Welcome to EQuity Records
“The Little Label That Could...”
A CONTEMPORARY MUSIC LABEL
Current Releases
Listen, stream and download our latest releases…
“THAT GIRL” BY JIMMY REID
"I first met Jimmy Reid back in the early 2000s when we were both part of Jonathan Butler’s band. We quickly became friends, and Jimmy later joined me on some of my most well-known songs, such as “Top Down,” “Sunrise Blvd,” and “Now And Forever.” I’ve always been captivated by his soulful, lyrical, and mature phrasing, which feels like he’s singing through the saxophone. To me, Jimmy has that golden tone that makes the instrument sound like a voice. Jimmy and I are both huge Stevie Wonder fans, and we’re hoping this version of “That Girl” will please your ears so his unique saxophone voice can be heard on the radio." - Greg Manning
Written by
Stevie Wonder
Produced by Greg Manning
Jimmy Reid – sax
Greg Manning – keys, programming
Mel Brown – bass
Eric Valentine – drums
Mixed by Greg Manning
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“gettin’ down” BY andrew neu
For Andrew Neu's debut on Equity Records, Andrew and Greg Manning have teamed up once again to create another smooth jazz jam. With equal parts Jazz, R & B and Motown, Gettin’ Down is a groovy shuffle that takes you right back to your favorite old school dance party! “Greg and I compliment each other really well in the studio. When we started the production on Gettin’ Down, we knew we wanted to have a track that was as fun to play as it is to listen to!” They say a chef is only as good as their ingredients. Musicians are the same and Andrew and Greg have put them together with their signature recipe: a seriously grooving rhythm section with the added spice of a bright and tight horn section. Andrew’s passionate saxophone soars over top with the ultimate ingredient for Gettin’ Down!
Written by
Greg Manning and Andrew Neu
Produced by Greg Manning
Horns arranged by Andrew Neu
Andrew Neu – sax
Greg Manning – keys, programming
Carlyle Barriteau – guitar
Mel Brown – bass
Eric Valentine – drums
Mike Stever – trumpet
Nick Lane – trombone
Mixed by Greg Manning
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“ON MY MIND” BY PATCHES STEWART
“On my Mind” is a medium tempo ballad that showcases Patches Stewart’s beautiful tone and phrasing on the trumpet. Patches is a powerful storyteller, capable of painting an emotional picture with just a few notes. The production intentionally leaves space for his horn to fully bloom and tell an intriguing story. The track features Eric Valentine on drums, master percussionist Luis Conte on congas and "colors," and Andréa Lisa on guitar and soulful backing vocals. Greg Manning provides the foundation on keys, bass, and background vocals. We at EQuity Records hope you enjoy Patches Stewart's latest single. Perhaps it will remind you of someone who is on your mind?
Written, Arranged, Produced
and Mixed by Greg Manning
Patches Stewart - trumpet
Eric Valentine - drums
Luis Conte - percussion
Andrea Lisa - guitar, backing vocals
Greg Manning - keys, bass, background vocals, and programming
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“jolanda” feat. kirk whalum BY greg manning
From Greg Manning -
This is my most personal work to date. In early April my mom asked me to write a song for her. It’s never possible to fully describe a person with a song, but I hope that “Jolanda” captures the essence of her being and I’m happy to release it on Mother’s Day weekend as a gift to her. My long time friend Kirk Whalum is a featured artist on this track, gracing the song with his warmth and signature phrasing on soprano saxophone. I hope you enjoy “Jolanda”.
Written, Produced and Mixed
by Greg Manning
Greg Manning - keys
Kirk Whalum - soprano sax
Carlyle Barriteau - guitar
Mel Brown - bass
Marcus Finnie - drums
Luis Conte - percussion
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“SHE’LL NEVER KNOW” BY MATT CUSSON
On his debut single for Greg Manning's EQuity Records, Jazz and R&B vocalist Matt Cusson delivers a soulful performance on what might soon be a modern standard. Co-written and supported by keyboardist-producer Manning, Cusson's airy yet powerful vocal wraps itself beautifully around Ilya Serov's gorgeous, lilting flugelhorn.
Written by Lisa Summerour and Greg Manning
Produced and mixed by Greg Manning
Matt Cusson - lead and backing vocals
Greg Manning - keyboards and programming
Ilya Serov - flugelhorn
Patrick Bettison - chromatic harmonica
Curtis McCain - percussion
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“AFTER HOURS” BY WAKANA
After Hours is Wakana’s second release on Greg Manning’s EQuity Records label. It’s a vibey, mid tempo song that features WaKaNa's beautiful tone and phrasing on the alto saxophone. The original song was composed by WaKaNa and Greg, and includes a performance by Morris O’Connor of Earth, Wind, & Fire on rhythm guitar.
Written by Wakana Inamura & Greg Manning
Produced & mixed by Greg Manning
Wakana - alto sax
Morris O’Connor - guitar
Greg Manning - keyboards and programming
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“REMEMBER THE TIME” BY GREG MANNING
I usually don’t release songs that someone else wrote, but I’ve always wanted to give my own take on Michael Jackson’s classic, ‘Remember The Time.’ It took me years to figure out how to put my own spin on the tune. I wanted to stay true to the original from 1991, keep the same energy, but also adapt it to 2025.
I heard saxophonist Phil Wigfall a few months ago here in Las Vegas, and I was instantly captivated by his tone and phrasing. A light bulb went off in my head, and I immediately thought of his sax being featured on the B-section of the song. I invited him to my studio last month, and here’s the result of our work.
Written by:
Bernard Belle, Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
Produced and mixed by Greg Manning
Greg Manning; piano, keyboards, moog bass, programming and background vocals
Phil Wigfall: alto sax
Mastering: Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“A NEW LIFE” by WAKANA
A New Life is a celebration of Wakana’s recent motherhood. The song was composed by her and Greg Manning. Her baby daughter, Kanon, can be heard in the song’s breakdown cooing and laughing. We hope that the uplifting song A New Life will invigorate you, and your listeners.
Written by Wakana & Greg Manning
Produced and Mixed by Greg Manning
Wakana - lead alto sax and section
Mel Brown - bass
Freddie Fox - guitars
Kanon - cooing and laughing
Greg Manning - keys, hi-hat and programming
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE” by PATRICK BETTISON
EQuity Records is proud to introduce Patrick Bettison on Chromatic Harmonica. Toots Thielemans once described the sound of the instrument as “ between a tear and a smile”. Patrick’s beautiful tone and emotional phrasing is a testament to that description. Label founder Greg Manning met Patrick many years ago on the now defunct music platform mp3.com, and they kept in touch over the years. Greg jumped at the chance to sign Patrick to his label because he is his favorite harmonica player.
Written, Produced and Mixed
by Greg Manning
Patrick Bettison - chromatic harmonica
Dave Thomas - backing vocals
Eric Valentine - drums
Luis Conte - percussion
Kay-Ta Matsuno - nylon guitar
Greg Manning - keys, synth bass and programming
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“NOW AND FOREVER” by GREG MANNING
My new single “Now and Forever” is a bit of a departure from my usual funky uptempo tunes. I wanted to explore a slower tempo that still holds a deep meditative groove. I wanted to give the piano melody a lot of space with a lush arrangement that doesn’t get in the way. The prominent toms fill from the drums announce the hook that is supported by Andréa Lisa’s signature guitar work. Jimmy Reid on tenor sax makes an unexpected entrance on the bridge followed by my piano solo. Instead of another piano solo I chose to play an analog lead synthesizer towards the end of the song. I’m able to sustain a note and use it almost like a singer’s voice. My inspiration for the synth sound was Pat Metheny’s soaring guitar synth tone that I love so much. I hope the song takes you on a beautiful journey through space and time - Now and Forever.
Written, Produced and Mixed
by Greg Manning
Greg Manning - piano, keyboards, programming, vocals
Andréa Lisa - guitars
Jimmy Reid - tenor saxophone
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
“Soul Serenade” by patches stewart
Michael "Patches" Stewart stands as a beacon of musical virtuosity, his trumpet prowess echoing through the annals of jazz history. Born in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz itself, Stewart was destined for greatness in the world of music. His unparalleled talent, innovative style, and unwavering dedication have solidified his place as one of the most influential trumpet players of our time.
Patches latest single release titled "Soul Serenade" is now available on all digital music platforms - the first release on EQuity Records - the new label founded by keyboardist, composer, and producer Greg Manning.
Written by
Michael "Patches" Stewart and Greg Manning
Produced by Greg Manning
Patches Stewart - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Andréa Lisa -Guitars
Greg Manning - Keys, Bass, Programming
Recorded at
The Sanctuary - Las Vegas, NV
Mixed by Greg Manning
Mastered by Steve Hall
RADIO PROMOTION:
Gorov Music Marketing
LINK
Artists
EQuity Records is proud to release music by these fine artists:
GREG MANNING
Greg Manning has garnered more than a dozen Billboard #1 hits as an artist and producer. His latest co-write and production for guitarist Les Sabler went to #1 in February 2025.
Manning is a Berklee College of Music alum and an amalgam of cultures. He was born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland.
Greg moved to Los Angeles in 2002 and has had an incredible career. He is a three-time certified platinum producer for Universal Music Switzerland, and has had several Swiss Chart toppers since 1996.
Greg is the former keyboardist and music director for GRAMMY Award-nominated artist Jonathan Butler… and keyboardist for Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Richard Elliot, Brian McKnight, Chante Moore, and Kirk Whalum, just to mention a few. After touring extensively for ten years throughout the U.S., Europe, South Africa, and the U.K., Greg made a conscious decision to come off the road. Not too long thereafter, he started composing music for film and television.
As an artist, his own music is the union of jazz, soul, and funk… and has been described as “Soul-Jazz at its best”… which can be heard on his album “Sugar and Spice,” which was released on Kalimba Records. The title track went on to spend 20 weeks on the charts rising to #5 on Billboard. Most recently his chart topping single “Top Down” was celebrated as Billboard’s 2019 Smooth Jazz Song of the Year.
website: https://www.gregmanningmusic.com/
MICHAEL “PATCHES” STEWART
Michael "Patches" Stewart stands as a beacon of musical virtuosity, his trumpet prowess echoing through the annals of jazz history. Born in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz itself, Stewart was destined for greatness in the world of music. His unparalleled talent, innovative style, and unwavering dedication have solidified his place as one of the most influential trumpet players of our time.
From a tender age, Stewart was immersed in the vibrant sounds of jazz that permeated the streets of New Orleans. His early exposure to this rich musical culture sparked a passion within him, driving him to pursue mastery of the trumpet. His nickname ‘Patches’ was earned due to a habit of patching up his jeans, showcasing his resourcefulness and determination even in his youth.
His breakthrough came when he caught the attention of renowned jazz artists, earning him opportunities to collaborate with legends such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock. Marcus Miller and Al Jarreau. Stewart’s collaborations with these icons not only showcased his remarkable talent but also allowed him to push the boundaries of jazz music, introducing fresh improvisational elements and expanding the genre’s horizons.
In conclusion, Michael ‘Patches’ Stewart is more than a trumpet virtuoso; he is a trailblazer who left an indelible mark on the world of jazz.
website: https://patchesstewart.com/
Photo Credit: Stephanie Edwards
MATT CUSSON
Matt has been touring the world on his own and with many other artists for 15 years, and is fresh off one of the biggest years of his career. In 2019, Matt toured with Christina Aguilera, singing the acclaimed duet “Say Something” with her.
Matt also toured with India.Arie, opening with the inaugural winner of The Voice, Javier Colon, and singing in a trio with India and Javier during the shows. He also released two singles with nine-time Grammy Award Nominee, Dave Koz.
Matt saw his song “Calling it a Night” used by NASA for their annual Moon Phase video, and he wrote, produced, and performed “The Moon and More” with Javier Colon for NASA’s LRO project.
To cap the year off, Matt’s arrangement of Irving Berlin’s, “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)” was performed by the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall.
Matt is a winner of the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Contest’s most prestigious award, the “Maxell Song of The Year” for his song “One of Those Nights” and the 2017 John Lennon Songwriting Contest’s “Best R&B Song” for his soulful ballad “Leaving L.A.”. Matt has also won a Billboard Songwriting Award along with several others.
website: https://www.mattcusson.com/
WAKANA
WaKaNa, originally from Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, is a Smooth Jazz, Soul, and R&B saxophonist.
She graduated from Shobi Music College and has been Futtsu city's tourism ambassador since 2017.
WaKaNa is a P. Mauriat Saxes, Theo Wanne Mouthpiece and Légère Reeds endorser.
Her solo debut in the United States came via the album "Saxcess Story” Produced by Greg Manning in 2018. She released “Go for the Sound” feat. Darren Rahn & Koh Mr. Saxman” in 2020 and also “SilK” Produced by Greg Manning in 2021. "Go for the Sound" received heavy airplay throughout the United States, and also ranked high on various Smooth Jazz charts.
WaKaNa has actively performed in various countries around the world, including a performance at a festival hosted by Michael Paulo, a sax player in Los Angeles, and held her own live show in San Diego.
WaKaNa is one of the most authentic Smooth Jazz saxophonists in Japan and the one of the most notable artists right now.
website: https://www.wakanasax.com/
ANDREW NEU
By blending a unique mix of jazz, R&B, classical and Latin music, Andrew Neu is one of the most exciting, multi-genre musicians today. He is well respected throughout the industry for his work as a saxophonist, woodwind player, arranger, composer, educator and Billboard charting recording artist. Having toured the world with Bobby Caldwell, Diane Schuur and Smokey Robinson, Neu learned from the best!
After releasing four contemporary jazz CDs, 2018 marked the debut of Andrew’s big band jazz album, “Catwalk” featuring soloists Rick Braun, Randy Brecker, Gordon Goodwin, Eric Marienthal and Bob Mintzer. His arrangements have been played by The Airmen of Note, The Count Basie Orchestra, Bobby Sanabria (Grammy nominated album), Janis Siegel, Bobby Caldwell and The Bernie Dresel Big Band.
Andrew returned to smooth jazz in 2022, releasing 5 chart topping singles that have been in heavy rotation on Sirius XM Watercolors. He has been featured as a performer or horn arranger on top 5 Billboard recordings from Blake Aaron, Lisa Addeo, Carol Albert, Brian Bromberg, Adam Hawley, David Sanborn and Peter White. Additionally, Andrew contributed to recent singles from Paul Brown, Tommy Davidson, Dave Koz, Freddie Fox, Aubrey Logan, Michael Paulo, Roberto Restuccia, Jeff Ryan, Les Sabler, Roberto Vally and Rob Zinn.
A graduate of Temple University, Andrew currently conducts the jazz program at Swarthmore College and is in demand as a guest conductor and soloist. He has been hosting The Andrew Neu Radio Show at Villanova University since 2022. You can find his big band charts published by Kendor Music and his recordings are streaming on all platforms.
website: https://www.andrewneu.com/
JIMMY REID
Jimmy Reid comes from a family with many actors and musicians. He started on drums at age 6 and switched to saxophone at 10. He received limited formal private lessons in jazz and classical music, was selected for the Grammy Midwest All-Star Jazz Ensemble, and earned awards including the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award plus Outstanding Musician honors from Coca-Cola and the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE).
As a high-school student he sent an unsolicited audition tape to Comiskey Park and was hired to perform the national anthem for Chicago White Sox games (returning the following year). In 1994 he moved to California to study at the University of Southern California (USC). There he performed solos with university ensembles and shared stages with Quincy Jones and David Foster. He also busked on Los Angeles streets—first downtown, then on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade—earning enough to buy a car.
While performing at a local synagogue he was befriended by a family who introduced him to smooth-jazz producer Cliff Gorov (CGR Productions). Reid recorded demo material on a karaoke machine in their foyer; Gorov encouraged further songwriting. This led to a deal with Discovery Records (part of the Sire family).
His 1998 debut album *Forever Loved* (Sire/Discovery) featured a polished smooth-jazz sound inspired by players such as Kirk Whalum, Dave Koz, and Gerald Albright. It included a radio-friendly cover of “My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic),” a version of the Gap Band’s “Yearnin’ for Your Love,” a take on Louis Armstrong’s “Wonderful World,” and original material. Guest/session musicians included Whalum, guitarists Paul Jackson Jr. and Michael Thompson, drummers Ricky Lawson and John Robinson, percussionist Paulinho da Costa, keyboardist Robbie Buchanan, bassist Neil Stubenhaus, and vocalist Philip Ingram. Reid contributed as saxophonist, producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist.
He has also released *For the Family* (2005) and has appeared as a sideman or collaborator with artists including Rick Braun, Louis Bellson, Howard Hewett, and Jon B. Later credits include saxophone work on various projects, and he continues to be active as a performer and composer (including film/TV work and live dates).
Reid’s style sits firmly in the melodic, radio-oriented smooth-jazz / contemporary instrumental tradition of the late 1990s onward, emphasizing warm tone, accessible melodies, and polished production.
PATRICK BETTISON
Patrick Bettison is a multi instrumentalist and composer with a jazz background, mainly known for playing Electric Bass, Chromatic Harmonica and Keyboards. As a freelance musician he has performed in jazz clubs and festivals throughout Europe and the United States. He has a unique individual melodic style which is instantly recognizable. Patrick is a natural musician who quite obviously loves playing music.
As a composer he fuses jazz and world music with unconventional instrumentation and percussion to create unique and memorable soundscapes.
At age eighteen, Patrick moved to Glasgow, Scotland (he’d grown up in Australia). He began playing jazz with multi-instrumentalist Bobby Wishart, who taught him pretty much everything he needed to know about music (it’s true).
After spending eighteen months in Glasgow, he moved to London, freelancing playing jazz with many different musicians including, Tim Whitehead, Jim Mullen, Django Bates, Gary Husband and Acoustic Alchemy. After spending eight years in London, Patrick moved to Tampa, Florida and worked with Gumbi Ortiz, Manfredo Fest, Kenny Drew Jr. and Tom Carabasi, playing mostly Brazilian and Cuban influenced jazz.
Patrick returned to London and played with even more people, including Tim Garland, Nicolas Meier and Asaf Sirkis.
He's currently living in St Petersburg, Florida and is playing with bossa nova artist Daniela Soledade.
website: https://patrickbettison.com/
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