PREVIOUS GUESTS

Carol Albert

Carol Albert. A rural town like Hiram, Georgia may not seem a likely start or an international recording artist, but that is exactly where Carol Albert's music talent emerged. In early childhood, Carol loved nothing better than to share the piano bench with her beloved grandmother. "My grandmother lost an arm to cancer, so she played the bass with her left hand and taught me to play the treble with my right. She also composed songs in her sleep and taught them to me. In sharing her melodies, my grandmother imparted her love for me as well as her love of music." As her music appreciation grew, so did Carol's aptitude for classical piano. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Georgia State University, and then embarked on a music career in which she has left her mark nationally and internationally.

Currently Carol is recording her 12th Studio Album to be released in 2027 with Shanachie Records and Performing Shows across the US. She currently has three #1 Billboard Hits from her latest album “Pieces of Me” released in 2025 which includes "Sunshine Yellow" featuring Peter White, and stayed on the Charts for 23 weeks, “Seaside Story”, “City Walk” and her latest Single Release “Vertical Horizons” featuring Paul Brown on Guitar. Recent Albums "Magic Mirror", "Stronger Now", and "Fly Away Butterfly" gained national recognition with three #1 Billboard Hits and 12 Top 10 Billboard Hits. Carol uniquely draws from her classical training to create a blend of melodic contemporary jazz and rhythmic grooves. Fans have streamed her music on Spotify to accumulate over 15 million streams on the Album "Stronger Now” and other Albums. .

Over recent years audiences have enjoyed her performances at Aloha Jazz Festival, Hawaii, WFSK Music Festival in Nashville, Myrons Jazz at The Smith Center in Las Vegas, the Lyman Center in Connecticut, Berks Music Festival, Elmira Music Festival NY, Middle C Jazz Club, Suite Lounge Atlanta, Catalina Jazz Trax Festival, Brass City Music Festival, and City Winery as well as 3 tours of Europe and Cruise Ship out of France to name a few. More shows and Festivals past and future listed on Carol’s website.

Before breaking through to the greatest commercial success of her career with a high energy twist on the classic “Mas Que Nada” (from her "Fly Away Butterfly" album) in 2017, the classically trained pianist, composer and producer received an Emmy nomination for her acclaimed work composing for television and released a multitude of recordings whose vibes range from singer/songwriter to solo piano arrangements and improvisations. .She was a Baldwin Artist alongside the likes of Billy Joel and Bruce Hornsby. Her 2019 and 2020 nominations for Artist of the Year by the Smooth Jazz Network (alongside genre luminaries like Dave Koz and Brian Culbertson) cap a dynamic roll over the past few years. These include an HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) nomination for Best Jazz Song (“Femme Flight”); designation as Georgia Composer of the Year by the National Women Pen's League Association in 2018; a nomination for Best New Artist 2017 by Smooth Jazz Network; and an HMMA Best Contemporary Instrumental nomination for “Transition”; and an Alkahest Award for her “Mas Que Nada” video in 2016.In addition, her composition “Lovely Time for a Child” won a first place award in the Professional Jazz category from the Atlanta Songwriter’s Association, and she won 1st Place in the New Age

Starting with her early pop/rock club dates out of college, Carol says she has “gigged basically every week of my life.” Carol served as a staff accompanist for the Georgia State University Music Department (her alma mater), Agnes Scott College and the Atlanta Ballet during her college years , and provided entertainment for trade shows, corporations, organizations and public venues. She also played a Cruise Line out of France and toured France , England, Ireland and Spain 3 separate tours.

“I feel fortunate to enjoy a musician’s lifestyle over the years while also being a wife and mom,” says Carol. “One of the things I’ve loved most about my success as a smooth jazz artist is the opportunity to make meaningful connections with the fans who tell me how much my music means to them. It’s been very rewarding to see how my music has resonated, and the radio airplay and appreciation from listeners are a wonderful confirmation that I’m on a strong creative path and achieving my goals on this very personal quest.”

Carol Albert. A rural town like Hiram, Georgia may not seem a likely start or an international recording artist, but that is exactly where Carol Albert's music talent emerged. In early childhood, Carol loved nothing better than to share the piano bench with her beloved grandmother. "My grandmother lost an arm to cancer, so she played the bass with her left hand and taught me to play the treble with my right. She also composed songs in her sleep and taught them to me. In sharing her melodies, my grandmother imparted her love for me as well as her love of music." As her music appreciation grew, so did Carol's aptitude for classical piano. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Georgia State University, and then embarked on a music career in which she has left her mark nationally and internationally. Currently Carol is recording her 12th Studio Album to be released in 2027 with Shanachie Records and Performing Shows across the US. She currently has three #1 Billboard Hits from her latest album “Pieces of Me” released in 2025 which includes "Sunshine Yellow" featuring Peter White, and stayed on the Charts for 23 weeks, “Seaside Story”, “City Walk” and her latest Single Release “Vertical Horizons” featuring Paul Brown on Guitar. Recent Albums "Magic Mirror", "Stronger Now", and "Fly Away Butterfly" gained national recognition with three #1 Billboard Hits and 12 Top 10 Billboard Hits. Carol uniquely draws from her classical training to create a blend of melodic contemporary jazz and rhythmic grooves. Fans have streamed her music on Spotify to accumulate over 15 million streams on the Album "Stronger Now” and other Albums. . Over recent years audiences have enjoyed her performances at Aloha Jazz Festival, Hawaii, WFSK Music Festival in Nashville, Myrons Jazz at The Smith Center in Las Vegas, the Lyman Center in Connecticut, Berks Music Festival, Elmira Music Festival NY, Middle C Jazz Club, Suite Lounge Atlanta, Catalina Jazz Trax Festival, Brass City Music Festival, and City Winery as well as 3 tours of Europe and Cruise Ship out of France to name a few. More shows and Festivals past and future listed on Carol’s website. Before breaking through to the greatest commercial success of her career with a high energy twist on the classic “Mas Que Nada” (from her "Fly Away Butterfly" album) in 2017, the classically trained pianist, composer and producer received an Emmy nomination for her acclaimed work composing for television and released a multitude of recordings whose vibes range from singer/songwriter to solo piano arrangements and improvisations. .She was a Baldwin Artist alongside the likes of Billy Joel and Bruce Hornsby. Her 2019 and 2020 nominations for Artist of the Year by the Smooth Jazz Network (alongside genre luminaries like Dave Koz and Brian Culbertson) cap a dynamic roll over the past few years. These include an HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) nomination for Best Jazz Song (“Femme Flight”); designation as Georgia Composer of the Year by the National Women Pen's League Association in 2018; a nomination for Best New Artist 2017 by Smooth Jazz Network; and an HMMA Best Contemporary Instrumental nomination for “Transition”; and an Alkahest Award for her “Mas Que Nada” video in 2016.In addition, her composition “Lovely Time for a Child” won a first place award in the Professional Jazz category from the Atlanta Songwriter’s Association, and she won 1st Place in the New Age Starting with her early pop/rock club dates out of college, Carol says she has “gigged basically every week of my life.” Carol served as a staff accompanist for the Georgia State University Music Department (her alma mater), Agnes Scott College and the Atlanta Ballet during her college years , and provided entertainment for trade shows, corporations, organizations and public venues. She also played a Cruise Line out of France and toured France , England, Ireland and Spain 3 separate tours. “I feel fortunate to enjoy a musician’s lifestyle over the years while also being a wife and mom,” says Carol. “One of the things I’ve loved most about my success as a smooth jazz artist is the opportunity to make meaningful connections with the fans who tell me how much my music means to them. It’s been very rewarding to see how my music has resonated, and the radio airplay and appreciation from listeners are a wonderful confirmation that I’m on a strong creative path and achieving my goals on this very personal quest.”