Innervision Records artists spring to the top of two national charts simultaneously #jazz #music

Guitarist Blake Aaron notches his 8^th Billboard No. 1 single the same week flutist Kim Scott goes No. 1 on the Mediabase singles chart. The label signs Smooth Jazz Alley and will release the band’s first single for the imprint next month.

 

It was a first in the 27-year history of Innervision Records, Billboard magazine’s No. 3 Smooth Jazz Label of the Year for five consecutive years. The indie label had two No. 1 singles by two different artists atop two national singles charts, Billboard and Mediabase, concurrently.

Guitarist Blake Aaron landed his eighth Billboard No. 1 single with “Let’s Get Lost” while his labelmate, flutist Kim Scott, took over the No. 1 spot on the Mediabase chart with her single, “Freedom.”

 

“To have two different records from Blake Aaron and Kim Scott at No. 1 on Billboard and No. 1 on Mediabase (respectively) in the same week is a pretty exciting occurrence, which, in my 25-year career as a radio promoter, is a first for me. The fact that these two artists are both on Innervision Records makes it even more special!” said Innervision Records’ A&R and radio promotions executive Adam Leibovitz.

 

Aaron’s “Let’s Get Lost” is an old-school R&B instrumental romancer that highlights his lyrical electric jazz guitar. In addition to summiting the Billboard chart, the single also topped the Radiowave, Smooth Jazz Network, and SmoothJazz.com charts.

 

“I am incredibly honored and grateful for an eighth Billboard No. 1 hit. As artists, sometimes we ask ourselves if our music is really reaching people. I recently performed at a festival in Europe and there was a group of people from New Equatorial Guinea in Africa who traveled all the way to Europe to see me play. They already knew and were singing along to all the melodies of my songs. I had no idea my music even reached New Equatorial Guinea. To receive this wonderful recognition from Billboard and radio, and to know that my music is reaching people on that level is an unbelievable, surreal feeling I will never forget and for which I will always be grateful,” said Aaron who is currently on tour playing shows in The Netherlands and the United Kingdom before returning for concerts in Seal Beach and Carlsbad, California and San Antonio in June.

 

The South African house music-infused beats on “Freedom,” a track produced by hitmaker Greg Manning, backbones Scott’s second consecutive Mediabase No. 1 single. The cut was culled from her recently released album, “Livin’ It Up,” which spawned the hit “Like Butter” featuring chart-topping saxophonist Jeff Ryan.

 

“I’m incredibly honored and grateful that ‘Freedom’ has reached No. 1 on Mediabase. This song is a celebration of resilience, joy, and the power of music to uplift people from all walks of life. Also, the response to my new album, ‘Livin’ It Up,’ has been nothing short of amazing, and I want to thank all the fans, radio programmers, and fellow artists who have supported this journey. It is an honor to create music that touches the world,” said the Birmingham, Alabama-based Scott, who stirs cosmopolitan cocktails of classical and jazz with soulful R&B grooves.

Innervision Records has maintained its foothold at the peak of the genre with savvy artist signings, including their latest, Smooth Jazz Alley. The dynamic Bay Area trio comprised of keyboardist-producer Marco Montoya, drummer-producer Kevin Lewis, and saxophonist Otoe Mori will drop their debut single for the label, “Come On!,” on June 13.

 

“We are excited to be starting this new chapter with Innervision Records. We are looking forward to working with their talented team and releasing new music soon. ‘Come On!’ was built for the stage. It’s a track that was born from the desire to create something irresistibly fun for live shows to energize our audiences. What started as a simple idea during a spontaneous session quickly evolved, with one groove leading to the next. It’s a smooth jazz groove with contagious momentum that was built to light up the stage and keep the energy flowing,” the band said in a joint statement.

 

“We’re excited to have Smooth Jazz Alley join the Innervision roster this year and look forward to releasing their new radio single, ‘Come On!.’ Smooth Jazz Alley brings a refreshing approach to smooth jazz and will make a great addition to the mix of artists on Innervision Records,” said Innervision Records’ general manager Steve Belkin, who presides over a busy spring and summer release schedule populated by new singles from Pat Petrillo “(Summer in Philly”), Rick Habana (“Take You Home”), Richard Smith (“Jumpstart”), JJ Sansaverino (“Keep your Head Up” featuring Lin Rountree), Alex Crown (“Hidden Path”), and Dean James (“Kings & Queens”).

 

Innervision Records has curated a diverse roster of recording artists who craft contemporary jazz, R&B, and world music that consistently impacts the Billboard, Mediabase, Groove Jazz, Radiowave, and multiple smooth jazz charts. For more information, please visit www.innervisionrecords.com. 

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New Album Release from Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' 'Room On The Porch' on Concord Records /#blues #music

WITH THEIR SINGLE "BETTER THAN EVER" FEAT. WENDY MOTEN   AMERICAN MUSIC MASTERS REUNITE TO “REMIND US WHEN TIMES ARE DARK, MUSIC CAN BRING COMMUNITY, LOVE, AND HOPE” (WNYC)   PERFORMANCE THIS WEEK AT NEW YORK CITY’S LEGENDARY TOWN HALL (MAY 28) KICKS OFF THE DUO’S 2025 ‘TAJMO’ TOUR   Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ have released Room On The Porch, an album that celebrates inclusivity, togetherness and the deep African imprint on American roots music. “The porch is a metaphor for a perfect world - with the kind of smiles like those between the two of them on the cover,” said MIX Magazine in a recent front-page profile. Room On The Porch also marks the first time these two legends have teamed up in nearly a decade (since 2017’s TajMo), bringing 10 GRAMMY Awards between them - and catalogs that have left an undeniable mark on American music. "I certainly can't imagine my life without your songs as the soundtrack," said Tavis Smiley to Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ during a recent interview about the new album. The album was also featured in NPR Music's New Music Friday.   Room On The Porch features more original co-written tracks between the two American music masters than ever before, while also featuring trailblazing collaborators like John Oates and two-time GRAMMY ‘Song Of The Year’ nominee Ruby Amanfu. Wendy Moten joins Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ on their radio single “Better Than Ever” which includes a special behind-the-scenes music video. For the TajMo duo though, there was one collaboration that felt particularly moving: “We had our sons in there playing with us and all the other musicians and writers were hanging the whole time,” remembers Keb’ Mo’. “So it was a really fun place to be.” The results, as MOJO described them in a four-star review, are “a perfect mix of expertise and lightness of touch.”

This ten-song collection from Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ encapsulates why “each of them is a standard-bearer in the genre-bending world of folk, blues, soul, and Americana” (Billboard) -- but, as Taj points out, these styles are all deeply tied together by their shared roots. “If you take the African imprint out of Western music for the last 500 years, there’s almost nothing left,” he says. “As much as it might feel like we’re touching on all these different genres, the way I see it, we’re just connecting with the music of our ancestors and their influence on what’s happening now.”    Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ will also bring their TajMo live show back on the road this summer--celebrating Room On The Porch to over a dozen cities across the United States. Live dates kicked off with a special appearance at the Grand Ole Opry (joined by Ruby Amanfu) on album release day (May 23) ahead of their first headline show together at New York’s Town Hall on May 28. The pair were surprised on The Opry stage with a Proclamation from Nashville's Mayor declaring May 23, 2025 as "TajMo Day"!

For more information visit: https://www.tajblues.com/tour and http://kebmo.com/   TajMo 2025 Tour Dates: 5/28 - New York, NY - The Town Hall 5/30 - Sidney, ME - Bowl In The Pines 5/31 - Hammondsport, NY - The Pavilion at Point of the Bluff Vineyards 6/1 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent 6/3 – Concord, NH – Capitol Center for the Arts – Chubb Theatre 6/4 - South Deerfield, MA - Summer Stage at Tree House Brewing 6/6 - Bensalem, PA - Xcite Center at Parx Casino 6/7 - Selbyville, DE - Freeman Arts Pavilion 6/8 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap, Filene Center 6/10 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights 6/12 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park 6/13 - Interlochen, MI - Interlochen Center for the Arts 6/14 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival 6/15 - Detroit, MI - Masonic Cathedral Theatre   Taj Mahal: Instagram  | Facebook Keb' Mo': Instagram  | Facebook

# Artist and Track Title Time 1. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - Better Than Ever feat. Wendy Moten 05:04 2. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - Room On The Porch feat. Ruby Amanfu 04:05 3. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - My Darling My Dear 03:58 4. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out 03:42 5. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - She Keeps Me Movin’ 04:02 6. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - Make Up Your Mind 04:40 7. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - Thicker Than Mud 04:38 8. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - Junkyard Dog 04:21 9. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - Blues’ll Give You Back Your Soul 04:47 10. Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' - Rough Time Blues 04:30

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A Memorial Day Worth Remembering #memorialday #jazz #music

Andy Rooney On How Memorial Day Should Be Celebrated

The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News Correspondent Andy Rooney.

"There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity - war. The goal of war is to cause death to other people."



Tomorrow is Memorial Day, the day we have set aside to honor by remembering all the Americans who have died fighting for the thing we like the most about our America: the freedom we have to live as we please.

No official day to remember is adequate for something like that. It's too formal. It gets to be just another day on the calendar. No one would know from Memorial Day that Richie M., who was shot through the forehead coming onto Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, wore different color socks on each foot because he thought it brought him good luck.

No one would remember on Memorial Day that Eddie G. had promised to marry Julie W. the day after he got home from the war, but didn’t marry Julie because he never came home from the war. Eddie was shot dead on an un-American desert island, Iwo Jima.

For too many Americans, Memorial Day has become just another day off. There's only so much time any of us can spend remembering those we loved who have died, but the men, boys really, who died in our wars deserve at least a few moments of reflection during which we consider what they did for us.

They died.

We use the phrase "gave their lives," but they didn’t give their lives. Their lives were taken from them.

There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity - war. The goal of war is to cause death to other people.

Because I was in the Army during World War II, I have more to remember on Memorial Day than most of you. I had good friends who were killed.

Charley Wood wrote poetry in high school. He was killed when his Piper Cub was shot down while he was flying as a spotter for the artillery.

Bob O'Connor went down in flames in his B17.

Obie Slingerland and I were best friends and co-captains of our high school football team. Obie was killed on the deck of the Saratoga when a bomb that hadn’t dropped exploded as he landed.

I won’t think of them anymore tomorrow, Memorial Day, than I think of them any other day of my life.

Remembering doesn’t do the remembered any good, of course. It's for ourselves, the living. I wish we could dedicate Memorial Day, not to the memory of those who have died at war, but to the idea of saving the lives of the young people who are going to die in the future if we don’t find some new way - some new religion maybe - that takes war out of our lives.

That would be a Memorial Day worth celebrating.

Written By Andy Rooney © MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This segment was originally broadcast on May 29, 2005.

Soul-Jazz saxophonist Reggie Codrington finds "Joy in the Midst" of challenges #jazz #music

The inspiring new single is presently collecting airplay and playlist adds.

 

 

Exuding joy via his ever-present smile and an incandescent spirit filled with hope, optimism, and gratitude, soul-jazz saxophonist Reggie Codrington finds inspiration for songs from his own intense challenges. His parents instilled in him a positive mindset from when he underwent nine surgeries by the time he was thirteen years old due to Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, which affects balance, coordination, and motor skills. Doctors had to cut and transfer muscles from his elbow, wrist, and triceps to improve finger dexterity and slice leg muscles to increase mobility and make it easier for Codrington to walk. Overcoming and triumphing against difficult circumstances continues to impact Codrington’s music, including his new single, “Joy in the Midst,” which is currently collecting radio spins and playlist adds.

 

Codrington wrote “Joy in the Midst” as his mother was facing her own health challenges.

 

“Life is not easy, and my life adversities taught me that no matter what we go through, we must keep joy in the midst. My mother instilled in me to keep a positive outlook on life and adversity. Despite the health challenges she had while I was composing and recording this song, I watched her remain joyful in the midst of her own challenges,” said Codrington, who is based in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

 

Codrington’s father, Ray Codrington, was a professional musician who played with Little Richard, Gladys Knight, Jackie Wilson, and others. When his teenage son expressed interest in music, Ray found a small, curved saxophone that made it physically possible for Reggie to play the instrument. Falling in love with the sax, Reggie Codrington made music part of his meaningful mission as an adult.

 

“Because of my parents’ belief in me and their encouragement, I am so grateful that music is a part of my professional life. My mission is to give hope through music, to inspire people to become great and not allow adversity or circumstances to hinder their potential to dream,” said Reggie Codrington, who majored in music at Howard University.

 

Keyboardist George Freeman Jr. (Pamela Williams, Gail Jhonson, Eric Darius, Karen Briggs, Marcus Johnson, Althea Rene) produced and programmed the keyboards for “Joy in the Midst,” which is anchored by a sturdy rhythm track deployed by drummer Demetrice Everett and bassist Jermone Randall.

 

“Joy in the Midst” is the second preview from Reggie Codrington’s forthcoming series that honors his father’s legacy, “The Ray Codrington Signature Series.” Shortly after his father passed away, Reggie Codrington recorded one of his father’s never-been-recorded compositions, “Three Shades of Blue,” and released it as a single last year. The upcoming project will be his twelfth album.  

 

“Another thing I’m really excited about is that I’m going to be recording new music with Michael Broening,” said Codrington about the producer, songwriter, and pianist who has crafted 25 Billboard No. 1 singles.

 

Codrington released his debut album, “Never Let You Go,” in 1990. Since then, he has recorded with GRAMMY® winner Jeff Lorber, GRAMMY® nominee Paul Jackson Jr., and Billboard chart-topper Nils; and opened for Ramsey Lewis, Charlie Wilson, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Peabo Bryson, Kenny Latimore, Kim Waters, and Kevin Toney. Another career highlight was in 2012 when Codrington was invited to perform at one of the inaugural balls for President Barack Obama.

 

For more information, please visit https://www.reggiecodrington.com.

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - May 19, 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. 

Click here to view the smoothjazz.com chart for this week

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Mindi Abair's New CD Based On A True Story Drops June 13, 2025 #jazz #music

Acclaimed saxophonist, vocalist, and songwriter Mindi Abair is set to release her most personal and genre-defying album to date, Based On a True Story, on June 13, 2025, via her label, Pretty Good For A Girl Records. This will be her 14^th solo album. 

Based On a True Story is a bold, modern album that blends sleek pop production with the timeless soul of retro grooves. Inspired by Mindi’s real-life journey, this deeply personal collection of songs conveys moments, memories, and emotions through music. 

Mindi said, “My life over the past few years has felt like a fairy tale. I created WineandJazz.com with my husband Eric, and we now take people around the world to beautiful destinations where we immerse in the culture, the food, the wine and of course the music. These experiences have shaped me and expanded my mind in so many ways. This record and these songs are a direct reflection of this beautiful journey.”

Produced by multi-platinum producer/songwriter Wayne Rodrigues and Contemporary Jazz powerhouse Mindi Abair, and mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Tony Maserati, the album is rich with lush arrangements and heartfelt storytelling. With special guest appearances by legendary bassist Marcus Miller, R&B icon Kenny Lattimore, keyboard virtuoso Bobby Lyle, hit-maker vocalist Delisha Thomas and rising star Arthur Thompson, Based On a True Story is a genre-blending experience—pop-driven with Contemporary Jazz and Soul undercurrents—that’s as authentic as it is unforgettable.

“Wayne Rodrigues and I have been close friends for nearly 25 years, and he’s long been one of my favorite collaborators. A powerhouse Grammy nominated producer and songwriter whose credits include legends like Santana, Cher, Jewel, Natasha Bedingfield, Stevie Nicks, and Brian McKnight, Wayne brings a rare combination of heart, soul, and sonic wonderment to everything he touches. Together, we've co-written songs that appeared on my CDs In Hi Fi Stereo, Forever, and No Good Deedwith Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers—but I’ve always dreamed of making a full album with him. Now, that dream has come to life. This project has been deeply inspiring: a chance to open up creatively and produce a body of work rooted in my own journey, shaped sonically to tell those stories with authenticity and soul. Nearly every track was written together, making this not only an artistic endeavor but a true testament to our friendship,” Mindi stated.

The album opens with “Day Dreaming,” a floating, groove-laced escape where Mindi’s saxophone floats effortlessly, like sunlight streaming through sheer curtains on a lazy afternoon. It’s a gentle invitation to let go, exhale, and simply be. “A Thousand Miles” follows with a sultry, road-trip-ready rhythm—a sophisticated pulse that beckons you to chase something, or someone, far away. 

“Oooh-Aah (Catalina)” is a sun-kissed homage to carefree days on the coast. With a retro vibe and wind-in-your-hair charm, it feels like summer bottled into a song. “The Way That You Love Me” struts in with a funky pop swagger, with shimmering vocals from Delisha Thomas—best known for writing hits for Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, and Justin Bieber. Here, she steps into the spotlight with a high, radiant vocal that’s pure gold. Mindi’s saxophone is sultry and confident, gliding through the track like silk—wrapping the beat in sleek, sexy charm. Together, they create a flirty, infectious vibe that’s as stylish as it is unforgettable.

“3rd Street Promenade” provides a landmark moment between Bobby Lyle and Mindi Abair. Bobby, a true icon of Contemporary Jazz, trades musical lines with Mindi in a hypnotic duet where piano and saxophone weave an effortless conversation—historic, heartfelt, and alive. Mindi and Bobby’s journey began when Lyle first discovered Mindi while she was busking on the streets of Santa Monica. So struck by her sound, he invited her to play on his album that very week. It was a defining moment early in her career, and now, years later, the story comes full circle as Bobby makes his debut on one of Mindi’s albums—a reunion of artistry, mutual respect, and a friendship rooted in music.

And then, painted in the soft light of morning, “Siena Sunrise” captures the magic of Tuscany. Written during Mindi’s Wine & Jazz Adventure in Tuscany, it’s a love letter to the ancient buildings, slow mornings, and the golden hush of dawn. The mood lifts with Nouveau Soul—a bold, brass-laced celebration of ‘70s funk. Joyful, defiant, and dripping with vintage cool, it radiates the freedom of a dancefloor that never ages.

In “Fool’s Gold,” Kenny Lattimore lends his velvet vocals to a sleek and modern meditation on love’s authenticity. Mindi’s saxophone winds around him like a heartbeat—raw, real, and achingly beautiful. There’s an irresistible charm to “Falling in Love,” a joyful, up-tempo gem featuring Delisha Thomas that feels like dancing in the kitchen with someone you adore. The chorus is contagious—you’ll be humming it long after the last note fades. 

“Everything’s Gonna Be All Right” is an understated standout, written for Mindi’s daughters. With Arthur Thompson’s smooth vocals anchoring the emotion, it’s a song of quiet strength and hope, whispering reassurance straight to the soul. The album closes in pure adrenaline with “The Rundown,” a funk-driven thrill ride featuring legendary bassist Marcus Miller. With breakbeat swagger and cinematic energy, it’s a car chase in sound—fast, gritty, and undeniably cool. Miller’s iconic bass playing collides with Mindi’s powerhouse sax in a moment that demands replay.

TRACK LIST: 

Based On A True Story

1. Day Dreaming

2. A Thousand Miles

3. Oooh-Aah (Catalina)

4. The Way That You Love Me featuring Delisha Thomas

5. 3^rd Street Promenade featuring Bobby Lyle

6. Siena Sunrise

7. Nouveau Soul

8. Fool’s Gold featuring Kenny Lattimore

9. Falling In Love featuring Delisha Thomas

10. Everything’s Gonna Be All Right featuring Arthur Thompson

11. The Rundown featuring Marcus Miller 

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GRAMMY-winning keyboardist Michael Mani makes his long dreamed of contemporary jazz debut with "Triangles" #jazz #music

The album drops on Friday as the title track continues its fast ascent of the Billboard singles chart.

 

As a producer, composer, arranger, programmer, and keyboardist, Michael Mani has conquered the pop music world with a GRAMMY-winning collaboration with rock guitar legends Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton, and discovered and developed three-time GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Tori Kelly and Latin hip-hop superstar Becky G. For four decades, Mani has had an unexplored passion for contemporary jazz. With the release of his debut album, “Triangles,” this Friday (May 9) on Baja/TSR Records, he fulfills a long-held desire to record his own collection of songs fusing jazz, R&B, and funk.

Mani’s muse on the fifteen stylistically diverse tunes that he wrote for “Triangles” ranges from musical to spiritual. In music, relationships, and in his faith, he sees triangles everywhere.

 

“I named the album ‘Triangles’ because it symbolizes how many relationships and situations in life that come at us in threes. The relationship we have with our parents, for example, or the triangle between the piano, God, and myself when I am creating. The decisions we make every day to do right and wrong are triangles. I was raised Catholic so obviously the holy Trinity is an immensely powerful triangle in my life. Triangles are considered the strongest structure in nature and have been utilized in constructing the largest buildings in our cities dating back to well before the pyramids,” said Mani, a Bay Area native who spent his formative years there learning from and working with three-time GRAMMY-winning producer-songwriter Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin).

 

In advance of the album release, the label issued the title track as the first single. The dynamic, deep-pocketed groove filled with shimmering keyboard and piano melodies is No. 13 and is still climbing the Billboard singles chart. It is number one at WFSK, Nashville’s jazz station.

 

“Initially, I played all the instruments on the single and later added saxophonist Mike Parlett and live drums by Dante Roberson to the mix. I called the track ‘Triangles’ because it combined what I feel are the most important elements in music: melody, rhythm, and harmony,” said Mani who lives in Los Angeles where he has a recording studio and production facility called The JAM.

 

The solo-performed Mani track “In The Moment” bodes to be a single with its vibrant piano melodies and clever rhythm arrangement. Mani acknowledges some of his primary jazz influences on “Night Thrills.”

 

“I’ve always loved Jeff Lorber and David Sanborn. ‘In The Moment’ is a fun throwback song with great driving energy. When I set out to make this album, I wanted it to be a sonic journey for the listener. I think that is reflected on this track,” said Mani whose nimble piano work shines on this electronic track.

 

Parlett and his sax rejoin Mani to illuminate the danceable “Just Can’t Stop.” Two of Mani’s labelmates, Billboard chart-topping guitarist Nils and bassist Tony Saunders, enter the fray on “Echoes of Love.”

 

“I wanted to create a song we could all get down and play on together. I love the dynamic and rhythmic changes on this record. It has so many flavors echoing through it. I just loved the vibe,” said Mani who has known Saunders since they were teenagers playing in local bands.

 

While working with Becky G, Mani crafted music in the Latin space. “Walks in Brazil” grants him the opportunity to indulge his affection for Brazilian jazz.

 

“One of my favorite pianists is Michel Camilo and I wanted to have a bit of that flavor on the album because it would be amazing to play live. I had so much fun playing the piano on this track. I tried to imagine that I was walking on a beach near a Brazilian rainforest,” Mani shared.

 

Saxophonist Ashley J guests on the midtempo “Night Shift” adding soul to Mani’s swinging piano.

 

Saunders returns on “I Can Hear You Calling,” a melody-rich retro R&B joint.

 

“This song came to me in a dream, and I felt it was God calling me to make this track. It began as more of a ballad, but I decided to pick up the tempo and energy by adding Tony (Saunders) on bass. I love the chorus on this record. It feels like a vintage 70s classic pop/R&B hook,” explained Mani, who also revisits this period on “Skyline.”

 

“‘Skyline’ was very much inspired by some of the amazing funk-pop records I listened to while growing up. Mike Parlett’s sax helped bring it to life and it just feels like you are on a penthouse balcony of a high rise in New York City on a beautiful summer night looking at the city lights on the skyline.”

 

Paying homage to Sanborn and the late sax icon’s frequent co-conspirator, bassist Marcus Miller, “Funk City” is a go-for-broke jam featuring Saunders and Parlett. Mani said, “I love David Sanborn and Marcus Miller and their 80s recordings that were super driven and funky. I wanted an all-out banger of a funk-jazz track. We had a blast recording this one.”

 

A three-piece horn section invites “Smiles” on the warm and amiable piano melody set atop a hip-hop beat.

 

“I have produced a ton of hip hop songs on my journey, and I wanted to create something very chill and soulfully urban. I started this song with the drum beat and improvised piano parts over the top of it. It had such an easy smooth vibe to play on that I smiled while playing the parts. I met an amazing trumpet player named Arturo Solar who toured with Luis Miguel. He played flugelhorn on this track and arranged and recorded the brass section. He’s a true genius to work with,” said Mani who also features Solar on the sparkling “Pacific Blue.”

 

Mani deploys a downtempo hip hop groove on “All Night” on which he rips incessant keyboard runs in the company of Nils’s cool electric jazz guitar. Another hip hop groove backdrops “Head Over Heels,” a love song that Mani penned for his wife, Julianne. Saxophonist Bryan Thompson helps Mani bring the album to a close with the divinely inspired “By Your Side.”

 

“This is a spiritual song about our creator who is always by our side loving us and providing for us. I wanted to finish the album with that kind of energy, a heartfelt inspirational track. While I was working on this track, our corgi, Scooby, passed away. He was always by my side. This song is a tribute song of appreciation to God and the things like Scooby that he puts into our lives that lift us up,” Mani shared.

 

A classically trained pianist, Mani has plied his artistry to recording dates with 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. In addition to teaming with Walden, Mani contributed to recording projects by multi-platinum-selling and GRAMMY-winning producer-songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey, Kenny G). Mani won a GRAMMY for the instrumental “The Calling” from Santana’s “Supernatural” album, which highlighted two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers: Santana and Clapton. Mani’s contributions to Saunders’ 2024 album, “The Romance Continues,” including the top 10 single, “Loving You Is Easy,” led to his own record deal with Baja/TSR Records. He cowrote and produced Saunders’ forthcoming single, “Swagalicious,” and upcoming projects by R&B/jazz vocalist Tommy Davidson and pop singer Stefan Benz. Mani has composed music for television, film, and commercials for mega brands such as Honda, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Apple, Taco Bell, and Hallmark.

 

In a music genre in need of new voices, different creative approaches, and imaginative sounds, Mani’s arrival should be a welcome and exciting breath of fresh air.

 

“The ‘Triangles’ album is the culmination of many stylistic influences throughout my career. From taking classical piano lessons when I was seven to learning jazz and funk fusion as a teenager to playing in rock bands at high school dances to learning how to write and produce pop dance and R&B music with Narada Michael Walden. The opportunity to make this solo album with Baja/TSR Records provided me the freedom to blend all these influences together. I wanted to make an album that included many different music styles and felt more like a playlist than a repetitious body of work. There’s great energy on this album because I had so much fun making it. It was just me creating whatever came out of my head and heart.”

 

Mani’s “Triangles” album contains the following songs:

 

“Triangles”

“In The Moment”

“Night Thrills”

“Just Can’t Stop”

“Echoes of Love”

“Walks in Brazil”

“Night Shift”

“I Can Hear You Calling”

“Skyline”

“Funk City”

“Smiles”

“Pacific Blue”

“All Night”

“Head Over Heels”

“By Your Side”

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