WELCOME TO CONTEMPORARY JAZZ FAN
WHAT'S HAPPENING

Also, in the upper right hand corner, you will find a drop-down menu.  Websites listing  some of the contemporary jazz musicians.  If you would like to add someone, please contact me at the drop-down menu.  The websites will take you to their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites. You can then find out more about their music and upcoming tours. 


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Message from Michael Lington:

Dear Stageit Friend,
Happy Holidays, I've missed you!

I'm back with my annual Christmas Special, Can't wait to see you and hang once again! Let's celebrate Christmas together - I'll set the mood for you with some of your favorite Christmas songs and some fun conversation!

Grab your ticket here: https://www.stageit.com/michael_lington/christmas_special/117524

See you in a few weeks
Xoxo
Michael

       ❤️NEW VIDEOS❤️
 
WOW "Peter Gunn" new rendition for Henry Mancini's 100th Birthday includes 🎶🎹❤️Herbie Hancock on piano.

Quincy Jones, John Williams and Herbie Hancock record a rendition of Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" in honor of the composer's 100th birthday.

 

https://youtu.be/8dkwpHoDpXA?si=86DePqmz6AZQMu4S

 

🎶❤️🎷GERALD ALBRIGHT

I was honored to do the National Anthem at Ball Arena for the Denver Nuggets/Golden State Warriors game on Dec. 3rd! It's still a rush to play for 20k people! Video credit: Everett Moore#geraldalbright #like #share #follow

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AwRUEqHjj/


MICHAEL LINGTON
🎶🎷❤️On the Scene

https://youtu.be/X2f6806Cb80?si=xKqs2xmFeqtsHuyN


   ❤️NEW SINGLES OUT❤️ 

        🎶AUTOMATIC 🎶 Collaboration between Dave Koz🎷/ Adam Hawley🎸
www.davekoz.com and www.adamhawley.com  

     🎶ON THE SCENE🎶
Michael Lington 🎷
www.michaellington.com  

🌲DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS CHRISTMAS TOUR 2024🌲 Featuring Adam Hawley, Vincent Ingala, Rebecca Jade, Jonathan Butler Tickets @ www.davekoz.com. PLUS from DK check his website for 2025 cruise info.  "Warmest season's greetings to you! Hope you and yours had a beautiful Thanksgiving weekend and are enjoying a great start to your holidays. We've been having a blast on tour performing our 27th Anniversary Christmas shows all over the country, and thought this would be a perfect time to add to the festivities by revealing more of the INCREDIBLE artists and musicians who'll be joining us for our Summer 2025 Iceland-Norway-Netherlands cruise in June!"!🚢🛳

  🌲CHRISTMAS ALBUM🌲              RICK BRAUN

Get ready to experience the magic of the holidays with Rick Braun's new album It’s Christmas. This festive collection comprises ten brilliantly arranged tracks packed with soulful jazz and innovative takes on classic Christmas carols. Highlights include a funky, bluesy version of "Deck Those Halls," and the elegant brass and string arrangements of “The Coventry Torch Song.” Braun’s unique blend of smooth jazz, orchestral richness, and heartfelt melodies creates a warm, vibrant sound that captures the season's spirit.
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🏆RECORDING ACADEMY 2025 GRAMMYS🏆
To Take Place Sunday, Feb. 2, Live In Los Angeles

RECORDING ACADEMY'S MISSION 
At its core, the Recording Academy is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to supporting and uplifting music creators. Its mission is to recognize excellence in the recording arts and sciences, cultivate the well-being of the music community, and ensure that music remains an indelible part of our culture.The 2025 GRAMMYs return to Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 2.
Music's Biggest Night is back! The 2025 GRAMMYs will take place Sunday, Feb. 2, live at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the Recording Academy announced May 21st. The 2025 GRAMMYs will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on demand on Paramount+. See the full list of nominees officially known as the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.recordingacademy.com

Music's Biggest Night is back! The 2025 GRAMMYs will take place Sunday, Feb. 2, live at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the Recording Academy announced May 21st. The 2025 GRAMMYs will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on demand on Paramount+. See the full list of nominees officially known as the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.recordingacademy.com
 
❤️🎤Kat Hawley's First Album Available Everywhere X-IX-VIII featuring Adam Hawley, Steve Cole, Greg Manning and Judah Sealy

Steam, Purchase Digital “X-IX-VIII,” featuring Billboard chart-toppers Adam Hawley, Steve Cole, Greg Manning and Judah Sealy, dropped on Friday, June 21; the single “Rather Be” goes for playlist added on Monday, June 24 serviced by Gorov Music Marketing.

LOS ANGELES, CA (21 JUNE 2024): Ready to capitalize on the opportunity to step into her own spotlight and make her own musical statement after years of flanking 16-time Billboard No. 1 hitmaker Adam Hawley, R&B-jazz singer-songwriter Kat Hawley released her debut album, “X-IX-VIII” on Friday (June 21). She wrote eight of the set’s ten songs with her guitarist husband, Adam, who produced the MBF Entertainment album.  Of note and in memorial:  "Lazy Afternoon” was recorded to memorialize the late Cecil Ramirez,❤️ a Bay Area pianist and friend of the Hawley’s. Greg Manning plays poignantly in place of Ramirez on this track.
For more information checkout her website at www.kathawley.com
 

❤️🎸JONATHAN BUTLER
www.jonathanbutler.com 
was live at the Birchmere. 

Jonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who leads a life few can imagine. Born in South Africa under the shadow of apartheid and raised in poverty, Butler was the first non-white artist to be played on South African radio and appear on national television. Though his musical abilities would take him away from the world he grew up in, Jonathan would neither forget the plight of his fellow South Africans, nor the man that led them to freedom. It is for this reason Nelson Mandela credits Butler's music as having inspired him during his imprisonment. In more ways than one, Jonathan Butler is representative of South Africa.

Jonathan's story begins at a very young age when his father presented him with a homemade one-string guitar. Little did his father realize that he was giving way to a musical phenomenon. From then on, Jonathan's musical gifts grew by leaps and bounds. In his early teens Butler won a local talent contest, affording him the opportunity to perform with a touring musical company throughout South Africa. On occasion he would perform at lavish concert halls for whites only, where he would not be allowed to use the bathroom, and the very next night he would perform in a dilapidated local township. Ultimately, his ticket to a new life was music.

At thirteen, Jonathan's talents caught the eyes and ears of the British record producer Clive Caulder. He was signed to Caulder's Jive Records and the rest is history. Jonathan's first single broke down racial barriers becoming the first song by a black artist played by white radio stations in South Africa and won the South African equivalent to a GRAMMY®.

His commitment to his craft came to fruition with his self-titled debut album, which received a GRAMMY® nomination for the pop hit "Lies." An instrumental "Going Home" earned him another GRAMMY® nomination and the mid-tempo ballad "Sarah, Sarah" confirmed Butler's place in popular music.

However, to Jonathan Butler, success is measured on a higher plane. A religious and spiritual man, Butler dedicates his life to being a devoted father and grandfather, and a caring citizen to his homeland, South Africa. And in spite of all the hardships, Jonathan Butler has an air of playfulness and quiet resilience that is easily visible in his passionate performances.
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🎷🎷🎷THREE GREAT SAXPHONE PLAYER RELEASES IN 2024🎷🎷🎷

❤️🎷KIRK WHALUM 🎷❤️EPIC COOL
www.kirkwhalum.com 

Saxophone icon Kirk Whalum blasts off with his highly-anticipated new album Epic Cool, an electrifying collection of original grooves. Teaming up with producer Greg Manning (Keb’ Mo’, Herb Alpert, 2x GRAMMY® nominee, composer/collaborator on 10 #1 Billboard hits), Whalum focuses on his songwriting to craft an album that’s passionate and spirited on a monumental scale, but with his trademark soul. From danceable hits like “Bah-De-Yah!” to melodic, sultry jams (Whalum calls “Pillow Talk” the strongest song he’s written in 20 years), Epic Cool weaves a musical story that has wide, cross-genre appeal. Get ready to groove, because Epic Cool is anything but ordinary.
PLUS read this sweet post on  Instagram from his taleted bass guitar player son, KYLE WHALUM (plays on Kelly Clarkson show, on the Voice and for Katy Perry).

https://www.instagram.com/kylewhalum?igsh=cXljYXExNmx4enp5
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❤️🎷GERALD ALBRIGHT          G-STREAM 3 - FULL          THROTTLE EP OUT NOW

 www.geraldalbright.com

“Thank you for taking the time to visit with me. I appreciate the love and support I continue to receive from you, my loyal fans.” Gerald
Get these high energy tunes to complement his new release:
 

❤️🎷G-Stream and G-Stream 2 - Turn It Up❤️🎷 G-Stream 3 - Full Throttle ❤️🎷
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❤️🎷ANDREW NEU 
 Keep It Real a new single  https://www.andrewneu.com/

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SUPPORT THESE LONGSTANDING STREAMING SHOWS (when they aren't touring)

 🎷MICHAEL LINGTON
❤️STAGEIT
 
🎹 BRIAN CULBERTSON
❤️THE HANG 

MICHAEL LINGTON❤️ (sax) 🎷🎷🎷 on Stageit stageit.com/MichaelLington or www.michaellington.com on many Sundays. Check his website.
Pay what you can.
See above for tickets:
STAGEIT CHRISTMAS SHOW🎄 DECEMBER 22🎄
 

BRIAN CULBERTSON ❤️ (piano)🎹The Hang on YouTube on many Friday Nights www.brianculbertson.com. 
He is on tour:   brian culbertson tour https://g.co/kgs/kq3kCHZ

❤️Most recent FRIDAY NIGHT SHOW,
Halloween October 31st:

 https://www.youtube.com/live/-tDGpnS-95k?si=Wyl_XrtxLDvgrZab


❤️WATCH BELOW BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE SHOW TO THE LATE DAVID SANBORN MAY 17:
https://www.youtube.com/live/tarxusFbOvs?si=lJ-pedwB30AW5Pbe

PLUS see more under OBITUARIES.

Please tip Brian for The Hang shows through CashApp, Venmo or PayPal or Join his Hang Club and hear him Monday and Wednesdays too!

Checkout their websites for more info because they frequently go on tour.

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      ❤️ADAM HAWLEY🎸              ANNOUNCEMENT

Your home for fresh new sounds:

MBF Entertainment Records

Adam is excited to announce the expansion of his label MBF Entertainment https://www.mbfentertainment.com/ 
Check his website for 2024 tour dates.

https://www.adamhawley.com/ 

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       KEYSTONE KORNER          BALTIMORE,MD
   Live and Streaming www.keystonekornerbaltimore.com

This is a wonderful venue, and they have been streaming great jazz for years. Stream for only $15 + a small fee! 

LiVE ❤️PIECES OF A DREAM❤️ COMING IN DECEMBER 31st
TICKETS: 

https://www.instantseats.com/?fuseaction=home.artist&VenueID=514&artistid=37340

Past shows included: KIRK WHALUM❤️(sax) ALEX BUGNON❤️(piano) STANLEY CLARKE❤️(guitar)  BRIAN SIMPSON❤️(piano), WALTER BEASLEY ❤️(sax), MARCUS JOHNSON❤️(piano), ARTURO SANDOVAL❤️(trumpet), YELLOWJACKETS❤️, TAKE 6❤️, HOUSTON PEARSON ❤️(sax), GREGG KARUKAS❤️ (piano) & PAUL BROWN❤️ (guitar) 

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THE BIRCHMERE
www.birchmere.com
Alexandria, VA

If you live in the Northern Virginia area, this is a great venue! (no streaming, in person only)

 ❤️ Jonathan Butler 🎸 was there and SOLD OUT
❤️Keiko Matsui🎹 too

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TIN PAN  

 https://tinpanrva.com/

If you live in the Richmond Virginia area, this is another great venue!

(dinner and show) 
❤️🎸Adam Hawley - February 14, 2025
@ Blues Alley in Georgetown (DC) on February 12

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GRAMMY AWARDS WERE

🏆FEBRUARY 4, 2024🏆
EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT WIN BOB JAMES❤️🎹WAS AT THE PRE-GRAMMY SHOW WHICH WAS LIVE ON YOUTUBE AND IT WAS STATED: "the performance was undeniably anchored by a pair of distinguished veterans, founding members of the band Fourplay: pianist ❤️Bob James and drummer ❤️Harvey Mason, Sr. (If that name sounds familiar for more than discographical reasons, it might be because his son, producer Harvey Mason, Jr., is the current CEO of the Recording Academy.
❤️🎹🎹🎹🥁🥁🥁❤️ 
 
CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING NOMINATED👏 

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

🎹🎶PAT METHENY🎶🎹

www.patmetheny.com

Dream Box
 
&
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album 

🎹🎶BOB JAMES🎶🎹

Jazz Hands 

Jazz Hands was Released September 15, 2023
An eclectic, fantastic album!

Featuring CeeLo Green, Dave Koz, DJ Jazzy Jeff and many more.
Check out his website and album.

❤️JAZZ HANDS❤️
www.bobjames.com

  Hear this candid, intelligent conversation in an  interview with Sandy at smoothjazz.com on September 13, 2023.  It includes Bob's insight into each song.  

Plus maybe a reunion of some sort with FOURPLAY, Harvey Mason and Nathan East in discussions with Bob (maybe even Lee Ritinour and Larry Carlton). As a big fan of FOURPLAY I have the original on cassette tape and the vinyl white album.  Fingers crossed!
Bob James is a great disc jockey too!

https://m.soundcloud.com/smoothjazzglobal/bob-james-jazz-hands-world-premier-interview

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