A professional female sax player is rare, but one who has collaborated with some of the top music acts in the business, from Booker T. Jones to Duran Duran to Aerosmith, is even rarer. What really did it for me, though, was accompanying my old pal, Casey Abrams, in 2011 on American Idol.
In 2014, Mindi received her first GRAMMY nomination in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category for Summer Horns with Dave Koz, Richard Elliot, and Gerald Albright. This was followed by a 2015 GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for her solo LP Wild Heart, which featured the late Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Trombone Shorty, Booker T. Jones, Keb’ Mo’, and Max Weinberg. As a solo artist, she has consistently topped the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Blues charts.
As creator, designer, and owner, Mindi launched www.wineandjazz.com in 2019—a lifestyle concept that brings together the worlds of wine and music through members-only exclusive wines paired with personally curated music playlists and music-centric label artwork. In addition to their Wine and Jazz Club, Mindi and her husband, Eric, host worldwide bi-yearly Wine and Jazz Adventures. Jazz Alley will be offering wines from Mindi’s company throughout her residency. As Mindi recommends, “Sip generously, listen loudly, repeat often.”
Mindi also wrote the book How to Play Madison Square Garden: A Guide to Stage Performance and served for 10 years as an LA Chapter Governor, President, and National Trustee for The Recording Academy.
Mindi begins a 3-night residency at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley from Thurs, 1/30 to Sun, 2/2.
Mindi and I recently chatted via Zoom, and here are the highlights.
Her New Show at Jazz Alley:
“We usually do Valentine’s week, and that’s been our tradition for 23 years. However, I couldn’t do Valentine’s this year for a myriad of reasons, so we’ve pushed it up a little. This year, I’m doing something that mixes all my music. We recorded a live record in Seattle at Jazz Alley, Mindi and the Bone Shakers Live in Seattle. We’re going to do songs from that, of course, along with some songs from through the years. I’ve got some new music too—my new solo record comes out next year, so I’ll be playing some of that. It’ll just be a mix of everything I’ve done over the years at Jazz Alley, with a few of my favorite songs.
“I know we’re not playing on Valentine’s weekend, but it’s been such a tradition, so we’re going to play a few extra love songs. I’ll be playing and singing, and most of my band sings too. It’ll be a mix of saxophone, vocals, jazz, blues, and soul. It’s going to be fun to weave all these styles in and out. The show will be very free musically.”
On Playing Jazz Alley:
“You know what? They’ve always been an incredible home for me. Jazz Alley has been there for me since day one. When I put out my very first record on Verve Records, they supported me even when I was just starting out. They hired me to come in and play, and they believed in me. I’ve played there every year since. It’s so special to have a community and a venue that really backs artists and gives people a chance while seeing them through their careers.
“The community at Jazz Alley is so dedicated to music. There are people who trust the venue to bring in great talent. Jazz Alley has such a unique vibe—my audience tends to be a little older, in their 50s and 60s, but at Jazz Alley, I have 30- and 40-year-olds in the crowd, as well as people in their 60s and 70s. It’s a testament to what a cool place Jazz Alley is. I’m so lucky they embraced me, and I embrace them right back. I look forward to coming every year, eating the food, and sitting with the bartenders. Everyone there is personable and outgoing, making it feel like family—not just from my perspective as an artist, but from the perspective of everyone who goes there. I’ve met so many people who are loyal to Jazz Alley—it’s a very special place.”
Favorite Collaborators:
“That’s a tough one. I’ve been lucky to record, tour, and make music with people I love and admire. Today, I’m going to say my favorite collaboration has been with Booker T. Jones. He’s responsible for so much of American music. If you look at the Stax catalog and American soul music, you’ll see that it all emanated from him. He was the bandleader for everything Stax did, and he wrote much of it. He’s basically the sound of American music—jazz, rock, and pop. Writing songs with him, recording with him, and now doing shows together—it just blows my mind. I’m a super fan, and he’s a beautiful person with a beautiful family. It’s amazing to make music with people I love and admire.”
A Dream Duo:
“Oh, my dream collaboration? I’m torn between The Stones and Bonnie Raitt. I love Bonnie Raitt. She’s a strong woman, writes songs about meaningful things, and is incredibly smart and capable. She’s also an amazing instrumentalist. There aren’t many women instrumentalists to look up to, so I’ve always admired her.”
On Bob and Jazz Wine Label:
“Thank you for taking the time—I really appreciate it. It’s always fun to get the word out in Seattle and introduce new people to the shows. And let people know that my wines are available too! My company, Bob and Jazz, has our wines on the menu during my Jazz Alley residency. It’s kind of a special thing—you can drink my wine while listening to the music. All of our wines are music-centric and come with playlists that pair with them. We call it the ‘Wine and Jazz Tour.’
“You can buy a bottle or a glass—whatever you like. We make eight wines a year, so it’s fun to see them on the menu and have people enjoy them while we’re performing.”
Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley welcomes 2x Grammy nominated saxophonist Mindi Abair for four nights and six shows playing favorites from her 20+ year career. Band members are: Mindi Abair (sax and vocals), Arthur Thompson (drums and vocals), Tony Pulizzi (guitar), Uriah Duffy (bass, vocals) and Walter English (keys). Show times Thursday at 7:30p, Friday and Saturday at 7:30p and 9:30p and Sunday at 7:30p. Doors open at 6:00pm Thursday and 5:30pm Friday – Sunday.
This show is supported by the Washington Blues Society.
Click HERE for Tickets and Information.
