Every now and then a uniquely talented artist, through fresh and innovative musical content, transfers a resurgence of life into the veins of a genre. This is indicative of Greg Manning’s passion to reach his listeners through melodic tunes that reach your soul.
Greg Manning, who is the former keyboardist and music director for GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist Jonathan Butler and keyboardist for Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Richard Elliot, Brian McKnight, Chante Moore, and Kirk Whalum, just to mention a few, guides his listeners on a journey of life’s influences compiled into his highly anticipated solo project titled The Calling. The Calling, which features the talents of acclaimed guitarist Keb’Mo’ and smooth jazz artists Kirk Whalum and MIndi Abair, is the convergence of jazz, soul, and funk, combined with musical inspiration from artists such as, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock/
After touring extensively for ten years throughout the U.S., Europe, South Africa, and the U.K., Greg made a conscious decision to come off the road. Not too long thereafter, he started composing music for film and television. Yet, he felt it was time to do his own project. “I think for any sideman, he says, there always comes a time when you hear your own voice and you want to do your own thing,” and that’s exactly what he did. Greg began writing for The Calling in 2004 and officially released his solo project worldwide on iTunes on April 5th, 2010. “I wanted the project to be a great, coherent, accessible CD and not some hybrid thing that doesn't please anybody fully.” There is a lot to be said about Greg Manning the artist, but it would only take away from what his music has to say.
Greg Manning is a Berklee College of Music alum and an amalgam of cultures. He was born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland. Greg moved to Los Angeles in 2002 and has had an incredible career. He is a three-time certified platinum producer for Universal Music Switzerland, and has had several Swiss Chart toppers since 1996.
Greg Manning, the man and his music. Soul-Jazz at its best!
Press Quotes
”He was introduced to the crowd as Greg Manning, and we were told that we’d be blown away with his playing. That was an understatement. I decided to find out more about him through others in the band. The more I learned, the more I was intrigued. So, now I present to you, keyboardist Greg Manning.”-Bonnie Schendell, SmoothViews.com
”Greg Manning's The Calling shines brightly. Give this album a listen, it's without no doubt worth to spend some of your precious time.”
-Hans-Bernd Hülsmann
