Looking Ahead is fueled by a newfound sense of balance and purpose, reflecting the way finding his soulmate has changed everything about Lington’s life, including his music. Over the past few years, he married his wife Keri and became a family man, a devoted stepfather to her young daughter Lauren and a first-time dad (at 50!) with the birth of his now three-year-old son Landon. After calling Los Angeles home for 32 years, the Danish-born artist made the move to San Diego County. With all those dynamic shifts in his life, it’s no wonder that one of contemporary jazz’s most exhilarating artists is a whole new man – “Michael Lington 2.0.”
The lead single “Play” is a funked up, high spirited summertime jam that marks Lington’s first time working with longtime friend and fellow horn master Darren Rahn. Offering an optimistic way to keep joy and hope flowing in turbulent times, the groove-intensive vibe features Paul Jackson Jr’s blistering guitar fire and the non-stop grooves of bassist Mel Brown and drummer Tarell Martin.
Jackson’s infectious jangly funk intro and later solo are highlights on Lington’s latest single “Moon Goddess,” a nod to Ramsey Lewis’ “Sun Goddess.” A hard grooving and emotionally empowering track, it showcases the intuitive dynamic Lington creates co-writing and co-producing with famed saxophonist, producer and horn arranger David Mann for the first time. With a freewheeling and soulful energy reminiscent of classic CTI Records releases, it also marks Lington’s first session with veteran jazz and R&B drummer Michael White.
The heartfelt emotional core of Looking Ahead is “Keri’s Song,” a gorgeous classic-styled urban jazz ballad written for Lington’s wife and performed for her on their wedding day in August 2021. He wrote and recorded the song with two-time GRAMMY® nominee Chris “Big Dog” Davis. The EP also includes two tracks co-written, produced by and featuring the nylon string guitar of two-time GRAMMY winner Paul Brown – the sensual ballad “Til the Morning Light” and the sassy, strutting “South Bay.”
Lington, who has charted more than 25 hit singles and performed in over 40 countries, says, “Looking Ahead captures the hope and positivity in my life, and I look forward to new things with so much more knowledge about myself and love to give others. The transition from then to now was a challenge at times but once the dust settled and I took stock of all the blessings in my life, I realized how much more I like this version of myself. I am truly excited about the next part of my journey as an artist, husband, father and human being.”
MICHAEL LINGTON – TOUR DATES
- April 14 – Cincinnati, OH – Ludlow’s Garage w/Paul Taylor
- April 19 – Panama City Beach, Fl – Seabreeze Jazz Cruise
- April 20 – Panama City Beach, FL – Seabreeze Jazz Festival
- May 1-22 – Spain, Morocco, Portugal – Dave Koz & Friends At Sea cruises
- June 7 – Napa Valley, CA – Napa Valley Jazz Getaway – Rutherford Hills
- June 8 – Napa Valley, CA – Napa Valley Jazz Getaway – Westin Verasa Napa
- June 10 – Melbourne, FL – King Center
- June 11 Virginia Beach, VA – Jazz Legacy Foundation – Virginia Beach Convention Center
- July 21 – London, UK – Pizza Express Soho
- July 22 – London, UK – Pizza Express Soho
- Aug 5 – Temecula, CA – Thornton Winery
- Aug 18 – Newport Beach, CA – Hyatt Newport Beach – Summer Concert Series
- Sept 14 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Jazz Getaway – Buddy Guy’s Legends
- Sept 16 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Jazz Getaway – Fairmount Chicago Millennium Park
- Nov 11 & 12 – Hampton, VA – Jazz Legacy Foundation – Hampton Roads Convention Center
- Dec 3 – Seal Beach, CA – Spaghettini – Foreign Affair Christmas
- Dec 4 – Seal Beach, CA – Spaghettini – Foreign Affair Christmas
- Dec 7 – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Mexico Jazz Experience Festival – Secrets Bahai Mita Surf & Resort
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