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TOP STORIES

Dave Koz- Ultimate Christmas Collection & Tour
November 15, 2011 - Dave Koz fans are thrilled with his fourth Christmas album. All the songs on his new release “Ultimate Christmas” are compilations from his three previous holiday albums. Now this is ringing in the festivities Koz style! MORE

Smooth Jazz Now has a Sister Radio Station
October 25, 2011 – It was only a matter of time before the Air-Com Radio Network added another station to its line-up. Interestingly, the new station attracts the same demographic as the very popular Smooth Jazz Now – 35-64 adults. MORE

Only Nine iPad-2 Packages Left to Win on Smooth Jazz Now
October 24, 2011 – It’s a great time to win an iPad-2! With the Holidays just around the corner you could consider it a great present for yourself or, better yet, give it to the one you love! MORE

Kennard Ramsey – Somos – 5 out of 5
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. MORE

Now Even More Chances to Win an iPad-2 From Smooth Jazz Now – LISTEN TODAY TO WIN
– Last week “Smooth Jazz Now” called out one name to win a new Apple iPad-2. Today, starting, at 12/noon (eastern) we will give up to 4 listeners a chance to win the hottest gadget in the world. MORE

Smooth Jazz Now Tightens Up The Sound
– With two more Smooth Jazz stations (WLOQ in Orlando and Wave/Toronto) giving up on the format this week we thought it was time to mix up the genre, just a bit! “Smooth Jazz Now” has decided to add more life to this format. MORE

REVIEW: Colbie Caillat – All of You - Universal Republic
– 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. Caillat co-wrote every tune on the album with different famous, mostly behind-the-scenes songsmiths.. MORE

REVIEW - Michael Franks – Time Together – Shanachie Records
– 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! MORE

SMOOTH JAZZ NOW CHART

TM LM ARTIST SONG
1 2 Adele Love Song
2 5 Sade Still In Love With You
3 7 Cindy Bradley Massive Transit
4 4 Patrick Yandall Margueritas at Sunset
5 6 Yellowjackets Timeline
6 13 Euge Groove S7even Large
7 16 Rob Tardik East Meets Wes
8 3  Boney James Contact (#1 for eight weeks)
9 1 Rippingtons Riviera Jam
10 8 Patti Austin  Let 'Em In
Check out the whole chart here
SMOOTH JAZZ NOW TOP 30 COUNTDOWN
 
SMOOTH JAZZ NOW TOP 30 COUNTDOWN
 
New Interviews

Airborne Interview with Smooth Jazz Now
– 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. More

Interview: Zach Bandolin Back Home After Lots of World Travelling
– 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. More

In Conversation with U-NAM on his latest CD ‘Unanimity’
- French Smooth Jazz guitar sensation Emmanuel Abitebol, more known as U-NAM, came to fame with his widely acclaimed somophore album ‘Back from the 80’s’ released in 2007. More

New Reviews

Kennard Ramsey – Somos – 5 out of 5
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. MORE

REVIEW: Colbie Caillat – All of You - Universal Republic
– 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. Caillat co-wrote every tune on the album with different famous, mostly behind-the-scenes songsmiths.. MORE

REVIEW - Michael Franks – Time Together – Shanachie Records
– 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! MORE

REVIEW - STEVE COLE - “Moonlight”
- Programming Smooth Jazz Radio has allowed me to discover talent over the decades and follow the twists and turns in their career. Such is the case of saxophonist Steve Cole an artist whom has played on numerous number #1 Smooth Jazz hits and been a regular spin on most smooth jazz radio stations play lists. MORE

REVIEW - Sade – Soldier of Love
– There’s always been an understated value to everything that Sade does and sameness to her entire repertoire. That quality of old wine has served the singer/band well… until now. Unlike Norah Jones who has, at least, tried to mix-up-the-pot, Sade really needs to stop wearing the same dress to every party. More

REVIEW - Mindi Abair – In Hi-Fi Stereo

– Well, one things for sure, Mindi Abair is not shopping on Main Street anymore. As they say, “run away from the past and eventually it will run into you.” More

 

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.

John Beaudin - Hey Rob, thanks for joining me on the morning show. Good Morning!

Rob Tardik – Hey John, Good Morning to you as well and I am very happy to be here!


 

John - This new project of yours is exciting. The right time is one of my favorite new CD's. Tell me about how long this took to put together?

Rob – That’s great and I’m glad you are digging the new CD! Yes it is a real exciting project that took the better part of spring and summer to put together. We went into pre-production in May, and laid out all the arrangements to the tunes and by late June started right into recording. I remember the start of tracking clearly as my drummer Jeff Salem came into lay down his parts and mentioned Michael Jackson had sadly just passed away earlier that day! We recorded till the first week of August and then mixed and mastered and by Sept she was done. I had a copy of the CD in my hand by mid Sept for sale at an outdoor show we played for the Wave 94.7FM.

You could say I worked on my studio tan this summer as I did not get out much at all, but now I’m totally hyped to go out and play some great music for all the loyal Smooth Jazz fans out there!

John - I know you teach still. Do you find that your students are more eager to learn now? We keep talking about a new breed of this and that but what about in music, do you feel a responsibility to kick it up a notch with them?

Rob - Yes absolutely. I feel you have to keep that drive and passion alive in your own life/music so your students can feed off that. It starts with each of us individual players/teachers and then you pass it on to keep that torch lit so to speak. This is a tough business and inspiring young people to get involved into a business that you know having been through first hand, that at times can be very harsh, critical and unsympathetic is sometimes a daunting task. BUT being a cup is half full kind of guy, at least I want them to foster great respect and admiration for the work involved as a growing player and just enjoy having the gift of music in their lives. Even if they just enjoy this as a relaxing hobby to get away from the stress of daily life then I feel like I’m doing my part.

John - From talking to you in the past I really consider you a positive artist and a positive person. Was that learned or were you always this way?

Rob – It’s just me to be blunt and honest, but having amazing well grounded parents I’m sure helped all the way.  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. I’m not perfect by any means and like everyone have my moments, but the key is to have that reactive life “filter” I call it. I don’t sit on a soap box with all this or anything but I will say that we all make a difference and count, each and every one of us, that is for sure! I have an acronym of my CD that I really do live my life by and promote to my kids, family and friends and that is Balance, Energy, Laughter, Love, Let’s all do our part to ring this BELL of life loud and clear! Is there really anything else when we really boil it all down?

John - I saved the best for the last here and congrats to being nominated “Guitarist of the Year” at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards! What a feeling, huh?

Adobe

Rob – Thank you John so much, and oh yeah what a feeling indeed as I am so honoured and humbled by this amazing nomination. This wonderful, crazy musical ride I am on all started from my deep love for music and the guitar. That’s really it as it is for so many others so when I got the news I just said, “Wow” all those years of practise and dedication to this craft, and now here this nomination, it just feels wonderful for me and I am very proud to be in such esteemed company with my fellow nominees! Very cool!

John - Let's play a track from the album. I love "Summer Nights" tell me about that song.

Rob – Well, this track was first born from the chord progression I started strumming away on underneath and me simply humming first and then jamming away on top till the melody developed over time. I have playing this one in various developing variations for almost 5 years now. Summer Nights was not one of those moments of inspiration type songs, which I do have on this CD, but rather again a tune that has been massaged over for a while till it just felt right, and now was the time, The Right Time! My simple idea was I just wanted to take away listeners to a place some where they were simply chillin, nice exotic drink in hand, waves crashing in the distance against a beautiful warm summer night sky and enjoying the moment. I think it’s there!

John - That was summer Nights from Rob Tardik and The Right Time album. Rob we also have to play your new hit single "The Right Time" we’re getting some great response on this one. Did you know you had something when it was finished?

Rob – Well, I guess in one respect, that’s the goal all us artists have in mind as we write possibly consciously and unconsciously at others, in other words will someone else connect to the song on some level that will bring a positive emotional response. The Right Time pardon the pun, just felt right to me all along the way from the very first time I played the first 4 chords which gave birth to the rest of the tune. It’s a very positive song about moving forward in life regardless of the situation and obstacles that might be in your way, chin up so to speak and this song was very personal for me on that level over the last while in my life.

John - Thanks for coming in Rob.

Rob – Thank you for having me and your continued support for this music and all us artists! I appreciate every moment of all this and all the hard work you put into making Smoothjazznow as special and amazing as it is!

Check out Rob Tardik's Official Website