Creating music from the heart — and connecting with listeners just as deeply — has proven to be a winning formula for contemporary jazz saxophonist Donald Hayes. The lead single from his album Soul Searching, “Longing For You” featuring GRAMMY®-nominated bassist Nathan East, was named Mediabase’s No. 1 Single of the Year, solidifying Hayes as one of the genre’s most compelling voices.
Written and produced by Hayes, “Longing For You” is a lush midtempo R&B/jazz instrumental that showcases his yearning alto saxophone front and center. The track is elevated by East’s probing basslines and the masterful guitar work of Billboard chart-topper Adam Hawley. The single dominated the Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay chart, holding the No. 1 position for two consecutive weeks — a powerful testament to its emotional resonance and widespread appeal.
“I always write and perform everything heart first. I honestly believe what comes from the heart reaches the heart,” Hayes shared. “‘Longing For You’ is about passion, and I’ve received so many comments about how the song makes people feel. Every time I played it for friends, there was an instant connection. I just never imagined it would become the No. 1 single of the year. Its success tells me it truly reached the hearts of listeners.”
On the track, Hayes intentionally created space for East — whose legendary résumé includes work with Eric Clapton, Daft Punk, and the multi-GRAMMY®-nominated band Fourplay — to shine as a featured soloist. “It was an honor to collaborate with a legend like Nathan East. I wanted him to stand out and leave his signature on the record,” said Hayes, a Memphis native now based in Los Angeles.
Continuing the momentum, Hayes released his follow-up single, “A Funky Attitude,” another self-written and self-produced standout from Soul Searching. Driven by the rubbery basslines of Andrew Gouche, the track radiates confidence and groove. Drummer Jay Williams, pianist Tracy Carter, and guitarist Jonathan Dubose craft a tight rhythmic pocket that allows Hayes’s slinky sax lines to prowl with swagger. “This song is about a woman who walks into a room with pride and confidence,” Hayes explained. “There’s something really funky and cool about that energy.”
Soul Searching is deeply personal and richly collaborative, featuring appearances by Robin Thicke, Brian Culbertson, Russell Gunn, Andrea Lisa, Bobby Sparks of Snarky Puppy, Kirk Fletcher of Fabulous Thunderbirds, Shedrick Mitchell (known for his work with Maxwell), Jonathan Richmond (who has performed with Eric Benet and Boney James), and Hayes’s mentor Derrick Jackson.
Hayes describes the album as “really personal,” explaining that the gap since his 2016 debut, Front Ground, was intentional. “It’s important to live, to experience life, and then pour those experiences into your music. I want listeners to feel everything — my joy, my pain, all of it.”
One of the album’s most emotional moments comes with “Please Don’t Go,” written after the loss of his sister. “I was begging her not to leave me,” Hayes revealed. The following track, “Pressing On,” carries a message of resilience: despite grief and hardship, we must find the courage to keep moving forward and fulfill our purpose.
Beyond his solo career, Hayes has spent twelve years performing alongside Thicke and the past five years touring globally with GRAMMY®-winning bassist Marcus Miller. His résumé spans performances and recordings with R&B royalty including Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, James Brown, Jamie Foxx, Black Eyed Peas, Chaka Khan, Jill Scott, and Queen Latifah. He has also lent his signature sound to gospel greats such as Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Kim Burrell, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, and CeCe Winans.
With Soul Searching, Hayes proves that authenticity is timeless. When music is created from a place of truth and vulnerability, it does more than top charts — it moves people. And in Hayes’s case, it has transformed heartfelt expression into a No. 1 celebration.
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