Brian Simpson and Jackiem Joyner

After graduating from Northern Illinois University, keyboardist and composer Brian Simpson relocated to Los Angeles where he was soon playing alongside musicians Gerald Albright and Norman Brown and eventually on a world tour with Janet Jackson.

In 1990 Simpson received a call from George Duke that led to a decade of touring and production work with the late jazz legend. It was his tenure with George that led to working with a variety of artists, from James Ingram and Anita Baker to Dave Koz and Wayman Tisdale.

The popularity of his music world wide has kept Mr. Simpson on a seemingly endless world tour which in 2019 included Japan, Australia, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Spain, United Kingdom, Portugal, and South Africa.

With writing and performing credits on R&B chart-topping albums and Smooth Jazz Airplay charts, it’s clear why Brian is the veteran Music Director of so many jazz events.

Brian is a recording artist with Shanachie Entertainment which is releasing his tenth CD entitled All That Matters (2021).

Contemporary saxophonist, author, and music producer Jackiem Joyner is set to release his 7th album, Touch, worldwide this fall, 2019.
After more than 12 years as a recording artist, Jackiem continues to stand out with electrifying live performances and brilliant music productions. As a performer, he has toured over 30 countries and performed with the likes of the late George Duke, Marcus Miller, Keiko Matsui, Donnie McClurkin, Angela Bofill, Najee, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, and many, many more. Joyner’s radio success is widely known within the industry.

Joyner has two number 1 hit songs, five top 10 billboard singles, and a number one debut album under his belt. In addition, he published the highly acclaimed science fiction novel Zarya, which received high praise and a five star rating on Amazon.

“This album is about romance,” Joyner explains of Touch. “I wanted to give everyone something hip, smooth, and sexy at the same time.” The record has an urban feel, laced with the hottest down tempo vibes. The album shares similar textures to the music of artists Tank and Trey Songz. Joyner’s soprano sax leads the charge through most of the album.

“My approach to performing on this record was to be melodic and dynamic with my horn”. Peter White joins Jackiem on the first single, “Last Dance”. The combination of soprano sax and nylon guitar pulls you in with its romantic and catchy melody.

Najee serves up the flute on a dreamy urban song called “Fairytales”. The unique mix of flute and soprano sax on this vibey tune form one of Joyner’s best performances and productions. The song was written together with Tim Bailey, aka Twizzboy.

Born to a Vietnam War vet father and dedicated mother in Norfolk, VA,, growing up wasn’t easy for Jackiem. He set his sights high from a young age; he always dreamed of being a performing artist, as unlikely as it was, given his humble upbringings. Even as a child, he loved the attention he received from family when he danced away to Michael Jackson songs.

Now, Jackiem is proud to stand front and center on the main stage most weekends around the country. A quick glance at Joyner’s track record makes it clear that he continues to beat the odds in a tough and competitive music industry. “I love what I do and I have passion”, Jackiem says. “I don’t care how hard things get, it’ll never stop me from doing what I love: playing the sax, writing music and stories, and performing live.” His love of writing novels came as a surprise to many of his fans. “I’m very excited to release my second novel soon after my album release,” Joyner says. “Writing stories is now a big part of my creative journey.”

The first single from Joyner’s last album, Main Street Beat (2017), was named for his daughter, Trinity. Joyner’s adoration for his little girl is clearly expressed through the live, pop-influenced song, driven by Steve Oliver’s guitar. The song was an instant hit. Reaching no. 2 on the billboard. We’re all dying to see if she follows in dad’s footsteps with her own stage career some day!

With the creation of his company, JOYNER MEDIA COMPANY L.L.C., Joyner hopes to inspire other creators to follow their dreams and realize their true potential in art and multimedia. When Jackiem is not touring the world, he spends time giving lectures to students across the country. He also enjoys talking to band classes, helping them with practice and offering insight on how to pursue a career in the performing arts.