Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown

From the KUNV Studios on the campus of UNLV, host Pamela Black counts down the 20 smoothest jazz songs in America — the official Mediabase chart of the week.

This episode celebrates a season of rising stars and timeless legends. Saxophonist Najee, joined by Brian Simpson, holds the top spot with “Salvador.” Close behind, Adrian Crutchfield’s Sooo Good and Nathan Mitchell’s Feel the Heat keep the energy sizzling in the Top 3.

Pamela spotlights bassist Andre Berry as this week’s Headliner, revisits a Vintage Smooth gem from George Howard, and introduces fresh grooves from chart climbers including Lisa Addeo, Blake Aaron, Boney James, and Ryan La Valette.

From Las Vegas to listeners around the world, The Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown delivers the definitive groove guide — your weekly soundtrack of sophistication, soul, and sunshine.

Smooth Jazz Airplay Chart for 11/8/2025

20 NICHOLAS COLE Shine
19 MINDI ABAIR Nouveau Soul
18 RAGAN WHITESIDE Fancy Footwork
17 WALTER BEASLEY Lazy Afternoon
16 CHRIS STANDRING Chocolate Shake
15 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA De Nada
14 DAVE KOZ & SUMMER HORNS Vehicle
13 RYAN LA VALETTE London Nights
12 BONEY JAMES The Bounce
11 BRIAN CULBERTSON On The Road f/Miller/Sheila E
10 PJ SPRAGGINS High Five f/Oli Silk
9 JAZZ FUNK SOUL Over Easy
8 QUINTIN GERARD W. Streets Of Gold
7 KIRK WHALUM Well Alright
6 MARION MEADOWS Just Doing Me
5 LISA ADDEO Lipstick And Moonlight
4 BLAKE AARON Dare To Fly
3 NATHAN MITCHELL Feel The Heat
2 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD Sooo Good
1 NAJEE Salvador f/Brian Simpson

 Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown — Week Ending November 1, 2025

Join Pamela Black from the KU-NV studios on the campus of UNLV for the smoothest show in America — counting down the 20 biggest smooth jazz hits from coast to coast.

This week’s lineup delivers a perfect blend of chart-topping icons, rising stars, and timeless legends. Hear fresh grooves from Boney James, Lisa Addeo, and Nathan Mitchell, alongside signature sounds from Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Pamela Williams, and this week’s #1 artist Najee with “Salvador” featuring Brian Simpson.

Pamela also shines the spotlight on powerhouse saxophonist Mindi Abair, honors vintage soul master Luther Vandross, and teases a “Safe Bet” destined for the chart—BPM’s new single “East Side Party.”

Produced by Jason Beatty, engineered by Wes Knight, and fueled by Mediabase airplay data, this episode is a groove-filled journey through the contemporary jazz landscape — smooth, soulful, and perfectly timed for your weekend.

Smooth Jazz Airplay Chart for week of 11/1/2025
20 BONEY JAMES The Bounce
19 CHRIS STANDRING Chocolate Shake
18 DAVE KOZ & SUMMER HORNS Vehicle
17 RYAN LA VALETTE London Nights
16 GERALD ALBRIGHT Living My Best Life
15 JAZZ FUNK SOUL Over Easy
14 WALTER BEASLEY Lazy Afternoon
13 3RD FORCE Show Me The Way f/Nils
12 BLAKE AARON Dare To Fly
11 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA De Nada
10 LISA ADDEO Lipstick And Moonlight
9 MARION MEADOWS Just Doing Me
8 QUINTIN GERARD W. Streets Of Gold
7 PJ SPRAGGINS High Five f/Oli Silk
6 BRIAN CULBERTSON On The Road f/Miller/Sheila E
5 PAMELA WILLIAMS Strollin'
4 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD Sooo Good
3 KIRK WHALUM Well Alright
2 NATHAN MITCHELL Feel The Heat
1 NAJEE Salvador f/Brian Simpson

From the KUNV 91.5 FM studios on the campus of UNLV, host Pamela Black takes listeners on another silky-smooth ride through the Top 20 Smooth Jazz songs in America, as ranked by Mediabase Airplay. This week’s countdown features standout performances from Ryan LaValette (“London Nights”), Lisa Addeo (“Lipstick and Moonlight”), Nathan Mitchell, PJ Spraggins, and Pamela Williams—plus a tribute to the timeless artistry of D’Angelo.

Pamela spotlights this week’s chart climbers, from Jazz Funk Soul’s groove-laden “Over Easy” to Kirk Whalum’s soulful “Well Alright,” before crowning the #1 song of the week: Brian Culbertson’s “On the Road,” featuring Marcus Miller and Sheila E.

Recorded at the KUNV Studios and produced by Jason Beatty, the episode blends smooth grooves, artist insights, and that signature Las Vegas flair—reminding listeners that jazz is alive, well, and moving coast to coast.

Smooth Jazz Airplay Chart for the week of 10/25/25
20 RYAN LA VALETTE London Nights
19 DAVE KOZ & SUMMER HORNS Vehicle
18 LISA ADDEO Lipstick And Moonlight
17 BLAKE AARON Dare To Fly
16 JAZZ FUNK SOUL Over Easy
15 KIM SCOTT Alma de Lisbon f/Kelvin Wooten
14 QUINTIN GERARD W. Streets Of Gold
13 BEN TANKARD Outstanding
12 MARION MEADOWS Just Doing Me
11 GERALD ALBRIGHT Living My Best Life
10 WALTER BEASLEY Lazy Afternoon
9 3RD FORCE Show Me The Way f/Nils
8 NATHAN MITCHELL Feel The Heat
7 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD Sooo Good
6 PJ SPRAGGINS High Five f/Oli Silk
5 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA De Nada
4 KIRK WHALUM Well Alright
3 PAMELA WILLIAMS Strollin'
2 NAJEE Salvador f/Brian Simpson
1 BRIAN CULBERTSON On The Road f/Miller/Sheila E

Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown – October 18, 2025

Hosted by Pamela Black | Produced by Jason Beatty | Recorded at the KUNV Studios, UNLV

Step into the groove with another chart-topping edition of The Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown, where Pamela Black brings you the 20 smoothest tracks shaping contemporary jazz nationwide. This week’s show delivers an unbeatable mix of legends, rising stars, and soulful collaborations.

🎷 Highlights include:

• Pamela Williams claims the #1 spot with her sultry hit “Strollin’.”
• Roberto Restuccia holds strong at #2 with the silky guitar favorite “De Nada.”
• Najee and Brian Simpson heat things up at #3 with “Salvador.”
• Brian Culbertson, Marcus Miller, and Sheila E. shine at #4 with “On The Road.”
• PJ Spraggins featuring Oli Silk lands at #5 with the upbeat “High Five.”

You’ll also hear chart favorites from Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Third Force, Kim Scott, and Nathan Mitchell, plus a special flashback spotlight on the great Jeff Lorber and his timeless groove “Gigabyte.”

🎶 Whether you’re a lifelong smooth-jazz fan or a new listener discovering the sound, this week’s countdown captures the heartbeat of the genre — from mellow midnight sax to high-energy horn sections.

Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown – Week Ending October 18, 2025:

From the KUNV studios at UNLV, Pamela Black guides your Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown through 20 of the week’s smoothest spins. The ride starts with Darren Rahn at #20 (“Light of the World”) and rolls through Norman Brown, Blake Aaron, Jazz Funk Soul, and a horn-powered blast from Dave Koz & Summer Horns on “Vehicle.” Mid-chart movers include Lisa Addeo (#15 “Lipstick and Moonlight”), Adrian Crutchfield (#14 “Sooo Good”), Quintin Gerard W. (#13 “Streets of Gold”), Ben Tankard (#12 “Outstanding”), Kirk Whalum (#11 “Well Alright”), and a silky Top 10 led by Walter Beasley, Nathan Mitchell, Kim Scott, PJ Spraggins, and Gerald Albright.

This week’s highlights: a Headliner feature on keyboardist Cal Harris Jr. (“Love Stories”) and a Vintage Smooth salute to Wes Montgomery (“The Shadow of Your Smile”). At the summit, Najee claims #1 with “Salvador” (featuring Brian Simpson), with Roberto Restuccia at #2 and Third Force featuring Nils holding strong at #3. Produced by Jason Beatty, engineered by Wes Knight; chart data by Mediabase—plus a bonus track to cap the hour.

Smooth Jazz Weekend Countdown 10/11/25
20 DARREN RAHN Light Of The World
19 NORMAN BROWN Casual Cool
18 BLAKE AARON Dare To Fly
17 JAZZ FUNK SOUL Over Easy
16 DAVE KOZ & SUMMER HORNS Vehicle
15 LISA ADDEO Lipstick And Moonlight
14 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD Sooo Good
13 QUINTIN GERARD W. Streets Of Gold
12 BEN TANKARD Outstanding
11 KIRK WHALUM Well Alright
10 WALTER BEASLEY Lazy Afternoon
9 NATHAN MITCHELL Feel The Heat
8 KIM SCOTT Alma de Lisbon f/Kelvin Wooten
7 PJ SPRAGGINS High Five f/Oli Silk
6 GERALD ALBRIGHT Living My Best Life
5 BRIAN CULBERTSON On The Road f/Miller/Sheila E
4 PAMELA WILLIAMS Strollin'
3 3RD FORCE Show Me The Way f/Nils
2 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA De Nada
1 NAJEE Salvador f/Brian Simpson

🎷 Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown – October 4, 2025

Get ready for another star-studded edition of the Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown, your trusted guide to the top 20 smooth jazz songs shaping the airwaves! Host Pamela Black takes you coast to coast through this week’s chart, featuring the freshest grooves, rising stars, and timeless legends of contemporary jazz.

This week’s countdown delivers standout performances from Gerald Albright, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson, Pamela Williams, Najee, Nathan Mitchell, Jeff Ryan, and more. And for a truly special moment, Craig Dobbin of the legendary fusion group Third Force joins the show to personally introduce their brand-new No. 1 song, “Show Me the Way” featuring guitarist Nils — this week’s smoothest track in America!

From funky keyboard grooves to soulful sax melodies and world-class guitar solos, this episode celebrates the spirit of smooth jazz with stories, artist insights, and the hottest chart movement. Whether you’re relaxing at home, driving down the coast, or streaming worldwide, the Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown is your destination for the ultimate smooth jazz experience.

📻 Produced at KUNV 91.5 FM Las Vegas and powered by Mediabase Airplay.

Smooth Jazz Airplay Chart for 10/4/2025

20 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD Sooo Good
19 LISA ADDEO Lipstick And Moonlight
18 QUINTIN GERARD W. Streets Of Gold
17 BLAKE AARON Dare To Fly
16 JEFF RYAN Missing Your Love f/A. Hawley
15 MICHAEL BROENING Together Again
14 ERIC DARIUS Too Good 2 Let Go
13 NATHAN MITCHELL Feel The Heat
12 KIRK WHALUM Well Alright
11 KIM SCOTT Alma de Lisbon f/Kelvin Wooten
10 NORMAN BROWN Casual Cool
9 WALTER BEASLEY Lazy Afternoon
8 BEN TANKARD Outstanding
7 PJ SPRAGGINS High Five f/Oli Silk
6 NAJEE Salvador f/Brian Simpson
5 BRIAN CULBERTSON On The Road f/Miller/Sheila E
4 PAMELA WILLIAMS Strollin'
3 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA De Nada
2 GERALD ALBRIGHT Living My Best Life
1 3RD FORCE Show Me The Way f/Nils

From the KUNV studios at UNLV, Pamela Black guides you through the smoothest countdown in America—20 to 1—with fresh grooves, big movers, and a few surprises. This week features chart momentum from Blake Aaron (“Dare to Fly”), Quintin Gerard W. (“Streets of Gold”), and Jeff Ryan (“Missing Your Love”), plus an artist spotlight on Darren Rahn (“Light of the World”). In the Top 5, Norman Brown (“Casual Cool”), Roberto Restuccia (“De Nada”), and Pamela Williams (“Strollin’”) set the stage for a tight race at the top. 3rd Force surges to #2 with “Show Me the Way” (feat. Nils), but Gerald Albright claims #1 with “Living My Best Life.” You’ll also hear our Featured Headliner segment on the Canadian electro-jazz duo Four80East (“Cinco Cinco Seis”) and a classic moment celebrating Earth, Wind & Fire. Cap it off with a bonus “Safe Bet” pick from Lisa Addeo (“Lipstick and Moonlight”). Tap in for coast-to-coast contemporary jazz that keeps your weekend in the groove. 

Smooth Jazz Radio Airplay Chart for 9/28/25
20 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD Sooo Good
19 BLAKE AARON Dare To Fly
18 GERRY SMOOT Align
17 QUINTIN GERARD W. Streets Of Gold
16 JEFF RYAN Missing Your Love f/A. Hawley
15 MICHAEL BROENING Together Again
14 ERIC DARIUS Too Good 2 Let Go
13 NATHAN MITCHELL Feel The Heat
12 KIRK WHALUM Well Alright
11 KIM SCOTT Alma de Lisbon f/Kelvin Wooten
10 BRIAN CULBERTSON On The Road f/Miller/Sheila E
9 WALTER BEASLEY Lazy Afternoon
8 BEN TANKARD Outstanding
7 NAJEE Salvador f/Brian Simpson
6 PJ SPRAGGINS High Five f/Oli Silk
5 NORMAN BROWN Casual Cool
4 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA De Nada
3 PAMELA WILLIAMS Strollin'
2 3RD FORCE Show Me The Way f/Nils
1 GERALD ALBRIGHT Living My Best Life

This week on the Smooth Jazz Radio Top 20 Countdown, Pamela Black takes you coast to coast with the smoothest sounds in America. From rising stars to genre icons, the countdown is packed with fresh grooves, big moves, and a few surprises along the way.

Highlights include Kim Waters kicking things off at #20 with his soulful sax, Quentin Gerard W.’s meteoric climb into the top 20, and Kirk Whalum bringing his signature gospel-infused sound into the spotlight. We also celebrate legends like Walter Beasley and Gerald Albright, while Pamela Williams lights up the chart with her creative energy at #3.

The countdown builds to an exciting finish as Norman Brown claims the #1 spot with “Casual Cool,” proving once again why he’s one of smooth jazz’s most consistent hitmakers. Plus, we honor the timeless legacy of Ramsey Lewis in our Vintage Smooth feature and spotlight new music from Embassy featuring Tim Bowman in the Safe Bet pick.

Whether you’re relaxing at home or cruising on the road, this episode delivers the definitive soundtrack for your weekend.

This week’s Smooth Jazz Radio Top 20 Countdown takes you on a soulful ride through the smoothest tracks in the country, recorded live from the KUNV studios at UNLV. Hosted by Pamela Black, the countdown delivers fresh grooves, big moves, and plenty of surprises.

We start at #20 with Bay Area saxophonist Greg Chambers and his soulful “LA Sunset,” then move through highlights like flautist Kim Scott’s “Ama de la Spawn” (#18), keyboardist Nathan Mitchell’s “Feel the Heat” (#16), and the chart-savvy Brian Culbertson teaming with Marcus Miller and Sheila E on “On the Road” (#15).

The energy builds with Kim Waters at #13, Najee featuring Brian Simpson at #11, and our featured headliner Cindy Bradley, whose bright trumpet tone shines on “Footprints.” As we enter the Top 10, heavy-hitters like Greg Manning, Third Force, Walter Beasley, and Bay Area guitarist Ray Obiedo keep the countdown fresh and diverse.

The Top 5 turns up the heat with Eric Darius (#5), Pamela Williams (#4), Gerald Albright (#3), and Norman Brown (#2). Finally, the #1 spot belongs to Grammy-winning producer and keyboardist Michael Broening with his hit “Together Again,” closing the show on a note of pure smooth jazz magic.

The countdown also spotlights sax legend Kirk Whalum with his new single “Well Alright” and a “safe bet” track from Blake Aaron, hinting at future chart success.

September 13th, 2025
20) Greg Chambers — LA Sunset
19) Gerry Smoot — Align
18) Kim Scott — Alma de Lisbon f/Kelvin Wooten
17) Nicholas Cole — Blue Magic
16) Nathan Mitchell — Feel The Heat
15) Brian Culbertson — On The Road f/Marcus Miller & Sheila E
14) Jeff Ryan — Missing Your Love f/Adam Hawley
13) Kim Waters — The Pacemaker
12) Roberto Restuccia — De Nada
11) Najee — Salvador f/Brian Simpson
10) Greg Manning — Now And Forever
09) PJ Spraggins — High Five f/Oli Silk
08) 3rd Force — Show Me The Way f/Nils
07) Ben Tankard — Outstanding
06) Walter Beasley — Lazy Afternoon
05) Eric Darius — Too Good 2 Let Go
04) Pamela Williams — Strollin'
03) Gerald Albright — Living My Best Life
02) Norman Brown — Casual Cool
01) Michael Broening — Together Again

Join Pamela Black from the KUNV studios in Las Vegas for another edition of The Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown, your definitive guide to the top 20 smooth jazz songs of the week. This episode features fresh grooves and chart-topping favorites from artists like Kim Scott, Brian Culbertson, Najee, Nicholas Cole, Pamela Williams, Norman Brown, Michael Broening, and this week’s #1, Eric Darius with Too Good to Let Go. Along the way, enjoy artist spotlights, a “Vintage Smooth” classic from Shakatak, and our “Safe Bet” pick from Darren Rahn — plus behind-the-music stories that bring the smooth jazz scene to life. 

Smooth Jazz Radio Airplay Chart for the week ending 9/5/25
20. Kim Scott – Alma de Lisbon f/Kelvin Wooten
19. Brian Culbertson – On The Road f/Miller/Sheila E
18. Najee – Salvador f/Brian Simpson
17. Roberto Restuccia – De Nada
16. Gerry Smoot – Align
15. Walter Beasley – Lazy Afternoon
14. Jeff Ryan – Missing Your Love f/A. Hawley
13. Brian Simpson – Under The Stars
12. 3rd Force – Show Me The Way f/Nils
11. Kim Waters – The Pacemaker
10. PJ Spraggins – High Five f/Oli Silk
9. Greg Chambers – LA Sunset
8. Nicholas Cole – Blue Magic
7. Ben Tankard – Outstanding
6. Pamela Williams – Strollin’
5. Greg Manning – Now And Forever
4. Gerald Albright – Living My Best Life
3. Norman Brown – Casual Cool
2. Michael Broening – Together Again
1. Eric Darius – Too Good 2 Let Go