AL JARREAU has been hospitalized in Gap (south of France, French Alps) yesterday evening just before his concert in a Jazz Festival in the city of Barcelonnette. He suffers breathing and heart problems according to the doctors interviews shot for french TV channels. The doctors believe fatigue as well as the altitude may have played a role in Jarreau's health problems. New of his health are good.

The singer is still AL JARREAU at Gap public city hospital and the medical center there hope to transfer Al Jarreau in Marseille (La Timone) hospital as soon as possible.

According to his agent Joe Gordon, Al Jarreau has already canceled two shows in Germany and another in Azerbaijan besides the one in France and this hospitalization forces him to cancel 4 concerts. Al Jarreau played before July 20 in Marseille. Here is a brief video shooting from a fan from his concert.

We wish Al Jarreau a full recovery.

2 great pieces of news for TOTO fans:

Steve Lukather has just finished his new solo album "All's Well That Ends Well" which will be released on October 11th 2010 by Mascot Records. He will then tour Europe in November 2010 and Toto concert in Coepnhagen to honor their brother Mike Porcaro who is living with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)has been filmed for a dvd release. The line-up include David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams and special guest, Nathan East. 

Thanks to Nick Barbier at TotoWeb

Jimmy Barnes is a master of many talents but none better than singing great rock songs! And that is exactly what THE Australian rock icon is doing on his 16th solo album, 'Rage & Ruin'. 

Coming off the #1 platinum-selling album from 2009, 'The Rhythm and The Blues', Jimmy Barnes has once again ripped off the suit to deliver his most powerful rock single in years, 'Before The Devil Knows You're Dead'. Recorded earlier this year with a stellar line-up of L.A. session musicians, and produced by Don Gehman (REM, John Mellencamp) the album is scheduled for release on August 27th.

Jimmy is currently working on a new LIVING LOUD album... Stay Tuned!

Michael Franks was in concert yesterday evening in Paris (La Cigale hall) for a great concert of more than 80 minutes in a Jazz and Cool Westcoast Music mood. The amazing artist has not been played live in Paris since so many years (Casino de Paris, Jardin de Tuileries). Michael Franks band: Charles Blenzig (Piano, Keyboards) - Mark Egan (Bass) - David Mann (Sax & Flute) - Willard Dyson (Drums) - Veronica Nunn (Vocals).

Let's see our exclusive gallery of photos of this concert (40 pictures) at this address on the official Westcoast Rendez-Vous Facebook fanpage.

And let's write what you thought about this concert of Michael Franks!

Michael Franks will be in concert with Gino Vannelli on July 12, 2010 at the Sporting de Monte-Carlo ; a great hall for concerts and events.

Photo credit: Westcoast Rendez-Vous.

The news you’ve all been waiting for – the long-awaited new album from The Doobie Brothers, World Gone Crazy will be in stores on September 28, 2010. Doobie Brothers have reunited with 70s producer Ted Templeman for this first new album in a decade. The band will present the new album Live in Paris touring with ZZTOP (They actually tour with Chicago in the U.S.). 

Billboard.com has written a short feature/interview piece on The Doobie Brothers. 

Enjoy the first single “Nobody” (performed by tom Johnston) streaming below!

Iconic American musician Dr. John goes TRIBAL with the follow-up to his 2008 Grammy Award Winning release 'The City That Care Forgot' for 'Best Contemporary Blues Album.

TRIBAL, featuring a track with Grammy winner Derek Trucks, is a unique spicy mix of New Orleans funk and blues with a spiritual and Native flavor with songs written by Dr John and a few of his friends - Allen Toussaint and the late Bobby Charles and joined by his ultra funky Lower 911 band of musicians.

One Sunday morning in the early '70's, a youngster in Cleveland caught an earful of Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks' and his life was never the same. That kid was Marc Cohn and soon after that morning he bought everything Morrison had released to date, along with works by Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne. 

Cohn's rootsier, acoustic neofolk style harkens back to the more sophisticated rock and pop inflections of singer-songwriters of two decades past - his supple, velvety baritone and elegant piano-based arrangements frame shrewdly crafted songs ripe with pop touches. 

Marc Cohn's new record will focus on the year 1970, an important year for music fans in general and particularly for Marc, because many significant albums and singles were released then that had an impact on his decision to become an artist. The album features classic songs written by and/or made famous in 1970 by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, John Fogerty and CCR, Smokey Robinson, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, Eric Clapton and several more. 

Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine, who started the group in 1961 with the Wilson brothers (Brian, Carl, and Dennis) and their cousin Mike Love, released his new solo album, A Postcard from California.

The twelve-song collection includes four cuts that comprise what Jardine calls 'the green side' of the new album, compositions that speak to the relationship of man and his environment. 'Don't Fight the Sea,' 'Tidepool Interlude' and 'A California Saga' are songs that reflect this artist's deep love for the California coastline and his concern for the ecological health of the planet.

 Al Jardine has always embodied that concern for the environment, and the coastline and ocean in particular. Previously, on the Beach Boys' 'Surf's Up' album, he and Mike Love had written the song, 'Don't Go Near the Water.' The new album includes 'Lookin' Down the Coast,' a tale of the discovery of California by the Spanish, as seen through the eyes of its natural inhabitants, the California condor, the whale, the otter and the bear. 

The collection, 'A Postcard from California,' was largely penned by Al Jardine and features a regular 'who's who' of classic rock and popular music royalty. Jardine was joined in the studio by a steady and willing stream of famous friends, including Brian Wilson, Glen Campbell, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Marks, Richie Cannata and John Stamos, in addition to those already noted elsewhere in this announcement. Completing the generational span, Jardine's sons, Matt and Adam, are also heard on vocal harmonies.

What We Like production is pleased to announce the venue of Michael Franks at La Cigale on saturday 10th of July. An enormously popular performer, Michael made his first album in 1973, then enjoyed success with a string of late '70s albums on Warner Brothers. He has worked with the likes of Flora Purim, Kenny Rankin, Ron Carter, the Crusaders, David Sanborn, Toots Thielemans, Eric Gale, and others, and has had songs recorded by The Manhattan Transfer, Patti Labelle, Carmen McRae, and the Carpenters. His last recording to date "Rendez-vous in Rio" (best international popular album in Japan in 2006) is a must have!

Don't miss that special event!!!

“Long way” is the name of the debut album from Michael Wiesner, which came to light end of 2009 . Michael pressed 13 own composed, sung and performed songs in AOR/Westcoaststyle on this record. The musician is known for his playing and singing in local bands and projects for more than 20 years in south germany. 

One highlight was his backingvocal contribution in Chris de Burgh’s ensemble on the beautiful dreams tour .The musical influences through the years came from bands like Journey, Toto, Richard Marx, or Rick Springfield and can be found on the album as well.