Jackiem Joyner “Every Part Of Me” 1/16/25 & Signs with Shanachie #jazz #music

Shanachie Entertainment Signs Chart-Topping Saxophonist & Sci-Fi Author Jackiem Joyner

Every Part Of Me Set for Release January 16, 2026

The Chart-topping and thrilling saxophonist and Sci-Fi author Jackiem Joyner is the newest artist to join Shanachie Entertainment’s illustrious roster of acclaimed Contemporary Jazz artists. Joyner has collaborated with such luminaries as Angela Bofill, Najee, Jean Carne, Ronnie Laws, Keiko Matsui, Peter White, and George Duke, among numerous others and has garnered three Billboard #1 hits and amassed eight top five singles. The show-stopping saxophonist, revered for his rich and soulful amalgamation of Jazz, R&B, Soul, Blues, Funk and Pop music exclaims, “I’m really happy to be teaming up with Shanachie. I believe that there is a lot we will accomplish together.” Shanachie’s Vice President of Jazz A&R, Danny Weiss states, “I was already familiar with Jackiem’s gorgeous tone and superb musicianship, but what blew me away was the breadth and scope of his production. He’s an enormous talent!” Joyner produced and composed the sterling genre-bending ten originals featured on his Shanachie debut, Every Part Of Me, set for release on January 16, 2026. The anticipated recording is Joyner’s most personal recording to date. “For years, I let the world see only what I could handle,” confides the saxophonist. “But there comes a moment when hiding feels heavier than honesty. This album is about me opening the door and letting every part of myself step into the light. The artist, the father, the dreamer, the man rebuilding his heart. Every part of me.” Having recently divorced and being the ultimate girl dad, Joyner was inspired to draw inspiration on this new album from the themes of belonging, fatherhood, courage, new beginnings and the power of resilience.

An accomplished Sci-Fi author, Jackiem Joyner has penned the books Zarya: Cydnus Final Hope and Minor Assassin and has even caught the attention of iconic film director, screenwriter, and producer, Stephen Spielberg who invited Joyner to appear on his podcast. Joyner explains that the process of creating music and writing books are very similar. “When I’m writing songs,” he shares, “I’m composing what is in my head and writing the music that’s in my heart and spirit. When I’m writing stories, it almost feels the same because I’m creating the story and making it move in a certain direction, essentially tapping into the same energy.” Joyner has written a series of stories to accompany each of his ten original compositions on Every Part Of Me as a companion piece that he will make available to his fans. Highlights on the album include the effervescent and buttery smooth soul of “Just Like That,” featuring pianist and label-mate Brian Simpson, the irresistible “Here To Stay,” which magnificently conjures the soul-jazz sound harnessed on the legendary1970s CTI sessions, the album’s alluring title track, the undeniably gorgeous, warm and retro-soul feel of “Never Letting Go” and the euphoric rhythmic wonder of “Endless Surrender.”

Joyner concludes, “Every Part Of Me really dials into my sound and is the perfect reflection of the journey that I have taken as an artist to get to where I am now. I’m keeping true to myself, my artistry and my authentic sound as saxophonist. This album reflects my growth, and I am excited to keep the momentum going.”

From Shanachie Records

Jazz from Amazon.com

Dr. Pascal Bokar Thiam connects Jazz's West African roots in a new book #jazz #music

Jazz: Culture and Social Justice - Soundtrack of America’s Art Form is out now.

              

While Jazz is widely regarded as America’s indigenous musical art form, Dr. Pascal Bokar Thiam provides a detailed survey of Jazz’s roots in West Africa in his new book, Jazz: Culture and Social Justice - Soundtrack of America’s Art Form, which is available now through major retailers.

 

A leading scholar on Jazz history and its African lineage, Dr. Thiam draws on decades as an award-winning jazz guitarist and a university educator. His lived experience across three continents has given him unique insight into how music and musical instruments have evolved over centuries.

 

Born in Paris and raised in Mali and Senegal, Dr. Thiam observed socio-musical patterns in the United States that diverged from the European ethnic heritage of most Americans. Instead, he found them aligned with West African music, culture, and instrumentation—reflecting the profound African ancestral roots of the music of the Mississippi Delta and its evolution into Jazz. Jazz: Culture and Social Justice is the culmination of years of research, multiple academic papers, and thousands of hours spent tracing the cultural pathways that shaped America’s art form.

 

“As early as the beginning of the 20th century, Jazz as an art form began lifting this nation to the status of a cultural superpower. Jazz is the soundtrack of the socio-cultural history of Africans in North America—a soundtrack of freedom and victory, a victory of our collective humanity, and a victory for human dignity over tyranny,” said Dr. Thiam, who serves on the faculty at the University of San Francisco in the Performing Arts & Social Justice Department.

 

Discouraged by the lack of research and gaps in existing scholarship, Dr. Thiam set out to connect the dots across continents and centuries by writing Jazz: Culture and Social Justice.

 

“Most books about Jazz history begin around 1865 in New Orleans,” he said. “The persistent omission of African cultural values, heritage, and traditions—which shaped the Blues of the Mississippi Delta and helped form American popular music and its art form, Jazz—has done a great disservice to the story of this amazing music.”

 

According to Dr. Thiam, even the roots of iconic American instruments such as the banjo, along with the musical traditions that shaped Jazz, Blues, and Gospel, are deeply rooted in West Africa.

 

To Africans in North America, the West African ngoni—the ancestor of the banjo—was the umbilical cord to Africa. Its continued existence preserved the colors of the blue notes through the Blues, the rhythmic syncopation through Ragtime, the belief in a higher power through the Negro Spirituals, and the concept of improvisation through Jazz,” said Dr. Thiam.

 

Although the journey across the Middle Passage typically took sixty days, Dr. Thiam argues that no one forgot their culture in that time. Instead, African culture profoundly influenced American music, instruments, and traditions.

 

“When we think about culture and music, the great Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré said it best: ‘In anthropology, Black American does not exist, but there are Blacks in America, which means that they came with their culture.’ I would add that, however horrific it was, the Middle Passage lasted sixty days—and no one forgets their culture in sixty days. Africans arrived on the shores of the Southern colonies daily from 1515 until 1860, long before the acknowledged roots of American Jazz,” said Dr. Thiam.

 

He notes that jazz’s seminal luminaries—Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Ma Rainey, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Mahalia Jackson, Dexter Gordon, Art Blakey, and many others—are all descendants of West Africans enslaved in the United States.

 

Jazz: Culture and Social Justice—Soundtrack of America’s Art Form is available now through major retailers. The book can be purchased from Amazon.

 

 

 

ABOUT DR. PASCAL BOKAR THIAM

 

Born in Paris and raised in Senegal and Mali, Dr. Pascal Bokar Thiam holds a doctorate in education and a master’s degree in education and music. He has more than 25 years of experience teaching African American culture, music, and history as well as African culture, society, social policy, and political science. He studied at the National School of Arts in Dakar, Senegal; the National Conservatory of Nice in France; and in the United States at Berklee College of Music, Cambridge College, and the University of San Francisco’s Graduate School of Education.

 

Dr. Thiam created the first Jazz, Culture and Social Justice course at the University of San Francisco, where he also directs the university’s jazz band.

 

He is the author of From Timbuktu to the Mississippi Delta (2013), Africa: Its Music & Its People (2022), and The Banjo Is From West Africa (2023).

 

A bebop jazz guitarist who performs globally as Pascal Bokar, Dr. Thiam has worked with legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie (who honored him with an Outstanding Jazz Soloist Award), trumpet master Donald Byrd, and drummer Donald “Duck” Bailey. He has released seven albums; his 2015 album “Guitar Balafonics” was named one of the best albums of the year by DownBeat magazine.

 

Dr. Thiam is currently working on his first Contemporary Jazz album, slated for release next year. The project was recently previewed with the single “Sunrise,” produced by Billboard hitmaker Greg Manning.

 

For more information, please visit https://pascalbokar.com.

 

Jazz from Amazon.com

Innervision Records caps a landmark year with chart-topping success #jazz #music

Hits by Blake Aaron and Kim Scott drive the label to No. 3 Label of the Year and multiple year-end No. 1 honors.

 

Innervision Records dominated the three major smooth jazz charts in 2025, marking one of the strongest years in the label’s 27-year history. Powered by two No. 1 hits from guitarist Blake Aaron and a No. 1 hit by flutist Kim Scott, Innervision Records closed out the year as Billboard and Mediabase’s No. 3 Label of the Year for the sixth consecutive year.

R&B/jazz guitarist Blake Aaron enjoyed the most successful year of his recording career, as his two Billboard chart-toppers, “Let’s Get Lost” and “Dare To Fly,” made him Billboard’s No. 2 Artist of the Year and the No. 1 Artist of the Year on the Mediabase and Radiowave charts. “Let’s Get Lost” was Billboard’s No. 5 Single of the Year and Radiowave’s No. 4 Single of the Year.  

 

“I feel incredibly grateful and blessed to have received my ninth Billboard No. 1 as an artist and my eighth No. 1 as a producer. It has been a long time dream of mine to reach hundreds of millions of people on an emotional and spiritual level with my music, and every day I feel closer to realizing that dream,” said Aaron, who will release a new single, “The Upside,” on January 30.

 

In addition to scoring a Billboard No. 1 with her urban‑jazz single “Freedom,” Scott’s “Alma De Lisbon” featuring Kelvin Wooten was named Radiowave’s No. 1 Single of the Year, and she also ranks as the No. 3 Artist of the Year. Scott, who released her sixth Innervision Records album, “Livin’ It Up,” last February, is also Mediabase’s No. 10 Artist of the Year.

 

“I’m incredibly grateful for the love and support I’ve received throughout my career, and seeing ‘Freedom’ reach No. 1 on the chart is an unbelievable feeling. Thank you to Innervision Records, ASL Music Media and Promotion, and to my amazing co-writer and producer Greg Manning for sharing this achievement with me. I’m honored to have the freedom to create music and share it with the world, and I can’t wait to see what 2026 will bring!” said Scott whose new single, “Hide & Seek,” dropped on January 2.

 

The label also expands its roster with the signing of R&B/jazz singer‑songwriter Alli’ Starr, whose Innervision Records debut, “Samba Love,” arrives January 16.

 

“Signing with Innervision Records feels like stepping into the next chapter of my destiny. I’m honored and excited for what we’re about to create together,” said the Las Vegas-based Starr who has sung with Will Smith, Tank, Mya, Marsha Ambrosius, Avant, and Lyfe Jennings.

 

“Alli’ Starr is an awesome new addition to the Innervision family. Alli’ offers a wonderful contribution to the new sound of smooth jazz: a samba with an urban flair that should be perfect for a format that has evolved and diversified musically. We are excited to welcome Alli’ to the roster and share her music with radio and fans alike,” said Innervision Records’ A&R and radio promotions executive Adam Leibovitz.

 

Innervision Records’ general manager Steve Belkin said, “Alli’s style blends nicely with smooth jazz and its related genres. And though somewhat new to the format, Alli’s been laying the groundwork for success for quite some time. With a sensual voice and a commanding stage presence, I’m especially looking forward to hearing her live at the Innervision Records After NAMM JAMM!”

Innervision Records will showcase Starr, Aaron, Scott, and many of the artists on the label at the 13^th After NAMM JAMM on January 25 at Spaghettini south of Los Angeles. Other Innervision artists who are slated to take the stage include guitarist Richard Smith, Smooth Jazz Alley, Will Donato, Pat Petrillo, Charles A. Kelly, and Aysha.  

To purchase tickets to the After NAMM JAMM, go to https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/Spaghettini/4030/event/1435273.

 

For more information about Innervision Records, please visit www.innervisionrecords.com. 

Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com

A Very Merry Christmas from JazzHQ #jazz #music

Our very best wishes to all of you who took the time to visit JazzHQ during the year, whether at jazzhq.blogspot.com, twitter.com/jazzhq, mastodon.social/@JazzHQ, or facebook.com/jazzhq. 

White Christmas - The Drifters (Video/cartoon) Sung by The Drifters. Cartoon by Joshua Held. Featuring Bill Pinkney on lead bass and Clyde McPhatter on tenor.  

Sing along:

Ooh
Doop doop, doop doo doop
Ooh
Doop doop, doop doo doop

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where those treetops glisten, and children listen,
To hear sleigh bells in the snow, the snow.

Then, I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write,
May your days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.

I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where the treetops glisten, and children listen,
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I-I-I am dreaming of a white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write,
May your days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells all the way.
Ooooh.

Contemporary jazz guitarist Chris Standring embraces a new chapter on a nostalgic new album #jazz #music

“Time of Change,” dropping March 20, will be previewed by the jazz-funk single “Hollywood Hustle” on February 2.

 

 

Getting married for the first time and the passing of his father have signaled a time of change for Billboard chart-topping contemporary jazz guitarist Chris Standring. With nostalgia on his mind and life changes shaping the third act of his life, Standring wrote and produced eleven new songs for “Time of Change,” which arrives on March 20 from Ultimate Vibe Recordings.

 

The album of ‘70s-inspired cool jazz and retro rhythm-and-blues grooves will be advanced by the first single, “Hollywood Hustle,” an up-tempo horn-tinged strut that begins collecting playlist adds and airplay on February 2.

 

“As I get a little older, it's easy to reflect and reminisce about the past, the innocence of youth, the naïveté of decisions, good or bad, and perhaps idolize some of the glory days. This album is all about that with a sentiment that is wildly reflected in the music. Much of the writing harks back to a familiar time, a nostalgic time. And things in life are different now. I lost my father and after living in Los Angeles for 35 years, it is time to settle in a quieter, more remote part of the world with my lovely wife, Erica. I’m ready to embrace my third act with all the enthusiasm, joy, and wonder I have lived with until now. It's an exciting time of change,” said Standring, who grew up in England.

 

The core foursome featured on “Time of Change,” Standring’s eighteenth album, is Standring (guitars, keyboards, programming, horn and string arrangements), bassist Andre Berry, drummer Chad Wright, and percussionist Lenny Castro. Four tracks on the album are bolstered by a horn section comprised of Brandon Fields (tenor sax), Tom Saviano (alto sax), Michael Stever (trumpet), and Erik Hughes (trombone). Other musicians contributing to the album are GRAMMY-winning bassist Brian Bromberg, George Whitty (piano), Dave Karasony (drums), and Rodney Lee, the keyboardist who partnered with Standring in the innovative band Solar System thirty years ago at the start of his recording career.

 

“Time of Change” opens with “Photographs,” a snapshot that sets the stage for the collection. Throughout the album, Standring’s electric jazz guitar work blends agility, alacrity, and atmospheric expressiveness. On this cut, he invites Whitty to deliver an impassioned and poetic piano solo.

 

“When I hear this song, I can imagine sitting next to a bay window looking out into the pouring rain contemplating life. It probably wasn't raining when I wrote it, but the nostalgic and reminiscent feeling was definitely with me,” said Standring, who released a retrospective book of photographs titled “A Jazz Life in Pictures,” on Monday (December 15) that captures his life from early childhood to present day.

 

Berry and Wright carve a taut rhythmic pocket on the bouncy “Magnetic,” a tune built from two simple chords that reminded Standring of early Yellowjackets. Standring said the downtempo “Slippin’ In These Streets” “might have been good on the soundtrack to a ‘70s cop show.” The retro vibes return with another feel-good tune, “All The Good Times,” which is expected to be the second single from the new set. The tempo drops back down on “Where Were You When,” which introduces strings.

 

“It’s one of my favorites on this album, especially the second verse with the entrance of those beautiful violas and cellos. That is where I live (musically) these days. It's snuggly and warm and full of space,” said Standring.

 

After “Hollywood Hustle” and its funky ‘70s vibe comes “A Good Game.” Standring said his production and arrangement on “Time of Change” was influenced by an iconic GRAMMY-winning legend. 

 

“Quincy Jones is a producer I always looked up to for inspiration. This track has a very sensual vibe that is also nostalgic and thought-provoking. It took a lot of discipline from me to not have a regular snare beat but use finger snaps instead. This produces an intimacy in the song. The voices also give it that warm and cozy feel in the choruses,” said Standring.

 

On the vibrant “One Of These Days,” Standring channeled Tom Scott’s horn and string arrangements on Steely Dan records. Standring returns to the bay window to get pensive again on “Remember The Day,” which also contemplates what’s to come, a sentiment underscored by Fields’ poignant saxophone solo.

 

Originally planned as the album closer, “All That To Say” offers a feeling of closure with a reassuring hint of hope.

 

“There is a sadness to this song, too. It’s very contemplative. It's probably still raining outside,” Standring surmised.

 

“Time of Change” closes with an emotional tribute to Standring’s father on “A Song For Alistair.”

 

“When Brian Bromberg came into my studio to record his upright bass on this track, he told me he thought this was the most beautiful song I'd ever written. He might be right. I must have been in a reflective mood when I penned this song. It's very sad and if you listen to it knowing where the sentiment comes from, try to hold back the tears. I loved this melody so much I didn't want to improvise a guitar solo on it. I just wanted to state the melody and end the song. That statement was enough in my mind. As if I wanted to simply respect the song. Just like my father, Alistair,” said an introspective Standring.

 

Standring debuted as a solo artist in 1998 with the album “Velvet,” which spawned his breakthrough hit, “Cool Shades.” He went on to notch more than fifteen Billboard top ten singles, including eight No. 1 hits. Last year’s “As We Think” album scored a Billboard No. 1 hit with “Top Hat & Tails.”

 

A popular concert performer at theaters, clubs, and festivals at home and abroad, Standring has a handful of concert dates already booked to support “Time of Change,” including an album release preview show on February 7 at Spaghettini south of Los Angeles.

 

“Time of Change” contains the following songs:

 

“Photographs”

“Magnetic”

“Slippin’ In These Streets”

“All The Good Times”

“Where Were You When”

“Hollywood Hustle”

“A Good Game”

“One Of These Days”

“Remember The Day”

“All That To Say”

“A Song For Alistair”

 

To pre-order “Time of Change,” go to Chris Standring, Chris Standring, Chris Standring - Time of Change - Amazon.com Music.

 

For more information, visit www.chrisstandring.com.

Jazz from Amazon.com

Christopher McBride's "The Hang, The Hustle, The Path" climbs jazz charts as the saxophonist enters a new life chapter #jazz #music

Saxophonist Christopher McBride is entering a pivotal new chapter — both personally and artistically. As he prepares for his wedding next week, his new album, “The Hang, The Hustle, The Path,” continues its ascent up the jazz charts, reaching No. 19 on JazzWeek and breaking into the Top 10 on the North American College & Community Radio Chart. The CR McBride Music project is drawing new listeners with its unique fusion of bebop, swing, straight-ahead, and contemporary jazz with R&B, hip-hop, gospel, and Latin influences.

 

As a composer, producer, arranger, and alto saxophonist, McBride draws deeply from the global Black music tradition. The ten originals and two reimagined covers on his third album — the first installment of a planned trilogy — showcase his saxophone as a lyrical storyteller, illuminating the people, places, and experiences that have shaped his life.

 

Continuing the wedding motif, McBride’s “best men” on the album are his bandmates, The Whole Proof, Jon Thomas (piano, keyboards, organ), Barry Stephenson (acoustic and electric bass), and Michael Piolet (drums). The extended ensemble includes trumpeters Josh Evans and Wayne Tucker, guitarist Marcus Machado, and vocalists Charles Turner and J. Hoard. The album was recorded over three days in a Brooklyn studio.

 

“Every original song on this record was inspired by a person, place, or moment in my life. This album is a complete reflection of my path so far. As I enter this new phase by getting married, I’m certain it will shape the next album in the trilogy,” said McBride, who recorded a version of Sade’s “Kiss of Life” as his original “A Downpour Of Beauty” in honor of his fiancée.

 

After the release of the “The Hang, The Hustle, The Path,” McBride launched a four-city tour through his hometown of Chicago followed by Los Angeles, Atlanta, and his longtime home of New York City. Audiences packed each venue as McBride and the band introduced the new material. In addition to performing, McBride — a dedicated educator — led workshops at high schools and colleges.

 

The album’s first video, “Saxophone at Night,” has earned more than eleven thousand views on YouTube. The clip captures McBride’s charismatic presence and his distinctive jazz aesthetic. The song and video nod to an era when musicians and dancers collaborated freely in nightclubs — a practice disrupted by the 1944–1965 U.S. federal tax on venues that hosted dancing. The video is available on YouTube, TikTok, X, and Instagram.

 

McBride will end the year and ring in the New Year at the Blue Note Hawaii where he will be accompanying iconic rapper Big Daddy Kane on December 30 and 31. He’ll be back with The Whole Proof for shows at The Jazz Club at Aman in New York City on January 14 and February 13. The group will play The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyne, CT on February 6 and will headline a weekend at Smalls Jazz Club in New York City on February 27 and 28. Additional concert dates will be announced.

 

For more information, visit www.crmcbridemusic.com. 

Jazz from Amazon.com

For Review: Jazz trumpeter-vocalist Ilya Serov celebrates "Christmas with Friends" retro style #jazz #music

The new album of holiday classics available now features Dave Koz, Aubrey Logan, Casey Abrams, Ariana Savalas, and Dylan Chambers. Serov launched a U.S. concert tour with Peabo Bryson, Sheena Easton, and Ruben Studdard.

 

Jazz trumpeter-vocalist Ilya Serov has a busy holiday season planned with friends. He collaborated with a handful of friends – ten-time GRAMMY® nominee Dave Koz, Aubrey Logan, Casey Abrams, Ariana Savalas, and Dylan Chambers - on his first Christmas album, “Christmas with Friends,” which was released last Friday (November 28) by Neo Sound Records. On Saturday (November 29), Serov embarked on an 18-city U.S. concert tour with friends Peabo Bryson, Sheena Easton, and Ruben Studdard.

 

Indulging a long-held desire to record a holiday album, the question for Serov was what kind of an album to record. His catalog consists of a variety of jazz and pop spanning standards culled from the Great American Songbook, straight-ahead instrumental and vocal jazz, soulful R&B-pop, and contemporary jazz instrumentals. As a devout fan of the treasured Christmas recordings by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Perry Como, Serov decided to pay tribute to those timeless records. Producing the album himself, he brought in keyboardist, arranger, orchestrator, and conductor Nick Petrillo to help realize his vision of creating a retro-style collection. Swinging cadences, big band horn section, sweeping strings, and bebop ornamentation form the decorative backdrops for Serov’s debonair vocal delivery. Crooning with charisma, clarity, and elegance, he also plays trumpet and jazzohorn - the latter being a unique sounding instrument that he helped pioneer, which is a hybrid that is part flugelhorn and part saxophone - throughout “Christmas with Friends.” 

 

“As we were working on the album, writing the arrangements, and seeing these songs come to life, I started hearing and imagining the sound of some of my friends who I absolutely admire and whose sound I was confident would open up and elevate these tracks. I feel so blessed and grateful that I got to collaborate with friends on this project: Ariana Savalas (vocals), Aubrey Logan (vocals and trombone), Casey Abrams (vocals and bass), Dylan Chambers (vocals and guitar), and one of my long-time musical heroes and mentors, Dave Koz (tenor saxophone), who introduced me to all these amazing artists. Each one of these artists has a distinct artistic voice and charisma and matches the vibe of the song and the arrangement so perfectly. Working with them made the process in the studio so special, unforgettable, and so much fun,” said Serov about “Christmas with Friends” that was primarily recorded at the legendary Henson Studios in Hollywood, which is now owned by GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter-guitarist John Mayer who popped in during the recording sessions to offer support.

 

Serov and his duet partners were backed on “Christmas with Friends” by a collective consisting of Gary Matsumoto (piano and keyboards), Shane Savala (guitar), Cooper Appelt (bass), Greg Sadler (drums), and Jose Perez (percussion). The horn section was comprised of Michael Stever (trumpet), Bob Lawrence (trombone), Dan Kaneyuki (tenor saxophone and flute), and Tim McKay (baritone saxophone). Enhancing the tracks was the LA All-Star String Ensemble.

 

“Everything on this album was recorded live with real musicians and traditional acoustic instruments, which was typical for that era. It was especially important to me to make this record pure, performed by great musicians straight from the heart,” said Serov who is based in Austin, Texas, where additional recording sessions for the project took place.

 

Selecting a set list of traditional holiday songs and carols, Serov makes them his own with fresh arrangements, lush instrumentation, and spirited retro cool performances. Koz is featured on a keen medley blending “Skating” and “O Christmas Tree.”

 

Serov gifts listeners on “Christmas with Friends” with two originals: a new song that he wrote with Petrillo and Myah Marie, “That Christmas Feeling,” and “Angel,” a previously unreleased song written by a friend.

 

“My three-year-old son, Caden, loves Christmas music. I wrote ‘That Christmas Feeling’ to become part of the legacy that I want to leave for him. I hope he will grow up with this song and appreciate it. ‘Angel’ is an incredibly special song that was written by my dear friend, Laura Hagen, and her late husband, Earle Hagen. Earle was a legendary Hollywood composer, scoring music for television shows and films such as ‘I Spy,’ ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’ ‘Mod Squad,’ ‘Planet of the Apes,’ and many more. ‘Angel’ was originally written for a television series as an instrumental composition but was never used. Laura later wrote the lyrics for it and this album is the song’s official premiere,” explained Serov.

 

Serov costars on the Home for the Holidays concert tour that launched on Saturday in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He shares the marquee with two-time GRAMMY® winners Bryson and Easton and GRAMMY® nominee Studdard. The tour’s seasonal-themed set list presents holiday standards and a curated assortment of hits from the artists’ R&B, adult contemporary, and pop repertoire.  

 

Friends served as an earlier muse for Serov who has a history with Koz that spans records and performing on the popular saxman’s annual jazz cruises. Koz appeared on Serov’s third album, 2021’s “Just Friends,” which was a mix of songs from the Great American Songbook and original tunes that peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard chart. Serov was joined on the outing by keyboardist Greg Manning, who has notched over a dozen Billboard No. 1 hits, along with guitarist Kay-Ta Matsuno, vocalist Matt Cusson, and saxophonist Alex Hahn.

 

Serov issued his debut album, “September in the Rain,” in 2013, which was a big band date made up of jazz standards. Five years later, his sophomore disc, “Back in Time,” offered classic cuts and contributions from noteworthy artist including GRAMMY-winning piano legend Roger Kellaway, two-time GRAMMY-winning saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and GRAMMY-winning percussionist Poncho Sanchez. Last year’s “Colors” album included music produced by two-time GRAMMY winner Paul Brown, multiple GRAMMY nominee Darren Rahn, and Billboard hitmaker Adam Hawley. GRAMMY-winning bassist Hussain Jiffry and Billboard chart-toppers Jeff Ryan and Oli Silk were featured soloists. On the big screen, Serov has crafted music and performed on the film score for “Creed II,” “Deadpool 2” and “Addams Family 2.” 

 

“Christmas with Friends” contains the following songs:

 

“Let It Snow”

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” featuring Ariana Savalas

“Home For The Holidays”

“It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”

“Skating/O Christmas Tree” featuring Dave Koz

“The Christmas Song”

“Holly Jolly Christmas” featuring Casey Abrams

“Angel

“That Christmas Feeling”

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” featuring Aubrey Logan

“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” featuring Dylan Chambers

“Silent Night”

 

 

The complete itinerary for the Home for the Holidays tour with Ilya Serov, Peabo Bryson, Sheena Easton, and Ruben Studdard appears below:

 

November 29 Wilkes-Barre, PA

November 30 Collingswood, NJ

December 1    Old Saybrook, CT

December 3    Morristown, NJ

December 4    Lynn, MA

December 5    Waukegan, IL

December 6    Salamanca, NY

December 7    Detroit, MI

December 9    Elkhart, IN

December 10 Cincinnati, OH

December 12 St. Louis, MO

December 13 El Cajon, CA

December 14 Cerritos, CA

December 16 San Francisco, CA

December 17 Phoenix, AZ

December 19 Arlington, TX

December 21 San Antonio, TX

December 22 Abilene, TX

 

 

For more information, visit https://www.ilyaserov.com.

Jazz from Amazon.com

Chieli Minucci and Special EFX packages "The Hits" past, present, and future (hopefully) #jazz #music

The jazz fusion band will drop an all-star collection on February 6 comprised of their Billboard No. 1s, remastered favorites, and three new songs bound to be hits.

 

When you’ve been fronting a band for forty-four years as Emmy-winning guitarist Chieli Minucci has for GRAMMY® nominated jazz fusion group Special EFX, you learn how to read audiences and give them what they want. The music industry has changed dramatically over those decades and Minucci noticed that since there’s now a scarcity of radio stations that play contemporary jazz, audiences aren’t as familiar with his band’s new music as they should be - even when those singles climb to the top of the national charts. Minucci recognizes that his audiences crave nostalgia and heeding the demand to “play the hits,” he assembled a collection of Special EFX’s remastered favorites and seven of their Billboard No. 1 singles along with three new songs that bode to become hits. “The Hits” is available for pre-orders now ahead of its February 6 release from Chieli Music.

 

Minucci, who founded Special EFX with Hungarian percussionist George Jinda, curated the 14-song “The Hits” from the band’s 25 albums that has scored eight Billboard No. 1 hits and a GRAMMY® nomination for 1985’s “Modern Manners” album. Even prior to Jinda’s passing in 2002, Special EFX albums have always been all-star projects featuring solos and performances by prominent recording artists and first-call session musicians. The list of GRAMMY® winners and nominees, chart-toppers, and noteworthy players on “The Hits” includes Warren Hill, Eric Marienthal, Paul Brown, Michael Paulo, Elan Trotman, Nicholas Cole, Lin Rountree, Oli Silk, David Mann, Roberto Vally, Greg Vail, Shane Theriot, Ron King, Omar Hakim, and Lionel Cordew.

 

Musically, “The Hits” highlights Special EFX’s distinct brand of contemporary jazz, fusion, world music, and blues. Minucci wrote and produced the album except for “Lavish,” which Cole wrote and produced.

 

“The Hits” opens with a new recording of one of Special EFX’s best known songs, the fusion heavy “Uptown East.” 

 

“I recreated the piece using the template of the original. It's a live-in-the-studio recording with slight variations from decades of playing it live in concert. I recorded it with my East Coast EFX band: Joel Rosenblatt on drums, Jerry Brooks on bass, and Jay Rowe on keyboards,” said the New York City-based Minucci.

 

“Blue Lagoon” was the first hit that was performed entirely by Minucci as a one-man-band. His cool electric jazz guitar floats amidst an island vibe over a reggae rhythm.

 

Playing nylon-string guitar, Minucci’s first collaboration with two-time GRAMMY-winning producer Brown is “Cool Summer,” which was a Billboard No. 1 hit last year and appears on an album for the first time.  

 

Mann’s saxophone is a prominent voice on “Kickin’ It Hard,” punching and counterpunching Minucci’s electric guitar hits.

 

The first new composition on “The Hits” is “Waterfall,” a rousing fount of cascading melody and excitement inducing rhythms.

 

“It’s a brand-new piece I wrote as a live concert opening number. It's a wonderful fusion of styles, a pop instrumental. When we played this at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton, Eric Marienthal wailed on his alto sax. I saw the crowd get up on their feet and cheer. So, here he is again, rocking out in a way folks don’t often hear. The song has a rock meets jazz feel. Time will tell if it becomes one of ‘the hits,'” Minucci shared.

 

Collaborating with Cole to create “Lavish” came at the suggestion of a record label executive.

 

“Bringing in an outside songwriter and producer was a new experience for this salty dog. What surprised and interested me was Nicholas’s direction. He wrote a couple of songs that sounded like Special EFX-style pieces. ‘Lavish’ came out great with its fresh and interesting arrangement and became a big hit. It’s a beautiful, melodic piece with a lot of passion,” said Minucci who has also released nine solo albums.

 

The version of “You Make Me Blue” on “The Hits” is a bluesier version than the original that appears on Special EFX’s 1993 “Love Your Smile” album. Alan Grubner’s electric violin issues a searing solo on the single that became a staple on SiriusXM’s Watercolors playlist. 

 

“Meant To Be” is the second Minucci-Brown collab and once again, they created a Billboard No. 1 hit earlier this year. “The Hits” is the first time the Brown-produced single appears on an album.

 

“This was an unusual experience for me as it was the first song for which I simply wrote the melodies. The song was already half-produced, an unfinished 'rhythm track' when I first heard it. It immediately felt like a Special EFX kind of song - moody, melodic, even a bit worldly and exotic,” Minucci explained.

 

Another Billboard No. 1 hit, “Dreams” is a sensual dalliance between Hill’s sultry alto sax and Minucci’s electric guitar.

 

“Been So Long” is slated to be released as a single early next year. It’s a “new” collaboration between Minucci and “American Idol” finalist Elliott Yamin.

 

“When I started writing the song a few years back, I asked Elliott (Yamin) to write some lyrics and melodies to it. He'd been performing as a guest with the Special EFX All-Stars from time to time, and it seemed like a good fit for us to write together. I don't know how many times I nudged him, but after a couple of years he sang some ideas into his iPhone in his back yard. That creative noodling turned out to be the basis for the main melody,” shared Minucci. 

 

“Marbella” is the first new single released from “The Hits,” which dropped in October. It’s the third track produced by Brown, who has produced over sixty Billboard No. 1 hits.

 

“Marbella, Spain is my fantasy vacation. The song is so romantic. I wrote the melodies against the backing groove. Michael Paulo laid down a beautiful, heartfelt sax solo. I am optimistic that all will hear this beauty,” enthused Minucci.

 

Jinda’s percussion decorates “Passions,” yet he was passionately against the band’s record label releasing the song as a single. Minucci explains, “‘Passions’ was regularly performed at all our shows and was a radio hit. You'd hear this song every time you turned on that ‘smooth jazz radio station,’ wherever you were. Mark Johnson's sax work was the icing on the cake. George (Jinda) didn't want this song to be released as the lead-off single from our ‘Catwalk’ album. He felt that Special EFX needed to go in a funk/acid jazz direction. ‘Passions’ was a classic EFX smoothie and we argued about this. In the end, the record label made the final call, and I am glad they did!”

 

“Till The End Of Time” was recorded differently. Drummer Hakim and bassist Brooks laid down the rhythm track after the guitar and keyboards, which was the reverse of Minucci’s usual method. It worked: the single went No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

 

Closing the collection the same way most Special EFX concerts close, “Cruise Control” ends on a high note with exuberant energy, relentless funk grooves, and a nasty piano solo from Roger Smith, a longtime member of Tower of Power.

 

Minucci maintains a busy touring schedule, playing Special EFX shows in a variety of settings with a variety of lineups, and European tours with Djabe, a well-known Hungarian jazz fusion group with whom he will tour next year. A masterful guitar player, Minucci has played or recorded with Celine Dion, Lou Reed, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Donny Osmond, Jewel, Marc Anthony, Michael Bolton, Rupert Holmes, Anastasia, and legends Eartha Kitt and Eddie Fisher. In the contemporary jazz space, he’s collaborated with GRAMMY® winners Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, and Norman Brown as well as with Maysa, Marion Meadows, Mindi Abair, Rick Braun, Gerald Veasley, Bernie Williams, and Lao Tizer.

 

In other media, Minucci is an accomplished film and television composer having won three Emmy Awards from his ten nominations. He has music on the film soundtracks for “No Country for Old Men,” “Bowfinger,” “Legally Blonde,” and “Panic.” Minucci also scored live stage productions of “Peter Pan,” “Dora the Explorer,” “Thomas the Tank Engine,” and others.  

 

“The Hits” contains the following songs:

 

“Uptown East”

“Blue Lagoon”

“Cool Summer”

“Kickin’ It Hard”

“Waterfall”

“Lavish”

“You Make Me Blue”

“Meant To Be”

“Dreams”

“Been So Long”

“Marbella”

“Passions”

“Till The End Of Time”

“Cruise Control”

 

 

To pre-order “The Hits” via Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon and download “Been So Long” for free, go to https://hypeddit.com/specialefx/thehits.

 

For more information, visit https://chielimusic.com.

 

Jazz from Amazon.com