Everette Harp

Smooth jazz saxophonist Everette Harp began his career in his hometown of Houston, Texas, in the 1980s, but found success once he left for Los Angeles at the end of the decade. He quickly worked his way up to gigs with Sheena Easton, Kenny Loggins, and Anita Baker, and began a lasting professional relationship with jazz fixture George Duke. He signed to Capitol Records with his group, 101 North, but simultaneously signed to Blue Note for his solo career, which he launched in 1992 with the release of his self-titled album, which was produced by Duke. Common Ground followed in 1994, and every album he made from this point on would land in the upper reaches of the Billboard jazz charts. His next album, part of Blue Note’s tribute series, was a reimagining of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On. In the new millennium, Harp teamed up with guitarist Chuck Loeb and keyboardist Jeff Lorber in the group Jazz Funk Soul, and the trio’s 2014 debut was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the Grammys.