No matter the chaos swirling around us, the quiet miracle of sunrise resets the world with hope. That universal promise inspired award-winning jazz guitarist Pascal Bokar to step beyond his bebop roots and co-write his first contemporary jazz single, “Sunrise,” with Billboard chart-topper Greg Manning. Released on Bokar’s AfroBlueGrazz Records, the buoyant R&B instrumental is already lighting up airwaves and playlists with its infectious optimism.
Bokar’s electric guitar dances with the same joyful dexterity that once earned praise from Dizzy Gillespie, who awarded him an Outstanding Jazz Soloist honor. Here, every note brims with anticipation, echoing George Benson’s fluid phrasing while channeling the smile-inducing glow of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day.” Manning, a GRAMMY-recognized producer behind more than a dozen No. 1 hits for artists like Herb Alpert and Keb’ Mo’, layers distinctive African percussion that roots the track in authenticity and lifts it skyward.
“‘Sunrise’ is a metaphorical bridge to our collective resilience,” Bokar explains. “I heard the morning sun rising over the African savanna and wanted the music to call us toward new beginnings and the spirituality of our shared humanity.” Born in Paris and raised in Mali and Senegal, Bokar first learned the ngoni and balafon before mastering the guitar at Berklee College of Music, where he received the Jim Hall Jazz Master Award.
A respected scholar alongside his stage life, Bokar teaches at the University of San Francisco and recently published his fourth book, Jazz: Culture and Social Justice Soundtrack of America’s Art Form. His seven albums include the DownBeat-acclaimed Guitar Balafonics, and he’s listed in Scott Yanow’s The Great Jazz Guitarists: The Ultimate Guide. This month he’s in Las Vegas recording his next contemporary single, with a full album slated for 2026.
Stream “Sunrise” now and let Pascal Bokar’s radiant groove remind you that every dawn is a fresh start.
Good luck with your new album❤️
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