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REVIEW - Michael Franks – Time Together – Shanachie Records
 July 19, 2011 – 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!
Franks has taken some time away from the studio with his last project being “Rendezvous in Rio” from 2006. “Time Together” is a very consistent CD like it’s predecessors. Many of the songs have a similar feel but if you truly get Franks vision, his philosophy of wonderment then it all makes sense. It’s the smaller things in life, the simple things that bring us to where we want to go. Franks really gets that.
The lead off single “Now That the Summer’s Here” is one of his strongest tunes in twenty years. It’s as if he grabbed all the different nuances from his strongest tunes and got back in that winning zone. Chuck Loeb produced this one and three others on the album and provides guitars, keys and drums to the mix. Let this one be a perfect soundtrack for the summer of 2011.
 Another favorite is “Mice,” a quiet, thoughtful observation on what makes us tick. How a perspective can change from a different angle. It’s an amusing observation on how a simple mouse can be so grateful for the smallest present from the universe – even a tiny morsel of food. A witty little reality check, perhaps?
“Time Together” is a soft appreciation of a little dachshund called Flora that the singer adopted. She was rescued from a puppy mill by the Kansas by Hearts United for Animals. From first listen to this wonderful piece it’s easy to tell how much love she brought in Franks life. It’s as tender of a love song as you can imagine and it’s for a dog. She died last year.
The CD is mostly organic and features Will Lee and Mark Egan, who also produced some tracks, on bass, Eric Marienthal has a sax cameo and Beth Nielsen Chapman on background vocals among many other musicians.
It’s not everyday that someone’s art shows so much peace and a transparent look at such an interesting perspective of life – Here is a guy who can stop and breathe it in and make life not so damn complicated. He can tell you about the simple things the way it should be told – quietly. This is as good as it could possibly get! – by John Beaudin
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February 21, 2012 - As it was stated during the Grammy Awards, "We've had a death in the family." Now our own Jazz family is remembeing Whitney Houston. 
February 21, 2012 - Shock, disappointment and horror are some of the many words fans used to describe Whitney Houston’s untimely death last week (February 11, 2012). My family and I were outside a Starbucks when one of our radio listeners texted me with, at first, the rumor. 
February 12, 2012 - As expected it was a huge night for Adele at the Grammy Awards. The singer, from Tottenham, North London, England, walked away with six trophies including "Song," "Record" and "Album of the Year." 
February 12, 2011 – More information is surfacing concerning the death of Whitney Houston. Sources close to the investigation say that the singer was found in the bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles. Her face was underwater. 
February 11, 2012 – Whitney Houston has died according to her publicist. The singer, who was 48, passed away today according to Kristen Foster but it was unclear how the singer died. According to some sources, Houston died at the Beverly Hilton hotel. 
Feb 10, 2012- Skilled guitarist Peter White is set to release his 13th upcoming album, ‘Here We Go’ on March 13, 2012. This British-born musician released his debut album in the 1990’s and has been one of the core artists in Smooth Jazz ever since. 
February 10, 2012 – It’s no secret that Steve Lukather, like many of us, is a huge Beatles fan. It was announced this week that the Toto guitarist and founding member will join Ringo for the famous tour to begin in Niagara Falls Ontario on June 14th. 
Jan 31, 2012 - Good news for all the Norah Jones fans out there! The singer is set to release a new album in spring called 'Little Broken Hearts.' This will be Jones' fifth studio CD and she will be joined by producer and musician, Danger Mouse who is notably the backbone for the project. He also co-wrote many of the tunes with her. 
– 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. 
– 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. 
- 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. 
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! 
- 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. 
– 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. 
– 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.” 
