ABOUT

Ricky Sweum is an American jazz saxophonist, recording artist, composer, educator, and music producer.  He is known for his eight solo albums, ambient sax nature soundscapes, appearing as a sideman on over 30 albums, and his 17 years of performing with and leading U.S. Air Force Bands.  Ricky is an official P. Mauriat saxophone endorsing artist.

Ricky utilizes the power of music to bring harmony to the world.

Ricky is a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, serving as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, Premier Band, Saxophonist, and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Productions for the United States Air Force Academy Band, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.  Originally from Eugene, Oregon, his Air Force career began in 2003 with the USAF Band of the West at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas.  In 2005, MSgt Sweum won a position at the Premier USAF Academy Band in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he served as lead tenor saxophonist and Tour Manager for the Falconaires Jazz Band.  In 2011, he was assigned to the USAF Band of the Pacific at Joint Base Richardson-Elemendorf, Anchorage, Alaska where he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge and Music Director of the Greatlanders Jazz Band.  In 2012, MSgt Sweum was assigned to the USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia where he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge and Musical Director of the Pacific Showcase Jazz Band, was Director of Operations, and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Publicity.  In 2018, Sergeant Sweum returned back to the states and joined the USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, California, where he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of The Commanders Jazz Ensemble, Section Chief of Administrative Support, and Unit Training Manager.  In 2020, MSgt Sweum returned to USAF Academy Band in Colorado.

Including Ricky’s career outside of the Air Force, he has performed music for audiences in every U.S. state (except HI), Australia, Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Mexico, and Canada.  He has appeared on over 30 albums as a sideman, and recorded eight solo albums.  Ricky has recorded for Origin Records and his recordings have risen to #2 on the CMJ radio charts, #97 on the JazzWeek charts, and been chosen by Denver radio station KUVO-FM’s “CD of the Month.”  He 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.”  Ricky’s music was chosen as an accompanying CD to the Italian published book, “appunti da New York.”  Since 2011, he has owned and operated the independent jazz record label, NINJAZZ Records.  As a composer he has over 55 original compositions registered with BMI, and in 2019, he founded JazzNutrition.com, which creates music education materials.  In addition to performing and writing music, Ricky is a sought after producer, audio recording and mix engineer, and his services have contributed to over 30 professional audio products.

Ricky earned a Master of Music in Jazz Studies degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello where he also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Production from Berklee College of Music where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.  As an educator, Ricky’s top students have won scholarships to Berklee College of Music, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, placements in all-state bands, and gone on to become professional musicians and educators.  He was the jazz band director at Colorado College from 2007-2011.

Prior to joining the Air Force, Ricky lived in New York City for 10 years.  During this time, he attended William Paterson University, toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, toured with the Broadway Musical, “The Sound of Music,” was a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, and played and studied with jazz luminaries throughout the Big Apple.  Along with pursuing a music career, Ricky studied and taught martial arts; he holds multiple black belts in Ninjustsu (under Masaaki Hatsumi, Mark Guest, Jean-Pierre Seibel) and Toshindo (under Stephen K. Hayes).  He has also lived in the woods for weeks at a time under the tutelage of nature awareness teacher, Tom Brown Jr.

Ricky wouldn’t be who he is today without the guidance of many excellent music teachers:  Barry Deister, Steve Owen, Tom Gadbois, Gary Smulyan, Rick Margitza, Richard Tabnik, Charlie Banacos, Doug Scheuerell, Pete BarenBregge, Hal Crook, Huw Lloyd, Harvey Pittel, Michael Melinger, Joe Ingram, Carl Woideck, and Robyn Steiner Boling.