Diana Krall Gettin' All Sexy
Dec. 22, 2008 – Diana Krall says get ready for a more intimate, sensual and erotic album this time around. I guess that explains all those promo shots of the singer wearing stiletto high heels

Krall explains,  "I'm not coy single girl singing 'Peel Me a Grape. I love that song but I don't love it for me any more, I feel more womanly, I guess, and I think this record is a love letter but very sensual, more on the erotic side. It's definitely late night."

The new CD ‘Quiet Nights’ won’t hit stores until March 31 on Verve but fans are buzzing with anticipation on where this new “sexy” direction will take the Jazzer.
Long-time Krall producer Tommy LiPuma returns to produce a few Antonio Carlos Jobim covers for Krall and a new Jazz version of Burt Bacharach’s ‘Walk On By.’ "It was just the greatest recording experience I've had to date," said Krall. More

B.B. King Club Helping the Unemployed
Dec. 22, 2008 - Suze Orman won’t help you out of the credit crisis but maybe B.B. King can. The famous guitarist has slashed prices at the B.B. King Blues Club in New York. With so many losing their jobs and homes maybe going to a concert is at the bottom of most everyone’s list but at half price, who knows?

In February the club will cut evening concert prices by 50%. Here’s the catch. You must be unemployed. It’s a cool gesture anyway. Management announced that if you present an unemployment check and photo ID at the box office you’ll get in half price.

Famous British Soul Band Incognito Launching "More Tales Remixed" in January 2009
Dec. 22, 2008 - Incognito has been performing for 30 years in the dance world and in great live performances. They will start 2009 with an offer to their numerous fans worldwide, the January 27 release of "More Tales Remixed," a collection of original tracks from Incognito's 2008 album "Tales from the Beach." All the original material has been re-visited by famous DJs such as Dimitri from Paris & DJ Meme from Brazil, Brooklyn's Tortured Soul, UK's Ski Oakenfull, Germany's Christian Prommer and many others.

The band has been widely recognized for its unique blend of Funk, Soul and contemporary Jazz and for its leader Mauritius-born guitarist/founder/frontman Jean-Paul Maunick – better known to fans worldwide as Bluey.

So get ready to start the New Year with swaying rhythms and infectious dances mixes filled with zesty horn charts and soulful singing. More

Paul Hardcastle Wins the Billboard Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year
Dec. 21, 2008 – Billboard magazine has officially honoured Paul Hardcastle as "Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year." The world-acclaimed musician is also a much appreciated radio host on the Smooth Jazz Network, heard throughout the US on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Hardcastle has placed top hits "Marimba" and "Lucky Star" on several Smooth Jazz Top Ten.

He gained worldwide recognition with the smash hit "Nineteen" back in the mid-eighties and then in 1999 he totally reinvented himself with his debut on the "Jazzmasters."

Nate Harasim and Darren Rahn to Perform for Presidential Inaugural Gala
Dec. 20, 2008 - Pianist Nate Harasim and guest saxophonist Darren Rahn will perform "A Time for Hope" at the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Jazz Gala. The show is at the Carlyle Club in Alexandria, Virginia (Washington, D.C.) on January 20, 2009.  This high energy duo, known for their work with the emerging super group DeNate, are set to light up the stage at 5PM.

A percentage of each ticket will be donated to Hope Farm, a mentoring program for African-American and Latino boys designed to create successful men and leaders.

Spyro Gyra - A Night Before Christmas
Heads Up international/ 2008
Dec. 20, 2008 - The holiday season.  It brings a flood of memories to every man, woman and child, no matter what color of skin or religious belief. As with every holiday season it brings out the overwhelming rush of our personal ‘have-to get done list’ as well as all forms of media proclaiming to us what gift one absolutely cannot be without this festive season. It can be confusing, frustrating and hectic and if allowed to will take away the real beauty of the season, family and friends getting together. Just like the rest of the retail world the holiday season also brings us a flood of holiday music that can be difficult to sort through and after a while undistinguishable from piped in mall songs.

A lot of the new releases are simply holiday standards redone by an artist or artists, and those that are not are usually sold out and become an effort to find. Such is the case with the legendary Jazz band Spyro Gyra and their new holiday release “A Night Before Christmas.” You may not find it at your local music store but make the effort to find and hear it. More

Famous Western New York Sax Performer Awarded
Dec. 18, 2008 - One of the best western New York sax players, Jack Prybylski (pronounced purr-bill-ski) received for the 10th time the "Saxophonist of the Year" Award at the 2008 Buffalo Music Awards.

In 2006, the sax performer released his latest album "Window Shopping" produced by famous guitarist Ken Navarro who also provided all the guitar tracks as well as an original composition called "Bright Spot." The album raved reviews and a top ten listing in the Smooth Jazz News.

Currently, Prybylski is finalizing plans for his upcoming 2009 CD release that will be more Urban Jazz-oriented with elements of Dance and Chill. For more information: www.jackprybylski.com More

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Jingle All the Way / Rounder 2008
Dec. 15, 2008 - As a group and solo performers, the members of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones have received worldwide critical acclaim. Their fan base is loyal and extremely attentive, just check them out between songs live and you can hear a pin drop. Their success has allowed for their members to record solo CD's in other formats too, making this one of the most diverse groups in recent memory.

Bela Fleck is considered by many to be the premiere banjo player in the world, and is truly an instrumentalist unbound by genre. His unbound love for the instrument he plays comes through on every track I’ve ever heard from him. Just check out the solo CD's he recorded with Chick Corea.

Now the group returns with their first Christmas CD “Jingle All The Way,” and never having been a group to rest in its previous work they have once again stretched the musical boundaries. It is Christmas music that combines Bluegrass, Jazz, Funk and World music with technical prowess, a great sense of adventure and some occasional innovative zaniness. Adventurous, talented musical minds require an open ear and with that being said it is definitely not a CD for everyone.  For the average Smooth Jazz listener it may even be a difficult listen at times. More