Steve Cole is headed in a new direction for his new CD – A number of new directions actually as he releases Moonlight, a collection that offers his takes on standards from the Great American Songbook, as well as classic pop and rock. Spinning away from the pared down sound of his recent releases and the Sax Pack’s funky grooves he has created orchestral arrangements with strings, woodwinds and brass.

The nine tracks cover a lot of territory, from the Beatles “The Long and Winding Road” and the Guess Who’s jazzy “Undun” to “The Look of Love” and “Cry Me A River.”

Moonlight is Cole’s sixth album and will be released on May 10th

Chuck Loeb, one of the most versatile and accomplished guitarists out there will be joining contemporary jazz super group Fourplay. Larry Carlton is leaving the band to focus on his solo career and operations of his label – 335 Records. On his website – www.larrycarlton.com – he stated that “I will cherish all of the wonderful personal and musical memories, over the past 12 years, which I was fortunate enough to share with Fourplay. Now with the very accomplished Chuck Loeb in the guitar chair, I very much anticipate more great music from Fourplay in the future. As for me, I’m looking forward to being able to spend more time on the many exciting projects I have in the works, all of which I’m anxious to share with my friends and fans!”

Loeb made the announcement on his website – www.chuckloeb.com – saying “I am VERY proud to announce that a few weeks ago I received a call from some of my favorite musicians in the world: Bob James, Harvey Mason, and Nathan East who invited me to join the band Fourplay. As they were telling me on the conference call that I could take my time to think it over, I interrupted them to say “YES”!

Loeb’s first live performance with the band will be April 18th at The Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Destin Florida. Then Fourplay will be heading for the studio to begin work on a new CD.

Emeril Legasse is best known as a chef but he knows how to cook up some music too. Over the years he has featured a lot of big names and up-and-comers on his show and now he is hooking up with Dave Koz for a new prouject – “The Emeril Legasse Show featuring Dave Koz” Koz will be the sidekick and band leader on the show, filling a role similar to the one he had with Arsenio Hall early in his career. He’s bringing some stellar sidemen in a band that will include Jeff Golub and Phillipe Saisse.

This type of exposure for this group of musicians is an incredible high-profile antidote for the image problems that the “smooth jazz” genre has had as it has been written off by many as elevator music. The live version is anything but that and these guys will be doin’ it on TV for an audience that largely wouldn’t seek it out otherwise. The first show will air on the new ION cable network Sunday 4-18 at 8pm..just in time to pull you outta those post-income tax doldrums.

This year will mark the 20th Anniversary of the Berks Jazz Festival in Reading, PA.  If you have ever been, you know that this is a premier jazz festival and the one that “kicks off” the festival season.  If you have never been to it, make your plans now for March 19-28th.

New for this year, and this year only, for the 20th annual Berks Jazz Fest, is a feature called Jazz Notes, and it’s a way to send a special message to the Berks Jazz Fest about your thoughts on the festival, its 20th anniversary, etc.  These notes will appear in the jazz fest special section that comes out in the Reading Eagle newspaper each year (this year, March 14) and is available throughout the venues, restaurants and hotels during the festival.

Here’s a link to the page. Feel free to pass this along to all of your jazz-loving friends!
https://readingeagle.com/BerksJazzFestCongrats.aspx

The 2010 NAACP Image Awards has nominated Poetically Justified, the latest release by the DC area’s own Marcus Johnson, for Outstanding Jazz Album of the year.  Poetically Justified was released in June on Marcus’ Three Keys label.  This is truly a great honor, and we wish all the best for Marcus.  Tune in to the NAACP Image Awards on Friday 2/26 at 8pm on Fox. 

And, while you’re at it, check out the article on Marcus Johnson in the February issue of  The Washingtonian magazine.

Tickets are now on sale for Jay Rowe’s annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars Concert, and it looks to be a good one.  The line-up this year features Mindi Abair, Chieli Minucci, Ken Navarro, Nick Colionne, Shilts, and Best Kept Secret with Rohn Lawrence, Jay Rowe, Dave Livolsi, Lomon Andrews and Trevor Somerville. 

The show will be held at the Parson’s Complex Auditorium located at 70 West River St., Milford, CT 06460.   Tickets are $40, and may be purchased by sending a check or money order to :

Smooth Jazz for Scholars, Inc.  P.O. Box 3723, Milford, CT. 06460 

Tickets may also be purchased through etix.com

The first 100 tickets sold will be reserved seating, however, this does not apply to etix purchases.

For more information, go tojayrowemusic

Saxman, Jaared, will be releasing a new CD, Manhattan Nights, his second CD on the Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm Records label, and his fourth solo CD.  The CD was produced by Grammy Award Winning Producer Michael Broening, and features some special guests…..Jay Soto, Tim Bowman, Cindy Bradley, Freddie Fox, Mel Brown, (Greg Adams, Lee Thornburg, Bill Churchville….formerly of Tower of Power)….just to name a few.  Manhattan Nights is scheduled for release in the States on March 30, 2010.

Jaared will be promoting the Manhattan Nights release with shows in England from Feb 1-7 and in Dubai on Feb 16, and will be performing with Gregg Karukas on Feb 14 and Attila Molnar on Feb 18.  The US CD release party will be sometime in March.  Details to follow.

The Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards will be presenting the 6th George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award to jazz legend David Sanborn.

Sanbornbegan his solo career in 1975.  He has influenced many saxophone players over the years, including many in the smooth jazz community.  He was an early pioneer in the smooth/contemporary jazz format before the format even had a name.  He is a six time Grammy Award winner.

Mark Kirk of WAVE 94.7 FM in Toronto/Hamilton and co-chair of the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards says, “We are truly honoured to be able to celebrate David’s outstanding career by presenting him with this year’s Benson Award.  Like those recipients before him, he has been such a tremendous ambassador for jazz, pioneering the pop/jazz crossover and seducing millions of fans over the last few decades with his artistry.”

George Benson was the first Lifetime Achievement Award winner in 2005.  Other winners include Bob James, Spyro Gyra, Lee Ritenour, and Earl Klugh.

Mr. Sanborn will attend the 6th Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, on Friday, April 23rd, 2010, at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

Tickets are available at the Living Arts Centre Box Office: 1-(800)-805-8888, or (905) 306-6000.

Sometimes we tend to overlook categories that we think we would never see our Smooth Jazz favorites, so we owe a big apology to Boney James.  Boney, along with vocalist Quinn, have been nominated in the category of Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” from the album Send One Your Love.

Here are the Category nominees:

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

• At Last
  Beyoncé
  Track from: Cadillac Records Music From The Motion Picture
  [Music World Music/Columbia]
• Soul Music
  Anthony Hamilton
  Track from: Soul Men Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  [Stax/Concord]
• Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
  Boney James & Quinn
  Track from: Send One Your Love
  [Concord Records]
• Sow Love
  Ann Nesby
  Track from: The Lula Lee Project
  [It's Time Child Records/Tyscot]
• Woman Gotta Have It
  Calvin Richardson
  Track from: Facts Of Life The Soul Of Bobby Womack
  [Shanachie Entertainment Corp.]

Best of luck to Boney James and Quinn!