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IN THE NEWS
The Pulse Of Entertainment
“…The “Sound Alchemist” project features Verdine White (Earth, Wind and Fire) on bass; Grammy winning Gerald Albright on sax; Gary Bias on sax; Reggie Hamilton on bass; Munyungo Jackson on percussion; Morris O’Connor on guitar; Reggie Young on Trombone, and vocalists Danny McClain, Isabella Chiappini and Denaine Jones.”…
patrick's
place
“…Myron received support for this debut from Grammy winner and saxophonist Gerald Albright, bassist Reggie Hamilton, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, guitarists Eric Walls, Morris O’Connor and Greg “G-Moe” Moore, EWF trombonist Reggie Young, and vocalists Danny McClain, Isabella Chiappini and Denaine Jones.”…
eurweb
…“I grew up listening to all of those songs,” said keyboardist Myron McKinley about the cover songs like The Carpenters’ “Close to You” and Nat King Cole’s “Will You” that are on his debut solo album “Sound Alchemist.”…
the pulse of entertainment
“…The “Sound Alchemist” project features Verdine White (Earth, Wind and Fire) on bass; Grammy winning Gerald Albright on sax; Gary Bias on sax; Reggie Hamilton on bass; Munyungo Jackson on percussion; Morris O’Connor on guitar; Reggie Young on Trombone, and vocalists Danny McClain, Isabella Chiappini and Denaine Jones….
JazzHQ
“…Keyboardist Myron McKinley has a clear vision for his own creative expression, but perhaps more importantly, he has a clear vision for providing a necessary impetus to shatter the boundaries and stimulate the evolution of jazz. “…
culturemania
…African-American neo soul-jazz keyboard player Myron McKinley from Los Angeles released his debut album on February 10th. Due to the pandemic and a hectic schedule, with Myron acting as musical director for Earth, Wind & Fire, he is now experimenting with a mix of jazz, neo soul, hip-hop and funk. The 10 songs reflect a culturally rich amalgam that deals with the various forms of “black music”. Think of the music of, among others, Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, George Duke, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. Myron has already toured with Whitney Houston, Kenny Lattimore, Stanley Clarke and En Vogue; wrote, co-wrote or produced songs for EWF, Clarke, Doc Powell, Silk, Vesta, Cherokee and Howard Hewett. In addition, he has composed music for film and TV scores, such as for “Soul Food,” “Romeo Must Die,” “The Best Man,” “Think Like A Man,” “Shaft,” and “The Godfather of Harlem.” …
JAZZIZ
“Our conclusive track is keyboard Myron McKinley’s tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire with a version of “Imagination” from his new album, Sound Alchemist.”
LA WEEKLY
“…The album, which will be dropping on February 11, 2023, is a world music project that shares Myron Mckinley’s story. Myron has been in the music industry for over 14 years. He is a virtuosic pianist, producer, and composer. He is also the current music director and keyboardist of the legendary group, Earth, Wind, and Fire. Myron’s work in the industry has attracted massive attention and praise from legends like Whitney Houston…..
JAZZ CHILL
“…With a set list highlighting tunes from “Sound Alchemist,” McKinley will be flanked on stage at The Miracle Theater by guitarist Tony Pulizzi, bassist Ian Martin, drummer Stacey Lamont Sydnor and EWF saxophonist Gary Bias (who performs on the album). Several special guests are expected to perform with McKinley including EWF’s effervescent energizing bass player Verdine White (who appears on the album) and vocalist LaVance Colley….
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
“…Years in the making and after a pandemic delay and a hectic schedule serving as musical director for Earth, Wind & Fire, keyboardist Myron McKinley’s adventurous experiment in sound mixing jazz, neo soul, hip hop and funk is finally slated to release on February 10. McKinley produced “Sound Alchemist,” his debut album arriving from Dark Elf Music that will be celebrated the next night with a concert performance at The Miracle Theater in Inglewood, CA. Tickets for the show presented by Concerts.Cafe and radio station KJAZZ are on sale now. …
New World 'n' Jazz
“…Keyboardist Myron McKinley has a clear vision for his own creative expression, but perhaps more importantly, he has a clear vision for providing a necessary impetus to shatter the boundaries and stimulate the evolution of jazz. His latest release, Sound Alchemist on the Dark Elf Music label, is a learned thesis of sonic exploration and experimentation written and produced by McKinley as a mélange of contemporary, straight-ahead and fusion jazz; hip hop, R&B and soul; and multicultural nuance…”
PATCH
“…“Sound Alchemist couldn’t have been made without some of the Black pioneers of music that have led with their creativity, technique, vision and style. From Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, George Duke, and Miles Davis to our living legends like Herbie Hancock, there’s an essence of them that I feel is reflected in the project,” said McKinley, who composed six songs for the set as well as imaginative interpretations of material originally recorded by Drake, Sting, The Carpenters and, naturally, Earth, Wind & Fire….”
JAZZ NEAR YOU
“…Years in the making and after a pandemic delay and a hectic schedule serving as musical director for Earth, Wind & Fire, keyboardist Myron McKinley’s adventurous experiment in sound mixing jazz, neo soul, hip hop and funk is finally slated to release on February 10. McKinley produced “Sound Alchemist,” his debut album arriving from Dark Elf Music that will be celebrated the next night with a concert performance at The Miracle Theater in Inglewood, CA. Tickets for the show presented by Concerts.Cafe and radio station KJAZZ are on sale now. …
JazzHQ
“…‘Sound Alchemist’ couldn’t have been made without some of the Black pioneers of music that have led with their creativity, technique, vision and style. From Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, George Duke and Miles Davis to our living legends like Herbie Hancock, there’s an essence of them that I feel is reflected in this project,” said McKinley, who composed six songs for the set as well as crafted imaginative interpretations of material originally recorded by Drake, Sting, The Carpenters and, naturally, Earth, Wind & Fire.”…
The Jazz World.com
“Years in the making and after a pandemic delay and a hectic schedule serving as musical director for Earth, Wind & Fire, keyboardist Myron McKinley’s adventurous experiment in sound mixing jazz, neo soul, hip hop and funk is finally slated to release on February 10. McKinley produced “Sound Alchemist,” his debut album arriving from Dark Elf Music that will be celebrated the next night with a concert performance at The Miracle Theater in Inglewood, CA. “…
The Urban Music Scene
“…There’s something that feels righteous about “Sound Alchemist” dropping during Black History Month. The ten-track collection is a culturally rich amalgam reflecting the diverse Black music diaspora.”…
Cultuuremania
“…When he first began work on “Sound Alchemist,” McKinley had an ambitious goal of testing the boundaries of jazz, pushing those limits and breaking through in an attempt to spur growth and evolution in the musical artform. Among the alchemists he invited to experiment on the record are Grammy-winning saxophonist Gerald Albright, bassist Reggie Hamilton, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, guitarists Eric Walls, Morris O’Connor and Greg “G-Moe” Moore; EWF trombonist Reggie Young, and vocalists Danny McClain, Isabella Chiappini and Denaine Jones. “…
The Jazz World.com
“…McKinley’s own compositions are just as far-reaching and ambitious, challenging jazz to grow and listeners to open their minds. He offers “Will You” as a tribute to Nat King Cole, who long before he was known for seducing and charming with his elegant and silky voice, he was a remarkably dexterous pianist. “…
ANNE CARLINI
“…While the music industry continues to shift towards singles as singular musical statements, McKinley prefers taking listeners on a complete journey via an album. “Sound Alchemist” does just that”…
Smooth Jazz Daily
“…the ten-song “Sound Alchemist” is a learned thesis of sonic exploration and experimentation written and produced by McKinley as a mélange of contemporary, straight-ahead and fusion jazz; hip hop, R&B and soul; and multicultural nuance.”…
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
“…In addition to his long-time duties with Earth, Wind & Fire, McKinley has toured with Whitney Houston, Kenny Lattimore, Stanley Clarke, En Vogue and Shai. He has written, cowrote or produced songs for EWF, Clarke, Doc Powell, Silk, Vesta, Cherokee and Howard Hewett. He’s also composed music for film and television scores, contributing to “Soul Food,” “Romeo Must Die,” “The Best Man,” “Think Like A Man,” “Shaft,” and “The Godfather of Harlem” among many others. But jazz is home, so McKinley makes time to perform with his own straight-ahead jazz triothe ten-song “Sound Alchemist” is a learned thesis of sonic exploration and experimentation written and produced by McKinley as a mélange of contemporary, straight-ahead and fusion jazz; hip hop, R&B and soul; and multicultural nuance.”…
The Urban Music Scene
“…Los Angeles native McKinley studied classical and jazz piano, including under the tutelage of Grammy-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. But hip hop’s influence in his works is just as prevalent as jazz and classical.”…
Cultuuremania
“…Keyboardist Myron McKinley has a clear vision for his own creative expression, but perhaps more importantly, he has a clear vision for providing a necessary impetus to shatter the boundaries and stimulate the evolution of jazz”…
Mikes Gig
“…Keyboardist Myron McKinley has a clear vision for his own creative expression, but perhaps more importantly, he has a clear vision for providing a necessary impetus to shatter the boundaries and stimulate the evolution of jazz”…
LA TIMES
For a couple of hours Friday afternoon, the clocks at Jefferson High School swept backward to an era of old-school glamour, when the 20th century was in its high-spirited adolescence, and Black folks from the Deep South were fleeing Jim Crow by the tens of thousands for the California Promised Land.
Those arrivals helped convert a multiblock stretch of South L.A.’s Central Avenue into a neighborhood where jazz giants like Dexter and Duke and Etta and Ella strolled the streets not merely as idols but as friends and regulars. Their music was celebrated and debated nightly in the Dunbar Hotel lounge and enacted as a holy rite in the Alabam Club, the Bird in the Basket and that secular temple the Lincoln Theater.
SCHMOOZE JAZZ
On Sunday evening, September 12th, 2021, the Legacy Theater was transformed into a Speakeasy, featuring gifted pianist/producer/songwriter Myron McKinley who is the musical director and keyboardist of the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire. McKinley led a very talented group of musicians that featured vocalists Sy Smith, Rebecca Jade, and Adam Aejaye Jackson with dancer Sonya Enchill Om. McKinley’s trio included Upright bassist Ian Martin and drummer/percussionist Stacey Lamont Sydnor with Tony Pulizzi on guitar and Gary Bias on sax. The Legacy Concert series is by Concerts.Cafe and produced by Florentino Buenaventura, the CEO of EnterTalk and Paul Paul Berezetsky, COO.
JAZZED MAGAZINE
Concerts.Cafe and The Myron McKinley Trio (band members from Earth, Wind and Fire, the Jacksons and David Foster) proudly bring you an intimate experience in celebrating the life and music of Chick Corea – with special arrangements and renditions of his songs, as well as a heartfelt interview with the band about their personal experiences with Chick and the impact that he had on their lives and musical careers. Fans who purchase tickets to this livestream event will receive 25% off the signature Myron McKinley Trio coffee when purchased as a bundle, and a portion of the ticket proceeds will go to the Fisher Center For Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.
THE URBAN INFLUENCER
Myron McKinley is the current music director and keyboardist of the legendary R&B Jazz Funk group “Earth, Wind & Fire” that holds a record of winning 7 Grammy Awards including the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2016.
Along with bassist, writer, and producer Ian Martin and music director, producer, drummer, percussionist, songwriter, and composer Stacey Lamont Sydnor have formed jazz collective the Myron McKinley Trio. The trio has linked up with bassist Stanley Clarke for a jazzy cover of Michael Jackson’s 1988 hit “Man In the Mirror.”
WHAT THE K-POP
SMTOWN has released the newest track for SM STATION!
On May 19th, the music video for “E-12 (Live)” was released. The track features the uber-talented jazz group the Myron McKinley Trio. SMTOWN describes the song as “a fusion jazz song in avant-garde style with outstanding live impromptu played by the band.” This marks the first release from SM STATION that focuses completely on a foreign artist and is the eight digital single to be released in SM STATION’s second season.
ISSUE WIRE
San Diego, California Sep 15, 2021 (Issuewire.com) – A spectacular evening starring The Myron McKinley Trio, featured Sy Smith (Chris Botti), Rebecca Jade (Sheila E.), Adam Aejaye Jackson (Toni Braxton), and dancer/choreographer Sonya Enchill Om (Alvin Ailey). These dynamic performers entertained the San Diego crowd on Sunday, September 12, 2021, at 7:00 pm at the Pavilion Theater. The in-person event was just one of many concerts headed by EnterTalk’s CEO Florentino Buenaventura who has erected a unique concert-going experience. Buenaventura is a pioneer who has continued to put on life (and streaming) concerts before and during the pandemic.
MOONROK
SM Entertainment has released their newest SM Station song “E-12” with The Myron McKinley Trio.
Myron McKinley is the famed keyboardist and music director of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire. His SM Station song “E-12” is described as an avant-garde style, fusion jazz song. The video features the band performing the song in a live session.
THE URBAN MUSIC SCENE
SAN DIEGO, March 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Award-winning vocalist Cerissa McQueen (cerissasang.com) – featured in the 2018 film “Solo” – announced the upcoming release of her first music single: “Your Love Is Amazing.” McQueen is an independent artist, well known for her versatile but distinctive sound and is often compared to Aretha Franklin, after performing for multiple sold-out tribute concerts dedicated to the Queen of Soul. The single will be produced by Music Director and keyboardist for Earth, Wind, & Fire, Myron McKinley, whose work includes collaborations with some of the greatest Grammy Award-winning artists of all time. “Your Love Is Amazing” is scheduled for a pre-ordered release on March 26, via iTunes and widely distributed on April 2.
