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Ben Dixon

As the Blue Note Records house drummer during the early ’60s, Ben Dixon played on many of the most influential and enduring sessions in the soul-jazz canon, including landmark dates alongside Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, and Big John Patton. Born in Gaffney, SC, on Christmas Day, 1934, Dixonspent the majority of his adolescence in Washington, D.C. An avowed disciple of jazz giants Charlie Parker and Art Tatum, he was most profoundly influenced by Max Roach and began playing drums while living with his father in Buffalo, NY. A much-touted basketball prospect, Dixon attended Central State University on a full athletic scholarship but nevertheless chose music over sports, and began gigging professionally in 1955 in support of Buck Hill and Shirley Horn. From there, he collaborated with trumpeter Webster Youngbefore settling in New York City in 1956. A year later Dixon made his recorded debut onRay Draper‘s Prestige date Tuba Sounds. In early 1958, he signed on with R&B great Lloyd Price, spending the next three years on tour. Price‘s band also featured pianist Big John Patton, whom Dixon encouraged to adopt the Hammond organ, at the time emerging as one of the premier instruments in the jazz lexicon. In 1961, Dixon joined organist Jack McDuff‘s trio alongside saxophonist Harold Vick, later expanding to a quartet with the addition of the brilliant guitarist Grant Green. Dixon, Green, and Patton were together introduced to Blue Note via saxophonist Lou Donaldson, and in the months to follow the three men emerged as the label’s preeminent rhythm section during the halcyon days of soul-jazz. Dixon‘s roll call of credits is nothing short of remarkable, including now-classic albums like Donaldson‘s The Natural Soul, Patton‘s Along Came John, Green‘s Sunday Mornin’, Vick‘s Steppin’ Out!, and Baby Face Willette‘s Face to Face. He was also a composer of some renown, authoring the oft-covered “Cantaloupe Woman” as well as “Pig Foots” and “Fat Judy.” However, the grind of session work and touring wore on Dixon and in 1967 he virtually retired from music to concentrate on raising a family. For three decades he rarely performed professionally, but in 1997 he returned to music, forming the Real Jazz Quartet and launching a music education program dubbed “Live at Lunch.” In 2000,Dixon founded his own American Classical Jazz label to cut his first-ever session as a leader, Say Yes to Your Best.

Grant Green: Sunday Mornin'

Read "Sunday Mornin'" reviewed by Norman Weinstein

by Norman Weinstein
August 5, 2005

There are a lot of Grant Green records on the market these days, entirely too much for those of us who think of him as one of the more erratic talents in the distinguished Blue Note catalog. But Sunday Mornin', coming immediately after the recent release of three funk-themed Green compilations of questionable value, is a gem, arguably the finest album of his career. Green had the misfortune of being saddled by his record company with painfully stupid ...

186

Album Review

Ray Draper: Tuba Sounds

Read "Tuba Sounds" reviewed by Derek Taylor

by Derek Taylor
February 1, 2001

“A Promise Derailed.” Such of phrase could easily have been etched on Ray Draper’s tombstone to describe the tubaist’s trials in life and music. Killed in a botched robbery at the tragic age of 42 his troubles both personal and musical hounded him for much of his life. But reading the original liners to this reissue penned by Ira Gitler it’s difficult to prognosticate such a future for Draper. Member of the All-City High School Symphony, a budding playwright and ...

126

Album Review

Ray Draper: Tuba Sounds

by Derek Taylor
February 1, 2001

155

Album Review

Ray Draper: Tuba Sounds

by Derek Taylor
February 1, 2001

154

Event

Tomas Janzon Trio Featuring Ben Dixon & Ken Filiano

Source: All About Jazz
October 14, 2007

Tomas Janzon Coast to Coast to Coast

Cornelia Street Cafe 29 Cornelia St Sunday Oct. 28, 8:30 PM

Featuring: Tomas Janzon-compositions, guitar Ben Dixon-drums Ken Filiano-bass

Reservations recommended (212) 989-9319

Time Traveling Sessions:

“When deciding to make a record of my recent experiences I realized the last couple of years has involved so much traveling that it would be natural to use the aspect of different locations and different people in the ...
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Performance / Tour

Tomas Janzon Trio featuring Ben Dixon and Jay Anderson performs Aug. 16 in New York

Source: All About Jazz
August 13, 2006

Performance / Tour

Bob Cunningham Trio: James Weidman - Piano,Ben Dixon - Drums,Vocals: Ayayna Lowe

Source: All About Jazz
July 29, 2005

Jazz at TWO BOOTS BROOKLYN Cajun & Italian Restaurant & Bar JULY 30, 2005 Saturday - 10:00PM –12:00AM Straight Up Jazz and Romantic Vocals The Bob Cunningham Trio - TWO BOOTS BROOKLYN Bob Cunningham – Bass Fabulous, Brilliant, Master Bassist, recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, and Yusaf Lateef! James Weidman – Piano, Powerful, Impeccable Timing-Abbey Lincoln, Max Roach, Cassandra Wilson, James Moody www.jamesweidman.com Ben Dixon – Drums, epitome of Jazz drumming for Lionel Hampton, Lou Donaldson, Gloria Lynn, Kenny ...
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Performance / Tour

Legends At Fat Cat Jazz - Sun. May 2nd Jimmy Cobb - Mon. May 3rd Ben Dixon B3 Organ Bash!

Source: All About Jazz
April 30, 2004

Lineage Records is pleased to present their Jazz Legends Series at Fat Cat Jazz 75 Christopher Street @7th Ave. 9 PM, 212.675.7369 $10 Music Charge, $5 minimum (student discounts available). The Jazz Legends Series has presented such jazz greats as Jimmy Cobb, Mickey Roker, Frank Wess, Hank Jones, Ben Dixon, Leroy Williams, Ronnie Matthews, Jimmy Oliver, Sam Dockery, Richard Wyands, Jimmy Lovelace and “Killer" Ray Appleton. These veteran jazz legends have performed and recorded with many of the greats and ...
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