AWARD-WINNING R&B AND CONTEMPORARY SAXOPHONIST

Eric Darius doesn’t just play the saxophone: he ignites it. With a trademark jump and crowd-captivating energy throughout his live show, Eric Darius breaks the mold of modern jazz.

The Billboard chart-topping saxophonist, songwriter, producer, and performer has a charisma and charm that speak loud, cool, and clear throughout his music, most assuredly with his most recent, aptly titled release, “Unleashed.”

Raised in a musical household in Tampa, Florida, by Haitian and Jamaican parents, Eric was immersed in a rich blend of Caribbean rhythms and musical traditions from an early age. This foundation, coupled with his own innate talent, led him to record his first album, ‘Cruisin’,’ at just 17.

In 2004, Darius signed his first record deal with Higher Octave Music after label representatives saw him perform and wow the audience at Florida’s Clearwater Jazz Festival. This resulted in the release of his national debut album, “Night on the Town.” From there, he has released a steady stream of acclaimed albums, consistently charting high on Billboard’s contemporary jazz charts, culminating in five No. 1 hit singles and 17 Top 10 radio hits.

In 2018, Eric began releasing music through his own label, SagiDarius Music, starting with “Breakin’ Thru” and more recently with his 2022 release, “Unleashed.”

“It’s called ‘Unleashed’ because I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone on this project and truly unleash my full musical potential,” Eric shares. “It really takes listeners on a musical journey from start to finish. This album feels like the first time I’ve truly expressed myself in every single way musically.”

Produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning musician Philip Lassiter and recorded live in the studio, “Unleashed” transcends the world of contemporary jazz. Inspired by everyone from John Coltrane and Miles Davis to Earth, Wind & Fire, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley, Eric embraces elements of R&B, hip-hop, gospel, trap, funk, neo-soul, and more in his art. All of these styles coalesce on a deeply expressive record full of searing grooves and soaring sounds.

With eight highly acclaimed albums to his name, Eric continues to be a singular force in his world. His talent has earned him numerous accolades, including Smooth Jazz News Magazine’s Debut Artist of the Year and the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival Artist of the Year for 2022.

Eric has made TV appearances on Fox’s The X-Factor and TNT’s Mob City and has shared the stage with such acclaimed and Grammy Award-winning artists as Prince, Mary J. Blige, David Foster, Carlos Santana, Jamie Foxx, Babyface, George Benson, Marcus Miller, Wyclef Jean, Lalah Hathaway, and many others.

When he’s not wowing crowds with his music or in the studio recording new tracks, Eric works to make a positive difference in communities with “On A Mission in the Schools,” a national campaign he created to partner with schools and colleges nationwide. “I always want to bridge the gap musically from one generation to the next, and I want to expose the younger generation to jazz by making music that’s accessible to all generations, all age demographics, and all walks of life.”

“At the end of the day, I just want to uplift people with my music, and I want people to feel where I come from – feel my heart and soul through my music. My story is hard work, passion, perseverance, persistence, patience, and prayer.”

With exuberant passion, Eric Darius “unleashes” his music at Middle C Jazz on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8.

More about Eric at his WEBSITE…

If you’re not able to join us in person, you can enjoy a full live performance online with Middle C On-Demand. Learn more…

Preview of Eric Darius from his last visit to Middle C Jazz.

Special invite from Eric himself.