"The Wayman Tisdale Story," a poignant feature length documentary, has been screening in cities across the country and receiving wonderful feedback from sold out theaters. The program chronicles the inspiring life of former NBA star -turned jazz musician Wayman Tisdale who lost his two year battle with cancer last year. The Los Angeles premiere of "The Wayman Tisdale Story" as the feature film at the Los Angeles All Sports Film Festival at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood will be on July 11, at 8:30PM, Raleigh Studios -Chapman Theater 5300 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, CA
To watch a trailer visit http://thewaymantisdalestory.com/
Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135170059834805

Artists from across all genres of music are coming together on July 31 to help residents of Music City, USA, as they continue to recover from the devastating floods of earlier this year.  The Grammy Block Party in Santa Monica, CA will benefit MUSICARES Nashville Flood Relief.

Musical director Rickey Minor, who helms The Tonight Show and American Idol, will lead performances from Charice, Chuck Wicks, Aka Cassidy, Raphael Saadiq and La Santa Cecilia.  Organizers also promise some very special surprise guests on the bill.  To purchase tickets, call 310-314-8281.

Earl Klugh is among the dozens of  virtuosos who took part in Eric Clapton’s annual Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago on June 26. On July 27, NCM Fathom and Rhino Entertainment are releasing a theatrical version, Eric Clapton Crossroads 2010, in more than 475 movie theaters nationwide. The Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist joined artists from a range of genres, including Keb’ Mo, BB King, Jeff Beck, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer and Vince Gill. The annual festival benefits Clapton’s Crossroads Center rehab facility in Antigua.

American Smooth Jazz Awards is in the process of moving the awards to Chicago. If you have already purchased tickets for the Blue Chip event, please contact Bernie Scott.You will have first chance for tickets at the new venue.

Grammy-winning singer Al Jarreau is listed in “critical condition,” after being admitted to a hospital in France late Thursday night [July 22].The 70-year old artist collapsed on stage during a performance and was having respiratory problems. He was taken to the intensive care unit of a clinic in the southern Alpine town of Gap. A statement issued by the hospital read in part, ”Doctors are concerned about his condition. He is being given appropriate treatment and they hope to see an improvement in the coming hours.”

The two largest jazz festivals, the Capital Jazz Festival and the Playboy Jazz Festival, on opposite sides of the country take place in June, as well as the Jazztrax Big Bear Festival with a floating stage.

Smooth jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair is now featured in a PBS concert taped at the Hollywood Palladium as a tribute to Diane Warren, the acclaimed pop singer and songwriter. The show, Diane Warren: Love Songs, is now being shown on PBS stations nationwide. A listing of channels and airtimes can be found at pbs.org.

June 7- Marvin Isley, one of Soul Music’s best bass players and a key ingredient in the Isley Brothers’ funky sound, passed away today. Marvin, born August 18, 1953, died from the complications of diabetes.

Leonard Cohen, Jackie DeShannon, David Foster, and Earth, Wind and Fire’s Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Fourplay bassist, Nathan East will be touring Europe with the rock band, Toto in July.

May 7 is the 30th Wedding Anniversary for guitarist Chuck Loeb and fellow musician Carmen Cuesta. The couple has actually been married three times in three ceremonies. Chuck met singer-songwriter Carmen in November 1979 while touring Spain with legendary saxophonist Stan Getz. On May 7, 1980, they were married in a small ceremony in Brooklyn. Later that year, the couple married again in a Jewish ceremony, with their families present and Stan as the best man. The last ceremony took place in Spain, where they were married in a Catholic ceremony by Carmen’s uncle, who is a priest. Today, they have two daughters, 24-year-old Christina and 23-year-old Lizzy. Lizzy is a singer-songwriter.

(San Diego – May 13, 2010) The 2011 Oasis Music Awards will be known as the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards. The annual Awards were announced two months ago and have been very well received by industry insiders and fans alike, according to Co-Producer Chris White. Founded as the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards in 2000, the plan was to rebrand the Awards as the Oasis Music Awards. The immediate and broad acceptance, though, coupled with the greater exposure that various sub-genres of Jazz are now receiving, prompted the organizers to make the change to Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards. Jazz Fusion, Groove Jazz and Urban Jazz will also be recognized and have a greater presence under the new name and format. Event Co-Producer White stated, “Smooth Jazz was a dominant radio format for many years but the music has now moved from radio stations to the internet and personal digital devices. With that, the genre has again grown to more prominently include the various textures in and around Jazz. We want the Awards to reflect this broader expanse of today’s most popular Jazz artists, recordings and performances as well as the heritage of Jazz”. Co-Producer Bill Paddock added, “The radio stations have decreased in number but the artists and fans haven’t gone anywhere. The festivals and cruises still flourish. There are more websites and online “radio stations’ than ever. The format is alive and well, it has just moved way up the street”. Not only has the format expanded; the Awards and related events have expanded, also. The First Annual Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards will be presented during JAZZ Week, March 10-13, 2011 in San Diego. The weekend includes a concert on Thursday, March 10 at the Balboa Theater, the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards Ceremony and Show on Saturday, March 12 at the San Diego Civic Theater and a dozen other events between the 10th and 13th of March. A Board of Advisors has been established to guide the overall annual production. The Board consists of artists, record label, website and radio personnel, promoters and journalists. Also, a Nominating Panel is being selected to determine the specific categories to be recognized and select the nominees in each category. Final Award voting will be conducted online and open to the public. Hotel, Award voting, and performance information is forthcoming.

San Francisco Jazz, the arts organization behind the San Francisco Jazz Festival, plans to open the SF Jazz Center in the fall of 2012. Half of the $60 million for the center has already been raised, including $20 million from an anonymous donor. The 35,000-square-foot building will be located at Fell and Franklin streets. SF Jazz hopes to hold four concerts a week at the new building, raising the number of total concerts annually to 150. The new center will also offer educational lectures and a digital music lab for producing, recording and rehearsing. It will also be home base for the SF Jazz Collective, an eight-person jazz ensemble.

Grammy winning, music pioneer, Herbie Hancock, has been named the new LA Philharmonic creative chair for jazz.

Saxophonist Boney James was in a car accident after leaving the Newport Beach Jazz Festival. Hit by a drunk driver, Boney suffered a gash to his chin resulting in 14 stitches, a fractured jaw and two broken teeth. He is now home recovering. The two saxophones in the truck were miraculously unscathed, however his beloved BMW is a total loss.

American Smooth Jazz Awards announced that guitarist Nick Colionne, who will be the musical director, will also be the evening’s host, along with Chicago radio personality Rick O’Dell. Pianist, composer and producer David Benoit will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award and Regina Tisdale, wife of the late bassist Wayman Tisdale, will be in attendance to present the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award.

American Smooth Jazz Awards performers:
Richard Elliot, entertainer, brass/woodwind, album
Peter White, guitarist, song, album
Nick Colionne, entertainer, guitarist
Marc Antoine, international artist
Anders Holst, international male vocalist
Brian Simpson, keyboardist
Cindy Bradley, new artist, album
Darren Rahn, woodwind, song
Four80East, international group
The Sax Pack (Jeff Kashiwa/Kim Waters/Steve Cole), group of the year
Oli Silk, international artist
Kyle Wolverton, new artist

A new CD by the late saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. titled Grover Live, capturing a show in June 1997 at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, NY, is released by G-Man Productions. The CD, produced by Jason Miles (who produced To Grover With Love and the sequel 2 Grover With Love), captures the saxophonist on a collection of his tunes spanning three decades.

Vocalist Natalie Cole will be honored with the Ella Award, following in the footsteps of Ella Fitzgerald and artists like Elton John and Frank Sinatra. The nine-time Grammy-winning vocalist, daughter of legendary Nat “King” Cole, will be given the prestigious award by the Society Of Singers (SOS), who bestowed their first awards in 1989 to Fitzgerald. Honorees are chosen for their contributions to the music world and for their dedicated efforts to benefit community and worldwide humanitarian causes.

On April 18, Dave Koz will make his debut as the bandleader for celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse on a new show airing on the Ion Network.

Selina Albright, the daughter of smooth jazz saxophonist Gerald Albright, is following in her father's footsteps, she is a vocalist for Denver-based Jakarta.

Guitarist Norman Brown is in the running to take over Kevin Eubanks' position as Music Director for the Tonight show. He is competing with Darius Rucker for the position.

The new Music Instrument Museum (The MIM) in Phoenix will open on April 24 with an exhibit on George Benson’s most iconic album, Breezin.’  It will have the Gibson Johnny Smith guitar Benson used to record the album, as well as sheet music, the Best Pop Instrumental Performance Grammy award, the Triple Platinum plaque (more than 3 million sold) and the 1976 Billboard Award. In addition, Benson’s 2009 National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Masters plaque will be on display. For more information, go to The MIM website. In 2008, an permanent exhibit opened at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh that features Benson’s music. It’s part of the Crawford Grill exhibit, which replicates one of Pittsburgh’s premier jazz clubs. George grew up in Pittsburg and resides in Phoenix.

Alan Hewitt will again be touring with the Moody Blues this season.

Have lunch with the legendary, Quincy Jones! Benefiting the Quincy Jones Foundation, bids are being accepted. www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/mothersday/catalog_items/121074

The Smooth Jazz Oasis Music Awards is back! Scheduled for March 10-13, 2011, in San Diego, the late Wayman Tisdale’s recording of “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” is the theme for the Award weekend. The four-day Oasis Music Awards weekend will include at least two concerts, a reception for the artists and attendees, the presentation of the Oasis Music Awards, and more. Specific venue and sponsor details, as well as the host hotel, will be announced shortly. Plans to broadcast the Saturday night Oasis Music Awards show are being finalized. The three previous Oasis Music Awards shows were virtual all-star concerts in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Saxophonist/singer/songwriter Mindi Abair was just elected to the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles chapter of NARAS, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, of which she has been a member for several years. She will serve a 2 year term from 2010-2012. "I'm so proud," says Abair. "I've become more and more involved over the past few years with Grammy in the Schools and the Grammy Foundation, which I'm currently an Artist Ambassador for -- alongside Campbell's Labels for Education. I've wanted to get more involved in shaping our futures as artists and musicians and really have a say in our future professionals in the music business. "Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as the Recording Academy, is dedicated to improving the cultural environment and quality of life of more than 14,000 musicians, producers and other recording professionals, the Recording Academy is internationally known for the outreach, professional development, cultural enrichment, education and human service programs. For more info on NARAS: http://www.grammy.com

Saxophonist, Kirk Whalum has joined the Stax Museum, Stax Music Academy, and The Soulsville Charter School as our new President & CEO!

Canadian Smooth Jazz Award Winners
International Instrumentalist of the Year  George Benson          
International Vocalist of the Year  Norah Jones
International Group of the Year  Pieces of a Dream
Female Vocalist of the Year  Carol Welsman
Male Vocalist of the Year  Michael Buble
Guitarist/Bass Guitarist of the Year  Robert Tardik  
Wind Instrumentalist of the Year  Carson Freeman
Keyboardist/Pianist of the Year  Michael Kaeshammer 
Drummer/Percussionist of the Year Tony Grace
Album of the Year Doin’ The D Alexander Zonjic Heads Up International
Group/Duo of the Year Groove Kings 
Best Original Composition “Isabelle” Michael Kaeshammer, Ron Lopata, Andrea Koziol, Joel Parisien
Broadcaster of the Year  Alexander Zonjic   Wave 94.7FM Toronto/Hamilton (specialty show “From A to Z”)

Fourplay has had the distinct privilege of enjoying the past 12 years of its 20 year history with legendary guitarist Larry Carlton. As Larry takes his leave to delve further into his solo career, the band extends their heartfelt gratitude for his contributions and wishes him continued success in all his pursuits. Larry Carlton will remain an integral part of our musical family & legacy.Fourplay now welcomes its newest member, multi-faceted virtuoso guitarist, Chuck Loeb. His musical contributions will undoubtedly enhance the creativity and pursuit of excellence. Fourplay has enjoyed in the studio and on the stage.

25 years after the original star-studded recording of "We Are the World" for USA for Africa (which raised $63 million), music legends are once again taking to the studio to see if the anthem can have the same benefit for the people of Haiti.
"We Are the World" was originally penned by the late Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie and Quincy Jones. Ritchie and Jones are producing this second effort.
Stars on the recording include Usher, Lil Wayne, Pink, Natalie Cole, the Jonas Brothers, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Harry Connick Jr., Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Tony Bennett, Carlos Santana, Brian Wilson, and Nathan East, among others.

Rumors have been confirmed, Ron Wood, the co-founder of the British rock group the Faces confirms that the band will reunite this year. Although original member Rod Stewart is not with the group, Wood said that Mick Hucknall, founder and leader of Simply Red, will be one of several vocalists joining the reformed band.

The 2010 NAACP Image Awards has nominated Poetically Justified, the latest release by Marcus Johnson, for Outstanding Jazz Album of the year.  Poetically Justified was released in June on Marcus’ Three Keys label. Tune in to the NAACP Image Awards on Friday 2/26 at 8pm on Fox. 

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, a global association of music publishers, says that the piracy of songs is sharply undermining the rise of digital song and album sales. According to the FT, “The IFPI said physical music sales, such as CDs, fell 16 per cent to $11.6bn, with digital sales growth slowing to 12 per cent to reach $4.2bn” for 2009. Sales of almost all things digital have been rising rapidly for a decade, but the music industry is bedeveled by pirates and file-sharers. The music business will be a bad business forever. Customers are replacing the purchase of CDs with digital downloads. Digital music is put on file-sharing services. People’s Apple (AAPL) iPods are overflowing with music their owners did not pay for. The legal authorities in many nations have tried to shut file sharing operations with some success. But, as one service is closed in the US another opens in Russia. The services operate globally over the internet, so they can be based on small, hard-to-find islands well out at sea. Even if all the file sharing services were destroyed, people are forever taking music that they paid for and giving it to dozens of friends. One song bought at iTunes for $1.99 may end up on another ten iPods without an additional nickel going to Apple or the artist who created the song. Some advocates of sharing music, which should by law be paid for, say that “content wants to be free.” That has a price. The best musicians may end up on bread lines. Douglas A. McIntyre