Gerald Albright

Gerald Albright
Background information
Born (1957-08-30) August 30, 1957
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Saxophone
Years active 1987–present
Labels Atlantic/WEA, GRP, Peak, Heads Up, Concord, Bright Music
Website geraldalbright.com

Gerald Albright (born August 30, 1957) is an American jazz saxophonist.

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 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 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

YearAlbumLabel
1987Just Between UsAtlantic/Wea
1988Bermuda NightsAtlantic/Wea
1990Dream Come TrueAtlantic/Wea
1994SmoothAtlantic/Wea
1995Giving Myself to YouAtlantic/Wea
1997Live to LoveAtlantic/Wea
1998Pleasures of the Night with Will DowningPolygram
2002GroovologyGRP
2004Kickin' It UpGRP
2006New BeginningsPeak
2008Sax for StaxPeak
2010Pushing the EnvelopeTelarc
201224/7 with Norman BrownConcord
2013Summer Horns / with Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Richard Elliot Concord
2014Slam DunkHeads Up
2016GBright Music
201830Bright Music

Live albums

YearAlbumLabel
1991Live at Birdland WestAtlantic/Wea

As guest

YearAlbumLabel
2008Gerald Alston Sings Sam CookeLST CO

References

  1. 1 2 Birchmeier, Jason. "Gerald Albright". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  2. Game Credits for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
  3. FAQ at GeraldAlbright.com
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