NEWS & INFO
 

EW&F SCHEDULED FOR NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FESTIVAL 2009

The New Orleans Jazz Festival has released its schedule, as well as a list of the performers for the two weekend festival. This will be the 40th anniversary of the festival  and will showcase some of the best names in the music business including Wynton Marsalis, James Taylor, Earth Wind & Fire, and Aretha Franklin just to name a few. The festival is scheduled to take place over two weekends, starting on April 24th-26 and ending on the weekend of April 30-May 3 2009. Ticket have gone on sale and can be purchased as single weekends or for the entire festival.

RALPH JOHNSON PRODUCES HOWARD HEWETT'S CHRISTMAS ALBUM

Former Shalamar singer Howard Hewett's has released his first Christmas album simply entitled Christmas. Helping out on the project are Ralph Johnson, who produced several tracks featuring fellow EW&F members, as well as longtime friends George Duke and Monty Seward. The classics include The Christmas Song, featuring a lovely harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder, a bilingual take on Baby It's Cold Outside with young singer Jasselle offering her half of the duet in Spanish, and Donny Hathaway's modern classic This Christmas.
While many artists fill their holiday albums with choirs, strings and elaborate arrangements, Howard and company purposely keep things simple with many songs featuring a basic quartet offering smooth R&B and jazz-inflected support. On a brief yet contemplative version of Silent Night, Hewett takes considerable liberty with the tune's familiar melody accompanied only by EW&F member Myron McKinley's tinkling piano.
''We had talked about different string arrangements and things, but I just love the simplicity of it,'' he said. ''I love the jazz influence on some of the songs. And as I looked at everything before we went into the studio, I just decided I wanted to keep it as simple as I can, more straight to the
point and more organic.''

NEW MAURICE WHITE PRODUCTION

Smooth Jazz piano player Brian Culbertson's new CD Bringing Back the Funk is produced by Maurice White! The album is released on GRP and  features guest performances by former EW&F members Larry Dunn, Sheldon Reynolds, Morris Pleasure, Sonny Emory and Ronnie Laws. Other musicians incl. Larry Graham, Gerald Albright, Bootsy Collins, Paul Jackson Jr., Maceo Parker, Ray Parker Jr., Tom Scott, Fred Wesley and Bernie Worrell among others. Check Amazon.com for sound samples.

EW&F READY FOR NEW ALBUM

Even though they are busy with a number of tour dates this summer EW&F are looking forward to recording their next album this fall. According Billboard, are planning to be ready for the studio in October. "We're writing," says frontman Phillip Bailey, "and we're gonna write with some of these writer-producer guys, and then make it happen."
The project is set for release in mid-2009 featuring a CD of new material, a live CD and a concert DVD.
Following in the footsteps of groups such as the Eagles and Journey, EW&F are likely to release the new project exclusively through a major retailer such as Wal-mart or Target.
“(Management) has done this twice (Eagles and Journey, both via Wal-Mart) and they've expressed interest in doing this with Earth, Wind & Fire," Bailey says. "That's the new thing today, so we're taking a template out of that whole thing. We have a history and a catalog and everything, so you don't have to 'break' us. We're still viable. Now, they're able to make really good deals and make more money for (the acts), so it's a pretty good day for us old guys."
EW&F are currently on their Beyond the Elements Tour.

NEW GUITAR PLAYER

For reasons unknown, Vadim Zilberstein has left EW&F. Replacing him on guitar is Morris O'Connor. O'Connor has been recording with artists like Stevie Wonder, Gap Band, Booker T Jones, Grover Washington Jr., Teena Marie, Montel Jordan, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, Oleta Adams, Jazz Crusaders, Teddy Pendergrass, Jody Watley, Snoop Doggie Dog, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez. He has also  recorded with former EW&F guitarist Al McKay's L.A. All Star Band.

2008 SUMMER TOUR DATES

EW&F embarked on a headlining run that will keep the veteran group busy on the road through the summer months and beyond. Tour dates.

DOCTOR OF MUSIC DEGREE

Maurice White & Philip Bailey + Steve Winwood and film composer Howard Shore are to receive honorary Doctor of Music degrees at Berklee College of Music 8. May 2008. Roger Brown, the president of the revered Massachusetts music school will hand out the top accolades and Bailey will give the commencement address to more than 800 Berklee graduates and invited guests. The honorary doctorate recipients are being honored for their achievements in the world of music, and for their enduring contributions to American and international culture. Past recipients include Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Patti LaBelle, Steven Tyler, Aretha Franklin and David Bowie. The event will be extra special for Shore - as he actually attended Berklee.

EWF AT NOBEL PIECE PRICE CONCERT IN OSLO

EWF played several songs at the 2007 Peace Prize Concert on 11. December at the Spektrum Arean in Oslo, Norway The show also feat. performances by Alicia Keys, Melissa Etheridge, Annie Lennox among others.
The prestigious prize went to Al Gore and the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Hollywood actor Tommy Lee Jones, who was former US vice president Al Gore's roommate at Harvard, co-hosted the event. See EWF in Oslo om YouTube

STAX CELEBRATES 50 YEARS WITH EWF INSPIRED ALBUM

Stax Records, the Memphis-based R&B label that became affiliated with Atlantic in the 1960s and was home to Otis Redding, Booker T. & the MGs, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers and numerous others, is being reactivated in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the label's birth.
The Concord Music Group is reviving the Stax imprint both for reissues from its celebrated archives and for new releases, which will include new albums from Hayes and latter-day soul singer-songwriter Angie Stone. The first new release, out now, will be "Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of EWF," a multi-artist collection of new versions of songs by EWF/Maurice White. More info at Amazon.com

AL MCKAY'S EW&F EXPERIENCE

Several web sites report of EW&F to play in Germany, Austria and Belgium June 2007. This is not EW&F featuring Philip Bailey & Co, but former EW&F guitarist Al McKay and his EW&F Experience. Nevertheless, Al usually puts on a great show and plays all the EW&F classics, - so those of you thinking about attending; go for it!

EW&F AT THE GRAMMY

The 49th Annual Grammy Awards featured an all-star stage mash-up with  EW&F, Mary J. Blige and Ludacris. Also performing was James Blunt and rapper T.I., Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. The Police reunited on stage for the first time in 30 years. The 49th Grammy Awards took center stage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 11, 2007. [www.grammy.com]

VERDINE TO FORM NEW ARTIST MANAGEMENT AND MUSIC PRODUCTION COMPANY

Multi-Grammy Award winner Verdine White and businessman Scott Julion, have teamed up and formed J.E.P. Entertainment, a new Artist Management/Music Production Company. Julion is a fashion industry veteran whose clients have included Eddie Murphy, Chris Tucker, Halle Berry, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler and Arsenio Hall, just to name a few as well as corporate giant SEARS. The company will be based in Los Angeles.
"Scott and I have over 25 years of experience in the entertainment business," stated White. "J.E.P. will develop the raw talent of vocalists and musicians in order to prepare them for today's competitive and ever- evolving music market."
The first release from J.E.P. will be a six piece band from Orange County, California, SlapBak. "When Scott and I heard SlapBak's music and saw them perform, we knew they had the talent and passion that we were looking for. We are proud to present them as the first release from J.E.P. Rooted in old-school musicianship, SlapBak is bringing back the funk for the new millennium. With three critically-acclaimed underground CDs under their belt, their music returns to their roots of funky grooves and melodic hooks, revitalizing a genre that is still in demand."
SlapBak is a six piece band headed by singer/songwriter/musician Jara Harris (drums, bass, guitar and keyboards), rapper/vocalist TJ Quake, co-lead singer Aleida, guitarist Jeff "J-Rok" Harris, drummer M.A.T.T. and turntablist DJ Ruffnek. Their new CD, "The Key," contains 16 tracks including the first single, a funky remake of the WAR classic, "Lowrider."

EWF & DAVID FOSTER ONCE AGAIN

David Foster and Earth Wind & Fire have recorded "Gather 'Round". The track, which is written by David Foster and Philip Bailey and is produced and arranged by Foster, sounds very much late 70's and the "I Am" period. Can't be too sure, but to me it sounds like real instruments and no programming. The horn arrangement is by Foster and Jerry Hey and played by the Seawind Horns! "Gather 'Round" will be used for a promotional campaign for Target stores during Christmas 2005. [www.target.com]

"ILLUMINATION"

Earth, Wind & Fire's 23rd career album, Illumination, is out through Sanctuary Records. Anchored by founding members Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson, Illumination offers producers and guest artists that have appreciated inspiration from EWF’s extraordinary career.
Black Eyed Peas leader Wil I Am wrote and produced “Lovely People” complete with horn and kalimba lines. Super producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, tip their trademark hats in tribute to the horn-laced ensemble sound of EWF with “Pure Gold” . Jam & Lewis’ “Love Dance” was utilized in the 2005 animated film Robots. Raphael Saadiq, (Tony! Toni! Tone!; Lucy Pearl), produced four songs, including “Show Me the Way” – a duet he sings with Maurice White and earned a 2004 Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal by a Duo or Group. He also contributes the samba-rooted “Work it Out,” plus “Pass You By,” and “Love Together”. “This Is How I Feel,” is produced by Organized Noize, feat. rapper Big Boi of OutKast, singers Sleepy Brown and Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child in a duet with Philip Bailey. This was also used this year in the Will Smith romantic comedy Hitch.   “Elevated” features female poetry/soul duo Floetry. Vikter Duplaix laces the joyously tropical instrumental “Liberation,” which features classic EWF wordless vocal melodies. Brian McKnight’s uses key elements from past EWF’s ballads for the track “To You.” Soprano sax player Kenny G guests on a cover of OutKast’s “The Way You Move.” [Tracklist] [Illumination Biography]

TTWOTW 30th ANNIVERSARY SACD

Sony/Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has issued a new Hybrid Stereo SACD of the classic "That's The Way of the World". The new SACD is an "Audiophile Limited Edition" SACD release which celebrates the 30th Anniversary of both this album and the 1975 movie of the same name starring Harvey Keitel that it was featured in.

Mobile Fidelity: "Thirty Years ago in March of 1975 the landmark album That's the Way of the World by Earth, Wind and Fire was released and catapulted the band into super-stardom. That’s the Way of the World features the title track as well as the pop ballad “Reasons”. During the Caribou Ranch recording sessions, Maurice White was so overwhelmed by all the beauty of the stars in the clear mountainous skies of Colorado. It inspired him to write the bands first crossover Number 1 Hit “Shining Star” which White co-wrote with Philip Bailey and Larry Dunn. This Grammy Award-winning album was produced by the bands founder Maurice White and Charles Stepney and engineered by the legendary George Massenburg. This newly remastered Audiophile Limited Edition will be the first time That's the Way of the World will be available on Dual Layer Hybrid SACD featuring original master tape transfers on the GAIN 2™ System and available on the ULTRADISC UHR™ Dual Layer Hybrid SACD format."

That's The Way of the World is one of Earth, Wind and Fire's best known albums. It was the soundtrack of a now out-of-print movie of the same name that featured the group. The first 8 cuts on the album were on the original 1975 edition of this album while the 5 bonus tracks first appeared on a 1999 re-release of the album on the Sony/Columbia Legacy Records label. The Stereo SACD tracks on the new album provide a new appreciation of the songs on the disc. Of particular note is Track 7 (Africano) which features some excellent stereo imaging and transient response. The 5 bonus tracks on the disc also provide a different spin on some familiar favorites including a bossa nova treatment of "That's The Way of the World" and a funky deep bass line at the start of "Happy Feelin'".

LOUIS SATTERFIELD 1937-2004

Born 3rd April 1937, Shaw, Mississippi.
Died  27th September 2004, Chicago.

In the late 60s, Louis was a member of the group The Pharaohs. He also  often contributed to sessions at Chicago's Chess studios, and when Maurice White recorded a demo for a new band he wanted to form, Louis appeared on it. Maurice's group were later to become EWF, and Louis - together with The Pharaohs Don Myrrick, Yehudah Ben Israel and Rahm Lee, plus Michael Harris - were hired by White as the Phenix Horns.
Louis, along with Rahmlee Davis, have recently been in court with Phil Collins. Collins won the lawsuit he filed against two former backing band members over excessive royalty payments made from his 1990 "Serious Hits"- Live album. 
London High Court Justice Jonathan Parker ruled, however, that defendants Louis Satterfield and Rahmlee Davis - both former members of EWF - would not be responsible for paying back any of the money ($385,000), which were overpaid to them by Collins. Although Collins was not seeking repayment of previously paid-out monies, he was seeking a declaration that no further payments be made to the musicians, and on that front he won.
While defending their case, Satterfield and Rahmlee had claimed they were owed royalties from all 15 tracks on the Serious Hits - Live album as opposed to only the five tracks they performed on. Parker disagreed. 
The original dispute in the case arose after an accounting error was discovered, showing the defendants had been overpaid $345,000. Phil Collins Ltd.'s chief accountant then informed the defendants by letter that said overpayment would be recouped from "future royalties earned." Parker agreed, although he stated Collins' claim was limited to one half of that amount and that it was "highly improbable" that any future royalty payments would ever cover that sum. 

RECOMMENDED EW&F-ORIENTED ALBUMS

The Recommended EWF-Oriented Albums section has been updated with some albums you might not have in your collection. Some are pretty obscure, but nevertheless well worth checking out. Most are available on CD.

EW&F ON DVD

Below are several excellent reasons to get yourself a decent DVD player and a surround sound system. More in the Video Discography

THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD

The 1975 movie That's the Way of the World featuring Harvey Keitel and music by EWF is finally out on DVD. The movie was directed by Sig Shore and is about the record company business. The DVD feat. commentary with Verdine White and Ralph Johnson talking about the film and their 30 year career, plus 8 page booklet. photo gallery, trailers and TV spots. It can be ordered from Amazon US. HD DVD version will be released 29. Aug. 06. [More on the movie]

EW&F/CHICAGO CONCERT ON HI-DEF DVD

A double high-definition DVD from two EW&F/ Chicago performances  held August 10. and 11. 2004 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles was released 28. June 2005. The DVD reached Platinum sales after just 2 months! [Tracklist]
The concert was also released on blue-Ray disc summer 2008. It features 1080i video (1.78:1), plus DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio and Dolby Digital tracks in full 5.1 Surround tracks, and PCM 2.0 Stereo. Extras incl. bonus track "Drum Duel".

"AL MCKAY ALLSTARS: LIVE IN KAUNAS
JAZZ 2004" DVD

A kick ass performance by Al and his 13 piece Allstars band including Michael Harris and Michael Rahmlee Davis of the Phenix Horns. Recorded in the spring 2004 at the Kaunas Jazz Festival in Lithuania. PCM stereo and (a very good) 5.1 surround mix. The playlist is perfect and the concert is an excellent EW&F experience indeed! [Tracklist] [www.kaunasjazz.lt]

DVD "IN CONCERT 1981"

"Earth, Wind & Fire in Concert" was recorded live at the Oakland Coliseum, December 30 and 31, 1981, and was released on DVD by Pioneer 25. April 2000. Special features: Interactive menus, scene access. Video format: Standard 1.33:1 [4:3]. Audio tracks: 5.1 Dolby Digital sound and Dolby Digital stereo. [Tracklist]

VERDINE INSTRUCTION VIDEO

And here's a note for all EW&F-crazy fellow bassists: there's several  instruction videos by Verdine  where he talks about sound, technique, his Peavey-custom basses, his influences etc. There's a booklet included which contains the bass-lines to hits like Getaway, Fantasy, That's the Way of the World, September and others. Also you can see Verdine jamming with a small band, performing the songs mentioned above. It can be purchased through BASS PLAYER and other guitar player magazines. [More instruction videos]

JOHNNY GRAHAM INTERVIEW

Former EW&F guitarist (1972-1982) interview done March 2004 for www.digitalprosound.com

DEVOTED SPIRITS

The driving force behind the group Devoted Spirits is producer and former EW&F guitarist Sheldon Reynolds, along with keyboardist Larry Dunn and multi-instrumentalist Morris Pleasure. Special guests include drummer Ricky Lawson, guitarist Bobby Watson, Gerald Albright, Norman Brown, Teri Lyn Carrington, Herbie Hancock and former EW&F members Johnny Graham, Gary Bias and Ronnie Laws. The 22 track CD "Tribute To EW&F" was released March 05. [www.devotedspirits.com]

EWF AT 2005 SUPERBOWL

EW&F performed together with Black Eyed Peas during the XXXIX Super Bowl pre-game show in Jacksonville, Florida on Feb. 6, 2005. That was probably a treat for Patriots player Earthwind Moreland, who was named after the group because his mother is a big fan.
(Personally I'm pretty happy that my mother was not a Engelbert Humperdinck fan :-)

MAURICE FOR PRESIDENT?

Okay, not really, but EW&F was the special musical guests in Washington, D.C. June 20. 2000 at a White House state dinner. The event, which was held in a tent on the White House lawn, was honoring His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. The band was first contacted just a week before the show by White House staff, and they quickly agreed to do the show. The entire group flew to Washington June 19, including Maurice White. The guys had just gathered to rehearse the new stage show they'll be doing on the road this year when the call came in, and they were honored by the invitation. According to The Washington Post, President Clinton asked the audience after the show: "Weren't they great?", pointing to the original band members, many his own age. "I was thinking: If a grandfather can do this, maybe there's life after politics". 

MAURICE  REVEALS HE HAS PARKINSON'S

Maurice White told RollingStone.com that he is suffering from Parkinson's Disease. Although the fifty-eight-year-old musician was originally diagnosed with the degenerative neurological disease eight years ago, he opted to keep his condition a secret. But now, with his band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame only a week away, White feels that the time has come to set the record straight. [More...]

FINALLY IN THE HALL OF FAME!

Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fifteenth annual induction dinner on March 6. 2000. [More...]

AGAIN... THANK YOU!