LOCAL ARTIST SCHEDULES WORLD-WIDE CD RELEASE PARTY

A Music Company Inc. and Circle 504 Records offers an historic evening for Colorado Springs' first ever "World-Wide CD Release Party". Presenting "Skat" by George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, along with internet radio station A World of Blues.

The event will take place at the Coffee Exchange, 526 S. Tejon, Colorado Springs, Co, from 6 to 9pm

This dynamic eight piece Las Vegas style show band was formed a year ago by well known local musician George Whitesell and features some of the finest musicians in Colorado along with renowned vocalist Jill Watkins. Ms Watkins, from Boulder, led her own band for four years and has performed in numerous festivals, clubs and concert engagements

Known for their ability to truly entertain, the band plays a variety of jump, swing, R&B and blues from the classic era of the late 40's through mid 60's when "show" bands featuring a female singer were the rage. "I wanted to put together a band that was reminiscent of an era past, when people would dress up to go out and dance and be entertained by a live, exciting show band". "Nowadays there is a renewed interest in this type of music with swing dance clubs forming all over the world" said Whitesell.

Band members include:

George Whitesell: Vocal, Guitar and Alto sax (Metro Blues)

Jill Watkins: Vocals, Trumpet (The Jill Watkins Band)

Brad Eastin: Tenor sax and arranger (Frankie Laine, Cab Calloway, Rosemary Clooney, Eastinwest, USAF Academy Band "The Falconaires", The Springs Contemporary Big Band, Johnny and the Jukes, The Brad Eastin Trio)

Kenny Johnston: Tenor sax (Spicy Soup, The Kenny Johnston Band, The Bill Wright Band, Some People's Kids, Phat Daddy and the Phat Horn Doctors, Denver's KHIH Contemporary Smooth Jazz Artist for the year 2000)

Chris Wojtecki: Bari sax (Dennis Diblasio, Leslie Gore, Sam the Sham and the Pharoes, New Jack Hippies, 21/3, Dick Cunico's Little Big Band, the Delta 88's, The Springs Contemporary Jazz Big Band, Dwight Shaw Big Band)

John Stilwagen: Keyboards, Vocals (Metro Blues, The Nostalgics)

Santi Guarnera: Bass (Casey Rush, Dave Hodges, The Rocky Mountain Jazz Quartet, Magic Dave and the New Mules, Brenda Miles, The Nostalgics)

Dave Deason: Drums, Vocals (Heart, Tom Scott, The Holy Modal Rounders, Doug Kershaw, Johnny and the Jukes)

The band just recorded their first CD entitled Skat. The CD was produced by nationally known recording artist Ken Saydak (he also plays piano on one of the songs) and includes guest artist Bob Margolin, best known for his many years as guitarist with legendary bluesman Muddy Waters.

Record producer Saydak had this to say: "I first heard George Whitesell and His All-Stars on a live CD that George had recorded at one of the new group's gigs. I really liked what I heard, but I was even more impressed when I saw the band live a few weeks later. Here was a band playing that exciting music that had been the bridge between big band swing and what would later be called rock 'n roll. It's a deceptively simple sound, but it takes a high level of musicianship to pull it off. This band certainly has that musicianship. With a skin-tight rhythm section and a horn trio that I would stack up against any that I have ever heard (even in the studios of Chicago), bandleader, guitarist and vocalist George Whitesell knows how this sound is made. He understands that this is an ensemble sound where the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts. He has assembled a group that willingly checked their musical egos at the studio door and came in to work on a project that was everything that this music is intended to be: fun, fun and more fun. When you add singer Jill Watkins to the mix, what you get is a band that has breadth, style and class. George Whitesell and His All Stars is an entertainment juggernaut, and whether you listen to this, their first studio recording, or see their exciting stage show, I dare you to not smile."

Originally from the Hudson River Valley area of New York, Whitesell started playing music in his teens and before long was opening shows for the top artists of the day such as the Four Seasons, Peter and Gordon, the Young Rascals and Herman's Hermits to name a few. He relocated to Colorado in the 1970's and quickly became a fixture on the local music scene playing as a single and in groups from duo to six piece band..

In 1983 Whitesell wrote and recorded "Pray For Me" (I Drive Academy) which quickly became a local hit and is still played today on 1530 KCMN.

Most recently Whitesell was part of Metro Blues, one of the most popular blues bands in the state. During their six year existence Metro Blues opened shows for many nationally known blues artists, performed on numerous blues festivals and recorded a self titled CD that received air-play internationally. In 2003 they were voted the winner in the blues category of the Colorado Springs Music Awards.

"I wanted to do something a little different for this CD release. I have thousands of friends worldwide on MySpace who enjoy my music and I have a friend in Colorado who broadcasts worldwide on the internet radio station, A World of Blues. It just seemed natural to bring the two together", explained Whitesell.

A World of Blues began in January 2007, streaming the blues 24/7 over the Internet, but with a twist. AWOB blues are served up by live broadcasters playing from their own collections and contacts. The roster of broadcasters has grown from the two original founders to seven. It's a diverse crew hailing from California, Austria, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Colorado.

Another unique feature of AWOB is the live chat room. Listeners can interact with the broadcaster and fellow listeners from the international audience during the show. Local blues fan Thom Rogers; a familiar face at most of the blues jams and shows in the area, started broadcasting on A World of Blues in April. Recognizing the amazing talent level of local musicians, he jumped at the opportunity to bring them to a wider audience via A World of Blues.

Thom's on-air name of Chophouse, whose origins are obscured in the best blues tradition, is also the name of his show airing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5 to 8 PM Mountain Time.

While listening to the debut of the new CD Skat in its entirety, listeners will also be able to purchase the CD in person, or on line through A Music Company Inc., and internet music stores, MySpace, CD Baby and CD Mojo.

"The world has grown smaller since the World Wide Web has come into being and this is a perfect opportunity to reach friends internationally while offering our local friends an opportunity to celebrate this big event. To the best of my knowledge, this is a first for Colorado Springs" says Whitesell.

To hear song clips and watch videos of George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins, visit www.myspace.com/georgewhitesell and www.sonicbids.com/georgewhitesell .

A World Of Blues will air the internet radio broadcast from the Coffee Exchange located in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs on July 11 from 6 to 9PM Mountain Time. Those not able to attend locally can tune in www.aworldofblues.com to hear the new CD played. Both the live and on-air audience can participate by asking questions or making comments.

This is your invitation to join us for our World-Wide CD Release Party at The Coffee Exchange. The Coffee Exchange offers the best coffees, a full line of beer & liquor and great food. See you there!

For more information, www.amusiccompanyinc.com, 719-576-5945 or 719-237-9953.