By Donald True Van Deusen
Sitting in on piano this Friday and Saturday at Orlieb's Jazz Haus
(215.922.1035) 847 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia was jazz giant-Sam Dockery. He
is regarded by many as one of the very best bop-era keyboard man working
anywhere today. Sets run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for just a $5 cover.
Friday, Dockery was with an all-star group featuring Jimmy Oliver, tenor
sax; Mickey Roker, drums; and Arthur Harper, returning after many years, on
bass. Jimmy Oliver is something of an unheralded jazz legend in his own
right, as exciting a tenor sax man as Illinois Jacquet. Saturday had
Lawrence Jones on flute as guest artist.
Dockery played piano with world-renowned drummer Art Blakey for years
and can be heard on some 11 albums he made with him. He toured Europe with
Archie Shepp in 1991 playing in Germany, Austria, Belgium and France. He
worked as a regular at the famed Philadelphia club Showboat on Broad Street
and at New York's Birdland. He has played with a veritable who's who of jazz
history including: Buddy Rich, Benny Carter, Sonny Stitt, Benny Golson,
Kenny Durham, Tiny Grimes, Roy Haynes and Betty Carter.
Born in Lawnside, New jersey on September 8, 1919, Dockery has been
something of the keyboard king on the Philadelphia jazz scene since the
1950's. He has been a main man at the venerable jazz club Ortlieb's where
club owner Pete Souders says of him, "He is easily one of the best piano
men you can find." He has taught black music history and classical piano.
Dockery is a member of The Legends of Jazz Orchestra, teaches at the
University of Arts and at the Performing Arts Center, plays various dates
such as an upcoming gig at a mid-day Jazz Vespers with Buster Williams in
Camden, N.J. on April 21st sponsored by WHYY, staying, as he puts it, "as
busy as I can be."
