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Info & Music about the two week long 32nd Catalina Island Jazz Festival now underway + new releases + Glen Campbell story

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Smooth jazz in alive and well especially this weekend and next as the 32nd annual Catalina Island Jazz Festival is underway and practically sold out with attendees flying in from all over the country. I did see on the promoter's list that someone from Redding did purchase tickets. Of the amazing 28 artists that will perform, I have played 23 of them right here on this program. In our first hour we will hear new music on our new releases segment from three of those Catalina performers Skinny Hightower, Steve Oliver, and Jeff Ryan. In our second hour we will play classic old from five more of those Catalina performers Candy Dulfer, Keiko Matsui, Basia, David Benoit, and Richard Elliot.  Also tonight smooth jazz artists Candy Dulfer and the Peet Project are playing the Sax On The River concert in Sacramento.

Tonight we begin with a new release that is a little different and that I hope you will like. Let me know or contact me for any reason at smoothside@kkrn.org. This is from the September 21st release of the album Music From Guitar And Orchestra by guitarist Ken Navarro. He is accompanied by a full, and a do mean full, orchestra. This is reminiscent of the 1960’s releases by the great Wes Montgomery that recorded popular songs of the day with full orchestration. It worked for Montgomery as he became wildly popular. Let’s hope this project is successful for Navarro as well.  

I was happy to see Ken Navarro’s recording of our first song to be played tonight, Glen Campbell’s song Wichita Lineman.I am giving away my age as I grew up on the music of Glen Campbell. While I was just a kid growing up in my hometown of Albuquerque, Glen Campbell’s uncle, Dick Bills was our local TV cowboy and hero. He was backed up by a band called The Rocky Mountain Boys. Believe it or not Glen Campbell was one of those Rocky Mountain Boys in his uncles band before Campbell moved to LA and became famous. Now that is a story you are not likely to hear elsewhere.

In addition I have for you more new releases from Kim Waters, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, Brian Simpson, and Michael Lington.


As always I will play Billboard's top three songs in smooth jazz in the middle of the first hour.


The second hour is devoted to the classic old in smooth jazz.


Our close tonight is the great, the greater than great, saxophonist Grover Washington Jr.



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