A White Christmas at Playhouse Square 30TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE November/December 2004 • Issue 271 a White Christmas at Playhouse Square
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November/December 2004 Issue 271 Free 30th Anniversary Year www.jazz-blues.com PETER WHITE A White Christmas at Playhouse Square 30TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE November/December 2004 • Issue 271 A White Christmas at Playhouse Square Published by Martin Wahl Peter White, Mindi Abair & Rick Braun Communications Provide the Holiday Cheer Editor & Founder Bill Wahl It’s that rime of year again, and the mat. Earlier this year, MediaBase 24-7’s Layout & Design Bill Wahl Christmas concert season is upon us. research revealed that White’s music is On December 15 smooth jazz guitarist the most played on the entire radio for- Operations Jim Martin Peter White will be warming up Play- mat. The four-time consecutive winner of Pilar Martin house Square. the National Smooth Jazz Awards “Gui- Contributors The Englishman in the oversized tarist of the Year” honors is currently sup- Michael Braxton, Mark Cole, Chris jolly red suit will be porting his ninth solo Hovan, Nancy Ann Lee, David bringing a couple of album, Confidential, McPherson, Peanuts, Mark elves with him on his which was released in Smith, Duane Verh and Ron musical mission of March on Columbia holiday merrymak- Records. The first Weinstock. ing. Trumpeter Rick single from the album, Braun and saxo- “Talkin’ Bout Love,” Check out our new, updated web phonist Mindi Abair spent seven weeks at page. Now you can search for CD are loading up #1, and the new single Reviews by artists, Titles, Record White’s musical from the collection, Labels or JBR Writers. Twelve years sleigh as they visit “How Does It Feel,” just of reviews are up and we’ll be going all the way back to 1974! Cleveland on their an entered the Top 20 on 18-city U.S. concert its ascent to the peak Address all Correspondence to.... journey, which kicks position. His guitar Jazz & Blues Report off in San Diego No- sound has become his 19885 Detroit Road # 320 vember 26. White, signature, a sensitive Rocky River, Ohio 44116 Braun and Abair will and emotive voice of Main Office ...... 216.651.0626 deck the halls with melody, which sings Editor's Desk ... 440.331.1930 jazzy versions of Mindi Abair eloquently over R&B, [email protected] seasonal classics, a jazz, pop and Latin Web .................. www.jazz-blues.com few original holiday songs and some of rhythms. White, who first made his mark their best known hits. A Peter White as a teenager while playing with singer- Copyright © 2004 Martin-Wahl Communications Inc. Christmas is a holiday treat loaded with songwriter Al Stewart, with whom he wrote No portion of this publication may be only the finest ingredients - fun, funk, the hit “Time Passages,” has recorded reproduced without written permission smooth jazz and pop - and they guar- and/or toured with Abair, Basia, Dave Koz, from the publisher. All rights Reserved. antee it will even enchant the mean old Richard Elliot, Boney James, David Scrooges. Benoit, Gato Barbieri, Euge Groove, Craig Jazz Report was founded in Buffalo New All three artists have previously re- Chaquico, and Braun. York in March of 1974 and began in Cleve- leased holiday CDs, which is one of the Braun is also regarded as one of the land in April of 1978. We are subsidized things that inspired White to launch the top artists in smooth jazz, a format that solely through advertisement and ask that tour, now in its second year. “My earli- he fell into after a stint in the pop world, you support our advertisers. est memories of Christmas were prob- where he co-penned the hit “Here With a W division of ably not much different from many other Me” while playing with REO Speedwagon. artin-Wahl c o m m u n i c a t i o n s people: snowflakes, tinsel, Santa Claus, He went on to play in Sade’s band, which reindeer and the opening of presents helped him hone his own sound as a solo surrounded by family. As a child, my artist. The trumpeter consistently deliv- father taught me to play Christmas mu- ers #1 hit singles and his albums often sic on my first instrument, the recorder, camp out at the top of the national charts "Buffalonious" and my love for holiday music has en- for months on end. Braun has released Original mascot from dured throughout the years. I hope this ten solo albums, including a new live col- the tour will be an opportunity for fans to lection, Sessions Volume 1, released on Buffalo Jazz Report enjoy their favorite Christmas songs in the newly launched Artisan Records label, days – mid '70s a family setting. Perhaps I’ll even bring which he owns with saxophonist Richard my recorder.” Elliot. Twice named “Smooth Jazz Artist Created by Over the past decade, White’s inti- of the Year” by the Gavin Report, Braun is Christine Engla Eber mate way with acoustic guitar melodies also recognized as an ace in the studio, has scored twelve #1 singles that have where he has produced records for White, Watch for new t-shirts bearing his image–coming soon! helped define the smooth jazz radio for- Benoit, Marc Antoine, Jeff Golub, Eric PAGE TWO November/December 2004 • Issue 271 Marienthal, Willie & Lobo, among others. struments and drummers their own On the concert stage and on record sticks. Amps, keyboards and drum kit Braun is a soulful and dynamic funkster, will be provided by the host band, to be who has recorded and toured behind col- used after their opening set. laborative duo and trio album projects Once again, the host band will be with Boney James, Kirk Whalum and the Peanuts All-Star Jam Band, led by Norman Brown (BWB). bassist Jim Bacha (Clearlight/Masque, Abair was last year’s breakthrough The Killers, BMZ) and guitarist Cy Sulak new artist of the year in smooth jazz. She (Sweetleaf, Michael Stanley’s solo shared the stage on White’s inaugural project, My Old School). Rounding out Christmas concert tour last year and the line-up this year will be guitarist Jerry By Mark Smith she’s back for another trek, this time in Zsigo (Clue, BMZ, The Collective), lead Back Home blues.....Tommy support of her recently released sopho- vocalist George Yunis (Souvenir), drum- Castro, one of the most popular artists more album, Come As You Are on GRP mer Tim Joseph (The Evidence, Wish to emerge on the blues scene in recent Records. Abair is an instrumentalist and You Were Here) and keyboardist Gary years, has signed a recording deal to a vocalist who incorporates rock and pop Jones (No Agenda, Midlife Chryslers) rejoin the family of Blind Pig Records, into her soul-jazz selections and she has Other unexpected surprises? Al- the independent label that brought him already started her own collection of #1s. ways, at the Peanuts All-Star Jam! to international prominence. Castro re- The sassy saxophonist’s crossover ap- For further information on The corded his first four studio albums for peal landed her an opening slot on tour Beachland Ballroom or for directions to Blind Pig, as well as a live CD and a this past summer with Josh Groban. the Peanuts All-Star Jam, call (216) 383- DVD that was taped at the legendary Before emerging as a solo artist, Abair 1124. Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. toured with The Backstreet Boys, Mandy The band is hard at work recording a Moore, Duran Duran and Jonathan But- Tri-C JazzFest’s new disc which should find its way to ler. stores in early February, 2005.... An- Peter White’s Chrismas Show will be The Song Is You! other piggy blues.... In addition to re- at the Palace theatre on Wednesday, Continuing its popular concert se- signing Castro, Blind Pig has just inked December 15 at 7:30 PM. Bad night? ries The Song Is You!, Tri-C JazzFest a deal with Rev. Billy C. Wirtz to release Then try the Dave Koz & Friends Smooth Cleveland will present Hoagy a live DVD and CD. Wirtz, pastor of the Jazz Christmas the night Carmichael: Up a Lazy River, Sunday, First House of Polyester Worship and before...Tuesday, December 14 at 7:30 November 7. Some of Carmichael’s Horizontal Throbbing Teenage Desire, PM. most memorable music; Georgia On mixes his piano skills with humor and My Mind, Star Dust, The Nearness of heavy doses of pro wrestling showman- You and many more will be covered. ship. According to the label, it “decided Peanut’s 30th Annual Joining host Bill Rudman and the to capture on videotape this six-foot- Joe Hunter Trio will be vocalists Bar- four heavily tattooed man with slicked- Thanksgiving Eve Jam bara Knight and Vince Mastro. Con- back flaming red hair and a demonic ceived by Rudman, The Song is You! goatee who wears Hawaiian print shirts Since 1975, the night before Thanks- is a multi-media program filled with live and alligator-skin shoes, and unleash giving has always been a special night music, recordings, videos and fascinat- a full length live performance DVD on for area musicians. It’s the one time of ing stories about the men and women the public. Also included will be back- the year when they try to get together to who made Broadway, Tin Pan Alley and stage footage, interviews, some clips play, this time just for fun. And, that movie music. Future programming will from his days in the pro wrestling busi- brings us to the Peanuts All-Star Jam include the music of the Gershwin ness, and a couple of other surprises.” 2004, the original Thanksgiving Eve All- brothers, Duke Ellington and Harold Run for shelter now!!!....Make your Star Jam.