Biography

b. 1957, Los Angeles, California, USA. A technically adroit alto saxophonist, Albright spent about 15 years with keyboard player Bobby Lyle. Subsequently, he played and sometimes recorded with Oscar Brashear, Anita Baker and Marlena Shaw, and he also toured with a Whitney Houston package. In 1995 he was on the Jazz Explosion tour with Rachelle Ferrell, ex-Earth, Wind And Fire drummer Michael White, and singer Will Downing. He was also on a later edition of this tour that featured Herbie Hancock. Influenced in his formative years by John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley, with the growth of his experience Albright has developed a distinctive musical voice of his own, especially on alto, which remains his principal instrument although he is also accomplished on tenor and soprano and additionally plays flute. His ballad playing, sumptuous and lyrical, is especially satisfying.
DISCOGRAPHY: Just Between Us (MCA 1988)***, Bermuda Nights (Atlantic 1988)***, Dream Come True (Atlantic 1990)***, Live At Birdland West (Atlantic 1991)****, Smooth (Atlantic 1994)***, Giving Myself To You (Atlantic 1995)***, Live To Love (Atlantic 1997)***, with Will Downing Pleasures Of The Night (Verve 1998)***, Groovology (GRP 2002)****, Kickin' It Up (GRP 2004)***.
COMPILATIONS: The Very Best Of Gerald Albright (Warners 2001)***.

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