Michael Lington to release new effort in September

Saxophonist MICHAEL LINGTON will release his new CD HEAT, on September 2 on Nu Groove, crossing over into the mainstream pop/adult contemporary realm with vocal collaborations: That’s When You Save Me, an original track penned by hot young songwriter Claude Kelly (Leona Lewis), performed with soul legend AARON NEVILLE; and a rock-edged version of Gerry Rafferty’s classic Baker Street, with former American Idol finalist (and Grammy nominated songwriter) ACE YOUNG.

Lington co-produced seven of the tracks on HEAT with legendary session keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, whose credits range from Herbie Hancock’s Possibilities to Chris Botti’s To Love Again. Mega producer Keith Olsen (Fleetwood Mac, Santana, Grateful Dead) also contributed three cuts. Veteran musicians on the CD include keyboardist Randy Waldman, guitarists Michael Thompson and Kim Pierce; bassists Neil Stubenhaus and Nathan East; and drummers Teddy Campbell and Vinnie Colaiuta. Lington also introduces two rising female vocalists, U.K. born Keely Hawkes and Nashville based Janie Clewer.

Since the late 90’s, Lington has scored hit after Top 10 hit. A Copenhagen native, Lington began performing in the U.S. with such vocalists as Little Richard, Gary “U.S.” Bonds and Randy Crawford. His major breakthrough came with singer Bobby Caldwell, with whom he played from 1994-1998, and collaborated on the AC hit Tell It Like It Is. Lington’s 2000 breakthrough disc titled Vivid featured the #2 hit Twice In A Lifetime, and Sunset (Por Do Sol) which reached #4.

His third release Everything Must Change was chosen as one of 2002’s top contemporary jazz recordings by Jazziz magazine and spawned the Top 5 radio single Still Thinking Of You and Top 30 hit Off The Hook. 2004’s Stay With Me, his first release on fellow sax superstar Dave Koz’s Rendezvous Music, remained on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart for 24 weeks and yielded three major radio hits with Show Me (#2), Two Of A Kind (#2) and Pacifica (#6). His last CD, A Song For You included two popular singles, It’s Too Late and Tell Me All About It, a duet with Koz.

Lington recently opened for Barry Manilow with contemporary jazz keyboardist Brian Culbertson, and is lending his artistry to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, which raises funds for children’s music programs and provides instruments to public schools throughout the U.S. He also participates in Create Now mentoring troubled teens in Los Angeles, and Acres of Love which provides for abandoned and AIDS-infected children in South Africa.