“I’m so excited about my latest single and collaborating with my friends: producer Dennis Johnson and flautist Ragan Whiteside. We first met at a Festival in Mallorca, Spain, and we instantly bonded. I am both honored and flattered to be working with Randis Music,” says Zinn.
Composer, trumpeter, and vocalist Rob Zinn has been touring with other groups and artists for many years and released two independent solo projects, including his critically acclaimed album Walk The Walk in 2018. His path crossed with Whiteside’s when he was slated to perform with her at the 2019 Mallorca Smooth Jazz Festival. Whiteside says she was blown away by his musicianship during their live show in Mallorca. “Rob nailed that trumpet part like he had been playing it all his life – on the first go! He was amazing. I was so impressed,” she recalls.
The two quickly forged a professional friendship. In talking about their respective career trajectories, Whiteside says she was struck by Zinn’s desire to try something new: “We ended up talking about the wide range of styles that are present in the genre today and how he wanted to stretch out. So, I said, ‘Why don’t we try to work together and see if we can add a different flavor?’” Thus, the idea for a collaboration was born.
“Push It Forward” was co-written by Whiteside with Dennis Johnson, as well as frequent collaborator, keyboardist and producer Bob Baldwin, and was recorded at Randis’ Uppa Room Studio in Atlanta, a week before Thanksgiving. “Rob was the first outside person in our studio since COVID,” Whiteside confides. “We were fortunate to be able to take advantage of the lull in the pandemic (at the time) and get some in-person music done.” Johnson also produced the track’s catchy title.
“Push It Forward” by Rob Zinn featuring Ragan Whiteside is the first single release of 2022 on Randis Music. Adds Zinn: “I have always felt this business is built on relationships and I’m proud to be associated with Randis Music with my latest single, ‘Push it Forward’!”
Through another record label, Zinn’s forthcoming album, Anything Can Happen is scheduled for release this year.
In 2016, veteran trumpeter and flugelhornist Rob Zinn launched an exciting new phase of his distinguished, multi-faceted career, emerging as an internationally recognized independent smooth jazz artist and composer with his critically acclaimed albums, Walk The Walk (2018) and Yesterday Again (2016). Walk The Walk, produced by two-time Grammy winner Paul Brown, was selected for the 61st Grammy Ballot for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Songs from the album received airplay on more than 125 smooth jazz stations around the world with a listening audience in 90 countries. Rob’s songs have charted on the Billboard Smooth Jazz National Airplay and Audience charts, America’s Music Chart powered by Mediabase, the Smooth Jazz Top 50 Album chart, Smooth Jazz Radar chart, Smooth Jazz Indie chart, Smooth Jazz Network Top 100 chart, Groove Jazz Music Chart Top 30 and the RadioWave Internet Play chart and received “Most Added” designations on Nielsen/Billboard numerous times.
Originally from Glen Burnie, Maryland, and later launching his career in Delaware, Zinn has performed at numerous jazz festivals such as the Mallorca Jazz Festival, Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Lake Arbor Jazz Festival, Berks Jazz Festival, Sandy Shore’s Jazz Weekender, Sweet Jazz Festival, and the Jazz Legacy Foundation’s Jazz Festival as well as venues throughout the country. When not playing with his band, Rob often appears as a sideman with guitar player Paul Brown.
It’s been an incredible 2021 for Whiteside. She celebrated the end of the year with the holiday single “This Christmas,” a warm and witty version of the Donny Hathaway classic. Her single “Off The Cuff” reached No. 7 on Billboard's Smooth Jazz Airplay chart, where it spent 17 weeks, making it her seventh consecutive Billboard Top 10 hit. The tune also reached No. 5 on RadioWave, No. 3 on Media Base, and No. 5 on Smooth Jazz Network. Whiteside’s streak of six previous Billboard Top 10 singles included “JJ’s Strut,” “Reminiscing,” “Jam It,” “Early Arrival,” “See You At The Get Down,” and the Billboard No. 1 “Corey’s Bop.” The instrumentalist, composer, and vocalist was also a finalist for the Smooth Jazz Network’s Artist of the Year, and for two years, she remained in the Top 5 in Billboard’s Top Smooth Jazz Songs Year-End chart issue – the only woman to rise into the year-end Top 5. Whiteside has released five previous albums, including the 2020 five-track EP Five Up Top, 2017’s Treblemaker, 2014’s Quantum Drive, 2012’s Evolve, and 2007’s Class Axe.
Originally from Mt. Vernon, New York, Whiteside attended the Cleveland Institute of Music before transferring to the highly competitive HARID Conservatory in Florida. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music Performance - Classical, she attended a show at a local jazz club and met keyboardist and producer Bob Baldwin, who encouraged her to pursue a career as a contemporary instrumentalist. Baldwin became a mentor and ultimately introduced her to veteran producer Dennis Johnson, who owned a recording studio. Johnson and Baldwin have since become Whiteside’s frequent songwriting collaborators. Since then, Whiteside has blazed a trail in contemporary music by fusing inspired flute melodies and breathtaking solos with hip upbeat grooves. In the fall of 2020, she added yet another highlight to her résumé when she began hosting her Saturday morning radio show on Atlanta’s 91.9 FM WCLK. Whiteside is expected to deliver her new album titled, Thrill Ride, in May 2022. Featuring her smash single “Off The Cuff,” the full-length project will be released on her label, Randis Music.
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