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From the very first track on her 2005 debut album Leela James has captured the gritty, emotion-drenched essence of artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples, Marvin Gaye and has made it her mission to bring it all back – pushing the music forward with a fresh, contemporary perspective that remains faithful to the music’s deep and powerful roots.

My Soul, set for release on May 25, 2010, marks Leela James’ debut on Stax Records, a division of Concord Music Group. The move to Stax – the legendary home of some of the greatest soul and R&B artists of the past half-century – is a fitting destination for a vocalist who has committed herself to preserving the soul tradition.

The new album comes on the heels of high praise from soultracks.com, the online source for all things soul and R&B, who recently bestowed a 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards to James in the category of Female Vocalist of the Year. Indeed, James has come to own the music that has inspired her since her teenage years. Her commanding live performances have become can’t-miss thrillers, placing her among today’s most electrifying international concert draws.

For more information, visit www.leelajames.com
*****

The Music of Dave Brubeck presented by Victor Lin

Victor Lin, piano/violin; Joe Gilman, piano, plus Stanford Jazz Workshop Faculty

Thursday July 22 | 7:30 PM | Dinkelspiel Auditorium
TAKE 5!

Inside Jazz: To Brubeck and Back: A Master of 20th Century Jazz
Speaker: Victor Lin, 6:30 pm (free with concert ticket)
The Soul Supreme Tour feat. Sam Bostic w/special guest Adesha
July 21, 2010

Yoshi’s San Francisco
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, California 94115

Wednesday

9PM Show

The highly anticipated 2010 Soul Supreme Tour will begin its 10-city tour on July 21, 2010 at Yoshi’s San Francisco!

This event premieres performers with strong roots in music and artistry. Sam Bostic’s Soul Supreme released in 2008 with critical success and charted strong on Billboard. Adesha’s album is set to release in Fall 2010 and will celebrate her strength as a singer and songwriter. A special guest is slated to be announced.

Does the name Tracy ring a bell? Maybe Sam Bostic sounds more familiar to you? As the lead singer and founder of the acclaimed `90s Oakland, CA based trio Art `n Soul, he was featured on the Billboard Top 20 hit single “Ever Since You Went Away” (on Big Beat/Atlantic Records). The 2007 Bay Area Music Award winner for (Best Neo Soul Performer) writer/platinum producer and the infamous creator of mob music, he has been at the helm of several Bay Area hip hop tracks including E-40’s hits “Sprinkle Me” and “Dusted & Disgusted” from the platinum “In A Major Way,” “Heavy in the Game” from 2-Pac’s double-platinum selling “Me Against the World” CD, as well as “Come On” from Master P’s multi-platinum “I’m Bout It” soundtrack.

Baptized in the soul of the masters that came before him, Sam is ready to step onto the scene again releasing his solo debut CD, Soul Supreme: The Eclectic Collection, under his independently owned and operated House of Soul Recordings.

While Art N’ Soul is still very much in tact, the group is currently on a temporary hiatus. So Sam has been flexing his solo skills. Just prior to waxing Soul Supreme, Sam landed a slot with his Bluesy/Soulful track “1 More Try” in the 2003 Martin Lawrence film, “National Security.” The song was nicely featured during a scene where Martin was frisking and cuffing a butter scotch toned foxy culprit. And now that his album is complete, Sam has taken his package out on the road to give people a show and win the respect of audiences worldwide.

For more information and song samples, visit www.myspace.com/sambosticworldwide

Special Guest Adesha

Although Adesha Johnson seems relatively new to the music scene, she really isn’t. Adesha was born into a family of entertainers. Both of her parents were entertainers which sparked their want to name their daughter Adesha, which is Sanskrit for “Voice”.

Although she is from the Bay Area, her strong Southern roots are evident in powerful yet sultry delivery as a vocalist and lyrical expertise. In addition to her being a singer, she is acclaimed as a “lyrical genius”. Combing her voice and lyrics with the musical expertise of keyboardist Allen Ross, bassist Aaron Baugh, and drummer Brian Braziel, core members of her band “Seven”, what you get is an awesome musical experience. If you haven’t heard them, you are truly missing out.

Drawing her greatest inspiration from notable artists such as Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder, one can understand where Adesha’s fusion of New Soul originates. When asked about her influences Adesha responds “I want to be responsible for the revival of music with a message. It’s time to infuse people with soul again”.
From Cuba!! Sexto Sentido
Jul 27-Jul 28, 2010

Yoshi’s Oakland
510 Embarcadero West
Jack London Square
San Francisco, CA 94607

Tuesday and Wednesday
8pm & 10pm shows

Recognized as the leading female vocal group by Cuba’s most influential and critical music icons, SEXTO SENTIDO is breathing new life into the international jazz scene. The ladies frequently collaborate with legendary artists such as Chucho Valdés, Pablo Milanés, Silvio Rodriguez. Certified by Valdés as “Creators of the most important vocal-work in Cuba in past three decades. Their ability to dwell inside complex harmonic arrangements transcends Cuba”.

SEXTO SENTIDO recorded their first record “Bossa Cubana” (Elephant Records) after travelling abroad for various cultural events. The project featured a collection of classic Brazilian songs tinged with Cuban elements. Their newest release “MI FEELING” (Ahi Nama) has already achieved strong remarks including Best Vocal Recording at the Cubadisco International Expo and is consistently gaining airplay across jazz radio stations in the NPR/PRI Network. With this release, SEXTO SENTIDO implements their own style and interpretation of the classic works of Cuba’s most respected writers and composers, such as René Touzet, Marta Valdés and Jose Dolores Quiñones.

SEXTO SENTIDO has now become a familiar entity with audiences far outside of Cuba due to frequent appearances on the jazz festival circuit throughout Europe where they became a national sensation in countries like Russia, France, Bulgaria, and Monaco. They’ve experienced increased popularity across Latin America as well at various cultural festivals as ambassadors of traditional Cuban jazz. The ladies of SEXTO SENTIDO have also enjoyed working with contemporary music producers like Guy Sigsworth and Norman Cook (aka Fatboy-Slim). They’ve recorded multiple tracks for film projects produced by the London-based studio NDF International bringing SEXTO SENTIDO’s work into a new medium. As jazz aficionados across North America keep discovering the sultry, sassy yet sophisticated sound of SEXTO SENTIDO, the group is very excited about preparations for their groundbreaking 2010 tour in the US and beyond.

For song samples, visit www.myspace.com/sextosentidocuba

Larry Carlton Trio
Jul 30-Jul 31, 2010

Yoshi’s San Francisco
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, California 94115

Friday

8PM & 10PM Show

Saturday

8PM & 10PM Show

“It must have taken more than one lifetime of music to produce Larry Carlton, he is the sum and son of a long lineage, beyond time, and beyond rational explanations of dedication or practice, the work of his hands speaks grace and passion and timeless knowledge. Listen, learn and be profoundly moved.” ‐ Sting.

“If Royal Scam is the definitive Steely Dan guitar album, then Larry Carlton is the reason why.” ‐ Walter Becker of Steely Dan

There are two reasons why Larry Carlton’s Fire Wire is a rebirth for one of the great guitarists of our time. The first, of course, is Carlton himself. His playing here is more direct, more raw and emotional than anything he’s laid down in recent years. The second reason is his producer, Csaba Petocz.

A veteran producer who has worked on 37 #1 hit songs and 32 platinum albums, Petocz has spent time in the studio with Ted Nugent and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica and Etta James, Elvis Costello and Aaron Neville.

He’s comfortable with hard-core, no-holds-barred, soulful blues and snarling rock & roll. He cut what Rolling Stone would hail as one of the three greatest rock guitar solos of all time (on Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne”), appeared on more than one hundred gold albums, won three Grammy Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance (“Theme From Hill Street Blues,” “Minute by Minute,” and “Live in Osaka”), (14 Grammy nominations) and otherwise carved out his space among the world’s great instrumentalists.

Guided by Petocz, Carlton returns to the world of rock and roll with white hot zeal. Fire Wire is not just about great guitar; it is the product of the powerful collaboration of two musical legends.

For more information, visit www.larrycarlton.com
Alfredo Rodriguez Trio
Aug 03-Aug 4, 2010

Yoshi’s San Francisco
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, California 94115
Fiery Cuban Piano Phenom Returns to Celebrate Debut CD Release

Tuesday

8PM & 10PM Show

Wednesday

8PM & 10PM Show

In his first year since moving to the United States, Alfredo Rodríguez has played to capacity crowds at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl; the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas; the Detroit Jazz Festival; the Monterey Jazz Festival; the famous Newport Jazz Festival; the San Francisco Jazz Festival, and the Gilmore Keyboard Festival. Both his New York and his Los Angeles debuts sold out. His Miami and Dallas debuts both sold out. Opening for Herbie Hancock and others, Alfredo played for 18,000 fans at the LA Symphony’s official welcome for Gustavo Dudamel at the Hollywood Bowl. He also happens to be working on his debut album with music producer Quincy Jones.

It’s a lot for his first year, but this 24-year-old is definitely not slowing down. Most recently, he co-wrote with Quincy Jones the music for the song “Better City, Better Life” which was chosen to be the Official Theme Song of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Alfredo trained in the famous Manuel Saumell Classical Music Conservatory until his lucky break came in 2006 when he was selected as one of twelve pianists in the world to play at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival. In Montreux, Alfredo was noticed by legendary music producer Quincy Jones. Just like Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and the many other enormous talents that Quincy Jones has discovered, Alfredo struck a chord in Quincy and Quincy decided to begin working together with Alfredo.
Alfredo’s debut CD will be released in July of 2010 on Qwest Records and his first European tour will be this Summer. Alfredo’s influences range from Bach, Beethoven, and Stravinsky to Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and Quincy Jones.

In the words of Quincy Jones, “He is very special and I do not say that easily because I have been surrounded by the best musicians in the world my entire life and he is one of the best.”

For more information, click HERE
Gerald Albright
Aug 06-Aug 8, 2010

Yoshi’s Oakland
510 Embarcadero West
Jack London Square
Oakland, CA 94607

Friday

8PM & 10PM Show

Saturday

8PM & 10PM Show

Sunday

2PM Show: kids matinee $5 Kids, $18 Adults (with kids), $28 Adults (general); 7PM show

Jazz and R&B icon Gerald Albright is considered to be one of the most innovative and successful artists of the last twenty-five years. With the June 15, 2010, release of Pushing The Envelope on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, Albright’s super cool side is back. With its polished soul/jazz vibe, Pushing The Envelope is a showcase for Albright’s remarkably fine balance of songcraft and musicianship, and features special guest appearances by Fred Wesley on trombone, Earl Klugh on acoustic guitar and George Duke on acoustic piano.

Produced and arranged by Albright, Pushing The Envelope provides the perfect opportunity for this master musician/saxophonist/songwriter to exhibit his skills. He plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, flutes, bass guitar, and keyboards, and also handles synthesizer, EWI and drum programming. Albright’s band on most of the album includes keyboardists Tracy Carter and Luther
“Mano” Hanes, guitarist Ricky Watford and drummer Ricky Lawson.

For more information, visit www.geraldalbright.com

*********

MOUNT DIABLO JAZZ FESTIVAL
with George Benson, Natalie Cole, Brian Culbertson, Lucy Woodward and special guests to be announced
Saturday, August 14th
Doors 3:00pm/ Show 4:00pm
Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord

A Very Special Intimate Evening With
Lil’ Kim
In Concert!

Monday, July 12, 2010 • 8pm
After making her presence known on Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s debut album, Conspiracy, Lil’ Kim launched a solo career in 1996 with the release of her first record, Hard Core. As the album’s title implies, Kim was a rarity among female rappers — one who not only concentrated on edgy hardcore rap but also explicit sexuality, two territories that had long been the province of male rappers.
 

Of course, Kim’s near-pornographic sexuality and hard-edged rhythms made her an anomaly within hip-hop, but Hard Core proved that she was no novelty, as it garnered positive reviews and strong sales. A native of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Lil’ Kim was raised by her parents until they split up when she was nine years old. Following their separation, she lived with her father, yet he threw her out of the house when she was a teenager. As a teen, she lived with her friends and, occasionally, on the streets. Eventually, she and her rhyming skills came to the attention of Biggie Smalls, who helped her cultivate her career. Smalls helped her become a member of Junior M.A.F.I.A., and Kim was a key part of the group’s hit debut single, “Player’s Anthem.” Kim also made a big impression on the remainder of Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s 1995 debut album, Conspiracy.

KPFA airing Prospect Sierra 8th Grade Students PSA Promos
Recently KPFA Radio DJ Doug Edwards and Gabrielle Wilson hosted a Tribute and Benefit for Khalil Shaheed on “Music of the World”. The event featured testimonials from many of the Nations and Bay Areas top Jazz personalities honoring Shaheed. During the program they aired for the first time the Public Service Announcements featuring the Prospect Sierra 8th Grade Students and their teacher Bert Kessler. Bert begins the PSA’s with an introduction of the students and their Community Service Project at KPFA arranged by Gabrielle Wilson and Associates with the Aaron & Margaret Wallace Foundation. You can listen to or down the PSA’s on the program here

The Stanford Jazz Workshop will be honoring Jazz Legend Khalil Shaheed with a Tribute and FUNraiser at his performance at the Festival on July 19, 2010 at 7:30 pm. Khalil will be honored by the U. S. Congress, State of California, City of Oakland, and Masjidul Waritheen.
Khalil directs the Oaktown Jazz Workshop two afternoons a week, runs the instrumental music program at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, serves as an artist-in-residence at the Oakland School of Music, and rehearsing and performing with three ensembles: the Khalil Shaheed Quartet (often including his daughter, Savannah Harris, 16, on drums), the jazz-meets-Moroccan music group cleverly named Mo’Rockin Project, and Redwood Brass, a four-trumpet, one-trombone quintet that mixes jazz and classical music.

Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim has over 30,000 signatures and implore you to click on any one of the links and sign the Petition To The Honorables President Barack Obama and United States Attorney General Eric Holder to raise it’s investigation of corruption involving Attorney General Jerry Brown, Oakland City Attorney John Russo, former Oakland and current San Leandro City Attorney Jayne Williams, former District Attorney Tom Orloff, and current District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley.

On June 7, 2010 Abdul-Jalil al-Hakim filed and served a 200 page Corruption, Extrinsic Fraud, Criminal Misconduct, Ethics and “Whistle-Blower” Complaint complete with audio CD on Congresswoman Barbara Lee, State Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, Alameda County Presiding Court Judge Jon R. Rolefson, Alameda County Supervisor Kieth Carson, Oakland California Mayor Ron Dellums, Oakland City Administrator Dan Lindheim, Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby, Oakland City Councilpersons Desley Brooks and Larry Reid’s offices, and is being submitted to the Alameda County Grand Jury while California Attorney General Jerry Brown’s office refused service of their complaint! You can read and/or download the Complaint and the exhibits here if you choose or go to the website for complete coverage here http://nowtruth.org/city-attorneys-russo-williams-complaint-for-corruption-extrinsic-fraud-ethics/
Oakland City Attorney John Russo, Mark Morodomi, Randy Hall, Janie Wong, Anita Hong, Sophia Li, Demetruis Shelton- current President of the National Bar Association, Elizabeth Allen, Erica Harrold, Michele Abney, Eliada Perez and the Oakland City Attorney’s Office; former Oakland and current San Leandro City Attorney Jayne Williams; former City of Oakland employee Pat Smith; Stephan Barber and others of the law firm Ropers, Majeski; Ronald J. Cook, Randy Willoughby, Alex Stuart, Annette Bening’s brother Bradley Bening and others of the law firm Willoughby, Stuart & Bening; William Jemmott now of the law firm Wilson Elser; Todd Jones and the law firm Archer Norris; Daniel Crowley of the law firm Daniel Crowley & Assoc.; Fletcher Alford, Joel K. Liberson and the law firm Gordon & Rees; Sean Robert O’Halloran now of the law firm Crone Rozynko; Anne Brooks Harrigan now of the law firm Grancell, Lebovitz, Stander, Barnes & Reubens; Yolanda Marnell Jackson- San Francisco BAR Assoc., now of the law firm Jackson Alternative Dispute Resolution; the law firm of Caven, Cleaveland, Murray; the former law firm of Jackson Harrigan; John Ratto and Dean K. Beyer, of ASU Group (formerly D. L. Glaze); defendants Rescue Rooter and Bay Area Carpet Cleaning; and retired Judges David Lee, Michael Ballachey, and Richard Hodge; and others.

Ali Ollie Woodson
انّا للہ و انّا الیہ راجعون Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un) Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return…

I am sad to inform you that former Temptation lead singer Ali Ollie Woodson has died after a battle with cancer. He was 58 with a wife and two children. A friend, client and arguably the BEST SOUL R & B VOICE EVER, not only of the Temptations, but EVER!!
The best a cappella performance I have ever witnessed was at an appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show with Hammer where Ali saaaaang during the entire commercial break and Arsenio could not stop him when the show returned from break because the crowd was going totally bananas!! Arsenio let him continue to saaaang after the show resumed and we ALL just sat and listened mesmerised in complete amazement, wonder and joy!!! At the Stag Festival in Romania, he did a featured segment with the Temptations that is still being raved about! You can listen to his music at http://www.aliolliewoodson.com/

Biography

He is, quite simply, the Voice. The name Ali Ollie Woodson may not be familiar to large numbers of readers, but to those in the Soul music business he is known as one of the greatest modern singers. In a career that spans 25 years, he has worked as lead singer for the Drifters and (the post-Teddy Pendergrass) Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. He has also served as guest vocalist on dozens of recordings of artists from Freda Payne to Paul Jackson, and as a backing vocalist for Whitney Houston, Rachelle Ferelle and Aretha Franklin. However, his true coming out was as the lead singer of the Temptations from 1984-1996.

Temptations fans consider the late 70s as perhaps the group’s darkest days, culminating with the departure of lead singer Dennis Edwards and the group’s ill-fated move to Atlantic Records. The group’s return to Motown in 1980 brought some commercial life (and Edwards) back to the group, but the continuing revolving door of group members and producers resulted in a series of mediocre albums. Then, when Edwards again quit the Tempts in 1984, the group called upon Woodson to take over lead vocals and former Earth Wind & Fire guitarist Al McKay to produce Truly for You. The result was the greatest Temptations album of the past 25 years, and a permanent place for Woodson alongside Edwards and David Ruffin in Temptations history. His gritty, expressive voice was the perfect contrast to the classically smooth Temptations’ harmonies, and his ability to delicately handle ballads gave the group a versatility it generally didn’t have during the Edwards years. Click here to watch a live performance in Japan with the Temptations of “Just My Imagination” and “My Girl” with just the accompanment of a piano! He also brought along songwriting skills, co-penning “Treat Her Like A Lady,” (click to watch video) the smash hit from that album. Watch the video of his performance of “Some Enchanted Evening” with the Temptations here: ["wmode":"window","allowFullScreen":"true","allowscriptaccess":"always","src":"http://www.youtube.com/v/REW1qKnxjVY&hl=en&fs=1","allowfullscreen":"true"]

His work on the next year’s To Be Continued… was equally impressive, particularly the powerful ballad “Someone,” “Lady Soul” (click to watch video) perhaps Woodson’s finest recorded moment and “Special” (click to watch video), “Touch Me” (click to watch video) Oddly, Edwards rejoined the group, replacing Woodson in 1987 for Together Again, but was gone again within a year. Woodson then reassumed the lead vocals spot through a handful of lesser albums, as the group struggled to find a contemporary sound. Finally in 1995 the Temptations released For Lovers Only, a disc of covers of classic pop songs that brought renewed interest in the group.

By 1996, Woodson left the Temptations for good, and fans anticipated that a solo album would soon be on the horizon. Instead, he worked on a number of different projects, performing in a series of stage plays, providing backing vocals on several soul and jazz albums, touring with other former Temptations Damon Harris and Richard Street , and briefly forming a group with two former Supremes. Ultimately, he created the Emperors of Soul, a touring group covering Tempations’ and other Motown hits which has received positive reviews around the US .

It would be five years before Ralph Tee of Expansion Records would get Woodson back into the studio to record
Right Here All Along

Right Here All Along, Woodson’s long overdue first solo album. It was a solid disc, and received kudos in most Soul music publications, which especially raved over his version of the ballad “Turn Out the Stars” (also covered at around the same time by the Manhattans). It is available in the US through CD Baby.

In 2002 Woodson was offered the lead vocalist position in the Spinners when poor health forced John Edwards to leave the group, but he instead recommended friend Frank Washington, who is now successfully fronting that group. Woodson has continued to tour with Emperors of Soul, and was most recently seen on national TV as Aretha Franklin’s dynamic duet partner on the Spring 2003 PBS concert special, “Rhythm, Soul & Love.” He also appeared on Juewett Bostick’s 2003 album It’s Not So Easy, singing “You Need Love.” Woodson later joined Dennis Edwards’ group, the Temptations Revue, ironically singing alongside the former Tempts member he replaced during his second stint with the mothership.

Never Give Up

Reports have come in in early 2009 that Woodson was ill. But by Spring of that year he had released his second album, Never Give Up, on his own Ollywood Records.

Free Tix:- Smokey Robinson @ The Warfield, SF;-Confunkshun @ Yoshi’s, SF;- Steve Harvey Live @ The Paramount,Oakland

SUPERSTAR MANAGEMENT 7633 Sunkist Drive, Oakland CA  94605-3032 (510) 394-4501,  Fax (510) 638-8889 http://Superstarmanagement.com http://Ex-Why.com Aaron & Margaret Wallace Foundation Abdul-Jalil’s Haas School of Business Profile Ziggs Profile of Abdul-Jalil Linked In Profile on Abdul-Jalil Abdul-Jalil on Twitter Abdul-Jalil on FaceBook Abdul-Jalil’s “ooVoo” Video Chat Room AIM, Video Chat Screen Name:  jalil@superstarmanagement.com Skype Video Chat [...]

SUPERSTAR MANAGEMENT 7633 Sunkist Drive, Oakland CA  94605-3032 (510) 394-4501,  Fax (510) 638-8889 http://www.Superstarmanagement.com http://www.Ex-Why.com BLOG: http://superstarmanagement.wordpress.com Abdul-Jalil’s Profile Ziggs Profile of Abdul-Jalil Linked In Profile on Abdul-Jalil Abdul-Jalil on Twitter Abdul-Jalil on FaceBook AIM, Video Chat Screen Name:  jalil@superstarmanagement.com Skype Video Chat Screen Contact Name: Superstarmanagement Portrait of Abdul-Jalil by Artist Buford Delaney in [...]

SUPERSTAR MANAGEMENT 7633 Sunkist Drive, Oakland CA  94605-3032 (510) 638-0808,  Fax (510) 638-8889 http://www.Superstarmanagement.com http://www.Ex-Why.com BLOG: http://superstarmanagement.wordpress.com Abdul-Jalil’s Profile Ziggs Profile of Abdul-Jalil Linked In Profile on Abdul-Jalil Abdul-Jalil on Twitter AIM, Video Chat Screen Name:  jalil@superstarmanagement.com Skype Video Chat Screen Contact Name: Superstarmanagement Portrait of Abdul-Jalil by Artist Buford Delaney in Paris, France Articles [...]