A very Happy New Year year to all the visitors of the JazzHQ blog, Facebook and Twitter. We're pleased that you found your way here and grateful if you've done it more than once. Best wishes to you all. Good health and peace in the new year.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Happy New Year To Our JazzHQ Subscribers [Video] #jazz
A very Happy New Year year to all the visitors of the JazzHQ blog, Facebook and Twitter. We're pleased that you found your way here and grateful if you've done it more than once. Best wishes to you all. Good health and peace in the new year.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Merry Christmas from JazzHQ #jazz
Our very best wishes to all of you who took the time to visit JazzHQ during the year, whether at jazzhq/blogspot.com, twitter.com/jazzhq, or facebook.com/jazzhq.
White Christmas - The Drifters (Video/cartoon)
Sung by The Drifters. Cartoon by Joshua Held.
Featuring Bill Pinkney on lead bass and Clyde McPhatter on tenor.
Sing along:
Ooh
Doop doop, doop doo doop
Ooh
Doop doop, doop doo doop
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where those treetops glisten, and children listen,
To hear sleigh bells in the snow, the snow.
Then, I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write,
May your days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.
I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where the treetops glisten, and children listen,
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write,
May your days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells all the way.
Ooooh.
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
White Christmas - The Drifters (Video/cartoon)
Sung by The Drifters. Cartoon by Joshua Held.
Featuring Bill Pinkney on lead bass and Clyde McPhatter on tenor.
Sing along:
Ooh
Doop doop, doop doo doop
Ooh
Doop doop, doop doo doop
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where those treetops glisten, and children listen,
To hear sleigh bells in the snow, the snow.
Then, I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write,
May your days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.
I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where the treetops glisten, and children listen,
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write,
May your days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells all the way.
Ooooh.
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Monday, December 07, 2015
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - December 7, 2015 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Vincent Ingala - "Coast To Coast" - (Independent)
2 - 4 - Fourplay - "Silver - (Concord Music Group)
3 - 2 - Dave Koz - "Collaborations" - (Concord)
4 - 7 - Ken Navarro - "Unbreakable Heart" - (Positive Music Records)
5 - 6 - Nils - "Alley Cat" - (Baja/TSR Records)
6 - 8 - Boney James - "Futuresoul" - (Concord)
7 - 10 - Four80East - "Positraction" - (Boomtang)
8 - 3 - Maysa - "Back 2 Love" - (Shanachie)
9 - 5 - Rick Braun - "Can You Feel It" - (Artistry)
10 - 9 - Lee Ritenour - "A Twist Of Rit" - (Concord)
11 - 12 - Pieces Of A Dream - "All In" - (Shanachie)
12 - 13 - Julian Vaughn - "Limitless" - (julianvaughn.com)
13 - 14 - Patrick Bradley - "Can You Hear Me" - (Patrick Bradley)
14 - 11 - Gerald Albright - "Slam Dunk" - (Heads Up)
15 - 20 - Lawson Rollins - "Infinite Chill" - (Infinita Records/Baja TSR)
16 - 15 - Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Step It Up" - (Heads Up)
17 - 19 - Cindy Bradley - "Bliss" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
18 - 16 - Phil Perry - "A Better Man" - (Shanachie)
19 - 22 - Byron Miller - "Psycho Bass" - (Byron Lee Miller's Studio's LLC)
20 - 18 - Euge Groove - "Got 2 Be Groovin'" - (Shanachie)
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com 
Monday, November 30, 2015
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - November 30, 2015 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Vincent Ingala - "Coast To Coast" - (Independent)
2 - 2 - Dave Koz - "Collaborations" - (Concord)
3 - 3 - Maysa - "Back 2 Love" - (Shanachie)
4 - 11 - Fourplay - "Silver - (Concord Music Group)
5 - 6 - Rick Braun - "Can You Feel It" - (Artistry)
6 - 7 - Nils - "Alley Cat" - (Baja/TSR Records)
7 - 5 - Ken Navarro - "Unbreakable Heart" - (Positive Music Records)
8 - 4 - Boney James - "Futuresoul" - (Concord)
9 - 8 - Lee Ritenour - "A Twist Of Rit" - (Concord)
10 - 9 - Four80East - "Positraction" - (Boomtang)
11 - 10 - Gerald Albright - "Slam Dunk" - (Heads Up)
12 - 12 - Pieces Of A Dream - "All In" - (Shanachie)
13 - 16 - Julian Vaughn - "Limitless" - (julianvaughn.com)
14 - 14 - Patrick Bradley - "Can You Hear Me" - (Patrick Bradley)
15 - 19 - Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Step It Up" - (Heads Up)
16 - 15 - Phil Perry - "A Better Man" - (Shanachie)
17 - 17 - Eric Marienthal & Chuck Loeb" - "Bridges" - (Shanachie)
18 - 21 - Euge Groove - "Got 2 Be Groovin'" - (Shanachie)
19 - 13 - Cindy Bradley - "Bliss" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
20 - 18 - Lawson Rollins - "Infinite Chill" - (Infinita Records/Baja TSR)
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving
Monday, November 23, 2015
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - November 23, 2015 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Vincent Ingala - "Coast To Coast" - (Independent)
2 - 2 - Dave Koz - "Collaborations" - (Concord)
3 - 6 - Maysa - "Back 2 Love" - (Shanachie)
4 - 3 - Boney James - "Futuresoul" - (Concord)
5 - 4 - Ken Navarro - "Unbreakable Heart" - (Positive Music Records)
6 - 8 - Rick Braun - "Can You Feel It" - (Artistry)
7 - 5 - Nils - "Alley Cat" - (Baja/TSR Records)
8 - 9 - Lee Ritenour - "A Twist Of Rit" - (Concord)
9 - 10 - Four80East - "Positraction" - (Boomtang)
10 - 7 - Gerald Albright - "Slam Dunk" - (Heads Up)
11 - 21 - Fourplay - "Silver - (Concord Music Group)
12 - 17 - Pieces Of A Dream - "All In" - (Shanachie)
13 - 12 - Cindy Bradley - "Bliss" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
14 - 11 - Patrick Bradley - "Can You Hear Me" - (Patrick Bradley)
15 - 16 - Phil Perry - "A Better Man" - (Shanachie)
16 - 15 - Julian Vaughn - "Limitless" - (julianvaughn.com)
17 - 14 - Eric Marienthal & Chuck Loeb" - "Bridges" - (Shanachie)
18 - 13 - Lawson Rollins - "Infinite Chill" - (Infinita Records/Baja TSR)
19 - 22 - Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Step It Up" - (Heads Up)
20 - 23 - U-Nam - "C'est Le Funk" - (Skytown)
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Jamaican Roots Color Darren Barrett's "Trumpet Vibes" Release on 11/20/15 #jazz
Hard bop jazz meets reggae on the award-winning artist's seventh album, due November 20.Trumpeter Darren Barrett proudly wears his Jamaican ancestry on his musical sleeve as well as on the album sleeve of "Trumpet Vibes," his seventh album that will be released November 20 on the dB Studios label. Decorated in the distinctive green, yellow and black colors of the Jamaican flag, the award-winning Canadian musician, composer and producer mines the native sounds of his parents' homeland for the first time on the eight-tracker constructed of hard bop jazz amidst laidback reggae rhythms and frenetic ska grooves. Throughout the session that highlights Barrett's academic technical proficiency and heartfelt interpretive trumpet work, animate vibraphone plays the role of trusty sidekick with noted vibist Warren Wolf on the record's opener and closer.
Barrett not only honors his family's lineage on "Trumpet Vibes," but he opens the proceedings with a salute to one of his early mentors, Donald Byrd, with a bouncy take of Byrd's "Fly Little Bird," that flaps mightily, evolving into a hard-swinging tilt midflight. Barrett wrote four compositions for the album and applies the jazz-meets-reggae ethos to a few modern classics. An original tune, "Chiapas" serves up somber autumnal hues from Barrett's horn over a brisk ska track provided by the dynamic rhythm section composed of brothers Alexander and Anthony Toth on upright bass and drums respectively. The stately pop gem "To Sir, With Love" gets an invigorating and spritely makeover, riding the crest of a rocking wave of Caribbean culture. Vibraphonist Simon Moullier, who plays on the entire album, charismatically shares the spotlight with Barrett's moody horn on the regal reggae jam "Song For A Princess." The cadence is elevated on "Phantom," a particularly rambunctious monster stalking the outer perimeter of experimental jazz, free-form fusion and rowdy rock. Both "Everything I Own" and Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour" get the full-scale reggae treatment with the former being a fun and celebratory romp while the latter benefits from some good old rock & roll grit. Closing with a knockout punch, brilliant musicianship electrifies "The Club Up The Street," which bops, swings and soars mightily, allowing Barrett and Wolf the time and space to mix it up in a go-for-broke improvisational trumpet and vibraphone free-for-all.
"This album means so much to me personally because it mixes the music from my Jamaican heritage, which is part of my heart, and jazz, which is part of my soul, into one. ‘Trumpet Vibes' brings together the best of these two musical worlds that share a common ancestral genesis in Africa. I've spent the past two years totally immersed in the creation of this project - writing, producing, playing and recording - and I'm excited for people to finally hear it," said Barrett, who was labeled "a force to be reckoned with" by the Boston Globe.
Barrett, a Toronto, Ontario native who has been anchored in Boston, Massachusetts ever since attending the famed Berklee College of Music where he presently serves as an associate professor in the ensemble department, won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 1997. Two years later, he issued his debut recording as a band leader, the aptly titled "First One Up." Often mentioned in the same breath as Wynton Marsalis and Terence Blanchard perhaps comes from having studied under the same professor, William Fielder. Barrett soloed on Esperanza Spaulding's double Grammy winner "Radio Music Society" and has recorded or performed internationally with jazz royalty such as Roy Hargrove, Elvin Jones, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. The trumpeter is a jazz purveyor who leads a handful of combos that provide a variety of outlets for his wanderings and full creative expression in the genre. Still enjoying a remarkably prolific period that brought to fruition two releases last year - "Energy In Motion: The Music of the Bee Gees" and "Direct 2014: Darren Barrett and the dB Quintet" - he's already at work crafting his next unpredictable endeavor, jazz interpretations of Amy Winehouse's songbook, which is slated to arrive in the spring. On Sunday (October 18), Barrett leads his dB Quintet into New York City for a show at The Iridium.
The songs contained on "Trumpet Vibes" are:
"Fly Little Bird"
"Chiapas"
"To Sir, With Love"
"Song For A Princess"
"Phantom"
"Everything I Own"
"My Cherie Amour"
"The Club Up The Street"
For more information, please visit www.DarrenBarrett.com.
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Monday, November 16, 2015
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - November 16, 2015 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Vincent Ingala - "Coast To Coast" - (Independent)
2 - 2 - Dave Koz - "Collaborations" - (Concord)
3 - 3 - Boney James - "Futuresoul" - (Concord)
4 - 4 - Ken Navarro - "Unbreakable Heart" - (Positive Music Records)
5 - 6 - Nils - "Alley Cat" - (Baja/TSR Records)
6 - 5 - Maysa - "Back 2 Love" - (Shanachie)
7 - 7 - Gerald Albright - "Slam Dunk" - (Heads Up)
8 - 8 - Rick Braun - "Can You Feel It" - (Artistry)
9 - 9 - Lee Ritenour - "A Twist Of Rit" - (Concord)
10 - 10 - Four80East - "Positraction" - (Boomtang)
11 - 11 - Patrick Bradley - "Can You Hear Me" - (Patrick Bradley)
12 - 12 - Cindy Bradley - "Bliss" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
13 - 13 - Lawson Rollins - "Infinite Chill" - (Infinita Records/Baja TSR)
14 - 15 - Eric Marienthal & Chuck Loeb" - "Bridges" - (Shanachie)
15 - 14 - Julian Vaughn - "Limitless" - (julianvaughn.com)
16 - 17 - Phil Perry - "A Better Man" - (Shanachie)
17 - 26 - Pieces Of A Dream - "All In" - (Shanachie)
18 - 18 - Euge Groove - "Got 2 Be Groovin" - (Shanachie)
19 - 27 - Andy Snitzer - "American Beauty" - (Independent)
20 - 16 - Byron Miller - "Psycho Bass" - (Bryon Lee Miller's Studios LLC)
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Allen Toussaint, New Orleans R&B Musician, Dies at 77
Allen
Toussaint, the versatile producer and songwriter who was a fixture of
New Orleans R&B, died Monday after appearing in concert in Madrid.
He was 77.
His
daughter, Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux, confirmed his death in an email,
and said the cause appeared to be a heart attack. El Mundo reported in Spain that Mr. Toussaint had collapsed at a hotel after the performance and was taken to a hospital.
He
had been keeping a busy schedule, appearing in the United States and in
Europe in recent weeks, with plans to perform in Belgium and Britain
after his appearance in Spain. On Monday evening, fans who attended the
performance at the Teatro Lara in Madrid posted video of Mr. Toussaint as he sat at a piano and sang.
“The @teatrolara is a Southern party thanks to the great Allen Toussaint,” a local music club wrote on Twitter.
Mr.
Toussaint was born in 1938 in Gert Town, a humble, working-class
neighborhood of New Orleans, where he taught himself piano. He began his
career as a teenager in the 1950s, releasing his first album in 1958
under the name Tousan. In 1960, he became the house producer, arranger
and songwriter for the Minit label, working on songs like Ernie K-Doe’s
“Mother in Law,” Lee Dorsey’s “Ya Ya” and Jessie Hill’s “Ooh Poo Pah
Doo.”
Throughout
his career, Mr. Toussaint embodied the traditions of the New Orleans
R&B scene, working as one of the city’s most prolific and
influential songwriters and producers during the 1960s and 70s. Even in
that fertile period of New Orleans music, Mr. Toussaint’s work stood out
for its humor, jaunty style and arrangements with piano flourishes that
showed the influence of Professor Longhair.
After
a brief stint in the United States Army, Mr. Toussaint returned to
music in 1965 and continued to work with a range of New Orleans
musicians, including the early funk group the Meters. He co-founded
Sea-Saint Studios in 1972, which attracted Paul Simon, Paul McCartney
and others.
His
songs would eventually be covered widely by other musicians, including
“Java,” a hit for Al Hirt in 1964, and “Fortune Teller,” which became a
standard among British Invasion rock bands in the mid-60s, recorded by
the Who and the Rolling Stones, among others.
“I was so glad when the Stones recorded my song,” Mr. Toussaint once told an interviewer. “ I knew they would know how to roll it all the way to the bank.”
On Tuesday, the Rolling Stones posted the song on Twitter, with the message “RIP Allen Toussaint.” Other musicians, like Harry Shearer and Harry Connick Jr., also posted messages.
“We have lost a giant,” Mr. Shearer wrote.
In
recent years, Mr. Toussaint continued to be a frequent and versatile
collaborator, whether it was exploring his roots with New Orleans
musicians or pairing with pop stars like Elvis Costello, with whom he
recorded the album “The River in Reverse,” a response to Hurricane Katrina.
According
to his website, Mr. Toussaint said his career was rebooted a decade ago
when the storm forced him to move to New York, where he often performed
alone at Joe’s Pub on Lafayette Street.
Mr. Toussaint would eventually return home, where he was a beloved local figure with an understated demeanor.
“I’m
not accustomed to talking about myself,” he said, according to his
website. “I talk in the studio with musicians. Or through my songs.”
This article originally appeared in the New York Times:
By Katie Rogers and Ben Sisariono - November 10, 2015
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Monday, November 09, 2015
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - November 9, 2015 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Vincent Ingala - "Coast To Coast" - (Independent)
2 - 2 - Dave Koz - "Collaborations" - (Concord)
3 - 3 - Boney James - "Futuresoul" - (Concord)
4 - 5 - Ken Navarro - "Unbreakable Heart" - (Positive Music Records)
5 - 4 - Maysa - "Back 2 Love" - (Shanachie)
6 - 8 - Nils - "Alley Cat" - (Baja/TSR Records)
7 - 6 - Gerald Albright - "Slam Dunk" - (Heads Up)
8 - 9 - Rick Braun - "Can You Feel It" - (Artistry)
9 - 7 - Lee Ritenour - "A Twist Of Rit" - (Concord)
10 - 10 - Four80East - "Positraction" - (Boomtang)
11 - 12 - Patrick Bradley - "Can You Hear Me" - (Patrick Bradley)
12 - 13 - Cindy Bradley - "Bliss" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
13 - 11 - Lawson Rollins - "Infinite Chill" - (Infinita Records/Baja TSR)
14 - 17 - Julian Vaughn - "Limitless" - (julianvaughn.com)
15 - 14 - Eric Marienthal & Chuck Loeb" - "Bridges" - (Shanachie)
16 - 20 - Byron Miller - "Psycho Bass" - (Bryon Lee Miller's Studios LLC)
17 - 16 - Phil Perry - "A Better Man" - (Shanachie)
18 - 24 - Euge Groove - "Got 2 Be Groovin" - (Shanachie)
19 - 23 - Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Step It Up" - (Heads Up)
20 - 18 - Jonathan Fritzen - "Fritzenized" - (Nordic Night Records)
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com Saturday, November 07, 2015
Rob Tardik's fifth album - "Moments" releases November 13th #jaz
"Moments" in the key of positive: guitarist Rob Tardik reflects on his fifth album of vibrant jazz, exotic Latin rhythms, funky R&B grooves and spirited pop-rock tunes, coming November 13
Equipped with an optimistic outlook and an attitude of gratitude, award-winning guitarist Rob Tardik was contemplating the pivotal moments in his life when he sat down to compose the material for "Moments," his fifth album that will be released November 13 by Guitardik Music. The Toronto-based artist whose mission is to use music to spread positive energy will launch the collection of jazz, Latin, R&B, funk, rock and pop originals that he wrote and produced with Steve Oliver, Nate Harasim and Gabriel Mark Hasselbach with a concert performance that same evening at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, Calif. The first single from "Moments" already garnering radio spins is the flamenco-infused "Sip and Salsa," a high-energy dancer powered by frenzied fretwork recognizing the enjoyable moments in life.
"Reflecting on the key moments that define us, you've got to be in the moment in order to catch those moments of unexpected happiness. Life moves so fast and its hectic thus we get caught up and lost in it. These days, so many people are distracted by modern technology that we miss what's happening right in front of us," said Tardik. "I want my music to uplift people's spirits. There's a lot of negativity out there on a daily basis; my intention is only to bring positivity to people's lives."
Tardik opens "Moments" with "Sip and Salsa," a fun recollection about learning to salsa dance with his fiancée. Using his electric guitar lyrically, "Rite Of Passage" celebrates the monumental moments that serve as measuring sticks to growth and achievement. "Moments In Time" ponders the meaning behind the key moments in life with a ballad soulfully crooned by Aiden Castillo highlighted by some nylon guitar gymnastics from Tardik. Passion is represented on the sultry "Eros," which riffs on love, sex and intimacy. Tardik's electric guitar symbolically lets loose on the good-time "Hang Time." Sometimes things come together in surprising ways with unexpected twists. That often seems to happen to Tardik when he's writing songs, which is what "Serendipity" is about, a track featuring saxophonist Will Donato and Tardik noodling gleefully on an electric jazz guitar. "Stop!," spotlighting Canadian saxman Walle Larsson, commands taking action to breathe, appreciate and enjoy the fast-fleeting moments with a funk-tastic party jam illumined by fiery nylon guitar and a vocal hook emoted by Tardik. A gentle beauty, "Reflections" slows the tempo for a pensive moment to recall good times, hopefully with peace, tranquility and a smile. Utilizing Latin nuances and bursting with joy, "A New Life" revisits the "intense, overwhelming emotion" Tardik experienced when becoming a father, which is mirrored by the invigorating song's grand chorus. The locomotive rhythm on "Voyageur" represents Tardik's extensive travels as a musician. The album closer takes listeners on a wide-eyed, wonder-filled nylon guitar journey of melody, technique, precision and joyous appreciation.
Tardik's singles frequently travel into the Billboard top 10 and he's topped the Music Choice chart. In 2010, he was honored as the Canadian Smooth Jazz Guitarist of the Year. His 2011 disc, "Balance, Energy, Laughter, Love (B.E.L.L.)," scored the trifecta at Café Jazz Radio as the No. 1 album, No. 1 single ("East meets Wes") and No.1 Canadian Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year. A gifted guitarist capable of playing with the best of them without showboating, Tardik shares his knowledge, experience and skill with students at the Metal Works Institute, Centennial College and the Merriam School of Music in Toronto. He's a dynamic entertainer on stage, engaging audiences with his infectious songbook, crafty technical abilities, and the charm and charisma of a star whose brightest days are on the horizon.
"Moments" contains the following songs:
"Sip and Salsa"
"Rite Of Passage" (featuring Will Donato)
"Moments In Time"
"Eros"
"Hang Time"
"Serendipity"
"Stop!" (featuring Walle Larsson)
"Reflections"
"A New Life"
"Voyageur"
"Moments In Time (instrumental version)
"Rite Of Passage" (radio edit)
For more information, please visit www.RobTardik.com.
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Equipped with an optimistic outlook and an attitude of gratitude, award-winning guitarist Rob Tardik was contemplating the pivotal moments in his life when he sat down to compose the material for "Moments," his fifth album that will be released November 13 by Guitardik Music. The Toronto-based artist whose mission is to use music to spread positive energy will launch the collection of jazz, Latin, R&B, funk, rock and pop originals that he wrote and produced with Steve Oliver, Nate Harasim and Gabriel Mark Hasselbach with a concert performance that same evening at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, Calif. The first single from "Moments" already garnering radio spins is the flamenco-infused "Sip and Salsa," a high-energy dancer powered by frenzied fretwork recognizing the enjoyable moments in life.
"Reflecting on the key moments that define us, you've got to be in the moment in order to catch those moments of unexpected happiness. Life moves so fast and its hectic thus we get caught up and lost in it. These days, so many people are distracted by modern technology that we miss what's happening right in front of us," said Tardik. "I want my music to uplift people's spirits. There's a lot of negativity out there on a daily basis; my intention is only to bring positivity to people's lives."
Tardik opens "Moments" with "Sip and Salsa," a fun recollection about learning to salsa dance with his fiancée. Using his electric guitar lyrically, "Rite Of Passage" celebrates the monumental moments that serve as measuring sticks to growth and achievement. "Moments In Time" ponders the meaning behind the key moments in life with a ballad soulfully crooned by Aiden Castillo highlighted by some nylon guitar gymnastics from Tardik. Passion is represented on the sultry "Eros," which riffs on love, sex and intimacy. Tardik's electric guitar symbolically lets loose on the good-time "Hang Time." Sometimes things come together in surprising ways with unexpected twists. That often seems to happen to Tardik when he's writing songs, which is what "Serendipity" is about, a track featuring saxophonist Will Donato and Tardik noodling gleefully on an electric jazz guitar. "Stop!," spotlighting Canadian saxman Walle Larsson, commands taking action to breathe, appreciate and enjoy the fast-fleeting moments with a funk-tastic party jam illumined by fiery nylon guitar and a vocal hook emoted by Tardik. A gentle beauty, "Reflections" slows the tempo for a pensive moment to recall good times, hopefully with peace, tranquility and a smile. Utilizing Latin nuances and bursting with joy, "A New Life" revisits the "intense, overwhelming emotion" Tardik experienced when becoming a father, which is mirrored by the invigorating song's grand chorus. The locomotive rhythm on "Voyageur" represents Tardik's extensive travels as a musician. The album closer takes listeners on a wide-eyed, wonder-filled nylon guitar journey of melody, technique, precision and joyous appreciation.
Tardik's singles frequently travel into the Billboard top 10 and he's topped the Music Choice chart. In 2010, he was honored as the Canadian Smooth Jazz Guitarist of the Year. His 2011 disc, "Balance, Energy, Laughter, Love (B.E.L.L.)," scored the trifecta at Café Jazz Radio as the No. 1 album, No. 1 single ("East meets Wes") and No.1 Canadian Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year. A gifted guitarist capable of playing with the best of them without showboating, Tardik shares his knowledge, experience and skill with students at the Metal Works Institute, Centennial College and the Merriam School of Music in Toronto. He's a dynamic entertainer on stage, engaging audiences with his infectious songbook, crafty technical abilities, and the charm and charisma of a star whose brightest days are on the horizon.
"Moments" contains the following songs:
"Sip and Salsa"
"Rite Of Passage" (featuring Will Donato)
"Moments In Time"
"Eros"
"Hang Time"
"Serendipity"
"Stop!" (featuring Walle Larsson)
"Reflections"
"A New Life"
"Voyageur"
"Moments In Time (instrumental version)
"Rite Of Passage" (radio edit)
For more information, please visit www.RobTardik.com.
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Wednesday, November 04, 2015
James and East hope NARAS voters find their first duo album to be GRAMMY® “Cool” #jazz
“The New Cool,” the critically-acclaimed project from the jazz keyboard legend and master bassist, is on the nominating ballot in ten categories while receiving airplay on over 160 U.S. radio stations.
It’s the kind of album GRAMMY® voters love to reward. Meticulously written, produced, arranged and performed, “The New Cool” never plays it safe. It is a surprising and unexpected collection from a pair of GRAMMY®-celebrated veterans who stepped outside of their contemporary jazz comfort zone in favor of venturing into an intimate acoustic jazz setting. The Yamaha Entertainment Group release from longtime friends and collaborators Bob James and Nathan East brazenly goes against type, exploring jazz of virtually every shade and includes a number of elaborately orchestrated and masterfully-arranged tracks that feature the Nashville Recording Orchestra. After debuting at No. 2 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart upon its September 18 release, the first duo recording from James and East made the cut in ten areas of the GRAMMY® nominating ballot that is due back to the National Recording Artists and Sciences on Wednesday. Nominations will be announced in December.
Over 160 jazz radio stations are playing selections from “The New Cool,” which spurred the climb into the JazzWeek Top 10. Last Friday, fans nationally received a pre-Halloween treat from SiriusXM’s Real Jazz with the premier broadcast of an exclusive live performance by James and East showcasing four tunes from “The New Cool” that were recorded in the broadcaster’s New York City studio. Fervent interest from around the globe has generated thousands of views of the ten-part series of video vignettes that take viewers behind the scenes and into the studio with James and East as they recorded the album in Nashville.
Aptly for a session that straddles the jazz dichotomy, “The New Cool” is being considered for both the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and the Best Jazz Instrumental Album categories. Yamaha Entertainment Group founder and vice president Chris Gero is a Producer of the Year, Non-Classical candidate for his skilled hand shepherding James and East, who are Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical entrants. The distinctively moody and retro jazz-cool look adorning the packaging is in the running for Best Recording Package.
James’s spirited keyboard artistry on “Midnight Magic/Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow” is under the microscope for Best Improvised Jazz Solo while his imaginative arrangement of Willie Nelson’s “Crazy,” highlighted by a divine guest vocal from country crooner Vince Gill, is in the running for Best Arrangement, Instrument and Vocals.
Two of “The New Cool’s original compositions by James and East – “All Will Be Revealed,” a complexly-crafted keyboard and bass dance silver lined by orchestral accoutrements and East’s alluring vocalizations, and the poignantly poetic beauty “Waltz For Judy” – are guaranteed to garner attention for Best Instrumental Composition. Orchestral enhancements heighten the drama on the duo’s rendition of “Ghost Of A Chance,” which has a solid chance of earning a nomination in the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella category.
East will receive a Bass Player Lifetime Achievement Award this Saturday night in Hollywood that will be presented by Earth, Wind & Fire’s charismatic bassman Verdine White. Last year, East’s self-titled solo debut released by Yamaha Entertainment Group was GRAMMY® nominated and he won for playing on Daft Punk’s 2014 Record of the Year winner “Get Lucky.” James, a contemporary jazz forefather whose classic catalogue dating back to the 1970s is amongst the most frequently sampled in hip hop, is a two-time GRAMMY® winner.
Here is a sampling of what the critics had to say recently about “The New Cool”:
“The album sounds like it was easy and fun to make -- one can sense joy and deep focus in the interplay…Composer James lets loose with some athletic electric piano, East’s bass is at its taut and melodic best.” – All Music
“The whole album is, simply put, beautifully stunning, and is a testament to both these iconic legends that even after all these years of writing and creating music of the same ilk, that they can still produce something so fresh, so vibrant, so musically clean.” – Exclusive Magazine
“The album has a gentle sound, a combination of epic melodies (on new and old songs) and soulful tunes. James, the distinguished pianist, and East, an unparalleled bass player, are both known for the meticulousness and originality in their music.” – Straight No Chaser – A Jazz Show
“A true jazz masterpiece…an unexpected classic jazz album showcasing the amazing talents of these two Grammy recognized artists…the new disc provides an elegant, refreshing dose of jazz that is sure to be an instant classic.” – Bass Ramblings
“A collection of duets and surprises on a rewardingly gentle mix of originals and standards.” – Jazz Weekly
“Keyboardist Bob James and bassist Nathan East, shuffle, swing and otherwise do their thing on a disc that wears its traditionalism as a comfortable suit rather than as a straitjacket.” – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“The Nashville-recorded album featuring original tunes and some standards (even a take on “Crazy” featuring Vince Gill) is a whirlwind of delights from the bandmates of more than 20 years.” – No Treble
“The New Cool has a more stripped down superstar lounge feel to it.” – Mainly Piano
“A collection of sophisticated jazz that reflects the fluid friendship James has with his longtime collaborator and friend.” – The News & Observer
For further information, please visit www.TheNewCoolAlbum.com.
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Tuesday, November 03, 2015
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - November 2, 2015 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 2 - Vincent Ingala - "Coast To Coast" - (Independent)
2 - 3 - Dave Koz - "Collaborations" - (Concord)
3 - 1 - Boney James - "Futuresoul" - (Concord)
4 - 8 - Maysa - "Back 2 Love" - (Shanachie)
5 - 5 - Ken Navarro - "Unbreakable Heart" - (Positive Music Records)
6 - 4 - Gerald Albright - "Slam Dunk" - (Heads Up)
7 - 10 - Lee Ritenour - "A Twist Of Rit" - (Concord)
8 - 7 - Nils - "Alley Cat" - (Baja/TSR Records)
9 - 9 - Rick Braun - "Can You Feel It" - (Artistry)
10 - 6 - Four80East - "Positraction" - (Boomtang)
11 - 11 - Lawson Rollins - "Infinite Chill" - (Infinita Records/Baja TSR)
12 - 12 - Patrick Bradley - "Can You Hear Me" - (Patrick Bradley)
13 - 17 - Cindy Bradley - "Bliss" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
14 - 14 - Eric Marienthal & Chuck Loeb" - "Bridges" - (Shanachie)
15 - 13 - Ben Tankard - "Full Tank 2.0" - (ben-jammin')
16 - 15 - Phil Perry - "A Better Man" - (Shanachie)
17 - 24 - Julian Vaughn - "Limitless" - (julianvaughn.com)
18 - 19 - Jonathan Fritzen - "Fritzenized" - (Nordic Night Records)
19 - 18 - Najee - "You, Me and Forever" - (Shanachie)
20 - 16 - Byron Miller - "Psycho Bass" - (Bryon Lee Miller's Studios LLC)
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com Thursday, October 29, 2015
Pieces Of A Dream - "All In" - Release November 6th on Shanachie #jazz
PIECES OF A DREAM READIES FOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN THE BIZ WITH SPECTACULAR NEW CD – ALL IN
Once upon a time, a trio of teenage jazz prodigies began turning heads in Philadelphia. Hailing from the ‘City of Brotherly Love,’ the all-star unit Pieces Of A Dream stands alongside an impressive lineage of musical wonders who have made Philly proud including Gamble and Huff, Patti Labelle, Grover Washington Jr. Jill Scott and The Roots. Proclaimed a “tough act to follow” by the iconic Count Basie, Pieces Of A Dream was discovered while in High School and was mentored by Mr. Magic, pioneering saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. 2016 marks a milestone for Pieces Of A Dream as they will celebrate their 40th Anniversary. The all-star band has built an impressive legacy of their own with their melting pot of influences that have catapulted them to the top of the charts more than a few times. November 6, 2015 Shanachie Entertainment will release their 21st recording, All In, which beautifully illustrates why the band has stood the test of time.
Danny Weiss, VP of Jazz A&R for Shanachie states, “What really amazes me about Pieces Of A Dream is how fresh they are. They’ve been an iconic group for decades, yet this album has them at the very top of their game!” Founding members, keyboardist and producer James Lloyd (whose produced #1 hits for the likes of Walter Beasley, Najee and Eric Darius) and drummer Curtis Harmon (Ronny Jordan, Alex Bugnon, Sherry Winston), both use words like “thankful,” “blessed” and “grateful” to describe how they feel about their work and their fans, who have continued to make it all possible. Harmon shares, “We are grateful to our fans who give so much meaning to do what we are blessed to do.” Harmon composed the album’s title track and states, “Our new single ‘All In,’ is one of my favorites and one of those songs that was years in the making but that shows off our true funk ability.” Harmon also wrote album standouts “Caribbean Nights” and “UP Til Dawn.” Pianist James Lloyd states, “There is something for everyone on this album. ‘Human Interface’ delivers an energetic old-school feel reminiscent of the late great George Duke, while ‘Dream On’ is more of a sensual number and “Watch Your Step” is a grooving number for all the steppers out there!” Pieces Of A Dream enlists a little help from some friends on All In and is joined by Grammy nominated producer and keyboardist Chris “Big Dog” Davis (Kim Burrell, Maysa and George Clinton) and keyboardist Herman Jackson (American Idol, Aretha Franklin, Babyface, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder). Long time member and acclaimed bassist David Dyson (Meshell Ndegeocello, Lalah Hathaway, New Kids on the Block, Michael Franks), noted guitarist Rohn Lawrence (Will Downing, Boney James, Najee) and up and coming saxophonist Tony Watson Jr. also join the band to make a stellar ensemble.
James Lloyd and Curtis Harmon have been the nucleus of Pieces Of A Dream since its inception and played together as kids and members of the Ada Lewis Middle School jazz ensemble along with former member, bassist Cedric Napoleon. Danny Harmon, Curtis’ father and a jazz musician himself, became their manager and had the guys listening to the Modern Jazz Quartet, Ahmad Jamal and Oscar Peterson as they developed their unique sound, blending their jazz roots with R&B, soul and funk. Pieces released three albums in quick succession, establishing its place in the world of smooth jazz with the CDs Pieces Of A Dream (1981), We Are One (1982) and Imagine This (1983). Those albums include some of their biggest early hits, including “Warm Weather,” “Mount Airy Groove” and “Fo Fi Fo.” Pieces Of A Dream recorded their first Shanachie debut, In The Moment in 2013. With the release of All In and the band’s 40th Anniversary, the sky is the limit for Pieces Of A Dream. James Lloyd concludes, “All In is our best effort yet. Here’s looking forward to our 50th Anniversary!”
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Monday, October 26, 2015
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - October 26, 2015 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Boney James - "Futuresoul" - (Concord)
2 - 2 - Vincent Ingala - "Coast To Coast" - (Independent)
3 - 3 - Dave Koz - "Collaborations" - (Concord)
4 - 4 - Gerald Albright - "Slam Dunk" - (Heads Up)
5 - 5 - Ken Navarro - "Unbreakable Heart" - (Positive Music Records)
6 - 7 - Four80East - "Positraction" - (Boomtang)
7 - 8 - Nils - "Alley Cat" - (Baja/TSR Records)
8 - 6 - Maysa - "Back 2 Love" - (Shanachie)
9 - 10 - Rick Braun - "Can You Feel It" - (Artistry)
10 - 9 - Lee Ritenour - "A Twist Of Rit" - (Concord)
11 - 12 - Lawson Rollins - "Infinite Chill" - (Infinita Records/Baja TSR)
12 - 15 - Patrick Bradley - "Can You Hear Me" - (Patrick Bradley)
13 - 16 - Ben Tankard - "Full Tank 2.0" - (ben-jammin')
14 - 14 - Eric Marienthal & Chuck Loeb" - "Bridges" - (Shanachie)
15 - 20 - Phil Perry - "A Better Man" - (Shanachie)
16 - 21 - Byron Miller - "Psycho Bass" - (Bryon Lee Miller's Studios LLC)
17 - 18 - Cindy Bradley - "Bliss" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
18 - 11 - Najee - "You, Me and Forever" - (Shanachie)
19 - 13 - Jonathan Fritzen - "Fritzenized" - (Nordic Night Records)
20 - 19 - Jeff Golub - "The Vault" - (eOne Music)
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com Monday, October 19, 2015
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - October 19, 2015 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Boney James - "Futuresoul" - (Concord)
2 - 2 - Vincent Ingala - "Coast To Coast" - (Independent)
3 - 6 - Dave Koz - "Collaborations" - (Concord)
4 - 3 - Gerald Albright - "Slam Dunk" - (Heads Up)
5 - 7 - Ken Navarro - "Unbreakable Heart" - (Positive Music Records)
6 - 13 - Maysa - "Back 2 Love" - (Shanachie)
7 - 5 - Four80East - "Positraction" - (Boomtang)
8 - 4 - Nils - "Alley Cat" - (Baja/TSR Records)
9 - 9 - Lee Ritenour - "A Twist Of Rit" - (Concord)
10 - 12 - Rick Braun - "Can You Feel It" - (Artistry)
11 - 8 - Najee - "You, Me and Forever" - (Shanachie)
12 - 11 - Lawson Rollins - "Infinite Chill" - (Infinita Records/Baja TSR)
13 - 10 - Jonathan Fritzen - "Fritzenized" - (Nordic Night Records)
14 - 16 - Eric Marienthal & Chuck Loeb" - "Bridges" - (Shanachie)
15 - 20 - Patrick Bradley - "Can You Hear Me" - (Patrick Bradley)
16 - 15 - Ben Tankard - "Full Tank 2.0" - (ben-jammin')
17 - 19 - Walter Beasley - "I'm Back" - (Affable)
18 - 21 - Cindy Bradley - "Bliss" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
19 - 14 - Jeff Golub - "The Vault" - (eOne Music)
20 - 17 - Phil Perry - "A Better Man" - (Shanachie)
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)