Saxophonist Eric Darius to Release New Album “On A Mission”

ERIC DARIUS
ON A MISSION

SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT

Saxophonist and composer Eric Darius is on a mission. “I want my music to be a vehicle for change and to transcend boundaries from age to race. I believe my music can make a difference in the world,” states the commanding and strikingly handsome 20-something musician, composer, and performer, known for his dynamic and exhilarating live shows. Darius’ explosive arrival on the contemporary jazz scene at age 17 caused a frenzy. This was not a surprise as the ambitious saxophonist, who has shared the stage with everyone from Prince and Wynton Marsalis, to George Benson and Brian McKnight, had just released an auspicious recording debut and several years prior had already made an appearance at the famed Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Garnering accolades from critics, musicians and fans alike, there seemed to be a consensus that this young man was bringing a sense of history but yet a youthful and forward-thinking approach to the genre. Eric Darius, who has scored a #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Charts and several top ten hits, has steadily proven to be anything but your typical ‘smooth jazz guy.’ The savvy business school grad, whose ipod features a mix of everyone from John Coltrane and Bob Marley to Jay-Z, The Rolling Stones and Alicia Keys, confesses, “Contemporary jazz is the genre that has embraced my music, but I see myself as a musician first. I play every style of music from Jazz, R&B, Pop and Reggae to Hip-hop, Rock and Gospel. As I continue to evolve and grow musically, it’s the journey to explore new things that keeps me excited and hungry to do what I do.”

On June 29, 2010, Eric Darius will release his Shanachie Entertainment debut, On A Mission. Danny Weiss, VP of Jazz A&R for Shanachie states, “If you think of jazz as a wonderful tree whose trunk is its great tradition and whose branches are the never ending innovations of its young disciples, then Eric Darius is the newest branch of that tree. He can swing like the masters and funk like a hip-hopper; truly the blossoming of tomorrow’s jazz.” The seeds have been sown and Eric Darius unearths his talents not only as a saxophonist, but equally important, as a composer and co-producer on On A Mission. His fifth album as a leader features all originals with the exception of Herbie Hancock’s classic Headhunters tune “Butterfly” and a new original from Pieces of a Dream’s James Lloyd. The saxman, who first started experimenting with writing at age thirteen, cites Herbie Hanock and Stevie Wonder among his biggest compositional influences. Darius acknowledges that music has always been an outlet for him to express his emotions and experiences. The Tampa-based musician says, “Stevie Wonder is incredible and I love the way his music can’t be categorized. The same is true for Herbie Hancock. With Herbie, his whole music catalog varies from album to album and even to this day, he continues to evolve as an artist and is not afraid to take chances artistically.”

On A Mission unites Eric Darius with a list of heavyweight contenders from across the music industry. Darius’ most ambitious and stellar recording yet joins him with veteran chart-topping instrumentalist Rick Braun, as well as five distinctive producers; Rex Rideout (Ledisi, Angie Stone, Jill Scott and Luther Vandross), R&B and hip hop producer Micah Otano (American Idols’ Fantasia Barino, Twista, Shanice), Chris Andrew (Sillan & Young), James Lloyd (Najee, Pieces of a Dream) and Rohan Reid (Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley’s Wailers). “Each producer brings a different sound to the mix and each one has the ability to bring out my different musical sides. Together they all help to complete who I am,” says Eric.

A special honor for Eric Darius was the request by Grammy-winning producer and engineer Peter Mokran to mix On A Mission. Mokran has collaborated with everyone from Michael Jackson, Prince, R Kelly, Christina Aguilera and the Pussy Cat Dolls to Quincy Jones, Toni Braxton and Snoop Dogg. Darius comments, “It was a joy to have the chance to work with him. Peter brings a whole new sound and dynamic to the music he mixes. Having his legendary touch on this album was truly an honor for me.”

On A Mission also features a memorable version of Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly,” which Herbie recorded with The Headhunters in the 70s. Darius does a very hypnotic and rhythmically free-flowing version of the tune featuring his pal and trumpeter, Rick Braun. Herbie would be proud. Darius and Braun’s kinship can be heard in their magnetic and joyous interplay throughout. “I chose to record ‘Butterfly’ on this album because not only is it one of my favorite Herbie compositions, but also because I like what a butterfly symbolizes. Butterflies start off as larvae and then evolve into cocoons and once they are free, they spread their wings and take flight. At this point in my career, I feel like that butterfly symbolizes myself, and I am now ready to spread my wings and to go somewhere new musically.”

Shanachie Records