June 17, 2013 - Congrats to one of the nicest guys in Smooth Jazz!. Rob Tardik has another #1 song on the Smooth Jazz Now TOP 50 Countdown. "I've known Rob for years," says AirCom Radio Network's Operations Manager John Beaudin, "Rob works it hard. His message is always positivity and damn good music." Tardik only took seven weeks to reach the #1 spot. 
June 1, 2013 - Congrats to Andy Snitzer and his big hit "Candy." It stayed at #1 for a second week. "I've been a fan of Andy's for years now," says John Beaudin, Operations Manager of the AirCom Radio Network. "Andy is one of the best players in this and any format and the success of "Candy" is satisfying to his fans." Rob Tardik also had a strong week, "If Rob's "One World" continues it's momentum it will get the top spot very soon," says Beaudin. 
May 28, 2013 - There is a sense of new life on this Drew Davidsen album. Sure, he looks like a million bucks after shedding a few pounds but there is much more going on here. Davidsen is well known as a guy who gives back with his charity work in Ghana, West Africa and like Peter White, Davidsen balances energy, catchy melodies and amazing guitar playing. 
May 22, 2013 – Producer/keyboardist Jason Miles has come up with our highest charting new song this week with an interesting interpretation of Sly Stones, 'It's a Family Affair.' The tune entered our chart last Friday(May 17th, 2013) at #11, one of the highest debuts of the year. “I can't wait to hear this album,” says John Beaudin, Operations Manager of the AirCom Jazz Network, “Jason has never released anything that is normal, Jason always makes “out of the box” very tasty and interesting.” The album is called 'Sly Re imagined.' 
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 - 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! |
REVIEW - Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society (4 out of 5 Stars) – Heads Up – Concord Music Group ‘Radio Music Society’ is Spalding’s third album and the follow to ‘Chamber Music Society,’ the titles are way too similar but the singer says the new album is meant as a companion, rather than a sequel to the last one. “Originally I thought it would be fun to release a double album,” she explains, “One disc with an intimate, subtle exploration of chamber works and a second one in which jazz musicians explore song forms and melodies that are formatted more along the lines of what we would categorize as “pop songs.” Spalding, as you may remember, won the Grammy for ‘Best New Artist’ last year, stunning the music world because not that many people knew who she was – many still don’t! Will this album change that? Maybe, ‘Radio Music Society” is certainly a richly textured, well-balanced adventure that cleverly marries Jazz, Pop and World music. Her vision is so clearly expressed on this album that I found myself listening alone with headphones at high volume so not to miss any of her hundreds of brilliant vocal nuances. This album is easy. It’s so effortless. Spalding’s message is like a dance, a drug that’s hard to deny. Being adventurous, in the music industry, usually has its price but this lady has found the pocket, that inviting bridge that allows the listener to simply trust. Spalding’s mother was a single parent in Portland, Oregon and home-schooled her daughter for a few years during elementary school. A very young Esperanza spotted classical cellist Yo Yo Ma on ‘Mister Roger’s Neighbourhood,’ so many years ago and her fate was set – she knew her mission in life. |
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The album opens with one of the best tracks on the project, ‘Radio Song,’ a reminder that Spalding doesn’t sound unlike Lani Hall, circa 1966, during her time with Sergio Mendes. She also has touches of that Sade groove. About the tune, Spalding says, "Everyone has the experience of turning on a car radio," she explains," mindlessly flipping through the dial and suddenly a fragment grabs you and you're totally digging it. I wanted to capture that moment when the music just sinks in. It's about the power of song, and how at the least it can save the day." The arrangements, the true star of this the album, are a beautiful tangled web of perfection. “Radio Song’ is also demonstrates that tight-rope balance of rooming Jazz and Pop under one roof – it’s gorgeous and inspiring!
Spalding heralds our royalty on ‘Crowned & Kissed.’ Coupled with a marching, going forward beat the tune is about us at our best, when we do the honorable. The singer even references King Arthur and the tune, like the ones before it, sounds like a hit. ‘Land of the Free’ is about the famous Cornelius Dupree Jr. murder case. The poor chap was falsely accused of murder and convicted on bogus evidence. Amazingly, the first judge wouldn’t admit DNA evidence into the case. Dupree was finally set free after serving 30 years for a crime he didn’t commit. It’s a short meloncholy tune that ends abruptly with the sound of a jail cell door closing. |
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The first single from the album, ‘Black Gold’ serves as an anthem for the African American heritage and like most anthems the title is repeated way too many times. Spalding says, "So much of our strength is drawn from resistance and endurance," she explains, "but black pride didn't just start with the slave trade. I wanted to address our nobility, going back to our incredible ancestors in pre-colonial Africa. I remember meetings when I was in elementary school about being strong as young black women, and I don't think the boys had those meetings. This song is meant to speak to those young men, and I imagined it might one day be something that a parent could sing to his or her son."
The Stevie Wonder/Susaye Greene-Brown penned ‘I Can’t Help It’ is deliciously reworked by the singer. Saxman Joe Lovano told her, “Boy, when you do a classic, you can’t just do it the way it’s been done. You have to find your own reason for doing it.” Again the arrangements are top shelf and fresh. The twelve piece American Music Program backs up Spalding on one of the more traditional Jazz tunes on the CD, ‘Hold on Me,’ it’s packing a huge sound and the singer shows a little more vocal range. The album is not perfect and around 80% mark the tunes get a bit weaker and more self indulgent – maybe a bit less commercial but this ride is fine. It’s still one of the most ambitious albums to come from a female singer in any genre in the last few years. Though Spalding sings, arranges, produces and plays bass like it’s an easy task for her we all know better – building this beast didn’t come without the grandest of visions. In the United States, Radio Music Society became Spalding's first Top 10 album. It debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. – by John Beaudin |
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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.
“Cinnamon Tree” is a real gentle trip mixing so many inspirations it’s hard to pin down the main juice running the bus. Spalding sings like a little nymph circling your noggin’ with a handful of pixie dust. It was written to cheer up a friend, celebrates platonic love, and Spalding's belief that "the love between friends is just as important as romantic love." It’s so effortless and soothing you might be tempted to hitch-a-ride on a cloud.
Spalding produced ‘Radio Music Society,’ she also wrote or co-wrote all but two songs on the album. It’s a tall task considering how brilliant this project is. Even though the album borrows old inspirations from many artists going back 50+ years it doesn’t drip that derivative flavor of an artist like Lady Gaga, who doesn’t seem to have an original bone in her body. |
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