(January 1, 2022) / Written by: Chris Rizik of soultracks.com He has been an artist’s artist, and one of the most revered musician of the past two decades. Tonight we say a sad goodbye to guitarist and vocalist Nick Colionne, who reportedly died in his sleep early this morning. The Chicago native began playing guitar as a pre-teen, and by his mid-t…

Aneessa kicked off her stateside debut with a winning cover of Soul II Soul’s 1989 anthem, “Back to Life,” which has cracked the Top 10 of Billboard Magazine’s “Smooth Jazz” chart. In a similar thematic vein is Aneessa’s cover of Madonna’s “Miles Away” which she relates to so deeply for its message of a long-distance relationship. Aneessa and Micha…

Review by Eliana Fermi on September 12, 2020: Saxophonist, flutist Paula Atherton has enjoyed a long and varied career in contemporary and mainstream jazz. Her acumen on her instruments are poised and adept. Her full-length album Can You Feel It has already begun to garner real accolade with her single also titled “Can You Feel It,” landing a #1 hi…

Canadian-born, Toronto-native Rob Tardik is a multi-award winning guitarist and contemporary pop/jazz/world/fusion instrumental music artist. He has performed at venues all across North America including the prestigious Seabreeze Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, Beaches International Jazz Festival, Jazz on the Vine in Wisconsin, The Catalina…

Sheldon Ferguson is a Grammy-nominated guitarist who is originally from Columbia, SC and currently resides in Atlanta, GA. He earned his Bachelors in Professional Music with an emphasis in Performance and Production at Berklee College of Music. In 2011 Sheldon released his first smooth jazz album titled The Brighter Side, at the age of seventeen. S…

In the October Issue of Grimes Magazine they wrote about Zach Sanders, "Zach Sanders, a native of Columbia, South Carolina, has been wowing crowds with his dynamic and energetic saxophone playing, since the age 14. While his star has shown brightly throughout the Carolinas, he has begun to branch out nationally and has shocked the world with his ne…

National Smooth Jazz Recording Artist Judah Sealy is a Billboard Charting Saxophonist, Keyboardist, and Producer from Rochester N.Y. Judah Sealy’s unique sound comes from a blend of vintage R&B, gospel, neo-soul and funk with some contemporary R&B influences as well. Judah's smooth saxophone style is heavily influenced by Kirk Whalum, George Furlow…

Christian “Big New York” de Mesones has been playing bass guitar for over 40 years. He was only 18 years old when he graduated from the world-famous Bass Institute of Technology (now the Musician’s Institute) in Hollywood, California where he had the opportunity to study and workshop with greats such as Abe Laboriel, Louis Johnson, Tim Bogart, Howa…

A thrilling performer and one on the rise, vocalist and multi-instrumental soul/jazz artist Marcus Adams is a sign that the new crop of smooth jazz artists can certainly carry the torch. Working on his sophomore studio album, he combines R&B, Soul, and Jazz to create songs that takes the listeners on a musical ride of the highs of love and depths o…

A native of San Diego, California, Ms. Antoinette’s diverse repertoire consists of classical, smooth jazz, and R&B music. She has performed for The President and First Lady Of The United States, Barack and Michelle Obama, and at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with the Southeast Symphony Orchestra. Her solo performances have taken her a…

Alex Parchment is a dedicated musician, producer, and artist. He has been honing his trumpet and piano skills for years with his acceptance into the Rosa Parks High School of the Fine and Performing arts in Paterson, New Jersey, Jazz House Kids' inaugural class, and through Howard University's rigorous music education major. Alex has had the opport…

Join us for a conversation with guitarist Nils about his new release, Caught In The Groove featuring, Oliver C. Brown (percussion), Johnny Britt (organ, vocals, and horns), Mitch Forman (piano), Derrick Dmar Martin, Tony Moore, Gorden Cambell (drums), Darryl Williams, Reggie McBride, Darryl Jones, Carsten Schmelzer (bass), Clydene Jackson (Rhodes),…

Marcus Anderson’s thirteenth album “HERO” features thirteen original compositions, which is the quintessential soundtrack of our lives with a common thread of inspiration, perseverance, passion, and resilience. A new-age fusion jazz artist, Anderson’s music – as well as his message- is even more powerful and poignant in the current political, envir…

There are only a few established artists who are capable of reinventing themselves and jazz guitarist and Billboard chart-topper U-Nam is certainly one of them. As if to prove it he will release the genre-busting “U-Nam Goes Big Band”, 03/27/2020, on the Skytown Records label. “U-Nam Goes Big Band”, a sumptuous eleven-track rendering of sophisticat…

Through his three prior Mack Avenue Music Group releases and his attention-grabbing work with the likes of Christian McBride, Bobby Watson, Karriem Riggins, Jeremy Pelt, and the SFJAZZ Collective, Warren Wolf has established himself as the foremost straight-ahead vibraphonist of his generation, a bop torchbearer well equipped to carry the mantle of…

Guitarist David P. Stevens is back with a KILLER new five-track EP called Vibrations. Not only is playing the guitar but singing his ass off on the tracks "Natural" w/Latoya London and soloing on "I Just Can't Wait." Keivu Knox of Soultracks.com wrote: "David P Stevens has crafted a successful six-album run in his career to date, and as number seve…

Drummer Kenne Thomas believes that "art reflects life" and focuses on developing social skills and cooperative interaction through drumming. Contemporary jazz, mixing driving swing numbers and smooth jazz tracks for the modern jazz fan. The group's seasoned musician's blistering solos will have you listening over and over again. Follow Kenne on Fac…

Marcus Adams is an artist and producer that has shared the stage with and for some notable household names. Honing his craft in church, he established himself as an intricate member of the Christian Faith Fellowship Church’s band under the direction of the late maestro Cornell Thigpen. While there, he produced a project for his sisters, ‘A Touch of…

By and large ‘Raise The Roof’ is the ‘Ronny Smith Show’ front back and center. Not only does he play guitar, keys, and bass throughout he also arranges, produces and programs all ten tunes. Eight of these are original compositions cleverly complemented by the addition of two immaculately crafted covers. The first is an edgy interpretation of the Bi…

Lisa Addeo is a Pianist/Vocalist/Composer whose single 'Listen To This' is #1 in Billboard, #1 on the Smooth Jazz Network and #1 on Mediabase chart. Her music is currently heard in homes across America on Music Choice’s Smooth Jazz channel, and Sirius XM's Watercolors, Siriusly Sinatra and Holiday Traditions channels, Lisa Addeo is comfortable play…

Talking Smooth Jazz welcomes guitarist Patrick Yandall to talk about his new release, Jazz on the Vine.Por Talking Smooth Jazz

Soulful. Inspiring. Authentic. True. Just a few words that people use to describe them and their artistry, and yet ASCENDANT are…simply that…ascendant…rising above. From its start, ASCENDANT has been rising above…their critics, their fears, their obstacles and creating meaningful, soul-filled music in an era when such artistic statements just aren’…

Spontaneous Groovin' Combustion is woodwindist/composer/producer Warren Keller, and his like-minded & like-souled band of musicians. A lifelong singer/songwriter, and instrumentalist, Warren had tasted minor success on the New York City rock and roll and Nashville country scenes in the 1980s and 90s. In 2016, Warren rededicated himself to music, wi…

Kenny Nightingale is an American based smooth jazz recording artist with a fusion of gospel sounds and contemporary jazz with world beat grooves. His father owned a musical school in Nigeria, where Kenny first learned the art of playing the saxophone. After mastering the saxophone in the ghetto, he also learned how to play the piano, guitar and dru…

Bernard “BK” Jackson is an international-performing saxophonist, electrifying audiences across the globe with his unique playing style, energetic stage presence and unparalleled passion for music that touches the soul. A native of Tampa, Florida, he goes by the stage name “BK Jackson” and has crossed musical paths with industry giants such as B.B K…

Cal’s new album “Soulful” has been released everywhere. Cal Harris Jr. returns with his long-awaited 3rd Release “Soulful”. This collection of emotionally captivating instrumentals speaks volumes without saying a word. His first album on the Innervision Records label includes the #1 hits “Soulful” and “Timeline.” The record features guest performan…

After Dinner, a short collection of instrumental R&B, grooves, and smooth jazz is Ahmad Johnson's first time creating a [moodmusick] project in...a long time. If you know his work, that says it all. If you don't, this would be a good time to learn more about him. Follow Ahmad Johson on Facebook, Twitter@JohnsonKyd, and Instagram @johnsonthreesixten…

fo/mo/deep = An Eclectic Groove Oriented – Funky Jazz Collective. Best known for their sizzling live performances, the fo/mo/deep groove is rooted in the experimental school of the 70s…a time when jazz, soul, and funk were one and the same. Seeking to defy the ordinary, this diverse collective of seasoned pros keeps things stirred up with unpredict…

Singer/Songwriter KEA (Kea Michaels) is swiftly proving herself as an outstanding and soul-piercing new artist with her June 21-slated second single, “Not My Friend,” the follow-up to her poignant debut “I Love You” which peaked at #1 on four U.K. Soul charts, was picked up by the BBC, received support from several U.S. Smooth Jazz outlets and was …

JWhite debuted as a solo artist with the 2012 album “New Jazz Swagger: Reloaded.” His sax play is a swirl of modern jazz with straight-ahead jazz references, emoting rich melodies and lush harmonic passes atop sensual R&B tracks. Competing at the Warren Hill Sax Summit in 2013 helped him win slots to perform at the San Diego Jazz Festival, Las Vega…

Trippin "N" Rhythm's recording artist, producer and keyboardist, Nicholas Cole is back with a hot new album called The Weekend. It features Elliot Yamin (American Idol), Kay-Ta Matsuno, and Chieli Minucci. "Nicholas Cole's new album The Weekend has twist and esprit. Impressive is the density of hit-suspicious material, which you rarely encounter in…

Talking Smooth Jazz welcomes vocalist Kymberli to discuss her debut release, I've Been Here All The Time, a Smooth Jazz CD featuring cover songs that pay homage to legends such as Nancy Wilson, Isley Brothers, Burt Bacharach, Deniece Williams and Chaka Khan. Follow Kymberli on Facebook@kimberlylewis, Twitter@KALewismusic, and Instagram@kimberlyalew…

The lovely Nigerian songbird we know as Douyé has decided to take an off-ramp from the highway of smooth/contemporary jazz and lend her delicious vocals to the world of bossa nova/samba with a touch of straight-ahead jazz leanings. Following the path that a few other c-jazz artists have taken (Patti Austin comes to mind), the songstress, through th…

The Queen City Jazz Collective (QCJC) is made up of a group of gifted musicians who reside in the great city of Charlotte, North Carolina. Not just artist who use their musical gifts in Charlotte, but musicians who have shared their gifts individually throughout the world. Blending a musical mixture of smooth jazz with a touch of soul, the QCJC wil…

Born and raised in Houston TX, Chris Walker began singing before he began speaking. He got his start in the church as a member of his family gospel group, The Walker Brothers. Chris plays the bass upside down like one of his early hero’s Jimi Hendrix. The Walker’s raised their children with a strong hand, and once Chris graduated from the High Scho…

Charles Wright was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where he grew up and was musically inclined by playing the guitar and singing in several doo-wop groups, including, The Twilighters, The Shield, and The Gallahads. Wright briefly worked as A&R Director for Del-Fi Records and was responsible for the hit recording of “Those Oldies But Goodies (Remin…

Daniel D. is a classically trained contemporary violinist who began performing live at age 12. A graduate of the Charleston School of the Arts, Daniel gained national recognition as a teenager for his blend of Hip Hop, R&B, & Gospel with performances for President Obama, Oprah Winfrey & Michael Jackson and as a featured performer on B.E.T. His ener…

Since 1997, PHAZE II has been providing Smooth and Funky Jazz sounds on the local music scene in the Washington, DC area, by honing its craft of delivering quality music to their listeners. PHAZE II has embarked on a journey to show the world the many talents that this jazz band has to offer. In 2001, PHAZE II released its first CD entitled, Option…

Talking Smooth Jazz welcomes owners of Vino Del Lago's Wine & Jazz Lounge to discuss their inaugural jazz festival happening Sat, 25 May 2019, featuring: Ronnie Laws, Jeff Kashiwa, Brian Simpson, Steve Oliver, Darren Motamedy, Dirk K, Vince Preister & Michael Henegan, and Habaka KFJ, and hosted by Pamela Black, radio personality at KUNV, and Jay Al…

As a Composer, Producer, Arranger, and Multi-Instrumentalist, Bobi Serafirmovski brings a unique international flair and the flavor of Europe to Music on Mack Avenue. A native of Macedonia, a modern country in Southeastern Europe bordering Greece, his cultural roots and strong historical tradition are evident in his original compositions, film and …

This seminal group, purveyors of all that is funky and groovy announces the re-release of it's long out of print first three recordings now available on the Trippin N Rhythm record label and a soon to be released special edition box set with the inclusion of live tracks; Staten Island Groove, Concrete Jungle, Brooklyn Heights and Deja Vu recorded l…

Talking Smooth Jazz welcomes author, poet, and lyricist Zemill to the show. Zemill is the CEO of "The PoJazz Experience", a combination of Smooth Jazz, Smooth R&B, Spoken Word and Neo-Soul blended together. It's smooth grooves and mellow moods and words that lift you up and move you. We'll talk to Zemill about his new cd "Intimate Pleasures", his b…

Saxophonist Elan Trotman has quickly become one of jazz’s most thrilling and emotive performers as he continues to stand out and push boundaries as a composer, performer, teacher and recording artist. Trotman’s playing, though inspired by Grover Washington, Jr., Kirk Whalum, and Najee, displays his own fresh ideas and distinctive tone. So much so t…

Thasaint is an Independent writer/ producer/musician that has been self-producing and honing his craft for more than 28 years. He is an award winning Illustrative artist who not only creates by his hands but with his mind. Thasaint creates and produces music for just about any genre with more focus towards Smooth Jazz and Adult Contemporary R&B. He…

Her story of survival will amaze you. Her voice will captivate your ears down to your heart. Candace Woodson answers the call for those who love soulful R&B and talented unfiltered vocals. Born in Paducah, KY, she began singing at the age of five with her older sisters in a gospel group called the Parks Sisters. Although her roots are in gospel, af…

Chicago-based artist, and Los Angeles native, Marqueal Jordan is the rare musician who is blessed with the gift of being equally proficient as an instrumentalist and a vocalist. His distinctive saxophone tone and style, combined with his soulful vocals, places him in the tradition of legendary dual talents, Donny Hathaway and George Benson. His deb…

Well known throughout Europe and the US as a musical trendsetter and innovative player in Instrumental Music, Soul, and R&B, Emmanuel “U-Nam” Abiteboul has more than earned his reputation as a virtuosic guitarist and producer. Since his move to the US from Paris, France in 2007, Guitarist U-Nam has had the opportunity to perform, record and produce…

Talking Smooth Jazz welcomes National Recording Artist & Jazz Pianist William Green releases his latest CD, “Mind Rush”, celebrating 40 years in the music industry. Green, one of Atlanta’s most celebrated musicians, composer, songwriter, vocalist, and producer is known to deliver funky, upbeat, soulful and contemporary jazz sounds, but what some ma…

Described as having “…a beautiful instrument, a truly warm and gorgeous sound…” audiences have been inclined to feel as though they come away from a performance post an intimate conversation rather than crowded venue. One listener says there is a “…natural honest element…as though singing is an extension of her breathing.” The dynamic tones, soulfu…

Singer, Leonard Dozier returns with his fourth album, “Sunday Word”, preceded by the exceptionally infectious single, “Fly,” a pop-flavored soul-infused original tune, penned by Leonard with collaborator (former Atlantic recording artist) Jamie Myerson. With a more immediate response than to his previous work - in particular from college radio and …