TOWER OF POWER 2011 TOUR DATES

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

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

TDK LIFE ON RECORD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. Pricing:

$499 - 3 Speaker Boombox

$399 - 2 Speaker Boombox

$299 - Sound Cube

$399 - USB Belt Drive Turntable

$299 - Belt Drive Turntable

$249 - Headphones

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

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

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

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

CD

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

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

http://www.simplyred.com/

MARK HARPER – THE MARK HARPER PROJECT

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

SMOOTH JAZZ NEW YORK 2011 CONCERT SCHEDULE

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

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

http://www.smoothjazznewyork.com/

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

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

Tower Of Power - 40th Anniversary The Fillmore Concert

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

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

Airborne - Back In The Dayze Airborn Anthology

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

LEON RUSSELL – THE BEST OF LEON RUSSELL

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

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

http://www.leonrussellrecords.com/

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

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

4. A Song For You

5. Hummingbird

6. Tight Rope

7. Delta Lady

8. Stranger In A Strange Land

9. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

10. This Masquerade

11. Out In The Woods

12. If I Were A Carpenter

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

14. Lady Blue

15. Back To The Island

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

 

ADAM CRUZE - MILESTONE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UPCOMING ADAM CRUZ APPEARANCES:

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

June 21 -Scullers, Boston, MA

THE LEGACY OF SAMMY DAVIS JR.

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

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

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

MAD MEN: A MUSICAL COMPANION (1960-1965)

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

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

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

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

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

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

TONY BENNETT - DUETS II

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

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

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

THE 2011-12 CONCERT CALENDAR

MARCH 2011
Chris Botti @ Bergen Perf Arts Center @ Englewood, NJ, Mar 2
Esperanza Spalding @ Shaftman Perf. Hall, Roanoke, VA, Mar 3
Chris Botti @ Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood, NJ, Mar 3
Chris Botti @ Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA, Mar 4
Esperanza Spalding @ Weinberg Center, Frederick, MD, Mar 4
Brian Culbertson @ Java Jazz Festival, Jakarta, Indonesia, Mar 4
Joe Lovano, Us Five @ Imparts Arts Center, Wroclaw, Poland, Mar 4
Chris Botti @ Tilles Center for Perf Arts, Greenvale, NY, Mar 5
George Benson @ International Expo Arena, Jakarta, Mar 5-6
Chris Botti @ Zeiterion Perf Arts Center, New Bedford, MA, Mar 6
Chris Botti @ Riverbend Centre, Austin, TX, Mar 10
Al DiMeola @ Blue Note, New York, NY, Mar 10-13
Joe Lovano, Us Five @ Blue Note, Milan, Italy, Mar 11

Chris Botti @ Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Centert,
Dallas, TX, Mar 11-13

Brian Culberston @ Hard Rock Hotel, San Diego, CA, Mar 12

Joe Lovano, US Five @ Sala Concerti Del Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi,
Torino, Italy, Mar 12

Joe Lovano, US Five @ Club Kiff, Aarau, Switzerland, Mar 13
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Moods, Zurich, Switzerland, Mar 14
Chris Botti @ The Arts, Naples, FL, Mar 14
The Manhattan Transfer @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Mar 15-20
Natalie Cole @ Van Wezel Perf Arts Hall, Sarasota, FL, Mar 16
Chris Botti @ King Center For Perf Arts, Melbourne, FL, Mar 16
Chris Botti @ Kravis Center, West Palm Beach, FL, Mar 17
Average White Band @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Mar 17
Natalie Cole @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, Mar 17
Chris Botti @ Broward Center for Perf Arts, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Mar 18
Rachelle Ferrell @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Mar 18
Jeff Lorber Fusion @ Daniel St. Club, Milford, CT, Mar 18
Gal Costa @ The Fillmore, Miami Beach, FL, Mar 19
Chris Botti @ Van Wezel Perf Arts Hall, Sarasota, FL, Mar 19
Chris Botti @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, Mar 20
Sharon Jones & Dap Kings @ The Fillmore, Miami Beach, FL, Mar 20
Natalie Cole @ Philharmonic Center For Arts, Naples, FL, Mar 22
Dionne Warwick @ Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, Mar 23-25
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Wackerhalle, Burghausen, Germany, Mar 24
Joey DeDrancesco @ Jazz Base, Wyomissing, PA, Mar 24-26


Dave Brubeck Trio @ Sovereign Performing Arts Center,
Reading, PA, Mar 25

Norman Brown, Richard Elliot @ Crown Plaza, Wyomissing, PA, Mar 25
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Ronnie Scott’s. London, UK, Mar 25
Sharon Jones & Dap Kings @ Music Farm, Charleston, SC, Mar 25
Jerry Butler, Eddie Holman @ Raleigh Memorial Audit., Raleigh, NC, Mar 25
The Manhattan Transfer @ The Blue Note, Nagoya, Japan, Mar 25
Brian Culberston @ Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA, Mar 25-27
Lionel Richie @ Bimbadgen Estate, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, Mar 26
Sharon Jones & Dap Kings @ Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC, Mar 26

Stanley Clarke Band, Victor Wooten Band @ Crowne Plaza,
Wyomissing, PA, Mar 26

Al Jarreau, George Duke @ Sovereign Performing Arts Center,
Reading, PA, Mar 26

Gerald Veasley, Will Downing, Nick Colionne, Walter Beasley,
Carol Riddick @ Crowne Plaza, Wyomissing, PA, Mar 26

Pieces Of A Dream, Phil Perry @ Crowne Plaza, Wyomissing, PA, Mar 27

Guitars & Saxes With: Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Peter White,
Jeff Golub @ Sovereign Performing Arts Center, Reading, PA, Mar 27

Al DiMeola’s World Sinfonia @ Miller Center For The Performing Arts,
Reading, PA, Mar 27

Randy Brecker @ Boyertown Junior High West, Boyertown, PA, Mar 28
Lionel Richie @ Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, Mar 29-30
Ashford & Simpson @ Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, Mar 29-31

Chuck Loeb, Rick Braun, Randy Brecker, Philippe Saisse,
Gerald Albright, Brian Bromberg @ Jazz Base, Wyomissing, PA, Mar 30

Trombone Shorty @ Crowne Plaza, Wyomissing, PA, Mar 30
Eric Marienthal, Jeff Lorber @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, Mar 30
Buddy Guy @ Empire Center at The Egg, Albany, NY, Mar 31
Tower Of Power @ Centrepointe Theatre, Ottawa, ON, Mar 1

Rick Braun, Randy Brecker, Chuck Loeb, Chieli Minucci, Euge Groove,
Gerald Veasley, Brian Bromberg, Gerald Albright, Philippe Saisse @
Crowne Plaza, Wyomissing, PA, Mar 31

APRIL 2011
Brian Bromberg Band, Randy Brecker @ Jazz Base,
Wyomissing, PA, Apr 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buddy Guy @ Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO, Apr 13
Lee Ritenour @ Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis, IN, Apr 13
Buddy Guy @ Pantages Thaetre, Tacoma, WA, Apr 15
Mavis Staples @ Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide, Australia, Apr 15
Smokey Robinson @ Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte, NC, Apr 15
Maceo Parker @ Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA, Apr 15-16

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

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

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

The Ohio Players @ Crawfish Festival, Biloxi, MS, Apr 17
The Spinners, Village People @ Magic City Casino, Miami, FL, Apr 17
Lee Ritenour @ Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, Apr 17-18
Buddy Guy @ Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna, BC, Apr 18
Lee Ritenour @ Solid Dove Underground, Denver, CO, Apr 20
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 20
Tower Of Power @ Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, MA, Apr 19-21

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

Chicago @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, Apr 21
Buddy Guy @ Cascade Theatre, Redding, CA, Apr 21
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Rialto Theatre, Atlanta, GA, Apr 21-22
Buddy Guy @ Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center, Davis, CA, Apr 22
Chaka Khan @ House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ, Apr 22
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 22-24
Boz Scaggs @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, Apr 24
WAR @ The Crawfish Festival, Biloxi, MS, Apr 24
B.B. King @ Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, HI, Apr 27
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 27

Joe Lovano, US Five @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, Apr 28-30
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Apr 29
Maceo Parker @ Belly Up Tavern, Solona Beach, CA, Apr 29
Patti LaBelle, Kenny G @ Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC, Apr 29
Stephanie Mills @ Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, Apr 30

MAY 2011
Santana @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, May 1
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, May 1
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA, May 2
Joe Lovano, US Five @ Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA, May 3
Joe Lovano @ Tribeca Performing Arts Center, New York, NY, May 5
Ceu @ Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, CA, May 6
Chris Botti @ Knoxville Aud & Coliseum, Knoxville, TN, May 7

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

Herb Alpert @ Dimitrou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, May 13-15
Candy Dulfer @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, May 15
Chris Botti @ Durham Perf Arts Center, Durham, NC, May 17
Herb Alpert @ Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, CA, May 17
Herb Alpert @ Edythe Broad Stage, Santa Monica, CA, May 19
Joe Lovano @ Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, May 20

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

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

JUNE 2011
Lee Ritenour @ Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, CA, June 5
Natalie Cole @ Rochester Int’l Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY, June 10
Herb Alpert, Lani Hall @ Viper Alley, Lincolnshire, IL, June 11

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

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

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

Herb Alpert, Lani Hall @ Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, June 13
Jack Jones @ Scullers Jazz Club, Allston, MA, June 17-18
Hugh Masekela @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, June 22

JULY 2011
Chris Botti, Bobby McFerrin, Yellowjackets @ Hollywood Bowl,
Los Angeles, CA, July 13

Down To The Bone @ Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, July 8
Fourplay @ Blue Note, New York, NY, July 26-31

Gladys Knight, James Ingram @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angels, CA, July 27
Vanessa Williams @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, July 29-30

AUGUST 2011
Lee Ritenour @ Guitar Town, Copper Mountain, CO, Aug 14

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

Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chaka Khan, Cassandra Wilson
@ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Aug 17

Jack Jones @ Town Plaza, Los Gatos, CA, Aug 24

Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Chris Botti, Peter White, Sheila E, David Benoit,

Warren Hill, Jeffrey Osborne, Keiki Matsui @ Dave Koz & Friends At
Sea Alaska, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Aug 26-Sep 2

Jack Jones @ South Point Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, Aug 27-28

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

SEPTEMBER 2011
Quincy Jones, Patti Austin, Brothers Johnson @ Hollywood Bowl,
Los Angeles, CA, Sept 7

Herbie Hancock @ Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, Sept 26

OCTOBER 2011
Pat Metheny @ Blue Note, New York, Oct 11
Jack Jones @ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, UK, Oct 21
Jack Jones @ York Barbian Centre, York, UK, Oct 22

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

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

Jack Jones @ Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, UK, Oct 24
Jack Jones @ The Sage, Gateshead, UK, Oct 25
Jack Jones @ Town Hall, Birmingham, UK, Oct 27
Jack Jones @ Cliffs Pavilion, South-On-Sea, UK, Oct 29
Jack Jones @ Fairfield, Croydon, UK, Oct 30
Jack Jones @ London Paladium, London, UK, Oct 31

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

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

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

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

NEW SADE ALBUM - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION - AND TOUR DATES

As a follow up to the platinum-selling Soldier Of Love, which spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart and garnered a well-deserved Grammy Award, Sade is back with a new release entitled The Ultimate Collection, out May 3rd. In addition to classic Sade songs, the must-have album will include three new, never-before heard songs including "Moon & The Sky" (featuring Jay-Z).

Sade and John Legend Summer Tour Dates:

(Newly announced dates are noted by *)

6/16 Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena

6/18 Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center*

6/19 Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center

6/21 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum

6/22 Washington, DC - Verizon Center
6/24 East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
6/25 Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
6/28 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
6/30 Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
7/03 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena*
7/06 Boston, MT - TD Garden
7/08 Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse*
7/09 Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena*
7/10 Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center*
7/12 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
7/13 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena*
7/15 Ft. Lauderdale, FL - BankAtlantic Center
7/16 Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena*
7/17 Orlando, FL - Amway Center
7/23 Houston, TX - Toyota Center*
7/24 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center*
7/26 Kansas City, KS - Sprint Center*
7/28 St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center*
7/29 Memphis, TN - FedEx Forum*
7/31 Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena*
8/03 Detroit, MI - The Palace at Auburn Hills*

8/05 Chicago, IL - United Center

8/06 Chicago, IL - United Center

8/07 Chicago, IL - United Center*
8/09 Minneapolis, MN - Target Center*
8/11 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center*
8/13 Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
8/14 Seattle, WA - Key Arena*

8/15 Portland, OR - Rose Garden Arena*

8/17 Sacramento, CA - Power Balance Pavilion*

8/19 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
8/20 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
8/21 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center*
8/23 San Diego, CA - Cricket Amphitheatre*
8/25 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
8/26 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena*
8/27 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
8/30 Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
8/31 Anaheim, CA - Honda Center*

9/02 Phoenix, AZ - U.S. Airways Center*

9/03 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Arena*

GRETCHEN PARLATO - THE LOST AND FOUND

Gretchen Parlato's 2009 sophomore breakthrough, In a Dream, signaled the arrival of an incredibly inventive modern jazz singer.  Her follow-up, The Lost and Found (set for release on April 5), demonstrates that she has staying power. In a Dream garnered international acclaim with Billboard magazine hailing it as "the most alluring jazz vocal album of 2009"; it also made it onto the top year-end polls for Jazz Times, the Boston Globe, the Village Voice and NPR. The Lost and Found shows immediate weight and intensity, exposing a greater dynamic range. "I feel like I stepped out of my own way and allowed myself to be more revealing and vulnerable through the music," reflects Parlato. Revealing a seamless, crystalline, and more importantly, personal voice, Parlato says that the overall theme of The Lost and Found is about accepting opposition and embracing the ebbs and flows of life. "One day we may think we've found all the answers, and then something suddenly happens that makes us feel completely lost as though nothing makes sense. This is life. Accepting that we are always in transition without attaching a judgment to the experience is freeing. We are always the lost and found."

 An alumni of the Thelonious Monk Institute, Parlato has been turning heads ever since she won the 2004 Thelonious Monk Institute International Vocal Competition with which she displayed a musical individuality loaded with paradoxical powers. Her sultry, intriguing voice and unique, rhythmically agile phrasing came with inescapable centripetal force; the more intimate and understated she sang, the more she drew listeners in. Since then she has toured worldwide to sold out audiences with BBC Radio proclaiming, "Star over London...A star is born!" Her originality captivates musicians as well, prompting invitations to appear on over 50 recordings with the likes of Terence Blanchard, Kenny Barron, Terri Lynn Carrington and Esperanza Spalding. Her breathtaking performances have been captured on television in Europe and Japan and she has become a sought after clinician on vocal styling.

 On her third disc, Parlato surrounds herself with a collective of kindred spirits whose tight knit sound has been cultivated through years of performing and recording together. She marshaled Grammy nominated pianist Taylor Eigsti, bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Kendrick Scott as her main band mates with guest appearances from tenor saxophonist Dayna Stephens and bassist, Alan Hampton, who makes a stellar turn featured as a singer and guitarist. Leaders in their own right, this band is among the most heralded of a young, new wave in jazz. "I adore these musicians, not only for what they do, but also for who they are," Parlato says. "We couldn't have had a more supportive, productive energy recording this album." That energy allowed her to reach subliminal musical heights; one that truly engages in delightful, often adventurous musical conversations that tickle the mind, warms the heart and moves the body. "They all contributed so much to the project, in the end it truly felt like a collaborative effort."

"Collaborative effort" is no overstatement. The Lost and Found sees Parlato emerging as a thoughtful composer and lyricist. In fact, she wrote lyrics to several compositions such as Eigsti's haunting "Without a Sound;" trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire's plaintive "Henya," and Stephens' suspenseful title track. In a duet on Hampton's "Still," Gretchen's gentle musing about compassion and forgiveness is made more poignant by his raw vocals. "Alan created such a meditative and deceptively simple groove I wanted to write lyrics that were like a mantra. Something that in its repetition becomes extremely powerful. What better theme than love?"

She also composed the music and wrote the lyrics for the evocative bossa-nova tinged, "Winter Wind," the hopeful "How We Love," the sensual "Better Than" and the hypnotic "Circling" that contains verses that typify the entire disc's meditations on light and darkness. "'Circling' plays with the idea of cycles in our lives," explains Parlato. "The ones we have no control over like birth and death as opposed to the cycles we do control, behavior patterns that we get ourselves into."

Pianist and Grammy nominated composer Robert Glasper came on board as associate producer. "I love working with Robert, not only in composing, but in re-harmonizing and arranging. There is such an immense love and respect between all of the musicians and Robert knows exactly what to do and say to keep everyone inspired."

 On The Lost and Found, Parlato further develops her knack for reinventing intriguing R&B songs with her daring yet delectable makeover of "All That I Can Say," a Mary J. Blige tune, penned by Lauryn Hill, and Simply Red's "Holding Back the Years." The latter track, which serves as the album's opener, begins with Scott laying down an infectious R&B groove. Glasper can be heard in the background, vibing to the beat as the music quickly fades into the full ensemble (recorded by Parlato on her iPhone during a rehearsal).

With both tracks, Parlato and her band retain the soulful essence of the songs while steering far enough so that they don't delve into treacle mimicry. "Gretchen doesn't try to be anything she's not. Every remake is an honest one," Glasper says. "She's always herself." The disc also features the jaunty "Me and You," from singer/songwriter Josh Mease and a sterling Glasper/Parlato rearrangement of Bill Evans' "Blue in Green" with lyrics by Meredith D'Ambrosio.

Gretchen Parlato is on an exploration, which leads the conversation among the band and makes for unexpected treasures.  Inspired by Wayne Shorter, one of her mentors, she wrote lyrics to his classic '60s jazz composition "Juju." The interaction between Gretchen and saxophonist Stephens showcases her ability to use her voice as an instrument-blending with the horn while adding counterpoints. On "Without A Sound," her haunting vocals seem to add another dimension to the remarkably textured harmony already created by Hodge layering 3 parts using only his electric bass.  And on one of the disc's most revealing moments, the singer shows her love for Brazilian music on Paulinho da Viola's "Alo Alo." A solo rendition, Parlato layers all of the percussion and sings all the vocals.

 Here's where you can catch Gretchen Parlato in concert:
April 6 - Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River, MA
April 7 - Regattabar, Cambridge, MA
April 23 - Wichita Jazz Fest, Wichita, KS
May 6-8 - Jazz Standard, New York City

May 25 - New Morning, Paris, France

May 26 - La Passerelle, St Brieuc, France

May 28 - Guidel Bretagne, Bretagne, France

May 31- Theatre National de Bretagne, Rennes, France

June 4 - Cabaret of Theater Square, Pittsburgh, PA

July 1- l Klangvokal Musikfestival - Dortmund, GE

July 4-6 -Duc Des Lombards, Paris, France

July 7 - Jazz a Vienne, Vienne, France

July 8 - Palatia Jazz, Rhineland, Germany

December 2 -Library of Congress, Washington, DC

December 10 - Next Wave Festival, BAM Café Live, Brooklyn, NY

R.I.P. LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY

Disco singer Loleatta Holloway has died at the age of 64 after a brief illness. She was mainly known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation", as well as many others. In the early 1970s, Holloway signed with the Atlanta-based label Aware, where she recorded two albums for the label, both of them produced by Floyd Smith—Loleatta (1973) and Cry to Me (1975). Her first single from the second album, the ballad "Cry to Me" rose to #10 Billboard R&B and #68 on the Hot 100, but before the label could really establish Holloway, it went out of business. In 1976, Philadelphia arranger and producer Norman Harris signed Holloway for his new label, Gold Mind, a subsidiary of New York's Salsoul Records. The first release from the album Loleatta was another Sam Dees ballad, "Worn-Out Broken Heart," which reached #25 R&B, but the B-side, "Dreaming," climbed to #72 on the pop chart and launched her as a disco act. She contributed vocals to "Re-Light My Fire" for Dan Hartman, who then wrote and produced the title track of her fourth and final album for Gold Mind, Love Sensation (1980). Eighteen songs of hers charted on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including four #1s. However, it was a ballad that proved to be another big R&B hit for her. "Only You" was written and produced by Bunny Sigler, who also sang with Holloway on the track, and it reached #11 in 1978.

Albums
Loleatta (Aware 1973)
Cry To Me (Aware 1975)
Loleatta (Gold Mind 1976)
Queen of the Night (Gold Mind 1978)
Loleatta Holloway (Gold Mind 1979)
Love Sensation (Gold Mind 1980)
Greatest Hits (The Right Stuff/EMI, 1996)
Queen of the Night: the Ultimate Club Collection (The Right Stuff/EMI, 2001)
Loleatta Holloway: The Anthology (Salsoul, 2005)

Songs
"Cry to Me" (#10 R&B, #68, US Billboard Hot 100)
 "Worn-out Broken Heart" (#25 R&B)
 "Only You" with Bunny Sigler (#87 US, Billboard Hot 100, #11 US R&B)
 "Dreamin'" (US #72), (US Dance #3)(1977)
 "Love Sensation" (#1 US Dance, #5 UK) (1980)
 "Vertigo/Relight My Fire" (with Dan Hartman)
 "Hit and Run" (#3 US Dance), (#56 US R&B)(1977)
 "Catch Me on the Rebound" (#16 US Dance)
 "Crash Goes Love" (#5 US Dance), (#86 US R&B)(1984)
 "Runaway" by The Salsoul Orchestra
 "All About the Paper"
 "The Greatest Performance of My Life"
 "Catch Me on the Rebound"
 "Seconds"
 "I May Not be there When You Want Me (But I'm Right on Time)"
 "Shout it to The Top", Fire Island feat Lolleata Holoway
 Black Box - "Ride On Time" (#1 UK; contains vocal samples from "Love Sensation" - Holloway's vocals are also the only vocals on the track; also Britain's best selling single of 1989)
 Gotta Be #1 (#2, US Dance)
 Marky Mark (aka Mark Wahlberg) & The Funky Bunch - "Good Vibrations" (#1 US, #14 UK; prominently features Holloway's vocals sampled from "Love Sensation." This was Holloway's only US #1 on the Billboard Hot 100; 1991)
 "Dreamin'" (remix) (#1, US Dance)(2000)
 "What Goes Around Comes Around" GTS featuring Loleatta Holloway
 "Don't Leave Me this Way - 2007" (2007 Deep Influence Mix)
 "A Better World" by AgeHa featuring Loleatta Holloway & Jocelyn Brown
 "I-N-S-I-D-E" by CJ TOBA feat Loleatta Holloway (2009 DJ Remix of "Dreamin'," which reached success in DJ/Club Charts)

Holloway died on March 21, 2011 after slipping into a coma. She was 64 years old

BARRY MANILOW - DUETS

For the first time, 15 of Barry's most outstanding and memorable performances with an A-list of singers have been collected for his newest release - Duets.  The title will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting May 3, through Arista/ Legacy. Duets is a timely reminder of Barry Manilow's successful residency at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, with performance dates now extended into 2012. "I'm very proud of this album," Manilow said recently. "Recording each song was a thrill because these singers are so great, but listening to all of the cuts back-to-back was an overwhelming experience. Getting the opportunity to sing with them was an honor." With worldwide record sales exceeding 80 million, Barry Manilow is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records).  His track record includes no less than 25 consecutive top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Duets Tracklisting:
Title - With - From album (Year)
1. You've Got A Friend - Melissa Manchester - The Greatest Songs of the Seventies (2007)
2.  Hey Mambo - Kid Creole & the Coconuts - Swing Street (1987)
3.  Let Me Be Your Wings - Debra Byrd - Thumbelina O.S. (1994)
4.  Cherish/Windy - The Association - Greatest Songs Of The Sixties (2006)
5.  Look To The Rainbow - Barbara Cook - Showstoppers (1991)
6.  Islands In The Stream - Reba McEntire - Greatest Songs Of The Eighties (2008)
7.  Big City Blues - Mel Torme (featuring Gerry Mulligan) - 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe (1984)
8.  On A Slow Boat To China - Bette Midler - Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook (2003)
9.  Run To Me - Dionne Warwick - Manilow Collection/20 Classic Hits (1985)
10.  Summertime - Diane Schuur (featuring Stan Getz) - Swing Street (1987)
11.  Sincerely/Teach Me Tonight - Phyllis McGuire - The Greatest Songs of the Fifties (2005)
12.  Blue - Sarah Vaughan - 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe (1984)
13.  Now And Forever - Sheena Easton - The Pebble and the Penguin O.S. (1995)
14.  I Won't Be The One To Let Go - Barbra Streisand - Duets (by Barbra Streisand) (2002)
15.  The Last Duet - Lily Tomlin - Barry (1980)

SADE & JOHN LEGEND TEAM FOR TOUR

Sade, known for their one of a kind timeless sound, have announced that acclaimed singer, songwriter and pianist, John Legend will join every date on their highly anticipated summer tour.  Legend is nominated for five Grammy Awards and two NAACP Awards this year for his collaboration with the Roots on the extraordinary new album Wake Up! The once in a lifetime tour, combining two of the most recognizable and powerful voices in R&B today, will begin on June 16th in Baltimore, Maryland at the 1st Mariner's Arena.  The Live Nation produced tour will make 50 concert stops in top arenas across North America, with additional dates to be announced soon.

John Legend, a six-time Grammy Award winner, is nominated for five additional awards at this weekend's telecast on February 13th for his work with the Roots on Wake Up!, including Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song ("Shine"), Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance ("Hang On In There"), Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Shine"), and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance ("Hang On In There").  Legend is also nominated for two NAACP Image Awards at this year's ceremony on March 4th for Outstanding Album Wake Up! and Outstanding Group, Duo or Collaboration.

Sade is nominated for two Grammy Awards this year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalsBest R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Soldier of Love," both from their critically acclaimed new album, Soldier Of Love.  Selling over a million copies to-date, Soldier Of Love spent three weeks in the number one spot taking its rightful place among the collection of iconic Sade albums. Sade is also nominated for four NAACP Image Awards, Outstanding Music Video ("Soldier of Love"), Outstanding Song ("Soldier of Love"), Outstanding Album (Soldier of Love) and Outstanding Female Artist.   for their hit "Babyfather" and

Sade with Special Guest John Legend Tour Dates:
June 16 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
June 19 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
June 21 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum
June 24 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center
June 28 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
June 30 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
July 6 Boston, MA TD Garden
July 15 Ft. Lauderdale, FL BankAtlantic Center
July 17 Orlando, FL Amway Center
August 5 Chicago, IL United Center
August 6 Chicago, IL United Center
August 13 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
August 19 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
August 20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
August 25 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
August 27 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
August 30 Anaheim, CA Honda Center

T.K. BLUE - LATIN BIRD

T.K. Blue’s new CD Latin Bird, his first for Motéma Music and ninth as a leader, takes the alto saxophonist back to his musical and personal beginnings. Charlie “Bird” Parker was a major early inspiration for T.K., and eight of Parker’s classic compositions are ingeniously reworked in Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, Brazilian, and New Orleans second-line rhythms. The New York-born son of parents from Jamaica and Trinidad, and a mainstay of jazz master Randy Weston’s band since 1980, Blue is profoundly fluent in the various musical styles of Africa and the African Diaspora. “Barbados” is given a calypso arrangement and “Donna Lee” is played as a samba, while “Chi Chi,” “Si Si,” and “Buzzy” utilize a two-three clave. Also in the program is a gorgeous reading of “’Round Midnight,” the saxophonist’s all-time favorite ballad, as well as “He Flew Away Too Soon,” a solo alto saxophone improvisation dedicated to trombonist Benny Powell. Blue’s longtime friend and Weston band mate, Powell had been scheduled to play on "Latin Bird" but died a few days before the session.

Blue’s band for the occasion consists of pianist Theo Hill (“I’m intrigued by his sound, maturity, and creativity”), esteemed colleague Essiet Essiet on bass, Willie Martinez on drums and timbales (also part of T.K.’s previous album), and percussionist Roland Guerrero—the same quintet (with James Weidman filling in for Hill) who performed in December at the World Festival of Black Arts and Culture in Senegal, where Blue also performed with Weston. Special guests on Latin Bird include drummer Lewis Nash, heard on two selections, and trombonist and shell-blower Steve Turre, who contributed to three others.

Born in the Bronx and raised on Long Island, T.K. Blue began gigging around New York City in the mid-1970s with the Natives, a group led by South African pianist Ndikho Xaba. Through Xaba, he met Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand) and joined his group in 1977. He spent three years touring the world with Ibrahim, with whom he recorded three albums.

Since 1980, Blue has been a member of Randy Weston’s band and currently serves as its musical director. “I’m indebted to him tremendously,” Blue says of the pianist. “He showed me a lot of things about life and how to be a man and also how to seek my heritage and find out about Africa.”

Blue spent much of the 1980s living in Paris and continued performing with Weston, who was also a resident of France. “There were a lot of African people there, which was attractive to me because I wanted to learn about my roots,” he says. “My dad and my grandfather were from Jamaica, but they used to talk to me a lot about Africa.”

The saxophonist, who played in Paris with musicians from throughout Africa, as well as from Brazil, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, made his first album there in 1986. Titled "Egyptian Oasis," the disc came to the attention of the United States Information Agency in France and led to three State Department-sponsored tours of Africa for Blue and his band.

The saxophonist's pcoming shows include Fri-Sat. 5/20-21 at Twins in Washington, DC. (Blue will also appear with his quartet at An Die Musik in Baltimore on Fri. 3/18.)