[NEohioPAL]Mood + Groove = Smooth Jazz @ Lock 3 Live in Akron

[reynolds,victoria]

Dear NEohioPAL subscribers ~

Think Mood. Groove. Smooth. Imagine layers of synthesizers, elastic
guitars, and eclectic brass. Envision instrumental music that induces a
laid-back, relaxing mood - an emotional mix of jazz, pop and soul, with
a touch of new age.=20

Contemporary music lovers may instantly identify this music style as
"Smooth Jazz." The music isn't cerebral, nor is it funky - rather, it's
unobtrusive, slick and polished. But whether you're familiar with smooth
jazz or not, it's easy to get jazzed about the "Smooth Jazz Holiday,"
spotlighting the softer, more R&B element of jazz.=20

On Saturday, August 7, between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., the Smooth Jazz
Holiday will be staged at Lock 3 Live! park and FirstEnergy stage -
located on Main Street in downtown Akron, next to the Akron Civic
Theatre. Smooth Jazz Holiday will feature regional and national groups
including Najee, Pieces of a Dream, Horns & Things, Forecast, and
Russell Thompson & Free Agent.=20

Boasting two platinum and four gold albums, contemporary jazz artist
Najee fuses R&B with jazz improvisation. A native New Yorker, he began
playing clarinet, then mastered saxophone and flute before attending the
New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, concentrating in
performance and composition. In 1986, Najee released his first album.
"Najee's Theme" went platinum and was nominated for a Grammy in 1987.
His second album, Day By Day, went platinum in 1988. Tokyo Blue and Just
An Illusion both went gold in 1990 and 1992, respectively. In 1994 Najee
recorded Share My World, following up in 1995 with Najee Plays Songs
from the Key of Life: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder. In 1998, Morning
Tenderness reached No. 1 on the jazz charts. Najee has won awards
including Soul Train's Music Award for Best Jazz Artist (1991, 1993),
has toured with the U.S. and Europe, and has worked with Quincy Jones,
Patti LaBelle, Lionel Richie, and other greats.=20

Pieces of a Dream emerged out of Philadelphia's music scene in 1976.
Playing throughout the tri-state area, the group caught the eye and ear
of the late Grover Washington Jr., who helped them gain international
attention. Between 1981 to 1984, they released Pieces of a Dream, We Are
One and Imagine This. The group later recorded seven more albums, and to
celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2001, released Acquainted with the
Night., which generated two top-five singles on R&R's NAC chart. The
follow-up album Love's Silhouette scored Top 10 status on the Billboard
Contemporary Jazz Chart. This year's release, No Assembly Required, is
predicted to be another hit album.

For two decades, the members of Cleveland-based Horns & Things have
committed themselves to creating and playing "nice music." Their three
CDS represent a compilation of primarily original material. The group
comprises five musicians who play keyboard, drums, bass guitar, soprano,
alto saxophone, and tenor saxophone. Horns & Things have performed at
Blossom Music Center, State Theatre, Cain Park, Tri-C Jazz Fest, and
other venues and festivals.=20

Blending instrumental jazz, funk, rock, reggae and pop, Forecast is a
four-piece contemporary jazz band native to Cleveland. Forecast has
opened for Earl Klugh, The Crusaders, Stanley Turrentine, Bob James, and
others, and during the 2001-02 season, performed as the official house
band of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gund Arena. Scene Magazine voted
Forecast the Best Contemporary Jazz Band in 1999.=20

Based in East Cleveland, jazz band Russell Thompson & Free Agent will
add to the smooth sounds of this festival.

Smooth Jazz Holiday runs from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on August 7 at Lock 3
Live! Park and FirstEnergy Stage on Main Street in downtown Akron,
located next to the Akron Civic Theatre.=20

A $10 admission charge to the festival includes all concerts and
entertainment. Tokens are sold for inflatable rides for kids, but
admission is free for children under 48 inches. Bring a canned food item
to Lock 3 park to benefit the Akron/Canton Food Bank, and you get one
ticket at full price and the second ticket for half price.=20

Cash-only tickets are sold at the Lock 3 Live! gates 30 minutes before
show time. For advance tickets, call the Akron Civic Theatre Box Office
at 330.253.2488 between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday.
Tickets are also available at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall Ticket
Office at 330.972.7570, or through Ticketmaster Centers or
Charge-By-Phone at 330.945.9400.=20

NOTE: Due to popular demand, WKSU's Homegrown Saturday Mornin' at Lock 3
Live! has been expanded this season. Homegrown provides the perfect
outdoor setting in which to shop, experience and enjoy, every Saturday
through September 25, between 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. When the Homegrown
vendors close shop at 2 p.m., folks can stick around town or come back
later for the festival.=20

Free parking is available in the O'Neil's Deck (entrance off State
Street), Cascade Parking Deck (enter from Quaker Street) and Landmark
Deck (entrance off Bowery Street). Paid parking is available in the
Summit County Parking Deck (entrance off High Street).

For event information and updates, visit www.lock3live.com
<outbind://20/www.lock3live.com> , or call the Civic Theatre Info Line
at 330.535.3178.

=20