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Vanessa Collier, soulful blues saxophonist-vocalist and 2026 Blues Music Awards Triple Nominee, continues her year-long 2026 “Keep It Saxy” Tour with a local performance at Unit B, 821 W. San Mateo Rd., Friday, March 13. Show: 7pm. Tickets: $44. (General Admission). Info: unitbsantafe.com.
Collier’s respect as a emerging star on the international music stage continues to rise; she’s the recipient of three 2026 Blues Music Awards Nominations: “B.B. King Entertainer of the Year;” “Band of the Year;” and “Contemporary Blues Female Artist.” Collier has in the past been nominated a total of fifteen times for a BMA award, winning five times. The 47th Annual BMA’s take place in May 7 in Memphis, TN.
Collier’s sixth and most recent album Do It My Own Way was released September 2024 on her own Phenix Fire Records. Recorded on analog gear with the musicians largely in one room, Do It My Own Way is sonically inspired by the classic Memphis soul sound of Stax and Hi Records, especially that of the Staples Singers. Do It My Own Way takes listeners back to the heyday of music with Memphis soul-influenced horn arrangements, layers of vocals for color, with poignant and powerful saxophone solos that deliver a quietly powerful undercurrent to each song and the album as a whole. Minor key Americana/noir “Take Me Back” served as the first single. The album kicks off with the funk workout “Elbow Grease.” On an album full of incredible grooves, “Shoulda Known Better” stands out while “Just One More” sways to a rhumba beat.
Vanessa Collier “Keep It Saxy” 2026 Tour Itinerary (March-May)
March 13 (Fri) – Santa Fe NM@Unit B
March 14 (Sat) – Albuquerque NM@Fusion
March 17 (Tue) – Phoenix AZ@MIM
March 18 (Wed) – Tucson AZ@La Rosa
March 19 (Thu) – San Juan Capistrano CA@The Coach House
March 20 (Fri) – Escondido CA@The Centre
March 21 (Sat) – Bakersfield CA@World Records
March 25 (Wed) – Oakland CA@Yoshi’s
March 27 (Fri) – Carson City NV@Nashville Social Club
March 28 (Sat) – Sutter Creek CA@Sutter Creek Theatre
March 29 (Sun) – Felton CA@Felton Music Hall
April 1 (Wed) – Sisters OR@Belfry
April 2 (Thu) – Portland OR@Alberta Rose Theatre
April 3 (Fri) – Seattle WA@Triple Door
April 4 (Sat) – Lake County BC@Creekside Theatre
April 6 (Mon) – Salt Lake City UT@State Room
April 8 (Wed) – Lincoln NB@Zoo Bar
April 9 (Thu) – Kansas City MO@Knuckleheads
April 10 (Fri) – Omaha NB@Holland Center
April 23 (Thu) – Statesville NC@Iridell Arts Council
April 25 (Sat) – Durham NC@Blue Note Grille
April 30 (Sat) – Maynard MA@Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center
May 1 (Fri) – Portsmouth NH@Jimmy’s
May 2 (Sat) – Westport CT@Trezf Forum
May 3 (Sun) – Portland ME@One Longfellow Square
May 7 (Thu) – Tuckerton NJ@Lizzie Rose Music Room
May 8/9 (Fri/Sat) – Columbia MD@Encore
