SmoothViews is a monthly internet magazine devoted exclusively to the world of Smooth Jazz. SmoothViews strives to present a broader, more multifaceted view of Smooth Jazz, showcasing the music as it is experienced at live shows and as it is heard on the deeper tracks of Smooth Jazz CDs.

Each month SmoothViews will help Smooth Jazz fans get to know the artists, introduce them to new CDs, as well as some old favorites, and keep them up to date on what’s new in Smooth Jazz through regular feature articles including: Artist Interviews; News; CD Reviews, Concert Reviews; SmoothViews Perspectives; Retrospectives (a look back at a favorite CD); On the Side (a look at Smooth Jazz sidemen); and On the Lighter Side (a little humor).

 

Anne Aufderheide is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, growing up in the late ‘60s seeing live bands performing at Winterland, the Carousel Ballroom, and the Fillmore, such as Santana, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Blood, Sweat & Tears, James Cotton Blues Band, and Jefferson Airplane. Music, jazz in particular, has always been a life long passion.  Now residing in Milwaukee, WI, she worked for the jazz, world & new age label, Narada Records, for 18 years.  Her job included marketing, sales, advertising, music downloads, artist relations, website design, international sales, artist & product development, and so much more.  Over the years, she has developed a deep understanding of the artists, the recorded music industry as well as the concert touring side of the music business.
Mary Bentley grew up in NYC, and spent a good deal of time in the 80's listening to what would become known as smooth jazz music.  She currently resides in the Washington DC area, where she works for a federal government contractor.  Her leisure time is divided  between her loves of family, friends, cooking, and music.
Bonnie Schendell is from Northern Virginia, just outside Washington DC. Originally from New Jersey, and an admitted fan of Barry Manilow, Bonnie has been into smooth jazz for over 15 years, and has been a contributing writer to jazz websites for the past year.  In her non-jazz life, she is a membership database manager/webmaster for a non-profit trade association, wife, mother, and caretaker of one very spoiled cat and a the newest family member, a Golden Retriever.
Elizabeth Ware lives and works in Newport News VA, and was first exposed to Smooth Jazz when her younger son (then 13) picked up the saxophone in the fall of '97.  His instructor suggested listening to some contemporary sax players and recommended Dave Koz.  Just one time through Off the Beaten Path and she was hooked.  She's been involved in music since she was three years old singing in a children's choir.  She took piano lessons as a child but gave it up when she fell in love with the guitar at age 13.  Elizabeth is the resident graphic artist and web designer.  She designed and maintains several Smooth Jazz related websites.
Randall Ware also lives and works in Newport News VA.  He and Elizabeth have been married since 1982.  He became a Smooth Jazz fan out of self-defense when his wife and son did in '97.  To help support the family's music additiction, Randy works as a chemist at Newport News Shipbuilding.  Randall had a brief but noteworthy fling with the accordian as a child.  Although he doesn't play any instruments now, he would really like to play the bari sax.  His concert photos are published on several smooth jazz websites. 

Shannon West was bartending at a music club in the mid 70's when a fusion band came to play. Within a week she spent her financial aid check on music and started a contemporary jazz/fusion show on her campus radio station. In the early 80's she worked for several of the first wave of soft rock/jazz mix stations before jumping to Top 40 so she could talk faster. During her 20 plus years in Top 40 and Adult Contemporary radio she always had a smooth jazz "brunch" or evening show.  She spent some time in music retail management and wrote for several radio trade publications before jumping to the web in the 21st century. She currently pays the bills by working at an 80's station, teaching group exercise (aerobics), and taking care of plants and pets. Shannon lives in the reading lounge at the San Marco Branch of the Jacksonville Fla. public library which was lavishly funded by her overdue fines.