It’s been a while since there’s been a young saxophonist we could really sink into like Mike Phillips and Joshua Redman. Twenty-something smooth jazz sax man, Eric Darius, may change all that. The business grad turned musician/composer/producer has been mentored by the legendary Dave Koz, worked with a who’s who of soul, and has already topped the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts. Darius is looking to repeat that #1 with On A Mission, his fifth full-length project in six years. Darius’s latest effort features Rick Braun and Natalie “The Floacist” Stewart and is helmed by producers Rex Rideout, Micah Otano, Chris Andrew, James Lloyd and Rohan Reid. While the project is largely originals, Darius does try his hand at Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly” with delicious results.

To share a sample of the youngblood’s latest mission, Darius is treating Centric fans to his lead single, “On Your Way To The Top (feat. The Floacist),” —a title that aptly describes his skyrocketing career.

On A Mission available June 29th

PLAY – On Your Way To The Top

TAGS: Chris Andrew, Dave Koz, Eric Darius, Herbie Hancock, James Lloyd, Micah Otano, Rex Rideout, Rick Braun, Rohan Reid, The Floacist