Philippe Saisse Signs With Rendezvous; CD On April 18

Dave Koz’s Rendezvous Entertainment has announced the latest signing to its record label: keyboardist, composer and producer Philippe Saisse. Saisse, a French native who now lives near New York City, recently released a CD in Japan called The Body and Soul Sessions that was recorded at his Valerian Studios. That CD will now be repackaged and re-released by Rendezvous on April 18.

The CD is a trio recording that also features David Finck on acoustic bass and Scooter Warner on drums and percussion. The CD’s music is all cover songs, including the title track by Johnny Green, “Do It Again” by Steely Dan, “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire, “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor, “Lady Madonna” by the Beatles and “We’re All Alone” by Boz Scaggs.

If you can't wait - and this CD is definitely worth getting - Saisse is also selling the Japanese version now on his Web site.

Saisse has released six previous solo CDs, including the subliminal, ahead-of-its-time chill/downtempo Halfway Til Dawn in 1999 on the GRP record label.

Eric Darius Announces His Engagement

Congratulations to 23-year-old smooth jazz saxophonist Eric Darius, who has announced his engagement to 20-year-old Alyssa Pacheco. Eric and Alyssa first met when they were in a jazz band while attending Blake High School for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida. Eric, of course, played the saxophone while Alyssa performed on the trumpet.

"She’s working and going to school, so music isn't really her priority, right now," says Darius, who performed last summer in Brian Culbertson's band. "But I’m trying to encourage her to keep playing and maybe sometime we can play together on stage."

The couple, who plan to marry in the spring 2007, are now attending the University of South Florida, although Eric is finding it harder to focus on studies while preparing for the March 7 release of his new CD called – appropriately enough – Just Getting Started. The first single from the CD is called “Steppin’ Up.”

Chris Standring Creates Guitar Course For Beginners

Several years ago, guitarist Chris Standring created a guitar-lesson course focusing on jazz called Play What You Hear. It was designed for those who already played the guitar. Now Standring is offering a brand-new course, Guitar Made Simple, that is designed for beginning and intermediate guitar players. The home-study course, which comes on a CD-ROM, offers numerous videos of Standring explaining the lessons as he goes along. There are 12 chapters covering everything from how to hold the guitar, learning chords and how to read simple music. The course gets more detailed as it moves along.

I have a copy of Guitar Made Simple and heartily recommend it to beginners and for those with a little experience.

Standring will release a brand-new CD in May called Soul Express.

Chris Botti Offers 3 New Songs on ITunes

If you’re looking for an original Valentine’s Day gift, the romantic sounds of Chris Botti just may be your answer. The trumpeter has just released a three-song Valentine’s Day sampler that is available only on iTunes.

The set includes one song that was previously available on the digital music site: "Emmanuel," a song written by the late French composer Michel Colombier that Chris first performed in December on the long-running daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless.

Also included are “Be My Love,” an American songbook classic written by Nikolaus Brodsky and Sammy Cahn that Chris recorded during sessions for his latest CD called To Love Again; and “Pavanne,” the oft-covered classical song by the late French composer Gabriel Fauré that Chris recorded during sessions for his 2004 CD When I Fall in Love.

Upcoming Chris Standring Single Is Smooth Jazz Heaven

Guitarist Chris Standring who recently signed a contract with Trippin N Rhythm, which was founded in 1999 in London, has finished a new album for the label called Soul Express. It’s his first since Groovalicious was released in July of 2003.

The new, 11-song CD features original songs written mostly by Chris and his longtime writing partner Rodney Lee. The first single, “I Can’t Help Myself,” is co-written and produced by hitmaker Paul Brown, whose had a hand in more than 40 No. 1 songs. The single will be released to smooth jazz radio later this month. It’s a loping, sweet-as-candy slice of music that’s sure to be a hit with listeners.

Standring also covers “As” from Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life and “Giant Steps” from the iconic saxophonist John Coltrane.

Among the musicians on the CD are bassists Roberto Valley and Stan Sargent, drummer Dave Karasony and vocalist Jeff Robinson.

Standring, originally from the U.K. but now living in Southern California, is pleased to be part of the Trippin roster, which also includes Paul Hardcastle. Standring has his nationality in common with Hardcastle and with his new label’s founder and president, Les Cutmore.

“It might have helped us connect somewhat but I think Les has seen my success happen in England probably before he saw it happen here,” Standring say. “Because when Jazz FM was happening, there was a couple of DJs completely pounding my stuff over there, several times a day. And Les, being based in London, was probably listening to that station all the time. So he got wind of exactly what I was doing over there before I probably had that much going on over here at all.”

KTWV-The Wave Now Streaming Online

Los Angeles radio station KTWV, known as The Wave, is now streaming online. The station that debuted with new age music in 1987 is widely credited as one of the first to introduce smooth jazz to the masses.

Saxophonist Dave Koz is the morning drivetime host along with Pat Prescott. Among other KTWV DJs are Talaya Trigueros, Don Burns, Keri Tombazian, Sandy Kelly and Barbara Blake.

To listen, you'll have to fill out a registration form. Go to www.947wave.com.