Darius Jones (saxophonist)
Darius Jones (born May 3, 1978) is an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer.
Darius Jones | |
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Background information | |
Born | May 3, 1978 |
Origin | Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
Genres | Jazz, avant-garde jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instruments | Alto saxophone |
Years active | 2006–present |
Labels | AUM Fidelity |
Website | dariusjonesmusic |
Life and career
Darius was born in Virginia. He was raised in the Pentecostal faith; both his grandfathers were preachers in their own churches.[1] He learned to play saxophone in the sixth grade; he played in church by the time he was 13. After attending college for several years in Richmond, Virginia, Jones moved to Brooklyn in 2005. Through a neighbor, Jones met artist Randal Wilcox and they became roommates. A conversation started between musician and painter that led to Jones's Man'ish Boy series.[2][3]
In 2009 signed with AUM Fidelity, which released his debut album Man'ish Boy (A Raw and Beautiful Thing).[4] He recorded with Matthew Shipp, the quartet Grass Roots, and the collective Little Women, a noise jazz band that explores the extremes of sound by using extended techniques and acoustic manipulation.[5] Jones has worked in traditional jazz, electro-acoustic music, chamber ensembles, contemporary and avant-garde jazz groups, modern dance performances, and multi-media events.[6]
Discography
As leader/co-leader
Release year | Title | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Man'ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing) | AUM Fidelity | Trio, with Cooper-Moore (piano & diddley-bo), Rakalam Bob Moses (drums) |
2010 | Throat | AUM Fidelity | As the band Little Women; Quartet, with Travis Laplante (tenor sax), Andrew Smiley (guitar), Jason Nazary (drums) |
2011 | Cosmic Lieder | AUM Fidelity | Duo with Matthew Shipp (piano) |
2011 | Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) | AUM Fidelity | Trio, with Adam Lane (bass), Jason Nazary (drums) |
2012 | Book of Mæ'bul (Another Kind of Sunrise) | AUM Fidelity | Quartet, with Matt Mitchell (piano), Trevor Dunn (bass), Ches Smith (drums) |
2012 | Grass Roots | AUM Fidelity | As the band Grass Roots. Quartet, with Sean Conly (bass), Alex Harding (baritone sax), Chad Taylor (drums) |
2013 | Lung | AUM Fidelity | As the band Little Women; Quartet, with Travis Laplante (tenor sax), Andrew Smiley (guitar), Jason Nazary (drums) |
2014 | The Darkseid Recital | AUM Fidelity | Duo with Matthew Shipp (piano) |
2014 | The Oversoul Manual | AUM Fidelity | Composer; performed by The Elizabeth-Caroline Unit: Amirtha Kidambi, Sarah Martin, Jean Carla Rodea, Kristin Slipp (voice) |
2015 | Le bébé de Brigitte | AUM Fidelity | Quartet, with Matt Mitchell (piano), Sean Conly, Pascal Niggenkemper (bass), Ches Smith (drums), featuring Emilie Lesbros (voice, piano) |
As sideman
Release year | Leader | Title | Label |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Gerald Cleaver | Life in the Sugar Candle Mines | Northern Spy |
2010 | William Hooker | Earth's Orbit | NoBusiness |
2013 | Adam Lane | Absolute Horizon | NoBusiness |
2013 | Sabir Mateen | The Sabir Mateen Jubilee Ensemble | Not Two |
2013 | William Parker | Essence of Ellington | Centering |
2010 | Mike Pride | Betweenwhile | AUM Fidelity |
2014 | Eric Revis | In Memory of Things Yet Seen | Clean Feed |
2013 | Mara Rosenbloom | Songs from the Ground | Fresh Sound New Talent |
2012 | Federico Ughi | Songs for Four Cities | Skycap |
References
- New Hymns for the Saxophone Church at The Wall Street Journal
- Darius Jones: The Master of the Musical Allegory at JazzTimes
- An Epic Continues: Darius Jones at Jazz Speaks
- Darius Jones - For the Love of the Craf at RVA News
- Darius Jones on the Man'ish Boy Epic, Being Called "Punk-Jazz," and AUM Fidelity's 15TH Anniversary at The Village Voice
- Saxophonist Darius Jones explains why jazz is far from dead at rollingout