ERIC DARIUS (Sat, 5/30/26)

With his iconic, signature jump and crowd-captivating energy throughout his world-renowned live performances, Billboard chart-topping, American saxophonist, songwriter, producer, and performer, Eric Darius, is breaking the mold of modern Jazz. His latest and boldest venture to date, Unleashed, is a testament to his ever-evolving artistic vision, fearlessly pushing all musical boundaries while innovatively fusing Jazz with elements of R&B, Hip-Hop, Funk, Pop, and much more.

Born into a musical household with Caribbean influences, Eric’s musical journey from Tampa, Florida, started early at the age of 11, performing at the prestigious Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland with Sonny LaRosa & America’s Youngest Jazz Band. Performing over a hundred shows a year in his early teens, honing his craft, he went on to record his first album independently at age 16, then made his major label debut on the global stage in 2004 with the release of Night on the Town. Taking the world by storm and causing a frenzy never seen before in Contemporary Jazz, he was prophetically hailed as Debut Artist of the Year by Smooth Jazz News Magazine later that year.

Now, with eight highly acclaimed albums to his name, Eric continues to be a singular force on the music scene while forging new paths and bridging generational gaps. To date, he has racked up five No. 1 Hit Singles and 17 Top 10 Radio Hits on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart. He was SESAC’s Top 10 Jazz Artist of the Year in 2015, Citril Starz Awards’ Best Jazz, Saxophonist, Composer, Producer & Musician of the Year in 2017, and most recently was selected the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival Artist of the Year for 2022.

From sharing the stage with GRAMMY® Award-winning artists such as Prince, Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, David Foster & George Benson to name a few, making TV appearances on FOX’s The X Factor and TNT’s Mob City, running his own SagiDarius Music label, to serving as annual host of the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival, Mexico Jazz Experience, & Paris Smooth Jazz Festival, Eric’s impact on the music industry is undeniable. With his countless accolades and commitment to making a difference through music education in the schools, Eric Darius stands as a beacon of unparalleled talent and dedication in today’s world of entertainment.