There are weeks when everything seems to come together at once. This is one of those weeks.
This past Friday we released the first single from my upcoming album, “How Wrong They Were” on Love Productions Records label After sitting quietly for more than twenty years, these songs are finally finding their way into the world. Written by the late songwriter Ike Joseph, they are timeless love songs that deserve to stand alongside the great American Songbook classics, and I’m grateful to finally share them with you.
How Wrong They Were
Over the past several months, Pat and I have been on a mission to locate Ike Joseph’s family. It wasn’t easy. We searched public records, made countless phone calls, and followed every lead we could find because we believed these songs deserved to be heard—and because we wanted to honor the man who wrote them. We were overjoyed to finally connect with Ike’s niece, Cindy Staples, who graciously gave us her blessing to release this music and celebrate her uncle’s remarkable contribution to America’s musical heritage. It was a moment that reminded us that every song has a story, and every songwriter deserves to be remembered.
Ike Joseph had a gift for writing unforgettable melodies and heartfelt lyrics. His songs capture the romance, sophistication, and emotional honesty that made the Great American Songbook such an enduring part of our culture. My hope is that Swingin’ Love Songs introduces a new generation of listeners to this remarkable songwriter and ensures that his music continues to live on.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen, share it with someone you love, and let me know what you think. While new music is making its way into the world, we’ve also been making music live.
This weekend at Birdland, Harlem After Dark has been playing to packed houses, and what a joy it has been. There is nothing quite like feeling the energy of a room full of people who come together simply to celebrate music. Night after night I’ve had the privilege of sharing the stage with the extraordinary Maya Azucena, AC Lincoln, Rick Germanson, Brandi Disterheft, and Damon DueWhite. Every performance has been different, spontaneous, and filled with the kind of musical conversations that remind me why I fell in love with jazz in the first place.
Watching audiences laugh, sing along, and celebrate Harlem’s rich musical heritage has been incredibly rewarding. Harlem After Dark continues to grow with every performance, and I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who packed Birdland this weekend and shared the experience with us.
As soon as the Birdland lights go down, another adventure begins.
Rehearsals are now in full swing for Cross That River as we prepare to bring the production to the International Black Theatre Festival. Every rehearsal reminds me why Pat and I have devoted so many years to this project. It’s a story of resilience, freedom, and the often-overlooked history of the Black West, and sharing it on one of the festival’s main stages is an incredible honor. Watching this talented cast and creative team breathe new life into the show has been deeply inspiring, and we can’t wait to share it with Winston-Salem audiences.
And there’s even more ahead.
The complete album, Swingin’ Love Songs, arrives on August 28, but before then we’ll release another single on August 14. I can’t wait for you to hear what’s coming next. Each song reveals another side of Ike Joseph’s remarkable songwriting and another chapter in a recording project that has become one of the most meaningful of my career.
Thank you for following this journey, for listening, for coming to the concerts, for reading these weekly reflections, and for believing in the music. Your support makes it possible to keep creating, performing, and telling these stories.
We’re just getting started.
With gratitude,
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