Do you have a business, website or service that needs not only local and national but worldwide exposure? Now you can touch the population in all 50 States and 80 Countries around the world with the good news about your company, website, services or event for a fraction of the cost of AM & FM radio. As we prepare for live broadcasting in the coming weeks, we're now accepting advertisers on Smooth Jazz America!
Don't worry, you won't hear 15-20 minutes of boring commercials over the air like terrestial radio. Our commitment is to the music and giving you more of it with a wider variety. We'll get your message across effectively. You can supply the commercial or we'll produce and write one for you that you own. How does $5-$10 a spot announcement sound to you? Unbelievable rates for advertising right?
Find out how you can increase your bottom line with effective SJA Advertising now! Go to our Advertiser page and fill out the short request form and we'll get back to you promptly with a quote so we can get you started right away.
Donnie Simpson Retires From Radio At WPGC Washington, DC
Donnie Simpson proudly displays his honorary D.C. Police Officer badge & plaque he received from Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier at his final broadcast on WPGC radio, located in Prince Georges County, Md. His last on air broadcast was Friday, January 29, 2010. Courtesy photo by Ronald G. Baker/Solid Image
Kenny G Grammy winner and best-selling instrumental musician of the modern era By Preston Turegano
Over the past 26 years, Grammy-winning smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G has established himself as “the biggest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era, with global sales totaling more than 75 million albums.”
That, says the soft-spoken, lean musician with long curly hair, is history.
“Nobody sells millions now, except Coldplay,” he recently told Smooth Jazz News.
The lament is not an exercise in self pity. Like other recording artists/musicians, Kenny G these days is adapting to the new world order of making music, reaching listeners and selling recordings.
Once upon a time, doing those things was relatively easy. A musician or singer made a studio or live recording that became a vinyl record, tape or CD sold in a brick-and-mortar store. Music lovers mostly learned about new recordings via over-the-airwaves radio.
Enter the Internet and selective downloading of music, or the buying of albums from a commercial website. Hand-held portable devices such as iPods helped change the music playing and listening landscape, too. And, oh yes, satellite radio came along to shake things up.
“I’m not happy about any of it,” Kenny G said from his home in Los Angeles. “In a perfect world, I’d take it back to where it was. Going to a record store and perusing the aisles and spending a few hours in there and reading liner notes was a very enjoyable experience that people used to do. Now, you order online, or you download. It’s not better. The challenge is how do we as artists still reach the people that we know want our music? How do we reach them to get them to buy it? I think anyone would be lying if they told you they didn’t care that their album sold.”
One way the saxophonist is reaching his fans is via his WKGRS radio station launched about a year ago via his official website, www.kennyg.com
“I think of it (WKGRS) as a business,” said Kenny, who also hosts weekends on Broadcast Architecture’s Smooth Jazz Network. “I know a lot about what songs to play. (Traditional) Radio has made almost everybody not a mainstream artist. I certainly don’t get airplay on radio stations that are mainstream. Radio’s very pop oriented now. There’s little to no instrumental stuff. I don’t reach the masses on radio like I used to, except the smooth jazz format, which is a great thing, but it’s also like a soundtrack. You almost don’t need to buy the record when you can just turn on the station and listen endlessly. I don’t think that stimulates record sales.”
The challenge to WKGRS, the artist said, is selling advertising and finding an effective way to directly sell CDs to listeners. The link currently takes prospective shoppers to Amazon.com.
“I want it to take them to my site. My goal is that you can have an autographed CD of mine the next day by buying directly from my site. I’ve asked several fellow smooth jazz artists to send me 50 to 100 of their autographed CDs so we can send them out, too.”
Since 1982––some 10 years after then Kenny Gorelick began his professional music career as a sideman for Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra––Kenny G has recorded nearly 30 albums. His first album was appropriately titled Kenny G. As of press time, his latest CD, the Latin jazz Rhythm & Romance, has sold more than 232,000 units. Released by Concord Records, it marked the end of Kenny G’s association with Arista.
“We had a great relationship for 26 years, but they didn’t believe in me anymore, so I had to move on,” said the man who built his career via the seductive, soothing sounds of a soprano sax.
During his career, Kenny G has learned not to pay attention to critics.
“My skin is a little bit thicker because of them,” he said. “Early on, I realized that everyone didn’t love me, which is perfectly fair. I don’t pay attention to the good or the bad. I didn’t let the good make me feel good and that way I didn’t have to let the bad make me feel bad.”
Despite his phenomenal success, Kenny G has managed to escape the attention of sensationalistic tabloids, and even “TMZ,” TV’s celebrity gossip show.
“I’m not an interesting entity for their clientele, which is just fine by me,” said G, who strives to make each of his albums new and different from his previous efforts.
For more information on Kenny G, including his complete tour schedule, visit www.kennyg.com.
Smooth Jazz America now gives you’re a look into the lives of your favorite Smooth Jazz artist. Presenting Backstage Conversations.Join Jay Lang as he periodically speaks to today’s hottest musicians, singers and true jazz legends. One thing he promises you is a candid one on one conversation about the things you always wanted to know but no one else dared to ask. Tell your friends about it. Find out the how, what and why on Backstage Conversations. Currently featuring Kerry Gordy (Motown Legacy) & Al Bell (Stax Records) discovery, rising star Leigh Jones.Saturday 11am and Wednesday Night at 7pm. Backstage Conversations. An informative flow that keeps you in the know on Smooth Jazz America.
S.M.V. (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller & Victor Wooten) Thunder Heads Up International
What do you expect when you get three of the most powerful players of the bass together for a session? “Thunder!” With their debut collaboration disc world class bassists, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten have delivered a CD that should excite the Jazz World and musicians both, after all we are talking about some of the elite names of the instrument.
Each of the three legends has blazed their own successful careers with all three having won Grammies. You will find one of their names on works from 'Return To Forever,' George Duke, David Sanborn, Chick Corea, Luther Van Dross, Donald Fagen, Grover Washington Jr., Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Dave Matthews, Prince and many, many more. The idea for the project got roots back in October 2006 at the Bass Player Live series in NYC where Victor Wooten had the bass record idea, and after jamming together at the event the three knew it would work. The simple logistics of the recording had to be huge as each of the three bassists’ have their own tone & style and to make it work musically and yet retain the distinctiveness of each artists sound was a task that these high calibre musicians were up to.
Walter Beasley Records Song For Barack Obama
Saxophonist Walter Beasley, who has already officially supported president Barack Obama on his website, is now the first major smooth jazz artist to include a song for Obama on a CD. Beasley’s “Free Your Mind,” which is due in January on Heads Up, features a tune called “Barack’s Groove” that was written and produced by Phil Davis.
The song is one of 11 new ones on the CD, which is Beasley’s follow-up to Ready for Love, which included the No. 1 song of the same name. New songs include a tribute to George Duke called “DukeZillia,” as well as a tribute to the late trumpeter and vocalist Mark Ledford from the Pat Metheny Group called “Message to Mark.”
Posted by Brian Soergel
3rd Force’s William Aura Planning School In Nepal
William Aura, leader of the smooth jazz group 3rd Force, has announced that he has collected nearly $2,500 so far toward the building of a school in rural Nepal. Aura has visited the area many times on humanitarian missions, and footage that he shot in India and Nepal, where many Tibetan refugees have resettled, was featured in a recent documentary titled 10 Questions For The Dalai Lama.
Aura’s school will be located near a river in a remote Himalayan valley about 300 miles southeast of Kathmandu. About 50 students now study three hours a day outside in the elements. Aura’s school will replace a traditional straw-thatched roof with wood and bamboo, which is in abundance nearby. If you would like to contribute, you can visit the Aura Imports website, which is designed to aid the harsh economic conditions of the Tibetan people by offering jewelry, clothing and other items handmade by young Tibetan artists and craftspeople in exile.
William Aura describes how Buddhism and his travels to Nepal, where he is building a school, help him to stay centered: "I’m a student of Buddhism. It’s not really religion to me. It’s more of a school of thought. I love traveling there and working with the young people and teaching English when I’m there and studying in the monasteries and just finding something that’s very relaxing and peaceful to me. It helps me become more mindful and appreciative of everything we have."
Posted by Brian Soergel
Where In the World Is Candy Dulfer?
Earlier this year Candy Dulfer toured Japan, playing the Sapporo jazz festival, which included five nights in the Blue Note in Tokyo and two nights in Nagoya.
In a recent post on her website she mentions that her, and her band, have been touring Japan for fourteen years now, so they “have a lot of friends and loyal fans turn up at the shows.”
This year has been an incredible one for Candy, with a US tour, a gig in South Africa at Cape Town Jazz, and some Sugar Factory Shows in her hometown of Amsterdam. She recently participated in a Tommy Hilfiger show in Berlin where she got to perform alongside Wyclef Jean, formerly of the Fugees, and Kelly Rowland, formerly of Destiny’s Child.
Candy has also been working on her new album, which is slated for release in the spring of 2009. She has also completed a soundtrack for a documentary film about biological wines called ‘Kissed by the Grape’. According to Candy, all of the tracks are inspired by the film and its scenery. The film will be available on DVD on November 28th. In September Candy performed with Lionel Richie for four shows at the Gelredome in Amhem, Holland. She has a string of tour dates lined up for the end of October before she boards a cruise ship with Dave Koz in the beginning of November. The end of the year will find her doing a number of shows in Switzerland.
Candy was also recently asked to be the guest editor at Wahwah magazine where she got to write a story about her gig as a supporting act for Madonna’s tour back in 1987.
For more information you can visit Candy’s website, candydulfer.com.
Natalie Cole Shares More Details About Her Health
Singer Natalie Cole shared a few more details about her health challenges on her website and in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. The Grammy-winning singer is currently promoting her new CD, Still Unforgettable, and now that she is more stable Cole has resumed her promotion and performance schedule.
Diagnosed with hepatitis C earlier last year, Cole was receiving treatment when she was briefly hospitalized in New York l. Though all the details were not divulged at the time, Cole says now that she checked in to Lenox Hill Hospital with fluid-filled lungs and rapidly deteriorating kidneys. "I didn't realize how close I was to checking out," Cole told the L.A. Times.
The 58-year-old singer added that her treatment was going well until she began on a course of Interferon last May, saying that the side effects have been "debilitating. (It) was worse than the disease." She returned to Los Angeles, and then experienced a clot in her catheter during dialysis, requiring another week of hospitalization at Cedar Sinai Hospital.
Though it has not been determined whether her hepatitis treatment contributed to her kidney failure, Cole must now undergo dialysis for three hours a day and will require a kidney transplant. But for now, she says she has stopped taking the Interferon and her liver, the organ affected by the hepatitis, is in good shape.
On her website, Cole adds: "Don't believe anything those trashy magazines are saying, especially the ones that say I am dying -- I AM ALIVE AND WELL!"
Recently, Cole explained the scope of Still Unforgettable: "This time I decided to go deeper into the American songbook, and not just getting songs from Dad -- Nat Cole -- but also from Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne and Sammy Davis Jr. and Peggy Lee and things like that. And so it made it a lot more interesting as well as giving it, I think, a new dimension."
What does WashingtonDC & all 50 states have in common with 80 foreign countries? After only a year on the air, they are all tuning in daily to the all new Smooth Jazz America!
In the US most of our biggest listenership thus far is in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Mississippi, New York, California, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington & Texas.
Our biggest loyal foreign listeners are in Brazilfollowed by Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, France, India, Argentina, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Ireland, Japan, Greeceand Australia.
If you step up to the VIP level and download the Live 365 Desktop Player, your broadcast is commercial free with CD quality sound. The question of late has been, "Jay, when are you going to do a live show? Well, there's still a bit more to do technically before I go on the air, but rest assured, live shows, more music and your favorite “Light's Out Washington” features are on the way soon.
Just Added New Music: 2/1/10 Rick Braun - "Christiane" Sade - "Soldier Of Love"
Ramsey Lewis (Classic) - "Jackson Park" Najee - "Mind Over Matter" The Whispers - "Seven Whole Days" Fourplay - "Cinnamon" Joe Zawinul - "Scarlet Woman" Babyface - For The Cool In You" Quiet Storm Mix Najee - "Sweet Summer Nights" George Benson - "Exotica" Boney James - "Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart"
PSThe "Words Of Wisdom" feature is now BACK ON THE AIR 3 times a day!
What is your opinion on the future of Internet Radio?
I think Internet Radio is as exciting an innovation as radio itself. Not only does it provide enormous variety and niche programming, but it also allows practically anyone to start up and run their own online radio station - and reach the world. Never before have so many people been so empowered with audio.
I also believe Internet Radio will slowly evolve and with the help of broadband, wireless and product development it will find it’s rightful place in the home, auto and hand-held device. The key for users will be the given ability to walk away from their personal computer - and household - and still access their favorite Internet stations. The technology is already here; it just needs natural evolution to become more embedded and more affordable.
Do you think there will be portable Internet Radio receivers? What technology will power them (cellular, satellite, wi-fi?)
There already are. A British company, PDT, recently displayed in Las Vegas their InTune200 portable Internet Radio tuner for the home. And iMuse Electronics just introduced, iAPlayer, a new home entertainment audio component that moves streaming audio and music files from your personal computer to your home stereo or entertainment system.
Do you think that portable Internet Radio will make satellite radio obsolete?
That’s an interesting question. I think it’s safe to say there are enough great net streams out there to satisfy anyone’s taste. Getting online radio in your home is relatively cheap but once you make some of this entertainment available to portable devices, chances are there will be some costs involved.
The easiest way to distribute Internet Radio is by satellite or through the current wireless cell phone infrastructure. But, since satellite time can be cost prohibitive, that means only a limited amount of streams would be available and inevitably, the cost would be passed along to the consumer. The same can be said about receiving Internet Radio on your cell phone or PDA. There is cost involved and bandwidth considerations.
Do you think that portable Internet Radio will make Clear Channel obsolete?
I doubt that. But, portable Internet Radio - and Satellite Radio - certainly add to the mix of competition that traditional, terrestrial stations have to contend with.
Smooth Jazz America now gives you’re a look into the lives of your favorite Smooth Jazz artist. Presenting Backstage Conversations.
Saxophonist Walter Beasley, who has already officially supported president Barack Obama on his website, is now the first major smooth jazz artist to include a song for Obama on a CD. Beasley’s “Free Your Mind,” which is due in January on Heads Up, features a tune called “Barack’s Groove” that was written and produced by Phil Davis.
William Aura, leader of the smooth jazz group 3rd Force, has announced that he has collected nearly $2,500 so far toward the building of a school in rural Nepal. Aura has visited the area many times on humanitarian missions, and footage that he shot in India and Nepal, where many Tibetan refugees have resettled, was featured in a recent documentary titled 10 Questions For The Dalai Lama.
Singer Natalie Cole shared a few more details about her health challenges on her website and in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. The Grammy-winning singer is currently promoting her new CD, Still Unforgettable, and now that she is more stable Cole has resumed her promotion and performance schedule.