Highly-respected saxophonist DANA ROBBINS, who currently plays for Grammy Award ® winning artists Delbert McClinton and Aretha Franklin, will release her second solo effort, Dana Robbins, in July of 2014 as she gears up for a tour fronting her own band. She did a soft launch in February of 2014 for her fans on the Sandy Beaches Cruise, an annual music cruise organized by McClinton. The CD has been very well-received.
Originally from the Detroit area, Robbins now calls Nashville home after a seven year stint in Los Angeles where she recorded and toured with Barry Manilow playing soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones as well as flute and piccolo. She has also played with Roger Daltrey, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Chaka Khan, James Brown, Steve Cropper and so many more and was the band leader and music director for “The Chuck Woolery Show.” She is regarded by her peers as a bold and passionate player. Delbert McClinton comments, “Dana is my hero. I’m fortunate to get to make music night after night on the same stage with her.” Aretha Franklin told Robbins, “You play very well.”
Dana Robbins is the follow-up to her 2010 debut, So So Good. The new album comprises 11 songs; it is a mix of original music, co-writes and cover material. While six of the songs are instrumental, four of the songs feature vocals by Delbert McClinton (“Hardest Part” and “Pullin’ The Strings”) and former Wet Willie lead singer, Jimmy Hall (“Party On The Ocean” and “Bless Your Heart).” Robbins also makes her vocal debut on the closing track, “Right As Rain,” proving to be as sultry with her voice as she is on her horns.
It was recorded at the legendary Ronnie’s Place in Nashville, which has been a mainstay in the Nashville recording scene for over 50 years with clients such as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Loretta Lynn. It was produced by Tom Hambridge, who has produced Grammy Award® winning albums for Buddy Guy and B.B. King. It was engineered byJustin Francis and Kam Luchterhand and mixed and mastered by Michael Saint-Leon and Tom Hambridge at The Switchyard.
For the recording, Robbins and Hambridge assembled some of the best players in Nashville including:
Lynn Williams on drums (Phil Keagy, Lee Roy Parnell, Delbert McClinton); David Santos on bass (Crosby Stills & Nash, John Fogerty, Billy Joel, Elton John); Michael Joyce on bass (Jimmy Hall, Roy Orbison, Delbert McClinton); Bob Britton on guitar (Wynonna Judd, John Oates, Delbert McClinton); Rob McNelley on guitar (2014 SESAC award winner for best guitar player of the year, Lady Antebellum, Delbert McClinton); Kevin McKendree on keyboards/organ (Etta James, Bryan Setzer, Delbert McClinton); and Tim McDonald on keyboards/organ (Blake Shelton. Mark Chestnutt, Hank Williams Jr.).
Highly respected music critic and musician Ted Drozdowski said, “Dana Robbins is Music City’s saxophone MVP, with a fluent, commanding and original approach to R&B, blues, soul, rock, jazz, funk and off-the-cuff improvisation. And through it all her bold, warm tone is ever ready to shift from slow burn to utter conflagrance —whatever it takes to get to a song’s emotional core.”
Her confirmed tour dates for solo shows are as follows:
Wed, April 30–Pour House–Nashville, TN
Thurs, May 1–The Whippoorwill–Gallatin, TN
Wed, May 7–2014 Blues Awards/BB Kings–Memphis, TN
Thurs, May 8–Late Night Jam Blues Awards–Memphis, TN
Fri, June 13–The Whipoorwill–Gallatin, TN
Sat, June 14–Jefferson St Jazz & Blues Festival–Nashville, TN
Fri, July 18–Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar–Nashville, TN–(CD Release Show)
Robbins will also resume touring with Delbert McClinton in July of 2014.
For more information: http://www.danarobbins.com/
