RICHARD ELLIOT (Fri, 8/28/26)

If you are one of the lucky ones, you can recall a moment in time when a portal to an entire new world was opened for you, and a fire was lit within. For Richard Elliot, that moment was when his sister, ten years his senior, took a leap of faith and invited him to listen to her record collection. The only caveat was that he takes good care of her records and puts them back where they belong. 

Elliot not only took good care of the music, but the music has been taking care of him for over four decades. The chart-topping Grammy-nominated saxophonist recalls, “My sister had everything from Joni Mitchel, Carlos Santana and Dave Brubeck to Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and The Four Tops. I got a chance to be exposed at a young age to a lot of great music.” 

That inspiration ran deep, and Elliot went on to work with all three of the aforementioned Motown legends. His enviable credits also include a five-year stint with the funk and soul horns of Tower of Power, and when he was just a lad, he worked with Natalie Cole and the Pointer Sisters. 

A man of many talents, Elliot, who once moonlighted as a software engineer, is also a pilot. In fact, the saxman is in the process of building his own two-seat plane in his garage. On September 6, 2024, the Scottish-born, LA-raised, and San Diego-based renaissance man will release his 21st recording as a leader, Straight Up Down, on Shanachie Entertainment.  

He shares, “I feel incredibly fortunate that I am allowed to do this as a career and even more grateful that I have been able to do it for as long as I have. It’s a lot about being honest and truthful in my music and never taking it a l for granted.” Elliot provides maximum cruise control on Straight Up Down, an inspired collection of nine tracks, eight of which are originals. The album’s solid and a luring material shines a light on Richard Elliot’s signature soulful and bluesy approach, which seamlessly combines his technical prowess and unbridled passion with the finer elements of Jazz, Blues, Pop, R&B, and Rock. 

Straight Up Down opens with the winning new single “Very Delicious,” a sumptuous and spirited affair reminiscent of the bluesy soul of John Handy’s 1970s hit “Hard Work.” The selection of “Very Delicious” as an album opener is perfect as Elliot’s supple and agile tenor lines twist and turn to delight, elevating the mood and urging you to join in and clap along. “When Jeff Carruthers sent me the track,” he explains, “what I set out to do was come up with a melody that was kind of more hooky. The song is a bit nostalgic, and I love things that are nostalgic. I always feel that it’s important to pay homage to what came before us and to choose vibes, grooves, and melody lines that speak to where the genre started.” “Driftin’,” not to be confused with Herbie Hancock’s composition, is a sultry mid-tempo affair that showcases Elliot’s stunning tone dancing alongside an oscillating groove propelled by drummer Trevor Lawrence and percussionist Lenny Castro. 

The track was produced and mixed by labelmate and fellow tenor man, Euge Groove, who also produced and mixed “Very Delicious.” “Euge and I have been friends for decades,” Richard shares. Before he did any solo work, he was the person that I recommended to take my place in Tower of Power, and because of that, we have a real connection and history together.” Straight Up Down is the first time Euge and Elliot have worked on a record together. Elliot adds, “We had just a great time working together, and this was a very special collaboration for me.”