The Stellar Award Honors Hall of Fame inductee and platinum-selling pioneer of Gospel Jazz has found Sunday’s Best Musician! Ben Tankard launched his quest to find and inspire new talent and allow upcoming musicians an opportunity to appear on his next album. After judging entries based on presentation, professionalism, talent, and skillset fit with the style of the track he would record, Tankard selected two winners – flutist Brandon Marceal and vocalist Tracey Phipps.
“All of the entries were very talented and gifted and I pray Godspeed on their career goals,” says Tankard. “I hope everyone has been utilizing the self-improvement tools that were sent in response to each entry and I thank those who participated.”
Brandon Marceal is an amazing freelance flutist who is creating quite a buzz by presenting a unique and refreshing voice to Contemporary Jazz, Hip Hop, Gospel, Funk, Country, and Rock music. Tracey Phipps is a rising R&B singer and songwriter whose sultry vocals and airy falsetto flow in a combination of new school R&B meet a flare of the 90s. Brandon and Tracey will perform with Tankard on his new album SHINE that will release in 2021.
Tankard is preparing his SHINE album in follow-up to his award-winning album RISE. His “Rise” single climbed to #1 Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay chart, on the Mediabase Smooth Jazz Radio Chart, and the Smooth Jazz Top 20 with Allen Kepler on TheSmoothJazzNetwork.com. In addition, “Passionfruit” remains at #1 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz recurrent chart enabling Tankard to have singles from RISE at the top of the charts for over 2-years.
Tankard is blessed to continue to celebrate musical successes. To thank his fans and followers, he is offering a FREE Christmas music download of “Silent Night” featuring saxophonist Donald Hayes.
“Christmas this year may be somewhat different (and in some ways a little ‘silent’) for many of us who have experienced the loss of loved ones due to COVID-19,” says Tankard. “I wanted to share an instrumental rendition of the old Christmas melody Silent Night that we all love. I pray that it will trigger fond memories of those loved ones and recreate a musical backdrop for meditation on God’s grace and love for us as we navigate through this season with hope for the future.”
“Silent Night” can be downloaded and enjoyed for FREE at BenTankard.me/shop.
“Special thanks to my friend Donald Hayes who provided the sax solo on Silent Night,” Tankard expresses. “Merry Christmas from the Tankard family and the Hayes Family!”
