There are new releases today from four noted smooth jazz artists: Jeff Lorber's He Had A Hat via Narada, Kurt Elling's Night Moves via Concord Jazz, Alex Bugnon's Ultimate Alex Bugnon via Mosaic, and Earl Klugh's Ultimate Earl Klugh via Mosaic.

Lorber's He Had A Hat features the revered keyboardist's newest efforts with special guests The Krim Symphonic Orchestra, singers Paula Cole and Eric Benet, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr.and a variety of solid jazz figures. The 13 tracks are: "Anthem For A New America," "He Had A Hat," "Grandma's Hands," "Surreptitious," "All Most Blues," "Orchid," "BC Bop," "The Other Side Of The Heart," "Hudson," "Super Fusion Unit," "Eye Tunes," "Requiem For Gandalf," and "Burn Brightly."

Jeff Lorber does an in-store performance and signing at the Borders in San Diego, then tours through April with Eric Marienthal, Dave Weckl and Brian Bromberg before hooking up with Summer Storm with Norman Brown from June onward, wrapping up with the Dave Koz Cruise from November 4th through the 11th.

Elling's release is the virtuoso vocalese performer's debut release on the Concord imprint. Recorded with bassist Rob Amster, drummer Willie Jones III and pianist-arranger Laurence Hobgood, the disc also features special guests the Escher String Quartet, bassist Christian McBride, Yellowjackets tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer, guitarist Guilherme Monterio, keyboardist Rob Mounsey and harmonica experts Howard Levy and Gregoire Maret. Tracks include "Nightmoves," "Tight," "Change Partners/If You Never Come To Me," "Undun," "Where Are You?" "And We'll Fly," "The Waking," "The Sleepers," "Leaving Again/In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning," "Body & Soul," "I Like The Sunrise," Europe Bonus "Luiza," Europe Bonus "Body & Soul (Live in Amsterdam)," Japan Bonus "Well, Did You Evah (What A Swell Party This Is)," and web bonus "Body & Soul (Kennedy Center Cut)."

Kurt Elling kicks off his tour on April 12th at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa and stays on the road through August 29th at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Bugnon and Klugh's discs are both greatest hits packages and Klugh's track listing includes fan favorites "Angelina," "Living Inside Your Love," "Dr. Macumba," "Heart String," "Kari," "Wishful Thinking," "Rainbow Man," "Brazilian Stomp," "Midnight in San Juan," "Jo Ann's Song," "Movin' On," "Maybe Tonight," "Desert Paradise," and a revised version of "Angelina."

Alex Bugnon is performing on April 20th and 21st at Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia.

Earl Klugh performs at the Night of Guitars with Bill Frisell from May 3rd to 6th at the Manchester Craftsmens Guild in Pittsburgh, then takes part in the JVC Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.


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