Whit Dickey
| Whit Dickey | |
|---|---|
 Dickey performing at the world premiere of the David S. Ware Unit, which took place at International House in Philadelphia on 12 Jan 2007 as part of their "Seraphic Light" series. | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
May 28, 1954 New York City, New York, United States |
| Genres | Jazz, bebop, hard bop avant-garde jazz, free improvisation |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer, composer |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion |
Whit Dickey (born May 28, 1954, New York City) is a free jazz drummer. He has recorded albums as a bandleader, with David S. Ware, Matthew Shipp and others.[1][2]
Biography
Free jazz drummer Whit Dickey first stepped into the spotlight as a leader with the release of his Transonic album from Aum Fidelity in 1998. Two years later, Wobbly Rail issued his Big Top release. Previously, he was best known for his solid work with Matthew Shipp and David S. Ware, with whom Dickey split in 1996. Early the following year, the drummer began composing the works that would be included on Transonic. Dickey penned all but two songs, "Kinesis" and "Second Skin," on the collection, and he even had a hand in those with the help of his fellow musicians on the album. The original compositions give a nod to the influence of "Criss Cross" and "Off Minor" from the legendary Thelonious Monk. Dickey recorded the album with the aid of Rob Brown on flute and alto saxophone, and Chris Lightcap on bass. In 2001, Dickey recorded half a dozen of his compositions with Mat Maneri, Shipp, and Brown under the name Nommonsemble, and put out Life Cycle through Aum Fidelity.
Musical Contributions
Whit Dickey made a name for himself as the former drummer of David S. Ware’s famous quartet. Since then Dickey’s musical contributions have gone well beyond his work as Ware’s drummer. He is capable of tremendous power and yet has the ability for subtle gesture. Dickey is a composer as well as a drummer and his music has reached new heights in his recent small group work, with a coterie of great musicians including alto saxophonist Rob Brown. He has been performing with Matthew Shipp since 1991 and continues to play and record with Roy Campbell Jr., Mat Maneri, Chris Lightcap and many others. Since 2007 Dickey has been focussing on developing an integrative improvisational style while working with Shipps Trio.
Daniel Carter and Dickey recorded an album pianist Eri Yamamoto in 2008.
The album Art of the Improvisor from The Matthew Shipp Trio received much critical acclaim’’- and was listed as one of the year's best of 2011. Dickey has started a cooperative unit with Sabir Mateen & Michael Bisio, which is another example of post- Coltrane integral unity, and is call Blood Trio.
Shipp, Bisio and Dickey have also been working with Ivo Perelman in various configurations.
Discography
As leader
| Release year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Transonic | AUM Fidelity | Trio, with Rob Brown (alto sax, flute), Chris Lightcap (bass) |
| 2000 | Big Top | Wobbly Rail | Quartet, with Joe Morris (guitar), Chris Lightcap (bass), Rob Brown (alto sax, tenor sax, flute) |
| 2001 | Life Cycle | AUM Fidelity | As the band The Nommonsemble; quartet with Rob Brown (alto sax, flute), Mat Maneri (viola), Matthew Shipp (piano) |
| 2002 | Prophet Moon | Riti | As the band Trio Ahxoloxha; with Joe Morris (guitar), Rob Brown (alto sax) |
| 2004 | Coalescence | Clean Feed | Quartet, with Roy Campbell (trumpet), Rob Brown (alto sax, flute), Joe Morris (bass) |
| 2005 | In a Heartbeat | Clean Feed | Quintet, with Roy Campbell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Rob Brown (alto sax), Joe Morris (guitar), Chris Lightcap (bass) |
| 2006 | Sacred Ground | Clean Feed | Quartet, with Roy Campbell (trumpet), Rob Brown (alto sax), Joe Morris (bass) |
| 2009 | Emergence | Not Two | Trio, with Daniel Carter (reeds, trumpet, flute), Eri Yamamoto (piano) |
As sideman
| Release year | Leader | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Brown, RobRob Brown | Youniverse | Riti |
| 1996 | Morris, JoeJoe Morris | Elsewhere | Homestead |
| 2012 | Perelman, IvoIvo Perelman | The Clairvoyant | Leo Records |
| 2013 | Perelman, IvoIvo Perelman | Enigma | Leo Records |
| 2013 | Perelman, IvoIvo Perelman | The Edge | Leo Records |
| 2015 | Perelman, IvoIvo Perelman | Tenorhood | Leo Records |
| 1992 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Points | Silkheart |
| 1992 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Circular Temple | Quinton |
| 1995 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Critical Mass | 2.13.61 |
| 1996 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Prism | Brinkman |
| 1997 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | The Flow of X | 2.13.61 |
| 2007 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Piano Vortex | Thirsty Ear |
| 2008 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Right Hemisphere | RogueArt |
| 2008 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Cosmic Suite | Not Two |
| 2009 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Harmonic Disorder | Thirsty Ear |
| 2011 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Art of the Improviser | Thirsty Ear |
| 2012 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Elastic Aspects | Thirsty Ear |
| 2014 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | Root of Things | Relative Pitch |
| 2015 | Shipp, MatthewMatthew Shipp | To Duke | RogueArt |
| 1993 | Ware, David S.David S. Ware | Third Ear Recitation | DIW |
| 1994 | Ware, David S.David S. Ware | Earthquation | DIW |
| 1995 | Ware, David S.David S. Ware | Cryptology | Homestead |
| 1996 | Ware, David S.David S. Ware | Oblations and Blessings | Silkheart |
| 1996 | Ware, David S.David S. Ware | DAO | Homestead |
References
- ↑ Seida, Linda. "Whit Dickey > Biography". All music. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ↑ "Whit Dickey at All About Jazz". Retrieved 20 March 2010.
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