Vahagn Stepanyan – A New Chapter
When a ten-year-old boy in war-torn Armenia confidently told his piano teacher that he would one day play with jazz and gospel celebrities, she instantly shot down his ambitions.
But the boy remained steadfast and undeterred and responded defiantly with the words: “Mark this day on your calendar because one day it will happen for me.” In the intervening years between those early piano lessons and the recording of this album, Vahagn was classically trained in composition, and learned the art of production.
He started selling songs to Armenian artists and playing in jazz clubs in his native country, but learned hard-earned business music lessons by being paid only four dollars if paid at all. Vahagn was given a saxophone which he promptly sold to buy a computer so that he could learn how to arrange songs. During a visit to the USA in 2009, he was encouraged by the response to his masterful keyboard skills. Four years later, difficult circumstances meant that he didn’t even have a keyboard to practice on. Still, he persevered. Flash forward to the present, a year and a half after moving his family to Los Angeles to realize his dream, keyboardist Vahagn Stepanyan surrounded himself with world-class Grammy-winning musicians, producers and engineers to record his sophomore album, featuring the aptly titled ‘A New Chapter’.
Chicago based trumpet player Lin Rountree started his solo career in 2006 with the album Groovetree, followed by Sumthin’ Good (2008), Soul-Tree (2011). Serendipitous (2013), Soulfunky (2015), Stronger Still (2018), and Fluid (2021).
Syracuse, Italy based multi-instrumentalist Fabio Puglisi, known by the project Soul Basement with singer Jay Nemor, had developed the project The Park Avenue Experience. The debut album of this project was Life Span, released in 2020. Next album was Structures (2022). Now Fabio presents Time And Time Again (2023).
As a native of Louisville, Kentucky, Marcus Click grew up with aspirations of becoming a pro football player, but his goals changed after having committed over 13 years of his young life to the U.S. Navy honorably. During this time, his love for jazz grew by listening and learning from the late Grover Washington, Jr., David Sanborn and Kirk Whalum, to name a few. Marcus says on one account,” I became truly inspired by a phone call from the late saxophonist, George Howard, a conversation I’ll never forget.” Surprisingly, Marcus would find himself with Rebbie Jackson (sister of Jacksons; Janet Jackson) during her show in Las Vegas. He knew his life was being routed towards a musical journey.
Wistfulness creeps in when listening to Nick Colionne’s Just Like That. Nick passed away unexpectedly on New Year’s Day last year. Just Like That is his musical legacy.
Celebrated British bassist George Anderson leads an unusual dual musical life. He is, of course, best known for his work with smooth jazz icons Shakatak. He’s a key member of the band – on the road and in the studio. George was also instrumental in co-writing many of Shakatak’s best tunes ….most famously ‘Day by Day’ featuring Grammy award winner Al Jarreau. George was responsible too for co-writing the song ‘Perfect Smile’ which was a smooth-jazz radio play hit in the US for Shakatak in the 90’s.
The new album by American guitarist Dan Wilson will be released in 2 days. Like many a jazz musician before him, Wilson honed his skills in church.
With the release of “Heartwood” Lawson Rollins offers a melodically rich and rhythmically exhilarating set of songs that showcase his soulful connection to the guitar and his passion for unbridled six string acoustic artistry. Across a wide ranging musical tapestry Lawson draws from the spirit of the heartwood of the guitar – his chosen instrument – and incorporates the stimulating rhythmic drive of rumba, bossa nova, and samba with graceful melodic finesse and free-flowing improvisational flair.
Dave Erickson is a guitarist and composer from Denver, Colorado who founded the contemporary jazz band Dave Erickson Project in 2013.
Smooth Jazz Daily 