MICHAEL BUBLE TOPS THE ITUNES ALBUM CHARTS AROUND THE WORLD

Michael's Buble's brand new studio release, Call Me Irresponsible, was released this week worldwide! The CD has entered the top 10 on the iTunes album chart in over 19 countries and has debuted at the #1 spot in Germany and 5 other European territories!

Michael performed a sensational show at New York's famed Webster Hall on Monday, April 30th. The show was broadcast live worldwide exclusively in MSN's Control Room. The concert will remain on MSN for six months and can be viewed right here: http://music.msn.com/michaelbuble. Also on MSN will be Buble videos, artist information and photos that span his entire career.

Check out http://michaelbuble.com next week when Michael's entire U.S. tour is announced. Shows in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles go on sale this Friday at 10am through Ticketmaster and Chicago is on sale next Monday!

Members of Michael's official fan club, Bungalow-B, have a chance to buy tickets before the public so why not check into Bungalow-B.com to get in on the presale action and find out what other gifts and rewards can be yours!

There are 3 different versions of Call Me Irresponsible to choose from: Standard, Special, and Internet Editions. The deluxe Internet Edition is available only in Michael's Store. The 15 track CD pairs with a beautiful 40 page full color hard cover book encased in a metal look slip case. This is a must-have for any MB fan! Call Me Irresponsible can also be found in Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Whole Foods, Sharper Image, Nordstrom and Target stores across America.

Target is packaging an exclusive 30 minute 'making of' DVD with the 13 track CD. This is available in Target stores only! If you prefer your music digitally then check out our iTunes Exclusive. Call Me Irresponsible includes bonus track "L.O.V.E." plus an exclusive behind the scenes video & PDF.

Michael is back in the UK this week for more European press. He appears this Thursday on Parky TV. Check out the Regis & Kelly Show Thursday, May 10th where Michael makes a guest appearance.

BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – ROOTS, ROCK , REMIXED TO BE RELEASED JULY 24, 2007

Bob Marley is one of the most celebrated and beloved figures on the planet and the term reggae is aynonymous with the musical legacy he left behind. Digging deeply into that sacred catalog, the dozen remixes of legendary songs on Roots, Rock, Remixed are taking the familiar and cherished and reintroducing it to sound systems worldwide. Roots, Rock, Remixed is slated for release on Quango/rockr music, July 24, 2007.

Featuring a crop of today's hottest producers - including Jimpster (Jamie Odell), Yes King (Rhys Adams & Mark Rae), Trio Elétrico (Boozoo Bajou), Fort Knox Five and DJ Spooky - Roots, Rock, Remixed balances that fine line of being respectful to the inimitable artist Nesta was, and using the bass-heavy, digital technologies available to us today. Nothing of the gorgeous, analog originals (including classics like "One Love," "Trenchtown Rock," and "Lively Up Yourself") is lost in translation.

While some bootleg remixes of these songs exist, Roots, Rock, Remixed is the first remix album to receive a certified blessing from the Marley family and Chris Blackwell, himself, who stated, "Roots, Rock, Remixed retains the songs and the spirit of the original Wailers' recordings and creates a great dance party record."

"We thought there was a lack of quality Bob Marley remixes for the underground," says David Hargis, co-producer and VP of A&R at rockr music, which spearheaded this project. "There have been a few high profile, mass market projects, but we wanted to present something for dance club audiences. There's a lot of warmth and humanity in these songs. None sound too electronic or far from the analog originals. Everyone who worked on this project had deep respect for the music."

Yet, those drum beats and bass lines are completely new - the studio refurbishing of skilled hands and ears. Cordovan's hip-hop slick-kick adds punch to the sing-along "One Love," while Afrodisiac Sound System takes "Soul Shakedown Party" from ghetto blaster to mega club experience. Jimpster's excellent retelling of "400 Years," considered crucial in the Peter Tosh library, makes this song of rebellion available for the four-on-the-floor audience. Through and through, the Wailers shine in every moment.

"We're honored to work with such an important body of music," says Jeff Daniel, the album's co-producer and rockr music's chief. "Marley's sound was like no other and his indelible stamp can be heard all through these great new remixes. We took great care not to disrespect his legend."

"There's a really nice balance between those that stick to the roots, and the ones that create their own interpretations," says Bruno Guez, President of Quango Records. Adding to the sentiment, Hargis continues, "Some of the remixers stuck with the familiar song structure and layered modern elements into them, while others took samples of the originals and transformed them into something completely new. It was often astounding how creative these DJs & producers were."

Originally launching Quango under Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures years ago, Guez knows the Marley catalog inside and out. While Blackwell was pivotal in introducing the young Rasta to global ears, this project is quite circular for the groundbreaking Quango.

"These are many of the seed songs for Bob," Hargis concludes. "He went back through his catalog and updated many of them for Island later in his career. In a sense, we're doing the same thing with these remixes. There are a lot of special songs here."

GRAMMY-NOMINATED HAPRIST DEBORAH HENSON-CONANT

She strides on stage with the energy of a rock star and pulls a soulful, electrifying power-chord from her harp. If you think the harp isn't "that" kind of instrument, it wasn’t until Deborah Henson-Conant got her hands on it - literally - and convinced European builders to invent a harp she could strap on like an electric
guitar. Now she takes center stage, her multi-colored braids flying, and plays in styles from Flamenco to Blues, with a musical-theatre-style singing voice and a narrative of storytelling and humor. The result: one-woman shows that blur the line between musical performance and theatrical event.

"The transformation of my harp is a metaphor for what happens when we break personal stereotypes and authentically express who we are," says Henson-Conant. "That's what I try to do in every show." In her latest work - the DVD, CD and TV special "Invention & Alchemy" - Henson-Conant collaborates with an 80-piece orchestra, reinventing the interplay of soloist and symphony into a more interactive and theatrical
format she dubs "symphonic music theatre."

"I wanted to use all the power and the beauty of a full orchestra as an entrance to personal experience," says Henson-Conant, who wrote all the songs, stories and orchestrations. The project continues to win awards, from a Grammy Nomination to first prize in the International Songwriting Competition, and is appearing on PBS stations nationwide. Described as a "combination of Leonard Bernstein, Steven Tyler and Xena
the Warrior Princess" by the Boston Globe, Henson-Conant has opened for Ray Charles, been featured at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, played the 17,000-seat Bercy stadium in Paris, won awards from NEA and "Meet the Composer" and been featured on shows from NBC's "Today" to NPR's "Weekend
Edition."

Henson-Conant's upcoming performances include solo shows in Boston and NYC, and orchestral shows in NY State and Florida. Her recent Science-Meets-Music series debuted at the Cambridge Science Festival.

THE GROOVE BOUTIQUE BACK IN THE GARDEN STATE!

Beginning 5/16, Rafe will be back in the Garden State for an exclusive and oh-so-happnin' weekly appearance: Jazz Wednesdays at 46 Lounge!. 47 Lounge a beautiful restaurant/club that's around 15 minutes outside of the Lincoln Tunnel in Totowa, NJ, is the ideal locale for amazing food, irresistible cocktails, indulgent ambiance, and live jazz!  Some of the hottest NYC studio cats, t.v. musicians, and recording artists will be doing their thang at Jazz Wednesdays - along with the hosting and spinning services of Mr. G...

Coming to Jazz Wednesdays @ 46 Lounge:
5/16 - Saxophonist Jerry Vivino of The Max Weinberg 7 ("Late Night with Conan O'Brien")
5/23 - Guitarist John Tropea (Deodato, Ray Barretto, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, The Blues Brothers)!
5/30 - Harmonica guru Rob Paparozzi of The Blues Brothers Band

There's no other night in northern NJ as cool, sexy, and delicious as Jazz Wednesdays @ 46 Lounge!  Cover is $10 (free admission with dinner).  For table reservations, call 201.998.4001!
 

CHICAGO JAZZ FEST 2007

Pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Charlie Haden and the Mingus Big Band will headline the 29th annual Chicago Jazz Festival, running Aug. 30 to Sept. 3."An Evening with Herbie Hancock" will open the festival with a performance Aug. 30 at Symphony Center. The music-making then will shift to Grant Park on Aug. 31, when the featured artists will include the Michele Rosewoman septet and the Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood quartet. On Sept. 1, singer Ernestine Anderson will perform with saxophonist/flutist Frank Wess; the evening will close with Haden and his Liberation Music Orchestra (Haden serves as this year's artist in residence). On Sept. 2, Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra, featuring Bill Dixon, and the Mingus Big Band will conclude the fest.

As always, three nights of performances will precede the official festival, making for a Chicago Jazz Festival week stretching from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3. Trumpeter Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic will play in Millennium Park on Aug. 27. Jon Faddis, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, James Moody and others will play "A Night in Havana" tribute to Dizzy Gillespie at the Harris Theater Aug. 28. And the annual Jazz Club Tour will take visitors by bus to several venues, Aug. 29.

For more information, call the Mayor's Office of Special Events, which produces the festival, at 312-744-3315, or the Jazz Institute of Chicago, which programs it, at 312-427-1676.

SOUTH JERSEY NOW HAS ITS OWN EXCLUSIVE SMOOTH JAZZ PARTY

ON May 25, 2007, SMOOTH 91.7 & FRIENDS will launch the LAST FRIDAYS SMOOTH JAZZ LISTENER PARTIES at Gensollen's Nightclub, located just outside of Atlantic City at 247 White Horse Pike(Rt. 30) in Absecon, New Jersey, where our aim is to have a place to connect with our Smooth Jazz listening audience, while also allowing them to connect with each other.

Performing live on May 25th will be Wilmington, DE supergroup Aniya, plus 15-year- old keyboardist, producer and arranger Kne-O’Chaw Hampton. On the last Friday of each month, all Smooth Jazz aficionados will be able to schedule an escape from your busy lifestyle...in a place that's created just for you and where you can eat, drink and Get Their Smooth Groove On. South Jersey's only Smooth Jazz listener appreciation parties will make it live--with concerts showcasing many of the region's emerging Smooth Jazz stars & Personal--with socializing, networking and partying in the cozy atmosphere of our host venue.

LAST FRIDAYS will present a sophisticated and classy mix of Smooth Jazz, delicious food, occasional gourmet wine tastings, hourly door prizes and even an old-school dance partying in between and after the live music sets. Live performances by the region's most talented emerging artists will have our patrons looking forward to each subsequent visits. SMOOTH 91.7 creator, producer and host Dorian Gilmer will set a festive tone with Mardi Gras beads to welcome patrons and door prizes such as Smooth Jazz cds, SMOOTH 91.7 sampler cds and t-shirts, as well as sponsored copies of national Jazz magazine publications...and that's just for starters.

”LAST FRIDAYS” IS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC & THE MUSIC LOVER... and other artists whose music will be “discovered”(or re-discovered) at LAST FRIDAYS will include... AIRBORNE, PAULA ATHERTON, PAULINE BENNICK, ALFONSO BLACKWELL, ELLAS y AMIGOS, KNE- O'CHAW HAMPTON, IGUAZU, HOWARD ISAACSON, GORDON JAMES, ANDREW NEU, PLEX BAND, QUEST feat. MIKE JAROSZ, SPUR OF THE MOMENT, LOUIS “NICKY” TAYLOR, DON ”JUAN” WARD, LANNY WARD, ...and numerous other pleasant surprises.

TICKETS for Last Fridays are $20 for General Admission(bar seating and rear tables) and $35 for VIP(close-up reserved table seating with complimentary appetizers from 7-9pm). All tickets are $10 off when purchased in advance by calling 609-204-9466 or 609-892 -1771. Please visit the official website --at www.lastfridays.gq.nu--to keep abreast of up-coming performers and special theme nights. While you're there, you can hit us up in the Guestbook, where all visitors can leave their “2-cents” for all others to see.

COOL JAZZ WINNIPEG FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES HEADLINERS

COOL Jazz Winnipeg Festival has announced headline acts for the 2007 festival this week. The world-class roster will include jazz piano masters Herbie Hancock and Dave Brubeck, vocalist Madeleine Peyroux, and blues guitar god Derek Trucks among the many performers.
Pushing back the dates of the festival by one week to accommodate some acts, the festival will run June 22 to July 2 rather than it’s traditional June dates.

The Performance Series headliners will feature a number of notable double-bills: Herbie Hancock teams with the Kenny Garrett Quartet, Joshua Redman Trio with post-boppers The Bad Plus, and singer/pianist Freddy Cole with saxophonist David (Fathead) Newman.

The Pyramid Casino’s New Groove Series will feature British R&B sensation James Hunter, Verve artist singer-songwriter Jackie Greene, turntablists DJ Champion and Girl Talk, hip-hopper Cadence Weapon, instrumentalists The Hylozoists, Afrobeat ensemble Antibalas and the Latin group Salsa Na’Ma.

The Windsor Hotel will showcase the Blues Series, which will feature John Lee Hooker Jr., picker Guitar Shorty and California jump-band Little Charlie & the Nightcats. The festival’s Late Nite Series showcases the inventive Vijay Iyer Quartet, Canuck singers Sophie Milman and Dione Taylor, bassist Esperanza Spalding and a host of local acts.

‘JAZZ MY SOUL’ FROM THE JAZZ EXPLORERS

Rhythm Dynamics, Inc. is proud to announce "Jazz My Soul" CD by The Jazz Explorers, a new collective jazz workshop built on a deep creative foundation with broad appeal. This extraordinary project features great performances by a unique gathering of jazz legends, including George Cables, Dave Liebman, Carmen Lundy, Billy Hart, Sonny Fortune, Victor Lewis and Cecil McBee with a strong supporting cast. "Jazz My Soul" propels contemporary mainstream jazz forward with power and subtlety.

The Jazz Explorers perform the soulful original music of composer, producer and band leader Tim Duffy, whose influences include Duke Ellington, Howlin’ Wolf, Charles Lloyd, Sun Ra, and James Brown. Producer Bob Funk, owner of Rhythm Dynamics, brings to this project a broad range of musical experience, as an original member of The Uptown Horns, including live performance and/or recording with Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, BB King, Stevie Wonder, Tom Waits, Albert Collins, Sammy Davis Jr, David Sanborn, James Brown and Frank Sinatra Jr.

"Jazz My Soul" features two shimmering vocals, "We're Only Human" and "Autumn" both with deep under currents, exquisitely interpreted by the great Carmen Lundy, that bridge the classic/smooth/contemporary categories. The instrumental tracks of "Jazz My Soul" convey a broad range of emotions from the driving hard-bop "International Ballistic Soul Kiss" with a burning solo by Dave Liebman, to the funky smooth groove of "Mo Trane", to the profound piano of George Cables on "Our Father", "Mystique" and "Moroccan" culminating with the heartfelt tribute, "In Memorium, Elvin Jones" delivered by former band mate, Sonny Fortune. From atmospheric to inspiring, "Jazz My Soul" is the real deal.

DIANA KRALL TOUR UPDATE

Diana Krall will perform the following concerts: June 8-9 at Yoshi's in Oakland CA, June 14-17 at Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas NV, June 20-21 at Mountain Winery in Saratoga CA, July 14 at Bank of America Pavilion in Boston MA, August 14 at Harvey's Outdoor Amphitheatre in Stateline NV, August 15 at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco CA, and September 22 at Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey CA.

NEW RELEASES MAY 1, 2007

Allman Brothers Band - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (Island/Mercury)
Angelique Kidjo - Djin Djin (Razor & Tie)
Antonio Carlos Jobim - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (Hip-O)
Black Uhuru - Brutal/Brutal Dub (Ras)
Booker Ervin - Freedom Book [Bonus Track] (Prestige)
Dan Carlin - Prowlin (Rhombus)
Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True (Hip-O)
Erik Truffaz - Arkhangelsk (Blue Note)
Fats Domino - Walking to New Orleans (St. Clair)
Fred Hersch Trio - Night & the Music (Palmetto)
Jay Hoggard - Right Place (JHVM)
Jay Hoggard - Songs of Spiritual Love (JHVM)
Jimmy Cliff - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (Hip-O)
Joan Armatrading - Into the Blues (429 Records)
John McLaughlin - Indiana (Island)
John Tesh - Passionate Life (Word Entertainment)
L.T.D. - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (A&M)
Marcia Griffiths - Melody Life: Reggae Anthology (VP)
Mary Jane Girls - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (Motown)
Michael Bublé - Call Me Irresponsible (Reprise/WEA)
Michael Bublé - Call Me Irresponsible [Bonus Track] (Reprise/WEA
Mike Taylor - Pendulum (Sunbeam)
Mood Architects - Malibu: Jazz at the Beach House (Avalon)
Nadine Sutherland - Call My Name (Eight76)
Puppini Sisters - Betcha Bottom Dollar (Verve Forecast)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk/Jack McDuff - Kirk's Work (Prestige)
Roy Haynes/Phineas Newborn/Paul Chambers - We Three [Prestige] (Prestige)
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (A&M)
Stephanie Mills - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (Geffen)
Tadd Dameron with John Coltrane - Mating Call (Prestige)
Terry Walker - True Vision (Que Note)
Thelonious Monk - Thelonious Monk [Prestige #2] (Prestige)
Third World - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: (Island)
Toots & the Maytals - Recoup (Rhythm Club)
Toots & the Maytals - Ska Father (Rhythm Club)
Various Artists - Jazz at the Philharmonic 1956 (Fresh Sounds)

SIMPLY RED RELEASES NEW SINGLE

Simply Red's next single will be the title track STAY which will be released in the UK on May 28th to co-incide with the live dates at the Royal Albert Hall in London. There will be two different versions of the single available, a CD maxi and for the first time ever a DVD single. The CD maxi features 5 versions of Stay; the original version, a brand new radio version and three remixes. The limited edition DVD features new exclusive footage of Stay (live) and So Not Over You (live) from the Paradiso showcase in Amsterdam in February The CD maxi features 5 versions of Stay; the original version, a brand new radio version and three remixes. The limited edition DVD features new exclusive footage of Stay (live) and So Not Over You (live) from the Paradiso showcase in Amsterdam in February.

Simply Red travel back to the UK from Canada today to record TV shows in Austria, Italy and Sweden this weekend:
Friday 4th May "Dancing Stars" in Vienna
Saturday 5th May "Apocalypse Show" in Rome
Sunday 6th May "Bingolotto" in Gothenburg

ALLABOUTJAZZ.COM LAUNCHES MP3 DOWNLOAD STORE

James Pearse, the AAJ Download Store Manager, has experienced many facets of the music industry firsthand having worked for a record label, a physical music store, and an online retailer; and has helped contour a store that will appeal to jazz buyers and sellers alike. “The music downloads will be accessible from almost any page at the AAJ website. If you go to an AAJ page about Freddie Hubbard, for instance, you will find links there to download and purchase Freddie Hubbard songs and albums. You'll see this integration throughout the website. AAJ is in a unique position to play a key role in boosting jazz download sales. We're very excited about what this can mean for jazz musicians and fans everywhere,” explains Pearse. AAJ will work directly with record labels and distributors to build a store that offers a deep catalog of music spanning the many genres of jazz.

NEW RELEASES FROM DAVE KOZ, FOUR 80 EAST, MARIO BIONDI, NORMAN BROWN & OTHERS...

Here’s a list of some recent Smooth Jazz releases that you might have missed…
Andre Ward – Crystal City (Orpheus Music)
Bill McGee – Chase The Sunset (804 Jazz)
Boday – Butterfly Legs (Boday.com)
Brian Bromberg – Downright Upright (Artistry Music)
Chieli Minucci & Special EFX – Sweet Surrender (Shanachie)
Chris Webster – Something In The Water (Dig Music)
Chuck Loeb – Presence (Heads Up)
D-Lucca – Cruise Control (Dlucca.com)
Dalminjo – One Day You’ll Dance For Me Tokyo! (Kriztal Entertainment)
Dave Koz – At The Movies (Capitol)
Dee Lucas – Something To Ride 2 (Mo Better)
Down To The Bone – The Best Of Down To The Bone (Narada)
Dwight Searls – Purpose (Japooonie Records)
Earl Carter – My Paradise (E&M Music)
Fattburger – Greatest Hits (Shanachie)
Four 80 East – Enroute (Native Language)
Jeff Golub – Grand Central (Narada Jazz)
Jeff Lorger – He Had A Hat (Blue Note)
Jill Scott – Collaborations (Hidden Beach)
John Pedersen – Groovidi (Paradise Jazz Music)
Keith Andrew – Keith Andrew (KeithAndrew.com)
Ken Navarro – The Meeting Place (Positive Music)
Kymaera – Into The Rainbow (Sheridan Square)
Lamb & Meyer – Don’t Get No Better (BlueHour Records)
Lao Tizer – Diversify (Yse Records)
Lauren Wood – Love, Death & Customer Service (Bad Art Records)
Marco Albani – Chronos (Delta Top)
Mario Biondi & The High Five Quartet – A Handful Of Soul (Schema/Import)
Mark Adams – Feel The Groove (Roberts Music)
Nathan Harasim – Next In Line (NathanHarasim.com)
Nils – Ready To Play (Baja Records)
Norah Jones – Not Too Late (Blue Note)
Norman Brown – Stay With Me (Peak)
O.D. Jamison – Joseph Wooten & Friends (My Love Records)
Outta Nowhere – Outta Nowhere (M Entertainment)
PJ Spraggins – The Light Of Day (PJSpraggins.com)
Patti Austin – Avant Gershwin (Rendezvous)
Paul Brown – White Sand (Peak)
Peter Duval Lee – It’s A New Day (Innocent Bystander)
Randy Crawford & Joe Sample – Feeling Good (PRA Records)
Simply Red – Stay (SimplyRed.com)
Stix Bones – Groove Like This (Bone Entertainment)
Terry Disley Experience – Across The Pond (Independent)
Tim Cunningham – Manchester Road (TimCunningham.com)
Tony DeSare – Last First Kiss (Telarc)
Walter Beasley – Ready For Love (Heads Up)

HIROSHIMA CELEBRATES CULTURAL DIVERSITY ON NEW ALBUM

Jazz fusion band Hiroshima's forthcoming release, Little Tokyo, celebrates cultural diversity by exploring the music of Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Though the band, founded by wind instrument player Dan Kuramoto and koto player June Kuramoto, has always embraced a variety of global sounds and merged it with contemporary music, Little Tokyo points to an all-inclusive world view.

The 11 tracks on the album, due in stores May 22nd via Heads Up International, explore this multi-cultural stance, adopting a Middle Eastern style on the album's opener "Midnight Sun," mixed with the Japanese taiko drum sound of Kuramoto's bandmate Shoji Kameda. Bassist Kimo Cornwell and bassist Dean Cortez trade licks on a variety of tracks, most notably "On The Fence." The album also features Pieces of a Dream keyboardist James Lloyd (on "Lanai") and guest percussionist Richie Gajate Garcia (on "Sir Charles").

Kuramoto says of the band's mission to break with trends, "So many musicians are so afraid to stretch themselves. There's so little that they're allowed to play if they want to survive commercially. But we as a band have always believed that there's more to it than that, and we will continue on our journey to explore those possibilities, regardless of the next fad on the horizon."

Little Tokyo, which is named after the neighborhood in Los Angeles, includes the following tracks:

"Midnight Sun"
"On The Fence"
"Lanai"
"Red Beans And Rice"
"Sir Charles"
"Hidden Times"
"Shades of Honor"
"Quan Yin"
"Drama"
"Hiro Chill"
"Little Tokyo Underground"

GLADYS KNIGHT TO RECEIVE ELLA AWARD

Gladys Knight, a singer, actress and humanitarian whose five-decade career stretches from gospel music to pop hits to R&B classics, has been chosen as the recipient of the 16th Annual ELLA Award by the Society of Singers (SOS). The announcement was made by Jerry F. Sharell, the president and CEO of SOS, a non-profit organization that offers comprehensive services to meet the emergency financial needs of professional singers worldwide. Named after its first recipient, Ella Fitzgerald, the ELLA Award is given to singers whose significant musical accomplishments are equaled by their dedication to charitable and humanitarian causes both local and international.

"Gladys Knight has one of the greatest and most distinctive voices of our time, and is a woman who has helped countless people through her humanitarian and philanthropic work," says Sharell. A seven-time Grammy Award winner with Number One hits in the pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary formats, Knight has released close to 40 albums; her hits include "Midnight Train to Georgia," "I've Got to Use My Imagination" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." Her most recent album is "Before Me," a tribute to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday. The fall 2006 release was part of a charity initiative that Knight launched in collaboration with Ashley Stewart Stores. She also works with charities ranging from the American Diabetes Association and the American Cancer Society to the Minority AIDS Project and amFAR.

The honor will be presented to Knight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on September 10, 2007. Previous recipients of the ELLA Award, besides Ms. Fitzgerald herself, include Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett and Placido Domingo.

The Society of Singers was founded in 1984 by Chairman Emeritus Ginny (Mrs. Henry) Mancini and Gilda Maiken Anderson when the two friends, both of them former professional singers, realized that many of their friends and colleagues were without pensions, unions, medical insurance or places to turn for financial help during tough times. SOS aids professional singers of all ages, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, and offers scholarship programs designed to advance the vocal arts.

RICARDO LEMVO TO RELEASE FIFTH ALBUM 'ISABELA'

Ricardo Lemvo's mix of Cuban salsa and pan-African styles like soukous and Congo rumba has been described by the Los Angeles Times as "seamless and infectious." Born in Congo-Kinshasa of Angolan ancestry, Lemvo formed his Los Angeles-based band Makina Loca in 1990. Since then he has refined his craft and vision, raising his joyous voice with strength, singing songs that celebrate life. He has been enthusiastically acclaimed by both print and broadcast media including BBC Radio, NPR, the NBC Today Show, and CNN World Beat. He has toured extensively in Europe, Australia, and Latin America, and has performed in some of the most prestigious venues in North America including The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Lincoln Center in New York City and The Montreal Jazz Festival.

Isabela, Lemvo's fifth album, can be enjoyed purely for the way it moves, or you can drill down into its complex Afro-Atlantic heritage. Its cosmopolitan bouquet of musical styles is sung in six languages including Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, Lingala and Kikongo, each with its own distinct musicality. Isabela's repertoire ranges from "Kasongo Boogaloo," a fiery upbeat boogaloo, to '50s Congo classic "Lollobrigida" (written by the late Congolese guitarist Tino Baroza in honor of Italian movie star Gina Lollobrigida), to "Serenata Angolana," a duet with Cape Verdean songstress Maria de Barros that Lemvo dedicated to his beloved Angola. Lemvo even learned to sing in Turkish for his version of Candan Ercetin's "Elbette," which he turns into a Turkish tango. Lemvo's songs are inspiring vignettes of life delivered with flair, using rhythms that are inviting and familiar. Ultimately, it could only come from someone who has seen the world and gathered the music of life.

ALLEN TOUSSAINT TOUR DATES

Allen Toussaint will perform the following concerts: April 15 at Joe's Pub in New York NY, April 28 at Howlin' Wolf in New Orleans LA, May 6 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans LA, May 10 at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz CA, May 11 at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco CA, May 15 at Birch North Park Theatre in San Diego CA, June 2 at The Anvil in Basingstoke UK, June 4 at Barbican Centre in London UK, June 5 at Queens Hall in Edinburgh UK, June 6 at De Montfort Hall in Leicester UK, June 7 at Colston Hall in Bristol UK, June 8 at Lighthouse in Poole UK, June 9 at Derngate in Northampton UK, June 10 at The Sage in Gateshead UK, June 12 at Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool UK, June 13 at Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry UK, June 14 at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester UK, June 15 at The Dome in Brighton UK, June 22 at Teatro Circo in Braga Portugal, June 23 at CAE in Portalegre Portugal, August 11 at North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh NC, and August 12 at Blues & Roots Festival in Burnaby BC.
All dates June 2 through June 15 with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

SPYRO GYRA 'GOOD TO GO-GO' DUE JUNE 12

Smooth jazz outfit Spyro Gyra are readying the release of their new album, Good To Go-Go, on June 12th, via Heads Up. The 12-track album is the platinum-selling band's 26th, and their fifth release on Heads Up.

The band has also made a line-up change with the addition of Trinidad native Bonny B (short for Bonaparte) on drums and percussion. He had been touring with the band prior to the recording of Good To Go-Go and the band credits him with modifying their overall philosophy.

Group founder and saxophonist Jay Beckenstein said of the new face in the band's line-up, "The fact that we had this new drummer with this great spirit about him prompted us to go in the direction of a more live-sounding, less produced record. The band was just sounding so killer on the road that I wanted to capture some of that energy and reproduce it on the record. When you bring somebody new on board who's bringing some unexpected things with him, it shakes you up a little bit and puts you in new territory. It's been a process of discovery for all of us, and it's been a lot of fun."

Beckenstein said: "I think that along our journeys -- and we've journeyed into a lot of different styles and not all of them fit under the smooth jazz umbrella--but in those journeys we've come up with some combinations of pop and jazz and R&B and jazz that pre-dated what came to be known as smooth jazz. And in that sense, some of what we did, we were smooth jazz innovators. But to say that what we were doing when we were doing that was we were playing smooth jazz, wouldn't be accurate because it was a very small percentage amongst many other things we were doing musically."

He also said that working with the group has only gotten better: "It has gotten easier and easier. I mean after 30 years, something that tends to disappear, or at least it has with us, is the ego-based problems. Nobody feels threatened by anybody else. Nobody feels that if somebody else comes up with something really, really good that it puts me to the side or it makes me smaller in any way. We all root for each other."

Tour dates to support Good To Go-Go have not yet been announced.

The Good To Go-Go track listing is as follows:

"Simple Pleasures"
"Get Busy"
"Jam Up"
"The Left Bank"
"Funkyard Dog"
"Along For The Ride"
"Island Time"
"Wassup!"
"Easy Street"
"A Winter Tale"
"Good To Go-Go"
"Newroses"

NESTOR TORRES TO RELEASE NEW COMPILATION CD

Puerto Rican-born jazz flutist Nestor Torres will release a career-spanning compilation next week (April 24th), titled The Very Best Of Nestor Torres.
Torres says that back in the '80s, he attended a Buddhist lecture in Japan on the arts, where a point of the lecture stayed with him for many years. "He talked about how some of the greatest works of art are of a religious nature, of a religious inspiration and overtones. And he said that we know this from our western perspective in terms of Christian works, that's what is really widely known. And he said the time had come for a new type of religious work, a new type of spiritual art to emerge. And that stayed with me."

Torres grew up in a family of musicians; his father was a pianist, organist and vibraphone player who often jammed with other musicians while young Nestor played along on pots, and later, a kid-sized drum set. But when entering one of the island's music schools, he was faced with a dilemma. Torres explained: "When I entered middle school I had a chance to go to what they call in Puerto Rico Escuela Libre de Musica; they have six of them throughout the island. And at the entrance exam or the entrance forms as I'm applying to go in, they asked what instrument do you want to learn. I said Hmmmm. And I just simply did not know."

Torres said he then made the decision that determined his future: "I mean, I had been playing the drums since I was like 5, Santa Claus had brought me a little drum set. It was professional, it was little, but it was a professional drum set. And I just didn't think about percussion to study music. I mean, if I was to study music I wanted to learn musical notes and harmonies and scales and stuff like that. So as I'm trying to figure it out I looked up and I saw up on the blackboard and saw a picture of a flute."

CD101.9 SMOOTH CRUISES ‘07

New York’s CD101.9 has confirmed dates for their upcoming Smooth Cruises ’07. Dates and scheduled acts are as follows:

June 20: Down To The Bone
June 27: Bobby Caldwell
July 11: Jeff Golub & Warren Hill
July 18: Gerald Albright
July 25: Brian Culbertson
August 1: The Rippingtons
August 8: Spyro Gyra
August 15: Mindi Abair
August 22: Richard Elliot
August 29: Alex Bugnon & Marion Meadows

CHAKA KHAN'S "CLASSIKHAN' AND THE O'JAYS 'IMAGINATION SET FOR RELEASE

Chaka Khan's "Classikhan" and The O'Jays' "Imagination" are set to be released May 15, 2007 on Music World Music as part of the Music World Master Series catalogue collection.

"Classic Soul has always been one of my favorite genres of music. It was very important to me to contribute to preserving the legacy and staying power of legendary artists such as Chaka Khan and The O'Jays. Re-introducing these great artists and their talents, experience, work ethics, and commitment is a vital message to the young artists in the music industry today. They have had the ability to stay in the game for over 30 years with numerous hits. This is why we at Music World felt it important to release the Master Series of timeless music," states Mathew Knowles (President & CEO Music World Entertainment).

"Classikhan" is a collection of time-honored Pop and Jazz mainstays made famous by Shirley Bassey, Sarah Vaughn, Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne. Backed by the London Symphony Orchestra, Chaka brings her own unique style and sound to these timeless tunes making them almost sound as if they are her originals. She delivers beautiful renditions of such classics as "Hey Big Spender," "Round Midnight," "To Sir With Love," "I'm In The Mood For Love" and "Stormy Weather," adding her own special brand of vocal expertise to each song.

The O'Jays' "Imagination" boasts production from A-list producers including the infamous Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The O'Jays bring their rich harmonies and smooth sound to this classic release as they flow fluently and equally between deep and meaningful love songs to up tempo dance grooves. "Why You Wanna Settle" will be the focus track serviced out to radio. "Imagination" encapsulates the quality of music the O'Jays are famous for. The single, "Make Up," is signature O'Jays. The smoothed out old-school track and sensual lyrics will have fans reminiscing of love from days gone by. The title track, "Imagination," written and produced by Jam and Lewis, has a laid-back infectious "steppers" groove to it, and the lyrics are cleverly vintage O'Jays. In addition to these living legends' classic tracks, the new release includes a hot new remix of "For The Love Of Money."

Both "Classikhan" and "Imagination" will be available in retail locations, and, for the first time ever, available digitally as well at iTunes.

Music World Entertainment (MWE) is one of the world's leading entertainment and music conglomerates dedicated to bringing quality entertainment to the world. MWE worldwide business includes record labels, artist and producer management, staff producers, artist development, Master catalog series, investment and property holdings, including offices in Houston, Los Angeles, New York and London. MWE is the brainchild of President and CEO Mathew Knowles, the powerhouse management behind the success of Grammy Award-winners Beyoncé and global phenomenon Destiny's Child, the most successful "girl group" in the history of pop music.

Music World is one of the most successful labels in the world with over 100 million records sold to date including releases by Destiny's Child, Beyoncé, Solange Knowles, Michelle Williams, Sunshine Anderson, the "Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack," "Roll Bounce" Soundtrack and the highly anticipated upcoming Music World Master Series releases which includes Chaka Kahn and The O'Jays.

DAVE KOZ ANNOUNCES SUMMER CONCERT DATES

Smooth Jazz Saxophonist Dave Koz has announced more of his summer dates to support his film classics-inspired album, At The Movies. The tour is being described as a "double feature," with David Benoit and Phil Perry joining Dave to perform their own hits as well as selections from At The Movies. The Dave Koz band, made up of keyboardist Brian Simpson, bassist Bill Sharpe, drummer Stevo Theard and guitarist Randy Jacobs, will be an integral part of the show, as well.

In related news, Koz will take part in We Love Ella! A Tribute to the First Lady of Song, which will air on PBS as part of its Great Performances series, on June 5th. Joining him in the tribute, which will be taped on April 29th at the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles, are Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, George Duke, Quincy Jones, K.D. Lang, Nancy Wilson, Lizz Wright, Take 6, Cyndi Lauper and Ruben Studdard.

Dave Koz tour dates (subject to change):

June 3 - Columbia, MD - Capital Jazz Fest at Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 8 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Casino & Resort Showroom
June 9 - Wendover, NV - Peppermill Concert Hall
June 10 - Phoenix, AZ - Celebrity Theatre
June 15 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
June 17 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
June 21 - Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Live Theatre
June 22 - El Paso, TX - Plaza Theatre P.A.C.
June 23 - Detroit, MI - V98.7 Smooth Jazz Fest
July 13 - North Kansas City, MO - Voodoo Lounge at Harrah's
July 14 - Apple Valley, MN - Music in the Zoo
July 20 - Richmond, VA - Kanawha Plaza
July 21 - Winter Park, CO - Hideaway Park
July 25 - Atlanta, GA - Classic Chastain Park Amphitheatre
July 27 - Las Vegas, NV - The Pearl at The Palms
July 28, 29 - Temecula, CA - Thornton Winery
August 2 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
August 3 - Sacramento, CA - Radisson Hotel Grove
August 4 - Woodinville, WA - Chateau St. Michelle
August 5 - Healdsburg, CA - Rodney Strong Vineyard
August 9 - Cleveland, OH - Playhouse Square Center
August 10 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion
August 11 - Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY - Long Island Jazz Fest - Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
August 17 - San Diego, CA - Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
August 18 - Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
August 19 - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Bowl
November 4-11 - San Juan/St. Maarten/ St. Kitts/Half Moon Cay - Dave Koz & Friends At Sea Cruise
December 1 - Melbourne, FL - King Center for Performing Arts
December 2 - Naples, FL - Philharmonic Center for the Arts
December 4 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - AuRene Theatre
December 5 - Sarasota, FL - Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
December 11 - Cleveland, OH - Playhouse Square Center
December 19 - Mesa, AZ - Ikeda Theatre
December 21 - Cerritos, CA - Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
December 22 - Cerritos, CA - Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts

NATALIE COLE HOSTS TRIBUTE TO ELLA FITZGERALD

Eight time Grammy Award winner Natalie Cole has been tapped to host the all-star concert tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, entitled We Love Ella! A Tribute to the First Lady of Song, which will air on PBS as part of their Great Performances series, on June 6th at 9 p.m. ET. The celebration will be taped on Sunday (April 29th) at USC's Galent Center in Los Angeles, and will feature the diverse talents of such music greats as Patti Austin, George Duke, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Cyndi Lauper, Ledisi, Monica Mancini, James Moody, Ruben Studdard, Take 6, Nancy Wilson and Lizz Wright.

The release of We All Love Ella! Celebrating the First Lady of Song, timed to hit stores just one day prior to the TV special, will also feature Cole performing "A Tisket A Tasket," which the daughter of legendary crooner Nat King Cole recalls as the first jazz song she learned after meeting Fitzgerald when she was just 7 years old. The tribute album is a Verve Records release.
Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards and sold over 40 million albums. She would have turned 90 on April 25th, 2007.

JVC JAZZ FESTIVAL, NEWPORT, R.I.

The Newport, R.I. 2007 JVC Jazz Festival will pay tribute to Ella, Billie, Dizzy, Mon, Bill Evans, Kir, Getz & Jobim. Branford Marsalis, B.B. King, Etta james, Al Green, Dave Brubeck, Joshua Redman and many others will perform over three days on multiples stages.

The festival kicks off Friday, August 10 at 8:00 PM, at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino with Newport ’57 Revisited: The Legacy of Ella, Billie & Basie with Dianne Reeves and her Band plus The Count Basie Orchestra with Special Guest Nnenna Freelon.

On Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12, the festival moves seaside to Fort Adams State Park for two full days, 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM, featuring something for everyone – a glorious mix of straight ahead, traditional and contemportary jazz, rhythym & blues, funk, Latin jazz and Brazilian jazz.

MONTERAY JAZZ FESTIVAL LAUNCHES NEW RECORD LABEL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CONCORD MUSIC

In celebration of the 50th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival Records will make its debut with a remarkable series of historic, never-before- heard, live-at-Monterey releases. Not only does this mark the first time a festival has launched its own label, but the riches of its tape archives-more than 1600 tapes with more than 2000 hours of concerts in the vault-makes this ambitious endeavor a jazz bonanza.

The Monterey Jazz Festival, the pioneering West Coast-styled jazz party, inarguably holds the world record for the longest-running jazz affair, having been born in 1958 on the Monterey Fairgrounds, some 100 miles south of San Francisco. This year MJF turns 50, with its annual three-day gala (September 21-23) taking on special significance with a wealth of performances offered on nine stages spread throughout the festival's 20-acre grounds.

Monterey Jazz Festival Records is a stand-alone label in partnership with the Monterey Jazz Festival and Concord Music Group. The profits realized by the festival will be re-invested into its ongoing internationally recognized jazz education programs. The MJFR imprint's first five unreleased recordings, to be released on July 31, capture the crème de la crème of the jazz heritage: Louis Armstrong (caught playing the very first night of the festival in 1958); Miles Davis (introducing to the West Coast his classic '60s quintet, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, featuring saxophonist George Coleman in 1963); Thelonious Monk (his quartet augmented by bassist Steve Swallow and an expanded five-piece festival workshop in 1964); and two revered artists, Shirley Horn and Grover Washington Jr., both, respectively, playing their one and only sets at Monterey in 1994.

The label also promises to document the jazz of the future, says MJFR general manager Jason Olaine, the New York-based former director of A&R at Verve Records from 1999-2004. "We're not going to be stuck in a jazz time warp," he says. "We're excited to deliver important historical music, as well as assemble special projects and all-star ensembles to debut at the festival each year."

This year's celebratory jazz-future lineup includes an all-star quartet comprising of bassist Dave Holland, pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Eric Harland as well as the festival's 50th-year project that will include trumpeter Terence Blanchard, saxophonist James Moody, vocalist Nnenna Freelon, bassist Derrick Hodge, drummer Kendrick Scott and pianist Benny Green, who serves as the musical director. Both groups will be documented live at MJF/50 for possible upcoming releases, with the latter ensemble going on a 50-date national tour in January 2008.

Glen Barros, President and CEO of the Concord Music Group, states, "Concord Records has been committed to nurturing and recording renowned artists for more than three decades, as well as discovering and developing new emerging talent. The Monterey Jazz Festival brand fits perfectly with our overall desire to provide consumers the finest documented recordings of all time. The Concord Music Group is excited to be involved in presenting these spectacular, rare and historic recordings to the public for the first time since they were originally heard by audiences at Monterey."

MJF general manager Tim Jackson tells the story of how the label was born. Three years ago while conceptually ramping up for Monterey's monumental anniversary; he started thinking in broader strokes. "I wanted to leverage the festival's assets and use the 50th as a launching pad to make this historical music available to people," he says.

Ten years ago, Jackson worked with legendary jazz producer Orrin Keepnews to compile a three-CD best-of collection for the festival's 40th birthday (Monterey Jazz Festival-40 Legendary Years, released on Malpaso Records, an imprint of Warner Bros.). It was at that time that he discovered that the archival tapes, housed at the Braun Music Center library on the Stanford University campus, were deteriorating from age. Thanks to grants, the festival has digitized all 2,000 hours of the live recordings made at Monterey in the past 49 years. That provided an impetus to set the label project into motion.

As for the contact with Concord, Jackson says he got to know Barros while they both served on the board of Jazz Alliance International. "As a festival, we're not equipped to market records," says Jackson, "but Concord has certainly proven that it's been very progressive in getting CDs to listeners. Glen and I like and trust each other and with the assistance of our MJF Board of Directors we quickly worked out an agreement. Plus Concord is a West Coast label with its roots in northern California. We like that, too."

Another round of Monterey live CDs will be released in early September to coincide with MJF/50. This historic series will continue as a thriving source of amazing music with many more releases planned for 2008 and beyond.

MOTOWN LEGENDS TOUR

Some of Detroit's greatest musical acts are gearing up for the ultimate Motown soul concert. On May 19, The Motown Legends Tour will make its first stop in Youngstown, Ohio at the Chevrolet Centre. The concert features The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards, The Miracles, Joe Billingslea's Contours and the Spyder Turner Show. Tickets for the show are reasonably priced $39.50 to $49.50. They may be purchased by calling the Chevrolet Centre Box Office (www.chevroletcentre.com) or visiting GetTix.net (www.gettix.net) Like the Motortown Review tours that featured big name Motown artists all on one bill, Cheers & Severino Productions plans to make a series out of the The Motown Legends Tour concert event. The show in Youngstown will mark the beginning of a series of tour dates around the country aimed at giving fans of the classic Motown concerts with lineups they haven't seen since the label's golden age.

CHICO MANN 'MANIFEST TONE VOL. 1'

Manifest Tone Vol. 1 is a sonic sofrito of lo-fi Afrobeat, gritty funk, and spicy Latin flavors from Marquitos Garcia of Antibalas. Armed with his childhood Casio keyboards, Garcia recorded Manifest Tone Vol. 1 during the band's down-time. The project, which began as an experiment in spontaneous composition, proved to be a true glimpse into the essence of Garcia's musical passions. Syncopated bass and guitars simmering, keyboard melodies bubbling over with Marquitos' harmony-laden vocals, create this exciting mixture of sound seasonings. Pungent Latin aromas waft throughout the music in the rhythms and the choruses. Known as "sabrosura," it is the effect that urges your body to boogie and makes you sing along. With the help of Rich Medina and Kindred Spirits, the Latin music of Garcia's upbringing and the vocabulary of Fela Kuti's afrobeat have come together to bring you Chico Mann's debut album, Manifest Tone Vol.1. Look out for a bangin' 12" mixes coming soon with remixes by DJ Quantic, Comtron (Rush Hour) and more.

WILL DONATO TO RELEASE ‘WILL CALL’

Smooth Jazz Saxophonist Will Donato, best known for his work with such artists as Steve Oliver, Gerald Levert and Al McKay, as well as his soundtrack contributions to film hits Thelma & Louise and The Wedding Planner, has an album of his own ready for release. The set, called Will Call, is as passionate as his live shows. "I had a wonderful time recording this project and truly enjoyed the collaborations with my musical friends and producers," he said. The album boasts a stellar list of jazz musicians, including longtime friend Steve Reid, who co-produced and also provided percussion on most of the tracks; guitarist Steve Oliver, who co-wrote three songs and was also involved in pre-production; guitarist Blake Aaron, who guested on "X-Factor"; and trumpeter Tony Guerrero, who lends his talents to "Earthshakin'" and "Espana."

The track list of Will Call is as follows:

"Earthshakin'"
"Will Power"
"The Goddess"
"Drowning In Your Eyes"
"New Life"
"Italia"
"Espana"
"X-Factor"
"Illuminata"

For more information on Will, check out his website at:  www.willdonato.com

NORMAN BROWN – ‘STAY WITH ME’ PEAK RECORDS DEBUT OUT NOW

The Peak Records debut from Grammy award-winning jazz guitarist Norman Brown is available in stores and online now. Released this week on Peak Records (Concord Music Group) after a string of releases for the Motown label and more recently Warner Bros, Norman Brown's new album Stay With Me is a collection of 10 urban-influenced contemporary jazz tunes that showcase Norman Brown's inventive talents as a guitarist and all-around musician. The album features a stellar line up of guest artists including fellow smooth jazz stars Rick Braun and Kirk Whalum on “It's Not Over,” Grammy- nominated American singer/songwriter Brian McKnight and jazz guitarist/ hit-making producer Paul Brown.

HOT NEW RELEASES FROM ITALY’S SCHEMA RECORDS

Italy’s Schema Records has a batch of new releases worthy of listening, check out… Guarapirango by Toco and Rosalia De Souza (Gerardo Frisina remixes); Que Bandeira by Rosalia De Souza and Marcos Valle (Gerardo Frisina remixes); Cubana/Zambele by Gerardo Frisina; Spread Your Love/Blu Night In Africa by Paolo Fedreghini and Marco Bianchi, Rio De Janeiro Blue by Mario Biondi and The High Five Quintet, Beyond The Moon by Gerardo Frisina (Nicola Conte Jazz Band rework); Nefertiti/Gica’s Dance by Nicola Conte and Gerado Frisina; and Kind of Sunshine/Impluse by Nicola Conte. All of these are fantastic remixes that are just wonderful to listen and to dance to.
 

TEDDY PENDERGRASS PREPARES FOR ‘TEDDY 25’

After a near fatal car accident changed his life dramatically nearly 25 years ago, Teddy Pendergrass, is using his voice to help improve the quality of life for survivors of spinal cord injuries (SCI).  The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance (TPA), a non-profit organization which helps people with SCI rebuild their lives, has announced an elaborate star-studded extravaganza - the premiere Black Music Month event, "Teddy 25 - A Celebration Of Life, Hope, and Possibilities" - to be held 4 p.m. June 10 in Philadelphia’s Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for The Performing Arts (260 South Broad Street on Avenue of the Arts).

Hosted by actress/comedienne, Mo'Nique, "Teddy 25" celebrates his life, music, and legacy honoring celebrities, industry executives, medical personnel, organizations, and personal friends & family who have contributed over the 25 years to his well-being.  Patti La Belle, Ruben Studdard and Stephanie Mills are among the performers confirmed along with Teddy himself who will premiere a new song, written specifically for Teddy 25.  
     
The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance will honor Whitney Houston, Arsenio Hall, Regis Philbin, Ashford & Simpson, Cathy Hughes (CEO & founder of TV One/Radio One), Mark P. May (CEO, Clear Channel), Donald Trump, Daniel Markus & Shep Gordon (managers), Bob Krasnow (CEO of Elektra/Asylum Records), and his longtime publicist Lisa Barbaris for their friendship and assistance through the years.       

Along with the honorees, invited celebrity guests include Stevie Wonder, Eddie LeVert, Kindred, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jill Scott, Musiq, Vivian Green, and Jaheim. Proceeds from the black tie gala will be donated to The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance.

Tickets for The Teddy 25 event are available for sale at www.kimmelcenter.com.  Pendergrass will make a special guest appearance this week on Tavis Smiley’s syndicated radio show “Tavis Talks” to promote the event.

MONTERAY JAZZ FESTIVAL, SEPT. 21-23, ANNOUNCES 2007 LINEUP

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Monterey Jazz Festival has announced its 2007 lineup, featuring an array of Jazz greats to appear Sept. 21 weekend at the Monterey, Ca, Fairgrounds. Young stars, such as trumpeter Terence Blanchard, vocalist Diana Krall and pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba will join jazz legends the likes of saxophonists Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman, pianist Dave Brubeck and band leader-composer Gerald Wilson to name just a few.

These greats and many other stars will appear in concerts in the large Arena/Lyons stage and five additional venues on the grounds, providing continuous music. Audiences, indeed, will have a hard time, as usual, choosing which concert to attend.

Friday will kick off the Festival with the multi-cultural and multi-dimensional talents of Cuban singer Issac Delgado; iconic bassist Dave Holland, appearing with Rubalcaba, Chris Potter and Eric Harland in a special all-star band; and the influential and mesmerizing guitarist John McLaughlin. On the Grounds sites (Dizzy's Den, Garden's Stage, Courtyard Stage, Bill Berry Stage, Coffee House Gallery)the vibe will be no less electric with the New Grooves show in Dizzy's Den being visited by three slices of funk bands from New Orleans, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, the Brass Funk Rock group Bonerama and the jazz-inflected Papa Grows Funk.

On the Grounds Friday night, in a meeting of creative minds, Jim Hall and Geoff Keezer will perform as an understated, yetintense, duo; the freewheeling guitarist Anthony Wilson and his Nonet will play and the cutting-edge pianist Craig Taborn and his Trio will forge new sounds. The Grounds will also feature the Terence Blanchard Quintet performing its visionary brand of jazz, the straight-ahead groove of Along Came Betty and the gifted students of the Berklee-Monterey Quartet.

Saturday will showcase a world of music from the blues to the symphonic, with a little of everything in between. The Arena/Lyons Stage will rock in the afternoon with the raw blues sounds of artists Otis Taylor and James Hunter, followed by the legendary Los Lobos, featuring their own blend of blues, rockabilly, and Latin jazz, mixed with the music of their Mexican-American heritage. Evening on the Arena/Lyons Stage will turn from the blues to the highly anticipated debut of two large scale pieces--Artist-In-Residence Blanchard's “Requiem for Katrina” with the MJF Chamber Orchestra, and 2007 Commission Artist Gerald Wilson's “Monterey Moods,” his third commission for the historic anniversaries of the Festival (25th, 40th, and 50th). The evening will end with the reigning queen of cool, singer/pianist Krall in her third appearance at Monterey, her first visit since 1999.

Saturday, the grounds will offer an international cornucopia of blues, straight-ahead jazz, elegant vocalists, the avant-garde, jazz legends, and rising stars. Appearing will be the quartets of legendary six-string guitarist Hall (MJF's 2007 Showcase Artist) and Kenny Burrell, plus the electrified bluesy Mimi Fox Trio; rising young trumpeters Sean Jones and Christian Scott; the rollicking pianism of the Cyrus Chestnut Trio and the Shigeru Morishita Quintet; the radiant power of vocalists Ernestine Anderson and Lynne Fiddmont; the trail-blazing drummer Rashied Ali and his Quintet; and the down-home traditional and electric-trance blues of James Hunter and Otis Taylor. Also featured will be the blues supergroup, The Honeydripper All-Stars, who are the subject of the John Sayles new film “Honeydripper,” which will be previewed in the Festival's Jazz Theater. Wilson and his Orchestra will also perform on the grounds on Saturday, as will bassist Dave Holland, with pianist Rubalcaba, Chris Potter and Eric Harland.

Sunday will cap off the 50th celebration weekend. Afternoon on the Arena/Lyons Stage, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Big Band (winner of the 37th Annual National High School Competition at the Next Generation Festival) and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra will take the stage along with Blanchard. Alto sax genius Coleman, one of the primary architects of jazz, will close Sunday's show, performing with his Grammy-nominated group.

Sunday night will present the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars. Blanchard, vocalist Nnenna Freelon, pianist Benny Green, legendary saxophonist James Moody, drummer Kendrick Scott and bassist Derrick Hodge will perform; each has a strong connection with the Festival.

Blanchard is the 2007 Artist-In-Residence at Monterey. Moody has been performing at Monterey since 1963, and Green is a graduate of the Festival's world-renowned Jazz Education Programs, having performed as a high schooler with the Monterey Jazz Festival High School All-Star Big Band in the 1970s. Freelon, a regular performer at MJF, also has connections with MJF Jazz Education Programs, having performed at the Festival's annual High School Jazz Competition. Scott performed with the Berklee-Monterey Quartet at the Festival in 2000. This special group will tour across 60 cities in the United States, from January through March of 2008.

Sunday night will also witness the return of one of the patriarchs of the Festival, Brubeck. Fans will be treated to a meeting of the minds as the Brubeck's Quartet performs with a legendary architect and innovator of modern jazz guitar, Hall, who also performed at the first Monterey Jazz Festival. The night's finale features crowd-favorite Rollins with his group on the Arena/Lyons Stage, the sixth time he has performed at the festival.

Grounds artist lineup will offer a varied selection of internationally known masters and young emerging talent. Audiences can enjoy the piano mastery of the Kenny Barron Trio and Jacky Terrasson, the unprecedented talents of Richard Galliano playing bebop accordion, and the jagged new music of the Smith Dobson V Quintet. The MJF All-Stars will also play a set on the Grounds, with additional appearances by stalwart drummer Benny Barth and his Trio, featuring Buddy Montgomery. Also on Sunday will be the groove-oriented audience favorite, the “Hammond B-3 Blowout” featuring a double bill of the Joey DeFrancesco Trio and Atsuko Hashimoto Trio (with Houston Person and Jeff Hamilton).

BEBEL GILBERTO ‘MOMENTO’ RELEASED

Bebel Gilberto's highly anticipated third release, 'Momento', walks the delicate artistic line between the gorgeous electronic subtleties of her ground- breaking debut, 'Tanto Tempo' and the lush acoustic sophistication of her self-titled follow up album.

"On Momento, Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto does something we've been waiting for ever since her promising debut: she hits her stride-and wonderfully. Gilberto's jockeying between English and Portuguese feels fluid and inviting." --Interview, April 2007

"Gilberto's voice--smoky, velvety, infinitely sensuous...the more Gilberto's warm tone invokes Brazil's past, the more she shines." --Vibe May 2007

12th ANNUAL LITCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL

The 12th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival line-up is set and tickets are now available for sale at www.litchfieldjazzfest.com. The event will be held on August 3, 4, 5 at the Goshen Fairground in Northwest Connecticut. This year's line-up is a salute to jazz orchestras featuring the Mingus Big Band, Count Basie Orchestra with Nnenna Freelon, Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra featuring Carla Bley and much more.

With past performers like Dave Brubeck, Eartha Kitt, Dionne Warwick and Diana Krall, it's no wonder the Litchfield Jazz Festival was recently nominated for two Festie Awards by MelodyTrip.com. A long-time festival attendee called it “a most mellow and tasty event,” and Dave Hershorin of New Orleans Radio said, “Litchfield really is what other jazz festivals wish they could be...a true gem.”

The weekend kicks off on Friday, August 3, with a gala “Friends of the Festival” party, with music provided by outstanding students of Litchfield Jazz Camp and hors d'oeuvres by Jordan Caterers. The party is followed by a performance by two-time Grammy Award Winner and NEA Jazz Master, trombonist Slide Hampton. Up next is the Count Basie Orchestra featuring Six-time Grammy Award nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon.

On Saturday, August 4, the music begins at noon with Insight, a group of seven young talented, award-winning musicians. In 2005 Eddie Palmieri reflected, “Give them another two years, and Insight will blow any band off the stage!'” Up next is 20-year-old vocalist Rachael Price. Rachael was a semi-finalist at the Montreux Vocal Competition. Following Rachael Price for his sixth appearance on the Litchfield Jazz Festival is Mario Pavone / Deez to Blues Sextet. Bassist Mario Pavone has recorded 17 albums as a leader. His latest recording, “Deez to Blues,” has appeared on best-of-the-year lists in The New York Times, The New Yorker, All About Jazz and more. Next up is the Sonny Fortune Quartet. Sonny has played in venues world wide with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Reggie Workman and many others. Next the festival welcomes Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts, with guest artist vocalist Bill Henderson. The New York Times called him “one of the best drummers of his generation.” This is Matt's eleventh the festival. Closing the evening is the Mingus Big Band celebrating the music of the late composer and bassist, Charles Mingus.

Opening on Sunday, August 5, is the high-energy Rolando Matias - Afro-Rican Ensemble featuring Bobby Matos. Up next is the Dave Stryker Organ Trio. Stryker is a regular teaching artist at Litchfield Jazz Camp and has played with such greats as Stanley Turrentine, Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard. Following Stryker is the Helio Alves Trio led by the Brazilian born, New York-based pianist. Alves has recorded more than 40 albums as a sideman and recently released his second album as a leader. Next up is a Litchfield favorite - Don Braden who is the Music Director of Litchfield Jazz Camp. Braden will be performing with his Contemporary Standards Ensemble making this his tenth appearance on the festival. Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra will feature Carla Bley. Haden has received three Grammy Awards, a Guggenheim Fellowship and four NEA grants for composition. The LMO's latest project, “Not In Our Name,” was released on Verve. And brining the 12th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival to a close is a multi-Grammy-nominated vocalist/pianist - Karrin Allyson. Karrin appeared on the festival in 2005 and had the audience on their feet! She is “one of the most charismatic figures on tour today.” (New York Times).

Premium tickets are $350 for Best Friends VIP weekend passes and $125 for the opening gala and performance. These include upfront seating and VIP parking. Multi-day JazzPasses are available from $65 - $150 only until June 29th. Advance-purchase general admission tickets are $37 for lawn and $55 for tent. Visit www.litchfieldjazzfest.com for more information and to purchase tickets. Any other questions call 860-567-4162.

The Litchfield Jazz Festival is sponsored in part by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Steinway & Sons, The Republican-American, Down Beat, Connecticut Grand Hotel, Northeast Beverage Corporation of Connecticut, Jazz Corner, Hartford Magazine, Home Living Connecticut and Connecticut Business Magazine and others. Litchfield Jazz Camp students who study for up to a month prior to The Festival and perform at the festival participate with generous support from the CT State Department of Education Interdistrict Grants.

August 3, 4, 5, 2007
Goshen Fairgrounds, Route 63, Goshen, CT
Admission: $37 - $350
Contact: Ph. (860) 567-4162 Fax (860) 567-3592
Email: info@litchfieldjazzfest.com

JOHN BUTLER TRIO ANNOUNCES U.S. TOUR

Jarrah/Atlantic recording group the John Butler Trio has announced details of their upcoming tour. The schedule begins April 28th at the House of Blues in New Orleans, with dates continuing through July 1, where the tour ends at Solarfest in Taos, New Mexico (see attached itinerary). The trek also includes a June 17th performance at the Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, TN.

Throughout the tour, the JBT is partnering with CLIF Bar, a natural food company, and their GreenNotes campaign to promote environmental awareness -- blazing a trail of positive action by taking such environmentally conscious steps as using biodiesel to fuel their tour buses; offsetting the tour's CO2 emissions through the purchase of clean, renewable wind energy credits; using recycled paper and soy-based inks for printed materials; providing organic cotton merchandise options for fans; and minimizing the idling of tour buses. Further details can be found at www.clifgreennotes.com.

Last month, the John Butler Trio released "GRAND NATIONAL," which is quickly proving to be a worldwide sensation. The album debuted at #1 on the SoundScan New Artist Chart in the U.S., where the first single, "Better Than," is in the Top 5 at AAA Radio. The album also debuted at #1 in the trio's home country of Australia, and struck a Top 20 debut in France, and a Top 30 debut in Japan.

Co-produced by Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys, Beck, Jack Johnson, Super Furry Animals) and John Butler, "GRAND NATIONAL" sees the John Butler Trio further opening its already wide-ranging sonic playbook, offering surprising new points of entry for newcomers, as well as inviting its legion of established fans deeper into its worldly vision. Centered around Butler's virtuoso guitar stylings and powerful, progressive lyricism, tracks such as "Funky Tonight" and the laidback lead track, "Better Than," draw upon a remarkable variety of musical genres, spanning folk, blues, funk, classic rock 'n' roll, and beyond. Joining the JBT on this extraordinary journey is an array of special guests, including Butler's partner, Danielle Caruana, Vika and Linda Bull, and on keyboards, the one-and-only Money Mark Nishita.

Having already established himself as a major artist in his native Australia, Butler and his band made their initial North American impact with 2002's independently released "THREE." The group soon signed with Lava/Atlantic, which released "SUNRISE OVER SEA" in March 2005. The album drew critical acclaim for its expansive artistic fervor, as did the JBT's inspired and energetic live shows, including headline dates, tours alongside Dave Matthews Band, festival appearances at Bonnaroo and the celebrated New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and a landmark television performance on CBS-TV's "Late Show with David Letterman."

In the JBT's home country, "SUNRISE OVER SEA" proved nothing less than a phenomenon, achieving 5x-platinum certification and earning Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards for "Best Independent Release" and "Best Blues & Roots Album," with Butler named "Best Male Artist." In addition, the album's hit single, "Zebra," was named "Song of the Year" by the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA).

The John Butler Trio is: guitarist/vocalist John Butler, bassist Shannon Birchall and percussionist Michael Barker.

JOHN BUTLER TRIO
Summer Tour 2007
APRIL
28 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
30 Mobile, AL Mobile Civic Center Theatre

MAY
2 Charleston, SC Music Farm
3 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
4 Atlanta, GA Roxy Theatre
5 Memphis, TN Beale St. Music Festival
22 Baltimore, MD Sonar
23 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
24 New York, NY Webster Hall
27 Philadelphia, PA Jam on the River
30 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
31 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall

JUNE
1 Louisville, KY Headliner's
2 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
3 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue Theatre
5 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre
6 Milwaukee, WI Eagles
7 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
9 Lawrence, KS Wakarusa Festival
12 Dallas, TX House of Blues
13 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
14 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
15 Little Rock, AR Revolution Music Room
17 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Festival
20 San Diego, CA 4th & B Theater
22 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern
23 San Francisco, CA Fillmore
24 San Francisco, CA Fillmore
26 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
27 Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
30 Denver, CO Red Rocks - E Town

JULY
1 Taos, NM Solarfest

JOE EMBARKS ON NATIONAL TOUR

Tour Kicks Off in Oakland, CA on April 27

Jive recording artist Joe will hit the road on a North American tour in support of his forthcoming album Ain't Nothing Like Me due in stores on April 24. He will be joined by Brian McKnight and Sunshine Anderson. The 22 city tour will kick off on April 27 at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA. Joe's current single "If I Was Your Man" is Top 10 at Urban AC radio in most major markets, including New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles. The video is playing on BET and is getting heavy rotation on BETJ. The album is a collection of heart felt lyrics over productions by an array of producers that include Jermaine Dupri, Sean Garrett, Dre and Vidal, Tim and Bob, Cool and Dre and more. Guest artists include Nas,Papoose and Young Joc.

4/27 Oakland, CA -- Paramount Theatre
4/29 Los Angeles, CA -- Gibson
4/30 Anaheim, CA -- House of Blues
5/3 St. Louis, MO -- Fox Theatre
5/5 Chicago, IL -- Merrillville, Star Plaza
5/6 Cleveland, OH -- State Theatre
5/9 Hartford, CT -- Oakdale
5/10 Providence, RI -- Lincoln Park
5/11 Philadelphia -- Tour Theater
5/12 Washington, DC -- Constitution Hall
5/13 New York, NY -- Beacon Theatre
5/18 Miami, FL -- Knights Center
5/19 Atlanta, GA -- Chastain Park
5/20 Virginia Beach, VA -- Verizon Wireless Theatre
5/24 Columbus, OH -- Promo West Pavillion
5/25 Louisville, KT -- Whitney Hall
5/26 Charlotte, NC -- Cricket Arena
5/27 Orlando, FL -- House of Blues
5/31 New Orleans, LA -- House of Blues
6/1 Memphis, TN -- Orpheum Theatre
6/2 Dallas, TX -- Nokia Theatre
6/3 Houston, TX -- Verizon Wireless Theatre

NEW VAN MORRISON 2-CD COLLECTION FEATURES 31 TRACKS

Manhattan/EMI Music Catalog Marketing will release The Best of Van Morrison, Volume 3 on June 19. The new 2-CD collection, compiled by Morrison himself, offers a comprehensive overview of his later material. The set's 31 tracks include previously unreleased collaborations with Tom Jones and Bobby Bland, as well as duets with John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Ray Charles.

THE BEST OF VAN MORRISON, VOLUME 3 (2-CD and Digital Album)
Disc 1
1. Cry For Home (with Tom Jones) (previously unreleased)
2. Too Long In Exile
3. Gloria (with John Lee Hooker)
4. Help Me with Junior Wells (live)
5. Lonely Avenue / 4 O' Clock In The Morning (with Jimmy Witherspoon,
Candy Dulfer & Jim Hunter) (live)
6. Days Like This
7. Ancient Highway
8. Raincheck
9. Moondance
10. Centerpiece (with Georgie Fame & Annie Ross)
11. That's Life (live)
12. Benediction (remix) (with Georgie Fame & Ben Sidran)
13. The Healing Game (re-mix)
14. I Don't Want To Go On Without You (with Jim Hunter)

Disc 2
1. Shenandoah (with The Chieftains)
2. Precious Time
3. Back On Top (remix)
4. When The Leaves Come Falling Down
5. Lost John (with Lonnie Donegan) (live)
6. Tupelo Honey (with Bobby Bland) (previously unreleased)
7. Meet Me In The Indian Summer (orchestral version) (remix)
8. Georgia On My Mind
9. Hey Mr. DJ
10. Steal My Heart Away
11. Crazy Love (with Ray Charles)
12. Once In A Blue Moon
13. Little Village
14. Blue and Green
15. Sitting On Top Of The World (with Carl Perkins)
16. Early In The Morning (with B.B. King)
17. Stranded

From THE BEST OF VAN MORRISON, VOLUME 3 liner notes (By Michael Heatley) It's now been more than four decades since Van Morrison left his native Belfast to embark on a career as a professional musician. And while there will be a number of people buying this third volume of highlights from that career who remember the days of Them, and others who picked up the story with legendary late 1960s/early 1970s albums like 'Astral Weeks' and 'Moondance,' there is yet another generation that tuned in during the 1980s.

The first 'Best Of Van Morrison' made the UK Top 5, proof that his fan base was still expanding after a quarter of a century at the cutting edge of music. And the reason is clear. Live shows are no 'greatest hits' parades but have always incorporated healthy amounts of new music, and the
public has responded by buying tickets and albums in ever-increasing numbers. The 1990s would prove to be a fruitful and prolific period in Morrison's history, with a release round about every year taking his original recordings total past the 30 mark by the middle of the following
decade.

All of which means the people who purchase this double album will differ widely in their knowledge of the man's back catalogue. Some of the songs here will be familiar -- even if not in these exact versions – while others will have escaped all but the most ardent Van-ologist. What's
certain is that it's a hand-picked selection with something for everyone whose life has been touched by Morrison's music.

Van Morrison will perform the following concerts: April 27 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans LA, April 28 at Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta GA, May 11 at Roundhouse in London UK, and June 9 at Forest High Lodge in Thetford UK

CEU - SEXY, FUNKY & SOULFUL

Just when you thought that Brazil must surely have exhausted its supply of irresistibly jazzy, funky, sexy, soulful electro-pop singer-songwriters, CéU (pronounced Say-Ew) comes along and makes you think that maybe that particular well is bottomless after all. CéU's self-titled US debut comes hot on the heels of a Latin Grammy nomination for "Best New Artist of 2006." She is also riding high on a wave of international success in Brazil, Holland, Italy, Canada, and France.

CéU's stateside release opens enticingly with "Vinheta Quebrante," a brief introductory track that builds itself up in delicate rhythmic layers. With "Lenda," CéU stakes out her musical territory more assertively. Anchored by the juxtaposition of a subtle melody and a lazy funk groove, ornamented with a gracefully understated turntable scratch, the song exudes hints of reggae with dub lurking in the background. "Malemolnêcia," a more explicitly reggae-flavored song, is featured in the soundtrack to "Cidade dos Homens," the television adaptation of the celebrated film City of God. The album's most surprising track is her cover version of Bob Marley's archetypal sufferer's anthem "Concrete Jungle." Samba, reggae, dub, electronica, love, heartbreak, chaos and sweet, sweet tunefulness - sounds like the perfect recipe for an irresistible album by a thrilling new talent. And so it is.

MEDESKI MARTIN & WOOD TOUR DATES

Medeski, Martin & Wood will perform the following concerts: April 13-14 at Fillmore Auditorium in Denver CO, April 25 at Kitty C Hart Theatre in Albany NY, April 26 at Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown NY, April 27 at McCarter Theatre in Princeton NJ, April 28 at Grand Opera House in Wilmington DE, April 29 at Birchmere in Alexandria VA, May 25 at Festi de Bella Luna in Clarks Grove MN, June 10 at Wakarusa Festival in Lawrence KS, and September 20 at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga

SUZANNE VEGA SET TO RELEASE FIRST CD IN SIX YEARS

Over 20 years into her storied career, singer Suzanne Vega shows that she remains one of the freshest voices in popular music today with the release of Beauty & Crime, her seventh album and her debut for Blue Note Records.

Revolving around the theme of New York, the city where Vega was raised and still lives, the 11 original songs on Beauty & Crime present Vega's signature poetry and folk-pop songcraft illuminated by lush orchestral arrangements that are juxtaposed against cutting-edge beats.

From the driving opener "Zephyr & I," which recounts a conversation with the seminal graffiti artist while strolling down West End Avenue, to the ghosts of Lower East Side haunts depicted in "Ludlow Street," to "New York is a Woman," which personifies the city as a hard-luck lady whose beauty still shines, Vega captures the spirit of her hometown's past, present and future. The album also includes two of her most personal songs yet, a love song for her husband ("Bound") and a dedication to her daughter ("As You Are Now").

The sessions, recorded in both New York and London, were produced by Jimmy Hogarth (Sia, Corinne Bailey Rae, KT Tunstall), mixed by Tchad Blake, and included an eclectic cast including orchestral arranger Will Malone (Dido, Seal, Corrine Bailey Rae), background vocalist and vocal arranger KT Tunstall, guitarists Gerry Leonard (David Bowie) and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), bassist Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith), as well as members of Vega's touring band, bassist Mike Visceglia, and drummer Doug Yowell.

With the release of her self-titled debut on A&M Records in 1985, Vega began paving a path for an entire generation of female singer-songwriters to follow in the 1990s. Her 1987 album Solitude Standing established her as an international star, first with its surprise hit "Luka," and again later when UK electronic dance duo DNA released a remixed version of the a cappella "Tom's Diner" (the song has since been remixed upwards of 25 times). Vega's other albums include Days of Open Hand (1990), 99.9 F° (1992), Nine Objects of Desire (1996), and Songs in Red and Gray (2001).

DENIECE WILLIAMS - 'LOVE NIECY STYLE' DUE APRIL 24

Multi Grammy-Award Winning & Platinum Selling R&B Singer Deniece Williams Makes Major Return to R&B After A Decade with Shanachie Debut Love, Niecy Style


Deniece Williams will forever be one of the great all-time R&B divas. Processing an infectious, angelic and soulful honey -coated voice with an awe-inspiring range, Deniece Williams set the bar high for R&B singers back in the 70s and to this day her influence can be heard on everyone from Mariah Carey to Beyoncé. Her songs have been sampled by dozens of artists including Will Smith and Master P. Deniece's pure, rich and spine-tingling vocal quality, along with her impeccable diction and ability to honestly connect with any song has resulted in a vast catalog of hits. Some of her timeless anthems include "Silly," "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" (her No. 1 pop and R&B duet with Johnny Mathis), "Let's Hear It For The Boy" (the million-selling pop/soul chart-topper from the movie Footloose), "It's Gonna Take A Miracle," "Free" (from her gold-certified This Is Niecy album) and "Black Butterfly." In recent years the chanteuse has primarily been recording gospel records but on April 24, 2007 Shanachie Entertainment will release Deniece Williams' highly anticipated return to R&B Love, Niecy Style produced by renowned Philly soul producer Bobby Eli.  Deniece's label debut will mark her first major return to R&B in over a decade.  For this momentous occasion Deniece called upon some of the artists who have been instrumental throughout her career: Stevie Wonder, George Duke and Philip Bailey.
 
In 1978, Deniece Williams' sophomore album Songbird was released, coming two years after the classic "Free" (from her gold-certified This Is Niecy album) propelled her into international fame and success.  The title was a perfect description of the soulful vocal beauty associated with this legendary singer/songwriter and it is as appropriate now as it was back then.  Indeed, a songbird with a dynamic range, a distinctive sound and a true gift for lyrical interpretation, Deniece has long enjoyed a place in the hearts of music buyers who embraced her through a rich legacy of close to thirty charted singles and a dozen best-selling albums. Her career also includes four Grammy wins and an extensive list of credits including sixteen Grammy nominations, three Stellar Awards, an American Music Award and an Oscar nomination.
 
As Deniece reflects "I wasn't really thinking about making a new record until a mutual friend put me in touch with Bobby, who I knew from the recording sessions I did with Thom Bell in the early '80s which included songs like "Silly" and "It's Gonna Take A Miracle."  Bobby talked to me about the idea of doing a project of songs that I've always loved. I thought it was a great way to honor artists like Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway and Gwen Guthrie and what their music has meant to me.  When people listen to this project, I hope it will take them back down memory lane as well as create new memories for those who may not be familiar with all the songs on the album."
 
Within weeks of agreeing to Love, Niecey Style, Bobby Eli (whose extensive production credits include such favorites as Sister Sledge, Atlantic Starr, Major Harris, Blue Magic and Engelbert Humperdink and whose discography includes countless Philly soul sessions as a star guitarist with Billy Paul, The Spinners, Wilson Pickett, The Salsoul Orchestra, The O'Jays, MFSB, The Temptations and Elton John) and Deniece had begun selecting songs for it.  "There were so many songs I had been carrying around forever, humming them, singing them and never thinking I would be recording them!" she declares. "By the time we finished, I felt we had done what we set out to do."  For Eli, working with Deniece was "a pure pleasure.  She's a producer's dream, a very special artist and someone I always wanted to work with from being on the Thom Bell sessions with her."  
 
Love, Niecey Style is particularly special, given the presence of three distinguished music men who have played an integral role in Deniece's career at different times: icon Stevie Wonder (with whom Deniece got her first gig as a member of his touring backup vocal group Wonderlove in 1972); super producer, songwriter and artist in his own right, George Duke (who produced 1984's Grammy-winning "Let's Hear It For The Boy"); and renowned vocalist Philip Bailey, of Earth, Wind & Fire, with whom Deniece was associated by virtue of working with EW&F's Maurice White and Kalimba Productions from 1976 to 1982.        
 
In addition, what distinguishes Niecy's new CD from other albums of R&B 'cover' tunes is the range of her choices, starting with the 1963 Baby Washington chestnut "That's How Heartaches Are Made" through to Donny Hathaway's eternal "Someday We'll All Be Free" and on to Luther Vandross' first solo 1981 smash, "Never Too Much."  For good measure, Deniece re-recorded her own "Cause You Love Me Baby," a staple in her repertoire since the track was included in her 1976 Columbia debut album as well as cutting a brand new song, "The Only Thing I'm Missing Is You," a prime romantic mood-setting, sensuous cut which showcases the songbird sounding better than ever!
 
The basic tracks on Love, Niecey Style were cut by producer Eli in Philadelphia;  an all-star cast of West Coast musicians including saxman Everette Harp, bass player extraordinaire Freddie Washington and Tower Of Power trumpeter Greg Adams then added their musical skills to the album.  Says Deniece, "It was an extraordinary experience to make music with such gifted musicians…words could never truly express how special it made me feel being in the studio again with Stevie, George, Philip, Greg, Freddie and Everette.  Truly, I was surrounded by friends and loved ones."
 
The spirit of love and celebration is displayed throughout Love, Niecey Style. Speaking about her choices for the album, Deniece explains, "I'd been wanting to record "That's How Heartaches Are Made" for years.  I was thirteen when I first heard Baby Washington sing this song.  It touched my heart because at the time, I was in love with this boy but he didn't love me the same way!   When we started recording the song, I could hear Stevie (Wonder) playing harmonica on it.  'Can you come down?' I asked and he was gracious enough to play on the track.  It turned out beautifully. Then, "Love's Holiday" has always been one of my favorite EW&F songs. 
 
It was also written by Skip Scarborough, who I feel was one of the best songwriters of our generation.  Then having my dearest friend Philip Bailey sing on it…it doesn't get any better than that!"
 
The standout ballad "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" (previously cut by both Angela Bofill and Roberta Flack, one of the many artists whose recordings - including Minnie Riperton and Esther Phillips - benefited from Deniece's work as a session singer in the '70s) is a tribute to a longtime friend: "The song was written by the late Gwen Guthrie who we lost to breast cancer. Gwen used to sing with me, Lani Groves and Patti Austin - we were in the same circle of background singers when I lived in New York and I remember when she wrote the song.  I always wanted to do it and it's my way of honoring Gwen."
 
Deniece says the two most challenging tunes were her reading of Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free" (which features Greg Adams) and one of the only covers ever done of Luther's "Never Too Much."  The vocalist shares, "I told Bobby (Eli) and Executive Producer Danny Weiss that I wanted to do Donny's song.  After I listened to his rendition again, I just broke down and cried. I thought, 'do I have the audacity to do this song?' I called the record company and told them I'd made a mistake.  They said, 'are you crazy?  No…you gotta do the song!'  It has a beautiful message of encouragement so I'm glad I did it.  As for the Luther song, well, he was a friend and certainly one of the best vocalists of our time.  I had no idea how hard a song "Never Too Much" was to sing – you can hardly sing and breathe on it. I tell people, when I get to heaven, I'm going to tell Luther how hard it was to do!"     
 
Keeping with contemporary classics of the '80s, Deniece chose Kool & The Gang's "Cherish"  about which she says, "real love only happens on a few occasions and when we have it, we shouldn't take it for granted"; and George Benson's 1983 hit, "Love Me (One More Time)" which she declares is her favorite Benson song, given "something really special by George (Duke) who played on the track."  Rounding out this stellar collection are her own "Cause You Love Me Baby" and "If You Really Love Me," another nod to Stevie Wonder. "I sang this song so much as background for Stevie that at one time, I was singing it in my sleep!  I was very apprehensive about doing this song because he was and still is my mentor and I wanted to please him.  I think I've made him proud."  The choice for Deniece Williams to revisit one of her own classic tunes "Cause You Love Me Baby" was easy: "I've been very blessed as a songwriter and publisher to have so much of my music sampled.  I was going to re-do "Free" but then I thought it would be good to do something up-tempo because it's been sampled by so many other artists…and being the romantic I am, it seemed perfect for this project."  
 
Since the mid-'80s, Deniece has been busier than ever, recording a children's CD, Lullabies To Dreamland, appearing in the London cast of the pioneering musical "Mama I Want To Sing," producing and hosting her own radio program, "The Deniece Williams Show" for BBC Radio for almost ten years.  Purposely devoting much of her time to raising her four sons, Deniece says she made a conscious choice to limit her touring activities: "I've been doing maybe ten concerts a year and in recent years, I've really got into writing theater pieces and developing film scripts with my older sons.  I felt it was time to test myself in other creative ways.  Now with my children grown, it's time for mom to be out there again!  I chose to stay at home and did only 10% of what I could have done.  Vocally, I think I'm stronger than I've ever been and it's time to get out there and do it.  I've been blessed with a fantastic audience and I'm always humbled by that.  My audience reminds me that this is what I'm supposed to be doing!"