From small town Midwest beginnings to the big-time as an internationally known saxophonist, Grady Nichols enjoys an audience as broad as his musical taste. Hot off the success and critical acclaim of last CD, Sophistication, Grady’s goal was to record a CD that reflected his broad range of musical influences and tastes. To accomplish this, he tapped Zac Maloy to produce his newest endeavor, Take Me With You.

Ironically Grady’s rural upbringing in Siloam Springs, Arkansas contributed to his discovery of the hip sounds of the saxophone. He fell in love with the instrumental music played on The Weather Channel and wrote the network requesting their playlist. Grady began his musical pursuits in the sixth grade. By high school, he was performing professionally and studying under legendary saxophonist Joe Davis, who had performed with such greats as Sarah Vaughn and Mel Torme.

He recorded three independent projects before assembling a team that would put him on a national stage and enable him to enjoy success in the smooth jazz genre. Grady approached Grammy-nominated recording artist Jeff Lorber to produce and Grammy Award-winning producer Paul Brown to mix. Other artists contributing to Sophistication include Grammy Award-winning Chris Botti (trumpet on “End Of The Night”) and Paul Pesco (rhythm guitar with credits including Madonna, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez.) Again, it was another winning combination. Yielding three hit singles – “Allright,” “Tuesday Morning,” and “Sneak” – Sophistication also made a strong debut on internet stations and remained on the SmoothJazz.com charts for over 40 weeks. SmoothJazz.com named Sophistication #28 of top 50 Smooth Jazz Albums of 2004 and gave it a Smoothie Award as the #14 top selling Smooth Jazz Album of 2004. Café Jazz Radio named Sophistication the #8 Most Played Album of 2004 and Grady as the #3 Breakthrough Artist for the Year. The reviews were also great and well-known jazz critic and writer Jonathan Widran named Grady as “most likely to spearhead the next generation of great smooth artists.”

Grady was also a featured performer and an award presenter at the first Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards. His song “Alone With You” was included on the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards Collection CD and received rave reviews. Mark Ruffin, Jazz Editor, Chicago Magazine and Amazon.com said "Newcomer Grady Nichols may have the best instrumental track on the sampler.”

Following five successful CD releases, Nichols’ future is as bright and promising as his enthusiasm for the music. “Music is intimately connected to so many great moments in my life. And to my way of thinking, that’s the purpose of music – creating something that enhances memories and moments, binding them together. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to do that. That’s my goal – helping to create great moments and memories for people through music.”