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Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Nils Has Radio's Most-Played Song In 2005

If you haven't heard the song called "Pacific Coast Highway" by Nils, you should do yourself a favor.

That song by the veteran session player new to the smooth jazz scene in 2005 has been named the U.S.'s No. 1 smooth jazz single for 2005
by Radio & Records, a trade publication serving the radio industry.

The song was No. 1 for seven weeks. Although saxophonist Richard Elliot’s hit single called “People Make the World Go Round” took the top spot for 11 consecutive weeks, Radio & Records’ year-end chart is based on the total number of times a song is played, or “spinned.” Pacific Coast Highway” was played almost 1,000 times more than the No. 2 song, Soul Ballet’s “Cream.” Nils’ current single, “Summer Nights,” also made the chart at No. 99 for the year. Coming in at No. 3 behind Soul Ballet is guitarist Tim Bowman’s “Summer Groove,” followed by “Pick Up the Pieces” by saxophonist Kenny G, “Two of a Kind” by saxophonist Michael Lington and “Let It Free” by saxophonist Dave Koz.

Rounding out the top 10 singles of the year are saxophonist
Boney James“Stone Groove” with Joe Sample on piano, “Thursday” by saxophonist Steve Cole, “Nightlife” by saxophonist Paul Taylor and “XXL” by saxophonist Euge Groove.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Rick Braun, Richard Elliot Planning Duets CD

Trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Richard Elliot are now in the planning stages of what could be one of the biggest smooth jazz projects in years - a duets album.

Braun says that the CD, which could be released by the fall of 2006, will draw on the duo’s history with the brass-heavy bands
War and Tower of Power. It was back in 2000 that Braun offered a tasty CD with saxophonist Boney James called “Shake It Up” that was released by Warner Bros.

The upcoming duets CD will of course by released by ARTizen Music Group, the new smooth jazz founded by Braun and Elliot that recently announced the signing of saxophonist
Shilts from Down to the Bone. Meanwhile, Braun’s brand-new album called Yours Truly features the Top 5 smooth jazz single called “Shining Star.” And Elliot’s current Top 10 single, “Mystique,” is the second from his ARTizen debut called “Metro Blue.” The first single, “People Make the World Go Round,” was No. 1 for 11 weeks.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Eric Darius' Next CD Features Smooth Jazz Heavyweights

Smooth jazz saxophonist Eric Darius, who earlier this month turned 23, has wrapped production on a new CD titled Just Getting Started. The CD, being released by Narada Jazz, is the follow-up to Eric’s debut from 2004 called Night on the Town. That CD featured the smooth jazz single of the same name.

The new 11-song CD of all original material features contributions from pianist Brian Culbertson, with whom Eric toured as a bandmember for much of 2004, and saxophonists Euge Groove and Steve Cole. Among the CD’s songs are include “Steppin’ Up,” “Lover’s Paradise,” “Groove On,” “If I Ain’t Got You” and “Slick.”

Just Getting Started will be available on March 7. Darius will be hosting and performing some of those new songs on Dec. 31 at a New Year’s Eve party at the Hyatt Regency in Tampa Bay along with violinist Karen Briggs and Nadia Darius, who is Eric’s younger sister.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Bobby Caldwell And Wife Building Home In New Jersey

Bobby Caldwell is about to undertake a big adventure – and it has nothing to do with music. The vocalist has picked his contractors and is now finalizing plans with an architect to build a new house that he and his wife have drawn up.

The house will be built on the horse property that Bobby and his wife Mary Moriarty – who celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary on Nov. 20 – own in northern New Jersey. Born in Manhattan and raised in Memphis and Miami, Bobby had until recently lived in Las Vegas after calling northern San Diego County home for many years.

"We’re getting through the initial stages of it and looking forward to the fun part of it," Caldwell says. "I’m certain that that’s going to absorb the next year of our lives. But it'll be a labor of love. We’re hoping that we’ll be celebrating next Christmas in the house."

Caldwell's most recent CD, his first in six years, is called
Perfect Island Nights. Earlier this month, the Grammys nominated a CD called Songs From The Neighborhood - The Music Of Mister Rogers in the category of Best Musical Album For Children. The album features Caldwell singing on a song called “Sometimes.” The tune was written by Fred Rogers himself in 1972.

The longtime pianist on Rogers' show, the late Johnny Costa, also played in a band that Caldwell's parents created. They both had TV shows in Pittsburgh. "Johnny’s child was my best playmate when I was living in Pittsburgh, and Johnny himself was a close friend of the family," says Caldwell. "So I had a connection to the ‘Mister Rogers’ legacy."

Friday, December 16, 2005

All Star Cruise Gets New Host: Brian Culbertson

The All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise, which sailed for the first time in November, will return but with a new host and a new schedule. Keyboardist Brian Culbertson will replace the previous host, trumpeter Rick Braun, on the cruise that is now officially called The Brian Culbertson All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise.

Culbertson
has signed a contract to be the host for the next two cruises. The second edition of the cruise will be held in January 2007 and is still scheduled to sail from Galveston, Texas. Artists confirmed so far, in addition to Culbertson, are saxophonists Boney James, Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Eric Darius, guitarist Nick Colionne and the group Down to the Bone.

To learn more about the cruise, go to www.allstarcruise.com.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Smooth Jazz Artists Dish Their Favorite Recipes

Some of today’s top contemporary jazz performers show off their culinary chops in Smooth Cooking, part of a series of four collectible recipe-card packages called Music Cooks that features various themes. The recipes are selected by Mark De Anda, who is the programmer director at the smooth jazz radio station KMGQ in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The collection of personal recipes from smooth jazz artists includes the Mambo Martini by guitarist Brian Hughes; Tom Scott's Easy Chopped Salad; Vegetarin Fajitas by Russ Freeman of the Rippingtons; Prawns with Green Curry from Greg Carmichael of Acoustic Alchemy; Chicken With Lemon and Green Olives by guitarist Craig Chaquico; and Smooth Jazz Burgers by pianist Bob James. There are 16 recipes in all.

The recipe package includes a smooth jazz compilation CD featuring 11 smooth jazz classics from artists such as George Benson, Grover Washington Jr. and Rick Braun.

Smooth Cooking is the the brainchild of Sharon O'Connor, a musician and author of 19 cookbooks. It's available at www.menusandmusic.com. A portion of the proceeds of Smooth Cooking will be donated to Santa Barbara-based The Dream Foudation, a non-profit company.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

ARTizen Signs First Artist: Saxophonist Shilts

The ARTizen Music Group, a new smooth jazz record label co-created by trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Richard Elliot, has signed its first artist: saxophonist Paul Weimer. You may know him better by his stage name, Shilts, and by his association with the British smooth jazz jam band Down to the Bone.

Shilts, who was raised in the U.K. but last year moved to Southern California, has just about finished a new CD, which Braun is producing and smooth jazz guitarist Chris Standring is performing on. Shilts’ first solo CD, See What Happens, was released in 2001 by the Higher Octave record label.

Braun and Elliot co-founded ARTizen last year along with industry executives Al Evers and Steve Chapman. After releasing Braun’s Sessions: Volume 1, the label released its first CD of all-new material on June 28 with Elliot’s Metro Blue. Braun followed that up in October with Yours Truly.

Shilts’ debut CD with ARTizen will be available this spring.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Steve Oliver Extends Offer Of “Imagine” Download

Smooth Jazz guitarist Steve Oliver has extended his offer of a free download of "Imagine" through Christmas Day.

The song is taken from Steve’s album called 3D. Oliver says that he grew up listening to the Beatles, and John Lennon's message of hope and peace continues to weave its way into his own compositions.

To get your free copy, go to www.steveolivermusic.com.


It was on Dec. 8 that a somber anniversary was observed. It was 25 years ago that
John Lennon was killed by Mark David Chapman outside the Dakota apartment building in New York as he returned home from a recording session. Thousands of fans worldwide paused to reflect on Lennon’s life and career and thousand gathered in New York’s Strawberry Fields, located inside Central Park, to remember the former Beatle. Many gathered around a mosaic that reads simply, “Imagine.” It is, of course, in honor of Lennon’s iconic solo song of the same name.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

2005's Top 10 Smooth Jazz CDs

1. Brian Culbertson, It's On Tonight (GRP): Culbertson sticks to his slow and sexy theme with amazing results. His best ever.
2. Jonathan Butler, Jonathan (Rendezvous): A return to mostly instrumentals was a good career move for the veteran guitarist.

3. Matt Bianco featuring Basia, Matt's Mood (Decca/Universal): The intoxicating mix of Brazilian and cool jazz is a winner. Every song is a treat.

4. Paul Hardcastle,
Hardcastle 4 (Trippin 'n' Rhythm): Hardcastle’s best yet, and the vocal tunes featuring daughter Maxine are cool and sexy.
5. Marc Antoine,
Modern Times (Rendezvous): Unlike anything he’s done before, but it’s Antoine all the way.
6. Jeff Lorber, Flipside (Narada Jazz): Another steady CD by the veteran pianist.
7. Praful,
Pyramid In Your Backyard (Rendezvous): A bold step in a new direction from his debut CD.
8. Bona Fide, Soul Lounge (Heads Up): Vibes galore.
9. Steve Cole,
Spin (Narada Jazz): The Chicago saxophonist creates some of the best hooks on the planet.
10. Brian Simpson, It's All Good (Rendezvous): Simply great music from Dave Koz’s musical director.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Jason Miles Re-Creates Magic Of Marvin Gaye

On his last album, producer and keyboardist Jason Miles – who has collaborated with many of the top names in smooth jazz – invoked the sprit of the late jazz trumpeter Miles Davis with a work called Miles to Miles.

Now Miles has his sights on the songs of Marvin Gaye for a CD he’s just finished recording called What’s Goin’ On: The Music of Marvin Gaye. Miles rearranged many of Marvin’s greatest hits and enlisted several top-notch musicians to help him, including vocalist Bobby Caldwell on “Distant Lover,” guitarist Nick Colionne on “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” Spyro Gyra
saxophonist Jay Beckenstein on “Too Busy Thinkin’ Bout My Baby” and trumpeter Herb Alpert on “Let’s Get It On.” As always, Miles assembled a killer rhythm section with bassists Marcus Miller, Scott Ambush and James Genus, drummer Gene Lake and percussionist Cyro Baptista on board here.

Among the CD’s other songs are such Marvin Gaye nuggets as “What’s Goin’ On,” “Sexual Healing,” “Mercy Mercy Me” and “Ain’t Nothin’ Like the Real Thing.” There's a good mixture of instrumental and vocal tunes, with some inspired singing by Mike Mattison, Chiara Civello, James "D Train" Williams and Guida DePalma.

Miles says the idea for the CD came on an October evening at a restaurant in Martha’s Vineyard that was playing Marvin Gaye songs. Miles is no stranger to compilations. He has produced several other concept albums, including To Grover, With Love, Celebrating the Music of Weather Report and A Love Affair: The Music of Ivan Lins.

What’s Goin’ On: The Music of Marvin Gaye will be available Feb. 7 on the Narada record label.

After listening to an advance copy of this CD, I feel condident in saying it's one of the best tribute projects to come down the road in a long time. Miles takes Marvin's music in a new direction, and it's exhilarating.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Chris Botti Performing On Andrea Bocelli CD

Chris Botti will perform on the upcoming album called Amore by international superstar Andrea Bocelli, who has sold more than 50 million albums. Bocelli, a blind classical and operatic tenor from Tuscany, Italy, will be recording romantic standards with the help of producer David Foster.

In addition to Botti, Bocelli also called on several musicians with smooth jazz ties: Fourplay bassist Nathan East, guitarist Dean Parks, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and percussionist Paulinho da Costa.

Amore will be released by the Sugar/Phillips recording label on Jan. 31.