Just last year, my original single “Run Away with Me” remained at #1 for five months, from September 2025 through February 2026. There was also a great deal of heartbreak during that time after my mom went home to be with the Lord in November. She was incredibly proud of what would become my second #1 single. “Run Away with Me” is an original composition that I produced, featuring my vocals and flute.
My first #1 single was “Do You Remember?” from All Jazzed Up!, my very first recorded jazz album. It topped several independent charts, including NMW, AC40, and Indie 100, and was even named Best New Add when it debuted.
But “Corcovado” carries a very different meaning for me.
My album Romantic Bossa-Nova was dedicated to the late Dave Pell, founder of West Coast Jazz. Dave performed at my concert just a few months before his passing, and yes—His beautiful, dreamy saxophone that night, inspired me to take that solo even further on my arrangement of “Corcovado.” That concert was a tremendous success and continued to fuel my passion for Brazilian music.
Celebrity Reviewer, Larry Dunn (Original Keyboardist/Arr. & Co-Songwriter of EWF) is in AGENDA Special Edition 3: Untraditional Bride. He has performed at my Romantic Bossa-Nova concerts a few times. below are his thoughts on Romantic Bossa-Nova.
The album was co-produced by Bunny Brunel, who played upright bass, fretless bass, and Brazilian guitar. I even managed to convince him to sing a duet with me on “Águas de Março (Waters of March)” in Portuguese. He sounded remarkably like João Gilberto! He is a multitalented musical marvel.
Still, “Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)” has always been the centerpiece of Romantic Bossa-Nova. Since the album was named Album of the Week by Smooth FM Portugal, it has continued receiving airplay in Portugal, Brazil, Canada, and, as I recently discovered, even France.
One thing many people don’t know is that I didn’t submit my last two songs to these charts on my own. I was personally invited to participate and asked to submit music, so I did. I also entered my original jazz ballad, “My Only Crime.” It charted, though it didn’t climb quite the way the last two releases have.
I actually learned about this achievement three days ago, but my schedule was completely hijacked, and I never had the opportunity to celebrate it—until now.
As the producer of “Corcovado,” I wanted to approach a song that has been recorded by so many legendary artists from a different perspective. Rather than opening with the familiar Stan Getz-style saxophone introduction, I envisioned Bunny’s dreamy bass taking center stage. What a solo he delivered. The response has been overwhelming.
Over the years, I’ve been told by numerous industry professionals that my interpretation of “Corcovado” is among the most original they’ve heard since the other wildly famous recordings. (With a big nod to Laura Fygi, whose artistry has long inspired me.) Creating that effortless Brazilian dialect and feel wasn’t effortless at all. I worked tirelessly on the Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation and phrasing until it felt natural. The album itself took more than three years to complete.
One lesson I’ve learned from producing music is this: never rush an album. It will tell YOU when it’s ready.
Romantic Bossa-Nova certainly did.
“Corcovado” was always meant to be its first single.
I recorded with some great musicians:
Bunny Brunel — upright bass, fretless bass, Brazilian guitar, vocals
Mahesh Balasooriya — piano
Rich Mouser — lead guitar (the solo)
Monette Marino — percussion
Bryan Cabrera — drums
…and me on vocals and flute.
Kaylene Peoples Corcovado Charts #1 USA and #2 Globally for Bossa-nova on the N1M 1000 chart.
Thank you for allowing me to share this milestone with you. Please continue supporting the arts, and especially music. It remains the one universal language that brings us all together.
With gratitude,
Kaylene Peoples
Buy the Romantic Bossa-Nova: https://payhip.com/b/347OL
“Rite of Passage” on the Radio, the Release of BASS BALL 2, “Fusion Holidays,” and a Nod from Smooth FM Portugal!
THE LA LIM SHOW: What a thrill to hear my song “Rite of Passage” on the radio this year, not once but four times thanks to Davi Radio LA and Limuel Flowers, the host of the LA LIM show. I have been sitting on this single forever, waiting for just the right time, and Limuel offered me a spot and blessed me with massive exposure. This gave me a chance to test the waters. Was my song still relevant after all these years? And the answer is a resounding “yes!” I have to admit, there’s nothing like hearing one’s own music being played on the radio to an engaged audience. I was in great company at least twice (with a requested rebroadcast for those who missed it) as my friend and iconic musician Larry Dunn (original Earth Wind & Fire keyboardist and 7-time Grammy winner) was interviewed. Limuel gave Larry an amazing tribute to his music and to the Larry Dunn Orchestra with his wife Luisa. I was part of that show . . . and my song even followed Sting! It took some time, but I did finally come down from that high. Needless to say, there has been a lot going on with me musically from mid-2022 to present, and I’d like to share some of those highlights!
Davi Radio Los Angeles with the La Lim Show featured on multiple shows “Rite of Passage” BY Kaylene Peoples
BASS BALL 2 BY BUNNY BRUNEL & FRIENDS
I am playing flute on the newly released Bass Ball 2 by Bunny Brunel & Friends. I’m joined with an elite group of musicians that include Stanley Clarke, Patrice Rushen, Larry Dunn, Armand Sabal-Lecco, Virgil Donati, Jon Wackerman, Kyle Eastwood, Federico Malaman, and countless other prominent musicians on this groove-heavy album. I am featured on three of the tracks: “MAWU,” “Aquarelle,” and “No Such A Thing.”
Bunny Brunel & Friends “Bass Ball 2” Cover
I was part of the first Bass Ball CD, which was produced by Bunny Brunel and Stanley Clarke and released six years ago. Wow, how time flies. That CD was the first of its kind to feature a lineup of prominent bass players, which included Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Hadrien Feraud, and so many others. I played on a track arranged by Larry Dunn and Luisa Dunn that Bunny Brunel titled “Lulu,” as well as being featured on “John’s Space,” and “Bay of the Angels” in 2017!
FUSION HOLIDAYS BY BUNNY BRUNEL LEADS TO A TOUR.
Bunny Brunel “Fusion Holidays” – Composer/Producer/Arr.: feat. Roman Miroshnichenko, Kaylene Peoples, Virgil Donati, & Mahesh Balasooriya
In Spring of 2022, I was on Bunny Brunel’s single “Fusion Holidays,” featuring Russian guitarist Roman Miroshnichenko, where we just returned from a music tour of Russia, titled “Fusion Holiday.” I was also featured along with power drummer and legendary Virgil Donati and keyboardist Mahesh Balasooriya. “Fusion Holiday” is a great composition with outstanding musical performances, starring, composed and produced by world-famous bassist Bunny Brunel! After waiting three years for this tour that was scheduled pre-covid, it kept getting pushed back due the the constant threats of the pandemic. I was finally able to go on as part of Bunny Brunel’s band that featured multi-award-winning Russian guitarist Roman Miroshnichenko. We performed in Kaluga, Vladimir, and ended our tour in Moscow. It was exciting with great audiences, and even greater people.
SMOOTH FM NAMES ROMANTIC BOSSA-NOVA ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
In the summer of 2022, “Corcovado” from my album Romantic Bossa-Nova was on the radio in Brazil and was “Album of the Week” on Smooth FM, a station located in Portugal that also broadcasts to Canada and Brazil. That was a huge surprise. I was beyond thrilled to be given that nod! I guess I nailed the accent!
Kaylene Peoples “Romantic Bossa-Nova” named Album of the Week July 2022 by Smooth FM Portugal
AND THERE’S MORE COMING!
So what’s next? I have a big concert at the celebrated Los Angeles jazz venue Catalina Jazz Club on Sunset Blvd. on Friday August 11th, 2023, featuring Bunny Brunel on upright and singer Gwyn Foxx with comedian Kevin Foster (Monogamy) hosting… ” That’s all I have to report on the music front, but I promise to keep you updated! There’s a lot brewing, too much to tell in this post. I’ll dish the juicy details when the time is right. You can wait a bit, can’t you?
