May 1, 2012 - We live in a world where most instrumental music sounds like it was made for a 5x5 vertically moving room and that includes some Smooth Jazz. Interestingly, most Smooth Jazz musicians are technically some of the best players on the planet but many have fallen into this big vacuous hole, an amnesic state, where channelling Bert Kaempfert is common place. 
April 17, 2012 – Get ready for another beautiful journey from David Benoit on May 29th. His new album, `Conversation,’ will no doubt serve as another expansion for the Smooth Jazz format. 
April 26, 2012 - Norah Jones is set to appear with a Live-on-Letterman webcast, featuring Jones from the prestigious Ed Sullivan Theater in New York, Wednesday, May 2nd at 8:00 ET. This is a clever, strategic move for Jones to push her next album “Little Broken Hearts” set for a May 1st release. 
April 4, 2012 – Esperanza Spalding is a groovy chick. I mean, really, when she’s in the room, everyone else disappears and I’m talkin’ more than that big “love-sculpture” hair. She’s the type of musician you might walk up to at a party, ask about her music, and walk away three hours later regretting the question. This lady has a vision so you better have a seat. 
February 21, 2012 - As it was stated during the Grammy Awards, "We've had a death in the family." Now our own Jazz family is remembeing Whitney Houston. 
February 21, 2012 - Shock, disappointment and horror are some of the many words fans used to describe Whitney Houston’s untimely death last week (February 11, 2012). My family and I were outside a Starbucks when one of our radio listeners texted me with, at first, the rumor. 
– Not many groups have stood the test of time like Airborne. Coming in around the time that the NAC format was really starting to cook, 1988, this outfit grew with every project, gig and album. Having just released their most powerful album yet, New Horizon’s, it looks like the world is ready for this, a full dose of positive, social conscious fusion. We sat down with the band to chat about all the twisting, yet beneficial roads taken. 
– The smart ones in life know that it’s not how you fall down in life that counts but how you get up. Zach Bandolin has had his fair share of topsy-turvy moments but the guitarist keeps swinging. 
- French Smooth Jazz guitar sensation Emmanuel Abitebol, more known as U-NAM, came to fame with his widely acclaimed somophore album ‘Back from the 80’s’ released in 2007. 
October 20, 2011 – This is no ordinary album. In fact, there is nothing normal about this album and that’s what makes this one of the most perfect projects that’s ever come across my desk. 
– On her third album Colbie Caillat has decided to strategically give us an uptempo summer-vibe. It still sounds like her smash debut “Coco” but this time it’s Colbie with caffeine and it’s positive and fun
– There are not too many things in life as deliciously lazy as Michael Franks voice. The guy could chill out someone on deaths door. Seriously, angst has no place on a Michael Franks record – he’s good at one great thing..making you feel good! 
- Programming Smooth Jazz Radio has allowed me to discover talent over the decades and follow the twists and turns in their career. Such is the case of saxophonist Steve Cole an artist whom has played on numerous number #1 Smooth Jazz hits and been a regular spin on most smooth jazz radio stations play lists. 
– There’s always been an understated value to everything that Sade does and sameness to her entire repertoire. That quality of old wine has served the singer/band well… until now. Unlike Norah Jones who has, at least, tried to mix-up-the-pot, Sade really needs to stop wearing the same dress to every party. 
– Well, one things for sure, Mindi Abair is not shopping on Main Street anymore. As they say, “run away from the past and eventually it will run into you.” |
Ken Navarro Leaves Smooth Jazz Now to Concentrate on his Music Navarro wrote, “John Beaudin, the Program Director and founder of Smooth Jazz Now, made it as easy as humanly possible for me to do the show but in the end it ended up taking nearly a full day to do it all. John really helped me to spice up the music on my show with all kinds of excellent Contemporary Jazz and he was very open to including my suggestions for the music as well. I am truly appreciative of John's support and guidance and his understanding that I now need to put my time into composing and performing and touring behind my brand new CD "Dreaming of Trains". No permanent replacement has been announced yet, though we are hearing from many other musicians and broadcasters who are interested in taking over the coveted afternoon time slot. Until further notice Shannon Edwards will host the program. Shannon’s current show Night-Lite (weeknights from 7-mid) receives more fan mail than any other timeslot on Smooth Jazz Now. Shannon says, “If we can attract only a small percentage of the evenings shows huge numbers we will be ok, It amazes me how well Night-Lite has done on Smooth Jazz Now and I invite those listeners to check out my afternoon show.” Edwards has been the Editor of Smooth Jazz Now for the past 10 years. – by John Rohn |
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Ken Navarro - (Drive-Time) 3-5PM This is Ken's 19th CD release and is the follow up to his breakthrough release of 2008, The Grace of Summer Light which was named the #1 Contemporary Jazz CD of 2008 by Jazz Times magazine. Navarro's 2007 CD "The Meeting Place" and his 2005 release "Love Coloured Soul" were in the National Jazz Charts for 62 weeks, reaching #6 in Radio & Records national smooth jazz airplay chart in November of 2005. Love Coloured Soul marked Ken’s return to his own record label, Positive Music Records. Ken’s 2003 release All The Way, and his 2002 CD Slow Dance spawned numerous radio hits including “Bringing Down The House”, “In The Sky Today”, “So Fine” and “Healing Hands”. Ken’s 2000 CD release Island Life scored two hits at smooth jazz radio including "Delicioso," as well as the title track keeping the CD on the airwaves for a solid 52 weeks! 1999's In My Wildest Dreams continues to be one of Ken's top sellers and 1998's live CD & Video Ablaze in Orlando has been acclaimed as one of the best live jazz CDs of the decade. Smooth Sensation, released in 1997, was in the Top 10 of Radio & Records' Smooth Jazz chart for 12 weeks, helping to make the CD the #17 Smooth Jazz album of 1997! Other recent releases from Ken Navarro include his 1996 album, When Night Calls, featuring Eric Marienthal on saxophone, and Christmas Cheer, a holiday album of contemporary jazz guitar and acoustic piano duets. |
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Ken's 1995 album, Brighter Days, was voted the #9 album of the year by Smooth Jazz radio. Brighter Days heralded a bold step forward for Ken, bringing to the forefront the strong R&B elements that have always been a part of his music, and enlisting a powerhouse of support from featured solo artists including former Rippingtons sax man Brandon Fields. Brighter Days reached the national radio top 5 and held a position in the top 20 for six months in 1995. His 1991 release, After Dark, was selected for screening by the 1991 GRAMMY nominating committee. His successive albums, The Labor of Love (1992), I Can't Complain (1993), and Pride and Joy (1994), all reached the top 5 in national radio, firmly establishing Ken Navarro as a mainstay on Smooth Jazz radio play lists. |
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Ken began his recording career in Los Angeles as a premier session guitarist, performer and composer, performing and recording with artists as diverse as Doc Severinsen, Nell Carter, John Patitucci, Eric Gale, Vicki Carr, Dave Koz, Ann Jillian and Alex Acuna. In 1990, Ken established his own musical identity with the release of his debut album, The River Flows. With each successive album, Ken has received increasing acclaim and recognition as a leading stylist in Contemporary Jazz. His music is distributed throughout the world from Japan to Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Britain, Australia, Chile, Brazil, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and even in China. Customized greatest hit collections were recently released in Singapore and Japan. Ken maintains an active schedule of concert appearances as part of his quartet, the Ken Navarro Group. Highlights of his tour schedule have included appearances at Chene Park in Detroit, Blues Alley in Washington D.C., the World Trade Center site in New York, the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Washington, D.C., Merriweather Post Pavillion in MD, Jacksonville Jazz Fest, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, the Pleasure Island Jazz Fest, the Venetian Festival, the Winter Park Arts Festival, The Thornton Winery, The Spirit Festival in Kansas City and concerts where the group has shared the stage with artists such as Spyro Gyra, Chuck Mangione, Najee, Chris Botti, Eric Marienthal, The Rippingtons, Joe Sample, Jean Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke/Larry Carlton, George Howard, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Fattburger, Marion Meadows, Keiko Matsui, Nelson Rangell, David Benoit, Alex Bugnon, Boney James and many others. Ken's contribution to Contemporary and Mainstream Jazz goes beyond his personal artistry. Ken has produced successful albums for Narada/EMI recording artist Eric Darius as well as saxophonist Randy Villars and pianist Jay Rowe to name a few. As founder of Positive Music Records, Ken is responsible for launching and furthering the recording careers of saxophonist Brandon Fields, guitarists Grant Geissman, Thom Rotella and Pat Kelley, and keyboardists Gregg Karukas, Jay Rowe and Marcus Johnson. Ken's vision of a musician's record label has enhanced the genre with over 35 new artists and seventy releases. |
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Ken Navarro to Host “Drive Time” Each Weekday Afternoon on Smooth Jazz Now.com
September 17, 2009 - Smooth Jazz Now.com is proud to announce the addition of popular Contemporary Jazz guitarist Ken Navarro to their on air line-up. The top charting & award winning guitarist and composer has recorded 18 albums and remains a top player in the genre. His latest CD ‘The Grace of Summer Light” gained overwhelming positive praise for its “creative expansion” and “unforgettable melodies.” “Ken has been one of my favorite guitarists for so many years,” says John Beaudin, President and Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now.com, “I consider him a friend but I have to admit I’m a fan first.” Beaudin continues, “What Ken does musically is what’s most needed in the Smooth Jazz format, he is innovative in that Pat Metheny kind-of-way, where you never know what he’s going to do next and his beautiful haunting melodies are the best in the biz.” "When John called to inquire if I would be interested in hosting the afternoon drive show on Smooth Jazz Now.com, I said ‘yes’ immediately,” says Navarro. “I have always been interested in the radio side of this music and the opportunity to work with a consummate radio pro like John and the top drawer staff at Smooth Jazz Now is a fantastic opportunity.” Navarro adds, “John is one of that rare breed in radio who has what we musicians call ‘ears.’ He recognizes and supports only the very best and I respect him immensely for that.” More |
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May 1, 2010 – After 7 months of hosting the “Drive Time” slot on Smooth Jazz Now Ken Navarro has decided to go back to his music career full time. “It became increasingly harder for Ken to continue putting so much work on his radio show.” John Beaudin, Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now said, “Ken was one of the first people to join our staff and I was so pleased by the type of program he put together every day, he knows his stuff but the show prep he did everyday was amazing and that takes a lot of time.” Beaudin adds, “we were never sure how long Ken would be with us but it was a great ride and it really helped launch our station. Ken and I have been friends for years and I’m a great fan of his music, I know we will work together again.” 
Top charting & award winning contemporary jazz guitarist and composer Ken Navarro is recognized as one of today's leading musicians. His impressive discography of 19 top charting albums showcase his appeal to a wide range of listeners with inspiring compositions and superb guitar performances.  |
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