Darius Jones has created a recognizable voice as a critically acclaimed saxophonist and composer by embracing individuality and innovation in the tradition of Black music. Jones has been awarded the Van Lier Fellowship, Jerome Foundation Artist-in-Residence and commission, Western Front residency and commission, French-American Jazz Exchange Award, Robert D. Bielecki Foundation Award, and a Fromm Music Foundation commission from Harvard University. Jones has received acclaim for not only his studio albums featuring music and images evocative of Black Futurism, but also for his commissioned work as a composer throughout the United States and Canada. Forthcoming in September 2023, Jones’ new album fLuXkit Vancouver (i̶t̶s̶ suite but sacred) will be released by Northern Spy and We Jazz Records. Jones was the 2022 MATA Festival artist in residence and festival curator, where he premiered Colored School No. 3 (Extra Credit). In 2021, Jones released Raw Demoon Alchemy (A Lone Operation)
The New York saxophonist’s breakup album subverts what we’ve come to expect from the genre. Covering songs by Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, and others, he finds new emotions in familiar songs.
In advance of the Other Minds Festival in San Francisco, Take Five features artists from its lineup including King Britt with Tyshawn Sorey, Sara Schoenbeck with Roscoe Mitchell, Sylvie Courvoisier with Mary Halvorson, and Darius Jones.