Results for "Smooth Jazz"

John Joseph Trinckes

John and Linda Trinckes John and Linda Trinckes met less than 3 years ago. It was just over a year after both of them lost loved ones who passed on. After raising children, working to pay the bills and taking care of others who were seriously ill, they had both put their talents and dreams on hold. John taught music for 38 years, but had always wanted to write original music. Linda wrote poetry and sang, but never pursued songwriting, or sang much in public. Immediately after they met, they began singing together. Now, in less than 3 years, they have 80 original songs, 12 albums or EPs, and a musical

MarQuis Hunt

MarQuis (pronounced MAR-kwis) is a Stellar Award nominated recording artist most noted for his expertise playing soprano saxophone, but he is equally gifted on alto and tenor sax. He has performed, written and produced for Grammy and Dove Award-nominated albums. With an impressive résumé, MarQuis has shared stages and performed on albums with Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Backstreet Boys, Fred Hammond, Ben Tankard and many notable others. MarQuis was recognized and nominated as Best Jazz Artist by the Central Arkansas Music Awards. He is recommended by the Arkansas Arts Council and is a member of the prestigious Arts on Tour program

JAKSPIN

Born: December 10, 1982

JAKSPIN is a Greek/Lebanese producer, singer and DJ born and raised in Cologne, Germany, where he started writing rhymes at the age of 12, deejaying at age 14. He embarked on his musical career as a DJ in Cologne's legendary underground soul music club called Kauri Keller. His first official release was a party break 12“ vinyl winning the Club Bangaz Worldwide competition. After remixing R&B songs for the label Da Source Records he finally metamorphosed into the artist JAKSPIN with a new sound ranging from lofi hip hop beats to vintage 70s Jazz and R&B grooves. He began to gain recogintion with the release of his first beat tape „Beats From the Attic“

Michael J Thomas

Born: July 14

Sax player and vocalist Michael J. Thomas was 19 when he joined the Rockabilly/Jump Blues band Jive Rockets, which opened for the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Bill Haley’s Original Comets. While gaining a foothold in contemporary urban jazz since moving to Destin, FL, Thomas’ busy gig schedule allows him to both play sax and sing in a wide array of genres.

Thomas, who became an instant contemporary urban jazz sensation when his single “Baby Coffee” stayed at #1 on the Billboard National Smooth Jazz Airplay and Smooth Jazz Songs charts in 2017/2018, has been on a momentous roll. “I’ll Never Love Again,” his explosive re-imagining of the Lady Gaga hit from “A Star is Born,” became his second #1 Billboard smash, dominating the smooth jazz airwaves throughout 2019. Thomas’ cleverly titled, silky light funk follow-up single “Sippin’ The Yak” hit #2 on the charts, remained in the Top 5 for nine weeks, and rounded out 2020 on Billboard’s Year-End Smooth Jazz Songs chart at #5. “Baby Coffee” currently has over 2.7 million streams on Apple Music, while “Sippin’ the Yak” is up to over 1.6 million and 1.5 million on Spotify. Another one of his enduring hits was “I’ll Never Love Again,” an explosive re-imagining of the Lady Gaga hit from “A Star is Born,” which became Michael’s second #1 smash, dominating the airwaves throughout 2019.

Isaiah Stewart

Born: January 6, 1976

MORE THAN 7.6 MILLION LISTENERS WORLDWIDE Isaiah Stewart is a professional ASCAP recording artist whose albums – SUMMER BEAT (featuring Randy Brecker, Eumir Deodato, Tom Scott), THRILL RIDE (featuring Jamie Glaser), GROOVE GARDEN, URBAN PLAYGROUND and LIFE GAMES – deliver explosive all-original music that unites the worlds of funk, jazz, soul, hip-hop and rock into one powerful musical experience. Since releasing his debut album 18 years ago, Isaiah Stewart's music has been streamed and downloaded by over 7.6 million listeners worldwide. MADONNA & EMINEM...REALLY? Isaiah's global popularity as a recording artist initially exploded August 2001 when "Midtown Funk," the hit jazz/funk song from LIFE GAMES, hit #15 on MP3.com's overall Top 40, beating out tracks from popular artists such as Eminem, Madonna, Linkin Park, Mariah Carey, Faith Hill, The Offspring and Sum 41. At the time, MP3.com was the world's No

Warren Keller

Born: September 28, 1965

The child of a concert pianist and teacher, and a world-class operatic baritone, Warren began playing and singing early. His father, Howard Keller, blessed with an incredible baritone voice, studied with Carlton Gauld (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlton_Gauld). Warren's dear mother, Roslyn, apprenticed with several luminaries: Anatole Kitain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatole_Kitain), Constance Keene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constance_Keene), and her husband Abram Chasins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abram_Chasins). As a teacher, 'Roz' was responsible for developing the talents of Joel Levine, musical director emeritus of the Oklahoma Philharmonic, and Sting’s occasional accompanist, Ken Helman. Warren has sung, played woodwinds (tenor/alto saxophone, flute), and written music on the New York City and Nashville music scenes. Warren was fortunate enough to have studied with the late, great Kenny Davern (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Davern), who began his career with Jack Teagarden, and was a multiple winner of the Downbeat Poll for soprano sax and clarinet. Three other master teachers were Gerry Orrico, fabulous alto sax and alto flute player for the Tex Benecke Orchestra and The Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, vocal coach Marty Lawrence who taught everyone from Vicki Carr to David Coverdale, and guitarist Gary Talley of The Box Tops. Warren says that to have benefited from their level of musicianship humbles him. While playing classical clarinet and jazz sax with high school ensembles, he began his professional career with friends from New Jersey in the band 'Harper.' Though having aspirations of performing original music, they remained largely a cover band, albeit, one of the Jersey Shore's best. While the formative years from 1973-1979 were spent with this one act, Warren's singing, playing, and performing abilities were honed by the variety of styles they covered, and their extensive travels as a road band in the US and Canada. Beginning as a Chicago Transit Authority clone playing over 40 of their songs, Harper morphed into a Disco-Funk act, covering everything from Earth, Wind, and Fire, to Crown Heights Affair. It was at this time that Harper became the backup band of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer and Motown producer Terry Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_%22Buzzy%22_Johnson) and his Flamingos ("I Only Have Eyes for You"). Their days with these veteran performers were both educational and fun. After Harper left Terry, Warren stepped out from his role as saxophonist, percussionist, and occasional singer, to become lead singer/front man. Harper evolved into a Top-40 hard rock act, doing Springsteen, Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Kansas, and Boston, as well as vestiges of their horn-oriented and funky past. In their final incarnation before Warren's departure in 1979, he had introduced the band to the new wave of the Clash, Elvis Costello, and The Cars.

Kenne Thomas' Lifeforce

Herb Partlow

Born: July 23, 1961

Herb Partlow is a veteran in the music business. He has covered a broad range of roles that range from radio personality, artist, writer, producer, manager, recording and mastering engineer. FUTURE JAZZ is his new release on the Superb Muzic label. Herb plays keyboards, piano, bass guitar, along with drum programming and string arrangements. Allen Omenka Webb and J. L. P. are featured saxophonists, and Ricardo Love adds awesome guitar licks to the project. "My collaborators give voice to my music." The Future Jazz EP is designed to create a degree of disruption in the jazz music genre

Francis Hon

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Francis Hon (洪維浩) began playing classical piano at the age of six. In 2011, Francis moved to the United States to pursue a Doctorate in Piano Performance at The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Gregory Allen, the Grand Prize winner of the 1980 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition. Francis was always influenced by a variety of musical genres, which formed the foundation of his future musical style. Francis ignited his passion for jazz music in Austin, “the live music capital of the world.” While continuing his classical piano studies, he took up jazz piano with Jeff Hellmer and started playing with many musicians on the Austin jazz scene. He also worked as the Assistant Artistic Director and Lead Pianist for “Life in the City,” a weekly concert with jazz music and other genres. Francis’ final doctorate thesis in the work of Nikolai Kapustin solidified his interest in combining elements of classical music with the jazz idiom.

Vel Lewis

Born: November 30, 1954

Vel Lewis (legal name is Velbert Lewis, Jr.) is an American contemporary jazz musician born on November 30, 1954, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His primary instrument of choice is the Hammond organ; however he also plays piano, synthesizer keyboards, drums, and electric bass guitar.

He began his music career in 1965 as a 1st soprano vocalist with the Philadelphia All-Boys Choir under the direction of Dr. Carlton J. Lake. He attended Settlement Music School for vocal/piano training. He also began studies on concert flute. In 1966, he switched from flute to organ, and advanced to 1st soprano soloist in the Philadelphia All-Boys Choir Small Ensemble group. In 1967, he traveled with the Philadelphia All-Boys Choir Small Ensemble to Montreal, Canada and appeared at Expo ’67 as lead soloist. In 1968, he continued organ studies on the Hammond organ with Mr. Milton Myers, then with Dr. E. Woodley Kalehoff, Sr., White House pianist to U.S. President Harry Truman in 1969 for three years. He attended Overbrook High School between 1969 and 1972. During these years, he performed on a televised jazz program playing organ with drummer Gerry Brown and bassist John Lee, and recorded Hammond organ on gospel recording sessions for ABC's Peacock Record label with producer Ira Tucker, Sr. for albums by groups known as The Sensational Nightingales, The Gospelaires, and The Dixie Hummingbirds. In 1972, he was under recording contract with Philadelphia International Records, performing with a vocal group known as "The Futures". The group was known for their single, "Love Is Here".