Canada's Niagara Falls for Smooth Jazz Superstars!
May 4, 2005 - It is a smooth jazz fans dream come true as Kenny G and Dave Koz share top billing at Niagara's Best Smooth Jazz Concert, a two day extravaganza of Smooth Jazz on June 11 and 12, 2005 at E.D. Smith Fruit Farms in Winona, Ontario. (Some fine jam sessions on a jam farm). On Saturday, June 11 smooth jazz sax man Dave Koz takes to the stage with Rendezvous recording artists Marc Antoine, Praful and Jeffrey Osborne. Also featured throughout the day are Philadelphia's phenomenal group, Pieces of a Dream and award winning Canadian smooth jazz talents Alfie Zappacosta and The Clayton-Scott Group.It's the smooth saxophone of master musician Kenny G on the evening of Sunday, June 12. Daytime ear candy includes guitarist Robert Michaels, flutist Alexander Zonjic with keyboardist Jeff Lorber and the entertaining vocalist, Kevin Whalum. More

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Alfie Zappacosta Stays Away From Writing Crap
December 16, 2004 - Alfie Zappacosta empathizes with struggling young writers working for publishing companies trying to find the muse to come up with a hit. "I remember being signed to publishers and I would just write non stop, it was my duty so I had to do it," says Zappacosta. It's a world that most people will never know and the singer says that's probably a good thing, "When I have to do it I tell my family goodbye and I just go out and do it. I just leave and tell everyone not to call me or visit." The Juno and American Music Awards winner says young writers have to be careful to not force the creative process because sometimes it's all in the timing, "For years I would have to write under pressure and sometimes it's not there and you write crap." Zappacosta is a feature artist on our Canadian pages. Read our now completed interview.

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Alfie Zappacosta Keeps It Honest
September 13, 2004 - Alfie Zappacosta talks like a man with a new lease on life, "I was ready at one point to give up on this," says the singer. Less than five years ago he thought he had done everything he could do in the industry but he found a way of reinventing himself via an unplugged sound, "I just starting doing a ton of shows and now it's become so personal for me. I like the fact that everything we're doing is such a stripped down form and I have to come across and show the vulnerability." Zappacosta's new album 'Start Again' is a reflection of that "stripped down" sound, it features four older favorites, 'Passion,' 'We Should Be Lovers,' 'I'll Be the One' and the title track. The singer told Smooth Jazz Now that the album originally slated to be a Jazz record brought back memories when searching for inspiration, "Well, I got on a bike and rode all throughout Toronto. I wanted to revisit some of the places I'd been too and I wanted to remember some of the stories." We talked to Zappacosta via phone in September 2004. Read the interview.

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Alfie Zappacosta To Return With New Album April 27
April 10, 2004 - The wait is almost over. Alfie Zappacosta will return with a new album April 27, 2004. "Start Again," a collection of mostly new songs has the singer teaming up with some well know writers like Marc Jordan, John Capeck and Bob Ezrin. Zappacosta has also reworked some classics like Start Again, Passion, We Should Be Lovers, and I'll Be the One. The album's first single "Tears of Hercules" will be released to radio stations across the country on April 13th. His last album was "Dark Sided Jewel" from 1999. This is his debut album for Marquis/EMI Canada. The official album launch will be May 4th at the Revival in Toronto with Alfie performing the new tunes. Advance tickets are $10 and $ 15 at the door. Get more information at www.iamzappacosta.com.

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Alfie Zappacosta Signs Deal with Marquis
May 30, 2003 - Here's great news for one of Smooth Jazz Now's favorite singers! Alfie Zappacosta has just signed a multi album deal with Marquis. The label that's been around for twenty two years is distributed by EMI Music Canada. Up until recently the label was primarily know as a classical outlet but that changed with the recent additions of Jazz vocalist Molly Johnson and Cabaret star, Patricia O'Callaghan. Earl Rosen, President of Marquis said, "We are thrilled to have a chance to sign such a great writer and performer. I've always loved Alfie's songs and it is an honor to have him on Marquis." Present at the signing was Deane Cameron, President of EMI, who originally signed Alfie to EMI. Deane Cameron said "Alfie has always been one of my favorite artists. We are pleased to be working with him again, through Marquis. I feel the time is right for Alfie to have major international success." Manager Anne Oakley says a new album is in progress and "will include many new songs as well as some updated versions of Alfie's greatest hits".


Pictured - Earl Rosen (Marquis), Alfie Zappacosta , Deane Cameron (EMI Music Canada), Anne Oakley (Manager, Zappacosta)