Smooth Jazz Chart
This chart from smoothjazz.com generally updates every Monday.
This post will be repeated with the most recent link when it updates.
Monday, March 31, 2025
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Nathan & Noah East to Release New Project “Father & Son” on April 18th #jazz #music
FATHER & SON / NATHAN AND NOAH EAST
Internationally Renowned Legendary Bassist & Rising Star Pianist Son Release Stunning Debut Recording
With special friends Eric Clapton, Hubert Laws. Merry Clayton, Seiko Matsuda, Billy Valentine, Jack Lee, Greg Phillinganes and more
Set to Perform April 29 at San Diego Music Awards/Nathan East to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
(March 25, 2025) With inspiring originals and beautifully re-imagined classics, FATHER & SON, the forthcoming debut collaboration by legendary bassist Nathan East and his wunderkind 24 year old pianist/organist son Noah is set for release April 18, 2025. The album which captures the intimacy of the jazz duo and trio format, infused with the powerful spirit of rhythm & blues was recorded at the legendary EastWest Studios in Los Angeles by GRAMMY®-winning engineer and producer Moogie Canazio. Guest artists appearing with Nathan and Noah are some of their famous friends and collaborators including Eric Clapton (with whom Nathan has toured for over four decades), famed flautist Hubert Laws, vocalists Merry Clayton and Billy Valentine and many more.
With the release of FATHER & SON, Nathan and Noah showcase their rich interplay and chemistry and join an illustrious group of many famous musician fathers and their sons across all genres of music, including Ringo and Jake Starkey, Bob and Jakob Dylan, Joshua and Dewey Redmond, the Marsalis family, and Bob & Ziggy Marley, among many others. Nathan brings his signature grooves, fluid runs and deep musicality to the project. For Noah, this is a powerful introduction to the jazz world, highlighting his soulful touch on piano and masterful command of the Hammond B3. Together they create a sound that is heartfelt and electrifying.
Nathan East stated: “As a father, you try to lead by example. Noah showed extraordinary talent from an early age and it’s been a joy to watch him grow into a sought-after artist in his own right. I couldn’t be more proud of the musician and person he has become, and this album is truly a dream come true.”
Noah East stated: ““Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to witness my dad’s career up close. Growing up around so many different amazing musicians has provided me with a rich musical background, which has immensely shaped my playing. Recording this album together is an experience I will cherish forever.”
East West Media
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Monday, March 24, 2025
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - March 24, 2025 #jazz #music
Smooth Jazz Chart
This chart from smoothjazz.com generally updates every Monday.
This post will be repeated with the most recent link when it updates.
Friday, March 21, 2025
Soul/Jazz saxophonist Walter Beasley pays homage to his roots on "Tribute to Soul" #jazz #music
“Coming” in hot! Soul/Jazz saxophonist Walter Beasley pays homage to his roots on “Tribute to Soul”
“Hold On, I’m Coming,” the latest single from the project, is moving up the charts.
Billboard chart-topping saxophonist Walter Beasley was driving across the country after one of his concerts when an idea popped into his head that caused him to delay his trip. He reached out to his recording band who were only a few hours away from his next gig in Cincinnati and booked them to record “Tribute to Soul,” a five-song EP of R&B classics out now on Affable Records.
The songs Beasley reimagines on “Tribute to Soul” is the music from his formative years growing up.
“I went home to these songs because I was going through a lot of stuff at the time. This music helped shape my musicianship. I learned and was well schooled in classical music, and I remember asking, ‘What’s next?’ For me, that was going back to the beginning - go back to blues, go home to soul, go back to the music that I know and that moves me. There’s no point in me saying a whole bunch of stuff musically that doesn’t matter. What matters is the song, the music, the message. That’s what I’ve always tried to do in my career and that’s what this record is about,” said Beasley, who played soprano and alto sax and sang on the EP.
Beasley gathered his “cats” – guitarist Michael O’Hara, bassist Derek Doc Johnson, keyboardist Robert Johnson, percussionist Chase Williams, and drummer Ben Powers – in the studio and they played through the setlist. What you hear on the EP are first takes.
“The idea was to make some timeless music with the cats you know give you nothing but funk, soul, and the real, and that’s what happened. The energy is there; the mistakes are there. If the groove is there and people are bopping, leave it alone,” said Beasley, who added that the seed for the EP was planted while watching a documentary film on the seminal Stax Records label.
“Motown was sophisticated soul. Stax was something different. It had that edge, that stank on it. That is what I gravitated towards as a musician,” said the El Centro, California native who has been based in Boston since attending Berklee College of Music where he has served as a professor for more than thirty years.
“Tribute to Soul” opens with “Hold On, I’m Coming,” the latest single presently climbing the charts that is an instrumental remake of the storming Sam & Dave hit from 1966.
Beasley’s faithful version of “Green Onions” retains all the groovy cool of the Booker T. & the M.G.’s 1962 original.
“It’s got a soulful Delta blues vibe and a shuffling kind of thing going on. You’d better be in the pocket because if you’re not, we’re gonna leave you behind. ‘Green Onions’ is the epitome of that. By the time the organ comes in, it’s over,” said Beasley defiantly.
Vocalist Destiny Whited joins the fray on “Ballero,” a reboot of War’s 1974 joint mixing Latin rhythms and R&B grooves.
“The song is a cross between Latin music and R&B. That Brown and Black music was just together. ‘Ballero’ is like going home and saying thank you, not just to the Black community, but to the Brown community that helped raise me. It’s pure feeling. When people put their heads together in diverse cultures and just share out of love, you get a song like ‘Ballero,’” Beasley said.
Beasley reminds us that he is an expressive crooner on “Come Live With Me,” which was the first single released last fall to tease the EP’s release. It is his interpretation of the romantic ballad recorded by Isaac Hayes in 1975.
“His (Hayes) version is absolutely perfect. I didn’t know the full meaning of the song until I got older. This is probably my favorite vocal performance from me because of the way I feel about Isaac Hayes. I wanted to do justice to the song, but I also wanted to do justice as it relates to the lyrics, which are very personal. I wanted to deliver it in the best possible way,” said Beasley, who also plays a sultry saxophone solo mid-tune that conveys longing.
“While recording, I had better saxophone solos for the song, but they took my mind away from the piece, so I did a solo that was reflective of what the song was speaking to me, and I dipped it back into the message. I love the song and I’m incredibly grateful for my presentation.”
The set closes with a revamp of Herbie Mann’s 1969 “Memphis Underground,” a backyard party jam that Beasley describes as being about watching your uncle and aunt getting up and dancing at a fun family barbecue.
“This song is our tribute to the musicians of that era,” Beasley concluded.
Over the last three decades, Beasley has been a fixture on the Billboard top 20 contemporary jazz charts and landed three number one singles. Debuting in 1987 with a self-titled album, Beasley is a two-time Boston Music Awards winner, having been named Outstanding Jazz Artist and winning the Jazz Album of the Year for his 2003 release, “Go with the Flow.” Beasley’s present focus is honoring the music, the artists, and the epoch celebrated on “Tribute to Soul.”
“This EP reflects community, things we were going through as a people. It feels good and this is the best feeling project I’ve ever done.”
Beasley’s “Tribute to Soul” EP contains the following songs:
“Hold On, I’m Coming”
“Green Onions”
“Ballero”
“Come Live With Me”
“Memphis Underground”
For more information, visit https://www.walterbeasley.com.
Jazz from Amazon.com
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Jazz great Herbie Hancock on playing with Miles Davis, AI, and why the piano makes him cry #jazz #music
Herbie Hancock is an all-time jazz great, so it is reassuring to hear that he suffers from the same modern day procrastination problems as the rest of us mere mortals.
"I fall into rabbit holes on YouTube. A lot of them. New music writing software, things about health, tech things."
That is his explanation as to why he has not made an album for 15 years.
"I get victimised by it, so to speak, but that's life," he chuckles.
Speaking from his house in west Hollywood, the ridiculously sprightly 84-year-old pianist has never been afraid to embrace technology, but normally he is the one doing the mastering, not vice versa.
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - March 17, 2025 #jazz #music
Smooth Jazz Chart
This chart from smoothjazz.com generally updates every Monday.
This post will be repeated with the most recent link when it updates.
Friday, March 14, 2025
'I was shaped by growing up in segregation': Wynton Marsalis #jazz #music
'I was shaped by growing up in segregation': Wynton Marsalis on how jazz connects democracy and liberation
Wynton Marsalis made history when he became the first musician to win classical and jazz Grammy Awards in the same year. He tells the BBC's Katty Kay about jazz's unique connection to liberation and how his father's relationship with music shaped his approach.
Legendary musician Wynton Marsalis is no stranger to making history. But as he brings his one-of-a-kind blend of classical and jazz to audiences everywhere, he's reflecting on history, too.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Saxophonist Jessy J to Release New Album “Terranova” on April 4th #jazz #music
TOP CONTEMPORARY JAZZ SAXOPHONIST JESSY J RETURNS TO LATIN JAZZ ROOTS WITH TERRANOVA
Reunites with GRAMMY® Winning Producer Paul Brown
Dynamic Duo First Joined Forces in 2008 for Jessy’s debut hit album
“Tequila Moon”
Many significant events rocked the world in 2008–most notably Barack Obama being elected the first African American president. Musically, Britney Spears made a comeback, Beyonce and Jay-Z tied the knot, and in the world of contemporary jazz a new star was born. Latin jazz saxophonist Jessy J’s debut album and single Tequila Moon topped the charts and was named Song of the Year by Billboard Magazine and Radio and Records.
With the release of her 10th studio album, TERRANOVA, Jessy J continues to add magical musical milestones to a celebrated career now spanning 17 years. With eight chart topping Billboard albums, 13 top singles, a strong Spotify presence and sold-out world tours, her unique artistry has established her as one of the most in-demand and sought-after saxophonists in the genre.
TERRANOVA reunites Jessy with multi-GRAMMY·-winning producer Paul Brown for their fifth studio album together. It was Brown who produced Tequila Moon and for TERRANOVA they’ve created an exciting 8-song sequel showcasing her sweet spot of blending contemporary jazz with a sensual Latin flair.
Just as on Tequila Moon, Jessy and Brown worked with two distinctive ensembles. The group the saxophonist says conveys an “East coast vibe” is anchored by GRAMMY nominated bassist Brian Bromberg and includes performances on various songs by keyboardists and guitarists Jeffrey Leroy Smith, Buddy Jordan and Shane Theriot, guitarist Derryl Bannerman, with Brown contributing percussion. The team representing the “classic L.A. sound” on three of TERRANOVA’s core tracks includes Bromberg, Theriot (on guitars), keyboardists David Garfield (who also plays piano and Rhodes) and Jay Rowe (keyboard strings), drummer Gorden Campbell and percussionist Richie Gajate Garcia. While the “East Coasters” recorded at Brown’s home base, The Funky Joint in Sherman Oaks, CA, the “West Coast” crew’s songs were tracked at Yaniv’s studio in Woodland Hills and engineered by Yaniv.
Jessy’s desire for TERRANOVA to have no boundaries on the material led her to carry on her unique tradition of including re-imaginings of beloved classics amidst new songs she wrote solo and co-wrote with Brown, Bromberg and Smith and with Brown, Bromberg and Theriot. Drawing from three genres she loves, Jessy creates a hip, thumping, brass-fired jam on Grover Washington’s pre-smooth jazz classic “Mister Magic,” and with the Garfield-led contingent showcases her lovely, soulful lead vocals (in English, rather than the original Portuguese) on the Jobim classic “No More Blues” and a balmy, tropical Latin pop/soul flavored “Piel Canela” – a mid-60s favorite of Jessy’s father written by Puerto Rican singer Bobby Capó and popularized by Eydie Gormé and Trio Los Panchos.
Terranova’s five stellar originals featuring Jessy’s rich, emotional tenor style include the opening title track, the soaring “Beso Del Sol,” “My Everything” (the first single release) a smooth/Latin jazz fusion titled “Right on Time” and the spirited, free-flowing magic of “Fresh” which harkens back to a song from Tequila Moon titled “PB ‘N’ J”; both Brown collaborations began acoustically, with Jessy playing piano and sax during the session.
“Recording an album like TERRANOVA with songs that touch my heart and so many amazing musicians is the perfect way to reflect on where I’ve been and set the tone, for where I’m headed,” Jessy says. “It was also wonderful to work with Paul again because he always brings out a different side of my playing than when I produce myself. These songs were created from a truly special place in my heart, and something interesting happened while recording this new album—I felt so at peace, calm, content, and confident. I think you’ll feel that energy in TERRANOVA.
jessyj.com
facebook.com/Jessyjsax
instagram.com/jessyjsax
youtube.com/channel/UCuN_BLiqEPGu71GskaIMeMg
East West Media
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Major Scale Management artists Marcus Anderson and Andréa Lisa are flourishing on the touring circuit #jazz #music
.jpeg)
Spring is still several weeks away, yet two captivating Major Scale Management artists, saxophonist Marcus Anderson and guitarist-vocalist Andréa Lisa, promise to bring the heat this spring and summer to concert stages across the globe.
Handpicked and groomed by Prince, Anderson is a veteran and a consummate showman who brings exuberant energy, high-level musicianship, and showstopping charisma to the stage. His shows are experiences, not just concerts. Pairing his impassioned horn work with slick dance moves, Anderson entertains audiences with undeniable rhythms, grooves, and melodies culled from contemporary jazz, funk, and R&B.
Anderson has also created and hosts his own festival, the Marcus Anderson Jazz AND Coffee Escape, or MAJACE as it is known to his beloved fans, now in its seventh year, which ties to his tenth year as founder and owner of AND Coffee. Anderson finished last year strong while on a 24-day holiday music-themed tour with saxophonist Mindi Abair and singer Lindsey Webster.
On Thursday (March 13), Anderson will join Brian Culbertson to play at the New Orleans Jazz Getaway before making his debut as a headliner on April 12 at the prestigious Berks Jazz Festival with special guest R&B vocalist Kenny Latimore and bassist Julian Vaughn. Anderson will also perform at the Berks Memorial Chuck Loeb All-Star Jam on April 10 and at Gerald Veasley’s All-Star Unscripted Brunch on April 13. Also in April, Anderson will play the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in the Florida panhandle. Other high-profile gigs this spring and summer include the Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival in May, Culbertson’s Napa Valley Jazz Getaway and Dave Koz & Friends at Sea in June, and Koz’s Summer Horns Tour launching in mid-July and running through August.
“I have always been a fan of Marcus’ music and now that I have the pleasure of working with him, I can confidently say that Marcus Anderson is one of the most incredibly talented, driven, imaginative, accomplished, and inspiring humans I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He consistently delivers an unprecedented level of artistry, showmanship, and entertainment whenever he takes the stage,” said Major Scale Management’s founder Gina McCain.
“The stage is my playground—every performance is a chance to let loose, connect, and have fun with the audience. My music reflects who I am, constantly evolving. I aim for creativity in every note, ensuring no two performances are ever the same. For me, the magic of live music comes from authenticity and spontaneity. Each show is a unique journey, both for me and the audience. The connection between the performer and the crowd is sacred. That’s why I ensure my vibe is right before stepping on stage. It’s all about sharing something real. I approach every performance with fresh inspiration, making sure it’s not just music but an unforgettable experience and sound. Music is more than a sound; it’s an extension of my soul. I pour everything I have into creating moments that people will carry with them,” said Anderson, who is represented exclusively by Major Scale Management.
A guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer, Lisa is a virtual newcomer who released her debut album, “Silver Lining,” last year. Yet on stage, the South African-born, New Zealand-raised artist is a polished performer who brings intense emotion to her shows. She uses music – instrumental jazz and soulful R&B vocals – to create transformational experiences for her audiences. Lisa pours passion into uplifting, healing, and inspiring listeners, embedding entertaining narratives into her songs and setlist.
“What initially drew me to Andréa was her music and incredible voice. She exemplifies the essence of a true artist. The vibe of her music and heartfelt lyrics deeply resonates with listeners. I truly admire her self-awareness as an artist and the path she is charting for herself in the music industry,” said McCain who began working with Lisa last year to help grow her global audience.
Lisa has concert dates scheduled at an array of jazz festivals and venues this spring and summer, including Earl Klugh’s Weekend of Jazz on April 3 before making her debut at Berks Jazz Festival from April 10-13 and the Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival in May. In addition to playing Newport Beach Jazz Festival in June, Greater Hartford Jazz Festival and Anderson’s MAJACE festival in July, and Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival in August, Lisa will team up for several performances with another Major Scale Management artist, singer-songwriter-bassist Rebecca Jade, for what bodes to be a special series of shows together.
To view Anderson’s tour dates, visit https://marcusanderson.net/#tour.
Lisa’s tour dates are posted at https://www.andrealisa.com/tourdates.
ABOUT MAJOR SCALE MANAGEMENT
Gina McCain founded Major Scale Management in 2019, which is dedicated to connecting worldwide audiences with its uniquely talented and musically diverse roster of dynamic concert performers. The exclusive music agency is devoted to fostering the success of its exceptional artists who are committed to delivering an unparalleled entertainment experience every time they take the stage. Major Scale Management is proud to represent artists who are the future of jazz and beyond. For more information, visit https://majorscalemanagement.com.
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Bob James, Dave Koz Team Up on Duets Album and Tour #jazz #music
Contemporary jazz icons Bob James and Dave Koz will be touring the U.S. together this spring as a piano-and-saxophone duo under the billing “Just Us–An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories.” The tour takes its name from their forthcoming duet album, scheduled for release on March 7 via Just Koz Entertainment.
The two artists recorded the album in James’ hometown of Traverse City, Michigan, where they will kick off the tour headlining The Alluvion on March 13. The “Just Us” tour will also include shows at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona (March 15); Studebaker Theatre in Chicago (March 22); The Parkway in Minneapolis (March 25); and Jazz Alley in Seattle (April 1).
“Recording this album with Bob James was one of the greatest life (and music) experiences for me — I learned so much from this treasure of a man,” Koz said. “This duet project is just acoustic piano and saxophone, in all their raw beauty. Talk about being vulnerable! But with Bob at the piano, all concern goes away … like playing on a bed of clouds. I can’t wait to perform these songs with him in front of a live audience.”
“This is a totally unplugged and, as partner Dave points out, vulnerable set,” James added. “Both he and I have had the good fortune to record many times with great rhythm sections and sophisticated production. This time out, all that is stripped away, and it’s just us. We hope the intimacy of these musical one-to-one conversations conveys the spirit we both felt. It was a unique opportunity for me to collaborate and be inspired by the passionate romanticism of my duo partner.”
The Just Us album is collection of originals and colorful re-imaginings of Great American Songbook standards. Its inspired format, sans the support of a traditional rhythm section, liberates both musicians to venture spontaneously beyond the trademark sounds that fueled their superstardom and years of Billboard chart-topping successes.
Making the decision to stick to just piano and saxophone gives the album a flavor that’s worlds away from any recording James or Koz has ever done. “Every time we started into a new tune,” James recalled, “I realized that if I don’t have drums or bass, I have to figure out how to fill that space in with the piano. In the end, we loved the purity of the sound and freedom of filling in those spaces ourselves. We’re doing it this way when we perform this music live as well — no backup band with a short duo segment, but just us all the way through.”
The The recording came about spontaneously after Koz invited James to headline the main showroom aboard the Seaborn Ovation in September 2024 as part of Somma Italia, the saxophonist’s inaugural Somma Cruise, a luxury extension of the Dave Koz Cruise. James agreed on one condition: that the two create a new recording to give to attendees.
Recorded at James’ house just weeks before the voyage sailed, the souvenir recording featured the two songs that kick off and provide the foundation for Just Us: the soulfully swaying James original ballad “Sommation” (whose title cleverly references the cruise) and a passionate rendition of the standard “My Ship” (inspired by the pianist’s memory of Miles Davis’ 1957 arrangement of the classic Kurt Weill/Ira Gershwin composition). Finding themselves on a freewheeling roll, the two also recorded a silky, highly improvisational rendition of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” and the first of two co-writes, the whimsical “T W O,” during that first session.
James explained, “We started having fun and one thing led to another. We weren’t thinking of recording an album but everything unfolded. After the cruise, Dave returned to my house and we just kept going. We did almost everything there and finished up later in Dave’s home studio in L.A.”
They recorded four originals in their second session: “New Hope,” the high-spirited “The Naked Ballet,” the classical-leaning “Protea” and the French-flavored ballad “Rue de Rivoli,” plus a romantic version of “All The Way.” The third and final session brought forth the buoyant “Fountain D’Alice” and a lighthearted swing through “On The Sunny Side Of The Street.” The latter is a bonus track, available only on the physical edition of the album.
Koz observed, “In this digital age, artists can have as many tracks as they want to record a song. Each one takes up sonic space. If you only have two instruments, as we have here, taking up the entire sonic space, each can be heard in a much clearer, bolder, bigger way. It’s amazing and scary because we hear all the breaths, clicks and pad noise. Those who go on this ride with us will hear our instruments in a whole new way.” DB
Best selling smooth jazz at amazon.com
Jazz from Amazon.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)