JazzWeek with airplay data powered by jazzweek.com • December 3, 2004 Volume 1, Number 4 • $7.95 In This Issue: Breaking Dave Douglas Launches News ‘Greenleaf’ . 5 CONCORD Savoy Signs RECORDS Vijay Iyer . 5 ACQUIRES WQCD is now FANTASY p. 4 N.Y. Chill . 6 CD Reviews and Editors’ Picks. 12 Jazz Radio Charts, Adds, Releases . 15 Smooth Jazz Radio Album and Singles Charts, Releases . 20 Radio Blindfold Test With Panels. 24 p. 7 News. 4 Pianist Michel Camilo Charts: Jazz Album – Dr. Lonnie Smith Smooth Album – Dave Koz Smooth Single – Wayman Tisdale JazzWeek This Week EDITOR Ed Trefzger Regular contributors Keith and Kent Zimmerman are back with an- CONTRIBUTING EDITORS other in their continuing series of columns, Take The “Z” Train. They had Keith Zimmerman a chance to sit down with 2004 JazzWeek Artist of the Year Michel Cami- Kent Zimmerman lo on his recent visit to the bay area, and had a good old-fashioned blindfold Tad Hendrickson test. Check out how your opinion matches up with his. We’re glad to have CONTRIBUTING WRITER the Z-men on board; look forward to more contributions from them in the Tom Mallison future. PHOTOGRAPHY Barry Solof There have been rumblings about Fantasy being purchased by another label for a few months now. Concord now will possess a vault that is rivaled PUBLISHER only by Blue Note and Verve – the groundbreaking recordings from Pres- Tony Gasparre tige, Orrin Keepnews’ Riverside and Milestone labels, Stax and Volt, Nor- man Granz’s irreplaceable Pablo live recordings, plus a lot of stuff that I can ADVERTISING: Contact Tony Gasparre (585) 235-4685 x3 or only begin to guess about. I trust that the new Concord Music Group will email: [email protected] be as good a caretaker as Fantasy has been. Tad Hendrickson notes another artist starting his own label, Dave SUBSCRIPTIONS: Prices in US Dollars: Charter Rate: $199.00 per year, Douglas. (And if you’re counting, that’s three new artist-owned labels JazzWeek w/ Industry Access -- Charter in our first four issues!) Tad also catches a live set from Lou Donaldson, Rate: $249.00 per year brings us some CD reviews, and updates us on Vijay Iyer’s signing to Savoy. Introductory Rates effective until 12/31/04 To subscribe using Visa/MC/Discover/ I’m intrigued by WQCD’s move to “New York Chill”, adding a good AMEX/PayPal go to: dose of chill to the otherwise standard Smooth Jazz format. Could this be http://www.jazzweek.com/account/ the answer to ending a bit of stagnation in the format? It certainly seems subscribe.html like it will fit a hip, urban, and maybe a younger, demographic. And it fits a sound that many smooth artists have begun to dabble in. AIRPLAY MONITORING BY We noted that Apple opened its iTunes store in Canada this week. Jazz has done well at digital download sites – Sunnyside’s Garrett Shelton has a pithy comment on the issue, and we hope to look at digital music sales in- depth in the new year. Mediaguide 1000 Chesterbrook Blvd. Speaking of which, IAJE 2005 isn’t that far away; if you’re on the Suite 150 fence, this year promises to have more radio and industry-specific sessions Berwyn, PA 19312 than ever. Check out the IAJE ad on page 25 for info. Once again, please let us know what’s on your mind. We’ll start pub- Published weekly by lishing letters when we start receiving them. We know a lot of you, and know you are outspoken, so don’t be shy. And if you’re a writer who’d like to contribute, drop us a line, too. Reach me at [email protected]. – Ed Trefzger, Editor 2117 Buffalo Road Suite 317 Rochester, NY 14624 phone: (585) 235-4685 fax: (585) 235-4685 [email protected] Copyright ©2004 Yellow Dog Communications Inc. jazzweek.com • December 3, 2004 JazzWeek 2 Contents December 3, 2004 News . 4 Concord Records Acquires Fantasy . 4 Dave Douglas Launches Greenleaf Records . 5 Vijay Iyer Signed to Savoy Jazz . 5 AirTran Sponsors Koz Tour . 5 4 Apple Opens iTunes Store in Canada . 6 WQCD Becomes N.Y. Chill . 6 Features Pianist Michel Camilo Takes A “Z” Train-JazzWeek Blindfold Test. 7 Reviews and Picks . 12 Jazz Charts . 15 Jazz Album Chart . 16 7 Jazz Add Dates . 17 Jazz Current CDs . 18 Jazz Radio Panel . 24 Smooth Jazz Charts . 20 Smooth Album Chart . 21 Smooth Singles Chart. 22 Smooth Current CDs . 23 15 Smooth Radio Panel . 24 20 JazzWeek Volume 1 Issue 4 jazzweek.com • December 3, 2004 JazzWeek 3 News Concord Records Acquires Fantasy BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Con- honored to be in a position to help car- The Rippingtons, Poncho Sanchez cord Records, Inc. and Fantasy, Inc. ry the Fantasy legacy into the future. I and Curtis Stigers. Concord’s posthu- announced Wednesday that Concord am so enthusiastic about this merger, mous duet release from Ray Charles, has completed its acquisition of Fanta- about working with the talented pro- Genius Loves Company, has shipped sy and has merged the two companies fessionals involved from both sides and more than 2 million copies in the U.S. to form a new entity called the Con- the great opportunities for the com- and 3 million units worldwide, and has cord Music Group, Inc. bined companies going forward.” been certified multi-platinum. As part of the transaction, Tail- First organized in 1969 by Carl Fantasy Records was established wind Capital Partners, a private equi- Jefferson, the Concord Jazz Festival in San Francisco in 1949 by Max and ty investment firm focused on me- Sol Weiss, who ran a pressing plant dia and other growth sectors of the and the Fantasy Records and Gal- economy, provided new equity cap- axy labels. Their first artist was an ital to the Concord Music Group. Oakland pianist named Dave Bru- The existing owners of Concord Re- beck, and recordings by Cal Tjader, cords, Norman Lear and Hal Gaba, Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker, Vince remain substantial shareholders Guaraldi (whose “A Charlie Brown in the combined entity. Concord’s Christmas” is a perennial seasonal management will also have a share best-seller), Mongo Santamaria and of the new company. John Lee Hooker soon followed. Ralph Kaffel, president of Fan- Saul Zaentz, who had joined tasy, said, “Having spent fifty years Fantasy as a salesman in 1955, as- in the record business, 33 of them sembled a group of investors in at Fantasy building up the catalogs, Ray Charles’ Genius Loves Company has gone 1967 and purchased the label from my primary concern as well as that multi-platimum for Concord Records. the Weiss brothers. Just a year lat- of the other principals, was that the er, Creedence Clearwater Reviv- acquiring entity should have the al released its debut recording, and proper understanding and respect within 18 months had scored more in Northern California served as the for the treasure that we are turning than 20 Hot 100 singles and nine con- catalyst for what would eventually be- over to them, and be willing to per- secutive top 10 singles in the U.S. The come Concord Records. Lear and petuate the historical legacy these cat- company used that success to acquire Gaba bought the company in 1999, alogs represent. With Norman, Hal, many labels, including two started by and in 2002, moved its headquarters Glen Barros and all the other talented legend Orrin Keepnews – Riverside to Beverly Hills. people now at the helm at the Con- and Milestone – as well as Contempo- cord Music Group, my colleagues and Concord’s current roster of vocal rary/Good Time Jazz, Debut, Kick- I are convinced the Fantasy catalog is and instrumental artists includes: Kar- ing Mule, Pablo, Prestige/New Jazz, in very good hands.” rin Allyson, Patti Austin, Regina Belle, Stax/Volt/Enterprise, Specialty and Peter Cincotti, Michael Feinstein, Takoma. Glen Barros, president and CEO at Concord, and now president and Nnenna Freelon, Robben Ford, Latoya The new company is expected to chief executive officer of the Concord London, Marian McPartland, Barry maintain offices both in Beverly Hills Music Group, said, “I am incredibly Manilow, Ozomatli, Eddie Palmieri, and in Berkeley. JW jazzweek.com • December 3, 2004 JazzWeek 4 News Vijay Iyer Signed to Savoy Jazz Dave Douglas Launches One of the most promising young pianists working today, Vijay Iyer’s career continues to pick up speed in 2005 Greenleaf Records with the release of Reimagining. This album, set for late-March release, will by Tad Hendrickson be his Savoy debut. It will feature Iyer as well as regular saxophonist Rudresh ach new day reinforces how important it is for artists, labels and others Mahanthappa, bassist Stephen Crump in the music business to adopt new ways of doing business. As the majors and 18-year-old hotshot drummer Marcus Econtinue to merge and retain only the most lucrative acts, marginalized Gilmore, who happens to be the grandson performers like jazz musicians are forced to rethink how they want to conduct of drum legend Roy Haynes. business. It’s with this in mind that trumpeter Dave Douglas has left BMG’s The album will include a cover of the Bluebird Records to launch Greenleaf Records with partner Michael Friedman Beatles “Revolution” (here retitled (who also owns and runs Premonition). “Revolutions”) and one of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” “Perhaps these versions “Dave is the A&R, could be seen as critical reexaminations musician and idea guy, of the original songs,” Iyer says of the I’m doing everything songs, “refracted through the lens of my else,” says Friedman of individual and collective experiences.” the 50-50 partnership.