Mr Dusty Cox

Biography/ Background

Dusty Cox

Saxophonist and educator Dusty Cox has had a long and varied career in music. He holds a Master of Music in Classical Saxophone Performance from the University of Northern Colorado (USA). While there as a teaching assistant in the Jazz Studies Department, Dusty was nominated for a Grammy award in 1995, for Best Instrumental Jazz Solo. He also was a five-time Downbeat Student Music Award winner from Downbeat (jazz) magazine, including three awards for his individual playing and two for his small ensembles. He also holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from St. Cloud State University (Minnesota, USA).

As an educator, Dusty is currently the Lecturer in Jazz Saxophone at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide. He held a similar post at the University of Natal, in Durban, South Africa. While in Durban, he taught and performed with Prof. Darius Brubeck (eldest son of Dave, also a pianist) in the Darius Brubeck Quintet.  Dusty directs the Elder Conservatorium's Big Band 1 and in 2009, Big Band 1 received an 'Outstanding Performance' award from from Downbeat (jazz) magazine (USA) for 'Best Big Band'.

As a performer, he has appeared as a support act or in concert with diverse musical artists including John Lee Hooker, Prince, Nancy Wilson, Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, the Brecker Brothers, Albert Collins, Joe Henderson, the Yellowjackets, the Either/Orchestra, Doc Severinson, Mark Levine, David Sanborn, Stanley Jordan, Bob Mintzer, Jon Gordon, Jim Pugh, Michelle Nicolle, John Hoffman, Mike Nock and many others. He has adjudicated and performed at Jazz Festivals in Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, Minnesota, Kansas, Florida (all USA), South Africa, and Australia. Dusty is a P. Mauriat Saxophones endorsing Artist.

Entry last updated: Thursday, 26 Aug 2010