Pianist Bobby Lyle and his “Ivory Flow”
Legendary pianist/organist Bobby Lyle was deemed a musical wonder when he released his first album, The Genie, which exploded onto the Billboard charts and blew the minds of jazz enthusiasts everywhere. Since that debut, Lyle has kept a high standard for 30-plus years, and has successfully maintain a flourishing, alwaysevolving career. As a pianist, composer, recording artist (with product on Capitol Jazz, Atlantic Jazz, Three Keys, Heads Up, and now New Warrior Music), musical director, music publisher, and music educator, Bobby Lyle’s presence, whether on stage or on his recordings, has always been bigger than life. Lyle’s unrivaled high standard of excellence entitles him to a place on the throne alongside other musical royalty, making him a permanent fixture in the prodigious society of jazz. With Lyle's forthcoming CD Ivory Flow (2021), he has released the single, "Living in the Flow," which has already received massive of airplay and a ton of attention with a cast of iconic musicians, including Stanley Clarke, Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, and more! As a youngster, Bobby Lyle was a prodigy whose gift became apparent when he was only 9 years old. He was a professional "paid" pianist at 16, performing regularly at local clubs in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. After high school, Lyle studied advanced piano at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. He left after two years to become a full-time touring musician on the national jazz circuit with ex-Ramsey Lewis sidemen who formed their own band called Young-Holt Unlimited with whom he also recorded on Atlantic-Cotillion.
This ultimately inspired him to move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to pursue a music career in earnest. Once there, after a brief tour with Sly and the Family Stone, he met Jazz Crusader co-founder Wayne Henderson who became his mentor; and, after securing his first recording deal (at Capitol Jazz), Henderson became his record producer. Subsequent deals with Atlantic Jazz, Three Keys, and Heads Up allowed Lyle to amass a prolific discography of jazz music—all of it selfproduced. His musical “Lyle” journey has taken him all over the world to various festivals and venues. He has served as musical director for such notable artists: Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Bette Midler (with whom he scored an Emmy nomination for her HBO special Diva Las Vegas), and Phyliss Hyman. His 1990 project The Journey made it to #1 on the Billboard jazz chart, and he is still the only artist who’s record (Straight and Smooth on the Three Keys label, 2005) appeared on both the Billboard Magazine smooth jazz, and the Billboard traditional jazz charts at the same time.
Originally Recorded In: January 11, 2022.
Remastered: 2026
