JERRY DODGION, Alto Sax and Flute, Arranger and Composer hails from Richmond, California on San Francisco Bay. He gained early experience with bay area bands and brief appearances with the Vernon Alley Quartet which included backing Billie Holiday in 1955. Dodgion joined Benny Carter for
the opening of the "Moulin Rouge" in Las Vegas '55. Jerry joined the Red Norvo Quintet ("58-61")
which included long stints in Las Vegas at the Sands Hotel. The Quintet toured accompanying Frank
Sinatra ('59-'60) and also toured as part of the Benny Goodman groups of '59-61 which incorporated the
Red Norvo Quintet into Goodman's ten piece band with Flip Philips,Bill Harris and Jack Sheldon and sub-sequent versions that included Zoot Sims, Carl Fontana and Charlie Shavers.
Upon settling in New York in '61 Dodgion began a long career of associations, performing and recording with some of the foremost and diverse names in Jazz.
Quincy Jones backing Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughn
Oliver Nelson backing Stanley Turrentine,Jimmy Smith,Wes Montgomery, PeeWee Russell, Hank
Jones, Johnny Hodges and Louis Armstrong.
Benny Goodman Landmark tour of The Soviet Union '62
Tad Dameron Big Band "The Right Touch"
Duke Pearson Big Band and small groups backing Blue Mitchell, Lou Donaldson and
Stanley Turrentine
Count Basie '67, '72, '99
Herbie Hancock "Speak Like a Child"
Thad Jones & Mel Lewis '66 to '78 founding member and twelve year sideman & all the recordings
Richard Davis "Muses For Richard Davis"
Donald Byrd "Fancy Free"
Chico O'Farrill "Nine Flags"
J.J.Johnson "JJ"
George Gruntz Big Band tour and record '79
Clark Terry with "UMO" Helsinki
Mercer Ellington "The Ellington Orchestra"
Ron Carter "Peg Leg" '78 "Big Band" 2010
Marian McPartland "Portrait of Marian McPartland", "Marian McPartland Plays the
Music Of Billy Strayhorn"
Grover Mitchell "And His All Star Orchestra"
Frank Wess Big Band
Buck Clayton "Live in the Village"
David Amram small groups plus Triple Concerto with Symphony Orchestra
Toshiko Akiyoshi "Desert Lady"
Gary McFarland "Live At Lincoln Center"
Ruby Braff small groups and one record
Red Mitchell & Tommy Flanagan (Trio) "Live at Fat Tuesdays"
Jack Sheldon (Quintet) "Playing For Change"
Phil Woods "Round Trip"
Dizzy Gillespie Big Band '87, '88 , '89 "Live at Albert Hall"
The American Jazz Orchestra conducted by John Lewis "The Music of Jimmie Lunceford"
The Lincoln Center Orchestra conducted by Wynton Marsalis
The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band conducted by Jon Faddis 1992 to 2002
''Jerry Dodgion and The Joy of Sax" featuring Frank Wess (five saxophones and rhythm section)