Smooth jazz keyboardist Keiko Matsui celebrates a birthday today [July 26.] Matsui received her first piano lessons at age five, following a Japanese tradition claiming that a child introduced to music at this time will study for years to come. Considered a prodigy, Matsui augmented her classical training with an interest in jazz; at 17, she was recording with a local fusion group.
She met husband, Kazu, on a trip to the U.S.; they used money set aside for their honeymoon to record her first solo project, A Drop of Water. Since then, she has regularly been named Top Female Contemporary Jazz Artist on several prestigious music lists.
Matsui is credited with discovering saxophonist Paul Taylor, who played on three of her albums.
Kirk Whalum is adding to his ever-expanding discography with the upcoming, Everything Is Everything, scheduled for release on August 31 [Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue Records]. The album is a tribute to the music of Donny Hathaway, and Whalum is giving a few hints as to what fans can expect. For one, “It’s the first time you’ll hear me with a chamber orchestra.”
The idea for the tribute seemed a natural follow-up to Whalum’s last project, The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter III, which prominently featured Hathaway’s daughter, Lalah. He told a reporter, “I think there are certainly some common denominators with me and [Donny]. My brand of music reflects the fact that I’m a messenger. I’m a Christian and I’m influenced by the Bible. My message is love. That’s been a theme of my albums and it certainly is with this album. I think there is more of a need for love in society than ever before. We’re going through some difficult, turbulent times. But we’ll get through them with some love.”
Naturally, Lalah Hathaway appears on the project, which also features guest shots from Rick Braun (flugelhorn), Jeff Golub (guitar) and R&B group Musiq Soulchild.
It didn’t take long for singer Robin Thicke to adjust to being a new father. The 32-year old singer and his wife, actress Paula Patton, welcomed son Julian in April– and he tells People magazine that he’s having fun learning the ropes. ”I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with the baby lately, learning how to be a dad. I look forward to every day with him, watching him grow and learn… I want to teach him basketball and Al Green. I want to teach him Michael Jackson and all that fun stuff.” But Thicke admits he has his favorite and not-so-favorite parts of parenting: “I did change a couple of diapers. And then I got tired of that. I like doing the holding and the playing more.”
The singer is currently on the smooth jazz charts with Kenny G on the hit single,”Fall Again,” from Kenny’s new album, Heart and Soul.
Singer Al Jarreau continues to improve, even as he remains hospitalized in France. The 70-year old Grammy winner was airlifted to Marseille over the weekend, and doctors expect him to remain there for a few more days, undergoing tests.
According to official statements at Jarreau’s website, he began having breathing problems prior to a concert in the French Alps last Thursday, and admitted himself to the hospital as a precaution. He felt his body was not adjusting properly to the mountain altitudes. The singer had to cancel some of his European dates, but expects to resume touring by the end of this week. In the meantime, he’s been serenading hospital staff to keep in shape.
Kirk Whalum is adding to his ever-expanding discography with the upcoming, Everything Is Everything, scheduled for release on August 31 [Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue Records]. The album is a tribute to the music of Donny Hathaway, and Whalum is giving a few hints as to what fans can expect. For one, “It’s the first time you’ll hear me with a chamber orchestra.”
It didn’t take long for singer Robin Thicke to adjust to being a new father. The 32-year old singer and his wife, actress Paula Patton, welcomed son Julian in April– and he tells People magazine that he’s having fun learning the ropes. ”I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with the baby lately, learning how to be a dad. I look forward to every day with him, watching him grow and learn… I want to teach him basketball and Al Green. I want to teach him Michael Jackson and all that fun stuff.” But Thicke admits he has his favorite and not-so-favorite parts of parenting: “I did change a couple of diapers. And then I got tired of that. I like doing the holding and the playing more.”