Upcoming Album Releases

By Nick Langan - for ijazzglobal.com

January 2010

Ken Navarro is back with his 19th album. "Dreaming of Trains" can be ordered at Ken's website right now, but will not be available in retail outlets until March 16. The nine-track album features well composed, diverse tunes that include the talents of artists like Jay Rowe from Special EFX and Marion Meadows' band and Joel Rosenblatt from Spyro Gyra. One of the more beautiful songs on the album is Ken's interpreation of French Composer Erik Satie's "Gymnopedie No. 1".

Sax man Kim Waters releases a new album on the 26th, "Love Stories". The album, filled with the familiar blend of uptempo grooves Waters' fans have come to know and love over the years, features the umistakable vocal talents of Kenny Latimore. Waters has been quite busy, also working with Steve Cole and Jeff Kashiwa as one third of "The Sax Pack" trio.

One of David Sanborn's biggest influences was Ray Charles, and the saxophone great pays tribute to him with the release of "Only Everything" on the 26th. The album is comprised of the trio of Sanborn, Joey Defrancesco on Hammond B-3 organ and Steve Gadd on drums. Fine guest talent appears on the album as well, as Joss Stone adds her soulful tones on a version of "Let the Good Times Roll", while the great James Taylor is featured on "Hallelujah, I Love Her So".

Maysa has established herself as one of contemporary jazz's premier vocalists over the past two decades, and she moves even

further into the forefront on the 26th, with the release of "A Woman In Love". Maysa goes back to her jazz roots on the album with a diverse mix of tracks that range from straight-ahead jazz to R&B. From a funky version of "Round Midnight" to stunning takes on "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" and "Willow Weep For Me". Will Downing joins Maysa for a duet on "Love Theory", while Maysa pays tribute to the late Michael Jackson on a version of "The Lady In My Life". "A Woman In Love" clearly looks to be one of the biggest releases to hit the shelves in 2010.

February 2010

You're hearing the first single right now on ijazzglobal.com, and the long-awaited release hits the shelves on the 9th. Sade's "Soldier of Love", her first album in exactly ten years, is creating quite the buzz in the music world. The title cut has a feel unique from any of Sade's prior work, and she goes as far to say that the project is her most ambitious to date. You will hear the familiar and welcoming Sade sound however, on tracks like "In Another Time", an instrumental piece, and "Long Hard Road". The wait for new music from Sade has been long, but it looks to be worth it.