Jamie
Bonk Helping Friends and Keeping Busy July
2, 2005 - Jamie Bonk is still enjoying the
success of his latest album "My World' which includes the Smooth Jazz hit
"If This Is Love" featuring vocalist Ron Scott. The guitarist was also
recently featured via a two page spread in the Italian magazine New Age and New
Sounds. Bonk is also working with Hilary Duff's keyboardist Loren Gold on his
new CD "Keys." Bonk plays guitar on two tracks, he says, "It was
an incredible amount of fun working with Loren and putting down my guitar parts
on tracks with the stellar rhythm section of bassist Alphonso Johnson (Weather
Report, Santana, Phil
Collins) and Ron Wikso (Cher, Foreigner, David Lee Roth)" Bonk was recently
nominated for Guitarist
of the Year at the Canadian Smooth
Jazz Awards. - by John Beaudin
Guitarist
Jamie Bonk Sees 2005 as a Banner Year January
18, 2005 - With his latest CD "My World" receiving plenty of attention;
Jamie Bonk was thrilled with his nomination as "Guitarist of the Year"
and with the introduction of the awards show itself. "It's never easy to
start something good," Bonk told Smooth Jazz Now, "But that is just
what happened with the first Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. By recognizing artists,
albums and broadcasters who have impact on Smooth Jazz, both domestically and
internationally I think these awards will have a positive and lasting effect.
To be nominated in a group of artists that I admire and respect (some of whom
I've listened to for years!) is a complete honour for me. So thank you to the
Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards - looks like 2005 is starting out to be a great year!"
by
Liz Rivard
Nominations
for the 1st Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards January
3, 2005 - Canadian Smooth Jazz musicians finally have an awards body to recognize
their work - The Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. The event was created by Doug and
Mary Kirk, owners of The Wave in Hamilton and Smooth Jazz Now creator John Beaudin.
The awards will be voted on by the fans via www.canadiansmoothjazzawards.com .
Voting will begin shortly. Top nominees for the inaugural ceremony include Diana
Krall, Eddie Bullen, Brian Hughes, Marc Jordan, Clayton / Scott Group and Alexander
Zonjic all with three. Read
more. Jamie
Bonk Nomination -
Guitarist of the Year
Jamie
Bonk Releases "My World" October
8, 2004 - Jamie Bonk is happy to be back with his first album in four years. The
Canadian guitarists third CD "My World" brings more to the formula this
time around with three vocal tracks, one featuring Shelley Hamilton (recently
heard on Robert Michaels cover of
"In The Air Tonight") on "Centre Tone." Toronto's Ron Scott
contributes vocals on "If This Is Love" and a totally reinvented take
of the Bee Gees "Nights On Broadway." "I wanted to put my own spin
on it to put my own esthetic on it especially with someone like the Bee Gees who
are really iconic in there sound," says Bonk. "Their writing is so strong
and their vocals are in a class of their own so I had Ron sing it with a smoky
voice and he didn't sing it in a falsetto range." Bonk told Smooth Jazz Now
that he was careful about adding vocals he especially wanted to stay away from
the formulaic token vocals on a Smooth Jazz album, "You know it and I hate
that." He says laughing, "With this album you can listen to it from
the beginning to the end and nothing really sticks out because it really shouldn't
be in there." Read our new interview
with Jamie Bonk.
Jamie
Bonk Very Proud Of New Offering March
5, 2004 - Canadian guitar great Jamie Bonk
tells Smooth Jazz Now that the music for his next release is "done"
and going into mastering on March 15, with the artwork and video nearing completion.
This new work will feature some vocal tracks, by Ron Scott (a long time friend
of Jamie) and Shelley Hamilton. You may remember Shelley from her work on Robert
Michaels' last record, "In the Air Tonight". Also included is collaboration
with Boston based guitarist Peter Janson, a piece called "Waiting for Winter."
"I
know every artist always thinks their latest release is way better than anything
they've ever done but...my new release is way better than anything I've ever done,"
shares Jamie. Music fans will also want to visit Jamie's site www.jamiebonk.com,
he is featuring a series of artist to artist conversations. Interesting reading,
for sure.- by Liz Rivard New
ETA For Next Jamie Bonk Album October
6, 2003 - Smooth Jazz Now just caught up with Jamie Bonk, fresh from two weeks
vacation in Vancouver where he says, "It was just great, perfect weather!"
Now he's back finishing up his new album which he admits is taking "forever."
He is busy shooting a video for the album this month and hoping to make his upcoming
CD a mixed mode disc with video on it. As if that isn't enough, Jamie is also
finishing the music and mix for his brother Randy's film, which should be done
in late October, early November. Jamie says his brother Randy is a "far edgier
person than me, his film is called "Dink" and it basically deals with
the downward spiral of his main character. It's not a PG rated film in any way."
When can Jamie's fans expect to see his new CD? Here is the schedule as he anticipates
it, "The music should be done by the end of October, the video by mid November
and the entire CD should be ready for manufacturing in December, so probably the
new album will be available for sale some time in January." A great way to
welcome the New Year!
- By Liz Rivard New
Jamie Bonk Album This Summer March
10, 2003 - Jamie Bonk's third album should be out by the summer. "The album
is really starting to come together!" Bonk told Smooth Jazz Now "I've
actually written 15 pieces for it, but I'd say maybe 10 to 12 will make it on
the disc." Bonk is collaborating with a few other acts for this album most
notably Guitarist Peter Janson from Boston and both will appear on each others
albums "We're recording the same tune in two different styles. A scaled back
version for his new record and a more production-oriented version for my new album."
Also expect one (maybe two) vocal-oriented tunes for this album featuring singer,
Ron Scott. Bonk hinted that there could also be a cover tune which for now he
will keep under wraps. In Jamie's own words here's what he told us about the next
album "I feel more free making this record than anything I've ever done.
There really have been no boundaries for me on the album. Everything from pop
to world and from jazz to classical has influenced me in some way and shows up
on the new material. I'm still recording now so I don't know how the whole album
will shape up but I'd say it's my most diverse and adventurous recording to date!"
-
Shannon Edwards
Want
to volunteer for 'Smooth Jazz Now' email us here
July
2, 2005 - 
January
18, 2005 - With his latest CD "My World" receiving plenty of attention;
Jamie Bonk was thrilled with his nomination as "Guitarist of the Year"
and with the introduction of the awards show itself. "It's never easy to
start something good," Bonk told Smooth Jazz Now, "But that is just
what happened with the first Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. By recognizing artists,
albums and broadcasters who have impact on Smooth Jazz, both domestically and
internationally I think these awards will have a positive and lasting effect.
To be nominated in a group of artists that I admire and respect (some of whom
I've listened to for years!) is a complete honour for me. So thank you to the
Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards - looks like 2005 is starting out to be a great year!"
January
3, 2005 - Canadian Smooth Jazz musicians finally have an awards body to recognize
their work - The Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. The event was created by Doug and
Mary Kirk, owners of The Wave in Hamilton and Smooth Jazz Now creator John Beaudin.
The awards will be voted on by the fans via www.canadiansmoothjazzawards.com .
Voting will begin shortly. Top nominees for the inaugural ceremony include Diana
Krall, Eddie Bullen, Brian Hughes, Marc Jordan, Clayton / Scott Group and Alexander
Zonjic all with three. 
October
8, 2004 - Jamie Bonk is happy to be back with his first album in four years. The
Canadian guitarists third CD "My World" brings more to the formula this
time around with three vocal tracks, one featuring Shelley Hamilton (recently
heard on 
March
5, 2004 - Canadian guitar great 
October
6, 2003 - Smooth Jazz Now just caught up with Jamie Bonk, fresh from two weeks
vacation in Vancouver where he says, "It was just great, perfect weather!"
Now he's back finishing up his new album which he admits is taking "forever."
He is busy shooting a video for the album this month and hoping to make his upcoming
CD a mixed mode disc with video on it. As if that isn't enough, Jamie is also
finishing the music and mix for his brother Randy's film, which should be done
in late October, early November. Jamie says his brother Randy is a "far edgier
person than me, his film is called "Dink" and it basically deals with
the downward spiral of his main character. It's not a PG rated film in any way."
When can Jamie's fans expect to see his new CD? Here is the schedule as he anticipates
it, "The music should be done by the end of October, the video by mid November
and the entire CD should be ready for manufacturing in December, so probably the
new album will be available for sale some time in January." A great way to
welcome the New Year!
- By Liz Rivard
March
10, 2003 - Jamie Bonk's third album should be out by the summer. "The album
is really starting to come together!" Bonk told Smooth Jazz Now "I've
actually written 15 pieces for it, but I'd say maybe 10 to 12 will make it on
the disc." Bonk is collaborating with a few other acts for this album most
notably Guitarist Peter Janson from Boston and both will appear on each others
albums "We're recording the same tune in two different styles. A scaled back
version for his new record and a more production-oriented version for my new album."
Also expect one (maybe two) vocal-oriented tunes for this album featuring singer,
Ron Scott. Bonk hinted that there could also be a cover tune which for now he
will keep under wraps. In Jamie's own words here's what he told us about the next
album "I feel more free making this record than anything I've ever done.
There really have been no boundaries for me on the album. Everything from pop
to world and from jazz to classical has influenced me in some way and shows up
on the new material. I'm still recording now so I don't know how the whole album
will shape up but I'd say it's my most diverse and adventurous recording to date!"
