Ricky Ford

A seasoned tenor saxophonist of considerable experience who draws inspiration from Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins, Ricky Ford was already exploring inventive hard bop well before Wynton Marsalis emerged, although his abilities have frequently gone underappreciated. Having completed studies at the New England Conservatory, he cut his first recordings in 1974 alongside Gunther Schuller. Following an engagement with the Duke Ellington Orchestra—led by Mercer Ellington from 1974 through 1976—Ford performed with Charles Mingus between 1976 and 1977, joined Dannie Richmond’s Quintet for the period 1978–1981, worked with Lionel Hampton, appeared with Mingus Dynasty in 1982, and collaborated with Abdullah Ibrahim in 1985. As a bandleader he has issued albums on New World, produced a distinguished series of sessions for Muse spanning 1978 to 1989, and recorded for Candid.