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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - March 26th, 2012 #jazz


LW - TW - Artist - Album - (Label)
2 - 1 - Chris Standring - "Electric Wonderland" - (Ultimate Vibe)
3 - 2 - Paul Brown - "The Funky Joint" - (Woodward Ave.)
5 - 3 - Nick Colionne - "Feel The Heat" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
6 - 4 - Michael Lington - "Pure" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
1 - 5 - Najee - "Smooth Side Of Soul - (Shanachie)
9 - 6 - Peter White - "Here We Go" - (Concord)
4 - 7 - Boney James - "Contact" - (Verve)
7 - 8 - Eric Marienthal - "It's Love" - (Peak/eOne)
11 - 9 - Darren Rahn - "Speechless" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
8 - 10 - Acoustic Alchemy - "Roseland" - (Onside/Heads Up)
12 - 11 - Jeff Lorber - "Galaxy" - (Heads Up)
10 - 12 - Paul Taylor - "Prime Time" - (Peak)
15 - 13 - Rob Tardik - "Balance.Energy.Laughter.Love" - (Guitardik)
14 - 14 - George Benson - "Guitar Man" - (Concord)
13 - 15 - Richard Elliot - "In The Zone" - (Artistry/Mack Ave.)
17 - 16 - Down To The Bone - "The Main Ingredients" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
16 - 17 - Euge Groove - "S7ven Large" - (Shanachie)
19 - 18 - Kim Waters - "This Heart Of Mine" - (Shanachie)
23 - 19 - Ken Navarro - "The Test Of Time" - (Positive Music)
34 - 20 - David Wells - "Light" - (Independent)


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Bass master Brian Bromberg swings live on the energetic “Compared To That” #jazz

Virtuoso ensemble, ten-piece horn section and a full orchestra string section help propel the eclectic mix of jazz due June 5th

Grammy nominated bass maestro Brian Bromberg continues to blaze his own audacious path through the jazz kingdom on “Compared To That,” which will be released June 5th by Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Records.  For his 20th solo collection of kinetic and combustible jazz of various forms, Bromberg produced, composed eight new songs, and herded a ten-piece horn section, a full orchestra string section and a prodigious collective of prominent musicians.  The first track to go to radio is his swinging take on the snappy Chicago hit, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”
 
It’s been a while since Bromberg recorded an album that swings so he primarily maintains a fast cadence on “Compared To That.”  Although the record leans towards straight ahead acoustic jazz, Bromberg refuses to color between the lines.  His visionary, multihued jazz palette swirls hard-charging swing, contemporary sheen, deep-fried funk, and touchingly beautiful balladry.  Throughout the album, Bromberg’s basswork is like a master’s class with the astute musician playing acoustic, electric and piccolo (both acoustic and steel string) basses.  With his piccolo basses tuned to sound like guitar, all of the lead melodies and solos throughout the collection that sound like guitar are actually piccolo bass.  An accomplished cadre lent their talents to the two days of live tracking including Alex Acuna, Gannin Arnold, Charlie Bisharat, Randy Brecker, Vinnie Colaiuta, George Duke, Bela Fleck, Mitch Forman, Larry Goldings, Jeff Lorber, Gary Meek and Tom Zink.  Bromberg’s tongue-in-cheek humor was deftly deployed when it came to titling his original compositions - “Rory Lowery, Private Eye,” “If Ray Brown Was A Cowboy?,” “A Little New Old School” and “I’m Just Sayin’” are a few examples – and his flair for choosing unexpected songs to cover shines brightly on an imaginative, toe-tapping rendition of the Rick James signature hit “Give It To Me Baby.”    
 
One thing I feel that makes ‘Compared To That’ a unique project is that it is a live jazz recording that also has a ten-piece horn section on many tracks, a full orchestra string section on two cuts, and the production of a much bigger project.  Essentially, it really was a two-day live jazz recording session along with 3-1/2 months of the kind of production used on big pop records.  I truly blended the best of both worlds: live acoustic jazz with the audiophile of a major production,” explained Bromberg, who previewed the album at a Sunday brunch performance at the Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania this past weekend (March 25).  “I went more to my jazz roots on this CD with a lot of swing and walking bass.  All in all, I think it is a fun listen for a true jazz CD and I am very proud of it.”
 
On July 3rd, Bromberg will release a couple more inspired recording projects: “Bromberg Plays Hendrix,” a tribute to iconic guitarist Jimi Hendrix previously released in Japan that was made without any guitars, again playing the piccolo bass to the tune of a guitar, and “In The Spirit of Jobim,” which pays homage to Antonio Carlos Jobim on a collection of tunes made famous by the fabled Brazilian and original songs penned by the bassist emulating Jobim’s style. 
 
A native of Tucson, Arizona who recorded and mixed “Compared To That” while comfortably ensconced in his suburban Los Angeles home studio, Bromberg is respected as a musician with integrity who is gifted with a unique ability to make music at a scholarly level accessible and digestible to the mainstream masses.  He landed his breakthrough professional gig at age 18 when tapped to tour for nearly a year playing in legendary jazz saxophonist Stan Getz’s band.  Bromberg released his solo debut, “A New Day,” in 1986.  To date, he has scored handfuls of top 10 hits and a pair of #1 singles as a soloist and as a writer and producer for other artists.  Recognized as an innovator, he has played acoustic and electric bass on recordings and performances with a luminous encyclopedic list of musicians that spans the spectrum of jazz and popular music ranging from Dizzy Gillespie , Sarah Vaughn, Herbie Hancock, Dave Grusin and Nancy Wilson to Sting, Elvis Costello, and Steven Tyler, and from Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Dianna Krall, Andrea Bocelli and David Foster to George Benson, Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Kenny G, Chris Botti, Boney James and Dave Koz.  He also played on many major motion picture soundtracks such as “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” “The Preacher’s Wife,” “Fat Albert” and “Hope Floats.”  Additional information is available at www.brianbromberg.net
 
The songs contained on Bromberg’s “Compared To That” are:
 
“Compared To That”
“Rory Lowery, Private Eye”
“If Ray Brown Was A Cowboy?”
“Hayride”
“A Little New Old School”
“Forgiveness”
“Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”
“I’m Just Sayin’”
“The Eclipse”
“Give It To Me Baby”
 

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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Lineups for Jazz Cruises’ 2013 Sailings Coming Together! #jazz

Without a doubt, the most difficult aspect of The Jazz Cruise and The Smooth Jazz Cruise is assembling the lineup of artists and musicians. When we first started our cruises, the pushback from performers was often the driving force as to who sailed with us or not. Many felt that the production level of a cruise performance would not be up to par and that spending a week among Guests would be difficult, given their need for privacy at some point.
Over the years, those issues have faded and almost disappeared, which is good news. The bad news, and it is really not bad news, is that now our potential lineups are almost limitless, making choices all that more difficult!
The Jazz Cruise lineup for its 2013 (12th annual) sailing, which brings the total to an even dozen, is completed, subject to a few last-minute scheduling issues. A complete TJC sales flyer will be mailed out soon to our Guests and can be seen online by going to the website (www.thejazzcruise.com) and clicking on the sales flyer image. Any cruise that can feature Kurt Elling, Byron Stripling, Phil Woods, Eddie Palmieri, Arturo Sandoval, New York Voices, Joey De Francesco, Karrin Allyson and Ann Hampton Callaway has to be taken very seriously. When you add longtime favorites Wycliffe Gordon, Shelly Berg, Ken Peplowski, Freddy Cole, Clayton Brothers, Houston Person and so many others, the cruise becomes a can’t-miss opportunity.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2013, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, has had its lineup set for months now. David Sanborn and Marcus Miller will be welcoming special guest, George Benson, together with a cavalcade of stars, including Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Brian Culbertson, Bob James, and Angie Stone. Longtime favorites Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Jeff Golub will be there as well, together with newcomers Ken Ford, Steve Cole and Paul Taylor. Singer-guitarist Raul Midon and the ever-present Larry Braggs have just been added to our lounge performing group, which already features Chance Howard, Ellis Hall, Tom Braxton and Patches Stewart. With all- star bands, under the leadership of piano star Brian Simpson, backing up these performers, it will be an amazing array of talent and fun.
Speaking of fun, Alonzo Bodden has become the official comedian of Entertainment Cruise Productions, as he is now the resident funny man on The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise and our newly minted Soul Train Cruise. Though the music genres may be different, Alonzo’s ability to make people laugh at themselves and others is constant. By capturing the pulse of the cruise, Alonzo is able to personalize each and every one of his shows.
Our cruise programs are intended to provide our Guests with the very best in talent, music and production. When you peruse the names set forth above, though they are different in terms of genre or musical category, you cannot help but realize that they represent the very best in their field. That is the mission of Entertainment Cruise Productions and its Jazz Cruises division: to bring the very best to our loyal and amazing Guests!

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Monday, March 19, 2012

Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - March 192th, 2012 #jazz


LW - TW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Najee - "Smooth Side Of Soul - (Shanachie)
6 - 2 - Chris Standring - "Electric Wonderland" - (Ultimate Vibe)
3 - 3 - Paul Brown - "The Funky Joint" - (Woodward Ave.)
2 - 4 - Boney James - "Contact" - (Verve)
4 - 5 - Nick Colionne - "Feel The Heat" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
5 - 6 - Michael Lington - "Pure" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
7 - 7 - Eric Marienthal - "It's Love" - (Peak/eOne)
8 - 8 - Acoustic Alchemy - "Roseland" - (Onside/Heads Up)
9 - 9 - Peter White - "Here We Go" - (Concord)
10 - 10 - Paul Taylor - "Prime Time" - (Peak)
18 - 11 - Darren Rahn - "Speechless" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
14 - 12 - Jeff Lorber - "Galaxy" - (Heads Up)
12 - 13 - Richard Elliot - "In The Zone" - (Artistry/Mack Ave.)
11 - 14 - George Benson - "Guitar Man" - (Concord)
16 - 15 - Rob Tardik - "Balance.Energy.Laughter.Love" - (Guitardik)
13 - 16 - Euge Groove - "S7ven Large" - (Shanachie)
20 - 17 - Down To The Bone - "The Main Ingredients" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
17 - 18 - Walle Larsson - "After The Night" - (Dockside)
15 - 19 - Kim Waters - "This Heart Of Mine" - (Shanachie)
19 - 20 - Brian Hughes - "Fast Train To A Quiet Place" - (Sylvan House)


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Take 6 - "One" - Shanachie release on 3/27 #jazz

Shanachie Entertainment is set to release Take 6's new CD 'One'. A cappella sensation Take 6 (Alvin Chea, Khristian Dentley, Joey Kibble, Mark Kibble, Claude V. McKnight III, David Thomas) defies category. The instantly recognizable and irrepressible ten-time Grammy and Dove winners are a perfect representation of what Duke Ellington called “Beyond Category.” Take 6, who holds the distinction of being the most Grammy nominated vocal group in history, is truly unique in their sound: Six angelic and refined voices united in crystal clear harmony against a rip tide of syncopated rhythms, ornate arrangements and funky grooves that bubble into an intoxicating brew of gospel, jazz, R&B and pop flavor. With ten Grammy and Dove Awards, two NAACP Image Awards and one Soul Train Award under their belt, Take 6 are musician’s musicians who have won praise from such luminaries as Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder. Brian Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston. They have even played the White House. The multi-platinum selling sextet will release their highly anticipated Shanachie Entertainment debut, "One," on March 27, 2012.

“Take 6’s unique genius is unmatched on today's music scene, and I can't wait for the world to feel the joy and brilliance of their new album. They never sounded better,” states VP of A&R, Danny Weiss. The title track and first single from Take 6’s new recording One captures the genius behind what has made the a cappella powerhouse a phenomenon for decades. The sure to be chart-topping single has an equally admirable video that features cameos from everyone from Stevie Wonder and Brian McKnight to Lalah Hathaway. Stevie Wonder also joins Take 6 on "One" in a stirring rendition of his own beautiful composition, “Can’t Imagine Love Without You.” Other highlights on the CD include the groups own songs like “Working In You” and “Done My Best” and brilliant re-workings of such gospel stalwarts as “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” “Farther Along” and “Take The Lord With You.”

The Take 6 story began in 1980 at Oakwood College in Huntsville, AL. It was not long before their signature sound garnered the group wide spread attention. In 1987, Take 6 signed with Warner Brothers and released their eponymously titled debut, which scored two Grammys and landed in the top ten on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz and Contemporary Christian charts. Take 6’s emergence on the music scene garnered wide spread attention and opportunities to collaborate with many of the brightest stars in the industry. In 1990, they released the Grammy winning "So Much 2 Say," which found a home at number 2 spot on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart. Another Grammy followed with the group's holiday recording He Is Christmas. During the 90s they continued to solidify themselves as forces to reckon with producing a string of stellar recordings including Join the Band (1994), Brothers (1996), So Cool (1998) and We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1999). Both Join the Band and Brothers were both Grammy winners. In 2000, TAKE 6 released a live recording and a best-of collection that was followed by Beautiful World in 2002. In 2006, Feels Good, presented an opportunity for the group to release their first new album on their own label. In 2008, Take 6 joined forces with an all-star lineup that included Aaron Neville, Brian McKnight, George Benson, Al Jarreau and Jon Hendricks for their album The Standard, their first for the Heads up label. 2010’s Most Wonderful Time of the Year, climbed to the top 40 spot on Billboard's U.S. Jazz charts. Always one to reach back and give back, Take 6 mentors and nurtures young talent through their Take 6 Vocal Jazz Scholarship. With the release of One, Take 6 reminds us of why they are the gold standard for a cappella groups everywhere!

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Friday, March 16, 2012

Darren Rahn - "Speechless" - Trippin 'N' Rhythm Release on 3/26 #jazz

The long wait is over and after making his segue to Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm, the stage is set for the release of this, his third and most revealing record to date.

Having firmly established himself as a first call producer, mixing up #1 hits for Dave Koz, Tim Bowman and his longtime friend and collaborator, the late great Wayman Tisdale, Darren Rahn puts it all out on full display, proving that beyond being a serious producer, he is equally adept at songwriting and proves again that his saxophone chops rank with the best in the business.

A master at melody, Rahn is also a true craftsman when it comes to creating strong hooks, and they are both on full display with the lead single “Magnetic”, an apropos title for a song with a pull so strong that it sticks to you and you’ll not soon get it off.

Rahn brings some of his closest friends along for the ride with cameo appearances from Dave Koz, Paul Brown, Najee, and Nate Harasim. The album also features two very special vocal tracks, the title track “Speechless” highlighted by the breathtaking voice of Maxine Hardcastle and he also welcomes the exciting and dynamic new vocal sensation Joshua on the track “Magical”, which is truly that and is destined to become a pop smash.

From cover to cover “Speechless” never lets up and never lets down and while it will leave you wordless upon listening, you’ll soon find yourself anxiously spreading the word. Rahn’s latest ranks as one of the finest recordings to grace the genre and will force his peers to have to reach way up.

In Stores March 26th

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Monday, March 12, 2012

Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - March 12th, 2012 #jazz


LW - TW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Najee - "Smooth Side Of Soul - (Shanachie)
2 - 2 - Boney James - "Contact" - (Verve)
6 - 3 - Paul Brown - "The Funky Joint" - (Woodward Ave.)
3 - 4 - Nick Colionne - "Feel The Heat" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
5 - 5 - Michael Lington - "Pure" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
7 - 6 - Chris Standring - "Electric Wonderland" - (Ultimate Vibe)
4 - 7 - Eric Marienthal - "It's Love" - (Peak/eOne)
8 - 8 - Acoustic Alchemy - "Roseland" - (Onside/Heads Up)
32 - 9 - Peter White - "Here We Go" - (Concord)
9 - 10 - Paul Taylor - "Prime Time" - (Peak)
11 - 11 - George Benson - "Guitar Man" - (Concord)
10 - 12 - Richard Elliot - "In The Zone" - (Artistry/Mack Ave.)
15 - 13 - Euge Groove - "S7ven Large" - (Shanachie)
12 - 14 - Jeff Lorber - "Galaxy" - (Heads Up)
13 - 15 - Kim Waters - "This Heart Of Mine" - (Shanachie)
14 - 16 - Rob Tardik - "Balance.Energy.Laughter.Love" - (Guitardik)
16 - 17 - Walle Larsson - "After The Night" - (Dockside)
20 - 18 - Darren Rahn - "Speechless" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
17 - 19 - Brian Hughes - "Fast Train To A Quiet Place" - (Sylvan House)
19 - 20 - Down To The Bone - "The Main Ingredients" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)



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Esperanza Spalding - "Radio Music Society" - Release on Heads Up 3/20/12 - #jazz

It has not taken Esperanza Spalding long to emerge as one of the brightest lights in the musical world. Listeners familiar with her stunning 2008 Heads Up International debut, Esperanza, and her best-selling 2010 release Chamber Music Society, were well aware that the young bassist, vocalist and composer from Portland, Oregon was the real deal, with a unique and style-spanning presence, deeply rooted in jazz yet destined to make her mark far beyond the jazz realm. That judgment was confirmed on February 13, 2011, when Spalding became the first jazz musician to receive the GRAMMY® Award for Best New Artist. On March 20th, 2012, Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, gives us Spalding's latest release, Radio Music Society, her most diverse, ambitious and masterful recital yet. 11 songs are accompanied by conceptual short films, which further express Esperanza's inspiration and story behind each track. Shot in various locations including New York City; Barcelona, Spain; and Portland, Oregon; all videos will be available to purchasers of Radio Music Society as a digital download or a DVD on the deluxe version.

Radio Music Society is a companion, rather than a sequel, to Spalding's previous disc, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. "Originally I thought it would be fun to release a double album," she explains, "One disc with an intimate, subtle exploration of chamber works and a second one in which jazz musicians explore song forms and melodies that are formatted more along the lines of what we would categorize as "pop songs." Those are the two things that really interest me, and it intrigues me to think about different presentation approaches while writing each kind of song. On the pop song side, I think about listeners who aren't into jazz, but I also think about the people within my musical community who can interpret each idea best."

"Radio Song," the new disc's opening track, both sets the tone and confirms the aptness of Spalding's "radio music" metaphor. "Everyone has the experience of turning on a car radio," she explains," mindlessly flipping through the dial and suddenly a fragment grabs you and you're totally digging it. I wanted to capture that moment when the music just sinks in. It's about the power of song, and how at the least it can save the day."

Fleshing out the concept with original music was second nature to Spalding. "I have this book of music that I've written, and so much of it fit either the Chamber Music or Radio Music concept. Songs develop for me in fragments, so for these projects, I took my notes and organized them into coherent works of music."

In the process, Spalding added her original, affirmative perspective to classic radio music themes. Songs about love run a full gamut. "Hold On Me" is a narrative of unrequited love, inspired by people who cling to dreams of relationships that can never be realized. "Let Her," one of Spalding's older compositions, was inspired by "different people I've known who are in miserable situations, then complain when they end." "Cinnamon Tree," written to cheer up a friend, celebrates platonic love, and Spalding's belief that "the love between friends is just as important as romantic love."

"Crowned and Kissed," with references to King Arthur and Midas, is about "the unsung royalty in your life, men and women who quietly, every day do the most honorable things, and who deserve to be honored even if they don't end up with castles and thrones." The edgy "Smile Like That" marks the moment a person realizes that his or her partner has developed other interests. "I'm saying, `Okay, I get it, let's not beat around the bush,'" Spalding explains.

Her takes on the state of our country and our culture are equally fresh and insightful. "Vague Suspicions" confronts society's short attention span and our habit of absorbing horrific events and celebrity gossip as part of the same media overload. The brief "Land Of The Free" speaks to the sinister system of false imprisonment by outlining the case of one innocent victim who spent 30 years in jail for a crime he did not commit.

"Black Gold" is specifically addressed to young boys of color. "So much of our strength is drawn from resistance and endurance," she explains, "but black pride didn't just start with the slave trade. I wanted to address our nobility, going back to our incredible ancestors in pre-colonial Africa. I remember meetings when I was in elementary school about being strong as young black women, and I don't think the boys had those meetings. This song is meant to speak to those young men, and I imagined it might one day be something that a parent could sing to his or her son."

Radio Music Society also features "City of Roses," a celebration of her native Portland, Oregon that Spalding was commissioned to write by Banana Republic, and two cover tunes. Taking the advice of one of her mentors, tenor saxophone giant Joe Lovano: "When you do a classic, you have to find your own reason for doing it." Spalding charges Stevie Wonder's "I Can't Help It" with the energy of apprehensive new love and adds original lyrics to Wayne Shorter's "Endangered Species."

The music is realized by many of the brilliant musicians who are part of Spalding's ever-expanding universe. In addition to longtime partners Lovano, keyboard player Leo Genovese and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, the ranks contain jazz legends Jack DeJohnette and Billy Hart; guitar heroes Jef Lee Johnson and Lionel Loueke; an array of master vocalists including Algebra Blessett, Lalah Hathaway, Gretchen Parlato, Leni Stern and Becca Stevens; hip-hop giant Q-Tip (who performs on and co-produced two tracks); and two Portland-based musicians, Janice Scroggins and Dr. Thara Memory, who provided essential mentorship in Spalding's youth.

Four tracks feature the horn section of the American Music Program, a youth big band of musicians age 12 to 18 directed by her longtime mentor and teacher Dr. Memory, who conducts and provides horn arrangements; while the soulful pianist on "Hold on Me" is Ms. Scroggins, who Spalding studied with as a child. "Both of them are phenomenal artists who aren't well known outside of the Northwest," Spalding emphasizes. "Janice Scroggins was, quite honestly, too deep for me when I was eight years old. She unifies completely the sounds of gospel, blues and jazz, our American roots music. And Dr. Thara Memory, the teacher I came up through, has dedicated his life to spreading the message of this music. I had to have his youth band on the record, because they're part of my Music Society, too."

Among its many strengths, Radio Music Society is a celebration of the men and women who have helped cultivate Spalding's talent, as well as those who have nurtured her vision and inspired her along the way. "I've had the honor and blessing of working with so many phenomenal jazz musicians over the years," she says. "As I've gotten to know them and their music, I've grown to love them as family and colleagues. I wished for an opportunity for us all to interpret songs together, so that they can be heard and received by a larger audience. All my personal heroes who are revered in the jazz world - like Joe Lovano and Terri Lyne Carrington - should be heard by a mainstream audience, because what they manifest in their music is so beautiful, sincere and uplifting. I think they literally bring good into the lives of the people who hear them. So I've tried to put together a program of music that speaks to the non-jazz listener, but can still provide a viable foundation for my jazz heroes to express themselves. Hopefully, people can enjoy all the elements of my music without being told which genres it is ‘supposedly' a blend of. Everyone is invited to listen with no pre-conceived notions. It's a journey. Think and feel for yourself. But, most importantly, ENJOY!"

"Art doesn't thrive with too much analyzing and explaining," Esperanza Spalding notes, "The idea of `radio music' is very broad." Radio Music Society is destined to expand the concept even further, not to mention the horizons of the music world's most exceptional young artist.

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Monday, March 05, 2012

Darren Rahn - "Speechless" - Trippin 'N' Rhythm Debut 3/27 #jazz

The long wait is over and after making his segue to Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm, the stage is set for the release of this, his third and most revealing record to date.

Having firmly established himself as a first call producer, mixing up #1 hits for Dave Koz, Tim Bowman and his longtime friend and collaborator, the late great Wayman Tisdale, Darren Rahn puts it all out on full display, proving that beyond being a serious producer, he is equally adept at songwriting and proves again that his saxophone chops rank with the best in the business.

A master at melody, Rahn is also a true craftsman when it comes to creating strong hooks, and they are both on full display with the lead single “Magnetic”, an apropos title for a song with a pull so strong that it sticks to you and you’ll not soon get it off.

Rahn brings some of his closest friends along for the ride with cameo appearances from Dave Koz, Paul Brown, Najee, and Nate Harasim. The album also features two very special vocal tracks, the title track “Speechless” highlighted by the breathtaking voice of Maxine Hardcastle and he also welcomes the exciting and dynamic new vocal sensation Joshua on the track “Magical”, which is truly that and is destined to become a pop smash.

From cover to cover “Speechless” never lets up and never lets down and while it will leave you wordless upon listening, you’ll soon find yourself anxiously spreading the word. Rahn’s latest ranks as one of the finest recordings to grace the genre and will force his peers to have to reach way up.

In Stores March 27th

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - March 5th, 2012 #jazz


LW - TW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Najee - "Smooth Side Of Soul - (Shanachie)
2 - 2 - Boney James - "Contact" - (Verve)
3 - 3 - Nick Colionne - "Feel The Heat" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
9 - 4 - Eric Marienthal - "It's Love" - (Peak/eOne)
4 - 5 - Michael Lington - "Pure" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
7 - 6 - Paul Brown - "The Funky Joint" - (Woodward Ave.)
11 - 7 - Chris Standring - "Electric Wonderland" - (Ultimate Vibe)
5 - 8 - Acoustic Alchemy - "Roseland" - (Onside/Heads Up)
6 - 9 - Paul Taylor - "Prime Time" - (Peak)
10 - 10 - Richard Elliot - "In The Zone" - (Artistry/Mack Ave.)
13 - 11 - George Benson - "Guitar Man" - (Concord)
15 - 12 - Jeff Lorber - "Galaxy" - (Heads Up)
8 - 13 - Kim Waters - "This Heart Of Mine" - (Shanachie)
16 - 14 - Rob Tardik - "Balance.Energy.Laughter.Love" - (Guitardik)
14 - 15 - Euge Groove - "S7ven Large" - (Shanachie)
22 - 16 - Walle Larsson - "After The Night" - (Dockside)
18 - 17 - Brian Hughes - "Fast Train To A Quiet Place" - (Sylvan House)
12 - 18 - Andy Snitzer - "Traveler" - (Native Language)
17 - 19 - Down To The Bone - "The Main Ingredients" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
33 - 20 - Darren Rahn - "Speechless" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)


Our thanks to smoothjazz.comVisit 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
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