Please join Special FX keyboardist Jay Rowe and some of his talented friends, for the 10th Annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars Concert in Milford, CT. This concert benefits the Milford Public Schools Music Department. This year, Jay has invitedPaul Taylor, Shilts, Chieli Minucci, Nick Colionne, Nelson Rangell, and others to jam with him in Milford. Thank you Jay Rowe for supporting your community this way for a decade.

Go tojayrowemusic to purchase tickets ($40), or call (203) 874-4150.

Smooth Jazz for Scholars
5/5/12 @ The Parsons Complex
70 West River Street
Milford, CT 06460

Let’s add author to the list of saxophonist Mindi Abair’s talents.  She has written a guidance book called How to Play Madison Square Garden – A Guide to Stage Performance. The book just hit the real and virtual shelves this month.

From Mindi’s website:

Developing your personal stage presence and all it encompasses has typically been learned the long hard way. Lots of shows, lots of clubs, some you win, some you lose. It can be a long, frustrating process. How to Play Madison Square Garden saves you time and teaches you the techniques used by multi-platinum artists.

Learn how to:

• Define who you are as a performer
• Forge a lasting bond with your audience
• Deal with stage fright
• Develop that elusive “it” factor
• And more…

For more info, please contact: http://www.howtoplaymadisonsquaregarden.com

Spyro Gyra will be releasing “A Foreign Affair” on Sept. 13. The album has a decidedly world music influence, as the title implies, but as always maintains the Spyro Gyra sound. It is being released on the label that they started it all with – Amherst records. You can pre-order at Amazon.com : http://www.amazon.com/Foreign-Affair-Spyro-Gyra/dp/B0058OKQP2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310838925&sr=8-1 and a complete overview/review
is available here: http://www.soultracks.com/story-spyro-gyra-foreign-affair

Guitar hero Jeff Golub has lost his eyesight. The news began to spread this evening (7/6) when Rick Braun posted this on FaceBook “As you may know my dear friend Jeff Golub has lost his eye sight. He has been to the best doctors in NY and they are unable to do anything at this time. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he goes through the challenge of relearning how to live. Love you Jeff and sending you strength and love every minute of the day!!!!!

Golub wrote about this on his website on July 1 and explains it eloquently
http://www.jeffgolub.com/newsletter.html
He ends it this way: ” OK, not what I wished for, but I hopped in a van last night with Henry, Josh & Andy and played a gig in PA. Was it scary? YES!!!! Was it fun? A BLAST!!!! I have proven to myself three days into “my new life” that I can go out and do what I do…play guitar. And even stranger, getting to spend all this time with Henry Butler who can give me the inside track on how the heck one navigates life with severely impaired vision…Just wanted to let you all know what is going on with me. I may need a bit of time to adjust, but God willing, I have every intention of playing guitar forever and a day.”

Bud Harner, his manager, long time collaborator and Co-producer, commented on FaceBook that Jeff is “staying positive, still totally able to play and is planning on getting out there and playing his gigs. Just figuring out a new way to deal with pretty much everything.”

I am holding him and his family in my prayers and sending love and positive energy as he navigates this challenge and know as you read this you will to. He will continue to rock our worlds. No Two Ways About It !

Rick Braun is taking a step in a new direction with his August release – he is singing some of his favorite standards, jazz classics, and a few left field goodies, all songs he grew up hearing at home as his mother was a singer/pianist. Phillipe Saisse did the string arrangements and Braun plays flugelhorn but no trumpet on the project. He is a surprsingly good vocalist and his approach to song selection and interpertation is totally original. He didn’t just go for the well known Great American Songbook standards, he dug deep and found some under-covered gems. All the info about the CD and a video documentary on the project are available here : http://www.mackavenue.com/artists/detail/rick_braun/

Rick Braun Sings With Strings will be released on August 2nd

The 2nd Annual JW Desert Ridge Jazz Festival will take place in Phoenix, AZ at the Sage Court JW Marriott Desert Ridge  Resort & Spa on April 9th and April 10th, 2011.  The impressive line-up includes: Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, Dominic Amato, Norman Brown, Jonathan Butler, Steve Cole, Nick Colionne, Eric Darius, Richard Elliott, Jeff Golub, Euge Groove, Warren Hill, Jessy J, Jackiem Joyner, Jeff Kashiwa, Maysa, Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor, Turning Point, and Kirk Whalum.

For more info please visit:sageconcerts.com

Please join Earl Klugh as he hosts his 8th Annual Weekend of Jazz at the Broadmoor Colorado Springs on April 7-9, 2011.  This year’s line-up features six time Grammy winner David Sanborn, two time Grammy winner Peabo Bryson, ever popular multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson, and vocalist Nnenna Freelon.  For more info, please call the Broadmoor at (866) 837-9520, or go to Broadmoor.

Guitarist Chuck Loeb, a much respected veteran and staple at the annual Berks Jazz Fest, is hosting his third annual guitar workshop/seminar for musicians of all ages and levels, that want to pursue their love of the guitar.  This workshop will be held on Thursday March 31 from 12pm – 2pm at the Reading Crowne Plaza Hotel (1741 Paper Mill Road, Wyomissing, PA.) Instructors include Loeb, Chieli Minucci, and Frank Vignola. 

The String Training will address many of the topics and challenges facing today’s guitarists, including jazz, blues, rock and fusion improvisation; chord structures and accompaniment; sight reading, practice, and study habits.  The format will be interactive – with instruction, discussion, question and answer sessions, and student participation.  Registration is $20.

For further information: http://berksjazzfest.com/stringtheoryworkshop.htm

Each year we can count on keyboardist Jay Rowe to put together a stellar Smooth Jazz for Scholars show in his beloved hometown of Milford, Connecticut.  The show is a benefit for the Milford Schools. 

This year’s show features Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole, Marion Meadows, Chieli Minucci and Ken Navarro,  and will be held on 4/30/11 8p.m. at The Parson’s Complex, 70 West River St. Milford, CT. 06460. Tickets are now on sale for $40 each. The first 175 seats sold will be reserved seating. The remaining seating is general admission, first come first serve.  For tickets and and additional information, please visit jayrowemusic.com.