Listening Loft Store

To draw whimsical inspiration from his pre-music career, German composer/keyboardist Michael AMANDUS Quast has made a thrilling science out of creating his music career, from his tours with 80s icons (Paul Young, Nik Kershaw, Midge Ure) to these past few years as an ever-adventurous rising Smooth Jazz star. His recent chilled hit, “Earth" has in fact been spinning and streaming on radio stations and playlists around the global! On this latest Amandus single, the engaging gem “Ready to Move,” the energetic groovster returns to his signature explosive fire of funk. This single offers an instantly hummable, emotionally charged hook with an inventive intertwining synth/piano and sizzling horn from guest German saxophonist (and amazing soloist) Arno Haas! If you weren't ready to move, you are now!

With 30+ albums, legendary Brazilian keyboardist/composer Marcos Ariel has been a true ambassador for his home culture, sharing the varied musical joys of Brazil and his hometown of Rio for four decades. Extending a series of recent albums dedicated to themes like his love for the sea and the flora of Rio, Ariel infuses his latest collection MISSING IPANEMA not with a sense of nostalgia or melancholic longing, but with celebratory vigor, whimsy and exotic, intoxicating rhythms in his musical heart. He expresses this love with passionate acoustic and electric piano melodies and solos, backed by a cadre of Brazilian greats and a guest appearance from Marc Antoine. 

Sometimes, the stress of the world gets so crazy that there’s only one thing to do – just escape from our cares, throw caution to the wind and, as guest R&B/pop-hip hop singer Honore urges us to do on Sy Baldwin’s punchy, brassy and groove-intensive new single - “Dance.” Having made a name for himself with with mellow tunes, romantic lyrics and a modern, cutting edge sound, this track allows Baldwin to let loose as a multi-instrumentalist with Honore and silky cool saxophonist Justin Young, who both guested on Baldwin’s earlier single “Share My Love.” They remind us that sometimes it’s okay to chill out, cut out and have some fun!

In 2003, the same year Steve Baxter released his debut solo album IN AND OUT, he earned a Grammy nomination for his work on the Jazz Crusaders’ classic RURAL RENEWAL. Over 20 years later, the versatile trombonist – who has toured with Barry Manilow, Ray Charles and The GAP Band and recorded with Justin Timberlake among others – keeps the classic, soul-deep Wayne Henderson vibe a viable, funky and rockin’ force in Smooth Jazz with his latest album CRUSADE BLVD. Baxter showcases his multi-faceted style with a blend of coolly, strutting grooves, inviting, hipster melodies, silky intimacy and two power vocals featuring legendary soul crooner Ellis Hall.   

It’s fitting that a portion of the proceeds from the pre-sale of Congolese born, Stockholm based singer-songwriter Marius Bilgobenson’s latest single “A Little Bit of Honey” was donated to the international anti-poverty, social justice organization Global Citizen. The multi-talented artist is a concerned and compassionate musical citizen of the world, committed to bridging cultural divides through his music. Produced by and featuring guitarist Paul Brown – who helmed two tracks on Bilgobenson’s album THE SPIRIT LOVE – the charming and romantic, horn-spiced tune fuses exotic African rhythms and sensibilities with a soulful, urban jazz vibe. The tune features performances by David Garfield, Shane Theriot, Ron King and Freddie Washington. Welcome back Marius... You are a voice for the voiceless! 

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.

Laying a splendid foundation with two lead singles, the fun and bouncy “South of Summer” and the soulful, atmospheric “Coast to Coast,” veteran German jazz guitarist Uli Brodersen completes his dazzling comeback (after a decade away from solo recording) with his new EP City Lights. The longtime creative associate of Smooth Jazz keyboardist Amandus creates a project inspired by the unique energies of his nocturnal drives through the world’s illuminated metropolises. In addition to the previously released tracks, he includes fresh tunes that artfully showcase his masterful fusion of poppin’ melodic string excitement and cool electronic keyboard wizardry. These four magical songs will invite you to feel the energy of bright lights and late nights... Press play and dive into the world's most vibrant cities!

It's been more than 15 years since guitarist/composer Mark Carter's last Smooth Jazz album. The 2022 Paul Brown-produced hit "Swingtown" left the door open for more from the talented Southern California recording artist! Hopefully back in the groove for a good while, Carter re-establishes his multi-faceted, stylistically diverse excellence on this latest album BRAND NEW DAY. Alternately showcasing his crisp, edgy electric guitar artistry and romantically-inclined acoustic guitar grace (including on the project's rollout radio single, "First Love" with saxophonist Greg Vail), Carter infuses his love for gritty funk and classic blues with a touch of Latin jazz into his infectious contemporary jazz vibes.  

For an enigmatic band with minimal available background information and an unusual dark-themed moniker reflecting the challenge these days of attaining the elusive American Dream, the five-piece Baltimore-based urban jazz fusion ensemble Deaddream sure makes a great deal of fun and furious joyful noise! The new album, DREAMIN is centered on instantly catchy melodies and hip, organic and machine generated grooves, and their expansive slate of vibes rides beautifully on a multitude of emotions conveyed by different lead instruments – including acoustic and electric piano, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and spacey and exotic synth adventures. Every note seems to convey the idea that the dream may be dead, but let's see if these feel-good vibes can renew hope!

True to the title of his 2023 debut GLOBAL VILLAGE, San Antonio multi-instrumentalist, arranger and composer Ted Hammond took listeners on a fascinating and exotic journey, tapping into his love of jazz, salsa, Spanish music, country fusion and classic R&B. His equally infectious, ultra-melodic follow-up single, “In the Flow” falls perfectly in the Smooth Jazz pocket, with a hypnotic, easy rolling groove, caressing atmospheres, a breezy lead melody and sparkling guitar work by Blayne Cook, as well as stunning piano playing and incredible EWI energy provided by the Rippingtons' longest tenured saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa, who makes the track pop with his adventurous contributions!

Australian born Skii Harvey is a multiple international award-winning singer-songwriter with accolades from the Billboard Music Awards, the UK Songwriting Awards and the Australian Songwriter’s Association. Still, it’s charming to imagine her formative years playing an old upright piano in a converted porch bedroom in her mother’s small semi in Sydney. Compared favorably throughout her nearly two decade recording career to Ella Fitzgerald and Tina Turner, she officially wraps a seven-year chapter she calls the “broken” years with a gem. The follow-up to her heartrending EP WAITING, Harvey’s lilting, tenderly romantic latest single “Somethin’ Bout You,” begins with an indie folk vibe and evolves into a smooth, power ballad with R&B, rock and gospel edges. Stay tuned for this next chapter!

As the supergroup Jazz Holdouts reaches their milestone decade as a force in Smooth Jazz with their smooth swaying, sonically sexy sax, piano and synth driven new single “Room to Breathe,” the reason for their clever name comes clear. In the decades before keyboardist Alan Palanker, saxophonist Louis Cortelezzi, guitarist Michael Thompson and bassist John Siegler pooled their talents, they were so busy as sidemen with legends (Madonna, Quincy Jones, Rod Stewart, David Foster, Chaka Khan, et al) that they were holding out on sharing the kind of ample compositional and improvisational jazz chops they generously showcase on catchy tunes like this new single!

So much more than a multi-talented bassist, composer and producer adept at fusing analog with computer generated sounds, Shawn Kingsberry is a dynamic musical visionary who likens himself and his classic R&B, Smooth Jazz, neo-soul and classic R&B to the character of “Morpheus” in “The Matrix” – masterminding the magic to bring listeners the best of all worlds. His highly anticipated, perfectly titled album UNAPOLOGETICALLY SHAWN is an epic 15-track set featuring his multitude of popular singles since 2021 and a batch of sonically and rhythmically eclectic new gems that includes ultra-hip re-imaginings of classics by Phil Collins, Christopher Cross, Wham! and Karyn White & Babyface. 

Building momentum towards his second full-length album IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK, Cleveland bred jazz/R&B influenced singer Abe LaMarca – A proud alumni member of the “Crown Jewel” of Las Vegas, Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns - brings his trademark “soul survivor” swag to “When God's In the Music,” one of the most uplifting, thought provoking and inspirational Smooth Jazz vocal tunes in years. Applying the “Let Go, Let God” aesthetic to the spirituality of the songwriting process, he brings every ounce of passion to the key lines, “You’re right where you belong... Don’t have to write the melody... Sometimes you just gotta play along.”  

Two years after his Soul Café Radio Indie Soul Awards nomination, 4-time Billboard charting saxophonist Dee Lucas remains steadfast in his aim to create a “Rebirth of Smooth Jazz” (as his mantra goes) with each recording. Currently celebrating two decades since releasing his debut album REMEMBRANCE, he sets the stage for the release of his latest, the aptly titled TWENTY, with this new single, the cheery, infectious “Tighten Up,” which features some of Lucas’ most charming and lyrical soprano playing and adventurous soloing ever-riding over a bright and bubbly mid-tempo groove.        

Released amid a flurry of fresh, funky and sensual singles these past few years, saxophonist Cord Martin needs only his emphatic, melodic horn energy, plenty of blues/gospel intensity and a relentless groove to state his intention for his burgeoning Smooth Jazz career – an inspiring and power-packed “Urban Renaissance.” The Tennessee native’s emergence as an artist complements an already thriving multi-faceted career as an educator, conductor of youth ensembles, and sideman for a wide range of artists from a multitude of genres – including Aretha Franklin, Rick Braun, Jeff Coffin, Tom Harrell, Lee Konitz, Ben Tankard and The Cab Calloway Orchestra.    

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. 

A year after releasing GROOVIN’ SMOOTH, the fourth album from his award winning, self-styled West Coast Laid Back Jazz” group Ghost Jazz Trio, veteran guitarist, composer and producer James Morgan returns to his classic, jazz-fusion roots with Morgan|Husband|Feraud... A tight, seamless and propulsive new trio with drummer/keyboardist Gary Husband and bassist Hadrien Feraud. Showcasing their artful ensemble action, their funky, free-spirited debut single “A Soul In Time” – the title track from the group’s upcoming debut album - features a silky, increasingly fiery melody by guest saxophonist Eric Marienthal and adventurous solo improvisations by Husband (on piano) and Feraud.

While he’s played with legends like Maynard Ferguson and blues master Kenny Neal and formed his own popular blues band The Truth featuring Cat Rhodes, veteran drummer Bryan Morris popped into the Smooth Jazz universe for the first time last year as co-composer and performer on Roman Street’s popular 2023 single “Key to Paradise.” The multi-talented artist’s aptly titled debut EP, CAN'T BELIEVE showcases his exciting diversity and ability to inspire a wide range of moods. It includes a hypnotic chill tune featuring silky sax and excitingly edgy electric guitar, atmospheric electronica with intoxicating grooves and a brassy, discofied vocal jam featuring Ms. Rhodes on vocals. Mr. Morris is one to watch for fresh musical ideas and exciting grooves.

With each successive recording full of catchy and uber-melodic, urban-tinged Smooth Jazz delights, the Next Lev’l Band continues living up to its uniquely challenging moniker. Launched by drummer Morris Harris, bassist Ernest Raheem and keyboardist Grant Nicholas, the popular Baltimore based ensemble infuses PURPLE PASSION – their first collection in four years – with a potent mix of lead instrumental voices. They complement the elegant and funky piano of Nicholas with crisp, edgy spotlights for electric guitar, and, most prominently, the soaring sax energy of guest Eddie Baccus, Jr. – all topped at special moments by silky, soulful female backing vocals. 

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!

From portraying Mary Magdalene in a Canadian production of Jesus Christ Superstar to portraying Morticia Addams onstage, Mexican born saxophonist, songwriter and vocalist Evelyn Rubio has always found dynamic ways to make her mark – so much so that both her likeness and horn have been inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Museum. Continuing to showcase her array of talents in fresh and unexpected ways, she follows her fiery, pop/R&B vocal single “Because I Want To” with a moody, seductive slow burning power ballad arrangement of John Klemmer’s 70’s jazz fusion classic “Touch” that showcases the many shades of her ever-deepening artistry.   

Right in line with chart-topping, Smooth Jazz guitarists the likes of Norman Brown and the late great Nick Colionne, multi-talented guitar hero Ronny Smith – a 35-year veteran of U.S. Army bands - has been working his fluid and melodic, Wes Montgomery/George Benson-influenced string magic for over 20 years. His latest, perfectly titled album STRUTTIN is a picture perfect collection of playfully grooving and burning smooth tunes from start to finish. Infused with exciting brass energy, sly and sultry ballads, and a soulful re-imagining of a Great American Songbook classic as well as a snappy personal homage to the Montgomery aesthetic on a whimsical, exotic twist of a familiar Wes chestnut. 

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!

When folks around the world think of Brazilian music, one sultry bossa nova classic comes to mind… Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “The Girl From Ipanema.” It’s been covered hundreds of times since the famous Stan Getz/Astrud Gilberto version, but perhaps never more beautifully and authentically than on this new single by emerging Rio born, U.S. based singer Daniela Soledade. She tenderly and dreamily carries on the legacy of her grandfather Paulo Soledade and musician father Paulinho Soledade, both of whom collaborated with the foundational greats of bossa nova. Sung seductively in Portuguese and English, this charming new version features the smoky sax of Jeff Rupert. 

Contemporary and Smooth Jazz have had their share of top violinists... Inspired by the great Jean-Luc Ponty, Debbie Spring brings a whole new sensual, intoxicating vibe to the genre via her five-string viola. After decades of playing with everyone from The Mavericks to Miami Sound Machine and Shakira, the illustrious veteran musician follows her 2023 breakthrough album TOCAMOS with the title track to her forthcoming album, HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU. The full album is a stylistically adventurous, genre-busting set that taps into the loves of her musical life, including bouncy, Latin-tinged horn jams, lush, romantic ballads, soaring orchestral pieces and a trippy, and tasty spin on a Seal classic, "Kiss from a Rose," which is the 2nd single from the forthcoming album!

After vibing with super producer Jeff Lorber on his 2022 single “Kickin’ It,” fast emerging saxophonist J Staton turned to an equally versatile and talented veteran to pen and produce his first Paradigm Music track, the passionate, high powered and whimsical romp “Weekend.” Bassist and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Webb writes the perfect tune and creates an optimal sonic environment to showcase both Staton’s silky romantic charm and emotion-filled intensity. After one of Staton’s punchy solos, Webb chimes in and ups the funk quotient with a snappy electric bass solo. This exciting “Weekend” is one you’re gonna want to make plans for! 

Since its 2010 debut with WAVES OF GRACE, The Eric Evans Project has captivated global audiences with a unique blend of contemporary jazz. A decade later, after years of fruitful collaboration, Eric Evans and David Eugene Ivey founded "Soundtracks to Life," a music and media arts publishing company. Evans expertly handles various instruments and composition roles, infusing his touch into every project. His live performances enchant Smooth Jazz enthusiasts with vibrant flutes, alto sax, and EWI. Evans began working with chart toping guitarist Adam Hawley on recent releases, with “Water Sound” as their latest. Delivering a dreamy, swaying piece enriched with lush sonic textures, transitioning seamlessly from relaxed and laid-back to soaring to a deeply emotional track. Dive into the musical waves of "Water Sound" and let it carry you to your own personal oasis.

It’s been a banner year for Jayson Tipp! The veteran keyboardist/composer celebrated 30 years since founding his popular “rough jazz” fusion band Under the Lake – which has been on a prolific creative roll since releasing a comeback album in 2018. 2023 also found Tipp releasing two hit airplay singles (one produced by Darren Rahn, the other by Adam Hawley) which laid a promising, momentum-filled foundation for the drop of his long-awaited Smooth Jazz debut album TABLE FOR ONE. Driven by his summery, upbeat grooves galore and a tasty mix of various keyboard sounds (including organ) with his lively, romantically inclined, improvisational piano excitement, the engaging collection features impactful guest appearances by saxophonists Quintin Gerard W (from Under the Lake) and Greg Vail as well as trumpeter Ilya Serov.