A Smooth Jazz Valentines Concert
For Friends and Lovers
When:
Saturday, February 12th, 7:30 PM
Where:
Long Beach Terrace Theater 300 E. Ocean Blvd, LB CA 90802
Tickets:
Buy Tickets Here With Secure Ticketmaster Link
Covid policy:
Artist Bios
Kenny Lattimore
With a career spanning over two decades, highlighted by his 1996 breakthrough single “Never Too Busy” and the wedding staple “For You,” Kenny has garnered Grammy and Soul Train Award nominations, Top 10 singles, Top 20 R&B albums and an NAACP Image Award for Best New Artist, while staying sincere about giving his heart and soul to communities through music.
The Washington DC native dazzles audiences with an unprecedented range influenced by his classical, jazz, and gospel upbringing. Kenny is famous for delivering just the right dose of classic crooning, exceptional runs and authentic emotion. He has placed a distinctive stamp on classic songs recorded by musical icons as Donny Hathaway and The Beatles, transformed Christmas standards, and created musical magic on iconic movie soundtracks like Love Jones, Best Man and Disney’s Lion King II Simba’s Pride.
Kenny Lattimore’s recording legacy includes the critically acclaimed albums, “From The Soul Of Man,” “Timeless” and “Anatomy of a Love Song,” which produced the Top 10 single “Love Me Back.” While “A Kenny Lattimore Christmas” earned a Stellar Award nomination for ‘Event CD of the Year,’ Lattimore’s ninth solo studio album “Vulnerable” produced another Top 10 hit, “Stay on Your Mind.” His latest hit single Pressure, released under a new partnership with his label SincereSoul Records and SRG/ILS is currently climbing the charts.
Kenny is a humanitarian who uses his life and platform as a tool to inspire others to pursue excellence and elevate positive conversation about art, culture, family and faith.
Lattimore continues to tour globally, showcasing his unique creative journey through stunning and diverse set lists. Keep up with Kenny’s music, tours, merchandise, by visiting his website kennylattimore.com and following him on Instagram, and Twitter @KennyLattimore and Facebook @officialkennylattimore.
Najee
#1 BILLBOARD ARTIST & MULTI-PLATINUM SELLING JAZZ VISIONARY NAJEE IS BACK WITH NEW MUSIC SURE TO CAPTURE THE CENTER OF THE HEART
“Najee delivers light, romantic melodies… and tells meaningful emotional stories with complex, thoughtful improvisations.” – The Los Angeles Times
“Najee displays a virtually effortless balance of distinction and relevance.” – Soultracks
In a business where trends and artists come and go, Najee’s name is synonymous with innovation, consistency and the best in contemporary jazz. The visionary has enjoyed an enviable three-decade career by staying true to his own artistic vision. “Throughout my career, I have enjoyed working with diverse musicians in so many different musical contexts,” confides the two-time Platinum-selling and four-time Gold-selling multi-instrumentalist. “All of these experiences live inside you and they come out in your music. Honestly, if I were not able to mix it up, I would be bored.” Mentored by iconic saxmen Jimmy Heath and Frank Foster and flutist Harold Jones, the New England Conservatory of Music alum has worked with a who’s who list in music that includes Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock. Najee’s anticipated 18th new recording, Center Of The Heart, (Shanachie, November 15, 2019) showcases his technical agility, grace, compositional prowess, unbridled passion and fearless genre bending on ten thrilling tracks. Deftly wielding the soprano, flute, tenor and alto, Najee steers the ten-track excursion, showcasing moving originals, a hauntingly beautiful orchestration of a Bacharach/David classic, a sizzling reinvention of a Maxwell hit and unforgettable collaborations with singer Kenny Lattimore, pianist Greg Manning (Brian McKnight, Deniece Williams, Dave Koz, Jonathan Butler), saxophonist Darren Rahn (Wayman Tisdale, Toby Keith, Dave Koz, Jeff Lorber), and keyboardist/producer Demonte Posey (Eric Benet, Babyface, Toni Braxton).
Najee is a master storyteller. Whether the debonair multi-instrumentalist is engaged in a verbal or musical conversation, his alluring charisma has a way of seducing you into his world. Center Of The Heart finds Najee doing what he does best – shape-shifting through diverse musical terrain and fusing all of the elements that have made him a fan favorite all of these years. The CD opens with the exhilarating and inviting “Bella Vista,” an original Najee penned with Demonte Posey that shines a spotlight on Najee’s dazzling, agile and pristine flute work. The album’s first single unites Najee with saxophonist Darren Rahn who co-wrote the track and who has previously produced for Najee and written hits for Dave Koz and Wayman Tisdale. “I went to Denver,” recalls Najee. “When we got in the studio I could not get Darren’s sax sound out of my head so I said ‘let’s do this one together’ and call it ‘Face To Face.’” Najee puts his own timeless and sensuous spin on Maxwell’s Sumthin’ Sumthin’ from the singer’s acclaimed Urban Hang Suite and he conjures up his own lush arrangement of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Alfie” from the 1966 film of the same title that was scored by Sonny Rollins. Najee’s idea to play flute instead of the often-recorded tenor saxophone on this track is genius. His impeccable phrasing, flawless tone and sense of timing on this gem almost make time stand still. His performance is breathtaking from the opening note until the end.
Center Of The Heart marks the first time that Najee has recorded with Grammy nominated vocalist Kenny Lattimore. “Kenny and I started our careers around same time and never did a record together even though we have been around the world together. We first met in 1998 when we both performed at Nelson Mandela’s Gift To the Nation concert in Johannesburg and Durban.” It is undeniable that Najee and Lattimore both get “Better” with time. The laid-back and in-the-pocket flow of “The Way She Moves” features Najee’s bluesy tenor while the soulful “One Note Love” is a family affair. The latter features Najee’s son, rapper Superb Clawson and his granddaughter is also heard on the track. The banger “Speak Love!” will have you confessing your love over the way Najee rides danceable grooves and elevates the mood with his joyful orchestration and jubilant melodic anthems. The album’s title track was co-written by and features bassist Blair Bryant, who has collaborated with Stanley Clark, Eric Roberson and Bernie Williams among others. The euphoric and hypnotic feel good track is an album highlight. Center Of The Heart Najee closes with “Tonight We Say Goodbye.” This bittersweet parting is a reminder of why we keep coming back for more.
“When I was about 14 I was playing on a school instrument and everyone in the house was covering their ears and saying “stop, stop!” My mom noticed that it was my thing and kind of my release and bought me my first saxophone,” recalls Najee. As I began to develop on my instrument, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Yusef Lateef and Hubert Laws on flute were some of the artists that inspired me. As an industrious and hungry young musician, Najee had the good fortune of coming through Dr. Billy Taylor’s now legendary Jazzmobile program. While a student at the New England Conservatory (where both Najee and his brother attended) he studied jazz with George Russell and Jaki Byard. When he finished school Najee returned to New York in the early 80s and was lucky to land a gig with Chaka Khan along with his brother, guitarist Fareed (who is now his manager). In 1987 Najee’s Theme was released and the saxophonist earned a slot on tour with singer Freddie Jackson. The following year, Day By Day was released, and in 1991, Tokyo Blue, which is one of Najee’s most successful and enduring recordings. Tokyo Blue (which was produced by Najee’s brother Fareed) and Day By Day both went Gold and led to two Soul Train Awards for Najee (Best Jazz Artist in 1991 and 1993). Just An Illusion came in 1992 and around this time he collaborated with such iconic figures as Quincy Jones and a collaboration with jazz greats Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham and Larry Carlton resulted in the album Live At The Greek. Share My World came in 1994 and was followed in 1995 by a critically acclaimed tribute to Stevie Wonder’s 1976 classic, Songs In The Key Of Life. The CD was produced by George Duke and featured Herbie Hancock and Sheila E. among others. His CD Morning Tenderness, released in 1998, went to #1 on the contemporary jazz charts. For Najee, the late ‘90s were marked by extraordinary international experiences, from performing at Nelson Mandela’s birthday celebration in South Africa to playing as a special guest of President Clinton at the White House at an event honoring President Jerry Rawlings of the Republic of Ghana. Najee also spent two years touring (2001-2003) with Prince and appears on Prince’s albums Rainbow Children and One Night Alone. In 2003 Najee released Embrace, featuring special guests Roy Ayers and BeBe Winans. My Point Of View was his follow up in 2005 featuring his good friend and vocalist Will Downing. 2007’s Rising Sun joined Najee with Phil Perry and Mind Over Matter from 2009 paired Najee with singer Eric Benét. The Smooth Side Of Soul (Najee’s Shanachie debut) followed in 2012, successfully covering such diverse terrain as Jimmy Heath and Ne-Yo and the follow-up, The Morning After, arrived in 2013 debuting at #1 on the Billboard charts and exploring the many sides of love. You, Me & Forever was released in 2015 and united Najee with James Lloyd and Frank McComb among others. In 2017 Najee released Poetry In Motion, dedicated to the memory of Prince and Al Jarreau and featuring an all-star line up including Maysa, Will Downing, Eric Roberson and Incognito.
“I’ve known real legends,” concludes Najee. “I remember watching Charles Mingus rehearse when I was a kid and meeting Sonny Rollins at 16. There is a saying about musicians. It says that we never retire – we just stop hearing music. I still hear music and I love working with people and that is what keeps me inspired.”
Mariea Antoinette and her Soulful Orchestra
Mariea Antoinette is a Groundbreaking, International recording artist and the world’s premier soulful, Harpist. Ms. Antoinette is a native of San Diego, California. Her solo performances have taken her across the US as well as abroad.
Attending U.C.S.D. for undergraduate work majoring in music, then on to the University of Arizona for Masters work in harp performance. She has performed for the Los Angeles Southeast Symphony Orchestra as principal harpist since 2007 and for many public and private events including for First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama. She has performed with the artist Ne-Yo at the BET Awards and has toured Africa and performed in major jazz festivals across the US with Jazz in Pink. Mariea has also performed in a series of corporate, private events including numerous collaborations with other artists and music videos.
Mariea’s CD release entitled “Straight From The Harp -Special Edition” reached the top 5 of the Smooth Jazz Global and Billboard Charts and was considered for Grammy nominations in 5 categories. Mariea’s newest CD “All My Strings” debut in 2020 and was ranked #30 on “The Smooth Jazz Global 2020 100 Top Albums of the Year”. Her hit single from this CD, “Overture” debut on the Billboard top 5 and held the #1 position on the Smooth Jazz World Listener Chart for over 13 weeks.
Mariea received the Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Award in Atlanta, the Black Music Award in LA, and the San Diego Prestige Award for Best Instrumentalist in 2018. Mariea was also nominated for the 2021 San Diego Music Awards for “Best Local Recording”. With her Band/Orchestra Mariea also performed at the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival on June 30, 2019 at the Embarcadero in San Diego and received “rave reviews” from the promotors and sponsors, and more recently Mariea performed with an all-star cast of musicians at the Smooth Jazz.Com Jazz Valentines Weekender, in Carmel CA. Mariea performed at the Capital Jazz Fest on 2021 and she headlined at Catalina Island Jazz Trax in 2021 and for the 1st “Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards, held in Washington DC in 2021.
Mariea has partnered with “Daughters Lives Matter’, an organization that stresses the importance of Father Daughter relationships and positive images. Mariea is a musician that celebrates who she is and passionately follows her own creative path. We are proud to present Mariea Antoinette’s talent as a gift from the world of Harp performance.
Althea Rene
Born on December 25th in Detroit, Michigan Althea René began her musical journey at the tender age four-year-old. She studied classical music while attending Howard University. For more than 10 years she worked as a Wayne County Deputy Sheriff (in Detroit, Michigan) during the day and performed in jazz clubs at night. Today, she is a full-time performing and recording artist.
Althea René gained musical inspiration from her father Dezie McCullers (one of Motown’s original Funk Brothers). She has since developed her own creative style. Some regard her as a “master of her craft” and one of the world’s most exciting solo improvisational flutists. The multi platinum and Grammy-nominated saxophonist Najee playfully refers to her as the “Maceo of the flute”.
In May 2013, she released her hit CD entitled “In the Flow”. Collaborating with Grammy award winning producer Michael Broening, she co-wrote the title track that made history as the first flute featured single to be ranked “number one” on the Billboard and Smooth Jazz charts. This scorching hot single topped the charts for several weeks.
With a passionate mission to mentor women in the entertainment industry, Althea René authored an autobiography entitled “Becoming Chocolate Barbie – a guide for professional women in the music business” in June 2018. The book was written in an interview format so that readers may easily use it as a reference resource. Women who aspire for a life in business can appreciate the insights she shares.
Her creative advocacy for woman’s empowerment is evident in her 2019 CD release; “Flawsome”. The title of this powerful CD project is a newly coined expression that describes something that is extraordinary because of its imperfections. The project features an iconic lineup of guest artists like Maysa, Dwight Adams, Jeanette Harris, Euge Groove, and Gerald Albright.
Her plans for 2022 are substantial. Althea Rene is hosting her Second Annual South Central Jazz Fest on Saturday, October 15th in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. In addition to the many performances scheduled throughout the year, a few recordings will also be released. “The Best of Soul-Jazz Flutist Althea Rene” CD features many of her most popular songs recorded between the years 2000 and 2013. Collaborating with some of her favorite producers and writers Althea Rene will be releasing a new project in the third quarter.
Althea Rene is also the co-founder of the non-profit arts organization Colors & Song. With a passion to educate, entertain, and inspire people with music and art, Colors & Song promotes academic excellence and social justice via a wide range of activities. The organization’s focus is to promote goodwill, civic, and social awareness to the community.
Erin Stevenson
Houston we have a problem cause this rocket’s finally ready to take off and change the atmosphere…which is exactly what she does every time she opens her mouth to pour out her heart through song. Either she’ll win you over with her natural southern charm or her undeniable talent and infectious energy. “One morning I woke up bored and tired of living a purposeless life. I walked into my boss’s office while working for NASA and told him to fire me. I laid my CD on his desk and told him to listen to it, and if he felt like I sucked I’d return to work the next day with a smile on my face…that evening I received my notice…the next day I was asked to tour with Janet Jackson.” But that’s not where her story begins.
At the tender age of 10 she was a member of “Girls Tyme”, a prepubescent group of girls who later became Destiny’s Child. Her first single reached to number 5 on the Billboard Dance Charts in 2006 and she’s had several songs featured in major films.
Erin has been blessed with many gifts including a sultry voice, electric dance moves, producing and songwriting, and the ability to deliver breathtaking performances with her feisty personality. This has led her to starring in her own right opening for or background singing for Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Duran Duran, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Ciara, Rihanna, EnVogue,…to humbly name a few.
Some have even dubbed her the hardest working undiscovered star, but undiscovered she’ll be no more. While rehearsing and touring for other mega talents by day, Erin was brewing her own storm by night.
In November 2017 Erin released her debut album entitled “Naked” and in 2018 her first single “Hangin” made the top 10 on the UK charts and charted on the soul charts in the United States. Due to the demand to hear more she released another single in 2019…”Make It Last Forever” (which charted on the digital radio charts and indie radio charts)…and her latest singles “Never Too Much” and “You Gotta Be” have already made noise on the charts and garnered her a “People’s Choice Indie Soul Award”.
Now signed to Innervision Records, her sophomore album is already in the works with a lead single titled “Everything To Me” confirmed to be released on February 18, 2022. “I just want to sing, sing about something that matters, and have fun while doing it. Here goes everything”…your Smooth Soulful Songstress…Erin xoxo