Sade

Brian Culbertson Opening for Barry Manilow

Back in September, vocalist Barry Manilow called on Smooth Jazz keyboardist Brian Culbertson to open two high-profile shows in Philadelphia and Boston. Manilow must have been impressed, because he has now invited Culbertson to join him on an 11-city tour that begins Jan. 11 in St. Paul, Minn., and concludes Feb. 24 in Miami.

Culbertson will be opening for Manilow on his An Evening of Music and Passion arena tour, which marks Manilow’s final shows before he begins another extended stay at the Las Vegas Hilton, where he began performing in 2005. Culbertson's opening gig will give the keyboardist tremendous exposure, as Manilow has sold 70 million albums worldwide in his long career and has had 31 platinum recordings. In addition, Manilow's concert tour for 2007 ranked at #19 for the year.

Meanwhile, Culbertson says his next Smooth Jazz CD will be finished by the end of this month and features musical contributes by Gerald Albright, Bootsy Collins, Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild and Larry Graham, among others.

Boney, Jarreau and Austin Are Legends

A new superstar tour has been announced in conjunction with pianist Ramsey Lewis Legends of Jazz TV series. The Legends of Jazz tour, which is scheduled to run from Sept. 5 to Oct. 21, in addition to Lewis will feature saxophonist Boney James and vocalists Al Jarreau and Patti Austin.

Specific cities on the tour are expected to be announced soon. Jarreau was featured on the first season of Legends of Jazz, which ran on PBS in 2006, as were numerous other Smooth Jazz and traditional jazz performers. An an announcement is also expected soon on the second season on Legends of Jazz on national television.

Dave Koz Finishes Movie Soundtrack CD

Saxophonist Dave Koz has completed his highly anticipated, fully orchestrated CD titled At the Movies, which he says he created to help show the crucial role music plays in film. A late addition to Koz’s eighth studio album was ‘70s disco diva Donna Summer, who sings “A Whole New World” from the Disney animated motion picture Aladdin. In addition, a sample from the late Judy Garland leads off the album and Koz’s version of “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.

Other guest artists include India Arie (“It Might Be You” from Tootsie), Anita Baker (“Somewhere” from West Side Story), Barry Manilow (“Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s), Johnny Mathis and Chris Botti (“Shadow Of Your Smile” from the Love Theme From The Sandpiper) and Vanessa Williams (“The Way We Were” from the film of the same name).

The CD also includes instrumentals of the themes from Casablanca, Schindler’s List, Cinema Paradiso, Pink Panther and Summer of ’42.

Koz currently has a Top 30 smooth jazz hit with the instrumental version of “It Might Be You” that features guitarist Peter White. The song is from Tootsie.

At the Movies

1. Over The Rainbow (With Judy Garland sample)
2. Moonriver (With Barry Manilow)
3. As Time Goes By
4. Somewhere (With Anita Baker)
5. The Shadow Of Your Smile (Love Theme from The Sandpiper) (With Johnny Mathis and Chris Botti)
6. The Pink Panther
7. The Way We Were (With Vanessa Williams)
8. The Summer Knows (Theme from the Summer of 42)
9. It Might Be You (With India Arie)
10. Cinema Paradiso Suite
11. A Whole New World (With Donna Summer)
12. Schindler’s List
13. It Might Be You (With Peter White)
14. The Shadow Of Your Smile [Love Theme from The Sandpiper] (With Chris Botti)

Dave Koz Will Duet With Anita Baker On TV Special

Saxophonist Dave Koz, who has just announced that his upcoming CD called At the Movies will be released on Jan. 30, will debut the live performance of one of the album’s songs on national television. The song, “Somewhere” from the Academy Award-winning motion picture West Side Story, is a duet with vocalist Anita Baker. The song will be performed by Koz and Baker on Christmas Day during the annual Capital One Holiday Celebration on Ice on NBC.

Koz and Baker are the musical guests on the show, being taped on Oct. 20 at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Koz will also perform “Let It Snow,” “Sleigh Ride” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” on the show, and Baker will offer three selections from her 2005 holiday CD Christmas Fantasy. The Christmas special will also feature skating from such well-known names as two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan, Olympic gold medalist Ekaterina Gordeeva, six-time U.S. champion Todd Eldredge and three-time U.S. champion Michael Weiss.

Capital One Holiday Celebration on Ice will air on NBC on Dec. 25^th at 4 p.m. ET.

Fattburger's Hollis Gentry Dies

Saxophonist Hollis Gentry, who helped form the San Diego-based Smooth Jazz group Fattburger more than 20 years ago, has died at age 51. It was two years ago that Gentry was involved in a serious automobile accident in San Diego. He had been through rehabilitation, but entered a hospice a few weeks ago after his health began to worsen. He died on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at his home.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in music composition and a master’s in music technology, Gentry and childhood friend and keyboardist Carl Evans founded Fattburger, which garnered a huge local following in San Diego and eventually became well-known in the U.S. and overseas, especially in Japan. In addition, Gentry was a teacher who counted Kirk Whalum among his students, and he also toured with such superstars as Al Jarreau, Larry Carlton and Joe Sample.

Evans recalls that a benefit concert for Gentry – held after his 2004 accident and featuring Fattburger and Hollis’ childhood friend Nathan East – meant a lot to the saxophonist:

"He was really pleased to see some footage on the news about the benefit concert for him," Evans said. "And he was just really touched. Just really surprised and really overwhelmed. "

Funeral services will be held Sept. 15 in San Diego.

Eliane Elias : Brazilian Cool Redefined

Pianist and vocalist Eliane Elias in the past was known as an amazing jazz pianist who frequently paid homage to her Brazilian heritage. She still is, but Elias, who is now based in New York and has performed on albums by guitarist Earl Klugh and vocalist Michael Franks, has remade herself on a brand-new CD called Around the City that no doubt owes much to the success of Bebel Gilberto.

Gilberto is a favorite among the chill-crowd, who remake her songs with a downtempo bent. They could do the same with Elias' latest, a sublime mix of pop and jazz that features both English and Portuguese vocals. In fact, the two languages are combine on the CD's opening track, "Running," quite possibly the smoothest and best vocal tune of the year. It's impossible to get out of your head.

Making appearances on the CD are trumpeter Randy Brecker (her former husband), bassist Marc Johnson (her current husband), flutist Dave Valentin, percussionist Paulino da Costa and others. Her 18^th album, released by the Bluebird record label, has covers of such well-known tunes as Bob Marley’s “Jammin’” and Santana’s “Oye Como Va.” Original tunes include “We’re So Good,” “Slide Show” and “Save Your Love For Me.”

Elias will be making appearances in the U.S. in September in Philadelphia, New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. If you live in or near any of those cities, you deserve a night out to hear this exquisite musician.

Stax Academy Names Kirk Whalum Artist In Residence

The Stax Music Academy in Memphis, which opened three years ago, has chosen saxophonist Kirk Whalum as its first artist in residence. Whalum, who grew up in Memphis but moved away at age 18, will begin his duties on Sept. 5.

Whalum will be much closer to the museum soon, as he recently announced that he is moving back to his hometown early next year and that he and wife, Ruby, are looking for a place downtown. Since leaving Memphis, Whalum has lived in Paris, Southern California and, for the past 10 years, in Nashville. Besides sharing his many musical experiences, Kirk will perform with academy students in public concerts as well as conduct public and private master classes. He’ll also record public service announcements for the Stax Music Academy and adjacent Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

It was in 2003 that Whalum recorded a CD in Memphis called Into My Soul, giving praise to Soulville's Stax Records and the sound of Memphis music. The one-time Memphis based record label was one of the most popular soul-music labels ever, second only to Motown. Whalum grew up listening to the Stax Recording artists such as Al Green, Otis Redding and John Lee Hooker, among others.

Japanese Pop Star Will Be Mrs. Captain Fingers

Guitarist Lee Ritenour, who just released a fantastic new CD called “Smoke n’ Mirrors,” is engaged to be married to Japanese pop singer Anri, whose music he has been producing since her 2000 CD called Smooth Jam – Quiet Storm.

Anri, who is 45 on Aug. 31, made her debut in 1979 and sang the theme song for the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998. Among those who have performed on her Japanese pop albums, in addition to Ritenour, are guitarists Larry Carlton and Paul Jackson Jr., bassist Nathan East and drummer Ricky Lawson.

Ritenour, whose nickname is Captain Fingers, produced her latest CD, Sol, which was released in Japan in November. Ritenour, 54, has a son named Wesley from his first marriage and has frequently made trips to Japan during his career to perform and produce music.

"She’s quite a well-known singer in Japan," says Ritenour. "I mean very famous over there. We’ve know each other for years as friends and colleagues. We've had a longtime friendship."

New Details on George Benson, Al Jarreau CD

George Benson and Al Jarreau have an all-star cast for their highly anticipated duets album, Givin' It Up. The 13-song CD is a mix of cover songs and originals. Trumpeter Chris Botti and vocalist Patti Austin are featured on a song written by Jarreau called “Let it Rain,” while Mr. Beatle himself, Paul McCartney, joins Benson and Jarreau on a cover of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me.”

There are two new versions of Benson and Jarreau’s most famous songs. Jarreau wrote new lyrics for Benson’s “Breezin’,” while guitarist Benson returns the favor by performing an instrumental version of Jarreau’s “Morning.” The superstar pair also cover Seals & Crofts’ "Summer Breeze,” Paul Young's "Every Time You Go Away," John Legend's "Ordinary People," Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child” and Miles Davis' "Four" and "’Long Come Tutu." Original tunes include “All I Am,” “Givin’ It Up For Love” and “Don’t Start No Schtuff.”

Among the many musicians and co-writers on the CD are Marion Meadows, Rex Rideout, Freddie Ravel, Herbie Hancock, Jill ScottPatrice Rushen, Marcus Miller and Stanley Clarke. Givin' It Up, a collaboration between Concord Records and Monster Music, will be released Oct. 24.

Givin’ It Up Track Listing

1. Breezin’ (Bobby Womack/Al Jarreau) - (5:40)
2. Morning (Al Jarreau/David Foster/Jay Graydon) - (5:02)
3. ‘Long Came Tutu (Marcus Miller/Al Jarreau) - (6:37)
4. God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday/Arthur Herzog Jr.) - (3:40)
5. Summer Breeze (Darrell Crofts/Jimmy Seals) - (5:01)
6. All I Am (Rex Rideout/Phillip Taj Jackson) - (3:23)
7. Ordinary People (John Legend/will.i.am) - (5:18)
8. Let It Rain (Al Jarreau/Barry Eastmond) - (4:54)
9. Givin’ It Up for Love (Al Jarreau/Freddie Ravel) - (3:57)
10. Every Time You Go Away (Darryl Hall) - (4:30)
11. Four (Miles Davis/Jon Hendricks) - (5:15)
12. Don’t Start No Schtuff (Al Jarreau/Joe Turano) - (4:44)
13. Bring It on Home to Me (Sam Cooke) - (4:25)

Chris Botti Records Song For Animated Film

Chris Botti has recorded a song called “Chicago” with vocalist Lyle Lovett at the famed Capitol Studios in Los Angeles that will soon be heard in an computer-animated motion picture that the late actor Christopher Reeve was working on at the time of his death.

The movie, Everyone’s Hero, is an adventure telling the story of a young boy's 1,000-mile journey to find a baseball bat stolen from famed New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth. The movie’s theme of perseverance against all odds was inspired by Reeve, its original director and executive producer, who was paralyzed after a horse riding accident and died in October of 2004. Among those lending their voice-over talents are Rob Reiner, William H. Macy, Raven, Dana Reeve and Whoopi Goldberg.

Everyone’s Hero is expected to be released in the U.S. on Sept. 15.