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Bringing earthy soul to an instrument often connected to the heavenly realms, harp virtuoso Mariea Antoinette has galvanized Smooth Jazz with her dramatic, gorgeously melodic presence over the last decade, hitting #1 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz charts, headlining prestigious halls, private events and festivals and even performing for former First Lady Michelle Obama. Just when we think she’s perhaps done it all, her golden strings and spirited sweetness inspire us anew with an inspiring new holiday treat – a lovely, soaring and deliciously funky twist on Donny Hathaway’s uplifting R&B classic “This Christmas.” Blending an atmospheric ethereal flow with deep grooves, Antoinette infuses the oft-covered contemporary standard with fresh infectious energy while setting the stage for her upcoming 4th album FIERCE. 

From Lionel Hampton, the legend who discovered Sylvia Bennett raving “Her magic gets to the ears and hearts of the audience,” to later Smooth Jazz collaborators Paul Brown, Rick Braun and Nathan East, jazz cats have been enamored of the multi-talented song stylist for decades. Her warm and wonderful, inspiring and rhythmically festive EP A SMOOTH JAZZ HOLIDAY is the perfect bookend to her equally lovely and joyous 2009 album IT’S CHRISTMASTIME WITH SYLVIA BENNETT – and even features a callback to a sparkling track on that album penned by longtime collaborator and producer Hal Batt. Evenly balanced between urban jazz arrangements of classics and charming, whimsical originals (including a Bennett/Batt tune with a global reggae vibe), the collection features dynamic solo spots by Paul Brown and Ed Calle. 

Wayne Gutshall first rocked and grooved the Smooth Jazz world with five #1 singles on the SmoothJazz.com Global Listener Chart from his aptly titled debut album SPICY!, the irrepressibly melodic and romantic saxophonist is back with “For The Love,” a smoldering follow-up to his previous radio smash, “Spanish Love” feat Steve Oliver! This alluring new single offers a dazzlingly dynamic horn duality with stylish flugelhornist Rob Zinn, as the two intertwine harmonically to a stirring effect as they engage in some crafty improvisational conversations. Though the Latin vibe is subtle, Gutshall will forever be influenced by his time working with top names in Latin music including Ed Calle, Arturo Sandoval, Nestor Torres and Dave Valentin!

World-renowned Tony nominee, New York Cabaret Award winner, and Women Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee, Ann Hampton Callaway, has primarily built her legacy as a formidable interpreter of great standards and songbooks of legendary singers, from Ella Fitzgerald to most recently, Peggy Lee. Though she’s recorded many of her own songs over the years and had others recorded by the likes of Barbra Streisand and Karrin Allison, her fourth Shanachie album FINDING BEAUTY is her first-ever collection devoted to mining her catalog of original tender-hearted, lyrically insightful personal songs. While focused mostly on Callaway’s dazzling way with emotion-filled ballads, the luminous, intensely revelatory 16-track collection includes several inspirational up-tempo gems. Callaway also proves herself a master collaborator on tunes featuring Kurt Elling, Tierney Sutton, Melissa Manchester, and her sister, actress and recording artist, Liz Callaway.

Often described vocally as a cross between Ella Fitzgerald and Tina Turner, veteran Australian singer-songwriter Skii Harvey is a celebrated citizen of the world, recognized by the Billboard Music Awards, the UK Songwriting Awards and Australian Songwriter’s Association. Over a dozen years after launching her recording career, she profoundly shifts sonic gears on her heartrending, soul-piercing and incredibly cathartic EP WAITING with renowned South Korean producer and K-pop artist Mackelli. The sequel/emotional aftermath to her powerful heartbreak chronicle BROKEN, this four-ballad collection finds her taking stock of the past, moving slowly passed the pain and embracing the fact that she no longer must wait for happiness. She also slyly embraces the reality that the wait for true love (after one that wasn’t) captures the heart in perpetuity.  

According to the UK collective’s legendary founder, guitarist and producer Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick, he’s a “man on a mission and music is my only weapon.” Celebrating 44 years of groundbreaking funk, jazz, R&B and dance music with INTO YOU – a generous 16-track (double album length) creative explosion of sexy and intimate sellections, horn-drenched disco-fied thumpers and cool, mid-tempo, Smooth Jazz flavored delights. One of the greatest joys of this ever-evolving ensemble is Maunick’s spirit of collaboration with longtime associates like keyboardist/drummer Richard Bull and fresh, dynamic musicians from Europe and Asia, including guitarist Charlie Allen. Incognito’s longtime trademark of introducing sweet soul singers is in full effect with featured fresh lead vocals of Natalie Duncan and Cherri V.   

Officially, contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay had three legendary guitarists over its quarter century run – Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton and the late Chuck Loeb. Yet Seoul born, NYC-based Jack Lee, Korea’s most recognized world class jazz guitarist, has done so many amazing projects with Bob James, Nathan East and Harvey Mason he could qualify as an honorary member. HEART AND SOUL, Lee’s latest, perfectly titled album with East, is a sprawling, deeply heartfelt and blues-infused, gospel jazz session that gets to the heart of faith via numerous stylistic twists and turns. Lee and East include an easy-flowing meditation on a holiday perennial, a funky strut through a Stevie Wonder jam, a dramatic church worthy rendering of a Paul Simon classic and unique arrangements of familiar sacred hymns. 

An endlessly creative man of a million grooves since releasing his first Jeff Lorber Fusion album in 1977, the Grammy-winning keyboardist/producer is working double shifts these days. In addition to leading his resurrected star-studded Fusion to the tune of 10 albums in 13 years - including their latest explosive urban jazz funk-o-rama THE DROP – he’s creating equally tasty, improv-heavy jams with his Jazz Funk Soul cohorts Everette Harp and Paul Jackson, Jr. The new collection features Lorber’s trademark array of tight rhythms of varying tempos (laid back, punchy, mid-tempo, fast/furious) topped with his wild piano and retro-keyboard melodies and solos and the otherworldly ensemble energy of genre greats including long time music partner Jimmy Haslip, JFS's Jackson, Jr., Snarky Puppy guitarist Marc Lettieri, drummer Gary Novak and saxman David Mann.

After launching his career with three vineyard-inspired albums in his first decade of recording, Spanish-style, acoustic guitarist/composer Bryan Lubeck won great acclaim – including a Holiday Critics’ Choice pick from Billboard – for WE THREE KINGS, his holiday album with fellow string master Johannes Linstead. Lubeck’s vibrant, mostly easy rolling new collection WELCOME WINTER is a sequel of sorts, a warm-hearted, rhythmically diverse showcase for his own romantic string stylings textured with the fresh sonic colorings of violins, cellos, dulcimer, melodica, percussion and vibraphones – plus a tender duet with clarinetist Eric Salazar on a favorite (literal!) chestnut. The guitarist fashions the album as a nod to his childhood inspirations from popular Windham Hill artists including George Winston, to whom the project is lovingly dedicated.    

Fresh off his 2022 Soul Café Radio Indie Soul Awards nomination, versatile saxophonist Dee Lucas – closing in on 20 years as a recording artist – is set on fulfilling a dual mission as he releases his wildly eclectic, genre pushing new album NO BOUNDARIES. First, he’s committed to creating music as a coping mechanism for others, which in turn brings joy to his listeners. Second, reflective of the project’s theme, to make music that evolves with less restrictions and expectations. While keeping his infectious melodies and lyrical, ever-grooving horn vibe front and center, Lucas’ outside the box/comfort zone vision leads to an expansive palette of expressions, tapping into his cross-pollinating passions for pop, rock, funk, R&B and jazz and inspiring interactions with Blair Bryant, Gino Rosaria, Selina Albright, David P. Stevens and Ragan Whiteside.   

Consistent with the musical tone and overall philosophy of his 2021 collection A RAY OF HOPE, veteran bassist Michael Manson keeps the relentlessly joyful, high stylin’ vibes flowing on “On the Up and Up” – the hard-grooving lead single from his upcoming RIDESHARE album featuring tight horns, bubbly improvisations, soaring energy and spirited musical conversations with Marcus Miller’s saxophonist Donald Hayes and former Rippingtons’ keyboardist Dave Kochanski. While best known for playing with Smooth Jazz greats like Steve Cole, Brian Culbertson, Kirk Whalum, Larry Carlton and George Duke, along with his wife Lana Manson is also co-founder of the Chicago based Musical Arts Institute, a non-profit school launched in 2010 that has serves thousands of students and families who lack the resources for a formal high quality music education. 

Twelve years after releasing his debut recording, the first of four conceptual THE COLOR OF SOUNDSCAPE projects, Rei Narita brings his freewheeling, uber-melodic and ever-grooving artistry to his latest adventurous easy funk single “Île des Pins –Kunie-” – the title is in reference to “Isle of Pines,” an exotic French Island in the South Pacific. Long known as Asia’s premiere pioneer of Smooth Jazz, the multi-talented, highly prolific pianist, composer and producer offers the perfect autumn pick-me-up with a track full of lively and exciting improvisation that may remind fans of David Benoit. In creating emotionally provocative music designed to evoke the scenery of the sea at a resort and fulfilling his core philosophy “In Pursuit of Beauty,” Narita plays his antique piano “C. Bechstein,” built in 1896.  

After releasing ILLUMINATE in 2018, Steve Oliver engaged in some cool side projects, including a popular duet album with Brian Simpson and a set of acoustic re-imaginings of his greatest hits. Now, the prolific Smooth Jazz hitmaker a journalist once called “musical Disneyland” (for his sunny personality and composing style) is back in snappy, melodic and sonically adventurous radio-friendly mode with A NEW LIGHT. Perfectly in line with his other instantly infectious albums with similarly light-bearing titles, the collection – co-produced by genre mega-hitmaker Michael Broening – offers a blend of funky-breezy drive time jams, gently caressing ballads (one featuring saxman Jeff Kashiwa) and exciting dashes of percussive exotica featuring the one-two punch of his dynamic strings and trademark dreamy wordless and percussive vocals.      

A much beloved fixture for the last decade playing clubs, festivals, private events and the historical Delta King Riverboat in the Sacramento area, Shawn Raiford has long called his ever-evolving ensemble the SRE (Shawn Raiford Experience) because – drawing on his passions for contemporary jazz, R&B, gospel, rock and pop – that’s what the multi-talented saxophonist promises every time he and his cohorts take the stage. His first release since making an initial impact in Smooth Jazz with his 2020 debut album MAN WITH A HORN, Raiford breathes fresh, sultry bounce into the classic “Santa Baby” with a delightfully traditional, seductive, soulful version buoyed by a lush orchestral string arrangement. Listening to this track after re-visiting his earlier collection is a great way to experience the depth Raiford’s expansive and heartfelt artistry offers.

A much beloved fixture for the last decade playing clubs, festivals, private events and the historical Delta King Riverboat in the Sacramento area, Shawn Raiford has long called his ever-evolving ensemble the SRE (Shawn Raiford Experience) because – drawing on his passions for contemporary jazz, R&B, gospel, rock and pop – that’s what the multi-talented saxophonist promises every time he and his cohorts take the stage. His first release since making an initial impact in Smooth Jazz with his 2020 debut album MAN WITH A HORN, Raiford breathes fresh, sultry bounce into the classic “Santa Baby” with a delightfully traditional, seductive, soulful version buoyed by a lush orchestral string arrangement. Listening to this track after re-visiting his earlier collection is a great way to experience the depth Raiford’s expansive and heartfelt artistry offers.

With the release of GOOD MEDICINE, an inviting mix of spirited contemporary jazz, robust funk and sensual balladry, six-piece Bay Area ensemble Rainforest Band confirms its status as one of Smooth Jazz’s most environmentally conscious artists. Launched in 2017 by R&B/Gospel soul veterans Tony Saunders (bass), Vernon “Ice” Black (guitar) and Sylvester Burks (keyboards), the group refashions the eco-minded aesthetic of BLUES FROM THE RAINFOREST – A MUSICAL SUITE, an early 90s  “environmental earth music album” created by Saunders’ father, famed keyboardist Merl Saunders, and the legendary Jerry Garcia. While the soaring power and passion of saxophonist Dave Ellis ensures that this collection is more horn-centric than their debut, there’s also plenty of urban jazz and groovin’ soul from Saunders and tasty, melodic guitar magic from Black and Lorn Leber. GOOD MEDICINE will make you feel good!

Italian composer and innovator Paolo Rustichelli saw jazz icon Miles Davis at the Umbria Jazz Festival in the summer of 1986. Rustichelli slipped Miles’ manager a demo cassette of his music. Several weeks later at the Rome Jazz Festival, intrigued by the demo, Miles invited Paolo to record with him and the magic began at a private studio in Europe. This session yielded beautiful results that have been stored away for decades, until now. “Love Divine” (The Smooth Jazz Mix) unearths these long-lost recordings and sets them into a contemporary yet timeless jazz setting. Steeped in perpetuity, this duet is likely to send chills down your arms and fill your heart with an unfamiliar hope… Almost like rewinding to a better place and time.

After a series of edgy electric guitar driven Smooth Jazz albums featuring beachy/summery titles like COAST DRIVE and RIDE THE WAVE, multi-talented musician-composer Will Sumner got more personal with his 2021 release OCEAN STREET, which featured songs emotionally connected to his longtime former family home in Carlsbad, where his mother lived until her passing at 96. On this latest, truly innovative sonic excursion MEADOWLARK, Will keeps his trademark blend of buoyant funk/rock, sensual atmospheric balladry and breezy, piano-enhanced melodic grace flowing in loving homage to the beautiful working alfalfa farm in Apple Valley, California owned by his grandmother in the 1960s and 1970s. The collection of infectious tunes brings to life grandma’s warmth and generosity, as well as the sweet nostalgia of his childhood summer vacations there.     

Known collectively as The Southern Gentlemen, guitarist Eric Essix, trumpeter Joey Sommerville and violinist Michael Ward have reunited after an 8-year hiatus to release their debut single, the straight-up smooth “Back In The Game.” The group are planning for a  2024 tour, bringing their dynamic on-stage chemistry and compelling arrangement of musical instruments to venues across the land! Individually, the members have toured the world, performed, and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music industry, and have nearly 40 albums between them. The new single promises to propel up the Smooth Jazz radio charts and onto popular playlists worldwide as the ensemble returns with their signature raw energy and excitement and an even stronger sense of purpose and camaraderie!
 

The sophisticated, musical collective Ultrablue is the creation of in-demand New York-based keyboardist and composer John Smatla, a former music school teacher who made his way to the NY music scene from his hometown in Cleveland, OH. On the heels of the project's successful re-release of their star-studded self-titled 2006 recording, "Maria In Blue," rolls out in advance of the forthcoming NEW YORK STORIES recording featuring guest performances by Chieli Minucci, John Patitucci, David Mann and Omar Hakim. Inspired by the artistry of contemporary jazz guitar legend, Earl Klugh, Ultrablue's nod to nostalgia in a contemporary soundscape, offers up seductive and spicy Latin rhythms for Smatla and NYC session guitarist Bernd Schoenhart to deliver a sexy and playful melodic dance, interspersed with balmy solo guitar passages. A tasty peek at what’s to come with full album!

Saxophonist and keyboardist D.S. Wilson has teamed with recording artist, guitarist and producer Adam Hawley along with an all-star cast to produce SKYLINE, the 3rd full album of  contemporary jazz featuring catchy melodies and solid grooves. The A-listers in the mix include Eric Valentine on drums, Mel Brown on bass and Carnell Harrell on keys. Paying homage to the bustling vibe of the Windy City, the project has released advance singles which have proven to grab the attention of radio stations and music fans around the world. His previous single, "Leave It To The Gods" has nearly 100k streams on Spotify! The successfully charting artist, performer and composer has experience in jazz, blues, pop and rock and all of these genres seamlessly flow through the tracks on SKYLINE, giving the listener an exciting experience from beginning to end.