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Holiday Special
The
Special Guests
Kenny G
Rhythm & Romance
Kenny G, the world’s most renowned saxophonist, recently released his first Latin Jazz album, Rhythm & Romance, backed by some of the world’s finest Latin musicians. The result was a rich, one-of-a-kind tapestry of samba and salsa, ballads and bossa nova, all of which are held together by beautiful melodies of Kenny G’s signature sound. The album is a collection of new songs and beloved classics that are rhythmically rooted in two disparate sounds resulting in a completely original and moving work.
“Musically, this is nothing like I have ever done before,” says Kenny.
This is remarkable considering for the past two decades Kenny has established himself as the biggest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era, with global sales totaling more than 75 million albums, with 45 million albums sold in the U.S. alone. Yet, for Rhythm & Romance, Kenny ventures into uncharted creative territory and is having the time of his life crafting a lively album, one that speaks to exactly why a young Kenny Gorelick of Seattle, Washington, who discovered the saxophone one evening while watching the Ed Sullivan show, was inspired to pick up the instrument in the first place.
“Everyone loves the rhythm of Latin music,” says Kenny. “It makes you feel good; it makes you want to dance. At the same time, it is very intimate and personal.”
Enamored with the rhythm of Latin music, Kenny and longtime collaborator and producer Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion) set out to find the right instrumentation and arrangements for the romantic Latin melodies that have been swirling around saxophonist’s head for months. Together they have assembled an all-star line-up of Latin musicians including guitarist Ramon Stagnaro, percussionists Michito Sanchez, Paulino Da Costa, Ron Powell and legendary drummer Alex Acuña (Weather Report). The album also features guest vocals by rising Chilean star Barbara Munoz and Spanish-speaking pop/rock sensation, Camila.
“It’s really about two different music styles coming together to create something completely new,” says Kenny. “The sound of my music is very distinct and so is the sound of these extraordinary musicians. They bring the rhythm and I’m the romance,” the saxophonist jokes.
Romance is something Kenny G knows very well. For a man who has made a career out of playing soft notes, he is about to play his softest. For the first few bars into the classic love song “Besame Mucho,” the beloved saxophonist stands exactly a quarter of an inch away from the microphone, as a distinct sound breathes beautifully through the instrument and echoes across the lush gardens of Los Angeles’ famed Conway Recording Studios. The accompanying musicians gracefully join in behind him for the first of many highlights on the album.
Every song for Rhythm & Romance is recorded live as the sessions brim with energy and inspiration. Here we not only get a glimpse of Kenny G the artist, but Kenny G the collaborator, working out each note with the greatest attention to detail, while still allowing the improvisational skills of he and the other musicians to shine through. Each recording is a unique mix of precision and invention that conjures up the sounds of Brazil, Havana and everything in between.
“This is very exciting to watch,” says Afanasieff. “You have this extraordinary musician in Kenny who is brought together with a group of musicians from a totally different background, all renowned players in their own right. But together they all speak the same language musically.”
Although he was still fine-tuning the songs on the record, Kenny decided to try out some of the new material on a recent tour to South America in front of what he called the “ultimate audience for Latin music.” The risk paid off; the crowd warmly embraced the new material and sang along to the classic ballad “Sabor a mi.”
A longtime aviator, Kenny is no stranger to risk-taking. After years of playing professionally with groups like Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra and Jeff Lorber Fusion, Kenny signed with Arista Records in 1982 and three critically-acclaimed jazz albums later, (Kenny G, G-Force and Gravity) he was poised to hit the stratosphere.
Kenny G’s big moment came in 1988 on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. One of the producers insisted that for such a big appearance the artist should perform a track accompanied by a vocalist. Kenny felt it was important in this moment to establish himself with an instrumental. The debate continued up until minutes before show time when Kenny launched into “Songbird,” the landmark recording from his fourth album, Duotones. That night he played his heart out and a star was born.
From there Kenny went on to become a multi-platinum sensation soon collaborating with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole and Frank Sinatra. His next studio albums, Silhouette and Breathless were enormously successful, the latter becoming the biggest selling instrumental record in U.S. history with more than 12 million records sold in the U.S. alone. The album featured the Grammy® award winning single, “Forever in Love.” Kenny soon attracted an impressive array of collaborators. In 1996, Kenny teamed with renowned artist/producer Babyface for “The Moment” which featured two vocal collaborations including "Everytime I Close My Eyes," and "That Somebody Was You" with Toni Braxton.
In 1994, Kenny broke another record with his holiday compilation, Miracles, which, in addition to being Kenny’ first album to hit number #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, became the best selling holiday album of all-time. Thirteen years later, it still stands as the best-selling holiday album. His second and third albums of holiday standards 1999’s Faith (which featured the millennium inspired version Auld Lang Syne) and 2002’s Wishes, were also remarkably successful.
In 2002, Kenny took his audience to the islands with the soulful album Paradise, which featured the hit, adult-contemporary track "All the Way" with Brian McKnight. In 2004, Kenny delivered an all-guest-star album entitled At Last...The Duets Album. The album featured performances by Barbara Streisand, Burt Bacharach, LeAnn Rimes as well as a remake of OutKast’s “The Way You Move” with Earth, Wind and Fire.
Other notable works include: 1999’s album of Jazz standards entitled Classics in the Key of G, (which featured “What a Wonderful World,” the virtual duet with Louis Armstrong and “The Girl From Ipanema” duet with Bebel Gilberto) and 2006’s I’m in the Mood for Love: The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time, the saxophonist’s unique take on some of the greatest love songs ever written including standards such as Dorothy Fields’ “The Way You Look Tonight,” right up through modern hits such as Alicia Keys’ “I Ain’t Got You,” and James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful.”
That same year, Kenny won a huge honor for his other passion: golf. In December 2006, Kenny claimed the #1 ranking in Golf Digest's "Top 100 in Music" list, with an impressive +0.6 handicap.
But music remains the artist’s first love. With each new recording, Kenny begins from a personal place— the sounds that move him. It brings him great joy to introduce new material to a live audience. For the past twenty years he has been a fixture in arenas, amphitheaters and concert halls and has performed for millions of people all over the world.
When pressed about his theory as to why he has been so successful, Kenny offers, “I think my music gives people the opportunity to listen to their own thoughts. Tap into their imaginations.
Laura Day
According to teacher and healer Laura Day, intuition is accurate insight and information that you have not gained through the everyday use of your five senses, intellect, or experience. It is a higher octave of your five senses—say the eyes and ears of your mind. In short, it is information that you may or may not realize you already know, information that can guide you towards success in all areas of your life.
For over twenty years, Laura Day has used and taught intuitive skills to help people make their businesses stronger, find love, heal their own bodies, communicate with loved ones from afar, and make better decisions to change the future in the immediate present. In essence, she has helped people create their own dreams.
Still, for many people, their dreams seem impossible to achieve. But in her latest book, HOW TO RULE THE WORLD FROM YOUR COUCH (Atria Books; November, 2009; $24.00), Laura Day proves that the seemingly impossible is possible by offering intuitive tools that will produce dazzling results in less time with less work. She writes, “You don’t have to be full of ‘get up and go’ to have success, find love, or even learn a living. There are tools, innate tools, that permit you do much of the heavy lifting without your feet even touching the floor.”
New York Times bestselling author Laura Day has spent over two decades helping companies as well as individuals use the power of intuition to create their dreams. Her global clientele include celebrities, scientists, business executives, and other professionals. She speaks regularly in the United States and abroad, and has been featured in numerous publications, including Marie Claire, People, and Newsweek, and has appeared on CNN, The View, Good Morning America, and Oprah.
Ralph Porter
If laughter is what you want, then Ralph Porter is who you need. A San Francisco, California native, Ralph got his start in stand up comedy while living in Anchorage, Alaska. Becoming the first local comedian to win the Anchorage Laugh Off Comedy Competition three years in straight. Moving to the Seattle, Washington area, Ralph Became a presence at the world's famous Seattle Comedy Underground. Also taking the stage at comedy clubs all over like, Giggles Comedy Club, The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, California, working with some of the best comedians in the business, SINBAD, GEORGE LOPEZ, TOMMY DAVISON, CHRIS ROCK, just to name a few, Ralph became the talk of the town. Ralph claims to be "almost famous". He is still working on that title.
Making his TV debut on CBS "The Fugitive" and BET's "One Mic Stand", Ralph is getting closer to that title. They say laughter is the best medicine, Ralph is known to make you laugh. So add laughter to your life, see you at the show.
Massive Monkees
Founded in the mid-90's, Seattle's award-winning Massive Monkees have taken the art of break dancing to new heights, captivating audiences with an exciting repertoire of acrobatic moves and innovative choreography. Their precision, timing and agility of movement, coupled with artistic interpretations of diverse musical genres, sets them apart from other break dancers in hip-hop culture. In recognition of their artistry, the Seattle Arts Commission recently honored the group with The Mayor's Arts Award.
Members of the crew have performed with and/or choreographed performances for artists such as LL Cool J, Beyonce, Nas, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Jurassic 5, Tyrese, and Alicia Keys. Appearances include MTV's "Made", Showtime at the Apollo, and Xbox promotions. Dominating the highest levels of international competition, they have an impressive resume of 1st Place titles, including winning the prestigious World B-Boy Championships at London's Wembley Arena in 2004. This fall, they placed 3rd in competition on MTV's hit reality show America's Best Dance Crew.
Miss Seafair 2009-2010
Jacqueline Saarenas, 20, is a junior at Seattle University majoring in Psychology. Her ambition is to become an Educational Psychologist to use her knowledge and skill to effectively provide lower-income children and minorities the opportunity to succeed in their life ambitions. Along with her schooling, Jackie also actively participates in the community through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound and is a member of Seattle University’s Student Leaders for the Common Good Program.
Dr. Melody Ivory
With the eye of an artist, the heart of a poet and the brilliance of a scientist, Dr. Melody Ivory updates the human software that empowers you to be the living works of art you’re meant to be. She has risen above being abandoned by both parents by age seven and coping with abuse throughout her early life to being an in-demand personal growth expert, visionary problem-solver, speaker, trainer, coach, consultant, and herbalist...with a Ph.D. in computer science. A former professor and world expert on web evaluation, she is the creator of the Body Song line of handcrafted natural care products for your whole Self and the author of Thou Art the Art, Step into the Frame, Be the Masterpiece, Automated Web Site Evaluation and the upcoming Step Into Your Full Greatness™.
The Main Attraction
Four of the brightest vocal entertainers to come together on any stage, any where, the group has been recognized by the Northwest Area Music Association (NAMA) 3 consecutive years as the Northwest's Best Vocal Group.
The unique a' cappella style of The Main Attraction can be heard on stage, radio and television. Appealing to all ages and all types of music fans. The Main Attraction has opened for such diverse acts as Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight, Eddie Murphy, the Nylons, Natalie Cole, The Charlie Daniels Band, Jack Jones, Helen Reddy, and B.B. King. They've toured the college market, have performed at Mardi Gras, and have toured Japan when time permits. They had the honor of performing for Bill and Melinda Gates' wedding reception, as well as the opportunity to star on the ABC hit mini series, "The Commish." The Main Attraction has been performing together for 23 years!
Northwest Harvest
Back Home with Lisa Smith-Putnam Holiday Special proudly gave over 50 lbs. of non-perishable food, donated by the theater audience, to Northwest Harvest.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Lisa Smith-Putnam would like to thank Southwest Airlines, Fidalgo’s, Cabela’s, Cherry Street Coffee, Oh Boy! Oberto, You Look Fabulous Darling!!, Tiare Floral Design, Starts VIP Town Cars, Mukilteo Chocolates, Tutta Bella, Salon Nouveau and TLR Studio for their support of the Holiday Special.
