Karukas strives to write music that evokes strong emotions. His best-known single, “Nightshift”, reflects the funky, smooth jazzy styling familiar to his fans. Karukas has collaborated with Brazilian composer Dori Caymmi on several songs. With eleven albums and many live performances with prominent jazz artists, Gregg Karukas has established himself as one of the leading musicians of the format.

Discography

References

• Gregg Karukas bio, Yahoo! Music.
• Gregg Karukas on MusicMatch Guide.

External links

• Gregg Karukas’ home page

Early life

Tisdale was born in Fort Worth, Texas. His father, Louis Tisdale, was a well-known pastor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, serving for 21 years as senior pastor of Friendship Church; after his death in 1997, the former Osage Expressway in Tulsa was named L. L. Tisdale Parkway in his honor. Wayman’s older brother Weldon has been pastor of the church since 1997.

Growing up, Tisdale was not interested in basketball; when Weldon and another older brother, William, played pickup games in their yard, he usually quit before they finished, retreating to the family’s sandbox. However, Tisdale began taking to the sport in the eighth grade when he first learned to dunk.

He met his future wife Regina in April 1981 at church. At the time, they were juniors at different Tulsa high schools, and she did not know he was one of the most heavily-recruited basketball players in the country.

Tisdale called music his “first love”. Throughout his youth, continuing through his college basketball career, he played bass guitar at his father’s church.

Music and church were so important to Tisdale that after recruiting him to the University of Oklahoma, Sooners head coach Billy Tubbs changed the team’s practice schedule to accommodate Tisdale, moving the team’s Sunday practice from the morning to the evening to allow him to play at morning services in his father’s church in Tulsa.

Basketball career

Tisdale graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he grew up. As a college player at Oklahoma from 1983 to 1985, he was a three-time Big Eight Conference Player of the Year and the first player in collegiate history to be named a first-team All American by the Associated Press in his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons. He still holds the record at Oklahoma for the most points scored by any player through his freshman and sophomore seasons. He won a gold medal as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team coached by Indiana University’s Bobby Knight, and the Indiana Pacers made Tisdale the second overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft.

As a center and power forward, Tisdale averaged over 15 points and six rebounds per game in a 12-season professional career with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. His best season was in 1989–90 with the Kings, when he averaged 22.3 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. Tisdale and Mitch “The Rock” Richmond combined to form one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA. In 1997, Tisdale retired to focus on his musical career.

In 1997, Tisdale became the first player in any sport to have his jersey number (23) retired by the University of Oklahoma. When Blake Griffin was granted permission to wear it during his career at OU (2007–2009), he sought and received Tisdale’s blessing before accepting it.

Music career

Wayman Tisdale and Dave Koz at the Dave Koz & Friends Smooth Jazz Cruise 2006.

Tisdale launched his music career with Power Forward in 1995 on the Motown Label. Primarily a bass player, he recorded eight albums, with the 2001 release Face to Face climbing to No. 1 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart.^[8] In 2002, he was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. In an ESPN internet chat, Tisdale said his musical influences include funk bands of the 1970s.His most recent release, Rebound, was written and released after he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Tisdale was well known for his optimistic outlook. Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry appointed him to be a member of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission in 2003.

Cancer diagnosis

In March 2007, Tisdale underwent treatment for cancer in his knee (osteosarcoma), which was discovered after he fell down a flight of stairs in his home on February 8, and broke his leg. In May, Tisdale announced on his website that he was recovering from a procedure to remove the cyst, and expected to recover 100%. He and Regina agreed not to tell their children about his diagnosis until the fall of that year, when the entire family was together (their oldest daughter lives in Atlanta and their second-oldest was attending college at the time). However, the first round of chemotherapy was unsuccessful, leading to a second round. As Tisdale recalled later, “The doctor had never given anyone chemo that was my size. They just calculated how much chemo to give me and said, ‘We hope it doesn’t mess up your kidneys. If it does, sorry.” He drew on some of the challenges he faced during his basketball career to battle the disease, specifically recalling, “I had some coaches that literally didn’t want me to make it, and one in particular was Bobby Knight. At the time, I frowned on that … I look at it today that had I not persevered through a lot of the stuff he put me through, I probably wouldn’t be here today. I thank God for that dude because he pushed me.”

In August 2008, Tisdale had part of his right leg amputated because of the bone cancer. On his web site, Tisdale said removing a portion of the leg would be the best way to ensure that the cancer would not return. In a video message at halftime of a September 28 Sooners’ football game, Tisdale affirmed he was doing well and that he was at peace following the operation.

Shortly after the operation, he was fitted for a prosthesis. Scott Sabolich, the clinical director, said that in his 21-year career, he had never created a prosthesis as large as the one he had to design for Tisdale. At the same time, Sabolich noted that it typically takes a new amputee from three to six months to acclimate to a prosthesis, while it took Tisdale a month. He proved to be equally quick in learning to walk on his new limb; a physical therapist Tisdale has been working with in Tulsa said that he was months ahead of a typical patient in that respect. Tisdale’s experience led him to establish the Wayman Tisdale Foundation to raise funds to help amputees with the prosthetic process, which is not always covered by health insurance.

In April 2009, Tisdale accepted an award from the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa, and then set off on a 21-date national concert tour.

Death

Tisdale died on the morning of May 15, 2009 at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, where his wife had taken him when he had trouble breathing. Tisdale’s agent described his death as a “great shock” and noted that Tisdale had been planning to go into the recording studio the following week for a project with jazz guitarist Norman Brown.As yet, it is unconfirmed whether his death was related to his battle with cancer.Tisdale and his wife Regina had four children.

On May 21, 2009, 4,000 mourners attended Tisdale’s memorial service at the BOK Center in Tulsa.In June 2009 the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa announced that its new specialty health clinic in north Tulsa would be named in Tisdale’s honor.

According to the liner notes, Toby Keith’s 2009 album American Ride is “dedicated in memory of Wayman and Noel McFarland.” The album includes the song “Cryin’ for Me (Wayman’s Song)“, a tribute to Tisdale featuring Keith, Dave Koz, Marcus Miller, and Arthur Thompson.

Discography

• Power Forward (1995)
• In The Zone (1996)
• Decisions (1998)
• Face to Face (2001)
• Presents 21 Days (2003)
• Hang Time (2004)
• Way Up! (2006)
• Rebound (2008)

Growing up in Walnut Creek, California, Oliver started out playing in progressive rock oufits in high school. Influenced by acts such as Genesis and Yes, his band Fragile Glass released one LP entitled “Farewell Father Analogue” before disbanding. Oliver played steady gigs in and around central California as a one-man-band. While gigging around the Bay Area, Steve attracted the attention of Steve Reid, former percussionist with The Rippingtons, who recruited him to join his new project Bamboo Forest. Oliver was the lead vocalist and guitarist for Bamboo Forest and many of the tunes on the first two albums are Oliver / Reid compositions. Reid eventually persuaded Oliver into the spotlight and helped the young guitarist produce his own CD.

Steve’s debut album “First View” was highly regarded in the Smooth Jazz community. He received plenty of airplay on radio stations throughout the country with tunes like “Highway One”, “First View” and “Midnight at the Oasis”. The record landed on many critics’ top ten lists and Steve was awarded Best New Artist from Smooth Jazz News.

The follow up album “Positive Energy” was successful, thanks to the single “High Noon”. The album reached the top 20 on Billboard’s album chart and the single reached as high as number 3 on the smooth jazz singles chart. “High Noon” became a staple for the format and is still heard in heavy rotation all over the country and in Canada.

Oliver has released two albums since then including “3D” and “Radiant” on the KOCH records label, scoring radio play with songs such as “Chips and Salsa”, “Good to Go” and “Tradewinds”.

External links

• Homepage

Cooling has recorded 7 CDs (4 major labels and 3 indies) – five of which charted on Billboard. She has to her credit two #1 radio singles, six top 10 and 13 charting singles in all, and has garnered multiple music awards including the Gibson Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year and Best New Talent in the Jazziz Reader’s Poll. She was a nominee for the California Music Awards, the Oasis Awards and the Gavin Contemporary Jazz Artist of the Year.

Cooling has played with Al Jarreau, Lee Ritenour Joe Henderson, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd.

Cooling has performed all across the United States, and has made international appearances in Japan ,South Korea, Philippines, Columbia,and Mexico.

Along with other contemporary jazz artists, Cooling’s work is often sampled as background music for the Local on the 8s on The Weather Channel, and is featured on their first compilation album, The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz.

Cooling is a national advocate for NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Joyce has performed at the NAMI National and regional events all across the country.

Awards

• Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year (female) — Gibson Guitar Awards

Discography

• Cameo (There Records, 1988)
• Playing It Cool (Heads Up, 1997)
• Keeping Cool (Heads Up, 1999)
• Third Wish (Verve Music, 2001)
• This Girl’s Got To Play (Narada Jazz, 2004)
• Revolving Door (Narada Jazz, 2006)
• Global Cooling (Group 2 Productions, 2009)

References

External links

• Official Joyce Cooling website

Kashiwa moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music, where he developed an interest in straight-ahead jazz. Kashiwa found he liked Southern California and transferred to Cal State Long Beach to work on his Bachelors Degree in Music. In 1989, Kashiwa joined The Rippingtons when the band’s original saxophonist, Brandon Fields, left the group. Kashiwa recorded his first two solo albums while a member of the Rippingtons, but eventually left the group in 1999 to concentrate on a solo career with his own band, Coastal Access. Although Eric Marienthal took over as sax player for the Rippingtons, Kashiwa still played with the Rippingtons in 2007 for their 20th Anniversary Tour, as well as with The Sax Pack (Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole, Kim Waters).

Kashiwa plays mostly tenor saxophone; he uses the tenor on all 14 tracks of the album Play. He also plays soprano saxophone, and has been known to play alto saxophone and the EWI as well.

Discography

• Remember Catalina (1995)
• Walk a Mile (1997)
• Another Door Opens (2000)
• Simple Truth (2002)
• Peace Of Mind (2004)
• Play (2007)
• The Sax Pack (2008)
• Back In The Day (2009)
• The Pack Is Back (2009)

External links

• Official Site
• AllMusic.com Discography

Biography

Williams grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was also the adopted hometown of an early influence of hers, Grover Washington, Jr. Playing with the Martin Luther King Jazz Ensemble at King High School in Philadelphia’s historic Germantown section, Williams was required to embrace both electric jazz-funk and hardcore bebop. In 1996, she first found fame as a member of Patti LaBelle’s backup band, and her career took off from there. Williams’ has toured with Teena Marie and performing with Prince, Babyface and Chante Moore, the saxtress has appeared in a wide variety of videos by artists ranging from soul veteran Barry White (“Come On”) to rapper/actress Queen Latifah (“Hard Times”).

In 1996 Williams made her recording debut, Saxtress, which was the “Top Contemporary Jazz Album”, Billboard’s Top 10 pick. “The Secret Garden,” which boasts guest performances by soul goddesses Patti LaBelle and Teena Marie—the latter also heard on “Latin Lullaby.” The album also earned Williams a nomination for the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards and the title of “Best Female Contemporary Jazz Artist” in 1996. Her follow up recordings include Eight Days of Ecstasy (1998), with Evolution (2002) where she has expanded her musical repertoire to include vocals and keyboards along with alto and soprano saxophone, and Sweet Saxations (2005). Elixir (2006). In 2007 she recorded The Look of Love, featuring songs originally recorded by Dionne Warwick, and written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Pamela’s latest project is a Nu Jazz CD entitled “Chameleon”( November 2009 ) and is the first release off of her own indie label Saxtress Entertainment.

Discography

So sit  back, relax and enjoy Relaxing Jazz!

Do you enjoy the music on Relaxing Jazz?, have you always wanted to own the music we play but can never seem to buy the music in stores?

Well, we are giving away entire albums of our music to three members of our premium service. Albums included will be from artist’ such as Pamela Williams, Norman Brown, Richard Elliot, Dave Koz, Brian Bromberg, Lee Ritenour, Brian Culbertson, Bob Baldwin, Steve Oliver, Gabriela Anders, Wayman Tisdale, Kim Waters, Jeff Kashiwa, Alex Bugnon, Chris Standring, Will Downing, Bob James, Theo Bishop, Paul Hardcastle, Najee, Mindi Abair, Andy Snitzer, Marion Meadows, Joyce Cooling, Gregg Karukas, Euge Groove, Fourplay, Jeff Golub, Dan Siegel, Chris Botti, Brian Simpson, Boney James and much, much more.

The combined value of the collection of music, totals over $2500 USD and will be delivered to you on each artist’ official album.

So how do you have a chance of winning this unique collection?

It’s quite simple, all you have to do is sign up for the Relaxing Jazz premium service right here

It costs $4.95 per month, that’s the equivalent of 16 cents per day. It gives you access to our 192kbps members only stream, which sounds like our 128kbps broadband stream, except you can hear and feel the extra clean, crisp quality. And it’s not just Windows Media Player that can tune in to our premium stream, a whole array of players are compatible. Including Winamp, iTunes, Real Player, Jet Audio and more.

As an added benefit and to show our appreciation, all premium members no longer have to tolerate the banner ads on our website. We’ve removed them all! We do understand how annoying they can be, but they (at this moment) pay our bills.

Do I still have a chance of winning the CD collection if I’m a member from outside the US?

Yes! No matter where you live, if Fedex deliver to your location, you can still receive the CD collection.

So, I’m a premium member, do I need to contact you to tell you I’m interested in winning the collection?

No, we will send out three emails to three premium members. You do not have to do anything! If you receive an email from us, then congratulations, we just need to confirm your postal address!

When will you choose the winners?

We will choose three members on August 31st 2009. If your membership is active at any time during this day, and has been active for at least 7 days prior, you will be included in this promotion.

Any questions? Contact us!

Heavily influenced by funk, much of Culbertson’s material is funk-based instrumental, but began calling upon vocalists such as Trey Lorenz, Marc Nelson and Kenny Lattimore to add to his latter pieces.

Culbertson has released eight albums so far. The first three were on the Blue Moon label: “Long Night Out” 1994, “Modern Life” 1995, and “After Hours” 1996. After moving to the Atlantic Records, three more albums followed: “Secrets” 1997, “Somethin’ Bout Love” 1999, and the critically acclaimed “Nice & Slow” 2001. “Come on Up” 2003 was released on Warner Jazz, and Culbertson then moved to GRP Records for his project, “It’s On Tonight” 2005 which debuted at #1 on Billboard Magazine’s contemporary-jazz charts.

Brian Culbertson also works with many other musicians in the smooth jazz arena, often as a composer and arranger. Culbertson is currently credited with working with Dave Koz, Peter White, Richard Elliot, Jeff Lorber, Michael Lington and legendary A&M Records composer and producer, Herb Alpert to name but a few. He is married to Michelle Culbertson.

Brian has regularly appeared live on many radio stations including KTWV 94.7 The Wave in California and the UK’s Solar radio with Michael J. Parlett.

Brian is one of our favorite artists here at Relaxing Jazz, so we hope you are as much as a fan of him as we are!.