Richard Dennis Oatts (born April 2, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator.

Biography

While growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Oatts gained an interest in music from his father, Jack Oatts, who was a saxophonist himself and a respected music educator in the Midwest. After high school, Oatts attended Drake University for one year before dropping out and moving to Minneapolis to begin a career in music in 1972. In 1977, he was called by Thad Jones to join

The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra was a jazz big band formed by trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis in New York in 1965.Lisik/Allen. 50 Years at the Village Vanguard:Thad Jone, Mel Lewis and the Village Vanguard Orchestra. Sky Deck M ...

, which later became the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Oatts moved to New York City to join the band, first playing tenor saxophone, and began playing Monday nights with Jones and Lewis at the Village Vanguard, as well as touring in Europe with them. Eventually Oatts switched to playing alto saxophone in the band, and he continues to play with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra at the Village Vanguard every Monday night. Oatts' work on woodwind instruments (saxophone, clarinet, flute) became more widely known when he led the crossover jazz group Flim & the BB's in the 1980s and '90s with bassist Jimmy "Flim" Johnson, drummer Bill Berg, and keyboardist Billy Barber. Since the 1970s, Oatts has released more than a dozen albums as a leader and co-leader, and he has appeared on over 100 albums as a sideman with

Joe Henderson Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 – June 30, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than four decades, Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent l ...

Jerry Bergonzi Jerry Bergonzi (born October 21, 1947) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and educator. Early life and education Bergonzi received a B.A. in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1971 and is the founde ...

Eddie Gómez Edgar Gómez (born October 4, 1944) is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist, known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio from 1966 to 1977. Biography Gómez moved with his family from Puerto Rico at a young age to New York, where he was raised. ...

Bob Brookmeyer Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer (December 19, 1929 – December 15, 2011) was an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of Ge ...

, the

Vanguard Jazz Orchestra The vanguard (also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force. History The vanguard derives fr ...

Joe Lovano Joseph Salvatore Lovano (born December 29, 1952)"Joe Lovano." ''Contemporary Musicians''. Vol. 13. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 1994. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, May 5, 2017. is an American jazz saxophonist, alto clarin ...

and others, working extensively with

Steeplechase Records SteepleChase Records is a jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz ...

. He has also accompanied Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Tormé, and

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

. Oatts has taught at the

Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory in New York City. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition, as well as a bachelor's in mu ...

and has been artist-in-residence at the

Amsterdam Conservatory The Conservatorium van Amsterdam (CvA) is a Dutch conservatoire of music located in Amsterdam. This school is the music division of the Amsterdam University of the Arts, the city's vocational university of arts. The Conservatorium van Amsterdam ...

. In 2006, he became a professor and artistic director of the jazz studies department at

Temple University Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell and his congregation Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia then called Ba ...

in Philadelphia.

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

*2010: ''Two Hearts'' (Steeplechase) *2010: ''The Clouds Above'' (Audial) with Soren Moller *2011: ''Bridging the Gap'' (Planet Arts) with

Terell Stafford Terell Stafford (born November 25, 1966) is a professional jazz trumpet player and current Director of Jazz Studies at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. Terell Stafford was born in Miami, Florida, and raised in both Chi ...

*2011: ''Black Nile'' (Radiosnj) with Cameron Brown, Lorenzo Lombardo, & Gary Versace *2012: ''Lookin' Up'' (Steeplechase) *2014: ''Sweet Nowhere'' (Steeplechase) with Harold Danko *2018: ''Use Your Imagination'' (Steeplechase)Dick Oatts, ''Use Your Imagination''
Review by Alex Henderson, NYCJR, April 2018, Issue 192, page 28. Retrieved January 28, 2019.

As a sideman

With Thad Jones/Mel Lewis * 1978: ''It Only Happens Every Time'' * 1978: ''One More Time'' * 1979: ''Naturally'' * 1980: ''Bob Brookmeyer – Composer & Arranger'' * 1981: ''

Mellifluous ''Mellifluous'' is an album by drummer Mel Lewis recorded in 1981 and originally released on the Gatemouth label before being reissued on Landmark Records in 1995 (mistitled ''Mellifuous'') with an additional track.Vanguard Jazz Orchestra The vanguard (also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force. History The vanguard derives fr ...

* 1997: ''Lickety Split: The Music of Jim McNeely'' * 1999: ''Thad Jones Legacy'' * 2002: ''Can I Persuade You'' * 2004: ''The Way: Music of Slide Hampton'' * 2007: ''Up From the Skies: Music of Jim McNeely'' * 2008: ''

Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard ''Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard'' is an album by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. It won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2009. Most of the songs and arrangements are by Thad Jones, who founded the group as the Tha ...

'' * 2011: ''Forever Lasting: Live in Tokyo'' With

Flim & the BBs Flim & the BB's was a contemporary jazz band that was among the first bands to record albums digitally. History Flim and the BB's consisted of Jimmy Johnson, nicknamed Flim, on Alembic 5-string bass and the two BBs, Bill Berg on percussion an ...

* 1978: ''Flim & the BBs'' * 1982: ''Tricycle'' * 1984: ''Tunnel'' * 1985: ''Big Notes'' * 1987: ''Neon'' * 1988: ''The Further Adventures of Flim & the BBs'' * 1990: ''New Pants'' * 1991: ''Vintage BBs'' * 1992: ''This is a Recording'' With

Red Rodney Robert Roland Chudnick (September 27, 1927 – May 27, 1994), known professionally as Red Rodney, was an American jazz trumpeter. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he became a professional musician at 15, working in the mid-1940 ...

* 1986: ''No Turn On Red'' * 1988: ''Red Snapper'' With Ray Mantilla * 1984: ''Hands of Fire'' * 1988: ''Dark Powers'' * 1986: ''Synergy'' With Colors of Jazz * 1991: ''From Hollywood'' * 1991: ''For Tropical Nights'' * 1991: ''For Sunday Morning'' * 1991: ''From Dusk Till Dawn'' With

Everything but the Girl Everything but the Girl (occasionally referred to as EBTG) are an English musical duo formed in Kingston upon Hull in 1982, consisting of lead singer and occasional guitarist Tracey Thorn and guitarist, keyboardist, producer and singer Ben Watt ...

* 1991: ''Worldwide'' * 1992: ''Acoustic'' * 2013: ''The Language of Life'' With Armen Donelian * 1988: ''Secrets'' * 1990: ''Wayfarer'' With

Susannah McCorkle Susannah McCorkle (January 1, 1946 – May 19, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Life and career A native of Berkeley, California, McCorkle studied Italian literature at the University of California at Berkeley before dropping out to move to ...

* 1993: ''From Bessie to Brazil'' * 1994: ''From Broadway to Bebop'' * 1999: ''From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies'' * 2000: ''Hearts and Minds'' With

* 1995: '' Rush Hour'' * 1996: '' Celebrating Sinatra'' * 2002: ''

Viva Caruso ''Viva Caruso'' is one of Joe Lovano's "most ambitious and enjoyable recordings". Inspired by the legendary Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso, Lovano deftly, yet directly, applies orchestral melodies and figures in different manners to create a beaut ...

'' With

Nnenna Freelon Nnenna Freelon (born July 28, 1954) is an American jazz singer, composer, producer, and arranger. Early life and education Freelon was born Chinyere Nnenna Pierce to Charles and Frances Pierce in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she was raised. ...

* 1998: ''Maiden Voyage'' * 1994: ''Listen'' With

Ted Rosenthal Ted Rosenthal (born 1959) is an American jazz pianist. He was featured on David Sanborn's series '' Night Music'', and has performed worldwide, both as a leader and as a sideman with many jazz greats, including Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil ...

* 1992: ''Images of Monk'' * 2003: ''Expressions'' With

* 1988: ''Power Play'' * 2008: ''Street Smart'' With

Gary Smulyan Gary Smulyan (born April 4, 1956) is a jazz musician who plays baritone saxophone. He studied at Hofstra University before working with Woody Herman. He leads a trio with bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Kenny Washington (musician), Kenny Washi ...

* 1993: ''Saxophone Mosaic'' * 2009: ''High Noon: The Jazz Soul of Frankie Laine'' With others * 1981: ''Through a Looking Glass'' –

* 1983: ''Impressions of Charles Mingus'' –

Teo Macero Attilio Joseph "Teo" Macero (October 30, 1925 – February 19, 2008) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer. He was a producer at Columbia Records for twenty years. Macero produced Miles Davis' '' Bitches Brew'', and ...

* 1987: ''Initial Thrill'' – Kenia * 1989: ''Kaleidoscope'' –

Bill Mays William Allen Mays (born February 5, 1944), known professionally as Bill Mays, is an American jazz pianist from Sacramento, California. Biography Mays came from a musical family and at the age of 15 became interested in jazz at an Earl Hines ...

* 1989: ''Code Red'' – Code Red * 1989: ''Wilderness'' – Bob Thompson * 1991: ''So Intense'' – Lisa Fischer * 1991: ''The Road Not Taken'' – Stefan Karlsson * 1991: ''Ricky Peterson'' – Smile Blue * 1992: ''Still in Love With You'' –

Meli'sa Morgan Joyce Melissa Morgan (usually spelled Meli'sa; born December 6, 1964) is an American R&B/Soul singer–songwriter. Morgan had a string of urban contemporary hits from the mid–1980s to the mid–1990s. Most notable include her cover version of ...

* 1992: ''Awakening'' –

Bud Shank Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank Jr. (May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and thro ...

* 1992: ''The Moment'' – Yoshio Suzuki * 1992: ''Uh–Oh'' –

David Byrne David Byrne (; born 14 May 1952) is a Scottish-American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, writer, music theorist, visual artist and filmmaker. He was a founding member and the principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of ...

* 1992: ''Play–cation'' – Allen Farnham * 1992: ''Dial & Oatts Play Cole Porter'' – Garry Dial * 1993: ''View From Manhattan'' – Hendrik Meurkens * 1994: ''Heatin' System'' – Jack McDuff * 1994: ''Bite of the Apple'' – Peter Delano * 1995: ''This is Christmas'' – Luther Vandross * 1995: ''Manhattan Moods'' –

Mary Stallings Mary Stallings (born August 16, 1939) is an American jazz vocalist and mother of soul singer Adriana Evans. Biography One of eleven children, Mary Stallings was born in San Francisco, California. She grew up in the neighborhood of Laurel Hei ...

* 1995: ''Annette Lowman'' – Annette Lowman * 1995: ''I Was Born In Love With You'' – Denise Jannah * 1996: ''Portraits of Cuba'' – Paquito D'Rivera * 1996: ''Big Band'' –

* 1997: ''Ruben Gomez'' – Rubén Gómez * 1997: ''This Is Living!'' –

Tom Talbert Thomas Robert Talbert (August 4, 1924 Crystal Bay, Minnesota – July 2, 2005 Los Angeles) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and band leader. Biography He was born on August 4, 1924, in Crystal Bay, Minnesota, and grew up listening to big b ...

Orchestra * 1998: ''Tropic Heat'' – Dave Valentin * 1999: ''Souvenir'' – Ricky Peterson * 2001: ''Group Therapy'' –

Jim McNeely Jim McNeely (born May 18, 1949) is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and faculty. Biography Jim McNeely was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois, and moved to New York City in 1975. ...

* 2002: ''Leaving Home'' –

David Berkman David Berkman (born December 28, 1958) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator. Background Berkman grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, playing in house bands for visiting jazz musicians Sonny Stitt, Hank Crawford, and Carter Jeffe ...

* 2002: ''Pasajes'' – Jim Brock * 2003: ''New Beginnings'' –

* 2004: ''Start Here... Finish There'' – David Berkman * 2004: ''Mean What You Say'' – Temple University Jazz Band * 2005: ''Echoes in the Night'' –

Earl MacDonald Earl MacDonald (born July 26, 1970) is a Canadian pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, recording artist, and educator specializing in jazz. Described as "a magical, musical alchemist of hip hybrids", MacDonald's compositional work frequently d ...

* 2006: ''Oatts & Perry'' –

Harold Danko Harold Danko (born June 13, 1947 in Ohio) is an American jazz pianist. Danko attended Youngstown State University. Among his credits are work in the big bands of Woody Herman and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, as well as smaller ensembles with Gerry Mul ...

* 2004: ''Let Yourself Go'' –

Judi Silvano Judi Silvano (born May 8, 1951) is a jazz singer and composer. Career Before attending college she studied flute, piano, and dance. She graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a degree in music and dance. She is a scholar of Sheila ...

* 2006: ''Many Places'' – Gary Versace * 2007: ''Truth Is'' – Steve Million * 2007: ''Taking a Chance on Love'' – Simone Kopmaje * 2008: ''Runnin' in the Meadow'' – Michael Deacon * 2009: ''Walking on Air'' –

Linda Baker Linda L. Baker (born 1948) is an American schoolteacher and politician from Maine. Baker, a Maine Republican Party, Republican from Topsham, Maine, represented District 23 in the Maine Senate. District 23 encompasses all of Sagadahoc County, Main ...

* 2010: ''Oatts and Perry, Vol. 2'' –

* 2010: ''Homage'' – Stockholm Jazz Orchestra * 2010: ''Canopus'' – JazzNord Ensemble * 2011: ''At This Time'' – Norman David * 2011: ''Don't Look Back'' –

Jane Stuart Jane Stuart (1812 – April 27, 1888) was an American painter, best known for her miniature paintings and portraits, particularly those made of George Washington. She worked on and later copied portraits made by her father, Gilbert Stuart, and ...

* 2011: ''Jazzing Vol. 3'' – Sant Andreu Jazz Band * 2011: ''

Legacy In law, a legacy is something held and transferred to someone as their inheritance, as by will and testament. Personal effects, family property, marriage property or collective property gained by will of real property. Legacy or legacies may refer ...

'' – Gerald Wilson Orchestra * 2014: ''We See Stars'' – Jim Olsen Ensemble * 2014: ''Intersecting Lines'' –

* 2015: ''Jazzing Vol. 5'' – Sant Andreu Jazz Band *2017: ''Life Changes --'' Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oatts, Dick Living people 1953 births American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists Musicians from Des Moines, Iowa People from Jefferson, Iowa 21st-century American saxophonists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Flim & the BB's members