You think of Gerald Albright as a great saxophone player. In fact, the Grammy Award nominated artist is a multi-instrumentalist who also plays bass, keyboards and flute. Albright will make his second appearance at the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival — performing with guitarist Jonathan Butler on Saturday, September 2, 2017. Albright’s 2014 album release, SLAM DUNK continues his reign as the genre’s most compelling and consistent artist. It received a GRAMMY® nomination in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category for that year. He also toured extensively with Les McCann, Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie, the Winans, Marlena Shaw, Quincy Jones, and Whitney Houston, among many others.
Albright was part of the Summer Horns with Dave Koz, Mindi Abair and Richard Elliot for the 3rd Annual Coltrane Jazzfest in 2013.
During the ’80s, Albright became a highly requested session musician, playing on albums by a wide variety of artists – including Anita Baker, Ray Parker, Atlantic Starr, Olivia Newton-John, the Temptations and Maurice White.
Albright has had numerous albums nominated for Grammy Awards in the categories of “Best Contemporary Jazz” and “Best “Pop Instrumental.” Two albums on Atlantic Records hit the number one slot on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Chart, he worked with Phil Collins (recording and touring) on THE 1990 Grammy nominated Big Band Project, titled A HOT NIGHT IN PARIS. Later that year, Albright released PLEASURES OF THE NIGHT with Will Downing on Verve Forecast. This album hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart as well.
Albright moved to GRP and produced two albums for that label before signing with Peak Records, which released two Grammy nominated albums, NEW BEGINNINGS in 2008, and , SAX FOR STAX in 2009; both in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Album.
Albright released PUSHING THE ENVELOPE in June 2010 on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group which received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album. He teamed up with guitarist Norman Brown in 2012 for 24/7, another Grammy nominated album (Best Pop Instrumental) that was their first together.
