The Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards!

What a blast! The show and performances were amazing. Mary & Doug Kirk from Smooth Jazz 94.7 The Wave in Canada sure do know how to throw a party. Congratulations and a big Thank You to everyone for including me. It was such fun to see everyone collecting the poster I created especially for the awards. If you missed getting a copy, contact the Wave ~ they may still have a few copies available.

The Mississauga Living Arts Center is an incredible place and I was so thrilled to be able to show my art there. As everyone came in for the awards ceremony and performances I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a lot of new jazz & art lovers. They were such warm people and true fans of smooth jazz. A big shout out to all my new friends North of the border!

The art created especially for the poster was released as a 40"x56" signed and numbered giclee. The number 1 of 10 limited edition was featured at the awards ceremony and can be seen, along with other jazz art pieces at Abbozzo Gallery in Oakville, Ontario.

My favorite part of any show is the soundcheck - yes, I know that "the show" is the show, but you just never know what can happen during a sound check or who you might run into. So, when I caught up with Brian Culbertson, David Pack and Warren Hill backstage during their soundcheck - I just had to capture the moment.

You write the caption! I think that Brian is calling in reinforcements "Hey Dad, where are you? We need your horn."

Lisa Fondo, licensing agent and contributing editor for Art Business News published the article "Landing the Licensing Agreement" in the May 2007 issue of Art Business News ~ the leading publication for the art industry. The cover story article includes information and artwork by Bettie Grace Miner.

For the entire article or a free subscription to Art Business news go to www.ArtBusinessNews.com.

Wine & Jazz at Gaslamp Jazz Festival

May 26, 2007 ~ If you are going to the Gaslamp Festival in San Diego this Saturday, please visit Wine & Jazz. They will be presenting a large selection of jazz art by Bettie Grace Miner. You can also check out their very hip collections of Wine & Jazz (hence the name). Stop by and say hi to Mike & Cindy Nordskog for a taste of true sophistication and the coolest combination of jazz, wine and art around.

Check out Wine & Jazz at: www.WineandJazz.com

Jazz FM 88.5 ~ KSBR Birthday BASH

May 27, 2007 ~ The KSBR Birthday BASH at the San Juan Capistrano Mission will feature more than 25 headliners playing with each other in a giant jazz jam!

Bettie Grace Miner has again donated artwork that will raise funds for this non-profit, college run radio station. There is no better show or spirit than you will find of it's kind. If you come to the show - say hi to Bettie - you'll find her in the "Jazz Cafe."

Spaghettini Italian Grill & Jazz Club known for award-winning Northern Italian cuisine and the best live jazz aroud, has been featuring Bettie Grace Miner's art in their jazz club for many years.

If you've been there lately, you know that "Spags" as locals lovingly call it, has kicked up the jazz club quite a few notches! The jazz club and stage is now state of the art. To complete the renovations, Bettie Grace Miner will be bringing in all new art!

The first piece was just installed. The artwork - originally created for this year's Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards - is limited to only ten pieces in the edition. The size of this piece and the edition was created specifically for the Spaghettini Jazz Club. This piece is hand embellished and is now a permanent part of the jazz club Bettie calls home.

Photo: Bettie Grace Miner with Spaghettini owners Laurie Sisneros and Cary Hardwick, by Randy Galligan.

New Newsletter Feature: What's in Your CD Player?

Haven't you always wondered what your friends listen to when they're just hanging at home? Well, I do ~ so I'll go first. I have a bad habit of playing the same music over and over, so I've turned over a new leaf and have been listening to a lot of new music lately. Right now - at this very moment the CD's in my player are:

1. Maysa "Feel the Fire" ~ This girl can sing! Blues, Soul, Jazz - whatever her heart calls out! And yes, I was very happy to do the cover art for this lovely and amazingly talented artist.

2. four80east "en route" ~ I have to thank Mary Kirk for this one. The Toronto based group had escaped my notice until Mary gave me this CD as a gift. Wow - thanks Mary! It's one of the best CD's I've heard in a long time - you guys rock!

3. Jeff Lorber "he had a hat" ~ I've been listening to Jeff since he was "Jeff Lorber Fusion" I guess that gives my age away, but hey the guy's a legend and has the market cornered on talent. I think this CD is staying put for awhile.

4. Joyce Cooling "Revolving Door" ~ Joyce dedicated herself and this music to The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). I love the energetic, poinant and enchanting style that is so classically Joyce. Wow.

5. Dirk K. "Urban Standards" This is a guy that I found playing his guitar and selling his CD's in the lobby of the Los Angeles Convention Center. But don't judge a book by his record distributor - this guy has chops! He has a lot of "smooth jazz" guys backing him up. Check him out if you can find him. Try: www.DIPrecords.com.

Now it's your turn to share....What's in your CD player (or IPOD)?