Yamaha Artist & Billboard #1 Jazz Piano Sensation Kayla Waters Starts Anew on Shanachie Entertainment Recording Available Everywhere November 7th

By Shanachie Entertainment

Waters’ New Single LUSH Available Everywhere Today!!

“The piano is my heartbeat—my inner rhythm of life!” confides Yamaha and Billboard #1 Jazz pianist, producer and composer Kayla Waters whose name prophetically means “keeper of the keys.” “I am truly a pianist that paints with her fingers. It’s how I musically paint life’s experiences….” The stunningly beautiful and dynamic Maryland native has shared the stage with icons Stevie Wonder and Patrice Rushen, as well as with R&B singers Marsha Ambrosius and Corinne Bailey Rae, among numerous others. If art reflects an artist’s inner world, then Kayla Waters’ new recording, Anew (November 7, 2025), is a powerful testament to her ambitions to use music as a force for good. “My faith and my music are intimately intertwined! There’s no way I can separate it, God speaks to me through nature, and He gingerly speaks through the music I’ve been blessed to write!” shares the pianist. “This level of confidence comes with an immense amount of time spent in prayerful worship and coves of quietude. I am thankful for this fruitful work and pray I continue to inspire others who may want to fuse their faith into their creations!” Waters holds the distinction of being the first jazz pianist to hold a #1 spot for six consecutive weeks on the Jazz chart. She has scored five #1 Billboard hits to her credit. “I’ve been blessed to be able to stand my own ground and inhabit space as a thriving artist in this arena!” shared the pianist whose diverse list of influences include George Duke, Keith Jarrett, Frederic Chopin, Maurice Ravel and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

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As an artist Kayla Waters is deeply inspired by nature. The music featured on Anew, her fourth recording as a leader and second for Shanachie Entertainment, is a moving sonic wonder of eleven original tracks that conjure images of breath-taking African safaris and towering Icelandic glacier capped peaks, and that reverberates with the harmonies of love and gratitude. Waters affirms, “It’s a musically rich journey that captures the depth of who I am!” Kayla’s unique signature elixir of jazz, classical and soul is a divine combination of all the elements that move her. Anew opens with the album’s first single, “Lush,” a jubilant and percussively playful tune that underscores Kayla’s deft talent as a composer and improvisor. “Obedience” is a sophisticated mid-tempo stunner that showcases her penchant for crafting gorgeous melodies that linger in your mind. It’s also a composition that connects Kayla’s faith and music. “It’s a joy to walk in obedience!” she says. “Personally, it means staying true to my creative, God-given sound while continuously infusing my faith into my artistic offerings. I love that I can be who I am wholeheartedly, with passion and poise!” Anew also showcases the snap-happy and soulful groove of “Bountiful” which demonstrates Kayla’s never-ending well of inspiration as she takes flight with her inspired piano improvisations in this moving song of praise. “God’s love, the newfound love of marriage (shoutout to my husband, Zo!), my creative writing process, and divine opportunities to flourish as an artist have all been bountiful in my life!” reflects the pianist. “In this piece, I use the beauty of creation and earth’s bounty to illustrate the abundance that is flowing sweetly in my life.”

This year Kayla Waters was a featured guest performer on the popular Dave Koz Cruise which sailed to Iceland, The Netherlands and Norway! The song “Snowy Fjords,” was inspired by this epic journey and the dramatic snowy landscapes that Kayla witnessed for the first time. The song opens with the sounds of strings along with harp, tambourine and piano in high octaves to a subtle yet arresting effect. Waters recalls,” My spirit was filled with awe-wonder as I basked in the stunning fjords of Iceland—I’ve never seen anything so beautiful! Snow is also my favorite element, so to write a piece about the snow-capped fjords was a treasure!” Kayla’s father, celebrated chart-topping saxophonist, labelmate and one of the premiere architects of Smooth Urban Jazz, Kim Waters, plays on the track as well as on the sublime and ethereal “Lofty Chambers,” and assisted with the music production and programming on the album.

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About The Lovely Kayla V.

Kayla V. Waters-Medley, is a passionate pianist, composer, producer and curator of PuriKey Productions. Planted in her creative giftings, Kayla digs her feet deep into holy ground with Anew, a plush artistic offering set to release this autumn. With grandeur, this musically rich work illustrates the unearthing and unlocking of fresh terrains of life with “keys” of splendor. Scribed with love, Anew is a stunning addition to her pianistic anthology following Presence, Coevolve, and Apogee. With aplomb, Kayla is elated to be an official Yamaha Artist and a voting member of the Grammy’s Recording Academy.

Sweetly kissed with success, Kayla beautifully made history by becoming the first female pianist to reign atop the contemporary jazz charts for multiple weeks and is a six-time Billboard and Mediabase number one artist. Robed with eminence, Kayla has been blessed to play with a bouquet of music legends including Stevie Wonder, Patrice Rushen, The Jacksons, Regina Belle, Avery*Sunshine, Sheila E., Dave Koz, Jonathan Butler and her cherished father {iconic jazz saxophonist}, Kim Waters. Kayla has bountifully shared her heartfelt artistry all over the globe and across continents {North America, Europe and Africa} at countless jazz festivals, theaters, prestigious performing arts centers, national television platforms, and even playing within the oceans and mountains of God’s creation as her most sacred stage.

As Keeper of the Keys, Kayla eloquently embraces her pure gift as a musical scribe. She has a lofty understanding of key signatures and orchestral textures that gingerly make her mellifluous compositions whisper softly on the heartstrings of all who listen. Kayla’s artistic pieces {often resembling mini-symphonies} musically paint the fragrance of heaven and her lush harmonies create an abundance of sweet-smelling aromas. Although Kayla holds a piano performance degree from Howard University {Summa Cum Laude}, she audaciously professes the majestic beauty of the Holy Spirit is what truly anoints her fingertips at the piano. Spiritually grounded, Kayla revels in sharing her magnanimous gifts faithfully {and fruitfully} on every stage she graces. God’s presence is the undulating rhythm and holy abode of her heart.