Bob James, Brian Simpson, Angie Stone, David Sanborn,

Marcus Miller, Candy Dulfer, Jonathan Butler @ Smooth Jazz

Cruise, Jan 1-17-18; Jan 24-25, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

MAY 2013

Kenny @ Kenny G Cruise To Alaska, May 17-24

SEPTEMBER 2013

Dave Koz, Michael McDonald, Mindi Abair, Peter White, Gerald Albright,

Keiko Matsui @ Dave Koz & Friends Cruise, Italy, Greece, Sicily, Sept 22-29

HERBIE HANCOCK MUSIC VIDEO FEATURES CROWD-SOURCED IMAGES

Legendary recording artist, bandleader and icon of modern music, Herbie Hancock, has collaborated with Canon U.S.A. to launch a first-of-its-kind music video generated from 1,800 crowd-sourced images for Hancock’s hit song “Chameleon.” Hancock’s special live performance at Canon’s “Legends in Imaging” event on October 26, 2011, served as the backdrop and inspiration for the music video. At the launch event, Canon invited guests to photograph 14-time Grammy® Award winner Hancock’s performance of “Chameleon” using Canon EOS 5D MarkII & EOS 7D Digital SLR cameras. These high quality stills were printed with the new Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet printer and edited together using time lapse and stop motion film production techniques. The photographs were then synched with a live audio recording of the performance to help create a stop-motion-style music video which will live on Canon’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CanonUSA.

“As a technology enthusiast, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Canon U.S.A., giving me the chance to combine my passion for music and innovative tech products,” said Herbie Hancock. “It was an honor to be a part of the collaborative process and work with talented photographers whose images served as the building blocks for my latest music video.”

"Mr. Hancock was the perfect artist for this ambitious, creative collaboration as he is someone that embraces how new technology can transform the arts,” said Katsuichi Shimizu, managing director, member of board chief executive inkjet products operations, Canon Inc. “We aligned the launch of Canon’s new printer with the launch of a ‘crowd-sourced’ music video that leveraged photography – an experiment that only an icon such as Mr. Hancock could help us execute.” Grey New York, Canon’s agency partner for over thirty years, produced the music video. Alliance, the entertainment and lifestyle marketing division of Grey, is managing the partnership with Herbie Hancock and executing the public relations efforts.

BILL MEDLEY - BILL MEDLEY 100% / SOFT AND SOULFUL

Bill Medley has released seven solo albums to date for several different labels over the course of his career. His first two efforts were issued following the break-up of the Righteous Brothers. Real Gone Music has now reissued these two albums recorded for the MGM label, combining Bill Medley 100% (1968) and Soft And Soulful (1969) onto one disc. Here you can enjoy one of the great bass voices in all of popular music, that of one-time Righteous Brother Bill Medley, who had just split from Bobby Hatfield when he recorded these two solo albums for MGM in 1968 and 1969, respectively. Fans who swoon over the Righteous Brothers’ blue-eyed soul sound will find a lot to like here, as these two records feature the same blend of pop and R&B styles that graced their classic sides, all backed by the kind of production value you’d expect from a guy who learned some studio chops from Phil Spector (and had some of his own, as Medley himself produced some of the Righteous Brothers’ biggest hits). Neither of these albums have ever been on CD, and appear here on a single CD inside a snazzy four-panel, full-bleed wallet with liner notes and photos.

The Righteous Brothers always had a soulful quality to their music and on Bill Medley 100% he is on solid ground with the Goffin-King composition, “I Can Make It Alone,” and “Brown Eyed Woman,” written by the songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, was a moderate hit single; Medley presented his bass voice well on the building ballad. He also gave a credible performance on the old Little Anthony hit, “Goin’ Out Of My Head.” Soft And Soulful was an overall more satisfying album as he stuck close to his soulful roots. “Peace Brother Peace” had a gospel feel with lyrics that fit the peace movement of the late 1960s well. Other cover songs songs include “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” (The Casinos), “For Your Precious Love” (Jerry Butler & The Impressions), “Any Day Now” (Chuck Jackson), and “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” (Sam & Dave) all came to life through his soulful vocals.

A FUNKY SENSATION WITH JAZZ FM AND JOEY NEGRO

Joey Negro was one of the first producers to sample disco music and was largely responsible for giving meaning to the term ‘disco house'. Today he continues to reflect his extensive love of a massive variety of quality music by playing the kind of eclectic and mind-blowing sets which showcase the many edits and updates of old tracks he's become famous for. The real skill of Joey Negro though, lies in his ability to make these tracks mix in seamlessly and stand alongside the very freshest cuts in his box. “I'm forever chopping up new records in the studio to make them work better in clubs – I can't help myself – I want dancers to experience the very best highs a record has to offer, even if it means I have to spend a few days in the studio re-editing something. I couldn't be a producer without being a DJ and certainly DJ'ing would be a whole lot less fun if I didn't get to tweak the music I was playing out.” Negro is also one of the star DJs appearing at Funky Sensation – which is Jazz FM’s now-legendary weekly club event. The event takes place every Saturday night at Ronnie’s Bar upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s, Frith Street in Soho, London. There you can catch Jazz FM presenters such as Mike Vitti, Nigel Williams, Pru Fiddy and Chris Philips, as well as guest DJs including none other than Joey Negro. Here they take control of the decks for an evening of classic jazz/funk, disco and soul. The fun starts at 8pm and carries on until 3am on Sunday morning.

A hugely respected producer first and foremost, Negro uses his DJing talents as a sound-bed for tweaking his musical creations to perfection. His work ethic is legendary, having been involved in well over 200 productions, countless albums and hit singles. He has worked with a stars such as Lionel Ritchie, Mariah Carey to Seal. This man is always on the move. Not content with being the most commercially successful house producer in the UK (this is the man that has had more top 10 hits than other UK house producer after all), Joey Negro continues to play out all over the world simply because he enjoys it. “Being in the studio and making music is one kind of luxury, but nothing ever beats the buzz of playing out my latest tunes to a bunch of eager, crazy-eyed dancers. It doesn't matter if it's Singapore or Southport, Sydney or Sunderland, the buzz is always pure gold and the scope for fun massive."

The lineup for the next few events is as follows:

14th January: Gavin Kendrick, Mike Vitti and Jay Wagner
21st January: Gavin Kendrick and JazzCotech
28th January: Ralph Tee and Eddie Piller
4th February: Pru Fiddy, Mike Vitti and Claudio Passavanti (from Sunlightsquare)
11th February: Jeff Young and Mark Webster
18th February: Ralph Tee and Fitzroy da Buzzboy
25th February: Gary Parker, Mike Vitti and Ash Selector
3rd March: Gary Parker, Mike Vitti and Dean Rudland
10th March: Gavin Kendrick and Bigger
17th March: Chris Philips and Gary Parker
24th March: Gavin Kendrick and Fitzroy da Buzzboy
31st March: Gary Parker, Mike Vitti and John Stevenson

BARRY WHITE - UNLIMITED

Unlimited presents 72 tracks from when he stepped out with his own sound, with Love Unlimited in 1972, through his final studio album, the Grammy®-winning Staying Power, released in 1999. Highlighted throughout the four CDs are extended and/or rare versions of his hits – newly mixed and/or edited with great care by Jack Perry, Barry White’s longtime friend and collaborator – as well as never-compiled personal favorites and LP tracks. Of particular delight to Barry White fans is two discs’ worth of rare Barry productions for a dozen different artists, including Tom Brock, Love Unlimited, Love Unlimited Orchestra, Gene Page, Jimmie & Vella Cameron, Westwing, Jay Dee (a.k.a. Jackie Lee), White Heat and Gloria Scott, who is represented by an unreleased cut and a rare non-LP single – one of six single-only tracks in this set. A special DVD included in Unlimited offers every video from Barry White’s tenure on A&M Records – the hits “Practice What You Preach,” “Sho’ You Right,” “Come On” and eight more – as well as rare bonus clips, including a live duet with Luciano Pavarotti that has become a YouTube phenomenon; each clip has bonus commentary from Jack Perry. The set is housed in lavish packaging befitting Barry’s deluxe grooves. Inside, the set including an essay and selected commentary by Barry himself, and by Perry, with additional notes from Quincy Jones – revealing the stories behind the songs and the man who made some of the funkiest, most romantic music of all time.

Disc 1
1. I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby - Alternate Version
2. Never Never Gonna Give Ya Up - Alternate Version
3. Honey Please, Can’t Ya See - Alternate Version
4. Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe - Alternate Version
5. You’re The First, The Last, My Everything - Alternate Version
6. I’ll Do For You Anything You Want Me To - Alternate Version
7. What Am I Gonna Do With You - Alternate Version
8. Let Me Live My Life Lovin’ You Babe
9. You See The Trouble With Me
10. Let The Music Play - Alternate Version
11. Don’t Make Me Wait Too Long - Alternate Version
12. Your Love–So Good I Can Taste It
13. I’m Qualified To Satisfy You - Alternate Version
14. I’ve Got So Much To Give

Disc 2
1. Playing Your Game, Baby - Alternate Version
2. It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me -Alternate Version
3. You Turned My Whole World Around
4. Your Sweetness Is My Weakness – Alternate 12-Inch Version
5. It Ain’t Love, Babe (Until You Give It) - Special Disco Version
6. Ghetto Letto
7. Sheet Music - Alternate Version
8. Ella Es Todo Para Mi (She’s Everything To Me)
9. Barry & Glodean – Our Theme, Pts. 1 & 2
10. Love Song
11. Good Dancin’ Music
12. You’re What’s On My Mind - Non-LP Single
13. Super Lover - Undercover Mix
14. Don’t Play Games

Disc 3
1. Love Unlimited Orchestra/Midnight And You - Alternate Version
2. Love Unlimited Orchestra/Baby Blues
3. Love Unlimited Orchestra/Love’s Theme - Alternate Version
4. Love Unlimited Orchestra/My Sweet Summer Suite - 12-Inch Promo Version
5. Love Unlimited Orchestra/Theme From King Kong - 12-Inch Disco Version
6. Love Unlimited Orchestra/Sweet Moments - Non-LP Single
7. Love Unlimited Orchestra/Whisper Softly
8. Love Unlimited Orchestra/Welcome Aboard
9. Love Unlimited/Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love
10. Love Unlimited/It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It’s Spring) - Alternate Version
11. Love Unlimited/Under The Influence Of Love - Alternate Version
12. Love Unlimited/I Belong To You - Alternate Version
13. Love Unlimited/He’s All I’ve Got
14. Love Unlimited/High Steppin’, Hip Dressin’ Fella - Alternate Version

Disc 4
1. Tom Brock/I Love You More And More
2. Tom Brock/If We Don’t Make It Nobody Can - Non-LP Single Version
3. Jay Dee/Strange Funky Games And Things
4. Jimmie & Vella Cameron/Be Fair To Me
5. Gene Page/Satin Soul
6. Gloria Scott- Just As Long As We’re Together (In My Life There Will Never Be Another) - Alternate Version
7. Gloria Scott/I’ve Got To Have All Of You- Previously Unreleased
8. Smoke/Oh Love (Well, We Finally Made It) - Non-LP Single
9. Jay Dee/You’ve Changed
10. White Heat/Take A Look At Yourself (Before You Frown On Someone Else)
11. Black Satin Featuring Fred Parris/How I Wish We Could Do It Again
12. Westwing/Falling In Love Is A No No – Non-LP Single
13. Tom Brock/Have A Nice Weekend Baby
14. Danny Pearson/What’s Your Sign Girl
15. Quincy Jones Featuring Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge & Barry White/The Erotic Garden
16. Tina Turner Featuring Barry White/In Your Wildest Dreams

DVD
1. Sho’ You Right

2. I Wanna Do It Good To Ya

3. When Will I See You Again

4. Follow That And See (Where It Leads Y’all)

5. Put Me In Your Mix

6. Barry White Featuring Isaac Hayes/Dark & Lovely

7. Practice What You Preach

8. Come On

9. I Only Want To Be With You

10. Just The Way You Are

11. I Wanna Do It Good To Ya – Wet Remix

12. Let The Music Play – Funkstar’s Club Deluxe Mix Video

13. Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up – Live From Brussels

14. Barry White & Luciano Pavarotti/You’re The First, The Last, My Everything Live

BERNARD PURDIE - SOUL DRUMS

Every so often you come across a really hot album that you want to tell everybody about – well here is one for you all. I was listening to Jazz FM (from the U.K.) the other day when they were playing a track entitled Soul Drums from Bernard Purdie and then I decided to do a little research to find out more about this artist. Come to find out that Bernard Purdie is one of the most well known drummers of all time, in all genres of music and probably the most recorded in history. He was a session player in the early days, Aretha Franklin’s musical director, over-dub drummer for The Beatles, and he recorded albums with King Curtis, Steely Dan, Cat Stevens, Joe Cocker, Herbie Hancock, Hall & Oats, Quincy Jones, The Last Poets, Roberta Flack & James Brown, just to name a few. In 1967 he entered the studio with several other musicians to record his first solo album, Soul Drums. The album was originally released on the Date label, which is a new subsidiary of Columbia Records. More recently Bernard Purdie was the drummer for the 2009 Broadway revival of Hair and he also appeared on the associated Broadway cast recording. Soul Drums has become one of the most sought after drum LP’s amongst vinyl collectors and it is now finally available for the first time on CD with the inclusion of an additional eight bonus tracks. These songs are rumored to be the follow-up LP titled Alexander’s Rag Time Band which has been shelved since it was recorded. Another favorite track on here is Groovin' originally recorded by The Rascals.


Soul Drums track listing:
1. Soul Drums
2. Bee ‘N’ Bee
3. Caravan
4. Soul Bossa Nova
5. Jimmy’s Back
6. Funky Monkey
7. Bill’s Groove
8. On The Outskirts Of Minitown
9. Testifyin’
10. Modern Jive
11. Blow Your Lid (But Watch Your Cool)

Bonus Tracks
12. Alexander’s Rag Time Band
13. Fickle Finger Of Fate
14. Genuine John
15. Soul Clappin’
16. Groovin’
17. If You Never Cry
18. Stop
19. Time Is Tight

UPCOMING RELEASES: TOM WETMORE, GREGORY PORTER, WES MONTGOMERY & BILL ORTIZ

TOM WETMORE -

THE DESIRED EFFECT

The buoyant grooves and graceful melodies heard on the forthcoming CD The Desired Effect serve to introduce a fresh new voice in jazz—Tom Wetmore, whose Crosstown Records will release the pianist/composer's exceptional debut, The Desired Effect,  on January 17. The 29-year-old Massachusetts native has been active on the New York scene since 2005, leading his own traditional jazz trio as well as his eclectic sextet. He's also performed and/or recorded with Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, T.K. Blue, Bernard Purdie, and the fine contemporary players showcased on his new disc.

GREGORY PORTER -
BE GOOD

On Be Good, (out February 14, 2011 on Motéma), Porter has crafted a work that not only meets, but is likely to surpass, the heightened expectations of the jazz and soul audiences eagerly awaiting his follow up to Water. Featuring Porter's winning combination of "outstanding original songs, erudite lyrics and social comment, top drawer musicianship and improvisation, and a voice to die for" (Jazz Wise), Be Good is a musical compendium of groove-driven delights, ranging from quiet ballads to up-tempo burners, from romantic charmers to powerful, blues-tinged anthems. Be Good finds Porter surrounded by the core of his powerhouse working band, with whom he recorded his Grammy® nominated debut, and who have performed with him for over three years now: Chip Crawford on piano, Aaron James on bass, Emanuel Harrold on drums, and Yosuke Sato on alto sax. Under the sure hand of producer Brian Bacchus, Porter and the band rise to new heights on Be Good, which is further fueled by richly emotional horn arrangements by Kamau Kenyatta, who produced Water and who continues to play an important role in Porter's sound. Kenyatta also performs on one track ("Painted on Canvas") and guest instrumentalists Keyon Harrold ontrumpet and Tivon Pennicott ontenor sax are also featured throughout.

WES MONTGOMERY -
ECHOES OF INDIANA AVENUE

Resonance Records will release Echoes of Indiana Avenue - the first full album of previously unheard Montgomery music in over 25 years - on March 6, 2012, which would have been Montgomery's 88th birthday. The tapes are the earliest known recordings of Montgomery as a leader, pre-dating his auspicious 1959 debut on Riverside Records. The album showcases Montgomery in performance from 1957-1958 at nightclubs in his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as rare studio recordings. The release is also beautifully packaged, containing previously unseen photographs and insightful essays by noted music writers and musicians alike, including guitarist Pat Martino and Montgomery's brothers Buddy and Monk. On this scintillating discovery, Montgomery plays it strictly straight ahead, swinging with a momentum and ferocity that is positively visceral - a clear display of Montgomery's bebop side. Listening to these recordings only reaffirms how Montgomery exerted such a profound influence over generations of guitarists - from George Benson, Pat Martino and Joe Pass to John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Kevin Eubanks, and Russell Malone to Kurt Rosenwinkel.

BILL ORTIZ -
WINTER IN AMERICA

A follow up to his debut solo album From Where I Stand, the new project features conscious emcees such as The Grouch, Zumbi (of Zion I) and K-Maxx, as well as fellow Santana member (and 11 time Grammy Award Winner) Tony Lindsey, and iconic poet/vocalist Linda Tillery, featured with a spoken word performance of Dr. Martin Luther King's Nobel Peace Prize speech. "My musical upbringing contains a wide variety of musical styles, including Jazz, Hip Hop, Latin, African, R&B/soul, and blues, ” he states. “What I am trying to do with my musical voice is reflect all of those elements of who I am as a musician and a person. I'm not a purist; I try to bring all these elements of who I am musically into one voice." “Carlos has always used music to inspire and bring people together, ” explains Ortiz. “I follow in that tradition. I’ve been really encouraged by some of the Bay Area hip-hop artists like Zumbi and the Grouch who make music with enlightened lyrics, ” Ortiz adds of how he chose his featured guests. “We often celebrate ignorance in our society, so I wanted to celebrate consciousness.” Ortiz covers Gil Scott Heron’s 1973 hit on the title track “Winter in America” as an homage to the recently departed Heron. The worldwide digital and physical release is scheduled for January 31st, 2012.

STEVE TYRELL - I'LL TAKE ROMANCE

Often cited as the world’s true “romance crooner” and proponent of all things love, legendary jazz balladeer Steve Tyrell will release his new collection, I’ll Take Romance on February 7, 2012. His Concord Records debut, I'll Take Romance, features 12 tracks with Tyrell, backed by his band along with a String Orchestra. The release of I’ll Take Romance will be accompanied by dates across the country, including his annual seven week run at New York City’s legendary Café Carlyle, where he replaced Manhattan icon Bobby Short seven years ago. I’ll Take Romance is his ninth album release, and according to Tyrell “most of my albums have been collections of love songs. But I haven’t done a studio album of just romantic standards since Songs of Sinatra in 2005. I realize that my music is now played at countless weddings, engagement dinners and anniversaries, and it occurred to me that nobody ever created an entire album for people getting engaged and married. Inspired by Chelsea Clinton’s choice of his version of “The Way You Look Tonight” for the first dance at her wedding (as told to Tyrell at last year’s Café Carlyle engagement by proud Papa Bill Clinton), Tyrell then decided that his next studio recording should be an album consisting purely of romantic standards – an homage to The Great American Songbook with tracks culled from several genres expressing the theme of romance.

Featuring such gems as “That’s All,” “Taking a Chance On Love,” “All of You,” and the title track, Tyrell also covers a host of R&B classics, including the Etta James hits “At Last” and “Trust In Me,” Sam Cooke’s “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons;” and Little Willie John’s “Talk to Me.” In addition, Tyrell included a couple of songs that much of his audience would be discovering for the first time. During the 1960s, when he was a player in pop’s celebrated “Brill Building Sound,” Tyrell became close friends, and subsequently partners, with the hit songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. From the vast Mann-Weill catalog, he has selected the relatively obscure gem “Your Turn Me Around.” Written in the early 1970s (and originally recorded by Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers), says Tyrell, “It’s a real find! It’s a song I’ve known for a long time, and always wanted to do.” Also included by Mann and Weil is “Don’t Know Much,” a Grammy-winning song that he produced with Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville. Of newer vintage is David Foster and Linda Thompson’s “A Love That Will Last.”

I’ll Take Romance features nearly 20 difference accompanists, including four pianists, four bassists, and four drummers in various combinations. The reason, he says, is that “I’m always recording. When I get an idea, I record it. It’s like a painter who has a studio with all sorts of canvases in various stages of development. Most of these tracks were newly recorded for the album, but others I’ve been working on for years. That’s why you’ll hear the late great drummer Johnny Guerin (who dies in 2004) playing on ‘That’s All’ and ‘You Turn Me Around.’” Additionally, I’ll Take Romance showcased several stellar soloists, including five-time Grammy-winning Randy Brecker, saxophonist David Mann (who also plays flute on “Talk to Me” and “All of You”). Legendary Sinatra and Nat King Cole saxophonist Plas Johnson and harmonicist Will Galison. Another special guest is vocalist Judith Hill, Tyrell’s duet partner on the album’s title track. Tyrell first encountered Hill when he was producing Rod Stewart’s Soulbook (released 2009). “She was singing backup on the Stewart album,” he says, “and I fell in love with her voice, so I asked her to sing on my records. At the time, she was about to go out on tour with Michael Jackson. She was going to sing all the duets with him – you can see her in the film This Is It. He was going to introduce her to the world, She’s an incredibly talented, beautiful girl, and is going to be a big star.”

As for his recently forged relationship with Concord, Tyrell says he is “thrilled” about joining the label. “I’ve been a big fan of John Burke (Concord’s Executive VP and head of A&R) for a long time. As I stated earlier, Ray Charles is my favorite artist of all time, and John produced Ray’s final studio album (2004’s Genius Loves Company) that won a Grammy for Album of the Year. John was the one who signed me, and he’s helped a tremendous amount with this album. He is somebody I really admire.

COOL VIBES FROM NORMAN BROWN

Grammy® Award winner Norman Brown is on close intimate terms with his audience. For almost two decades, it has been an engaging, mutually rewarding relationship, with the multitalented guitarist, composer and singer offering tasty sonic tidbits of classic R&B and contemporary jazz and his fans melting into satisfied aural bliss with every succulent, jazz inflected note. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, Brown first picked up a guitar at the age of 8. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix‟s mind-bending rock sounds, Brown soon discovered his father's favorite artist, Wes Montgomery, and found his stylistic holy grail. After high school, Brown moved to Los Angeles to pursue his musical career, attending the Musicians Institute where he also taught for a time. While playing with his own group in local clubs, and drawing comparisons to George Benson, Brown was discovered and signed to the MoJazz label, a division of Motown.

He delivered his 1992 debut, Just Between Us, and followed with the gold- certified After The Storm and 1996's Better Days Ahead. With critical acclaim and sales behind him, the talented musician made the leap to Warner Bros. and released Celebration, which first teamed him with producer Paul Brown. The 2003 follow-up, Just Chillin', earned Brown much-deserved recognition with a Grammy® Award in the best pop instrumental category. That project was followed by his 2005 release West Coast Coolin', where Brown tested out his skills as a vocalist, a move that was welcomed by the urban AC radio market. In addition, his 2005 compilation The Very Best Of Norman Brown was one of the best- selling smooth jazz albums of that year.

Brown made the leap to the Peak Records label in 2007 for his smash CD Stay With Me, which yielded the R&B vocal hit “Stay With Me” and the smooth instrumental favorites “Let‟s Take A Ride” and “Pop‟s Cool Groove.” With his latest, Sending My Love, Brown is building on the musical foundation he laid with Stay With Me, which landed at Number One on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. In addition to success as a musician and producer, Brown has launched a successful career as a broadcaster. In January of 2007, he brought his engaging personality to Broadcast Architecture‟s Smooth Jazz Network as an on-air personality, hosting this own weekend radio show.

BENNIE MAUPIN - MOONSCAPES / SLOW TRAFFIC TO THE RIGHT

Bennie Maupin is best known for his atmospheric bass clarinet playing on Miles Davis’ classic Bitches Brew album, as well as other Miles Davis recordings such as, “Big Fun” “Jack Johnson,” and “On the Corner.” He was a founding member of Herbie Hancock’s seminal band The Headhunters, as well as a performer and composer in Hancock’s influential Mwandishi band. Born in 1940, Maupin started playing clarinet, later adding saxophone, flute and, most notably, the bass clarinet to his formidable arsenal of woodwind instruments. Upon moving to New York in 1962, he freelanced with groups led by Marion Brown, Pharoah Saunders, and Chick Corea, and played regularly with Roy Haynes and Horace Silver. He also recorded with McCoy Tyner, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Jack DeJohnette, Andrew Hill, Eddie Henderson, and Woody Shaw to name only a few.

Maupin’s own discography as a leader includes a well-received recording for ECM Records, The Jewel in The Lotus (1974), Slow Traffic to the Right (1976), Moonscapes (1978) both on Mercury Records, and Driving While Black (1998) on Intuition. The instrumentation of Maupin’s current group The Bennie Maupin Ensemble, harkens back to the tradition of great saxophone-bass-drum trios, such as the group led
by Sonny Rollins with Wilbur Ware and Elvin Jones. While echoes of the great John Coltrane can be heard in Maupin’s work, one can also discern the influences of Yusef Lateef, Sonny Rollins, and Eric Dolphy, as well as Maupin’s contemporaries like Wayne Shorter and the late Joe Henderson. Maupin’s approach to his music is intentional and profound, yet alive in the interpretation of the moment.

Released just this past year are pair of funky jazz sets from Bennie Maupin – Slow Traffic To The Right (1976) and Moonscapes (1978)– together in a single set. Slow Traffic To The Right features a great bit of spiritual funky jazz that recalls a lot of the sound of his work with The Headhunters. The first track, "It Remains to Be Seen", is an excellent groover, with some very dark keyboard work by Patrice Rushen, and the rest of the tracks are pretty great too. Pat Gleeson produced and plays synth on the LP, and the cuts include "Quasar", "You Know the Deal", "Water Torture", and "Lament". Next up is Moonscapes, and like a lot of the other Mercury jazz records from the late 70s, it's a great mix of funky jazz playing and smooth studio production. The production is again by Pat Gleeson, who was best known for his arp and synth playing in the mid 70s. Maupin's playing is great throughout, and his pinched hard reed sound feels good on both the fusiony tracks and the smoother funk ones! Tracks include "Nightwatch", "Sansho Shima", "Anua", "Crystals" and "Just Give It Some Time".

fDELUXE - GASLIGHT

A valuable piece of Minneapolis’ musical history re-emerged with the reformation of Prince-founded outfit, The Family, now redubbed fDeluxe, as the sophisto four-piece releases its second album, Gaslight, released on Ropeadope/Sony RED and Art Of Groove/MIG Music (Europe).The band’s origin is nothing short of a who’s who dancing around Paisley Park in concentric circles. Having been formed out of the remnants of Morris Day’s The Time back in 1984, Day was naturally, the group’s first vocalist, but when he stepped out for other pursuits, Prince asked keyboard player St. Paul Peterson to step up to the mic to front The Family along with a newly added vocalist, Susannah Melvoin, twin sister of Wendy Melvoin of the Revolution’s famous subset, Wendy and Lisa, saxophonist/flutist extraordinaire, Eric Leeds (Prince, George Clinton, Chaka Khan, among others) and legendary funk drummer, Jellybean Johnson (of The Time, but also played/produced with Janet Jackson, George Michael, Mint Condition). Prince produced and released The Family’s first self-titled LP in 1985 on the aforementioned label/hotbed, which featured the very first version of the Sinead O’Connor covered smash hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U” and a top ten hit in “Screams Of Passion.”

Fast forward to just a few years ago. The Family had been on an extended, but amicable break, while still staying in touch when long-time friend, Sheila E. convinced the group to participate in a huge benefit concert at the LA Forum. The following year, friend and fan, ?uestlove from The Roots, would do the same, prompting The Family out for a return jam at his hot ticket post-Grammy party. Finally, after the better part of two decades, it stuck. While the initial mach of The Family was more or less a testing ground for Prince’s material around that time, the currently reformed fDeluxe is now solely the creative palette for Peterson, Melvoin, Leeds and Johnson with contributions from Emmy Awards winners Wendy & Lisa, Doyle Bramall (Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks) Oliver Leiber (Ke$ha, Adam Lambert) and more. The band’s new album, Gaslight, combines the essence of the original Family album with the band’s subsequent influences and diverse musical journeys.

Dance, romance and plenty of funk, fDeluxe is that rare band that combines clever, modern material, studio savvy and the stage experience to tear the roof off. Anyone who thought the Minneapolis sound died in the early 1990’s may be in for a shock. Gaslight was released in September 2011 on Ropeadope/Sony RED in the USA and Art Of Groove in Europe with other territories soon to be announced. Formed in Brooklyn NY in 1999, Ropeadope has been recognized worldwide as an eclectic and innovative music company. With a purists’ dedication to music, their roster includes historically important releases from DJ Logic, Antibalas, The Word, and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra as well as critically acclaimed collaborations with the likes of Christian McBride, ?uestlove, King Britt, Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Robert Randolph, and many others.

CEO Louis Marks says, “Ropeadope keeps a steady eye on the past to inform our musical present and future. fDeluxe does exactly that, all the while delivering the nasty soul and funk that keeps you moving. Perfect!” Art Of Groove, a division of MIG -music, is a new label specialized in Funk and Jazz music. The label, based in Germany is home to funk icon Maceo Parker, bass legend Larry Graham/Graham Central Station and multi-time Grammy winner Vince Mendoza to name a few. Art Of Groove head honcho, Joachim Becker says, “We are more than excited to be releasing this fantastic new album!”

The band performed at the Minnesota Black Music Awards on July 15 and made their debut headline performance at the Loring Theater in Minneapolis on Friday, September 16th.

GRAMMY WINNING SAXOPHONIST KENNY G. TO HOST SPECIAL CELEBRITY CRUISES TO ALASKA IN 2013

Grammy Award-winning artist Kenny G has chartered modern luxury line Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Millennium to create a special vacation experience in Alaska, May 17-24, 2013. The world-renowned saxophonist will not only offer multiple performances during the sailing, but also will mix and mingle with guests onboard throughout the cruise. Other recognized artists yet to be announced will perform during the sailing, as well.

In a recording career spanning nearly three decades, Kenny G is the biggest-selling instrumentalist of all time, with sales of more than 75-million records worldwide, and more than a dozen climbs to the top of Billboard's contemporary jazz chart. In the past year alone, Kenny performed in more than 100 concerts in the U.S., Asia and Russia. He continued his iconic status with recent appearances on Saturday Night Live, performing with Foster the People, played a prominent role in pop artist Katy Perry's video hit, "Last Friday Night," and appeared on several Audi TV commercials featured during the 2011 Super Bowl. Since the early 1980s, Kenny G's combination of unparalleled instrumental talent and enduring melodies have resulted in him being recognized as one of the most successful music icons of his generation.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to cruise with my closest fans aboard Celebrity Millennium," said Kenny G. "The experience of playing with my band and sharing the breathtaking sights of one of the most beautiful destinations in the world will be one I'll remember forever. This cruise will allow me to spend quality time and get to know the fans onboard, just as they've gotten to know me through my music. Sailing with them on a week-long Celebrity Cruises vacation will be a highlight of my career, and I can't wait to share the journey."

"We had the thrill of having Kenny perform on our newest Solstice Class ship, Celebrity Silhouette, during the ship's Stateside debut in November, and watching the crowd interact, hearing his exceptional musical talent, and observing his engaging personality was so exciting," said Celebrity Cruises Director of Corporate Sales and Charters Ron Gulaskey. "He's approachable, funny, smart and interesting. The opportunity to sail with him for a week, and experience all this up-close, will create incredible memories for the fans onboard."

To make a booking, or for further information about this special sailing, visit http://www.kennygcruise.com/ or call 1-800-952-2991. Reservations can be held with a deposit of only $100 per person until January 15, 2012, when the full deposit will be due. Special early booking benefits include guaranteed orchestra seating to his opening performance, if full deposits are made by or before that date. Montrose Travel is the exclusive booking agent for this charter cruise; however, agents from other firms also have the opportunity to book their clients on the sailing.

"Unlike many charters, travel agencies wishing to book their clients on the Kenny G Cruise can do so and still receive commission," said Celebrity Cruises North American Charter Sales Manager Andrea Sieger. "When calling Montrose Travel, travel professionals calling from a travel agency to book a client must register their agency with Montrose Travel to receive a 10 percent commission."

JAZZ IN THE GARDENS LINEUP ANNOUNCED!

The lucky 7th year of the two-day Jazz in the Gardens music festival returns to Miami Gardens with an incredible line-up sure to put the audience at Sun Life Stadium on their feet on March 17 and 18, 2012. Beginning Saturday, March 17, 2012, "Jazz in the Gardens" attendees will be treated to exhilarating performances by the queen of neo-soul Jill Scott, the soulful chart topping KEM, Ledisi who was recently named "the next Patti LaBelle by Patti LaBelle", old school human beat box Doug E. Fresh and the timeless jazz superstar Ramsey Lewis. The Sunday, March 18, 2012 line up will feature the incomparable voice of the multi-platinum, nine time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige, R & B legend Patti LaBelle, smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G, jazz guitarist Kevin Eubanks, formerly of The Tonight Show, and locally grown internationally recognized chanteuse Nicole Henry.

"Jazz in the Gardens" owes its success to a simple formula: a star-studded line-up, great food, extraordinarily affordable ticket prices and amazing weather. For the past six years the festival has enjoyed unprecedented growth, consistently delivering stunning increases in attendance. The 2011 festival attracted over 48,000 music lovers, from the Caribbean, the United States and all over Florida, to the beautiful City of Miami Gardens

"Just like all Jazz in the Gardens fans, I anxiously wait to hear who is performing and every year turns out to be a better line-up than the last! The 2012 line-up is absolutely incredible and I look forward to all the fans from around the nation joining us again. This signature Miami Gardens event brings added value to the City and to South Florida in general. I am proud of this City; in the eight years since incorporation, Miami Gardens has seen a steady stream of positive changes, improvements and additions like Jazz in the Gardens, which is more than a concert; it is an opportunity and experience that people want to enjoy year after year," says Mayor Shirley Gibson.

The 2011 "Jazz in the Gardens" featured performances from legendary artists including Ms. Lauryn Hill, Charlie Wilson, Al Jarreau, Jazmine Sullivan, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, EnVogue, Lalah Hathaway, Branford Marsalis and former New Edition members Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant. Previous years have included celebrated artists such as Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, John Legend, Robin Thicke, the late Teena Marie, Wyclef, Babyface, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Chaka Khan, Chrisette Michele, Common, Anthony Hamilton and Roy Ayers.

http://www.jazzinthegardens.com/

ESPERANZA SPALDING - RADIO MUSIC SOCIETY

Esperanza Spalding showcased the album covers of her forthcoming album Radio Music Society to her Facebook fans on Dec 16th. Radio Music Society will be released as two versions. The CD version comes with over 10 music videos that can be obtained via a download card obtained inside the CD package and accessible via her web site. A Deluxe edition of Radio Music Society will come with a bonus DVD and will include conceptual music videos and bonus material, which further express Esperanza’s inspiration and story behind each track. Shot in various locations including New York City; Barcelona, Spain; and her hometown of Portland, Oregon, Radio Music Society, is set to be released on March 20th. Radio Music Society is being described as a more upbeat and more sort of energetic set that was conceived at the same time as Chamber Music Society. According to Splading “Originally I planned to release a double record, but that didn't work. The two (approaches) really couldn't be reconciled," Spalding explains. "So it became two different records. I just decided I wanted to do 'Chamber Music' first and then focus on 'Radio Music.' " Spalding says Radio Music Society which will combine her original compositions with covers of songs by the Beach Boys and Wayne Shorter. Participating are some of the music worlds notable musicians including: jazz legends; Joe Lovano, Jack DeJohnette and Billy Hart; Hip-hop giant Q-Tip, vocalists; Algebra Blessett, Lalah Hathaway, Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke among others. Esperanza also recruits her early childhood mentors pianist Janice Scroggins and Dr. Thara Memory, with the students of the American Music Program ensemble.