Dick Oatts

Richard Dennis "Dick" Oatts (born April 2, 1953 in Des Moines, Iowa) is an American jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator from Jefferson, Iowa. He is currently a professor of jazz studies department at Temple University in Philadelphia, and an artist-in-residence at the Amsterdam Conservatory. Oatts first became interested in saxophone due to his father Jack Oatts, a respected jazz educator and saxophonist. He attended Drake University before beginning his professional career in Minneapolis in 1972. In 1977, he joined the The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, which later became the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Oatts' work on woodwind instruments (Soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, clarinet, and flute) became more widely known as he fronted the crossover jazz group, Flim & the BB's in the 1980s and 90s. In tandem with bassist, Jimmy (aka "Flim") Johnson, drummer Bill Berg, and keyboardist Billy Barber, Oatts rounded out the contemporary jazz foursome to release several popular albums. Since the 1970s, Oatts has released more than a dozen CDs as a leader and co-leader, and has appeared on over 100 albums as a sideman with a number of artists including Joe Henderson, Jerry Bergonzi, Eddie Gomez, Bob Brookmeyer, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Joe Lovano and others, working extensively with Steeplechase Records. He has also accompanied several other notable artists such as Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme, and Ella Fitzgerald. Additionally, Oatts is a former faculty member of the Manhattan School of Music, as well as an artist-in-residence at the Amsterdam Conservatory since 1997. In 2006, he became a professor and the artistic director of the jazz studies department at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Currently he is Professor of Music Studies / Boyer College of Music & Dance / Temple University. Oatts has appeared at college jazz festivals as a soloist and clinician throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, South America, and the Middle East. Oatts currently plays Selmer Mark VI saxophones, uses a Brilhart mouthpiece on alto, and a Ted Klum mouthpiece on tenor. He is officially sponsored by D'Addario Woodwinds and has played Rico reeds exclusively since 1970. Discography As a leader or co-leader 1990: Dial and Oatts (DMP) with Garry Dial 1990: Brassworks (DMP) with Garry Dial 1997: All of Three (Steeplechase) 1999: Standard Issue Vol.1 (Steeplechase) 2000: Simone's Dance (Steeplechase) 2000: Standard Issue Vol.2 (Steeplechase) 2000: Meru (Steeplechase) with the Dave Santoro Quartet 2001: South Paw (Steeplechase) 2006: Jam Session, Vol. 18 (Steeplechase) with Billy Drewes & Walt Weiskopf 2008: Gratitude (Steeplechase) 2009: Saxology (Steeplechase) with Jerry Bergonzi 2010: Two Hearts (Steeplechase) 2010: The Clouds Above (Audial) with Soren Moller 2011: Bridging the Gap (Planet Arts) with Terell Stafford 2011: Black Nile (Radiosnj) with Cameron Brown, Lorenzo Lombardo, & Gary Versace 2012: Lookin' Up (Steeplechase) 2014: Sweet Nowhere (Steeplechase) with Harold Danko As a sideman[edit] 1978: It Only Happens Every Time - Monica Zetterlund & The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra 1978: One More Time - The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra 1979: Naturally - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1980: Bob Brookmeyer - Composer & Arranger - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1981: Mellifuous - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1981: Through A Looking Glass - Bob Brookmeyer 1981: Live in Montreux - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1982: Tricycle - Flim & the BB's 1982: Make Me Smile & Other New Works By Bob Brookmeyer - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1983: Impressions of Charles Mingus - Teo Macero 1984: Hands of Fire - Ray Mantilla Space Station 1984: Tunnel - Flim & the BB's 1985: Big Notes - Flim & the BB's 1985: 20 Years At The Village Vanguard - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1986: No Turn On Red - Red Rodney 1986: Synergy - Ray Mantilla 1987: Initial Thrill - Kenia 1988: Red Snapper - Red Rodney Quintet 1988: Power Play - Eddie Gomez 1988: Dark Powers - Ray Mantilla 1988: Secrets - Armen Donelian 1988: Further Adventures - Flim & the BB's 1988: Live At The Village Vanguard - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1988: Definitive Thad Jones, Vol. 2: Live From the Village Vanguard - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1988: Soft Lights and Hot Music - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1989: Lost Art - Mel Lewis 1989: Kaleidoscope - Bill Mays 1989: New Pants - Flim & the BB's 1989: Code Red - Code Red 1989: Wilderness - Bob Thompson 1990: Wayfarer - Armen Donelian Sextet 1991: So Intense - Lisa Fischer 1991: Worldwide - Everything But The Girl 1991: From Hollywood - Colors Of Jazz 1991: For Tropical Nights - Colors Of Jazz 1991: For Sunday Morning - Colors Of Jazz 1991: From Dusk Till Dawn - Colors Of Jazz 1991: To You: A Tribute To Mel Lewis - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 1991: Vintage BB's - Flim & the BB's 1991: The Road Not Taken - Stefan Karlsson 1991: Ricky Peterson - Smile Blue 1992: Acoustic - Everything But The Girl 1992: Images Of Monk - Ted Rosenthal 1992: Still In Love With You - Meli'sa Morgan 1992: Awakening - Bud Shank 1992: The Moment - Yoshio Suzuki 1992: Uh-Oh - David Byrne 1992: Legendary Lou Rawls - Lou Rawls 1992: Play-cation - Allen Farnham 1992: Dial & Oatts Play Cole Porter - Garry Dial 1993: Saxophone Mosaic - Gary Smulyan 1993: View From Manhattan - Hendrik Meurkens 1993: Body And Soul - The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra 1993: From Bessie to Brazil - Susannah McCorkle 1994: From Broadway to Bebop - Susannah McCorkle 1994: Listen - Nnenna Freelon 1994: Heatin' System - Jack McDuff 1994: Bite Of The Apple - Peter Delano 1995: This is Christmas - Luther Vandross 1995: Manhattan Moods - Mary Stallings 1995: Annette Lowman - Annette Lowman 1995: Rush Hour - Joe Lovano 1995: I Was Born In Love With You - Denise Jannah 1996: Portraits of Cuba - Paquito D'Rivera 1996: Big Band - Joe Henderson 1997: Lickety Split: The Music of Jim McNeely - Vanguard Jazz Orchestra 1997: Ruben Gomez - Ruben Gomez 1997: Celebrating Sinatra - Joe Lovano 1997: This Is Living! - Tom Talbert Orchestra 1998: Tropic Heat - Dave Valentin 1998: Maiden Voyage - Nnenna Freelon 1999: Thad Jones Legacy - Vanguard Jazz Orchestra 1999: From Broken Hearts To Blue Skies - Susannah McCorkle 1999: Souvenir - Ricky Peterson 2000: Hearts and Minds - Susannah McCorkle 2001: Group Therapy - Jim McNeely 2002: Leaving Home - David Berkman 2002: Viva Caruso - Joe Lovano 2002: Can I Persuade You - Vanguard Jazz Orchestra 2002: Pasajes - Jim Brock 2003: New Beginnings - Terell Stafford 2003: Best of the Concord Years - Jack McDuff 2003: Expressions - Ted Rosenthal 2004: Start Here... Finish There - The David Berkman Quartet 2004: Mean What You Say - Temple University Jazz Band 2004: The Way: Music of Slide Hampton - Vanguard Jazz Orchestra 2005: Very Best - Lou Rawls 2005: Echoes in the Night - Earl MacDonald 2006: Oatts & Perry - Harold Danko 2004: Let Yourself Go - Judi Silvano 2006: Many Places - Gary Versace 2007: Truth Is - Steve Million 2007: Up From the Skies: Music of Jim McNeely - Vanguard Jazz Orchestra 2007: Taking A Chance On Love - Simone 2008: Definitive Thad Jones: Live from the Village Vanguard - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra 2008: Runnin' In the Meadow - Michael Deacon 2008: Better Than Anything: The Quintessential Nnenna Freelon - Nnenna Freelon 2008: Street Smart - Eddie Gomez 2008: Monday Night Live At the Village Vanguard - Vanguard Jazz Orchestra 2009: High Noon: The Jazz Soul of Frankie Laine - Gary Smulyan 2009: Walking On Air - Linda Baker 2010: Oatts and Perry, Vol. 2 - Harold Danko 2010: Homage - Stockholm Jazz Orchestra 2010: Canopus - JazzNord Ensemble 2011: At This Time - Norman David 2011: Forever Lasting: Live In Tokyo - Vanguard Jazz Orchestra 2011: Don't Look Back - Jane Stuart 2011: "Jazzing" Vol. 3 - Sant Andreu Jazz Band 2013: The Language Of Life - Everything But The Girl 2014: We See Stars - The Jim Olsen Ensemble 2014: Intersecting Lines - Jerry Bergonzi For 30 years, Dick Oatts has appeared at college jazz festivals as a soloist and clinician throughout the world.