WARREN HILL ROCKS TUCSON, AZ - Warren Hill : Smooth Jazz Now :

The show began with a series of Warren's classics, including one of my favorites "Toronto." The crowd sang, danced, and even bee bopped a bit following Warren's commands. The atmosphere was electric, with nothing but smiling faces and bopping heads in the house. Warren has a way of engaging the audience and making you feel so much a part of the show. I was hoarse by intermission from all the "Bravos" and "Dog Barking." Talk about raising the roof… the crowd roared and got on its feet after every performance!

If you have never seen this man in action, here's your chance to see him live. He's on tour this summer, and has a new CD dropping at the beginning of '08. Don't miss it!!!
- by Francesca Samuel

Rik Emmett & Dave Dunlop Top Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards

April 27, 2007 - The Strung Out Troubadours featuring Rik Emmett and Dave Dunlop topped the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards tonight with two nods. The duo's self titled CD picked up "Album of the Year" and the Troubadours were named "Group of the Year." A duo of a different kind, husband and wife team Marc Jordan and Amy Sky each picked up a prize, Jordan was named "Male Vocalist", an honour he also received in 2005 and Sky won for "Best Original Composition" for "Everything Love Is" co-written by Eddie Schwartz. Kellylee Evans won as "Female Vocalist" beating out Molly Johnson, Liberty Silver, Carol Welsman and Sky. More

Warren Hill & Kirk Whalum Serving Up Some New Tunes

June 21, 2005 - Saxophonists Warren Hill and Kirk Whalum will both release new material in the coming months. Hill has completed work on his new album "PopJazz". The album, which can currently be purchased exclusively at www.popjazz.com and whose first single "Still in Love" has been released to Smooth Jazz radio, should be released to stores this summer. Hill is currently working on a distribution deal. Whalum's latest outing will showcase the songbook of Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and should be released this fall. - by Cheryl Philips

Warren Hill Ready to Cruise Even Higher

March 15, 2005 - 2004 was quite a year for Warren Hill and 2005 is already starting to look a whole lot busier. It would appear that the successful completion of his sell out 2005 Smooth Jazz Cruise, the impending release of his first CD since 2002, 'Pop Jazz', and an up coming appearance at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards is not enough for the Boulder Colorado based sax man. Together with Jeff Golub, Wayman Tisdale and Mindi Abair he has signed to tour as part of this summers Guitars and Saxes. It will be Warrens fifth year with the show. He is also busy completing the line up of artists for his 2006 Smooth Jazz Cruise. Even by the star-studded standards of the 2005 event, the stellar collection of performers he has assembled to date is quite breathtaking. Already confirmed is the Sax Pack trio of Marion Meadows, Jeff Kashiwa and, back for a second year, Kim Waters. Joining them are keyboard giants Bobby Lyle and Brian Culbertson together with the blossoming Acoustic Alchemy, that outstanding live performer Paul Jackson Jr, saxophone superstars Richard Elliot and Everette Harp plus vocalists Bobby Caldwell and Brenda Russell. Completing the roster so far, and returning for a second successive year, is Wayman Tisdale and Jeff Golub. Word has it that even more artists are to be announced soon. Check back regularly on all the news as it happens in the build up to what is sure to be a memorable occasion. - by Denis Poole

Smooth Jazz Goes Cruising Crazy
February 21, 2005 - Seems like everyone is cruising these days. Smooth Jazz Cruise pioneer Warren Hill has just completed his second sell out full charter while, almost at the same time, Bob James was sailing on a musical journey out of San Diego. Later in the year Rick Braun is leading a top-notch line up on a seven-day trip out of Galveston and Warren Hill's 2006 event is already proving to be a big early seller. More

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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 . 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.
Warren Hill Nomination
- Wind instrumentalist

Warren Hill Not Happy With The Recording Industry

May 5, 2004 - Warren Hill says he'll never forget his intense time at Berklee in Boston, "I spent about five or six hours a day in a practice room that was about five feet square." The saxophonist invested everything he had to get to a certain level as a musician but feels his best interests were not being served by big record labels. "I guess one of the things that does bother me about being under a typical recording contract is having people who really know nothing about me as a person telling me what to do creatively," says Hill. He's spent time under the Narada and RCA banners but has been his own manager for most of his career, "I've learned a lot but I've also learned that it's not rocket science." Hill now plans to start his own label with guidelines based on his years of experience and feedback from fans. On his popular yearly Smooth Jazz Cruise Hill hosts a Q&A with fans called 'Behind the Instrument,' "One of the things that came up was they're not as enchanted by what they hear on radio anymore." Hill adds, "They're trying to get their friends to get into the music but you turn on a radio and it's almost becoming like background music." The saxophonist feels that fans want livlier blends in Smooth Jazz. He plans to take advantage of legal music downloading for his new label that will feature different versions of songs, live or studio. Could it mean a change in the genre's sound? Hills says, "Don't change that dial." The bottom line is Warren Hill's label promises to offer a wider spectrum of Smooth Jazz incorporating different genres and tempos. We'll keep you updated! Read part two of our updated interview with Warren Hill.

Hill is currently on the road with the 'Guitar & Saxes' tour featuring Marc Antoine, Euge Groove and Jeff Golub.

		Guitar and Saxes Tour Dates
( Warren Hill, Marc Antoine, Euge Groove, & Jeff Golub)

May

SAT 05/01/04 Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville Jazz Festival

SUN 05/02/04 West Palm Beach, FL
Sunfest

SAT 05/15/04 Paso Robles, CA
Martin & Weyrich Winery

SUN 05/16/04 Newport Beach, CA
Hyatt Newporter Jazz Festival

July

WED 07/14/04 San Diego, CA
Humphrey’s

THU 07/15/04 Saratoga, CA
The Garden Theatre

FRI 07/16/04 Sacramento, CA
Radisson Sacramento

SAT 07/17/04 Healdsburg, CA
Rodney Strong Vineyards

SUN 07/18/04 Pasadena, CA
Brookside Park

August

MON 08/09/04 Alexandria, VA
The Birchmere

WED 08/11/04 New York, NY
Spirit Cruise Ship

THU 08/12/04 Richmond, VA
The Canal Club

FRI 08/13/04 Glenside, PA
Keswick Theatre

SAT 08/14/04 Huntington, NY
IMAC

SUN 08/15/04 Anapolis, MD
Rams Head

WED 08/18/04 Sterling Heights, MI
Freedom Hill

FRI 08/20/04 Cleveland, OH
Nautica Stage

SAT 08/21/04 Chicago, IL
Skyline Stage
Navy Pier

SUN 08/22/04 St. Louis, MO
The Pageant

September

FRI 09/10/04 Newport Beach, CA
Hyatt Newporter

SAT 09/11/04 Las Vegas, NV
Spring Mtn. State Park

SUN 09/12/04 Temecula, CA
Thornton Winery

FRI 09/17/04 Austin, TX
One World Theatre

SAT 09/18/04 Houston, TX
Verizon Wireless

SUN 09/19/04 San Antonio, TX
Travis Park

Warren Hill Looking Ahead To Big Things

March 24, 2004 - Warren Hill is busy these days working on two major projects. First the saxophonist is finalizing the line up for his next Smooth Cruise slated for January 2005 plus he's working on his tenth album to be released on his own label. Hill started the year off right as the recipient of Canada's first Smooth Jazz award. In February he won "Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year" at the National Jazz Awards in his hometown of Toronto. We chatted with Warren via phone on March 17, 2004 from his home in Colorado. Read our new interview with Warren Hill.

Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Jazz Festival is Music to Warren Hill's Ears!
March 16, 2004 - The lineup of musicians sounds like Smooth Jazz fans' dream come true, the Rippingtons, Mindi Abair, Brenda Russell, and Greg Adams. Smooth Jazz Now was happy to hear that the festival is an equally big hit for the musicians, too. Here's what sax master Warren Hill had to say about his Newport Jazz experience. "I've performed at the Hyatt Newport Beach Jazz Festival a couple of times, and I have to say that it is one of the best Festivals the West Coast has to offer. It is a beautiful hotel in an ideal location. While I'm there, if I'm not enjoying the other great Artists on the bill, you'll find me jogging or biking around Newport Harbor, or the Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. I'm looking forward to performing this May with Guitars and Saxes featuring Jeff Golub, Euge Groove, Marc Antoine and yours truly." For more information on the festival visit http://www.summerjazzseries.com/festival_artists.php - by Liz Rivard

Liz Rivard's Recap of The National Jazz Awards
February 26, 2004 - It was a cloudy, chilly night in Toronto for the National Jazz Awards but the stars shone through, brighter than ever. The 2004 National Jazz Awards, held at the Winter Garden Theatre last night featured performances by some of Canada's best, and most loved jazz artists, like Holly Cole, Peter Appleyard, Lorraine Desmarais and Warren Hill, to name a few. The night also featured the introduction of the Smooth Jazz Musician of the Year, sponsored by the Wave 94.7 fm. Nominees were Eddie Bullen, Warren Hill, Brian Hughes, Demo Cates and Nura. Click here to see the pictures from the National Smooth Jazz Awards.

Warren Hill Wins First Smooth Jazz Award At NJA
February 24, 2004 - Congratulations to Warren Hill for winning Canada's first Smooth Jazz Award. The Canadian saxophonist who now lives in Colorado picked up the honor for Smooth Jazz artist of the year beating out Eddie Bullen, Brian Hughes, Demo Cates and Nura. Appropriately the award was sponsored by Canada's first Smooth Jazz radio station The Wave in Hamilton. Smooth Jazz Now's own Liz Rivard attended the ceremony at Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. "It's a thrill, its great honor to be in such good company," says Hill who dedicated the award to his parents who were in the audience. Read more.

Mary Kirk's Smooth Jazz Cruise Journal
February 10, 2004 - Mary Kirk co-owner of the Wave 94.7 in Hamilton was not only taking in all the great music at Warren Hill's recent Smooth Jazz cruise - she was taking notes. Kirk along with Wave contest winners experienced a smorgasbord of "A" list Smooth Jazzer's including Hill, Jeff Golub, Chieli Minucci, Peter White, Marion Meadows, Euge Groove and Alexander Zonjic. Here are her notes.

Warren Hill & Alexander Zonjic in Concert in Hamilton

October 27, 2003 - The Wave 94.7 FM presents one of the greatest Smooth Jazz concerts to happen in Canada. The legendary Alexander Zonjic and Warren Hill, Sunday, November 9th beginning at 7:30pm at the beautiful Liuna Station in Hamilton. Alexander Zonjic, morning show host of Detroit's Smooth Jazz station: WVMV FM, studied music at the University of Windsor. Alexander played for a while in the Bob James band where he had the chance to collaborate with some of the greatest smooth jazz artists of today.

Saxman, Warren Hill is one of the brightest Canadian smooth jazz stars and one of the most popular. Warren's recent release "A Warren Hill Christmas" was one of the most listened to smooth jazz albums of 2002 and was critically acclaimed for its "innovative arrangements" while featuring some of warren's more traditional jazz abilities. Warren is in the studio currently working on his next CD while also co-producing the exciting "Smooth Cruise 2004". This cruise, incidentally, was so popular that the first sold out and a second had to be added that also sold out!!

Tickets for this show can be purchased at the Wave 94.7fm studios (589, Upper Wellington Street, Hamilton Ontario, L9A 3P8) or by phoning 905-388-8911.