New York City jazz legends Jerry Dodgion and Rob Scheps will perform at Drake University with an acclaimed rhythm section from Kansas City. At the age of 80, this will be Dodgion’s Des Moines debut. The concert will be held on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Drake University Turner Jazz Center, 2505 Carpenter Avenue. The concert is $15 for adults and $7 for students. Tickets may be purchased through the Drake University Fine Arts Box Office at 515-271-3841.
The concert will feature Jerry Dodgion on alto and soprano saxophone, Rob Scheps on tenor and soprano saxophone, Roger Wilder on piano, Bob “Dwight” Bowman on acoustic bass, and Brain Steever on the drums. Dodgion and Scheps have performed internationally with legendary artists. On April 9, all of the performers are available for private lessons in the afternoon before the concert. The cost is $65 for a one-hour lesson. Time slots are filling up quickly. To reserve a time, contact Rob Scheps at coretet@hotmail.com.
About Jerry Dodgion and Rob Scheps
Jerry Dodgion is one of the most renowned alto saxophonists in jazz history. He gained early experience in the 1950s with bands in the San Francisco Bay Area, and later toured with Frank Sinatra and Benny Goodman among other legends. In 1961, Dodgion settled in New York where he still lives today, performing and recording with jazz greats like Billie Holiday, Astrud Gilberto, Frank Wess, Count Basie, Ron Carter, Mel Lewis and Rosemary Clooney. Dodgion has made jazz history several times: He was a founding member of the Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Band in 1966; he played on Benny Goodman’s famous 1962 tour to Russia; and he played alto flute on Herbie Hancock’s classic album on Blue Note records, “Speak Like A Child.” Drake University President David Maxwell served as a band boy on the Goodman trip to Russia, on which his father, famed jazz trumpeter Jimmy Maxwell, also preformed. Dodgion recently completed two tours in Japan, one with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and one with Ron Carter’s Big Band.
Rob Scheps received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory in 1986. In Boston, Scheps led his own groups, including the True Colors Big Band. When he moved to New York in 1988, he formed additional groups including the Rob Scheps Core-tet and Bartokking Heads. Scheps has been a clinician at many colleges, universities, and festivals, and has performed with many greats including: George Russell, Gil Evans Band, Hiram Bullock, Ray Charles, Linda Ronstadt, Buddy Rich, Julius Hemphill, Aretha Franklin, Sam Rivers, Louie Bellson, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Dave Holland, Liza Minnelli, Kenwood Dennard, Dave Liebman, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Cecil Taylor, Roswell Rudd, Al Grey, Clark Terry, Arturo Sandoval, Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker, Mel Lewis, Dorothy Donegan, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff “Tain ” Watts, Steve Swallow and John Scofield.