SAX FOR STAX at Berks Jazz Fest March 27, 2009 - On Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 2pm at Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania (www.berksjazzfest.com), there will be the crowd-pleasing smooth jazz show Sax for Staxwithtwo supremely talented and long-time popular saxophonists, Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum. The two are paired up as part of the exciting Sax for Stax tour on the legendary music of Stax Records. The Record company had artists such as Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, and the Staple Singers and was based in Memphis Tennessee (nicknamed Soulsville, USA). Stax Records is now a subsidiary of Concord Music Group. The Sax for Stax tour features Gerald Albright on alto saxophone with his uniquely bluesy tones and “So Amazing” high altissimo notes that delight audiences.
Along with Kirk Whalum, with his special, soulful, smooth-as-silk tenor saxophone magic, they make a great combination. Albright and Whalum appeared together at the 2007 Berks Jazz Fest as part of the Guitars & Saxes tour with Jeff Golub and Tim Bowman. Since the mid-1960s, Albright, influenced by Cannonball Adderly and Maceo Parker, has been an in-demand studio musician and sideman. More
All Right for Summer with Gerald Albright's New CD May 21, 2008 - Great sax player Gerald Albright will be releasing shortly (June 24) his eleventh album and second one on the Peak Records label. It will be entitled "Sax For Stax" (produced by Albright himself and Rex Rideout) and will pay tribute to the famous music label "Stax Records", founded in the 60's in Memphis.
The label allowed the emergence of famous soul artists such as Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Carla Thomas and many others. "Sax for Stax" will feature height covers of famous Stax classics such as the Staple Singers' "Respect Yourself" featuring Ledisi; Johnny Taylor's "Cheaper to Keep Her" and "Who's Making Love, and the Dramatics' "What You See Is What You Get" featuring Earth, Wind & Fire vocalist Philip Bailey. There will also be three Albright'' original tracks also fruitful collaborations with famous R&B and contemporary jazz vocalist Will Downing on "Never Can Say Goodbye", talented sax man Kirk Whalum on "Memphis Passon" and a tribute to the Blues' Father titled "W.C. Handy Hop".
"Sax for Stax" will presumably be a next popular smash, following the success of his previous albums: "Groovology" (2002), "Kickin' It Up" (2004) and "New Beginnings" (Albright’s debut album on Peak Records in 2006).
For more information: www.geraldalbright.com; www.peakrecords.com - By Akbar Nour
Anita Baker will also release a holiday album with Blue Note.
"Christmas Fantasy" hits stores October
4th, and will feature appearances by Joe
Sample, Larry
Carlton, Nathan
East, Ricky Lawson, and all four members of The Yellowjackets.
Barry Eastman, who co-produces here, also wrote
three original tunes for the outing.
Diana Krall will deliver her first Christmas album in 2005.
The outing, "Christmas Songs" will be
released on Verve November 1st.
Gerald
Albright Upbeat on 'Kickin' It Up' June
22, 2004 - The mantra for a lot of Smooth Jazz
musicians in the last few years seems to have
been "mix it up.' Whether conscious or not
some of the top names in the format have stretched
a bit. Dave Koz, Praful, Mindi
Abair and Steve
Oliver have certainly given the format a youthful
spin on their recent releases. Gerald
Albright's answer to kickin' it up a notch
is just that, his new 'Kickin' It Up' album. "This
is a really upbeat project," says Albright.
"Fused with my jazz roots is a heavy influence
from Philadelphia International Records, James
Brown, Motown, and `70s funk bands like Cameo,
Brick and The Bar-Kays." This is his eighth
album and second for the GRP label and features
Albright playing all the saxes, soprano, alto,
tenor and baritones plus electric bass on most
tracks. Special guests on 'Kickin' It Up' include Jeff Lorber contributing keyboards and drum programming on
three cuts, Peter
White ads guitar to 'Why Georgia' and George
Duke is the pianist on the title tune. Kickin'
It Up' was released on June 8th.
Groovin'
For Grover Tour Debuts Next Week
March
16, 2004 - We lost him in December of 1999 and
he remains a big part of the Smooth Jazz framework. Grover
Washington Jr. His Sony press release said
it best "He maintained the middle ground
between jazz and rhythm-and-blues with great style
and grace." If you want a taste of Grover's
Inspiration check out the "Groovin' for Grover
Tour" kicking off next week. Featuring heavyweights
likes Richard
Elliot, Jeff
Lorber, Paul
Taylor and Gerald
Albright. The tour will serve as a tribute
to the Jazz legend.
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not what we are about. It's a little thing called credibility.
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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
March 27, 2009 - On Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 2pm at Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania (
May 21, 2008 - Great sax player Gerald Albright will be releasing shortly (June 24) his eleventh album and second one on the Peak Records label. It will be entitled "Sax For Stax" (produced by Albright himself and Rex Rideout) and will pay tribute to the famous music label "Stax Records", founded in the 60's in Memphis.
June
22, 2004 - The mantra for a lot of Smooth Jazz
musicians in the last few years seems to have
been "mix it up.' Whether conscious or not
some of the top names in the format have stretched
a bit. 
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.