Gerald Albright (born August 30, 1957) is an American jazz saxophonist. He earned Grammys for the albums 24/7 in 2012 and Slam Dunk in 2014 and was nominated for New Beginnings in 2008 and for Sax for Stax in 2009.
Biography Albright 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 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.
Albright himself describes his playing style as being influenced to a large extent by the music which he heard when being a teenager: A mixture of gospel, Motown, Philly International Sound played by the likes of James Cleveland, The Hawkins Singers, James Brown with his band and particularly Maceo Parker.
In September 2021, Albright received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joseph R. Biden.
Equipment Albright plays a professional Big Bell Stone 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.On mouthpieces, he uses a Beechler Diamond on alto with Silverstein Hexa ligature, Theo Wanne stainless steel Shiva on tenor.FAQ at GeraldAlbright.com Albright also plays bass guitar.
Discography Albums Year Album Peak chart positions LabelUS200USTopSalesUSJazzUSCon.JazzUSR&B/HHUSTradJazzUSTopCurUSIndUSStoreSales 1988 Just Between Us 181 — — 7 21 — 181 — — Atlantic 1988 Bermuda Nights — — — 12 53 — — — — 1990 Dream Come True — — — 1 50 — — — — 1991 Live at Birdland West – — — — — — 4 — — — 1994 Smooth 151 151 2 2 25 — 151 — — 1995 Giving Myself to You — — 10 — — 4 — — — 1997 Live to Love — — 5 4 59 — — — — 1998 Pleasures of the Night 169 169 1 1 36 — 169 — — PolyGram 2001 The Very Best of Gerald Albright — — 19 9 — — — — — Atlantic 2002 Groovology — — 5 4 — — — — — GRP 2004 Kickin' It Up — — 8 5 26 — — — — 2006 New Beginnings — — 4 1 — — — — — Peak 2008 Sax for Stax — — 7 4 24 — — — — 2010 Pushing the Envelope — — 6 2 — — — — — Concord 2012 24/7 — — 1 1 — — 168 — 25 2013 Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns 84 84 2 1 — — 76 — — 2014 Slam Dunk 182 182 2 2 — — 138 — — Heads Up 2016 G — — 5 2 — — — 50 — Bright 2018 30 — — 7 3 — — — — — 2018 Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns II – From A to Z — 55 2 1 — — 48 — — Concord 2019 Not So Silent Night — — 18 4 — — — — — There"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Singles Year Title Peak chart positions Album Hot R&B/Hip-HopSongs AdultCont. Smooth JazzAirplay Hot GospelSongs Adult R&BAirplay GospelAirplay 1987 "So Amazing" 12 42 Just Between Us 1988 "New Girl on the Block" 59 — "Feeling Inside" 47 — Bermuda Nights 1989 "In the Mood" 80 — 1990 "Lift Every Voice and Sing" 9 — Melba Moore – Soul Exposed "My, My, My" 54 — Dream Come True 1994 "This Is for the Lover in You" 75 — Smooth 1998 "Stop, Look, Listen to Your Heart" — — 26 Will Downing – Pleasures of the Night 1999 "Pleasures of the Night" — — 30 2000 "When You Need Me" — — 18 Will Downing – All the Man You Need 2005 "Hey Young World" — — 10 — — — Various Artists – Def Jazz "To the Max" — — 38 — — — Kickin' It Up 2006 "We Got the Groove" — — 17 — — — New Beginnings 2008 "Knock on Wood" — — 26 — — — Sax for Stax 2009 "Walkin' Down Beale Street" — — 29 — — — 2010 "Highway 70" — — 20 — — — Pushing the Envelope 2011 "I Found the Klugh" — — 8 — — — 2012 "In the Moment" — — 1 — — — 24/7 "Champagne Life" — — 1 — — — 2013 "Full Tank" — — 20 — — — Ben Tankard – Full Tank "Got to Get You into My Life" — — 1 — — — Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns "I Got You (I Feel Good)" — — 3 — — — 2014 "Hot Fun in the Summertime" — — 6 — — — "Slam Dunk" — — 1 — — — Slam Dunk 2015 "SomeBossa (Summer Breezin')" — — 11 — — — Al Jarreau – My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" — — 8 — — — Slam Dunk "Because of You" — — 1 — — — 2016 "Crush" — — 8 — — — John Novello – Ivory Soul "Celebration" — — 15 — — — Jonathan Fritzén – Fritzénized "Taking Control" — — 1 — — — G (Bonus Version) 2017 "Boom Boom" — — 3 — — — "Frankie B." — — 1 — — — 2018 "Just Between Us" — — 5 — — — 30 "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" — — 10 — — — Dave Koz and Friends – Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns II – From A to Z "Keep That Same Old Feeling" — — 13 — — — "4 on the Floor" — — 2 — — — 30 2019 "New Beginnings" — — 5 — — — "Before I Let Go" — — 1 — — — Dave Koz and Friends – Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns II – From A to Z 2020 "Just In" — — 9 — — — Justin-Lee Schultz – Gruv Kid "Better Days Ahead" — — 1 — — — G-Stream (EP) 2021 "Hope" — — 1 — — — "Serendipity" — — 1 — — — Pamela Williams – Serendipity "Crazy" — — 1 — — — G-Stream (EP) 2022 "G Wiggle" — — 1 — — — G-Stream 2 – Turn It Up (EP) "Keep Holding On" — — — — — — Hank Bilal – Beneath the Covers "Eddie's Groove" — — 2 — — — G-Stream 2 – Turn It Up (EP) 2023 "On My Way" — — 1 — — — Phylicia Rae – On My Way 2024 "Full Throttle" — — 1 — — — G-Stream 3 – Full Throttle (EP) "Father in Heaven (Right Now)" — — — 10 — 1 BeBe Winans – TBA 2025 "G Funk" — — 14 — — — G-Stream 3 – Full Throttle (EP) "Living My Best Life" — — 1 — — — "More Than Enough" — — 1 — — — Hot Chocolate (EP) 2026 "Hot Chocolate" — — 27 — — —"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
EPs Year Album Label 2020 G-Stream Bright Music 2022 G-Stream 2: Turn It Up 2024 G-Stream 3: Full Throttle
As sideman/guest Year Artist Album Label 1997 Pauline Wilson Only You Pony Canyon 1999 The Phil Collins Big Band A Hot Night In Paris Atlantic 2000 Noel Elmowy Feelin' Good Expansion Records 2008 Gerald Alston Gerald Alston Sings Sam Cooke LST CO 2026 Faye Carol Faye Sings The Blues Getdown Records
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Albright has received a sum of nine Grammy nominations. Year Category Nominated work Result1988Best R&B Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist)"So Amazing" (single)1989Best R&B Instrumental PerformanceBermuda Nights2006Best Pop Instrumental AlbumNew Beginnings2008Best Pop Instrumental AlbumSax for Stax2010Best Pop Instrumental AlbumPushing the Envelope2012Best Pop Instrumental Album24/72013Best Pop Instrumental AlbumSummer Horns2014Best Contemporary Instrumental AlbumSlam Dunk2023Best Improvised Jazz Solo"Keep Holding On"
References
External links Gerald Albright at NPR Music Gerald Albright Signature Series Saxophones