By Andy Argyrakis, senior music editor, gmclife.com

Superchick remixed
Given the fact that Superchick's music has always straddled the line between alternative rock, programmed pop and hip-hop, it's no surprise to see the decade-plus players turning in a remix record. Dubbed Reinvention (Inpop), the project is split between nine radically re-worked recollections and three new tracks that continue to add to the group's kaleidoscope of sound.

"We had so much fun doing our first remix [Regeneration] and some of those songs have become favorites of ours and a lot of our fans," notes frontwoman Tricia Brock of the new project's inspiration. "When you write an album, you always wonder if the songs could have been different, and with a remix, you can try again. Obviously the remixes are the same messages they've always been, but there is a lot of fun on this album."

To accompany the collection, the group is loading up its tour buses this spring, joining famous friend John Reuben, plus relative newcomers Bread of Stone and Luminate. While members assure fans will hear their favorites, the gigs will also incorporate some of the new material on Reinvention, which is shaping the sound of the band's yet-to-be-titled forthcoming studio CD.

"We are really excited to see where this album goes," adds Brock. "Our song 'Still Here' is one of the first we finished and I love the song. I think it really reflects where we are in life. The songs we write are becoming more and more personal...God is good, even when life hurts and things don't seem fair or right. He is still faithful. We've seen our family hurting from cancer and personal things, and when people we love hurt, it's as bad a personal struggle. Through it all, we've made it through."

Jaymes Reunion debuts
Even though the chatter surrounding BEC Recordings act Jaymes Reunion's been brewing over the past year thanks in part to an EP and a steady presence on the road, Everything You've Been Looking For marks the band's full-length debut. Taking cues from the classic 1970s singer/songwriter era (spanning Paul McCartney to James Taylor and even Stevie Wonder), the band of 20-somethings has been turning heads and bridging generations in the process.

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But what's frontman Cameron Jaymes most excited about relating to his favorite remembrances from the '70s?

"I'd say making beards and mustaches cool again," he ventures. "Back then they weren't creepy. Actually they were quite fresh!"

On a more serious note, Jaymes Reunion's committed to a variety of outreach organizations that they hope fans will grasp onto. The fellas aren't just using their platform to spread the word, but are getting involved personally with both the missions-minded organization and the leukemia research outlet they are supporting.

"Our mission is to make great timeless music that will encourage people and keep them engaged for a long time," Jaymes assures. "We're excited about our growing friendship in Mocha Club (www.mochaclub.org) and we love our friends at the TJ Martell Foundation (www.tjmartellfoundation.org). I think giving back is bigger than bands, but I think bands can be great examples to fans and can bring great causes to light."

Jazz goes gospel
The worlds of jazz and gospel have always had a symbiotic relationship, even if artists of those associations were grouped in different bins at the record store. However, the American Smooth Jazz Awards (think: the genre's version of the GRAMMY or Dove Awards), is making a conscious decision to acknowledge the correlation, thanks to a brand-new category, Gospel Jazz Artist of the Year.

"I am so excited about the inclusion of 'Gospel Jazz' in 2010," exclaims inspirational saxophone player Greg Vail, who is also a worship team member at Saddleback Church in southern California. "Often, cross-genre music can get lost in the crossfire. Is it jazz? Is it gospel? For Christian jazz artists, it is the natural expression of faith and God-given gifts. With the latest news from ASJA, gospel jazz has been officially noticed and the probability of real growth in gospel jazz music has now been realized. I would imagine many new projects will find there way to the market and Christian jazz artists that might have considered recording a faith-based CD will be encouraged to step out and release that CD they have been talking about doing one day!"

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About the Writer

Andy Argyrakis is a Chicago-based entertainment writer/photographer who appears in the Chicago Tribune, Illinois Entertainer, Daily Journal, Concert Livewire, Hear/Say Magazine and Image Chicago (to name few). His record label writing credits include Warner Brothers, Atlantic, Curb, EMI and Universal, with additional photo credits for Fuse TV, Live Nation, Nikon, Pollstar, Celebrity Access, Paste Magazine, MTV.com and Vibe.com. He's also the author/narrator of "Access Matthews" (an audio CD tracing the career of Dave Matthews Band) and spends considerable time on tour, including outings with Arlo Guthrie, The Guess Who, Madina Lake (on Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution) and Gospel Music Channel's very own "Gospel Dream" (where he served as season one judge).