Steve Berndt: ‘Heart of Hearts’

Out on 16 January is a lovely, romantic vocal and jazz ensemble album from Steve Berndt. ‘Heart of Hearts’ takes three pop standards and eight original compositions and gives them a real jazz feel with a variety of ensembles.

The tunes on Heart of Hearts are inspired by the themes of love and honesty, all sung by Berndt and swung by an impressive collection of musicians.

Alongside Steve Berndt (vocals, trombone), are Steve Boudreau (piano), Ken Kanwisher (bass), Michel Delage (drums), Ed Lister (trumpet) and Brian Asselin (tenor sax), with guest appearances from Miguel De Armas (piano), Petr Cancura (sax), Michel Brindis Maduro (percussion), Alex Moxon (guitar) and Don Cummings (organ).

There is a smoothness to composition, performance and production across Heart of Hearts: never more so than on the title track, where vocals and jazz solos balance with some gorgeous ensemble work, especially from horns and piano.

There’s a particularly sumptuous guitar solo on Plus Size Love that brings the song to life together with Berndt’s vocals.

As well as Berndt’s own compositions, jazz versions of tracks like Todd Lundgren’s I Saw The Light and Peter Frampton’s Baby I Love Your Way bring a new flavour to Berndt’s voice and the small ensemble,

This album comes into its own on the large ensemble Blue Skies On Mars, Berndt’s title track for a new crime drama film coming soon. The song won Best Original Song at the International Independent Film Awards in Los Angeles.

Heart of Hearts will be released worldwide on 16 January 2026.