One of the most recognized and sought-after saxophonists, two-time Grammy nominee Mindi Abair has been electrifying audiences with her dynamic live performances and sax prowess since her debut album in 2000. No one since Junior Walker has brought saxophone and vocals in one package to the forefront of modern music, with a raucous tone and abandon. She has garnered ten #1 radio hits, six Top 5 solo records and two #1 spots on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz album chart. In 2014, Mindi received her first Grammy nomination in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category, followed by a 2015 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for her solo LP Wild Heart featuring the late Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Trombone Shorty, Booker T. Jones, Keb’ Mo’, and Max Weinberg.
The daughter and granddaughter of working musicians, Abair continues to captivate fans while evolving her sound. In 2014, after two seasons as the featured saxophonist on the hit series American Idol, Abair released Wild Heart. This LP showcased a compilation of grittier rock and soul tracks featuring some of the biggest names in music. To help translate this sound to her live shows, Mindi enlisted longtime friend and The Boneshakers founder Randy Jacobs (Bonnie Raitt, Was Not Was, Willie Nelson) to inject his brand of Detroit Rock/Funk. The collaboration was undeniable, and it lead to an almost immediate decision to join forces creatively. Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers features Mindi (Saxophone, Vocals), Randy Jacobs (Guitar, Vocals), Rodney Lee (Keys), Derek Frank (Bass, Vocals), and Third Richardson (Drums, Vocals). Their first record together Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers LIVE in Seattle was released September 2015, and recorded at their first official show together in Seattle February 2015.
Their first studio album was released in September 2017 as Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers "The EastWest Sessions.” Produced by renowned rock/blues producer Kevin “Caveman” Shirley (Led Zepplin, Joe Bonamassa, The Black Crowes, Aerosmith), it debuted #3 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and reached #1 on the Blues Rock Album RMR chart. The band won a 2018 Independent Music Award for Best Blues Song Fan Award for "Pretty Good For A Girl" featuring Joe Bonamassa. And they won 8 Awards including Artist of the Year at the 2018 Independent Blues Awards.
When she’s not touring as Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers, the Berklee graduate can often be found recording and touring with a wide array of legendary peers: Joe Perry, Trombone Shorty, Booker T. Jones, Aerosmith, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rush, Keb’ Mo’, Adam Sandler, Duran Duran, Lalah Hathaway and the Backstreet Boys.
“FORGET YOU, WHO’S YOUR SAX PLAYER?” – STEVEN TYLER ON AMERICAN IDOL
“MINDI PLAYS WITH EVERY PART OF HER BODY AND SOUL…. BEAUTIFULLY RAW THE WAY I LIKE IT.” – FANTASTIC NEGRITO
“YOU GUYS ARE BONESHAKING!” – BONNIE RAITT (NAMED THE BAND WITH HER QUOTE)
“SHE’LL MOVE YOU.” – KEB’ MO’
"THERE AREN'T THAT MANY PEOPLE AROUND THAT PLAY WITH THAT KIND OF BLUES ENTHUSIASM, THAT ARE RECORDING AND TOURING. I KNOW I CAN COUNT ON HER TO HELP KEEP THE BLUES ALIVE.” - BOBBY RUSH
“CAPTURES THE INTENT OF A ROCK BAND, THE GRIT OF A BLUES BAND AND ENOUGH ENERGY TO LIGHT A STADIUM” – BACKSTAGE 360
“ELECTRIC, ROCK-FILLED SOLO ENDEAVOR PLAYED WITH ABANDON AND ELECTRICITY” – JAY Z’S LIFE AND TIMES
“…HAS A HARD-BLOWING, GRITTY TONE IN THE VEIN OF KING CURTIS.” – USA TODAY
“21ST CENTURY SOPHISTICATION, A GRITTY, RAUCOUS SPIRIT, AND EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVE IMAGINATION” – ALLMUSIC.COM
“RAW, EDGY, INSPIRED” - AXS.COM
“CAPTURING RAW EMOTION, POWER AND SYNERGY, MINDI ABAIR & THE BONESHAKERS ROCK.” – EXAMINER.COM