Brian Culbertson’s Napa Valley Jazz Getaway maturing into a stellar vintage #jazz

 

Single-day tickets go on sale as the festival partners with Bay Area radio station KBLX-FM

 

Eager wine and jazz enthusiasts voraciously scooped up all the multiday VIP and Silver ticket packages for the second edition of Brian Culbertson’s Napa Valley Jazz Getaway, the flourishing festival slated for June 5-9, 2013 in Napa, CA, but single-event tickets are now on sale for concerts featuring a luminous lineup of performers. San Francisco Bay Area’s R&B 102.9 FM KBLX has signed on as the official radio station of the gathering that celebrates the good life.

 

The rapid ticket sales to the sophomore event are no surprise as last year’s inaugural edition sold-out in one week. The 2013 festival includes new events and larger concert venues along with a star-studded roster boasting award-winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Culbertson, Grammy winners Take 6, Ray Parker Jr., Norman Brown and Kirk Whalum united with Rick Braun as BWB, funksters Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, saxophonists Eric Darius and Michael Lington, guitarist Nick Colionne, R&B vocalist Selina Albright, keyboardist Cecil Ramirez, party band DW3 and special guest comedian Sinbad.   

 

In addition to being able to purchase tickets to individual events for shows scheduled June 6-9, 4-day Gold packages remain available for $449 per person. Single-day tickets are available for the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway Welcome Party with DW3 (June 6 from 1:30-4:30 PM), BWB & Culbertson at the Napa Valley Opera House (June 6 at 6:30 & 8:45 PM), Friday Night Funk Night featuring Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, Culbertson and Sinbad (June 7 at 6:30 & 8:45 PM), and Brian Culbertson & Friends at the Lincoln Theater (June 8 & 9). The Gold package includes prime tickets to each of the above mentioned shows along with entrance to the exclusive Late Night Hangs that take place evenings during the festival at the Westin Verasa Napa and an ACCESS CARD, which entitles the holder to 2-for-1 wine tastings at participating wineries along with other discounts and special deals at a host of Napa restaurants, shops and services. Tickets can be purchased at www.NapaValleyJazzGetaway2013.com.       

 

Leading up to the festival opening, KBLX will be giving away tickets on the air to individual concerts and one lucky winner will receive the Gold package. The station’s on-air personality Sterling James will broadcast live from the Late Night Hangs the evenings of June 6-8.

 

"I'm very excited to partner with KBLX as the official radio sponsor of the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway 2013. Over the years, KBLX has been a great supporter of my music and I am thrilled to have them on board. It's going to be quite a party when Sterling James and the KBLX crew hang with us in Napa this June!" said Culbertson, the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway’s founder and artistic director.

 

The Napa Valley Jazz Getaway is a not-to-be-missed interactive lifestyle experience at which fans can share their passion for wine and jazz with the musicians while dining, during wine receptions and tastings, at autograph sessions, at a golf tournament at Silverado Resort & Spa, and at casual post-concert hangs at the Westin Verasa Napa. Prior to the June 8^th concert, a silent auction and wine reception will be held in support of music education to benefit The GRAMMY Foundation at which many of the winery partners will provide complimentary pourings. For additional information about the performers, festival schedule, tickets, Napa Valley Jazz Getaway partners and more, please visit www.NapaValleyJazzGetaway2013.com.

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Soprano Saxophonist MARION MEADOWS Announces 2013 Tour Dates In Support Of Acclaimed New Album WHISPER #jazz

Label Debut For Shanachie Features Special Guest Bob Baldwin And Includes Soulful Renditions Of Jazz Classics By Freddie Hubbard And Dave Grusin

Spring/Summer Festival Slots Will Have Meadows Share Stages With Phil Perry, Richard Elliot, Keiko Matsui, Brian Simpson, Marc Antoine, Mary Mary, Jonathan Butler, Brian Culbertson And Sheila E

Sax And The City Tour Dates Feature Vincent Ingala And Paul Taylor

Re-Launch Of MarionMeadows.Com Provides Fans With An Immersive Multi-Media Experience

Albert Einstein once said “We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.” For multi-talented saxophonist and consummate creative spirit Marion Meadows, the allure of music was never too far. The charismatic, strikingly handsome, eloquent and debonair musician, who happens to moonlight as a brilliant digital designer/photographer, and semi-professional cyclist originally had aspirations to become a veterinarian. “Reaching people through music has always been rewarding for me. Expressing yourself through an instrument and having listeners run through so many emotions is an artistic impression like no other,” says Marion. With a clear trajectory in sight, the stars aligned for Meadows one evening at Grand Central Station, when his saxophone was mysteriously overheard reverberating through the Big Apple’s oldest railway. Emmy-winning TV composer Jay Chattaway (Star Trek fame) was so enchanted that he introduced Marion Meadows to Grammy-winning pianist, producer and label owner Bob James, who helped Meadows to launch his career as a solo artist.

Close to 25 years later, scores of sold out shows, twelve critically heralded albums, a string of radio hits and collaborations with luminaries like Stevie Wonder, Eartha Kitt, The Temptations, George Benson and Norman Connors, Meadows is not through yet. “I have immersed myself in so many styles, from old school funk, jazz, rock and pop that a great tune is a great tune and I draw inspirations from all styles of music, but it is also from the outdoors and the beauty the world has to offer that inspire me each day” states Marion.

On February 26, 2013, Shanachie Entertainment, in conjunction with Listen 2 Entertainment Group, released Whisper, Marion Meadows’ label debut. Featuring mostly originals, Meadows dances a delicate balance between soul and fire, intellect and emotion, and sensitivity and brawn, making Whisper, an exhilarating musical foray into one of contemporary jazz’s most brilliant minds and recognized soprano saxophonists.

A musician unafraid to boldly fuse diverse influences, Marion Meadows sculpts a borderless musical tapestry on Whisper. “I came up listening to Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Duke Ellington but at the same time musicians like Earth Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, Chicago and Parliament Funkadelic,” confesses Meadows who early on cut his teeth playing in Avant-Garde jazz groups alongside heavyweights Rashied Ali and James Blood Ulmer. Whisper, Marion Meadows’ first new recording in four years, features the saxophonist’s agile and ethereal soprano styling’s and some robust tenor work. It opens with the majestic, intoxicating and rhythmic driven “The Visitor,” which segues into the melodious and scintillating title track, co-written by keyboardist and long-time collaborator Michael Broening.

Meadows produced Whisper along with Carlos Pennisi, Bob Baldwin, Rahni Song and Broening. The album’s first single is the enticing, funky and hypnotic “Black Pearl.” Just like its namesake and gemstone, Meadows’ Pearl is multi-layered, producing a beautiful interior within each shimmering chorus. Keyboardist Carlos Pennisi co-authored the song and helped Marion to compose five songs on the album. “Carlos helped me really try different musical ideas on Whisper. He is an amazing composer and multi-instrumentalist born in Italy with a great sense of using colors in his productions. As an artist I’m searching to try new ideas, and he definitely brought that to the table.” “Timeless,” is an evocative and tender impressionistic ballad, co-written with keyboardist Rahni Song, who joins Meadow on the track along with Pennisi and harmonica player Julian Davis. “Curves,” is an uplifting get-on-the-dance-floor anthem that serves up the right combination of grit and soul, while “Magic Life” and “Golden Curtin,” showcase Marion Meadows’ knack for crafting unforgettable melodies that magically have a way of transporting you. Meadows breathes new life into two jazz classics on Whisper, borrowing from the Freddie Hubbard and Dave Grusin songbooks. Freddie Hubbard’s 1970s landmark CTI classic “Sky Dive,” soars with Meadows’ own buttery soul rendition featuring his tenor and soprano alongside trumpeter Joey Sommerville. Dave Grusin’s 1980’s chestnut “Marcosinho,” gets revitalized with Meadows’ sparkling new take.

Recording Whisper for Meadows was truly a labor of love and part of that process was the joy of collaborating with friends. Longtime associate and keyboardist Bob Baldwin joins Marion on two of the album’s tracks, “Bottoms Up” and “Turn Up The Quiet.” Meadows says of his friend, “Bob always delivers!” Turn Up The Quiet” marks one of the high points on the project, as the duo score a home run.

Marion’s tender soprano gracefully teases and caresses the seductive melody as Baldwin finds all the accents to drive the song home. Flautist Ragan Whiteside joins Meadows on the show-stopping number, “Bottoms Up.” Marion calls Whiteside and Althea Rene (who is featured on “Golden Curtain,”) “two of the greatest flautists I know.” Not afraid to get loose and turn up the heat Marion Meadows serves up a scorcher on “Wild Thing,” a James Brown inspired romp that escalates things to a sweat inducing fevered pitch.

Hailing from West Virginia and raised in Stamford, CT, Marion Meadows began his musical endeavors at age eight, studying clarinet. At age 15, after hearing iconic saxophone masters like Sidney Bechet, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges and Stanley Turrentine, Marion Meadows’ switch to saxophone was imminent. During high school, he earned a coveted spot in the All-State Orchestra and Jazz Band and was afforded the opportunity to travel throughout Europe. His experiences during this time made him reconsider his ambitions for medical school and a career as a veterinarian. Upon graduation, Meadows attended the renowned Berklee School of Music in Boston, later transferring to SUNY Purchase School of the Arts. While still a student, the ambitious saxophonist worked steadily as a sideman. He jokes that he “got a graduate degree playing clubs.” He was also fortunate to study with the best including Joe Henderson, Dave Liebman and Eddie Daniels.

While at Berklee, Marion Meadows had another serendipitous encounter, this time with drummer producer extraordinaire Norman Connors, who was then playing with legendary saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders. Meadows says, “Norman Connors was really the guy who discovered me as an artist. The man who gave me my first shot.” Connors’ recorded Marion’s song “Invitation” and later extended an invitation to Marion to join his band. Connors, who collaborated with many of R&B and jazz’s greatest singers, afforded Marion the opportunity to work alongside such dynamic voices as Jean Carne, Phyllis Hyman, Glenn Jones, Angela Bofill, and many others. “That was a nice graduate school, sort of speak”, laughs Meadows. After graduating with honors from Connors’ University, the well-rounded saxophonist spent time honing his chops on the avant-garde circuit in the ensemble "Aboriginal Music Society," which featured guitarist James Blood Ulmur, percussionist Juma Sutan and pianist Kasa Allah.

In 1990 Marion Meadows made his recording debut, For Lover's Only featuring Eliot Lewis, Porter Carroll, Brian Keane and Average White Band alumnus Alan Gorrie. Two years later he joined forces with Will Downing, Bob Baldwin, Angela Bofill and Norman Connors for his sophomore recording Keep It Right There. Further solidifying his rightful place in the pantheon of great saxophonists, Meadows released Forbidden Fruit in 1994. He was joined by an eclectic all-star cast that included Eric Benet, SWV, Don Grusin and Dori Caymmi, among others. Body Rhythm came in 1996 and Pleasure, the following year. Around this time Marion Meadows relocated from Connecticut to the Valley of the Sun - Phoenix, AZ. He also settled at a new recording home, Heads Up International, where he released his sixth album, Another Side of Midnight in 1999, calling on a little help from some friends Bob Baldwin, Omar Hakim and Norman Brown followed by Next To You in 2000 and In Deep in 2002. Player’s Club in 2004 spawned two hit singles “Suede” and “Sweet Grapes,” and have gone on to be Marion’s signature songs. Dressed To Chill (2006) included memorable renditions of hits by R Kelly and Luther Vandross and joined Meadows with Chuck Loeb and his longtime touring keyboardist and vocalist Will Brock, among others. Secrets and its title track in 2009 advanced to the top of smooth jazz radio charts. During this time Meadows also relocated to Hawaii and has spent the past several years living in both locations. In addition to touring steadily on his own, Marion Meadows is also a member of the highly sought after Sax And the City Tour fronting the band with fellow reedman Paul Taylor, with additional guests Jessy J, young saxophone sensation Vincent Ingala and pianist vocalist extraordinaire Joe McBride.

The Maestro Duke Ellington once said “My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never!” Like the maestro, Marion Meadows, is never content to rest on his laurels. With a four-year intermission between recordings, Marion Meadows is back with Whisper and ready to share his gift with the world. “Shhhhhhhhh, the show is about to begin.”

MARION MEADOWS
TOUR DATES
APR 07 – Las Vegas, NV @ Thomas & Mack Center (Soul Festival)
APR 20 – Cleveland, OH @ State Theatre (Tri-C JazzFest)
APR 27 – New Haven, CT @ Jay Rowe Jazz for Scholars
MAY 11 – Cincinnati, OH @ Atrium Hotel
JUN 08 – Atlanta, GA @ Mable House Amphitheatre
JUN 14 – Gahanna, OH @ Creekside Blues & Jazz Fest
JUN 15 – Rosemont, IL @ InterContinental Hotel (Montrose Room)
JUN 21 – Charlotte, NC @ Uptown Charlotte Jazz Fest (*SATC)
JUL 12 – Upper Marlboro, MD @ Martin’s Camelot (Lake Arbor Jazz Fest)
SEP 07 – Austin, TX @ The Paramount Theatre
SEP 27 – New Haven, CT @ John Lyman Center at SCSU (*SATC)
OCT 11 – Catalina Island, CA @ Catalina JazzTrax Fest (*SATC)

*Sax And The City (SATC) Tour Features Saxophonists Marion Meadows, Vincent Ingala and Paul Taylor with Joe McBride and Will Brock on Vocals and Keyboards, “Chocolate” Chip Shearin on Bass and Jabari on Drums

MARION MEADOWS
WHISPER
1. The Visitor
2. Whisper
3. Black Pearl
4. Timeless
5. Curves
6. Magic Life
7. Bottoms Up (ft. Bob Baldwin)
8. Golden Curtain
9. Marcosinho
10. Sky Dive
11. Wild Thing
12. Turn Up The Quiet (ft. Bob Baldwin)
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Hiromi - "Move" Rleased today on Telarc #jazz [Video]

Move features contra-bass guitarist Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Phillips

On her 2011 album, Voice, Hiromi sought to capture people’s “inner voices” and strove to create what she called a “three-dimensional sound.” For that album, the Japanese composer/pianist assembled a trio that included herself and two veteran players – contra-bass guitarist Anthony Jackson (Paul Simon, The O’Jays, Steely Dan, Chick Corea) and drummer Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who, Judas Priest, David Gilmour, Jack Bruce). While Hiromi had played with Jackson prior to recording Voice, she had never recorded an entire album with either him or Phillips.

“I had such a great time recording with them, and we went on the road together and that was even more fun,” she says. “As soon as we started playing live shows, we grew up as a band. It was the biggest fun I’ve ever had in my life musically. That’s why I wanted to do another record. I couldn’t let it go. I wanted to do it again.”

While on the road, Hiromi started writing music for a follow-up, Move, set for U.S. release March 5, 2013 on Telarc, a division of Concord Music Group. (European release date is October 2, 2012.) “Because I had been playing with Anthony and Simon for quite a bit, I just started to understand their characteristics, and I could find a hidden gem in their playing,” she explains. “As a composer, I really wanted to write the songs especially for them, and I wanted to extract the unique beauty of their playing.”

When it came time to go into the studio to record Move, the trio was able to record quickly and effortlessly since many of the songs had been road-tested. Recorded by GRAMMY®-winning producer and engineer Michael Bishop at Aire Born Studios in Zionsville, Indiana, Move, like Voice, has an overriding theme, which Hiromi describes as “time in one day.”

“You wake up and go to work and then hang out,” she says. “The album is like a soundtrack for a day.” The opening title-track begins with an undulating piano riff that mimics the sound of a ringing alarm. “It’s one of the most difficult pieces I’ve ever written,” says Hiromi. “I had great musicians with me, and we worked hard on that song. In the studios and rehearsals, we spent a lot of time to play it right. It’s very tricky because when a song sounds difficult, it’s not fun. It has to groove and it has to go beyond ‘this is a difficult song.’ It has to make you groove and feel the rhythm. To reach that point really took some time.”

The groove deepens on “Endeavor,” a tune that starts off with a funky guitar riff that gives way to beautiful piano solos before diving back into the funk. “It has a lot of tricks with rhythm so that when you’re feeling the groove and shaking your head with the music, it slips backwards,” explains Hiromi. “Then it slips back again. It has a lot of tricks rhythmically. I really like putting these small treasures in the songs because it’s like treasure hunting.”

The album’s centerpiece is a three-part suite divided into segments entitled “Reality,” “Fantasy” and “In Between.” “I really like writing suites,” says Hiromi. “I’ve done it a couple of times in the past and it’s good for the writer to come up with a big story. I always want to tell stories with my music. I always see visuals, and I always think about music like a select story. I have so much fun writing these songs that are about contrary things like your frustrations and also the fight in yourself. It took awhile to finish and there is a main theme in each song so by the third piece, if you listen to it carefully you will hear the main theme. I like that kind of musical trick.”

The album comes to a close with “11:49 PM,” an 11-minute song designed to mark the end of one day and the beginning of a new one.

“Before you go to bed, you think through what you have been through and you think and all these emotions come out,” says Hiromi. “I think the nighttime is the most emotional time of the day, especially when you’re at home. I don’t know what makes people think that but it’s just the night. People show so much more emotion and heart in that particular time of the day. I started to write a song about it. Whenever I wrote [‘11:49 PM’], it was always at nighttime. I went through all these emotions.”


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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - March 4th, 2013 #jazz

TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Vincent Ingala - "Can't Stop Now" - (vincentingala.com)
2 - 2 - Gerald Albright/Norman Brown" - "24/7" - (Concord)
3 - 28 - Marion Meadows - "Whisper" - (Shanachie)
4 - 4 - Ben Tankard - "Full Tank" - (Ben-Jamin'/Universal)
5 - 3 - Tak Matsumoto - "Strings Of My Soul" - (335)
6 - 14 - Nils - "City Groove" - (Baja/TSR)
7 - 5 - Steve Oliver - "World Citizen" - (SOM)
8 - 7 - Walter Beasley - "Live In The Club" - (Affable)
9 - 8 - Brian Bromberg - "In The Spirit Of Jobim" - (Artistry)
10 - 11 - Paul Hardcastle - "Hardcastle VII" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
11 - 9 - Paul Brown - "The Funky Join" - (Woodward Ave)
12 - 12 - David Benoit - "Conversation" - (Heads Up)
13 - 6 - Chris Standring - "Electric Wonderland" - (Ultimate Vibe)
14 - 16 - Patrick Lamb - "It's All right Now" - (Patrick Lamb)
15 - 19 - Boney James - "The Beat" - (Concord Jazz)
16 - 10 - Richard Elliot - "In The Zone" - (Artistry/Mack Ave.)
17 - 13 - Brian Culbertson - "Dreams" - (Verve)
18 - 32 - Jonathan Fritzen - "Magical" - (Nordic Night)
19 - 24 - Swing Out Sister - "Private View + Tokyo Stories DVD" - (Shanachie)
20 - 18 - The David Wells & Chris Geith Project - "No Side Effects" - (Timeless World)

Our thanks to smoothjazz.com

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

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Peggy Duquesnel - "Seems Like I Know You" on Joyspring Music April 16th [Video] #jazz

“Seems Like I Know You” EP due April 16^th, first single features Lorber, Haslip and Braun

 

Transitioning from straight-ahead jazz and inspirational music to showcase her skillset as a contemporary singer-songwriter, classically trained pianist Peggy Duquesnel got to know jazz fusion keyboard pioneer Jeff Lorber and bassist Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets) in order to co-produce “Seems Like I Know You,” a five-song EP that will be released April 16^th by Joyspring Music. Duquesnel wrote or co-wrote four songs for the collection, including the first radio single, “When I Think of You,” a soulfully sophisticated R&B groove that gets tasty horn-powered highlights from Rick Braun’s trumpet and flugelhorn.

 

Gifted with a voice as cozy and as comfortable as Sunday morning, which perfectly matches her girl-next-door demeanor, Duquesnel’s piano pop songs fortified with jazz intonations provide snippets of real-life experiences embellished and enhanced by sterling instrumentation. A joyous love song of immediate familiarity, “Seems Like I Know You” opens the EP with a celestial call and response chorus. Duquesnel and Lorber co-wrote the music for “When I Think of You,” a song of patience, longing and hope with lyrics and melodies that the pianist hatched while on a nature hike. On “That’s How It Always Goes,” Haslip’s somber bass seems to symbolize fleeing love amidst an enchanting sea of sunny optimism in the search for lasting love with Michael Thompson providing a fiery final word on electric guitar. Clouds and heartache don’t stand a chance of lingering on a soothing rendition of the Carpenters’ “Rainy Days and Mondays.” Backing vocalist Dee Dee McNeil penned the lyrics to “Bird on a Leash” for which Duquesnel composed the music for the elegant track about the loneliness and isolation that results when a romantic partner is smothered and taken for granted.

       

“Songwriting has been a natural gift and form of expression for me that I have enjoyed doing since I was 12 years old. I had already recorded several albums of jazz and gospel standards as well as many of my straight-ahead originals, but I wanted this project to showcase my songwriting placed in a more contemporary setting. Many of my songs have been born out of life experiences and it is my hope that the music will touch and inspire others,” said Duquesnel, who went on to explain about her accomplished collaborators that will perform with her at a pair of hometown album release concerts on March 11^th in Seal Beach (Spaghettini) and April 22^nd in Irvine (Concordia University). “I met Jimmy (Haslip) a few years ago in the recording studio while we both worked on a project for another artist. When he and I first connected to discuss my new direction, he suggested that Jeff (Lorber) would be a good fit as a co-producer. I had been a fan of Jeff’s since high school so the thought of collaborating with both Jeff Lorber and Jimmy Haslip on this project was very exciting for me. Both of them have become mentors and friends.”

 

Born in Bethpage, NY and reared primarily in Orange County, CA, Duquesnel discovered the piano when she was three years old and grew up singing, playing and writing songs. After earning her degree in classical piano at California State University, Northridge and mentoring by esteemed jazz pianists Alan Broadbent and Terry Trotter, Duquesnel performed and recorded with Dionne Warwick, Henry Mancini, John Pattitucci, Jeff Hamilton, Grant Geissman and Grammy-winner Broadbent. Her first foray as a featured artist came in 1995 as a member of jazz crossover combo Pocket Change (“Higher Altitude”) while her debut disc as a solo artist, “Where is Love?,” was released in 1999 and spotlighted Duquesnel in a trio setting with orchestral accompaniment arranged by Broadbent and engineered by Grammy-winner Al Schmitt. Her five subsequent releases spanned the jazz spectrum along with a couple of inspirational recordings. A passionate proponent of music education, Duquesnel shares her vast knowledge while serving as the Director of Jazz Studies at Concordia University. Additional information is available at www.joyspringmusic.com.

 

The songs contained on Duquesnel’s “Seems Like I Know You” EP are:

 

“Seems Like I Know You”

“When I Think of You”

“That’s How It Always Goes”

“Rainy Days and Mondays”

“Bird on a Leash”

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Phil Perry - "Say Yes" - Release March 12, Shanachie #jazz

Soulful Mix of Originals And Inspired Reinterpretations Of Classic Songs By
Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Michael McDonald & Carly Simon And Sam Cooke

Featuring Special Guests Chanté Moore And Najee

A great vocalist has a way of inhabiting a song, living it and making it their own. It takes especially great powers of interpretation for a singer to take a song definitively recorded by a legendary artist and give it new life with a fresh interpretation. Phil Perry takes on the ultimate challenge with the opening track of his new album, the indelible “You Send Me,” recorded in classic style by the peerless Sam Cooke, whose own unique phrasing style actually shapes the melody of the tune, which he wrote. Yet Phil Perry transforms the song while still retaining its essence, opening in “old school” style and then transmuting it into contemporary soul music. Few singers around today could have done it but those who have experienced the magic of Phil Perry’s talent will not be surprised.

On March 12, 2013, Shanachie Entertainment will release SAY YES, Phil Perry’s latest—and quite possibly, greatest—album. With special guests Chanté Moore and Najee, Phil delivers a splendid mix of originals and notable covers in a style befitting the man James Ingram who calls Perry “the most powerful singer I have ever heard.”

“As always, when working with Big Dog (Davis), we try to address all the relevant directions relating to the material,” explains Perry. “We try to keep the classic essence while allowing me to be the artist that I am. What that means is singing the melody without it being sterile, inserting new background ideas and different instrumentation to contemporize the sound without removing the essence of classic R & B.”

Produced by the multi-talented Chris “Big Dog” Davis, who has produced the likes of Will Downing, Maysa, and Kim Burrell, SAY YES, is a beautiful collection of original compositions co-written by Phil Perry and Davis, as well as reinventions of signature hits by such icons as Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Michael McDonald & Carly Simon and Sam Cooke. The CD features classic songs such as “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “The Long And Winding Road,” “You Belong To Me” and the aforementioned “You Send Me.” On “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Davis gives the track a subtle groove which takes the song out of pure balladry and Phil subtly gospelizes it, in short, a fresh approach to a song that has been recorded many times by other artists.

“We were going for identifiability (on the classic cover songs),” Phil says. “Just because you cover a classic doesn’t mean you should lose yourself and what you are as an artist. I think that’s what separates any ‘classic’ endeavor we undertake from anyone else who is doing covers. We respect, then add.”

The original compositions on SAY YES deliver finely-wrought romantic balladry that takes its cue from classic soul balladry but gets just enough contemporary treatment so that it does not sound “retro.”  And always, there is a hint of jazz in Perry’s phrasing. In short, the album is state-of-the-art Phil Perry, exalting and explicating the many facets of love.

Phil Perry has been devoted to music from a young age. Born and raised in East St. Louis, Perry was exposed to the art of great singing early in life. “Growing up I always knew that I wanted to be a singer,” recalls Phil. “I would watch and listen to all the great singers like Nat ‘King’ Cole, Johnny Hartman, Arthur Prysock and Billy Eckstine that my mother listened to while she cleaned the house.”

After a spell as the lead singer of the Montclairs (whose “Begging’s Hard To Do” was a moderate R&B hit and “Make Up For Lost Time” became a cult favorite in British soul music circles) in the early 70s, Phil quickly became one of the most sought-after backing vocalists in the music business. Perry launched his solo career in 1991 with THE HEART OF A MAN, which featured an impressive re-make of Aretha Franklin’s “Call Me,” that hit #1 on the R&B charts. Phil’s 1994 album PURE PLEASURE yielded another hit with his version of “If Only You Knew” and also featured a seven-minute version of The Spinners’ classic “Love Don’t Love Nobody.” Known for his skill in multiple musical genres, Phil began achieving success in the contemporary jazz arena through his featured vocals on albums by Lee Ritenour, The Rippingtons and others. His next solo album, ONE HEART ONE LOVE, hit the Top Five of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart. 2000’s critically-acclaimed BOOK OF LOVE was followed by the 2001 album MAGIC, which highlighted Perry’s songwriting prowess.

Busy as a touring artist and in-demand session vocalist—whose credits include work with everyone from Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker, Peabo Bryson and George Duke to Quincy Jones, Barbra Streisand, Boz Scaggs and Rod Stewart—Perry returned in 2006 with CLASSIC LOVE SONGS, putting his own stamp on such tunes as Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You,” and The Temptations’ “Just My Imagination.” The 2007 album A MIGHTY LOVE brought enthusiastic reaction from music buyers starving for the kind of authentic, heartfelt music that has been Phil’s stock in trade.

The father of four, Phil has been actively working to foster Arts education through the Philill Foundation, an organization founded and led by his wife of twenty years, Lillian “Tang” Tynes, a notable soul and jazz vocalist in her own right. “It’s important to me,” Phil says, “because my wife has a vision for a Charter School that educates through all genres of the arts. Also we are both artists so we wanted to give back to the youth through art and education.”

With SAY YES, Phil Perry reasserts his claim as one of the most impressive of a dwindling number of vocalists on the contemporary scene who can deliver musically impressive, emotionally substantive art.

“When I make a record,” Phil says, “my goal is always to make something I can be proud of. As I travel across the country I can definitely say there’s a market out there for traditional R&B. I think this album is a good representation of what classic soul music is in the digital age.”

"Phil Perry is the real thing. He's the genuine article..." Al Jarreau

"The most powerful singer I have ever heard in my life." James Ingram

PHIL PERRY
TOUR DATES
Mar 22 – Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere (8PM)
Apr 06 – Reading, PA @ Berks Jazz Fest (2PM)
Apr 20 – Cleveland, OH @ State Theatre (Tri-C JazzFest) [8PM]
May 25 – Carlsbad, CA @ San Diego Jazz Fest (La Costa Resort) [5PM]
Nov 02-10 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Capital Jazz SuperCruise

PHIL PERRY
SAY YES
1. You Send Me
2. Where Is The Love (ft. Chanté Moore)
3. Tonight Just Me And You (ft. Najee)
4. You Belong To Me
5. Say Yes
6. Just A Little Bit
7. The Long And Winding Road
8. Peel The Veil
9. Can't Hide Love (ft. Najee)
10. Bridge Over Troubled Water

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Drew Davidsen - "True Drew" Release on March 5th, Oznot Records #jazz

“Drew Davidsen represents a fresh and new approach to the smooth jazz idiom. The elements are all there. His personality gives the music freshness. The addition of the flamenco influence to smooth jazz is something new. I suspect that Drew will be around a long time. What a great record.” – George Benson

I could probably stop right there, but I figure you might need a bit more info about “TRUE DREW,” which will be released next Tuesday (March 5^th). Hailed as one of the 10 Hottest New Guitarists by Guitar Player magazine, Drew Davidsen (www.drewdavidsen.com) cites Benson’s landmark “Breezin’” album as one of his biggest influences thus he was ecstatic to receive such high praise from the contemporary jazz guitar legend.

Davidsen produced his fifth album with Norman Connors, Eric Copeland and Preston Glass in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville. The Towson, Maryland-based artist wrote or co-wrote seven tunes for the 12-song set on which he wields electric, acoustic, nylon and a custom made 24-fret guitar. Among his noteworthy collaborators on “TRUE DREW” are Eric Marienthal, Bobby Lyle, Bob Baldwin, Gerald Veasley and The Temptations’ Ron Tyson. Radio’s intro to the disc comes in the form of “Hi5,” a cool-toned electric guitar joint textured with Latin piano and clubby electronic swatches of synth that is currently ascending the Billboard chart. “’Hi5’ was the genesis of the entire album. I wrote and recorded it using a simple nylon guitar riff that evolved into a hip, Bolero-type number with some Latin piano from Pat Coil,” said Davidsen, an alchemist who mixes contemporary jazz sheen, funky R&B grooves, soulful blues-rock riffs and gospel inflections.       

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Paris Combo - Releases fifth studio album "5" March 12th #jazz DRG Records

Eclectic global jazz quintet returns March 12^th with their aptly titled fifth studio album, “5,” that will be supported with a U.S. concert tour

 

Love is a universal language and Paris Combo confirms that music is as well. The five-piece French band that has garnered global acclaim and an immense following for its unique mélange of colorful cabaret, elegant jazz, multicultural world music and sassy alterna-pop will release their fifth studio album, the appropriately titled “5,” on March 12^th on DRG Records. To support the diverse dozen songs in every shade of love written by the band and produced by Bénédicte Schmitt and Dominique Blanc-Francard, Paris Combo will embark on a 12-city U.S. concert trek launching April 19^th in Cleveland, OH. 

 

It has been since 2004 that Paris Combo released a new album, “Motifs,” which was supported with a concert tour that visited the iconic Hollywood Bowl where they were accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The troupe consisting of chanteuse Belle du Berry, Potzi (guitar), François Jeannin (drums, percussion, vocals), and David Lewis (trumpet, flugelhorn, piano) reunited in 2010 after a four-year hiatus and spent a year writing, rehearsing and rediscovering their hallmark sound. After adding new bassist Emmanuel Chabbey to the lineup at the end of 2011, they returned to extensive touring where they performed new material that evolved into “5” and delivered another memorable show at Hollywood Bowl.

 

"In 2006, we gave ourselves the luxury of taking a break from touring and recording so each of us could return to his or her individual musical sources - a breathing space to allow inspiration to happen. Four years later, we reunited in a rehearsal studio - in Paris of course - and without even playing our previous repertoire, together we started composing new songs. The group's chemistry was magic straightaway. Right from the first notes, the chords, the melodies, and the grooves sounded spontaneous and naturally like ‘Paris Combo.’ It was like a reunion with an old friend. The tone was set and we knew we would have fun co-writing our new material and exploring all the different aspects of the group's identity - the ‘Paris Combo style,’” said du Berry, whose lyrical muse remains love.

 

On “5,” du Berry ruminates on the crazy extremes of amour sung in her native French: love at first sight, love lost, broken love, the dream of love, the brilliance of love, “volcanic anger” produced by love, love’s persistence and love’s enduring immortality. Behind her alternately aching, playful, graceful, tantalizing, and always alluring vocals, the band, with the assistance of a three-piece string section, sets captivating backdrops and intriguing sound collages constructed from artsy Europop, rambunctious riffs, smoky jazz, charismatic cabaret, swinging grooves, exotic Latin, African and rumba rhythms, and mystical Middle Eastern and gypsy nuances.               

 

Lewis said, “We are thrilled to be releasing ‘5’ in the U.S. We have always felt very much appreciated by audiences there and we are thoroughly looking forward to touring there again. After 15 or so tours, the States are an important part of the group's story.”

 

Paris Combo’s story began in the early ‘90s when du Berry, Potzi and Jeannin first performed together in Paris as members of a quirky retro revue before going on to collaborate at the closing ceremony of the Albertville Winter Olympic Games in 1992. Lewis joined the fold in 1994 and the outfit honed their sound playing in cafes and on barges along the Seine. Their self-titled 1997 debut disc arrived as the swing revival was in full bloom and instantly appealed to fans internationally while generating critical praise yet the band’s wide-ranging mix set them apart. The movement multiplied with the release of their sophomore outing, “Living Room,” which went gold in France in 2000. Their third set, “Attraction,” attracted more followers the following year and was followed by a live album in conjunction with extensive concert tours in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia.        

 

To get a taste of the fun, free-spirited musical dish served by Paris Combo, behind the scenes video clips were shot for two tracks from “5”:

 

“Je Te Vois Partout” http://youtu.be/TXUlmKI3mIU

“Lux” http://youtu.be/_Iqf0X8xVwI

 

The songs that comprise Paris Combo’s “5” are:

 

“Je Te Vois Partout”

“Lux”

“Goodbye Pinocchio”

“Tout Excusé"”

“Comptez Sur Moi”

“Les Cailloux Blancs”

“Chaque Fois”

“Le Magasin de Porcelaine”

“Morphée”

“Mediumisons”

“Ce Que J'aime C'est Le Début”

“Fantôme Adoré”

 

 

Catch Paris Combo live at the following U.S. concert dates (additional dates may be added):

 

April 19                 Cleveland, OH                   Museum of Art

April 20                 Bloomington, IN               Buskirk-Chumley Theater

April 21                 Chicago, IL                           City Winery

April 23                 Indianapolis, IN                 The Cabaret at the Columbia Club

April 24                 Livermore, CA                   Bankhead Theater

April 26                 San Francisco, CA             California Institute of Integral Studies

April 27                 Santa Monica, CA             The Broad Stage

April 28                 Irvine, CA                            Soka Performing Arts Center

April 30                 New York, NY                    Joe’s Pub

May 1                    Reston, VA                         Center Stage at Reston Community Center

May 2                    Brooklyn, NY                      Littlefield

May 3                    Boston, MA                        Berklee Performance Center

 

 

For more information about Paris Combo, please visit www.pariscombo.com. 

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - February 25th, 2013 #jazz

TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Vincent Ingala - "Can't Stop Now" - (vincentingala.com)
2 - 2 - Gerald Albright/Norman Brown" - "24/7" - (Concord)
3 - 4 - Tak Matsumoto - "Strings Of My Soul" - (335)
4 - 9 - Ben Tankard - "Full Tank" - (Ben-Jamin'/Universal)
5 - 6 - Steve Oliver - "World Citizen" - (SOM)
6 - 8 - Chris Standring - "Electric Wonderland" - (Ultimate Vibe)
7 - 12 - Walter Beasley - "Live In The Club" - (Affable)
8 - 18 - Brian Bromberg - "In The Spirit Of Jobim" - (Artistry)
9 - 5 - Paul Brown - "The Funky Join" - (Woodward Ave)
10 - 3 - Richard Elliot - "In The Zone" - (Artistry/Mack Ave.)
11 - 11 - Paul Hardcastle - "Hardcastle VII" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
12 - 13 - David Benoit - "Conversation" - (Heads Up)
13 - 19 - Brian Culbertson - "Dreams" - (Verve)
14 - 7 - Nils - "City Groove" - (Baja/TSR)
15 - 10 - Fourplay - "Esprit de Four" - (Heads Up)
16 - 22 - Patrick Lamb - "It's All right Now" - (Patrick Lamb)
17 - 17 - Lee Ritenour - "Rhythm Sessions" - (Concord)
18 - 20 - The David Wells & Chris Geith Project - "No Side Effects" - (Timeless World)
19 - 45 - Boney James - "The Beat" - (Concord Jazz)
20 - 15 - Acoustic Alchemy - "Roseland" - (Onside/Headsup)

Our thanks to smoothjazz.com

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

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Kristin Korb - "What's Your Story" - Release on Double K Music April 2nd - #jazz

Pre-Order What's Your Story from amazon.com WHAT’S YOUR STORY?, the new album from internationally recognized jazz artist Kristin Korb answers that very question with 12 timeless tunes that celebrate her story as a jazz vocalist and bassist. What’s Your Story? will be released on Korb’s own label, Double K Music in the U.S. and Europe on April 2, 2013. The album will be available oniTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, www.kristinkorb.com and select retail outlets.

A singing double bassist with a deep sense of swing, Korb combines the instrumental influence of Ray Brown and Charles Mingus with the vocal styling of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald to create a sound all her own. Exhilarating to watch live, she sings and plays the bass as effortlessly as she breathes.

Korb and her All-Star trio featuring musical powerhouses Bruce Forman on guitar and Jeff Hamilton on drums, share an inspired set of popular songs using innovative arrangements. From Porter to Pinkard, Grouya to Caymmi - What’s Your Story? treats listeners to fresh renditions of some of the all time great compositions and introduces an original song.

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - February 18th, 2013 #jazz

TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Vincent Ingala - "Can't Stop Now" - (vincentingala.com)
2 - 2 - Gerald Albright/Norman Brown" - "24/7" - (Concord)
3 - 4 - Richard Elliot - "In The Zone" - (Artistry/Mack Ave.)
4 - 12 - Tak Matsumoto - "Strings Of My Soul" - (335)
5 - 5 - Paul Brown - "The Funky Join" - (Woodward Ave)
6 - 10 - Steve Oliver - "World Citizen" - (SOM)
7 - 6 - Nils - "City Groove" - (Baja/TSR)
8 - 3 - Chris Standring - "Electric Wonderland" - (Ultimate Vibe)
9 - 8 - Ben Tankard - "Full Tank" - (Ben-Jamin'/Universal)
10 - 7 - Fourplay - "Esprit de Four" - (Heads Up)
11 - 23 - Paul Hardcastle - "Hardcastle VII" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm)
12 - 16 - Walter Beasley - "Live In The Club" - (Affable)
13 - 21 - David Benoit - "Conversation" - (Heads Up)
14 - 19 - Four80East - "Off Duty" - (Boomtang)
15 - 11 - Acoustic Alchemy - "Roseland" - (Onside/Headsup)
16 - 9 - Euge Groove - "House Of Groove" - (Shanachie)
17 - 15 - Lee Ritenour - "Rhythm Sessions" - (Concord)
18 - 17 - Brian Bromberg - "In The Spirit Of Jobim" - (Artistry)
19 - 13 - Brian Culbertson - "Dreams" - (Verve)
20 - 14 - The David Wells & Chris Geith Project - "No Side Effects" - (Timeless World)

Our thanks to smoothjazz.com

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

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