KKSF RESPONSE TO SMOOTH JAZZ LISTENERS

Michael Erickson, who works for Clear Channel, which dumped smooth jazz KKSF to make it a greatest hits rock station, has written a response to the 6,400 fans who complained about the move and offered places they could still hear the smooth format. "It's business," says Erickson, who I know as one of the nicest and most genuine guys in the medium. You can still hear the format online, at kksf.com. Another place is on weekends on KISS-FM, 98.1. And lastly, for the two of you who have them, on your HD radio at 98.1 HD-2. There will also be smooth jazz concerts, such as Diana Krall at the Mountain Winery Aug. 18 and 19 and India.Arie June 11. (And there will be smooth blues at next year's Santa Cruz Blues Festival, Memorial Day weekend.)

Here is the text of his note:

Thank you for the over 6,400 responses expressing your frustration, anger, disappointment, and passion for Smooth Jazz and KKSF. After reading over 5,000 of them, to use some of your words, it's time for this idiotic, spineless, moron to respond. Your question, Why? I know it's not popular, but the answer is, it's business. As many of you know, there have been numerous Smooth Jazz stations replaced in many cities around the country, the latest being WNUA in Chicago. Here in the Bay Area, we have a population of over 6 million people. Successful radio stations are determined by which get the most people to listen most often. While we all place a high value on being unique, different, and special, those qualities alone do not always equal success. What research and ratings have definitively shown is there are a lot more people in the Bay Area who enjoy the kind of music that you hear on "The Band" compared to Smooth Jazz. Not thousands, not tens of thousands, but hundreds of thousands more. From a business stand point, the decision was obvious. What made it so difficult were you, the loyal, passionate listeners. While we cannot bring back Smooth Jazz to your FM radio at this time, we have created a way where you can listen to Smooth Jazz in your car, at work, or at home. HD radio. Right now, you can hear all the great Smooth Jazz songs you love, plus personalities like Miranda Wilson, Dave Koz, and Maria Lopez on 98.1 HD-2. We do not make one penny off the purchase of HD radios, this is simply a way to get the music and DJs you love on a radio. To find out about HD radios, click here, or go to KKSF.com and enter the keyword: HD. If you aren't familiar, you can also listen to Smooth Jazz on your iPhone or Blackberry by downloading the free iHeartradio app.KKSF.com will continue to stream Smooth Jazz, as well as provide you with updated concert information and Smooth Jazz news. Many of you have asked if there will be a Summer Jazz Fest in Concord this year, and the answer is YES, we've been told by Live Nation there is one scheduled for August 22nd. We will update you with more information just as soon as we get it.One more Program note: beginning this Sunday June 8th, (and every Sunday) from 8am to 10am you can listen to "Smooth Jazz Weekend" on 98.1 KISS FM. (regular FM radio) This two hour show features the same great Smooth Jazz music you are used to listening to, plus interviews with some of your favorite artists (find out more below). No, this is not supposed to be a replacement for KKSF, just a way to keep Smooth Jazz on the airwaves, and to support the music and artists in the Bay Area.

Michael Erickson
KKSF Program Director

Source: www.examiner.com

WILL DOWNING - CLASSIQUE

Will Downing will release “Classique” a collection of original and cover classic songs on June 16 on the Peak record label. Downing beautifully covers Barry White's 1973 hit “I'm gonna love you just a little more baby;” David Ruffin's 1976 hit “Stature of a fool,” and Marvin Gaye's “Baby I'm for real,” which features the tenor vocals of Phil Perry. “Not that I have anything against artists and what they are doing, but it doesn't last,” Will said about the meaning of the CD, “Classique” which is classic in French. “The music I grew up with are classic songs (now)...their stuff is lasting.”“Classique” (Peak ecords/Concord Music Group) will be in stores June 16, 2009 and marks his 20th anniversary as a recording artist. Aside from those covers songs mentioned some of my other favorites on the album include the foot tapping “More time (Tic Toc),” “Just think about it” and “I won't stop,” which is sure to be a classic love song. Will received production help from his long time friend Rex Rideout.

Will’s start in the business was back in the 80’s when he would work on the albums for Jennifer Holiday, Kool & the Gang, Gerald Albright, Regina Belle and Billy Ocean. He later signed with 4th & Broadway, then Island Records and ended up at Mercury Records. It was at Mercury that he recorded four albums “Love's the place to be,” in 1993; “Moods” in 1995, “Invitation Only” in 1997, and in 2000 he received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional R&B Album for “”All the Man You Need.”

Blurring the line between jazz and classic soul in a musical era that often pushes style over substance, Will Downing has amassed a timeless body of work that has never forced his listeners to make that compromise. The consistent choice of classy style over flashy trends, have fueled the success of a 12 album-two decade long career, with millions of albums sold in countries all over the world. Most of today's performers would be fortunate to accomplish a track record only half as long. As one of the lone surviving mature male vocalists in a youth driven market, this Brooklyn native emerges at the top of his game and continues to expand his fan base with each new musical chapter.

Recognized by the Grammy's and the NAACP Image Awards for his excellence on the stage and in the studio, Will Downing is starting to become equally well known for his talents outside of that realm. Unbeknownst to many of his listeners, Will Downing is a noted and equally skilled photographer. His subjects of choice are his musical contemporaries whom he captures live on-stage or in candid moments behind the curtain.

TEENA MARIE - CONGO SQUARE

Congo Square is Teena Marie's Stax Records debut due and it marks the Grammy nominated singer's 30th year as one the most admired and influential R&B artists of her generation. It's is an ode to all those who came before her like Sarah Vaughan, Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye to name a few. The first single from Teena Marie's long-awaited, forthcoming Stax Records debut "Can't Last A Day" features Faith Evans and is available digitally at iTunes, Amazon MP3 and all other digital retailers. Teena and Faith move back and forth throughout the song with powerful emotion. "Musically, the song has that Gamble & Huff, Teddy Pendergrass, Philadelphia International sound," offered Teena. "It's about that mystical, joined-through-God kind of love...really powerful...like the love I felt when I spoke to my auntie who was married for 57 years, and the love reflected in my mother who was married to my father for 36 years until he died. When she dies she'll be buried next to him. I'm talking about people being together until the end of time. I think we're really missing that level of love today." Teena lights up when describing how Faith became involved in the song, "It was after I had recorded the song I got the idea to put Faith on it. I've always loved Faith and her vocal style. She reminds me of myself, personally and professionally. Of the younger ladies, she's the one I love most."

Capitalizing on the revolutionary changes affecting the music industry, R&B icon Teena Marie has launched a new Internet television presence, Official Teena Marie Tv Network (www.officialteenamarie.tv) to get closer to her fans and be personally involved in the promotion of her soon to be released CD, "Congo Square." Assisting and guiding her in this effort is Internet television guru, Mario Hemsley of Pax Stereo Tv (www.paxstereo.tv). According to Mario, this is a match made in the stars. "Teena Marie is uniquely suited for the types of campaigns that we have been launching lately" he points out. "She already is tweeting and messaging throughout the day, and she also has multiple two-way conversations going on all the time. Now, with our application, fans can listen in and even participate whenever they desire." Music industry veteran Danielle Holland is Pax Stereo's VP of Marketing, Promotion & Public Relations, and is personally overseeing the launch of the Official Teena Marie Tv Network. "We are working closely with Teena's staff to make this transition to new media as smooth as possible. Mario sets it all up so that from the beginning everything is up, integrated and working, which makes it easy for me to hit the ground running." An added perk is getting to see results unveil in real-time using the latest in Twitter monitoring technology. This is a new twist Danielle insists she loves. "We setup the client to see the results of our efforts in real-time wherever they are in the world. They are always connected, and always in control." She smiles, "but seeing it in action is something else entirely."

Scheduled for this Monday, June 8th, at 10AM PST is the Official Grand Opening of the Internet "Tv" ("Tv"=Internet Television) network, with the first broadcast being the songstress' live in-studio appearance on Pax Stereo Tv's "Morning Coffee with Mario" (www.paxstereo.tv/morningcoffee). The live streaming special event is being simulcast over the Internet to both Pax Stereo Tv and the Official Teena Marie Tv Network. Mario reminds everyone that this is a "take home" package. "Everyone can go the the channel, grab the embed code, and put Teena Marie's broadcasts on their Facebook, MySpace, or wherever they want. Everything is designed to go viral."

While results are already being felt, additional plans are underway for the future streaming of live free concerts from Teena Marie's home specifically packaged for her legion of loyal fans. Victor Allen, who is directs, films and produces many of the programs at Pax Stereo Tv is looking forward to making as much of Teena available as possible. "Teena is a videographer herself, so I am really looking forward to all of the content she already has, as well as the upcoming intimate live performance video footage."

The "Congo Square" CD is scheduled for release on June 9th, 2009 on Stax Records. Pax Stereo is a member of the YouTube Partner Program, and has had over 1.8 million views of their original content on Youtube (www.youtube.com/paxstereo).

Teena Marie CONGO SQUARE Tour Dates
5/8 Constitution Hall - Washington D.C.
5/9 City Boardwalk Hall - Atlantic City, NJ
5/10 Beacon Theater - New York, NY
5/25 Stone Soul Picnic (KBLX) - Sleep Train Performance - Concord, CA
6/21 Philly West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival - Philadelphia, CA
7/5 Essence Festival - Louisiana Superdome - New Orleans, LA
7/19 Bonelli Park – San Dimas, CA
8/8 Spirit Fest - Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD
8/29 Country Club Hills - Chicago, IL 8/30 Fox Theater - Detroit, MI
9/4 Spirit Mountain Casino - Grand Ronde, OR
9/26 Viejas Casino & Resort - Alpine, CA

PETER SMITH - HERE IT COMES

Jazz pianist and composer, Peter Smith, has released his long-awaited debut album "Here It Comes," featuring Molly Ringwald. The album has already received considerable critical acclaim.." You might remember Molly Ringwald as the superb actress in countless films, but few know that her singing career began when she was a little girl, making her recording debut with her Jazz pianist father, Robert Ringwald. More recently, she led the Broadway cast of "Cabaret," and the national tour of "Sweet Charity." Peter is the musical director of her ensemble, and the musicians on this album comprise Molly's "working band." Much of the original music here was tried and tested on the bandstand as "opening numbers" for Molly's performances. Although Molly only sings on two tracks, she is, essentially, the impetus for this group and this album.

The musicians' contributions on "Here It Comes" are superlative. Charles Owens, Allen Mezquida, Trevor Ware, and Clayton Cameron play with great fluidity and effortless mastery. Every track commands attention, but a selected sampling should include the following: "Put My Fears to Rest" is the gem of the album, interpreted by Patrice Quinn. "Once Again" swings in the classic, "Art Blakey" style. "Mean Streets" features the incomparable brush-work of Clayton Cameron, and "Blues for LeDonne" is a real "tap-your-foot" blues, inspired by Mike LeDonne. "My Daughter" plays like an art song. "I Just Want to Be with You," which Smith and Ringwald co-composed, harkens back to the sweet standards of old, and Allen Mezquida's gorgeous alto solo reminds one that the "walking ballad" is not a lost art.

Peter Smith – Here It Comes - Tracklisting
1. Once Again (P. Smith)
2. I'll Take Romance (B. Oakland/ O. Hammerstein)
3. Mean Streets (aka "Verdandi"-- T. Flanagan)
4. I'm in the Mood for Love (D. Fields/ J. McHugh)
5. I Just Want to Be with You (M. Ringwald/ P. Smith)
6. Webs (A. Mezquida)
7. My Daughter (P. Smith)
8. Blues for LeDonne (P. Smith)
9. Put My Fears to Rest (P. Smith)
10. Here it Comes (P. Smith)

Album Credits:
Molly Ringwald (vocal, 2, 5)
Patrice Quinn (vocal, 9)
Allen Mezquida (alto sax, 1,2,5,6,7,10)
Charles Owens (tenor sax and flute, 1,2, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Peter Smith (piano; vocal, 4, 7)
Trevor Ware (bass)
Clayton Cameron (drums)

eMUSIC TO FEATURE SONY MUSIC CATALOG

eMusic, the internet's corner music store, and Sony Music Entertainment have announced that they have reached an agreement to sell songs from Sony Music's back catalog on the eMusic website. Beginning in the third quarter, eMusic will offer its U.S. subscribers classic recordings from all Sony Music labels, such as Arista, Columbia, Epic, Jive, LaFace, Legacy Recordings and RCA, including artists such as Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Jeff Buckley, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen and OutKast. The agreement covers music that is two years old or more. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

eMusic offers music fans a deeper, more immersive alternative to mass market digital music stores and will present Sony Music artists with the same award-winning editorial focus that it brings to its current catalog. The site, geared to adults over the age of 25, will contextualize albums and songs from Sony Music's renowned artists, drawing meaningful connections between "major" and "indie" artists, and featuring in-depth discographies and collections built around genres and themes.

"We welcome the opportunity to expand the reach of Sony Music catalog artists online to include eMusic's large and passionate subscriber base. We look forward to working with them to promote discovery and sales of all the great music available from Sony Music's recent past and legendary history," said Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business, U.S. Sales and Corporate Strategy.

"We're excited to bring Sony Music's vast catalog of music to eMusic's customers," said Danny Stein, eMusic CEO and Chairman. "First and foremost, eMusic is about a quality customer experience. We are eager to bring eMusic's in-depth approach and curatorial excellence to these incredible recordings -- as we've done for independent labels for the last 10 years."

eMusic launched in 1998 and was one of the first digital music services to sell MP3 download and the first to launch a download-to-own subscription service for music in 2000. Its subscription pricing offers the ability to download 24 tracks for as little as $11.99 per month.

SANTANA: MULTI-DIMENSIONAL WARRIOR: LIVE AT THE FILLMORE

The HDNet Concert Series premieres "Santana: Multi-Dimensional Warrior: Live at the Fillmore," Sunday, June 7 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Carlos Santana's unprecedented return to the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco, California in 2008 is his fan's greatest opportunity to see the enigmatic axe man in a rare and intimate setting, what many consider to be his greatest homecoming. Santana has captivated audiences since first taking the stage at the Fillmore West Theater on June 16, 1968 - many of the band members were high school friends. Carlos Santana, with his signature Latin-tinged guitar, experienced critical and commercial success in the 60's and 70's and returned to prominence with a literal "who's-who" of guests on his massively successful, Grammy Award winning album "Supernatural." The album became his best seller. Santana then released "Shaman" in 2005. "Santana: Multi-Dimensional Warrior" features a two hour set of favorites such as "Smooth," "Shapeshifter," "Jingo," and a breath-taking version of "Superstition." on HDNet.

HDNet is a network that is original, thinks independently and delivers unique content and provocative, authentic programming that appeals to men of all ages, delivered in true high definition. HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Vegas Confessions," "Deadline" and "Get Out!" HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.

NEW RELEASES FROM U-NAM, VANESSA WILLIAMS, S-TONE INC., JOCELYN BROWN, BOOKER T. JONES & MORE...

Afrozone Orchestra – Future Afrobeat/Tongana (Soultronik)
Allen Toussaint – The Bright Mississippi (Nonesuch)
Anita Baker – The Best Of Anita Baker (Atlantic/Rhino)
B.B. King – Live At Montreux 1993 DVD Eagle Rock)
Barry White – Just For You (Island/Mercury)
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Hob Big Can You Het? A Tribute To Cab Calloway (Vanguard)
Blood, Swaeat & Tears – Blood, Sweat & Tears 4 – Remasted (Columbia)
Booker T. Jones – Potato Hole (Anti)
Buju Banton – Rasta Got Soul (Gargamel)
Burnt Sugar – Making Love To The Dark Ages (Livewired)
Caetano Veloso – Zii & Zee (Universal Brazil)
Carlos Nino – High With A Little Help From My Friends (Kindred Spirits)
Carlos Nino & Miquel Atwood-Ferguson – Suite For Ma Dukes (Mochilla)
Chicago – Chicago Transit Authority (Rhino)
Chicago – Chicago II (Rhino)
City Champs – Safecracker (Electrophonic)
Dee Alexander – Wild Is The Wind (Blujazz)
Diana Krall – Quiet Nights (Verve)
Diana Ross – Reach Out And Touch: The Very Best Of Diana Ross – Vinyl (Motown)
Down To The Bone – Future Boogie (Shanachie)
Duane Williams – These Songs Are For You (Soul Junction)
El Michaels Affair – Walk On By (Truth & Soul)
Frank Sinatra –My Way: 40th Anniversary Edition – Remastered/Bonus Tracks (Concord)
Frank Sinatra – Classic Sinatra II (Capitol/EMI)
Frank Sinatra – Live At The Meadowlands – Unreleased Tracks (Concord)
Freddie Hubbard – Without A Song: Live In Europe 1969 (Blue Note)
Gianni Basso & Irion De Paula – Recado Bossa Nova (Déjà vu)
Harry Belafonte – The Early Years At Capitol Records (DRG)
Iggy Pop – Preliminaires (Astralwerks)
Ike & Tina Turner – The Collection (Capitol)
Incognito – Live At The Java Jazz Fest Jakarta - DVD (I-Music)
Indigo Trio – Anaya (Rogue Art)
Jabberloop – Check This Out (Sony)
Jazz Liberatorz – Fruit Of The Past (KIF)
Jocelyn Brown – One From The Heart (Warners)
Jose Feliciano Band - The Paris Concert - DVD (I-Music)
Jose Roberto Betrami & His Modern Sound – Aventura (Far Out)
Kyle Eastwood – Metropolitan (Rendezvous)
Liza Minnelli – The Capitol Years (Capitol/EMI)
Lorenzo Tucci – Touch (Schema)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – United – Vinyl (Motown)
Melissa Morgan – Until I Met You (Telarc)
Melody Gardot – My One And Only Thrill (Verve)
Melvin Gibb – Elevated Entity (Ancients Speak)
Michael McDonald – Soundstage: A Tribute To Motown Live - DVD (Koch)
Miles Davis – The New Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige)
Moleskins – Dedication (Lights Out)
Nomo – Invisible Cities (Ubiquity)
Nostalgia 77 – Nostalgia 77 Sessions (Tru Thoughts)
Oleta Adams – Let’s Stay Here (E1 Music)
Perry Robinson & Buton Greene – Two Voices In The Desert (Tzadik)
Quasimodo & Others – Golden Works (Geneon)
Quiet Nights Orchestra – Chapter One (Lights Out)
Ray Charles – A Message From The People – Remastered (Concord)
Ray Charles – Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music, Volumes 1 & 2 (Concord)
S-Tone Inc. – Moon In Libra (Schema)
Shirley Bassey – The Collection (Capitol)
Simply Red – The Greatest Video Hits DVD (EMI)
Sly & Robbie – Live 86 (MVD Audio)
Smokey Robinson – A Quiet Storm – Vinyl (Motown)
Solomon Burke – Essential Recordings: It Don’t Get Better Than This (Rounder)
Sonny Rollins - Reel Life (OJC)
Soothsayers – One More Reason (Soothsayers)
Sophie Millman – Take Love East (E1 Entertainment)
Stefania Rava – Send In The Clowns (Déjà vu)
Stevie Wonder – Songs In The Key Of Life – Vinyl (Motown)
Sweet Vandals – Lovelite (Unique)
Tortured Soul – Did You Miss Me (Tortured Soul)
U-Nam – Unanimity (Trippin N Rhythm)
Vanessa Williams – The Real Thing (Concord)
Various Artists – Smooth Jazz Number Ones (Concord)
Wigald Boning – Jet Set Jazz (Compost)

THE JUNE CONCERT LISTINGS

Chris Botti @ Symphony Hall, Boston, MA, June 3
Joe Cocker @ The Warfield, San Francisco, CA, June 3
Chris Botti @ Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, June 4
Bettye LaVette @ Twilight Alive, Kingsport, TN, June 4
Anthony Hamilton @ Nokia Live Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 4
The Sax Pack @ The Claremont, Berkeley, CA, June 5
Bettye LaVette @ The Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, Minneapolis, MN, June 5
Diana Krall @ Palace Theatre, Waterbury, CT, June 5
Buddy Guy @ Spirit of Suwannee Park, Live Oak, FL, June 5
Richie Havens @ Narrows Center, Falls River, MA, June 5
Joe Cocker @ Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 5
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Amphitheater At The Wharf, Orange Beach, AL. June 5
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre At Encore Park. Atlanta, GA, June 6
Chris Botti @ Conference Center, Monterey, CA, June 6
Richie Havens @ One Longfellow Square Portland, ME, June 6
James Taylor @ 02 Arena, London, UK, June 6
Joe Cocker @ Humphrey’s, San Diego, CA, June 6
Anthony Hamilton @ Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA, June 6
Will Downing @ Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, June 6
Regina Belle @ Capital Music Festival, Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, June 6
Joe Cocker @ Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, June 7
Diana Krall @ Flynn Center, Burlington, VT, June 7
The Sax Pack @ Clark County Amphitheater, Las Vegas, NV, June 8
Joe Cocker @ Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO, June 9
Diana Krall @ Stanley Theatre, Utica, NY, June 9
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC, June 9
Steely Dan @ Performing Arts Center, Durham, NC, June 9
Joe Cocker @ Sandia Casino Amphitheatre, Alburquerque, NM, June 10
Diana Krall @ ArtPark, Lewiston, NY, June 10
Laura Isibor @ Pontiac Garage @ HOB, Dallas, TX, June 10
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Merriweather Post Pavillion, Washington, DC, June 10
Joe Cocker @ Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort, Mescalero, NM, June 11
Anthony Hamilton @ Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH, June 11
King Sunny Ade @ Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA, June 11
Bela Fleck @ Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC, June 11
Bobby Caldwell @ The Rrazz Room at The Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, June 11-14
The Sax Pack @ Jazz in the Wood, Overland Park, KS, June 12
Bela Fleck, King Sunny Ade @ Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN, June 12
Anthony Hamilton @ Opera House, Detroit, MI, June 12
Steely Dan @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL, June 12
Laura Isibor @ Vinyl, Atlanta, GA, June 12
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Borgata Event Center, Atlantic City, NJ, June 12-13
Joe Cocker @ Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK, June 13
Bettye LaVette @ Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago, IL, June 13
Bela Fleck @ Thirsty Ear Festival, Sante FE, NM, June 13
Steely Dan @ Minzer Partk Amphitheatre, Bosa Raton, FL, June 13
Buddy Guy @ Elk Creek Vineyards, Owenton, KY, June 13
Diana Krall @ Bank of American Pavilion, Boston, MA, June 13
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Jazz In The Woods – Corporate Woods, Overland Park, KS, June 13
Regina Belle @ Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, June 13
Anthony Hamilton @ Arie Crown Theatre, Chicago, IL, June 13
Joe Cocker @ Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX, June 14
Bela Fleck @ Red Butte Gardens, Salt Lake City, UT, June 14
Kenny G, King Sunny Ade @ Playboy Jazz Festival, Hollywood, CA, June 14
Diana Krall @ Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI, June 14
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Bethel Performing Arts Center, Bethel, NY, June 14
Joe Cocker @ Arena Theatre, Houston, TX, June 15
Steely Dan @ Barbara B. Mann Center, Ft. Myers, FL, June 15
Laura Isibor @ World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA, June 15
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Agganis Arena, Boston, MA, June 16
Anthony Hamilton @ New Jersey Performing Arts, Newark, NJ, June 16
King Sunny Ade @ Belly Up, Solana Beach, CA, June 16
Laura Isibor @ Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, Washington, DC, June 16
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, June 17
Maxwell @ DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids, MI, June 17
Laura Isibor @ SOB’s, New York, NY, June 17
Bela Fleck @ Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ, June 17
Kirk Whalum, John Stoddard @ Healing Center Baptist Church, Memphis, TN, June 17
Tower Of Power @ Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI, June 18
King Sunny Ade @ Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA, June 18
Steely Dan @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St. Augustin, FL, June 18
Anthony Hamilton @ WaMU Theatre At Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, June 18
Tower Of Power @ Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY, June 19
Peter White @ KIFM Jazz At The Beach, Oceanside, CA, June 19
Buddy Guy @ Mountain Stage, Charleston, WV, June 19
Steely Dan @ The Wharf, Orange Beach, A:, June 19
King Sunny Ade @ The Independent, San Francisco, CA, June 19
Maxwell @ The Venue/Horsehoe Hammond, Hammond, IN, June 19
Will Downing @ Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ, June 19
Mindi Abair @ Hyatt Newporter, Newport Beach, CA, June 19
Diana Krall @ Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, PA, June 19
Richie Havens @ Stephens Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY, June 19
Anthony Hamilton @ DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC, June 19
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ MGM Grand Theater At Foxwoods, Ledyard, CT, June 19
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Calvin Theatre, Northampton, MA, June 19
Bela Fleck @ Telluride Music Festival, Telluride, CO, June 19, 21
Laura Isibor @ Joe’s Pub, New York, NY, June 20
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA, June 20
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, NY, June 20
King Sunny Ade @ Truckee Regional Parl, North Tahoe, CA, June 20
Buddy Guy @ Showboat, Atlantic City, NJ, June 20
Tower Of Power @ West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA, June 20
Maxwell @ Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI, June 20
Kenny G @ Mable House Barnes Amphitheater, Mableton, Georgia, June 20
Diana Krall @ Borgata Spa & Resort, Atlantic City, NJ, June 20
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ, June 21
Simply Red @ Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, UK, June 21
King Sunny Ade @ Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Boonville, CA, June 21
Diana Krall @ Telos Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA, June 21
Buddy Guy @ Filence Center, Vienna, VA, June 21
Teena Marie @ Philly West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA, June 21
Anthony Hamilton @ Pier Six Pavilion, Baltimore, MD, June 21
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Value City Arena At Jerome Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH, June 21
Tower Of Power @ Foxwoods MGM Grand Theater, Mashantucket, CT, June 21
Laura Isibor @ House Of Blues, Chicago, IL, June 22
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN, June 23
Buddy Guy @ Johnny Mercer Theatre, Savannah, GA, June 23
King Sunny Ade @ Winspear Centre, Edmonton, AB, June 23
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Rams Head, Annapolis, MD, June 23
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA, June 24
Maxwell @ Paramount, Seattle, WA, June 24
King Sunny Ade @ Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, AB, June 24
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit, MI, June 24
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Manchester Men Arena, UK, June 24
Buddy Guy @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA, June 24
Bettye LaVette @ Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, June 24
Kenny G @ Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA, June 25
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT, June 25
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Birmingham NIA Arena, UK, June 25
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Allstate Arena, Chicago, Il, June 25
Will Downing @ Chene Park, Detroit, MI, June 25
Anthony Hamilton @ Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, June 25
Bettye LaVette @ NYC Rockin’ The River Cruise, New York, NY, June 25
Bettye LaVette @ North By Northwest, Philadelphia, PA, June 26
Maxwell @ Pearl, Las Vegas, NV, June 26
Buddy Guy @ Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, Saskatoon, SK, June 26
Richie Havens @ Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, WI, June 26
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, QC, June 26
George Benson, Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds. Ledisi, Jazz Attack feat. Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 26
Anthony Hamilton @ Bell Auditorium, Augusta, GA, June 26
King Sunny Ade @ Vancouver International Jazz Fest, Vancouver, BC, June 26
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson @ Fraze Pavillion for the Performing Arts, Kettering, OH, June 26
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Cardiff CIA, UK, June 27
The O’Jays, Michael McDonald @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 27
Richie Havens @ Calumet Theatre, Calumet, MI, June 27
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Feihofers Jazz Festival, Saratoga, NY, June 27
Diana Krall @ Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, June 27
Joe Cocker @ Ameristar Casino, Kansas City, MO, June 27
Regina Belle @ St. Kitts Music Festival, Warner Park Stadium, St. Kitts, WI, June 27
Peter White, Mindi Abair @ Rodney Strong Winery, Healdsburg, CA, June 27
Simply Red @ Heroes’ Square, Budapest, Hungary, June 27
King Sunny Ade @ Jazz Fest International, Victoria, BC, June 27
Anthony Hamilton @ BJCC Concert Hall, Birmingham, AL, June 27
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Rodney Strong Winery, Healdsburg, CA, June 27
Sax For Stax feat. Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum @ South Coast Winery, Temecula, CA, June 27
Patti LaBelle, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez, Dred Scott Trio, Wallace Roney Quintet, John Ellis Quintet @ Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 27
George Benson, Bettye LaVette, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Bonerama, Aaron Parks, Julian Lage @ Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 28
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Ottawa Jazz Fest, Ottawa, ON, June 28
Maxwell @ BET Awards, Los Angeles, CA, June 28
Anthony Hamilton @ Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte, NC, June 28
Diana Krall @ Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI, June 28
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO, June 28
Patti LaBelle, Robin Thicke, Chuck Brown, Keiko Matsui @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 28
George Benson @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 28
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Wembley Arena, London, UK, June 28
Joe Cocker @ Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, June 28
Maxwell @ Dodge, Phoenix, AZ, June 29
King Sunny Ade @ Triple Door, Seattle, WA, June 29
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez @ Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto, ON, June 30
Joe Cocker @ Fraze Pavilion, Kettering, OH, June 30
King Sunny Ade @ Weesner Amphitheatre, Apple Valley, MN, June 30
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Buddy Guy @ Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI, June 30

BRIAN CULBERTSON TO HOST WEEKDAY MORNING SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO SHOW

The Broadcast Architecture Smooth Jazz Network has just announced that Smooth Jazz musician, producer and broadcaster Brian Culbertson will be the new weekday morning drive air talent for the Network, effective immediately. Brian has been the acclaimed weekend morning host for the Network since early 2007, and the transition to hosting the coveted 6-10AM weekday slot.

Culbertson joins radio veteran Miranda Wilson (mid-days), Smooth Jazz icon Dave Koz (afternoon drive), and radio vet Maria Lopez in the Network's lineup. The Network's weekend lineup is enhanced by the addition of Allen Kepler 6-10AM, with "Smooth Jazz Weekend" and "The Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown", followed by the best-selling instrumentalist of all time, Kenny G (10AM-2PM), Grammy winner Norman Brown (2-7PM), and hit music legend Paul Hardcastle (7PM-12M). Based on this information it would appear that he is replacing Ramsey Lewis.

Recently named the "2009 International Instrumentalist of the Year" at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, Culbertson (a keyboardist, trombonist, writer, arranger, and producer) is considered by many to be the most exciting live performing instrumentalist on the scene today.

Inspired by his father, music educator Jim Culbertson, Brian Culbertson has been a fast and fierce study of music, gravitating to all styles of dynamic music. Since his 1994 debut Long Night Out, Brian has been credited with bringing a youthful yet no less masterful energy to popular instrumental music with hit albums and singles. His sixth album Nice & Slow (2001) topped Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart for six weeks straight. And its follow-up, Come on Up (2003) included his blazing cover of Earth Wind & Fire's "Serpentine Fire," impressing Maurice White enough to want to work with him. The proof is all over his milestone tenth project, Bringing Back The Funk, a historic and completely unprecedented revisiting to the land of the sho' nuff uncut `70s-style funk of ages.

Adding to the excitement of Brian's weekday morning drive debut, he and Network partner Dave Koz are embarking on their "Dave Koz and Brian Culbertson Side by Side Tour" this summer, where they are sure to meet up with their legions of listeners and fans.

Broadcast Architecture, the world's leading Smooth Jazz research and consulting firm, launched the Smooth Jazz Network in January of this year. Smooth Jazz Network programming is heard in over 30 Markets in the U.S. and Worldwide.

Listen to Brian on the Smooth Jazz Network on the following stations:
Anchorage, AK - 105.7 / KNIK
Augusta, GA - 92.3 / WAEG
Chicago, IL - 87.7 / WLFM
Cincinnati, OH - 1480 AM / WCIN
Columbus, OH - 103.5 / WJZA
Green Bay, WI - 97.3 / WAUN
Honolulu, HI - 101.1 / KORL
Lansing, MI - 92.9 / WJZL
Lexington, KY - 102.1 / WKYL
Milwaukee, WI - 106.9 / WJZX
Norfolk, VA - 107.7 / WJCD
Oklahoma City, OK - 103.7 / KOCD
Polson, MT - 1340 AM / KQJZ
Redding, CA - 96.1 / KKXS
Reno, NV - 92.1 / KJZS
Salisbury, MD - 97.1 / WQJZ
Santa Barbara, CA - 106.3 / KMGQ
Sun Valley, ID - 107.5 / KYZK
Tallahassee, FL - 97.9 / WJZT
Traverse City, MI - 101.9 / WLDR (HD) Tri Cities, WA - 101.9 / KUJJ

NATALIE COLE RECIEVES KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

OneLegacy, the non-profit, federally designated organ and tissue recovery organization serving the seven-county greater Los Angeles area as part of the national organ transplantation network, facilitated the transplant of a kidney to Natalie Cole a couple of weks ago via a directed donation from a deceased donor."

As stewards of the organ donation process, OneLegacy collaborates with area hospitals to support families facing the loss of a loved one," said Tom Mone, OneLegacy CEO and Executive Vice President. "One such family generously agreed to donate organs to people in need of a life-saving transplant. Having heard of Ms. Cole's need for a kidney, the family asked that one of their loved one's kidneys be transplanted to Ms. Cole if they were a match."

In accordance with the family's request, OneLegacy donation coordinators then determined through tests that the kidney would be a biological match for Ms. Cole and coordinated the recovery process. Directed donation is a specific request made by a donor or donor family to direct a recovered organ to a specific transplant recipient. While rare, this practice is recognized by the California Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) and occurs most frequently when the donor or donor family are related to the recipient or know the recipient personally.OneLegacy is the non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation in the seven-county greater Los Angeles area. With 200 hospitals, 12 transplant centers and a diverse population of 19 million.

GAMBLE & HUFF NAMED BMI ICONS AT 57th ANNUAL POP AWARDS

Leading music rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) held its 57th Annual Pop Awards on May 19, 2009, honoring Gamble & Huff as BMI Icons. Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, the invitation-only ceremony was hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Vice President/General Manager, Los Angeles, Barbara Cane and also recognized the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed pop songs. The evening’s capstone was a musical tribute to Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. Gavin DeGraw sang “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” Estelle performed “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” and Michael Bublé delivered his rendition of “Me and Mrs. Jones.” Named BMI Icons in recognition of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers,” Gamble & Huff join an elite list of previous BMI Icons that includes the Jacksons, Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Ray Davies, Carlos Santana, Dolly Parton, and Hall & Oates.

Their career output of over 3,000 songs places them among the most prolific professional songwriters of all time. Gamble and Huff continue to write and produce, with their most recent production the Labelle “Back To Now” album. On September 19, 2005, Gamble and Huff were inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding achievements at a ceremony held in New York City. In 2008, Gamble and Huff were the first recipients of the newly created :Ahmet Ertegun Award" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 375,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. BMI reported $901 million for its 2008 fiscal year in performing right collections. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world for 70 years. The U.S. corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.

MAXWELL - BLACKsummer'snight

With his long awaited fourth studio album, BLACKsummers'night, is the long-awaited fourth studio albulm from Maxwell. It’s slated for release by Columbia Records on July 7, and the contemporary soul artist Maxwell will return to the concert stage for first leg of a major North American tour kicking off June 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and finishing July 31 in Miami. BLACKsummers'night is the first full-length Maxwell release since Now, his critically-acclaimed third studio album, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in August 2001. Along his 2009 tour route, Maxwell will headline the main stage of the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 4, appear at the BET Music Awards in Los Angeles on June 28, and perform on the CBS "Late Show with David Letterman" on July 10.

Maxwell's 2009 summer tour dates mark the artist's first extended run of evening's length concerts since breaking a six-year hiatus from live performance with his standing-room-only US tour in October 2008. When all 144,000 tickets for that tour sold-out within minutes of going on sale, the itinerary was extended from 26 to 33 cities. Maxwell's live performances were met with unanimously positive critical responses. The New York Times praised Maxwell's Radio City Music Hall concert as "exquisite" and "powerful" while the Boston Herald lauded his "awesome talent." Maxwell premiered new songs from BLACKsummers'night during his 2008 fall tour, among them "Pretty Wings," "Bad Habits," "Help Somebody," and "Cold."

Maxwell first rocketed to fame when he redefined classic soul music for a new generation with the release of his critically-acclaimed debut album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, in April 1996. Fueled in part by the RIAA gold single, "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)," the Grammy-nominated Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite was certified platinum in March 1997, less than a year after its release, and achieved double platinum status, in recognition of sales of more than 2 million copies in the US alone, in 2002. Maxwell followed up with his MTV Unplugged EP, released in July 1997 and certified gold in September 1999. His second full-length album, Embrya, was released in June 1998 and certified platinum in May 1999. Another Maxwell single, the hit "Fortunate," was certified gold in June 1999. To date, Maxwell has achieved 10 gold and platinum certifications from the RIAA for his albums and singles.

BLACKsummers'night is the sensuous opening installment of the artist's monumental BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT trilogy. (The trilogy's subsequent chapters, blackSUMMERS'night and blacksummers'NIGHT, are slated for release in 2010 and 2011 respectively.) "Pretty Wings," the first single from BLACKsummers'night, became available through digital service providers on Tuesday, April 28 while a video for the song premiered that same day on BET's "106 & Park" and on musze.com, Maxwell's website.BLACKsummers'night reunites Maxwell with long-time collaborator Hod David, who serves as co-producer and co-writer of the album. Striving for an emotional authenticity and real world sound for the album, Maxwell and Hod recorded the entire album live in the studio with an a-list ensemble of elegantly sympathetic musicians.

Maxwell - BLACKsummers'night North American Tour - Summer 2009
June 17- Grand Rapids, MI @ DeVos Performance Hall
June 19 - Hammond, IN @ The Venue/Horseshoe Hammond
June 20 - Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theatre
June 23 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount
June 24 - Vancouver, BC @ The Centre
June 26 - Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl
June 28 - Los Angeles, CA @ BET AWARDS
June 29 - Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge
July 1 - Austin, TX @ Bass
July 2 - San Antonio, TX @ Majestic Theater
July 4 - New Orleans, LA @ Essence Festival (Superdome)
July 12 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
July 13 - Louisville, KY @ Palace Theatre
July 15 - Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
July 16 - Cleveland, OH @ Allen Theatre
July 18 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz
July 19 - Buffalo, NY @ Sheas PAC
July 21 - Albany, NY @ The Palace
July 22 - New Jersey @ NJPAC
July 24 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata
July 25 - Foxwoods, CT @ Foxwoods
July 27 - Norfolk, VA @ Chrysler Hall
July 28 - Savannah, GA @ Johnny Mercer
July 30 - Tampa, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
July 31 - Miami, FL @ The Knight Center

musze.com
myspace.com/maxwell
twitter.com/_maxwell_
columbiarecords.com

SAN FRANCISCO'S KKSF-FM 103.7 DROPS SMOOTH JAZZ FORMAT

I'm getting really tired of reporting that yet another smooth jazz radio station has switched formats. San Francisco's KKSF-FM (103.7) flipped on Monday, May 18 at 3 PM when owner Clear Channel replaced the mellow tunes with a station called "103.7 The Band," which plays rock music from the 60's through the 80's from artists such as Elton John, the Doobie Brothers, the Eagles, Journey, Creedence Clearwater Revivial, Fleetwood Mac, The Band, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, etc. Clear Channel cited economic considerations and the results of "exhaustive market research", for abruptly switching the music format from 20 years of Smooth Jazz to Classic Rock & Roll. The first song played under the Classical Rock & Roll format was "Everybody's Everything" by Santana. It's unknown if www.kksf.com will continue to stream Smooth Jazz music over the internet.

WLFM-FM (87.7 THE L) SWITCHES TO SMOOTH JAZZ

Following WNUA-FM/Chicago's flip to Spanish AC, Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network has relocated to WLFM-FM (87.7 The L) in Chicago. "The L" as they will be referred to plans on reinstituting what it calls "that cutting-edge community-responsive approach to Smooth Jazz in Chicago." Veteran Chicago radio exec Patrick Kelley will oversee "The L," serving as Senior VP/Market Manager. Hopefullly we'll see an edgier smooth jazz format unique to the U.S., and maybe even sounding more like London's Jazz FM (hint hint). We'll wait to see what happens and if it works maybe the folks at Broadcast Architecture get the message that spinning the same old (you know) songs may get people to listen to the format.

According to Patrick Kelley, "We are very excited to build this station around the passion Chicagoans have for contemporary jazz." He added, "One of our main goals is to create a station that has a very strong Chicago identity. We want our listeners to be comfortable riding the 'L' all day and all night long from the first position on the dial. We're launching a radio station that represents the best of what Chicago radio listeners have heard for the past 22 years." Much of the station's programming and personalities will be familiar to WNUA listeners, who have been pointed by Clear Channel to yoursmoothjazz.com for their fix. Network hosts include Dave Koz, Miranda Wilson, Kenny G and Brian Culbertson (a Chicago native).

87.7 FM outlets promote their programming to FM listeners and operate as FM stations, but are licensed to carry video content receivable on analog televisions, in addition to audio programming receivable on FM radios -- although they carry no visual advertising content and promote their programming to radio listeners, rather than to television

AL B. SURE - HONEY I'M HOME

Singer Al B. Sure is about to release his new album entitled "Honey I'm Home," the 13-track CD is his first new studio project in more than 15 years. Ten of the songs were written and co-produced by the artist himself. It’s due out on the Hidden Beach Records label on June 23. The lead single, "I Love It (Papi Aye, Aye, Aye)," was co-produced by his longtime writing and producing partner Kyle West and also features cellist Tina Guo. Rounding out the set are two covers -— Sting's "Fragile" and Michael Jackson's "Lady in My Life" —- and an interlude version of Sure!'s first No. 1 R&B hit (No. 7 pop), 1988's "Nite and Day."

Al B. Sure’s debut album from 1988, In Effect Mode, sold more than two million copies, topping the Billboard R&B chart for seven straight weeks. The album included his memorable single "Nite And Day", which topped the R&B singles chart and reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. He received numerous Grammy and American Music Award (AMA) nominations, and won an AMA for Best New R&B Artist. He also received several Soul Train Awad nominations, and won the award for Best New Artist. He also won several New York Music Awards. He most recently was a DJ on Los Angeles radio station HOT 92.3 (KHHT) and played old school and R&B, on weekdays 10am - 1pm. He was one of 590 Clear Channel employees let go on 4/28/2009.

"Honey I'm Home" Tracklisting:
1. "Nite and Day (Interlude)"
2. "I Love It! (Papi Aye, Aye, Aye)"
3. "I'm Glad"
4. "Top of Your Lungs!"
5. "All I Wanna Do"
6. "Lady in My Life"
7. "Dedicate My All"
8. "Bye the Way, By the Way"
9. "Only You!"
10. "Whatcha Got?"
11. "Fragile"
12. "4 Life!"
13. "Never Stop Loving You"

WAYMAN TISDALE DIES

Jazz bassist, Wayman Tisdale, who became a successful jazz musician after retiring from pro basketball, died today following a two-year battle with cancer at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, hospital, where his wife took him when he had trouble breathing early on Friday. Tisdale was preparing to return to the recording studio next week to work on a project with jazz guitarist Norman Brown Doctors discovered Tisdale's bone cancer after he broke his leg in a fall down a flight of stairs, according to the official biography on his Web site. During his basketball career, Tisdale averaged 15 points and six rebounds a game over a 12-year NBA career, during which he played with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, according to the NBA Web site. His jazz recording career began in 1995 - two years before his 1997 NBA retirement - with a debut CD that rose to No. 4 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart and crossed over onto the R&B charts, the bio said. Tisdale released his debut CD, Power Forward, in 1995. In 2002, he was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. In an ESPN internet chat, Tisdale claims his musical influences include funk bands of the 1970s. His albums include Power Forward (1995), In The Zone (1996), Decisions (1998), Face to Face (2001), Presents 21 Days (2003),Hang Time (2004), Way Up! (2006), and Rebound (2008). Some of his more famous songs include "Ain't No Stopping Us Now," "Can't Hide Love" and "Don't Take Your Love Away" -- were top radio hits. Tisdale is survived by his wife, four children and one granddaughter. He was 44 years old.

BETTYE LAVETTE - A CHANGE IS GONNA COME SESSIONS

After a powerhouse performance at the Presidential Inauguration this past January, Bettye Lavette shines a new light on that past with her latest, "A CHANGE IS GONNA COME SESSIONS." The digital-only EP for Anti- Records, available exclusively through iTunes starting June 16, revisits Bettye’s forgotten post-Atlantic Records years as a nightclub singer, Broadway performer, and touring cast member opposite Cab Calloway in "Bubbling Brown Sugar."

The EP opens with a stirring solo version of Sam Cooke's posthumous Civil Rights anthem "A Change Is Gonna Come," a song which Bettye sang with Jon Bon Jovi in January as part of the "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" concert. Joining Bettye for these aessions are pianist and musical director Al Hill, veteran bassist John Heard who has accompanied such luminaries as Count Basie, Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Art Pepper, drummer Danny Frankel (k.d. lang, Lou Reed), and Tom Hagerman from DeVotchKa on strings.

A mix of standards and soul classics from Bettye’s 1970s stage and nightclub repertoire rounds out the 6-song set, including songs by Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Bill Withers, and Jimmy Reed. A rendition of Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child," a song that Bettye first performed with show-stopping magnificence in "Bubbling Brown Sugar" highlights BETTYE's vocal mastery.

This nod to the past is just the latest step in a nearly five-decade career that has truly come full circle and is now pointed straight ahead: from early promise to a masterwork ("Child of the Seventies") shelved by Atlantic Records; from Broadway to obscurity; from a triumphant return with her 2005 Anti- debut "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise," to a Grammy nomination for "The Scene of the Crime"; and most recently her devastating performances honoring The Who at the Kennedy Center Honors in December 2008, paired with Jon Bon Jovi at the Lincoln Memorial for President Obama's inaugural celebration in January, and alongside Sir Paul McCartney at a Radio City Music Hall benefit for the David Lynch Foundation in April.

The track listing for Bettyes iTunes exclusive "A CHANGE IS GONNA COME SESSIONS" is as follows:
1. "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke)
2. "'Round Midnight" (Thelonious Monk)
3. "God Bless The Child" (Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog)
4. "Lush Life" (Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn)
5. "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers)
6. "Ain't That Lovin' You" (Jimmy Reed)

ANDREA FULTZ - THE GERMAN PROJEKT

A new album by singer Andrea Fultz, entitled, "The German Projekt," features jazz-imbued arrangements of classic songs by Brecht-Weill and Friedrich Hollaender and which is being released on May 12. Joined by violinist Dina Maccabee, accordionist Rob Reich, percussionist Micha Patri, bassist Eugene Warren, and pianist Adam Shulman, whose credits include work with Stefon Harris, Paula West, and Bobby Hutcherson, Fultz began to delve into the songs and arrangements that evolved into "The German Projekt." She and her band, augmented by a three-man horn section, will appear at a CD release event at Yoshi's in Oakland on Monday, May 18.

Although several Weill compositions, such as "Mack the Knife" (aka "Moritat"), "My Ship," and "September Song," have become jazz standards, most of his oeuvre remains in the cabaret or art song realm. "Alabama Song," which opens "The German Projekt" and is sung in English, was previously recorded by the Doors and David Bowie (whom Fultz calls "my absolute hero!"); Marianne Faithfull and Dee Dee Bridgewater have released more extensive Weill collections.

Sonny Rollins, who counts Friedrich Hollaender among his favorite composers, has recorded "Falling in Love Again" ("Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt"), the theme from "The Blue Angel," and frequently performs the song in concert. (Early in his career, Rollins was fond of Hollaender's "This Is the Moment," and was playing it the night that Miles Davis first hired him.)
"It is a big thing for me to represent German culture in America," says Fultz, the daughter of a German mother and American father. "I really think this music is brilliant. Brecht and Weill and Hollaender are so timeless."

In addition to "Alabama Song," the CD contains six other Brecht-Weill compositions: "Bilbao Song," "Denn wie man sich bettet so liegt man," "Barbara Song," "Seeräuber Jenny," "Surabaya Johnny," and "Mäckie Messer" ("Mack the Knife"). Hollaender is represented by two songs from The Blue Angel ("Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt," "Kinder, heut Abend da such ich mir was aus"), "Johnny," and the ballad "Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte." Fultz sings Hanns Eisler and Bertolt Brecht's "Song of a German Mother" with Eric Bentley's English lyrics.

Andrea Fultz is looking to take the "German Projekt" music to clubs and festivals in the U.S. and abroad. "This music is about the context, it's not about singing flawlessly or bebopping," she says. "It's so different for me to sing in German. It's given me more freedom than any other music before."

WDJS 106.5 FM DAYTON DROPS SMOOTH JAZZ FORMAT

Well here is another smooth jazz station flipping formats. As a matter of fact it’s the second one in just the past week. After a five-year run as Dayton’s flagship smooth jazz radio station, Clear Channel’s WDSJ-FM (106.5 FM/) has changed its format from smooth jazz to country music. The change was made official Friday, May 1. WDSJ in the past had enjoyed a large following
in the Dayton market, eastern Indiana and the northern suburbs of Cincinnati since its switch to smooth jazz. WDSJ aired programming from Broadcast Architecture’s “Smooth Jazz Network.”

The new country station will be known as “The Bull.” WDSJ is licensed to Greenville, Ohio, and is based in the Dayton, Ohio metropolitan area. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications. According to information on a Clear Channel website, the smooth jazz format was no longer financially viable, especially in the current economy.

WDSJ salesman and radio personality Clay “The Cooker” Collins stated that the staff learned about the change just two days before the actual switch. “We were shocked,” Collins said.

Clear Channel will now air four hours of smooth jazz including the Smooth Jazz Top 20 on WLQT Lite 99.9FM on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, smooth jazz programming can be streamed on the web at www.yoursmoothjazz.com, and www.iheartradio.com, downloaded onto I-phones, Blackberries and can also be heard for free with any HD Radio Reciever at 99.9-2 HD-FM. Of the seven Clear Channel stations in the Dayton area, WDSJ was the only one to change formats.

THE JUNE CONCERT CALENDAR

Chris Botti @ Symphony Hall, Boston, MA, June 3
Joe Cocker @ The Warfield, San Francisco, CA, June 3
Chris Botti @ Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, June 4
Anthony Hamilton @ Nokia Live Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 4
The Sax Pack @ The Claremont, Berkeley, CA, June 5
Diana Krall @ Palace Theatre, Waterbury, CT, June 5
Richie Havens @ Narrows Center, Falls River, MA, June 5
Joe Cocker @ Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 5
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Amphitheater At The Wharf, Orange Beach, AL. June 5
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre At Encore Park. Atlanta, GA, June 6
Chris Botti @ Conference Center, Monterey, CA, June 6
Richie Havens @ One Longfellow Square Portland, ME, June 6
James Taylor @ 02 Arena, London, UK, June 6
Joe Cocker @ Humphrey’s, San Diego, CA, June 6
Anthony Hamilton @ Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA, June 6
Regina Belle @ Capital Music Festival, Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD, June 6
Joe Cocker @ Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, June 7
Diana Krall @ Flynn Center, Burlington, VT, June 7
The Sax Pack @ Clark County Amphitheater, Las Vegas, NV, June 8
Joe Cocker @ Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO, June 9
Diana Krall @ Stanley Theatre, Utica, NY, June 9
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC, June 9
Joe Cocker @ Sandia Casino Amphitheatre, Alburquerque, NM, June 10
Diana Krall @ ArtPark, Lewiston, NY, June 10
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Merriweather Post Pavillion, Washington, DC, June 10
Joe Cocker @ Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort, Mescalero, NM, June 11
Anthony Hamilton @ Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH, June 11
Bobby Caldwell @ The Rrazz Room at The Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, June 11-14
The Sax Pack @ Jazz in the Wood, Overland Park, KS, June 12
Anthony Hamilton @ Opera House, Detroit, MI, June 12
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Borgata Event Center, Atlantic City, NJ, June 12-13
Joe Cocker @ Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK, June 13
Diana Krall @ Bank of American Pavilion, Boston, MA, June 13
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Jazz In The Woods – Corporate Woods, Overland Park, KS, June 13
Regina Belle @ Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, June 13
Anthony Hamilton @ Arie Crown Theatre, Chicago, IL, June 13
Joe Cocker @ Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX, June 14
Kenny G @ Playboy Jazz Festival, Hollywood, CA, June 14
Diana Krall @ Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI, June 14
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Bethel Performing Arts Center, Bethel, NY, June 14
Joe Cocker @ Arena Theatre, Houston, TX, June 15
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Agganis Arena, Boston, MA, June 16
Anthony Hamilton @ New Jersey Performing Arts, Newark, NJ, June 16
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, June 17
Tower Of Power @ Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI, June 18
Anthony Hamilton @ WaMU Theatre At Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, June 18
Tower Of Power @ Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY, June 19
Peter White @ KIFM Jazz At The Beach, Oceanside, CA, June 19
Mindi Abair @ Hyatt Newporter, Newport Beach, CA, June 19
Diana Krall @ Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, PA, June 19
Richie Havens @ Stephens Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY, June 19
Anthony Hamilton @ DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC, June 19
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ MGM Grand Theater At Foxwoods, Ledyard, CT, June 19
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, NY, June 20
Tower Of Power @ West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA, June 20
Kenny G @ Mable House Barnes Amphitheater, Mableton, Georgia, June 20
Diana Krall @ Borgata Spa & Resort, Atlantic City, NJ, June 20
Simply Red @ Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, UK, June 21
Diana Krall @ Telos Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA, June 21
Anthony Hamilton @ Pier Six Pavilion, Baltimore, MD, June 21
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Value City Arena At Jerome Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH, June 21
Tower Of Power @ Foxwoods MGM Grand Theater, Mashantucket, CT, June 21
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN, June 23
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit, MI, June 24
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Manchester Men Arena, UK, June 24
Kenny G @ Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA, June 25
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Birmingham NIA Arena, UK, June 25
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Allstate Arena, Chicago, Il, June 25
Anthony Hamilton @ Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, June 25
Richie Havens @ Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, WI, June 26
George Benson, Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds. Ledisi, Jazz Attack feat. Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 26
Anthony Hamilton @ Bell Auditorium, Augusta, GA, June 26
Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson @ Fraze Pavillion for the Performing Arts, Kettering, OH, June 26
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Cardiff CIA, UK, June 27
The O’Jays, Michael McDonald @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 27
Richie Havens @ Calumet Theatre, Calumet, MI, June 27
Diana Krall @ Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, June 27
Joe Cocker @ Ameristar Casino, Kansas City, MO, June 27
Regina Belle @ St. Kitts Music Festival, Warner Park Stadium, St. Kitts, WI, June 27
Peter White, Mindi Abair @ Rodney Strong Winery, Healdsburg, CA, June 27
Simply Red @ Heroes’ Square, Budapest, Hungary, June 27
Anthony Hamilton @ BJCC Concert Hall, Birmingham, AL, June 27
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Rodney Strong Winery, Healdsburg, CA, June 27
Sax For Stax feat. Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum @ South Coast Winery, Temecula, CA, June 27
Patti LaBelle, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez, Dred Scott Trio, Wallace Roney Quintet, John Ellis Quintet @ Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 27
George Benson, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Bonerama, Aaron Parks, Julian Lage @ Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 28
Anthony Hamilton @ Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte, NC, June 28
Diana Krall @ Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI, June 28
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO, June 28
Patti LaBelle, Robin Thicke, Chuck Brown, Keiko Matsui @ Hampton Jazz Fest, Hampton, VA, June 28
George Benson @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 28
B. B. King, John Mayall @ Wembley Arena, London, UK, June 28
Joe Cocker @ Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, June 28
Joe Cocker @ Fraze Pavilion, Kettering, OH, June 30
Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire @ Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI, June 30

105.5 KJZN SMOOTH JAZZ SAYS GOODBYE!

Yet another smooth jazz radio station is about to bite the dust. I've just about lost count of how many smooth jazz radio stations we have lost in the last year or so. Could it be at least a dozen? Yes, just maybe. Smooth jazz 105.5 KJZN in Fresno, California has begun stunting with Christmas music as they prepare to flip formats on Friday, May 1. KJZN (FM 105.5) switched from a smooth jazz format to all talk at noon Friday, May 1, 2009. KJZN has had a smooth jazz format since May 2006 when it changed from KUUS to KJZN. Before that, the local radio station played country music. The station is broadcasting a lineup of talks show hosts from the Talk Radio Network, a syndicated radio service that includes such on-air talents as Mancow, Michael Savage, Rusty Humphries, Curtis Sliwa and Laura Ingraham.

JULIET KELLY - LICORICE KISS

With two critically acclaimed albums of original material under her belt - Aphrodite's Child (2003) and Delicious Chemistry (2005) - Juliet now presents her third and most ambitious album, Licorice Kiss (May 2009). Referencing influences as diverse as Soul II Soul, the Eurythmics and Soft Cell, she offers up her own take on some 80's classics alongside her own creations that range from toe-tapping grooves to latin-inflected ballads. Juliet says, "Jazz often gets labelled unfairly as an elitist type of music. Many people believe they don't like jazz because they don't realise just how varied it is. I've always strived to create jazz-influenced music that can be appreciated by a wider group than your usual jazz audience and it's paid off by fans telling me that they thought they didn't like jazz until they heard my music. It's got lots of different influences including pop, soul and reggae as well as jazz which is why I decided to come up with a new name for it. With my love for clothes, make up and shopping, Glam Jazz seemed to fit!" From the lilting groove of the lyrically sensual opener, Licorice Kiss, to the rock guitar solo on final track, Destiny, Licorice Kiss is an album that spans a wide range of moods and influences. These include the reggae-tinged rhythm of I'm Still Here, a latin-influenced version of the Soul II Soul classic, Back To Life and Juliet's drum-and-bass flavoured call to end the obsession with celebrity entitled Ordinary Lives. Juliet invites us to share more tender moments with Mutual Attraction (a tale of forbidden love with a subtle tango-esque groove) and her take on the Eurythmics seminal track, Here Comes the Rain Again, allows us to experience the rich, velvet tones of her beautifully haunting vocals. Becoming a jazz singer seemed an unlikely prospect for Juliet who grew up in London in a strict, religious household. In fact, all music apart from the religious variety was completely banned! Whilst studying for a degree in economics, Juliet discovered her natural talent for singing at a local music workshop. She had never sung in public before but it wasn't long before she was completely hooked. Within a year she had auditioned for and been accepted on to the postgraduate jazz course at London's prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since then, Juliet has worked with many outstanding musicians and performed in venues around the UK as well as in Ireland, Italy, Germany, Israel and Australia. Juliet's love for glamour was evident even at the tender age of 7 when she gave her new Barbie doll an extreme makeover that included blue felt-tip eye-shadow and a drastic haircut. Now she's a fully-fledged shopaholic with a passion - or should that be weakness? - for shoes, lipgloss and elbow-length gloves.

Licorice Kiss Tracklist:
1. Licorice Kiss
2. Tainted Love
3. I'm Still Here
4. Back To Life
5. Ordinary Lives
6. Serendipity
7. Mutual Attraction
8. Never Really Knew You
9. Here Comes The Rain Again
10. Destiny

Juliet Kelly - Vocals, Carl Orr (Guitar), Oli Hayhurst (Bass), Pat Illingworth (Drums) & George Moore (Keyboards)

MAXWELL - BLACK SUMMERS NIGHT

Maxwell is scheduled to headline the main stage of the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 4, 2009, and even better news is that he will be taking his new music on the road with a major North American tour in support of BLACKsummers'night.

Cities along Maxwell's 2009 tour route will include Milwaukee (Sat-June 20), Seattle (Tue-June 23), Vancouver (Wed-June 24), Las Vegas (Fri-June 26), Los Angeles-BET (Sun-June 28), Phoenix (Mon-June 29), Austin (Wed-July 1), San Antonio (Thu-July 3), New Orleans (Sat-July 4), Nashville (Sun-July 12), Louisville (Mon-July 13), Columbus (Wed-July 15), Cleveland (Thu-July 16), Pittsburgh (Sat-July 18), Buffalo (Sun-July 19), Albany (Tue-July 21), Atlantic City (Fri-July 24), Foxwoods (Sat-July 25), Norfolk (Mon-July 27), Savannah (Tue-July 28), Tampa (Thu-July 30), Miami (Sat-August 1), and Orlando (Sun-August 2).

Following an extraordinary performance of Al Green's "Simply Beautiful," his first television appearance in seven years, at the 2008 BET Awards in June 2008, Maxwell launched his 2008 BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT US tour, his first live shows in six years, that October. When all 144,000 tickets for the tour sold-out within minutes of going on sale, the tour was extended from 26 to 33 cities. Positive critical response to Maxwell's' tour was unanimous. Maxwell premiered new songs from BLACKsummers'night during his 2008 fall tour, among them "Pretty Wings," "Bad Habits," "Never Do Without You," "Help Somebody," and "Cold." Maxwell's debut concert in South African sold-out some 10,000 seats. Following his breathtaking performance at the Macufe Music Festival in South Africa on October 4, 2008, Maxwell was honored with South African citizenship. BET's "Access Granted" aired exclusive footage from the concert as well as Maxwell's first televised interview in seven years, on October 17, 2008.

Maxwell began redefining classic soul music for a new generation with the release of his critically-acclaimed debut album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, in April 1996. Fueled in part by the RIAA gold single, "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)," the Grammy-nominated Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite was certified platinum in March 1997, less than a year after its release, and achieved double platinum status, in recognition of sales of more than 2 million copies in the US alone, in 2002. Maxwell followed up with his MTV Unplugged EP, released in July 1997 and certified gold in September 1999. His second full-length album, Embrya, was released in June 1998 and certified platinum in May 1999. Another Maxwell single, the hit "Fortunate," was certified gold in June 1999. To date, Maxwell has achieved 10 gold and platinum certifications from the RIAA for his albums and singles.

THE CANADIAN SMOOTH JAZZ AWARDS

The top Canadian and international jazz artists were honored recently as the fifth annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards played to a packed house with saxophonist Warren Hill, whose album La Dolce Vita (the sweet life) swept the 2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. Aside from winning album of the year, Hill took home composition honors for the album's title tune, as well as the wind instrumentalist trophy (an award he previously won in 2006 and 2007). Jesse Cook, who was 2008's guitarist of the year, won for the guitarist/bass guitarist category, with Fred Engler for top keyboardist, and Steve Heathcote for best drummer.

Alexander Zonjic, a jazz and classical flutist and radio host, emceed the awards show. Other awards went to Brian Culbertson (International Instrumentalist of the Year), Seal (International Vocalist), Robin Thicke (Male Vocalist), Fourplay (International Group), Daniela Nardi (Female Vocalist), Jesse Cook (Guitarist/Bass Guitarist), Fred Engler (Keyboardist/Pianist), Steve Heathcote (Drummer/Percussionist) and Stu Berketo of Wave 94.7FM Toronto/Hamilton.

Performers included Nick Colionne, Brian Culbertson, DeNate with Darren Rahn, Kellylee Evans, Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, Warren Hill, Michael Lington, Ray Parker Jr., Chris Smith with Phil Poppa, and Alexander Zonjic.

Here is the full list of the 2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Award winners:

- Male Vocalist of the Year - Robin Thicke
- Best Original Composition "La Dolce Vita" - Warren Hill, Nathan East, Sam Purkin
- Keyboardist/Pianist of the Year - Fred Engler
- Wind Instrumentalist of the Year - Warren Hill
- Female Vocalist of the Year - Daniela Nardi
- Guitarist/Bass Guitarist of the Year - Jesse Cook
- International Group of the Year - Fourplay
- Broadcaster of the Year Stu Berketo - Wave 94.7 - Toronto/Hamilton
- International Instrumentalist of the Year - Brian Culbertson
- International Vocalist of the Year - Seal
- Album of the Year La Dolce Vita - Warren Hill (E1Music Koch)
- Drummer/Percussionist of the Year - Steve Heathcote
- George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award - Earl Klugh

DIANA KRALL - QUIET NIGHTS TOUR DATES

Diana Krall has hit the concert trail as she promotes her most recent Verve release ‘Quiet Nights”. Here are her tour dates (through August 28).

April 14-15 @t Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary AB
April 18 @ Conexus Arts Centre, Regina SK
April 19 @ TCU Place, Saskatoon SK
April 22 @ MTS Centre, Winnipeg MB
April 25 @ RBC Theatre, London ON
April 26 @ Centre in the Square, Kitchener ON
April 28 @ Hamilton Place Theatre, Hamilton ON
April 30 - May 1 @ Massey Hall, Toronto ON
May 2-3 @ National Arts Center, Ottawa ON
May 5 @ K-Rock Centre, Kingston ON
May 6-7 @ Place des Arts, Montreal QC
May 9 @ Moncton Coliseum, Moncton NB
May 10 @ Halifax Metro Centre, Halifax NS
May 13 @ Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver BC
June 5 @ Palace Theater, Waterbury CT
June 7 @ Flynn Center, Burlington VT
June 9 @ Stanley Theater, Utica NY
June 10 ArtPark, Lewiston NY
June 13 @ Bank of America Pavilion, Boston MA
June 14 @ Providence PAC, Providence RI
June 19 @ Mann Music Center, Philadelphia PA
June 20 @ Borgata Spa & Resort, Atlantic City NJ
June 21 @ nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth VA
June 27 @ Ravinia, Highland Park IL
June 28 @ Riverside Theater, Milwaukee WI
July 2 @ Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis MA
July 3 @ Meadowbrook Pavilion, Gilford NH
July 8 @ Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh PA
July 11 @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta GA
August 8 @ Pearl Concert Theatre, Las Vegas NV
August 12 @ Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco CA
August 15 @ Peppermill Reno Tuscany Ballroom, Reno NV
August 23 @ Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara CA
August 28 @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland OR

VAN MORRISON - ASTRAL WEEKS: LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

Astral Weeks: Live at the Hollywood Bowl was recorded live over two nights at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in November 2008 and will be available for purchase exclusively on Amazon.com beginning May 19 for an SRP of $29.99.

Van Morrison first released Astral Weeks when he was only 22. The recording immediately became a critically-acclaimed classic and is still considered one of the greatest albums of the rock era. The fall 2008 shows captured for the DVD marked the first time Mr. Morrison ever performed Astral Weeks in one complete concert set. Joining him was an orchestral string section and a band composed of world-class musicians, some of whom played with Van on the original Astral Weeks sessions 40 years ago. During the first half, the artist performed a number of the timeless classics he is famous for while the second half was an awe-inspiring performance of the Astral Weeks album. Among the songs included on the concert DVD are: "Astral Weeks/I Believe I've Transcended," "Beside You," "Slim Slow Slider/I Start Breaking Down," "Sweet Thing," "The Way Young Lovers Do," "Cyprus Avenue/You Came Walking Down," "Ballerina," and "Madame George."

The Astral Weeks DVD also features special bonus songs, including a live version of "Gloria," and unprecedented behind-the-scenes footage as well as a candid conversation with the artist himself talking about the meaning behind Astral Weeks, his decision to revisit the pivotal project, and his impressions of the music business. To rework Astral Weeks, Mr. Morrison added his signature stretching of songs in a manner unlike any before by creating new sections of songs live on stage. As producer of the record, Mr. Morrison insisted there be no post-production engineering. It is straight up raw from the Hollywood Bowl stage - pure resonant sound.

As Mr. Morrison said, "I'm not just a singer. I am a soul singer." His Astral Weeks: Live at the Hollywood Bowl proves exactly that, over and over again.

THE MAY 2009 CONCERT CALENDAR

Chick Corea, John McLaughlin @ Flynn Theatre, Burlington, VT, May 1
Kenny G @ National Palace of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria, May 1
Diana Krall @ Massey Hall, Toronto, ON, May 1
Charlie Hunter @ SPACE, Evanston, IL, May 1
Bonnie Raitt @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA, May 1
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Grand Ballroom Manhattan Center, New York, NY, May 1
Joe Cocker @ Casino Rama, Orillia N, May 1-2
Charles Aznavour @ City Center, New York, NY, May 1-2
Chuck Loeb, Dave Weckl, Brian Bromberg @ Catalina’s Jazz Club, Hollywood, CA, May 1-3
Richie Havens @ IMAC, Huntington, NY, May 2
Bobby Caldwell @ Fairfield Center For Creative Arts, Fairfield, CA, May 2
Chris Bott @ Ohio Theatre, Columbus, OH, May 2
Mindi Abair, Jeff Golub, Jeff Lorber, Jessy J @ Rancho Las Palmas Golf Course, Rancho Mirage, CA, May 2
Kenny G @ Sutluce Convention Center, Istanbul, Turkey, May 2
UB40 @ SunFest, West Palm Beach, FL, May 2
Charlie Hunter @ The Picador, Iowa City, IA, May 2
Van Morrison @ The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, May 2-3
Diana Krall @ National Arts Center, Ottawa, ON, May 2-3
Jane Monheit @ Blue Note, Tokyo, Japan, May 2-5
Simply Red @ Torwar, Warsaw, Poland, May 3
Bonnie Raitt @ Memphis In May, Memphis, TN, May 3
Chris Botti @ Ventura Music Festival, Ventura, CA, May 3
Spyro Gyra @ SunFest, West Palm Beach, FL, May 3
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Ramshead Live, Baltimore, MD, May 3
Bobby Caldwell @ Vacaville Performing Arts Theater, Vacaville, CA, May 3
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, May 4
Chuck Loeb, Dave Weckl, Brian Bromberg @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, May 4
Bonnie Raitt @ Peoroa Civic Center, Peoria, IL, May 4
Joe Cocker @ University at Buffalo Center, Buffalo, NY, May 5
Simply Red @ Leipzig Arena, Leipzig, Germany, May 5
Diana Krall @ K-Rock Centre, Kingston, ON, May 5
Bonnie Raitt @ University of Missouri, Columbus, MO, May 5
Kenny G @ RAI Congress Hall, Amsterdam, Holland, May 5
Brandford Marsalis @ Jazz Standard, New York, NY, May 5-10
Simply Red @ Arena Nurnberger Versicherungen, Nurnberg, Germany, May 6
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Amos Southend, Charlotte, NC, May 6
Kenny G @ Rhein-Main-Theater, Neidernhausen, Germany, May 6
Diana Krall @ Place des Arts, Montreal, QC, May 6-7
Chuck Loeb, Dave Weckl, Brian Bromberg @ Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA, May 6-7
Kenny G @ Sala Kongresowa, Warsaw, Poland, May 7
Simply Red @ Mannheim SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany, May 7
Charlie Hunter @ Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI, May 7
Chris Botti @ Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY, May 7
Joe Cocker @ Caesar’s Windsor The Colosseum, Windsor, ON, May 7
Van Morrison @ Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, May 7-9
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Willet Hall, Portsmouth, VA, May 8
Freda Payne @ St. Regis Hotel, Detroit, MI, May 8
Joe Cocker @ Island Casino, Harris, MI, May 8-9
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA, May 9
Simply Red @ Lanxess Arena, Cologne, Germany, May 9
Diana Krall @ Moncton Coliseum, Moncton, NB, May 9
Bonnie Raitt @ Paragon Casino, Marksville, LA, May 9
Teena Marie, Maze feat. Frankie Beverly @ Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ, May 9
Peter White, Mindi Abair @ Osthoff Resort, Elkhart, WI, May 9
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 9
Chris Botti @ Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL, May 10
Diana Krall @ Halifax Metro Centre, Halifax, NS, May 10
Bonnie Raitt @ Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX, May 10
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham, NC, May 10
Teena Marie, The Whispers @ The Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, May 10
Simply Red @ Hamburg Color Line Arena, Hamburg, Germany, May 11
Joe Cocker @ Potawatomi Casino, Milwaukee, WI, May 11-12
Simply Red @ Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany, May 12
Bonnie Raitt @ Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, TX, May 12
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI, May 12
Simply Red @ Frankfurt Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany, May 13
Diana Krall @ Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, BC, May 13
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Paul, MN, May 13
Chris Botti @ Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE, May 13
Joe Cocker @ US Cellular Coliseum Theatre, Bloomington, IL, May 13
Chris Botti @ Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ, May 14
Bonnie Raitt @ Verizon Wireless Theatre, Houston, TX, May 14
Simply Red @ Halenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland, May 15
Chris Botti @ Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ, May 15
Joe Cocker @ Jackpot Junction Casino, Morton, MN, May 15
Richie Havens @ Metropolitan Museum, New York, NY, May 15
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto, ON, May 15
Chris Botti @ Stanley Theatre, Utica, NY, May 16
Richie Havens @ Algonquin Arts, Manasquan, NJ, May 16
Joe Cocker @ Diamond Jo Casino, Dubuque, IA, May 16
Bonnie Raitt @ Million Dollar Elm Casino, Tulsa, OK, May 16
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ House of Blues, Cleveland, OH, May 16
Simply Red @ Teatro Degli Arcimboldi, Milan, Italy, May 16-17
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ House of Blues, Chicago, IL, May 17
Mindi Abair, Peter White @ Hyatt Newport Jazz Festival, Newport Beach, CA, May 17
Joe Cocker @ Harrah’s, Council Bluff’s, IA, May 17
Simply Red @ Palasport, Conegliano Veneto, Italy, May 19
Joe Cocker @ Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, NV, May 20
Simply Red @ Stadhalle Vienna, Vienna, Austria, May 21
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ McFarlin Auditorium, Dallas, TX, May 21
Chris Botti @ MSU Riley Center, Meridian, MS, May 21
Joe Cocker @ Chumash Casino, San Ynez, CA, May 21
Simply Red @ Stadhalle Graz, Graz, Austria, May 22
Joe Cocker @ Field of Dreams Park, Sonoma, CA, May 22
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Arena Theatre, Houston, TX, May 22
Sax For Stax feat. Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum @ Boulder Station Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, May 22
Chris Botti @ Symphony Hall, Atlanta, GA, May 22-23
Freda Payne @ Catalina’s, Los Angeles, CA, May 22-24
Sax For Stax feat. Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum @ KIFM Jazz Fest, San Diego, CA, May 23
Sax For Stax feat. Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum @One World Theatre, Austin, TX, May 24
Simply Red @ O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic, May 24
India.Arie, Laura Isibor @ Orpheum Theatre, Memphi, TN, May 24
Mindi Abair @ Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Jacksonville, FL, May 24
Medeski, Martin & Wood @ Summer Camp, Chillicothe, IL, May 24
Simply Red @ 02 World Arena, Berlin, Germany, May 25
Sting, Gerald Alston, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Mary Wilson, Earl Klugh, Lisa Fischer, Narada Michael Walden @ Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA, May 25
Simply Red @ Olympia, Paris, France, May 27-28
Anthony Hamilton @ Reliant Arena, Houston, TX, May 28
Joe Cocker @ Spirit Mountain Casino, Grand Ronde, OR, May 28
Richie Havens @ Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN, May 28
Joe Cocker @ Red Robinson Theatre, Coquitlam, BC, May 29
Anthony Hamilton @ Nokia Live Grand Prairie, Dallas, TX, May 29
Richie Havens @ Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX, May 29
Anthony Hamilton @ DeSoto Theatre, Southaven, MS, May 30
Chris Botti @ Cerritos Center for the Arts, Cerritos, CA, May 30
Joe Cocker @ River Rock Casino Resort, Richmond, BC, May 30
Simply Red @ Olympiahaile, Munich, Germany, May 30
Joe Cocker @ Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, WA, May 31
Anthony Hamilton @ Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO, May 31
Richie Havens @ Moutain Jam Festival, Hunter Mountain, NY, May 31

ANTHONY HAMILTON - PLAYIN' IT COOL TOUR

Anthony Hamilton is confirmed to headline the extended "Playin' It Cool" tour which kicks off in Houston, Texas on May 28th through a series of dates and winding up on June 28 in Charlotte, NC. The tour is a continuation of last year's successful "Playin' It Cool" dates which showcased the artist in intimate venues.

The tour comes as Hamilton promotes his newest single, the title track, "The Point Of It All" and his previous hit, "Cool" featuring David Banner which remains a Top 10 staple on Urban Adult Contemporary radio airplay charts. Both songs are from his current album, The Point Of It All, which was released in December, 2008 and met with critical acclaim. The New Yorker declared, "Hamilton makes like a modern-day Curtis Mayfield...;" The Boston Globe described the album as "flawless and expressive" and went on to proclaim, "Hamilton has proven himself to be one of the logical heirs to Marvin Gaye;" USA Today proclaimed him as "one of the genre's rare singers."

Widely known for his electric, soul-inspiring live performances Hamilton has gained a steady and loyal fan base throughout his career beginning with his 2003 platinum-certified debut album Comin' From Where I'm From, which spawned the chart-topping song, "Charlene." In 2005, the Charlotte, North Carolina native followed up with his gold-certified sophomore album Ain't Nobody Worryin' which featured the #1 hit, "Can't Let Go."

In addition to the accolades the seven-time Grammy nominee has earned for his albums and live shows, Hamilton won his first Grammy Award this year for his collaboration on Al Green's, "You Got The Love I Need".

Anthony Hamilton Playin’ It Cool Tour Dates:
May 28 - Houston, TX @ Reliant Arena
May 29 – Dallas, TX @ Nokia Live Grand Prairie
May 30 - Southaven, MS @ DeSoto Center
May 31 - St Louis, MO @ Fox Theatre
June 4 - Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Live Theatre
June 6 - Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
June 11 - Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
June 12 - Detroit, MI @ Opera House
June 13 - Chicago, IL @ Arie Crown Theatre
June 16 - Newark, NJ @ New Jersey Performing Arts
June 18 - New York, NY @ WaMu Theatre at Madison Square
June 19 – Washington, DC @ DAR Constitution Hall
June 21 - Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Pavilion
June 25 - Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
June 26 - Augusta, GA @ Bell Auditorium
June 27 - Birmingham, AL @ BJCC Concert Hall
June 28 - Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium