 March 2020 blew in with a whirlwind of anticipation. I performed at The Tin Pan March 5 in Richmond, Virginia with the best Band imaginable, which included Joseph Patrick Moore, Dan Baraszu, Jay Williams, and Art Sherrod. We absolutely killed it on the Stage. Unfortunately it was clouded with the oncoming storm of Coronavirus COVID-19. It was the beginning of the storm overtaking the US and we were very concerned on our travel through the airports. But we had no idea it would be our last show for a while to come. As March is coming to a close I have spent time picking up on projects that I have put on the backburner for a while. One of these is putting to Sheet Music my Piano Pieces for others to learn on the piano. I’ve been working on “Stronger Now” and “Sun’s Out” to start with. My goal is to have all my piano pieces available from my website so please check out my web store from time to time to keep up with the latest available.  I have Performances lined up for the Summer and Fall and I am hopeful that I will be able to Perform at these and we will see a resurgence of Festivals and Live Concerts return in a new healthy environment for all of us.
In the time I have had at home while sheltering in place I’ve spent some time in my Garden pulling weeds and tending to neglected plants. It’s been a time of self-examination and quiet introspection. I’ve explored some ideas for new music and had lots of melodies run through my mind. During this time I have also had great pleasure in seeing “Stronger Now” rise to #1 on MediaBase Smooth A/C, Top 20 on Billboard, Top 10 on Smooth Jazz Top 20, #1 Smoothjazz.com , #3 GrooveJazz Chart, #5 RadioWave Smooth Jazz now we will all emerge “Stronger“ and more resilient at the end of this. Check with your favorite Radio Station for “Stronger Now”. Stay tuned for more upcoming news… Love, Carol  February was a landmark month with the release of my latest album titled, "Stronger Now". In addition, our CD release show at Venkman's in Atlanta was a night to remember. See more below. Love Carol  (Atlanta) - February 9th, 2020 - The incomparable Carol Albert set the stage on fire during her "Stronger Now" album release at Venkman's. Stronger Now released on Cahara Records, January 31, 2020, features all original songs written and arranged by the prolific composer and pianist. The 10 track collection is a follow up to her 2017 breakthrough album Fly Away Butterfly. The evening featured a live band with and opening act by Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Konner Scott and Flutist, Vocalist and Songwriter Ragan Whiteside. In fact, Stronger Now includes the Brazilian flavored "Femme Flight," which hit #4 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart. Produced by Carol, mixed by two-time Grammy-winning hit-maker Paul Brown and featuring flutist Ragan Whiteside and saxophonist Magdalena Chovancova, the track also earned Albert a new legion of fans via airplay on SiriusXM's Watercolors. Carol Albert received a standing ovation from over 100+ fans in attendance, including WCLK program director David Linton and a host of media representatives and family members.  Follow Carol on Spotify October - November Notes  First and foremost, my heart is full of gratitude for the amazing reception of my Single “Sun’s Out”!! When we went to Radio with Gorov Music Marketing the week of July 4thit wasn’t an expectation that “Sun’s Out” would still be on Billboard at Thanksgiving. Now entering the 22nd week, “Sun’s Out” is celebrating its 18th Week on Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart, and still rides on Groove Jazz at #2, RadioWave #2, and peaked on MediaBase Chart at #1 , being my 1st Number 1 Hit.
During October “Stronger Now” Album was finished and has already received rave Reviews from Critics. I was fortunate to have amazing talent add to the integrity of my work. Please visit the dedicated page for “Stronger Now” for full details. On a personal note I visited family in Washington, DC at the end of October. It was a really great trip full of fun and laughter but I caught a nasty bug on the plane ride back. Flying is great but has also been termed a” Germ Tube” for many reasons. I’m fully recovered now and have a renewed appreciation for my health. Yesterday I found out that I was Nominated Best Smooth Jazz Artist 2019. I was completely overwhelmed at the Honor. Voting takes place now through January 3rd. Please check out the Website to Vote and have a look at the other Artists as well. Currently I’m making preparations for the Holiday Season. I’m performing several gigs, preparing my Piano Students for the Holiday Piano Recital, and Booking Shows for 2020. Late Summer has proved to be a time of celebration and completion. I celebrated my birthday in August with friends on a Girl’s Trip to Rosemary Beach, Fla. It was a much needed time to catch up with my friends after a very busy season of performing and working on my new Album. August/September also heralded “Sun’s Out” Single to the Top Smooth Jazz Charts with current status on Billboard at #14, Smooth Jazz Top 20 #5, Radiowave #3, Groove Jazz Music #4, MediaBase # 17, and Smooth Jazz .com #26. I had the honor of Recording at Orange Peel Studios with Lil John Roberts who added drum tracks, Sam Sims and Joseph Patrick Moore added bass tracks, Paul Brown and Dan Baraszu added guitar tracks and engineered by Raheem Amlani. I went to Silent Sound Studios in Atlanta to work with TK Kidd on the legendary Yamaha C7 for piano tracks. While Paul Brown was in town I also sat in with his band at Suite Lounge Jazz Series in Atlanta and played some keys. I am finishing up the last track for the Album with Lew Laing in California. I was also honored to participate in the WCLK Fundraising Event Sept 25 and joined other celebrities at the Festivities. Stay tuned for more news on the new Album release Date and Events.  July has flown by with lots of happenings. “Sun’s Out”, my new Smooth Jazz Radio Single, was Released the Week of July 8. It was the #1 Most Added the 1st week and Most Increased Plays for the past two weeks. The response from “Sun’s Out” has been very positive. “Her latest single, “Sun’s Out” will give you a vision of an exotic beach with that perfect coastal breeze. Yes, I’ll have a Pina Colada!”...Brenda Lorenzo, Beat Atlanta Online Magazine I also decided to take a little detour on the way to my scheduled performance in Waterbury, Connecticut July 6 at the Brass City Jazz Fest through New York City for a few days. It was a great experience to take a Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on the 4th of July and see Fireworks off the Harbor of the Hudson River. I also went to the Empire State Building, One World Trace Center, walked through Central Park and saw “The Lion King” Broadway Play. It was great to walk everywhere to offset all the fabulous food. New York City never disappoints with sights and Events.
 It was also announced that “FEMME FLIGHT” received an Official HMMA Award in the Jazz Division, 2019. The finals will be announced in November, 2019 in none other than Hollywood, California.  The Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy held its Summer Celebration Meet and Greet. It was great hearing some new music Performances and running into so many Professional music friends.
My new 5 month old puppy, Zeno, continues to get bigger every day and he is absolutely adorable. July 2019 - wow! Carol Albert May/April 2019 WOW!! What a whirlwind spring it’s been. April flew by too quickly. The April 12 show in Las Vegas at Myron’s Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center was a huge success. I had a stellar band with Ragan Whiteside as guest Artist, Joseph Patrick Moore, Chris Harris, Carlos Mata-Alvarez, and Wayne Viar. We had a Standing Ovation and cheers for more at the conclusion of the show. While I was in Las Vegas Ragan and I visited and conducted an Interview with KUNV Radio Station in Las Vegas with Kim Linzy and Steve Edwards. We had a great time meeting the staff at the Station and sharing some laughter. It was also great seeing my friend Myron Martin, Founder of the Smith Center, at my show (read more about it here). I came back to Atlanta and started on my City Winery Show for May 9. It was great fun having Justin Rogers shoot some video and seeing some of my old friends at the Show. I debuted some of my new songs during the show as well as played some of my older songs. It was great to see such a positive reception of my new material. I continue to perform at Chateau Elan on weekends that I’m not travelling and work on my new recordings. I’m also looking forward to my upcoming show at Jazz in the Park June 9 at Birmingham, Alabama and Brass City Jazz Fest July 6 in Waterbury Connecticut. If you live in one of those areas drop by and make sure you say hello to me. I’m beyond grateful that “FemmeFlight” is on its 8th week on Billboard and has reached the Top 5 this week. For those who know me this is an incredible dream I had given up on years ago. Keep the faith and pursue your dreams with focus and hard work. It takes a village and appreciate the contributions of Ragan Whiteside, Magdalena Chovancova, Paul Brown, Nathaniel Kearney Jr, Jay Williams-Music, J Curtis McCain, Jason Gorov and Gorov Music Marketing, Allen W Kepler, Dennis Johnson, Thom TK Kidd and all the radio programmers who have supported the track. - Carol Albert   February has been a whirlwind month full of rewards and challenges. I went to California February 8 and performed at the El Portal Theatre with Dale Edwards on Congas, Vito Gregoli on Guitar, and Brian Sargent on shakers. It was great fun to perform a new composition “Sun’s Out” which will go on my new Album, 2019, in such a beautiful theatre and a grand piano. I recorded with Producer, Paul Brown while I was in California as well. We worked on my new track “I Am Fine” which will also be included in my new Album. Roberto Vally played bass and I cut vocals and acoustic piano to the tracks I had previously recorded in Georgia in my home studio.  I was fortunate to get tickets to the Grammys 2019 and was accompanied by Paul Brown. It was a great experience seeing some of my IndieCollab friends and colleagues receive Grammys this year. I ran into a lot of musician friends while I was there and it was great to catch up. The excitement, the experience, and the music was one for the record book.  My new single “Femme Flight” has taken off since January and reached Top 10 status and as of today, it is #9 on Billboard, #9 MediaBase USA, #9 Smooth Jazz Top 20. It’s rewarding to have such a great reception for the Track which features Ragan Whiteside, Magdalena Chovancova with players Nathaniel Kearney, Jay Williams, Curtis McCain and mixed by Paul Brown.  As February closes I am challenged to write and record new material for my Album which is starting to come together. My Las Vegas Show is coming up April 12 at the Smith Center, and I’ve added Ragan Whiteside as a Guest Artist with bandmates Joseph Patrick Moore, Chris Harris, and Wayne Viar. And in between it all I’m “doing life“ with my family in Atlanta.
Well, That’s all for now . Stay tuned for more to come …. Carol Albert  I personally want to express my gratitude to all those who supported, promoted, gave radio air-play to and purchased “Fly Away Butterfly” Album. To my Musicians/Players on the Album a huge “Thank You” for your contributions and love to the Project. (Click to credits listing link).
2018 saw an enormous reception and success for the Album. It Celebrated an End of Year Position on every Smooth Jazz Chart of 2018. * Billboard Top Smooth Jazz Songs of 2018 ; Fly Away Butterfly #37 * Smooth Jazz Network : Chasing Waterfalls #4 and Fly Away Butterfly #29 * SmoothJazz.com Albums of the Year: #23 * RadioWave Monitor: Fly Away Butterfly #21 and Chasing Waterfalls #38 * Groove JazzChart : Chasing Waterfalls #19 and Fly Away Butterfly #37 My heart is full and I look forward to sharing more music with you in 2019. Much Love, Carol Albert |
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