 BIOGRAPHY Jerry Dodgion, alto saxophone, flute, arranger and composer, hails from Richmond, California on San Francisco Bay. He gained early experience in the 1950's with the Bay Area bands of Rudy Salvini, John Coppola-Chuck Travis and Gerald Wilson as well as brief appearances with the Vernon Alley Quartet which included backing Billie Holiday in 1955. Jerry joined the Red Norvo Quintet ('58-'71), which included long stints in Las Vegas at the Sands Hotel, tours accompanying Frank Sinatra ('59-'60), plus touring as part of the Benny Goodman groups ('59-'61), incorporating the Red Norvo Quintet into his ten piece band including Flip Phillips, Bill Harris and Jack Sheldon. Subsequent versions included Zoot Sims, Carl Fontana and Charlie Shavers. Upon settling in New York in 1961, Dodgion began a long career of associations performing and recording with some of the foremost and diverse names in Jazz which continues to this day. Quincy Jones (Dinah Washington & Sarah Vaughan) Oliver Nelson backing Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Smith, Wes Montgomery, Pee Wee Russell, Hank Jones, Johnny Hodges and Louis Armstrong Benny Goodman Landmark Tour of Soviet Union '62 Tad Dameron Duke Pearson Big Band and small groups backing Blue Mitchell, Lou Donaldson, Stanley Turrentine Count Basie '67, '72, '99 Herbie Hancock "Speak Like A Child" Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra '66-'78 founding member and twelve year sideman Donald Byrd Charles Mingus Chico O'Farrill J. J. Johnson George Gruntz Clark Terry with Umo Helsinki '79 Mercer Ellington Ron Carter Marian McPartland Grover Mitchell Frank Wess Buck Clayton David Amram small groups plus Triple Concerto with symphony orchestra Toshiko Akiyoski Gary McFarland Gerry Mulligan Ruby Braff Red Mitchell & Tommy Flanagan (trio) Jack Sheldon (quintet) Phil Woods with strings '87, '88, '89 The American Jazz Orchestra (John Lewis) The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (Wynton Marsalis) The Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra (David Baker) The Carnegie Hall jazz Band (Jon Faddis) since '92 |