Peter White And Other Smooth Jazzers Going To Gitmo

Over the past year, the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – also known as Gitmo – has been in the news due to alleged abuses at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. More than 500 foreign military prisoners from the war on terror are detained at the Detention Center’s Camp Delta.

This Labor Day, however, the mood at the base will be lightened during the third annual Guantanamo Bay Jazz Festival. Scheduled to perform are guitarist Peter White, pianist Alex Bugnon, saxophonist Paul Taylor and the Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman. White and the Rippingtons also performed at last year’s event.

More than 6,000 people representing all five of the armed forces – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard – will be on hand. Smooth Jazz has a history at the base. It was back in 1997 that Spyro Gyra made the trip as they performed for the troops following singer Sheryl Crow.

Brenda Russell Gets Her Shot On Broadway

The musical version of The Color Purple, featuring music and lyrics by Smooth Jazz vocalist Brenda Russell, will make its debut on Broadway on Dec. 1 at the Broadway Theatre. Previews will begin on Oct. 25. The play recently went through a summer workshop with choreographer Donald Byrd and producer Quincy Jones.

"We’ve become Broadway babies," says Russell with a laugh. "It’s been an extraordinary learning experience. We just drenched ourselves in the history of what we’re dealing with. You don’t want to walk in like you know something when you don’t."

The Color Purple, based on Alice Walker's popular novel of the same name, debuted last October in Atlanta and ran for four weeks. Russell, who shares songwriting duties with Allee Willis and Stephen Bray on such tunes as “Brown Betty,” “What About Love?” and “Push Da Button,” is now fine-tuning the show’s music. She is also taking care of her other career, as she’s on the Summer Storm tour with guitarist Norman Brown, saxophonist Everette Harp and vocalist Peabo Bryson. Brenda is performing her hits and songs from her new album called “Between the Sun and the Moon.”

Brian Culbertson Is In The Mood - You Will Be, Too

Brian Culberton
It's On Tonight
(GRP/Verve)

Smooth jazz pianist Brian Culbertson wants you to make love to his music. So he crafted 12 songs for you to get your groove on with an almost-perfect collection of smooth jazz chill-out music. The results are ecstatic, as its consistency over the course of a dozen songs makes it the best of the eight CDs he’s recorded over 11 years.

Culbertson gets an assist from top-drawer musicians who have over the years certainly created a few babies with their own music. But it’s not that Culbertson really needed them – the versatile pianist also plays trumpet, trombone, synth bass, drum programming and percussion on the CD. And you won’t find one cover song, which today passes as a daring move in a smooth jazz world where at least one cover nod to the past seems to be a mandate.

Far from simply a sleepy collection of ballads, It’s On Tonight offers chill-music energy combined with Culbertson’s amazing songwriting abilities. Culbertson’s bass drives several songs – the funk-filled synth bass line in “Forbidden Love” transforms a slow, sexy song into something you can dance to. A slithering bass on “Wear It Out” imparts a European chill flavor, and Marc Nelson’s sexy vocals give it added punch. And on “Secret Affair,” the chill vibe is enhanced by Chris Botti’s mysterious and sexy trumpet lines.

Like saxophonist Boney James, Culbertson thankfully is expert at including vocal tunes that fit with a predominantly instrumental album without alienating his fans. The title track with Will Downing once again proves this. It also proves that Downing’s got the sexiest voice of any male vocalist in the smooth-jazz genre. On “Love Will Never Let You Down,” Patti Austin’s voice has never sounded better. Kirk Whalum plays sax on the tune, with Ricky Peterson giving it a bluesy touch with chilled organ work.

The CD’s first single, “Hookin’ Up,” is a midtempo track that bookends nicely with “Sensuality,” which turns the tempo down a bit and is, of course, very sensual. Both have nice guitar arrangements, to boot. “The Way You Feel” is another pretty ballad, which stands out with its insistent, knocking-on-the-door drum loops and Boney’s guest sax appearance.

Since It’s On Tonight is a CD with a theme, a rarity in iTunes’ mad, mad world, the CD certainly works as a whole. Still, two songs manage to stand out. “Let’s Get Started” is an uptempo treat kicking off the CD and offering a looping piano chorus and the da-da-da scatting of R&B vocalist Ledisi. Like Culbertson’s big hit on last album, “Come on Up,” it’s the kind of song that makes you go “yeah!”

And “Dreaming of You,” with some beautiful violin work by Culbertson’s wife, Michelle, may be the most beautiful song on this whole collection of beautiful songs. The spine-tingling melody is like something you’d hear on a heartbreaking movie soundtrack. It’ll give you an afterglow, for sure, as will the whole project.

New Zealand's Swingers: Twinset

Living in the USA, it’s easy to miss the great jazz swinging out of New Zealand. Luckily, Rafe Gomez of the Groove Boutique turned me on to the trio Twinset from windy Wellington.

Twinset = cool. They are Christopher Yeabsley on organ, brother Daniel Yeabsley on sax and Paul K. Hoskin on drums. They don’t play smooth jazz, but neither do they play freestyle, esoteric stuff you must matriculate from MIT to get. These blokes play the hell out of a song and will keep your feet jiggerin' all night long.

On their most recent album, 2004’s Lifestyle, there's “San Pedro Sula (Bossa Mix).” This thing swings and the sax is smoky and club-like. It’s toast in three minutes, but they do return with a “swing” take.

Twinset has released five CDs, including Mystical Soul from 2003 and It’s a Summer Feeling from 2002. Rafe is playing “Sunny” from Mystical Soul and "Boil the Jug" from Lifestyle, among others. Rafe loves these guys.

(Promo segue: Rafe’s ditty called “Icy” is dang hot, too.)

If you want to hear Twinset’s music, head on over to the band’s website. It’s probably the coolest thing you’ll do today. Unless you're reading this - you gotta be your own person to read a smooth jazz blog.

Dave Koz Hires Phil Ramone To Produce New CD

Saxophonist Dave Koz, who is now working on an album of movie theme songs, has enlisted Phil Ramone as the project’s producer. Ramone most recently picked up three Grammy Awards for his co-producing work on Genius Loves Company, the best-selling album of duets featuring the late Ray Charles. Most recently, Ramone also produced albums by Tony Bennett, Clay Aiken, Peter Cincotti and Olivia Newton-John.

Koz and Ramone began discussing the project earlier in February, when Ramone attended a Grammy concert in Hollywood where Dave was performing. Koz was nominated for a Grammy for his Saxophonic CD, and Ramone was the producer for the Grammy’s MusiCares 2005 Person of the Year concert honoring the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson.

Koz's upcoming CD, which he hopes to release later this year, is an album of movie music with saxophone, full orchestra and guest vocalists. Songs selected so far include “Moon River," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "A Whole New World."

Can't wait to hear it, but am also looking forward to a CD of brand-new material.

Saxophonist Michael Brecker Has Rare Blood Disorder

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Michael Brecker, who has played on many popular smooth jazz recordings, has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, known as MDS. It’s a blood disorder that can lead to leukemia. Brecker, who is 56, is said to be seriously ill and has cancelled all of his scheduled concerts for the time being. He is now undergoing chemotherarpy at the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center in New York City and is scheduled to undergo a bone-marrow transplant.

Brecker has had a storied career, and has collaborated in the studio with artists such as David Benoit, George Benson, Larry Carlton, Bob James, Earl Klugh, Chuck Loeb, David Sanborn, Diana Krall and many others. Recently, Brecker performed on the album by Jason Miles' Maximum Grooves called Coast to Coast and was a special guest on an album by steel pan player Andy Narell called The Passage.

In May 2004, Michael signed with the Heads Up recording label – home to Spyro Gyra, Marion Meadows, Pieces of a Dream, Nestor Torres and others – and was due to release a new album sometime in 2006. If you would like to send Brecker a get-well message, you can e-mail info@michaelbrecker.com

You can also send a letter to:

Michael Brecker
Room 1137
Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021

14-Year-Old Could Be Next Big Smooth Jazz Star

Here's some good news for those worried about the graying smooth jazz demographic.

Elizabeth Mis, a 14-year-old girl from Ohio, has plans to become a smooth sazz star, and she might not be too far off. Mis, who plays the saxophone, performed the National Anthem in May before 27,000 fans at Jacobs Field in Cleveland.

Inspired to play the sax after listening to Kenny G, she taught herself the sax by playing along with the music of Dave Koz. Not shy about performing, Elizabeth has been to parlay her ambition into actual performances and sound-check gigs with some of the biggest names in Smooth Jazz. All she had to do was ask, either by phone, e-mail or in person. Among those she’s performed with are guitarist Peter White, trumpeter Chris Botti and saxophonists Koz, Michael Lington and Kim Waters.

Elizabeth plans to record several original songs by the end of the year. She’ll play some of those songs when she performs July 23 in the Cleveland suburb of Beachwood, Ohio, in the first of 12 in-store appearances for the Borders Books & Music book chain in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Good luck, Elizabeth.

Standing Together No More: George Benson and Verve Split

After releasing four CDs with the GRP/Verve Music Group record label since 1996, guitarist George Benson and the label have parted in what the label called a mutual agreement.

Benson’s last CD for Verve, which is part of the Universal Music Company, was last year’s Irreplaceable. That CD was originally to be a collection of vocal tracks, but the singer and guitarist halted its release, at the request of the label, to rework the project to include three instrumental songs and create more of a smooth jazz flavor. In stepped uber-producer Paul Brown, and one of the two songs he produced, “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise,” paid off. It topped the R&R smooth jazz chart for six weeks.

Irreplaceable followed Absolute Benson in 2000, Standing Together in 1998 and That’s Right in 1996, all of which went to No. 1 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart.

Benson also actually released a few albums for Verve in the 1960s before beginning associations with the A&M and Warner Bros. labels, among others.

Benson is a young and energetic 62. Landing on his feet somewhere shouldn't be an issue.

N-n-n-n-n-nineteen: Maxine Hardcastle Is Sublime

The latest smooth vazz vocalist to hit the scene is a teenager, Maxine Hardcastle.

Yes, she is the daughter of British smooth jazz composer Paul Hardcastle. Maxine sings and has co-writing credits on three song on the new CD that was released last week called Hardcastle 4. They are “Smooth Jazz Is Bumpin'," “Was It Love” and “Where Are You Now.”

The budding young singer's voice is a real treat, and recalls frequent Hardcastle collaborator Helen Rogers. (Rogers will be back on the next Jazzmasters' CD). Maxine was the inspiration for an old Hardcastle song called "Maxine," and she also had a spoken-word monologue throughout a song called "Look to the Future" from the Hardcastle 2 album released in 1996.

Ironically, Maxine turned 19 years old in April. You may recall that Hardcastle had a worldwide dance smash back in 1985 with the song “19,” which used spoken-word reports from Vietnam throughout the song that described the average age of American combatants as 19.

"It’s the first time that she’s actually done something really popular in the studio, and she really likes this type of music," says Paul Hardcastle. "Who knows? She could have her own album out in a couple of years time. We don’t want to rush her into it. Her songwriting’s getting very, very good at the moment, and I think she’s got a great future ahead of her."

We agree.

Meanwhile, the first hit from Hardcastle 4 is called “Serene,” which is rapidly moving up Radio & Records' smooth jazz chart.

Sting and Michael Buble Guesting On New Chris Botti CD

Chris Botti, who has already recorded parts of his follow-up album to When I Fall in Love in Los Angeles and London, has selected a tentative title for the CD: Embraceable You.

Chris has said that the upcoming album, which he expects to released in October, will be the logical extension to his latest project of jazz standards. Confirmed guest performers on the new CD include Sting, Michael Buble, Gladys Knight and Jill Scott.

Of course, Sting sang on his song called “La Belle Dame Sans Regrets” on When I Fall in Love. Botti, meanwhile, performs on "Song For You" on vocalist Buble’s top-selling new CD called It’s Time.

Embraceable You is expected to be released in October.

Meanwhile, Botti is offering a free download of the title track to When I Fall in Love. Just go to the Tour Report page of his Web site and the July 3 entry.

Gregg Karukas Sticking With 'London Underground'

The terrorist attacks in London on July 7 – three of which occurred in the city’s subway system – created quite a coincidence for a new song by pianist Gregg Karukas. The first smooth jazz single from Gregg’s upcoming album called Looking Up is called “London Underground.”

On his website, Karukas says the attacks hit close to home since his new record label, Trippin N Rhythm, is based in London and one of his oldest friends from grade school lives in the city. Karukas, who recorded “London Underground” months ago, says he and record label have decided to stick with the name of instrumental song because they hope its positive outlook will help soothe and unite people in their need to confront violence.

"It is quite a coincidence considering I came up the title to the first single, ‘London Underground,’ a few months ago, mostly as a tribute to Trippin N Rhythm records, since they’re based in England," says Karukas. "I can only hope the upbeat vibe of ‘London Underground’ will somehow has a positive impact. Music does have power, and I’m now even more dedicated to speaking out, and playing out, on behalf and tolerance in the world."

Looking Up will be released on Aug. 16.

Horrors! Smooth Jazz Artist Bleeps Cuss Word

When guitarist Marc Antoine releases his new CD next month, it could be the first time that a smooth jazz recording includes a vulgarity. But don’t expect a parental advisory sticker to be pasted onto Antoine’s Modern Times. That’s because the cuss word is beeped out.

It comes on the final song on the CD on a song called “If You Believe.” At the beginning of the tune, during a spoken-word exchange, a male voice is heard saying “Man, turn that (beep) off.” Antoine, of course, is in no danger of becoming smooth jazz’s answer to rapper Eminem – the guitarist is married man with a young child.

But he recorded the new CD in his Madrid studio with European dance music producer and club DJ David Ferrero, who no doubt lent his club and hip-hop sensitivity to the project that will be released on Aug. 16 by Rendezvous Entertainment.

"With the beep, you know something happened," says Antoine. "If, if you leave it in just like that, people will listen to it and they’re not sure of what they heard. It’s like, Was it? Did you really say that? So with the beep, you know something happened so you play it back and say, what? It was all just to save a sticker, man."

By the way, Modern Times is an amazing CD. It harkens back to Antoine's first project, Classical Soul, in its approach, but is still very much a hip and trendy 2005 piece of work.

Antoine is currently on tour in the States with Guitars and Saxes.

Acoustic Alchemy Stirs Up Magic

The last time the veteran smooth jazz band Acoustic Alchemy performed at Seattle’s Jazz Alley, just last year, audiences were treated to a trio setting. When the band wrapped up its current U.S. tour on July 10 at the same venue, the band was in full force. That meant the place was jumping.

Acoustic Alchemy is led by guitarists Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale, the latter who became a permanent member after the unfortunate death of Nick Webb several years ago. Gilderdale brings a rock edge to the band’s live performances, which is not surprising when you consider that honed his chops jamming in a rock band. Gilderdale’s rock pedigree was evident from the get go as he laid down plenty of rock riffs throughout “Shelter Island Drive” and “Georgia Peach.”

Gilderdale can sing and scat, too, which is evident on the band’s first single called “Say Yeah” from its current CD called American/English. In concert, lucky fans are treated to several minutes of scatting instead of the few measly seconds on the radio track.

Original member Carmichael, of course, is a treat to behold as well. While Gilderdale uses a pick, Carmichael prefers the guitar au natural – he plays it like a bass with his fingers. It looks painful, but he’s surely built up major protective calluses during his worldwide jaunts.

Together, Carmichael and Gilderdale complement each other nicely, never more so than on “Detroit Shuffle” when their give-and-take sounded lifted straight from the movie “Deliverance.” On that song, dedicated to the Motown style, they threw in a few snippets of “How Sweet It Is” and “Jimmy Mack.”

The duo was backed admirably by the touring band: Frank Felix on bass, Eddie M. on sax, Greg Grainger on drums and Fred White on keyboards.

The lads are now back in London, but will return to the States in September. Wherever you are, you deserve to catch a show by the legendary Acoustic Alchemy.

Smooth Jazz Performers Play On in London

Despite the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, two of smooth jazz’s biggest continued with their performances.

Saxophonist Boney James performed at the Jazz Café in London on July 8, the day after the attacks.On his website, Boney wrote that his prayers go out to all who have been affected by the tragic events in London.

On July 9, Anita Baker went on as scheduled at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Ironically, Anita was forced to cancel two performances in the U.S. due to what her promoter called scheduling conflicts.

Meanwhile, the London-based Acoustic Alchemy, led by guitarists Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale, wrapped up a two-month tour of the U.S. July 10 in Seattle. They are now back in London, where they will perform July 15 at the city’s Royal Botanical Gardens.

Got Your Free Richard Elliot Song Yet?

Why haven't you downloaded your free Richard Elliot song?

To enjoy a song called “Mystery” that Elliot recorded especially for his fans to grab off the Internet, go to the ARTizen Music Group website. ARTizen is the new record label that Elliot and trumpeter and partner Rick Braun debuted late last year.

By the way, you won’t find “Mystery” on Elliot's new CD called Metro Blue. The song was recorded during the same session as the new CD, but specifically for the free download.

And this week, Elliot's version of the Stylistics' "People Make the World Go Round" is the No. 1 smooth jazz song in the country.

Congratulations!

Richard's two previous No. 1 hits were "Your Secret Love" and "Sly."

Joe McBride Offers Smooth Version Of Iron Butterfly Classic

Ready for a Smooth Jazz version of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”? Pianist Joe McBride offers one for your listening enjoyment on his upcoming CD called Texas Hold ‘Em. The Dallas native's is calling his cover of the Iron Butterfly classic “In A Garden of Eden.”

Unlike the original 1968 version, which clocked in at more than 17 minutes, McBride's’s jazzy version is just a little more than three-and-a-half minutes.

The rest of the 11-song CD features McBride with his group of local musicians known as the Texas Rhythm Club.

Texas Hold ‘Em, McBride’s seventh release for the Heads Up label, will be available on Sept. 27.

As usual, it's a superb production.

Camiel

Sunset (Rendezvous Entertainment)

Camiel is the third chill/downtempo act to be signed by Dave Koz’s Rendezvous Entertainment, following Praful and the duo of Adani & Wolf. Like his Amsterdam labelmates, Camiel provides plenty of musical moments appealing to smooth jazz fans. But, also like his labelmates, there’s a sexy European vibe that can either sound fresh or weird, depending on your musical inclinations. The inside of the CD shows two scenes with Camiel strumming a guitar, but this is not a guitar-driven CD.

There’s the feeling with this CD that you never know which direction it’s headed or even if there’s a road map. That’s refreshing. For example, things begin with the downtempo and mellow “Sunset,” programmed drums bouncing happily along in the background. More than halfway through the tune, Camiel offers a pretty guitar solo that rides over swirling synth sounds. “I’m Ready” follows “Sunset,” and features an orchestral disco hook straight from 1970s. Pretty cool. There are other disco forays, as well, with soulful female, “get into the groove”-type lyrics.

There are many great moments: “Sintra” offers Larry Carlton-like guitar playing and lyrical female vocalese; “No Fuzz” is a strange trip with weird vocal-like warbling and a salsa-like melody so infectious you wish Camiel would have given it more of a presence; “El Alba” has a Spanish guitar lead that would sound appropriate on a Marc Antoine CD; and “Eighty-Eight” is an intoxicating, swirling five minutes of bossa beats, guitar, organ and vocalese.

What everyone who hears this CD will be talking about, no question, is the continuing dialog of a man who narrates the pursuit of a classy woman he meets at a bar called Thatcher’s. Preposterously humorous, it continues with “Follow Her” and continues elsewhere on the CD on an interlude and with “I Would.” Soft background music accompanies the man’s escapade, which is narrated by an American living in Amsterdam named Boyd Small. Also narrating a tune is one Cristina Arenas Gonzalez. She speaks in Spanish on “Sigume,” and I’m pretty sure she’s not the woman being chased from Thatcher’s bar. I could be wrong, but she speaks so fast in Spanish I couldn’t get much of what she was saying.

Different. But exotically also very cool.

Legendary Luther Vandross Dies At Age 54

The music world lost one of its biggest stars when the legendary Luther Vandross died at age 54 on July 1, 2005. Luther, who suffered a debilitating stroke on April 16, 2003, died at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, at 1:47 p.m. ET, surrounded by family, friends and a medical support team, a statement from the hospital said.

Ironically, earlier today a free concert in New York City honored the continuing legacy of Vandross. The concert was sponsored by Divabetic, a diabetes-awareness organization inspired by Vandross with the encouragement and support of Luther’s mother, Mary Ida Vandross.

Luther, of course, has had numerous top hits, such as “Any Love,” “Stop to Love,” “Give Me the Reason,” “Here and Now” and many, many others. His last album, "Dance With My Father" sold about 442,000 units in its first week of release ending June 15, 2003, according to industry retail monitor Nielsen SoundScan.

In July 2004, the GRP label released “Forever, For Always, For Luther,” which featured some of the biggest names in Smooth Jazz lending their talents to a tribute album in honor of Vandross. The first single from that album, “Your Secret Love” by saxophonist Richard Elliot, went all the way to No. 1 on the Smooth Jazz charts. And earlier this year, it was announced that record label mogul Clive Davis was planning another tribute to Luther, this time on his Arista label, which Luther was signed to.

In another tribute to Luther, over the Memorial Day weekend, several Smooth Jazz performers united in tribute to the great singer on a special live tour called Forever, For Always, For Luther. The tour, produced by Luther’s good friend Rex Rideout and Art Good of the nationally syndicated JazzTrax radio show, starred saxophonist Kirk Whalum, keyboardist Brian Culbertson, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. and vocalist Lalah Hathaway. The concert also was performed June 18th in Bear Bear Lake, California, and will be a big part of the 19th annual Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival in October.

Luther may be gone, but his music and spirit will be remembered forever. Play Luther loud today.