Top 10 Candy Dulfer Songs

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Candy Dulfer’s journey into music began in the vibrant city of Amsterdam, Netherlands, where she was born into a household filled with jazz. The daughter of renowned Dutch saxophonist Hans Dulfer, she was introduced to music at an early age and quickly gravitated toward the saxophone. By age six, Candy was already experimenting with drums, but it was the alto saxophone she would ultimately embrace, picking up the instrument at age seven and joining her father on stage by the time she was eleven.

Her professional career gained momentum in her teens when she founded her own band, Funky Stuff, at just fourteen. With this group, she began performing live and developed a reputation for her energetic stage presence and command of funk, jazz, and pop styles. Her skills drew the attention of international stars, and by the late 1980s and early 1990s, she was sharing stages with musicians like Pink Floyd and Prince. Her pivotal collaboration with Prince, which began when she was invited to join him on stage in 1988, helped introduce her to a worldwide audience.

In 1990, Dulfer released her debut album, Saxuality, which became an international sensation. The album was certified gold in the United States and reached number 22 on the Billboard 200. The single “Lily Was Here,” a collaboration with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, became a major hit across Europe and even charted in the United States. Saxuality earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, establishing Candy Dulfer as a leading figure in contemporary jazz and pop saxophone.

Following her breakout, Dulfer continued to expand her discography with a steady stream of albums, each marked by her distinctive blend of smooth jazz, funk, and R&B. Over her career, she has released more than a dozen studio albums, including Sax-a-Go-Go (1993), Big Girl (1995), For the Love of You (1997), and Together (2017). Her versatility as a performer is evident in her collaborations with a diverse range of artists, including Van Morrison, Maceo Parker, Tower of Power, and Lionel Richie.

Her live performances have been a hallmark of her appeal. Dulfer’s tours span Europe, North America, and Asia, and her shows are known for their high energy and connection with audiences. She has also been featured on major television programs and music festivals, enhancing her reputation as an electrifying live act. Her performances with Prince, including the famed Musicology Live 2004ever tour, are still talked about among fans for their musicianship and chemistry.

Dulfer’s artistry goes beyond her solo recordings. She has been a sought-after session and touring musician, contributing to projects with such luminaries as Aretha Franklin and Sheila E. Her ability to cross genres and blend into different musical environments has made her a favorite collaborator for pop, jazz, funk, and soul musicians alike.

Awards and recognition have followed her throughout her career. In addition to her Grammy nomination, she has received numerous honors in her home country, including Edison Awards and Dutch music accolades. Her albums frequently chart in the Netherlands and in international jazz circles, reflecting both her commercial and critical appeal.

Outside the recording studio and stage, Dulfer has engaged in media and public life, hosting the Dutch television series Candy Meets…, in which she interviewed and performed with global music stars. She has also been an advocate for music education, encouraging young people to explore jazz and instrumental music, and often leads workshops and clinics around the world.

Her love for music and her roots remain central to her identity. Candy often performs with her father Hans, maintaining a family tradition of jazz excellence. Despite her international fame, she remains committed to the Dutch music scene, contributing to the growth and vitality of jazz and pop in the Netherlands.

As her career has progressed, Dulfer has embraced both tradition and innovation. She continues to release new music, experiment with digital and electronic influences, and perform in a variety of formats. Her most recent studio album, We Never Stop (2022), demonstrates her ongoing commitment to pushing boundaries in contemporary jazz and funk.

I saw her perform with both Prince and Van Morrison and was completely blown away by her playing and stage presence. Prince always knew how to pick great musicians to perform with.

10 – Smooth

“Smooth” by Candy Dulfer stands out as a dynamic instrumental from her 1997 album For the Love of You. Written by Thomas Bank and Candy Dulfer, the track places Dulfer’s alto saxophone at the center of the polished funk and R&B direction that shaped the album. The record continued the funk, R&B, and dance path Dulfer had explored on Big Girl, while keeping her saxophone playing at the center of the arrangements.

“Smooth” exemplifies Dulfer’s blend of jazz, funk, and soul, propelled by tight rhythm work and her expressive saxophone lines. The performance has the polished production and dance-oriented feel that marked this phase of her career without sacrificing the directness of her saxophone sound. Although the song did not chart independently as a single, For the Love of You reached the top five on Billboard’s U.S. jazz charts, further cementing Dulfer’s reputation as one of Europe’s premier jazz musicians.

9 – Donja

Recorded in 1990 at Zeezicht Studios just outside Amsterdam, “Donja” captures Candy Dulfer at the dawn of her solo career, anchoring her debut album Saxuality with a sleek, muscular groove. Dulfer plays saxophone, Michel van Schie plays bass, and Ulco Bed composed the track and co-produced it with Dulfer, with Frans Hendriks handling recording and mixing. “Donja” doesn’t coast on flash; it’s a precision-tuned jam, balancing jazz sophistication with dancefloor-ready funk. Critics at the time praised Dulfer’s command of tone and phrasing, while Saxuality itself broke through internationally.

8 – On & On

“On & On,” featured on Candy Dulfer’s 2009 double album Funked Up & Chilled Out, showcases Dulfer’s energetic blend of contemporary jazz and funk. The track was written by Dulfer and Thomas Bank, with Bank producing and playing keyboards, Ulco Bed on guitar, Chance Howard on electric bass, Kirk Anthony Johnson on drums, and Dulfer leading on alto saxophone. The album was released on May 12, 2009, and expanded the hard-driving funk of the original release with a second disc of more relaxed material.

7 – For the Love of You

“For the Love of You,” the title track from Candy Dulfer’s October 1997 album, was recorded at Redbank Studios and co-produced by Dulfer and longtime collaborator Thomas Bank, with arrangements by Ulco Bed. This sultry instrumental cover of the Isley Brothers’ classic showcases Dulfer’s emotive alto sax weaving a tender, romantic melody over Bank’s warm keyboards, Bed’s rhythmic guitar, and Michel van Schie’s steady bass pulse. The performance strikes a delicate balance between heartfelt expression and polished musicianship, uttering unspoken emotions without a word. The album peaked at number 18 in the Netherlands and reached the top five on the U.S. jazz charts, driven in large part by this standout rendition.

6 – Lily Was Here

In collaboration with Dave Stewart, “Lily Was Here” catapulted Dulfer into international stardom. You have to give it to Stewart, as you can see in this video, he is always surrounding himself with beautiful women. The song was released in 1989 as part of the soundtrack for the Dutch movie “De Kassière.” Its haunting melody and Dulfer’s sultry saxophone make it an unforgettable classic.

5 – What Does It Take

“What Does It Take (To Win Your Love),” the title track of Candy Dulfer’s 1999 album What Does It Take?, was recorded at Redbank Studios and Studio 150 in Amsterdam, with additional work at Zeezicht Studios in Spaarnwoude. Co-produced by Dulfer and Thomas Bank, the album also includes production contributions from Dave Stewart. Jonathan Butler is the featured artist on “What Does It Take,” while the album’s broader personnel includes Fred Wesley, Arturo Sandoval, Pee Wee Ellis, Ulco Bed, and other notable musicians. Dulfer’s interpretation of the classic Motown soul hit infuses it with a contemporary jazz-funk groove that feels both faithful and forward-thinking. The album, released August 10, 1999 by N-Coded Music, peaked at number 79 in Japan, number 20 on the U.S. Jazz Albums chart, and number 14 on the U.S. Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

4 – Saxuality

“Saxuality,” the title track from Candy Dulfer’s 1990 debut album, quickly became a defining statement for the Dutch saxophonist and remains one of the most important songs in her catalog. Recorded at Zeezicht Studios in Spaarnwoude, Netherlands, the track was produced by Dulfer herself alongside longtime collaborator Ulco Bed. The album personnel included Candy Dulfer on saxophone and keyboards, Ulco Bed on guitar and keyboards, Michel van Schie and Dimitri Veltkamp on bass, Edwin Rath on drums, and Frans Hendriks on engineering, mixing, percussion, and programming.

“Saxuality” stands out for its crisp production and infectious jazz-funk groove, driven by Dulfer’s charismatic sax lines and an unmistakable dancefloor sensibility. The album climbed to number four on Billboard’s U.S. Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, reached number 22 on the Billboard 200, and was certified gold in the United States. Its success led to a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards. “Saxuality” remains a live staple and is widely recognized as a track that helped launch Candy Dulfer’s global career.

3 – Pick Up the Pieces

Candy Dulfer’s take on “Pick Up the Pieces,” featured on her 1993 album Sax-a-Go-Go, reinvents the iconic 1974 Average White Band instrumental through her own brand of jazz-funk bravado. The original, written by AWB’s Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan, Robbie McIntosh, and Onnie McIntyre, became a worldwide hit, reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and becoming one of the most recognizable funk instrumentals of its era. When Dulfer brought the song into the studio at Zeezicht Studios in Spaarnwoude, Netherlands, she worked within the tight band and production framework that shaped Sax-a-Go-Go, with Ulco Bed serving as producer.

A sharply syncopated rhythm section propels Dulfer’s rendition and showcases her explosive alto sax lines front and center, capturing the essence of the original while injecting it with her signature punch and contemporary energy. Critics noted her technical agility and improvisational spirit, crediting this cover with bridging the gap between classic funk and modern jazz audiences. Sax-a-Go-Go spent months on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, peaking in the top ten and solidifying Dulfer’s reputation as a leading force in international jazz-funk. Her version of “Pick Up the Pieces” became a live favorite, with extended solos and dynamic interplay that consistently brought crowds to their feet, both on tour and in televised performances.

2 – My Funk

“My Funk,” from Candy Dulfer’s 2009 album Funked Up & Chilled Out, is a bold, unapologetic declaration of groove, capturing the kinetic energy that has long been her trademark. The track features Pete Philly and was written by Candy Dulfer, Thomas Bank, and Pieter Monzon. Bank produced the recording and contributed keyboards and programming, while Ulco Bed played guitar and Jan Van Duikeren added trumpet, with Dulfer leading on alto saxophone. The track showcases Dulfer’s alto sax slicing through an infectious foundation of syncopated bass, guitar, keyboards, and dense funk-driven beats.

What sets “My Funk” apart isn’t just its irresistible groove; it’s the collision of old-school funk attitude and 21st-century production. Dulfer pays homage to classic funk with nods to the likes of James Brown and Maceo Parker, but she does it on her own terms, weaving in crisp electronic textures and call-and-response horn arrangements. That combination fits the larger concept of Funked Up & Chilled Out, whose first half emphasizes the revved-up funk and R&B associated with Dulfer’s live shows while the second half explores a quieter side of her music.

Critics praised the album for pushing Dulfer’s mix of smooth jazz and contemporary funk while keeping the music energetic and direct. “My Funk” became a natural centerpiece of her high-energy live shows, complete with extended solos and crowd interaction that demonstrated Dulfer’s star power extended well beyond the studio.

1 – Funkyness

“Funkyness,” the electrifying highlight from Candy Dulfer’s 1995 album Big Girl, stands as a manifesto of her ability to blur the boundaries between jazz, funk, and contemporary R&B. Written by Thomas Bank, the track arrived during a period when Dulfer was pushing further into funk, R&B, dance, and hip-hop-influenced textures. The album marked a transition in her production approach while retaining the strong rhythmic identity that had already become central to her music.

“Funkyness” opens with a propulsive, syncopated groove and quickly launches into a tight, horn-driven melody that’s unmistakably Dulfer. Her saxophone lines dart and soar over the layered rhythms, creating a conversation between jazz tradition and contemporary funk. The combination of punchy rhythmic textures and Dulfer’s direct saxophone attack gives the track the kind of polished but forceful sound that became one of her signatures.

The track is more than just a showcase for technical chops; it’s a vibrant, unapologetic party anthem that never loses its jazz backbone. Big Girl helped establish the funkier direction that would continue through Dulfer’s later recordings, and “Funkyness” remains one of the clearest examples of that musical identity. It has also remained a live favorite, celebrated for the way its groove and saxophone lines can ignite a room. Its placement among the strongest tracks in her catalog reflects how effectively Dulfer could make jazz, funk, and contemporary R&B work together without losing her own musical personality.