The heartbeat of jazz guitarist Blake Aaron’s forthcoming Innervision Records album, “Love and Rhythm,” is his passion for creating music from a wide array of sounds and styles. The expansive scope of music he explores and experiments with on the ten-tracker he wrote and produced with Billboard hitmakers Adam Hawley and Greg Manning spans his winning blend of contemporary jazz, R&B, funk, and pop music along with a couple of audacious departures that venture into fusion and Brazilian jazz. The album, releasing April 19, has already notched two Billboard No. 1 singles, “Dreamland” and “Feels So Right,” and the top three hit “Crush.” Aaron’s current single, the R&B romancer “She’s the One,” is already in the Billboard top 5.
“‘Love and Rhythm’ is all about my musical journey and my love for all kinds of rhythm and music. I have spent my life in pursuit of exploring the beauty of every genre of music there is. I will probably never be bored and because of my vast experience in so many different genres, I will likely always be in demand as a musician. Even if I never retire and spend my entire life in music, I will not even scratch the surface of the depth and beauty of the performance, composition, and production of all genres of music,” said Aaron, a five-time Billboard chart-topping musician, songwriter, producer, and popular concert performer.
“Love and Rhythm” is Aaron’s first outing since his 2020 disc, “Color and Passion,” which earned him three Billboard No. 1 singles and Radiowave’s Song of the Year, “Drive.” In the intervening years between albums, Aaron wrote and recorded new music, releasing singles along the way, and maintaining his presence on the national charts, radio, and Spotify playlists. The singles released since “Color and Passion” are now available on “Love and Rhythm.”
As he always does, Aaron’s seventh album highlights the first-call guitarist keeping company with the cream-of-the-crop session musicians. He uses plenty of horns and horn section décor to underscore his guitar-driven melodies and harmonies. David Mann, Trevor Neumann, Donald Hayes, Michael Stever, Bob Mintzer, Jimmy Reid, Andrew Neu, and Nick Lane provide the firepower saxophones, trombones, and trumpets. The rhythms are deftly constructed by drummers Eric Valentine, Tony Moore, and Will Kennedy; anchored by bassists Mel Brown, Alex Al, and Hussain Jiffry; and enhanced by percussionist Ramon Yslas. Manning plays keyboards and piano along with Tateng Katindig and Carnell Harrell. Adding to the lush backdrops are strings crafted by Tyries Rolfe.
“Love and Rhythm” opens with the energizing “Dreamland,” which Aaron said, “captures the imagination, excitement, fun and unbridled curiosity of a dream come true.” He wrote it with Hawley who produced it. It’s one of the tunes that resulted from one of their in-person writing and recording dates.
“Working with another Billboard No. 1 producer inspired ideas and concepts that I may not have thought of on my own. Having a writing and production partner whom I respect but has a different style than mine opens up new musical and creative doors through different approaches and compromises. Utilizing a producer challenges an artist to go to another level with an idea they may have thought was already ‘making the cut’ or conversely, encourages the artist to run with an idea they were ready to throw out, and that can take the song in a whole new direction. In the internet age when most artists are collaborating online, Adam (Hawley) and I have found a certain magic of writing ‘old-school’ by actually meeting in the studio, locking the door, and not leaving until we have a fully recorded rough mix of a hit single,” said Aaron, who has concert dates booked in the coming months to support the album release throughout the U.S., United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
The sunny and smiley “Feels So Right” is an overtly happy Aaron-Manning collab that shines via the bright vocal touch of Ken Turner. Aaron said that when Manning first presented the concept for the song, with the luminous vocalizations, he was inspired to “compose a melody that would capture the innocence of a woman dancing outside in the sun ‘like nobody is watching.’”
Writing the melody and remaining sections of the song from a chorus, groove and rhythm track constructed by Hawley and Carnell, Aaron said “‘She’s the One’ captures the feeling of the moment when you realize that the special person you have been with is ‘the one.’ I wanted to create a song that has the perfect combination of romance, elegance, passion, and uninhibited groove.”
Aaron explained that “Crush,” another song that he wrote with Hawley who produced the track, “captures the feelings of summer and driving to the beach with the top down while celebrating a major accomplishment, knowing that you ‘crushed’ it. It’s about adding color to an otherwise black-and-white day.”
Katindig’s piano adds grace and elegance to the sensual groove that is “Irresistible.” Aaron’s guitar play takes on sultry qualities.
“Most of the songs I write are largely up-tempo, made to hopefully be a bright spot in what could otherwise be a dull day, but ‘Irresistible’ is all about sexy. Sexy groove, sexy melodies, sexy production and sounds. ‘Irresistible’ captures that feeling of a magnetic, chemical attraction to someone you just can't stay away from. Sometimes that can be incredibly good, and sometimes that can be…well…not so much,” said Aaron with a smile.
Tipping the cap to high-energy, horn-powered acts like Tower of Power; Earth, Wind & Fire, and David Sanborn, “Big Bounce” features Hayes on sax on this danceable joint. The horns stay hot on “The Way You Sway,” a retro 70s R&B/soul groove.
Shining brightly with a motivational message, “Diamond in the Sun” reflects the wisdom and encouragement that Aaron provides to his children.
“Sometimes we all lose confidence in our talents and abilities to shine in a challenging situation. I tell my kids that not everyone can recognize or appreciate the beauty of a diamond all the time, but when the dawn comes, your talent, abilities, and inner and outer beauty will shine like a diamond in the sun. ‘Diamond in the Sun’ captures the feeling of when it's finally your turn to shine,” said Aaron, a father of two.
The deep cuts “Rise” and “Alter Ego” reveal seldom-heard sides of Aaron’s artistry, both of which feature a rhythm section comprised of Grammy winner Jiffry (Herb Albert) and Kennedy (Yellowjackets). Along with a gauzy electric guitar, Aaron plays acoustic guitar and mandolin on “Rise.” The brisk Brazilian jazz cadence blends with a spacey fusion excursion into the abyss, braised with an elegant piano solo from Manning.
“Both “Rise” and “Alter Ego” are an exciting adventure and somewhat of a departure for me into other musical influences that I love,” shared Aaron, who went on to explain the meaning of “Rise.”
“Actually, the ‘Rise’ in my career as a solo artist wasn't due to a direct pursuit on my part of having such a career at all, but rather a love for teaching music. Years ago, one of my students, who was an Olympic gold medal winner, heard one of my first demo EP’s because he was looking for unique musical gifts to give out during his popular motivational speaking seminars. He decided to invest in my career to help me go from being a sideman to being a solo artist, which is how my first full CD, "With Every Touch," was born. Six albums and five Billboard No. 1 hits later, plus three No. 1 hits as a producer, here I am with ‘Love and Rhythm.’”
“Alter Ego” ventures deep into the fusion stratosphere with a hint of a spirited South African cadence. Amidst Aaron’s fast and feverish fusion guitar play comes a storming sax solo from Mintzer, best known for his work in the Grammy-winning fusion outfit Yellowjackets. Aaron has a long history of collaborating with urban-jazz icon Najee and the two musicians have discussed one day forming a jazz fusion band together, an “alter ego” that would allow them the freedom to make records like Yellowjackets and Brecker Brothers.
“I wrote ‘Alter Ego’ in dedication and with inspiration from Najee’s vision of a jazz fusion band. With our busy schedules, we have yet to form that band together, but ‘Alter Ego’ is a tribute to what will hopefully be another wonderful musical experience in my life. I knew the song ‘Alter Ego’ had to be an important part of the musical journey I am calling ‘Love and Rhythm,’" Aaron said about the album closer.
In addition to summiting the Billboard chart a handful of times as a solo artist and three times as a producer, Aaron was a featured soloist on two No. 1 singles, including 2022’s Billboard Song of the Year by flutist Kim Scott (“Shine”). As an in-demand guitarist, he’s recorded and/or performed with such diverse R&B, jazz and rock headliners as Philip Bailey (EWF), Sheila E., The Alan Parson Project, The Gap Band, Lakeside, Ronnie Laws, Keiko Matsui, Warren Hill, and Bobby Womack and Carlos Santana. Aaron has film and television music credits that include “MAD TV,” “Super Dave Osborne” and “The Ben Stiller Show.” For more information, please visit https://www.blakeaaron.com.
