Patti Austin’s keen interest in being a total entertainer likely started when she stepped onto the stage of the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem at the age of four at the urging of music legend Dinah Washington. The daughter of jazz trombonist Gordon Austin, Patti was a recording star in her teens, achieving her first […]
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Judith Glory Hill, a renowned American singer-songwriter, boasts a career enriched by backing vocals for music icons like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Josh Groban. Her notable moment came in 2009 when she was chosen as Michael Jackson’s duet partner for “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” during his This Is It concerts. After Jackson’s passing, […]
With a trademark jump and crowd-captivating energy throughout his live show, Eric Darius is breaking the mold of modern jazz. The Billboard chart-topping, American saxophonist, songwriter, producer and performer shines in a vibrant new light as he reinvents himself through Unleashed, an expansive and ambitious genre-spanning album brimming with passion and purpose, soul and sweat, […]
Damien Escobar is a renowned artist with a diverse portfolio encompassing violinist, author, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Hailing from Jamaica, Queens, New York, his illustrious musical career spans over a decade. What sets Damien apart is not only his exceptional talent as a violinist but also his inspiring journey, marked by incredible highs, devastating lows, resilience […]
During her remarkable 21-year recording career, saxophonist/vocalist Mindi Abair has garnered two GRAMMY® nominations, recorded with some of the biggest names in music and built a substantial following among jazz and blues audiences with her soaring melodies and powerhouse style. You might know her as the featured saxophonist on American Idol, sitting in with Paul […]
An unequivocal musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer and band leader Grace Kelly has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 14 acclaimed albums and a resume that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl and as part of the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – all before reaching her mid-twenties. Grace’s early career featured […]
Larry Braggs is passionate, powerful and very spiritual. These are also the amazing attributes of his voice. Cut from the same cloth as some of the world’s greatest vocalists, Larry has one of the most notable voices in the music industry. With a vocal range over three octaves and a command of the stage like […]
Imagine how the juices will flow on the high seas for saxophonist Richard Elliot, who says he gets much of his creative inspiration from behind the wheel of his car in L.A. traffic. The Scottish-born musician has been on the music scene for more than three decades and released his 17th solo album, Lip Service, […]
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Jeffrey Osborne was the youngest of 12 children and was surrounded by music as he was growing up. Fate brought him together with the band Love Men Ltd. and after receiving his mother’s encouragement, Jeffrey left for Los Angeles to play with them. Jeffrey was originally brought on as the […]
The joy that emanates from guitarist Norman Brown while he is playing is palpable. The guitar is simply an extension of him. The multi-platinum selling and chart-topping musician is an artist who is truly in service of the music with the goal to be a force for positivity. With all of the accolades that Norman […]
“I just want to continue to explore the boundaries of what I am capable of as a musician,” declares acclaimed chart-topping trumpeter, composer and producer Rick Braun. Known for his impeccable technical chops, melodic wizardry and keen compositional prowess, the consummate Los Angeles-based musician has been thrilling audiences for decades. Braun has made a mark […]
Soulful, passionate, stirring…these are the words most often used to describe Kirk Whalum’s music. Forged from his Memphis, (TN) gospel roots and his 1980‘s initiation into the thriving Houston, TX nightclub scene, Kirk’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his. The ’80s were highlighted by Kirk’s stepping out of his blossoming sideman role and forming […]
Vanessa Williams is one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in entertainment today. She has conquered the musical charts, Broadway, music videos, television and motion pictures. She has sold millions of albums worldwide and has achieved critical acclaim as an actress on stage, in film and on television. Her albums The Right Stuff, The […]
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Gerald Albright was already an accomplished saxophonist by the time he enrolled at the University of Redlands, but he switched to bass after he saw Louis Johnson in concert. A few months after graduating from college, he joined jazz pianist/R&B singer Patrice Rushen, who was in the process of forming her own […]
Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley Heralded by Quincy Jones as the “baddest vocal cats on the planet,” Take 6 is the quintessential a cappella group and model for vocal genius. Six virtuosic voices united in crystal clear harmony, against a backdrop of syncopated rhythms, innovative arrangements and funky […]
Patrice Rushen is an award-winning musician and composer who is also one of the most sought-after artists in the music industry. She is a classically trained pianist who originally found success in the 70s and 80s with her signature fusion of jazz, pop and R&B. During this era, she composed and recorded the hit song, “Forget […]
Music prodigy Vincent Ingala is no stranger to contemporary jazz audiences. His heartfelt, sweet and soulful mix has catapulted him to the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts, garnering him three Billboard #1s, and eight top 10 hits. He burst onto the contemporary jazz scene in 2010 with the release of his critically heralded debut North End Soul. […]
One of the most recognized and sought-after saxophonists, two-time GRAMMY nominee Mindi Abair has been electrifying audiences with her dynamic live performances and sax prowess since her debut album in 1999. In 2014, Mindi received her first GRAMMY nomination in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category, followed by a 2015 GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album […]
In a career that spans nearly four decades, over a dozen solo recordings and countless performances, Peter White has maintained a reputation as one of the most versatile and prolific acoustic guitarists on the contemporary jazz landscape. Armed with an unparalleled combination of lyricism and energy, he combines elements of jazz, pop and classical guitar to create a sound […]
Having toured the world over and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music (think Prince, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie and Beyonce), Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer brings her worldly musical perspective to The Smooth Jazz Cruise. With solo album sales exceeding the 2.5 million mark, the staple on the large festival circuit performs for sold-out crowds throughout the […]
In a time when artists of optimism are at a premium, Jonathan Butler is a shining example of purposeful excellence. From recording local hits as a teenager growing up during the apartheid of South Africa, Butler went on to become a world-renowned singer, guitarist and songwriter delivering soulful salvos of R&B, gospel, jazz and pop. […]
Over the course of crafting a 25-album catalog and architecting nearly 40 Billboard number one singles as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Brian Culbertson has charted his own unique course in music. Brian composed 30 songs that populate the three albums in The Trilogy that describes the arc of a relationship: the hot and steamy “falling in love” phase, […]
With a career that encompasses 5 Grammy Awards, numerous chart successes and personal and professional accolades, as well as collaborations with some of the world’s most prominent artists, Michael McDonald remains an enduring force in popular music. Hailing from St. Louis, McDonald arrived in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, honing his talents as a studio musician before […]
In a solo career now spanning 31 years and eighteen albums, twelve of Boney James records have topped the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and two have reached top 10 on the R&B Albums Chart. To date, James has racked up sales of more than three million records, four RIAA gold albums, four GRAMMY® nominations, […]