Eric Marienthal is a Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, smooth jazz, and pop genres.

After graduating from high school in Southern California in 1976, Eric went on to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass where he studied with the legendary saxophone professor, Joe Viola. By the time he left Berklee, Eric had achieved the highest proficiency rating given by the school. In 1995 Eric was awarded the Berklee Distinguished Alumnus Award for outstanding achievements in contemporary music. He has since gone on to perform in over 65 different countries, recorded 11 solo CDs and has played on hundreds of records, films, television shows and commercial jingles.

Eric started his professional career in 1980 with famed New Orleans trumpeter Al Hirt. After returning to Los Angeles, Eric became a member of the Chick Corea Elektric Band. He recorded 6 CDs with Chick's band and 2 of those CDs were Grammy award winners. Eric went on to perform with artists such as Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Aaron Neville, Johnny Mathis, Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, David Benoit, The Rippingtons, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Patti Austin, Lou Rawls, David Lee Roth, The Yellowjackets, B.B. King, Ramsey Lewis, Patti Labelle, Olivia Newton-John, and many others.
Among Eric's 11 solo CDs, his latest is entitled "Just Around The Corner", on Peak Records. Six of the songs that Eric has recorded have made it to the top 10 of the National Contemporary Jazz Radio Charts and two have made it to #1. Eric's "Oasis" CD hit the top 5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. Shortly after that, Eric was voted one of the year's "Favorite Alto Sax Players" in Jazziz Magazine's Reader's Poll along with David Sanborn and Phil Woods.
Eric has also written 3 instructional books, "Comprehensive Jazz Studies & Exercises", "The Ultimate Jazz Play Along" and "The Music Of Eric Marienthal" as well as 3 instructional videos, "Play Sax From Day One", "Modern Sax" and "Tricks Of The Trade", all published by Warner Brothers Publications, which is now Alfred Publishing/Belwin Jazz.

Every summer for the past 8 years Eric has put on an annual fundraising concert for High Hopes Head Injury Program. High Hopes is a non-profit organization in Orange County, California that works with people who have suffered traumatic head injuries. With the help of many guest artists who have donated their time to perform, these concerts have raised well over a half million dollars for this charity.

His music can be heard during The Weather Channel's "Local on the 8s" segments and his song "Big Country" is included in their 2008 compilation release, The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II.

Advertisement Advertisement