Valley Sol Series featuring TONY EXUM, JR

National recording artist Thomas “Tony” Exum Jr. is a contemporary jazz, R&B and funk saxophonist, songwriter and performer with a sultry and soulful sound.  As a live performer, Exum’s smile and sense of humor effortlessly connects him with his audience. He exudes the unique chemistry of passionately seductive soul, flirtatious solos reminiscent of old school R&B, all while bringing his captive audience to their feet as he teases them with (instrumental) battles with fellow band members. Exum commands the stage as if he owns it, while remaining humble, and always willing to share the stage with other industry greats.

In 2008, Tony took a leap of faith, began his solo career, traveled extensively with local backing bands he performed with and managed, and became a fixture in Denver’s famed jazz venue, Jazz@ Jacks where he continues to perform regularly. In 2010, he released his first album, “Finally.” Tony marks this release as one that catapulted him into the National scene. The next few years, the year 2011 specifically, not only grounded Tony, but molded and shaped his professional career. He began performing nationally at jazz venues like Blues Alley, Washington DC, Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Festival, JW Marriott Jazz Festival, Phoenix AZ, Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA, and many others. This led to the coveted award voted by over 10,000 listeners, the 2011 International Breakout Star Award by the Los Angeles based coffeetalkjazzradio.com.

Tony's first critically acclaimed album is titled "Finally", and in 2012, Tony released his sophomore album, “The One.” He co-wrote 11 of the 14 tracks, and it was this release that further developed him as a musician and writer. He describes these rhythmic tunes as a classy mix of “urban contemporary jazz funk meets R&B. As Ronald Jackson, of thesmoothejazzride.com, says: “Tony Exum’s sophomore effort called “The One,” contains much of the vibe and groove that brought his fans to his side in the first place: A combination of danceable jams, sensuously slow and appealing R&B’ish seductions, and an even punchier delivery on other tracks, if you can imagine that!” After this release, Tony began sharing stages with the Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Gail Johnson, Aysha, Troop, Gerald Albright, Dave Hollister, Norman Connors, Paul Taylor, Pamela Williams, Dave Koz, KeKe Wyatt, Sunshine Anderson, Kelly Price, actor-singer Leon, the Temptations and Four Tops, Najee, Norman Connors, smooth jazz peers Julian Vaughn, Adam Hawley and Nick Collionne.

More recently, in 2019, he was back in the studio working on his third project “Rhythm and Smooth Vol 1.” featuring production from BIllboard charting guitarist David P. Stevens, Joel Del Rosario and features Tim Bowman, Teri Tobin, David P Stevens, Manny aka Lingerie (formerly of Pretty Ricky).