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Double listen to pianist Brian Culbertson's new album Winter Stories+new work from David Benoit, Dave Koz, Spyro Gyra, & more,

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On October 4th pianist Brian Culbertson released the album Winter Stories. It was inspired when Culbertson went for a winter time walk along Lake Michigan from his Chicago home. For his new album he added an acoustic bass and drums and produced a sound that I really like. I am so happy to see his music come back into our fold after his brief foray into a funk style of music. I have a double listen for you. I can only imagine what you would do in Chicago during the harsh, cold winters filled with snow and ice. Perhaps these two songs will help explain.

I have now played all but one song from that fabulous mid-August release from pianist and smooth jazz icon David Benoit of the album David Benoit And Friends. Last but not least is a song Benoit credits his wife, a big fan of Coldplay, for convincing him to do this song. Featured is Justin Cheung a 19 year old violinist from Benoit’s youth symphony. This is Viva La Vida.

Originally a saxophonist for Keiko Matsui and releasing great music since 2005 with two Billboard number ones and two number twos, is hip and smooth saxophonist Jackiem Joyner. He released a new album October 11th. I will play the title track to his new album Touch.

The group Spyro Gyra was formed by saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall 40 years ago in 1979. Wall stepped away from playing with the group continuing as a producer and composer. Tom Schuman taking over the keyboards. They released their first album in six years on October 11th. It is titled Vinyl Tap and is all cover songs. This week's selection is a cover of a jazz standard recorded by many and written by Oliver Nelson in 1960. I am playing Spyro Gyra’s take on Stolen Moments.

More new releases for this week include Dave Koz, Nicholas Cole, and Julian Vaughn.

In the middle of the first hour I will play this week's Billboard top three songs in smooth jazz.

The second hour is devoted to classics in smooth jazz.

Thank you for your continuing support of this program and KKRN.


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