Bobby Lyle - "Hello Maceo" - New Warrior Music
“Hello Maceo” is the follow up single to Bobby’s “Nujazzy”, which spent an unprecedented 5 weeks at the top of the Billboard and Mediabase smooth jazz charts. This tribute to saxophonist Maceo Parker brings the heat and funk, and features Gerald Albright’s crisp alto sax with Marcus Miller’s crunching bass lines. The two of them are the perfect complement to Bobby’s smooth piano licks, making this a lively feel-good track for the summer.
Slim Man - "Saving Grace" – Oui, Oui Music
“Saving Grace”, written by Slim Man and produced with GRAMMY Award winner Paul Brown, is a heartfelt tribute to that special someone in our lives who stepped in to provide stability and joy in times of uncertainty. Slim Man has released 13 albums and multiple contemporary jazz radio hits in his career to date. “Saving Grace” follows hot on the heels of his most recent single, “3 AM” which received considerable airplay throughout the US and beyond. In the late 1990s, Slim Man started Bona Fide, an instrumental group whose combination of funk and jazz brought forth the Number One single “X Ray Hip.”
Not content with just writing music, Slim Man has written screenplays, the latest of which, Marlboro Men, is currently being pitched. He also released a cookbook in 2016, “Slim Man Cooks”, which features 52 recipes of his own creation, and 52 funny stories about growing up Slim. In January, 2022, Slim released his second cookbook, “Slim Man Cooks Volume 2” packed with 30 Recipes, 30 Stories, and 30 accompanying videos. It’s a cookbook. It’s a memoir. It’s funny!
“Slim Man’s music is a near-perfect example of how jazz and soul can be combined as pop” – JD CONSIDINE, ROLLING STONE
Pat Petrillo - "Black Cow" ft. Oz Noy - Autumn Hill Records
Drummer Pat Petrillo follows up his single “48th Street”, which featured Nile Rodgers, with a hot new radio track…a reimagined version of the Steely Dan classic, “Black Cow”, this time featuring New York guitarist Oz Noy. Pat and the Big Rhythm Band blend his smooth, funky groove, with Oz’s soaring, melodic guitar, a bluesy sax solo, and an amazing horn section that captures the background chords of the original to perfection. A radio programmer’s dream, “Black Cow” captures the vibe and soul of the original, with a contemporary twist.
Kayla Waters - "Undulation" - Shanachie
Kayla Waters burst on to the contemporary jazz scene with an astounding four #1 Billboard contemporary jazz radio hits! Lovingly mentored by her father, jazz icon Kim Waters, Kayla has been voted the winner of “The Rising Star In Jazz Award” by The Black Women in Jazz and the Arts, and the prestigious Washington DC WAMMIE Award as “The Best Jazz Artist.” Having performed with such greats as Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight and at major jazz festivals world-wide, this charismatic keyboard virtuosa has taken the jazz world by storm! Presence, her brilliant new album release, is overflowing with inspired melodies and ebullient grooves – a true expression of Kayla’s unique creativity. Veteran hit maker Chris “Big Dog” Davis, and father Kim Waters, join Kayla in the production of 10 Kayla Waters original compositions. From the glowing spirituality of the title tune, “Presence,” and the romantic “Waterkisses,” to the pulsating “Undulation,” the wonderful musical universe of Kayla Waters is on full display! The first single, “Undulation,” launches to contemporary jazz radio on May 22nd, with international performances in support of this release.
Shawn Raiford - "Leave The Door Open" - SRSP
After much success with his debut album Man with a Horn, Raiford is on the verge of releasing his second solo project, The Next Step. Filled with catchy originals, cool covers, tight hooks, and saxophone playing that is both passionate and sensuous, this release is already making waves in the smooth jazz world, pushing the idiom towards edgier sounds that reflect Shawn’s well-attended live shows. Raiford’s newest single from the upcoming album offers an instrumental version of “Leave The Door Open.” The music on Raiford’s second record, The Next Step, is on a different level altogether. It is smooth jazz but I push the envelope, having a heavier bass and drums. When I play live, this is how we sound with edgier drums, the bass popping, the guitar shaking, and the keyboards being creative in addition to my saxophone.” High-energy and naturally talented, Shawn Raiford is a very appealing, emerging alto-saxophonist who plays accessible music that always has an infectious groove.
Phylicia Rae - "On My Way" ft. Gerald Albright - Next Paradigm
Rochester, New York’s very own Phylicia Rae’s journey has been nothing but up since her historic #14 Billboard single “Now or Never”. History has been made! As of Women’s Month 2023, Phylicia Rae has entered Billboard’s Top 20 “smooth jazz airplay” charts which is a milestone no other female lead bassist has ever accomplished. Now she is raising the bar grabbing the attention of Gerald Albright who graciously wanted to jump on Phylicia’s next single “On My Way”. The combination of Phylicia’s silky sweet tone, Gerald’s influential touch, and Jacob Webb’s writing makes this song a MUST ADD! Phylicia has emerged as one of the premiere bassists in the C-Jazz space as she is excited to share this groundbreaking new single “On My Way” feat. Gerald Albright!
Vahagn Stepanyan (pronounced Vahog) – “Synergy” ft. Dave Koz - VSM
Armenian born Keyboardist Vahagn Stepanyan surrounded himself with Grammy-winning and world-class musicians, producers and engineers to record his second album, the aptly titled “A New Chapter.” Stepanyan composed and arranged eight songs for the jazz fusion collection releasing May 19. Vahagn Stepanyan recently won two awards from the Akademia Music Awards for Best Jazz Songs for “Synergy” (his first single from the new album) and “Motion.” “Motion” also won a Global Music Awards silver medal and garnered a nomination from the Hollywood Independent Music Awards in the Jazz (Fusion/Bebop) category.
Walter Chancellor Jr - "U Make Me Feel So Good" - Earphone Records
Walter Chancellor Jr’s latest release, “U Make Me Feel So Good” is a classic Smooth Jazz tune, produced by Chancellor himself along with multi-talented Instrumentalist Mark Walker from the U.K., is the perfect blend of soulful saxophone, sultry, keys, bass and guitar with infectious rhythms. Inspired by Chancellor’s personal experiences of love, friendship, and the joy of life, “U Make Me Feel So Good” is a musical expression of the positive energy that surrounds us all. The track’s classic Smooth Jazz style is a nod to the genre’s pioneers like Grover Washington Jr., Ronnie Laws, Eddie Harris, and John Klemmer, who have influenced Chancellor’s music throughout his career. From the first notes of the saxophone, you’ll be transported to a world of relaxation and pure musical pleasure. The interplay between the instruments is effortless, creating a sound that is both soothing and uplifting. It’s no wonder that listeners describe feeling “feel good” vibes when they hear this tune.
Deepak Thettu – "Kissing a Star" – Sodara Music
Billboard charting Guitarist/Composer Deepak Thettu tells an uplifting story with his latest single, “Kissing a Star”. With the impeccable production work of his longtime collaborator, #1 Billboard charting Producer/Saxophonist Judah Sealy, the pair take the listener on a musical journey that is sure to inspire. Acoustic guitar textures combine with soulful saxophone, piano and organ, to provide a sultry sonic canvas for Thettu’s guitar to speak. In his own words, “with “Kissing a Star”, I wanted to write an ode to life’s quiet moments…So often we think about the big milestones. However, sometimes it’s those little moments in between that makes the journey of life so fulfilling and memorable.”
Gabriel Mark Hasselbach – "Presence of Mind" – Mesa/Blue Moon
With 11 Billboard hits already under his belt, hornmeister Gabriel Mark Hasselbach aims for an even dozen with his latest single “Presence of Mind”, which sparkles with good energy and shows off some exceptional melodic improvisation. The album that spawned this song – Tongue & Groove – was nominated for Contemporary Album of the Year at the Jazz Music Awards in Atlanta this past fall. He is a Juno Award Winner (Canadian equiv of a Grammy), as well as Album of the Year and Instrumentalist of the Year recipient at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. Hasselbach is a triple threat on trumpet, flute, and flugelhorn, whose smooth horn playing highlights a nimble and tasty set of mad skills.