Jazz Artist

JAZZY LADY GAIL JHONSON

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When jazz great Norman Brown bestows upon you the title of First Lady of Smooth Jazz, you know you are doing something right. Gail Jhonson has been performing music since she was a young girl in her home town of Philadelphia. She recalls traveling to various venues with her group and being so young that they had to sit off to the side and away from the main crowd. Nevertheless, they continued to woo crowds, and Gail continued to become more immersed in music and fueling her passion. Jhonson’s hard work over the years has paid off and still continues to yield her great things. One of the many highlights in Gail’s career was when she received a Grammy nod for her CD “Pearls” in 2009. I told her that I felt like she was a phenomenal woman for overcoming the loss of a son and still maintaining a heavy presence in the world of jazz. She truly does it all. She’s a recording artist, touring musician, appears on TV shows, and performs at many jazz festivals. To top it all off, Gail is the leader of the all-female jazz ensemble “Jazz In Pink” which is comprised of Karen Briggs, Althea Rene, and Mariea Antionette. The group can often be seen sharing the stage with other women in jazz. Next week, Jazz In Pink will be joining the line-up of awesome artists at the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway. I can’t wait to wear my pink.

Listen to what this phenomenal woman has to say about how she does it all:

 

Gail Jhonson
Gail Jhonson

ERIC DARIUS, A MAN “ON A MISSION”

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Eric Darius is a man on a mission.–so much so that his latest album is titled “On a Mission.” He is an electrifying musician whose live performances have been known to “wow” crowds of his fans. Having fallen in love with the saxophone at a very young age, he has always known that this was his destiny. And it is a destiny that he doesn’t take for granted. He is driven because he knows that he has been given a gift and is very blessed–blessed to travel around the world performing for his countless fans and blessed to be a talented musician and composer. Darius incorporates Gospel, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Pop, Rock, and R&B to create music that everyone can relate to and enjoy. He is also an advocate for exposing music to school-aged kids all the way through to college students because of what influence and impact music had on his on life as a kid. Yes, Eric is on a mission and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Listen as Eric explains it in his own words:

 

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Sam Rucker

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Saxophonist Sam Rucker has something to say, and he wants everyone to listen. Thus, he titled his sophomore album “Tell You Something,” set to be released on June 3, 2014. Although his roots are in hip hop, his love for the saxophone has led him into the world of contemporary jazz. When listening to this album, you can hear bits of hip hop, gospel, and soul. Having written, co-written, and produced 8 original songs and his own rendition of 3 classics, Sam made sure to keep it organic and authentic. His first radio single released to radio is “Be True 2 Who U R.” Sam chose this song because he recognizes the importance of being true to yourself and your craft no matter what it is, and he knows that everyone can benefit from that lesson. Rucker believes that music should be felt and should feel good. He has surely accomplished this with “Tell You Something.”

Sam and I have a great conversation about his new album.

Sam Rucker
Sam Rucker

RENOWNED NATHAN EAST

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If you’re a fan of the best musicians in the world, or if you’ve ever listened to any music, I assure you you’ve heard the sounds of Nathan East. He’s been making music for the last 40 years and has set a precedent that far supersedes most musicians’ careers. Nathan is driven by his passion for music and his family. Those forces have propelled him to the top of his craft. Additionally, he is a founding member of the renowned group, Fourplay whom he still performs with. All throughout his career, he’s been a sought-after collaborative force that has worked with the best in the industry in a variety of genres. At the behest of fellow musicians, East took a leap into the spotlight releasing his debut solo self-titled album, “Nathan East.” For his fans worldwide who love his music, he has delivered a collection of songs that will leave you longing for more. For this project, he joined forces with Bob James, Chuck Loeb, Michael McDonald, Sara Barielles, and his own son featured on the song “Yesterday.” Although this is Nathan’s solo album, he remains true to who he is as a seasoned musician and welcomes his collaborators to showcase their talents, as well.

Nathan tells me about his journey and how blessed he feels everyday.

Nathan East
Nathan East

 

Nathan East
Nathan East

THE INCOMPARABLE NICK COLIONNE

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Nick Colionne has wowed his fans for years as a super talented jazz artist and thrilling entertainer. In all that he does, the driving force within him is his family and the music. Although he’s received many awards and honors, he is most impacted by the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award. As much as he loves being a musician, it is just as important–if not, more–to be known as the man behind the music and his heart. He has another passion, as well: being a mentor to children and doing charity work. I have given him the name “Pentagon,” representing 5 sides of Nick Colionne. He is a guitarist, vocalist, spirited performer, mentor, and philanthropist. Colionne commented that now he has to strive to be an octagon. While in the midst of working with children, he consistently makes music that keeps his fans longing for more. His latest album, “INFLUENCES,” is an array of songs expressing his road to rediscovery. With each new project, Nick pushes the envelope just a little bit more. He describes “INFLUENCES” as passionate, uplifting, and from his heart. During our conversation, we discovered that we both chose the same song as our favorite from “INFLUENCES”…”when you love someone.”

Nick Colionne
Nick Colionne

CHRIS GEITH

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Chris Geith has been preparing for his successful career from a very young age. He grew up in a musical home and without a doubt knew that he was destined to be a musician. Throughout the years, Chris has always written music from the heart. And that music touches many lives through a vast array of outlets. It’s very likely that you’ve heard a song by Chris playing while watching TV and not known it, whether on VH-1 or Animal Planet. He is an artist that promotes himself and does all his own marketing. To his credit, he has won the hearts of fans who have given him huge success via the internet and downloads. Geith had a couple of albums such as “Island of a Thousand Dreams” and “Timeless World” that were in the top 10 bestselling Smooth Jazz albums on CD baby. For his latest project, “Chasing Rainbows,” Chris answered his fans’ request for the release of some of his music that was featured on the Weather Channel. Just as with past projects, “Chasing Rainbows” and Chris are giving fans just what they want. Chris and I have a candid discussion about his musical career:

 

Chris Geith
Chris Geith

 

 

GUITARIST BRYAN LUBECK

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Bryan Lubeck feels fortunate to savor the success of “Tuscan Sky” and a whirlwind year since its release. It is safe to say that Bryan can thank a music teacher he had as a kid for teaching him how to play the guitar. After realizing that he had a knack for playing without a pick, it wasn’t long before Lubeck mastered the Spanish guitar. For years now, Lubeck’s fans have enjoyed his musical creativity and invigorating live performances. His expertise and ability to express himself through music has jazz fans falling in love with the sound of the Spanish guitar. He is still enjoying the triumph of “Tuscan Sky” and performing for fans all over. Included in the highlights to his credit: “Tuscan Sky” spent weeks in the top 40 on the Indie Smooth Jazz Charts, and the title single “Tuscan Sky” was top Billboard’s most added to radio.

Bryan and I talk about his career and what still moves him each time he performs.

Bryan Lubeck
Bryan Lubeck

 

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ANNA DANES

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What started out as a hobby for Anna Danes turned out to be the opportunity of a lifetime. For Anna, taking voice lessons from her mentor, Larry White, positioned her at just the right place at the right time. She didn’t hesitate in taking his advice to go into the studio and record a demo. It was then that she saw her own voice in a different light for the first time and embraced the idea of making an album. With her incredible voice and the help of White, she recorded her debut cd “Longing.” It is full of emotions, and love serves as the backdrop for every song. Anna describes it as a reflection of her life, both past and present.

 

Anna Danes
Anna Danes

THE “TENACITY” OF PAUL TAYLOR

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If ever there were a most appropriate title for Paul Taylor’s latest album, “Tenacity” wins hands down. Nineteen years in the music business and counting, he shows no signs of slowing down. In the past few years, Paul has had a #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts, #1 on the airplay charts, and a Top Ten album on the Billboard Jazz Albums charts. It is no surprise that he continues to be successful. He’s mastered the balancing act of maintaining a solo career and being a member of several projects over the years. Taylor lends his talents to Keiko Matsui’s band, The Rippingtons, Groovin For Grover, Gentlemen of the Night, and Sax and the City. I told him he must be a “superhero.” Paul attributes his success to tenacity, making the title “Tenacity” not one difficult to come up with. He joined forces with his longtime friend and colleague Don Espisito when he embarked upon the making of his 10th album to be released on March 18th. He invited some of jazz’s favorites to collaborate with him on “Tenacity.” Johnathan Fritzen plays on the funky opening song “Supernova” while Jeff Lorber adds his touch to the smooth tune “Luxe,” and Paul Hardcastle ignites the fun “Peace of Mind.” The final song on the album is significantly titled “Empire” because it symbolizes Paul reflecting on all that he has accomplished.

Listen as he shares the story with me.

Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor

THE PLACE WHERE “STYLE MEETS SUBSTANCE”

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As a child growing up, Marcus Anderson would hear his father tell him repeatedly, “protect your hands, that’s going to be your ticket.” Those words kept Marcus from having to do too much heavy work growing up, and they also were instinctively true. Marcus became a skilled saxophone player throughout his younger years and continued growing as a musician, thus inevitably becoming a multi-instrumentalist; not to mention that he is also a producer, songwriter, vocalist, and thrilling entertainer. Anderson works with some of the best artists in music. With too many to name, however, I’ll just name a few: Alex Bugnon, Brian Simpson, Nicholas Cole, and PRINCE. Although he is in a fortunate situation, Marcus embraces the opportunity to learn and grow from the wisdom of his fellow musicians. He will be releasing his fifth album titled “Style Meets Substance” on March 25th–appropriately titled as he shows that he not has “style” but also “substance.”  And both style and substance are definitely recognizable on this sexy, smooth, and funky album. Marcus exhibits versatility along with his creative instincts and ability to collaborate with just the right musicians to bring his music to life.

Marcus Anderson
Marcus Anderson