Gerald Albright is an American jazz saxophonist. He earned Grammys for the albums24/7 in 2012 andSlam Dunk in 2014 and was nominated forNew Beginnings in 2008 and forSax for Stax in 2009.[1]
Gerald Albright | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Jazz,Smooth Jazz,Funk,Disco,R&B |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone,bass guitar,keyboards,flute |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | Atlantic/WEA,GRP,Peak,Heads Up,Concord, Bright Music |
| Website | geraldalbright |
Biography
editAlbright began piano lessons at an early age, although he professed no interest in the instrument. His love of music picked up when he was given a saxophone that belonged to his piano teacher.[2] It further reinforced when he attendedLocke High School. After high school, he attended theUniversity of Redlands where he was initiated into the Iota Chi chapter ofAlpha Phi Alpha and received a degree inbusiness management with a minor concentration on music.[3] He switched to bass guitar after he sawLouis Johnson in concert.[2]
After college, Albright worked as a studio musician in the 1980s[4] forAnita Baker,Ray Parker Jr.,Olivia Newton-John, andThe Temptations. He joinedPatrice Rushen, who was forming a band, in which he played saxophone. When the bassist left in the middle of a tour, Albright replaced him and finished the tour playing bass guitar. Around the same time, he began to tour Europe with drummerAlphonse Mouzon. He has also toured with Anita Baker,Phil Collins,Johnny Hallyday,Whitney Houston,Quincy Jones,Jeff Lorber, andTeena Marie In addition to appearances at clubs and jazz festivals, he has been part of Jazz Explosion tours on which he played withWill Downing,Jonathan Butler,Chaka Khan,Hugh Masekela, andRachelle Ferrell.
Albright has appeared in the television programsA Different World,Melrose Place and jazz segments forBlack Entertainment Television, as well as piloting a show in Las Vegas withMeshach Taylor ofDesigning Women. He was one of ten saxophonists to perform at the inauguration of PresidentBill Clinton.[5]
His saxophone work appears in the PlayStation video gameCastlevania: Symphony of the Night during the theme song "I Am the Wind", which includes keyboardistJeff Lorber.[6]
Albright himself describes his playing style as being influenced to a large extent by the music which he heard when being a teenager: A mixture of gospel, Motown, Philly International Sound played by the likes of James Cleveland, The Hawkins Singers, James Brown with his band and particularly Maceo Parker.[7]
In September 2021 Gerald Albright received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joseph R. Biden.[2]
Equipment
editAlbright plays a professional Big Bell Stone Signature Series model ofsaxophone made byCannonball Musical Instruments. Of the two necks that are furnished with the Cannonball saxophones, he usually uses the "Fat Neck" with the octave vent tube on the bottom of the neck, a design similar to some vintage Conn 6M models.On mouthpieces, he uses a Beechler Diamond on alto with Silverstein Hexa ligature, Theo Wanne stainless steel Shiva on tenor.[8] Albright also plays bass guitar.
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Label | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 200 [9] | US Top Sales [10] | US Jazz [11] | US Con. Jazz [12] | US R&B /HH [13] | US Trad Jazz [14] | US Top Cur [15] | US Ind [16] | US Store Sales [17] | |||
| 1988 | Just Between Us | 181 | — | — | 7 | 21 | — | 181 | — | — | Atlantic |
| 1988 | Bermuda Nights | — | — | — | 12 | 53 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | Dream Come True | — | — | — | 1 | 50 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1991 | Live at Birdland West –(live album) | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | |
| 1994 | Smooth | 151 | 151 | 2 | 2 | 25 | — | 151 | — | — | |
| 1995 | Giving Myself to You | — | — | 10 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | |
| 1997 | Live to Love | — | — | 5 | 4 | 59 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1998 | Pleasures of the Night (Will Downing and Gerald Albright) | 169 | 169 | 1 | 1 | 36 | — | 169 | — | — | PolyGram |
| 2001 | The Very Best of Gerald Albright | — | — | 19 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | Atlantic |
| 2002 | Groovology | — | — | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | GRP |
| 2004 | Kickin' It Up | — | — | 8 | 5 | 26 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2006 | New Beginnings | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | Peak |
| 2008 | Sax for Stax | — | — | 7 | 4 | 24 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2010 | Pushing the Envelope | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | Concord |
| 2012 | 24/7 (Gerald Albright /Norman Brown) | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 168 | — | 25 | |
| 2013 | Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns (Dave Koz featuring Gerald Albright,Mindi Abair andRichard Elliot) | 84 | 84 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 76 | — | — | |
| 2014 | Slam Dunk | 182 | 182 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 138 | — | — | Heads Up |
| 2016 | G | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | 50 | — | Bright |
| 2018 | 30 | — | — | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2018 | Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns II – From A to Z (Dave Koz featuring Gerald Albright,Rick Braun,Richard Elliot,Aubrey Logan) | — | 55 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 48 | — | — | Concord |
| 2019 | Not So Silent Night | — | — | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | There |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | |||||||||||
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Songs [18] | Adult Cont. [19] | Smooth Jazz Airplay [20] | Hot Gospel Songs [21] | Adult R&B Airplay [22] | Gospel Airplay [23] | |||
| 1987 | "So Amazing" | 12 | 42 | — | — | — | — | Just Between Us |
| 1988 | "New Girl on the Block" | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Feeling Inside" | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | Bermuda Nights | |
| 1989 | "In the Mood" | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (Melba Moore and Friends) | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | Melba Moore –Soul Exposed |
| "My, My, My" | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | Dream Come True | |
| 1994 | "This Is for the Lover in You" | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | Smooth |
| 1998 | "Stop, Look, Listen to Your Heart" (Will Downing and Gerald Albright) | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | Will Downing –Pleasures of the Night |
| 1999 | "Pleasures of the Night" (Will Downing and Gerald Albright) | — | — | — | — | 30 | — | |
| 2000 | "When You Need Me" (Will Downing featuringChanté Moore And Gerald Albright) | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | Will Downing –All the Man You Need |
| 2005 | "Hey Young World" (Gerald Albright withKevin Toney) | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | Various Artists –Def Jazz |
| "To the Max" | — | — | 38 | — | — | — | Kickin' It Up | |
| 2006 | "We Got the Groove" | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | New Beginnings |
| 2008 | "Knock on Wood" | — | — | 26 | — | — | — | Sax for Stax |
| 2009 | "Walkin' Down Beale Street" | — | — | 29 | — | — | — | |
| 2010 | "Highway 70" | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | Pushing the Envelope |
| 2011 | "I Found the Klugh" | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | |
| 2012 | "In the Moment" (Gerald Albright /Norman Brown) | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 24/7 |
| "Champagne Life" (Gerald Albright /Norman Brown) | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "Full Tank" (Ben Tankard featuring Gerald Albright) | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | Ben Tankard –Full Tank |
| "Got to Get You into My Life" (Dave Koz featuring Gerald Albright,Mindi Abair andRichard Elliot) | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns | |
| "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (Dave Koz featuring Gerald Albright,Mindi Abair andRichard Elliot) | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | ||
| 2014 | "Hot Fun in the Summertime" (Dave Koz featuring Gerald Albright,Mindi Abair andRichard Elliot) | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | |
| "Slam Dunk" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | Slam Dunk | |
| 2015 | "SomeBossa (Summer Breezin')" (Al Jarreau featuring Gerald Albright) | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | Al Jarreau –My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke |
| "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | Slam Dunk | |
| "Because of You" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 2016 | "Crush" (John Novello featuring Gerald Albright) | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | John Novello –Ivory Soul |
| "Celebration" (Jonathan Fritzén featuring Gerald Albright) | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | Jonathan Fritzén –Fritzénized | |
| "Taking Control" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | G (Bonus Version) | |
| 2017 | "Boom Boom" | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | |
| "Frankie B." | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| 2018 | "Just Between Us" | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 30 |
| "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" (Dave Koz and Friends featuringKenny Lattimore andSheléa) | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | Dave Koz and Friends –Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns II – From A to Z | |
| "Keep That Same Old Feeling" (Dave Koz and Friends) | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | ||
| "4 on the Floor" | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 30 | |
| 2019 | "New Beginnings" | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | |
| "Before I Let Go" (Dave Koz/Gerald Albright/Rick Braun/Richard Elliot/Aubrey Logan) | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | Dave Koz and Friends –Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns II – From A to Z | |
| 2020 | "Just In" (Justin-Lee Schultz featuring Gerald Albright andPieces of a Dream) | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | Justin-Lee Schultz –Gruv Kid |
| "Better Days Ahead" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | G-Stream (EP) | |
| 2021 | "Hope" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
| "Serendipity" (The Saxtress Pamela Williams featuring Gerald Albright) | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | Pamela Williams –Serendipity | |
| "Crazy" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | G-Stream (EP) | |
| 2022 | "G Wiggle" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | G-Stream 2 – Turn It Up (EP) |
| "Keep Holding On" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hank Bilal –Beneath the Covers | |
| "Eddie's Groove" | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | G-Stream 2 – Turn It Up (EP) | |
| 2023 | "On My Way" (Phylicia Rae featuring Gerald Albright) | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | Phylicia Rae –On My Way |
| 2024 | "Full Throttle" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | G-Stream 3 – Full Throttle (EP) |
| "Father in Heaven (Right Now)" (BeBe Winans featuring Gerald Albright) | — | — | — | 10 | — | 1 | BeBe Winans –TBA | |
| 2025 | "G Funk" (Gerald Albright featuringTrombone Shorty) | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | G-Stream 3 – Full Throttle (EP) |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | ||||||||
EPs
edit| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | G-Stream | Bright Music |
| 2022 | G-Stream 2: Turn It Up | |
| 2024 | G-Stream 3: Full Throttle |
As sideman/guest
edit| Year | Artist | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Pauline Wilson | Only You | Pony Canyon |
| 1999 | The Phil Collins Big Band | A Hot Night In Paris | Atlantic |
| 2000 | Noel Elmowy | Feelin' Good | Expansion Records |
| 2008 | Gerald Alston | Gerald Alston Sings Sam Cooke | LST CO |
Grammy Awards
editTheGrammy Awards are awarded annually by theNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Albright has received a sum of nineGrammy nominations.[24]
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Best R&B Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist) | "So Amazing" (single) | Nominated |
| 1989 | Best R&B Instrumental Performance | Bermuda Nights (album) | Nominated |
| 2006 | Best Pop Instrumental Album | New Beginnings | Nominated |
| 2008 | Best Pop Instrumental Album | Sax for Stax | Nominated |
| 2010 | Best Pop Instrumental Album | Pushing the Envelope | Nominated |
| 2012 | Best Pop Instrumental Album | 24/7 | Nominated |
| 2013 | Best Pop Instrumental Album | Summer Horns | Nominated |
| 2014 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Slam Dunk | Nominated |
| 2023 | Best Improvised Jazz Solo | "Keep Holding On" | Nominated |
References
edit- ^"Jazz festival salutes Gerald Albright".Cape Gazette. October 10, 2019. Retrieved2022-07-24.
He has been nominated for several other Grammys, including in 2008 forNew Beginnings and in 2009 forSax for Stax. Subsequent Grammy nods were earned for24/7 in 2012 andSlam Dunk in 2014. His latest release,30, commemorates 30 years since the release of his debut CD,Just Between Us.
- ^abc"Castle Rock News Press release on Gerald Albright receiving Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award". 24 September 2021.
- ^"San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Interview with Gerald Albright". 26 October 2021.
- ^Birchmeier, Jason."Gerald Albright".AllMusic. Retrieved6 October 2018.
- ^"JazzinPopCulture Report on the inauguration of Bill Clinton".
- ^Game Credits for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
- ^"Article on encyclopedia.com about Gerald Albright with quotes from a CBB interview".
- ^FAQ at GeraldAlbright.com
- ^"Gerald Albright: Billboard 200".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Top Album Sales".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Jazz Albums".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Contemporary Jazz Albums".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Traditional Jazz Albums".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Top Current Album Sales".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Independent Albums".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Indie Store Album Sales".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Adult Contemporary".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Smooth Jazz Airplay".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Hot Gospel Songs".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Adult R&B Airplay".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright: Gospel Airplay".Billboard.
- ^"Gerald Albright".Grammy.com.