Anita Baker Interview Part 2

Anita Baker talks with Smooth Jazz V98.7 Detroit morning host Alexander Zonjic. She talks about her summer concert tour and her dream to play Carnegie Hall

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Anita Baker Interview Part 1

Smooth Jazz V98.7 Morning show host Alexander Zonjic talks with Grammy winning recording artist Anita Baker before her Detroit appearance.

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Eldar At The Blue Note

Piano phenomenon Eldar and his band 're-imagination' will take up residence at The Blue Note for six days beginning August 28 in his third and longest ever stint at the famed club, and first performances there in over a year. Eldar, whose deft playing has earned him comparisons to Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum, will perform a mix of original material from his new CD 're-imagination' (Sony BMG Masterworks) and standards. The residency is the latest milestone in a banner summer for the 20-year old.

In June he released 're-imagination' to rave reviews: the San Francisco Chronicle called it "excellent… A celebration of Eldar's seemingly boundless range and talent." That same month he also appeared on the CBS Saturday Early Show and performed with Christian McBride and Lewis Nash at an Oscar Peterson Tribute Concert at Carnegie Hall, where Billy Taylor introduced Eldar as "the future of jazz."

Fans around the country can catch Eldar perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live August 7. 're-imagination' continues to generate national radio airplay, ranked at #3 on JazzWeek's national radio airplay chart this week. Following the Blue Note residency, Eldar embarks on a worldwide fall tour taking him to the U.S., South America, and Europe, kicking off in Japan on September 6.

Earl Travis (bass) and Terreon Gully (drums) will join Eldar for these performances at the Blue Note.

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Smooth Jazz Chart | Week Ended 7/30/07

LW - TW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Euge Groove - "Born 2 Groove" - (Narada/Blue Note)
2 - 2 - Norman Brown - "Stay With Me" - (Peak)
4 - 3 - Paul Taylor - "Ladies' Choice" - (Peak)
7 - 4 - Nils - "Ready To Play" - (Baja/TSR)
8 - 5 - Keiko Matsui - "Moyo" - (Shout Factory)
6 - 6 - Four80East - "En Route" - (Native Language)
12 - 7 - U-Nam "Back From The 80s" - (Trippin 'n Rhythm)
10 - 8 - Rick Braun/Richard Elliot - "R n R" - (ARTizen)
9 - 9 - Brian Bromberg - "Downright Upright" - (Artistry)
11 - 10 - Jay Soto - "Stay Awhile" - (NuGroove)

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2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise Days 9-12: Land-ho! Causing Waves At The Festival

(Author's note: While the “gee-whiz” factor ought to be diminishing after a decade of dealing with digital music, I'm in absolute raptures discovering a large number of concerts from the 2007 North Sea Jazz Festival available as free streaming audio from their website. Anyone smart enough to use Google can find something like Audio Hijack that will convert them to MP3s for use on an iPod or whatever.)

It takes a lot to make one of the world's largest jazz festivals anti-climactic.

The inaugural North Sea Jazz Cruise arrived in Rotterdam on July 13, just in time for the 900 passengers who've spent the past eight days being saturated in music and Scandinavian port stops to attend the three- day North Sea Jazz Festival. Most had positive things to say about the festival, except for excessive heat possibly caused by ventilation problems the final day. But speaking personally as a multi-time festival attendee who's seen many of the featured performers up close for more than a week aboard the ship, mingling among 90,000 others trying to jam their way into seats from from the stage didn't have the same appeal....

Note:

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2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise Day 8: School Daze With McCoy Tyner, Amateurs And A 'Ship Pianist'

Despite the questions some cruise ship passengers ask (”how high above sea level is this town?”), learning opportunities are prominent for people supposedly on a relaxing vacation.

Lectures, multi-day classes and even full-blown university courses can soak up time traditionally meant for algae facials and chocolate buffets. Some universities charter ships long-term for courses or as campus housing for students (where was that when I lived on cereal in large closet with a slightly crazy roommate?). Make fun of traditional subjects like cooking, pottery and computers, but medical and dental professionals can also get continuing education credit in-between port calls....

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Upcoming Jazz Releases | 7/31/07

20th Century Dog - Mad Stream (Jazzgroove )
Anat Cohen - Poetica (Anzic )
Anat Cohen - Noir (Anzic )
Andy Gravish & Luca Mannutza - Sound Advice (Wide Sound )
Antonio Onorato - Tudo Azul (Wide Sound )
Archey/Attenoux/Nicholas- Classic Jazz At St Germain Des Pres (Universal)
Bobby Jaspar - Modern Jazz Au Club Saint Germain (Universal )
Bolling / Villers - Danse A Saint Germain Des Pres (Universal )
Bossa A.M. - Greetings (Sony )
Candy Dulfer - Candy Store (Universal )
Carl Dewhurst Quartet - Live (Jazzgroove )
Celsa Mel Gowland Y Nu Jaazz - Como Si Nadie Estuviera Escuch (EMI )
Cerri F. / Terzano L / Tonon G - Vibrandoneon (Music Cent )
Charlie Hunter - Mistico (Fantasy Records (USA) )
Chucho Valdes - Live In Italy (Explore Records)
Cordoba Reunio - Argentina Jazz La Oncena With Mercedes Sosa (Pid )
Cordoba Reunion - Argentina Jazz La Oncena With Mercedes Sosa (Lal )
Covers Irie - Covers Irie-Reggae Meets R&B/Hip Hop (JVC )
Dave Douglas - Live At The Jazz Standard (Koch Records (USA) )
Dawidowicz / Kabusacki / Nisenson - Muzic From The Red Hills Of Nikada (Pid )
Denis Colin - Songs For Swans (Nocturne Records)
Don Byas - Laura (Universal )
Duo Lerner Moguilevsky - Sobreviviente (Los Anos Luz Discos )
Ehud Asherie - Lock Out (Rhombus Records )
El Porcino Organic - Smile (Splasc(H) )
Elana Stone - In The Garden Of Wild Things (Jazzgroove )
Ernesto - Find The Form (Creative V )
Etta Jones - Don't Misunderstand (Highnote Records, Inc. )
Etta Jones & Houston Person - Don't Misunderstand - Live In (Highnote )
Etta Jones & Houston Person - Don't Misunderstand (Highnote )
Evan Parker / Matthew Shipp - Abbey Road Duos (Treader )
Exotica - Turkish IV (Jazzgroove )
Exposed Bone - Vol. 1-Smokin Da Bone (Jazzgroove )
Fantastic Terrific Munkle - Cahoots (Jazzgroove )
Fat Kid Wednesday - Art Of Cherry (Nocturne Records)
Fat Kid Wednesday - The Art Of Cherry (Nocturne Records )
Festa De Poke! - Festa De Poke! (JVC )
Fino Bossa Nova Jobim 80 Anos! - Fino Bossa Nova Jobim 80 Anos! (BMG Entertainment )
Fol / Villers - Saxophones A Saint Germain Des Pres (Universal )
Gambarini Roberta & Hank Jones - You Are There (Emarcy )
Gary Peacock - Voices (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment)
George Garzone - Kanashimi Yo Sayonara (Tokuma )
Gordon Brisker - Child's Play (Jazzgroove )
Gordon Jenkins - Gordon Jenkins Complete Manhattan Tower (DRG (USA) )
Green Septet - Singing Fish & Other Short Stories (Jazzgroove )
Grover Washington Jr. - Mjf Live 1994 (Concord Records)
Han Bennink - Amplified Trio (Treader )
Harlem Art Ensemble - Live In New York (Explore Records)
Hawaiian Covers - Hawaiian Covers (JVC )
Hideto Kanai Group - Q (Sony )
Imada Masaru Quartet - Now (Sony )
Informal Troupe - Urban Landscape (Jazzgroove )
Isao Suzuki - Black Orpheus (Sony )
James Ryan Trio - Long Way Home (Jazzgroove )
Jasper Leak Quintet - It's Cold Out (Jazzgroove )
Jazztronik - Jazz Rock Compiled By Jazztronik (Universal )
Jean-Luc Ponty - Live At Semper Opera (Koch Records (USA) )
Jeff Kashiwa - Play (Native Language )
Jimmy Ponder - Solo - Live At The Other End (Explore Records)
Kenny Burrell - Birthday Bash-Live At Yoshi's (EMI )
Kimiko Ito - Follow Me (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment )
Kosuke Mine Quintet - Mine (Sony )
Late Night Moods Standard Bossa - Vol. 2-Late Night Moods Standard Bossa (Avex )
Laurent Coq Blowing - Live At The Duc Des Lombards (3D )
Leonie Plus Cohen - Jerusalem (Jazzgroove )
Lerner Moguilevsky Duo - Sobreviviente (Los Anos Luz Discos )
Lily Dior - Clear Day (Jazzgroove )
Louisiana Jazz Club - Genoa Meets New Orleans (Music Cent )
Marco Piacentini - Un Altro Dicembre (Splasc(H) )
Mark4 - Entree (Jazzgroove )
Massimo Vescovi Quartet - Luci E Ombre (Splasc(H) )
Mazarin - We're Already There (+1 Bonus Track) (Indie )
Nick Bowd Quartet - Arrival (Jazzgroove )
Numerology - Telepathy (Jazzgroove )
Oldfish - Acoustic Movement (3D )
Paolo Carrus Quartet - Melodrums (Splasch )
Peiffer / Zacharias - Modern Jazz At St Germain Des Pres (Universal )
Pierre Barouh - Daltonien (Columbia )
Pietro Tonolo - Your Songs - The Music Of Elton John (Hbd Label Group )
Poalo Carrus Quartet - Melodrums (Splasc )
Praful - Remixed ( )
Ray Lema - Paradox (Pid)
Reggae Nuts Presents - Reggae Nuts Presented By Rebecca Bon (JVC )
Riccardo Luppi Quintet - Ballads & More (Music Cent )
Roger Manins - Hip Flask (Jazzgroove )
Ronnie Scott - Bopping With Scott (Proper Box)
Roy Haynes - The Island (Explore Records )
Shawn Needham - Black Sheep (Rhombus Records )
Sidecar - Dreams Of The Middle Class (Jazzgroove )
Simon Sweeney - Emerald City Blues (Jazzgroove )
Soulive - No Place Like Soul (Stax )
Spike Mason - Oximetric (Jazzgroove )
Stefano Caniato - Kisses For Lara (Music Cent )
Steve Coleman - Invisible Paths: First Scattering (Tzadik )
Suite Presented By Audi Forum Tokyo - Suite Presented By Audi Forum Tokyo (3D )
Survival Of The Fiddes - Fear Smile (Jazzgroove )
This Is Bossa Nova - This Is Bossa Nova (JVC )
Toby Love - Toby Love (BMG Entertainment )
Tom O'Halloran Trio - Green Hills & White Clouds (Jazzgroove )
Tony Hancock - It's Hancock (Universal/Decca)
Ursus Minor - Nucular (Nocturne Records)
V8 - No More Noise (Jazzgroove )
Valeria Sattamini - Valeria Sattamini (JVC )
Various Artists - Smooth Jazz Tribute To R. Kelly (Oarfin)
Various Artists - Overjoyed! - Smooth Jazz Plays Stevie Wonder (Shanachie )
Various Artists - The Obliqsound Selection Vol. 2 (ObliqSound )
Various Artists - 18 Greatest:Big Band No 1 Hits (Direct Source )
Various Artists - Gypsy Jazz (Proper )
Victoria Hart - Whatever Happened To Romance (Sony)
We Love Bachata - We Love Bachata (3D )
Xavier Rudd - White Moth (+1 Bonus Track) (Sony )
Yochk'O Seffer - My Old Roots (Musea )






Anat Cohen - Place & Time (Anzic Records)
Art Blakey - Paris Jam Session (Emarcy)
Art Blakey - 1958 Paris Olympia (Universal )
Art Ensemble Of Chicago - Selected Recordings (Jpn LP Sleeve) (24 Bit Remastered) (Universal )
Art Tatum - God Is In The House (Highnote Records, Inc. )
Barney Wilen - Jazz Sur Seine (Emarcy)
Bill Frisell - Selected Recordings (24 Bit Remastered) (Universal )
Bill Watrous - Tiger Of San Pedro (Wounded Bird Records )
Bill Watrous - Manhattan Wildlife (Wounded Bird Records )
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit (Jazz World)
Billie Holiday - Lady Day: The Master (Columbia Legacy )
Bob James / David Sanborn - Double Vision (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Bob Mintzer - Bop Boy (Explore Records)
Bob Mintzer - Source (Explore Records)
Bob Mintzer & The Horn Man Band - Papa Lips (Explore Records)
Bobo Stenson - Selected Recordings (24 Bit Remastered) (Universal )
Candy Dulfer - Candy Store (+2 Bonus Tracks) (Universal )
Charlie Palmieri - Electro Duro (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Bomba Records )
Charlie Palmieri - Impulsos (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Bomba Records )
Charlie Parker - Live At Massey Hall (Kings Road )
Chet Baker - Plays Standards (Universal )
Chico Hamilton - Chico Hamilton Quintet With Strings Attached (Collectables Records )
Claus With Symphony Orchestra Ogerman - Gate Of Dreams (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Dave Brubeck / Paul Desmond - Take Five (Salt Peanuts ) - DVD-Video
David Sanborn - Straight To The Heart (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
David Sanborn - Hideaway (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Dizzy Gillespie - Cognac Blues (Universal )
Dizzy Gillespie - Giant (Universal )
Django Reinhardt - Django et Compagnie (Emarcy)
Django Reinhardt - Django's Blues (Emarcy)
Django Reinhardt - Swing 39 (Emarcy)
Django Reinhardt - Nuages (Forever Go)
Django Reinhardt - Swing from Paris (Chant du Monde)
Django Reinhardt - Swing 48 (Universal )
Django Reinhardt - Nuits De Saint Germain Des Pres (Universal )
Donald Byrd - Byrd in Paris (Emarcy)
Donald Byrd - Parisian Thoroughfare (Emarcy)
Donald Byrd - Fuego (EMI )
Donald Byrd - Day Dream (Kings Road )
Edith Piaf - La Vie En Rose (Rajon Entertainment Pty Ltd. (Austr )
Egberto Gismonti - Selected Recordings (24 Bit Remastered) (Universal )
Ella Fitzgerald - Love Letters From Ella (Concord Records (USA))
Ella Fitzgerald - Signature (Green Umbrella )
Eric Dolphy - So Long Eric (Salt Peanuts ) - DVD-Video
Gary Burton - Selected Recordings (24 Bit Remastered) (Universal )
Gary Peacock - Voices (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment )
Gene Ammons - Makes It Happen (Universal Records (Japan) )
Gerard Masters Trio - Palindrome (Jazzgroove )
Gerard Masters Trio - Island Life (Jazzgroove )
Gilbert O'Sullivan - Rare Tracks (Bygum Records )
Glenn Miller - Signature (Green Umbrella )
Grappelli / Peterson - Vol. 2-Peterson-Grappelli Quartet (Universal )
Grappelli / Peterson - Vol. 1-Peterson-Grappelli-Quartet (Universal )
Grappelli / Peterson - Vol. 1-O Peterson/S Grappelli-Quartet (Universal )
Grover Washington Jr - Montreal Jazz Festival Live 1994 (Concord Records)
Grover Washington Jr. - Winelight (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Hank Jones - Here's Love (Jpn LP Sleeve) (24 Bit Remastered) (Universal/Polygram )
Hank Mobley - Dippin (EMI )
Jaco Pastorius - Word Of Mouth (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Jaco Pastorius - Birthday Concert (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Jaco Pastorius (Big Band) - Twins 1 & 2 Live In Japan 82 (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Jean Luc Ponty - Live At Semper Opera (Koch Records (USA) )
Jean-Luc Ponty - Jazz Long Playing (Universal )
Joe Lee Wilson - Come And See (Explore Records)
Joe Lee Wilson - Shadow (Explore Records )
John Coltrane - Very Best Of The Atlantic Years (Warner Jaz )
Jorge Dalto & Superfriends - Rendezvous (Explore Records)
Jorge Dalto & Superfriends - New York Nightline (Explore Records)
Karla Bonoff - Karla Bonoff (Dsd Remastered) (BMG Entertainment)
Karla Bonoff - Wild Heart Of The Young (Dsd Remastered) (BMG Entertainment)
Karla Bonoff - Karla Bonoff (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Dsd Remastered) (BMG Entertainment )
Karla Bonoff - Wild Heart Of The Young (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Dsd Remastered) (BMG Entertainment )
Kimiko Ito - Follow Me (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment)
Kimiko Itoh - Follow Me (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment )
Kimiko Kasai - Satin Doll (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment)
Kimiko Kasai - Yellow Carcass In The Blue (Sony )
Kimiko Kasai - Satin Doll (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment )
Lee Konitz - Very Cool (Universal )
Lee Konitz - With Strings/An Image (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Lee Konitz - Meets Jimmy Giuffre (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Lee Konitz - You And Lee (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Lee Konitz - Motion (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Lee Konitz (Quartet) - Tranquility (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Lionel Hampton - Ring Dem Vibes (Universal )
Lou Donaldson - Alligator Bogaloo (EMI )
Louis Armstrong - Signature (Green Umbrella )
Louis Armstrong - Mjf Live 1958 (Concord Records)
Machito Archestra - Fireworks (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Bomba Records )
Marcus Miller - Free (+1 Bonus Track) (JVC Victor )
Mario Blondi / High Five Quinte - Handful Of Soul (+2 Bonus Tracks) (King )
Matt Keegan Trio - Moving Sea Between (Jazzgroove )
Matt Keegan Trio - Roadscape (Jazzgroove )
Michael Brecker / Claus Ogerman - Cityscape (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Michel Legrand - Paris Jazz Piano (Jazz In Paris) (Universal/Emarcy )
Michel Petrucciani - Cold Blues (Sunnyside )
Michel Petrucciani - Note' Notes (Universal )
Miles Davis - Best Of Miles Davis (Direct Source )
Pat Metheny - Selected Recordings (24 Bit Remastered) (Universal )
Pat Moran - Complete Trio Sessions (Fresh Sound)
Paul Bley - Tears (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Tauhid (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Kahma (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Jewels Of Thought (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Summun Bukmun Umyun (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Thembi (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Black Unity (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Village Of Pharoahs (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Live At The East (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Love In Us All (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Elevation (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Wisdom Through Music (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Tauhid (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Kahma (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Jewels Of Thought (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Thembi (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Black Unity (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Village Of Pharoahs (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Live At The East (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Love In Us All (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Elevation (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Pharoah Sanders - Wisdom Through Music (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Universal )
Ray Bryant - Gotta Travel On (Jpn LP Sleeve) (24 Bit Remastered) (Universal )
Ronnie Scott - Boppin With Scott (Proper Box )
Roy Haynes - Island (Explore Records)
Sadao Watanabe - Sadao Watanabe (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment)
Sadao Watanabe - Sadao Watanabe (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment )
Sarah Vaughan - Vaughan & Violins (Universal )
Sarah Vaughan - Sophisticated Lady (Kings Road )
Scott Joplin - Ragtime Piano Roll (Milan Records )
Shirley Horn - Mjf Live 1994 (Concord Records)
Sidney Bechet - Sydney Bechet Et Claude Luter (Universal )
Sonny Clark - Dial S For Sonny (EMI )
Sonny Rollins - St. Thomas (Jazz Hour )
Sonny Sttit - Wats New (Kings Road )
Sophie Milman - Sophie Milman (Koch)
Sophie Milman - Sophie Milman (+2 Bonus Tracks) (JVC Victor )
Stan Getz - Getz Smart (Kings Road )
Stan Getz Quartet - In Paris (Universal )
Stephane Grappelli - Improvisations (Emarcy)
Stephane Grappelli - Plays Cole Porter (Emarcy)
Stephane Grappelli - Django (Universal )
Steps Ahead - Magnetic (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Stuff - More Stuff (24 Bit Remastered) (Warner Music)
Terje Rypdal - Selected Recordings (24 Bit Remastered) (Universal )
Thelonious Monk - Monk The Transformer (Explore Records)
Thelonious Monk - Live In Paris Volume 1 (Explore Records)
Thelonious Monk - Live In Paris Volume 2 (Explore Records)
Thelonious Monk - Live In New York Volume 1 (Explore Records)
Tina Brooks - Back To The Tracks (EMI )
Toots Thielemans - Blues Pour Flirter (Emarcy)
Wynton Marsalis - Standards (Columbia Legacy )
Yoshio Suzuki - Friends (Sacdh) (BMG Entertainment)
Yoshio Suzuki - Friends (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Sacdh) (Sony )

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Jeff Kashiwa Explains 'Forever'

Saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa is proud of his new album, titled Play. The set shows off Kashiwa's seductive horn melodies on a collection of all-original tunes.

The first single from the set is a tune called "Forever," which Kashiwa co-wrote with fellow musician Roberto Vally. He explained: "The concept and the track, the groove and the track, came from a good friend of mine, Roberto Vally, another co-write. He's an expert at getting these really simple but catchy grooves and he puts them into his computer and makes demos out of them. And he sends these CDs around saying, If you hear something you like, you know, let's co-write it."

Play is due July 31st on Native Language.

By: Janine Coveney

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Soulive - "No Place Like Soul"

Further establishing their status as one of the preeminent soul/funk groups in music today, Soulive joins the famed Memphis soul label, Stax Records. The band's Stax debut, No Place Like Soul, is set for release July 31. The album marks the inaugural release by one of the label's trio of newly signed artists, which also includes Angie Stone and Isaac Hayes.

With the new addition of Toussaint, a vocalist who has spent the past several years touring with his reggae outfit The China Band, No Place Like Soul is the first Soulive album with a full-time vocalist and is the first that the band has recorded as a quartet since forming in 1999. Expanding upon the beat-driven instrumentals of 2005's Break Out, No Place Like Soul combines Toussaint's vocals with rich soul grooves that call to mind the band's legendary Stax predecessors. The album features 13 new tracks including standouts like the gospel-tinged “Waterfall,” the reggaefied hip-hop of “If This World Were A Song” and the infectious soul clap of “Comfort.” No Place Like Soul is produced by Stewart Lerman who has worked with such disparate talents as Loudon Wainwright III, Dar Williams and Vinicius Cantuaria.

Based in New York, Soulive is comprised of brothers Alan (drums) and Neal Evans (Hammond B-3 organ), as well as Eric Krasno (guitar) and Toussaint (vocals). The band has toured with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, The Roots, John Mayer and Common and recorded with acclaimed artists such as Talib Kweli, Robert Randolph and Chaka Khan.

Soulive's full-length debut Turn It Out was released in 2000 to such critical acclaim that the band was promptly signed to Blue Note Records, who released 2001's Doin' Something. Blue Note then released 2002's Next, which featured collaborations with Black Thought, Talib Kweli and Dave Matthews. On 2005's Break Out, Soulive's first album on Concord Records, the band worked with Chaka Khan, Ivan Neville and Robert Randolph.

The album further broadened Soulive's fan base, relating to both new school hip-hop heads and to those who grew up on Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly & The Family Stone and Curtis Mayfield.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Stax Records--home to many of soul music's most enduring recordings--Concord Music Group is relaunching the famed soul label. Releasing hit after hit from Otis Redding, Booker T. & the MG's, Isaac Hayes, Sam and Dave and The Staple Singers, among others, Stax Records pushed soul music to new heights. In a year of activity that will include deluxe reissues, special events and a slate of new signings, the relaunching of Stax will not only pay tribute to the label's past glories but also solidify its future. Soulive's No Place Like Soul is ample proof that the Stax legacy is as vital as ever.

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Smooth Jazz Chart | Week Ended 7/23/07

LW - TW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Euge Groove - "Born 2 Groove" - (Narada/Blue Note)
2 - 2 - Norman Brown - "Stay With Me" - (Peak)
3 - 3 - Boney James - "Shine" - (Concord)
8 - 4 - Paul Taylor - "Ladies' Choice" - (Peak)
4 - 5 - Paul Brown - "White Sand" - (Peak)
6 - 6 - Four80East - "En Route" - (Native Language)
5 - 7 - Nils - "Ready To Play" - (Baja/TSR)
9 - 8 - Keiko Matsui - "Moyo" - (Shout Factory)
7 - 9 - Brian Bromberg - "Downright Upright" - (Artistry)
11 - 10 - Rick Braun/Richard Elliot - "R n R" - (ARTizen)

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North Sea Jazz Cruise Day 7: Taking Aim At The Audience

They traveled 500 miles in one day to come aboard for 90 minutes and play one of the best gigs of the cruise. Their reward? A near-empty lounge with probably the lowest audience.

Two members of the German hyper-avant trio [em] made the long trip to Hamburg where Holland America Line's Rotterdam was docked as part of the inaugural North Sea Jazz Cruise. Winner of the 2007 “Most Promising International Newcomer of The Year” Ronnie Scott's Jazz Award, their music is something The Bad Plus (a personal fav) might tackle if they grew up with Wagner (ditto) instead of ABBA (not so much) But a top-level lounge maybe 20 percent full at the 4 p.m. start actually dwindled to a crowd that would fit in a modest living room by the end.

“What happened here was amazing,” said Miecea Ciurdar, a passenger from Bucharest, Romania. “There are no American listeners here.”.....

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Najee To Release 'Rising Sun' On Heads Up Int'l

Saxophonist Najee will release a new album on August 14th, titled Rising Sun. The new set finds the multi-instrumentalist and composer blending straight-ahead as well as contemporary jazz, classic R&B and even indie rock on this 10-song set.

The album includes the lead-off tune "Come What May," as well as covers of James Moody's "Moody's Mood For Love" and John Mayer's "Clarity." Producers include James Lloyd of Pieces Of A Dream and Chris "Big Dog" Davis.

Last year Najee completed a film of a 2005 trip to South Africa that was shown on the BET J channel last December and released on DVD in January. The musical travelogue Najee, Sax In South Africa was directed by actress and spoken word artist Kim Fields, and followed the smooth jazz star as he traveled to various shows and landmarks.

Najee explained how the South African documentary developed with Fields, who also contributed to his 2003 album Embrace: "I was actually talking to Kim Fields, because she had done some of the creative work on my current album at the time, Embrace, she had done some of the artwork for the album cover and stuff like that, her company did. And we told her that we were going over there, and she came up with the idea -- well, what would it take for us to do something with it? So we put our head together and that's what happened."

Rising Sun is the follow-up to Najee's 2005 Heads Up International release My Point Of View, which included the smooth jazz hit "2nd 2 None."

By: Janine Coveney

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Soul Ballet Ready To Get 'Lavish'

Composer and instrumentalist Rick Kelley is ready to release the newest CD from Soul Ballet, titled Lavish, on September 11th. The Artizen Music Group release features guest appearances by two of the label's owners, Rick Braun and Richard Elliot. The first single from the set is "Smooth Vegas," which features Elliot on saxophone.

Soul Ballet last topped the smooth jazz charts with "Cream," a track from the 2005 release DreamBeatDream.

Kelly, who in addition to music continues to succeed as an actor, says that his love of contemporary pop and hip-hop helped shape the musical feel of Lavish. "I'm really into the whole hip-hop thing, not the hardcore stuff but the pop side," Kelley explains, adding that he enjoys the work of producers like Timbaland and Pharrell and the work of pop acts Nelly Furtado, Gwen Stefani, and Justin Timberlake.

"Throughout the making of the project, I was trying to conceptualize the coolest way to blend those beats and flavors with smooth jazz," he adds. "The result is something no one else in contemporary jazz is doing."

Lavish will be the seventh CD from Soul Ballet since the self-titled 1996 debut.

By: Janine Coveney

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