Friday, October 23, 2009

Tom Braxton CD Release Events in California



Tom Braxton Los Angeles and Northern CA performance dates:

Thu., Nov 12 - Los Angeles, CA

94.7 The Wave's Live Jazz Thursdays CD Release Party
Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens
6:00 p.m

Sun., Nov 15 - Long Beach, CA
The Cellar
The ONE SOUL Jazz Series
(Hosted by U-Nam) CD Release Party
6:00 p.m.


ALSO:

Sat., Nov 14 - Stockton, CA
Le Bistro Jazz Club


"Smooth jazz with bite from the vet sax man, this set kicks off in high gear, not worrying about fitting the format and is about as far from wall paper as you can get . . . this is an enjoyable winner that was made as a great soundtrack for cruising with the top down, even if only in your own headphones. An enjoyable ride no matter how you take it, this is certainly a must to check out." ~ Chris Spector ~ Midwest Record


"Endless Highway . . . is packed with superior sax work that epitomizes the very essence and spirit of smooth jazz. Braxton has an affinity for the whole spectrum of jazz . . . some of the silky runs, scale work, and feel often found in the world of straight-ahead jazz artists while keeping that smooth bounce prominently displayed. Tom Braxton . . . clearly is a student of the 'fine china' of good jazz, and it's on full display here." ~ Ronald Jackson ~ The Smooth Jazz Ride


"It's the fifth solo release from one of the most respected and loved sax men in Smooth Jazz, and it's absolutely his best album to date! Tom Braxton is a treasure, both as a musician and as a human being . . . ENDLESS HIGHWAY is filled with that 'sweet sound' and positive energy we've come to expect from this incredibly talented composer, producer, and musician. It's an absolute delight, from first note to last . . . This is a must-have album for your Smooth Jazz collection." ~ Scott O'Brien ~ SmoothJazz.com


  • Tom Braxton ~ WINR Artist of the Month

    Tom Braxton Featured on Daystar Television Network

    Tom Braxton Performs at Wayman Tisdale's Induction Into Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame


Tuesday, October 6, 2009

TOM BRAXTON CD ENDLESS HIGHWAY LAUNCHES TODAY WITH WINR CD ONLINE PARTY!



TOM BRAXTON RELEASES HIS NEW CD -
ENDLESS HIGHWAY
on Pacific Coast Jazz

JOIN THE ONLINE RADIO PARTY AT WINR!!!
http://www.smoothjazz4u.com/playing.html?buster=0.5954018796328455


TOM BRAXTON - ARTIST OF THE MONTH: The entire CD will be played and Tom will discuss the making of "Endless Highway" at 10 AM and 7 PM (CST)



"It's the fifth solo release from one of the most respected and loved sax men in Smooth Jazz, and it's absolutely his best album to date! Tom Braxton is a treasure, both as a musician and as a human being . . . ENDLESS HIGHWAY is filled with that 'sweet sound' and positive energy we've come to expect from this incredibly talented composer, producer, and musician. It's an absolute delight, from first note to last . . . This is a must-have album for your Smooth Jazz collection."
~ Scott O'Brien ~
SmoothJazz.com

"Endless Highway . . . is packed with superior sax work that epitomizes the very essence and spirit of smooth jazz. Braxton has an affinity for the whole spectrum of jazz . . . some of the silky runs, scale work, and feel often found in the world of straight-ahead jazz artists while keeping that smooth bounce prominently displayed. Tom Braxton . . . clearly is a student of the 'fine china' of good jazz, and it's on full display here."

~ Ronald Jackson ~
The Smooth Jazz Ride

"Smooth jazz with bite from the vet sax man, this set kicks off in high gear, not worrying about fitting the format and is about as far from wall paper as you can get . . . this is an enjoyable winner that was made as a great soundtrack for cruising with the top down, even if only in your own headphones. An enjoyable ride no matter how you take it, this is certainly a must to check out."

~ Chris Spector ~
Midwest Record

Friday, October 2, 2009

SMOOTHJAZZ.COM CALLS TOM BRAXTON'S "ENDLESS HIGHWAY" HIS BEST CD TO DATE




TOM BRAXTON Endless Highway Pacific Coast Jazz


LINK TO REVIEW: http://smoothjazz.com/loft/#tbraxton

It’s the fifth solo release from one of the most respected and loved sax men in Smooth Jazz, and it’s absolutely his best album to date! Tom Braxton is a treasure, both as a musician and as a human being. The late Wayman Tisdale, his mentor and close friend, once said, “When I’m on the road, Tom is the saxophonist I want to have with me . . . I love that sweet sound he gets on the horn.” ENDLESS HIGHWAY is filled with that “sweet sound” and positive energy we’ve come to expect from this incredibly talented composer, producer, and musician. It’s an absolute delight, from first note to last, and the first radio single, “That Wayman Smile” is a loving tribute to his friend and someone he logged many hours with on the road. This is a must-have album for your Smooth Jazz collection. I know Wayman is very proud! ~ SCOTT O'BRIEN

Thursday, October 1, 2009

ELLEN JOHNSON SINGS MINGUS...and more





Called "superior jazz singing by an artist of the highest quality" by Jazz Journal International, Ellen Johnson will be sharing her unique style and repertoire of jazz vocals joined by San Diego jazz artists, pianist Rick Helzer and bassist Rob Thorsen. The concert is scheduled for Thursday, October 15 with one show at 9:00 PM at Tango Del Rey located at 3567 Del Rey Street, San Diego. The admission price is $15 General and $10 for students with an ID. For more information call 858-581-1114 or go to http://www.TangoDelRey.com for tickets. The concert will feature the music of Charles Mingus along with a tribute to jazz vocal icon, Sheila Jordan. Ellen recently featured both of these artists’ music on her CD These Days, writing lyrics to Mingus compositions and doing a duet with Ms Jordan on her song “The Crossing.”

This concert reunites Ms Johnson with her longtime musical partner, pianist Rick Helzer, Professor and Associate Director of Jazz Studies at San Diego State University and Rob Thorsen, whose current CD Lasting Impression was released this year on the San Diego based Pacific Coast Jazz label. Ellen, who is currently working on an all Mingus project, has written the lyrics to three Mingus compositions and recorded five songs with the permission of Sue Mingus. This event is co-sponsored by the San Diego Jazz Musicians Guild whose goal is to support and encourage a higher quality of Jazz education, appreciation and understanding in the community. For more information contact President Karin Carson at http://www.sdjmg.org. This event is also part of “Daniel Pearl World Music Days,” an entire month of worldwide "Harmony for Humanity" concerts in memory of the death of Wall Street Journal Reporter Daniel Pearl reminding the world of the principles by which Danny lived, the universal power of music and our shared humanity.

Ellen has recorded three of her own renowned CD’s, These Days, Chinchilla Serenade and Too Good To Title and is featured on several compilation CDs including: Illuminations, From A Mother’s Heart, and Jazz Improv Magazine. Her most recent release These Days, was called "one of the best albums to be heard from a no-nonsense jazz singer" in her feature article in Downbeat Magazine by Frank -John Hadley and a "sophisticated and successful album that raises the standard of modern jazz singing by at least one notch" by George Harris in All About Jazz. Just recently No Treble Magazine said that These Days, which features seven tracks of bass and voice duets with Darek Oles, "should be in every bassist's collection."

Ellen has performed, recorded and studied with many exceptional musicians including Charles McPherson, Louie Bellson, Bobby McFerrin, Roy McCurdy, Don Braden, Larry Koonse, John Clayton, Jay Clayton, Cameron Brown and her dear friend and mentor jazz icon, Sheila Jordan. Her amazing range, unique jazz phrasing, improvisational skills and imaginative vocal style delights audiences at concerts, festivals, colleges, and venues all over the world. Ellen, who enjoys wearing different hats, is a songwriter, lyricist, publisher, educator, creativity coach, writer, actress and the founder of Sound Visions Media Group which distributes, promotes and produces a roster of jazz artists and publishes educational CDs including You Sing Jazz, Vocal Builders, and The Vocal Warm Up CD. A former resident of San Diego, Ellen received her Master's Degree from San Diego State University, completed further studies at UCLA Extension Music Business Certificate program and has been on the faculties of California Polytechnic University at Pomona, University of San Diego (Old Globe MFA Program) and other colleges. She was one of the founding members and President of the Jazz Vocal Coalition (JZVOC), President of the San Diego Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), Vocal Representative for the California Chapter of the IAJE and the Jazz Editor for Singer & Musician Magazine. Besides her professional recording and singing engagements she teaches jazz vocal workshops and private vocal coaching. She can be reached through her website at http://www.ellenjohnson.net or http://www.SoundVisionsMedia.com.