Early Times has never been the kind of artist who stays in one lane for long. Before the new record, there were the miles: touring across the U.S., then a week of performances in Athens, Greece, alongside soul and blues vocalist E.C. Scott. Times’ guitar work became a defining presence on Scott’s Hard Act to Follow, and Masterpiece albums—praised in the San Francisco Chronicle for its heat and precision: “Featured throughout is the scorching guitar work of a Sacramento musician by the name of Early Times.”
Then, in 2001, his performing career took an unexpected detour—one that still speaks to his instincts as a builder and a storyteller. Times was tapped to help launch Sirius Satellite Radio, hosting a daily show on Sirius Blues from the channel’s opening until its closing. Over more than seven years, he witnessed (and helped shape) a broadcasting shift that took the company from zero subscribers to over 17 million. And when SiriusXM later revived its blues offering as B.B. King’s Bluesville, Times returned to the mic—where he currently hosts a daily program, continuing his role as both curator and conduit for the music.
Now, he’s back in the studio spotlight with Border Crossings, a straight-ahead jazz album infused with soul and Latin rhythm—an instrumental project that feels less like a genre exercise and more like a conversation between worlds. For the recording, Times assembled a line-up that reads like a modern all-star roll call.
On drums is Steve Gadd—GRAMMY winner, Modern Drummer Hall of Fame inductee, and recipient of two honorary Doctor of Music degrees—bringing that unmistakable touch that has anchored countless legendary sessions. At the piano is Zaccai Curtis, who won the 2025 GRAMMY Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for Cubop Lives, joined by bassist Luques Curtis, whose credits include work with Eddie Palmieri, Gary Burton, and Orrin Evans. Completing the core ensemble is Craig Handy on saxophone and flute, a musician whose performance history includes Herbie Hancock and recordings with artists such as George Cables, The Cookers, Steve Miller Band, and John Scofield.
Behind the glass, the team is just as formidable. The album was engineered by three-time GRAMMY winner Chris Sulit, with Jay Messina serving as co-engineer and co-producer alongside Times. Messina’s résumé spans eras and icons—engineering and mixing projects for everyone from Miles Davis to Aerosmith to Eddie Palmieri—making him an ideal partner for a record that aims for both clarity and character.
Border Crossings doesn’t just showcase virtuosity—it frames it with intention. It’s a record built for listeners who love the craft of jazz, but also crave the pulse of soul and the lift of Latin rhythm. In other words, it’s music that moves.
Early Times’ new instrumental album Border Crossings is out June 26, 2026.
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Image provided, courtesy of Two For the Show Media
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