SMN Radio Smooth Jazz shines its October Who’s Next spotlight on William Edge and his latest album, Sessions at the Black Cat Lounge.
Some albums simply ask to be heard. Others create a room, dim the lights, settle into a groove and invite the listener inside.
Sessions at the Black Cat Lounge feels much closer to the latter.
Released in September 2026, William Edge’s 13-track collection moves through contemporary blues, jazz, lounge-inspired grooves and the atmospheric musical character that has become part of Edge’s creative fingerprint.
But Edge’s music has never seemed particularly interested in staying inside one neatly labeled box.
A Musical Journey Built on Exploration
Born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, William Edge began studying classical piano as a child before discovering jazz during his teenage years. His musical influences have included artists such as Dave Brubeck, Ramsey Lewis and Stevie Wonder, musicians whose work demonstrated just how naturally melody, rhythm, improvisation and soul could coexist.
Over the years, Edge has developed a body of work that moves through smooth and contemporary jazz, blues, funk, lounge, ambient music and electronic soundscapes.
That willingness to explore is part of what makes his music interesting.
Rather than approaching each project from the same musical direction, Edge allows atmosphere, rhythm and melody to determine where the music goes.
And in Sessions at the Black Cat Lounge, the destination feels very much like an after-hours listening room.
Inside the Black Cat Lounge
Across the album, titles including “One More Time,” “A Fool For You,” “Another Day,” “Te Amo Como,” “Heart Listening,” “Always Sexy,” “Just Gettin Started” and “I’m Gonna Wait Right Here” help establish the personality of the project.
There are grooves built for late-evening listening, melodic passages that invite closer attention and enough jazz and blues influence running beneath the surface to keep the music from simply fading into the background.
The result is a project with atmosphere.
You can almost picture the room.
Low lights. A table tucked away from the crowd. Conversation drifting somewhere in the distance. And the music holding everything together.
That is the Black Cat Lounge.
From Asheville to SMN Radio Smooth Jazz
There is also a little North Carolina connection behind this month’s feature.
Edge now lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and during his correspondence with SMN Radio Smooth Jazz, he added a bit of what he jokingly called “local color,” pointing out that he and the station were practically neighbors.
That conversation quickly opened another door.
A future conversation with William Edge could give SMN Radio Smooth Jazz listeners an opportunity to learn more about his creative process, his musical journey, the stories behind his projects and life as an independent artist creating from right here in North Carolina.
A Productive Year of Music
Sessions at the Black Cat Lounge is also part of an especially active creative period for Edge.
His 2026 releases include projects such as Edge Above, Edge Olicious and The Dream Galaxy, reflecting the broad musical territory he continues to explore, from contemporary jazz and funk to ambient and electronic textures.
That range says something important about the artist.
William Edge is not creating toward a single destination.
He is still exploring.
Still experimenting.
Still following the music wherever it decides to go.
SMN Radio Smooth Jazz’s October Pick
That spirit makes William Edge a natural fit for Who’s Next.
Who’s Next has never needed to mean “Who just started?”
Sometimes discovery means finding an artist at the beginning of a journey.
Other times, it means introducing listeners to an established independent artist whose work deserves another set of ears.
William Edge belongs comfortably in that second category.
With Sessions at the Black Cat Lounge, he gives listeners a project rooted in groove, atmosphere and musical exploration, with enough personality to make you want to remain in the lounge for one more song.
William Edge and Sessions at the Black Cat Lounge are SMN Radio Smooth Jazz’s Who’s Next featured artist and album for October 2026.
Listen for William Edge throughout the month on SMN Radio Smooth Jazz, including his special station drop, and discover more from an artist who just happens to be one of our North Carolina neighbors.
And perhaps, somewhere down the road, we will pull up a chair with William Edge himself and continue the conversation.
Previously on Who’s Next: Discover M.L.P.M.
SMN Radio Smooth Jazz
The Heart and Soul of The Internet.