Bay Smooth Jazz 105.9

INCOGNITO JOINS HEADS UP LABEL FOR 'TALES FROM THE BEACH'

British neo-soul and acid jazz group Incognito have signed a new recording contract with U.S. label Heads Up International. The group, led by guitarist and producer Bluey Maunick, will release their new CD, Tales From The Beach, on June 24th.

"I'm pleased to be part of a team that will let me do what I do best, and see my music for what it is," said Maunick. "Heads Up is a label that understands the worlds of jazz, soul and R&B, and how they all fit together."

While the Incognito lineup has changed over the years, the new album will once again feature the talents of drummer Richard Bailey, bassist Francis Hylton, keyboardist Matt Cooper, and vocalists Tony Momrelle, Joy Rose and Imaani.

The title of the new CD, Tales From The Beach, is drawn for Maunick's experiences growing up in on the African coastal island of Mauritius.

"When I was a kid, my first taste of music came from the beaches," he says. "I spent a lot of time listening to the hotel bands, or the bands playing around the bonfires and cookouts. It's a small island, so there were beaches everywhere. I was always watching live musicians play. So for inspiration for this album, I went back to various beaches around the world -- in Italy, Indonesia and elsewhere -- and just let the music flow."

Incognito's last CD release was 2006's Bees + Things + Flowers, which featured covers of four of their own past hits as well as versions of tunes by Earth, Wind & Fire, America, Roy Ayers, and others.

STEELY DAN HEADING BACK ON THE ROAD

Steely Dan are heading back on the road for a series of spring and summer dates kicking off on June 8th in Hollywood, Florida.

Steely Dan tour dates (subject to change):
June 8 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live
June 9 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
June 11 - Alpharetta, GA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park June 13, 14, 17 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
June 23 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion
June 25 - Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theatre
June 27 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa
June 28 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
|July 1, 2 - Montreal, QC - Festival International De Jazz De Montreal at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier
July 3 - Rama, ON - Casino Rama
July 5 - Ottawa, ON - TBA

Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen said that they never expected to still be making music together: (Becker) "Maybe not 25 years ago. I think, you know, it's sort of remarkable to us that our career is still going, and people are still entertained and interested in what we do. (Fagen) I saw us as working together, but maybe like pinboys, you know, or something like that, you know? (Becker) Or pinheads."

Walter Becker will release his latest solo album Circus Monkey on June 10th.

CORINNE BAILEY RAE'S HUSBAND FOUND DEAD

The husband of singer Corinne Bailey Rae was found dead in his London apartment on Saturday (March 22nd). The BBC reports that initial exams of 31-year-old Jason Rae's body were inconclusive, but he is believed to have suffered from a drug overdose. A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled substances in connection with the case, but has since been released on bail.

Police are waiting on toxicology reports to learn more details about Rae's death.

Rae, a saxophonist, met his wife when she worked as a coat room attendant at a jazz club. They married in 2001.

Rae's band, The Haggis Horns, were scheduled to play a gig in Leeds on Sunday (March 23rd), which was canceled.

Mar 28 - April 6th	Berks Jazz Festival	Reading, PA
May 8th	St.Lucia Jazz Festival	St.Lucia
May 2008	Atlanta Jazz Festival	Atlanta, GA