Who exactly is Chris Standring?

Chris Standring is one of the most prolific and successful artists on the contemporary urban jazz scene. With the release of his rhythmically eclectic, sonically progressive yet nostalgia filled 18th full length album Time of Change, the veteran guitarist celebrates a remarkable 30 years since he and keyboardist Rodney Lee dropped Solar System, an innovative dual project whose expansive, soul driven sounds gave rise to one of contemporary jazz’s most impactful, stylistically diverse, careers, starting with the release of his 1998 solo debut Velvet and its breakthrough radio hit “Cool Shades”.

True to the concept inherent in the title of the collection, the multi-talented performer’s infectious blend of introspective and fast grooving/danceable compositions, intricate texturing and moody atmospheres is a natural outgrowth and organic expression of this unique period of his life where he’s simultaneously reflecting on the past and excited about the great personal and musical adventures to come. Though he’s enjoyed over 15 Billboard Top 10 singles and eight #1’s – most recently with “Change the World” from Simple Things (2022) and “Top Hat & Tails” from As We Think (2024) – Standring insists that over the course of his past few projects, his writing has not been aimed at radio airplay but as a way to keep himself sane, happy and moving forward creatively.

Inevitably, several tracks poppin’ from his Benedetto archtop electric will catch the ear of programmers, but he’s less focused on commercial success than digging in deeper, following the muse and the music wherever it leads as his artistry evolves. His commitment to the “treadmill of songwriting, the discovery of the first, second, maybe the fifth germ that inevitably leads to the theme of the whole album” led this time to an enticing array of strings and horns influenced by the classic arrangements of Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays, Jerry Hey and Larry Williams, whose buoyant horn sections on the 1982 album Casino Lights: Recorded Live at Montreux, Switzerland were a particular reference point.

“It’s more of a subconscious element, but Casino Lights comes to mind when I think about the overall sense of musical nostalgia that comes across on Time of Change,” Standring says. “The simple horn arrangement I created on ‘All the Good Times,” for instance, harkens back a bit to the horns Larry wrote for Randy Crawford’s songs on that album. Modern listeners might not notice but that style of arranging throws me back to that era – and that makes me think of my childhood, my family, my brothers and sisters, growing up in England. It’s a very personal thing. The album wasn’t conceived to have this kind of musical nostalgia, but as the songs developed, I felt that warm fuzzy feeling, like it was taking me on this special journey.”

“Everything comes back to arranging,” the guitarist adds. “If I could get the simplest melody from anywhere, I could flesh it out in a million different ways, keeping it light or going much deeper. The depth in my music comes not just from melody, chord progression and grooves, but a desire to venture to more interesting places harmonically. I think I’ve always been into space and, like the great Claus Ogerman, become an arranger whose goal is to support the melody without cluttering it up. What’s new, however, is that I want to create even more space so the songs can breathe more. I’ve also stepped up my orchestration technique, something I’ve learned to do quite well over time.”

With Standring charting the course with his guitar, keyboards and programming expertise, Time of Change comes to life with the support of some of the most storied musicians in L.A. who happen to be members of his longtime crew - starting with the powerhouse rhythm section of Andre Berry (bass), Chad Wright (drums) and the legendary Lenny Castro (percussion). The musical spirit of Jerry Hey is alive and well in the brass bravura of saxophonists Brandon Fields (tenor) and Tom Saviano (alto), trumpeter Michael Stever and trombonist Erik Hughes as they snazz up the album’s four horn fired songs - the high octane funk jazz jam (and lead single) “Hollywood Hustle”; the cheerful, whimsy-filled strut “One of These Days”; the meditative, breezy-soul ballad “Remember the Day”; and cool, snappy and blues-tinged “All The Good Times.”

Standring’s longtime collaborator Rodney Lee takes sparkling old school Fender Rhodes solos on the lush atmospheric chill tunes “Where Were You When” and “All That To Say,” while veteran keyboardist George Whitty, whose credits range from Santana and Dave Matthews to the Brecker Brothers and Chaka Khan, adds his lively, improv-rich acoustic piano magic to the opening track “Photographs.” Time of Change’s evocative tracks also include the jangling, shuffle grooving, light funk romp “Magnetic,” the sly, seductive mood piece “Slippin’ in the Streets” and the dreamy, lyrical “A Good Game,” which features ethereal synth vocal textures. Standring wraps the set with “A Song for Alistair,” a graceful and ambient tribute to his recently departed father that expresses both sadness and the quiet joy of remembering beautiful memories at the same time.

In addition to the steady stream of studio albums of original material on his label Ultimate Vibe Recordings, Standring in recent years has also released the concert performance album Live in London, recorded at Cadogan Hall in the UK; the ambitious orchestral trio project Wonderful World, a standards project tracked at Abbey Road and featuring Randy Brecker, Harvey Mason and Peter Erskine; two popular remix projects (Best of Chris Standring Remixed, The Lovers Remix Collection); and the holiday set Silent Night. Standring’s hit releases on Ultimate Vibe also include Love & Paragraphs (2008), Blue Bolero (2010), Electric Wonderland (2012), Don’t Talk, Dance! (2014), Ten (2016), Sunlight (2018), Real Life (2020), Simple Things (2022) and As We Think (2024).

“Releasing albums on a regular basis keeps me out there in the world,” Standring says, “and I venture to say that perhaps one of the reasons for my success is that, stylistically, I’ve always stayed to the left of the mainstream smooth jazz crowd, constantly pushing the envelope and keeping my live performances exciting so people love it and come back. I’m truly a music addict and I am grateful to wake up every morning and have this gift and the opportunity and space to take my time, continue to work on my craft and play those wonderful shows. Time of Change has the feeling of looking back at where I’ve been, but right now, I’m definitely more excited about what lies ahead.”

- Jonathan Widran.