For those not in the know, guitarist Adam Hawley recently burst on to the music scene and soon revealed himself to us all as a celebrated and innovated artist, composer and band leader.

Originally signed to Maurice White's (founder of Earth, Wind & Fire) label Kalimba Music, Adam's first two albums, Double Vision and Just The Beginning, spawned an incredible six #1 hits, an unprecedented feat for a new artist.

He now sets out on his own label, MBF Entertainment, to bring forth his highly anticipated third album, Escape (due out February 28th), which features Rick Braun, Najee, Jeff Ryan, Michael Lington, Marcus Anderson & Kat Hawley.

1. 'Tokyo Groove'
2. '99 and Counting'
3. 'Saturday Morning'
4. 'To the Top'
5. 'Señorita'
6. 'Escape'
7. 'Sunday Swing'
8. 'Can't Stop'
9. 'Thinking of You'
10. 'Rain'

As all his fans already know, Adam’s albums adopt themes and thus as he composed the title cut for Escape he felt transported. That feeling inspired the rest of the music he wrote for this quite brilliant new collection.

Setting his electric guitar into motion from the off, the smooth jazz-pop energy of 'Tokyo Groove' (which sounds as if the legendary George Benson had stepped into the studio) is the first track out the canon and that's backed by the soul power (courtesy of Michael Lington) of '99 and Counting.'

Up next is the mid-tempo vibe (with sax courtesy of Keith McKelley) of 'Saturday Morning,' with the new single off the album, the funky, one-two bounce of 'To The Top' (featuring Jeff Ryan) arriving soon thereafter.

Adam then nestles in alongside his vocalist wife, Kat for the breathtaking, Latin-tinged pop resonance of 'Señorita,' with trumpet legend Rick Braun then joining him on the vibrant title track, 'Escape.'

That funky one-two rhythmic bounce is back again on 'Sunday Swing,' a track that if you're not moving your hips to or tappin' your feet to clearly shows you haven't got the volume quite right on your stereo, with 'Can't Stop' (featuring Marcus Anderson on sax) backing it seamlessly.

Smooth jazz saxophonist and flautist Najee steps up next and weaves his legendary flute styling through one of my own personal favorites, the sublime 'Thinking Of You,' and then the album comes to an acoustic guitar close with mesmerizingly beautiful cover of 'Rain.'

Anchoring the beats and grooves throughout Escape, drummer Eric Valentine and bassists Nathaniel Kearney Jr. and Ian Martin are longtime and frequent Hawley co-conspirators.

Percussionist Ramon Yslas adds nuance and Carnell Harrell supplements with vibrant harmonies via his keyboards, organ and synth.

“When I wrote Escape, it really took me away to another, special place," Hawley explains. "The groove, the vibe, it just transported me to a place of chill and Zen. That [then] became the theme that runs through the entire record.”

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Adam Hawley’s Escape Tour plays the following concert dates (additional shows will be added):