George Duke - Deja Vu

Welcome to the latest issue of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden, the page that offers a personal perspective on the very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul. When George Duke released his 2008 album, Dukey Treats, it marked a return to the funk driven energy that made him a platinum-selling artist and commercial superstar. Duke stays with this theme for the brand new Déjà Vu which revisits the synthesizer sound that characterized his most memorable recordings. Although in comparison to its predecessor the CD features several more straight-ahead and contemporary influences, it nevertheless delivers a collection that will prove to be a ‘must have’ for George Duke fans everywhere.

BB Jazz Festival - It's Not Just About the Music

Written by The Jazz Gypsy

BB Jazz Festival
September 11, 2010
Central Park Huntington Beach, CA
www.bbjazz.com - Get your tickets today!

Nowadays, almost anybody can put together a music festival. However, through my travels I've learned that not all festivals are created equal...even when they have the same musicians. Why are some festivals terrible despite their great line-up? The answer is simple. A festival reflects the heart and soul of it's producers.

A case in point is one of my favorites, the BB Jazz Festival in Huntington Beach. The producers, Corky and Betty Benish, actually care about their audience, the musicians and their all volunteer staff. They make attending their festival simple. Bring your own picnic if you chose, or get a gourmet meal cooked on site with free flowing beverages. Park right at the venue for FREE, come right in, relax and enjoy new artists, established artists and superb talent that you typically won't see everywhere else.

The 2010 line-up includes: Walter Beasley, Maysa, Raul Midon, Bob Baldwin featuring Art Sherrod, Andre DeLano, Manhdo, Eric Essix and BK Jackson. These are superb artists that we rarely get to see, especially on the West Coast. View their bios at www.bbjazz.com.

In short, BB Jazz is not your "cookie-cutter" festival. You get a high-caliber, enjoyable experience from beginning to end. No hassles, or burdensome restrictions that are typical of other events and venues.

Incognito - Transatlantic RPM

Welcome to the latest issue of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden, the page that offers a personal perspective on the very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul. Attention all ‘old schoolers’ everywhere. Almost thirty years after the legendary Incognito made its debut with the album Jazz Funk, leader Bluey Maunick has reached back to the inspirations he originally took from 1970’s jazz, funk and fusion. The result is the stunning new release Transatlantic R.P.M which, with fifteen all new Maunick compositions (plus one sensational cover), captures to perfection the vibe of an age that, for many, was magical.

Honoring Legends at Long Beach Jazz Festival

By Ricky Richardson

Long Beach - This past weekend, the stage was set with all of the right elements for another successful summer of music at the 23rd Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival. The festival was held at the beautiful grass knoll of the Rainbow Lagoon, August 13-15, 2010. The right elements that were in place were an international food court, clothing’s and other accessories booths, a multi-ethnic eclectic crowd. Noticeable absent were the scorching hot weather from festival past. The weather was pleasant 80’s with a constant breeze. A smorgasbord of jazz, Latin jazz, soul/R&B and smooth jazz nourished the crowd’s hearts.

NORAH JONES WITH CORINNE BAILEY RAE AT THE PALMS

Norah Jones with special guest Corinne Bailey Rae will perform one night only at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas on Sunday, August 22nd.

Dave Koz, with Jonathan Butler, and special guest, Sheila E., received standing ovations at the sold out Sunset Station Amphitheatre July 24th.

Chris Botti in a sold out performance performed one show at Texas Station on August 4th.

Brian Culbertson returns to Vegas to perform at Santa Fe Station, August 13th.

Saturday, August 14th, local resident contemporary jazz favorite, The Killer Groove Band, with new member, guitar phenom Jon Jacquemoud, perform at Lake Las Vegas, hosted by KXPT 97.1 The Point's Ric & Jackie Gould.

BB King performs in his own club, BB King's Blues Club, located inside the Mirage Hotel, in Vegas on August 17th.

September events include legendary songwriter / vocalist, Michael Franks, who will be performing at Aliante Station on September 7th.

What We're Listening To ** July

J E F F * D A N I E L S

David Benoit, Earthglow (Heads Up Records) (2010)

Chris Geith, Island of a Thousand Dreams (Timeless World Productions) (2010)

The Eric Evans Project, Waves of Grace (electricflute records) (2010)

Mindi Abair, In Hi-Fi Stereo (Telarc) (2010)

Gerald Albright, Pushing the Envelope (Telarc) (2010)

Euge Groove - Groove On This!

Smooth jazz saxophonist Euge Groove has something different planned for his next CD. Now, many artists say their next project is different, but Groove's certainly is.

On Aug. 31, Groove will debut a new, interactive CD titled Groove On This! The CD works inside the Beamz interactive software. A YouTube video explains a bit about how it works.

"The cool thing," says Groove, "is you can interact with my songs from either the laser beam controller, a midi keyboard, or directly for the keys on your computer. It's for anyone to mess with even if they know nothing about playing a musical instrument. I re-recorded new versions of 10 of my most popular songs and spent the last eight months getting it all to work inside the Beamz software."

Groove is justifiably proud of his upcoming CD. "It's a pretty bitchin' project," he says. "It truly is a blast to play with. I'll have video tutorials for each song up on my eugegroove.com/beamz site when it launches at month's end. In the meantime, the disc also comes with some brief video content from me explaining how to use it as well as mp3 versions of the 10 songs for people to reference to."

Groove on This track list

1. Chillaxin
2. Slam Dunk
3. XXL
4. Vinyl
5. Born 2 Groove
6. Geez Spot
7. Babylon
8. Rewind
9. As You Like It
10. From the TOP

Smooth Jazz Festival Augsburg 2010, Germany

I am happy to report that the Smooth Jazz Festival in Europe is being continued and going strong, after Bregenz and Munich, the 3rd festival will the be held in Augsburg in Germany at the "Park Theater at Kurhaus Göggingen", September 24-26. It will be full of intensive, passionate Smooth Jazz and relaxed vibes set in a noble ambiance. What awaits music lovers is a sound experience until now undreamt of in Europe, which does not have too much in common with classical Jazz and will be celebrated by some of the greatest names in the international Smooth Jazz scene.

In the side wings of the Kurhaus, the catering crew will be offering drinks, lounge-food and international tapas. The patio will be opened for the guests to enjoy the warm late-summer nights and harmoniously flowing sounds. Visitors from all parts of Germany and fans from all over Europe meet here for a pleasant, atmospheric weekend in the beautiful ambiance of the Kurhaus in Göggingen.

Brian Culbertson XII

Welcome to the latest issue of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden, the page that offers a personal perspective on the very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul. Ever since 1994, and the advent of his debut CD Long Night Out, Brian Culbertson has stood out as the master of R & B tinged smooth jazz. His discography is faultless and has now been further enhanced by the release of his twelfth solo album, the aptly titled XII. Out on GRP Records, this landmark collection offers up twelve original Culbertson compositions and, with a star studded line-up of guest performers, is among the best contemporary jazz recordings of the year so far.