Arranger and composer Jerry Dodgion is known for his ability to play alto and soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet, and piccolo. He hails from Richmond, California on the San Francisco Bay. He gained early experience in the 1950's with bay-area bands, Rudy Salvini, John Coppola-Chuck, Travis and Gerald Wilson, as well as brief appearances with the Vernon Alley Quartet backing Billie Holiday in 1955.
Jerry joined vibraphonist Red Norvo’s Quintet in 1958, and stayed through 1961. The group was tapped by Frank Sinatra to tour with him during the 1959-1961 period, and the same group was often incorporated into the Benny Goodman ten-piece band of the time. By 1962, Jerry had moved to New York City, and was on the well-known tour Benny Goodman made to Russia with his band.
Jerry has also played on numerous jingles, record dates, and Broadway shows. He has performed with virtually everyone in the NYC music scene and many of the leading big bands of the 50s, 60s and 70s, including Count Basie, Duke Pearson, Gerald Wilson, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Tadd Dameron, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Dizzy Gillespie, The American Jazz Orchestra with John Lewis, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra [Wynton Marsalis], The Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra [David Baker], The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band [Jon Faddis], Ron Carter, Tad Dameron, and of course, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis.
Jerry appears on a number of Blue Note albums, including recordings by Stanley Turrentine, Hubert Laws, and the landmark Herbie Hancock release Speak Like A Child. He has also performed other dates with Louis Armstrong, Charles Mingus, and Clark Terry. He returned to play in Tokyo with The Village Vanguard in 2012 and again with The Ron Carter Great Big Band. Jerry has been a member of Local 802 since 1961 and is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
