With Spyro Gyra, Pieces of a Dream, the Yellowjackets and now Hiroshima on their roster, the Heads Up label will soon be stopped by the feds for obtaining a monopoly on smooth jazz artists.
Yes, the nearly 30-year-old, smooth-jazz juggernaut Hiroshima has signed to Heads Up and plans to release another album of their signature jazz, R&B and pop blend using Western and Japanese instrumentation. The album has no title at the moment, but it will be smooth and it will be released in June 2003.
If you can’t wait eight months to scratch your Heads Up itch, you’ll be happy to know that the mighty Spyro Gyra will drop a new, smooth platter in February entitled Original Cinema. The record reunites Spyro with vibist Dave Samuels and also features Heads Up label-mate and steel-pan player Andy Narell.
Also on Heads Up’s 2003 release schedule:
March – Doc Powell 97th & Columbus
April – Gerald Veasley – Title TBA
May – Yellowjackets – Title TBA
Summer and Fall – Smooth Africa II and Jaco Pastorius Big Band
In the picture, Hiroshima’s June (far left) and Dan Kuramoto (far right) make a Dave Love sandwich. Love heads Heads Up.
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