May 17, 2013 - After only four weeks Andy Snitzer is sitting pretty at the top spot of the Smooth Jazz Now Top 50 Countdown. "Andy's done well," says John Beaudin Operations Manager at the AirCom Jazz Network, "he dethroned Boney James from the #1 spot," adds Beaudin. 
May 3, 2013 - Things keep looking better for Boney James. The popular sax-man has the biggest hit of the year so far on Smooth Jazz Now with 'Batucada.' It's now been #1 for five weeks. "It's always special when a song stands out that much," says John Beaudin Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now. 
April 30, 2013 – Good Morning America has announced a huge line up for its 5th Annual Summer Concert Series. 
April 25, 2013 – Three gifted smooth Jazz musicians; Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown came together 11 years ago with their group BWB. These guys put their name on the map with the famous album Groovin’ and are back in full swing with an upcoming release ‘Human Nature’ set for release June 18th. 
April 19, 2013 - Boney James is again the most talked about artist on Smooth Jazz Now. His hit 'Batucada' was the most requested tune on our station for the last two weeks. "You have to love a song with this type of staying power," says John Beaudin, Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now. 
April 10, 2013 – The hottest new song on the Smooth Jazz Now TOP 50 chart last week was Andy Snitzer's 'Candy' entering at an impressive #5. The tune comes from, 'The Rhythm,' Snitzer's 3rd Native Language album and his 8th overall. The label calls the single “sweet funk/pop” which it is indeed. “I just love this song,” says John Beaudin Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now. 
March 27, 2013 – They say “everything is perception” and from the start our image of Rob Tardik has been hard working and positive. With the release of his fourth album LIMITLESS, later this year, we thought we would catch up with Tardik and ask about the sound of the new project. 
March 27, 2013 - With the release of Jim Samuel's new album 'Smooth Covers, Smooth Dance' last week and our 90-minute radio special on his career we thought we would delve a little deeper into what makes Samuel tick. 
March 26, 2013 - Boney James had the most requested tune on Smooth Jazz Now for the second week in a row. His new single 'Batucada' has only been on the chart four weeks and two of those have been at #1. "Anytime we get a Boney single we know our audience will get it to #1," says John Beaudin, Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now. 
March 26, 2013 - Mike MacArthur has an impressive resume. Playing with Diane Schuur and the late great Maynard Ferguson creates great cache for an artist.
March 22, 2012 – Dave Koz will be joined by several of his old pals as he kicks off A Summer Horns Tour 2013.
March 13, 2013 - Boney James doesn't fool around! The famous sax-man has reached the #1 spot on the Smooth Jazz Now Top 50 Countdown and it only took him three weeks. "Ok, really - this is Freakin' Boney James," says John Beaudin, Program Director of Smooth Jazz Now. "Boney is not just known as a superstar, he proves it with every song and every album." 
March 9, 2013 – Natalie Cole has found her muse again! The 'Unforgettable' singer told fans on Twitter that she's coming back. The nine time Grammy winner should have a new album out this year. 
March 5, 2013 - Canadian singer, Michael Buble is getting ready for his upcoming album “To Be Loved’ hitting stores April 23rd. 
March 2, 2013 – I think the reputation of a music reviewer is that of a bitter and jaded curmudgeon living in a van down by the river. Years ago after writing a blistering review of a project that sounded half finished the artist approached me at a club and screamed, “You must spend a lot of time looking for things to hate?” “Actually it's the opposite, I answered, “I use my hours looking for the good stuff, 3/4 of the trip, however, is filled cliched blah!” 
March 1, 2013 - For the second week in a row Euge Groove had the most requested song on SmoothJazzNow. As a result his 'House of Groove' easily made it to #1 on the TOP 50 chart. "Euge is like Boney James, Dave Koz or Peter White," says John Beaudin, Program Director of SmoothJazzNow, "They all consistently release music that sticks with listeners." 
December 13, 2012 – SmoothJazzNow has a new artist/interview feature called One-On-One. It’s 20 questions for your favorite Smooth Jazz artists. Most acts will be asked the same questions but we will also change it up on some weeks. 
December 13, 2012 – Greg Adams has been out there. Even though many fans know him from his days with Tower of Power that stint seemed to be just an opening act for what was to come. 
December 11, 2012 - It's been a great year for Pete Giltin. The guitarist reached #1 on the SmoothJazzNow.com chart and there's no sign of him slowing down. We asked Pete to give us some rare facts - things you might not know about him. Check out the list. 
November 18, 2012 - Christmas music is a unique animal. A challenging one. Imagine explaining the concept to an alien, "So we celebrate this holiday and musicians, at least once in their careers, get to record the same 30-40 songs and hope that their versions sticks," MORE
May 1, 2012 - We live in a world where most instrumental music sounds like it was made for a 5x5 vertically moving room and that includes some Smooth Jazz. Interestingly, most Smooth Jazz musicians are technically some of the best players on the planet but many have fallen into this big vacuous hole, an amnesic state, where channelling Bert Kaempfert is common place. 
April 4, 2012 – Esperanza Spalding is a groovy chick. I mean, really, when she’s in the room, everyone else disappears and I’m talkin’ more than that big “love-sculpture” hair. She’s the type of musician you might walk up to at a party, ask about her music, and walk away three hours later regretting the question. This lady has a vision so you better have a seat. 
October 20, 2011 – This is no ordinary album. In fact, there is nothing normal about this album and that’s what makes this one of the most perfect projects that’s ever come across my desk. 
– On her third album Colbie Caillat has decided to strategically give us an uptempo summer-vibe. It still sounds like her smash debut “Coco” but this time it’s Colbie with caffeine and it’s positive and fun
– There are not too many things in life as deliciously lazy as Michael Franks voice. The guy could chill out someone on deaths door. Seriously, angst has no place on a Michael Franks record – he’s good at one great thing..making you feel good! |
Our own Beth Knudsen talked exclusively to the keyboardist.
One-On-One (20 Questions) with Greg Adams
The trumpet master is, in our opinion, the real San Francisco treat. Adams obviously paid close attention growing up in “everybody's favorite city” in the 60’s. Add to that a stint at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and you get an artist that always makes the fan pay close attention. This guys has one of the most impressive resume's in Contemporary Jazz having worked with Chicago, Heart, Elton John, Huey Lewis and the News, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, and Carlos Santana. His new album ‘East Bay Soul 2.0’ features the hit ‘Carry On’ that’s currently charting (as of Dec. 7th) at #7 on the SmoothJazzNow.com Top 50 Chart. Check out our One-On-One with the legendary Greg Adams. CLICK HERE
One-On-One (20 Questions) with Wayne Wesley Johnson Our first act is Wayne Wesley Johnson from New Mexico. His song ‘Passion’ has become a hit on SmoothJazzNow and now you can get to know another side of this guitarist. CLICK HERE
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Airborne Interview with Smooth Jazz Now Airborne - Well, this new CD of ours which is our 7th, we approached it from a place of influences from our last 3 CD's. There is always a concept in a Airborne CD and our plan for ‘New Horizons’ was to keep that Smooth Jazz feel of our 2008 "Winds of Change" CD. We also wanted that World Fusion sound that was on the 2007 "Turbulence" CD and to somehow insert the fire of our 2004 "Heavy Vibes" CD that had hot Latin rhythms and R&B vocal arrangements. Read More
Zach Bandolin Back Home After Lots of World Travelling After touring stints in Seoul and Japan the guitarist is firmly planted back home in Canada. Bandolin dropped by the Smooth Jazz studios recently and talked to Program Director John Beaudin. Here is a transcript of that on-air interview. In Conversation with U-NAM on his latest CD ‘Unanimity’ So when you taste the fourteen groovy and melodic tracks served by the Paris-born musician, you may think at first you’re listening to George Benson and his famous guitar licks. But it is definitely not the case, because even if the French guitarist acknowledges Benson as one of his main sources of inspiration, he does reinvent the genre with his injection of revamped Funk and Soul. This is the U-NAM’s French touch which again delivers a top class Smooth Jazz guitar act with a line up of very high calibre. Read the Interview |
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In Conversation with Paula Atherton  February 19 - 2010 - Smooth Jazz female sax players are not numerous, but there is a collection of talented performers such as Candy Dulfer, Jessy J and Paula Atherton among others. Mrs. Atherton does not only perform sax and other horn instruments, she is also a consummate singer. Her sophomore album ‘’Groove with Me’’ came out this year on her own label, Dream On Records. It is packed up with ten tracks blending Funk, R&B, Smooth Jazz and Latin sounds and also an amazing line up of Smooth Jazz talents such as guitarist Chieli Minucci (Special EFX), trumpet player Greg Adams (Tower of Power), pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs and keyboardist Bill Haller (Rippingtons). Regular members and other side musicians bringing their talents to this project include bassist Schuyler Deale (Jeff Lorber, Billy Cobham, Michael Bolton), drummer Lionel Cordew (Mike Stern, Special EFX, Jeff Lorber), percussionist Emedin Rivera (Special EFX, Dave Valentin, Paquito D’Rivera), bassist Stanley Banks (George Benson), guitarist Darin Brown (Enrique Englesias, Willie DeVille), guitarist Steve Briody (Randy Brecker, Dave Valentin), and keyboardist John Deley (Dido). This New York-based artist makes you want to groove with her. It was a genuine pleasure to chat to this lady. Read the interview |
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Rob Tardik Sticks to the Positive Stuff January 16, 2010 – It’s easy to get negative in a world with too much FOX-News and not enough positive quiet-time. Rob Tardik is well aware of how easily one can become derailed but he had a great foundation, “Having amazing well grounded parents I’m sure helped all the way,” says the guitarist. Tardik adds, “I have a very close friend and she always say to me when we chat, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood” and we both die laughing but she is right. I always get up happy in the morning, no drama, and try to be the best person I can everyday.” Rob Tardik dropped by the Smooth Jazz Now studio to chat with Morning Man and Program Director John Beaudin. Check out their chat. Read the Interview |
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Interview - In Conversation With Alex Bugnon His crafting musical arrangements and beautiful melodies have a touch of Contemporary Jazz, R&B and Gospel. Bugnon should have become a classical pianist, having studied at the Paris Conservatory and the well-known Mozart Academy in Salzburg. However, he turned his back to Mozart and decided to move to the US, becoming the widely acclaimed and talented pianist we know today. Being a Swiss citizen myself, it was a great pleasure to sit down and talk to this talented artist . More |
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Interview:Interview with Patrick Yandall April 7, 2009 - Fran Samuel: Hi Patrick, thanks for doing the interview with us at Smooth Jazz Now. Instead of me writing an intro on who you are why don’t you tell us? So who’s Patrick Yandall?Patrick Yandall: A guitar player from Bay City, MI., and now residing in San Diego who lives and breathes his music. I started playing guitar at 6 years old. Started playing clubs at 13. More |
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Interview: “Up Front” with Bassist Michael Manson
Interview: Candy Dulfer: Still Breaking Down Boundaries
Interview: Peter Friestedt Retuns With Toto/Chicago Inspiration on 'LA Project II
Interview: Bob Baldwin's "New Urban Jazz": Musical Gimmick or Next Step in Smooth Jazz?
Interview: Jonathan Fritzen: Fresh Air from Sweden
Interview: Ken Navarro - Is He the Savior to the Format ?
Interview: David Sanborn Interview: No Limits To Music
We will be posting our list of thousands of other interviews right here once we have switched them to our new website template. thanks! |
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March 27, 2013 - With the release of Jim Samuel's new album 'Smooth Covers, Smooth Dance' last week and our 90-minute radio special on his career we thought we would
delve a little deeper into what makes Samuel tick. 
December 13, 2012 – Greg Adams has been out there. Even though many fans know him from his days with Tower of Power that stint seemed to be just an opening act for what was to come.
December 13, 2012 – SmoothJazzNow has a new artist/interview feature called One-On-One. It’s 20 questions for your favorite Smooth Jazz artists. Most acts will be asked the same questions but we will also change it up on some weeks.
October 10, 2010 – Not many groups have stood the test of time like Airborne. Coming in around the time that the NAC format was really starting to cook, 1988, this outfit grew with every project, gig and album. Having just released their most powerful album yet, New Horizon’s, it looks like the world is ready for this, a full dose of positive, social conscious fusion. We sat down with the band to chat about all the twisting, yet beneficial roads taken.
April 4, 2010 – The smart ones in life know that it’s not how you fall down in life that counts but how you get up. Zach Bandolin has had his fair share of topsy-turvy moments but the guitarist keeps swinging. His new album “Pages from My Book,” as the title states, is a travelogue into his past, present and even future. Bandolin consciously went into the project with an intention to be transparent with his skills and life lessons.
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