Jay Soto

Jay Soto is a guitarist, pianist, singer and producer from Phoenix, Arizona, who made his name in smooth jazz. Early on he composed for television, including Sex and the City and NBC’s All About Us, and in 2004 he reached the final six of a nationwide guitar contest run by Guitar Center. His debut album, Long Time Coming, followed in 2005.

In 2007 he signed with the NuGroove label and released Stay Awhile, with guests including Jeffrey Osborne, Jeff Lorber, Euge Groove, Paul Brown and Michael Lington. Its single “Slammin’” became a number-two Billboard hit in 2008, and Mesmerized (2009) brought another hit in “Groovalicious”. He has since branched out with the solo piano album Morning Glory (2013), the orchestral Veritas (2015), built around his nylon-string guitar, and On the Verge (2017), his first vocal album, inspired by late-1970s and early-1980s yacht rock. He has also played or recorded with Craig Chaquico, Everette Harp, Candy Dulfer, Boney James and Acoustic Alchemy.