The Dave Wilson Quartet - When Even Goes East #jazz #music

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ACCLAIMED MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST DAVE WILSON

REINVENTS CLASSIC 60s-70s POP FAVORITES WITH IMPROVISATORY FLAIR, ADDING HIS ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS FOR THE SEEMLESS

WHEN EVEN GOES EAST

His 8th Album as a Leader

 

“Dave's work on saxophone immediately grabs us, creating an alluring atmosphere and taking us in some interesting directions. His saxophone creates a world I want to check out, want to live in for a while. It promises some excitement, some unusual characters, some fun. Dave's sax work has a beautiful air of melancholy to it at moments, sometimes reaching out, sometimes turning inward.”

Michael Doherty’s Music Log

“There is no doubt that Dave Wilson, both as a saxophonist and as a composer, is an exceptionally gifted musician. From the very first bars, the listener is immediately won over by the clarity, intelligence, and personality of his writing. Wilson’s compositional voice is confident and distinctive, marked by a strong melodic sense and an understated sophistication that rewards close listening.”

Paris Move by Thierry de Clemensat

On WHEN EVEN GOES EAST, the newest release by DAVE WILSON, the saxophonist puts his own spin on pop tunes from the 1960s and 70s and shows off his considerable composing chops on four original compositions. This is Wilson’s eighth album as a leader. 

“On When Even Goes East, the ever-inventive Dave Wilson leads his quartet through a thoughtful blend of originals and reimagined pop tunes, shaping an experience that feels both familiar and freshly personal. Wilson’s tenor and soprano saxophones deliver lyrical depth and an exploratory edge… a recording worthy of repeated listening.”

The Jazz Page by D. Glenn Daniels

Wilson has recorded his last three albums at live shows. This is his first studio recording since his 2015 release There Was Never. Since then, he recorded two live albums at Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, including One Night at Chris’ (2019) and Stretching Supreme (2022), on which he took a deep dive into Coltrane’s landmark 1965 Impulse! recording, A Love Supreme. The Art Music Lounge said, “All in all, this is an excellent CD, fully worthy of the one to whom most of the music is dedicated.” He also recorded Live at Silvana (2024) at the popular Harlem nightclub.

It took a while for Wilson to gather enough material for a new studio album. With 150 dates per year with big bands and small ensembles, playing at festivals, jazz clubs, and private engagements, while also teaching woodwinds and owning and operating Dave Wilson Musical Instruments (a business focusing on the buying and selling of vintage, modern and student brass and woodwind Instruments), his life has been very busy.

Wilson plays both tenor and soprano saxophones on the album and is accompanied by a top-notch rhythm section that includes JESSE GREEN (piano), EVAN GREGOR (bass), and DANIEL GONZALEZ (drums). It’s the same band that backed Wilson on Live at Silvana and frequently perform with him  around the Poconos/Lehigh Valley area and New York City. He is also joined by special guest LENNY CASTRO (percussion) who flew from Los Angeles to take part in this project.

Wilson was born and raised in Bronxville, NY, and currently resides in Lancaster, PA. He began his journey in music in fourth grade, playing the clarinet. He studied piano for a while but became intrigued with the saxophone at the age of 14 after hearing Coltrane’s Live at the Village Vanguard. He eventually went to Wesleyan University where he studied with Bill Barron and continued his studies with some of the top names in jazz, like saxophonists Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Ralph Lalama, and others. 

Over the years, Wilson has worked in a variety of musical genres, including funk, rock, jazz fusion, and Chicago-style horn bands. He also led his own straight-ahead jazz group, the Dave Wilson Quartet, and a couple of traditional/New Orleans ensembles, the Canal Street Hot 6 -- which made numerous appearances up and down the East coast -- and Dave Wilson’s Rampart Street Ramblers -- which featured an all-star lineup that included some of the top names in Mid Atlantic Trad circles. He was also a long-standing member of the Dave Stahl Sacred Orchestra and Dave Stahl Big Band, playing alongside jazz luminaries like Wynton Marsalis, Tom Harrell, Lou Soloff, the late Steve Marcus, John Fedchock, Conrad Herwig, Gary Smulyan, and Steve Smith, among others.

For WHEN EVEN GOES EAST, Wilson chose pop songs from the 1970s which he re-arranged as hip, modern jazz tunes. He says, “With these pop tunes, first I have to feel a personal connection with them…I make them my own thing, so they might veer off and not sound like the original…there has to be room for creative expression and improvisation."

The title of the album, WHEN EVEN GOES EAST, harkens back to his brief stint as a New York City cab driver. Most of Manhattan was built on a grid system, with some one-way streets going east and some west. The even numbered streets go east.

Wilson opens the album with his original composition, “Let’s Go.” An avant-garde burner, the tune features exciting, frenetic solos by Wilson and Reese. Other Wilson originals are “When Even Goes East,” “Slow Freeze,” and “Intragalactic Sunset.” Wilson says, “The guys came up with the groove for “When Even Goes East.” We were jamming on this one chord, and then I had this riff which served as an interlude, and it wound up being pretty effective. We recorded the tune in one take.” “Slow Freeze” is a dark, minor key ballad with a spacey vibe. “Intragalactic Sunset” is a Brazilian tinged composition featuring Wilson’s smoky tenor and an effervescent solo by Reese.

One of Wilson’s favorite musicians was guitarist Jerry Garcia, a rock icon and leader of the wildly popular group The Grateful Dead. Wilson chose to record “Eyes of the World,” written by Garcia and Robert Hunter. “This is my third Grateful Dead arrangement,” says Wilson. “I used to really like the Dead, and I love Jerry Garcia’s playing.  For “Eyes of the World,” I embellished the melody but kept the form pretty straightforward.”

Wilson is also a big fan of Jimmy Webb and covers two of his tunes. Webb wrote the sad break-up song “Adios” for Linda Ronstadt. Wilson beautifully captures the poignancy of the lyrics on the soprano sax. Wilson’s wistful version of “Wichita Lineman” is embellished with a lyrical piano solo by Green.

Online:

Davewilsonmusic.org

Facebook.com/davewilsonmusic
facebook.com/davewilsonquartet

davewilsonmusic.bandcamp.com

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Chieli Minucci and Special EFX release The Hits, a Career Spanning Collection Featuring New Single “Marbella” #jazz #music

Responding to fan demand, Emmy‑winning guitarist Chieli Minucci has bundled most of the GRAMMY®‑nominated jazz fusion group Special EFX’s No. 1 Billboard hits, remastered favorites, and a few new songs into a new collection titled The Hits, is out now. The Chieli Music release arrived as one of the set’s new songs, “Marbella,” is poised to enter the Top 40 on the Billboard and Mediabase Smooth Jazz charts.

 

Minucci and Hungarian percussionist George Jinda founded Special EFX nearly 45 years ago. Although Jinda passed away in 2002, Minucci has kept the band going strong. He noticed that audiences at Special EFX concerts aren’t as familiar with the band’s newer music—largely due to the shrinking number of contemporary jazz radio stations. To meet the demand for nostalgia and the constant requests to “play the hits,” he assembled the new collection.

 

Minucci sifted through Special EFX’s 25-album catalog of world music-influenced contemporary jazz with a splash of blues, selecting seven of their eight No. 1 Billboard hits for The Hits. Four tunes on the album are fan favorites that were remixed and refreshed. Minucci wrote and produced 13 of the album’s 14 songs, including three new songs. One of those new songs is the first single, the Spain-inspired “Marbella,” a rousing, sun-drenched groove featuring saxophonist Michael Paulo and produced by two-time GRAMMY® winner Paul Brown.

 

“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,” said Minucci.

 

Other GRAMMY® winners and nominees, Billboard hitmakers, and celebrated musicians who contributed to The Hits include Warren Hill, Eric Marienthal, Elan Trotman, Nicholas Cole, Elliott Yamin, Lin Rountree, Oli Silk, David Mann, Roger Smith, Roberto Vally, Greg Vail, Shane Theriot, Ron King, Omar Hakim, and Lionel Cordew.

 

Special EFX received a GRAMMY® nomination for their 1985 album, Modern Manners.

 

The New York City-based Minucci tours constantly, playing shows throughout the United States and abroad in various Special EFX configurations. He’ll tour Canada and parts of the U.S. this year to perform as a guest with Hungary’s top jazz fusion band, Djabe. He’s a featured guest on Djabe’s upcoming Butterflies album. Minucci also appears as a featured guest on an upcoming single by percussionist Curtis McCain, a new artist who will release “Oceanside” this summer.

 

A prodigious guitarist, Minucci has played or recorded with Celine Dion, Lou Reed, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Jewel, Marc Anthony, Michael Bolton, Eartha Kitt, and Eddie Fisher. He’s also collaborated with contemporary jazz luminaries Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Norman Brown, Rick Braun, Maysa, Marion Meadows, and Mindi Abair.

 

Minucci has released nine solo albums. He’s a three-time Emmy winner who has composed music for film, television, and theater. His credits include No Country for Old Men, Bowfinger, Legally Blonde, Panic, Peter Pan, Dora the Explorer, and Thomas the Tank Engine.

 

“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”

 

 

“A beautiful album, and if you're not familiar with them yet, this is a chance to get acquainted with the oeuvre of Chieli Minucci & Special EFX! Fantastic!” — Cultuurmania

 

 

“The Hits” is available now via Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon.

 

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

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R&B/Jazz guitarist Blake Aaron releases "The Upside," building on the momentum of his Mediabase No. 1 Artist of the Year honor #jazz #music

The transformational new single from Billboard’s No. 2 Artist of the Year is out now.

 

As he navigates turbulent times, R&B/jazz guitarist Blake Aaron stays hopeful and optimistic, never losing sight of a positive outcome. That mindset inspired his newly released Innervision Records single, “The Upside.” Aaron wrote and produced the single, which is the first track issued from his forthcoming Fire and Velvet album, and arrives on the heels of the most successful year of his recording career.

 

Aaron scored two Billboard No. 1 singles in 2025 — “Let’s Get Lost” and “Dare To Fly” — making him Billboard’s No. 2 Artist of the Year. Aaron topped the Mediabase and Radiowave charts as the No. 1 Artist of the Year. “Let’s Get Lost” finished the year as Billboard’s No. 5 single and Radiowave’s No. 4 single.

 

"I couldn't be more grateful for the incredible year I had in 2025. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better than receiving my eighth and ninth No. 1 single on all four major charts (Billboard, Mediabase, Radiowave, and SmoothJazz.com) in the same year, to hear I was No. 1 Artist of the Year on Mediabase and No. 2 Artist of the Year on the Billboard chart was over the top,” said Aaron, who lives south of Los Angeles. “It has been a lifetime 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.”

 

Eager to build on that momentum in 2026, Aaron has released “The Upside,” which began earning airplay and playlist adds on Monday (February 2). His agile electric jazz guitar takes command of the dynamic track, a retro R&B groove that unfolds with a full, vibrant sound with sprightly horns and lilting strings bursting with energy and excitement. A funky instrumental, the track showcases Aaron’s lyrically expressive guitar delivering an opportune message. 

 

“With all of the ever-increasing challenges we all go through, whether it's financial, health, career, or relationship issues, it can be incredibly difficult to see ‘The Upside.’ Once you see it, the climb can seem overwhelming, but it’s always worth it. I wanted to create an inspiring, bright, cinematic journey that transforms challenge into triumph through melody, groove, and pure musical optimism. Something vibrant, revitalizing, instantly memorable, and never lets you forget that no matter where you are, there’s always a way up,” said Aaron, who anticipates releasing Fire and Velvet at the end of this year or early next year.

Aaron is joined on “The Upside” by GRAMMY?-winning bassist Mel Brown, Carnell Harrell (piano, keyboards), Michael White (drums), Ramon Yslas (percussion), and a horn section featuring Michael Stever (trumpet and horn arrangements), Andrew Neu (saxophone), and Lane (trombone). Tyries Rolfe crafted the strings and arrangements.

 

Aaron’s latest album, Love and Rhythm, his seventh collection, dropped in 2024. In addition to working on Fire and Velvet, he’s producing four other artists. Aaron has March tour dates that include gigs in Virginia and Delaware, along with a stop at the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Festival in Reading, Pennsylvania on March 25 and 26. In May, he heads overseas for performances in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom along with the Algarve Jazz Festival in Portugal. While in Europe, Aaron will teach music clinics at several universities. He’s excited about performing on upcoming Dave Koz & Friends At Sea cruises this November and March 2027.    

 

A first-call guitarist, Aaron has recorded and/or performed with an eclectic list of marquee artists that boasts Philip Bailey (EWF), Sheila E., The Alan Parsons Project, The Gap Band, Lakeside, Ronnie Laws, Keiko Matsui, Warren Hill, Bobby Womack, and Carlos Santana. A multimedia talent, Aaron’s film and television music credits include “MAD TV,” “Super Dave Osborne” and “The Ben Stiller Show.”

 

For more information, please visit www.blakeaaron.com.

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Adult Contemporary-Jazz vocalist Sharon Rae North reimagines The Cars’ classic “Drive” with soulful depth #jazz #music

Produced by two‑time GRAMMY® nominee Chris “Big Dog” Davis, the new single is out now.

 

For adult contemporary/jazz vocalist Sharon Rae North, The Cars’ 1984 single “Drive” has long been a favorite. The band’s biggest international hit always carried a deep well of soul, emotion, and heartbreak. When North heard it last fall for the first time in years, it evoked the same feelings she had decades ago. So, she decided to record her own version produced by two-time GRAMMY® nominee Chris “Big Dog” Davis. The independently released single is presently receiving airplay and earning playlist adds.

 

Determined to make “Drive” her own, North and Davis dug into the song’s pained vulnerability — Ric Ocasek’s lyrics and Benjamin Orr’s aching vocal — and began shaping a version that reflects her perspective.

 

In North’s capable hands, “Drive” becomes a reassuring caress to a troubled lover. Davis — architect of more than twenty Billboard No. 1 singles — builds a soulful R&B groove around her commanding yet intimate vocals, weaving in jazzy keyboard flourishes that preserve the dreamy quality of the original.

 

Speaking about the song’s emotional weight, North said, “‘Drive’ is deep and meaningful, and it has a certain sadness about it because of the angst and helpless feelings that come from trying to help someone who apparently doesn't want help. I've never been in that type of situation, but I imagine it's difficult to care enough to want to be there for someone who's in denial about the issues in their life or in a relationship.”

 

Capturing the right vocal performance was crucial. Unsatisfied with her initial takes, North quietly returned to the studio to recut the vocals.

 

“Unbeknownst to Chris, I went back in and recorded them again. Since he already mixed the song, he wasn't happy with me. But he beautifully remixed it and I think we’re both happy with the way it came out,” admitted North, who has concert dates coming up in Columbus (March 21 at the ICON Jazz Lounge) and Atlanta (April 12 at St. James Live!).

 

That trust between North and Davis was built by collaborating over 11 years. Davis helmed North’s EP, 2016’s Sincerely Yours. Davis and two-time GRAMMY®-winning producer Paul Brown teamed to produce North’s first full-length album, Silhouette, in 2022. The album was prefaced by the single “Moments” featuring saxophonist Marion Meadows in 2019.

 

North was an award-winning television news anchor, journalist, and reporter who held stints at local media outlets and nationally with CNN in Atlanta. Initially, she moonlit as a singer, recording and releasing The Way You Make Me Feel in 2007 and Gee Baby in 2012. Her records have been released domestically and internationally, hitting several major charts including Billboard. As a performer, North has opened shows for Brown, Patti LaBelle, Joe Sample, Adrian Crutchfield, Dee Lucas, Patrick Lamb, and others. She has graced stages internationally and at hallowed jazz clubs and prestigious venues from coast to coast including Blues Alley (Washington, DC), Catalina Jazz Club (Hollywood), Vibrato Jazz Club (Los Angeles), and the Richmond Music & Jazz Festival in Virginia.

 

North plans to release another new single this year.

 

For more information, visit www.sharonraenorth.com.

 

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Pianist Lisa Addeo releases “Still Never Enough,” building on a breakout year as Billboard’s Most Played Female Smooth Jazz Artist #jazz #music

Contemporary jazz pianist-vocalist Lisa Addeo entered the year with a new single that builds on the momentum she generated in 2025. Addeo scored her seventh No. 1 single, “Lipstick and Moonlight,” and was the only female in Billboard’s Top 10 Most Played Smooth Jazz Artists of the Year.

 

Addeo’s splashy single, “Wet Bar,” was Mediabase’s Most Played Smooth Jazz Song of the Year by a female artist and was one of Billboard’s Top 10 Most Played Smooth Jazz Songs of 2025. It’s the second year in a row that Addeo had a single on Billboard’s year‑end top ten, another noteworthy accomplishment for the artist who releases her music independently via her Little Black Dress Records label.

 

“As an independent artist, every accomplishment feels earned through persistence, creative trust, and believing in my own voice. It's an inside job to believe in yourself. It reminds me that when you stay true to your artistry, the right listeners will eventually find you,” said Addeo, who describes her mindset as grateful, grounded, and focused. “2025 felt like a confirmation that there’s room for music that is honest, handcrafted, and led from the heart. It makes me excited about where my music can go next, especially when it’s shared live.”

 

In regard to her year-end success on the male-dominated charts, Addeo said, “It’s humbling and truly meaningful. I didn’t set out to represent anything other than my own truth, but I’m proud to stand in that space and hopefully open the door wider for other women—especially those creating, producing, and leading their own musical vision. If the success I had last year encourages more artists to take up space creatively—and more audiences to listen—I’m all for that.”

 

Addeo recently dropped “Still Never Enough,” the latest preview of her forthcoming album, Playin’ Out Loud, due later this year.  She wrote and produced the song in 2019 with Billboard chart‑topping guitarist Nils and has now revisited the track. Drawing on themes of intimate connection, the song has received over seven million Spotify streams and counting. Her updated version is poised to reach an even wider audience.

 

“‘Still Never Enough’ is about that quiet emotional place where love, desire, and vulnerability overlap—the feeling of giving your whole heart and still wanting more connection, more honesty, more depth. I wrote it from a very personal place, and it’s become clear that the emotion behind it is universal. Since releasing the original version, the song has taken on a life of its own. It has become my most streamed song, which is why I decided to revisit it,” said Addeo, who is based in Miami Beach.

 

Coming back to “Still Never Enough” after years of artistic growth benefited both Addeo and the song. She said, “What surprised me most was how effortlessly the song came back to life in this reimagined version. It felt like having a conversation with who I am now—as a woman, an artist, and a storyteller. The song revealed new layers without losing its original soul. It reminded me how powerful it is to let a song evolve alongside you, as you evolve. I’m intentional about surrounding myself with positive people who support my growth. At this point in my career, it’s important to have fun while doing what I love.”

 

“Still Never Enough” is a shimmering platform for Addeo’s nimble piano artistry. Setting an effervescent vibe is David Mann’s saxophone and horn work that glides over the beats and groove crafted by drummer Jorel “JFly” Flynn, bassist Darryl Williams, and percussionist Oliver C. Brown.

 

“I’m drawn to musicians who listen as deeply as they play, and that chemistry was essential to this recording. Everyone involved understood that the space between the notes mattered just as much as the notes themselves. It felt more like a shared musical conversation than a session—which is always when the magic happens,” said Addeo.

 

Addeo’s multi-genre ten-album catalog has generated over 33 million streams on Spotify alone. In addition to her contemporary jazz releases, she’s issued vocal and instrumental projects culled from the Great American Songbook, meditative/spa music, solo grand piano pop, and a collection of holiday tunes. Addeo has also recorded a tribute album to Frank Sinatra. Her voiceover is heard throughout the day on SiriusXM’s Siriusly Sinatra.

 

As a concert performer, Addeo is focused on sharing her deeply personal music, including her new single, in live settings this year. 

 

“As an artist, I almost always feel like I'm standing at the edge of expansion. Something more is constantly calling me. The music has found its audience, the songs continue to evolve, and my love for performing has never been stronger. ‘Still Never Enough’ reflects where I am now—grounded in experience, open to collaboration, and eager to bring this music into venues where it can truly live and breathe.”

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

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The 2026 Grammy Awards - Jazz Nominees & Winners #jazz #music

Click here to view the complete list of Grammy Jazz nominees and winners.

• Jazz was founded by Black musicians in New Orleans in the late 19th century. 

• Some of the biggest names in jazz include Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong. 

• The artist with the most jazz GRAMMY wins, the late jazz composer and musician Chick Corea garnered 25 GRAMMY wins and 67 GRAMMY nominations overall across his six-decade career. He posthumously won his most recent GRAMMYs at the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2021, one month after his death, for Best Improvised Jazz Solo and Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

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Flutist David Crawford Remixes “African Nouveau” for Black History Month #jazz #music

The official release date of the new version of the ancestrally inspired single is February 6.

 Flutist and veteran arranger David Crawford — whose credits include Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, and Bill Withers — marks Black History Month with a newly remixed version of his single “African Nouveau,” officially arriving February 6.

 

Since releasing “African Nouveau” last fall, Crawford has been listening closely to feedback from colleagues, promoters, and fans — and the message was unmistakable: listeners wanted his flute pushed to the forefront.

 

“On the original version, I shared the leads with the gifted trumpeter Nolan Shaheed, a longtime friend and collaborator. Nolan played with Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, and Earth, Wind & Fire, and I wanted his sound to offer another perspective in a conversation. The feedback I received was that people wanted to hear more flute. Nolan plays beautifully on the new version, but my flute takes the primary lead voice now,” explained Crawford.

 

Inspired by the continent he calls his “ancestral beginnings,” Crawford created “African Nouveau,” a vibrant, rhythm‑forward piece. He filled the track with traditional African melodies and rhythms and layered in the distinctly American sounds of modern jazz and R&B.

 

“African Nouveau” is the first release from Crawford’s forthcoming debut album, Something Borrowed, Something New. He plans to roll out several singles ahead of the album’s release.

 

A native of Compton, California who now lives in Las Vegas, Crawford earned a master’s degree in music at California Institute of the Arts. He’s a composer, producer, and arranger. Crawford produced Vesta Williams’ Billboard R&B top ten single “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and several tracks from R&B group Woods Empire. He has performed with Stevie Wonder and Isaac Hayes, and recorded with Ahmad Jamal and The Temptations. A seasoned orchestral performer, he has appeared with the Afro‑American Chamber Music Society Orchestra, Santa Monica Symphony, and Burbank Philharmonic.

 

For more information, visit http://screenmusicforme.com.

 

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