Darius Jones

Darius Jones is an alto saxophonist and composer whose raw, vocal-toned playing has made him one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary creative jazz; the New York Times called him the most visceral and distinctive alto saxophonist of his era. Rooted in the avant-garde yet steeped in blues and gospel feeling, he has built an expansive body of work spanning small groups, solo saxophone, chamber settings, and voice ensembles. He launched his ongoing Man'ish Boy series with the acclaimed debut Man'ish Boy (A Raw and Beautiful Thing) on AUM Fidelity in 2009 and has since recorded for Northern Spy and other labels. Born in 1978 in Virginia, he earned a degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's from New York University, settling in New York in 2005. In 2024 he joined the music faculty at Wesleyan University.