Eric Darius
Eric Darius is a contemporary jazz saxophonist and composer. He is a native of New Jersey who grew up in Tampa, Florida. His music has been described as a combination of jazz, R&B, hip-hop and pop.
Early life
Eric Darius was born in New Jersey to a father of Haitian descent and a mother of Jamaican descent, but grew up in Tampa, Florida. Darius was born into a musical family, his father plays bass, his mother and sister sing and his older brother plays drums and trumpet. He began his performing career at the age of 11 when he toured with the youth-based Sonny LaRosa and America's Youngest Jazz Band. The tour's final performance was held at Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. At the age of 17 Darius released his first album titled Cruisin' .
Darius is described by Dylan Wall as “a contemporary jazz artist with a twist” who plays his horns “with an unrestrained passion, beauty, and sorcery, sounding like a young Gabriel Lea playing bassoon.” He lists his major influences as Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder and Jeff Lorber.