Chuck Loeb comes to London

Only a week to go until Fourplay's newest recruit comes to play at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London's Soho.

Chuck is to play four shows in two nights. Namely Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd October.

At the time of writing you can still get seats for all shows. However if you want to be there call 020 7439 4962 or book online at Pizza Express Live without delay.

Chuck will be accompanied by Oli Silk on keyboards, Frank Felix on bass and Andrew Small on drums.

Keep up to date with all forthcoming smooth jazz happenings in the UK by visiting the Sky FM Events Page. You can also sign up for our mailing list on that page so that you'll receive an email when tickets become available.

Jeff Golub & Mindi Abair at Pizza Express Jazz Club

Jeff & Mindi start their four night run at Pizza Express in London this evening. Tonight's show is sold out, but there's still some availability for the remaining nights through to Monday (Although the Saturday early performance is filling up quite fast at the time of writing).

To reserve seats either call 020 7439 4962 or visit the Pizza Express Live Website. Tickets are priced from £22.

Jeff Lorber at Pizza Express Jazz Club

A series of six shows in five nights featuring Jeff Lorber at Pizza Express Jazz Club starts tomorrow night.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing the Friday show is sold out. The early show on Saturday is filling up fast too.

So book now to avoid disappointment at the Pizza Express Live Website, or alternatively you can book over the phone on 020 7439 4962.

Jeff is at Pizza Express until Tuesday 10th August. He'll be featuring tracks and signing copies of his new CD, "Now Is The Time". Joining Jeff will be Carl Stanley on Sax, Andrew Small on drums & Orefo Orakwue on bass.

Sky Fm Vocal Smooth Jazz is now on the air

Sky asked me to program a vocal smooth channel last year and I was initially rather daunted by the task. Mainly because the vocal material that gets played on most smooth jazz stations consists mostly of 80's soul artists like Sade, Anita Baker & Freddie Jackson, mixed up with the likes of Phil Collins and Sting. And most of the messages we get from listeners thank us for NOT playing those artists.

So I set about producing a channel that keeps as true to the smooth jazz concept as possible whilst steering clear of the aforementioned stereotypes. It hasn't been easy, but hopefully the result is going to be pleasing to the air.

Sky FM Vocal Smooth Jazz is now live. I hope you like it.

Marc Antoine in London

Only a week to go until Marc Antoine starts his 4 night run at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London's Soho.

Marc will be accompanied by Oli Silk for these shows and both guys have a new track to add to the set. Tickets are selling fast but at the time of writing there's still availability on all nights. Shows start Wednesday 23rd June and run through until Saturday 26th. There are two shows on the Saturday night.

Seats are £25 and can be booked online at PizzaExpresslive.co.uk. Or you can call the Pizza Express Bookings Line on 020 7439 4962.

I'm looking forward to meeting Sky listeners there. Hope you can make it.

Dave Koz UK Tour Is About to Commence

Dave Koz hits UK soil for an 11 day stopover which takes in 4 venues and promises to be something to remember. It all kicks off this Thursday April 1st in Milton Keynes.

Brian Simpson will be on keyboards and guitarist Randy Jacobs is also making the trip over from LA.

Visit The Sky FM Events Page for a full list of dates and links to all of the venues. Please note that some shows are already sold out.

Here's a video from last year at Pizza Express Jazz Club to wet your appetite.

Smooth Jazz in the UK

Although the smooth jazz genre has had a tough ride recently, things in the UK are beginning to look a little brighter. The saturation of Sky FM Smooth Jazz via the Internet and the re-launching of Jazz FM means that awareness of the genre in the UK is definitely on the increase.

The number of artists from the smooth jazz world that are interested in coming to play here is ever growing, and we've been able to spread our wings a little this year and take the Sky FM Smooth Jazz experience to newer pastures. So as well as Pizza Express Jazz Club we'll be visiting The Stables in Milton Keynes, The Forum in Norwich, Pizza On the Park in London's Knightsbridge and Pizza Express in Maidstone.

I've been talking a lot recently with Steve Quirk at Jazz FM and they will be attempting to add venues and dates in Manchester alongside the Sky dates wherever it's logistically possible.

Already confirmed are, Braun & Elliot, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Jeff Lorber, Marc Antoine, Jessy J, Michael Lington, Mindi Abair, Oli Silk & Brian Simpson. And that's all before the end of August.

Be sure to bookmark the Sky FM Events Page, as it's the first place to get all the news on ticket availability and prices. As soon as we have confirmation of further dates and artists we'll update the events list. You can also sign up for our email newsletters on that page too.

Another Smooth Jazz Station Bites the Dust

This week WNWV "The Wave" in Cleveland has flipped formats, pushing their smooth jazz content onto the digital radio platform.

Whilst this is potentially good news for Sky.fm Smooth Jazz, as whenever these changes occur people inevitably turn the Internet for their smooth jazz fix and an awful lot of them find us, the long term outlook is not particularly rosy as the genre itself is now becoming threatened.

The change at WNWV is attributed to the PPM (Portable People Meter), a device used by Arbitron, who rolled out the PPM, a pager-sized device that electronically records what the person is listening to. The information collected is uploaded each night to Arbitron via a modem.

I'm personally not surprised that the results of this device have shown a decline in listeners to smooth jazz stations (many more have already "flipped" as a result of the PPM data). I've lost count of the amount of communications I receive from people who have found Sky.fm Smooth Jazz when their local station has changed formats. They mostly say things like "Why didn't I find you before?" and more importantly "You actually play smooth jazz!".

In fact most of the mail we have received over the last few years has pretty much followed the same pattern. People are really tired with getting served up 20-30 year old tracks by Sade, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Simply Red, Luther Vandross, Phil Collins, etc in the name of smooth jazz. It doesn't have to be that way.

On Sky we play none of the aforementioned. I guess it's a bonus that in the case of Internet radio we can see when people tune away and of course we know exactly what song was playing when they went. It was this information that helped me produce and prune the playlist for my original smooth jazz project "Soft Jazz FM" back in 2001 (still the #1 smooth jazz station on Live365.com after 9 years) and it was this information that I used for Sky in 2004. It took about a couple of years for Sky Smooth Jazz to become the World's #1 Internet Smooth Jazz station. We have been in the top slot ever since.

So I humbly submit that there's nothing wrong with the genre, it's the station playlists that are killing smooth jazz.

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!