An ever-innovative icon of Smooth Jazz currently celebrating 40 years as a recording artist, saxophonist Richard Elliot once said, “A lot of my inspiration is based on the idea of living life in a mindful way, which allows you to be sincere in your actions and intentions with other human beings.” The multi-talented tenor man has achieved this performing hundreds of shows, solo and with everyone from Tower of Power, Bonnie Raitt and The Yellow Jackets, while racking up more than 20 Top Ten singles and #1 contemporary jazz albums. His second Shanachie album STRAIGHT UP DOWN is another instant classic, infused with ebullient, swinging R&B/jazz fire, sensual and smoldering ballads and mid-tempo gems, a dope duet with guitarist Paul Brown and a seductive, ambient take on a Top 5 R&B SOS Band hit.
