JazzHQ

Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten (S.M.V.) 'Thunder'

2008-07-19T13:21:00.002-04:00

In an era where sports fantasy leagues are all the rage comes a real-life historic teaming that serious music fans and bass players have long dreamed of. SMV unites music titans Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten. This unique alliance of three generations of bass gods has been on chat room and fan gathering wish lists for over 15 years, kept alive by periodic statements from all three that schedules permitting they would give it a go. Finally, in October 2007, with Clarke set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bass Player magazine, at its annual Bass Player Live! event in New York City, Miller and Wooten made the time to attend and induct their mentor. The ensuing VSOP jam not only blew the minds of the 900 in attendance, it cemented for the trio their inherent musical chemistry and thus the viability of pursuing the project in earnest. As a result, in January 2008, SMV entered the studio to record a CD and put together a summer/fall tour.

The three recall their first performance and the sessions for their disc. Says Clarke, “The second we started ‘School Days’ at the Bass Player event I knew it was historical for us and the audience. Marcus and Victor are so intuitive, and we each found our range. Marcus was slamming down the groove and Victor started playing these harmonics chords, and I was like, man, this is so bad-ass! When you have that amount of knowledge, respect and love it always creates clarity in the music.” Wooten admits, “To work with Stanley and Marcus has been a dream come true for me. We’ve each brought in tunes for the CD that allow plenty of space and interpretation from the other guys. It’s been pretty funny, with Marcus and I imitating each other and doing our Stanley licks. Best of all, the project is very musical; the bass heroics are there, but people are going to be surprised at how musical it is.” Adds Miller, “That was important; we didn’t want to just have everyone bangin’ away at the bass. In fact, we’ve had to encourage each other to play with more technique at times. The most interesting aspect has been hearing the distinct sound of our basses—which people all know from our albums—side by side. For me, it’s like listening to the history and evolution of the instrument; it’s really amazing.” Clarke sums up, “Considering we’re three guys playing the same instrument, it’s going to be a real revelation for folks. You’ll hear the electric bass in particular with some whole other possibilities. It’s a great new day for the bass.”

Find more Stanley Clarke CDs at amazon.com
Find more Marcus Miller CDs at amazon.com
Find more Victor Wooten CDs at amazon.com
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Upcoming Jazz Releases | 7/22/08

2008-07-18T08:09:00.001-04:00

Al Viola - Contemporaries Of The Jazz Guitar (Phantom Sound & Vision )
Al Viola & Johnny Smith - Contemporaries Of The Jazz Guitar (Pid )
Alban Darche - Trickster (Pid )
Ali / Grimes - Going To The Ritual (Porter )
Avenel / Domancich / Goubert - Dag (Pid )
Barry Harris Trio - Complete Live In Tokyo 1976 (Pid )
BBC Jazz Awards 2008 - BBC Jazz Awards 2008 (Pid )
Beegie Adair - Cheek To Cheek (Green Hill Productions )
Better Rocker - Better Rocker (Pid )
Bing Crosby - Centennial Anthology: Deluxe Edition (Cleopatra )
Blenzig / G.Renzi / P.Villani - Strange Energies (Pid )
Byard Lancaster - Personal Testimony (Then & Now) (Porter )
Byard Lancaster - Personal Testimony (Then And Now) (Porter Records/City Hall )
Byard Lancaster - Personal Testimony (Porter )
Byard Lancaster - Personal Testimony: Then And Now (Porter )
Chris Barber - Nixa Jazz Today Albums (Castle Music Ltd. )
Clark Septep Terry - What Makes Sammy Swing (Pid )
Cool Bossa De Jazz - Cool Bossa De Jazz (Pid )
Curtis Haywood - Curtis Haywood (Megawave )
David Berger - I Had The Craziest Dream: Music Of Harry Warren (Such Sweet Thunder )
David Berger - I Had the Craziest Dream: the Music of Harry Warren (Such Sweet Thunder )
David Berger Octet - I Had The Craziest Dream:Music Of Har (Such Sweet Thunder )
Dizzy Gillespie - Groovin High (Pid )
Doug Carn - Al Rahman (Pid )
Ebrahim Kali Shihab - Solo Piano-Chris Schil (Pid )
Eddie Conson - 1954-1955 (Pid )
Edgar Sampson & Billy May - Savoy Stomp (Montpellier )
Embryo - Freedom In Music (Pid )
Fernando Tarres - Camorreando (MDR Argentina )
Fernando Tarres - Milongueando Solo (MDR Argentina )
Fernando Tarres - Perplexity (MDR Argentina )
Fernando Tarres - Cruces (MDR Argentina )
Flavio Oreglio & I Luf - Giu'-Non E' Stato Facile (Pid )
Florian Ross - Eight Ball & White Horse (Intuition )
Frank Catalano - Bang (Savoy Jazz )
Gary Mcfarland - Sketch For Summer (Phantom Sound & Vision )
Gary Mcfarland & Gabor Szabo - Sketch For Summer (Pid )
Geof Bradfield - Urban Nomad (Origin )
Georg Schroeter & M - Live In Sweden (Pid )
Giovanni Guidi - House Behind This One (Zyx )
Glenn White - Sacred Machines
Glenn White - Sacred Machines (OA2 Records (OA2 22044))
Hard Hitting - Hard Hitting (Pid )
Hawaiian Love - Hawaiian Love (Pid )
Henry Franklin - Oh What A Beautiful Morning (Skipper Productions )
Henry Franklin - O What A Beautiful Morning (Skipper Productions )
Henry Franklin - O, What Beautiful Morning! (Skipper Productions )
Henry Grimes - Going To The Ritual (Porter Records/City Hall )
Herbie Mann - Stone Flute (Wounded Bird )
Herbie Mann - London Underground (Wounded Bird )
Hove Erik - Soundclash (Pid )
Isham Jones - 1929-34 (Jazz Oracle )
Isham Jones - 1929-1934 (Jazz Oracle/City Hall )
Jacintha - Best Of Jacintha (Groove Note ) - SACD
Jay T. Vonada - Jammin'
Jay Wilbur & His Orchestra - Do You Remember (Sounds Of Yesteryear )
Jay Wilbur & His Orchestra - Do You Remember? (Sounds Of Yesteryear )
Jean-Paul Bourelly - Boom Bop (Pid )
Jeff Hooper - A Swing Affair (Montpellier )
Jim Hall Trio - These Rooms (Pid )
Joe Johnson - Afterparty (Yasny Labels Group )
Joe Johnson - The Afterparty (Yasny Labels Group )
Joe Magnarelli - Persistence (Reservoir -- City Hall -- )
Johnny Griffin - Smokin' Sax (Dreyfus )
Jonny Teupen - Love & Harp A La Latin (Pid )
Justin Time 25th Anniv. Collection - Justin Time 25th Anniv. Collection (Pid )
Keith Oxman - Caught Between The Lion & The Twins (Capri )
Kenny Clarke - Telefunken Blues (Pid )
Landon Knoblock - Heartbeat, The Breath (Zyx )
Lockboxx - Drop Shop (Character )
Louis Armstrong - The Centennial Anthology: Deluxe Edition (Cleopatra -- Navarre -- )
Louis Armstrong - Centennial Anthology: Deluxe Edition (Cleopatra )
Lucky Millinder & His Orchestr - 1951-1960 (Pid )
Manfred Mann - Plains Music (Pid )
Mark Porter - This Is The Moment (Montpellier )
Martin Medeski & Wood - Zaebos: The Book of Angels Vol. 11 (Tzadik )
Mary Gauthier - Genesis (The Early Years) (Pid )
Mary Mayo - Dancing In The Dark (Sounds Of Yesteryear )
Matthieu Donarier - Kindergarten (Pid )
Maurizio Caldura - Static Energy (Pid )
Maurizio Vercon - For You (Pid )
Mel Torme - Capitol Singles Collection (Drg )
Mel Torme - The Capitol Singles Collection (Drg )
Mike Westbrook - Chanson Irresponsable (Pid )
Mufuti Twins - Crooning Over Sperrmuell Tapes (All Score Media )
No.1 Jazz Album 2008 - No.1 Jazz Album 2008 (Pid )
Odean Pope - Pope,Odean Vol. 1-What Went Before (Porter )
Odean Pope - What Went Before Volume 1 (Porter Records/City Hall )
Odean Pope - What Went Before 1 (Porter )
Odean Pope - What Went Before Vol. 1 (Porter )
Oscar Benton - All I Ever Need Is You (Pid )
Paul 'Shilts' Weimar - Jigsaw Life (Groove Records Inc )
Paul All Stars Quinichette - Basie Reunion+For Basie (Pid )
Paul Whiteman - King Of Jazz 1920-1927 (Timeless Ent )
Pepi Taveira - Reunion (Pid )
Peter Brotzmann / Wilkinson Quartet - One Night In Burmantofts (Bo Weavil Recordings )
Polar Bear - Polar Bear (Pid )
Ragga Twins - Ragga Twins Step Out Birth Of Sound (Soul Jazz )
Rashied Ali / Henry Grimes - Going To The Ritual (Porter )
Red Nichols - 1930-1931 (Pid )
Scenic - Find Yourself Here (Victory )
Scott Hamilton - Groove Yard (Recall Records Uk )
Simply Sax - Simply Sax (Simply )
Stan Keaton & His Orchestra - 1952-1953 (Pid )
Steven Kroon - El Mas Alla (Beyond) (Kroonatune Records/City Hall D )
Streetwize - Streetwize Does Mary J. Blige (Shanachie )
Various Artists - World Of Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar (Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop )
Various Artists - Jazz Lounge Vol 13:Journey To Baku Ja (Zyx )
Various Artists - Simply Sax (Union Square Music )
Very Best Of Smooth Jazz - Very Best Of Smooth Jazz (Universal Int'L )
Wardell Gray - 1950-1955 (Pid )
Wilma Reading - Now You See Me (Pid )
World Of Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar - World Of Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar (Stephan Grossmans Guitar Works )
Zierra Azul - Palabras Hermosas (Machete Music )

Gerry Mulligan - Olympia Oct 6th, 1962 (Laserlight )
Louis Armstrong - Centennial Anthology (Master Classics)
Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool (Virgin)

Our thanks to:New release information provided by allaboutjazz.com
The Upcoming Release Center at allaboutjazz.com is the most comprehensive new release listing for jazz music on the internet.
The information is updated biweekly by John Kelman

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

David Sanborn | "Here And Gone"

2008-07-18T08:02:00.002-04:00

On "Here and Gone," David Sanborn places his saxophone squarely within the context of the jazz-inflected pop music history that he himself has long been a part of. And while it was conceived as a tribute to his heroes, it inevitably traces his own development as the man who has heroically taken the saxophone to the next level. Few musicians are so closely identified with their instrument that they overshadow their peers, but the iconic David Sanborn truly merits his singular position as a saxophonist, unrivaled as a player who straddles the pop and jazz worlds while commanding respect in both. In pop, he is justly famed for his standout solo on David Bowie's 1975 hit "Young Americans"--one of many celebrated recording projects that evolved out of Sanborn's live supporting roles. Indeed, his matchless tone has additionally been sought to bolster performances by the esteemed likes of Eric Clapton, the Eagles, the Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder--many of whom have likewise gone on to enlist his inimitable sax presence in the studio.

Find more David Sanborn CDs at amazon.com
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Concord Records Add 5 Fantastic Collectibles to "Collector's Corner"

2008-07-18T06:56:00.002-04:00

The folks at Concord Music Group have added five more rare and collectible classic Jazz titles to their recently launched Collector's Corner site.

These five fantastic collectibles (below) as well as many more rare & collectible vinyl and box set titles from labels such as Fantasy, Specialty, Prestige, and Stax are now available at The Collector's Corner:

Sonny Stitt -- Stitt's Bitts:

This Prestige 3-disc box set highlights the best of the cult saxophonist's be-bop years (1949-1952) proves definitively that Stitt was no mere Bird disciple, rather a singular Jazz instrumentalist that is long past due for reevaluation. With liner notes by legendary comic book author Harvey Pekar (”American Splendor”), Stitt's Bitts is the document on one of the less-obvious pillars of the Jazz saxophone.

Miles Davis -- Collector's Items (2-fer edition):

The title more or less says it all. Collector's Items was first introduced in 1956 (with material dating back to 1951) and features a legendary '53 session where Davis united the tenor saxes of Charlie Parker and Sonny Rollins. This 2-fer incarnation (originally introduced as a 2-LP set in the early-'70s) includes material from the Prestige title Conception and the Debut classic Blue Moods.

John Coltrane -- The Prestige Recordings:

16 CDs representing 21/2 years of 'Trane's prodigious Prestige output. 125 tracks, 1100 minutes, representing 25 sessions. Only serious collectors need apply.

Joey DeFrancesco Feat. Joe Doggs -- Falling In Love Again:

The list takes a left turn here with this one-of-a-kind 2003 Concord Jazz session that unites the Reigning King of Hammond B-3 and Joe Doggs, a vocalist who in some circles is referred often as a “Goodfella.” Listen up and listen good.

Django Reinhardt with The Quintet of the Hot Club of France -- First Recordings!:

You may recall Woody Allen's late career triumph Sweet & Lowdown as an homage to Django. Here, you'll rediscover the real thing on this collection of his earliest sides. It features the incomparable Stephane Grappelli on violin. So hot and cool, you may need ice cubes for your espresso.

Visit website

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Second Collection of Archival Music from Monterey Jazz Festival

2008-07-16T15:52:00.002-04:00

On August 5th, in its second full slate of archival releases, Monterey Jazz Festival Records (MJFR) will release a new series of never-before-heard concert performances by six jazz greats - Art Blakey, Dave Brubeck, Shirley Horn, Tito Puente and Cal Tjader - and classic blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon.

The MJFR label was founded in 2007 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival. It made its debut with a remarkable series of historic live-at-Monterey CDs, rolled out shortly before the September festival. In addition, MJFR issued a 50th-year compilation disc that included selections from the five albums as well as live Monterey material from Diana Krall, Joe Henderson, Dave Brubeck and Pat Metheny’s trio with Larry Grenadier and Brian Blade.

Three years before Monterey’s monumental anniversary, MJF General Manager Tim Jackson started thinking in broader strokes. “I wanted to leverage the festival’s assets and use the 50th as a launching pad to make this historical music available to people,” he says. The label was the obvious outgrowth. Not only did this mark the first time a festival launched its own label, but the riches of its archives - more than 1600 tapes with more than 2000 hours of concerts in the vault - makes this ambitious endeavor a jazz bonanza.

In addition to releasing archival recordings, MJFR also releases new festival-related recordings, including Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival 2007 by the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars, the three-generation ensemble that performed at the festival’s golden anniversary celebration in September 2007.

The label’s General Manager Jason Olaine commented: “We’re not going to be stuck in a jazz time warp. We’re excited to deliver important historical music, as well as assemble special projects and all-star ensembles to debut at the festival each year.”

For information on Monterey Jazz Festival Records you can visit their website, concordmusicgroup.com.

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Mick Hucknall | "Tribute To Bobby"

2008-07-16T07:42:00.003-04:00

Two decades into his career and a good decade after his last U.S. chart success, Simply Red lead singer Mick Hucknall releases his solo debut. In many cases it's hard to differentiate the singer's solo offerings from those of Simply Red. This is as much due to the identifying tone and texture of a singer's voice as to the sound of the guitars, bass and drums, in addition to singers often being their band's main songwriter. The tone, mood, texture and songs found on a Tom Petty solo offering like Full Moon Fever (MCA, 1989), for example, are virtually undistinguishable from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers releases.

Not necessarily so for Hucknall. On Tribute To Bobby, the singer pays tribute to Memphis R&B stalwart Bobby “Blue” Bland. It's an extraordinary CD, not only paying tribute to Bland but to the Memphis sound, while allowing Hucknall to forge his own relationship with the source material.

By stepping outside of the confines of Simply Red, Hucknall has given his Blue-Eyed Soul voice the chance to grow and experiment in ways not possible fifteen or even ten years ago. With any instrument, time adds to the timber and texture and Hucknall's voice is no different, with wisdom and experience providing greater maturity.

In order to sing real soul music, especially classic Memphis R&B and soul, the singer must have the right sound--intense, earnest, heartfelt and sometimes a bit world-weary. Songs such as these require an authentic voice.

Here, Hucknall reinterprets twelve songs originally recorded by Bland, his distinctive voice and style giving the CD a flavor that is not quite Bland and definitely not Simply Red. It's still Blue-Eyed Soul and jazz-influenced Memphis R&B, but it is so much more, enhancing rather than losing the integrity of the original music.

The songs are treated well incorporating jazz on “Farther, On Up the Road,” pop on “Chains Of Love,” funky rock on “Stormy Monday Blues,” gospel on “I'm Too Far Gone (To Turn Around)” and soul on “I Wouldn't Treat A Dog.” “Cry, Cry, Cry” benefits from the organ and horns mix and almost has a Motown-meets-Memphis sound. “I Pity The Fool” is raw, angry, perfect and quite possibly the best performance on the CD.

Some might say that this disc isn't too much of a stretch for Hucknall. After all, Simply Red's biggest U.S. hits--”If You Don't Know Me By Now” and “Holding Back the Years”--had they been recorded by Bland, would have fit in perfectly on this CD. Additionally, some might also be of opinion that an album of classic tunes, sung by an artist with a twenty year pedigree, would have to be good. If it were only that easy, then everybody would be doing it.

The fact is that Hucknall has taken a chance. By recording well-known songs by an under-appreciated singer he has given Bland some additional exposure. Those who know the songs but not the singer might wish to further explore. Those who know neither but know Simply Red, will also hopefully explore. Hucknall has breathed new life into some old Memphis Soul.

Visit Mick Hucknall on the web.
Mick Hucknall at All About Jazz.

Track Listing: Father Up the Road; Ain't That Lovin' You; I'm Too Far Gone (To Turn Around); Poverty; Yolanda; Stormy Blues; I Wouldn't Treat a Dog (The Way You Treated Me); I'll Take Care of You; Chains of Love; I Pity the Fool; Cry, Cry, Cry; Lead Me On.

Personnel: Mick Hucknall: vocals; Kenji Suzuki: guitar; David Clayton: clarinet, piano, keyboards, Hammond organ; Andy Wright: bass, guitar, piano, keyboards, programming, background vocals, producer; Gavin Goldberg: guitar, keyboards, programming, producer, engineer, mixing; John "Snakehips" Johnson: trombone; Ian Kirkham: saxophone; Peter Lewinson: drums; Steve Lewinson: bass, double-bass; Jim McWilliam: strings; Kevin Robinson: trumpet.

Review by: Mike Perciaccante
allaboutjazz.com

Find more Simply Red CDs at amazon.com
Find more Mick Hucknall CDs at amazon.com
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Jason Miles Celebrates Legacy of Grover Washington

2008-07-15T12:30:00.001-04:00

Producer/artist/arranger/composer and keyboardist Jason Miles will release his second tribute to jazz and soul saxophonist Grover Washington. The album, titled 2 Grover With Love, will be released on August 19th. This is the highly anticipated follow up to 2000’s heartfelt tribute, To Grover With Love, which sold over 100,000 copies.

2009 marks the 10th anniversary of Grover Washington’s death, and this album pays tribute to the great legacy of Washington and his incredible compositions of the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Miles says, “I started listening to Come Morning, the follow up to Winelight, and started to love those songs. I then listened to Strawberry Moon, and realized that I was on one of the songs on the CD, ‘Summer Nights,’ written by Marcus Miller. I knew at that point that there was definitely another Grover project to do, but it had to be done a certain way.”

Miles decided to cut the record live in the studio, just as Washington did on many of his albums. Miles enlisted the talents of Chuck Loeb on guitar, Gerald Veasley on bass, Buddy Williams on drums, and Ralph Macdonald on percussion. 2 Grover With Love also features Maysa, Najee, Andy Snitzer, Kim Waters, Jay Beckenstein, Dean Brown and Dominic Farrinacci. After only one day of rehearsal, the album was recorded live at Bennett studios in New Jersey.

The result is an innovative, contemporary jazz look at the ‘70s and ‘80s versions of Grover’s great legacy.

Jason Miles continues to be one of music’s true renaissance and visionaries moving into the 21st century. For more information on Jason Miles visit his website, jasonmilesmusic.com.

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Smooth Jazz Chart | 7/14/08

2008-07-14T19:12:00.002-04:00

LW - TW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Brian Culbertson - "Bringing Back The Funk" - (GRP/Verve)
4 - 2 - The Sax Pack - "The Sax Pack" - (Shanachie)
2 - 3 - Earl Klugh - "The Spice Of Life" - (Koch)
5 - 4 - Wayman Tisdale - "Rebound" - (Rendezvous)
3 - 5 - Jessy J - "Tequila Moon" - (Peak)
6 - 6 - Chris Standring - "Love & Paragraphs" - (Ultimate Vibe)
9 - 7 - Chuck Loeb - "Presence" - (Heads Up)
8 - 8 - Eric Darius - "Goin' All Out" - Blue Note)
12 - 9 - Boney James - "Shine" - (Concord)
10- 10 - Jesse Cook - "Frontiers" - (Koch)
13 - 11 - Norman Brown - "Stay With Me" - (Peak)
7 - 12 - David Benoit - "Heroes" - (Peak)
14 - 13 - Mindi Abair - "Stars" - (Peak)
15 - 14 - Candy Dulfer - "Candy Store" - (Heads Up)
11 - 15 - Kenny G - "Rhythm & Romance" - (Concord)
16 - 16 - Paul Hardcastle - "Hardcastle V" -(Trippin 'n' Rhythm)
19 - 17 - Gerald Albright -"Sax For Stax" - (Peak)
17 - 18 - Marcus Miller - "Marcus" - (3 Deuces/Concord)
18 - 19 - Euge Groove - "Born 2 Groove" - (Narada/Blue Note)
20 - 20 - Mick Hucknall - "Tribute To Bobby" - (simplyred.com/ATCO)

Visit smoothjazz.com to view the latest complete top 50 chart.
Visit smoothjazz.com to view the latest weekly chart recap.

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Chris Botti - Italia

2008-07-14T09:56:00.004-04:00

Find more Chris Botti CDs at amazon.com
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Upcoming Jazz Releases | 7/15/08

2008-07-11T07:59:00.002-04:00

Adrian Iaies - Vals De La 81ST & Columbus (Sunny Side )
Adrian Iaies - Vals De La 81street & Columbus (Sunny Side )
Ar / Benedettini / Liebman / Tarenzi - Negative Space (Pid )
Atjazz - Full Circle (Mantis Recordings )
Barry Harris Trio - Complete Live In Tokyo 1976 (Pid )
Bruce Eskovitz Jazz Orchestra - Invitation (Pacific Coast Jazz)
Carlos Lyra - Sarava! (Pid )
Carlos Lyra - Sarava (Phantom Sound & Vision )
Cartola - Verde Que Te Quero Rosa (Pid )
Cartola - 70 Anos (Pid )
Cedar Walton - Seasoned Wood (Highnote )
Chet Baker - Jazz Profile (Sony BMG Europe )
Clark Septep Terry - What Makes Sammy Swing (Pid )
Diane Marino - Just Groovin (Easy Listening Label )
Dizzy Gillespie - Groovin High (Pid )
Don Braden - Gentle Storm (Highnote )
Duke Ellington - Jazz Profile (Sony BMG Europe )
Early Trane - Early Trane (Highnote )
Early Trane - Early Trane: The John Coltrane Songbook - The Composer Collection Vol. 2 (Highnote )
Enrico Pieranunzi - Plays Domenico Scarlatti (Pid )
Frank Catalano - Bang! (Savoy Jazz )
Frank Rosolino Quintet - Let's Make It (Pid )
Gerard Masters Trio - Pendulum (Jazzgroove )
Gino Marinacci - Idea (Pid )
Harmonia Ensemble - Dieci Danze Eretiche Erotiche (Pid )
High Five - Five For Fun (Pid )
Hot Club Of Detroit - Night Town (Mack Avenue )
Jamie Davis - Vibe Perfection (Dig Music )
Jamie Davis - Vibe Over Perfection (Dig Music )
Jazz Around Midnight / Various24bt - Jazz Around Midnight / Various24bt (Hi-Note Music )
Jazzin' Saudade - Jazzin' Saudade-Batucada (Pid )
Jazzin' Saudade - Jazzin' Saudade-Mas Que Nada (Pid )
Jeff Coffin - Mutopia (Compass )
Jeremy Pelt - November (Max Jazz )
Jim Hall Trio - These Rooms (Pid )
Johnny Alf - Giagonal (Pid )
Karen Aoki - Shining (Pid )
Kenny Barron - Traveler (Pid )
Kenny Clarke - Telefunken Blues (Pid )
Lorez Alexandria - For Swingers Only (Dusty Groove )
Mario Castro-Neves - Mario Castro Neves & Samba S.A (Pid )
Miles Davis - Avignon-Last Concert (Pid )
Modern Art Trio - Progressive Jazz (Pid )
Munro Quintet, Charlie - Eastern Horizons (Pid )
Ornette Coleman - Belgium 1969 (Gambit Spain )
Paul All Stars Quinichette - Basie Reunion+For Basie (Pid )
Phil Markowitz - Catalysis (Sunny Side )
Preston Glass - Music As Medicine (Expansion Uk )
Raiatea Helm - Best (Pid )
Raul De Souza - Vontade Mesmo (Pid )
Reuben Wilson - Groove Grease (Connoisseur Collection (UK) )
Richard Maegraith - Free Running (Jazzgroove )
Stan Getz - Jazz Profiles (Pid )
Tamba Trio - Tamba (Pid )
Teddy Wilson - In Europe 1969-1970 (Impro-Jazz) - DVD-Video
Various Artists - Further Adventures Of Mod Jazz (Kent Music/City Hall )
Various Artists - Negative Space (Phantom Sound & Vision )

Gil Evans - Jazz Profiles (Pid )
Jane Monheit - Best Of Jane Monheit (Victor)
Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool (Virgin)

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Spalding plays "cool" blend of jazz, R&B, bossa nova

2008-07-10T10:00:00.003-04:00

Moments after Esperanza Spalding finished singing "Precious" on CBS's "Late Show With David Letterman" in early June, the host strode right up and anointed her "the coolest person we've ever had on the show."

Heads Up Records president Dave Love must think she's pretty cool too. Her label debut, "Esperanza," bowed earlier this month at No. 3 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and soon rose to No. 2.

The album, which blends jazz harmonies, Brazilian boss nova and R&B backbeat, is an accurate reflection of the 24-year-old's musical personality.

"I was very adamant about how these songs were going to sound," Spalding says. "I wanted it to have a jazz feel, but I didn't want it to have a jazz sound."

With her big, billowy Afro and disarming smile, Spalding comes across as simultaneously assertive and inviting. She gives the same impression with her music. And her story is one of serendipity mixed with a self-confident sense of adventure. As a child, after she saw Yo-Yo Ma perform on the PBS show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," she took up the violin. In high school, after eyeing a bass in an empty auditorium, she walked over and began playing.

Spalding soon found herself studying at the Berklee College of Music, and by the age of 20, she was on the school's faculty. Her skill at rendering the Portuguese lyrics to, say, Milton Nascimento's "Ponta de Areia" on her new CD owes to a long-ago month spent in Rio with a boyfriend, when native poetry moved her to "take a class or two" in the language.

While at Berklee, Spalding had a chance to collaborate with guitarist/educator Pat Metheny, who told her that, beyond her obvious talent, she had an "X factor" that would make her connect with audiences in a special way. Heads Up's Love got a sense of that when he sent out an early promotional DVD. "It was pretty much just her talking," Love says, "but the response was overwhelming. People called to book her on TV without even hearing the music."

By Larry Blumenfeld
Reuters/Billboard

Find more Esperanza Spalding CDs at amazon.com
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Larry Carlton Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

2008-07-08T08:50:00.004-04:00

Smooth jazz guitarist, Larry Carlton was recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Guitar Player magazine.

Like so many other Los Angeles studio musicians, guitarist and composer Larry Carlton was faced with a choice a number of years back: whether to go solo and develop a name for himself or to continue the less risky, more lucrative existence as a session guitarist, making good money and recording with prominent musicians. Fortunately for fans of this eclectic guitarist, he chose the former, and has recorded under his own name since 1978.

Carlton’s studio credits include musicians and groups like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and literally dozens of others. Among his more notable projects as a session guitarist were Joni Mitchell’s critically acclaimed Court and Spark album and Donald Fagen’s Nightfly album.

To see Guitar Player magazine’s video montage of the guitarist’s innumerable hits and awards, follow this link, mr335.tv.

Larry recently celebrated his 60th birthday and in June his guitar solo on Steely Dan’s Kid Charlemagne made Rolling Stones’ list of 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. (See here.)

For more information on Larry Carlton you can visit his website, larrycarlton.com.

Find more Larry Carlton CDs at amazon.com
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Smooth Jazz Chart | 7/7/08

2008-07-07T19:18:00.002-04:00

LW - TW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Brian Culbertson - "Bringing Back The Funk" - (GRP/Verve)
3 - 2 - Earl Klugh - "The Spice Of Life" - (Koch)
2 - 3 - Jessy J - "Tequila Moon" - (Peak)
4 - 4 - The Sax Pack - "The Sax Pack" - (Shanachie)
6 - 5 - Wayman Tisdale - "Rebound" - (Rendezvous)
5 - 6 - Chris Standring - "Love & Paragraphs" - (Ultimate Vibe)
8 - 7 - David Benoit - "Heroes" - (Peak)
10 - 8 - Eric Darius - "Goin' All Out" - Blue Note)
9 - 9 - Chuck Loeb - "Presence" - (Heads Up)
12 - 10 - Jesse Cook - "Frontiers" - (Koch)
11- 11 - Kenny G - "Rhythm & Romance" - (Concord)
15 - 12 - Boney James - "Shine" - (Concord)
7 - 13 - Norman Brown - "Stay With Me" - (Peak)
13 - 14 - Mindi Abair - "Stars" - (Peak)
18 - 15 - Candy Dulfer - "Candy Store" - (Heads Up)
16 - 16 - Paul Hardcastle - "Hardcastle V" -(Trippin 'n' Rhythm)
14 - 17 - Marcus Miller - "Marcus" - (3 Deuces/Concord)
17 - 18 - Euge Groove - "Born 2 Groove" - (Narada/Blue Note)
23 - 19 - Gerald Albright -"Sax For Stax" - (Peak)
28 - 20 - Mick Hucknall - "Tribute To Bobby" - (simplyred.com/ATCO)

Visit smoothjazz.com to view the latest complete top 50 chart.
Visit smoothjazz.com to view the latest weekly chart recap.

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Happy Birthday U.S.A.

2008-07-04T08:02:00.000-04:00

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

NYC-Based Singer-Songwriter K. J. Denhert Draws Acclaim

2008-07-03T17:01:00.002-04:00

Award-winning, NYC-based singer-songwriter-guitarist KJ Denhert – known for her soulful fusion of jazz, R&B, rock and folk – is in the midst of her first-ever itinerary of west coast dates. KJ and her longtime band, the super-tight NY Unit, drew an enthusiastic reception at Yoshi’s in San Francisco, and at Temple Bar in Santa Monica. At the latter date, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne and contemporary blues icon Keb’ Mo’ were in attendance.

In addition to U.S. dates this summer, the Grenadian-American Denhert will be an artist-in-residence at the world-famous Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy for a fifth consecutive year, July 11-20. She and the NY Unit – also featuring ace saxophonist Aaron Heick – will play two shows daily, including a show opening for Alicia Keys on Friday, July 18.

Denhert’s live performances showcase her earthy, vibrant personality as much as her genre-transcending music. Those qualities shine on her new album LUCKY 7, her Motéma Music debut. An enhanced 12-song CD also featuring videos, the disc is in association with KJ’s Mother Cyclone Records imprint. KJ produced the album, her seventh, with NY Unit keyboardist Bennett Paster co-producing several tracks. Highlights include the title track, “He’s Not Coming Home,” and the album’s one
cover, an intimate take on “Over The Rainbow” that’s a fan favorite.

Saturday August 2, 2008, 7 PM & 9 PM - K.J. Denhert at Dazzle Jazz
930 Lincoln St.,Denver, CO 80203 - Ph: 303.839.5100 -info@dazzlejazz.com
http://www.dazzlejazz.com

For more information, log on to kjdenhert.com

Find more K. J. Denhert CDs at amazon.com
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Eric Darius Gets An Assist From Norman Brown On Album Track

2008-07-03T10:57:00.003-04:00

Saxophonist Eric Darius is back with his third album, titled Goin' All Out. The popular musician and songwriter creates a smooth jazz album with a contemporary feel, and on one song even got assistance from guitarist Norman Brown.

Brown adds guitar to the upbeat tune "Just For The Moment," which Darius says he wrote during a drive in his car. The tune came after a difficult period for the saxophonist, which included breaking up with his longtime fiancee.

Darius explained: "I just kind of started reflecting on my life and all the great things that I've been through and my experiences. And I just really got this sense of hope. It was this optimistic feel that everything was gonna be OK. It was kind of like this spiritual thing that kind of overtook me, and I all of a sudden started getting really, really happy, and I had the feeling that all the things I was going through were only for the moment and things were only going to get better. And that's what inspired that song."

Darius added that Brown was the first person he thought of as a guest on the track: "I wanted to feature another artist on this song, and Norman Brown was the first person that came to mind. Number one, he's one of my favorite smooth jazz guitarists, and also his playing, he has this real bouncy, exciting, happy type of feel when he plays and it was the perfect complement to the song. He did an incredible job, it was great working with him."

The first single to be released from the new album is the title track "Goin' All Out," which has reached Number 19 on the smooth jazz radio charts.

For more on Eric and his performing schedule, go to ericdarius.com.

By: Janine Coveney

Find more Eric Darius CDs at amazon.com
Find more Norman Brown CDs at amazon.com
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Upcoming Jazz Releases | 7/8/08

2008-07-03T07:20:00.003-04:00

Al Lirvat & His Cigal's Band - Paris 1955 (Pid )
Ambrose - Latin American After Dark / Starlit Hour: Music Of (Dutton Vocalion Uk )
Ambrose - Latin America After Dark/Starlit Hour (Dutton Vocalion Uk )
Aoro - Pling Plong (Pid )
Argentieri - Unitrio (Pid )
Arne Donmerus - Far Jag Lov Eller Sak VI Dansa Forst (Warner )
Baye Magatte - Aywa (Pid )
Billie Holiday - Essentials (Cleopatra -- Navarre -- )
Billie Holiday - The Essentials: Deluxe Edition (Cleopatra -- Navarre -- )
Billie Holiday - Essentials: Deluxe Edition (Cleopatra )
Bjorn J:Son Lindh - Guldkorn (Pid )
Blue Drag - I'll See You There (Filmharmonix) - Book
Blue Note Trip 2 - Blue Note Trip 2 (Emd Int'L )
Bois / Humair / Zufferey - Apres L' Orage (Pid )
Brazilian Trio - Forests (Zoho Music )
Bruce Eskovitz Jazz Orchestra - Invitation (Pacific Coast Jazz)
Bunky Green - Salzau Quartet Liv (Pid )
Christina Jaccard - Blues In The Night (Pid )
Clarke-Boland Sextett - Music For The Small Hours (Cool Division )
Cory Weeds - Big Weeds (Cellar Live )
David Becker - Leaving Argentina (Megaforce )
Derrick Gardner - Ride To The Other Side (Owl )
Derrick Gardner / Jazz Pr - Ride To The Other Side, A (Owl )
Derrick Gardner / Jazz Pr - A Ride to The Other Side (Owl )
DiMartino / Osland Jazz Orches - Quotient (Sea Breeze Records )
Dixon-Rhyne Project - Reinvention (Owl )
DOJO [Dimartino / Osland Jazz Orc - Quotient (Sea Breeze Jazz )
Donald Harrison - Chosen (Pid )
Doug Carn - Al Rahman (Pid )
Dudley Moore - Bedazzled (Pid )
Duffy - Duffy Smooth Jazz Tribute (CC Entertainment )
Duke Ellington & Orchestra - New York Ny (Storyville )
Duke Ellington & Orchestra - Treasury Shows (Storyville )
Duke Ellington & Orchestra - New York, New York (Storyville )
Duke Ellington & Orchestra - The Treasury Shows (Storyville )
Duo Vibracao - A Jazzy Note (Pid )
Edmundo Ros - The Ros Sound of Music/Latin Rhythm Deluxe (Dutton Vocalion Uk )
Elmar Bras Quartet - G.Yorck (Pid )
Fernando Tarres - Camorreando (MDR Argentina )
Fernando Tarres - Milongueando Solo (MDR Argentina )
Fernando Tarres - Perplexity (MDR Argentina )
Fernando Tarres - Cruces (MDR Argentina )
Florian Ross - Eight Ball & White Horse (Intuition )
Georg Riedel - Wolfgang On My Mind (Pid )
Glenn Miller & His Orchestra - On The Radio: Chestefield Shows 1939-42 (Acrobat [cit570] )
Gordon James - In Joy (Nu Groove )
Great Ladies Of Jazz - Great Ladies Of Jazz (United Multi Consign )
Hugh Masekela - Liberation-The Best Of (Pid ) - SACD
Humair & Joachim Kue - Full Contact (Pid )
Ivo Papasov - Fairground (Pid )
Jan-Martin Maechler - Neues Erleben (Pid )
Javier Torres - Rehen Del Amor (Fonovisa Inc. )
Jazz You Night & Day - Jazz You Night & Day (Sony/Bmg Int'L )
Jean-Luc Ponty - Live in Concert (1999) (Koch) - DVD-Video
Jeremie Ternoy - Bloc (Zig Zag Territories )
Jeremy Ternoy Trio - Bloc (Pid )
Jessie - Who I Am (Pid )
Joe Johnson - Afterparty (Yasny Labels Group )
Joe Johnson - The Afterparty (Yasny Labels Group )
Joel Haynes - Transitions (Cellar Live )
Karizma - It's What I Am (R2 )
Klas Lindquist - Lift Off (Pid )
Kuddel Renner & His - From Apes Woman & Othe (Pid )
Larry Ham - Just Me, Just You (Arbors Records )
Leona Lewis - Leona Lewis Smooth Jazz Tribute (CC Entertainment )
Little Jackie - The Stoop (S-Curve )
Louie Ramirez & His Orchestra - Latin Au Go Go (Collector's Choice )
Louis Armstrong - Loluis Armstrong/Greatest Hits (Pid )
Louis Armstrong - Complete Hot Five & Hot (Pid )
Louis Armstrong - Definitive (Pid )
Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong: Portrait Of T (Pid )
Louis Armstrong - Best Of The Hot 5 & Hot 7 (Pid )
Louis Armstrong - Ultimate Collection (Pid )
Louis Ramirez & His Orchestra - Latin Au Go Go (Collectors Choice Music )
Lucas Pino - Yellow Flower with Snail (Port Fenix Music)
Lundgren Wickman & Fristorp - En Sommarkonsert (Warner )
Marcel Worms - Red White & Blues: 32 (Pid )
Markus Stockhausen - In Deiner Nahe - Close To You: Live In ST. Maternus (Aktivraum )
Markus Stockhausen - Lichtblick (Aktivraum )
Marlango - Marlango-Reedicion 2008 (Pid )
Marmaduke - Conflictions (Pid )
Martina Almgren - Open Book (Pid )
Mary Halvorson - Calling All Portraits (Pid )
Melody Diachum - Melody Diachum Eq (Cellar Live )
Melody Diachun - Melody Diachun Eq (CLF )
Melody Diachun - Melody Diachum EQ (CLF )
Michael Lington - Michael Lington (Nu Groove )
Michael Lington - Vivid (Nu Groove )
Moi J'Aime Le Jazz - Moi J'Aime Le Jazz (Pid )
Narada Michael Walden - Awakening/Dance Of Life (Edsel )
Nick Colionne - Nick Colionne (Koch )
Nick Colionne - No Limits (Koch )
Oua.Ch - Essence Of A Deep Kiss (Pid )
Ponta Shuichi Murakami - Untitled (Pid )
Quartet / Weeds, Cory - Big Weeds (CLF )
Quasimode - Land Of Freedom (Geneon )
Quasimode - The Land of Freedom (Phantom Sound & Vision )
Quintett, Aion - Tales Of In-Between (Pid )
Rena Meyer Wiel - All Arose (Aktivraum )
Rene Mailhes - Chtildo (Pid )
Robin Trower - Day Of The Eagle: The Best Of Robin Trower (Capitol )
Rolf Beydemuller - Arrival (Aktivraum )
Rueckert & Lemke - Jnana (Pid )
Sahib Shihab - Companionship (Cool Division )
Sahib Shihab - Companionship: Jazz Joint, Vol. 2 (Cool Division )
Seamus Blake / Joel Haynes - Transitions (CLF )
Silvestri Quintet - Les Sirenes (Pid )
Simon Stockhausen - Non Duality (Aktivraum )
Smooth Jazz - Smooth Jazz (Pid)
Spyro Gyra - Stories Without Words (Pid )
Steffen Weber Trio - Lockstoff (Pid )
Steve Allee - Dragonfly (Owl )
Steve Allee Trio - Dragonfly (Owl )
Steve Howe Trio - Haunted Melody (Pid )
Stomu Yamashta - Floating Music & The Man From The East (Raven (Ast) )
Stussi Felix 5 - Baiji (Pid )
Sun Ra - Sleeping Beauty (Pid )
Sun Ra - On Jupiter (Pid )
Thomas Faist - Me-We (Pid )
Traincha - Who'll Speak For Love: Burt Bacharach Songbook II (Caroline World Service )
Valdambrini-Piana Quintet - Afrodite (Family Affair Distribution SRL )
Vincent Gardner - Vin-Slidin' (Pid )
Zodiak Trio - Zodiak (Pid )

Miles Davis - Jazz Profiles (Pid )
Return To Forever - Where Have I Known You Before/No Mystery (BGO - Beat Goes On )

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Fourplay Ready For A Shot Of 'Energy'

2008-07-02T07:27:00.002-04:00

Smooth jazz super group Fourplay will be delivering a new album this fall, titled Energy. The set, due September 23rd, will be the group's first on the Heads Up International label. According to the group's website, fourplayjazz.com, a live DVD release, to be called Fourplay in Capetown, is also on the way.

Fourplay features keyboardist Bob James, bassist Nathan East, guitarist Larry Carlton, and drummer Harvey Mason. The new Energy CD will also reportedly feature appearances by singer Hillary James, Bob's daughter, and bassist Esperanza Spalding. The set will also feature vocals by East, who has handled vocal tasks on previous Fourplay albums.

The group is in the midst of the Legends Of Jazz tour, sponsored by AARP in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The group also has other, non-LOJ dates as well.

The group's next performance will be July 5th at the Rodney Strong Winery in Healdsburg, California.

By: Janine Coveney

Find more Fourplay CDs at amazon.com
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Norman Brown Welcoming Boney James, Larry Carlton, Steve Cole & More To Smooth Cruise

2008-07-02T07:13:00.003-04:00

Guitarist Norman Brown is putting the finishing touches on the lineup for the 2009 Smooth Music Cruise, set for January 31st through February 5th. The cruise, which Brown hosts, will depart from Miami, Florida, and travel to Key West, the private island of Coco Cay and the Bahamas.

Among the confirmed artists for the cruise are Jam Sessions host Nick Colionne, saxophonist Boney James, singer Heather Headley, Grammy winner Larry Carlton, saxophonist Mindi Abair, trumpeter Greg Adams, and saxophonist Steve Cole.

Also on board the Celebrity Cruise Line's "Century" ship will be the Smooth Music Cruise All-Stars, featuring Acoustic Alchemy, Marion Meadows, Shilts, Chieli Minucci, Steve Oliver, Alan Hewitt, Althea Rene, and Michael Lington.

More information will be available at SmoothMusicCruise.com.

By: Janine Coveney

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

Pain At The Pump Curbs Traveling Bands

2008-07-01T10:36:00.002-04:00

Morning Edition, July 1, 2008 - Musicians longing to play live music spend a lot of time playing bars and basements for little more than gas money. But gas money isn't what it used to be, and taking an act on the road isn't happening as much as it used to. Musicians are having to re-think how they tour.

Click here to listen

By Charles Michael Ray

Charles Michael Ray reports from South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

npr.org

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com