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| Grammy-Award Winner Robin Thicke For Jamaica Jazz & Blues He's fast become known for his super fly vocals – an infusion of jazz, blues and R&B. Now Robin Thicke, the 2004 Grammy-award winning, multiplatinum superstar, will bring that soul to Jamaica, where he is set to threat fans to hits from his third solo album 'Something Else, ' and in the process convert those who may never have heard his songs. 'Something Else, ' is a joyful and modern tribute to the '70s soul and pop records that have inspired an extraordinary career. Something Else also benefits from writing sessions that took place in different cities. Songs like "Sidestep" and "Something Else" with their heavy, insistent grooves, were the result. "Paris is the center of romance, " he says, "and I went there, and found 'Sweetest Love, ' 'You're My Baby' and 'Miss Harmony.'" The first single, "Magic, " draws all of Something Else's influences together into one blast of disco-infused dance pop. Robert Hales, director of Gnarles Barkley's "Crazy" video, was tapped to add visual balance between downtown dance couture, references to Fred Astaire's Mr. Universe and Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, one of Thicke's all-time favorite films. Melding the retro and the modern across 12 tracks, Robin Thicke leads his international fanbase into inspired, sexy and refreshing new territory. Born in Los Angeles to actor Alan Thicke and his first wife, Days of our Lives actress, Gloria Loring, Thicke grew up with an ear trained squarely at R&B and hip-hop. André Harrell (then president of Bad Boy Entertainment and mentor to Mary J. Blige, Puff Daddy and Thicke) heard the lanky white kid and was dumbstruck. Robin Thicke's first album, A Beautiful World, released in 2003, yielded the hit song, "When I Get You Alone, " and paved the way for his breakthrough second release, 2006's The Evolution Of Robin Thicke. Now on the way to double platinum status, Evolution's mega hit "Lost Without U" became the #1 most played song in Urban Adult Contemporary BDS and topped four Billboard charts simultaneously: #1 R&B /Hip Hop album, #1 Hot R&B / Hip Hop song, #1 Hot R&B Hip Hop Airplay, and #1 Hot Adult R&B Airplay. TV appearances included the unprecedented distinction of two appearances on Oprah Winfrey – within two weeks. The year 2007 concluded with the VH1 Soul/ Vibe award for "Best Breakthrough Artist" and nominations from BET ("Best Male R&B" and "Viewer's Choice"), Soul Train ("Best R&B Soul Album, Male"), MTV VMA ("Male Artist of the Year"), MOBO (Best Song, "Lost Without U"), the American Music Awards ("Favorite Breakthrough Artist") and "Lost Without You" was named ASCAP's ("Song Of The Year"). Robin will begin a run of dates with his longtime friend and fellow musician, Mary J. Blige beginning 9/19. Thicke will join London song bird Estelle, Matisyahu and Los Van Van at the Thursday, January 22nd performance. Estelle, formerly as Est'elle, is a British Grammy Award-nominated hip hop/R&B singer, rapper, and producer. She is best known for her hit single "American Boy, " which topped the U.K. charts for four weeks in March 2008 and went on to win numerous awards. Los Van Van is a Cuban band led by bassist Juan Formell, and is considered to be one of Cuba's major timba acts, while Juan Formell has arguably become the most important figure in contemporary Cuban music. On Friday night, January 23rd, Jamaica's Rose Hall development in Montego Bay will come alive with multi-platinum Grammy award-winning singer, Lionel Richie, who will grace the stage along with Lou Gramm of Foreigner fame, Randy Crawford and Joe Sample, Alton Reeds Blues Entourage and young Canadian sensation, 13-year-old Nikki Yanofsky. Saturday, Jan. 24th rocks with Chicago, Maxi Priest, Atlantic Starr and the O'Jays, all of whom need no introduction. Jazz fest officials say bargain hunting music lovers looking to enjoy the warmth of Jamaica and the sweet sounds of the 2009 Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival can get great all inclusive-deals for as low as $999 in some instances. Fans are urged to call Air Jamaica or their favorite travel agent. Tickets to the nightly festival this year are $US80 or a weekend pass can be obtained for $ $155. A season pass or three day pass is $235 and can be purchased on the Jazz Fest website. Log on directly to www.jamaicajazzandblues.com to buy tickets. The 2009 festival is being presented this year by the Jamaica Tourist Board, which is the new title sponsor. The festival, which since its introduction in 1996 was known as the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, has attracted thousands of patrons from the USA, Europe, the Caribbean and Jamaica. International artistes that have performed at the festival include Alicia Keys, Kenny Rogers, Norah Jones, Julio Iglesias, Roberta Flack, Lou Rawls, Dionne Warwick, India Arie, Nancy Wilson, Earth Wind and Fire, Kenny G., Michael McDonald, Gladys Knight, Kool & the Gang, Al Jarreau, Branford Marsalis, Brian McKnight Harry Belafonte, Babyface, Stephanie Mills, George Benson, Erykah Badu, Gladys Knight, Michael Bolton, and many more. And to bring the Jamaican flavor, well-known names such as Ziggy Marley, Morgan Heritage, Third World, Toots Hibbert, Shaggy, Sean Paul Maxi Priest, Beres Hammond, Monty Alexander, Ritchie Stephens and many other Jamaican talents have made their mark on the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues stage. This year the festival is being presented by key title sponsor, the Jamaica Tourist Board along with Rose Hall Developments, Jamrock Magazine, Half Moon, The Jamaica Observer, Holiday Inn Sun Spree, The Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort in Rose Hall, Courts Jamaica, Scotiabank, Riu Hotels, CaribPR, Sky Writings Magazine and CMS Media. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |