New album Time of Change is out now; new YouTube series Love Miles & Music premiered on Sunday.
Contemporary jazz guitarist Chris Standring had a milestone weekend with the release of his new album, Time of Change, on Friday (March 20), followed two days later by the premiere of his new YouTube series, Love Miles & Music, on Sunday night (March 22).
As Standring steps into what he calls the third act of his life, he’s acutely aware of the changes that have shaped him — including the loss of his father, Alistair, last year. The album’s emotional closing track, “A Song For Alistair,” serves as a musical memoir. Embracing this new era, Standring used change as the guiding motif for the eleven songs he wrote for the new Ultimate Vibe Recordings release.
Stylistically, the Billboard chart‑topping guitarist took a nostalgic turn, crafting a set rooted in retro contemporary jazz and vintage funk grooves. Standring explains the album’s creative direction:
“This album is a nostalgic journey through time. When I was writing these songs, it really took me back to a particular time in music, perhaps a golden age when sophisticated harmonies, beautiful orchestration and arranging were all the rage. I tried really hard to adopt those principles in this record. Of course, I put my own musical stamp on it so it’s not going to sound like a record by anyone else,” said Standring, who harnessed the firepower of a four-man horn section - Brandon Fields (tenor sax), Tom Saviano (alto sax), Michael Stever (trumpet), and Erik Hughes (trombone) - on four songs on this, his eighteenth album.
The first single from the new album, “Hollywood Hustle,” is swiftly moving up the Billboard and Mediabase charts. Standring recently premiered an AI‑generated video for the single, inspired by his arrival in the U.S. from his native United Kingdom in the early nineties and depicting his early years breaking into the Hollywood music scene.
Another major change in Standring’s life is his recent marriage — his first. His new YouTube series, Love Miles & Music, created with his wife, Erica, debuts this Sunday at 6pm PT/9pm ET. A new episode will air every Sunday in that timeslot. The show invites viewers to get to know the newlyweds and spans their romance, travel, and, of course, music.
A popular performer, Standring will support Time of Change with concerts booked into October across the U.S., including dates in Los Angeles, Washington, Richmond, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Chicago as well as a show at the Catalina JazzTrax Festival.
On Time of Change, Standring (guitars, keyboards, programming, horn and string arrangements) and his electric jazz guitar are the focal point of a quartet completed by bassist Andre Berry, drummer Chad Wright, and percussionist Lenny Castro. Featured guests include GRAMMY®-winning bassist Brian Bromberg, pianist George Whitty, drummer Dave Karasony, and keyboardist Rodney Lee, the latter of whom has been collaborating with Standring for over thirty years.
Standring’s 1998 debut album, Velvet, contained the breakthrough hit, “Cool Shades.” To date, Standring has amassed eight Billboard No. 1 hits and more than 15 top ten singles.
Initial reviews for Time of Change have been favorable. Here are a few excerpts:
"The thing about Chris Standring’s music is that he systematically creates melodies that stick with the listener and are always accompanied by a rich rhythm section groove. Every composition on Time Of Change is masterfully written and produced". - Dee Dee McNeil, LA Jazz Scene
“…warmly inviting album of 70’s-inspired cool jazz and retro rhythm-and-blues grooves” – Exclusive Magazine
“A wonderful new album for guitar lovers.” - Cultuurmania
With a new album, a new series, and a new chapter in life, Standring enters 2026 with renewed creative energy and a sound that honors both past and present.
Watch the “Hollywood Hustle” video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ05Fcs9UDE
For more information, visit www.chrisstandring.com.
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