Smooth Jazz News - October-November-Decemeber - 2024

2 4 | S M O O T H J A Z Z N E W S By Ken Capobianco hroughout his long, stellar career, saxophonist Richard Elliot has reached many milestones, while garnering plaudits from audiences, peers and critics. As he rolls out his superb new album, Straight Up Down —his 21st studio effort— Elliot is marking the 40th anniversary of the release of his irst album, which launched his celebrated solo career after his tenure with the great groove band Tower of Power. Four decades later, Elliot is at the peak of his powers as a solo artist and one of the most popular acts in jazz, but he had no premonitions in the early 1980s that he would find the kind of career success and endurance he has experienced. “From the time I started getting some traction as a solo artist, I thought to myself that if I can get 10 years out of this, I’d be thrilled,” the thoughtful, soft-spoken Elliot said via phone from his Rancho Santa Fe, California, home on a hot August afternoon. “It never occurred to me that I’d be fortunate enough to be able to do this for 40 years,” he continued. “And I’m grateful for my career every day. “I started out as a sideman for other musicians and thought that would be my main thing. I would be lucky for that. My solo career started as something fun to do. RICHARD ELLIOT Positively upbeat and uplifting Photo: Lori Stoll