Mindi Abair

Mindi Abair (born May 23, 1969) is an American saxophonist, vocalist, and author from St. Petersburg, Florida.

Specialising in contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, rock, and soul, her solo career has produced ten No. 1 radio singles, two No. 1 Billboard Jazz albums, and four additional solo recordings that have reached the top five on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts. Known for her distinctive crossover appeal, she served as the featured saxophonist for the 2011 and 2012 seasons of the television series American Idol and toured extensively with the rock band Aerosmith.

Early Life

Born into a musical household, Abair was influenced early by her grandmother, an opera singer, and her father, Lance Abair, a touring saxophonist and keyboardist. She began playing the piano at the age of five before switching to the alto saxophone at age eight. During her education at Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg, she acted as the drum major for the high school marching band in her junior and senior years. As a high school senior, she earned the first chair alto saxophone position for the Florida All-State Jazz Band. She spent her first year of higher education on a full scholarship at the University of North Florida's jazz program under Rich Matteson. She subsequently transferred to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied saxophone under Joe Viola and George Garzone. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in Woodwind Performance in 1991, having also formed her first band during her time at the college.

Career

Following her graduation in 1991, Abair relocated to Los Angeles, California, booking performances in local clubs, coffee shops, and hotels. While performing on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, she drew the attention of jazz keyboardist Bobby Lyle, who hired her for his Power of Touch album and subsequent tour. Over the next decade, her career expanded into touring as a saxophonist, keyboardist, and background vocalist for mainstream acts including Adam Sandler, John Tesh, Jonathan Butler, Teena Marie, and Rick Braun. In 1999, she joined the Backstreet Boys for their Millennium World Tour. She later served as the musical director, keyboardist, and background singer for Mandy Moore's initial television appearances. Abair released her independent pop debut, Always and Never the Same, before signing with Verve Records in 2003 to release It Just Happens That Way, which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. Her subsequent releases included Come As You Are (2004) and Life Less Ordinary (2006), the latter debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. After signing with Concord Records in 2007, she released Stars (2008) and In Hi-Fi Stereo (2010). In 2013, her collaborative project Summer Horns alongside Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, and Richard Elliot received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Her 2014 solo release, Wild Heart, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz Chart and secured a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. In 2015, she established the blues-rock collective Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers, releasing Live in Seattle (2015) and the Kevin Shirley-produced studio album The EastWest Sessions (2017), which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart. After returning to solo instrumentation and releasing Forever in 2022, she expanded her independent catalogue on her own label, Pretty Good For A Girl Records, releasing the holiday collection I Can't Wait For Christmas in 2024.

Personal Life

Abair resides in Hollywood, California, with her husband, wine expert and author Eric Guerra, whom she married in May 2019 in a ceremony officiated by fellow musician Dave Koz. Alongside her performance career, she has dedicated significant time to community leadership and advocacy within the music industry. She served an elected tenure on the Board of Governors for the Los Angeles Chapter of the Recording Academy (NARAS), ultimately serving as Chapter President from 2013 to 2015, followed by a two-year term as a National Trustee from 2015 to 2017. In recognition of her advocacy and technical proficiency, the Women's International Music Network presented her with the Mad Skills Award at the She Rocks Awards during the 2015 NAMM Show.

Current Activities

Abair maintains an active presence in both the music industry and commercial lifestyle ventures. She continues to tour across the United States as a solo artist, performing regular concert dates and hosting interactive musical travel excursions internationally. Her latest full-length studio release, Based On A True Story (2025), launched via Pretty Good For A Girl Records as her 14th solo album. Co-produced alongside Wayne Rodrigues, the record marks a deeply personal, pop-driven project that features collaborations with Marcus Miller, Kenny Lattimore, and a full-circle studio reunion with keyboardist Bobby Lyle. Alongside her musical commitments, she operates the Reserve Tastings Wine Company in partnership with her husband, a venture that pairs boutique wine collections with curated music playlists and private acoustic performances. Managed by her own production and representation teams, Abair is currently engaged in several high-profile projects, focusing on live performance tours, boutique brand development, and the distribution of her studio catalogue.