The Crystal Bay Casino presenst jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair on Friday, October 15th at 9:00 pm. An intimate evening with one of the jazz world's favorite sax players, this seated show promises to be one of the Crown Room highlights of the year.

"Mindi Abair's saxophone speaks to all of our souls. Do yourself a favor and check out Mindi Abair's music. You'll be happy you did."
~Keb Mo

Saxophonist/Singer/Songwriter Mindi Abair has not only set sonic trends, but has broken all the boundaries as she continues to define the less traditional future of jazz. Her own brand of pop meets jazz adds a refreshingly unique voice to an exciting new generation of crossover artists who are, like her, powerful instrumentalists as well as thought-provoking singer/songwriters. This Florida raised, Los Angeles-based performer's unique hybrid sound -a mix of cool vulnerability and utter conviction have brought her to the top of her game. She tours with her own band to sold out audiences worldwide, hosts a popular nationally syndicated radio show "Chill With Mindi Abair", and the list of artists she has toured or recorded with are a testament to her talent. They include the Backstreet Boys, Duran Duran, Mandy Moore, Josh Groban, Adam Sandler, Keb Mo, Lalah Hathaway, Lee Ritenour, Teena Marie, John Tesh, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler, Peter White and Rick Braun.

When asked about their childhoods and musical influences, many artists look back fondly on a certain album or song they heard, or certain moment of epiphany where their future came clear. "Not me," says Abair, a St. Petersburg, Florida native who spent much of her early life on the road with her father's band. Between watching my father onstage and spending time with my grandmother who was an opera singer, music was always around me. My parents gave in to my constant banging on the piano with lessons at age five, and when I was able to choose a band instrument in fourth grade, I copied my father and went straight for the saxophone. Music was always my normal. I never considered doing anything else. And by the time someone told me it was odd for a girl to play an instrument for a living, thankfully it was too late.

Her 2003 debut CD, It Just Happens That Way, debuted in the Top 5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and remained in the Top 10 for 19 consecutive weeks. Billboard magazine named "It Just Happens That Way" one of the top 10 Contemporary Jazz CDs of the year. Her hit single "Lucy's," was #1 on R&R for a record-breaking eight weeks and Abair was hailed for leading a new movement in contemporary music.?? Her 2004 release "Come As You Are" debuted at #5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts. Her 2006 release "Life Less Ordinary" debuted #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and remained in the top 20 for 45 weeks.? Her songs "True Blue" and "Bloom" hit #1 on R&R . Her latest 2008 release "Stars" broke the usual genre barriers, with her single "Stars" charting #29 Adult Contemporary R&R simultaneously with her single "Smile" hitting top ten on the R&R jazz airplay charts.

You've seen Mindi open for Josh Groban, also as a featured performer in the Women in Jazz feature at the Grammys, up on Panasonic's Jumbotron in Times Square, the Drew Carey Show, HGTV, Emeril Live, and onstage with Adam Sandler on his HBO Special and last year's MTV Movie Awards backing him up for his Lifetime Achievement Award. Her songs have been featured on everything from the Robin Williams/Mandy Moore movie "License to Wed" to Aaron Spelling's hit "Summerland". Mindi's recording of her original Christmas song "I Can't Wait for Christmas" was featured in 2005 on the Bath and Body Works and Pier One Christmas CDs selling almost 1 million copies. She has recorded and/or toured with the Backstreet Boys, Duran Duran, Mandy Moore, Adam Sandler, Keb Mo , Teena Marie, John Tesh, Jeff Golub, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler, Peter White, Rick Braun, and Lee Ritenour.

Tickets are currently on sale by phone at 775.833.6333 at the venue or at www.crystalbaycasino.com.