Lee Ritenour Working on Big Phat Band's Production
November 26, 2007 - www.smoothjazznow.com and Wave 94.7 is pleased to announce that star guitarist Lee Ritenour, who will receive the next George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the Smooth Jazz genre at the 4th Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards on March 7th, 2008 ( www.canadiansmoothjazzawards.com). Ritenour is working on the production of Big Phat Band's next album, due to be released in 2008. The super-guitarist is currently working with Gordon Goodwin, the Grammy Award-winning composer and leader of Big Phat Band, an 18-piece jazz ensemble, blending traditional big band music and contemporary jazz. The new album will be the follow-up to their previous best-selling album "The Phat Back", that topped the charts in 2006. It is still untitled and will be released some time next year.

Ritenour's latest CD is acclaimed "Smoke 'N'Mirrors", released in 2006. Ritenour is one of the key guitarists on the contemporary jazz stage, having recorded over 30 solo albums as a leader and played with many artists such as Pink Floyd, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, to name a few.

The legendary guitarist will start next year as one of the key musicians at the upcoming Barbados Jazz Festival in January 2008. He will also be touring in the USA (New York and Las Vegas), Australia and Europe in Summer 2008.

For more information: www. leeritenour.com ; www.canadiansmoothjazzawards.com

By Akbar Nour, www.smoothjazznow.com's Contributing Editor