Eric Darius & Eric Roberson

Eric Darius is excited to join musical forces with Eric Roberson and Avery*Sunshine for this concert at the DoubleTree Grand Ballroom on Friday, March 31.

Saxophonist/songwriter/producer Darius grew up in a musical family in Tampa, Fla. He started learning sax at 9 and began performing at 11 when he joined and toured with Sonny LaRosa and America’s Youngest Jazz Band. The band’s members were ages 5 to 12, and they toured worldwide, including the Montreux Jazz Festival.

At 13, Darius left the band and started his own, with his father as the manager. He was performing more than 100 shows a year while also performing with the Blake High School Jazz Band, which was featured at Lincoln Center.

At 17, he created his first independent album, then became a member of the Jazztet at the University of South Florida. He also signed a contract with Higher Octave Music. Darius has released eight albums, the last two of which are on his own label, SagiDarius: “Breakin’ Thru” (2017) and “Unleashed” (2022).

Singer, songwriter, and former rapper Eric Roberson studied musical theater at Howard University, then landed a songwriting deal through the EMI label. He has collaborated with Philadelphia-based artists, primarily DJ Jazzy Jeff. Roberson has two Grammy nominations (2009 and 2010) in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category. He has his own label -- Blue Erro Soul; his latest recording (out of 16) is “Lessons” (2022).

Born Denise Nicole White in Chester, Pa., singer/songwriter Avery*Sunshine began playing classical and jazz piano at age 8 and was hired to direct choirs in various churches at an early age.

While at Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga., where she got her degree in philosophy in 1998, she formed a vocal duo with Maia Nkenge Wilson called Daisy Rew. When Wilson left to do a Broadway show, White began working with guitarist/producer/songwriter Dana Johnson, and White took the name Avery*Sunshine. They have released three albums on their own label, BigShine, most recently “Twenty Sixty-Four.” They were married in 2016.