Sherman Irby

Sherman Irby was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As a high school student, he played and recorded with gospel immortal James Cleveland, later graduating from Clark Atlanta University with a bachelor of arts in music education.

In 1991, he joined Johnny O’Neal’s Atlanta-based quintet and, in 1994, moved to New York City and recorded his first two albums on Blue Note Records. Irby toured the United States and the Caribbean with the Boys Choir of Harlem in 1995. His first stint with the JLCO was from 1995 to 1997.

An alum of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead, Irby recorded and toured with Marcus Roberts, and has served as a member of Roy Hargrove’s ensemble, Elvin Jones’ ensemble, and Papo Vazquez’s Pirates Troubadours.

Irby has served as Regional Director for JazzMasters Workshop, artist-in-residence for Jazz Camp West, an instructor for Monterey Jazz Festival Band Camp, and a former board member for the CubaNOLA Collective.

In the early aughts, Irby formed Black Warrior Records, releasing five acclaimed recordings. Since rejoining the JLCO in 2005, Irby has become a key arranger and been commissioned to compose new works including Twilight Sounds, his Dante-inspired ballet Inferno, and Musings of Cosmic Stuff, inspired by his interest in science fiction.