BJS Blog

The title of Ken Navarro’s new release, The Grace of Summer Light, represents it perfectly. This is beautiful, transcendent music. He’s letting you experience the whole project by streaming it from his website, knowing that once you hear it you will want to hear it again and again, and have a copy of your own. Here’s the link. (you may have to cut and paste it)
http://www.kennavarro.com/kennavarroTGOSLstream.htm

Totally different from traditional smooth jazz fare, this shifts back to the type of contemporary instrumental that got a lot of us so excited about the genre when it was first emerging. There is a lot of Pat Metheny influence in this work, lots of textures, rhythmic changes, and melodies that weave in and out of the songs. The production is a thing of beauty, every time you listen new subtleties emerge. It’s one of those rare pieces of music that can transport you. And who couldn’t use a little bit of a shift away from the real world. This will be a beautiful soundtrack to a magical summer.

You are really lucky to have a foward thinking Adult Contemporary radio programmer in your area. Lite Rock 99.3 Program Director Michael Lowe’s insightful comments were printed in a column on ACradio.com, the Adult Contemporary Radio web magazine.
http://www.acradio.com/en042308.html
These comments were on new music but it should also be noted that most A/C stations are scared to death of smooth jazz brunch shows because they feel like specialty shows have a negative effect on their branding. Of course we know that’s not true. Giving your listeners something special and different has a positive effect on your image and Sunday mornings are the perfect time for a musical escape. After all, the two are not exclusive, most people like pop music and smooth jazz. As a matter of fact the more songs a person hears the more they realize that genre doesn’t matter, the like songs across all genres. That’s what so great about the Internet. You can find more music and find out you like more music!

http://www.acradio.com/en042308.html