Grammy-Nominated R&B Artist Will Downing Returns to South Florida

After Tonight Tour

As South Florida gets ready to welcome back Grammy-nominated R&B/Jazz balladeer Will Downing to the sunshine state. Jazz fans everywhere are all celebrating his return to the stage. Will Downing will be appearing on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the he Fourth Annual Jazz In The Gardens to be held at the Dolphins Stadium. Also appearing on the March 28th lineup are Anthony Hamilton, Common, Erykah Badu and Roy Ayers. Sunday March 29th will showcase the like of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kenny G, Jonathan Butler, Angelique Kidjo, and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. These artists are no stranger to the South Florida area and music fans from all walks of life who will travel to this two-day festival no doubt have there favorites.
Will Downing who is definitely a crowd “teaser and pleaser” is working to promote his latest album – “After Tonight”. The number thirteen is never a lucky one, but Will Downing has proved it to be his lucky charm. Even though he has enjoyed significant success with his other albums, album number thirteen was the one, where he had to put more than just creativity and his raspy voice to work.
Downing suffered a setback, after being diagnosed with an auto-immune disease known as “Polymyositis”. Polymyositis is an inflammatory muscular disease, which causes severe muscle weakness and fatigue. But instead of succumbing to this illness, he managed to put together one of his best album to date, by exhibiting the courage and determination that we all hope we had in our darkest hour. This album entitled “After Tonight” is jammed packed with his repertoire of classic ballads coupled with his silky smooth voice. After Tonight is not just your regular Will Downing album, but a compilation of songs that will definitely stir your imagination and help you to fall in love over and over again. The ten-song compilation has musical arrangement, melodies, and vocals made for each other. There is a song for what ever mood you are in on this album.
Downing reunited with his long time co-producer, Rex Rideout, collaborated on a musical journey which has led to the success of this monster undertaking. The work he put in on this album was extremely challenging, but it is evident from nothing musically vocally was left behind. The Skip Scarborough penned classic “No One Can Love You More” made famous by the late Phyllis Hyman, is one of two cover tunes which Downing performed on the compilation. This rendition featured sax man Gerald Albright, a long time friend. The other cover tune is the Bill Withers classic “You Can’t Smile it Away” which features Kirk Whalum. Downing’s wife, Audrey Wheeler-Downing and Noel Goring teamed up with Will to compose the track “God Is So Amazing.” Knowing all that Will Downing endured while making this album, this track sums it all up. Will Downing performance in Miami Gardens this Saturday is a must see.

Get Well Soon – Nancy Wilson

I recently had the pleasure of watching Nancy Wilson at the City of Miami Gardens 3rd Annual Jazz In The Garden on March 16, 2008. She gave a heart warming performance and took time out to be especially interactive with the over 10,000 patrons. So I was extremely saddened to her that Ms. Wilson was hospitalized with a collapsed lung.

Spokeswoman for the 71-year-old Grammy-winning singer says she is expected to recover, but will not be able to make a performance scheduled in Memphis, Tennessee next weekend. Devra Levy, wife of Wilson’s manager, John Levy, said Wilson’s lung was being reinflated at Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree, California.

It was really great to hear that she was in good spirits ad we certainly hope for a speedy recovery.

Information surrounding her illnes is rather skethcy, but it was said that Ms. Wilson began experiencing pain and was taken to the hospital by her husband, Wiley Burton. The cause of the her condition is not yet determined. Sources say that Ms. Wilson has had some respiratory problems over the years.

Wilson has been singing professionally for more than 50 years and is semi-retired. Her performance at the recently concluded “Jazz In The Garden was dubbed as an out of retirement appearance.

Last year, her album “Turned to Blue” won the Grammy for best jazz vocal album. She also won that category at the 2005 Grammys for the album “R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal).” In 1965 she was presented the Grammy for best rhythm & blues recording for “How Glad I Am.”