Anthology

Contemporary jazz saxophonist MINDI ABAIR has toured and/or recorded with the Backstreet Boys, Duran Duran, and Adam Sandler. She also hosts the popular syndicated radio show “Chill with Mindi Abair,” for five years.

Born on tour into a musical family, Mindi Abair was playing piano by the age of five. Within three years, she was playing saxophone and writing songs. She made her way through Berklee College of Music performing different genres – from jazz to rock and R&B.

Upon moving back to Los Angeles, Abair started her own band. She also took on session work with artists as diverse as the Gap Band, Mandy Moore, John Tesh, Teena Marie, and the Backstreet Boys.

She made her recording debut in 1999 with Always and Never the Same and, in 2003, Abair moved from pop to jazz with It Just Happens That Way, which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and remained in the Top 10 for 19 consecutive weeks. In addition to her recording achievements, Abair is also a published author.

In 2010, Abair released a CD called In Hi-Fi Stereo produced by Rex Rideout. This year, Mindi has been a featured soloist on American Idol, appearing with Casey Abrams and Paul McDonald. She also won Best International Instrumentalist at the 2011 Wave Awards, and Best Female Artist of the Year at the 2011 Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards.