Not sure what’s happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better Just Enough gets. Just Enough stated simply is one of Roger Smith’s best CDs to date.

Just Enough will grab your attention right out of the gate with Rough Cut and doesn’t let go until the very last note of the very last song Friday, which is another great track by the way.

One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you’ve got one of Roger Smith’s most impressive releases ever.

Just Enough is a first rate CD, delivering a little something for everyone. I give it my highest recommendation. It’s quite simply great listening. A must buy if you’re even mildly into Jazz music.

While the entire album is outstanding some of my favorites are track 4 - I’ll Always Love You, track 11 - Just Another Day, and track 13 - Friday

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Rough Cut. Great track!

Just Enough Release Notes:

Roger Smith originally released Just Enough on April 6, 2004 on the Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Rough Cut 2. Just Enough 3. Vega 4. I’ll Always Love You 5. Workin’ It 6. Sunset Dreams 7. Hali’ Imile 8. Friday 9. Tunisina 10. Perfect Circle 11. Just Another Day 12. Roger’s Groove 13. Friday - (remix)

Personnel: Roger Smith (piano, electric piano, organ, programming); Phillip Ingram, Lynne Fiddmont, Rachael Santos, Carol Toca, The Temptations (vocals); Cornelious Daniels (various instruments, programming); Peter White, Derek Allen; Arthur Marbury (various instruments); Dino Soldo (soprano saxophone); Norbert Statchel (tenor saxophone); Dave Koz (saxophone); Adolpho Acosta (trumpet); Thom Rotella, Kevin Chokan, Ray Raymond (guitar); Mike Tores (percussion).

Producers include: Peter White, Roger Smith, Derek Allen, Cornelious Daniels, Arthur Marbury.

Recorded at Hollywood Sound, Hollywood, California and O’Henry Studios, Burbank, California.

Roger Smith has released him most recent CD entitled Just Enough.

It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn’t a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it’s own.

Roger Smith possesses the characteristic of being able to win you over with him talent alone. The kind of artist I really enjoy listening to.

Overall Just Enough is excellent from beginning to end. One of those CDs that after a few listens the songs are just etched into your memory. A must have for the Jazz fan. Really spectacular from beginning to end.

While the entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 4 - I’ll Always Love You, track 11 - Just Another Day, and track 13 - Friday

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Rough Cut. It’s a great track!

Just Enough Release Notes:

Roger Smith originally released Just Enough on April 6, 2004 on the Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Rough Cut 2. Just Enough 3. Vega 4. I’ll Always Love You 5. Workin’ It 6. Sunset Dreams 7. Hali’ Imile 8. Friday 9. Tunisina 10. Perfect Circle 11. Just Another Day 12. Roger’s Groove 13. Friday - (remix)

Personnel: Roger Smith (piano, electric piano, organ, programming); Phillip Ingram, Lynne Fiddmont, Rachael Santos, Carol Toca, The Temptations (vocals); Cornelious Daniels (various instruments, programming); Peter White, Derek Allen; Arthur Marbury (various instruments); Dino Soldo (soprano saxophone); Norbert Statchel (tenor saxophone); Dave Koz (saxophone); Adolpho Acosta (trumpet); Thom Rotella, Kevin Chokan, Ray Raymond (guitar); Mike Tores (percussion).

Producers include: Peter White, Roger Smith, Derek Allen, Cornelious Daniels, Arthur Marbury.

Recorded at Hollywood Sound, Hollywood, California and O’Henry Studios, Burbank, California.

A born child prodigy, Marian Portland started playing the piano at the age of three. She is formally trained in both the violin and the piano. Her real name is Margaret Marian Turner. A student of classical music, she got her music education at the Guildhall School of Music in London but her heart was not in studying classical music. She fell in love with the jazz masters including Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Mary Lou Williams and the likes. Her family opposed her tendency towards jazz music and tried to keep her grounded at Guildhall.

She went against her family’s wishes and joined a group - Billy Mayerl’s Claviers- a four piano vaudeville ensemble. A majority of the gigs that the group had were performances for the Allied Troops who were fighting in World War II in Europe. On tour while playing in Belgium, she met her future husband and cornetist from Chicago Jimmy McPartland in 1944. They got married a while later at a military base in Germany. They played at their own wedding.

The couple moved to Jimmy’s native country and settled down in Chicago after the war was over. They later shifted residence to Manhattan where they stayed in the same building that the Nordstorn Sisters were staying. She formed a trio there. Marian got a gig at the New York jazz club The Hickory House. For eight years from 1952 to 1960, they were resident group there. During her stint there, she caught the eye of the celebrity audience and all the stars of the time from Broadway and Hollywood would drop in to see her perform. Her regular audience consisted of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Steve Allen and Oscar Peterson.

Her stint at The Hickory House though was not creatively satisfying for her as she would have liked. In between and after sets, she would quickly move to the nearby clubs where jazz would be played and studied Duke, Basie, Monk, Bud Powell and Dave Brubeck’s music. She said to a query regarding this habit of hers saying “My goal was to hear everything, and play a lot of musicians’ tunes.”

The following years saw Marian records for various record labels. She started her own record label in 1969. The future years also saw her associated with the Concord Jazz label. She launched a radio show in 1964 on WBAI-FM which consisted of guest interviews and recordings. This led to another radio show of hers - Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on National Public Radio which is still running. It holds the record for being the longest running cultural show on National Public Radio. Some of the programs were released on CD which had her and other guest pianists playing released by Concord Records.

A few artist’s who she has had on her show include Ray Charles, Bill Evans, violinist Stephane Grapelli, Warren Vache and Joe Wilder. Marian is still active despite turning 91. She had a grand birthday bash with a whole of jazz musicians at the Dixxy’s Club-Cola Club. She was joined by guest artists in addition to her own band members - trumpet player Jeremy Pelt, Gary Mazzaroppi and Glenn Davis.

She was known to be excellent at adapting to the stylings of her guests on the show. That apart, she did also record a lot of her own compositions. Her well known songs include Twilight World, There Will Be Other Times, Ambiance and In The days Of Our Love. She claims that she cannot read music though she received formal training in music when she was young. She is proficient at transposing a tune to any key and playing it well. Her last known composition is Portrait of Rachel Carson in honor of environmentalist Rachel Carson on her centennial birth anniversary.

She had knack for remembering a plethora of jazz tunes and play them on the spot. She could also handle almost any other concoction of jazz that she heard or that the person playing with her would be playing. Marian won her first Grammy ever in 2004. She was honored with the Trustees Lifetime Achievement citing her legacy as an educator, writer and radio host. Despite the onslaught of the years, she is as alive as ever performing, playing radio host and composing. She along with Dave Brubeck and Billy Taylor were the first recipients of the annual Jazz Achievement Awards courtesy the no. 1 jazz radio station in the United States. Berklee School of Music inferred upon her an Honorary Doctorate in 2005.

Who would’ve thunk it?

Bubbly TV chef and Oprah buddy, Rachel Ray held a kick ass indie rock party at SXSW. Sure, it was to show off her husband’s er, band…but the fact that she also invited Canada’s Holy F*ck and The Stills made it the place to be. As surreal as it was…

KT Tunstall performs “Saving My Face” on the Rachael Ray show. She also is interviewed by Rachael.

JFO on RR.

They go by so many names now from N’Z,N’Cent,Nonzense,Non-Cent and also New Order Nation,Zillions Ending Negative Sense of Environment them coming out in late 07 to probably hitting mainstream on there own.

Azon Bio:

Azon was born Milton Isaiah Moore in St.Louis,Missouri.He left St.Louis when his little brother Demetrius Ray Stegall II was born.They moved to Los Angeles,California and stayed there for 3 to 5 years.They then moved to Las Vegas,Nevada.We’re he started to write and study about music.He states that his older brother LaWayne Carnel Saine aka Fat Man influences him to start rapping.One weekend Azon and his older brother friend U’Jean and LaWayne we’re freestyling and to hang with them he had to freestyle.He later a mets that the flow was weak but like E-N-Jay always say it’s a work in progress.Azon then started written after one of his homies died and his friend Dayveon who’s cousie was Duke aka Knockes.Taught him how to start off his written by saying Yo.Azon then started written but as he got more into it he start wanting to be the greatest so he study Tupac and Biggie.At the time everyone point at Tupac plus it was the west coast his uncle and godmother pointed him to Biggie.He always listed the songs that changed his flow for the best.He even taught E-N-Jay and others how to start rapping.Heres a listed he use to show people.

2Pac + Outlawz—Black Jesuz

2Pac + Outlawz—Secretz of War

2Pac + Outlawz f/ Big Syke-Letter to the President

2Pac + Outlawz f/ H.E.A.T.-Baby Don’t Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)

2Pac + Outlawz f/ Nate Dogg—Teardrops and Closed Caskets

2Pac + Outlawz f/ Ta’He—Still I Rise

2 Pac + Against All Odds

2 Pac + Ain’t Hard 2 Find

2 Pac + All About U

2 Pac + All Bout U

2 Pac + All Eyez On Me

2 Pac + Black Cotton

and many more

Notorious B.I.G. + 1970 Somethin’

Notorious B.I.G. + Big Poppa

Notorious B.I.G. + Gimme the Loot

Notorious B.I.G. + Going Back To Cali

Notorious B.I.G. + HARD TIMEZ

Notorious B.I.G. + Hold Ya Head

Notorious B.I.G. + Hypnotize

Notorious B.I.G. + Juicy

Notorious B.I.G. + One More Chance (remix)

Notorious B.I.G. + Sky’s the Limit

many more

Azon Start Of Music:

When Azon got to 7 grade he meet his long time friend Ronnie Wight aka Lil Ronnie.He taught him how to rap fast and keep his pace.Around Spring Azon moved from place to place in Las Vegas and to finally he moved to Indianapolis,Indiana.Where he meet his homie Lil Tony and his step daddy Demetrius Ray Stegall. His step daddy payed the for studio time for hours.But Azon got into a fight with him and only got to record one track with his step brother Alfey aka Black Boi.They freestyle the whole join.They stayed in Brent Wood over by East 42 Street and North Post Road for a year. They then moved to Little Rock,Arkansas to stay with there uncle, where he meet Erwin Llydell Dixon Jr aka E-N-Jay.They meet in Miss.Smith art class.Erwin was the class clown and Azon had to keep him out of trouble.Even to this day E-N-Jay gets in trouble and Azon try’s to keep him out of trouble thats why a lot of people first think there related as brothers.Azon first showed E-N-Jay his old song that he wrote when he stayed in Las Vegas called First Time and asked E-N-Jay to sing it. E-N-Jay liked the song and showed him Ride that he had wrote.Azon asked E-N-Jay if he could rap.E-N-Jay said yea a little but said he didn’t like rapping he loved singing.Azon then took a piece of paper and wrote Club Gunners and asked E-N-Jay to try to write to it.At first he couldn’t for like two days then E-N-Jay started written like 38 pages for the song.Azon got tried of hearing Club Gunners and started written more like Here We Go and More stuff.Nonzense was started by his older brother LaWayne,Lou and Lee.They we’re church members from Greater New Jerusalem Baptist Church on 1100 and D St. The group was created as a step team and gospel rap group.They broke up around the early 2000 and Azon bring it back as a something like the New Nonzense but just Nonzense.The group was named that because at the time anyone that could rap,couldn’t beat the three members there flow was crazy almost as if to say Nonzense.

Azon 07-08:

Soon Azon got studio time and started recoding R.I.P. Then his long time friend O.Z. trade him a computer for his XBox. Azon then download recording programs so he could record for free. Azon invited E-N-Jay to finish off some of his songs.The plan was for E-N-Jay to record the whole CD with him.But Azon moved to St.Louis to take care of his sick grandmother.So he had to feature other artist. Oct 31 was the day that the CD The Azon Empire was finished.On January 11 Azon started recording his second CD called The Ghetto Life True Stories at first he had plan on naming it The Prophecies Of Ace.But didn’t want to get religions upset with the name so he renamed it after the song Ghetto Life True Stories.He even renamed the titled track to One Of These Day’s.He says he record and produced every track in just three days in haves 18 tracks.

Azon Future Plans For Now:

He plan on doing a third album but declined the thought and just want to stick with the two he has.He want to try to product for other artist.When ask he said if did write music it was only gone be ghosted written.I want to start my own label called Cam’Mound Entertainment which as we speak are in the works (smiles).The Cam comes from my hood name Cambridge Rec Center in Las Vegas.Then the Mound comes from my homie’s/Artist/Co-Owner’s hood E-N-Jay Orange Mound.Thos creating Cam’Mound Entertainment.He says that he is gone be working with other artist under and apart of the label.Musted of the names remain unknown but he give me the starting line up.Which is Lyrical Touch,Email and Bishop so far.His CD is coming out in February 15 or 17.I heard a couple and there really great I love the track Rebel.He also tells me theres gone be a couple bonus tracks.You can hear there stuff on there Myspace and Imeem page down at the bottom.

The Azon Empire:

1.Intro-Azon

2.RIP-Azon(Produced my K.E.V.)

3.E-N-Jay on the move-Azon on the phone with Unknown person

4.Love-N-Play-Azon and E-N-Jay ft.Certified

5.If So-Azon and E-N-Jay

6.History In The Makin-Azon and E-N-Jay

7.If So (Remix)Azon and E-N-Jay

8.Business Talk-Azon and his Girl

9.Bed Tonight-Azon and E-N-Jay ft.K.T.

10.I Can Remember My First Time-Azon and E-N-Jay ft.Lil K. B. Boi

11.Heart Broken-Azon

12.Funny Calls-Azon on the phone with BaBy L

13.Freestyle-Azon ft. Dray

14.E-N-Jay Still On The Move-Azon and E-N-Jay on the phone

15.E-N-Jay Freestyle Part 1-Azon and E-N-Jay

16.Ghetto Life Style-Azon ft. The Runaway Band

17.E-N-Jay Freestyle part 2-E-N-Jay

18.Business 2-Azon on the Phone again with BaBy L

19.I Got A Deal-Azon and E-N-Jay

20.Outro-Azon

Bonus

21.Sex On A Holiday-Azon and E-N-Jay

22.Release Party-Azon ft.Bay

Ghetto Life True Stories:

1.Get It To The Next-Azon

2.So Into You-Azon

3.Can You Get Away-Azon

4.Rain-Azon

5.In The Air-Azon

6.The Lords Holy Remedy-Azon

7.Ghetto Life True Stories-Azon

8.Lets Go Remix Remade-Azon ft. E-N-Jay

9.Into Amazing Grace-Azon ft. Simple

10.Amazing Grace-Azon

11.Give It All Away-Azon

12.Journal-Azon

13.Rebel-Azon

14.Wonder If They Know-Azon

15.One Of These Day’s-Azon

16.You Change the World-Azon

17.Ghetto Life True Stories Remix-Azon

18.Outro-Azon

Bonus

Lets Go-E-N-Jay produced by Micheal

Aye-E-N-Jay ft. Micheal and produced by Micheal

Lyrical Touch:

This young lady named Lyrical Touch is known as the first lady of Nonzense. She was given her name by Azon.I’ve never really heard her sing but I have heard that she will be a powerful force in the Nonzense label.She’s very beauty and has this sense of a innocent voice.At first she wrote about struggles and pain.until Azon and E-N-Jay got her to chance up her written to fix almost any genre.An her own words Introducing the First Lady of Nonzense.

Stage Name: Lyrical Touch

Real Name: Mamie Katrina Tillman

Age:19 From: Georgia

What inspired me to start singing was going to church with my grandmother and listening to her sing these spiritual songs until one day i tried to help her lead a song and every since then i been writing and singing. What inspired me as well was my poetic way of expressing my feelings on paper then singing the songs Appellate. My daughter Keasia was also one of the major influences on me singing because how relaxed when she gets when I look into her eyes and I watch her smile. So I dedicated a song to her that will be featured on my CD entitled "Mama’s Tellin’ You".

Welcome To Nonzense:

How I got down with Nonzense was kind of crazy I was on a website where me,Azon, and E-N-Jay write and post our poetry and I sent azon a collaboratory request for a poem, and we finished the song we started talking on the phone afterward, I started singing a song real low and he was like that sounds good and he went on to say"sing it louder and I said no because I didn’t like when other people would listen to me sing and I explained to him why I was like that I’m a little microphone shy, But eventually I did start singing louder for him and he was like u can really sing and I said thank u very much he went on to introduce me to E-N-Jay and we started talking and working together. Azon also asked me had I ever written songs and I said yes that’s when he went on to explain to me about the group he was in and how it would be nice if I was a part of it because of my singing talents and I said yes. I went on to sing him a couple of the songs I had previously written and he loved them. Now I’m working on my CD The Title of the CD will be "Lyrical’s Emotions" the songs that will be featured on the CD are as follows:

Lyrical’s Emotions:

1.Strong Love

2.Mama’s Tellin You

3.Twisted Fantasy

4.Buckle Up

5.Trust Me

6.Knocked Up

7.Straight To The Point

8.If Love

9.Ride For You

10.Do My Thangy-Azon

11.Buckle Up Remix ft. Azon and E-N-Jay

12.Rebel Remix ft.Azon

13.Where U From ft.Nonzense

14.Nonzense Ladies ft.Email

15.G’Holo’z ft.Email

16.My Slow Grind ft.Shay

17.Outro

My Future Plans:

My future plans are to get my first CD out and find out what’s ahead of me. Hopefully it will be to become a full blown artist as time gradually moves forward.

E-N-Jay Bio:

E-N-Jay real name is Erwin Lydell Dixon Jr.He is from Memphis,Tennessee.Musted of his family is from Orange Mound.Orange Mound is one of the most dangerous parts in Memphis.They are well know for there unity and there favorite color orange.They even have a hood track explain life in Orange Mound and the rules and how to survive.Erwin has one older sister named Rachelle Dixon and a younger brother named Aaron Dixon.Erwin father used to be in the army.Erwin got hand to his father and travel to countries until his father got out the army,they then went back to America.E-N-Jay started rapping after he started moving from Memphis to Little Rock,Arkansas back and forth.After his little brother was brother they finally moved and stayed in Little Rock.E-N-Jay never really met his mother he only ran into her hung out with her for like a day.

E-N-Jay Music:

When E-N-Jay was in fifth grade he started written music about things he didn’t have.He started singing songs he heard on the radio or songs his daddy showed him from there CD case.He was influenced by 112,Marvin Gaye,R.Kelly Pretty Ricky and many more.He also started bumping Memphis artist such as 8ball and M.J.G.,Yo Gotti,Pastor Troy,36 Mafia and his favorite group Da Volunteers.He soon started rapping and written.He even met with the famous group from Little Rock A-State Hustlers.On a bus he was singing to a couple girl.At the time A-State was just coming up and offered him to feature and even join the group.At the time he decline he felt as if he wasn’t ready yet.When he got to ninth grade.He got asigned to a art class at J.A.Fair the class was taught by Miss.Smith.Azon didn’t get there until like the second or third week.He didn’t have his school records to start.When he got there he set by himself and stayed to himself until like the second week that he was in the class.He saw E-N-Jay singing with his friend Zach.They we’re playing around.Azon says he thought to himself that damn they suck(laughs).But seen change with in them.He called E-N-Jay over to his table.At the time E-N-Jay went by E-Reela.Azon showed him a couple of songs and E-N-Jay showed him the song he was written called Ride With Me.Azon offered him a spot in the group.He accepted there first three songs we’re Here We Go,Ayo,Club Gunners.Club Gunners showed more promise on the account that E-N-Jay lost there number one song called Ayo.

Trouble Ahead:

At the time that they we’re getting to know each other and Azon started teaching him how to write about real stuff.Him and E-N-Jay we’re having family problems.E-N-Jay was getting ready to go to Jail and he also had to deal with his brother been taking from him by the court because his step mother and father was getting a divorce.Azon tried to keep him out of trouble by setting group rules.But also he was having family problems.They we’re low on money and his mother keep running him off he even got kicked out.So he moved away to take care of his grandmother in St.Louis.

Chronicalez of EnJay:

1.Chronicles of EnJay

2.Cheer Me On

3.Empty Spaces

4.Change

5.Pouring

6.See U Lookin

7.Back Da Fuck Up

8.Lets Go

9.Aye

10.Dark Room

Bonus:

11.The Message

12.Everyday Thang

13.You Mine

14.Society’s Goal

E-N-Jay Future Plans:

In E-N-Jay words he tells us about his plan.I really can’t wait for there dreams to come real.(E-N-Jay):My future plans is to get me first CD out and invest more and more on Cam’Mound Ent.With owner Azon.Also I wanna go to go to school and study music to get a better feeling of what music is all about and last but not least I’m going to be a ghost writer (songwriter) for my collies…and more artist that want me services….Thats my future plans.

Hints:

Off of The Azon Empire, they started with there songs.Love-N-Play which has been played over more then 3000 times.From I Got A Deal Now, making your tracks up.On Azon song from his Ghetto Life True Stories you hear him say the title before called The Prophecies of Ace before they change it multiple times on his tracks.Little for instead on Amazing Grace, he states at the beginning."Help me set the table with plates/then we thank the lord with our Amazing Graces/Picked up a book and turned to the chapter published as The Prophecies of Ace/Looked up at the title called The Chronicles of E-N-Jay."E-N-Jay also has being getting hits from off his track song called Lets Go.Now only is it a slow jam but may in up being the up and coming summer jam of 08.Aye is also coming soon which has already got 250 listeners waiting for it.Lyrical Touch is said to be recording her first single Buckle Up Remix featuring Azon and E-N-Jay.Like I said again I never heard her but she is getting a lot of buzz and that musted mean she is hot.So I’m a buckle up and see what happens with her new CD.Also look out for Azon’s new CD The Prophecies of Ace out now,E-N-Jay CD coming out in 08 spring thats coming out in a couple,and Lyrical Touch hopefully around the end of the summer.Also look out for the up and coming A State artists Bishop and Email from The 55 Squad.There the first group to be signed on Cam’Mound Ent.

http://ghettohood5.imeem.com/

http://www.myspace.com/ghettohood5