Episode 47: Candy Dulfer's Winding Dutch Road to Saxophone Mastery
Episode 47 Executive Summary
Candy Dulfer (born September 19, 1969) is a preeminent Dutch alto saxophonist who successfully bridged the divide between contemporary jazz and pop-funk. The daughter of renowned tenor saxophonist Hans Dulfer, she began her career in the Amsterdam jazz scene before achieving international fame with the 1989 hit "Lily Was Here," a collaboration with Dave Stewart. Her debut album, Saxuality (1990), sold over one million copies worldwide and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Unlike many of her contemporaries who adhered strictly to traditional jazz standards, Dulfer cultivated a signature "funky" sound, characterized by high-energy rhythmic improvisation and accessible melodic hooks.
Dulfer's career is distinguished by her high-profile collaborations, most notably with Prince. She contributed to his albums Graffiti Bridge, The Gold Experience, and 3121, and toured as a permanent member of his New Power Generation during the record-breaking Musicology Live 2004ever tour. Prince famously endorsed her talent with the line, "When I want sax, I call Candy." Beyond her session work with legends such as Van Morrison and Pink Floyd, she has remained a consistent solo artist and bandleader for over three decades, hosting the Dutch television series Candy Meets... and performing regularly at major European jazz festivals.
Keywords: Candy Dulfer, Saxuality, Funky Stuff, Prince, Dave Stewart, Lily Was Here, Hans Dulfer, Alto Saxophone, Pop-Jazz Fusion, New Power Generation, Dutch Jazz
Candy Dulfer (1969–Present)
├── Overview
│ ├── Roles: Alto Saxophonist, Bandleader, Vocalist
│ ├── Born: September 19, 1969 (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
│ ├── Instrument: Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone
│ ├── Style: Funk-oriented smooth jazz, pop crossover, and R&B
│ └── Band: Founder and leader of "Funky Stuff" since age 14
│
├── Key Interactions & Relationships
│ ├── Prince:
│ │ ├── The Session Work: Featured on major albums including 'Graffiti Bridge' and '3121'
│ │ ├── The Tour: A core member of the band for the massive 'Musicology' tour (2004)
│ │ └── The Quote: Immortalized in the "Partyman" video: "When I want sax, I call Candy"
│ ├── Hans Dulfer:
│ │ ├── The Lineage: Her father and mentor; a pivotal figure in the European free jazz scene
│ │ └── The Duo: They frequently perform together, notably on the album 'Dulfer & Dulfer'
│ ├── Dave Stewart (Eurythmics):
│ │ ├── The Breakthrough: Collaborated on the soundtrack for 'De Kassière' (Lily Was Here)
│ │ └── The Hit: The title track reached #1 in the Netherlands and #6 in the UK
│ └── Van Morrison:
│ └── Live Performance: Featured prominently on the live album 'A Night in San Francisco'
│
├── Career Milestones
│ ├── Early Recognition (1987): Her band Funky Stuff supported Madonna on the European leg of the 'Who's That Girl' Tour
│ ├── Solo Debut (1990): Released 'Saxuality', which reached #22 on the US Billboard 200
│ ├── Television Host (2007): Created and hosted 'Candy Meets...', interviewing peers like Maceo Parker and Sheila E.
│ └── Literary Work (2017): Published her autobiography, 'Sax, Candy & Rock-'n-Roll'
│
├── Selected Discography
│ ├── Studio Albums:
│ │ ├── Saxuality (1990) - Gold certification in multiple countries
│ │ ├── Sax-a-Go-Go (1993) - Included the radio hit "Pick Up the Pieces"
│ │ ├── Candy Store (2007) - A return to her funk roots
│ │ └── Together (2017) - Inspired by jazz history and personal memoir
│ └── Live Albums:
│ └── Live in Amsterdam (2001) - Recorded at the Paradiso
│
└── References & Media
├── Biographical Record: Detailed career history and discography on Wikipedia
│ └── https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_Dulfer
│
└── Live Performance: Candy Dulfer performing Roy Hargrove's "Strasbourg / St. Denis" (Live at Leverkusener Jazztage)
└── https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNx4EbTu10w&list=RDGNx4EbTu10w&start_radio=1