Listening Loft Store

It’s no surprise that multi-instrumentalist/producer John Paris and saxophonist Eddie M – who fuse their ample, adventurous talents and superstar resumes as super funky R&B/urban jazz duo Back 2 Basics – have created such an explosive, wildly contemporary jam out of Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time,” freshly re-imagined as “Do You Remember” to pay amped up homage to the spirit of MJ. The longtime drummer for Earth, Wind & Fire, Paris has worked with Patti Labelle and late greats Wayman Tisdale, Donna Summer and Natalie Cole, while Mininfield has collaborated with Prince, Sheila E., Stevie Nicks, Beyoncé and many others. This track is fueled by Paris’ slappin’ bass and powerful drums, Mininfield’s punchy horns and sax soloing along with special guest, R&B supergroup Blackstreet vocalist Dave Hollister!

It’s listed as a “Fun Fact” on her bio, but when you listen to multi-talented, genre-busting (blues, jazz, pop soul) pianist, vocalist and composer/producer Jill Butler’s aptly titled, wildly and adventurous debut JOYRIDE, you’ll know it’s truly her ongoing mission – devoting 100% of her time to uplifting the soul and uniting hearts through music. She brings her fiery and frolicsome, homegrown Louisiana lightning to a slate featuring both shimmering, percussive piano driven originals (including tributes to her professional musician parents and regional legend Carol Fran) and fanciful twists on classics by Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Charlie Chaplain and New Orleans great Allen Toussaint. While ensembling with a cadre of Louisiana Music Hall of Famers, Butler also spins fascinating flute, vibes and organ sounds on her synth.  

Worlds away from the laid-back chill vibes of his earlier singles, former IT expert Bob Coate has found a much more engaging, fresh, funked-out high energy flow since joining forces in 2024 with producers Peet Ferencz (Peet Project) and Smoothjazz.com founder Sandy Shore, as well as Peet Project's fiery former sax man Peter Herold. Keeping his melodic and improvisational keyboard magic front and center, Coate follows the team's global smooth jazz hits "Love Like That" and "Forward Flow" (#1 on the Top 100 Smooth Jazz charts in Spain and Latin America) with the equally spirited and rambunctious "Power Surge," which lives up to its name with swagger, heartfelt power and simmering organ flavors under the main melody line. It's the perfect fall pick-me-up! 

Celebrating two decades as a boundary‑pushing keyboardist and sonic architect, NY/NJ‑based Mike Di Lorenzo turns up the heat with his irresistibly smooth, super‑funky album MODERN TIMES. A master of blending jazz sophistication with dance‑floor grooves, Di Lorenzo expands his palette on the ultra‑groovy new single “Ooh, Aha,” a silky, head‑nodding standout showcasing his flair for sensual rhythm and melodic charm. His creative chemistry with powerhouse vocalists Anna Moore and Sonna Rele underscores his vision and relevance, while saxophonist Frank Elmo fuels the album’s dynamic edge. Across the project, Di Lorenzo conjures swirling atmospheres, fashion‑forward textures, and thumping beats that define his next‑level artistry.

Jeff Logan’s new album SYMPHONY unfolds like a melodic opus, showcasing the multi‑instrumentalist’s expansive artistry as a producer, arranger, poet, and visionary creator. The project reflects Logan’s signature 4M philosophy — Melody, Message, Music for a Movement — weaving Smooth Jazz with shades of Neo‑Soul, R&B, Gospel, and Spoken Word. Its first single, “The Soft Kiss,” is a laid‑back instant classic that highlights his fluid touch and emotional depth. Fresh off global success with INDIGO and collaborations with Grammy winner Paul Brown, Logan continues to refine his craft while building an ever‑growing catalog through his Fire & Ice Network, with more standout releases planned for 2026.
 

The title of veteran soprano sax virtuoso Dee Lucas' last two albums tells his remarkable creative story - first a commitment to making exciting, urban-flavored Smooth Jazz with no restrictions on NO BOUNDARIES, and then an emphatic celebration of his 20 fruitful, radio hit filled years as a four-time chart topping recording artist on TWENTY. Forging ahead, he keeps the theme of sharing music without limitations - and his freewheeling, elegant soul-funk vibes hoppin' - on his latest single "No Strings Attached." The track offers a soul-fired blend of spirited thumping grooves and sweetly lyrical, ultra-melodic and adventurous playing. Lucas is also an innovator on the business side, starting his career with his own label, Mo' Better Recordings, and in 2017 launching ODL Music, which allows him to steer his career with vision.

In addition to his elegant, fancifully melodic and improvisational playing style, multi-faceted composer, pianist, arranger and producer Michael Mani brings an impressively diverse background to his emergence in Smooth Jazz with his consistently 
delightful debut album TRIANGLES. Launching his career working with pop superstars at Narada Michael Walden’s Tarpan Studios, Mani won a Best Rock Instrumental Performance Grammy for a tune on Santana’s classic Supernatural album, has developed artists like Tori Kelly and Becky G and runs the popular independent L.A. based studio The JAM. With dynamic contributions by Nils, Mike Parlett and Tony Saunders, the album finds the keyboardist strutting his stuff while shining bold spotlights on his passions for light funk, seductive ballads, breezy topicality, and exotic Brazilian vibes.
 

San Diego’s James Morgan Jazz delivers a playful, irresistible nod to Wes Montgomery with their sun‑soaked new single
“Wes Coast Smooth.” Crafted with unmistakable California ease, the track spotlights Morgan’s fluid, expressive guitar
tone as it glides over the lush keys of Chase Pado, Nathan Brown’s deep‑pocket bass, and Tres Hodgens’ dynamic rhythms.
As the band’s third and most anticipated release—following the success of “Live Love” and “Frequency of Love”—the single
captures the warm, melodic charm that defines their signature West Coast sound. Mixed and mastered by Peet Ferencz (Peet
Project) alongside SmoothJazz.com founder Sandy Shore, “Wes Coast Smooth” arrives with polish, personality, and pure
coastal groove.
 

Inspired early on by Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis and Chick Corea, keyboardist/composer Sunnie Paxson is a fascinating, multi-faceted talent whose resume and discography include both straight ahead and Smooth Jazz and work with everyone from Larry Carlton, Maysa and Pamela Williams to Michael Paulo and Eric Darius. Once again, after releasing the straight-ahead album BOHEMIAN SUN on Stanley Clarke's Roxboro Entertainment label, she has collaborated with the legendary bassist on her latest Smooth Jazz single, the high spirited, soulfully swaggering "Chance Acquaintance." A grand showcase for her keyboard wizardry in conjunction with the artistry of Clarke, Sekou Bunch and Paul Jackson, Jr. among others, it's an artfully melodic, rhythmically tight expression of the reality that some of the most important people in our lives enter through pure, unscripted chance.

There are some excellent reasons to call this classically trained pianist, multi-instrumentalist and composer "Mr. Kool." While leading his popular 8-piece horn ensemble, The Kool Breeze Band, the Georgia native's 2020 breakthrough single "Mr. Kool" has racked up 3.7M+ streams on Spotify. Beyond its joyful infectiousness and stellar playing, the 'koolest' part of Jim Richter's latest album DREAM DANCE is its adventurous approach to Smooth Jazz that makes the classically trained pianist just as likely to dazzle us with his spritely ivory skills as he is to regale us with his sparkling Fender Rhodes energy, crackling lead guitar and dynamic horn arrangements. With nods to the legends, Bob James, Dave Grusin and Pat Metheny, we're excited that this multi-genre, multi-instrumentalist has delivered a truly in-the-pocket album designed just for contemporary jazz lovers!

Renowned Italian composer Paolo Rustichelli follows his dreams… Literally! The synth music pioneer awoke from a lucid dream where he was playing music with Ludwig van Beethoven and immediately began creating a fusion between an original modern dance jam and one of Beethoven's most well-known pieces, "Für Elise." The result is "Elise Dance," a fun-filled, jazzy tune that bridges the classical 1770s with the disco era of the 1970s! That's the stuff that dreams are made of and that's why this visionary has been performing with icons the likes of Miles Davis and Carlos Santana for decades! From maestro to maestro, this is a one-man band production featuring Paolo on all instruments, production and arrangement!

Three-time #1 Billboard Smooth Jazz charting flute virtuoso Kim Scott heads full steam ahead into 2026 with a track whose title perfectly captures the slyly cool, mystical fluttery on her playful new single, "Hide & Seek." A longtime member of Gail Jhonson's Jazz in Pink collective, Scott spreads her wings with equal splashes of romantic charm and playful whimsy, along with tender moments of contemplative soul. Though her performance of the memorable melody more than lives up to the Smooth Jazz Ride's assessment of her "Pied Piper-like allure and magic style," it's her soaring improvisational excitement that reflects the deeper aspects of her artistry and classical training.

After dropping an incredible five lead singles, the anticipation for versatile internationally acclaimed saxophonist Nick Stefanacci's long-awaited follow-up to his 2024 EP SECRETS is over with the release of EN FUEGO, whose spot on title captures the intense passion and effusive energy of his horn playing. Though his catchy, silky yet smoldering melodies are right in the Smooth Jazz pocket - including one soaring ballad featuring pianist Jay Rowe - there are also world rhythms and Latin vibes galore, no doubt inspired by his time living and touring in Spain and Europe. While every tune serves as a master class in sax seduction, Stefanacci creates a true emotional centerpiece with his opening and closing vocal and instrumental renditions of the sassy, brass-fired "Dime Que Me Quede."

When veteran composer and multi-instrumentalist Will Sumner released his debut album TROPIC ZONE 45 years ago, he lived in Minnesota and worked with everyone from Prince, Yanni and The Peterson Family. Decades later as a popular Smooth Jazz artist, he followed a handful of electric guitar focused beach themed albums with two recent collections paying heartfelt homage to his mom, his longtime family home of Carlsbad, CA and an alfalfa farm in Apple Valley once owned by his grandmother. Sumner's latest collection RIVERS rolls along breezily on a colorful, ultra-melodic mix of his jazz, funk and rock sensibilities, balancing exciting electric soul with warm, laid-back acoustic grace. Its many stylistic twists and turns make it feel like the Smooth Jazz equivalent of one of the symphonies he's written throughout his career.

Jayson Tipp's new single "Bridgetown" is a vibrant reimagining of a beloved Under The Lake classic, showcasing the seasoned composer's evolution while honoring three decades of contemporary jazz excellence. Tipp's signature "rough jazz" sensibility-shaped by influences like Bob James, Pat Metheny, and Jeff Lorber-shines through his expressive keyboard work. Joined by guitarist Joel Del Rosario, bassist Roberto Vally, and drummer Gorden Campbell, the track delivers a sleek, modern groove anchored by impeccable musicianship. Following the success of his 2025 string of singles, Tipp's refreshed take on "Bridgetown" continues his streak of standout releases, blending nostalgia with renewed creative energy. It's a smooth, melodic reminder of Tipp's enduring artistry and his remarkable journey from bandleader to solo innovator.

With the release of his stylistically eclectic, alternately lyrical, explosively grooving and exotic star-studded debut album LUMINA WAY, veteran drummer Tom Zygmont caps a multi-faceted four-and-a-half decade career that includes hundreds of performances with musical icons (among them, Chuck Mangione, Johnny Mathis and Spencer Davis) and 24 years in product development at Remo Drums. Though there's plenty of hooky, urban-vibing smoothness, the collection also includes more intense and adventurous, boundary busting contemporary jazz and world music. Reflecting his deep studio resume, Zygmont works with a stellar array of L.A. greats, including guitarist/producer Terry Wollman, guitarist Jennifer Batten, percussionists Leon Mobley, Luis Conte and MB Gordy, bassist Abraham Laboriel, Sr., trumpeter/flugelhornist Wayne Bergeron, renowned saxophonist Brandon Fields and harmonica virtuoso Tollak Ollestad. It's an extraordinary, multi-faceted and brilliantly performed jam!