Niagara
Smooth Jazz A Hot Ticket! June
16, 2005 - Southern Ontario has been experiencing a heat wave, and the weekend
was no exception! Mother Nature joined popular Smooth Jazz artists in really turning
up the heat, down on the farm in Winona, Ontario for Niagara's
Smooth Jazz Festival. More
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
Jeff
Lorber Plans Ahead After Kidney Transplant November
29, 2004 - Even though Jeff Lorber is recovering
from a kidney transplant he's still on schedule for 2005. The keyboardist / producer
whose donor match was his wife Mink had the procedure last week in Los Angeles
but he is still scheduled to perform with the "Groovin for Grover" boys
on New Years Eve. He also plans to release his next album in February. Lorber
has polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder. Narada Records recently re-released
two of his older albums "Kickin' It"(2001) and "Midnight"(1998),
the former was produced by his old Philadelphia pal Steve Dubin who also worked
with Lorber on his hit album "Philly Style"
in 2003. The "Groovin' for Grover" tour also features Paul
Taylor, Gerald Albright, and Richard
Elliot. Here is the official message from Lorber's website, "Jeff has
just received a kidney transplant from his wife Mink. The operation was a success
and Jeff is recovering nicely. We'd like to thank surgeons Dr. Singer, Dr. Gritch
and the transplant dept. including Dr. Wilkenson and all of the wonderful nurses
and staff at UCLA." Jeff
Lorber Resurrects His Shades Of Soul With Chris Botti & Art Porter July
16, 2004 - Jeff Lorber (pictured right) knows
that timing is everything! The popular Smooth Jazz keyboardist says he's finally
set to release the 'Shades of Soul' album, a group effort also featuring guitarist
Marion McClain and Nathaniel Phillips who both played with the Dazz Band. The
project was actually started ten years ago but Lorber says up until now the timing
just wasn't right. The groups first effort will also feature the late Art
Porter (center) who drowned in 1996 - Porter and Lorber were very good friends.
Chris Botti (left) was added to the mix in
2000 and his trumpet is featured on many of the funk/Smooth Jazz tracks. The first
single 'Gazpacho' was sent to radio on July 12. The album will be released on
Narada Jazz on August 24th. Read our interview
with Jeff Lorber.
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.
Groovin'
For Grover Tour -
Richard Elliot, Jeff Lorber, Paul Taylor and Gerald Albright
St.
Louis, MO Milwaukee, WI Detroit, MI Chicago, IL Sacramento, CA
Oakland, CA San Diego, CA Dana Point, CA Anchorage, AK Seattle,
WA Houston, TX Atlanta, GA Santa Rosa Beach, FL Jacksonville,
FL Palm Springs, CA Newport Beach, CA Oakville, CA Kettering,
OH Saratoga, CA Los Angeles, CA
Eric
Marienthal's Huge Respect for Jeff Lorber October
23, 2003 - Saxophonist Eric Marienthal has just released his new "Sweet Talk"
album and as usual pianist/producer Jeff Lorber
was involved. Marienthal says besides Lorber's obvious musical talents it's his
honesty that he appreciates. Marienthal said, "Jeff's a straight shooter.
He'll tell you what he thinks is good or bad which is great from a working standpoint
because if you come up with something that's craps he'll let you know. So, you
always know where you stand with Jeff that's for sure." Marienthal also appreciated
the fact that Lorber helped shape the format, "He was one of the guys that
started this genre in my opinion." The saxophonist told Smooth Jazz Now that
he found out about Lorber while touring with the Chick
Corea band, "I was getting ready to do my fourth record and I was talking
to John Pattituchi about who to get together with." Lorber's name quickly
came up and the two got a long instantly. "He was very cool and very into
it. That was my fourth album and now I'm on my tenth so he and I have always worked
on at least one tune together. He's not only an incredible musician but he's turned
into a great friend also," says Marienthal. Read
our interview with Eric Marienthal.
Review
- Jeff Lorber - Philly Style July
5, 2003 - Jeff grew up in the city known for it's distinctive musical style and
this latest offering re-unites him with producer Steve Dubin, also a Philly native.
Even though they went to the same high school and played in the same clubs they
never crossed paths until Jeff hired Steve to work on "Kicking It" This
disc continues the fun, funky, retro-soul grooves that truly defines "Philly
Style" Read
more of Bob Farrow's review
Jeff
Lorber's Postponed Meeting with Producer Steve Dubin June
24, 2003 - Pianist Jeff Lorber says it took a while for him and producer Steve
Dubin to finally meet in spite of the fact that the two probably passed each other
on the street while growing up in Philadelphia. Lorber says, "The really
ironic thing is that we went to the same high school and we grew up just a few
miles from each other but we really didn't get to know each other until recently."
Lorber and Dubin first got together in 2001 on Lorber's successful "Kickin'
It" album and the two recently completed "Philly Style." Lorber
says working with Dubin is easy because of their similar musical likes, "We
like live music we like funky music and we like to put that jazzy flavor in too."
That exactly what you can expect on the new album. Read
our interview with Jeff Lorber
Want
to volunteer for 'Smooth Jazz Now' email us here
June
16, 2005 - Southern Ontario has been experiencing a heat wave, and the weekend
was no exception! Mother Nature joined popular Smooth Jazz artists in really turning
up the heat, down on the farm in Winona, Ontario for 
May
4, 2005 - It is a smooth jazz fans dream come true as 
November
29, 2004 - Even though 
July
16, 2004 - 
March
16, 2004 - We lost him in December of 1999 and he remains a big part of the Smooth
Jazz framework. 
October
23, 2003 - Saxophonist Eric Marienthal has just released his new "Sweet Talk"
album and as usual pianist/producer 
July
5, 2003 - Jeff grew up in the city known for it's distinctive musical style and
this latest offering re-unites him with producer Steve Dubin, also a Philly native.
Even though they went to the same high school and played in the same clubs they
never crossed paths until Jeff hired Steve to work on "Kicking It" This
disc continues the fun, funky, retro-soul grooves that truly defines "Philly
Style" 
June
24, 2003 - Pianist Jeff Lorber says it took a while for him and producer Steve
Dubin to finally meet in spite of the fact that the two probably passed each other
on the street while growing up in Philadelphia. Lorber says, "The really
ironic thing is that we went to the same high school and we grew up just a few
miles from each other but we really didn't get to know each other until recently."
Lorber and Dubin first got together in 2001 on Lorber's successful "Kickin'
It" album and the two recently completed "Philly Style." Lorber
says working with Dubin is easy because of their similar musical likes, "We
like live music we like funky music and we like to put that jazzy flavor in too."
That exactly what you can expect on the new album. 
