Home » Jazz Musicians » Jay Soto

Jay Soto

Award-winning guitarist, Jay Soto draws upon a diverse background to form his unique style. Studying drums at age five and classical piano at age seven, Soto picked up the guitar at age 12. His early years were diverse with sound, ranging from Beethoven to church hymns. All this exposure amounted to an early obsession for the pursuit of music. He continued his education as a young adult at Arizona State University.

Today, Soto continues his beginnings by honoring his church roots as the music director for St. Helen's Church in Glendale, Arizona. A consummate player and an accomplished composer/arranger, with song placement on such mega hit shows as “Sex and the City” (HBO) and “All About US” (NBC). Notable television stations such as the Weather Channel and Music Choice have played his music on a regular basis.

He was also the grand finalist in Guitar Center’s “Guitarmageddon” competition, the most respected guitar competition in the nation. He proved his talent immediately by winning the local, district and regional rounds and then made his way to the finals held at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar festival in Dallas, Texas where he played in front of over 15,000 people. In the end, Jay finished as one of the top unsigned guitarists in the nation. He is also a skilled vocalist and had the honor of singing the “Star Spangled Banner” for a presidential rally in 2004 at Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona.

Drawing from a vast background of experience as a sideman, Soto's role as the lead guitarist for acclaimed Christian group "Vessel," gave him the opportunity to appear before thousands of listeners in major Christian venues with such notable acts as Margaret Backer, Jon Gibson, Whiteheart and The Newsboys. Soto was also the lead guitarist for Zum Zum Zum, a highly acclaimed Latin group based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Soto's involvement with the group taught him the finer points about Latin rhythms, which he now incorporates into his playing and technique. During this time in his career, he opened up for major acts such as Vikki Carr, Acoustic Alchemy and the Latin group, Cumbia Kings. These experiences and performances have seasoned Soto into one of the finest contemporary jazz guitarists of his generation.

His memorable melodies and impeccable technique are evident in his successful debut release, Long Time Coming, which has received outstanding reviews from critics everywhere and has opened many doors for this young and rising star. His self-produced debut caught the attention of the nuGroove label (Michael Lington and Down to the Bone) and producer greats, Jeff Lorber and Paul Brown. Under the guidance of producers Lorber and Brown, along with Darren Rahn (Wayman Tisdale, Jonathan Butler) and Mario Mendivil (Nelson Rangell), Soto would release his sophomore album, Stay Awhile in 2007.

Read more

Tags

202

Event

"Night of Jazz and Fashion by the Sea Benefit Concert"

"Night of Jazz and Fashion by the Sea Benefit Concert"

Source: All About Jazz

Nu Groove Records Jazz recording artist Jay Soto will help kick off the first annual “Night of Jazz and Fashion by the Sea Benefit Concert" for children with HIV/AIDS and Pediatric AIDS Research. Jay Soto is a guitarist, songwriter, engineer and producer whose first single, Slammin', became a smash hit and reached #2 on the coveted, national R&R charts. His next single, Stay A While, is currently rising up the charts. Soto is currently working on his next album which ...

100

Event

Jay Soto Kicks Off the 1st Annual "Night of Jazz and Fashion by the Sea Benefit Concert" for Children with HIV/Aids and Pediatric Aids Research

Jay Soto Kicks Off the 1st Annual "Night of Jazz and Fashion by the Sea Benefit Concert" for Children with HIV/Aids and Pediatric Aids Research

Source: All About Jazz

Nu Groove Records Jazz recording artist Jay Soto will help kick off the first annual “Night of Jazz and Fashion by the Sea Benefit Concert" for children with HIV/AIDS and Pediatric AIDS Research.

Jay Soto is a guitarist, songwriter, engineer and producer whose first single, Slammin', became a smash hit and reached #2 on the coveted, national R&R charts. His next single, Stay A While, is currently rising up the charts. Soto is currently working on his next album which ...

106

Recording

Chart Popping Guitarist Jay Soto Releases "Stay Awhile" Single to Radio March 31, 2008

Chart Popping Guitarist Jay Soto Releases "Stay Awhile" Single to Radio March 31, 2008

Source: Cheryl Hughey Promotions

Moorestown, NJ--Who ever dreamed that an unknown kid from Phoenix would make it to the top of the R&R Smooth Jazz Chart? In an industry that is fragile and changing, new blood comes and goes rather quickly...enter in nuGroove with the release of Jay Soto's Stay Awhile CD. Soto signed with nuGroove in 2007 and released Stay Awhile on March 29, 2007. Unpredictably, the “Slammin'" single rose #2 on the chart by the fall of 2007 to the resounding sound ...

94

Recording

Phoenix Guitarist Jay Soto Releases New CD and Signs with Nugroove

Phoenix Guitarist Jay Soto Releases New CD and Signs with Nugroove

Source: Cheryl Hughey Promotions

Phoenix Guitarist Signs with nuGroove and Releases Stay Awhile Moorestown, NJ - April 20, 2007 - Phoenix guitarist Jay Soto has signed with the nuGroove record label and will release his 2nd CD on May 29, 2007. Inactive since 1998, David Chackler brought NuGroove back into full force in 2007 after a nine year hiatus. (NuGroove was the orginal home of such artists as Michael Lington and Down to the Bone.) Jay Soto is the first for the reactivated nuGroove ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Mesmerized

Nugroove Records
2009

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.