SMOOTH JAZZ NEWS

MIAMI SAXOPHONE QUARTET – MIDNIGHT RUMBA
Midnight Rumba is the new CD from the Miami Saxophone Quartet, featuring four of South Florida’s best known saxophonists – Ed Calle, Gary Keller, Gary Lindsay and Mike Brignola. The CD also includes performances by other well-known local musicians, including Arturo Sandoval, Jon Secada, Chuck Bergeron, Javier Carrion and Lee Levin.

NEAL CAINE - BACKSTABBER’S BALL
Bassist Neal Caine has released his debut CD, Backstabber’s Ball on Smalls Records. The New York-based musician is currently with the Harry Connick Jr. Orchestra and has played for the likes of Elvin Jones, Diana Krall and Betty Carter. The CD also features sax players Ned Goold and Stephen Riley, plus drummer Jason Marsalis (of the famous Marsalis family).

STRAIGHT AND SMOOTH JAZZ FESTIVAL
Houston Texas will host the upcoming Straight & Smooth Jazz Festival. Slated to appear at this first annual event are Bliss Adagio, Nick Colionne, James Carter, Mark Dini, Marion Meadows, Kyle Turner, Michael Ward, Norman Zenteno Band, Terence Blanchard, Kwame & Chavaduka Cobb, Brian Culbertson, Robert Glasper, Steve Oliver, James Perkins, Jr., and Erin Fisher Wright. The event will take place at Sesquicentennial Park in downtown Houston on October 8 and 9, 2005.

NEW LUTHER VANDROSS TRIBUTE ALBUM DUE

J Records has announced a September 20 release date for So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute To Luther Vandross. Featured performers include Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Babyface, Beyonce, Celine Dion, Donna Summer, Elton John, Fantasia, Jamie Foxx, Jermaine Paul, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Patti LaBelle, Usher and Wyclef Jean. The set includes Vandross’ best known hits songs, including If This World Were Mine, Dance With My Father, Love Won’t Let Me Wait, If Only For One Night, Superstar, plus a posthumous duet with Elton John on the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song Anyone Who Had A Heart. Vandross’ original vocals were recorded for his 1986 album Give Me The Reason.

FREE MP3 DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

Free and legal mp3 downloads are available through Amazon.com. Believe it or not you can find some really cool music available for free on Amazon.com. Amazon.com features digital downloads from a large variety of music categories, including Dance & DJ/Electronica, Jazz, Smooth Jazz, R&B/Soul, International, Latin, and New Age. You can find free music from thousands of both signed and unsigned artists, including Thievery Corporation, St. Germain, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Louis Vega , Moby, Yo La Tengo, Depeche Mode, Bob Marley, Ella Fitzgerald, Mariah Carey and Ronnie Spector. The site takes user ratings and uses these to rank the downloads in each category. The customer reviews are one of the strong points - you can read and leave reviews just like other areas of Amazon. The bonus here is that the song lists are updated every six hours and you can download these free mp3’s to iTunes and to your iPod, plus you can also burn them to disc. Aside from the free mp3’s available, you can also listen to full-length tracks from newly released albums. This is great if you want to hear the entire song (or songs) before you eventually make a purchase - either through Amazon or another resource such as Napster or iTunes. Note that Amazon could potentially move into the digital mp3 download for-a-fee marketplace as they are in the "early discussion and planning" stages at this point in time.

LIZZ WRIGHT TOUR SCHEDULE

Verve recording artist Lizz Wright is currently on a worldwide tour in support of her album - Dreaming Wide Awake. Here is here full tour through the end of October 2005.

Aug 13 -Santa Cruz, CA @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug 14 -San Jose, CA @ San Jose Repertory Theatre
Aug 16 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Aug 17 - Seattle, WA @ Century Ballroom
Aug 20 - Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan
Sept 16 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
Sept 17 - Charlotte, NC @ McGlohon Theater, Spirit Square
Sept 21 - Tampa, FL @ Tampa Bay PAC
Sept 23 - Gainsville, FL @ University of Florida
Sept 30 - Berline, Germany @ Kammermusiksaal
Oct 1 - Hamburg, Germany @ Musikhalle
Oct 2 - Bremen, Germany @ Die Glocke
Oct 4 - Friedrichshafen, Germany @ Stadthalle
Oct 6 - Koln, Germany @ Kolner Philharmonie
Oct 7 - Munich, Germany @ Cirkus Krone
Oct 8 - Frankfurt, Germany @ Alte Oper
Oct 9 - Stuttgart, Germany @ Liderhalle
Oct 11 - Luxembourg City, Luxembourg @ Philharmonie de Luxembourg
Oct 13 - Ultrecht, Holland @ Tivoli
Oct 14 - Thonon, France @ L'Espace Maurice Novarina
Oct 15 - Zurich, Switzerland @ Kaufleuten
Oct 17 - Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique
Oct 20 - Amsterdam. The Netherlands @ Paradiso
Oct 21 - Dublin, Ireland @ The Sugar Club
Oct 23 - Manchester, England @ Royal Northern College of Music
Oct 24 - Gateshead, England @ The Sage Gateshead
Oct 25 - London, England @ Sheperd's Bush Empire
Oct 26 -Brighton, England @ The Brighton
Oct 28 - Southampton, England @ Turner Sims Concert Hall

NEW JEFFREY OSBORNE ALBUM OCT. 6

Legendary singer/Songwriter Jeffrey Osborne to Release New Album From The Soul on October 6th

New Album Showcases Classic Songs by Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin & Curtis Mayfield Among Others

On October 6th KOCH Records will release From The Soul, the eagerly awaited new soul album from legendary singer/songwriter Jeffrey Osborne. With his distinctive baritone, Osborne confirms why he remains one of R&B's enduring talents with his rendition of Teddy Pendergrass' sexy Close The Door, featuring the saxophone of smooth jazz giant Boney James; Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions' anthemic People Get Ready; Aretha Franklin's melodious Until You Come Back To Me, and Roberta Flack's stark The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Produced by none other than the king of today's popular smooth jazz genre Paul Brown, From The Soul delivers wonderful songs from the '60s, '70s and '80s, such as the Gerry Goffin/Carole King soul standard Hey Girl, Stevie Wonder's tender Knocks Me Off My Feet, the coy, Yes, I'm Ready and the melancholy Brenda Holloway classic Every Little Bit Hurts, as they've never been heard before, in the sultry style of smooth jazz.

On From The Soul, Osborne delivers a soulful remake of the iconic '60s rock band Buffalo Springfield's biting For What It's Worth. Released by the band in 1967 as commentary on the social unrest if an era. Osborne transforms the song into a modern R&B masterpiece that is as musically and lyrically relevant today as when it originally hit the charts.

From The Soul, a sultry classic, breathes sassy new life into renowned compositions while maintaining the artistic integrity of the originals that any music lover would enjoy.

Track Listing:
1. Close The Door
2. Till You Come Back To Me
3. Yes, I'm Ready
4. For What It's Worth
5. People Get Ready
6. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
7. Knocks Me Off My Feet
8. Every Little Bit Hurts
9. All At Once
10. Hey Girl

SUSAYE GREENE, THE LAST SUPREME STEPS OUT

Susaye Greene, the last member of the Supremes, has, in her sophomore CD, Brave New Shoes, created “the album she’s always wanted to make”. As much a canvas for studio experimentation as it is a celebration of Greene’s often underappreciated singing/songwriting abilities, Shoes is an album with enough varied sounds to appeal to underground hip-hop heads, lovers of the lost arts of traditional soul, R&B, and jazz, and even a classic rock enthusiast or two."Ray Charles taught me that if you enjoy and are influenced by all kinds of music, then that’s what you should do," the singer has said bluntly about her work to date; "That’s why he was around for so long. That’s why, if I like a rock song, a jazz song, an aria, or even a nursery rhyme, then I’m gonna sing it, and put my whole heart into it."While the same could be said about Susaye’s last album, No Fear Here, a passionate set of songs ranging from alternative ballads, to jazz-tinged soul, to even a Roger’s & Hammerstein tune, in this follow-up, Greene has pushed her eclectic tastes to an even higher plane.Here, Greene has abandoned the retro sound of her No Fear Here, in favor of a mesh of musical genres that she has dubbed "Bio-Soul," mixing the smoothness of R&B, the hard-hitting swagger of industrial rock, and the wall of sound exemplified in electronica and dance music, all wrapped up in a package of polished production and solid songwriting skills. This lattice of influences is seen in standout tracks like the futuristic Livin’ In A Vacuum, the fast-moving, fun-filled club pace of Time, the jazzy funk of Get What You Give, which possibly best shows Greene’s melodic strength and lyrical capabilities, and a cover of the Led Zeppelin rocker, The Ocean, in which Susaye’s wail may even match Robert Plant’s. So as not to scare Supremes’ loyalists or the musically conservative, however, Ms. Greene has taken care to mix this newfangled stuff with enough nostalgia to keep in touch with her fans. Among the work people may recognize, is a reinterpretation of club hit High Energy, a standout from Greene’s former group, the Supremes. "I always enjoyed performing it on stage, and I felt it was still relevant." The centerpiece of the album, originally a collaboration with English saxophonist Courtney Pine, titled Children of the Ghetto Revisited, (an Urban Drama), touches on social issues in a masterfully unique way, due to the added perspective of rapper ingénue, Schism, as well as Susaye’s still poignant vocals. Brave New Shoes is now available worldwide as of August 2nd on the Dollface Music Label.

LATIN TRAVELS 2

New from Six Degrees Records is Latin Travels 2 - a blend of Latin, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian musical vibes mixed with ambient, electronic and dance grooves. Latin Travels 2 is packed with exclusive tracks and remixes from Beny More, Bobi Cespedes, Tim "Love" Lee, the Tao of Groove, Los Mocosos, Rondo Brothers and many others. The CD will be available worldwide on September 13.

DIANNE REEVES

Jazz singer Dianne Reeves has recorded several tracks for the upcoming film Good Night, And Good Luck, in which she also appears. The Concord soundtrack is due for release on September 27 and features Reeves interpretations of the classic songs such as One For My Baby, How High The Moon, Too Close For Comfort, Straighten Up And Fly Right, Pick Yourself Up, When I Fall In Love, Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall, plus a new song -Who's Minding The Store. Also appearing in the film are George Clooney, David Straithairn, Robert Downey, Jr., Frank Langella and Jeff Daniels. The film is directed by George Clooney and it will be released on October 7 in New York and Los Angeles.

APPLE ITUNES JAPAN: 1 MILLION DOWNLOADS

Apple iTunes just opened for business in Japan last week and in only fourdays customers have downloaded 4 million songs. The Japan iTunes store isnow the fastest launch in any of the 20 nations where iTunes is now available. This total even beats the initial performance in the U.S. where it took a week to sell a million song downloads. Total iTunes downloads worldwide are in excess of 500 million songs to date.

HOT NEW CD'S THIS WEEK

Concord is releasing Tim Ries' The Rolling Stones Project, an album comprised of jazz covers of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards songs. Guests on the album include Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Bill Frisell, and John Scofield among others.

Also from Concord is The Secret Of Movin' On from singer David Pack (former lead singer of Ambrosia). Guests on the album include Ann Wilson, Timothy B. Schmidt, David Benoit, Steve Perry and Dewey Bunnell. The first single to be released is the title track - a duet with Wilson.

NEW ALBUM RELEASES FOR THE WEEK OF AUG. 8:
Baaba Maal - Palm World Voices: Baaba Maal (Palm Pictures)
Bill Frisell - East/West (Nonesuch)
Bob Florence - Friends, Treasures, Heroes (Summit)
Boni Raposo y la 21 Division - Afro-Caribbean Chants (Arc)
Dan Moretti & Once Through - Passing Place (Whaling City Sound)
Dave Liebman - Lieb Plays Wilder (Challenge)
David Pack - The Secret Of Movin' On (Concord)
Earl Klugh - Naked Guitar (Koch)
George Howard - The Very Best Of George Howard (GRP)
Judy Garland - Judy Garland And Friends: Duets (Savoy Jazz, remastered)
Larry Carlton - The Very Best Of Larry Carlton (GRP)
Marc Johnson - Magic Labyrinth (Winter & Winter)
Michael McDonald - The Ultimate Collections (Rhino/Warner, includes tracks
w/Doobie Brothers)
Pat Metheny & Ornette Coleman - Song X - Twentieth Anniversary (Nonesuch, 1985 album)
Mob Trio - Quite Live in Brooklyn (Omnitone)
Poncho Sanchez - Do It (Concord)
Quincy Jones - Back On The Block (Dreamworks/UME, 1989 album remastered)
Quincy Jones - Q's Jook Joint (Dreamworks/UME, 1995 album remastered)
Quincy Jones - From Q, With Love (Dreamworks/UME, 1999 album remastered)
Rafa El Tachuela - Flamenco Nuevo (Arc)
Sara Berne - But Beautiful (Arbors)
Tim Reis - The Rolling Stones Project (Concord)

TRANQUILITY JAZZ FESTIVAL

The island of Anguilla will host the upcoming Tranquility Jazz Festival,which will be held from November 9-13, 2005. Artists scheduled to perform are: Marlena Shaw, Trio Da Paz with special guest Stefon Harris, David Sanchez, Claudia Acuna, Ravi Coltrane, Mulgrew Miller with special guest Kenny Garrett, Nicholas Payton, Erin Boheme, Christian Scott and Taylor Eigste. The concerts will take place at various venues on the island including Rumza, Johnno's Beach Stop in Sandy Ground, Cuisinart Resort and NBA's Parking Lot

BEBEL GILBERTO AT THE BLUE NOTE

BEBEL GILBERTO & Friends will appear in 8 very special intimate club appearances at the Blue Note in New York City. The performances are set for Thursday, September 29 through Sunday, October 2.

BONNIE RAITT NEW ALBUM & TOUR

Bonnie Raitt's new album Soul's Alike is due for release on September 13 via Capital. Her fall tour in support of the album kicks off on October 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her usual band comprised of bassist Hutch Hutchinson, keyboardist Jon Cleary, guitarist George Marinelli, and drummer Ricky Fataar. Additional tour dates are being scheduled for 2006.

Tour dates are as follows...
Oct 5 - Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theatre
Oct 6 - Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
Oct 8 - St. Louis, MO @ Pageant
Oct 9 - Springfield, MO @ Juanita Hammons Hall
Oct 11 - Ann Arbor, MI @ Michigan Theatre
Oct 12 - Cleveland, OH @ Playhouse Square
Oct 13 - Buffalo, NY @ University of Buffalo
Oct 15 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Benedum Center
Oct 16 - Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Casino
Oct 18 - Albany, NY @ Palace Theatre
Oct 19 - Burlington, VT @ Memorial Auditorium
Oct 20 - Portland, ME @ Merrill Auditorium
Oct 23 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
Nov 2 - Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
Nov 3 - Green Bay, WI @ Weidner Center
Nov 4 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Nov 6 - Minneapolis, MN @ Northrop Auditorium
Nov 7 - Omaha, NE @ Orpheum Theatre
Nov 8 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
Nov 11 - Portland, OR @ Schnitzer Hall
Nov 12 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
Nov 14 - Eugene, OR @ Hult Center
Nov 15 - Arcata, CA @ Van Duzer Theatre
Nov 16 - Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
Nov 18 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
Nov 19 - Thousand Oaks, CA @ Civic Arts Plaza
Nov 21 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
Nov 22 - Costa Mesa, CA @ Orange Country Performing Arts Center
Nov 28 - New Brunswick, NJ @ State Theatre
Nov 30 - New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
Dec 3 - Philadelphia, PA @ Tower Theatre
Dec 6 - Washington, DC @ DAR Constitution Hall
Dec 7 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Memorial Dall
Dec 8 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
Dec 10 - Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre
Dec 11 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
Dec 16 - Mashantucket, CT @ Foxwoods Casino
Dec 17 - Wilmington, DE @ Grand Opera House)

THE GROOVE BOUTIQUE ON QVC

The long-awaited debut of The Groove Boutique on QVC will finally happen on Thursday, September 8! The one-hour program, hosted by Rafe Gomez, will air 'live' at 2:00A EST (11PM on September 7, PST), and will feature offerings of CDs by the following jazzy groovin' artists - the same kinda fare that Rafe plays on his nationally syndicated cool jazz radio mix show The Groove Boutique: Bobby Caldwell, Euge Groove, Shilts, Alex Bugnon, Four 80 East, Soul Ballet, Greg Adams, Marcus Miller, Patches Stewart, Steve Oliver, Various - Vintage Chill 4 CD set Various - Groove Boutique Volume 1. The music will be hot, the vibe will be cool, and the prices we are told will be UNBELIEVABLE!!!

SUGAR WATER FESTIVAL

Jill Scott, Queen Latifah, Floetry and Erykah Badu headline the Sugar Water Festival concert being held this Thursday (Aug. 4) at the Chronicle Pavilion at Concord in San Francisco.

LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS

The sixth annual Latin Grammy Awards have been scheduled for November 3 and is to be held at the Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. The nominations for43 categories are to be announced on August 23 in Hollywood, California, and the event will be broadcast oi the U.S. on the Spanish-language Univision network.

HALL & OATES ON THE ROAD

Daryl Hall & John Oates are on the road as they play Toledo, Ohio on Saturday, August 6, Chicago on August 8 and Clio, Michigan on August 9. After a brief break, the tour in support of resumes August 23 on through to late September. Their current album is entitled Our Kind Of Soul.

MICHAEL FRANKS UPDATE

Michael Franks has been very busy lately with a weekend of gigs lined up. This weekend, he heads off to New Orleans, Dallas and Atlanta. Next weekend, Michael and his band travel to Austin, Texas, Long Beach and the Bay Area (in California). On the last weekend of the month they play Boston for two days. A new album is currently in the works with songs being lined up.

NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK...

Ahmad Jamal - Legendary Okeh And Epic Recordings (Sony)
Billie Holiday - Lady Love (Castle Pulse)
Bob Brookmeyer - Bob Brookmeyer And Friends (Sony)
Bobby Hutcherson - Oblique (Blue Note)
Celia Cruz - Cuban Queen (Recall)
Charles Aznavour - Bon Anniversaire Charles - Live Au Palais des Congress (EMI)
Charlie Mingus - East Coasting (Shout Factory)
Dalida - Dalida (Universal International, box set)
Deodato - Knights Of Fantasy/Night Cruiser (Wounded Bird)
Deodato - Happy Hour/Motion (Wounded Bird)
Dexter Gordon - Manhattan Symphonie (Sony)
Ernesto Jodos - Perspectiva (EMI)
Ex-Centric Sound System - West Nile Funk (BRG)
Francisco Io Vuolo - Kuchiku (EMI)
Greg Osby - Channel Three (Blue Note)
Horacio Fumero - Isoca (EMI)
James Bryan - Beautiful World (Blacksmith)
Jamiroquai - Synamite (Sony International)
Janis Joplin - Box Of Pearls: The Janis Joplin Collection (Universal
International)
Jemeel Moondoc -Spirit House (Eremite)
Jemeel Moondoc & William Parker - New World Pygmies (Eremite)
Jim Hall - Blues On The Rocks (Gambit)
Joe Jackson - Beat Crazy (Universal International)
John Coltrane - Bethlehem Years (Shout Factory)
John Klemmer - Finess/Magnificent Madness (Wounded Bird)
John Lewis - West Coast East Coast Encounter (Gambit)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I, Too, Have Seen The Woods (Wounded Bird)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Wise Guy (Wounded Bird)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - In Praise Of Older Women & Other Crimes
(Wounded Bird)
Lito Epumer - Sinfin (EMI)
Lonnie Smith - Think (Blue Note)
Maria Muldaur - Southern Winds (Wounded Bird)
Maria Muldaur - Sweet Lovin Ol' Soul (Stony Plain)
Marion Brown - Marion Brown Quartet (Esp-Disk US)
Martinho Da Vila - Braslatinidade (EMI)
Mauricio Pereira - Mergulhar Na Surpresa (Luanda Brasil)
Mauricio Pereira - Na Tradicao (Luanda Brasil)
McCoy Tyner - Time For Tyner (Blue Note)
Miles Davis - Movin' On (Castle Pulse)
Mosaico - Due Salles (Ethos Brasil)
Negritude Junior - Eu Sou O Samba (EMI)
Noah Howard - Patterns/Message To South Africa (Eremite)
Olho da Rua - Sacopenapa (Ethos Brasil)
Otros Aires - Otros Aires (Pata Music Germany)
Oxmo Puccino - Black Tour Desperado (EMI)
Quintetto - Novo Esquema Da Bossa (Schema)
Roland Kirk - Third Dimension & Beyond (Gambit)
Sonny Simmons - Complete ESP-Disk Recordings (Esp-Disk US)
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Best Of Two Worlds Featuring Joao Gilberto
(Sony)
Sunny Murray - Perles Noires, Vol. 1 (Eremite)
Sunny Murray - Perles Noires, Vol. 2 (Eremite)
Turning Point - Matador (Native Language)
Various Artists - Blue Note Plays Jobin 2005 (EMI)
Various Artists - Blue Note: A Story Of Jazz (EMI)
Wes Montgomery - The Best Of Wes Montgomery (Blue Note)

THE LATEST NEWS...

Santana's All That I Am has been postponed for release and is due on November 1. Previous release dates were June 21 and September 6. No reason has been given for the release date change by Arista. The CD features collaborations with Mary J. Blige, Los Lonely Boys, the Black Eyed Peas, Sean Paul, Robert Randolph and Kirk Hammett. In addition, Arista will also release the Santana DVD A&E Live By Request on November 15.

Los Mocosos is set to perform at Music In The Park at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, CA on Thursday, August 4. The group is currently touring in support of their latest release entitled American Us. The sound is reminiscent of Santana, Malo and War.

Bebel Gilberto returns to San Francisco for her first performance there in 4 years s she appears at Bimbos on Sunday, September 11.

Celso Fonseca makes his BayArea debut as he performs classic bossa nova at Yoshi's in West Oakland, CA on September 20-21. His second international release is Rive Gauche Rio. The singer/guitarist has been a regular collaborator with artists such as Gilberto Gil, Marisa Monte and Caetano Veloso.

Tony Bennett, Sonny Rollins, Mavis Staples, John Handy, the Pat Metheny Trio, Branford Marsalis and John Scofiled are among those set to participate at California's 48th Annual Monterey Jazz Music Festival, which is set to be held September 16-18.


This weekend on the The Dave Koz Show, Dave welcomes guitarist Chieli Minucci. Minucci's latest releases is Got It Goin' On. Boney James also appears on the show. Check your local listings for times and radio stations.

CD 101.9 FM NEW YORK CHILL CONCERTS

New York's CD 101.9 FM presents a series of free jazz concerts at Eisenhower Park in Long Island. The concert series will next present Jonathan Butler on August 12 and Roy Ayers on August 26. CD101.9 also presents the Belvedere Vodka Summer Jazz Series which will present Chuck Loeb on July 29 at McLoone's Pier House in Long Branch, New Jersey; Marion Meadows on August 5th at Seagull's Nest at Sandy Hook State Park in Highlands, New Jersey; Jon Lucien on August 18th at Due Amici in Brielle, New Jersey; and finally Alex Bugnon on August 26th at The Quayand Marina in Sea Bright, New Jersey.

HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL JAZZ MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Houston International Jazz Festival kicks off its 15th year on August 5 with three days of jazz at the Verizon Wireless Theater at Bajou Place. On August 5th, KTSU 90.9 FM presents Hiroshima and then on August 6th, Latin-Jazz artist Tito Puente, Jr. continues in the tradition of his famous father. On August 7th, KHJZ 95.7 FM presents an evening of Smooth Jazz with the Guitars & Saxes Tour, with Mindi Abair, Jeff Golub, Warren Hill and Wayman Tisdale. Also appearing at the festival this year are Norma Zenteno and Caliente.

YERBA BUENA "ISLAND LIFE"

New York group Yerba Buena release Island Life, their second album comprised of salsa, meringue, hip-hop, funk, samba, cumbia, Gypsy and middle eastern sounds. Highlight of the album is flamenco singer Diego El Cigala as he guest vocals on Corazon Bandolero. The group is led by producer Andres Levin, who has worked with Aterciopelados, Los Amigos Invisibles, Carlinhos Brown, David Byrne and Tina Turner.

NEW RELEASES FOR THE WEEK OF 7/25/05

Barravento - Barravento (Brazilian Import)
Bill Evans - Complete Quartet (Lonehill Jazz)
Brian Culbertson - It's On Tonight (GRP)
Brian Simpson - It's All Good (Rendezvous)
Bule Bule & Antonio Queiroz - Fome E A Vontade De Comer (Brazilian Import)
Bruce Cale Quartet - Live: In Memory Of Roger Frampton (Tall Poppies)
Buster Williams - Dreams Come True (Unidisc)
Caetano Veloso - Caetano Veloso (Universal International, from 1971)
Charlie Biddle - Charlie (Unidisc)
Coleman Hawkins - In The Hush Of The Night (Unidisc)
Cornell Dupree - Shadow Dancing (Unidisc)
Dave McMurray - My Brother Me: The Best Of David McMurray (Hip Bop Essence)
Dee Dee Bridgewater - Just Family/Bad For Me (Collectibles)
Derek Bailey - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Tzadik)
Dizzy Gillespie - Closer To The Source (Collectibles)
Dwight Trible & The Light Force Trio - Love Is The Answer (Ninja Tune)
Fela Kuti - Best Of Fela Kuti (Wrasse)
Fernando Santos - Lamentos Aos Orixas (Atracao Fonografica)
Garage A Trois - Outre Mer (Telarc)
Gerald Veasley - At The Jazz Base! (Heads Up)
Grant Green - Easy (Unidisc)
Jimmy Witherspoon & Brother Jack McDuff - The Blues Is Now (Verve)
Jose Padilla - Man Ray, Vol. 4 (Wagram)
Karel Ruzicka Jr. - Brooklyn Moods (Cube Bohemia)
Lionel Hampton - Moods (Unidisc)
Lionel Hampton - Jazzmaster (Unidisc)
Lu Watters & His Yerba Buena Jazz Band - Good Time Music: San Francisco
Style (ASV/Living Era)
Mauricio Tizmba - Africa Gerais (Brazilian Import)
Mike Phillips - Uncommon Denominator (Red Urban)
Milton Nashimento - Pieta (Savoy Jazz)
Naguinho Da Beija-Flor - Nos Bracos de Comunidade (Brazilian Import)
Paquito D'Rivera - Jazz Chamber Trio (Chesky)
Pieces Of A Dream - Pieces Of A Dream/We Are One (Collectibles)
Richard "Groove" Holmes - Dancing In The Sun (Unidisc)
Richard "Groove" Holmes - Star Wars/Close Encounter (Unidisc)
Roger Kellaway - Remembering Bobby Darin (Ipo)
Samba de Dalva - Samba de Roda (Brazilian Import)
Sam Levine - Play It Again: Smooth Jazz Favorites (World Entertainment)
Sarah Vaughan - After Hours At The London House (Verve)
Stanley Turrentine & Gloria Lynne - Love's Finally Found Me (Unidisc)
Tom Braxton - Bounce (Rendezvous)
Various Artists - Honey Love: Smooth Jazz Plays R. Kelly (Shanachie)

NEW HERBIE HANCOCK DUE

As we previously reported, pianist Herbie Hancock will release his new album Possibilities on August 30 via a collaboration between Starbucks'Hear Music, Vector and Hancock's own Hancocks Music imprint. Collaborators on the project include Carlos Santana, Joss Stone, Sting (on a new recording of Sister Moon), Christina Aguilera (covering Leon Russell's A Song For You) and Raul Midon (covering StevieWonder's I Just Called To Say I Love You). In the interim, Hancock isabout to begin a five-night tour of Japan with Santana that kicks off in Yokohama.

Here is the track listing for Possibilities:
Stitched Up featuring John Mayer
Safiatou featuring Carlos Santana and Angelique Kidjo
A Song For You featuring Christina Aguilera
I Do It For Your Love featuring Paul Simon
Hush, Hush, Hush featuring Annie Lennox
Sister Moon featuring Sting
When Love Comes To Town featuring Joss Stone and Jonny Lang
Don't Explain featuring Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan
Gelo No Montana featuring Trey Anastasio
I Just Called To Say I Love You featuring Raul Midon

DEF JAZZ COMING FROM GRP RECORDS

GRP Records is set to release Def Jazz on August 9, a collection of smooth jazz interpretations of rap, hip-hop, and R&B classics from the vaults of Def Jam Records. Each of the 10 songs, performed by an all-star rosterfrom the world of contemporary jazz, was carefully selected from the archives of the hip-hop giant Def Jam - a company celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2005. Def Jazz is the brainchild of record producer Tony Joseph, a former radio and club DJ who has enjoyed success with Unwrapped, a series of largely instrumental CDs fusing smooth jazz and hip-hop. For this urban jazz project, Joseph, along with GRP/Verve's VP of A&R Bud Harner, assembled some top names in jazz to tip their hats to some of the biggest stars of rap and hip-hop. Among those featured on Def Jazz are Gerald Albright, Rick Braun, Joey DeFrancesco, Roy Hargrove, and Jeff Lorber. These outstanding instrumentalists are just some of the musicians who pay tribute to Def Jam tracks, which range from undiscovered gems to more modern hits. Songs such as Jay-Z's Can I Get A..., and LL Cool J's Back Seat, and Doin' It are among the tunes selected for Def Jazz. One ofthe highlights on De Jazz is a remake of The Rain, the #1 R&B smash hit by Oran "Juice" Jones. Jones chose to revisit the classic, but with a new twist. "The spin is Juice has a daughter now," Joseph explains, "whocatches her man with another man." In the role of the daughter is emerging neo soul singer Ledisi, and she is joined on the track by Jones himself. Through a random connection, Jones found out about the remix and was excited to join in on the action. Some of the standouts on the disc are Hey Young World (Slick Rick) featuring Albright on sax and Kevin Toney on vibes and Wurlitzer, All I Need (Method Man) with Hargrove on trumpet and DeFrancesco on Hammond B-3, and Ghetto Jam (Domino) showcasing Braun ontrumpet and Dwight Sills on guitar. With the release of Def Jazz, Joseph is now eager to take the music to the stage. He envisions a mixed lineup of both young musicians and seasoned veterans for some live old school/newschool flavor.

BOSSACUCANOVA PERFORMING IN THE U.S.

Jazz-electro Brazilian-band Bossacucanova is on tour in the U.S. as an 8 piece band with recent stops in Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco and Los Angeles. On July 14 they appeared at the Hothouse in Chicago; followed by the Concert of Colors in Detroit on July 15; the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on July 16; and finally at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on July 17.

ZUCCO 103 TO RELEASE "WHAA!"

Whaa! is the third album by Zuco 103 set for release on August 2. This Brazilian/European band have blended Afro-Cuban, Ethiopian, West African and dub sounds to this new project. Guests musicians include legendary dub and reggae pioneer Lee "Scratch" Perry, bossa nova master Roberto Menescal and vocalist Dani Macaco of the Spanish band Macaco.

NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK...

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra - Trumphet Madness (Leo)
Aki Takase, Alex Von Schlippenbach & DJ Illvibe - Lok 03 (Leo)
Anthony Braxton & Walter Franks - Duets (Leo)
Art Blakely & The Jazz Messengers - Big Beat (Blue Note)
Aruan Ortiz Trio - Aruan Ortiz Trio (Universal Latino)
Candido - Anthology (Salsoul UK)
Carly Simon - Moonlight Serenade (Sony)
Clayton Brothers - Back In The Swing Of Things (Sindrome)
Club d'Elf - Gravity All Nonsense Now (Kufala)
Don Cherry - Symphony for Improvisers (Blue Note)
Donald Byrd - Fuego (Blue Note)
Erik Truffaz - Saloua (Blue Note)
Evan Parker & September Wings - Short Stories (Leo)
Fieldwork - Simulated Progress (PI Recordings)
Freddie Redd - Music From The Connection (Blue Note)
Funk de Nite - J-5 (Laroo)
Gerald Cannon - Gerald Cannon (Woodneck)
Grant Green - Sunday Mornin' (Blue Note)
Hank Marr - Bluesin' And Cruisin' (Double-Time)
Herbie Hancock - Inventions And Dimensions (Blue Note)
James Moody - World Is A Ghetto (Fuel 2000)
Jeremy Pelt - Identity (Max Jazz)
Jerry Bergonzi - Live Gonz II (Double-Time)
Jessica Williams - Live At Yoshi's Vol. 2 (Max Jazz)
Liam Sillery - Minor Changes (Oa2)
Louis Armstrong - Life Is So Peculiar (Pazzazz)
Louis Jordan - #1's (Geffen)
Miguel Bose - Morenamia (WEA International)
Paola Conte - Elegia (WEA International)
Rafael Farina - Exitos Originales (Disky)
Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza & Gerald Toto - Toto Bona Lokua (Sunnyside)
Sammy Davis Jr. & Carmen McRae - Boy Meets Girl: The Complete Sammy DavisJr. and Carmen McCrae on Decca (Verve)
Sherman Irby - Faith (Black Warrior)
Tito Puente - Mambolero (ZYX)
Ugochi - African Butterfly (Spirit Speaks)
Ximo Tebar - Goes Blue (Sunnyside)

NEW MUSIC NEWS

Guitarist Paul Brown's latest release is The City, and it's out now on GRP.

Dave Koz is working with producer Phil Ramone on his next release which will be an album of movie music, complete with saxophone, full orchestra and guest vocalists. It will include songs like Moon River, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, and A Whole New World.

New from Giant Step Records is Sun & Moon from Jiva. Sun & Moon includes classic Jiva tracks like Stars, I Realized, Love Chooses Lovers and remixes of Stars by Tom & Joyce and Louis Vega that bring back memories of Nuyorican Soul. Sun & Moon blends R&B, House, Bossa Nova and Drum & Bass beats.It's currently available on Giant Step/P-vine Records in Japan only.

CONCERT NEWS

The IMAC Theater in New York will be hosting several upcoming concert events featuring smooth jazz artists. Look for Russ Freeman & The Rippingtons on August 6 for two shows; David Benoit on September 24 for two shows; and Acoustic Alchemy on October 1.

NBC Channel 10 in Philadelphia will feature summer jazz concerts every Friday night in August featuring smooth jazz artists - Independence Blue Cross Presents Penn's Landing Jazz Series on the Waterfront with WJJZ and NBC 10. NBC 10 Meteorologist Amy Freeze and WJJZ's Michael Tozzi will co-host the 'live' concerts from the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing everyFriday, beginning August 5th, from 7-7:30 PM. The lineup this year includes saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa on August 5th; session guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr. will perform on August 12th; Steve Cole and his band will rock the Plaza on August 12th; and the televised series concludes with the ever popular guitarist/vocalist sensation Nick Colionne. The concerts are free and seating is available on a first-come first-serve basis.

The Berkeley (California) Jazz Festival at the UC Berkeley Greek Theatre kicks off on Saturday, July 16. This year's festival will highlight smooth jazz artists, with Rachelle Ferrell, KEM, Boney James, Lalah Hathaway, Bobby Caldwell, Unwrapped All Stars, and Ray Obiedo & the Urban Latin Jazz Project. The Berkeley Jazz Festival begins at noon on Saturday, July 15 at UC Berkeley's Greek Theatre and is being produced by Another Planet Productions.

Ray Obiedo & the Urban Latin Jazz Project will appear at the Downtown Berkeley BART station on August 20 as part of the Berkeley Downtown event. Urban Latin Jazz Project band members include Paul Van Wageningen (drums), David Belove (bass), Rose Ann Dimalanta (keyboards), Derek Rolando (percussion), and Alex Myrzun (sax).

Shelby Lynne and Raul Midon perform at The Birchmere in Alexandria,Virginia on Monday, July 18. Also at The Birchmere are Norman Brown, Peabo Bryson and Brenda Russell on July 21.

CD101.9 New York Chill and Smirnoff Vodka are hosting two-hour cruises around New York Harbor on board the Spirit Cruise ship, every Wednesday through August 31st. Smooth jazz performers scheduled to appear are Spyro Gyra (July 20); Peter White (July 27); Jeff Golub, Warren Hill & Rafe Gomez ( August 3); The Rippingtons (August 10); Pieces Of A Dream & Rafe Gomez (August 17); Richard Elliot (August 24) and Angela Bofill & Rafe Gomez (August 31).

New York's S.O.B.s will present the Yuerba Buena - Island Life release concert on Wednesday, July 20 at the Irving Plaza. in New York City.

Nouvelle Vague (with a full live band) will perform at the Canal Room in New York City on September 14.

Miss Kitten, along with a DJ set will be at the Hiro Ballroom in New YorkCity on Tuesday, October 18.

The Verve Remixed tour continues with a series of mix-sets being scheduled in Europe and South America between now and the end of the year. Stops along the way will include Diesel U Music in Tokyo on July 15; the Arrezo Wave Festival in Mantra, Italy on July 16; Vieggio in Vienna Italy on July 23; and the Global Gathering Festival in Manchester, England on July 30. Afterwards, the tour will continue on to France, Spain, Denmark, CzechRepublic, Finland, Brazil, and Germany, including multiple appearances at Fabric in London.

SEATTLE AREA CONCERTS

Here's a sampling of what's upcoming in the Seattle, Washington area...

Summer Concerts at the Chateau: Outdoor concerts at Chateau Ste. Michelle,14111 NE 145th Street, Woodinville: 98.9 Smooth Jazz Festival, Jazz Attack, Brian Culbertson, Kim Waters, Steve Oliver on August 6, Gipsy Kings on August 7; Pink Martini on August 19; Madeline Peyroux on September 17.

Puyallup Fair at the Western Washington Fairgrounds: The Four Tops and The Temptations on September 17.

Summer Nights at South Lake Union Park: B.B. Kings Blues Festival with B.B.King, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Bonamassa on August 17; Susan Tedeschi on August 25; Trio! with Stanley Clarke, Bela Fleck and Jean-Luc Ponty on August 26.

White River Amphitheater: Series of outdoor concerts at Muckleshoot Reservations, 40601 Auburn Enumclaw Road, Auburn: Earth Wind & Fire and Chicago on August 31.

MORE NEW RELEASES FOR THIS WEEK

Al Green & The Soul Mates - Back Up Train (Arista/Legacy, 1967 album remastered with bonus tracks)
Blood, Sweat & Tears - No Sweat (Wounded Bird, 1973 album)
Blood, Sweat & Tears - Mirror Image (Wounded Bird, 1974 album)
Carole King - The Living Room Tour (Starbucks Hear Music)
Daniel Lanois (w/ Brad Mehldau & Brian Blade) - Belladonna (Anti-/Epitah)
Deniece Williams - This Is Niecy (Arista/Legacy, 1971 album remasterd with a bonus track)
Dramatics - Watcha See Is Watcha Get (Atlantic, 1971 album remastered)
Ella Fitzgerald - Hello Dolly (Verve, 1964 album remastered)
Jaguar Wright - Divorcing Neo To Marry Soul (Artemis)
Paul Brown - The City (GRP)
Paul Hardcastle - Hardcastle 4 (V2)
Sting - My Funny Valentine: Sting At The Movies (Universal Japan)
Teena Marie - Robbery (Arista/Legacy, 1983 album remastered with bonus tracks)
Willie Nelson - Countryman (Lost Highway)

NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK

Abida Parveen - Ishq - Supreme Love (Accords Croises)
Amado Batista - O Amor (WEA International)
Angelo Debarre & Ludovic Beier - Entre Amis (Le Chant Du Monde)
Bob James - Essential Collection: 24 Smooth Jazz Classics (Koch)
Charlie Barnet - Everest Years (V.I. Music)
Charlie Hunter, Bobby Previte & DJ Logic - Longitude (Thirsty Ear)
Chet Baker - Live In France 1978 (Gambit)
Dave Liebman - Manhattan Dialogues (Zoho Music)
Dave Wecki - Multiplicity (Stretch)
Domingo Federico - Domingo Federico (BMG International)
Don Ellis - Don Ellis at Fillmore (Bird)
Florin Niculescu/Latchodrom, Le Quatuor Drin - Djangophone (Le Chant DuMonde)
Gabor Szabo & Lena Horne - Lena and Gabor and Guitar (El)
Gal Costa - Novelas (Som Livre)
Herbie Hancock - Live: Detroit./Chicago (Hudson Street)
Ildo Lobo - Incondicional (Lusafrica)
Jimmy Smith - Stay Loose...Jimmy Smith Sings Again (Verve)
John Harrison Trio - Roman Sun (Whaling City Sound)
John Lindberg - Winter Birds (Between-The-Lines)
Jorge Ben - Samba Esquema Novo (Universal International)
Jorge Ben - 10 Anos Depois (Universal International)
Juan d'Arienzo & Hector Maure - Sus Primeros Exitos (BMG International)
Lalo Schifrin - Magnum Force (Aleph)
Last Exit - Koln Concert (Atavistic)
Mambru - Mambru (BMG International)
Manimal - Espirito Congo (Universal International)
Marko Lackner - Awakening (Double Moon)
Maria Eva Albistur - Avatar (Universal International)
Marcus Vinicius - O Verbo (Som Livre)
Marian McPartland & Elvis Costello - Piano Jazz: McPartland & Costello
(Jazz Alliance)
Mastaki Bafa - Wawa (World Network)
Milly Quezada - MQ (Sony International)
Milton Nascimento - Courage (Verve)
Moussu T e Lei Jovents - Mademoiselle Marseille (Le Chants Du Monde)
Niou Bardophones - Air de Rien (Buda Musique)
Olodum - Best Of (WEA International)
Omara Portuondo - Sentimineto (La Escondida)
Oscar Peterson - Piano Supreme (Budmusic)
Patrick Noah & Septeto Araison - Afro-Cuban Music (Playasound)
Paul Brown - City (GRP)Philip Catherine - Meeting Colours (Dreyfus)
Ray Charles - Friendship (Columbia)
Robert Gomez - Etherville (Basement Front)
Salome de Bahia - Brasil (Tommy Boy)
Sirone - Sirone Live (Atavistic)
Various Artists - Brazil (Som Livre)
Various Artists - Best Of Bahia (WEA International)
Various Artists - Africa Remix (WEA International)
Various Artists - Cultura de Club, Vol. 4 (Vale Music Spain)
Yerba Buena - Island Life (Razor & Tie)

TONY BENNETT 2005 CONCERT SCHEDULE

July 14 - Perugia, Italy @ Umbria Jazz Festival
July 15 - Pescara, Italy @ Teatro Massimo Pescara
Aug 12 -13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
Aug 17 - Cleveland, OH @ Playhouse Square Center, State Theatre
Aug 19 - Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia Festival Park, Young Artists Hall
Aug 20 - South Bend, IN @ Morris Performing Arts Center
Aug 27 - Saratoga, CA @ Historic Mountain Winery
Sept 3 - Lenox, MA @ Tanglewood
Sept 4 - Hyannis, MA @ Cape Cod
Sept 9 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Binkley Memorial Baptist Church Coffeehouse
Sept 11 - Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Pavillion
Sept 15 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kimmel Center
Sept 17 - Monterey, CA @ Monterey Jazz Festival
Sept 20 - San Diego, CA @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
Sept 22-24 - Las Vegas, NV @ Golden Nugget Hotel
Oct 28 - Morristown, NJ @ Morristown Community Theatre
Nov 4 - Houston TX @ Jones Plaza
Nov 18 - Kansas City, MO @ Ameristar Casino
Dec 10 - Storrs, CT @ Jorgenson Auditorium
Dec 16-18 - Las Vegas, NV @ Golden Nugget Hotel

RARE GROOVES FINALLY AVAILABLE!

Salsoul Nation - 2-CD Nonstop Mix Compiled & Mixed by DJ Luke Howard
This one is a fantastic 2-CD collection mixed by DJ Luke Howard and released in conjunction with London's Queer Nation club. It features more than 2 dozen classic Salsoul tracks, including a few rarities, plus remixes for a fresh new perspective. On disc 1 you'll hear 13 tracks, including Hit N Run (QN re-edit) by Loleatta Holloway, My Love Is Free (Gardening Club re-edit) by Double Exposure, More (12-inch mix) by Carol Williams, Freak On (Miss Cheesecake re-edit) by Lemon, Don't Beat Around The Bush (HMD Tribal Edit) by Salsoul Orchestra, Ain't No Mountain High Enough(12-inch mix) by Inner Life, plus more. Disc 2 features 15 tracks and includes Ooh I Love It (Paris Is Burning Tribute re-edit) by Salsoul Orchestra, High (12-inch mix) by Skyy, I Know You Will (12-inch mix) byLogg, Dreamin' (acapella) by Loleatta Holloway, And You Know That (Body Action re-edit) by the Jammers and many more!

Dexter Wansel - Live On Mars/What The World Is Coming To
Two of Dexter Wansel's best albums now finally released on one CD. Wansel easily blends jazz and soul with a bit of funk on these two albums from the mid to late '70's. The result is a tight batch of crossover tracks that work well both as jazz funk groovers and smooth modern soul tracks. The CD includes guest vocals from Jean Carn and Terri Wells, plus the cuts -What The World Is Coming To, Dreams Of Tomorrow, Holdin' On, Dance With Me Tonight, Disco Lights, Prelude #1, Life On Mars, Rings Of Saturn, Stargazer, plus many others.

JAZZ CHILL MUSIC NEWS

Jazz saxophonist Andre Delano recently celebrated the release of his debut project - Full Circle (available from 7th Note Entertainment), with a special performance for an intimate audience at the Bel Age Hotel in WestHollywood, California. Delano is a former backup singer for soul artist Maxwell.

Donny Osmond continues to rise on the Smooth Jazz Charts as his song Breeze On By is ranked #18 on the Smooth Jazz Charts.

Diana Krall has just finished her year-long worldwide tour performing music from The Girl In The Other Room and has also just completed the TD series of Jazz Festivals across Canada. Diana is now working on her next recording - a Christmas album.

Full Cycle has released the Kenny Dope remix of Sing by Roni Size featuring Jocelyn Brown.

Trumpeter Hugh Masekela has released Revival, his first album in three years. On this new project, Masekela blends a mixture of smooth jazz and Afro-pop with his signature sound. For those of you who might remember, Masekela had a huge international instrumental hit back in 1968 with Grazing In The Grass. He then went on to perform with Paul Simon, Herb Alpert and Fela Kuti, among others. Standouts on Revival include, Sleep, Nontsokolo andFresh Air.

Boney James and Nova Menco will topline the Smooth Jazz 98.1 Presents Jazz On The Beach music festival in San Diego. It's scheduled for August 14 at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheater.

The Quantic Soul Orchestra release their second CD Pushin' On which features excellent vocals from Alice Russell on 5 of the album's 11 tracks. Titles include Pushin' On, Introducing The Quantic Soul Orchestra, The Conspirator, Get A Move On, End Of The Road, That Goose In My Grave, Feeling Good, Hold On Tight, and Paintings And Journeys.

Richard Elliot will guest this weekend on The Dave Koz Radio Show. Elliot has a brand new album out called Metro Blue and its off to a great start with it as the first single People Make The Worlkd Go Round is currently #1o on the Radio and Records Smooth Jazz chart. Elliot is currently on tour all summer with the Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Peter and Jonathan Butler. Toni Braxton, George Benson and Michael McDonald also appear on the weekend's show.

NEW MUSIC RELEASES OUT THIS WEEK

Affinity - Route 66 (Rhombus)
Arlid Anderson - If You Look Far Enough (Universal International)
Azucar Moreno - Originales: 20 Exitos (Sony International)
Beaux J Poo Boo - All Things Are New (Summit)
Bill Evans Trio - Bill Evans At Shelly's Mannehole (JVC Japan)
Bob Rockwell - Bob's Ben (Stunt)
Bugge Wesseltoft - New Conception Of Jazz Filming (Universal International)
Carla Bley - Carla Bley Live (Universal International)
Chet Baker - Conservatorio Cherubini Complete Concert (Lonehill Jazz)
Dee Dee Bridgewater - J'ai Deux Amours (Universal International)
Demis Roussos - 20 Super Sucessos (Sony International)
Donald Byrd Quartet - Chat Qui Peche (Fresh Sounds)
Graham Collier - Charles River Fragments (Jazzprint)
Harry Beckett - Flare Up (Jazzprint)
Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez & Robby Ameen - Robby & Negro At The Third World War (American Clave)
Ivan Lins - 20 Super Sucessos (Sony International)
Jaleel Shaw - Perspective (FS New Talent)
Johnny Griffin - Little Giant (JVC Japan)
Kip Hanrahan - All Roads Are Made Of The Flesh (American Clave)
Kip Hanrahan - Pinero (American Clave)
Louis Armstrong - Satchmo (Prism Platinum)
Louis Armstrong - Legends: Louis Armstrong (Direct Source)
Malene Mortensen - Date With A Dream (Stunt)
Martinho de Vila - Sambas Enredo Unidos de Villa Isabel (SonyInternational)
Milton Cardona - Bembe (American Clave)
Nihilo - Tropical Radar (Noiseprint UK)
Paul Bley - Early Trios (Fresh Sounds)
Phil Edwards - Anthologie 1986-2003 (Magic France)
Phil Ranelin - Close Encounter Of The Very Best Kind (Rhombus)
Radka Toneff - Some Time Ago: A Collection Of Her Finest Moments (Universal International)
Raggie-Brillante Quartet - Attitude (Orchard)
Rich Perry Quartet - You're My Everything (Steeplechase)
Russell Garcia & His Orchestra - Los Angeles River (Fresh Sounds)
Stan Kenton - Conducts Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra, Vol. 1 (Tantara)
S-Tone Inc. - Luz Y Sombra (Schema)
Silvana Deluigi - Yo! (American Clave)
Swingle Sisters - Romantiques (Universal International)
Thaide & DJ Hum - Humildade E Coragem Sao Nossas Armas Para Lutar (Sky Blue Brazil)
Tom Guarna - Get Together (Steeplechase)
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio - Midnight Sugar (Japanese Import)
Walfredo de los Reyes Jr. Y Su Orquesta - Cuban Jazz Con Sabor Sin Timbal No Se Bailaros (Caney SP)
Various Artists - Chill In: India (Music Brokers Arg)
Various Artists - Tango Chill Sessions (Music Brokers Arg)
Various Artists - Filati Pregiati: Italian Bossanova Extra (M.O.D.A.)
Various Artists - Pied De Poule (Zone 3)Various Artists - Mocidade Independente (Sony International)
Various Artists - Karim Rashid: Newyorkelectronew (Never Stop)
Various Artists - Essential Guide To Brazil (Essentials)
Various Artists - Essential Guide To Africa (Essentials)
Villu Veski, Tilt Kalluste & Astor Piazzolla - Mi Tango En Buenos Aries (Orchard)

JAZZ CHILL NEWS

Jonathan Butler will continue to tour through the month of July promoting his new album Jonathan. Tour dates include stops in California, Colorado,and Washington, D.C.

Brian Simpson has just released his debut album, It's All Good on the Rendezvous label. He has toured with Dave Koz for years as his musical director and keyboardist. He can be seen this summer on Dave Koz's Smooth Summer Nights Tour.

Tom Braxton releases his solo debut entitled Bounce. Braxton has spent many years as Wayman Tisdale's saxophonist. The album is set for release on July 26 on the Rendezvous label.

Jay Kay and Jamiroquai are due to return with a sixth studio album onS eptember 26 in the United States via the Epic label. The set was first released on June 20 by Sony Music in the United Kingdom. Jamiroquai appears in Vienna on July 9 with stops throughout Europe and the US throughout the rest of the year. The new album entitled Dynamite is their first release in four years.

JEFF GOLUB 2005 TOUR SCHEDULE

Note that the Guitar & Saxes Tour (as indicated below) includes Wayman Tisdale (bass), Warren Hill (sax), and Mindi Abair (sax).

July 23 - Fort Worth, TX @ Sundance Square (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
August 2 - Boston, MA @ Sculler Jazz Club (with Warren Hill)
August 3 - New York, NY @ Spirit Cruise Ship WQCD Chelsea Piers (withWarren Hill)
August 4 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Carefree Theatre (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
August 5 - Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
August 6 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
August 7 - Houston, TX @ Verizon Playhouse (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
August 12 - St. Louis, MO @ Orpheum Theater (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
August 13 - Chicago, IL @ Skyline Stage Navy Pier (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
August 14 - Dublin, OH @ Wendy's Corporate Headquarters (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
August 27 - Sparks, NV @ Red Hawk Golf Course (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
September 9 - Saratoga, CA @ The Garden Theatre
September 10 - Guerneville, CA @ Johnson's Beach Russian River JazzFestival (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
September 23 - Rancho Santa Fe, CA @ The Bridges (with Warren Hill)
October 2 - Avalon, CA @ Avalon Ballroom Catalina Island Jazz Trax Jazz Festival (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
October 15 - Anchorage, AK @ Atwood Concert Hall (Guitars & Saxes Tour)
October 29 - Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall (Guitars & Saxes Tour)

SIGN THE LIVE 8 PETITION!

Join people from around the world in asking the G8 leaders to help end poverty. Sign the global petition. Go to www.live8list.com.

MARC RIZZO OF SOULFLY - FLYS SOLO

Marc Rizzo is one of the new breed of young guitarists in contemporary bands and has built a substantial following through his years of touring and recording with IL Nino and Soulfly. Recently, Rizzo has stepped out with solo projects that reveal a phenomenal command of the guitar. Colossal Myopia unveils Rizzo to be a master musician with deep musical roots in metal, classical and flamenco guitar “Colossal Myopia” is a mixture of all the music that Rizzo listens to. It’s a combination of Metal Nuevo Flamenco and Jazz. “I don’t really listen to one type of music and I think my record showcases that,” explains Rizzo. “It’s an all instrumental CD for music lovers that want to enjoy pure music without all the politics and negative lyrical content.”Rizzo’s raw energy combined with the talent of a new-generation shred-master is a much needed breath of fresh air to the instrumental rock genre. Rizzo goes on to describe some of the music - “Colossal Myopia is a song that I wrote while trying to combine heavy riffing with flamenco buleria rhythms. Introspection Of An Introvert is pure shred metal, while the Piñata Hits Back is Nuevo flamenco guitar with salsa style percussion. This entire record is a total trip and I’m glad to finally have put a record out that combines all the music I love on one record. “Colossal Myopia” is really just a look into my CD collection, because I love listening to Paco de Lucia and then metal. These styles were meant to be together.”

THE GROOVE BOUTIQUE, ASBURY JAZZ FEST & RHYTHM & BLUES FEST

RAFE GOMEZ & THE GROOVE BOUTIQUE ON QVC!
Rafe Gomez will bring jazz chill music to television in August when he debuts The Groove Boutique on QVC! This will be a one hour, bi-monthly program that will feature Rafe Gomez spinning and selling CD's of the same type of chilled-out sounds that he features on his weekly syndicated Groove Boutique radio show. Some of the releases that will be featured on The Groove Boutique on QVC will include CD's by Soul Ballet, Greg Adams, Kriztal's Vintage Chill series, Four 80 East, John Tropea, Fishbelly Black, Bobby Caldwell, and many more. We'll pass on the airdate details once it becomes available.

THE 17th ANNUAL ASBURY PARK JAZZ FESTIVAL
Smooth jazz pianist, Alex Bugnon, will headline the 17th annual Asbury Park Jazz Festival to be held in Asbury Park, New Jersey on June 25 and 26. Admission is free to the public and will also feature performances by the Poncho D Band, the Nu Horizon Band, the Excel Band, Synthasoul, Al Wright Unit, the Lady Lana Quartet, Dennis Grant and the Sons, Vincent G. Walker and Testimonies of Joy.

THE 2005 BAM RHYTHM & BLUES FESTIVAL
The 2005 BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Rhythm & Blues Festival at Metrotech Center is already on motion with free outdoor concerts every Thursday through August 11. The concerts are held at MetroTech Commons, located at the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues in Brooklyn, New York. Performers set to appear include - Lalah Hathaway (June 23), Eddie Palmieri (June 30), Amp Fiddler (July 7), The Wailers (July 14), Raul Midon (July21), Sharon Jones and Dap Kings (July 28), James Ulmer Blood (August 4), Elaine Elias and Lonnie Liston Smith (August 11).

DANNY FEDERICI + NEW RELEASES

DANNY FEDERICI - OUT OF A DREAM
Keyboardist Danny Federici is releasing his second smooth jazz instrumental set Out Of Dream on July 26 on VS Records. In it he features two covers –the Rolling Stones' Miss You and Bob Dylan’s Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. Federici has been a sideman for Bruce Springsteen for the past three decades as a member of the famed E Street Band and has enlisted the help ofmany musicians on his new project. Joining him on the album are percussionist Daniel de Los Reyes (Sting, Shakira), guitarists Jon Johnson(Earth Wind & Fire), Todd Parsnow (Kirk Franklin, Bootsy Collins) and bassist Juan Van Dunk (the Police, KC & The Sunshine Band).

NEW & REISSUED ALBUMS RELEASED THIS WEEK...
B.B. King - Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums (MCA/UME box set)
Carole King - One To One (Wounded Bird, 1982 album)
Earl Klugh - Earl Klugh (Blue Note, 1976 album)
Earl Klugh - Living Inside Your Love (Blue Note, 1977 album)
Down To The Bone - Spread Love Like Wildfire (Narada Jazz)
Eric Benet - Hurricane (Warners)
Jamiroquai - Dynamite (Epic)
Manhattan Transfer - The Manhattan Transfer Live (Wounded Bird, 1987 album)
Marvin Gaye - Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums (Motown/UME box set)
Maynard Ferguson - Maynard Ferguson (Wounded Bird, 1971 album)
Maynard Ferguson - M.F. Horn (Wounded Bird, 1972 album)
Miles Davis - Elevator To The Gallow/Ascenseur pour l'echafaud (Verve,soundtrack to the film by Louis Malle)
Ronnie Laws - Every Generation (Blue Note, 1980 album)
UB40 - Who You Fighting For (Epic)

FUTURE RELEASES...Due out on September 13 on Columbia/Legacy is a new Miles Davis boxed set -The Cellar Door Sessions 1970. The six-CD package also features Keith Jarrett on electric piano, John McLaughlin on guitar, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Gary Bartzo on sax, Michael Henderson on bass, and Airto Moreirera on percussion. Keith Jarrett's latest (by the way) is Radiance released on ECM.

A series of Quincy Jones re-releases are being assembled by Dreamworks Records for release on August 9. Included in the batch are 1989's Back OnThe Block, 1994's Q's Jook Joint, and 1999's compilation, From Q With Love.The prior two releases were originally released on Qwest, and the compilation was from Warner Bros.

Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Angie Stone and Celine Dion, are among a series of artists who are participating on another Luther Vandross tribute album. This new Clive Davis project is being produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and will feature the artists doingtheir interprations of Luther's songs. No release date has been announced.

SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO MOST ADDED

Lots of new product are making the smooth jazz radio airwaves and here's a sampling of what is new and in current rotation at smooth jazz radio stations worldwide...

O'2L - Doyle's Brunch (Peak)
Bobby Caldwell - Perfect Island Nights (Music Force Media Group)
Brian Culbertson - It's On Tonight (GRP)
Brian Simpson - It's All Good (Rendezvous)
David Pack - The Secret Of Moving On (Peak)
Down To The Bone - Spread Love Like Wildfire (Narada Jazz)
Everette Harp - All For You (A440 Music Group)
Jeff Kashiwa - Peace Of Mind (Native Language)
Joyce Cooling - This Girl's Got To Play (Narada Jazz)
Larry Gittens - T-Voyce (Human Feel)
Lee Ritenour - Overtime (Peak)
Marion Meadows - Player's Club (Heads Up International)
Paul Anka - Rock Swings ( Verve)
Planet9 - Rearview (Plan 9 Partners)
Ralph MacDonald - Home Grown (Antisia)
Richard Elliot - Metro Blue (ARTizen)
Tha' Hot Club - In The V.I.P. Room (Shanachie)
Urban Nights - Urban Knights IV (Narada Jazz)
Walter Beasley - For Her (Heads Up International)
Victor Fields - Victor (Regina)

JAZZ FESTIVAL UPDATES

SIOUX FALLS JAZZFEST 2005
The annual Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival, JazzFest 2005, is once again scheduled to be an outstanding two-day outdoor musical event, featuring two stages with free admission to the public. The festival is located at Yankton Trail Park is Sioux Falls, Idaho and will take place on July 15 and 16, 2005. This year's performers include Buddy Guy, Claudia Acuna, Dan Mahar, DNR Showband and Revue, Dotsero, Greyhounds, Guitarboy, Hailey Soyland Band, Jazz Portraits, Joe Bonamassa, Kelly Hunt, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Red Road, South Dakota Jazz Orchestra, That's The Time, The Stallions, The Tommy Castro Band, and Violet.

OLD PASADENA JAZZFEST 2005
The Old Pasadena JazzFest is set for a return to Brookside Park in Pasadena, California on July 15 and 17, 2005. Set to hit the stage at the Old Pasadena JazzFest this year are James Ingram, Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot & Peter White, Will Downing, Groovin' For Grover featuring Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber & Kirk Whalum, Lalah Hathaway, Brian Culbertson, Triple Threat featuring Everette Harp, Paul Jackson Jr. & Bobby Lyle, Jesse Cook, Eric Darius, Marion Meadows, Marcus Johnson, Mike Phillps, and The Unwrapped Allstars Shilts (from Down To The Bone), Christine Day, Andre Delano, Kevin Toney Band and Michael Manson.

PROVIDENCE SOUNDSESSION '05
Providence's Soundsession '05 is New England's premier summer music festival and it is set for July 18 through July 23, 2005 with a multitude of performers across many genres. Scheduled to appear at the Providence, Rhode Island Soundsession '05 are Ursula Rucker, Noble Society, Osmany Paredes, Edwin Pabon, Tortured Soul, Roy Ayers, Ex-Centric Sound System, Bahamadia, Othello Molineaux, Ron Carter, Yerba Buena, Organs, and renowned Haitian performer Emiline Michel. If you have never heard of her, Emiline Michel is a captivating performer, versatile vocalist, accomplished dance, songwriter and a producer. Her music combines traditional rhythms with social, political and inspirational content. She has recorded for several record labels in France, Canada and the U.S.

RODNEY STRONG VINEYARDS CONCERTS
A series of smooth jazz music concerts are scheduled at the Rodney Strong Vineyards in Sonoma County, California. Here's a sampling of what is to come...

Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot & Peter White - July 2
Michael McDonald - July 20
David Sanborn & Down To The Bone - August 20
Susan Tedeschi & The Blind Boys Of Alabama - August 28
Guitars & Saxes, Najee and more! - September 10
Summer Storm featuring Norman Brown, Peabo Bryson, Everette Harp & Brenda Russell - September 24
Euge Groove & Jesse Cook - October 15

SUMMER STORM TOUR

Norman Brown's Summer Storm is currently on tour around the U.S, and just recently completed an appearance at the 27th annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl. Norman Brown, along with fellow Summer Storm musicians - Brenda Russell, Everette Harp and Peabo Bryson are hopingto produce a live CD/DVD project of their tour for future release. Here are the remaining 2005 dates for the Summer Storm Tour...

July 21 - Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere
July 22 - Richmond, VA @ Kanawha Plaza
July 23 - Lithonia, GA @ Stewart Amphitheater
July 24 - Charlotte, NC @ NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Aug 7 - Woodville, WA @ KWJZ Festival - Chateau St. Michelle
Aug 12 - Long Beach, CA @ Long Beach Jazz Festival
Aug 20 - Concord, CA @ Concord Chronicle PavilionAug 25 - Cleveland, OH @ Palace Theatre
Aug 26 - Kettering, OH @ Praze Pavilion For The Performing Arts
Aug 28 - Apple Valley, MN @ Music In The Zoo
Sept 23 - Las Vegas, NV @ Texas Station Casino
Sept 24 - Healdsburg, CA @ Rodney's Strong Winery

JAZZ CHILL MUSIC NEWS

Singer Norah Jones will perform at a 10th anniversary concert for on-line retailer Amazon.com. The Amazon.com show will be her only scheduled performance for 2005. The event will only be open to the company's employees, however, it will be available to the public via the Amazon.com homepage. It's set for July 16 in Seattle, WA.

If you like Incognito, Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai, then you will likethe latest music from jazz-funk group Down To The Bone, Spread Love Like Wildfire is their latest release and it's due out on June 21 on the Narada Jazz label.

Hidden Beach is set to release the solo debut album by singer Lina - The Inner Beauty Movement. Her sound is jazz-soul and the first single off the album is Smooth.

From Warner Brothers on June 21 is A Change Is Gonna Come, the debut album from Leela James. Her sound is reminiscent of the classic music of Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight.

Ladybug Mecca (formerly of the hip-hop group Digitable Planet) will releaseher first solo effort on June 28 via Nu-Paradigm Entertainment entitled Trip The Light Fantastic.

MARCUS JOHNSON TOUR DATES

The Marcus Johnson Project will embark on their Lessons In Love tour this summer. Here are the concert dates...

June 17 - Columbia, SC @ The State Museum
June 26 - Washington, DC @ Barbecue Battle
July 13 - Lago, MD @ Wine-down Wednesdays Kick-Off
July 17 - Pasadena, CA @ Old Pasadena Jazz Festival
July 30 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
Aug 5 - Richmond, VA @ Friday's At Sunset Kanawa Plaza
Aug 6 - Washington, DC @ Ft. Dupont Park
Aug 13 - San Diego, CA @ Encanto Street Fair
Aug 26 - Charlotte, NC @ Jazz Cafe

NEW RELEASES + JAZZ NEWS

Look for the following new releases out this week...Occasion: Connick On Piano 2 (Marsalis Music) from Harry Connick Jr., along with special guest Branford Marsalis; Chavez Ravine (Nonesuch/Perro Verde) from Ry Cooder; Listen Here (Concord), from Eddie Palmieri with special guests Michael Brecker, Regina Carter, John Scofield, Christian McBride, Nicolas Payton, David Sanchez, and others; Breaking The Sound Barrier (Verve) from the Wayne Shorter Quartet; More Coltrane For Lovers (Verve) from John Coltrane; Ella & Louis For Lovers (Verve) from Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong; and That Old Feeling: Classic Ballads From The Judy Garland Show (Savoy Jazz) from Judy Garland with special guests including Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand.

From Verve Forecast Records...Lizz Wright - Dreaming Wide Awake; and Jackie Greene - Sweet Somewhere Bound (both out now), plus Hope And Desire from Susan Tedeschi out on September 20.

Latoya London, of American Idol fame, will release her debut album Love & Life on September 20 via Concord. The album will also feature songs either written or produced by David Foster, Narada Michael Walden, and Barry J.Eastmond. The first single Appreciate is due for release in August and features a guest appearance by the Roots' Black Thought.

Cafe All-Stars: Love Pages...due out July 26 is the compilation CD Love Pages, that features contributions by a number of artists backed by a group of session musicians known collectively as Café Soul All-Stars. The set features George Benson, Peabo Bryson, Glenn Jones, Vesta, Christopher Williams, Jon Lucien and Roy Ayers. It’s from YOU Entertainment.

XM Radio Satellite Radio News...Grammy award winning reggae band Steele Pulse will perform a live set at the XM Performance Theatre. You can check them out on Friday, June 16 on XM channel 101 at 8PM eastern time.

Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and Eric Grant of The O'Jays will be sitting in for an interview with Soul Street's Bobby Bennett. This is set forSunday, June 19 on XM channel 60.

Mindi Abair and Greg Jasperse will perform at the upcoming Smooth Jazz at Sunset Jazz Festival in St. Joseph, Michigan on July 9, 2005.

LIVE 8 AFRICA CALLING CONCERT

An additional Live 8 concert has been scheduled for July 2 at the Eden Project in Cornwall, England. Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'Dour are the driving forces behind this particular Live 8 concert that will feature African musicians. Africa Calling (as it is being called) will feature performances by Angelique Kidjo, Daara J, Salif Keita, Thomas Mapfumo, Blacks Unlimited, Shikisha, Tinariwen, as well as Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'Dour. The event (as are the other Live 8 concerts) is intended to raise awareness of poverty in Africa ahead of the July 6-8 G8 summit of worldleaders in Gleneagles, Scotland.