Sherman Irby is an acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and educator born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who began playing saxophone at age 12 and went on to earn a B.A. in Music Education from Clark Atlanta University. After moving to New York, Irby became a fixture at Smalls and recorded two albums for Blue Note Records, Full Circle and Big Mama’s Biscuits. He has performed and recorded with an extraordinary roster of jazz legends, including Roy Hargrove, Marcus Roberts, Betty Carter, Elvin Jones, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and the Boys Choir of Harlem. A dedicated educator and mentor, Irby has served as an Artist-in-Residence at jazz camps and universities and founded Black Warrior Records, through which he continues to champion innovative jazz and emerging artists.