Vic Dickenson
Encyclopedia
Vic Dickenson (August 6, 1906 – November 16, 1984) was an African-American jazz
trombonist. Dickenson's career started out in the 1920s and led him through musical partnerships with such legends as Count Basie
(1940–41), Sidney Bechet
(1941) and Earl Hines
. Also a soloist
of wide acclaim, Vic Dickenson was known for the distinctive sound he coaxed out of the trombone
.
He studied Organ from 1922 but changed to Trombone with local bands. Vic made his recording debut in December, 1930, as a vocalist with Luis Russell's band. He later joined Blanche Calloway's Orchestra in the early 1930s. Led his own groups both in east & west coast between 1947 to mid fifties. From then he was a session man for many legendary dates, among them CBS Sound Of Jazz 1957 with many great jazz musicians including: Count Basie
, Coleman Hawkins
, Roy Eldridge
, Gerry Mulligan
, Billie Holliday.
He was a favorite of many musicians, in large part because of the melodic sound he got from his horn, and for a keen sense of humor which was often evident in his playing.
Dickenson recorded several albums, many of which are still in print. But if you're looking for more ,listen to these recordings under the name of other jazz musicians with Vic as a sideman: Jimmy Rushing
(Vanguard Rec.), Coleman Hawkins
(Capitol Rec.), Pee Wee Russell
(Black Lion Rec.), Benny Carter
(BlueBird & Black & Blue Rec.), Lester Young
(Blue Note & Verve Rec.), Count Basie
(Columbia & Pablo Rec.), Sidney Bechet
(BlueBird, Black & Blue & Blue Note Rec.)
At one time he was a member of "The World's Greatest Jazz Band," which was the house band at The Roosevelt Grill in NYC. He also performed at the same venue in a smaller group that featured Dickenson with trumpeter Bobby Hackett.
Dickenson is the only trombonist in Art Kane
's photograph, A Great Day in Harlem
.
Dickenson, for all his lively musical talent, was a laconic man who often liked to be alone between sets.
During his long time association with bands playing at Eddie Condon's, he would often retire to a single chair which sat in a small alcove just outside the men's room, instead of gathering with fellow musicians in the band room. When men mistook him for the men's room attendant and offered him dollars, he took them.
Dickenson was born in Xenia
, Ohio
and died in New York City
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trombonist. Dickenson's career started out in the 1920s and led him through musical partnerships with such legends as Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
(1940–41), Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.He was one of the first important soloists in jazz , and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist...
(1941) and Earl Hines
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
. Also a soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
of wide acclaim, Vic Dickenson was known for the distinctive sound he coaxed out of the trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
.
He studied Organ from 1922 but changed to Trombone with local bands. Vic made his recording debut in December, 1930, as a vocalist with Luis Russell's band. He later joined Blanche Calloway's Orchestra in the early 1930s. Led his own groups both in east & west coast between 1947 to mid fifties. From then he was a session man for many legendary dates, among them CBS Sound Of Jazz 1957 with many great jazz musicians including: Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
, Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn"...
, Roy Eldridge
Roy Eldridge
Roy David Eldridge , nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American jazz trumpet player. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos and his strong influence on Dizzy Gillespie mark him as one of the most exciting musicians of the swing era and a...
, Gerry Mulligan
Gerry Mulligan
Gerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history – playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz – he was also...
, Billie Holliday.
He was a favorite of many musicians, in large part because of the melodic sound he got from his horn, and for a keen sense of humor which was often evident in his playing.
Dickenson recorded several albums, many of which are still in print. But if you're looking for more ,listen to these recordings under the name of other jazz musicians with Vic as a sideman: Jimmy Rushing
Jimmy Rushing
James Andrew Rushing , known as Jimmy Rushing, was an American blues shouter and swing jazz singer from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, best known as the featured vocalist of Count Basie's Orchestra from 1935 to 1948.Rushing was known as "Mr...
(Vanguard Rec.), Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn"...
(Capitol Rec.), Pee Wee Russell
Pee Wee Russell
Charles Ellsworth Russell, much better known by his nickname Pee Wee Russell, was a jazz musician. Early in his career he played clarinet and saxophones, but eventually focused solely on clarinet....
(Black Lion Rec.), Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
(BlueBird & Black & Blue Rec.), Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
(Blue Note & Verve Rec.), Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
(Columbia & Pablo Rec.), Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.He was one of the first important soloists in jazz , and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist...
(BlueBird, Black & Blue & Blue Note Rec.)
At one time he was a member of "The World's Greatest Jazz Band," which was the house band at The Roosevelt Grill in NYC. He also performed at the same venue in a smaller group that featured Dickenson with trumpeter Bobby Hackett.
Dickenson is the only trombonist in Art Kane
Art Kane
Art Kane , born Arthur Kanofsky in New York City, was a fashion and music photographer active from the 1950s through early 1990s...
's photograph, A Great Day in Harlem
A Great Day in Harlem
A Great Day in Harlem or Harlem 1958 is a 1958 black and white group portrait of 57 notable jazz musicians photographed on a street in Harlem, New York City. The photo has remained an important object in the study of the history of jazz....
.
Dickenson, for all his lively musical talent, was a laconic man who often liked to be alone between sets.
During his long time association with bands playing at Eddie Condon's, he would often retire to a single chair which sat in a small alcove just outside the men's room, instead of gathering with fellow musicians in the band room. When men mistook him for the men's room attendant and offered him dollars, he took them.
Dickenson was born in Xenia
Xenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.