Mindi Abair 'Stars' album

MINDI ABAIR, saxophonist/ vocalist /composer is set to release her first Peak Records (a division of Concord Music Group CD titled STARS on May 6, bursting on to the pop scene as one of an exciting new generation of crossover artists. For the CD, Abair wrote 11 new songs, with five songs showcasing her vocals. Her instrumental single, Smile, is currently on R&R at #13 and is rising; and her vocal song Stars, will be serviced to AC radio on April 28. Collaborator/producer Matthew Hager enlisted a group of stalwarts from the pop world to contribute to the new CD including keyboardist Ricky Peterson (John Mayer, Prince), drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr. (Paul McCartney, Sting) and cellist Richard Dodd, (Faith Hill, Foo Fighters).

Mindi will also preview tracks from the new CD to fans worldwide at DeepRockDrive.com on May 1 @ 6:00 p.m. PST (from Las Vegas), a high-definition, multi-stream live show in which fans from all over the world can enjoy her concert simultaneously. Each participate can “shout out” song requests and send messages to Mindi live throughout the performance. For more information on Mindi Abair’s concert on DeepRockDrive or to sign up for her show, visit http://www.deeprockdrive.com/artist/mindi_abair.

STARS is the follow up to Abair’s 2006 CD Life Less Ordinary, which debuted on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart at #1; and spawned three #1 hit singles on Radio & Records. Her debut CD, It Just Happens That Way, stayed in the Top 10 for 19 consecutive weeks, and she was named the #1 most played Contemporary Jazz CD of 2003 by Jazz Week. Abair has established herself in the pop world touring with Adam Sandler, Mandy Moore, Josh Groban, Duran Duran and Backstreet Boys’ Millennium Tour; and her vocal song I Can Remember was featured in Aaron Spelling’s hit “Summerland”; while Every Time was featured in Robin Williams/Mandy Moore’s “License To Wed”.

Tour Dates
Apr 24 7:00P National Anthem at the Padres Game San Diego, CA
May 1 6:00P DeepRockDrive.com Everywhere, CA
May 3 8:00P Tangiers Akron, OH
May 4 8:00P SunFest West Palm Beach, FL
May 6 8:00P WSJT CD Release Party Tampa, FL
May 7 8:00P WLOQ CD Release Party Orlando, FL
May 8 8:00P WGRV CD Release party Melbourne, FL
May 9 8:00P WLVE’ CD Release party Miami, FL
May 13 8:00P KIFM CD Release party Mission Viejo, CA
May 16 8:00P The Hyatt Newport Jazz Festival Newport Beach, CA
May 24 8:00P Gaslamp Quarter (Street Festival) San Diego, CA
Jun 6 8:00P Celebrity Theatre Phoenix, AZ
Jun 13 8:00P Fraze Pavillion For The Performing Arts Kettering, OH
Jun 15 8:00P 10th Annual V98.7 Smooth Jazz Fest Southfield, MI
Jul 9 8:00P Animal Crackers Jazz Series Racine, WI
Jul 12 8:00P Thornton Winery Temecula, CA
Jul 25 8:00P Four Seasons Resort Aviara Carlsbad, CA
Jul 26 8:00P Hyatt Westlake Plaza Westlake Village, CA
Jul 27 8:00P King County’s Marymoor Park Redmond, WA
Aug 9 8:00P 21st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival Long Beach, CA
Aug 23 1:00P Sand Castle/Stepping Stone/American Red Cross Charity Event Michigan City, IN
Aug 26 8:00P Birchmere Alexandria
Aug 27 8:00P Ramshead On Stage Annapolis, MD
Aug 28 8:00P Scullers Jazz Club Boston, MA
Aug 29 8:00P IMAC/Inter-Media Art Center Huntington, NY
Aug 30 8:00P Mohegan Sun Casino Wolf Den Uncasville, CT
Sep 12 8:00P The Wave Summer Jazz Series Newport Beach, CA
Sep 13 1:00P Palmdale Jazz & Wine Festival Palmdale, CA
Oct 2 8:00P Unplugged at the Wrigley Ranch Avalon, CA
Oct 17 8:00P Catalina Jazz Fest Avalon, CA

biography
Where do you go from 1? If you’re singer, songwriter and saxophonist Mindi Abair—whose 2006 release Life Less Ordinary debuted at the top of Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart—you step out of your comfort zone, reach deep inside, follow your heart, write a bunch of killer songs showcasing your dynamic vocals like never before and, yes, aim for the Stars.

With the highly anticipated release of Abair’s aptly titled debut produced by her company 23 Music Group on Peak Records, a division of the Concord Music Group, the amazingly versatile artist bursts onto the pop scene with gale force. She adds a refreshingly unique voice to an exciting new generation of crossover artists who are, like her, powerful instrumentalists as well as thought-provoking singer/songwriters. Beginning with the promotion of the title cut “Stars” to AC radio, the Florida raised, Los Angeles based performer’s unique hybrid sound and mix of cool vulnerability and utter conviction is going to give all of them—John Mayer, Feist, Corinne Bailey Rae, Sara Bareilles, Norah Jones —a run for their barrier breaking money.

Perhaps John Taylor, famed Duran Duran bassist, says it best about her stunning melodies and thought provoking lyrics: “Mindi is unique. Listen to her new album ‘Stars,’ a genre-busting, breathtaking combination of contemporary jazz and Top 40 torch songs. It will be love at first listen.” Helping Abair and her collaborator/producer Matthew Hager realize her creative and fearless musical vision is a choice group of stalwarts from the pop world: keyboardist Ricky Peterson (John Mayer, Prince), drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr. (Paul McCartney, Sting) and cellist Richard Dodd, (Faith Hill, Foo Fighters).

Already a groundbreaking star in the contemporary jazz world, Abair has had three 1 hit singles on the Radio & Records charts, her last CD debuted 1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart, and her debut album stayed in the Top Ten for 19 consecutive weeks and was named the 1 most played Contemporary Jazz CD of 2003 by Jazz Week. She also hosts a popular weekly syndicated radio show called “Chill with Mindi Abair” that is broadcast in 40 markets in the U.S. and abroad. Each week, she features cutting edge music by artists such as Zero 7, Air, Thievery Corporation, and remixes of classic jazz artists such as Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. A hugely popular solo concert and festival attraction over the past seven years throughout the U.S., Abair recently performed for fans in Japan, Istanbul and Romania.

Abair established herself as a major presence in the pop world in the mid-90s when she toured as a singer and sax player with Adam Sandler. She’s been on the road with Mandy Moore, was hand-picked by Josh Groban as his opening act on his sold out fall tour in 2004, and even performed with Duran Duran for their U.S. comeback tour. Bassist John Taylor co-wrote the title track to Abair’s first release It Just Happens That Way and co-wrote and plays acoustic guitar on the new collection’s “F.L.A. Swing”. She also became a role model for thousands of screaming teen girls all over the world touring with The Backstreet Boys on their famous 1999-2000 Millennium Tour. Abair contributed to Keb’ Mo’s award winning “Peace Back by Popular Demand”, Adam Sandler’s platinum CD “What’s Your Name?”, and the All-Star album Forever For Always For Luther; and she’s been featured on The Drew Carey Show, HGTV’s Ground Rules and The Food Network’s Emeril Live.

Abair’s lively and aggressive, full-scale immersion in the pop/rock singer/songwriter world on Stars is not a departure, but rather a natural extension of the high profile success she’s had with many of her previous vocal songs. “I Can Remember” from Come As You Are was featured in the opening episode of the Aaron Spelling hit “Summerland,” while “Every Time” was featured in last year’s Robin Williams/Mandy Moore comedy “License To Wed.” Panasonic also featured her video for “Every Time” on their Jumbotron in Times Square in 2005; and the singer scored big with the song “I Can’t Wait For Christmas”, which was featured in 2005 on the Bath and Body Works Christmas CD and the Pier One Christmas CD, selling a combined total of more than 800,000 units. The song has gone on to become a perennial pop holiday favorite.

One critical rave from JAZZIZ magazine could apply just as easily to the vibe of Abair’s latest emotionally compelling melodies and thought provoking lyrics on Stars: “She’s 1 for her distinctive, original sound, perfect melodies, grooves and overall sense of fun.” Josh Groban has commented: “I was a fan the moment I saw a tape of one of her concerts. Her ability to connect with the crowd and appeal to jazz fans as well as those who aren’t familiar with her makes her an exciting artist, and I was thrilled to have her as a guest on my tour.” Blues giant Keb’ Mo’ takes it deeper: “She speaks to all of our souls. Do yourself a favor and check out her music.”

Abair’s ultimate goal on Stars is to bring light to the darkness, an unapologetic, optimistic sense of hope and idealism. Case in point: the lilting folk/pop tune “Change” reminds us that change is the one thing we can count on, and also the concept that can bring us all together. On the powerful first single and title track, she looks to the “Stars” as a connective thread between lovers who are far apart in physical distance. The Elton John influenced and piano-driven “On and On” reflects wistfully on the innocence of her small town youth (in St. Petersburg, Florida) and the way music has become an integral spiritual part of so many people’s lives.

Abair’s heartfelt “I Wonder” could very well be her generation’s twist on John Lennon’s “Imagine,” a song that finds her contemplating a world in which people actually do love one another, offer hope to each other and treat others as they wished to be treated. “Here For You” is an uplifting, autobiographical old school soul/blues ballad that chronicles her incredible years long friendship with her longtime collaborator/producer Matthew Hager.

“Audiences today are more open than ever to artists who play instruments, write their own songs and have something meaningful to say,” Abair says. “While I was writing the songs for Stars, I felt very optimistic, expressing a lot of joy and hope. We need that spirit to take hold of us today, and I am excited about expressing these ideas through songs that are meaningful to me and reflective of my journey and the many roads I’ve taken. I’m going for broke, making the record I’ve always wanted to make with songs that honestly portray my innermost feelings about my own life and the world around me.”

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Tags

Details

Tracklisting

Mindi Abair - Stars