Rumba Flamenco Guitarist Jesse Cook Reveals New Album 'past the breakwater,' Launches Extensive 'Forever Live' Tour #jazz #music

Rumba flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook releases his new album, 'past the breakwater,' on September 18 through Coach House Music, distributed by Believe. The 10-track record follows two singles already circulating, "forever" and "you were looking north," out now, and lands alongside the Forever Live Tour, an extensive run of North American dates that carries Cook and his band well into 2027, with a marquee stop at Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario this November.

Known for his singular fusion of flamenco, jazz, classical and world music, Cook leans further into his jazz roots on this project than ever before. He describes the intentions he carried into writing and recording the album: “As a music lover, there’s a category of music I have always listened to on rainy days, or late nights with friends. Albums like Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue and Round Midnight, Getz/Gilberto (Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto), Keith Jarrett’s Koln Concert. Albums you can put on and live in. Quiet albums. Albums that breathe.” Cook set out to build something from that same tradition, an album meant to be lived in rather than simply heard.

That instinct shaped the recordings themselves. “I wanted to leave more space in these recordings,” Cook explains. “So, some of these songs are just Spanish guitar and double bass. I wanted to be able to hear every note, every articulation.” The result strips his arrangements down to their essentials, giving each phrase room to resonate and each pause its own presence.

To find that kind of quiet, Cook recorded much of 'past the breakwater' in a cabin on a small, remote island in the lake country of the Canadian Shield, accessible only by boat. “The stillness there is protected by rows of ancient shoals,” he says. “Like prehistoric sentinels, a breakwater against the storms that lay beyond. Sometimes I need to get away from everything, so I can just get lost in the music.” The island retreat gives the album both its title and its unhurried, breathing quality.

A global artist in every sense, Cook redefines what Spanish guitar music can sound like to audiences far beyond its traditional borders. Born in Paris and raised in Toronto, he has spent the last three decades building a devoted following for his rumba flamenco sound, routinely selling out performance halls from London to Los Angeles and Milan to Montreal. His catalogue has now surpassed a billion streams and views across platforms, with combined lifetime streams and views standing at 1.164 billion as of March 2026, led by 425 million streams on Pandora, 175 million views across Instagram user generated content, 155 million YouTube views and 145 million Spotify streams. His following spans 661,000 Instagram followers, 307,000 YouTube subscribers and 299,000 monthly Spotify listeners, numbers that place him among the most streamed instrumental guitarists in the world.

Cook composed, arranged, produced, recorded and mixed 'past the breakwater' entirely himself, with mastering by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound. He is joined throughout by longtime collaborators Marito Marques on drums and percussion, Will Lamoureux on strings and violin, and Ross MacIntyre on double bass, with cellist Jill Sauerteig featured on "forever."

'past the breakwater,' track listing:

forever

you were looking north

past the breakwater

life in e minor

easton revisited

the secret shape of things

eleven unnecessary turns

floating on the silence

my beautiful exile

long shadows and small mercies

The Forever Live Tour begins the day after the album’s release and keeps Cook on the road for months, opening with an extensive run through Quebec this fall before heading into the northeastern United States and Ontario in November, then the American Southwest and West Coast in January and February, with additional dates in Florida and Georgia to follow in the spring. Cook will keep the tour going further into 2027 with additional dates across Canada and Europe.

Forever Live Tour dates:

September 19, Théâtre de Lac-Brome, Lac-Brome, QC

September 21, Grand Théâtre de Québec, Quebec City, QC

September 22, Théâtre de la Ville, Longueuil, QC

September 24, Salle Pauline-Julien, Sainte-Geneviève, QC

September 25, Théâtre Lionel-Groulx, Sainte-Thérèse, QC

September 26, Théâtre Hector-Charland, L'Assomption, QC

September 27, Théâtre Granada, Sherbrooke, QC

September 30, Espace Théâtre Muni-Spec, Mont-Laurier, QC

October 1, Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne, Terrebonne, QC

October 2, Théâtre du Casino Lac-Leamy, Gatineau, QC

October 3, Centre des Arts Juliette-Lassonde, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC

November 5, City Winery Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

November 6, Groton Hill Music Center, Groton, MA

November 7, HOPE Center for the Arts, Springfield, MA

November 8, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport, MA

November 10, The Kate, Old Saybrook, CT

November 11, Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT

November 12, Narrows, Fall River, MA

November 13, Alder Hall at NY Society for Ethical Culture, New York, NY

November 14, Victoria Theatre at NJPAC, Newark, NJ

November 15, Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville, PA

November 17, Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD

November 18, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk, VA

November 19, Birchmere, Alexandria, VA

November 20, Hart Theatre at The Egg, Albany, NY

November 21, The Temple at Tellus 360, Lancaster, PA

November 22, Beston Hall, Pittsford (Rochester), NY

November 27, Casino Rama, Orillia, ON

January 14, Tower Theatre, Bend, OR

January 15, Newmark Theatre, Portland, OR

January 16, The Shedd, Jaqua Concert Hall, Eugene, OR

January 17, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA

January 19, McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, CA

January 20, Crest Theatre, Sacramento, CA

January 21, Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz, CA

January 22, Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA

January 23, Saban Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

January 25 and 26, Smith Center, Las Vegas, NV

January 27, Irvine Barclay Theatre, Irvine, CA

January 28, Magnolia, San Diego, CA

January 29, Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater, Mesa, AZ

January 30, Fox Tucson Theatre, Tucson, AZ

January 31, KiMo Theatre, Albuquerque, NM

February 1, The Lensic, Santa Fe, NM

February 3, Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO

 

Christian McBride & Ursa Major “Points of Light” October 30th #jazz #music

11x GRAMMY® Award-Winning
Christian McBride Announces Highly Anticipated Debut Album
From Newest Ensemble
Christian McBride & Ursa Major

Points of Light out October 30 via Mack Avenue Records
Produced by 8x GRAMMY® Nominated Terrace Martin

Ursa Major Is:
Saxophonist Nicole Glover, Guitarist Ely Perlman,
Pianist Mike King, and Drummer Savannah Harris

11x GRAMMY® Award-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader Christian McBride announced Points of Light, the debut album from his newest ensemble Ursa Major. The group features an extraordinary lineup of next-generation jazz musicians: saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, pianist Mike King, and drummer Savannah Harris. Produced by Terrace Martin (Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock), Points of Light will be released on October 30 via Mack Avenue Records. Alongside the announcement, McBride has released his rendition of George Duke’s “No Rhyme, No Reason,” with incredible soundscapes and vocoder from Terrace Martin.

Over the years, Christian McBride has led a number of vibrant bands, each with its own singular identity — from the vintage acoustic jazz of Inside Straight and the boisterous swing of the Christian McBride Big Band to the classic rhythm section sound of the Christian McBride Trio, the experimental audacity of New Jawn, and his sweeping Civil Rights opus The Movement Revisited. But McBride found himself missing the anything-and-everything-goes freedom of a band that could weave together those multifarious strands. So in 2022, he began assembling the quintet that came to be known as Ursa Major, with that expansive vision in mind. “I had been itching to put together a new band, what I like to call a ‘hybrid band,’ for some time,” McBride explains. “I didn’t know at first what form that band would take, but I knew that it had to be a young band.”

The resulting quintet brings together drummer Savannah Harris, saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, and pianist Mike King — four young musicians McBride selected for their flexibility, fearlessness and individuality. Harris was recommended by a number of colleagues as someone who could bring the swing, funk and freedom McBride was looking for, while Glover came to his attention through the musicians’ grapevine as “one of the most heralded voices in jazz.” Perlman caught McBride’s ear at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass summer program, where he serves as Artistic Director, and King emerged as the unanimous recommendation of Harris and Glover when McBride asked them to suggest potential pianists.

Ursa Major’s debut album, Points of Light, captures the boundless spirit that has defined the band from the beginning. The title reflects the luminous individuality McBride sees in his bandmates. “I have four young stars here,” he recalls thinking. For the album’s sonic direction, McBride called in multi-instrumentalist, singer, rapper, and producer Terrace Martin, whose boundary-stretching approach bridges the band’s jazz foundation with McBride’s deep history across funk, soul, hip-hop, and pop. Martin captured the band’s live feel in the studio before adding a layer of studio wizardry alongside GRAMMY-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist Quintin Gulledge, incorporating synths, keyboards and vocoder without interfering with the sound, vibe and camaraderie the group had forged onstage. The album consists of original contributions from every member of the band, with the sole cover — George Duke’s 1992 single “No Rhyme, No Reason” — arising spontaneously from conversations in the control room.

“This album is basically an extension of what we’ve been doing live for the last four years,” McBride concludes. “It’s been fun to watch a band develop and grow and progress when everything is so wide open. They don’t say no to anything, which is a wonderful thing.”

Photo Credit: Evelyn Freja

Christian McBride & Ursa Major Tour Dates:

Sep. 12-13: San Francisco, CA – SFJAZZ – Miner Auditorium
Sep. 16-18: Tokyo, Japan – Blue Note Tokyo
Sep. 19: Takasaki, Japan – Takasaki City Theatre
Sep. 21: Kanazawa, Japan – Kanazawa Jazz Street Festival @ Akabana Concert Hall
Sep. 22: Noto, Japan – Ishikawa Nanao Art Museum – Art Hall
Sep. 24: Osaka, Japan – Billboard Live
Sep. 28-29: Athens, Greece – Gazarte
Sep. 30: Istanbul, Turkey – AKM İstanbul
Oct. 1-2: London, UK – Ronnie Scott’s
Oct. 4: Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg
Oct. 5: Heidelberg, Germany – Enjoy Jazz Festival
Oct. 6: Zurich, Switzerland – Moods
Oct. 7: Nancy, France – Nancy Jazz Pulsations
Oct. 21: Boston, MA – Berklee PAC
Oct. 22: Amherst, MA – Bowker Auditorium @ UMASS
Oct. 23-25: Richmond, VA – Modlin Jazz Fest
Oct. 26: Greensboro, NC – UNCG School of Music
Oct. 29: Athens, GA – UGA
Oct. 30: Palm Beach, FL – Glazer Hall

Follow Christian McBride:
Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

Remembering 9/11/2001 #jazz #music

Happy Labor Day from JazzHQ #jazz #music

You have worked so hard and deserve to be praised for your outstanding effort.

Let us celebrate your achievements from this past year and look forward with excitement to what we can do together in the coming year! On this day when we celebrate American labor, we celebrate you. Happy Labor Day!

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http://twittter.com/jazzhq

Keyboardist Bob Coate offers “Reflections” of gratitude and hope on new contemporary jazz single #jazz #music

Keyboardist Bob Coate entered the contemporary jazz space after retiring, bringing with him a grateful heart and an optimistic outlook for what lies ahead. That mindset fuels his invigorating new single, “Reflections,” which he wrote and is now garnering airplay across the globe.

 

In addition to Coate’s jubilant keyboard work, “Reflections” features saxophonist Peter Herold, who pours passion and joy into the track produced by Peet Ferencz and Sandy Shore. Ferencz adds guitar, piano, and drum programming, and the chemistry he and Herold bring to the production is sparked by their long-running collaboration in Peet Project, the Budapest-based pop‑jazz‑funk band.

 

While many people look back with sadness, regrets, or disappointment, Coate — a former information technologist — is forward‑thinking and brimful of confidence. He’s energized by the opportunity to compose and record music in a second career.

 

“The inspiration for ‘Reflections’ came from thinking about the many people, places, and experiences that shape our lives,” said Coate, who resides in Leesburg, Virginia near Washington, DC. “As I looked back on the journey that has brought me to this point—from my career and family to my unexpected later‑in‑life journey into contemporary jazz—I realized that memories don't have to be about sadness or longing. They can remind us how fortunate we've been, inspire gratitude for the moments we've shared, and give us confidence to embrace whatever comes next. I wanted to capture that feeling in music.”

 

A musical mixologist who blends contemporary jazz, chillout, and funk, Coate first appeared on the scene five years ago with the single “Super Smooth,” which spent five weeks on the Radiowave chart. After writing, recording, and releasing ten singles entirely on his own, Coate began collaborating with accomplished professionals, elevating his music to the next level. He first teamed up with GRAMMY®‑nominated producer SONIX (David Bowie, Lauryn Hill) for the single “Sasha.” Now, his collaboration with Ferencz is appearing on playlists around the world.

 

Composing and crafting singles rooted in melody and groove, Coate hopes his music connects in a meaningful way while lifting moods. His new single was conceived to foster appreciation for the past and eagerness for the promise of tomorrow.

 

“‘Reflections’ blends reflective, sometimes bittersweet melodies with an optimistic undercurrent, inviting listeners to look back with gratitude while moving confidently toward the future.”

 

For more information, visit www.bobcoate.com.

 

 

The Smooth Jazz Top 20R Countdown with Allen Kepler Marks Its 1,000th Episode This Labor Day Weekend #jazz #music

A landmark moment for the Smooth Jazz Network® as Kepler celebrates four decades of shaping the genre’s sound, culture, and global reach

 

Reaching 1,000 episodes is a rare feat in broadcasting, and this Labor Day Weekend the Smooth Jazz Top 20® Countdown with Allen Kepler joins that elite club as the Smooth Jazz Network® celebrates the milestone across its national footprint.

 

Launched in 2007, the Smooth Jazz Top 20® Countdown reflects airplay across Mediabase-reporting radio stations, streaming channels, and the Smooth Jazz Network® itself. The syndicated show currently airs weekly on over 40 radio stations and streams.

 

“Smooth Jazz is more vibrant than ever…The 1,000th episode is a testament to the artists, programmers, and listeners who keep this music thriving,” said Kepler, who was part of the team that coined the music genre “smooth jazz” in 1989. “In 2012, we retooled our network to reflect what we call a Top 100 format, which airs on LIVE365, iHeart, radio affiliates, various independent streaming channels, and our app.”

 

Kepler created the Smooth Jazz Network® 35 years ago, introducing the phrase “Smooth Jazz” on a national level and helping drive the meteoric rise of the format throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Over the decades, Kepler has worked with more than one hundred Smooth Jazz-branded radio stations and streaming channels.

 

At year end, the Smooth Jazz Top 20® Countdown culminates with the publication of Kepler’s BEATS magazine. The year-end issue serves as the editorial capstone to the countdown’s annual cycle featuring a year-end chart, dozens of artist interviews, and awards for the Best Artist, Breakout Artist, and Local Radio Station of the Year. The 2026 issue will mark the seventh annual edition of BEATS magazine.

 

In addition to Smooth Jazz Top 20® Countdown, the Smooth Jazz Network® offers two more syndicated shows, Smooth Jazz® Weekend and Smooth Jazz® Classics. All three shows are barter and cost free for radio stations and streams.

 

Earlier this year, Kepler expanded the brand with Smooth Jazz® Wines featuring wines inspired by classic smooth jazz songs. Available in five red and three white varietals, the menu includes such wines as Rise, Maputo, and Breezin’. Later this month, Kepler will publish a Smooth Jazz® Wines pairing cookbook.

 

Adding to his credits as a show creator, radio host, actor, writer, consultant, publisher, and winemaker, Kepler co-wrote a new single, the aptly titled “Keep It Smooth,” with GRAMMY®-winning producer-songwriter Michael Mani as the debut release from Colombian singer Lali P. The single featuring urban-jazz icon Najee will begin collecting playlist adds on September 14.

 

Flourishing for more than four decades of music and influence, Kepler and Smooth Jazz remain relevant and continue to prosper globally in new and evolving ways. 

 

“We really helped to create something truly special so many years ago and it is wonderful to see the music and artists thriving today.”

 

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

Cassandra Wilson, Grammy-Winning Jazz Musician, Dies at 70 #jazz #music

Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy-winning jazz singer, songwriter, and producer, has died. She was 70.

Wilson’s longtime manager Robert Torre shared with WBGO that Wilson died early Wednesday morning in Jackson, Mississippi. A cause of death was not given.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy Award-winning and legendary jazz artist,” reads Torre’s statement. “Cassandra Wilson transitioned peacefully at home, surrounded by family, close friends, and her manager. Her family and close friends respectfully ask for privacy during this difficult time as they grieve her loss.”

Throughout her career, Wilson was a relatively prolific jazz musician with an emotive contralto who incorporated elements of blues and funk into her songwriting. She won two Grammys, including the award for best jazz vocal performance in 1997 with “New Moon Daughter” and best jazz vocal album in 2009 with “Loverly,” and collaborated extensively with Steve Coleman as well as the Roots, Wynton Marsalis and Greg Osby. In 2001, Time magazine declared her “America’s Best Singer.”

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Coleman began playing piano at the age of six and picked up the guitar at 12, according to a bio on her website. She moved to New York City in the early 1980s and met saxophonist Coleman to found M-Base, a collective of musicians that also counted Geri Allen and Osby.

She released her debut solo album “Point of View” in 1986 and followed with a string of projects before signing to Blue Note Records for 1993’s “Blue Light ‘Til Dawn,” hailed at the time for its blend of blues, jazz and pop but also considered controversial in the jazz world for skirting more traditional jazz conventions.

Over the years, she continued to record and release albums of originals and covers of songs from Neil Young, Cyndi Lauper and Bob Dylan. She collaborated with numerous artists across genres including Luther Vandross, Angelique Kidjo, Terrence Blanchard and Olu Dara. She most recently released her final solo album “Coming Forth by Day” in 2015 as an homage to Billie Holiday.

The Kensington Market Jazz Festival Returns September 18 -20 With Alex Bird, Hilario Duran, Robi Botos, Rich Brown, Jane Bunnett, Marc Jordan, Robert Priest + More #jazz #music

 

 

The Kensington Market Jazz Festival Returns for Its 11th Year, September 18 to 20, 2026, With First Artists Confirmed: Alex Bird, Hilario Duran, Robi Botos, Rich Brown, Jane Bunnett, Marc Jordan, Robert Priest

The Kensington Market Jazz Festival (KMJF) is coming back. Now in its 11th year, the festival returns to the streets, stages, patios and intimate venues of one of Toronto's most storied neighbourhoods on September 18, 19 and 20, 2026. More announcements are coming, but the festival is kicking things off with five of the biggest names in Canadian jazz: Alex Bird, Hilario Duran, Robi Botos, Rich Brown, Jane Bunnett, and book readings from Marc Jordan and Robert Priest, including the premiere of a new event – the Poetry Slam.

Since its inaugural weekend in September 2016, when over 200 Toronto musicians filled 9 Kensington Market venues and the Globe and Mail called it "wildly successful," KMJF has operated by a principle that sets it apart from every other festival in the country: Better, Not Bigger. No massive sponsorship infrastructure, no distant stadium stages. Instead, year after year, the festival brings hundreds of Canadian musicians into the cafes, courtyards, community halls and open-air patios of Kensington Market, including the new addition of the iconic El Mocambo, giving audiences experiences that feel genuinely intimate, spontaneous and alive. Over 11 years, KMJF has presented more than 500 Canadian artists across dozens of venues, powered entirely by over 100 dedicated volunteers and sustained by a community that believes deeply in what the festival represents.

KMJF was founded by Molly Johnson, O.C., collaborating with Tracy Jenkins of Lula Lounge and the 2025 Shaw Festival, and remains artist driven and volunteer powered in every sense of those words. Johnson, a two-time JUNO Award winner, Officer of the Order of Canada, Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and 2023 Governor General's Performing Arts Award recipient for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, grew up in Kensington Market and built the festival from a deeply personal vision of what a community arts event could be. "I started KMJF to showcase the cultural tapestry of our market," Johnson has said. "Your support makes this celebration possible."

That vision has never wavered, and as Johnson continues to be one of the most creatively active figures in Canadian music, her new EP 'Long Time Running' features a soulful reimagining of The Tragically Hip's iconic anthem alongside Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, as well as a striking new collaboration with JUNO Award winning rapper Haviah Mighty, KMJF heads into its 11th year with its founder at full creative force.

The first five artists confirmed for 2026 reflect exactly the kind of connected, community-built lineup KMJF has always stood for, several with direct ties to Johnson herself. Two-time JUNO nominated vocalist Alex Bird brings his swinging take on the Great American Songbook to the festival alongside pianist Ewen Farncombe and The Jazz Mavericks, the duo behind Canada's Thanksgiving anthem, "The Sweetest Moments." Cuban born, Toronto based pianist Hilario Duran, a two- time JUNO winner and Grammy nominee who once succeeded Chucho Valdes in Cuba's famed Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna, returns to the festival alongside longtime collaborator Jane Bunnett, the five time JUNO Award winner, Order of Canada recipient and soprano saxophonist whose decades long exploration of Afro-Cuban jazz began the same year Duran first appeared on her JUNO winning album 'Spirits of Havana.' JUNO winning pianist Robi Botos, the last protege of Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson and Molly Johnson's own pianist of choice for close to 15 years, joins the lineup alongside acclaimed bassist and composer Rich Brown, JUNO nominated for his album 'Abeng' and another longtime collaborator of Johnson's, rounding out a first announcement built on the same web of relationships and mutual respect that has defined KMJF since its founding.

A typical KMJF weekend sees more than 100 Toronto-based Canadian musicians performing across 10 venues in over 100 shows, drawing upwards of 5,000 engaged audience members and generating meaningful foot traffic for the more than 240 independent businesses that call Kensington Market home. The festival's programming has always extended beyond performance, encompassing the KMJF Kids Music Series in the park sponsored by Long & McQuade, artist recording initiatives, seasonal music series and a busking programme that brings live music to corners of the neighbourhood that rarely see a stage. Tickets are available for cash at the door, ranging from $20 to $25, and audiences are always encouraged to arrive early: these are intimate shows, and they fill up.

Last year's 10th anniversary edition was a landmark moment for the festival, bringing together a lineup that included Jane Bunnett, Afro-Cuban piano master Hilario Duran, powerhouse vocalist Alana Bridgewater, JUNO winning reggae-jazz fusionist Jay Douglas and festival favourite Alex Pangman, among many others.

This year sees the return of a live painting by Jared Olsever made the 2025 weekend one the community will not soon forget. The 2026 edition builds on that momentum, and this first wave of artists is only the beginning.

As a registered charitable arts organisation since 2021, KMJF relies on the generosity of its community to keep the music going year after year. Donations above $25 are tax deductible and can be made at kensingtonjazz.com. Volunteers are also a vital part of everything the festival does. If you would like to be part of the team that makes KMJF happen, volunteer sign up is open now at kensingtonjazz.com.

This year's festival is made possible with the help of Canada Council, City of Toronto, Ontario Creates, Canada Life, Slaight Family Foundation, Long & McQuade, Yamaha, and KMBIA.

GRAMMY® winners and Billboard hitmakers help contemporary jazz guitarist Les Sabler shape ten songs for his tenth album, Ten, arriving October 9 #jazz #music

Contemporary jazz guitarist Les Sabler has spent the last two years building toward his milestone tenth album by releasing a series of singles crafted with GRAMMY®‑winning and Billboard chart‑topping producers. The aptly titled Ten arrives October 9.

 

Sabler began the project in 2024 with hitmaker Greg Manning, cowriting and producing three tracks that now anchor the album. Their first single, the funk‑charged “Hot Chicken,” is slathered in spicy horn section parts. It was followed by Sabler’s first Billboard No. 1 hit, “Patches’ Groove,” featuring trumpeter Michael “Patches” Stewart — a sultry, sophisticated cut that became Billboard’s No. 2 Smooth Jazz Song of the Year in 2025. The brisk and buoyant “Drive” completed the trio also climbed the charts.

 

A fourth Sabler–Manning collaboration, “Boomerang,” emerged from a second session shortly after the prolific run that produced “Hot Chicken,” “Patches’ Groove,” and “Drive.” It will be released as a single and begin collecting playlist adds on September 7.

 

“Greg and I came up with this song which started out with a completely different vibe,” said Sabler. “I left it alone for an extended time before revisiting it and came up with a different concept which Greg expanded on. We successfully reimagined the song, and it really came to life after Eric Valentine (drums), Mel Brown (bass), and Luis Conte (percussion) added their parts,” said Sabler.

 

Sabler then reunited with two‑time GRAMMY® winner Paul Brown (Boney James, Al Jarreau, Norman Brown), who produced his Tranquility (2021) and Flying High (2023) albums. Together with GRAMMY® nominee Brian Bromberg and Jeffrey Smith, they wrote “Café On The Square,” the mid‑tempo single that has already spent over six months on the charts, along with two additional tracks on Ten: “Once In A Lifetime” and the soulful R&B‑pop standout “Fly Away.”

  

To expand the album’s soundscape, Sabler sought fresh creative energy from Nelson Braxton, who has landed Billboard No. 1 singles as half of the Braxton Brothers.

 

“Expanding the sonic palette through a collaboration with Nelson added a brilliant new dimension to the project,” said Sabler, who cowrote “Corner Pocket” and “Sunset Comfort” with Braxton, who produced. Sabler reunites with pianist Allon Sams on “Corner Pocket” who appeared on his Bridge The Gap album

 

The album closes with “Serengeti,” which Sabler reimagined to pay tribute to legendary Canadian guitarist Sonny Greenwich, who he first saw perform in the late 70s.

 

“Completing this project with a tribute to Sonny Greenwich brings my journey full circle, as his music had a profound influence in my youth and continues to inspire my creative path today. I wanted to pay homage to Sonny for decades of inspiration, encouragement, and friendship,” said Sabler, who produced the track with Braxton (keyboards) and is joined by GRAMMY®-winning drummer Gregg Bissonette, upright bassist Brian Allen, pianist David Garfield, and Conte on percussion.

 

Across Ten, Sabler plays electric guitar with fervor — ripping runs and riffs with dexterity and alacrity. On “Sunset Comfort” and “Serengeti,” he shifts to expressive nylon‑string guitar and adds 12‑string acoustic textures on the latter. The album’s melodies are lively, its grooves soulful, and its production richly constructed.

 

Sabler grew up in Montreal, studying jazz at Concordia University before attending graduate studies at the University of Miami. He debuted in 1990 with Hidden Treasure and his breakthrough came with his third album, Bridge the Gap. The title track became his first No. 1 single in Canada and earned Album of the Year and Guitarist of the Year nominations at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.

 

Throughout his career, Sabler has collaborated with elite musicians — GRAMMY® winners Jeff Lorber, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Jerry Hey, and GRAMMY® nominees Eric Marienthal and Alex Acuna. He has continually pushed himself creatively, from recording exclusively on nylon‑string guitars for Crescent Shores to singing in Portuguese on his elaborately orchestrated Jobim Tribute collection. Last year, Sabler’s music earned 6.6 million Spotify plays, contributing to more than 21.6 million streams to date.

 

With Ten complete, Sabler is eager to share the next chapter, which will be his first album available on vinyl.

 

“I am thrilled to share this album which features an immersive variety of songs that flow together seamlessly. It is deeply meaningful to me that I am continuing to create and release new music so vibrantly infused with inspiration.”

 

Ten contains the following songs:

 

“Drive”

“Boomerang”

“Corner Pocket”

“Hot Chicken”

“Patches’ Groove”

“Once In A Lifetime”

“Café On The Square”

“Sunset Comfort”

“Fly Away”

“Serengeti”

 

 

Pre-save Ten: https://myiesstore.com/lessabler/product/ten-digital-download/

 

For more information: https://lessabler.net