Best of 2009

Here's the rundown of the best songs of 2009, as broadcast on the live show on Sunday 27th December.

Please note that these are not based on sales or requests. They are simply the best smooth jazz tracks of 2009 as I see it:

1. George Benson – Living In High Definition
2. Jessy J – Baila!
3. Paul Brown & Marc Antoine – Foreign Exchange
4. Boney James – I Wanna Show U Sumthin'
5. Peter White – Always, Forever
6. Jessy J – Tropical Rain
7. Rick Braun – Puerto Allegre Jam
8. Jay Soto – Oasis
9. Peter White – Bright
10. Alan Hewitt – Shaft
11. Paul Brown & Marc Antoine – Flight Of The Conchords
12. Nils – Soul Mates
13. Boney James – I'll Be Good To You
14. Rippingtons – Paris Groove
15. Peter White – Good Day
16. Jessy J – Somewhere In A Dream
17. Euge Groove – The Gospel Truth
18. Gregg Karukas – Floating In Bahia
19. Richard Elliot – Move On Up
20. Paul Brown & Marc Antoine – Wine Night
21. Jimmy Sommers – Georgia On My Mind
22. Paul Hardcastle – The Circle
23. The Sax Pack – Wanna Get Closer
24. Boney James – I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby
25. Jessy J – True Love

Enjoy 2010. And always keep it Sky.fm Smooth Jazz!

Best wishes,

JK

Oli Silk live in the Studio

Oli came in for his traditional Christmas visit to the Sunday show yesterday, and while he was here he played "De-Stress Signal" live on air. The video is below. However if you click on the Youtube logo bottom right, you will be able to view it in full HD 1080 (don't forget to click the "HD" button when you get there).

New Gigs for 2010

We are hoping to expand on our presence at the Pizza Express Jazz Club (and beyond) throughout 2010. Our first few shows are now official and therefore published for all to see at:

www.sky.fm/smoothjazz/events/

So if you fancy some UK Smooth Jazz make a point of signing up for our mailing list at the bottom of the events page, and we'll make sure that you're the first to know when seats go on sale.

The Sax Pack live in the studio today

Just a reminder that The live show will have three guests today (22nd November). Kim Waters, Steve Cole & Jeff Kashiwa, aka The Sax Pack. We will have to finish half an hour early however, as I have to get them over to Club 1 in Ascot for tonights show.

So we wont be able to do the usual round of acknowledgements. Instead we'll be taking questions for the three guys. If you have a question please use either facebook chat, or write on my facebook wall at www.facebook.com/SkyFMSmoothJazz once the show starts.

5pm UK, 12 Midday Eastern & 9am Pacific time.

Paul Brown & Marc Antoine - Foreign Exchange

Live at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London

Jessy J - Tropical Rain

Live at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London

Guests on the live show tomorrow

There'll be three guests in the studio on tomorrow's live show. No prizes for guessing that it's Marc Antoine, Paul Brown & Jessy J. 5pm UK, 12 noon USA EST & 9am Pacific.

Once again let me remind you that if you have previously had problems viewing the video feed for the show it's worth downloading and trying VLC Media Player. It's free and works on PC, Mac & Linux and plays just about any video format without a fuss.

Marc Antoine, Paul Brown & Jessy J in London

Only a few days left now until Marc, Paul & Jessy arrive for a five night stopover at Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho.

It all kicks off on Wednesday evening, so if you haven't done so, book your seat now on 020 7439 4962 or visit Pizza Express Live and book online.

Some nights have limited availability.

Marc Antoine, Paul Brown & Jessy J at Pizza Express

Less than three weeks to go before the next smooth jazz experience at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London.

This time Marc Antoine and Paul Brown will bring songs from their new collaboration "Foreign Exchange" for your listening pleasure. And if that's not enough to wet your appetite then Jessy J will be on board to play some tracks from her new CD "True Love" as well.

Needless to say tickets are selling quite briskly, and are available now on the Pizza Express website at http://pizzaexpresslive.co.uk/jazzList.aspx, or you can call and book seats on 020 7439 4962 (if you're overseas dial +44 20 7439 4962).

Here's hoping to see you there.

Pizza Express Jazz Club

We still have some seats for the remaining four shows over two nights at Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho, London to see Steve Oliver, Michael Lington & Bob Baldwin. Call 0845 6027 017 or go to The Pizza Express Jazz Club Bookings Site if you want to see the show.

Also, seats for the next Sky.fm Smooth Jazz show are now on sale (although not on the website yet). So once again call 0845 6027 017 to reserve your seat to See Marc Antoine, Paul Brown & Jessy J at Pizza Expess from Wednesday 7th to Sunday 11th October.

Michael Lington, Steve Oliver & Bob Baldwin Live!

Another smooth jazz triple bill is coming in a couple of weeks at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London's Soho. The dates are Wednesday 9th until Saturday 12th September. Note that there are double shows on the Friday and Saturday.

You can reserve seats now to see Michael Lington, Steve Oliver and Bob Baldwin when they play six shows in four nights at London's favourite jazz venue, in association with Sky.fm Smooth Jazz.

You can reserve seats over the phone on 020 7734 3220 or book online at the Pizza Express Website. I'll be introducing all of the shows as usual. Looking forward to meeting one and all at the club.

Jeff Lorber & Jeff Golub Tickets

There are still a few seats available for tonights show with the two Jeffs at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London's Soho.

Wednesday and Thursday are completely sold out.

If you want to see the show tonight call 020 7734 3220 or visit

http://www.pizzaexpresslive.co.uk/jazzList.aspx

Videos from Pizza Express in May♦♦

Here is the complete collection of all the footage that made it to Youtube from the gigs featuring Dave Koz, Nick Colionne & Brian Simpson at the Pizza Express Jazz Club.

If you never got to see the shows then this is a great way to experience the event. All of the tracks featured here are HD recordings so don't forget to click the HD icon to see them in the best quality. Also, if you click the button to the right of the HD icon you could open them up full screen size any time you like and it'll be just like being there!

Jeff Lorber & Jeff Golub at Pizza Express

The two Jeffs hit London in association with Sky.fm Smooth Jazz for a four night stopover at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London's Soho, from Monday 27th July to Thursday 30th July.

Tickets are £25 and on sale now! You can reserve seats on the Pizza Express booking line, 020 7734 3220. Callers outside the UK call +44 20 7734 3220.

You can also reserve seats online on the Pizza Express Bookings Website

The Big weekend has arrived

As I write we are just three or so hours away from the monster smooth jazz line-up at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London.

Dave Koz, Nick Colionne and Brian Simpson will take the stage for what promises to be a series of shows to remember.

I'll hopefully have some footage to share on Youtube and Facebook, and all three guys are going to be coming on the live show this Sunday for a chat too, so make a date for Sunday and be at the:

Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Live Show

They will be taking questions via Facebook chat so be sure to look in on Sunday at 5pm GMT, 9am Pacific and 12 Noon Eastern.

Here's the Live performance

In case you missed it yesterday, here's a clip of Oli playing live on the show. We captured it with an HD camera, so if you follow the link below and click the "HD" button below you can really appreciate it in all its glory.

Oli Silk - The Limit's The Sky

Oli Silk live in the studio today

Oli will be jetting off to the USA for a few months soon, so today he's popping in for a chat on the live show. He'll be answering listeners (and viewers) questions and playing a song or two live as well, so be there or be square. 5pm UK, Midday Eastern and 9am Pacific.

www.sky.fm/liveshow

One more encore from Pizza Express in January

Hunting through the miles of video files yesterday I found one last clean cut from the Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Week back in January.

Not only that, but I finally got my head around the various codecs, formats, resolutions, bitrates and heaven knows what else required to render an HD version of this particular song, which just happens to be a recent smooth jazz number one from Oli Silk, featuring Jaared on tenor sax, so be sure to click the little button on the video play/time bar that says "HD" to get the full experience. You could almost be there.

So here it is:

Oli Silk - Chill Or Be Chilled

Photos from our shows

For those that missed them, here are links to photos taken at the Sky.fm Smooth Jazz gigs in London.

These photo collections are stored on facebook, but you don't have to be a facebook member to view them, so here they are:

Smooth Jazz Week (Jaared, Oli Silk, Rocco Ventrella, Renato Falaschi, Greg Grainger, Frank Felix)

Marc Antoine (with Oli Silk, Greg Grainger, Frank Felix, Joe Becket)

I'll hopefully have some more to add to these in May when Dave Koz, Brian Simpson & Nick Colionne come to town.

And don't forget, to see what shows are coming up, visit

Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Events

Live Tracks on the Live Show

A chance to preview what the audience at Pizza Express Jazz club will be experiencing in May when Koz, Simpson & Colionne come to London.

Brian Simpson has kindly let me have a couple of live sound recordings of him in action to play on the live show tomorrow.

They sound great, so make a date for the show tomorrow. 12 noon US EST, 9AM Pacific, 5PM GMT.

Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Live show

The Paul Hardcastle Interview

For all those who missed it, here's the visit from the Jazzmaster.

Paul Hardcastle on the live show this Sunday

This Sunday the Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Live Show has a special guest in the studio.

Paul Hardcastle will be coming in for a chat. He's also bringing his forthcoming single "The Circle" along too.

Don't miss it.

Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Live Show. All audio feeds can be found here.

The show airs at 12 noon US EST, 9AM US Pacific and 5pm in the UK.

P.S. You REALLY don't want to miss this one!

More Marc Antoine Video Footage

OK as the title suggests, here's some more footage from Marc Antoine's visit in February.

Rather than embed the video's on the page I'll just link to them as often when there's a higher quality version available the embedded video clips don't portray them.

First a song for the real jazz heads out there. Marc did a version of Chick Corea's "Spain" which was a great tribute. Oli Silk was particularly good on Keyboards too. Here you go:

Marc Antoine - Spain

And for the benefit of those who missed it, Marc was present for the entire live show on the Sunday preceding the gigs at Pizza Express. Here it is:

Marc Antoine on the Jimi King Show

Dave Koz, Nick Colionne & Brian Simpson at Pizza Express Jazz Club

OK the big one is now on sale. Not available on the Pizza Express website yet. Telephone bookings only. 020 7734 3220.

I'd suggest that you don't wait for the website, if you want to be sure of a seat make the call.

Marc Antoine plays Hi-Lo Split

If you weren't able to make it to Pizza Express Jazz Club last week then this is the next best thing to being there. A video of Marc playing Hi-Lo Split.

Enjoy! There are a few more cuts to come...

Marc Antoine in the studio tomorrow

Tomorrow's live show will have Marc Antoine as a guest in the studio.

Marc is in London to play four nights at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Dean Street, W1. Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th February.

Also playing at Pizza Express with Marc will be Oli Silk on keyboards, Greg Grainger from Acoustic Alchemy on drums and Frank Felix on bass.

The Thursday show is sold out. At the time of writing there still some seats available for the Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday shows.

Videos from Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Week

Whether you were there or not, you can relive the experience of the first ever Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Week at the Pizza Express Jazz Club any time you like by watching the selection of videos featured below.

If you click the arrows either side of the main frame or the little widget next to the play button on the bottom bar you'll see that there are 8 videos in all, which is around three quarters of an hour of footage, so pour yourself something appropriate, turn up the sound and have a blast.

Marc Antoine at Pizza Express

Hot on the heels of the Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Week (which was an absolute blast by the way), I'm pleased to announce that Sky.fm is presenting another series of shows in February at the famous Pizza Express Jazz Club in London's West End starring the one and only Marc Antoine.

It will be the first time that Marc has played in the UK for more than 5 years so don't delay reserving your seat if you don't want to miss him as there are only 4 shows.

The dates are Monday 23rd February - Thursday 26 February and Pizza Express are taking bookings here:


Pizza Express Jazz Club Bookings

You can also reserve seats over the phone on 020 7734 3220.

Marc will be accompanied by Oli Silk on keyboards, Frank Felix on bass and Greg Grainger from Acoustic Alchemy on drums.

The Future of Car Radio

Well it's obviously going to take a while but it looks like the future of car radio is going to begin a transformation this year. It was always going to happen of course but Blaupunkt are about to launch an in-car Internet radio receiver, that will mean that you will no longer be restricted by geographic location when it comes to your radio listening choice.

The device will rely on your mobile phone and bluetooth to receive the stations and will therefore be subject to your mobile phone network supplying the streaming facility. Of course in the USA this is already happening with some people and networks, although you do have to have to be reasonably savvy in the ways of technology to make it happen, but the forthcoming Blaupunkt units (and those that will ultimately follow) will streamline the process and make it a bit easier to do. At the moment it can be a little clunky to set it all up.

Of course in the UK only millionaires can currently dream of such things as the mobile companies rob us blind with call charge packages and the financial implications of choosing to listen to all of your in-car entertainment over the Internet don't bear thinking about, but obviously that will change... eventually.

Interesting times ahead then. The Blaupunkt systems will operate in conjunction with miRoamer, who, you'll be pleased to know already list Sky.fm Smooth Jazz amongst their featured stations (and all the other Sky channels for that matter).

More details on the Wired Blog, or if you Google "Blaupunkt Internet Radio" you should find plenty of dialogue about the whole thing.

Revised Show Times for Sky.fm Smooth Jazz Week

Pizza Express Jazz Club have changed some of their opening/show times this year. This mainly affects the weekday shows but below is a list of all of the times of our shows on the Sky.fm Smooth Jazz week.

Wednesday 21 Jan Doors 7.00pm, Show 8.30pm
Thursday 22 Jan Doors 7.00pm, Show 8.30pm
Friday 23 Jan Early Doors 6.00pm, Show 7.30pm
Friday 23 Jan Late Doors 10.00pm, Show 10.30pm
Saturday 24 Jan Early Doors 6.00pm, Show 7.30pm
Saturday 24 Jan Late Doors 10.00pm, Show 10.30pm
Sunday 25 Jan Doors 6.30, Show 8.00pm

If you haven't booked a table yet, don't forget that you can now do so online:

Pizza Express Jazz Club

You can also book over the phone on 020 7734 3220 (0044 20 7734 3220).

Tickets are selling well so don't delay. To everybody who has already booked, many thanks for supporting the first Sky.fm Smooth Jazz event at Pizza Express.

It's support like that which means that we can bring more smooth jazz artists to the UK.

Looking forward to meeting lots of friendly faces in what is now less than two weeks away!

Best wishes,

Jimi King

Oli Silk's Christmas Visit

For anybody that missed it, here's the video of the Sky.fm Smooth Jazz live show on 14th December 2008, featuring Oli Silk.