“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
— New Face of Jazz
“Ricky 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
“Ricky is a burning tenor player with technique and ideas to spare...well worth checking out!” - David Liebman
“...solos are inventive and exciting.” - Marian McPartland
“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 (saxophonist)
“Ricky Sweum is an excellent saxophonist...beautiful and musical...a pleasure for my ears.” - James Moody
Apr 3, 2022
By Edward Blanco for AllAboutJazz.com (April 13, 2012)
4 1/2 Stars
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…
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Apr 3, 2022
By Brent Black for CriticalJazz (June 9, 2011)
5 Stars
Ricky Sweum is a great deal more than your typical saxophone player! Pulling Your Own Strings is a rock solid release on the Origin label but it really is just…
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Apr 3, 2022
Ricky Sweum is a sensational Jazz artist based in the California Bay Area. He is predominantly a saxophonist and band leader for the US Air Force Band and we have been lucky enough to review his latest release, ‘Earth Song’.
…
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Apr 3, 2022
Ricky Sweum – Earth Song (Review by TheBandCampDiaries.com)
A jazz-inspired artist with a broad creative scope, and an eclectic taste in music.
Ricky Sweum is a saxophonist and composer with a really unique feel. He is passionate about jazz…
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Apr 3, 2022
By Brent Black for CriticalJazz (June 8, 2013)
5 Stars
Ricky Sweum is one of thousands of musicians working the scene today that is working more than one job. Sweum's work as a recording artist may in fact be considered…
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Nov 5, 2018
From the, "The New Face of Jazz: An Intimate Look at Today’s Living Legends and the Artists of Tomorrow" [A Random House Book 2010]
By Cicily Janus – photography by Ned Radinsky
[Excerpt from book - used…
Nov 5, 2018
By Lenny Mazel for the Pikes Peak Jazz Notes Newsletter, January 2011. www.ppjass.org
With no prior knowledge of what is being heard, a local jazz artist comments on musical selections chosen by 25-year veteran of jazz radio Lenny Mazel…
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Nov 5, 2018
The completion of the 10 day Vispassana Meditation course in 2013, as taught by S. N. Goenka, has had a profound effect on my mind. It is a simple technique that contains the potential to free the practitioner from suffering…
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Nov 5, 2018
By Cicily Janus for AllAboutJazz.com (November 11, 2009)
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…
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Jun 11, 2013
Local jazz luminary Ricky Sweum exits Colorado Springs on a high note
By Bill Forman for the Independent (June, 2011)
Think of it as a pre-emptive strike. Ricky Sweum, the bright young tenor player who over the last…
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