Saxophonist Dave McMurray is set to release his fourth Blue Note album, I Love Life Even When I’m Hurting, on November 14—a powerful affirmation of resilience and a heartfelt love letter to his hometown of Detroit. Known for his rich tone and soul-infused jazz phrasing, McMurray continues to bridge the worlds of emotional depth and musical celebration with his most personal project to date.
The first single, a stunning cover of Al Jarreau’s “We Got By” featuring Grammy-nominated vocalist Kem, captures that blend of vulnerability and hope. McMurray says the collaboration was decades in the making: “I was heavily influenced by Al Jarreau. I listened to his first album all the time. From watching Kem progress as a singer, I’ve always had him in mind to sing on my version.” Their connection—rooted in Detroit’s deep musical legacy—brings new life to the soulful classic.
The album’s title was born from a moment of reflection. After hearing about a friend who passed away after losing his battle with illness, McMurray was struck by the need to embrace life even amid pain. “Man, I love life even when I’m hurting,” he wrote. That affirmation became the album’s core theme—a collection of songs built on positivity, gratitude, and the sustaining power of music.
Co-produced with longtime collaborator Don Was, the album was recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan, and features a stellar lineup of Detroit musicians including Was and Ibrahim Jones on bass, Luis Resto and Maurice O’Neal on keyboards, Wayne Gerard on guitar, Jeff Canady on drums, Mahindi Masai on percussion, and Herschel Boone on vocals. McMurray wrote six of the nine tracks, each radiating with soulful melodicism and heartfelt groove.
“Making this album was such a cool project,” McMurray shares. “Everyone on it is somebody that I love.”
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