Guitarist Reza Khan to Release New Project “Shadow Dancers” on Oct. 30th, 2026 | LISTEN!
REZA KHAN “SHADOW DANCERS”
DROPS OCTOBER 30th
The guitarist, arranger-composer, and sound designer utilizes a large cast of talents to create cinematic music that is filled with the excitement of life along with the peace and tranquility that occurs between twilight and dawn.
Reza Khan loves the atmosphere, ambiance, and quiet excitement of nighttime. “You suddenly experience these beautiful, theatrical things, where nature turns into a festival.”
To achieve his musical vision on Shadow Dancers, the guitarist gathered together a core group consisting of Philippe Saisse and Matt King on keyboards, bassist Brendan Rothwell, and drummer Mauricio Zottarelli, and utilized important contributions from tenor-saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa, Jimmy Haslip, Mark Egan and Nathan East on bass for various tracks, a string section arranged by Luciano Filho, singer Olivia Foschi (on two numbers), and various others. The result is a contemporary jazz set which, while filled with infectious urban grooves and concise individual statements, is particularly notable for the colorful ensembles which blend together acoustic and electric instruments.
The set begins with Jeff Kashiwa’s soulful tenor on “Aurora” (written for Khan’s daughter, depicting the joy he feels whenever she arrives), “Blue Lounge” (which imagines a club set deep in a forest with dancers), the interplay between Khan’s guitar and Jimmy Haslip’s bass on “Shadow Dancers,” beautiful singing by Olivia Foschi on “Scarlet Sky,” and the upbeat instrumental “Chillin’” which features Philippe Saisse’s keyboards. The strings are prominent on the picturesque “Rain Cruiser,” the electronic soundscape of “Sky Rise” has important roles for Saisse and Nathan East, and Matt King’s keyboards fulfill the title of “Lift,” while “Sunset Walk” puts the spotlight on the leader’s lyrical and melodic guitar along with the inspiring drumming of Mauricio Zottarelli. “Southside Jam” has Khan creating a melodic yet expressive solo worthy of Pat Metheny while the closer, “Still Standing,” is a forward-looking and determined piece of survival with his guitar creating a triumphant statement.
Reza Khan was born and raised in Bangladesh where he grew up around Indian classical music, Bengali song, and classical and folk jam sessions. He started on percussion before taking up the guitar. Khan moved to the United States to study at Queens College, developing his distinctive sound on the guitar, his impressive writing abilities, and his fresh and inventive musical personality. Starting with 2009’s Painted Diaries, he has released a series of thought-provoking recordings that erase the boundaries between contemporary jazz, World music and fusion. These include A Simple Plan, Dreamwalker, Wind Dance, Next Train Home (which has the top 10 single “Drop Of Faith”), Imaginary Road, and Mystical.
For Reza Khan, night is not only tranquil but energizing. The same attributes apply to Shadow Dancers, his latest accomplishment.
Shadow Dancers is a nocturnal journey, an album that lives between twilight and dawn, where melody drifts like mist through pine trees, and rhythm flickers like neon against a darkened sky. Each melody invites the listener into a world shaped by motion, memory, and atmosphere: a place where groove, harmony, and texture move together like figures dancing just beyond the light. So turn down the light, get into the groove and step inside “The night is listening.”
Available From Symphonic Distribution, RezaKhanMusic.com and all online streaming platforms.
Reza Khan — Guitar
Mauricio Zottarelli — Drums
Andrew Neu — Saxophone
Bill Heller — Keyboards
Matt King — Piano
Leo Traversa — Bass
Olivia Foschi — Vocals
CD RELEASE SHOW
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2026
Doors: 7:00 pm
Show: 8:30 pm
1650 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
Jazz Promo Services