If you want to let loose and dance this summer with both abandon and supreme coolness, start moving across the floor to “Scenes from a Rooftop,” a blast of fashionable, horn-fired Latin magic pairing the smooth, urbane croon of 2019 Voice of Holland winner Dennis van Aarssen with Black Tie Affair, a powerful ensemble specializing in the experimentation of fusing classic big band jazz with modern music production. Painting colorful images of a can’t miss party under the stars on a balmy summer night, the irresistible new single blends the sophisticated charms of DvA and BTA’s previous collaborations.
Talk about a Renaissance man! An Air Force veteran who served the U.S. for 30 years, Bruce McKenzie is currently on track to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy, General Psychology – Industrial/Organizational Psychology. He’s also an exceptional veteran guitarist whose nearly half century of playing includes five Smooth Jazz albums and a flurry of recent comeback singles. McKenzie’s latest, a feisty, high energy synth-fired remix of his 2022 track “I’m Back,” is an explosive showcase for his melodic, crackling rhythm guitar and lead electric guitar, which builds to a truly explosive ending.
There’s no better way for multiple award-winning singer/songwriter Jessie Laine Powell to prepare her fans for her brand-new second album MY LOVE JOURNEY than letting us know, via the title of her latest single, that we’re in for “Something Special.” Complementing her soulful, grace-filled vocals with hypnotic piano and synth magic and finger-snap percussion, she offers an intimate invitation into the promising early stages of a budding romance. When she’s not singing, the Lexington, KY artist also shares her special gifts via her two arts related mentorship organizations, Dream Manifestor and M.U.S.E. (Motivated Understanding of Self Emerging). A woman of many talents, including sliding right into the pocket of Smooth Jazz vocals!
In addition to an eclectic discography as a vocalist and instrumentalist that reaches back to 1991, singer, guitarist and all-around musical hyphenate Michael Ross was a staff guitarist at Chicago’s Schubert Theatre, and has played in musical theatre touring companies and performed with everyone from Ramsey Lewis and Ronnie Laws to Wayne Newton and Jimmy McGriff. His latest single, “No Hugs for You” lyrically levels the playing field for those who may be challenged by kindness, while musically it engages the senses like an irresistible summer breeze with a sultry sax showcase for his soulful, laid-back vocal style, which will remind listeners of Al Jarreau with a bit of George Benson included on a gorgeous scat outro!
Well known for his lengthy associations with fellow Bahamian musicians King Eric Gibson and Ronnie Butler, saxophonist/flutist Sharmond Smith’s multi-faceted career includes heading his own entertainment company and making his mark on Smooth Jazz with two albums and a few holiday releases. His latest single “You’re the One” is a sultry, silky ballad featuring his cool sax weaving around the powerfully poignant and emotional vocals of Akia Knowles, a popular Bahama-based international performer. The song’s narrative carries a pointed message about a woman discovering her true worth after leaving a bad relationship... While many women can tell this story, few can deliver it with the power of Akia!
