Jazz fans looking for a night on the town in Rahway, NJ this Saturday, May 9, 2026 evening enter UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage for the first of two concerts starring jazz saxophonist Eric Darius.
Eric Darius was born in Livingston, NJ into a musical family, but grew up in Tampa, FL. After hearing a saxophone in church at the age of nine, his parents bought him one for his birthday. Beginning his performing career at age 11, Eric toured with Sonny LaRosa and America’s Youngest Jazz Band. While playing with the group at the Montreux Jazz Festival, he decided to pursue a career in music and at the age of 17, he independently released his first album.
With eight highly acclaimed albums to his name, Darius has racked up five №1 Hit Singles and 17 Top 10 Radio Hits on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart. He’s shared the stage with such celebrated artists as Prince, Mary J. Blige, David Foster, Carlos Santana, George Benson, Lalah Hathaway, and more. His latest album is 2022’s Unleashed and his most recent single is 2025’s “Too Good 2 Let Go.”
Inside UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage auditorium, the lights dim and guitarist Nico Barboza, drummer Marcus Thomas, bassist David Dyson, and keyboardist Jacoby Ray take the stage. The crowd cheers as Eric Darius enters announcing, “What’s going on, New Jersey?” and he and the band launch into “Retro Forward,” where Darius races across the stage as he soulfully plays his sax before Nico Barboza renders a rhythmic guitar solo on this upbeat R&B tune.
Segueing into “Night on the Town,” Darius has the audience echo, “Yeah, yeah!” on this fast funk tune which features the musicians moving to the beat as Darius’ cool, clear alto sax playing calls out over the band.
Concertgoers cheer and Darius asks, “Can we get funky tonight?” When the crowd responds in the affirmative, Darius says, “Put your pinky rings up to the moon,” and he and the band rocket into “24K Magic.” Darius works his alto with one hand while waving his other hand in the air, directing the audience to move their hands back and forth to the funky groove of this Bruno Mars tune.
Darius announces, “This was my first song on the Billboard charts,” as he and the band step into “Goin’ All Out,” a rhythmic funk tune where Darius and each of his band members are featured on short rhythmic interludes.
Darius reveals, “I was born in Livingston, NJ,” prior to declaring, “We came here to party tonight!” Here, Darius’ alto sax cries as he bends notes on the slow funk tune, “Unleashed,” before Jacoby Ray renders a lyrical keyboard solo.
“Make some noise for this incredible band!” insists Darius as he introduces his stagemates and they swing into his latest single, “Too Good 2 Let Go.” Audience members groove at their seats as Darius plays tenor, racing up and down the horn with style and ease on this slow smooth jazz piece.
Darius explains that he wrote his next song after performing a show in Mozambique. On “Maputo Nights,” Darius executes staccato runs on his alto while stepping across the stage prior to standing up on the drum platform and playing with dynamics and feeling on this rhythmic tune.
Introducing his next medley, Darius explains that whereas the first song is about “seeing the light at the end of the tunnel” and knowing that “everything is going to be all right,” the second is about capturing the “old time groove and feel” of an era characterized by “roller rinks” and “disco balls.” On “Breakin’ Thru,” David Dyson holds down the bottom simultaneously playing electric bass and keyboard bass as audience members stand, clap, and dance. Then, on “Rollin’ Out,” Darius goes down into the audience and high-fives fans as he plays before returning to the stage and spinning across the stage with his alto on this high-flying R&B number.
Concertgoers cheer and Darius and Co. perform “Work” where he croons, “You know I got that energy, ooh/So don’t you worry I aim to please, uh,”and fans clap and sing, “Work it, baby,” on the interlude of this funky tune.
Before the conclusion, Darius announces, “This is for you old school lovers out there,” as he incorporates a snippet of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” into his improvised sax solo to avid cheers and applause.
Audience members stand and dance to the infectious funk tune, “That’s My Jam,” where Nico Barboza is featured on guitar and Marcus Thomas is spotlighted on drums before Darius takes a daring leap at the end.
Announcing, “Who came with someone special?” Darius and the band perform the smooth jazz ballad, “About Last Night.” After Jacoby Ray renders cascading runs on the keyboard, Darius comes down into the audience and makes his tenor sound like it’s laughing before returning to the stage and producing a low growling sound to which a fan cries out, “You’re hurting me, Darius!” and Darius jokes, “I ain’t finished with you yet!”
The audience cheers and Darius inquires, “Are you guys ready to go home?” The audience responds, “No!” and Darius switches back to alto sax as he and the band conclude tonight’s show with the funky “Fired Up,” where Barboza and Darius duel on guitar and sax.
Darius instructs, “Put your hands together!” and gets the crowd swaying and singing “Ah, oh!” before concluding, “We love you, New Jersey! It’s good to be home. God bless you, goodnight!” in front of the standing and cheering crowd.
As concertgoers make their way out of the theater, several share their thoughts on tonight’s performance by Eric Darius. Remarks Ken from Monroe Township,” He was just going, going, going the whole time! He put on a great show with high energy and great tunes.” Comments Raymond from Rahway, “Eric did really well tonight — good performance, good energy — and the band was locked in. I really enjoyed it!”
Minnie from Staten Island, NY, exclaims, “Eric’s show tonight was extraordinary, phenomenal, engaging, energetic, and non-stop entertainment. I’m so exhilarated and pumped up, I can’t wait to see him again!” Whereas Myron from Staten Island, exclaims, “Ditto!” Sharon from Staten Island acknowledges, “We all have the same response. He was fabulous — very energetic! His show kept you moving, and his musicians were fantastic, too!”
Frank from Fanwood reveals, “This is the third time I’ve seen Eric and he was just as great as ever! He has so much energy and is so personable with the audience.” Dina from New Providence concurs, explaining, “He tells a lot of stories behind his music, too, which I really enjoyed.”
Lastly, Judith from Philadelphia, PA insists, “This was my fifth time seeing Eric and he was outstanding, even more lively and upbeat than I’ve ever seen him before. He’s got the moves — like that leap and the spin-around he does — and he’s got the sound, too,” prior to concluding, “You just know when you come to see Eric Darius you’re always gonna have a good time!”
To learn more about Eric Darius, please go to ericdarius.com. For information on other great performances at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage — including The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars with John Lee and Special Guest Paquito D’Rivera on June 6 and jazz saxophonist Vincent Ingala on June 13 — please click on ucpac.org.
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