Internationally acclaimed Jazz/R&B/Pop Saxophonist, Songwriter, Producer, and Performer, Eric Darius releases his newest album Unleashed, featured on Wonderland Magazine.
The American saxophonist, songwriter, producer, and performer shines in a vibrant new light as he reinvents himself through Unleashed, an expansive and ambitious genre-spanning album brimming with passion, purpose, soul and sweat, charisma and charm.
Unleashed is a long time coming for Eric Darius, and without a doubt his proudest work to date. He credits part of that achievement to the creative freedom he’s gained as an independent artist as Unleashed is Darius’ second album released through his own label, SagiDarius Music, following 2018’s hit album, Breakin’ Thru.
Darius’ signature saxophone tones can be heard loud, cool, and clear throughout Unleashed, alongside a smorgasbord of traditional and unconventional jazz instruments. Produced by GRAMMY Ò award-winning musician, Philip Lassiter (Prince, Kirk Franklin, Ariana Grande), this album features collaborations with Eric Roberson, Paul Jackson, Jr., Justin Lee Schultz, Mononeon, Metropole Orkest and many others as Unleashed seamlessly blurs the lines between Jazz, R&B, Hip-Hop, Afro, Funk & Pop!
For the first time in his career, Darius recorded the album live in studio with a full band, simultaneously capturing an organic, authentic sound while bottling up the magic and synergy the musicians shared recording Unleashed in real time. “I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone on this project and truly unleash my full musical potential. This album is an honest reflection of myself and my growth both musically and personally over the past several years, and it really takes the listeners on a musical journey from start to finish!” Darius shares.
His second single from the album, “That’s My Jam” Feat. Justin Lee Schultz reached #5 on the Billboard Charts and #3 on the Mediabase Charts. “That’s My Jam” is an upbeat, feel good song capturing the exhilarating grooves and high energy of his legendary live shows. Darius wrote the song as an homage to one of his closest friends, Willie Payne, who recently passed. The song features 15-year-old prodigy, Justin Lee Shultz, and the duo soar on this action-packed summer anthem with a message of living life to the fullest!
Raised in a musical household in Tampa, Florida, Eric Darius has been making music for as long as he can remember. His Haitian father (a bass player) and Jamaican mother (a singer and piano player) instilled Caribbean influences and a passion for music on Eric and his siblings.
“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 from my music. My story is simple - hard work, passion, persistence, patience, perseverance and prayer,” Darius says.
With eight highly-acclaimed albums on his discography, Darius continues to rack up some impressive statistics: five No. 1 Hit Singles; 17 Top 10 Radio Hits on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart; 2004’s Debut Artist of the Year by Smooth Jazz News Magazine; 2015’s SESAC Top 10 Jazz Artist of the Year; 2017’s Best Jazz, Saxophonist, Composer, Producer & Musician of the Year Award at the 1st Annual Citril Starz Awards; and most recently, he was awarded the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival Artist of the Year for 2022, which Darius will receive in October when he headlines the 2022 festival.
In every aspect of this album, Eric Darius is breaking the mold. Unleashed is authentic, fresh, and energetic, and Darius invites the world to join in his unbridled, unfiltered musical celebration.
In support of his new album, Eric’s Unleashed World Tour continues throughout the rest of 2022.
Tour Dates
August 12 – St. Petersburg, FL – Palladium Theater- Clearwater Jazz Holiday
August 14 – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Jazz Festival
August 19 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Jazz Festival
August 26 – Richmond, VA – The Tin Pan
August 27 – Mableton, GA – Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre
September 4 – Pensacola, FL – Gulfcoast Summer Jazz Fest
September 8-9- Chicago, IL – Brian Culbertson’s Chicago Jazz Getaway
September 10 – Dallas, TX – Bishop Arts Theatre Centre
September 11 – Oxnard, CA – Oxnard Jazz Festival
September 18 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory St. Louis Smooth Jazz Cruise on Land
October 8 – Mazatlan, Mexico – Mazatlan Jazz Festival
October 13-16 – Rehoboth Beach, DE – Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival
October 22 – Avalon, CA- Catalina Island Jazztrax Festival
October 23 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Jazz Festival
October 29-30 – Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa
November 3-6 Daytona Beach, FL – Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend
November 11 – Hampton, VA – Jazz Legacy Foundation
November 19 – New Haven, CT – John Lyman Center for Performing Arts
Save Unleashed at https://shor.by/EricDarius
“That’s My Jam” is out everywhere at https://shor.by/EricDarius
