BWB - Braun - Whalum - Brown

Collaborating in 2002 as BWB, Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown recorded the album Groovin’. The title track hit #1 and was followed by a popular US tour in Fall 2002. Now they’re back with their amazing sound, thrilling audiences in 2013!

RICK BRAUN

No one on today’s contemporary urban jazz scene knows more about the power of perfect, timely partnerships (or what it takes to keep the #1 hits coming) than Rick Braun. After launching the millennium with “Shake It Up” with Boney James (sharing a Best Collaboration award for their 2000 hit reigning at #1 on the Billboard chart for 11 weeks) and later hooking up with Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown as BWB, he toured as part of Jazz Attack, then with Peter White and Jonathan Butler in 2005 and 2007. He set a record at the 2002 National Contemporary Jazz Awards in San Diego by winning a total of five trophies, including Best Male Artist, Best Album (“Kisses in the Rain,” which hit #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart), Song of the Year (the title cut) and Best Brass Player. Rick’s recent releases include Sings with Strings (2011) and the 2012 holiday album Swingin’ in the Snow.

KIRK WHALUM

Grammy-winner Kirk Whalum boasts a career spanning the decades, with a sound uniquely his: one that leaves an indelible imprint on his listeners. Soulful, passionate, stirring are words most often used to describe his music. Born of Memphis, TN gospel roots and his 1980‘s initiation into the thriving Houston, TX nightclub scene, Kirk’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his. The 80’s marked his stepping out of a sideman role to form his own band. This ultimately developed both his “voice” and songwriting on the local club scene. He is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgments including three Dove Award nominations, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and won two Stellar Awards, Gospel music’s highest honor. An 11-time Grammy nominee, Kirk won his first Grammy for Best Gospel Song (“It’s What I Do,” feat. Lalah Hathaway) alongside life-long friend and gifted writer, Jerry Peters. Kirk’s most current releases include The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter 3 (2010), Everything is Everything – the Music of Donny Hathaway (2010),and 2012’s Romance Language, featuring his brother Kevin on vocals.

NORMAN BROWN

Picking up a guitar at age 8, Norman Brown was initially inspired by Jimi Hendrix but it was his father’s preference for Wes Montgomery that set Norman on his stylistic journey. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue music, attending the Musicians Institute where he also taught for a time. Playing with his own group in local clubs and drawing comparisons to George Benson, he was discovered and signed to the fledgling MoJazz label, a division of Motown. His compilation “The Very Best Of Norman Brown” was one of the best-selling smooth jazz albums of 2005 and 2006. His 2010 release “Sending My Love” with its seamless blend of pop, R&B and jazz marked his 8th solo album. 2012 saw the release of 24/7, in collaboration with saxophonist Gerald Albright.

GERALD ALBRIGHT

Gerald Albright is considered one of the most innovative and successful artists of the last 25 years. One of the biggest stars of R&B, contemporary and straight-ahead jazz, he has earned a reputation as a “musician’s musician.” The Los Angeles born musician began piano lessons at an early age. His love of music flourished when he was given a saxophone that had belonged to his piano teacher. By the time he enrolled at the University of Redlands, he was already a polished saxophonist. He made the switch to bass guitar after seeing Louis Johnson in concert. He went on to record several successful solo albums. Two hit the #1 on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Chart, and were nominated for Grammy Awards in 1989 and 1990. In 1998, Phil Collins asked Gerald to front a Big Band and they toured together. They also recorded one of Albright’s tunes, “Chips N’ Salsa” on Collins’ Big Band Project, entitled “A Hot Night In Paris.” Later that year, Gerald released “Pleasures of the Night” with Will Downing which hit #1 on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. His “Sax for Stax” received a 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album and “Pushing the Envelope” followed suit in the same category in 2010. In 2012, he released 24/7, a collaboration with guitarist Norman Brown.

ALEX BUGNON

REGINA BELLE

Four-time Grammy award winning R&B/Pop songstress and NJ native Regina Belle rode high on the ‘80s and ‘90s urban charts with such classics as “Baby Come to Me,” “Make It Like It Was” and “What Goes Around,” yet faith, churchgoing and gospel music remained at the very core of her life in the spotlight. Today, she is a “reverse crossover” artist with gospel in her repertoire. At age 8, she performed her first church solo; a take-no-prisoners rendition of the gospel standard “Don’t Drive Your Mama Away,” originally by Shirley Caesar, one of Belle’s early influences. By age 12, she had her first professional gig, and come high school, she received a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music. While she cherishes lessons learned there, something was amiss with the school’s rigid music-only curriculum. She transferred to Rutgers University as a history and accounting major and took music courses at what is now the state college’s famed Mason Gross School of the Arts. The break of her lifetime led her to leave school just 12 credits shy of graduation. She had received a call to audition for the Manhattans who soon asked her to record a duet with them and be their opening act. It wasn’t long until Regina signed with Columbia Records, a successful partnership that yielded the albums “All By Myself,” “Stay With Me,” “Passion” and “Reaching Back.” “Stay With Me” went Gold (as did “Passion”) and catapulted Belle to #1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, a feat driven in part by two chart-topping singles, “Baby Come to Me” and “Make It Like It Was.” The whirlwind of activity, accolades, and media attention eventually got the best of the singer, to the point that her gospel foundation was put on the backburner. Now, with her religious identity firmly in place, her 2008 “Love Forever Shines,” showcases her soulful voice set to the two styles that make up her musical persona: contemporary R&B and gospel music. The album landed at #15 on the 2008 Billboard R&B charts and at #3 on the Gospel charts.

SOUL OF SUMMER - Jonathan Butler, Sheila E. and Elan Trotman

JONATHAN BUTLER

Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Jonathan Butler spent his youth under the shroud of apartheid, and official government policy of political, legal, and economic discrimination against non-whites. His escape was music. The youngest of twelve children, he began singing publicly in South African townships at age 7. Not yet in his teens, Butler’s talents as a singer and guitarist were recognized and he soon toured his poverty stricken country in a traveling variety show. In his travels, the he could neither comprehend the extreme destitute nor the harsh treatment he endured and bared witness to under the reign of Apartheid. Afrikaans was his native tongue, but he learned English on the road. After signing his first record deal as a teenager with British record producer Clive Caulder’s Jive Records, Jonathan’s premier single made him the first black artist to be played on white South African radio stations. The single won a Sarie Award, South Africa’s equivalent to the Grammy. His self-titled debut album also put him on the map internationally and garnered two Grammy nominations; one for the R&B-pop vocal statement “Lies” and the other for “Going Home,” a poignant instrumental. His 2005 release, “Jonathan” is rich in content and joyous in emotion. Though music took him away from the world he grew up in, the album features tributes to his past, as all the songs are tinged with world music sensibilities, relics of his childhood in Africa. Other releases include “Gospel Goes Classical” (2006) with Juanita Bynum, “Brand New Day” (2007), “So Strong” (2010), and 2012’s Grace and Mercy, filled with the soulful sounds and insightful lyrics fans have come to expect from the veteran performer.

SHELIA E

Sheila Escovedo started playing with family instruments at age 3 and was influenced by her father Latin jazz legend and timbalero Pete Escovedo (then band leader of the influential band Azteca) while watching him rehearse. At age 5, she made her concert "debut" at Oakland’s former Sands Ballroom, invited on stage by her father to play a solo before an audience of 3,000. At that moment, she knew exactly what she wanted to do: she was going to be a percussionist. Since age 17, she has recorded and toured extensively with renowned artists such as Babyface, Billy Cobham, Natalie Cole, George Duke, Pete Escovedo, Gloria Estefan, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Nicks, Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, Tito Puente, Don Was, Stevie Wonder and more. In 1983, she caught the attention of Prince and changed her name to "Sheila E. " Prince helped her record her first solo album, "The Glamorous Life." The title track and first single written, performed, and directed by Sheila E., was released in 1984, earning multiple Grammy and American Music Award nominations and an MTV Best Video Award. The album also yielded another hit for follow-up single, "The Belle of St. Mark." After 3 months of sold out shows in Europe and the US, Sheila began touring as the opening act for Prince's 1984-85 sold out Purple Rain Tour, while composing her follow-up album, "Romance 1600." The August 1985 release raced up the charts with its mega-single "A Love Bizarre." A 3-month gig opening for Lionel Richie followed a headlining tour in spring 1986. In 1986, she made her acting debut in the film "Krush Groove" and contributed "Holly Rock" to its soundtrack. Her third album, "Sheila E.," had another smash single, "Hold Me," that hit #1 on Billboard's chart. Instead of touring to support the album, she joined Prince's band on drums and percussion, for his European "Sign o' the Times," tour, that Rolling Stone Magazine readers rated as the 15th best tour in music history. She toured again with Prince in ’88 and ’89 on his "Lovesexy" World Tour. More film roles, albums, and tours followed. In 1998, she became late night TV’s first female bandleader on Magic Johnson's variety show "The Magic Hour.” In 2004 she joined Prince’s "Musicology" tour and also performed "The Glamorous Life" at the 7th Annual VH1 Divas, a benefit concert for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. Sheila, a philanthropist, continues to devote her talents and time to the Elevate Hope Foundation, a charitable organization she co-founded and co-chairs, which assists the needs of abused and abandoned children through music therapy.

ELAN TROTMAN

Elan Trotman, has quickly become one of contemporary jazz’s most thrilling and emotive performers, and continues to stand out and push boundaries as a composer, performer, and recording artist. He’s becoming the go-to saxophonist for smooth jazz artists including Peter White, Paul Brown, Keiko Matsui, Brian Simpson, Rick Braun, and had a guest spot on the Dave Koz 2012 Cruise to Europe. Though inspired by Grover Washington, Jr. and Kirk Whalum, among others, Elan displays his own fresh ideas and distinctive tone. He is a 3-time winner of the New England Urban Music Award for Best Jazz Male, 2-time nominee for a Boston Music Award, and winner of Instrumentalist of the Year (Barbados) in 2011. Born and raised in Barbados and educated at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, Elan approaches jazz in his own way. Blending Caribbean rhythms with skillful horn textures, his playing is full of surprises.  With four Top 25 Billboard singles, he takes pride in always writing and producing his music. “Love and Sax,” his 5th CD, debuted at #20 on Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums in June 2011. The single “Heaven In Your Eyes" (featuring Brian Simpson) reached #11 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs Chart. In fall 2011, his single, a cover of Stevie Wonder's "As" with trumpeter Lin Rountree, reached #16 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Radio Chart. His sixth release, "Tropicality", co-produced by guitarist and good friend Peter White, proudly showcases Elan’s Caribbean heritage and features guest appearances by Paul Brown, Terri Lyne Carrington and Nick Colionne. 

PETER WHITE

Growing up Letchworth Garden City, England in the 1960s, Peter White grew interested in music while listening to the Beatles on the radio. His parents got him an acoustic guitar around age 8 and he taught himself to play while also taking lessons on the recorder, piano and later, clarinet. One day in 1967 he heard Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” Never hearing such sounds from his acoustic, he decided the electric guitar was to be the most important thing in his life. Eventually he got one and furiously studied the works of Hendrix, Clapton and Page, but his dreams were put on hold when the guitar was burned in a fire (accidentally) set by his brother Danny. He found solace in his old acoustic guitar, having no idea that this incident, however tragic at the time, would prove to be a turning point in his life. He developed a love for the acoustic instrument, a feeling that continues to this day. For over two decades, he has maintained a reputation as one of the most versatile and prolific acoustic guitarists on the contemporary jazz landscape. Smooth jazz fans worldwide are enthralled by his spirited melodies, soulful grooves and inviting, instantly recognizable acoustic guitar tone. He’s always enjoyed finding unique ways to bring his modern sensibilities to cherished pop classics — and thanks to the smooth jazz format’s affinity for instrumental cover songs, two of the amazing thirteen #1 Radio & Records airplay hits he’s had through the years, “The Closer I Get To You” and “Walk On By,” have become enduring staples of the format. Pop music fans were listening to his classic acoustic guitar style even before the advent of the New Adult Contemporary and Smooth Jazz formats, most notably via his collaborations with British folk/pop singer Al Stewart. The Stewart-White partnership, which culminated with the dual live recording “Rhymes in Rooms” in the mid-90s, spanned over 20 years. White played on Stewart’s landmark “Year of the Cat” album, co-wrote and performed on two of Stewart’s biggest hits, “Time Passages” and “Midnight Rocks.” In the late 1980s, White accompanied Basia on several of her acclaimed albums and in 1996; she was featured on his album Caravan of Dreams, with vocals on the single "Just Another Day,” a popular airplay hit. With over a dozen albums, numerous musical collaborations, and his annual A Peter White Christmas shows, Peter is still going strong. In March 2012, he released “Here We Go,” which featured guest spots from Andrew Neu, Nate Phillips, Phillipe Saisse, David Sanborn, and Kirk Whalum.

MINDI ABAIR

Mindi Abair shines as one of the contemporary jazz artists who crosses over into the world of pop. Her unique hybrid sound and mix of cool vulnerability and utter conviction gives the likes of John Mayer and Corinne Baily Rae a run for their barrier breaking money. Mindi’s own brand of pop meets jazz adds a refreshingly unique voice to an exciting new generation of crossover artists who, like her, are powerful instrumentalists as well as thought-provoking singer songwriters. Perhaps John Taylor, famed Duran Duran bassist, says it best about her stunning melodies and heartfelt lyrics, citing her 2008 album Stars, a genre-busting, breathtaking combination of contemporary jazz and Top 40 torch songs. He notes, "It will be love at first listen.” Mindi’s first single from the album, the title track “Stars,” struck genre transcending success, charting number 29 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Mindi has been producing quality groundbreaking releases like this since her debut album It Just Happens That Way, which debuted in the Top 5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and remained in the Top 10 for 19 consecutive weeks. Her 2006 release Life Less Ordinary debuted at #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and remained in the top 20 for 45 weeks.

NAJEE

Najee is one of the original innovators of Urban Contemporary Jazz/Smooth Jazz. With two Platinum and four Gold albums under his belt, the native New Yorker was nominated for a Grammy in 1988 for “Najee’s Theme” and is the recipient of many other music awards including the Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Artist, NAACP Image Award, and Trumpet Awards. Three decades later, this quadruple threat who is equally adept on soprano, tenor and alto saxophones and flute is going strong! Throughout his career, Najee has worked with many great artists including Quincy Jones, Will Downing, Patti La Belle, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Marcus Miller, Joe Sample, Lalah Hathaway, Jeff Lorber, Wayman Tisdale, Dave Koz, Lionel Richie, Gerald Veasley, Jonathan Butler, MAYSA, Ledisi, and was part of Prince’s “Hit and Run Tour”. His 2012 album, "The Smooth Side of Soul" pairs the smooth jazz icon with special guests including Phil Perry, Jeff Lorber, Chris "Big Dog" Davis, and Pieces of a Dream's James Lloyd. The album comes “highly recommended” by SoulTracks.

FREDDIE JACKSON

One of the biggest R&B stars in the 1980s and early 1990s, Grammy-nominated singer Freddie Jackson dominated the R&B charts with well-known hits including “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Time’s Sake),” “Jam Tonight,” “Do Me Again,” and “You are My Lady.”  His 1985 debut album Rock Me Tonight stormed the R&B charts. The Laurence-penned title track stormed the R&B charts, spending six weeks at number one, and made Jackson an instant sensation on urban contemporary radio. “You Are My Lady” gave Freddie a second straight R&B chart-topper, and also proved to be his highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #13. With “He’ll Never Love You (Like I Do)” and “Love Is Just a Touch Away” also hitting the R&B Top Ten, Rock Me Tonight topped the R&B album chart and went platinum.  Another platinum seller, Just Like the First Time continued Jackson's dominance of the R&B singles charts; "Tasty Love," "Have You Ever Loved Somebody," and "Jam Tonight" all hit #1, while "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love" went to #2.  In 1985 he received Grammy nominations for Best New Arts and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "You are My Lady." He was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Male Artist, Soul/R&B in 1986 and won the 1988 American Music Award for Favorite Soul / R&B Single for "Nice 'N' Slow." Freddie continues to deliver sophisticated, romantic ballads with low-key releases including Live in Concert and soulful covers on Personal Reflections. His late 2010 release, For You, featured the single, "I Don't Wanna Go".

SPYRO GYRA

For over 35 years, Spyro Gyra has maintained a strong position at the forefront of modern jazz. Their debut album 1979’s Morning Dance included the title track that became a Top 40 single and proved to be the band’s breakout single. To this day, the Calypso-inspired track is still in heavy rotation on contemporary jazz stations nationwide. Soon after their acclaimed first release, the band initiated a heavy touring schedule that has been in perpetual motion ever since. Their 2001 album In Modern Times, an album that spent 64 weeks on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart, peaked at the #2 position. Two years later, the band released Original Cinema, followed by The Deep End in 2004. Both albums spent a considerable amount of time on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts. 2006’s Wrapped in a Dream cemented the band’s position as heavyweight contenders in the contemporary jazz arena, earning a Grammy nomination and wide critical acclaim. Spyro Gyra continued this momentum into 2007, releasing Good To Go-Go, an album that captures a more live groove with the help of new drummer Bonny B. Good To Go-Go scored two Grammy nominations in December 2007: Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Pop Instrumental Performance (the latter nomination for the track “Simple Pleasures”). In 2009, Spyro Gyra added the album, Down the Wire, to its voluminous discography and earned the group a Grammy nod for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Their most recent release 2011’s A Foreign Affair debuted at #2 on Billboard's jazz charts. Spyro Gyra continues to remain an exciting and dynamic instrumental group, constantly pushing and exploring the boundaries of contemporary jazz.

RACHELLE FERRELL

Rachelle Ferrell began singing at age 6 -- which may have contributed to the development of her amazing six plus octave range. Her remarkable range also includes the ability to sing her highest notes in the “whistle register.” As a child, she also received classical training in violin and by her teen years she was playing piano at a professional level. While still a teen, she began performing professionally, accompanying herself on piano, singing both pop and jazz songs, and writing much of her material herself. Enrolled in Boston’s Berklee College of Music, she further developed her skills in singing, arrangement and songwriting. Besides her success as a jazz singer, Rachelle is also well respected in pop, R&B, gospel, and classical music. As an accomplished pianist, she has worked with Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams, and George Duke. Blue Note Records’ Bruce Lundvall heard her demo in the late ‘80s and went to catch her live. While the demo included only pop songs, this particular performance was strictly jazz. Finding Rachelle’s command of both styles compelling, he signed her to a contract for one pop album, one jazz. She actually recorded her jazz album first, but her label released “Somethin’ Else” in Japan and Europe, where jazz had a wider mainstream following. Rachelle’s other 1990 album “First Instrument,” was also released in Japan 5 years prior to its USA release (where it was considered her debut album). She recorded it with Tyrone Brown (bass), Eddie Green (piano) and Doug Nally (drums) plus an all-star lineup including pianists Gil Goldstein and Michel Petrucciani, keyboardist Pete Levin, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, bassists Stanley Clarke and Kenny Davis, and tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Her one-of-a-kind spin on standards like Rodgers & Hart’s "My Funny Valentine,” Cole Porter’s “What Is This Thing Called Love,” and Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me,” quickly captured the hearts of Japanese jazz lovers and later US jazz fans.

PHIL PERRY

Born and raised in East St. Louis, Phil Perry spent a large part of his career as one of the most sought-after backing vocalists in the music business. His bright, multi-octave range has played a supporting role on dozens of albums by such acts as Anita Baker, Boz Scaggs, Rod Stewart, Peabo Bryson and George Duke. Soul music fans first discovered him as lead singer of the Montclairs, who’s “Begging’s Hard to Do” was a moderate hit in 1972. After a brief stint as part of the singing duo Perry and Sanlin, he went solo in 1991 with “The Heart of a Man,” an album most notable for his remake of Aretha Franklin’s “Call Me.” His follow-up, 1994’s “Pure Pleasure,” is among his best featuring fantastic remakes of “After the Love is Gone,” “If Only You Knew” and a magical 7-minute cover of the Spinners’ “Love Don’t Love Nobody.” In the ‘90s, Phil received increased coverage on Smooth Jazz radio via guest work on albums by Lee Ritenour, the Rippingtons, and others. This led to his debut album on Windham Hill’s subsidiary Private Music, "One Heart One Love," which hit the top five. On his follow-up, "My Book of Love," Phil began taking a more active role in songwriting and production, putting his personal imprint beyond the vocals. His solo albums "Classic Love Songs" (2006) and "A Mighty Love" (2007), which were highly successful comeback albums, and 2008’s "Ready For Love," another lush production rich with Perry originals, hit the Billboard Adult Contemporary music chart at #4 in the first week of its release. In 2007, Phil won Soul Tracks Readers Choice Award for “Male Vocalist of the Year.” In 2009, Phil paired up with Melba Moore for the acclaimed duet album The Gift of Love. Phil most recently released Say Yes (March 2013) receiving accolades for breathing new life into a selection of classics including “You Send Me” and “Where is the Love.”

NARRATED BY MISS ANGELA BOFILL | PERFORMED BY MAYSA, DAVE VALENTIN ands KIM WATERS

As most fans know, longtime Jazz/R&B music great Angela Bofill suffered a stroke in early 2006. Later that year she received the SoulTracks Lifetime Achievement Award and appeared to be on her way to recovery but in July 2007, she suffered another massive stroke and was in critical condition for quite some time. Fortunately, in the last few years Angela has enjoyed a return to the stage with the Angela Bofill Experience. The highly acclaimed show is a narrative and musical presentation of the songs most relevant to her career – songs including Angel of the Night, Break it to me Gently, This Time I’ll Be Sweeter, I’ll Try, and many more. Angela will take the stage to narrate this star studded jazz evening of her life in and out of music, featuring performances by Maysa, Kim Waters, and longtime friend and confidente, Grammy award winner Dave Valentin.