Artists To Watch Las Vegas | Music Interviews, Live Performances & Rising Artists

Billboard-charting contemporary jazz artist Nathan Mitchell joins Carlaya on Artists to Watch Las Vegas to discuss his upcoming live recording concert at Aliante Casino + Hotel on April 3, 2027. Nathan shares details about performing with his full band, including the legendary Mo'Horns, family members EJ and KJ, and other top touring musicians. He also previews his upcoming album Based on a Love S...

Saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield joins Carlaya, the Queen of Flow, for an exclusive interview ahead of his highly anticipated appearance at the Sunset Jazz Series on Saturday, June 20, 2026 , at the Side Lawn at Sunset Station in Henderson, Nevada . Adrian discusses his journey from performing with Prince and The New Power Generation and Lionel Richie to building his own successful solo career, whil...

Smooth jazz bassist and Billboard-charting recording artist Julian Vaughn joins Artists to Watch Las Vegas hosted by Carlaya on 91.5 Jazz & More KUNV for an exciting conversation about music, touring the world, and bringing his signature groove-driven sound to Las Vegas. In this exclusive interview, Julian Vaughn shares how he discovered the bass in church, carved out his own lane in the smoot...

Join host Carlaya on Artists to Watch for an unforgettable conversation with Maysa, the soulful powerhouse behind decades of jazz, R&B, and soul excellence. In this exclusive KUNV interview, Maysa reflects on working with Stevie Wonder on Jungle Fever , her breakthrough years with Incognito, collaborating with stars like Stokley and Shaun LaBelle, and the deeply personal inspiration behind her...

 Rock icon John Cafferty of John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band joins Carlaya on Artists to Watch Las Vegas on 91.5 Jazz & More KUNV ahead of this Saturday’s unforgettable live concert at Cannery Hotel & Casino with John Waite. From over five decades of rock history to the enduring chemistry of the legendary Beaver Brown Band, John shares stories about the band’s origins, life on the...

Smooth jazz powerhouse Jarez joins Carlaya on Artists to Watch Las Vegas on 91.5 Jazz & More KUNV ahead of his highly anticipated performance this Saturday night at Sunset Station for the Sunset Jazz Series — a premier live concert experience benefiting 91.5 KUNV. Known as the “Mayor of J-Funk City,” Jarez discusses his musical evolution from “Mr. Sexy Saxy” to one of smooth jazz’s most dynami...

 Rock legend John Waite joins Carlaya on Artists to Watch Las Vegas on 91.5 Jazz & More KUNV for an unforgettable conversation ahead of this Saturday’s live performance at Eastside Cannery with John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band. From “Missing You” and Bad English classics to stories about Tina Turner, Saturday Night Live, and a lifetime of iconic music, John reflects on his extraordina...

Lao Tizer joins Artists to Watch Las Vegas for an exclusive interview with Carlaya ahead of his highly anticipated live performance at Myron's at The Smith Center. Broadcast on 91.5 Jazz & More KUNV—the best smooth jazz station in America—this episode highlights Lao Tizer’s return to one of his favorite Las Vegas venues, where he and his all-star band will deliver a dynamic, high-energy perfor...

Smooth jazz saxophonist and flutist Najee joins Artists to Watch Las Vegas on 91.5 KUNV Jazz & More to talk about his upcoming Las Vegas performances at Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa , his latest album Under the Moon, Over the Sky , and collaborations with artists like Regina Bell, Will Downing, Eric Roberson, and Brian Simpson . During the conversation, Najee reflects on the inspiration behind...

Smooth jazz saxophonist Marcus Anderson joins 91.5 KUNV Jazz & More to talk about his musical roots, growing up in a musical family, picking up the sax at age 12, and bringing charisma, romance, and surprise to every live performance. 🎷 Tonight in Las Vegas Marcus Anderson performs live at the Bootlegger Bistro – Copa Room as part of the Las Vegas Smooth Jazz Series presented by Serente Jazz...

In this special edition of Artists to Watch Las Vegas , we sit down with Jonathan Redmond , the Academy Award–nominated editor behind Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis and the new concert film EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert . Redmond takes us inside the extraordinary discovery that sparked the film: 69 boxes — nearly 60 hours — of unseen Elvis Presley concert footage , buried for decades inside Warner Bros. va...

On this episode of Artists to Watch Las Vegas , host Carlaya sits down with genre-defying vocalist and songwriter Kendra Erika ahead of a major week of performances in Las Vegas. Blending elements of dance, pop, jazz, and cinematic orchestration, Kendra Erika discusses her artistic evolution, early musical influences, and the inspiration behind her bold new project, License to Thrill: James Bond S...

Smooth jazz guitarist Chris Standring joins Artists To Watch Las Vegas to talk about a major milestone in his career — headlining Las Vegas at Boulder Station Railhead . A longtime favorite on 91.5 Jazz & More, Standring spoke with KUNV's Program Director Jason Beatty while riding high with the Top 20 hit “Chocolate Shake” while preparing to release his upcoming album A Time of Change , a deep...

 Smooth jazz sensation Nathan Mitchell sits down with host Carlaya on Artists to Watch Las Vegas to talk about his music, creative journey, and what fans can expect from his upcoming Las Vegas debut performance. Recorded ahead of his show at the Access Showroom at Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa in North Las Vegas , this extended conversation covers Nathan’s rise in contemporary jazz, the inspiration...

On this episode of Artists to Watch Las Vegas , host Carlaya sits down with Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum to discuss Songs of Change , a powerful live concert experience celebrating music that shaped social progress, unity, and the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement. Kirk shares insight into the artists joining him on stage — including musical director John Stoddart and vocalist Jazzmeia...

On this episode of Artists to Watch Las Vegas , host Carlaya sits down with nationally recognized smooth jazz saxophonist Jackiem Joyner ahead of his upcoming Las Vegas CD release performance. Jackiem joins the show to talk about his brand-new album Every Part of Me , sharing why this project is especially personal and how it explores deeper musical influences—from classic R&B and soul to viny...

Tony Award–nominated performer Syndee Winters brings a powerful and deeply personal tribute to one of the most influential artists of the 20th century with Syndee Winters Sings Lena Horne , live at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas. Presented inside the intimate Myron’s Cabaret Jazz , this performance is far more than a traditional jazz concert. Winters describes the show as a...

In this episode of Artists to Watch Las Vegas , host Carlaya sits down with acclaimed guitarist, producer, and educator Adam Hawley , recently named Billboard’s 2025 Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year . Adam reflects on a landmark year that saw him become the most-played artist on the chart , driven by multiple No. 1 hits including “Automatic,” “Absolute Love,” and his current single “Roller Skates.”...

On this episode of Artists to Watch Las Vegas , host Carlaya sits down with Las Vegas’ premiere Prince tribute performer Jason Tenner , frontman of the award-winning production Purple Reign at Planet Hollywood. Recently named the “All-Time Best Tribute Show” by Las Vegas Weekly , Purple Reign has become a beloved staple of the Strip—complete with live musicians, the signature Minneapolis-sound ene...

In this episode of Artists to Watch Las Vegas , host Carlaya sits down with acclaimed contemporary jazz saxophonist Dee Lucas for an intimate, inspiring, and soulful conversation. Known for his smooth tone, emotional phrasing, and chart-topping success, Dee opens up about his creative process, his evolution as a self-made independent artist, and the passion that drives his signature sound. Recorde...

In this vibrant episode of Artists to Watch Las Vegas , host Carlaya sits down with Asia O’Hara , the celebrated star of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the dazzling emcee of RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Asia opens up about her journey from Texas stages to the Las Vegas Strip, reflecting on how the hit show transformed her craft, expanded her horizons, and elevated drag into mainstre...

Carlaya give us an unforgettable conversation with Lenny Williams , the legendary R&B and soul icon known for timeless hits like Cause I Love You and So Very Hard to Go . Ahead of his highly anticipated appearance on The Blues Is Alright Tour at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas , Lenny opens up about his decades-long career, performing with Tower of Power , and why fans still connect with his signature...

In this special Artists To Watch interview, we sit down with Grammy-nominated guitarist and Special EFX founder Chieli Minucci ahead of the band’s upcoming Special EFX All-Stars concert at the Aliante Casino’s Access Showroom on Saturday, November 15th . Chieli shares how his musical journey began with the piano before a love of the guitar—and its chrome-shine allure—took over. He gives us an insi...

In this episode of Artists to Watch – Las Vegas , host Carlaya welcomes the visionary team behind the 11th Annual Nevada Women’s Film Festival — Executive Director Nikki Corda , Events Director Hannah Utech , and Community Liaison Breanna Kennedy —for a live conversation from Carlaya’s Café on 91.5 Jazz and More. Together, they discuss how NWFFest champions underrepresented voices in film, celebra...

 In this special episode of Artists To Watch, saxophonista Jessy J joins us ahead of her headlining performance at the 35th Annual Jazz in the Park in Las Vegas . She shares the unexpected story of how she fell in love with the saxophone, opens up about her latest album Terra Nova —a reunion project with producer Paul Brown—and reflects on the deeper meaning behind tracks like Piel Canela . Plus,...