Acoustic Proj / Monika Herzig - What Have You Gone And Done (Owl )
Acoustic Proj / Monika Herzig - In Your Own Sweet Voice: A T (Owl )
Adam Birnbaum - Travels (Smalls )
Affirmation - Identity Crisis (Rhombus )
Al Jarreau - Christmas (Warner )
Alain Caron - Conversations (Norac )
Amina Figarova - Above The Clouds (Munich )
Andy Scherrer Special Sextet - Wrong Is Right (TCB Music )  read more »

A large posting deserves long interresting reading, so dig in: The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux is, at first glance, a daunting proposition: 20 CDs that do nothing less than document every performance the legendary trumpet player gave at the famed Montreux Jazz Festival, spanning the years from 1973 until 1991, the year of Davis' death.  read more »

Celebrate this holiday season with the release of Al Jarreau's Christmas CD available now from Rhino!

Al Jarreau Christmas Listening Party: Quicktime Windows Media Real

Al Jarreau has Christmas on his mind.

This fall the seven-time Grammy-winning vocalist released his first-ever Christmas album--his first album of newly recorded music since 2006's sensational Givin' It Up with George Benson. AL JARREAU CHRISTMAS includes the singer's distinctive vocal spin on a dozen yuletide classics. This holiday collection is available now from Rhino Records at all physical outlets for a suggested list price of $18.98. The digital release is also available now for $9.99. Al Jarreau will tour the U.S. in December in support of Christmas. The tour will begin in New Haven, CT, on December 6...

This fall, seven-time Grammy-award winning vocalist Al Jarreau will release his first-ever Christmas album his first album of newly recorded music since 2006s sensational Givin It Up with George Benson. Al Jarreau Christmas includes the singers distinctive vocal spin on a dozen yuletide classics. The album will be released on October 14th. Al Jarreau Christmas opens with Winter Wonderland, written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934 for Guy Lombardo, who hit #2 with the songs timeless melody. The album is packed with festive favorites including The Christmas Song, Come All Ye Faithful, and White Christmas, the ageless tune written by Irving Berlin and first sang by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical, Holiday Inn. The album also features Jarreaus versions of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Carol Of The Bells, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Some Children See Him and Gloria In Excelsis, a sacred song used in the Roman Catholic Mass. After singing with Reprise in 1975, Jarreau has become a master of both studio and stage. Jarreau is the only artist to ever win Grammy awards in pop, jazz and R&B categories. During his career, Jarreau has earned awards and accolades from around the world. Jarreau was recently featured on opening night of the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the renowned festival, which was emceed by Bill Cosby. He will embark on a tour of Southeast Asia in September and the United States in December. For more information about Al Jarreau, visit him online at aljarreau.com.  read more »

30th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival Hollywood Bowl June 14 and 15, 2008

The 30th annual Playboy Jazz Festival, one of the largest and longest-running jazz festivals in the nation, offered an action-packed 22-act mix of mainstream, contemporary, Latin, blues, big band and R&B.

The two-day event has been known for presenting a diverse combination of legendary musicians, while introducing newer performers, and delivered exactly that. As expected, upbeat and high-energy sets elicited the most audience reaction, including Herbie "Mr. Grammy Album-of-the-Year" Hancock, Poncho Sanchez, Dr. John, Al Jarreau and RnR. The two muscular closing acts of each night, Tower of Power and Guitars and Saxes, were appreciated to the last note with fewer fans leaving early than in previous years...

Al Jarreau is keeping busier than ever. The multiple Grammy winner is performing in Europe currently, but is also finalizing the package for his new holiday CD and another catalog compilation. He is also set to record his next studio project.

Jarreau, who released a compilation of ballads in February called Love Songs, recently explained: "New stuff is a Christmas record, and I'm just tickled to death about how we're coming along on this record. So there's that and then there'll be another best-of collection coming this year. So three projects. And before '08 is over I'll be starting on another, regular sort of project."

Jarreau returns to the States next month with an August 15th performance at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York.

By: Janine Coveney  read more »

Summer may be heating up, but Al Jarreau has Christmas on his mind. This fall, the seven-time Grammy winning vocalist will release his first-ever Christmas album - his first album of newly recorded music since 2006's sensational "Givin' It Up" with George Benson. "AL JARREAU CHRISTMAS" includes the singer's distinctive vocal spin on a dozen yuletide classics. On October 14, this holiday collection will be available from Rhino Records at all physical outlets for a suggested list price of $18.98. The digital release will be available for $9.99...

Author: a-groove
Subject: Just A Groove 8-1-2008
Posted: 2008-08-01, 4:54 pm (GMT 1)

http://a-groove.podomatic.com

Tracklist:

1. The Root Source - Core Hailer Parts 1 and 2 [Freestyle]

2. Curtis Lundy - Never Gonna Let You Go [Irma]

3. George Benson & Al Jarreau - Mornin' [Concord]

4. Jamiroquai - Blow Your Mind (Live) [Optimum]

5. Nick van Gelder - Choose Music [BBE]

6. Fred Everything - Lying to You Ft. Tortured Soul [OM]

7. Beatspoke - Many Such Suns (Aroop Roy Techsoul Mix) [Inphusion]

8. Steffen Baldo - Fricklefull [Supafeed]
 read more »

A note on prices: Because prices are subject to change, Ticketmaster will no longer provide ticket costs on all shows. Visit www.ticketmaster.com for ticket prices.

Al Jarreau will perform Aug. 28 at Cal Expo during the State Fair.
SIGI TISCHLER Associated Press