Eric Darius is a saxophonist and composer. He also produces music and sings. He is a visionary and has learned to trust his inner voice. Darius, a man steeped in tradition and rooted in the lessons he learned from his mentors isn’t afraid to push his art and himself forward. This credo is reaffirmed by the Renaissance man on his sixth album, which is also his second for Shanachie Entertainment. Retro Forward is my musical statement as an artist that’s not bound by genres or rules. “As a young person with roots in Contemporary Jazz, I feel it’s mine responsibility to pay tribute to these greats, but also to push the music forward to a new, exciting, and relevant direction that will keep it alive and relevant for the next generation,” says the business expert. Eric Darius’ unlimited vision has enabled the musical chameleon, to collaborate with many different superstars such as Prince, Jamie Foxx and David Foster, Mary J. Blige and George Benson to name just a few. Even appearing on The X Factor TV series by Simon Cowell and TNT’s popular TV drama series Mob City, Darius has been a regular guest. Retro Forward is the Billboard-charting saxophonist who teams up with a new team of writers and producers. The result is a renewed energy and sound. My goal was to collaborate with writers, producers and musicians to interpret my music in a new and unique way. This would allow me to reinvent myself and redefine music. I took all of my past experiences and hit the reset button. The Tampa, FL native shared that I needed to change my environment and step out of my comfort zone. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Retro Forward is now joined by Antonio Dixon, a Grammy-winning producer and songwriter who is also part of the smash-making FaceTone Productions team. Dixon has also worked with Beyonce and Toni Braxton, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera. Darius also consulted Blu2th, a super-producer who has produced hits for everyone, from Chris Brown to Jordin Sparks, Boy II Men, and Tyrese. Darius states, “Their musical visions and experience working alongside so many other amazing artists really helped me to craft the new sounds on this project, breathe new life to my music and push my playing beyond my limits.” Retro Forward highlights Eric Darius’ diverse influences, which include Jazz, R and Rock.
