John Legend Honoured as Humanitarian
July 7, 2008 - Famous R&B singer, pianist and composer John Legend is not only an accomplished musician (winner of 5 Grammy Awards), but he is also known to serve various humanitarian causes. More.

July 7, 2008 - The 21st edition of Long Beach Festival will take place August 8th, 9th and 10th in Long Beach. The festival will host an amazing line-up of contemporary Jazz artists. More.

Robin Thicke Juggles Cats With Ease
July 7, 2008 – Robin Thicke likes to multi-task. So much so that the singer says as well as a new CD, he’s also writing a movie score, a novel, a screenplay and his first poetry book. More.

Al Jarreau Ready with New CD
July 5, 2008 - Seven time Grammy Award-winning vocalist and composer Al Jarreau is currently working on his next solo album, after his most recent musical work “Love songs” (a collection of some of his classics with covers of other favourites) came out in January 2008. More.

Beyonce Gets £500,000 for One Show
July 3, 2008 – What would you do with £500,000? Maybe buy a dream home? Help a downtrodden charity or you could go really nuts and hire Beyonce? That’s right, for a measly £500,000 you could have Beyonce all to yourself – well kind of. More.

Queen Latifah Inks Deal for Fragrance!
July 3, 2008 - Rapper-turned-actress Queen Latifah has signed a deal to create her own signature perfume for Florida-based Parlux Fragrances, E! Online reports. The product should be on the market by fall 2009. More.

Fourplay Set to release New CD in 2008
November 26, 2007 - Popular contemporary jazz quartet Fourplay will be back soon with a new album. The band will start recording in January 2008 for release in June 2008. As the band puts it on its website: "2008 promises to be bigger and better! We're anxiously awaiting our new album for 2008. We start back in the studio in January and will be on schedule for a June '08 release date! A new album brings a new look which we will be showcasing next year."

The groups members (captivating pianist/keyboardist Bob James, breathtaking bassist Nathan East, amazing guitarist Larry Carlton and seasoned drummer Howard Mason) have mainly devoted their time and energy to their solo careers and other musical projects. Indeed their last CD "X" came out in 2005 and topped Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz chart upon its release. The set included the single "My Love's Leaving'" featuring famous R&B/soul singer Michael McDonald.

This fantastic band will be performing next in All Star Cruise's Pre Cruise Festival on January 19 th, 2008. So if you are in San Diego at the beginning of next year, do not miss them! For more information: www.fourplayjazz.com By Akbar Nour

Smooth Jazz Christmas 2005
September 28, 2005 - Smooth Jazz artists Dave Koz, Brian McKnight, Chaka Khan, Eric Marienthal, Vanessa Williams, Norman Brown, David Benoit, Toni Braxton, Rick Braun, and Gerald Albright, will all contribute to this holiday seasons "A Charlie Brown Christmas Tribute". The album is due October 4th from Peak Records.

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.

Dave Koz and friends, David Benoit, Patti Austin, and Jonathan Butler will be hitting the road on "A Smooth Jazz Christmas Tour". Dates are available on www.davekoz.com - by Cheryl Philips

Smooth Jazz Nominees at the Grammys
December 8, 2004 - Looks like the sun won't set any time soon on Norah Jones. The singer was nominated for five Grammys yesterday including nods for Pop Vocal Album and Female Pop Vocal for her second CD "Feels Like Home." The late Ray Charles was another multiple nominee with seven (his album had 10 nominations) and the biggest artist heard on Smooth Jazz radio was Alicia Keys with eight nominations. Read more.

Fourplay Hits The Road
August 20, 2004 - With their new album in the stores, the boys in Fourplay are set to hit the road tomorrow to make sure you test it out. 'Journey' was released in June and again features the same line up since the bands 1998 album '4' - Larry Carlton, Bob James, Harvey Mason and Nathan East. The tour kicks off in Temecula, CA tomorrow and concludes twenty five shows later in Palmerton, PA. 'Journey' is the bands first full digital album and features a cover of Sting's 'Fields of Gold.' Click here for concert dates.

Fourplay Continues 'Journey' On June 22
June 2, 2004 - Fourplay has finally given in to the digital world. The supergroups new album 'Journey' to be released June 22 will be their first full digital album after recording in analog for so many years. The groups eight album will be released on RCA Bluebird featuring the same line-up for the band since 1998 keyboardist Bob James, bassist/vocalist Nathan East, guitarist Larry Carlton and drummer Harvey Mason. 'Journey' will only have one cover, Sting's 'Fields of Gold.' Longtime producer Don Murray was behind the controls again. Fourplay has scheduled eighteen shows from August to November.