Local jazz artist on 'Mission' to promote music education

Jazz musician Eric Darius' national campaign to promote music education in schools recently kicked off on familiar turf.

On March 17, Darius - who grew up in Tampa - visited the Progress Village Middle Magnet School of the Arts.

Before performing for the school's 250 students, Darius spoke with the members of the school's jazz ensemble about the beginning of his career.

"Balancing everything was a challenge but it's all about priorities and time management," said Darius, who attended Blake High School for the Arts in Tampa.

Darius, 28, received his first saxophone at age 10 and was 11 - the same age as many of the kids in the Progress Village jazz ensemble - when he began touring the country with Sonny LaRosa & America's Youngest Jazz Band. At 17, he recorded his first album, "Cruisin.'" His music incorporates hip-hop, reggae, rock and other styles into his smooth jazz stylings.

So far, he has recorded five albums including the 2010 offering "On a Mission," which is also the name of his music education campaign.

"It doesn't matter if you want to be a doctor, a lawyer, a musician; whatever it is, you have to practice, practice, practice," Darius said.

He sat in with the Progress Village jazz ensemble and rehearsed a number called "Red Clay." The group went on to perform the song alongside Darius during the assembly.

"He's amazing," said Ruben Pagan, a seventh-grader who plays bass trombone. "The way he moves when he plays the saxophone, because he's so into it, made me want to start playing sax."

Bob Chisholm, the jazz band's director, similarly was impressed with Darius' interaction with the students.

"He's inspiring, he's entertaining and when he performs he's like musical lightning," Chisholm said.

Darius performed one of his own numbers - "Settin' It Off"- in addition to playing his saxophone on contemporary hits like Usher's "OMG" and Cee Lo Green's "Forget You."

He also took questions from several students at the assembly.

"I'm living testimony that you can achieve your dreams," Darius said. "You just have to work hard, focus on your passion and go out and pursue it 100 percent."

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