Photo by Jeff Fasano “There’s a young lady [Vanessa Collier] came onstage with me, I forget where  I was, but she’s playing an alto saxophone, and man, she was amazing.”                                                 – Buddy Guy

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: Some Additional Background

Vanessa Collier is a multi-award-winning songwriter, master musician, and multi-instrumentalist, known for seamlessly weaving together funk, soul, rock, and blues styles through soulful vocals, searing saxophone solos, and witty songwriting skills. With her career still in its infancy, Vanessa has already turned many heads, garnering tremendous accolades for her trademark high energy, powerful, fiery, and passionate live shows.

Collier started playing saxophone in the fourth grade and was in every school, all-county, and all-state band possible, while also playing AAU basketball, lettering all four years on her varsity basketball team, and graduating high school with honors. After high school, Vanessa earned a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where she graduated with dual degrees in Performance and Music Production &; Engineering. Since graduating from Berklee, Vanessa has toured extensively, both nationally and internationally.

Vanessa says she’s happy performing on stages across the world, hoping that she can make a difference with fans and followers along the way. “I am driven to do this because I find it a total form of expression and connection,” she explains. “I love connecting with an audience and feeling their energy and I hope to inspire people to follow their dreams and passions, to find what brings them joy, and then to pursue it doggedly.”

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

Source: dougdeutschPR