Joe Ford (jazz musician)

Joe Ford (born May 7, 1947) is an American jazz saxophonist.

Early life and education

Ford was born in Buffalo, New York. He studied saxophone under Makanda Ken McIntyre, Jackie McLean, and Frank Foster, and percussion under Joe Chambers. He earned his bachelor's degree in music education in 1968 from Central State University.

Career

After graduating from college, Ford taught in

In the late-1990s, Ford led two ensembles, the Black Art Sax Quartet and a big band group called The Thing. He has released one album as a leader, 1993's Today's Night on Blue Moon Records. It features Charles Fambrough, Kenny Kirkland and Jeff "Tain" Watts.^[2]

Discography

As leader

• 1993: Today's Night

As sideman

With Nova Bossa Nova

• Jazz Influence (1997)

With Malachi Thompson

• The Jaz Life (Delmark, 1992)
• New Standards (Delmark, 1993)
• 47th Street (Delmark, 1997)
• Freebop Now! (Delmark, 1998)

With McCoy Tyner

• Focal Point (Milestone, 1976)
• Inner Voices (Milestone, 1977)
• The Greeting (Milestone, 1978)
• Horizon (Milestone, 1979)
• 13th House (Milestone, 1981)
• Uptown/Downtown (Milestone, 1988)
• The Turning Point (Birdology, 1992)
• Journey (Birdology, 1993)

With Larry Willis

• Heavy Blue (SteepleChase, 1990)
• Blue Fable (HighNote, 2007)
• I Fall In Love Too Easily (HighNote, 2020)

References

Footnotes

Further Reading

• Gary W. Kennedy, "Joe Ford",
  Grove Jazz
  online.