LOS ANGELES (By
Sandy Friedman/ Rogers & Cowan) - Pop-influenced saxophonist, composer and vocalist MINDI ABAIR continues to rock the contemporary jazz world as she enters this week's Billboard "Contemporary Jazz Album Chart" at No 1 with her third Verve/GRP release, LIFE LESS ORDINARY.
With the album's debut single, True Blue, also hitting the Top 10, the stage is set for Abair as she headlines her own nationwide LIFE LESS ORDINARY tour. The tour kicked off earlier this week on April 21 in Clearwater, Florida at Coachman Park and continues through July as follows: May 4, Boston, MA, Scullers; May 5, New Haven, CT, John Lyman Center (SCSU); May 7, Philadelphia, PA, Theatre of Living Arts; May 8, Annapolis, MD, Rams Head; April 9, Alexandria, VA, The Birchmere; May 20, Newport Beach, CA, Hyatt Regency; May 28, Addison, TX, Addison Arts and Music Festival; June 17, Big Bear, CA, Big Bear Ski Resort; June 18, Healdsburg, CA, Rodney Strong Vineyards; June 24, Denver, CO, KJCD Summerfest, July 7, Newport Beach, CA, Hyatt Regency; July 9, Temecula, CA, Thornton Winery; and July 23, Portland, OR, Smooth Jazz 105.9 Summer Concert.
Mindi Abair turned the contemporary jazz world on its head with the release of her GRP debut CD, It Just Happens That Way, in 2003, in which the breakthrough album established her as a fresh new voice and musical force with which to be reckoned. The CD was ranked the No 1 most played contemporary jazz album that year by JazzWeek; and also launched her hit single Lucy's - which was No 1 on Radio& Records' airplay charts for a record-breaking eight weeks. Abair's much-anticipated 2004 release, Come As You Are, spawned her No 2 jazz charted-single, Come As You Are.
With her third Verve/GRP release, LIFE LESS ORDINARY, Abair co-wrote all of the tunes - with the exception of her rendition of Rickie Lee Jones' It Must Be Love - mostly with her longtime collaborator and producer, Matthew Hager. In addition to showcasing her talents on alto and soprano saxophone and keyboards, Mindi once again demonstrates her skills as a vocalist, with two of the album's tracks featuring her voice on lead vocals: Ordinary Love and It Must Be Love. Abair is joined by special guests on It Must Be Love such as GRAMMY Award-winning bluesman Keb' Mo, who contributes the song's unmistakable Dobro solo, and Lalah Hathaway, who appears as a featured background vocalist.
Abair has also become the go-to saxophonist for megastar acts, opening for Josh Groban's sold out fall 2004 tour, who says of Mindi: "I was a fan the moment I saw a tape of one of her concerts. Her ability to connect with the crowd and appeal to jazz fans as well as those who aren't as familiar with her, makes her such an exciting artist, and I was thrilled to have her as a guest on my tour."
Abair has also toured with Duran Duran, Backstreet Boys, Mandy Moore, and Adam Sandler, and recently performed at the prestigious "Governor's Ball" for the post-2006 Academy Awards show.
