Submitted photo Brian Simpson performs Saturday at Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre for Youngstown Jazz & Wine.

In some ways, Brian Simpson is a creature of habit.

The jazz pianist, who headlines Saturday’s Youngstown Jazz & Wine event at Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, released his first album, “Closer Still,” in 1995. He recently finished his 13th, which doesn’t have a release date yet. He’s used the same piano for every one of them.

During a telephone interview, Simpson credited his years working with jazz great George Duke and picking the brain of his studio engineer in helping him get the right instrument and the right gear to achieve the sound he wanted.

“I don’t know how many people could say they’ve made all their albums on the same exact piano over 30 years. I don’t know if anybody has done that,” Simpson said. “I really wanted a killer piano sound because the piano is a difficult instrument to mic up and get it to sound right. You have to have the right room. That makes a difference. The house I happened to buy had a nice sounding room that I put the piano in and made up my studio, and the rest is history.”

The instrument may be the same, but Simpson coaxes different sounds from it as he pulls from a diverse range of influences and experiences.

The Northern Illinois University graduate moved to Los Angeles in the mid ’80s. In addition to a decade working with Duke, Simpson spent 20 years as a music director for sax player Dave Koz. He’s worked with such jazz and R&B artists as Larry Carlton, Gerald Albright, Norman Brown and Billy Cobham and played in the touring bands for Janet Jackson, Sheena Easton and Teena Marie.

“I studied the history of instrumental music, at least recent history, and you see that some artists evolve in a certain way and some artists are still great, but really don’t change at all,” he said. “I would say I’m somewhere in the middle. I do try to evolve. At the same time, I know that certain aspects of my music resonate with my fans, and I think they might be disappointed if I didn’t deliver something like that. So I always try to just do a variety of music.

“I used to contemplate one day, I’d really love to do a bossa nova record. No, that’s not a great idea. I know a lot of people would not care for that. They like the R&B. So why don’t I just do a bossa nova on my album, and if they don’t like it, go to the next song?

‘That’s kind of the approach I’ve been taking, especially with the new album, which I’m just turning into my record company this week. On the new album, I would say I just continue on that path of trying to discover new ways to connect with the people. I make the albums for people to enjoy. I certainly have the fans in mind when I’m doing it. I try to do something (where) maybe I can take them on a little journey with me, give them something new, but at the same time something familiar.”

He brings the same approach to his live show. While he won’t be previewing anything from the upcoming album, Simpson and his four-piece band will play favorites from throughout his catalog with an emphasis on his more uptempo fare.

“I try to play the most popular ones, the ones that people are most familiar with and also those with a live arrangement that lend themselves to a little excitement,” he said. “A live show has to be not just chill. I have a lot of very lovely songs that are rather relaxing. Yeah, it’s great to listen to, but live you want to keep up the energy.”

The next album will be Simpson’s 10th for Shanachie Records, his label since 2010. He said it’s been a wonderful partnership.

“I feel like I’m reaching my stride now. I’m working as much as I want to. I have plenty of gigs, and I have a record company that believes in me. As soon as I turn a record in, I’m able to re-up and do another record. That has been the greatest thing, to have a record company behind you that believes in you, and that’s what really makes this possible for me. Because if I can’t make money off it, I can’t keep making the records.”

If you go …

WHAT: Youngstown Wine & Jazz with Brian Simpson and Michael Austin Project

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, 201 S. Phelps St., Youngstown

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $27.80 reserved and $15.45 general admission (including fees) and are available through Ticketmaster. For more information, go to theyoungstownfoundationamp.com.