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 mid-1980s, she was already 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 the Top 40 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 was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, 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 more recent work, such as the 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 1993 album Sax-a-Go-Go, which was recorded in 1993 at Zeezicht Studios in Spaarnwoude, Netherlands, and produced by Ulco Bed. The album features Dulfer on alto saxophone, Ulco Bed on guitars and keyboards, Michel van Schie on bass, and Frans Hendriks on drums, with additional contributions from Thomas Bank on keyboards and percussion. “Smooth” exemplifies Dulfer’s blend of jazz, funk, and soul, propelled by tight rhythm work and her expressive saxophone lines. Although the song did not chart independently as a single, Sax-a-Go-Go achieved international success, reaching the Top Ten on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and further cementing Dulfer’s reputation as one of Europe’s premier jazz musicians.

9 – Donja

Recorded in the spring of 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. The session lineup—Candy on alto sax, Ulco Bed on guitar and keyboards, Michel van Schie on bass, Frans Hendriks on drums, and Thomas Bank adding extra keys—created a live-wire interplay that Dulfer and Bed meticulously shaped as producers. “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, co-produced by Candy Dulfer, Thomas Bank, and Ulco Bed, brings together a lineup that includes Thomas Bank on keyboards, Ulco Bed on guitar and bass, and Michel van Schie on bass, with Dulfer leading on alto saxophone. The album was released on April 3, 2009, and reached number eleven on the U.S. Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

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. Contemporary 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 in spring 1999 at Redbank Studios and Studio 150 in Amsterdam, with additional overdubs at Zeezicht Studios in Spaarnwoude. Co-produced by Dulfer alongside Thomas Bank and Dave Stewart, the song features a tight-knit ensemble: Dulfer on alto sax, Bank on keyboards, Ulco Bed on guitar, Michel van Schie on bass, and Frans Hendriks on drums, with guest appearances from Fred Wesley, Jonathan Butler, Arturo Sandoval, and Pee Wee Ellis enhancing the track’s rich, cross-genre palette. 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, charted globally—including peaking at number 79 in Japan and number 20 on the US Jazz Albums chart—earning praise for its fusion of smooth jazz polish and rhythmic depth.

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, during the early months of 1990, the track was produced by Dulfer herself alongside longtime collaborator Ulco Bed. The lineup featured Candy Dulfer on alto saxophone, Ulco Bed on guitar and keyboards, Michel van Schie on bass, and Frans Hendriks on drums, with additional keyboard work by Thomas Bank.

“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 song helped propel the album to international success, as Saxuality climbed to the top ten of the U.S. Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and was certified gold in the United States. The single and album’s popularity led to a 1991 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, with critics praising Dulfer’s technical prowess, improvisational flair, and her ability to make jazz accessible to pop and R&B audiences. “Saxuality” remains a live staple and is widely recognized as the track that launched 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 assembled her tightest working band yet: Ulco Bed on guitar and keyboards, Michel van Schie on bass, Frans Hendriks on drums, and Thomas Bank on additional keys, with the album produced by Ulco Bed and Candy herself.

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 2003 album Right in My Soul, is a bold, unapologetic declaration of groove, capturing the kinetic energy that has long been her trademark. Recorded at both Studio Arnold Mühren in Volendam and RedBank Studios in the Netherlands, the album was produced by Thomas Bank, Candy Dulfer, and co-writer Ulco Bed—each of whom played key roles in shaping the song’s punchy, layered sound. The track showcases Dulfer’s alto sax slicing through an infectious foundation of syncopated bass, slinky guitar licks, and dense, hip-hop-influenced beats, all anchored by Bank’s keyboard work and Michel van Schie’s muscular bass lines.

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 samples, crisp electronic textures, and call-and-response horn arrangements. Critics praised the track and the album for pushing the boundaries of smooth jazz and contemporary funk, lauding Dulfer’s ability to keep things fresh and relevant. Right in My Soul became a fan favorite in Europe and Japan, with “My Funk” often serving as the centerpiece of her high-octane live shows, complete with extended solos and crowd interaction that proved Dulfer’s star power extended well beyond the studio.

1 – Funkyness

“Funkyness,” the electrifying highlight from Candy Dulfer’s 2011 album Crazy, stands as a manifesto of her ability to blur the boundaries between jazz, funk, and contemporary R&B. Recorded at Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles and Amsterdam, the track was produced by Printz Board—best known for his work with the Black Eyed Peas—and Candy Dulfer herself. The session lineup features Printz Board not only on production but also handling keyboards, bass, and vocals, with Dulfer front and center on alto sax. Supporting musicians include Ulco Bed on guitar and synth, Kirk Johnson on drums, and contributions from international session players, all coming together to craft a slick, powerhouse arrangement.

“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 Board’s layered, hip-hop-infused rhythms, creating a conversation between tradition and innovation. The track’s mix of analog warmth and digital precision is a testament to both the producer’s modern touch and Dulfer’s lifelong immersion in classic funk and soul. Critics noted that “Funkyness” is more than just a showcase for technical chops—it’s a vibrant, unapologetic party anthem that never loses its jazz backbone.

The album Crazy reached the top ten of the Dutch album charts and found an enthusiastic audience in both Europe and Japan, further cementing Dulfer’s legacy as a trailblazer in contemporary jazz-funk. “Funkyness” remains a staple of her live performances, celebrated for its ability to ignite a room and serve as a reminder of just how broad Dulfer’s musical reach has become. In interviews, Dulfer has cited the collaboration with Printz Board as a reinvigorating creative experience, and “Funkyness” perfectly captures that spirit—an infectious, kinetic track that stands as a modern classic in her catalog.