Tuesday, September 29, 2009

TOM BRAXTON #1 Most Added Radio !!!


Smoothjazz.com: # 1 Most Added; SPINcreased Top Ten List (+31) !
WRVU/Nashville, TN
KQXT/San Antonio, TX (Sunday jazz show on A/C station)
WQQQ/Sharon, CT
WBCP/Champaign-Urbana, IL
KSHK/Kauai, HI (jazz show)
WVOD/Manteo, NC
WMLX/Lima, OH
Smoothjazz.com/Internet
Radioio.com/Internet

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Wayman Tisdale To Be Inducted In State Jazz Hall of Fame



The late Wayman Tisdale will be inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in October. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World file

By JIM WATTS World Scene Writer
Published: 9/16/2009 11:50 AM

LINK TO ENTIRE ARTICLE BELOW



Hear the tribute song dedicated to the late Wayman Tisdale on the new release by jazz artist, Tom Braxton on "Endless Highway"

"That Wayman Smile!"

Pryor, Duhon and Wiley will perform at the Oct. 21 gala, along with guest artist Tom Braxton, saxophonist and long-time collaborator with Tisdale.
Western swing pioneer Bob Wills and Wayman Tisdale, the former all-star basketball star who become one of the top artists in contemporary smooth jazz, are among the 2009 inductees to the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

Also being honored at the celebration, which will take place Oct. 21 at the Jazz Depot, 111 E. First St., will be former Tulsa World music writer John Wooley, local guitar hero Steve Pryor, up and coming vocalist Olivia Duhon, and minister and musician Stephen Wiley. Chuck Cissel, artistic director of the Jazz Hall of Fame, announced this year’s honorees at the press conference Wednesday at the Jazz Depot.

Cissel also announced that jazz legend Dave Brubeck will be the honorary chairman for the Jazz Hall of Fame’s 2009-2010 membership drive. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Brubeck’s best-selling album “Time Out,” which contained such classic tunes as “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo a la Turk.”

Much of this year’s Hall of Fame Induction revolves around the life and legacy of Tisdale, who died May 15 after a battle with bone cancer. Tisdale, who will be the 2009 Jazz Inductee, “was someone who was very close to our hearts here at the Jazz Hall of Fame,” Cissel said. Tisdale was a star athlete first at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, then at the University of Oklahoma. He won a gold medal as part of the U.S. team at the 1984 Olympics, and played for 12 years in the NBA. He began his career as a jazz musician in 1995 and released eight albums, the last — 2008’s
“Rebound” — that was recorded after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Tisdale was also the first ever recipient of the Legacy Tribute Award from the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. His widow, Regina, will serve as honorary chairperson of the 2009 Induction Gala, along with Grady Nichols and Cassandra Gaines.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=269&articleid=20090916_371_0_Wester234674

TOM BRAXTON HIGHLY ANTICIPATED CD "ENDLESS HIGHWAY" TO RELEASE ON OCTOBER 6, 2009


Saxophonist and composer Tom Braxton's latest release, Endless Highway, takes you on the ride of your life.

Joined by an outstanding array of instrumentalists and vocalists, this recording is a toe-tapping, colorful, groove- oriented excursion with a sophisticated urban flavor that will make you feel like dancing and singing all day long. Endless Highway, his second release on the San Diego-based Pacific Coast Jazz label, lifts Braxton to a new level of artistry as he pays homage to his friend and mentor, professional basketball player and bass guitarist, Wayman Tisdale, who recently lost his battle with cancer. The highly anticipated new recording is scheduled for national release on October 6, 2009.

"We're excited to have the opportunity to represent Tom Braxton's most impressive CD to date. This new disc highlights Braxton as a composer, producer and arranger along with six of his original compositions that feature his effortless transition from soprano, alto and tenor saxophones to showcasing his versatility on piano, keyboards and flute," said Donna Nichols, founder and president of Pacific Coast Jazz.

Nichols' label has teamed up with publicist Joy Foster of SV Media Relations and radio promoter Cliff Gorov at All That Jazz for access to international media buying and radio promotion.

Braxton has shared the stage with renowned artists including Dave Koz, Rick Braun, George Duke, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Jeff Golub, Marcus Miller and Luther Vandross along with opening concerts for Norman Brown, Boney James, Dave Brubeck, Cab Calloway, David Benoit and The Crusaders. He has been featured in media and publications such as JAZZIZ, Smooth Jazz News, CBS's The Saturday Early Show, BET's Jazz Central, CNN, NBC's Inside Stuff and many others.

Without a doubt, Endless Highway will drive Tom Braxton to the top of the charts while we take a trip with his inspiring tunes at home or on the road. So get ready to pack your bags, roll down the windows and crank up the volume in the “Braxton tradition," says Tom. “Creating music that brings people joy is my mission in life." Looks like he has accomplished his mission on “Endless Highway."

Friday, September 11, 2009

"Best Jazz Album of the Year" Danny Green's "With You In Mind"


www.DannyGreen.net


www.PacificCoastJazz.com

San Diego, CA – September 11, 2009 - San Diego-based independent record label, Pacific Coast Jazz (PCJ), is proud to report its artist, Danny Green, won “Best Jazz Album of the Year” from the San Diego Music Foundation in their 19th annual awards ceremony, last night at Viejas Concerts in the Park, San Diego, CA. With You in Mind is Green's debut solo release and it received extensive airplay in stations around the globe beginning in January 2009.


With You In Mind was co-produced with Allan Phillips and features Justin Grinnell (bass), Dylan Savage (drums), Allan Phillips (percussion) and Tripp Sprague (soprano saxophone). With ten original compositions and one cover, Green combines both Brazilian and Latin influences, cradled in mainstream jazz and classical nuances.


“While other PCJ artists have been nominated in the past, this is our first win. We are extremely proud of all of our artists and this demonstrates our ongoing commitment to high quality independent artists,” says Donna Nichols, founder and president of Pacific Coast Jazz. Nichols’ label along with publicist Joy Foster of SV Media Relations and radio promoter Neal Sapper at New World N’Jazz were the team to bring Green’s music to the marketplace in 2009.


Another PCJ artist, Bradley Leighton, was also in the running in the same category for his 2008 release “Soul Collective,” the third Leighton release to receive a nomination from the same organization. “PCJ is thrilled to have this kind of talent on our roster,” said Nichols.


The annual Awards show has raised over $500,000 since its inception in 1991. These funds have been used to assist Handicapped Teen Centers, to fund arts programs within the San Diego Unified School District and to fund the placement of music equipment into schools within San Diego County.


Pacific Coast Jazz, founded in 2003, is a boutique jazz label that also offers artist management services. All PCJ artists are distributed worldwide by MVD Audio/Big Daddy Music. For more information on Pacific Coast Jazz, please visit: www.pacificcoastjazz.com. For media information or interviews with Danny Green, please contact: Joy Foster at SV Media Relations at: SVMediaRelations@gmail.com or 310-487-0048. Visit Danny Green’s website at: www.dannygreen.net.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Ellen Johnson Gets Most Highly Recommended from Improvijazzation Nation



IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
Issue #94 Reviews
by
Rotcod Zzaj aka Dick Metcalf
http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z94Reviews.htm



Ellen Johnson - THESE DAYS
: Female jazz singers are often "lumped" in a category (for reviewers, anyway) that says "later"... I don't know why that is, but know it often happens. A part of that could be the simple fact that there are many... well, in Ellen's case, letting the dozen tunes on her newly released CD "just slide" would be a mistake for anyone enthralled with true artistry. We reviewed another CD she produced ("A Mother's Heart) in issue #91, & were very impressed with her skills there, too. It is, of course, her voice that makes the difference & catapults the music on "These Days" to the top of the stack... what you hear is fresh & soulful, without pretense or gimmickry - excellent expression on every note! One of the most powerful tracks for this listener was "Inspiration"... simply beautiful, with great guitar by Larry Koonse & bass that stands right behind her penetrating vocal performance from Darek Oles! Oles bass lead-in on "You Don't Know What Love Is" is perfect for Ellen's silky & intimate style when she starts singing... another performance that will stay in your ears for months & years to come! In the overall, there is a real "slinky" quality to Johnson's voice that is so inviting you won't be able to move on to anything else until you've listened to the whole tune... & then the next track... & the next... & so on & so on. "These Days" is a definite jazz winner for all, players & listeners, & gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from this little corner of the jazz world! Get more information at www.ellenjohnson.net/ Rotcod Zzaj