Dutch smooth jazz saxophonist Candy Dulfer celebrates her 38th birthday today (September 19th). This week she is also celebrating the U.S. release of her new CD Candy Store, her first for the Heads Up International label.

Dulfer was first inspired to pick up the saxophone by her father Hans Dulfer, a well-known jazz saxophonist in Europe. As a teen, Dulfer would often jump onstage to perform with him in clubs in her native Amsterdam. As Candy explains, her dad is so dedicated to his music that he'll even go off by himself and play in another room during family gatherings: "I don't have to play every day or something but my father is somebody who has to play every day. So he would be -- while we would be eating, we'll have to call him in like, 'Dad!' And he'd be in the back room playing (sings lick) his licks or his studying."

The Dutch beauty has become a popular sidewoman not only because of her stellar saxophone skills but because of her work ethic as well. But she says that being more adventurous would probably benefit her own musical journey. Said Dulfer: "I'm a person who doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't do drugs. I'm a very, you know, good girl. And I was always very proud of that, until one moment I thought, well, I can be proud of that for a long time but actually I didn't achieve anything with it. And sometimes it even puts up a barrier for you to do crazy things, and for music you have to do crazy things."

Dulfer's most recent releases include 2005's Right In My Soul, which featured the smooth jazz hit "Finsbury Park, Cafe 67" from her last studio album, 2003's Right In My Soul. She released the concert CD/DVD Live At Montreux, 2002 in 2005.

Dulfer is slated to perform at the upcoming Catalina Island JazzTrax festival in Avalon, California on October 6th.


More Smooth Jazz Music News