The Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown continues its year-end celebration with The Number Ones of 2025, Part 2 — the high-stakes finale counting down the Top 20 songs of the year, including the longest-running #1 smooth jazz hits of 2025.

Broadcast from the KUNV studios on the UNLV campus, host Pamela Black takes listeners deeper into the countdown, ranking every chart-topping song by how long it held the number one spot. This second installment spotlights the tracks that didn’t just reach the summit — they stayed there, defining the sound of smooth jazz throughout the year.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The Top 20 smooth jazz #1s of 2025, including multi-week chart champions
• Performances by genre leaders such as Najee, Gerald Albright, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson, Mindi Abair, Marion Meadows, Adrian Crutchfield, and more
• The Top 5 “Not on the List” artists, honoring standout releases that made a major impact just outside the countdown
• Rich storytelling that ties each #1 song to the cultural moments, seasons, and moods of 2025

From high-energy festival anthems to soulful saxophone classics, Part 2 captures the music that ruled the charts and shaped the smooth jazz landscape in 2025 — culminating with the longest-running #1 song of the year.

If you missed it, be sure to catch Part 1, featuring songs #35–21, and experience the complete two-part journey through the year’s biggest smooth jazz moments.

Your playlist. Your countdown. Where smooth jazz pays out big.

The Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown kicks off a special two-part year-end celebration with The Number Ones of 2025, Part 1 — a coast-to-coast journey through every song that reached #1 on the Smooth Jazz charts this year.

Broadcast from the KUNV studios on the UNLV campus, host Pamela Black begins the countdown at #35 and works up to #21, ranking each track by how long it held the top spot. This first installment focuses on the single-week chart toppers — the songs that defined moments, seasons, and moods throughout 2025.

Along the way, the show features:

• Chart-topping smooth jazz from artists like Norman Brown, Boney James, Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Nicholas Cole, Special EFX, and more
• “Not on the List” spotlights honoring standout releases that made an impact just outside the countdown
• Pam’s Honorable Mentions, highlighting personal favorites and artists who stayed in the mix all year long
• Rich storytelling that connects each #1 song to the time of year it ruled the charts

From warm guitar grooves and soulful sax melodies to contemporary jazz collaborations, Part 1 sets the stage for the biggest smooth jazz moments of 2025.

Be sure to join us next week for Part 2, where we count down the Top 20, reveal the multi-week #1 champions, and spotlight the artists who truly dominated the year.

Your playlist. Your countdown. The smoothest journey in jazz.

In this week’s episode of the Weekend Smooth Jazz Countdown, host Pamela Black guides listeners through the 20 smoothest contemporary jazz tracks in the nation, broadcasting from the KU NV studios on the campus of UNLV. This holiday edition features powerful chart movement, standout new releases, and beloved favorites, all curated from Mediabase airplay across smooth jazz stations coast to coast.

The countdown opens with flutist Althea René, followed by strong entries from Paul Taylor, Nathan Mitchell, and Dave Koz & Summer Horns, plus fresh spins from Najee, Brian Simpson, Nicholas Cole, Kayla Waters, Chris Standring, and the ever-inspiring Mindi Abair. Mid-show, Pamela highlights rising artists like Adrian Crutchfield, Quentin Gerard W., and multi-instrumentalist Ryan La Valette, whose “London Nights” earns the No. 2 spot this week.

The Vintage Smooth Spotlight rewinds the groove to 1975 with the iconic trumpeter Donald Byrd and his classic “Think Twice,” a timeless blend of jazz, funk, and soul.

This week’s Headliner Feature showcases Chicago saxophonist Andre Ward, whose smooth reinterpretation of Musiq Soulchild’s “Just Friends” delivers style, soul, and undeniable Vegas swagger.

The countdown culminates with the No. 1 song of the week: Boney James rises three spots to claim the top position with “The Bounce,” proving once again why he remains one of contemporary jazz’s most influential and enduring voices.

Pamela wraps the episode with gratitude for listeners nationwide, plus a bonus spotlight on guitarist Deepak B2, whose “Make Me Wanna” lands at No. 24 and promises big things in the coming year.

Whether you're tuning in for holiday vibes, top-tier musicianship, or the nation’s definitive smooth jazz chart, this week’s Countdown delivers nothing but warm tones, uplifting grooves, and undeniable smoothness.

20 ALTHEA RENE Synergy f/Jordan Love
19 PAUL TAYLOR It's A Brand New Day
18 NATHAN MITCHELL Feel The Heat
17 DAVE KOZ & SUMMER HORNS Vehicle
16 NAJEE Salvador f/Brian Simpson
15 ADAM HAWLEY RollerSk8
14 KAYLA WATERS Lush
13 MINDI ABAIR Nouveau Soul
12 KIRK WHALUM Well Alright
11 RAGAN WHITESIDE Fancy Footwork
10 JULIAN VAUGHN Follow Me
9 QUINTIN GERARD W. Streets Of Gold
8 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD Sooo Good
7 CHRIS STANDRING Chocolate Shake
6 NICHOLAS COLE Shine
5 JAZZ FUNK SOUL Over Easy
4 BLAKE AARON Dare To Fly
3 MARION MEADOWS Just Doing Me
2 RYAN LA VALETTE London Nights
1 BONEY JAMES The Bounce