Soul of Summer 2013
Soul of Summer a multicultural affair
The spirit of spring is followed by the Soul of Summer, which this year will take on an international flair. The third edition of South African singer-songwriter-guitarist Jonathan Butler’s summer concert trek will feature multi-talented Latina Sheila E. and Barbadian saxophonist Elan Trotman. Backed by a 3-piece band and Butler’s daughter Jodie Butler on background vocals, the set list will showcase the artists’ hits along with a few cover tunes. The Soul of Summer 2013 will debut at the San Diego Jazz Festival on May 25th with dates booked across the U.S. into August.
“I’m excited to get on the road with Soul of Summer 2013. This year, we have the Latin flavor of Sheila E., the Caribbean flavor of Elan Trotman, and with my South African roots, it creates a great world music experience. Music can be a unifying force and unity is the spirit of Soul of Summer,” said Butler after the outfit’s first rehearsal at which they created the 14-song set list.
Butler’s Soul of Summer excursions are collaborative by nature. Each artist will have time during the show to perform individually, but the magic comes from the pairings when Butler, E. and Trotman will share the stage in various combinations to play their chart-toppers, fan favorites and Grammy-nominated singles, including Butler’s “Sara Sara” and “Lies” and E.’s “Glamorous Life.”
A two-time Grammy nominee, Butler became a child star while growing up under Apartheid and was the first black artist to be played on radio stations in South Africa. His 17-deep album catalogue is a study in diversity as Butler refuses to limit the scope of his musical vision that spans contemporary jazz instrumentals, soulful R&B, sophisticated pop and stirring gospel. Blessed with an impassioned voice that cries for justice, romantic pleas for love, and worshipful praise, Butler is dually noted for his nifty guitar-play on both nylon string and electric. Whether in a full band setting or stripped down to his roots as a spellbinding singer-songwriter, Butler pours his heart and soul into his live shows that uplift, enlighten and inspire. His latest recording, the gospel offering “Grace and Mercy,” was released last fall and continues to spread the word at radio. Butler will release a Christmas album this fall.
The daughter of Latin jazz patriarch Pete Escovedo, E. is a dynamic drummer, percussionist and vocalist who had her commercial breakthrough as a protégé of Prince with whom she still occasionally collaborates. Proudly braiding elements of her Hispanic heritage to funk, jazz, soul, fusion and gospel, she captivates with her high-energy performances and rhythmically-astute beats that have enabled her to play with some of the biggest names in popular music while collecting her own #1 Billboard hits and multiple Grammy and American Music Awards nominations along with an MTV Best Video Award win. The stunning beauty, a multimedia star that has graced the silver screen and small screen, released a concert DVD, “Sheila E. Summer Tour 2012 – LIVE in Lugano, Switzerland” last December.
Trotman is a feted newcomer winning fans and plaudits for the good-natured spirit of the Caribbean that he brings to R&B and contemporary jazz grooves. The saxman who attended the Berklee College of Music on a scholarship from the government of Barbados released his sixth album, “Tropicality,” earlier this year, which he wrote and produced with guitar star Peter White. The disc containing performances by an array of accomplished musicians is a celebration of island life that also chronicles Trotman’s journey from Barbados to Boston.
The Soul of Summer 2013 band is comprised of bassist and musical director Dan Lutz, drummer Jay Williams, and keyboardist Dennis Hamm.
The 2013 itinerary for Soul of Summer featuring Butler, E. and Trotman is:
May 25 Carlsbad, CA San Diego Jazz Festival
July 10 Detroit, MI Chene Park
July 17 New York, NY Spirit Cruise Ship
July 20 Norfolk, VA Norfolk Jazz Festival
July 27 Temecula, CA Thornton Winery
August 2 Austin, TX One World Theatre
August 3 Houston, TX Houston International Jazz Festival
August 10 Kettering, OH Festival of the Vine
August 11 Richmond, VA Richmond Jazz Festival
Additional dates will be added, which will be posted at www.jonathanbutler.com.
ROCK’in the Vineyard
ROCK’in the Vineyard
Saturday, May 18th, 2013
CRAIG CHAQUICO & BAND
Performing Live At Young’s Vineyard in
Beautiful Amador County Wine Country
Opening the Show – CHARLEY LANGER & KURT SHIFLET
ROCK’in Auction with KFBK Sports Guy Pat Walsh
Gates Open 1:30 Showtime 2:30
Concert, Gourmet Food, Wine Tasting & Live Auction/Raffle
Concert/Food Pass $65
VIP Pass $165
George Benson – My Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
After four years of touring and developing “An Unforgettable Tribute to Nat King Cole,” the legendary George Benson makes his most inspired album: My Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole. The recording is one of the most meaningful of Benson’s career and is a testament to the spirit of Cole’s timeless body of work. Benson’s heartfelt renditions of some of Cole’s greatest songs with Nelson Riddle arrangements and the 42-piece Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra are complemented by duets with Tony Award winner Idina Menzel and rising star Judith Hill, along with a special collaboration with multi-GRAMMY and Pulitzer Prize-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.
My Inspiration: A Tribute To Nat King Cole album by George Benson is scheduled to be released Jun 04, 2013 on the Concord label. My Inspiration: A Tribute To Nat King Cole CD music contains a single disc with 13 songs. You can order this album at CDUniverse.
Lawson Rollins – Full Circle
Having traversed the world in search of intriguing sounds from virtually every corner of the globe with his beloved Spanish guitar en tow, Lawson Rollins has come full circle on his aptly titled fourth solo album, “Full Circle,” which will be released July 16th by his Infinita Records.
Adopting a “less can be more” philosophy on the twelve new songs that he composed allows the focus to be on Rollins’ captivating melodies and dexterous fretwork that unfold over worldbeat rhythms and multicultural instrumentation. Radio listeners will be introduced to the collection Rollins produced with multi-platinum producer Dominic Camardella (Ottmar Liebert, Flora Purim, 3rd Force) when the first single, “Momentum,” is shipped to stations in June.
Just as he has on his previous releases, Rollins entered the recording studio with Camardella (keyboards, piano) and a gifted ensemble comprised of Grammy-winning violinist Charlie Bisharat, bassist Randy Tico, percussionist Dave Bryant and saxophonist/flutist Richard Hardy. Rollins plays classical, flamenco and electric guitars on “Full Circle” along with keyboards and drum programming. The multilingual etchings of the erudite guitarist fluctuate in tone and speed.
Andy Snitzer – The Rhythm
Saxophonist Andy Snitzer returns with his new album, The Rhythm, a new groove-oriented instrumental release steeped in richly textured worldbeat elements and dynamic urban grooves. The album, Andy’s first all-new studio recording in two years, was produced in between Andy’s travels with the legendary Paul Simon.
Co-produced and co-written by saxophonist David Mann, the album includes performances by Mann, guitarist Chuck Loeb and trumpeter Till Bronner, backed by a renouned rhythm section that includes keyboardist Alain Mallet, bassists James Genus and Tim Levebfre, and drummer Shawn Pelton. Featured cuts on the album include the first single “Candy,” “Velvet,” and “No Exit.”
The Rhythm is available at Amazon.com.
Christian Robinson – On the C Side
Smooth Jazz Guitarist and Bassist Christian Robinson was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Christian did not pick up a guitar until the age of 42. Drawing considerable influence from artists such as Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Grover Washington Jr, and many others. At the outset of his career, Christian regularly shifted between jazz, Hip-Hop, Funk and R&B. His musical style ranges from a hybrid of Jazz, Blues, Funk and R&B. later on in his life Christian grew to love Gospel music and combined his love for Jazz to fuse a unique sound of Rhythm and Blues, Funk, Jazz and a hint of Hip-Hop. Although influenced by many styles of music, Christian grew up on Jazz, Funk, R&B and soul. later in his life he began a love for rap/hip-hop and began combining the various musical styles playing the keyboard as a young demo producer.
