October 31, 2025
Saxophonist Dave McMurray has released his new single “The Jungaleers,” taken from his upcoming Blue Note release I LOVE LIFE even when I’m hurting out Nov. 14. The album is an affirmation of his indomitable spirit and a celebration of the love that he has for his hometown of Detroit, as well as for the many musicians with which he’s collaborated. “The Jungaleers” shuffles to an Afrobeat groove concocted by drummer Jeff Canady and percussionist Mahindi Masai. The additional propulsion is provided by none other than bassist and producer Don Was, a longtime collaborator of McMurray and Blue Note Records president.
“The Jungaleers” song title refers to the mascot of Detroit’s Southeastern High School, where McMurray attended, even though he says that he had images of “four big African dudes marching” in his head when he wrote the tune. McMurray will celebrate the album unveiling with a record release show at Third Man Records in Detroit on November 14.
McMurray conceived of the album title I LOVE LIFE even when I’m hurting after having a deep discussion about the death of a friend who had been worn down by illness, eventually giving up and dying alone. McMurray’s response to that painful revelation was one of resilience: “Man, I love life even when I’m hurting.”
Afterward McMurray wrote down that statement because it meant so much to him. “That ended up being the album title, because I kind of wrote songs around that,” he explained, “songs about positivity.”
McMurray wrote six of the nine compositions, all of which burst with soulful melodicism, emotional immediacy, and irresistible grooves. Co-produced by McMurray and his longtime collaborator Don Was, the album was recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan, with a deeply talented cast of Detroit musicians including 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.
Released earlier this month, the album’s lead single “We Got By,” is a soulful cover of the Al Jarreau classic featuring vocals by Kem. McMurray says that his rendering of the soul-jazz ballad “We Got By” is 30 years in the making. He and Kem, who’s also spent considerable artistic developmental time in Detroit, have a long history as well as a shared affinity for Jarreau, whose alchemic blend of jazz and R&B is perfectly captured in Kem’s supple vocals.
“Making this album was such a cool project,” McMurray concludes, “because everyone on it is someone I love.”
