SMOOTH GROOVE REPORT: Diva Alyson Williams to make welcome comeback, saxophonist Candy Dulfer touring again with Prince
Plus: lineups for St. Lucia and Playboy Jazz fests and More
by Janine Coveney

Alyson Williams
(Mar. 19, 2004) Remember singer Alyson Williams? The New Yorker with the striking looks and equally striking jazz/soul vocal style got late '80s hits with "Just Call My Name" and "Sleep Talk." Now the diva is set to deliver a new CD titled "It's About Time" on April 20th.

Signed to the Three Keys Entertainment label out of Washington, D.C., Williams is making a comeback to the realm of commercial recording after some 13 years. She was originally signed to Def Jam and released two albums: 1989's well-received "Raw" and 1991's "Alyson Williams."

Three Keys Entertainment was founded and is headed by smooth jazz keyboardist Marcus Johnson, a 30-something law and business school graduate who managed to get a major, multi-million influx of cash last year from BET founder Robert Johnson, no relation, to expand his business.

Three Keys now boasts a recording studio and publishing arm in addition to the label, with a roster that also includes Johnson himself, neo-soul songstress Yahzarah, and respected smooth jazz keyboardist Bobby Lyle, who will deliver a double album titled "Straight & Smooth" on April 6th. As the title suggests, Lyle's project will feature one disk of straight-ahead jazz material and one disk of smooth jazz grooves.


These days you can count female jazz saxophonists on one hand: Mindi Abair, Pamela "The Saxtress" Williams, and Dutch-born Candy Dulfer. Thanks to her stints on the road with Prince in the early '90s, many funksters became aware of Dulfer's soulful style and watched her chart the much-beloved 1990 smooth jazz hit with the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, titled "Lily Was Here." Well, Candy hits the road with Prince this month on the brand-new Musicology tour, and she couldn't be happier. As part of the New Power Generation, Candy will also be playing side by side with one of her saxophone idols, Maceo Parker.

The former James Brown sideman also guests on her current CD, "Right In My Soul," on a funky cover of Donny Hathaway's 1973 instrumental "Valdez In The Country." Dulfer has said that working with Prince in the past has been a great learning experience and that standing on stage with His Royal Badness, Sheila E., and Parker is "heaven." She holds a special place in her heart for Parker, saying: "Maceo-- he comes and he plays. Everything that he does is just god-like. It's divine, at least to my ears."

Don't sleep on Candy's album, released last fall; the set's title track "Right In My Soul," refers to how the music of Miles Davis first affected her, and the rest is a mix of funk, European lounge, and ambient tunes with Candy alternately singing and playing her signature sax.


Notes: Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, saxophonist Kenny G, pop singer Ashanti, R&B balladeer Joe, veteran jazz pianist Billy Taylor, saxophone legends James Carter, jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, jazz vocalist Marlena Shaw, and hop-hop soul duo Floetry are scheduled to perform at the 13th annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival, set for May 7th through May 16th on the Caribbean island ... This year's Playboy Jazz festival in Los Angeles will feature Wynton Marsalis and his septet; BWB featuring Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, and Norman Brown; and Herbie Hancock in a quartet with Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, and Brian Blade , among others. The 26th annual festival, set for June 19th and 20th at the Hollywood Bowl, will be the first to take place after the historic Hollywood Bowl's multi-million-dollar renovation. Also appearing on that June weekend: Hugh Masekela, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Femi Kuti, Savion Glover and Ti Dii (pronounced Tye Dye), the Christian McBride Band, Etta James & the Roots Band, and Robert Randolph & the Family Band ... Checking out Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, the question lingers: How is it that Norah Jones's first CD, "Come Away With Me," was considered a Number One jazz album, while her second CD, "Feels Like Home," which has all the same musical elements, is nowhere on that chart? I like Miss Jones, but she is more of a folk-pop-country artist than a jazz artist. Her dominance on the jazz chart for the last year and a half has prevented other deserving artists--like vocalist Will Downing and his wonderful "Emotions" set -- from a shot at Number One.

Janine Coveney is the smooth jazz format manager for LAUNCH Radio. She can be reached at thatjgirl@yahoo.com.

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SMOOTH GROOVE REPORT: George Benson Rethinks Direction of Forthcoming CD
Plus, updates on Fourplay, Al Jarreau, Gerald Albright & more
by Janine Coveney

George Benson
(Mar. 12, 2004) George Benson's long overdue CD, "Irreplaceable," was recently pushed back yet again to a May 25th release date.

Seems George's attempts to present a brand-new, distinctly contemporary R&B collection met with nervous skepticism from his label, GRP, as well as some critics.

George's set initially included some tasty R&B vocal tunes co-written by Joshua P. Thompson, the man who's written hits with Alicia Keys, Joe, Babyface, Luther Vandross, and others.

Joe even co-wrote a tune and sang with Benson on another. While the original 10-track set did include a couple of jazzy tunes, there were no "Breezin'"s or even "This Masquerade"s.

The label issued a statement in late February, when "Irreplaceable" was last due, saying:

"After a lot of soul-searching, George Benson came to the conclusion that he wanted to re-work his album and add more of the instrumental jazz that has been the hallmark of his career for so many years. While Benson embraces the new direction in which his music has been taking him, he decided that he wanted to create a record that would appeal to ALL of his fans: traditional jazz, contemporary jazz and R&B."

More ...

Bob James, Larry Carlton, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason are in the studio to deliver a new Fourplay album, tentatively due this fall. No guest singers this time out, as bassist Nathan East has been appointed to officially handle any further vocal duties ... Popular sax man Gerald Albright is set to deliver his new CD, "Kickin' It Up", on June 8th. The disk features guest appearances by Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman, Rufus guitarist Tony Maiden, and keyboard great George Duke. The set features covers of Brian McKnight's "Condition Of My Heart," pop-rocker John Mayer's "Why Georgia," and Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes' "If You Don't Know Me By Now." While Gerald is known for playing sax, folks may not realize that he also plays flute, keyboards, and is a baaaaad bass player. Yeah, that was him on bass in Anita Baker's '90s videos! ... Al Jarreau is going back to his jazz roots. Finally! Fans have been waiting for Jarreau to do a real jazz outing, and his upcoming August album is said to do just that. No title yet ... George Duke, Chaka Khan, Sting, Earth, Wind & Fire, Santana, Lenny Kravitz, and Prince are among the artists featured on "Power Of Soul: A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix," which features cover versions of Hendrix songs. The set drops May 4th ... Warner Bros. Records has shut down its jazz division, leaving the fate of several artists up in the air. Some, like trumpeter Rick Braun, have been dropped from the roster. No word yet on whether the label will keep or jettison acts including Kirk Whalum, BWB, Nicholas Payton, Boney James, and Norman Brown ... Maryland-based saxophonist Kim Waters has the Number One smooth jazz radio single in the country, according to trade mag Radio & Records.


Janine Coveney is the smooth jazz format manager for LAUNCH Radio. She can be reached at: thatjgirl@yahoo.com

Cool. I'm pullin' for George Benson. He's a good dude.