I’m not a stranger to the best and the worst of times happening simultaneously in my life.  2022 ushered in some really nice surprises with my music recordings and progress on my 9th Album, which came to be titled “Magic Mirror”. My Single release “Fire & Water” took off in January charting in February on Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay.  It peaked at #4 position and ended 2022 on the Song of the Year Chart at #26 in the midst of many notable Artists.  My work on new recordings continued with a trip to Los Angeles in March to record with Paul Brown, Carmen Grillo and Roberto Vally on several tunes including “Paradigm Shift”, “Angels Watching Over Me”, and  “Sapporo Dream”.  

I was contacted to perform in Austin, Texas with my Band at an offsite venue during the SWSX Festival in March. I performed at the Berks Jazz Festival in Pennsylvania in April during the 2 week long Festival of amazing Artists.  It was great running into professional friends and meeting new friends at the same time.  I performed in many small intimate settings from January to June.

During this time my Father had become ill with cancer and it became apparent his health was failing and he had only a short time left in life.  Having lived a very strong and active life, it was hard for us to see him decline so rapidly. In June 2022 he passed away peacefully.  At the same time other close members of the family were going through some challenging times and personal struggles.  My Father had taught me to be strong and resilient and would want me to continue to move forward.  I continued with the project finishing my last composition “Gemini Sun” for the Album in July.   

The new Album was finalized in August 2022 and released on October 7, 2022.  I Titled the Album “Magic Mirror” reflecting the world I go into when I’m writing and composing music of joy, pain and fantasy. I imagined traveling through many scenes and spaces with tunes like “Sol Ipanema”, “Sapporo Dream” and dedicated “Angels Watching Over Me” to my Father.  “Paradigm Shift” became the lead Single and hit the Billboard Chart after just a few weeks. A highlight of the Year was when “Paradigm Shift” hit #1 on Halloween, October 31 and was #1 on all the Smooth Jazz Charts lasting for many weeks.  It’s still at #1 at the end of December on Groove Jazz/RadioWave, SmoothJazz Radar and still on Billboard/Mediabase A/C at #13 making 15 weeks on Billboard.  It was my first #1 Hit and a lifelong dream that truly I never thought possible.  I am truly grateful for the tremendous amount of support from Radio Program Directors and fans, as well as Jason Gorov at Gorov Music Marketing and my longtime loyal supporters.  

This Fall saw a flurry of Shows with Performances in Kentucky, Atlanta, and Alabama.  It was very gratifying to discover that “Fire & Water” and “Paradigm Shift” both made the Best of 2022 on all the Smooth Jazz Year End Charts.  “Magic Mirror” was also on the Best Album of 2022 list with SmoothJazz.com.

Throughout the year streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and many other services reported amazing numbers of streams for my tunes.  A favorite of many  “Perfect Sunday” reached over 7 million streams on Spotify and “Sun’s Out” over 2.5 million streams on Apple Music.  Even many of my older Albums have received many streams and physical CD Orders from my web and CD Baby.  

In summary, I believe it’s not what life throws at you but how you can deal with those challenges. My music has always been a great outlet for me and has resonated with so many people through the years.  I appreciate the amount of love and support from all of you this year!  

There’s so much more to come in 2023.  Stay tuned for many new directions, new music and developments.  

Much love, 
Carol

In my career as a musician I only dreamed about having a Billboard #1 Hit that lived on my vision board as a magazine cutout. This week I saw that dream become a reality with “Paradigm Shift”. Not only is it #1 on Billboard but also #1 on every Smooth Jazz /AC Chart this week. I’m overwhelmed at the love and support from so many who have helped to make this happen because it takes a village. In the music business these are fleeting moments and I fully appreciate and celebrate this special milestone achievement in my career.  ​

My Birthday month of August saw the fulfillment of one of my dreams of publishing my original Piano compositions in sheet music.  Even though I previously composed and arranged some original pieces for the Keyboard Colosuss Concert for Roland Corporation to be performed at the Music Educators Conference in 1994 and they were performed on stage by a multitude of  keyboards, I haven’t pursued the goal again until this summer. 

The most requested original piece for sheet music for piano has been  “Stronger Now” from my Album “Stronger Now”.  Thanks for the transcription help of Noriko Jazz it finally was finished in August.  I can proudly announce that it is now in my Web store for purchase www.carolalbertmusic/store.  I plan to add other pieces along to make a Collection of Carol Albert Songs.  “Perfect Sunday” has also frequently been requested as well as an older original “Morning Song”.

I had a beautiful interview with Keivu Knox from Smooth Jazz Magazine for a feature in the September/October Issue.  We had a lovely talk and I’m excited to share the interview when it’s published. 

A soon-to-be milestone of reaching 4,000,000 million streams on Spotify is about to happen.   I am currently at 3,979,514 million for “Perfect Sunday”.    I am absolutely blown away that it has reached so many ears and grateful for the listeners out there. 

I will be in Atlanta Downtown Woodruff Park September 22 Performing with my Bandmembers from 7-8 p.m. The concert is free to the public. Bring a lawnchair and enjoy.

Until next month enjoy the Summer as it begins to transition into Fall.  

Much love, 

Carol

June opened with a flurry of preparation and activities.  The promotion of “For The Moment” Single was off to a great start with Billboard most Added and Most Increased plays as well as other Smooth Jazz Chart Debuts. 

The Elkhart Jazz Fest in Elkhart, Indiana June 18 proved to be a great success.  It felt great to be performing in a Theatre on a Grand piano with amazing band members Kris Brownlee, Andrew Hauser, Rafael Chavez Moreno, Chris Chapman, and Jeff Keefer.  The audience was very receptive and everyone was happy to be out and about for the summer. 

The performance at “Jazz Under The Trees” in Birmingham, Alabama on July 4 also was great fun and a huge success.  The top-notch band members Roberto Vally, Dan Baraszu, and PJ Spraggins lived up to their stellar reputations. Thomas Waters of State Farm was an outstanding host for the evening and left no stone unturned to make us feel welcome and appreciated with fans old and new in the audience.

SmoothJazz Magazine featured Carol on the Summer Jazz Festival July/August 2021 Issue. 

Stay tuned for more performing dates to be announced and get ready for Catalina Jazz Trax October 24 at Catalina Island, California. ​

Spring has sprung to a set of new possibilities and a renewal after the long winter.  New ventures are on the horizon for me. 

I will be performing June 18 at the Elkhart Jazz Festival in Elkhart, Indiana as well as an event in Birmingham, Alabama July 4.  Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival is on and I will be there the 2nd weekend of October.  Stay tuned as well for updated events as they are confirmed. Music venues continue to open back up and Festivals are on for the summer. 

The Single released in April “For The Moment” debuted on Billboard Most Added in the 1st week to Radio and Most Increased plays in the 2nd week.  The response has been very positive to the video on UTube and Radio outlets.  I am also continuing my composing of new music for a new Album to be released.  Also stay tuned for updates on new songs as they are released 

On a personal note, I have enjoyed a beautiful spring in Atlanta.  There’s an air of optimism and growth all around.   I have been able to get out and see my friends and catch up with my family since I received the Covid Vaccine.  Many activities I enjoy doing have resumed with an air of caution.  For the many who are still struggling with the effects of Covid, I send my love and thoughts to continue on this healing journey to full recovery. 

I’m grateful for the amount of support this past year for my Album “Stronger Now” and hope to be in your city to perform soon and meet you all. 

Much love,

Carol

While some people kept going with their regular lives the music stopped playing. Now here it is - a year later - and their are a few tinkles of live music but not very many. There is an emptiness on the stage. ​

Many have recovered and many still suffer. This is a confusing time. Through this fast tide of change I’ve focused on how to move forward with my musical life and negotiated the challenges of pandemic reality personally. ​

As the light at the end of the tunnel promises new hope it also presents challenges we face going forward in our new reality. Many think everything will just go back to normal but most admit they’re not sure what that is anymore. ​

As I continue working on new music,  I’m encouraged by the many heartfelt notes I’ve received about “Stronger Now”.  Music is the healer of the heart and I continue to reach inside mine for inspiration for more to come. ​

Much love,
Carol ​

As so many others I find myself in a new season of life. It is a time for me to be creative in so many areas of my life and especially in my music. I’m treasuring the quiet downtime of this season. I have  been writing new works for upcoming releases and teaching my sweet Private Piano students. My students always give me the smallest things to smile about. A little laughter is always welcome when everything else is so serious.  

My Birthday Month of August quickly turned into Autumns changing leaves. And with this everything else is changing around me as well. We are still in the grasp of a Global Health Pandemic in an Election year while the Country is redefining its obligation to humanity.  

The reception of my Album “Stronger Now” has been very rewarding. “Perfect Sunday” went to Radio in September and has a strong showing charting in the Top 20 Billboard Chart this week to close out October.  I’m very grateful for the many listeners who support my works.  

I miss my live performances and hope to resume these when it’s safe for us all. While I’m nervous about the future, which is impossible to see, I remain optimistic that we will all emerge stronger.

Much love

Carol

Summer is in full swing but like so many other people I have not taken a vacation, travelled, performed or enjoyed my usual summer fanfare.  My 4th of July was spent at home watching fireworks on TV and burning sparklers in my back yard.  While this summer has been so different from all my other summers I have found hope lying in so many hidden aspects of my life.

I have hope for the future.  I have hope that as an Artist I can tap into this experience and create my best work yet. I have hope and inspiration from my daily surroundings from my garden, nature and family. I have hope due to the innovations and creativity that has risen in all facets of life from this time. My biggest hope is that we can learn from this and treat others with more kindness, respect and love.

With some extra time on my hands I have had a renewed interest in history. Looking back through history I’m reminded of the despair and unbearable events humans have suffered throughout the ages through disease, tyrants, incredible cruelty, wars, but also the hope in the human spirit that has allowed survival and renewal. 

Music continues to provide inspiration, healing, and unification. I continue to write and practice and hope to be able to share with you in the future through performances and new recordings.  As tough as this time has been, it has also been a time of hope.

I want to close with my latest video “Love Again” from my new Album Stronger Now which embraces this theme Hope and Love. ​

Much love,
Carol

As we are approach the 2nd half of 2020 I’m reflecting that time has passed so quickly and so differently than what I had expected the year to be like. When I started writing my notes for June I asked myself  “What can I write about that’s uplifting?”. ​

I got a letter yesterday in the mail from a fan who had purchased my new Album “Stronger Now ”.  I was so moved by his note that I decided to share the comments I’ve been receiving about the Album from letters, YouTube comments and messages.  The comments have opened my heart because the ultimate compliment is for someone to say they “felt something” when they listen to my music and that it “meant something” to them. I’m very humbled to share a few testimonials below and have removed a few names for privacy. ​