During her remarkable 25-year recording career, saxophonist/vocalist Mindi Abair has garnered 2 GRAMMY nominations, recorded with some of the biggest names in music, and built a substantial following among jazz and blues audiences with her soaring melodies and powerhouse style. 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, 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. You might know her as the featured saxophonist on American Idol, sitting in with Paul Shaffer on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Bruce Springsteen and Buddy Guy, or from moonlighting on tour with Duran Duran or Aerosmith. As a solo artist, she has consistently topped the charts, starting with her record-breaking debut single Lucy’s which spent 8 weeks at #1 in 2002. That breakout success launched a string of chart-topping hits that would come to define a new generation of modern Smooth Jazz radio, including Flirt, True Blue, Smile, Save the Last Dance, Bloom, Be Beautiful, Got To Get You Into My Life, Wild Heart, and Nothing Ever Hurt Like You. Mindi’s solo career has been defined not only by chart-topping records but by the relentless success of her tours. Touring isn’t just part of Mindi’s story—it is the story. Her unwavering presence on the road has shaped a career built on connection, energy, and longevity. In 2015, she embarked on a bold new chapter with the formation of Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers, merging her jazz roots with a gritty blues-rock sound in collaboration with Randy Jacobs and Sweet Pea Atkinson of the legendary Detroit group Was (Not Was). This venture not only expanded her musical palette but introduced her to an entirely new audience, earning accolades across both the jazz and blues worlds. In 2018, Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers won 8 Independent Blues Awards including Artist of the Year, and an Independent Music Award for Best Blues Song Fan Award for Pretty Good For A Girl featuring Joe Bonamassa. In 2019, 2020, and 2021 Mindi was nominated by the Blues Music Awards as the Best Instrumentalist: Horn. In 2019, Mindi Abair launched WineAndJazz.com, a lifestyle brand that brings together her passions for music and wine. What began as a personal project has grown into a series of 14 sold-out Wine & Jazz Adventures, featuring performances in renowned wine regions around the world. These events include intimate concerts at castles and châteaus, curated winery visits, and shared experiences with a small group of guests. Mindi also hosts an annual New Year’s Eve celebration, combining live music, wine pairings, and storytelling. Her company produces nine wines annually for the Wine and Jazz Club, each accompanied by a curated music playlist and original label artwork. The brand reflects a thoughtful approach to living—centered on creativity, connection, and enjoyment. Mindi wrote the book How To Play Madison Square Garden – A Guide To Stage Performance and served 10 years as an LA Chapter Governor, President, and National Trustee for The Recording Academy. Mindi has toured and/or recorded with: Aerosmith, Joe Bonamassa, Smokey Robinson, Joe Perry, Trombone Shorty, Booker T. Jones, Gregg Allman, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Fantastic Negrito, Waddy Wachtel, Bobby Rush, Keb’ Mo’, Teena Marie, Lee Ritenour, Adam Sandler, Duran Duran, Bill Champlin, Richard Elliott, Jimmy Webb, Max Weinberg, Dave Koz, Peter White, Gerald Albright, Mandy Moore, Lalah Hathaway, and the Backstreet Boys.
