Home » Jazz Musicians » Sherman Irby

Sherman Irby

Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Sherman began playing music at the age of 12, almost immediately recognizing that it was his life’s calling. During high school he had the opportunity to play and record with Gospel immortal James Cleveland. After completing high school in 1986, Sherman attended Clark Atlanta University, graduating with a B.A. in Music Education. After college, he joined Atlanta-based piano legend Johnny O’Neal’s quintet for a time before moving to New York City in 1994.

After moving to New York, Sherman quickly connected with the fertile and vital scene at Smalls Jazz Club, where he was a regular until 1997. It was while playing at Smalls that Sherman caught the attention of Blue Note Records, the label for which he recorded his first two albums, Full Circle and Big Mama’s Biscuits, released in 1996 and 1998 respectively.

During the period in which he was performing at Smalls, Sherman also toured the U.S. and the Caribbean with the Boys Choir of Harlem in 1995; was a member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra from 1995 to 1997; recorded/toured with Marcus Roberts, and participated in the incomparable Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead Program. At the end of this prolific period, Sherman began a four-year stint with the Roy Hargrove quintet in 1997. After departing Roy Hargrove’s ensemble, Sherman shifted his primary focus to his own group. Although this was his primary commitment, Irby took the opportunity to join the final ensemble of the peerless Elvin Jones in 2004, and after Elvin’s passing, performed with Papo Va’zquez’s Pirates Troubadours.

From 2003-2011, Sherman was a regional director for JazzMasters Workshop, a mentoring program for young children. He has served as Artist-in-Residence for Jazz Camp West, and as an instructor for the Monterey Jazz Festival Band Camp. He was also a board member for several years for the CubaNOLA Collective.

Recognizing the shift in economics of the record industry, Sherman left Blue Note to form his own label, Black Warrior Records. Thus far, he has released Black Warrior, Faith, Organ Starter, Live at The Otto Club, and Andy Farber’s “This Could Be the Start of Something Big”.

Currently, Sherman is a member of the newly renamed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Since rejoining the orchestra in 2005, Sherman, along with most members of the orchestra, has arranged much of the vast library of music that they have performed over the last eight years. He has also been commissioned to compose new works, including “Twilight Sounds”, and his Dante-inspired ballet, “Inferno”.

Roy Hargrove's Crisol: Grande-Terre

Read "Grande-Terre" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
October 21, 2024

Increasingly and with growing momentum, right up until he died at the young age of 55 in 2018, Roy Hargrove was a standard bearer for a new kind of African American jazz. The recipe embraced a variety of styles--jazz, Afro-Cuban music, funk, hip hop and soul--and it influenced a generation of musicians in jazz and beyond. But Hargrove never abandoned jazz, the foundation stone of his style. Instead he regarded other genres as part of a rainbow ...

Album Review

Glenn Close & Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Paul Rauch

by Paul Rauch
May 19, 2021

Transformation is a multi-disciplinary work from saxophonist/composer Ted Nash, and iconic actress Glenn Close, exploring the multi-faceted and abstract theme of transformation. The works included examine the theme from both universal and individual conceptions. Music and literature at its best is clearly transformative for anyone experiencing it. Transformation is by essence, the highest and most illuminating expression of change. Nash embraced the project by creating a colorful and illustrative collection of pieces, embracing Close's curated literary selections recited by the ...

Album Review

Glenn Close/Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
April 19, 2021

When confronted by an album whose tracks include the names “Creation" (Parts 1 and 2), “Preludes for Memnon," “Wisdom of the Humanities" and “Reaching the Tropopause," among others, one braces for whatever may transpire, buoyed by the thought that with Glenn Close, Ted Nash and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on board, how displeasing could it be? The verdict: not at all displeasing—but it must be appraised on its own terms, as a series of philosophical and hopefully transformative ...

Radio & Podcasts

Sherman Irby, Count Basie, Karl Denson and More

by Joe Dimino
October 4, 2020

The pandemic goes on and jazz musicians keep on finding innovative ways to stay relevant and creative. This week we focus on some of those that are doing so by releasing new material and good thoughts into the world. We start the hour with a veteran of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Sherman Irby. We also hear new music from London-based Rick Simpson, Sara Serpa and The Radam Schwartz Organ Big Band. Enjoy! Playlist Sherman Irby ...

499

Album Review

Sherman Irby Quartet: Live At The Otto Club

Read "Live At The Otto Club" reviewed by Joshua Weiner

by Joshua Weiner
May 8, 2010

Live At The Otto Club is Sherman Irby's first live album with his quartet, and it would be hard to conjure up a more joyful example of seriously swinging jazz that sounds like a great lost classic from the heyday of hard bop. Though the liner notes seem to suggest that this was a bit of a pick-up quartet, it doesn't sound like it: the group, particularly Green on drums and Menci on piano, swing as one with Irby as ...

119

Album Review

Sherman Irby: Black Warrior

by Mark Corroto
July 1, 2001

In today’s jazz scene, playing within the tradition can get you both overlooked and out of a major label contract. Alto saxophonist Sherman Irby is familiar with jazz conventions and is also launching his own label Black Warrior Records. Jazz’s present preoccupation with all things beats-and-groove related has cast away its young lions for jazz/rock fusion stars. With history repeating itself, can we now predict a Wynton-esque revival in 10 years?

Irby, now 33 years old, has an impressive resume ...

123

Album Review

Sherman Irby: Big Mama's Biscuits

by C. Michael Bailey
January 1, 1999

Redux. AAJ 's John Sharpe opined a brief and sharp-creased assessment of this record in the November issue. I am chiming in to add some observations, not to try and improve on Mr. Sharpe's commentary.

The Heart of the Matter. Irby's performances with Ed Cherry on acoustic guitar reminds me of the Frank Morgan Collaboration Listen to the Dawn. Irby certainly lacks Morgan's “wounded" tone and phrasing, but their approaches with guitar accompaniment are parallel. He transverses the universe of ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Ralph Towner, Sto Jazz Orchestra, Sherman Irby, Clayton Brothers Quintet, Rebirth Brass Band, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
October 27, 2011

Along with Halloween and the conclusion of baseball's World Series, there's a whole lot of jazz and creative music happening in St. Louis over the next few days. So, without further ado, let's go straight to the highlights: On Thursday, Ralph Towner, known for his work with the Paul Winter Consort and Oregon as well as his own recordings, will perform a free solo guitar concert for the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University. Also on Thursday, Robbie's House ...
read more

Video / DVD

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: In the Tradition with Sherman Irby

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
October 23, 2011

This week, we present some video clips of alto saxophonist Sherman Irby, who will be in St. Louis next week to do an educational residency for Jazz St. Louis and perform on Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29 at Jazz at the Bistro. A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the 43-year-old Irby first gained wide attention in the 1990s with two solo albums on Blue Note and a three-year stint in the Jazz ...
read more

219

Event

Alto Saxophonist Sherman Irby Celebrates Release of "Live at the Otto Club" at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in NYC Monday 22 February

Source: MFA - Mitchell Feldman Associates
February 17, 2010

Alto saxophonist Sherman Irby will celebrate the release of his latest CD “Live At The Otto Club" at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York City on Monday, February 22, 2010 with sets at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Performing with Irby at the event--which coincidentally takes place exactly two years to the date after the new CD was recorded in Naples, Italy, are Rick Germanson (piano), Gerald Cannon (bass) and Darrell Green (drums). Irby is already well established as one of ...
read more

Recording

Alto Saxophonist Sherman Irby Shows His Faith in Music On His Second Release For Black Warrior Records

Source: All About Jazz
July 10, 2005

Alto saxophonist / composer Sherman Irby not only adheres to the grand tradition of Jazz but also provides a means to understanding, healing and the spirit of hope and optimism that are essential to human potential. Sherman's new album, Faith (to be released on July 12), places this message in the forefront. In his own words, “Faith is my personal testament to the things I love about great music. Challenging music, passion, compassion, experience and daring are all rolled up ...
read more