SaxRules

As we all know, music is energy and the language of emotions and feelings. So, when you introduce music into your environment, what you're really doing is introducing energy. That energy can easily and powerfully influence the ambiance of that setting. The question then becomes: what energetic influences do you want your gathering to be effected by? What songs and themes and sounds and instruments and timbres and rhythms will best reflect the mood you want to create? As a saxophonist, I know that saxophone music that is smooth, soft, romantic, and easy listening is often just right for dinner music. The sound of the saxophone is, in and of itself, soothing and sophisticated. Its supportive to good...

I can describe the latest release from Jazz sensation John Mclaughlin for you with just one word... Outstanding! It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that's exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it's own. Industrial Zen has a pleasantly varied, mix of 8 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly superb artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are him own personal...

I'm a Teenager. Why should I bother setting goals? You should set goals because in doing so, you learn about yourself and what's really important to you, and you also get to see just what you're capable of, which is probably a lot more that you realize. When you set goals and subsequently reach them, you are encouraged to set more goals for yourself - higher goals. Your goals could be academic, sports-related, financial, college-related, or having to do with special interests such as music and art. You will find that you can achieve more by setting goals because you will have mapped out an effective plan for yourself. OK, how do I start setting goals? Start with what interests you and what really...

Very talented Smooth Jazz artist Michael Lington has released his latest CD titled Stay With Me and Wow! It's really a good one. I wish it weren't the case but, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Stay With Me. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish. Stay With Me has a pleasantly varied, mix of 10 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly superb artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly...

Not sure what's happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better Bridge gets. Bridge simply stated is one of Hiroshima's best CDs to date. Unfortunately, it's not everyday that I get a CD that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Bridge. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish. Hiroshima possesses the characteristic of being able to bowl you over with their talent alone. The kind of group I frankly just flat out enjoy listening to. If you're a Hiroshima fan, or just a fan of Smooth Jazz...

Not sure what's happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better Time Squared gets. Time Squared simply stated is one of Yellowjackets's best CDs to date. I wish it weren't the case but, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Time Squared. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish. If you're a Yellowjackets fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don't even have to be a fan of the...

The exceptionally talented Jazz artist Andrew Hill has released him CD entitled Dance With Death. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Andrew Hill fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Dance With Death Andrew Hill's artistic excellence is on full display as Hill has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be him best work to date. I wish it weren't the case but, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Dance With Death. Every...

Babyface Songbook is the latest release from Smooth Jazz Sensation Kirk Whalum, and I can only think of one word to describe this CD... AWESOME! It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that's exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it's own. Kirk Whalum is one of those musicians that has the ability to just bowl you over with his talent. The kind of artist it's really a treat to be able to listen to. Listen and I think you'll agree that the song choices are excellent and the production is...

The exceptionally talented Jazz artist John Mclaughlin has released him CD entitled Industrial Zen. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe John Mclaughlin fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Industrial Zen John Mclaughlin's artistic excellence is on full display as Mclaughlin has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be him best work to date. John Mclaughlin has been a super star in the Jazz genre for quite some time now and Industrial Zen is an excellent illustration as to why. Jazz music fans will recognize some of the well known contributors on the project including Bill Evans and Gary Husband plus a...

-> Livin' Large is the latest release from Smooth Jazz Sensation Euge Groove, and I can only think of one word to describe this CD... AWESOME! Livin' Large grabs your attention right from the very first note with Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight and doesn't let go until the very last note of the very last song Thank You, which by the way is another great track. Livin' Large is a pleasantly varied, mix of 11 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly superb artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Euge Groove is the kind of artist I really enjoy listening to. If you're even mildly into Smooth Jazz music you'll enjoy this CD...

Tenor Saxophonist, Sonny Rollins is a true musician, a man who walked away from rising fame to practice alone atop an isolated bridge rather than letting his legend grow faster than his creativity. Rollins started as a piano player before being given his first saxophone at age 13. That first saxophone was an alto, a nod to saxophonist Louis Jordon. Rollins would switch over to tenor at the age of 16, inspired by his idol Coleman Hawkins. By the time he was 20, Rollins was playing with the legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk. Other notable musicians that Sonny had played and recorded with by then include Miles Davis, J.J. Johnson, Babs Gonzales and Bud Powell. Between 1956 and 1958 Rollins...

Whimsical and creative describes John Ellis & Double-Wide - Puppet Mischief, which uses the band's New Orleans musicianship to turn memories from John's childhood experiences in to an innovative sound. Puppet Mischief: Okra & Tomatoes; Fauxfessor; Dewey Dah; Puppet Mischief; Carousel; Dubinland Carnival; Chorale; Héroes De Acción; This Too Shall Pass Personnel: John Ellis: Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet; Jason Marsalis: Drums; Matt Perrine: Sousaphone; Brian Coogan: Organ; Gregoire Maret: Harmonica; Alan Ferber: Trombone John Ellis & Double-Wide - Puppet Mischief was produced by John Ellis and released on the Obliq Sound label; this marks the second release of John Ellis with Double-Wide. Puppet...

WRITING IS PERSONAL Writing is very personal. It might be more personal than the settings on your computer. Don't try to impersonate other writers. Find your own style and go with it. As a young boy learning to play the clarinet and tenor saxophone, I remember trying to impersonate Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw on the clarinet, and Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young on the tenor saxophone. I kept asking my teacher, Mr. Vinciaquara, to help me do this. Did I need a special reed, a different mouthpiece, or another instrument to sound like them? My teacher told me to be me, not to be someone else. He said that if he gave ten musicians the same instrument to play, they would all sound differently. The...

This type of instrument is usually a tube that makes a sound when air is blown through it. Some of these are played by the musician blowing air directly into the tube through the mouthpiece, such as when playing the saxophone, while others only require the musician to blow air over the mouthpiece, such as when playing the flute. The length of the tube is what determines the pitch of the sound the instrument will make, as does the covering of certain holes that have been drilled into the tube. The wind instrument has been around for quite a long time and has become more complex with time. Originally starting out as a small wooden tube with a few holes drilled into it, many wind instruments today have...

Reflections is the latest Smooth Jazz CD realeased by the extremely talented saxophone playing Alfonzo Blackwell who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I'm confident Alfonzo Blackwell fans, and Smooth Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. I wish it weren't the case but, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Reflections. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish. The nice thing about a CD like this is with this level of talent even if Smooth...

When Tito and Jermaine Jackson played those trademark opening guitar riffs and little Michael Jackson wailed: "Ooooh, yeahh, lemme tell you now...,"the opening lyrics of their hit Motown song, "I Want You Back", my 13-year old next door neighbor, Traci and I, thought we'd lost our teenaged minds. It was 1971 at a huge concert at Veteran's Memorial in Columbus, Ohio. With backup from his handsome brothers, eerily old-soul, 12-year old Michael Jackson crooned bubble-gum love songs, as if his heart had already been broken a thousand times. Traci and I spent the rest of the entire concert, standing on our seats, screaming like maniacs. I remember the warm-up group, too, though they were definitely grown...

For the better part of my first 32 years on this planet, I struggled to find something that I could do that would make me successful. All I knew for most of that time was that I wanted to be rich, I wanted to be known, and I wanted people to like me. Respect would have been a good thing too, but at that point, I was willing to sacrifice it, if necessary, to get the other three. I tried many different jobs, hobbies, businesses, and projects trying to find "my thing." It seems like I had a different business card every month. It became a game to see if I could actually deplete my 250 count of cards before I was on to something else. I didn't have a clue. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I "grew...

The affirmations a person uses depend on many factors. What is the person trying to accomplish? Where is he or she now in relation to that goal or dream? What is their belief factor? Is he or she aspiring to something big or just looking for incremental improvement? One of the biggest knocks critics have against affirmations is that they encourage unrealistic thinking. It is ridiculous, they say, to encourage a sixth grader who can barely play "Hot Crossed Buns" on the saxophone to use an affirmation like, "I am a world-class saxophone player". That's just delusional, they argue, to have a child believing something so out of touch with reality. I absolutely agree! "What," you say, "I thought you...

When I was 9 years old I played the Saxophone and thought I was pretty good at it. Unfortunately, I had a teacher who didn't think so and he went out of his way to make sure I knew how he felt. One day, my mother bought me a new saxophone (it wasn't exactly new it was used) but to me, it was the best gift I ever received. Now, of course, I wanted my teacher's approval and so I showed him my new instrument. He called it a piece of s---! Then the tears started to flow and from that moment on, I lost all interest in playing the saxophone. Now, mind you, I loved this instrument. I loved the honking sound it made and the way it looked. I thought it was the coolest thing on planet Earth. But, getting that...

Alto saxophonist Charlie Parker was one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. Known also as Yardbird, or simply Bird, Charlie was an early bebop pioneer; many of his songs remain standards to this day. It might surprise you, but Charlie Parker started playing the saxophone at age 11, but wasn't a child prodigy by any stretch of the imagination. He joined the school band at age 14, and by one account, was kicked out because of his bad playing as a result of his lack of formal training. Charlie didn't let setbacks bother him though, and an in interview once said that for three to four years he practiced 15 hours a day. Part of this practice regime included playing the blues songs he...

Born on June 19, 1979, Dirk Nowitzki is a native of Germany and currently plays for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. After applying early for entry into the 1998 NBA Draft, Nowitzki was selected ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was immediately traded, however, to the Dallas Mavericks. He struggled during his early career, as many athletes do, but has since risen to become one of the top players in the league. During his NBA rookie season, Dirk Nowitzki averaged 8.2 points per game. The following year, during the 1999-2000 season, found Dirk finishing second in the NBA's Most Improved Player voting. That season, he played in each of the 82 regular season games and averaged 17.5 points per...

Pittsburgh PA's Summertime Downtown Activities are interesting and great fun, something to do for the whole family. Spend time downtown listening to music and watching many of the cities favorite artists. Get out of the house into the fresh air, grab your lawn chairs, picnic basket and pick your spot for the evening. If you're from out of town and want to try something different this summer you can book a Pittsburgh hotel and take a trip to Southwestern PA. Events are presented in segments throughout the summer season presenting activities to entertain and increase the cultural awareness. The city has so much talent to choose from and tries to display as much as possible. Music and Art in Downtown...

The Jazz Festivals in Eilat have roots in the middle of the 1980s but it is only in the last couple of years that it has become a catalyst for the development of a new kind of rich jazz environment, which places the broad style of jazz music in the cultural mainstream of the Israeli public audience. The Red Sea festival not only attracts leading international jazz musicians that are a great source of inspiration for local jazz groups, but it drives other leading jazz performers to play in Israel throughout the year. The year 2007 is probably the best ever in terms of the quality of the international jazz favorites that have come to play here in the holy land. Red Sea Jazz Festival The small-scale...

If you are trying to get your ex back, remain patient. The worst thing you can do is become emotional and try to rush things. Your ex is not likely to react positively. You will quickly learn that if you remain calm and collected, that's the best thing you can do. It's not easy to remain calm and collected when your emotions are running high. What you want to do is show your ex that you are mature enough to go it on your own. Showing dependence on your ex will just make you look weak. Here are some ideas to consider to remain calm and collected. Friends and family can give you the support you need at a time like this. You don't want to lock yourself into your room and lick your wounds. This will...

is article we will talk about the musical instruments in the woodwind family. These have always been instruments of interest because they are some of the most natural instruments available to play. Most people enjoy playing these instruments for this reason. The piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, bassoon, clarinet, and saxophone are all instruments of the woodwind family. Most of these instruments were made of wood. Now, they have evolved and are made from all sorts of material, however, the essence is still the same for each instrument. Basically, they still play in the same way. Because they are played by blowing air or with wind, they are called the woodwind family of musical instruments. The...

Since 1957 arpeggios have been gradually phased out of guitar instructional material, if you are a newbie guitar player you probably don't have the faintest idea what I'm talking about. However, there's a good possibility you already know how to play arpeggios, guitar players have invented all sorts of fancy names for their arpeggio techniques. If you have heard Eddie Van Halen's tapping technique, or Vinne Moore's sweep picking style or maybe you already do some finger picking songs on acoustic guitar... if you have heard these players or play finger style guitar you already know what an arpeggio sounds like! O.K., you know the sound but what exactly are arpeggios and how can they help you improve...

My reasons for coming to France? Less stress, not working 9-5, better schooling for the children, better weather, having more time with the family, a bigger house, smaller mortgage, being closer to nature to name but a few. I came to France in January 2002 with my husband and two children aged 12 and 14, two rabbits and two budgies (the children refused to come unless they came too). There was no heating in our rented house and although we had been told how warm it was here, we endured temperatures of -25 that first winter. Better weather, um, I was reserving judgment on that one. We found a house, got a cheap mortgage until the Bank pulled out 2 days before we were due to move so we ended up...

"body"> Seldom Blues is the latest release from Smooth Jazz Sensation Alexander Zonjic, and is another great one by this talented musician. Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish. Alexander Zonjic possesses the characteristic of being able to bowl you over with his talent alone. The kind of artist I really enjoy listening to. I'm of the opinion that Seldom Blues is certainly Alexander Zonjic's best work in a few years. A totally enjoyable CD and an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up because it's a...

Never Die Young is the latest release from Rock Sensation James Taylor, and is another winner by this talented musician. This one literally grabs your attention right from the very beginning with Never Die Young and doesn't let go until the very last note of the very last song First Of May, which is another great track by the way. One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you've got one of James Taylor's most impressive releases ever. I'm of the opinion that Never Die Young is certainly James Taylor's best work in a few years. A totally enjoyable CD and an...

Turned To Blue is the latest Jazz CD put out by the extremely talented Nancy Wilson who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I'm confident Nancy Wilson fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. This one literally grabs your attention right out of the gate with This Is All I Ask and doesn't let go until the very last note of the very last song I'll Be Seeing You, which is another great track by the way. Jazz music fans will recognize some of the well known guests that have been assembled to play along with Wilson on several of the tracks. Artists like Hubert Laws and James Moody just to name a couple. Overall Turned To Blue is an outstanding release. What I call...

Close Your Eyes is the latest release from Jazz Star Stacey Kent, and I can only think of one word to describe this CD... AWESOME! Unfortunately, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Close Your Eyes. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish. One of the nicer things about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Jazz isn't your favorite style you still can't help but appreciate the greatness of the artist. Overall Close Your Eyes is excellent from beginning...

Passing Ships is the latest release from Jazz Superstar Andrew Hill, and I can only think of one word to describe this CD... AWESOME! It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that's exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it's own. Passing Ships is a pleasantly varied, mix of 7 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly superb artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are him...

I can describe the latest release from Smooth Jazz sensation Jeff Golub for you with just one word... Outstanding! The CD opens with a great track, Hello Betty, that I anticipate will be heard on radio stations everywhere, and deservedly so. It's a really nice track. Grand Central is a nicely varied, mix of 11 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly gifted artist Jeff Golub is one of those musicians that has the ability to just bowl you over with his talent. The kind of artist it's really a treat to be able to listen to. Overall Grand Central is outstanding from beginning to end. One of those CDs that after a few listens the songs are just etched into your memory. A must have for the...

Alfred McCoy Tyrner, better known by the last two words of his full name - McCoy Tyner, was both on the 11th of December, 1938. His mother pushed him towards his love for the piano, by sending him for piano classes when he was 13 years old. The piano classes got him hooked to the instrument in a couple of years by the time he turned 15. His early inspiration came from the playing of Bud Powell with whom he was neighbors. His playing was distinguished from the other sounds that people have drawn out of the piano. He had a very distinctive way of playing the bass notes with his left hand, which he positioned higher than the normal posture of piano playing allowed him to so that he could lay heavy...

Not sure what's happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better Ricochet gets. Ricochet put simply is one of Richard Elliot's best CDs to date. Unfortunately, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Ricochet. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish. Ricochet is a pleasantly varied, mix of 10 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly outstanding artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes...

The piano is an important musical instrument for jazz bands since the origin of jazz music and it can be played in the style of a solo performance or as part of a band. Like the guitar, the piano is one of the few musical instruments in a jazz band which can play chords as well as notes instead just single notes only instruments such as the saxophone, trombone, trumpet or even the vibraphone (1 or 2 notes together). Gone were the days when a jazz pianist's role is just to keep tempo with repetitive chord combinations. Nowadays, the pianist is free to choose any technique or style to accompany a band or a singer using both short and sustained chordal and melodic fragments called comping. An...

Incorporating your chosen design onto the base of your back is a device of giving emphasis to your femininity and highlighting your figure. Also, it reduces the appearance of your waist by making your hips appear smaller. With so many tattoo symbols to choose from, you can become confused. It is therefore easier if you think of tattoo symbols as being broken into the following groups: Nations. Does the coloring used in the flag of a specific nation appeal to you? Does a particular nation holds a special meaning for you? Maybe you are drawn to the language of a specific nation, or perhaps you love the contours of the letters used in that language? Maybe you could have a favorite quotation or saying...

Introduction Even though the "Garage Band" setup, with everything plugged into guitar amps at full volume (including mics and keyboards), has helped many musicians progress and go from amateurs to experienced amateurs, even professionals, it's relatively easy to rehearse in a more practical way that's more consistent with professional standards. It would be a good idea to stop the "do it yourself" method as soon as possible, which, even though it lets you set up relatively quickly without having to carry heavy PA equipment, won't suffice for many situations and won't correspond to the real world of sound technicians and live gigs in bigger venues. Rehearsal rooms often have equipment that lets you...

Here's some news; Federal Reserve Chairmen are men that move markets. Are you surprised? Well, apparently the press just learned that secret this week. There has been non-stop reporting of the media laying claims as to who is the more influential market mover--the former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan or current Fed Chief Ben Bernanke. As if the top two dogs were going to contend in a 15 round bout to determine once and for all who is "The Market Mover" champion. Reading through the financial papers, the media would have you believe Mr. Greenspan is that guy and Dr. Bernanke is the challenger. Try your hand at determining who is the current top market prognosticator. There is a good role model to...

I grew up with four older brothers, so it was only natural for me to develop a taste for good old-fashioned rock and roll from a very young age. While my friends and peers were still swooning over the latest boy bands, I was rocking to the great sounds of the 1970's and '80's. It wasn't until high school that everyone else caught up. However, I can honestly say that it took me a long time to appreciate the roots of this genre of music that has transformed the entire world. A form of rock and roll exists in almost every culture across the globe. The term rock and roll as we use it today was coined by Alan Freed, a DJ from Cleveland, in 1951--so as far as music goes, it is still a fairly young genre...

There are many people in the world who will tell you that for soul tingling music you should listen to the songs of R&B performers. This style of music is catchy and has the ability of soothing you at the same time that it energizes your soul. You will find this popular form of music is the shortened form of rhythm and blues. It originated during the 1940s from a number of popular African American musical styles. The roots of R&B can be traced to gospel music, traditional pop music, Jazz music, and the blues music genre. In this final style you will find that jump and electric blues music more than the others had a huge influence on the development of the R&B music scene. With the...

people aspire to learn to play a musical instrument. The first step in the process is to decide on which musical instrument to learn. That step is usually not a challenge as many individuals who approach music are already passionate about an instrument, or at the very least, have an instrument in mind. The next step is to find lessons in the area for the instrument which has been chosen. This can sometimes prove to be a bit more challenging in areas where there are not very many options for instrument instruction. Fortunately, the city of Toronto offers music lessons on a wide array of musical instruments. Toronto enjoys a large variety of musical styles. Because of this fact, one can find music...

Many times you hear that you need to practice skills to become better at your instrument of choice. Without any other advice than this, practicing scales can be confusing. If you learn how to practice scales, you will not only improve on your instrument but it will also develop your musical ear. What scales practice exercises can you do? The first exercise is to simply learn a scale. Most scales will range somewhere around 5 to 8 notes so they really aren't that hard to memorize. Get used to playing that scale starting low and moving up until you get to the next octave. Do this until you have the scale memorized. Another exercise is to take the scale you learned and play it in different keys. Each...

Harry Connick, Jr. is an American actor, pianist, and composer. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 11, 1967. His father was the district attorney of Orleans Parish and his mother was a lawyer, judge, and later the Louisiana Supreme court justice. His family also owned and operated a record store. When Harry was nine, he performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 3 Opus 37 with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra, and also played a duet called 'I'm Just Wild About Harry'. Both of these songs were recorded for a documentary known as "Jazz Around The World". After high school, he wanted to study jazz professionally and had given recitals at Loyola academy. Finally he moved to New York and...

Belgium chocolates and Belgium waffles have made this small European country famous around the world. But Belgium offers more than just sweets and breakfast items. In fact, Belgium is known for hosting more street and music festivals than any other country in Europe. After all, this is where the Saxophone was invented, by Adolph Sax, in 1846. Belgium's historical sites, small towns, and peaceful countryside make it an excellent destination for inquisitive travelers. Belgium is both multicultural and multilingual. Flanders, in the north, is a land surrounded by canals that hosts medieval art cities such as Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. Wallonia, in the south, leads you to the hills of the Ardennes...

I have been selected to plan the annual Style Show for our community. This is THE "must attend" event of the year. Ladies scramble for the limited number of tickets available. The anticipation of the Style Show is the highlight of the Spring Season, so imagine the pressure I endure to be successful in this venture. Luckily, I have been active in past Style Shows. I was a model in one, served on the committee for another, and was the Mistress of Ceremonies for last year's event. Because of my past involvement, I feel like I have ample experience, but want to do a good job for our community. I have selected several talented and hard-working ladies to serve on the committee for planning the Style Show...

Born To Be Blue is the latest Jazz CD put out by the richly talented Freddie Hubbard who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I'm confident Freddie Hubbard fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. Unfortunately, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Born To Be Blue. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish. Born To Be Blue has a nicely varied, mix of 5 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly outstanding artist. With...

The super talented Smooth Jazz artist Richard Elliot has released his latest CD on the ARTizen Music Group recording label, entitled Metro Blue. Unfortunately, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Metro Blue. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish. Metro Blue has a nicely varied, mix of 10 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly outstanding artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly...

The exceptionally talented Jazz artist Sonny Rollins has released him CD entitled Newks Time. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Sonny Rollins fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Newks Time Sonny Rollins's artistic excellence is on full display as Rollins has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be him best work to date. It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that's exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song...