The rising single marks the next chapter from his chart-topping album, Triangles.
Late nights in the studio are nothing new for GRAMMY®-winning keyboardist Michael Mani, who earned music’s highest honor for his work with guitar legends Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton. One of those nocturnal sessions sparked “Night Shift,” a hard‑grooving mix of hip-hop beats, playful piano lines, and the soulful sax of Ashley J. The track is now climbing the charts as the follow-up to Mani’s Mediabase No. 1 single, “Triangles.”
Four decades into a career that includes discovering and developing three-time GRAMMY® winner Tori Kelly and singer-actress Becky G, Mani stepped into the spotlight last spring when the sleek, funky title track to Triangles hit the airwaves. It topped Mediabase, reached No. 2 on Billboard, and ultimately became Billboard’s No. 25 single of 2025—earning Mani a Smooth Jazz Network nomination for Breakout Artist of the Year.
Released by Baja/TSR Records, Triangles is a 15-track collection of jazz, R&B, and funk rooted in the symbolic triangles Mani sees in music, relationships, and faith. For him, melody, rhythm, and harmony form the three sides that shape every song.
With “Night Shift,” Mani continues to build on his momentum, reinforcing his emergence as a contemporary jazz hitmaker with a full album of potential chart-toppers.
“What started as a playful piano warm-up quickly morphed into an electrifying blend of hip-hop and contemporary jazz,” said Mani, a Bay Area native who lives in Los Angeles, where he has a recording studio and production facility called The JAM. “Around 2 AM, a melody emerged that sparked the whole track—thus, ‘Night Shift’ was born.”
After that session, Mani sent the track to Ashley J, who is based in the Bay Area. “Ashley took the initial sax lines I played on synthesizer and sent her magic back, creating a dynamic energy that redefined the track,” he explained. “This single is all about fusion—urban grooves, soulful jazz chords, my piano riffs, and Ashley’s mesmerizing saxophone melodies coming together in a fresh, unforgettable way.”
February is a prolific month for Mani, as two songs he co-wrote and produced—Kathy Koskins’ “Magic Island” and Tommy Davidson’s “Red, Black and Blue”—are being released as singles. Two of Mani’s labelmates—guitarist Nils and bassist Tony Saunders—guest on Triangles. Mani anticipates performing with both artists this summer as he brings Triangles to the stage.
Mani learned his craft in part by working with three-time GRAMMY®-winning producer-songwriter Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin) and GRAMMY®-winning producer-songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey, Kenny G). A classically trained pianist, Mani has played on records by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Al Jarreau, Michael Bolton, New Kids on the Block, Leona Lewis, Regina Belle, Tevin Campbell, Shanice Wilson, En Vogue, Siedah Garrett, and the Backstreet Boys. Mani has written music for television, film, and commercials for Honda, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Apple, Taco Bell, and Hallmark.
With “Night Shift,” Mani continues to expand his voice as a contemporary jazz artist, blending decades of experience with a fresh, modern sound that’s resonating with audiences nationwide.
For more information, visit https://mikemani.com.
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