The Party Starts Early for 20th Annual Berks Jazz Fest

The following information has been recently released from the Berks Arts Council.

READING, PA -- A 20th anniversary is certainly something to celebrate, and the VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest, presented by the Berks Arts Council, is starting the party early, with a full schedule of events counting down to the biggest, best festival yet. Concerts, educational programs, films and jazz jams are just some of the events slated to celebrate the 20th annual Berks Jazz Fest.

Saturday, February 20, 8 p.m.
The Manhattan Transfer is performing a pre-festival concert at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. For more information and tickets, visit www.sovereigncenter.com.

Sunday, February 21, 4 p.m.
As part of their Downtown Performing Arts Series, the Miller Center for the Arts is presenting the Hot 8 Brass Band. The Miller Center is located on the Reading Area Community College campus in downtown Reading. Hot 8 is a New Orleans-based brass band that blends hip-hop, jazz and funk styles with traditional New Orleans brass sounds. For more on this concert, visit www.racc.edu/MillerCenter/events.html.

Sunday, February 28, 5 p.m.
Anyone seeking spiritual enlightenment can get his or her fill at the Gospel Jubilee at Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in West Lawn. Featured are the mass choir, youth choir and local musicians. Good-will offering. For more information visit: www.gtaog.org/.

Terje Lie - Urban Vacation

Welcome to the latest issue of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden, the page that offers a personal perspective on the very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul. Norwegian born saxophonist Terje Lie first came into prominence in 2007 with his debut release Traveler. The title seemed to authenticate his relocation to the contemporary jazz friendly confines of southern California and the album quickly established his credentials as a ‘serious’ musician. Lie’s latest release, Urban Vacation, that is due to hit record stores on February 16, does nothing to tarnish that reputation but, with the input of Yellowjackets mainstay Jimmy Haslip and the ubiquitous Jeff Lorber, has resulted in a collection that is by far his most commercially appealing to date.

What We're Listening To ** January

R O N A L D * J A C K S O N

Andrew Neu, Try Something Neu (nuGroove Records)

Lynn Riley, Too Cool (nuGroove Records)

Nate Najar, Until Now (Blue Line Music)

Maysa, A Woman In Love (Shanachie)

Pamela Williams, Chameleon (Saxtress Entertainment)

KOAS 105.7 "THE OASIS" CHANGES FORMAT

Las Vegas radio station KOAS 105.7 "The Oasis" changed format over the holidays to an "Old School" R & B format. It was no surprise to many since the station had been using an "old school R & B" playlist intertwined with smooth jazz artists for the last few years. This leaves the only bonafide jazz station KUNV 91.5FM as the lone source for any jazz in Las Vegas, along with The Original Sunday Morning Jazz Show on KXPT 97.1 The Point, hosted by Ric & Jackie Gould. But that show is only a four hour format from 8am-12 noon on Sundays.

Saxophonist Najee performed Friday night, January 23rd, to an enthusiastic crowd in the Railhead Showroom at Boulder Station

Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns will host a concert featuring big band guests, The Las Vegas Super Band, Monday night, January 25th, at the Tropicana Hotel.

Next month, guitarist Al DiMeola will perform one night only at the Green Valley Ranch Resort.

Chris Standring - Blue Bolero

Welcome to the latest issue of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden, the page that offers a personal perspective on the very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul. Already described as extremely cinematic, Blue Bolero by Chris Standring is sure to be one of the most talked about releases of 2010. Although the distinctive vibe that has marked out Standring as one of the most soulful smooth jazz guitarists around remains clearly discernable, for Blue Bolero he adds to it with compositions, arrangements and choice of instruments that show off a different side to his musical persona. A case in point is the eight minute six second ‘Overture’. In the way striking string arrangements blend with enticing guitar and flashes of acoustic bass this is a tune that can be rightly regarded as a metaphor for the entire album while the title song, with acoustic bass from Larry Steen and violin by Barbra Porter, demonstrates, perhaps for the first time ever, how contemporary jazz can fuse with classical influences in the most perfect of ways.

Contempo January 2009

By Jonathan Widran

In 2005, in its review of Brian Culbertson’s soulful, romantic themed release It’s On Tonight, this column dubbed the popular keyboardist “the Barry White of smooth jazz.” Since he put aside sensuality and went all super funky on his decidedly jamming last album, the “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe” designation defaults with great passion to one of the genre’s most consistently candlelit saxmen, Kim Waters.

Since the Maryland native signed with Shanachie ten years ago, his urban jazz excursions have found him exploring the loving side of town with such regularity that his album titles have almost become a mantra for the magic four letter word: Love's Melody (1998), One Special Moment (1999), From The Heart (2001) Someone to Love You (2002), In the Name of Love (2004), All For Love (2005) and You Are My Lady (2007). These discs have collectively spawned over 10 #1 hits, the titles of which keep the candlelight burning, starting with “Night Fall,” “Easy Going,” “Secrets Told” and “Until Dawn.”

Waters fans looking to groove before they make out have taken heart these past few years as he’s interspersed his solo projects by producing and performing on the label’s hip-hop oriented cover projects Streetwize and Tha’ Hot Club. He’s also been engaged in some deeper rhythm making with The Sax Pack - the triple threat recording and road ensemble with fellow genre icons Jeff Kashiwa and Steve Cole. The Pack hit the top of the Radio & Records’ airplay chart (and stayed at #1 for two months) in 2008 with “Fallin’ For You,” the kickoff single from their debut release.

Waters may enjoy funking out here and there, but his heart comes back home and mines the lovelorn R&B old school on his eighth Shanachie release I Want You – In The Spirit Of Marvin, which marks a dual celebration: two decades as a recording artist (he launched his career with eight releases on Warlock Records) and the ongoing influence of Motown great Marvin Gaye on his own musical sensibilities and that of the world. No doubt the concept grew out of the spirited reception he got for his 2007 cover of Gaye’s party anthem “Got To Give It Up.”

Ken Navarro Back With New CD For 2010

Welcome to the latest issue of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden, the page that offers a personal perspective on the very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul. When guitarist Ken Navarro released his 2007 album, The Meeting Place, it immediately became a personal favorite. However, accepting the fact that the follow up, The Grace Of Summer Light, was received to widespread critical acclaim, the recording inexplicably slipped the Secret Garden net. Consequently it is great to announce that Ken is back with his brand new project, Dreaming of Trains that will be available in all good record stores from March 16. It will be Navarro's 19th CD release and includes such featured musicians as Jay Rowe from Special EFX and the Marion Meadows band, Tom Kennedy from the Al DiMeola band and Joel Rosenblatt of Spyro Gyra. Each of the nine original recordings are reported as being built around strong melodic themes with an accessibility that belies the complexity of what overall is a beautifully diverse group of songs.

Check back here soon for a complete review of Dreaming of Trains.

Do you have any comments on what you have found in this edition of the Secret Garden? If so please e-mail me on DenisPoole2000@Yahoo.com.

You’ve Come A Long Way - Chris Botti: From Ingénue to Jazz Crossover Music Icon

2009 Grammy nominations & topping Billboard’s jazz charts

By Val Vaccaro

There has been an incredible evolution of American-born trumpeter, composer, and charismatic performer Chris Botti. At 47 years young, Botti has experienced many transitions. Overall, trumpeter Chris Botti has gone from young brown-haired, ‘smooth jazz’ male ingénue to blond jazz/pop/classical crossover music icon, who is one of the world’s best selling instrumental artists. With the pure warmth and graceful beauty of his tone, like his trumpet, Botti seems to have loyal fans in the palm of his hands.

Chris Botti is ending 2009 with 3 Grammy nominations for his current CD and DVD Chris Botti in Boston (which is also #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart). The Grammy nominations are for: Best Pop Instrumental Album for the CD (Columbia/Sony Music), Best Long Form Music Video for the DVD (Jim Gable - video director; Bobby Colomby - video producer [Columbia/Sony Music], and Best Instrumental Arrangement for the song “Emmanuel” (arranged by Jeremy Lubbock; performed by Chris Botti and violinist Lucia Micarelli). (See separate review of the DVD Chris Botti in Boston by Val Vaccaro on SmoothVibes.com)

For the end-of-the-year Billboard charts, Botti is also #1 on the Top Contemporary Jazz Artists charts. On Billboard’s Top Jazz Artists chart which lists both traditional and contemporary jazz artists, Botti is #4 – the only instrumentalist among great vocalists – following Michael Bublé (#1), Harry Connick Jr. (#2), and Diana Krall (#3). Two of Botti’s inspirational role models are listed after Botti - the late great Frank Sinatra is #5 and the legendary Tony Bennett is #6 on that chart). Also, Botti’s CD Italia (released in 2007) is #15 on the 2009 end-of-the-year Billboard Top Traditional Jazz Albums chart.

In smaller steps, Chris Botti’s transitions are still impressive. From touring with Frank Sinatra in 1981 to sideman and opening act for Sting in 2001. From appearing on Oprah to performing at Oslo at the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Concert. From an obscure newcomer, to one of People Magazine’s most Beautiful People in 2004. From session studio musician, to consummate live performer. From introspective soloist with his own band in 1996, to charming collaborator, sensational showman, and tour veteran in 2009. From headlining performer, to Blue Note bobblehead doll in 2009 at the renowned NYC jazz club. From Botti’s smooth-jazz/chill music debut CD First Wish in 1995 to the eclectic mix of crossover music in the 2009 Grammy-nominated Chris Botti in Boston CD and DVD. From Oregon native to NYC transplant to LA homeowner.

Happy new year!

I wish to all the readers of Smooth Jazz Vibes a happy new year full of great music!