Home » Jazz Musicians » Ricky Sweum

Ricky Sweum

Saxophonist, composer, and educator, Ricky Sweum brings his passion for modern jazz to audiences and students throughout the world. Ricky currently lives in the Bay Area of California and tours the world as a saxophonist and band leader for the US Air Force Band. He has performed in places ranging from Carnegie Hall to remote Alaskan villages only accessible by airplane.

Recording for the 2009 JazzWeek Record Label of the Year, Origin Records, his CD “Pulling Your Own Strings” (2009) rose to #2 on the CMJ radio charts, #106 on the JazzWeek charts, and was chosen as KUVO-FM’s “CD of the Month”. He worked four years as the jazz director at Colorado College (2007-11) and was featured in the Random House book, “The New Face of Jazz: An Intimate Look at Today’s Living Legends and the Artists of Tomorrow” (2010).

Sweum has toured/recorded/performed with notable groups such as the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Big Band, Chie Imaizumi Jazz Orchestra, 9th+Lincoln Orchestra, Wil Swindler Elevenet, Darren Kramer Organization, and the Ken Walker Sextet.

As a military musician, Ricky has performed for millions throughout the United States at venues including Carnegie Hall, Monterey Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Telluride Jazz Festival, IAJE (NYC), Twin Cities Jazz Festival, and the Macy’s Day Parade (NYC). He has also toured throughout Japan and recorded and/or performed with Sammy Nestico, Jeff Hamilton, Gordon Goodwin, The New York Voices, Byron Stripling, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Eric Marienthal.

Originally from Seattle, WA, he grew up in Eugene, OR and spent ten years as a freelance musician in New York City before joining the Air Force Band. Ricky’s military career started in 2003 for the Air Force Band of the West, San Antonio, TX. In 2005, he won a position with the premier Air Force Academy Band and relocated to Colorado Springs, CO. There he played lead tenor in the prestigious jazz big band, The Falconaires. In 2011, he moved to the Band of the Pacific in Anchorage, AK where he now leads the jazz band.

“Streaming hypnotic lines together one by one, he tells the story of a soul who must sing and does so with unadulterated beauty and intelligence” ��" Cicily Janus, author of the New Face of Jazz

Gear

Ricky is an official artist/endorser of P. Mauriat saxophones.


Tags

62
Album Review

Ricky Sweum: More Than Imaginable

Read "More Than Imaginable" reviewed by Edward Blanco


West coast saxophonist Ricky Sweum grew up in Eugene, Oregon, and spent many years as a freelance musician in New York before embarking on a military career, joining the Air Force Academy Band in 2003. After a stint with prestigious jazz big band The Falconaires as lead tenor, in 2011 he moved on and now works with the Air Force Band of the Pacific in Anchorage, Alaska where he tours the U.S., Japan and Australia. Still, Sweum manages a professional ...

729
Interview

Ricky Sweum: String Theory

Read "Ricky Sweum: String Theory" reviewed by Cicily Janus


The fog has lifted off of the coast of Seattle with the rise of Origin Records. As the fisherman of jazz today, they've cast their nets and pulled in a catch of fresh, raw and bold talent. Their latest catch: saxophonist Ricky Sweum.Pulling Your Own Strings, which came out in mid-August 2009, has received some of the highest accolades from today's best musicians including Dave Liebman who quotes Ricky as being a “burning tenor player with technique and ...

Read more articles
112

Interview

Rising Star Saxophonist Ricky Sweum Interviewed at AAJ

Rising Star Saxophonist Ricky Sweum Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

The fog has lifted off of the coast of Seattle with the rise of Origin Records. As the fisherman of jazz today, they've cast their nets and pulled in a catch of fresh, raw and bold talent. Their latest catch: saxophonist Ricky Sweum.

Pulling Your Own Strings, which came out in mid-August 2009, has received some of the highest accolades from today's best musicians including Dave Liebman who quotes Ricky as being a “burning tenor player with technique and ideas ...

"Ricky is a burning tenor player with technique and ideas to spare."
- Dave Liebman (jazz saxophonist and educational legend)

"…a great young saxophone player with big sound and a big future."
- Walt Weiskopf (critically-acclaimed saxophonist and composer)

"Ricky plays with a maturity and control of his instrument that is a real pleasure to listen to. His sound commands your attention."
- Bill Evans (Grammy nominated jazz saxophonist)

"Ricky Sweum plays with one foot rooted in the tradition and one looking to the future. He is a wonderfully creative saxophonist and prolific composer."
- Gary Smulyan (six-time Grammy Award winning baritone saxophonist)

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Earth Song

Ninjazz Records
2019

buy

More Than Imaginable

Ninjazz Records
2012

buy

Pulling Your Own...

Origin Records
2009

buy

Yesterday's Tomorrow

From: Pulling Your Own Strings
By Ricky Sweum

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.