Max Roach R.I.P. (1924-2007)

Blue Note Records is greatly saddened to announce the passing of Max Roach, the legendary Jazz drummer, bebop founder, band leader, and civil rights activist, who died in his sleep last night in New York City. He was 83 years old.

Along with drummer Kenny Clarke, Roach redefined the role of the drums in Jazz during the bebop revolution of the late-1940s and early-50s, participating in many of the movement’s seminal recordings with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. In the mid-50s, Roach co-led a quintet with Clifford Brown that was one of hard bop’s premiere bands up until the trumpeter’s untimely death in a car accident in 1956.

Roach was also an outspoken advocate for civil rights and racial equality, and in 1960 he created one the great protest records with We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite, a seven-part suite featuring vocalist Abbey Lincoln that addressed slavery and racism in America.

Roach only released one album as a leader on Blue Note in 1996, an orchestral suite titled Max Roach with the New Orchestra of Boston and the So What Brass Quintet, but he was an unmistakable force on numerous classic recordings from the label’s early days, including Bud Powell’s The Amazing Bud Powell: Volume 1 and Thelonious Monk’s Genius of Modern Music: Volume 2, as well as Miles Davis’ Birth of the Cool (Capitol) and Duke Ellington’s Money Jungle (United Artists).

MAX ROACH – ESSENTIAL BLUE NOTE LISTENING

Bud Powell – “Un Poco Loco” from The Amazing Bud Powell: Volume 1

Thelonious Monk – “Carolina Moon” from Genius of Modern Music: Volume 2

Miles Davis – “Budo” from Birth of the Cool

Sonny Rollins – “Plain Jane” from Sonny Rollins: Volume 1

Duke Ellington – “Fleurette Africaine” from Money Jungle

The two-day Star Ledger CD101.9 Liberty Jazz Festival presented by Dain Rauscher features a world-class lineup September 8-9, 2007 at Liberty State Park’s Green Ring in Jersey City with the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as backdrops. Grammy® winners George Benson, Branford Marsalis, Chuck Mangione, and Christian McBride head a list of a dozen performers scheduled for this year’s concert. READ MORE!

Andi Howard, president of Peak Records, has announced two time Grammy and Oscar winning recording artist Peabo Bryson has signed to the label. His debut release for the label, "Missing You," the 20th album of his career and his first in eight years, is set for release October 2, 2007.

Peabo Bryson is among the world's most dynamic and gifted vocal talents. Over the course of a career spanning from the mid-'60s but truly igniting in the '70s, the 2x-Oscar and Grammy-winner has amassed a fan base, critical acclaim, gold albums and an avalanche of awards by being one of the truly best friends a good song ever had... many of which he composed himself.

From ballads that gracefully continued the legacy of sweet soul music such as "Feel the Fire" and "I'm So Into You" to chart-topping pop hits such as "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" and "Can You Stop The Rain," and a plethora of duet collaborations with artists ranging from singers Celine Dion ("Beauty & The Beast"), Regina Belle ("A Whole New World") and Melissa Manchester ("Lovers After All"), to instrumentalists Kenny G ("By The Time This Night is Over") and Jim Brickman ("My Heart Belongs To You"), Peabo Bryson has proven himself as the consummate vocal professional. And, the 11 tracks of "Missing You," four of which he co-wrote, reaffirm his status!

Rendezvous Entertainment, the record label with the #1 market share in Smooth Jazz Radio, celebrates its 5-year anniversary with the release of two special compilations, Smooth Ones and Late Night Rendezvous on June 12^th.  These releases build upon the success of the Rendezvous compilation brand (Rendezvous Lounge Vol. I & Vol. II, and RSVP).

A collection of chart-topping #1 hits, Smooth Ones features the biggest songs from the biggest stars in Smooth Jazz, featuring members and friends of the Rendezvous family, including label co-founder Dave Koz, Wayman Tisdale, Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair, Peter White & Rick Braun.  Smooth Ones exemplifies the diversity of the Smooth Jazz sound.  From the masterful soul of Dave Koz’ “Let It Free” to the international swing of Praful’s “Sigh,” Smooth Ones showcases the power of melody and the inspiration of musicianship.  READ MORE!

On Angels of Shanghai, pianist, composer and producer Bob James and his band -- drummer/percussionist Harvey Mason, guitarist Jack Lee, bassist/vocalist Nathan East -- team with China' best and brightest playing traditional instruments to create a meld of Western smooth jazz and Asian folk music that relies on improvisation as much as it does composition and arrangement to produce what will undoubtedly become a touchstone in his long career.

" With Angels of Shanghai, James has attempted to take his audience with him into new terrains. Let's hope they follow because this is the most ambitious contemporary smooth jazz has ever been".

~Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

For more on Bob James, go to www.bobjames.com/

April 3, 2007, Cleveland, OH – Heads Up International, one of the world’s top contemporary jazz labels, is pleased to announce that flautist Nestor Torres has been selected as a finalist for a Billboard Latin Music Award in the category of Jazz Album of the year for Dances, Prayers & Meditations For Peace (HUCD 3111), released on April 25, 2006. The 2007 Billboard Latin Music Awards will be produced and broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, April 26, at The BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. Billboard Awards will be granted in approximately 51 categories. A complete listing can be found at www.billboardevents.com.

Lehigh Acres – Jazz festival lovers mark your calendars now for Southwest Florida's newest jazz event, the 2^nd annual Jazz in the Park Concert sponsored by Smooth Jazz, WZJZ, 100.1. Jazz in the Park is a charity concert to benefit Lehigh Community Services, a private non-profit (501C-3) organization that assists low income families with food, medicine and other essentials.

Each year, Jazz in the Park organizers strive to bring new smooth jazz acts to Southwest Florida! We are pleased to announce that Nils (neels) is headlining this year’s concert and will be performing on the same stage with Urban Jazz Coalition!

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate and are available at Lehigh Community Services, Brent’s Music Headquarters, all Florida Community Bank locations, Lehigh Chamber of Commerce and online thru www.lehighcommunityservices.com or www.beyondoneentertainment.com

Its the West coast biggest Jazz and R&B Picnic Party.  Its The 15th Annual Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz and R&B Festival Friday and Saturday, April 20th and 21st 2007 at Hills Park at Summerlin.  Summerlin is located in the prestigious NW quadrant of Las Vegas and is a tree filled Park with lots of grassy knolls. You may bring in your own picnic baskets filled with whatever.  Hey you can’t do that at any other Festival.  But hey it’s Vegas Baby!  Friday nights STONE SOUL PICNIC will feature the legendary George Duke, The Barkays and Dazz Band. Friday show starts at 6pm and ends at 10pm.  Then its off to a special after party TBA.  Saturdays Jazz Festival grooves down from 1-10pm with Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Peter White, Hiroshima, Nick Colionne, Urban Jazz Coalition and Philippe Saisse.  VIP EARLY BIRD and GA tickets are on sale now at 1-800 969-VEGAS.   Limited 2 day discounted tickets are available, but better hurry this Festival has limited capacity and is attended by nearly every state.

JONATHAN WIDRAN JOINS JAZZ MONTHLY.com

It is a huge honor to have famed music Journalist Jonathan Widran as a feature writer at Jazz Monthly.Com. Jonathan brings an International renowned appeal because of his great sense of creativity, intellect, and passionate approach to music journalism.

“Having Jonathan Widran as part of the Jazz Monthly.com team is like making a trade for Shaq or Kobe Bryant, says Smitty. Jonathan is one of the genres major contributors with a forceful and resourceful voice. I’ve been a fan of Jonathan for many years; he’s an incredible journalist and has been one of my true inspirations for a long time. It’s not everyday that you get to work with one of your heroes!”

Jonathan Widran is a veteran music journalist who has been a regular contributor, feature writer and columnist for over 15 years to numerous publications and websites, including Music Connection, Jazziz, All Music Guide, Smooth Jazz News, Downbeat, amazon.com, and the Los Angeles Times. He is also a well respected PR writer whose clients have included numerous record companies (Columbia, Warner Bros., Capitol) and media organizations (Luck Media and Marketing). Jonathan is also currently a voting member of The Recording Academy.