Kaya 959 The Jazz Standard

Rico Jones on The Jazz Standard with Brenda Sisane

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Tenor saxophonist Rico Jones is a musician who found his voice at age thirteen in a Denver gospel band, and that sacred foundation has informed every note since. After earning two degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and being mentored by the likes of Sonny Rollins and George Coleman, Rico did something truly remarkable during the pandemic. He brought jazz to the people, organizing over 200 free outdoor concerts at Sloan Lake, reminding us that music is a necessity, not a luxury.

His debut album, BloodLines, released in 2025 on Giant Step Arts, has already been hailed as a landmark recording, earning a four-star review from DownBeat. Critics are already placing him in the lineage of Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, noting his deep roots in the Black church.
12 Jul English South Africa Music History · Music Commentary

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