Now based in London (UK) Jo Fooks was born in Edinburgh and began learning the saxophone at 15. In 1992 she won 'The Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year'. Inspired and encouraged by local Edinburgh musicians, she went on to study saxophone at the Guildhall School of music in London and also at the Berklee School of music in Boston, USA, receiving a full fee scholarship for their summer jazz programme. After recording her debut album "Here and Now!", the legendary British trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton invited her to join his eight-piece band. She toured all over the UK with this band and performed in many theatres and concert halls as well as most of the major UK jazz festivals. Humphs fun filled and melodic approach to music was to become a big influence in her own compositions. She also recorded and performed with Acker Bilk, Tina May, Joe Temperley, Scott Hamilton, Elkie Brooks,and many others. 

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Her influences include Illinois Jacquet, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gorden, Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans and her big, mellow tone is often compared to Stan Getz and Zoot Simms.