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Grammy-winning producer, record executive, filmmaker, and entertainment mogul Vassal Benford brings his signature touch to the Smooth Jazz scene with his latest single, "She’s A Queen," celebrating all the LOVELY ladies, the beauty and brilliance of all the incredible souls out there! This captivating track is the third advance release from his upcoming album, MELODY MAN, and is now available on all major music platforms. Despite his success in Hollywood, Benford’s heart remains in jazz and instrumental R&B. Last year, he introduced his jazz vision with the title track "Melody Man," offering a fresh, genre-defying sound. His follow-up single, "Dedication Song" over 9M YouTube Music streams, further showcased his innovative style. The upcoming album will feature collaborations with Grammy-winning guitarist Norman Brown, eight-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Gerald Albright, and singer-songwriters Aloe Blacc and Chanté Moore, R&B Star Keith Washington. With MELODY MAN on the horizon, Vassal Benford continues to redefine jazz, blending sophistication, passion, and soul into every note.

A deep collaboration between this artist-producer partnership of keyboardist/composer Patrick Bradley and 29 time Billboard #1 hitmaker Darren Rahn continues to mine sonically fresh, funky cool and dazzlingly performed Smooth Jazz magic. The title of Bradley’s latest album GRATITUDE – like most of the highly engaging tunes on the collection - reflects his recommitment to walking the walk of a higher calling while traversing doubt and spiritual uncertainty during a bout with a life-threatening illness. The multi-talented Bradley’s literal “come to Jesus” moment bears incredible musical fruit via concepts all rooted in spirituality – including reflective ballads, bluesy overtones, open-hearted up-tempo vibes, celebratory rhythms and even a super Beatlesque, East Indian jazz rocker. 

Forty-five years after Kool & The Gang founding member George Brown was credited as one of eight writers of the legendary R&B band’s #1 hit “Celebration,” the late great drummer, keyboardist and vocalist’s esteemed group, The George Brown Ensemble is gathering in Los Angeles on April 24 at the Sun Rose to celebrate the release of the LIVE IN PARIS album, his extraordinary second posthumous album since his passing in 2023. While his first, WHERE I’M COMING FROM (2024), was a pop/soul and vocal oriented project, this new collection offers a deep, emotionally charged exploration of his passion for straight-ahead, Miles Davis influenced jazz, blues, orchestral and brass-ensemble vibes. With legendary drummer Vinnie Colaiuta finalizing key tracks, the effervescent collection includes contributions from longtime Kool collaborator/keyboardist Curtis F. Williams, trumpeter Mike Cardone and saxophonists Philip Wack and Louis Van Taylor. 

Before dropping his popular 2021 Smooth Jazz breakthrough album, the ironically titled UNPERFECT, multi-talented Minneapolis bred multi instrumentalist/composer Marshall Charloff parlayed his writing and production work with The Commodores and playing keys with The Atlanta Rhythm Section into creating the greatest live Prince tribute show in the world and in 2020 scoring a full-time residency in Las Vegas with his one-man show “The Purple Piano.” Many of Charloff’s legions of fans will no doubt enjoy grooving to “X-Centric,” his sly, tight and seductive new soul-funk-jazz lead single from his upcoming album NEXT featuring a hip, retro styled electric keyboard melody, paired with the ever-sizzling sax harmonies of special guest, Grammy-winning icon, Gerald Albright along with some dazzling acoustic piano accompanying Albright’s fiery solos.

Though he’s been a renowned solo artist for two decades, versatile NY/Jersey based keyboardist/composer Mike DiLorenzo enjoyed a fascinating pre-Smooth Jazz career with great vocalists, including tours with Gerald Alston and Bo Diddley and backing Whitney Houston and her gospel singing mom Cissy. He brings many of those influences to his solo artistry, including the recent EP SLO’ JAMS featuring vocalist Anna Moore and a single, “Summer Breeze” featuring Philly based singer/rapper CaiNo. “Modern Times,” the title track to Di Lorenzo’s upcoming album, his latest single is pure instrumental magic. He floats his whimsical, high spirited piano melody and dynamic jazzy ivory runs over a lively, up-tempo shuffle groove, caressing everything with dreamy atmospheres and a wash of trippy sonic effects, including a series of hypnotic nature sounds making these modern times not so hard to enjoy!

In the tradition of Bob and Jakob Dylan, Joshua and Dewey Redmond and Bob & Ziggy Marley, legendary bassist Nathan East and his son Noah, an accomplished 25-year-old keyboardist, create for a FATHER SON album for the ages on their long awaited first dual recording. Though Nathan is perhaps best known for his decades of touring with rock icon Eric Clapton (who makes a powerful appearance here) and his role in contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay, this diverse collection of warm-hearted originals, Great American Songbook standards and 70’s pop/soul gems is focused on jazz duo and trio intimacy, with elements of blues, straight-ahead, swing and even classical. Though there are plenty of legendary guests (Merry Clayton, Hubert Laws, Billy Valentine), the true revelation beyond the magical family camaraderie is Noah’s stylistic diversity as a pianist and organist!

Whitney Jones is an extraordinary artist who brings a splendid swirl of jazz, funk, blues, rock and classical influences to her latest alternately sensual/romantic and personally empowering, easy grooving urban-leaning Smooth Jazz album BASED ON REALITY. Beyond her impressive accolades – first female bandleader to have a weekly residency at Wally’s Jazz Café in Boston, co-writing CeCe Peniston’s #2 Billboard hit “Purple Funk” – the multi-talented Jones feels her higher purpose is to uplift, inspire and empower people, to kick fear out of the way and walk in love. Though the generous and rhythmically diverse 13-track collection’s themes of love, healing and self-discovery grew out of Whitney’s personal struggles during the pandemic, they are essential reminders of gratitude and self-affirmation that are equally soothing and essential now.  

Over the course of his multi-faceted 15-year recording career, Reza Khan has enjoyed several radio friendly Smooth Jazz hits, including one with Nils. Yet the Bangladesh-born, NYC based composer/guitarist’s unique, freewheeling stylistic fusion includes elements of pop, jazz, soul and global influences. His world jazz guitar vibe comes to full creative fruition on the perfectly titled MYSTICAL, which finds him and longtime co-writer, arranger and producer, saxophonist David Mann, imagining a magical album featuring infectious pieces written with specific contemporary jazz greats in mind. Khan’s incredible skills as a musician and magnetism as a studio visionary attracted a dream guest list that includes Bob James, Jimmy Haslip, Philippe Saisse, Mark Egan, Jeff Lorber and Keiko Matsui – who join with Khan to create special collaborations for the ages. 

When keyboardist/composer Jeff Logan first reached out to Paul Brown, the Grammy-winning hitmaker was first intrigued by the decades Logan had toiled as a corrections officer while developing his craft. When Brown heard his graceful and infectious, radio friendly compositions and lively piano style, he signed on to produce one song, which quickly evolved into Logan’s new album INDIGO, a tour-de-force collaboration that strikes Smooth Jazz gold. While showcasing Logan’s fresh, ultra-melodic touch on the piano and exciting sense of improvisation, the 10 fanciful, romantically inclined tracks create a dazzling, lightly funky flow that puts a hip, modern twist on a classic contemporary jazz piano sound that may remind listeners of classic tracks by David Benoit, Brian Culbertson and Gregg Karukas.

The late great Nick Colionne wasn’t the only Smooth Jazz great to help school children in Chicago for years. In 2010, veteran bassist Michael Manson and his wife Lana opened the non-profit Musical Arts Institute, which has served the needs and goals of thousands of students on the South Side. Ever fueled by the power and joy of his faith, Manson’s collaborations with Steve Cole, Brian Culbertson, Kirk Whalum and George Duke have been lighting up the genre for nearly three decades. The multi-faceted artist builds momentum for his sixth album RIDESHARE with its second lead single “Just to See You Smile,” a charming and cheery, soulfully romantic, horn-fired mid-tempo ballad featuring the magic melodic touch of former George Duke and Rippingtons keyboardist Dave Kochanski. 

With over 25 popular singles, Asia’s premier Smooth Jazz pioneer Rei Narita has been one of the genre’s most prolific artists of the 2020s. The veteran composer, piano and keyboard virtuoso – whose wild ivory adventures and melodic grace may remind fans of David Benoit – is also very clever and thoughtful with titles like “After Party in the Metaverse” and “Walking under the sakura.” Speaking of thought-provoking monikers, Narita’s latest fast grooving high-energy and improvisation-heavy single “Whispering Sand” reflects his philosophy that like sand slipping through our hands, and sandcastles being swept away by waves, our time in this world is fleeting. While the sentiment is wistful at its heart, he makes the ride an absolute blast full of exciting musical twists and turns!

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.      

Pieces Of A Dream featuring James Lloyd, Curtis Harmon and Tony Watson, Jr were discovered by the great Grover Washington, Jr. who nurtured and produced the band while James and Curtis Harmon were still in high school. Since then they have toured the world, sold over three million albums, scored both smooth jazz and R&B radio hits while garnering legions of dedicated fans! WE GOT THIS is a funky, joyful musical celebration, filled with melodic grooves that have made Pieces Of A Dream fan favorites. The 10 brilliant originals run the gamut from ‘in the pocket’ R&B to sensuous smooth jazz jams and are proof that this ensemble is at the top of their game!

On the heels of his recent, collaborative hit with Jessy J, the latest smooth gem creation from A-List, Italian keyboardist Paolo Rustichelli (Miles Dave, Santana) is a bright, shining tune that conjures up the most magical moments in one’s life. “Luna” featuring the effervescent talents of jazz festival favorite, Althea Rene on flute is a delightful mélange of fusion, funk jazz, pop and Brazilian bossa with a hip-hop spirit reminiscent of late 1980s dance tunes. Paolo’s musical signature is all over this modern Smooth Jazz experience… The fresh masterpiece begs to be enjoyed with a splashy cocktail, in the moonlight offering a sense of joy that only good music can bring! 

Since dropping his 2018 debut EMBRACE, San Francisco Bay Area saxophonist Jeff Ryan has been such an impactful force on Smooth Jazz, collaborating with hit makers Paul Brown, Greg Manning and Darren Rahn. His latest collection, INTO FOCUS, is his third full length album. Complementing four recent radio hits with tracks reflecting his overall tender romantic aesthetic and passion for blues/soul and brassy Tower of Power energy, the album’s title reflects the great reality that everything in Ryan’s life is indeed coming into focus – the direction of his music, his life priorities with a solid target set on touring and performing live around the world. The young sax star is posed to take the globe by storm with a beautiful tone, raw energy, and exciting entertainment skills coming INTO FOCUS! 

Multi-talented flutist/composer Kim Scott vibrantly embodies the title of her sixth album LIVIN’ IT UP in many ways – from being a 3x Billboard chart topper and hosting her popular syndicated radio show “Kim Scott’s Block Party” to serving as flute professor at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and being a world-renowned international clinician. Collaborating with top producers like Greg Manning, Kelvin Wooten and Paul Brown and guest stars Jeff Ryan, Phil Davis, Kelly O’Neal and Naomi Achu, Kim brings her alternately lilting and percussive jazz/classical style to an adventurous array of vibes. These include ampiano and world music, a women’s empowerment anthem, soul balladry, clever re-imaginings and mash-ups of legendary pieces of music by Miles Davis, Herb Alpert and The Police along with an iconic Whitney Houston taking on high notes and the iconic Kirk Whalum sax solo, Livin' It Up from the first track to the last!

From the great George Duke to Smooth Jazz empresario Dave Koz this artist's artist dazzles. Pianist, composer and prolific Billboard charting hit maker Brian Simpson drops his 12th solo recording, the ultra-melodic and rhythmically diverse MIDNIGHT GROOVE. Fashioning a compelling and sexy array of sonic attitudes - from soulful, moody and sensual to lighthearted, elegant and breezy/tropical – Simpson vibes with new voices on his latest collection including Grammy-winning trumpeter Keyon Harrold, Grammy-nominated saxophonist Isaiah Collier and Latin guitarist Antonio Gomez.  

It was only a matter of time before a top Smooth Jazz artist tapped into the multi-Grammy winning genius of Billie Eilish and FINNEAS’ pop songwriting – and it’s no surprise that it comes from veteran saxophonist Paul Taylor on his Shanachie debut whose title says it all about his positive outlook on his life and career: IT’S A BRAND NEW DAY. He’s on the record as saying that throughout his amazing 30-year-career, he’s always kept his ears attuned to what’s hip, funky and fresh in today’s music. Taylor complements vibes from today’s musical Zeitgeist with his never-ending love for classic and modern soul sounds, collaborating with longtime right hand studio man Dino Esposito and famed R&B producer Barry J. Eastmond on a mix of ultra-melodic danceable and sensual delights.     

Long acclaimed by tastemakers as “simply one of the planet’s best saxophonists” and the “Pied piper of Smooth Jazz,” Kim Waters is perhaps the only cat in the genre who could create silky smooth grooving soprano gold from a minor 1981 R&B hit from the Isley Brothers. That’s only one of the diverse grooving treasures on TIME 2 GROOVE collection, the prolific hit maker’s astounding 24th album on Shanachie Entertainment (and his 26th overall!). Vibing with mega-producer Chris “Big Dog” Davis, Waters produces his trademark mastery of blending sonically exciting, danceable sassy-funk romps with towering emotional expressions of romance and his great love for his family. Though there are radio ready gems galore, the heartfelt core of the album comes from tender dedications to his mother and twin daughters Kimberly and Kayla.