Saxophonist Dave McMurray has released his latest single, “The Jungaleers,” from his upcoming Blue Note Records release

Saxophonist Dave McMurray has released his latest single, “The Jungaleers,” from his upcoming Blue Note Records release, I LOVE LIFE (even when I’m hurting). The album serves as both a testament to McMurray’s unbreakable spirit and a heartfelt tribute to his hometown of Detroit and the many musicians who’ve shaped his journey.

Anchored by an Afrobeat-inspired shuffle, “The Jungaleers” features drummer Jeff Canady and percussionist Mahindi Masai, with added drive from bassist and producer Don Was—McMurray’s longtime collaborator and the president of Blue Note Records. The track’s title nods to the mascot of Detroit’s Southeastern High School, McMurray’s alma mater, though the saxophonist admits the song’s rhythm first came to him as a vision of “four big African dudes marching.” Fans can celebrate the album’s release with McMurray at Third Man Records in Detroit on November 14.

The title I LOVE LIFE (even when I’m hurting) was born from a poignant conversation about a close friend who had passed away after a long illness. In reflecting on that loss, McMurray found strength in resilience: “Man, I love life even when I’m hurting.” That phrase became the album’s guiding light. “It ended up being the title because I wrote songs around that idea,” he says. “Songs about positivity.”

Of the album’s nine tracks, six are original McMurray compositions, each infused with soulful melodies, heartfelt emotion, and infectious grooves. Co-produced by McMurray and Don Was, the project was recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan, and features a powerhouse Detroit ensemble: bassists Was and Ibrahim Jones, keyboardists Luis Resto and Maurice O’Neal, guitarist Wayne Gerard, drummer Jeff Canady, percussionist Mahindi Masai, and vocalist Herschel Boone.
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“Making this album was such a cool project,” McMurray reflects. “Everyone on it is someone I love.”
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