Quick Facts
Biography
Darius Jones (born May 3, 1978) is an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer.
Life and career
Darius was born in Virginia. He was raised in the Pentecostal faith; both his grandfathers were preachers in their own churches. 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.
In 2009 signed withAUM Fidelity, which released his debut album Man'ish Boy (A Raw and Beautiful Thing). 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. Jones has worked in traditional jazz, electro-acoustic music, chamber ensembles, contemporary and avant-garde jazz groups, modern dance performances, and multi-media events.
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 |
