Tidings of Jazz & Joy featuring Keiko Matsui & Euge Groove with Lindsey Webster & Adam Hawley

“My melodies are my living testimony,” declares internationally acclaimed pianist, composer and humanitarian Keiko Matsui. A world citizen, Matsui’s music speaks to the hearts and souls of fans around the world, transcending borders and building bridges among people who share a common appreciation of honest artistry and cultural exchange. “Music creates a oneness,” says the striking, petite powerhouse who has worked alongside everyone from Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder to Hugh Masekela and Bob James. “Journey To The Heart is my gift to my fans. I want to deliver the most beautiful and emotional experience.” Keiko, who has lent her voice to raise awareness for such causes as The Daniel Pearl and the Susan G. Komen Foundations says, “I feel the world is getting crazier and we need to collectively go back and recall what connects us all…our spirits, hearts and our souls.” A master storyteller, Keiko Matsui crafts passionate and emotive songs with lush harmonies and global rhythms to create timeless musical anthems.

A pseudonym for saxophone journeyman Steve Grove, Euge Groove began playing piano in the second grade and turned to the saxophone at the age of nine or ten. His teacher gave him a classical education on the instrument, which he followed at the University of Miami’s School of Music, where he became interested in jazz. Upon graduation, he initially remained in Miami doing sessions and playing in bands such as Expose, where he can be heard on the group’s 1987 number one single “Seasons Change.” He then moved to Los Angeles and joined Tower of Power, remaining with the group about four years. Following this experience, he freelanced, doing sessions and working in backup bands, his clients including Joe Cocker, Eurythmics, the Gap Band, Huey Lewis & the News, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Eros Ramazotti, and Richard Marx.

Growing up in an artist community in Woodstock NY, the allure of music was never far from Lindsey Webster. Webster has been taking the contemporary jazz world by storm, scoring a #1 hit with her soulful original “Fool Me Once.” This feat is remarkable in numerous ways. Not only is Lindsey half the age of the male instrumentalists who dominate the genre, but her #1 is the first vocal driven song that has topped the Billboard smooth jazz chart 2010. Webster’s mission is to make an emotional connection with her fans. Somewhat of an old-soul, the young singer concludes, “With all the pop tunes out nowadays, literally about nothing, I think it’s important to hold the torch for the artists before us who found it important to write real music.”

It has been an exciting past year for Guitarist Adam Hawley, whose debut record Just The Beginning was released on March 18. The first single “35th St.” featuring Eric Darius had the longest run at #1 on Billboard in 2016. Adam has also been named both Smooth Jazz News and JazzTrax Debut Artist of the Year. He signed with Kalimba Music (founded by Maurice White of Earth, Wind, & Fire) in August 2015. His first offering on the Kalimba label features Darius along with Euge Groove, Brian Culbertson, Gerald Albright, and Michael Lington. Adam is also known as a prolific sideman, appearing with a who’s who list of artists in a wide variety of genres. Credits include Dave Koz, Jennifer Lopez, Brian Culbertson, Natalie Cole, Gerald Albright, Dave Koz and Friends Cruise, and American Idol to name just a few.