Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright (born August 30, 1957) is an American jazz saxophonist.
Gerald Albright | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 30, 1957 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Smooth Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone, Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | Atlantic/WEA, GRP, Peak, Heads Up, Concord, Bright Music |
| Website | geraldalbright |
Biography
Born in Los Angeles, Albright grew up in its South Central neighborhood.[1] He 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. It further reinforced when he attended Locke High School. After high school, he attended the University of Redlands where he was initiated into the Iota Chi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha and received a degree in business management with a minor concentration on music. He switched to bass guitar after he saw Louis Johnson in concert.
After college, Albright worked as a studio musician in the 1980s[1] for Anita Baker, Ray Parker Jr., Olivia Newton-John, and The Temptations. He joined Patrice 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 drummer Alphonse Mouzon. He has also toured with Anita Baker, Phil Collins, Johnny Hallyday, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, Jeff Lorber, and Teena Marie In addition to appearances at clubs and jazz festivals, he has been part of Jazz Explosion tours on which he played with Will Downing, Jonathan Butler, Chaka Khan, Hugh Masekela, and Rachelle Ferrell.
Albright has appeared in the television programs A Different World, Melrose Place and jazz segments for Black Entertainment Television, as well as piloting a show in Las Vegas with Meshach Taylor of Designing Women. He was one of ten saxophonists to perform at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton.
His saxophone work appears in the PlayStation video game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night during the theme song "I Am the Wind", which includes keyboardist Jeff Lorber.[2]
Equipment
Albright plays a signature series model of saxophone made by Cannonball 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.[3]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Just Between Us | Atlantic/Wea |
| 1988 | Bermuda Nights | Atlantic/Wea |
| 1990 | Dream Come True | Atlantic/Wea |
| 1994 | Smooth | Atlantic/Wea |
| 1995 | Giving Myself to You | Atlantic/Wea |
| 1997 | Live to Love | Atlantic/Wea |
| 1998 | Pleasures of the Night with Will Downing | Polygram |
| 2002 | Groovology | GRP |
| 2004 | Kickin' It Up | GRP |
| 2006 | New Beginnings | Peak |
| 2008 | Sax for Stax | Peak |
| 2010 | Pushing the Envelope | Telarc |
| 2012 | 24/7 with Norman Brown | Concord |
| 2013 | Summer Horns / with Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Richard Elliot | Concord |
| 2014 | Slam Dunk | Heads Up |
| 2016 | G | Bright Music |
| 2018 | 30 | Bright Music |
Live albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Live at Birdland West | Atlantic/Wea |
As guest
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Gerald Alston Sings Sam Cooke | LST CO |
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Albright has received a sum of eight Grammy nominations.[4]
| 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" | 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 |
References
- Birchmeier, Jason. "Gerald Albright". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- Game Credits for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
- FAQ at GeraldAlbright.com
- "Gerald Albright". Grammy.com.
External links
Authority control  |
|---|