Saxophonist Gerald Albright heads to Largo

Saxophonist Gerald Albright heads to Largo

	Photo courtesy of CONCORD MUSIC GROUP Gerald Albright is touring in support of his 2014 album “Slam Dunk.”

LARGO – Grammy nominated saxophonist Gerald Albright will perform Thursday, Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m., at Central Park Performing Arts Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo.

Albright is one of the biggest stars of R&B, contemporary and straight-ahead jazz.

Early in his career, Albright mastered his talent by working extensively in the studio with such artists as Anita Baker, Ray Parker Jr., The Temptations and Olivia Newton-John. He has also toured with Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, Johnny Hallyday and many others. In addition to numerous appearances at clubs and jazz festivals, Albright had also been a part of the popular Jazz Explosion tours, which saw him teaming up with contemporary jazz stars like Will Downing, Jonathan Butler, Hugh Masekela, Chaka Khan and Rachelle Ferrell, among others.

Albright also went on to record numerous successful solo albums for Atlantic Records. Two albums hit the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Chart, and were nominated for Grammy Awards in 1989 and 1990. “Pleasures of the Night” with Will Downing on Verve Forecast also hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

In December 2010, Albright received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

In 2012, he teamed up with Grammy-winning guitarist Norman Brown for “24/7,” their first album together. Featuring 10 soul-jazz tracks, “24/7” includes updated versions of “Tomorrow,” a Brothers Johnson classic from 1976, and “Champagne Life,” from singer Ne-Yo’s album “Libra Scale.” “24/7” was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Album.

In 2014, Albright released “Slam Dunk” and continued his reign supreme as the genre’s most compelling and consistent artist.

Featuring his searing and soulful sax lines, this 12-track recording also showcases Albright’s skill as a bassist. “Slam Dunk” offers Albright’s ebullient tenor, baritone and soprano saxophone arrangements on his own compositions, and his super covers of classics by Phil Collins (“True Colors”) and James Brown (“It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World”), with special guest vocalist Peabo Bryson.

In 2014, “Slam Dunk” received a Grammy nomination in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category.

Tickets start at $39.50. Call 727-587-6793 or visit largo­arts.­com.
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Article published on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017

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