Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - November 30, 2020 #jazz

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Happy Thanksgiving - #jazz

Our chance to share generously with those we love. May you and yours have many reasons to be thankful

KENNY LOGGINS TO RECEIVE OUTSTANDING CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD DURING HMMA STREAMED EVENT ON 1/27/21 #jazz

EXCLUSIVE:  Two time Grammy winner and Oscar nominee Kenny Loggins is receiving the Career Achievement honor at the next Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) which will be held on Jan. 27, 2021 in a hybrid awards show. The Footloose singer-songwriter will also perform during the HMMA event.

Loggins joins a distinguished list of past HMMA honorees including Smokey Robinson, Diane Warren, Earth Wind & Fire, Glen Campbell, Dave Mason and film composer John Debney.

Read the entire article at deadline.com by clicking here

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - November 23, 2020 #jazz

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Contemporary jazz guitarist Les Sabler finds “Tranquility” in a new old guitar #jazz

Teaming with GRAMMY winner Paul Brown produced a fresh sound on the album dropping January 29

 

The suggestion came from two-time GRAMMY winner Paul Brown who has produced dozens of No. 1 hits. When contemporary jazz guitarist Les Sabler entered Brown’s Funky Joint studio near Los Angeles to begin tracking, Brown, also a guitarist, recommended that Sabler swap out his trusty guitar in favor of Brown’s vintage Gibson Johnny Smith model. The electric guitar that has innate acoustic qualities and balances tone and sustain gave Sabler an entirely new sound, which he used to create his eighth album, “Tranquility,” dropping January 29 on New Vista Records.

 

“The guitar’s sound is a sonic departure from anything I had previously recorded and this resulted in a successful single release, ‘Keep Pushin’.’ My fascination with the expressive tone of this instrument and my comfort in playing it led me to acquire my own, a vintage ‘67 beauty,” said the Nashville-based Sabler.

 

The guitar recommendation was the second time Sabler heeded Brown’s counsel. The first came last December when Brown was in Nashville to perform. Sabler came to the gig to hang with Brown. It was then that Brown offered to produce Sabler’s next record.

 

“I was both surprised and delighted that he offered to produce for me. Without hesitation, I seized the opportunity. We started collaborating immediately and two months later, we sat down to record at his studio in LA,” said Sabler.  

 

A year earlier, Sabler wrote and released “In The Light” as a standalone single, which spent three weeks at No. 1 at WAVE.FM in Sabler’s homeland, Canada. The guitar player was encouraged and decided to reinvest the residuals he received from all the airplay into recording a new album, his first since 2014’s Brazilian jazz outing “Jobim Tribute.” Sabler and Brown cowrote eight songs for “Tranquility,” collaborating with hitmaker Lew Laing (“Keep Pushin’” and “Where Has She Gone”), Jeff Carruthers (“Easy Moves”) and Shane Theriot, the latter with whom they cowrote the single slated to go for playlist adds on January 18 titled “Crescent City Strut.”

 

“Paul and I collaborated with Shane Theriot on several compositions that are among my favorites on the project. Shane’s New Orleans heritage and his work with Hall & Oates brought a vibe to these songs that really inspired my playing,” said Sabler.

 

Sabler and Brown revisited “In The Light” on the disc with Sabler recording new guitar parts for the debut single as well as for the album’s lone remake, “Sunrise,” a George Benson original that Brown masterfully illumined with Lee Thornburg’s trumpet and trombone. 

 

Speaking of Benson, Sabler references the contemporary jazz crossover legend when discussing how much the choice of guitar impacted the sound of the “Tranquility” album.

 

“The title track really exemplifies the beauty of this exceptional guitar that was the instrument of choice for George Benson’s classic ‘Breezin’.’ The song title ‘Tranquility’ is so fitting because I can virtually escape to that destination when I listen to this song,” said Sabler.

      

Sabler and Brown tracked a pair of tunes last February prior to the coronavirus quarantine, including “Keep Pushin’,” which dropped as a single in May. Work on “Tranquility” had to be put on hold until July. When they resumed, Sabler recorded his guitar parts in Nashville after Brown crafted the tracks in Los Angeles utilizing a cast of ace studio musicians such as the deep pocketed rhythm section comprised of bassist Roberto Vally, drummer Gorden Campbell and percussionist Lenny Castro. Bolstered by crackling horn work from Thornburg and saxophonist Greg Vail, the album was completed in September.    

 

“Tranquility” is a melody-rich, contemporary jazz listening experience. The set consists of vibrant harmonies, funky R&B grooves and sophisticated instrumental pop. Sabler’s deft and soulful electric guitar occasionally yields to his more sensitive nylon-stringed guitar, including on the eloquent beauty “Esselle’s Dance,” which Sabler says “is as beautiful as anything I have ever recorded.”   

 

“It was such a great experience to have Paul produce the album and I was extremely comfortable with his direction and guidance. Without a doubt, this is a landmark recording for me, and I am so excited and pleased to share this music.”

 

“Tranquility” contains the following songs:

 

“Crescent City Strut”

“City Rhythm”

“Three Dee”

“Esselle’s Dance”

“Easy Moves”

“Tranquility”

“Keep Pushin’”

“In The Light” (Remix)

“Where Has She Gone”

“Sunrise”

 

 

For more information, please visit http://www.lessabler.net.

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No stopping soul-jazz flutist Ragan Whiteside #jazz

Her fifth collection, “Five Up Top,” drops Friday as she enjoys a Billboard Top 10 hit streak

 

Riding a hot streak of six consecutive Billboard Top 10 singles, soul-jazz flutist Ragan Whiteside will drop her new EP, “Five Up Top,” on Friday on the Randis Music label. Cowriting four new songs for the disc with her producers, influential soul-jazz keyboardist Bob Baldwin and Dennis Johnson (Celine Dion, Freddie Jackson, Melba Moore), the latter of whom handles drums and keyboards on the EP, Whiteside vowed to drop her fifth album this year and refused to be stopped by the novel coronavirus.

 

“This record, more than my other albums, was an exercise in sheer will, determination and drive. Juggling a family with two toddlers, live shows and all the business-related stuff you have to do as an independent artist is a challenge. Adding an album project to the mix took that challenge to another level. Just when we thought we had everything ‘under control,’ the pandemic hit and everything screeched to a halt. The focus shifted to safety and survival since nobody had a clear idea of the full impact of COVID-19,” said the Atlanta-based Whiteside.

 

“We knew we wanted to name this album ‘Five Up Top’ since it is my fifth studio album. However, with the time constraints, we realized that if we wanted to get this album out this year, we would have to get realistic and compromise on the length. We ended up making a five-song EP, which kept with the ‘five’ theme and took some of the pressure off.”

 

The conservatory-trained Whiteside recently rose to No. 3 on the Billboard chart and No. 1 on the MediaBase chart with “JJ’s Strut,” a jubilant joint inspired by her daughter’s moxie that opens the EP.

 

“Dennis conceived the song that we named for our daughter. She's a feisty little cutie who doesn't just walk - she struts!” said Whiteside who was accompanied on the cut by trumpeter Willie Bradley and guitarist Tony Bunch.        

 

Written with a backyard barbecue in mind that Whiteside describes as filled with “sun, food, laughter, music and dancing with a plate in your hand,” “Jam It” went to No. 2 at Billboard and reigned in the No. 1 position at MediaBase for five weeks.

 

The EP’s lone reboot comes from an unexpected source: Little River Band. Whiteside climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard chart by soulfully reimagining the Australian rock band’s 1978 hit “Reminiscing,” giving it an R&B flair with lyrical flute play and dreamy vocals illuminating the chorus. The single was accompanied by a video (https://bit.ly/3f9bCx0).    

 

Recalling her Bronx roots where saucy Latin rhythms permeated the air, “12 Bean Soup” is a Latin jazz stew seasoned by Baldwin’s tasty piano and Phil Hamilton’s (Luther Vandross) spicy guitar riffs.

 

“Dennis and I grew up close to New York’s Orchard Beach, so we spent a lot of time enjoying the sounds, sights and smells of the Latin culture. People would come to the boardwalk with percussion instruments, guitars, flutes, radios, etc. and sit there all day and jam out,” said Whiteside who hosts a weekly radio show on Atlanta’s WCLK.

 

Speeding to a close comes “Flying on 75,” a clubby Euro house meets contemporary jazz hybrid capable of making dance floors jump. Percussionist Chembo Corniel drives the rhythm with prominent beats and crafty percussive fills.  

 

“In Atlanta, I-75 can often be like a NASCAR race and you really need to know what you're doing. When I'm driving, and especially when I'm running late, I tend to choose specific songs for specific roads that will help me focus and get there. Just be careful with this song: I found that I had a little extra lead in my foot when this song was bumping in my car,” admonished Whiteside with a laugh.     

 

Whiteside’s hit streak includes her first Billboard No. 1 hit, “Corey’s Bop,” along with “Early Arrival” that features saxophonist Kim Waters and “See You at the Get Down.” She has been collaborating with Baldwin and Johnson since her 2007 debut album, “Class Axe.” Pairing her classical flute with R&B, funk, jazz and fusion grooves, Whiteside has cultivated a fervent following with her consistent chart presence, abundance of global airplay and rousing performances at popular music festivals and cruises. 

 

“Five Up Top” contains the following songs:

 

“JJ’s Strut”

“Jam It”

“Reminiscing”

“12 Bean Soup”

“Flying on 75”

 

 

For more information, please visit http://www.raganwhiteside.com.

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Composer/trumpeter Tony Glausi set to release 'When It All Comes Crashing Down' #jazz

RISING NEW YORK CITY COMPOSER/TRUMPETER TONY GLAUSI SET TO RELEASE FIFTH ALBUM, WHEN IT ALL COMES CRASHING DOWN, ON JANUARY 8 Hailed as “a great writer and a terrific trumpet player” by legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach Track premiere for first single, "Once Upon A Dream," at JAZZIZ For Immediate Release – 2020 threw many for a loop, but it didn’t stop Tony Glausi. In fact, Tony thrives on taking what’s occurring both inside and outside of himself, the negative and the positive, and turning it into stirring, musical treasures that listeners identify with.   Award-winning composer/trumpeter Tony Glausi continues to inspire the music world with his fifth album and its original compositions, masterful arrangements, and exquisite trumpet playing. For the first time, to his listeners’ delight, Tony delivers sincere and alluring vocals, adding yet another enthralling element and providing his audience with the sensation that they are witnessing a musical take place throughout the streets of New York City. When It All Comes Crashing Down is endlessly intriguing with a line-up of tracks both buoyant and wistful that showcase Tony’s talent alongside his pursuit to translate the human experience into music.   While referring to the release of his debut album Identity Crisis in an interview, Tony expressed that even with all the music out there in the world, he felt like he had to make and release his album at that particular time because it so clearly communicated what he was thinking and feeling during the years of its creation. And that’s what it’s still about for Tony, creating music from a truly authentic place that others can relate to. He demonstrates this in his most recent EP, Sabor a Mí, as he depicts the ups and downs of love and how sweeping it can sometimes be (“Hasta la Madrugada”). Tony’s fifth album, When It All Comes Crashing Down, does not fall short of exemplifying the human experience through music as it delves into the pains of divorce (“Alone In The Rain”), family crises (“To Pray”), and leaving behind a religious identity (“Finding My Way Out Of The Maze”).   Few artists have the ability to compose uniquely genuine music and lyrics that stay honest and true to their own life, but with both parents and all four grandparents being musicians themselves, it would have been nearly impossible for Tony to go about without eventually channeling his struggles into brilliant, musical expressions. All produced by Tony Glausi and recorded by Grammy-winning Nolan Thies at The Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, NY, When It All Comes Crashing Down features young New York heavyweights Emmet Cohen (piano), Dan Chmielinski (bass), Bryan Carter (drums), Lucas Pino (saxophone), and will be released January 8th, 2021. www.tonyglausi.com youtube.com/tonyglausi facebook.com/tonyglausi instagram.com/tonyglausi   Among other accolades, Tony won first prize in the jazz division of the 2014 National Trumpet Competition, first prize in the jazz division of the 2017 ITG International Trumpet Competition, and first prize in the 2017 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Solo Competition. Tony has been recognized in several issues of DownBeat Jazz & Blues Magazine for outstanding improvised solos and compositions, and he was the sole recipient of the 2016-17 Laurie Frink Career Grant, an award given every other year to a young brass player in honor of Laurie’s legacy as an incomparably inspiring pedagogue, mentor, and friend.   Growing up in a musical family in Portland, Oregon, Tony began to sing and play the piano at a young age. Citing Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Tracy Chapman, Paul Simon, Queen, Chet Baker, and Earth Wind & Fire amongst his earliest influences, by 10 years old he had started to play the trumpet and compose, later becoming his emphases. Tony now resides in New York and performs and records with the likes of Billboard-charting pianist and singer Peter Cincotti, Grammy-nominated pianist Randy Porter, highly celebrated vocalist Halie Loren, and a wide array of artists based in the city. To date, Glausi has produced numerous records of his own music in physical and digital formats, garnering awards, high-praising press, and an ever growing buzz amongst fans of all ages across social media platforms. As a diversified composer, his works have been commissioned on many occasions to be performed and recorded by world-class musicians. He has toured dozens of countries around the world playing at renowned festivals and clubs including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Leopolis Jazz Festival in Ukraine, the New Morning in Paris, and the Blue Note in New York, while also having performed as a featured guest artist with ensembles such as the United States Marine Corps All Star Jazz Band, the Eugene Symphony, and high school and college bands throughout the states. Full bio at https://www.tonyglausi.com/about

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - November 16, 2020 #jazz

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - November 9, 2020 #jazz

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Check out keyboardist/producer David Garfield's teaser video for "Pirate's Cove" #jazz

THE NEW SINGLE FROM RENOWNED KEYBOARDIST/PRODUCER DAVID GARFIELD’S 

UPCOMING STAR-STUDDED CD RECORDING STRETCHIN’ OUTSIDE THE BOX

“Pirate’s Cove” teaser video here: https://youtu.be/indNTF5KXXQ

“Pirate’s Cove,” the latest single from David Garfield’s ongoing Outside The Box series, follows on the heels of his contemporary jazz hits “Go Home,” “Jamming,” “One Like You,” "Sir Charles” and “Sweetness,” dominating radio waves as well as charts. The acclaimed keyboardist/composer has teamed up with Herb Alpert’s musical director Hussain Jiffry to craft this funky new interpretation, featuring trumpet and sax over a grooving rhythm section driven by Jiffry’s bass lines and James Harrah's Prince-inspired guitar work. Dan Fornero, one of the LA music scene’s leading trumpet players, is superbly complimented by Grammy-winning saxman Eric Marienthal. The track spotlights Garfield’s sweet synthesizer soloing as he leads the band on electric piano and keyboards.

Don’t forget to let me know if you'd like to hear Holidays Outside The Box, Garfield's first collection of an ongoing international collaboration that merges the diverse cultures of our world into one celebratory experience. Spotlighting iconic international artists in every genre and from the most beloved bands, musical styles on HOTB include gospel, rock, Afro-Cuban, calypso, jazz, funk, reggae and pop.

Garfield’s musical journey has taken him everywhere and brought him together with an ever-growing list of legendary artists, including Smokey Robinson, George Benson, Boz Scaggs, Natalie Cole, Van Morrison and Cher. His many musical friends were happy to come together to contribute to such an important effort and to help create something special that could promote peace, spread love and global unity.

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - November 2, 2020 #jazz

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