Biography
Merlon Devine draws from a steadfast Christian faith in shaping his approach as a contemporary jazz saxophonist whose lyrical phrasing rides over smooth, groove-oriented textures. He frequently appears in church settings, where he views his performances as a way to establish the atmosphere for praise and worship gatherings. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Devine grew up in a family devoted to gospel music; his mother sang while his father handled guitar duties. Together with his nine siblings, he participated in church singing from an early age and took up the saxophone during school around the age of ten. Once his professional path began, keyboardist Ben Tankard enlisted him on multiple recording sessions, and Devine secured support slots alongside Kirk Whalum, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, and additional artists. His first solo release, Due Season, arrived in 2002. Subsequent independent projects followed, among them the 2004 album Breathe, the 2006 holiday collection Unwrap the Gift, and 2008’s Set the Atmosphere, Vol. 1. Love Divine came out in 2014. His sixth studio effort, Now, reached the Top 20 of Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart in 2017.
Albums
