Richard Elliot's 1st New CD in 5 Yrs - Authentic Life

Authentic Life is Richard Elliot's first new recording in five years unites him with an all-star lineup including Rick Braun, Dave Koz, Jeff Lorber, Chris “Big Dog” Davis, Philippe Saisse and David Mann among others.  The album is a 10-track blueprint for a fulfilling and blissful New Year. The Grammy-nominated saxophonist explains, “The recording has a positive and uplifting feel which is what we all need right now.  A lot of the inspiration is based on the idea of living life in a mindful way, with focus and in the truest way possible that allows you to be sincere in your actions and intentions with other human beings.”

Elliot, who has also successfully moonlighted as a software engineer, also flies planes and is currently engrossed in the colossal project of building his own airplane. “There are absolute parallels between jazz and flying,” explains the San Diego resident. “When you are performing and flying you are 100 percent consumed and focused on that experience from a technical perspective, emotional and aesthetic perspective, taking in everything around you.”  The chart-topping saxophonist and pioneering Contemporary Jazz musician’s instantly recognizable trademark tenor has afforded him the opportunity to work with everyone from Smokey Robinson, Bonnie Raitt and The Temptations to Dave Koz, Tower of Power and Gerald Albright, to name a few.  

Danny Weiss, Shanachie VP of Jazz A&R states, “Richard Elliot has an uncanny ability to combine precision and technical mastery with passion and excitement.  As a result, whether you're a casual listener or a jazz fanatic (like me), Richard Elliot's music is richly rewarding - and a real home run for Shanachie!” 

The ever-evolving and continually inspired Richard Elliot concludes, “I definitely don’t feel the same sense of urgency that I did in my younger years. I always felt that I had something to prove whereas now, I only need to prove to myself that I am growing as human being and artist. It’s really about living an Authentic Life, doing what feels right and accepting life in all of its facets.”