Walt Dickerson

Walt Dickerson
Birth nameWalter Roland Dickerson
Born(1928-04-16)April 16, 1928
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedMay 15, 2008(2008-05-15) (aged 80)
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentVibraphone
Labels
Formerly of

Walter Roland Dickerson (April 16, 1928 – May 15, 2008)[1] was an American jazz vibraphone player, most associated with the post-bop idiom.[2]

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States,[3] Walt Dickerson graduated from Morgan State University in 1953 and after two years in the Army he settled in California.[2] There he started to gain attention by leading a group with Andrew Hill and Andrew Cyrille,[3] but it was Dickerson's later period in New York City when he gained some further notice. For the Prestige label he recorded four albums.[4] In 1962 Down Beat named him the best new artist.[5]

From 1965 to 1975, he took a break from jazz, but later he worked again with Andrew Hill and Sun Ra.[3] After 1975 Dickerson recorded several albums for the Danish Steeplechase label.[3]

He died in May 2008 from a cardiac arrest.[6]

Discography

As leader

Year Recorded Album Personnel Label Notes
1961 This Is Walt Dickerson! Austin Crowe (piano), Bob Lewis (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums) New Jazz
1961 A Sense of Direction Austin Crowe (piano), Eustis Guillemet, Jr. (bass), Edgar Bateman (drums) New Jazz
1962 Relativity Austin Crowe (piano), Ahmed Abdul-Malik (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums) New Jazz
1962 To My Queen Andrew Hill (piano), George Tucker (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums) New Jazz
1963 Jazz Impressions of Lawrence of Arabia Austin Crowe (piano), Henry Grimes / Ahmed Abdul-Malik (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums) Dauntless
1964 Walt Dickerson Plays Unity Walter Davis, Jr. (piano), George Tucker (bass), Edgar Bateman, Andrew Cyrille (drums) Audio Fidelity
1966 Impressions of a Patch of Blue Sun Ra (piano, harpsichord, celeste), Bob Cunningham (bass), Roger Blank (drums) MGM
1968 Vibes in Motion Audio Fidelity
1975 Tell Us Only the Beautiful Things Wilbur Ware (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums) Whynot
1975 Peace Lisle Atkinson (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums) SteepleChase
1976 Walt Dickerson 1976 Wilbur Ware (bass), Jamaaladeen Tacuma (electric bass), Edgar Bateman (drums) Whynot
1976 Serendipity Jamaaladeen Tacuma (electric bass), Edgar Bateman (drums) SteepleChase
1977 Divine Gemini Richard Davis (bass) SteepleChase
1977 Tenderness Richard Davis (bass) SteepleChase
1977 Shades of Love Solo SteepleChase
1978 To My Queen Revisited Albert Dailey (piano), Andy McKee (bass), Jimmy Johnson (drums) SteepleChase
1979 Visions Sun Ra (piano) SteepleChase
1979 Landscape with Open Door Pierre Dørge (g, per) SteepleChase
1981 I Hear You John Andy McKee (bass), Jimmy Johnson (drums) SteepleChase
1981 To My Son Andy McKee (bass), Jimmy Johnson (drums) SteepleChase
1982 Life Rays Sirone (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums) Soul Note

Sources:[4][7][8]

As arranger

With Elmo Hope

References

  1. ^ Johnson, David. "Vibes for Walt: Walt Dickerson, R.I.P." Indianapublicmedia.org. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Walt Dickerson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 691. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  4. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Michael. "Walt Dickerson Discography". JazzDiscography. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  5. ^ Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (1999). "Dickerson, Walt". The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 182.
  6. ^ David Johnson. "Vibes for Walt: Walt Dickerson, R.I.P." Indiana Public Media. Retrieved May 18, 2008.
  7. ^ Losin, Peter. "Walt Dickerson Records". PLosin.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "Walt Dickerson discography". JazzLists. Retrieved October 6, 2022.

Further reading