"Conscious of diverse textures and a range of sound, Morones shows himself to be in every way a top-grade bandleader and a capable songwriter."-allaboutjazz.com 

Grammy Nominated sax player/author ERIC J MORONES does it all! Playing lead alto for The Brian Setzer Orchestra, two solo jazz releases, two albums showing his singing as SHY, studio session, educator, even best selling books author: ERIC does it all! 

Hailing from Racine, WI., Eric started playing the saxophone in eighth grade inspired by the R&B sounds of David Sanborn, Gerald Albright, Najee, Eric Marienthal, and Nelson Rangell. He would soon discover jazz "greats" Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, and Wayne Shorter!

ERIC attended the University of North Texas (UNT) in 1992, transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW). At UWW, he was a member of the  "Jazz Symposium" under director Steve Wiest. Performances included the 1996 Montreux Jazz and North Sea Jazz Festivals. 

With a degree in Communications, ERIC returned to UNT for graduate studies, where he directed a lab band, taught a saxophone fundamentals class, and recorded with the Two O'clock Lab Band "A Tribute To Benny Carter" album (Klavier Records) directed by Jim Riggs.

In March of '99, ERIC moved to Los Angeles where he quickly became an in-demand saxophone player, starting as lead alto saxophone for The Brian Setzer Orchestra for 18 years! Performances include Dancing With The Stars, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brian, The Today Show, Christmas at Rockefeller Center, Fox Sunday Sports, and Woodstock '99, and albums "Rockin Rudolph", “Songs From Lonely Avenue", "Don't Mess With The Big Band", "Christmas Extravaganza" and "It's Gonna Rock Cause That's What I Do".

Other performing credits include: Kelly Clarkson, Drake Bell, Aaron Carter, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, Bobby Caldwell, Steve Tyrell, Maureen McGovern,Paul McDonlad Big Band,  Jack Sheldon, Bill Holman, Bob Florence, Colin Hay (Men at Work), Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa), Will Kennedy (The Yellowjackets), and numerous LA bands! 

ERIC's solos were featured on Big Fish Audio's DVD sound loop library releases  “Suite Grooves 1 and 2" produced by Jeff Carruthers. 

As a prolific writer and educator, he's written SEVEN music books: "25 Great Clarinet Solos", "25 Great Flute Solos", "101 Saxophone Tips", “25 Great Sax Solos", “The Best of Paul Desmond", and "25 Great Trumpets Solos", and "Saxophone Workout" (Hal Leonard Publishing). He also wrote a bi-monthly column for the Saxophone Journal, "From The Front Lines", also producing two Masterclass CDs: "How To Play Pop/ R&B/Smooth Jazz" (Sept/Oct. 2002) and "How To Play The Blues" (Sept/Oct 2006).   

As a solo jazz artist, ERIC has released two jazz albums: "ROUND TWO!"  (March '22) and “ABOUT TIME!" (Arabesque Records).  

ERIC also sings and perfoems as SHY, releasing two albums: "SHY EP" and "Throwback!". (see BUY MUSIC)
 

ERIC is available for lessons, Masterclasses, clinics, Music Productions and Songwriting, singing, horn arrangements, and coffee!