Darius Jones (saxophonist)

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] He has collaborated with Mike Pride's From Bacteria to Boys, Gerald Cleaver's Black Host, Eric Revis Quartet, and Adam Lane Trio.

Darius graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelors in Jazz Studies in 2003, earning a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance/Composition from New York University in 2008. He taught New Music Improvisation there for a year as an adjunct professor.[7] He was awarded the Van Lier Fellowship by Roulette in 2008, which he used to start his chamber ensemble, Elizabeth-Caroline Unit, dedicated to works for voice. He was a two-time nominee for Up and Coming Artist in 2010 and 2011, and nominated for Alto Saxophonist of the Year in 2013 by the Jazz Journalists Association. In 2013 he was awarded the French-American Jazz Exchange Grant for a collaboration with French vocalist Emilie Lesbros.

• Official site
• Darius Jones: From Johnny Hodges to Noise Jazz at All About Jazz
• All Music Guide list of recording credits
• New York Jazz Workshop Faculty