Jazz Articles about Ricky Ford

About Ricky Ford

Interview

Ricky Ford: From Across the Sea

by R.J. DeLuke
August 22, 2022

Ricky Ford is a badass tenor saxophonist. Many will recall his fierce and strong playing on his Muse releases in the '80s. Others may be aware that he was a stalwart member of big bands like the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the leadership of Mercer Ellington and with Charles Mingus and later the Mingus Dynasty band. Those Muse disks, and releases on Candid Records, included monster players like Jaki Byard, John Hicks, Jimmy Cobb, Larry Coryell, Louis Hayes, ...

Album Review

Ricky Ford: The Wailing Sounds of Ricky Ford: Paul’s Scene

Read "The Wailing Sounds of Ricky Ford: Paul’s Scene" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
May 24, 2022

Is there a more underrated player than Ricky Ford? On any horn? Perhaps the fact that he took over Paul Gonsalves' chair in the (Mercer) Ellington orchestra when he was still a kid led people to think he had yet to prove himself. There was a brief stint with Charles Mingus. And there was his association with Lionel Hampton as a featured soloist. Ford showed up in a number of bands, most notably with Tom Harrell in Play ...

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Album Review

Ricky Ford: [Balaena]

by C. Michael Bailey
September 1, 2000

Heldentenor Veteran Tenorist Rick Ford debuts of Jazz Friends with a solid live set supported by a truly all-star rhythm section of George Cables; Cecil McBee, and Ed Thigpen. This release is made up of mostly extended pieces where Ford shows his depth and breadth form Dexter Gordon passing through Sonny Rollins on his way to John Coltrane. “Pie Crust" encompasses all in on piece. Equal adept in the blues and ballads, Ford hones his chops in both venues. George ...

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Album Review

Ricky Ford Quartet: Balaena

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2000

Ricky Ford is a gifted, if underrated veteran tenor saxophonist who has been making records for some twenty-five years now. He carries forth the tenor tradition with a big sound reminiscent of Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins, but with a style that employs harmony and meter in such a way that distinguishes him from his predecessors. This CD, entitled Balaena , finds Ford heading an excellent quartet featuring George Cables, Cecil McBee, and Ed Thigpen. Recorded live in Paris last ...