[Updated] Jazz in the Gardens Brings the Heat to Miami + Win Free Tickets

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I just found a reason to squeeze a weekend trip to Miami, and a chance for you to WIN tickets.  Jazz In The Gardens is having their fifth annual concert March 20th and 21st, and the line up has something to offer everyone.  You have Mary J. Blige, John Legend and Melanie Fiona for the soul lovers. Then you have K’Jon, Robin Thicke, Teena Marie and Boyz II Men for the R & B crowd. For the Jazz lovers, the line up is David Sanborn, Cassandra Wilson and Joe Sample.  To make it even better, it’s hosted by Tom Joyner and his crew.  Now tickets are $45 – $70 for a one day pass, and they range from $75 to $125 for the two day pass.  Tickets are available via TicketMaster.

This concert series shows the on going work of the City Of Miami Gardens,  Saunders Entertainment Group and Circle Of One Marketing and Concertz Entertainment to put on a note worthy event.  Here is what Leon Saunders from Saunders Entertainment Group had to say about this endeavor. “Jazz in the Gardens” is the brainchild of Mayor Shirley Gibson, under whose leadership the City of Miami Gardens has experienced tremendous growth and progress. Her motivation for creating the music festival was to help revitalize the city and brand it as a place where people can come and enjoy all the wonderful things that Miami Gardens and South Florida has to offer. We had a four-year plan to establish the event and we are proud of the fact that in that time the Saunders Entertainment Group together with Circle of One Marketing and Concertz Entertainment has grown the event from 1,800 attendees to nearly 40,000. It has been very satisfying to see this event continue to grow in a time when other events like it around the country are being canceled for lack of support. We have a simple formula that has been very successful; we give a lot for a little. We realize that even when times are hard, people still need entertainment and Jazz in the Gardens is a fun party environment.”

Now for the info on winning the tickets.  This is a great concert series in a wonderful part of Florida, so why not give a way (two) Two Day Pass tickets.  It’s real easy to enter the contest. Just post a comment here, on how you would enjoy the weekend in Miami.  The person with the best description of that weekend wins.  Then on February 1st, the winner will be announced.  It’s that easy.  If the airlines act right  you may even see us down there. :)

[Update 2-1-2010] We have a winner. Mia Allen is the winner of the Jazz In The Gardens Contest.  Thank you MiaAllen for for entering, and being a frequent reader of Soulified.  Please email your address, so the we can send out the tickets. Please be on the look out for future contests.

Jaspects, The Polkadotted Stripe, Album Release Party & Contest

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Jaspects The Polkadotted Stripe

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Something different today. We have the Jaspects. A band from Atlanta that creates a great blend of Funk, Hip-Hop and Techno.  They have recently released their third album “The Polkadotted Stripe” in April, and are promoting it with an album release party.  Their two previous albums “Broadcasting the Definition“(2006) and “Double Consciousness“(2007) has garnered them quite a loyal following.  “The Polkadotted Stripe” will only continue that trend for the band.  One aspect of the band that they are well-known for, is their skill which they blend genres.

jaspects-sobs

To help promote the third album, they are returning to New York City, NY to have a album release party.  The party will be help at SOB’s(Sounds Of Brazil) (directions) on Saturday, December 19th @ 11:45pm.  The event will be hosted by Eric Roberson, and include performances by Lydia Caesar and Jon Bibbs.  Tickets are $10 per person, and you must be 21 or older.  You can purchase tickets here.

Now the best part.  We are giving away two tickets(Winner and guest) to this event.  Only two requirements to enter the random drawing. Just be over 21 and leave a comment on this post.  Boom!! That easy. For all the technical stuff here are the contest rules.

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-IVOTRZpSU

Sade FINALLY!!!!! Solider Of Love February 8th, 2010

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Sade - Soldier Of Love - The new album - Worldwide release February 8th 2010

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Well…… It finally happened.  Sade has announced the date for her album, Solider Of Love.  It has been dated to release February 8th, 2010.  You can pre-order the album from Amazon.  I haven’t seen an iTunes pre-order link yet.  I’m not going to bore you with how long it’s been since her last album (9 years). Not even going to talk about how old she will be when the album is released (51 years old).  Or that her first album came out in 1985, and rocked the world.  What I will say, is that I will be giving away a few albums to celebrate this great day. :)

Sade Adu and her band mates have been in the studio since June, in the UK.  They completed recording in October.  I have a great feeling about this album.  If you remember Maxwell had heard an early version album, and said “Trust me, it’s so monolithic it’ll shake you in your shoes!” Go ahead and do your happy dance, we’ve waited long enough.

Ledisi’s “Turn It Loose” Contest

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Ledisi

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Next week Ledisi is dropping her album “Turn Me Loose” on August 18th. It will be her 5th album. You can preorder it from Amazon. This will be her fifth album. You can go to her site to check out some of the songs from the album. Sounds like another great album. You can check out her previous albums here.  I can’t wait to hear this one. I even picked up her Christmas album to get my fix.    It was great of course. When she came to Memphis last year, it was an unreal show.

Alone

Now about the contest. Since people enjoyed the last four contests, I’m doing once for this album. It’s very easy.

Here are the rules and a link to the obligatory legal statement:

1. Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.

2. To enter leave a comment telling us how you’ll enjoy the album.

3. The comment must be left before Monday, August 17th, 05:00 PM Central Daylight Time for Ledisi’s album

4. You may enter only for the album once.

5. One winner will be selected for the album in a random drawing.

6. Prize: 1 CD album of the corresponding album contest shipped to your address.

7. Click Here for complete Official Rules.

New contests for new albums

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Blacksummers' Night

Good afternoon.  Just a friendly reminder of two great albums coming our this summer, which is turning out to be pretty good for releases.  I just wish they would spread them out through the year, and the winter and spring won’t be so dry.  Anyway, we have Maxwell’s long awaited Blacksummers’ Night album arriving July 7th.  I’ve pre-ordered my copy of the Deluxe CD/DVD, and you can do so here @ Amazon.

Ledisi

Also we have Ledisi dropping her album “Turn Me Loose” on August 18th.  It will be her 5th album.  I can’t wait to hear this one.  I even picked up her Christmas album to get my fix.  It was great of course. When she came to Memphis last year, it was an unreal show. To me her show was one of the best Soul concerts I’ve ever seen.  The other great was Jill Scott, and 3rd is Frankie Beverly and Maze.  Last year was a great year for concerts in Memphis. Focus Eric. Here is a sample of her song Alone from the new album.

Alone

Now about the contest.  Since people enjoyed the last three contests, I’m doing once for each of these albums.  It’s very easy.

Here are the rules and a link to the obligatory legal statement:

1.  Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.

2. To enter leave a comment telling us how you’ll enjoy and chill to either album. (only one album entry per comment) (You can enter for each contests)

3. The comment must be left before Monday, July 6th, 05:00 PM Central Daylight Time for Maxwell’s album

4. The comment must be left before Monday, August 17th, 05:00 PM Central Daylight Time for Ledisi’s album

5. You may enter only for each album once.

6. One winner will be selected for each album in a random drawing.

7. Prize: 1 CD album of the corresponding album contest shipped to your address.

8. Click Here for complete Official Rules.

New Contest!!! Win a copy of Choklate’s “To Whom it May Concern”

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To Whom It May Concern

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Good afternoon. One of my favorite Soul artists is releasing her 2nd album tomorrow (May 19th).  The album is titled “To Whom It May Concern“.  It will be available everywhere.  I tried to make the rounds today, to pick it up early, with no luck.  So, to make it easy for one lucky reader I’m giving away a copy of the album.  Very easy. All you have to do is register for Soulified here.  Be the twentieth person to register, and the copy is yours. Now if we don’t make 20 new registered users, then the last person to register wins.

Check out her debut album, and her appearance on the Kajmere Sound Volume 1 album.