Bill Champlin Leaves Chicago Sept. 6, 2009 – It’s been a long run for Bill Champlin and Chicago. In fact the singer has been with the band since 1981, that’s 28 years but now it’s over. Champlin has announced that he’s leaving the popular group to serve up his first solo album in 10 years. “No Place Left to Fall,” released on August 5 is available on the official website http://www.billchamplin.net/ and features his old Chicago band-mate Peter Cetera (they traded vocals on the hit “Hard Habit to Break”) and former Toto singer/guitarist Steve Lukather.
The two-time Grammy award winner has lots of special treats on the new package include a bonus DVD featuring the making of “No Place Left to Fall.” It will also include live footage of his other big band Sons of Champlin. They garnered great press in the late sixties with complicated song structures.
It was also Champlin who suggested David Foster as producer for the album “Chicago 16” and that’s before he even joined the band officially. The popular multi-instrumentalist also sang the groups #1 hit “Look Away” in 1988.
Champlin says he also plans on more shows with the group Sons of Champlin. Check out his solo tour dates below. More dates should be added soon.
11/6 San Juan Capistrano, CA Coach House
11/7 San Diego, CA Anthology
11/10 Santa Cruz, CA Moe's Alley
11/11 Mill Valley, CA 142 Throckmorton Theatre
11/12 Tuolumne, CA Black Oak Casino
11/13 Lodi, CA Hutchins Street Square
11/14 Santa Rosa, CA Last Day Saloon
11/15 Newcastle, CA Constable Jacks
11/19 Portland, OR Jimmy Maks
11/20 Langley, WA Mukilteo Coffee Roaster
11/21 Langley, WA Mukilteo Coffee Roaster
11/22 Seattle, WA Triple Door
Chicago Still Healthy After 40 Years October
2, 2007 - Chicago has turned 40! Here is a band that's survived
more blows than Britney and Lindsay put together!
Luckily these guys served as better role models. Chicago has survived
the loss of Terry Kath, their lead guitarist in
1978, he accidentally kills himself. Peter Cetera
who sang most of the hits left the band in 1985
and Danny Seraphine their world-class drummer
left after exhaustion over touring and that's
just the reader's digest version of personnel
changes. On the plus side the band releases "The
Best Of Chicago : 40th Anniversary Edition" today. The double
CD highlights the major triumphs of the band with
highlights from their five consecutive #1 albums,
13 platinum albums, 21 Top 10 singles. Chicago,
originally called the Chicago
Transit Authority still features four member
from the first lineup of the band, Lee Loughnane;
James Pankow; Walt Parazaider; and Robert Lamm.
Check out the track listing below. - by John
Beaudin
THE
BEST OF CHICAGO: 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Disc
1
1. "Questions 67 And 68"
2. "25 Or 6 To 4"
3. "Does Anybody Really Know What
Time It Is?"
4. "Make Me Smile"
5. "Beginnings"
6. "Colour My World"
7. "Saturday In The Park"
8. "Feelin' Stronger Every Day"
9. "Just You 'N' Me"
10. "Whishing You Were Here"
11. "Old Days"
12. "Another Rainy Day In New York
City"
13. "If You Leave Me Now"
Disc
2
1. "Baby, What A Big Surprise"
2. "No Tell Lover"
3. "Hard To Say I'm Sorry"
4. "Love Me Tomorrow"
5. "Hard Habit To Break"
6. "You're The Inspiration"
7. "Will You Still Love Me?"
8. "If She Would Have Been Faithful..."
9. "I Don't Wanna Live Without
Your Love"
10. "Look Away"
11. "What Kind Of Man Would I Be?"
12. "You're Not Alone"
13. "Here In My Heart"
14. "Feel" (with Horns)
15. "Love Will Come Back"
Peter
Friestedt Debuts With Help From Toto &
Chicago Alumni March
22, 2004 - You may not know the name Peter
Friestedt (pictured middle) now but the
Swedish guitarist is hoping that could change
thanks to the help of a few popular music
names. Friestedt has enlisted Chicago keyboardist/vocalist Bill
Champlin (pictured right)and former Toto vocalist Joseph
Williams (left) to add some vocals on
his debut album which pays homage to the L.A./west
coast sound. "Hopefully it will be appreciated
both by the fans of Toto and Chicago as well as the smooth jazz/fusion audience
since the music is a combination between pop
and jazz," says Friestedt. Being a huge Toto fan we
asked Friestedt about the debate over who
was their best singer - since they've had
so many, "Although Bobby (Kimball) is
an incredible singer I think Toto did some of their finest records with Joe.
He sure is a fantastic singer and a very nice
guy." Though mostly a vocal album, "The
L.A. Project" does have a very Smooth
Jazz feel and features Russell Ferrante and
Jimmy Haslip from the Yellowjackets. Read
our interview with Peter Friestedt.
Review Policy - Smooth Jazz Now.com believes money
does not buy a positive review. The music world is filled
with magazines and websites that will play you, or positively review you if you buy advertising. That's
not what we are about. It's a little thing called credibility.
If you want to advertise with us, we welcome you and will
do our very best to make sure anyone who visits this site
will know your name, but we won't guarantee you a positive
review. If you work with a magazine that gives you these
guarantees remember it's your reputation that's on the
line, they've already sold theirs. - John Beaudin, President,
Smooth Jazz Now.com
Sacramento Loses Their Smooth Jazz KSSJ 94.7 March 5, 2010 – Smooth Jazz has gone dark in Sacramento. Entercom Communications, owners of Smooth Jazz KSSJ 94.7 FM pulled the plug on the station this week. More
Now 3 Chances to Win “Classic Smooth Jazz 6 Packs” February 27, 2010 – Smooth Jazz Now wants to thank you for listening. Starting Monday March 1st listen for your name andyou could win some of the biggest albums in Smooth Jazz history. More
In Conversation with U-NAM on his latest CD ‘Unanimity’ February 23, 2010 - 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. More
Sade Is Queen Again February 23, 2010 – The new Sade album is kicking some serious butt on the charts. After a 10 year break the sultry singer is back on top of the Billboard Album Charts with “Soldier of Love.” It sold over 500 thousand in its first week of release. More
Record Numbers of Votes Registered for the 6th Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards February 22, 2010 – The annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards ballot count ending last Friday (Feb. 19) reflects a dramatic increase in voter interest. Awards co-chair, Mary Kirk, of Wave 94.7FM says, “Thank you to the huge number of fans from all over the world who took time to send in their ballots.” More
In Conversation with Paula Atherton February 19 - 2010 - Smooth Jazz female sax players are not numerous, but there is a collection of talented performers such as Candy Dulfer, Jessy J and Paula Atherton among others. Mrs. Atherton does not only perform sax and other horn instruments, she is also a consummate singer. Read the interview
Sept. 6, 2009 – It’s been a long run for Bill Champlin and Chicago. In fact the singer has been with the band since 1981, that’s 28 years but now it’s over. Champlin has announced that he’s leaving the popular group to serve up his first solo album in 10 years. “No Place Left to Fall,” released on August 5 is available on the official website http://www.billchamplin.net/ and features his old Chicago band-mate Peter Cetera (they traded vocals on the hit “Hard Habit to Break”) and former Toto singer/guitarist Steve Lukather.
October
2, 2007 - 
March 5, 2010 – Smooth Jazz has gone dark in Sacramento. Entercom Communications, owners of Smooth Jazz KSSJ 94.7 FM pulled the plug on the station this week. 
February 27, 2010 – Smooth Jazz Now wants to thank you for listening. Starting Monday March 1st listen for your name andyou could win some of the biggest albums in Smooth Jazz history
February 23, 2010 - 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. 
February 23, 2010 – The new Sade album is kicking some serious butt on the charts. After a 10 year break the sultry singer is back on top of the Billboard Album Charts with “Soldier of Love.” It sold over 500 thousand in its first week of release. 
February 22, 2010 – The annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards ballot count ending last Friday (Feb. 19) reflects a dramatic increase in voter interest. Awards co-chair, Mary Kirk, of Wave 94.7FM says, “Thank you to the huge number of fans from all over the world who took time to send in their ballots.” 
February 19 - 2010 - Smooth Jazz female sax players are not numerous, but there is a collection of talented performers such as Candy Dulfer, Jessy J and Paula Atherton among others. Mrs. Atherton does not only perform sax and other horn instruments, she is also a consummate singer.