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Ernest Dawkins

One of the life goals of Ernest Dawkins is to represent the African American cultural experience through his music. His musical art form reflects the rich background and cultural distinctions of African American life.

He is one of Chicago's premier jazz saxophonist whose music reflects his extraordinary talent not just as a musician but a composer as well. He has recorded eleven CD's and is the founder and leader of his own group, New Horizons Ensemble.

Dawkins started his musical career at the tender age of twelve when he learned how to play the bass and conga drams. At nineteen he became mesmerized by the sound of the saxophone while listening to his father's jazz recordings of Lester Young. But it wasn't until he heard the alto sax of Guido Sinclair that he knew this was the instrument he wanted to play. Within a week, he had purchased his first saxophone, clarinet and flute all for the meager sum of $24.00. He taught himself the music scale and then found he had to practice at Washington Park because he couldn't practice at home. Two weeks later Dawkins got his first lesson from members of the AACM. From there his illustrious career in music began.

Dawkins also takes the time to share his musical genius and knowledge with Chicago's youth. He has been teaching music in the Chicago Public School system since 1989. Prior to that he worked with the Urban Gateways's Educational Performances Program for schools. He has also worked with the Chicago Park District as well.

In 1978 Dawkins formed his own group New Horizons Ensemble, a group which today continues to create a sound that showcases their unique combination of jazz, bebop, swing, and avant garde. The Chicago Tribune describes them as " a band with an uncommon versatility that erupts into new music bursts of dissonance and color. This band can enlighten an audience while enthralling it."

Dawkins has worked with a myriad of music greats which include: Ramsey Lewis, Muhal Richard Abrams, Lester Bowie, Edward Wilkerson, Jr., Henry Threadgill, Amina Claudine Myers, Anthony Braxton, Jack McDuff, Don Moye, Jerry Butler, and The Dells.

As a world renowned musician, Dawkins has performed in Maputo Mozambique and appeared on local radio and television programs as well as workshops there. He's performed with Zina Nggawana in Pretoria and at the Hugh Masekela Club J&B in Johnanesburg both in South Africa. He is also working as a consultant to The Jazz Club De Maputo in Mozambique.

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Album Review

Ernest Dawkins' Live in the Spirit Residency Big Band: Memory in the Center, An Afro Opera: Homage to Nelson Mandela

Read "Memory in the Center, An Afro Opera: Homage to Nelson Mandela" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Perhaps no statesman (or woman), of the second half of the 20th century, personifies struggle for freedom and human rights as much as Nelson Mandela. This is because the late South African president dedicated his long life to ending apartheid and the injustices associated with it. His perseverance crowned by his success resonated globally. Saxophonist, and bandleader Ernest Khabir Dawkins composed and premiered a stirring suite as tribute to Mandela for the 2014 Chicago Jazz Festival. The concert ...

Album Review

Ernest Dawkins' Live in the Spirit Residency Big Band: Memory in the Center, An Afro Opera: Homage to Nelson Mandela

Read "Memory in the Center, An Afro Opera: Homage to Nelson Mandela" reviewed by Enrico Bettinello


Registrata nella serata inaugurale del Chicago Jazz Festival del 2014, questa suite è un appassionato omaggio a Nelson Mandela da parte di una big band diretta dal sassofonista (ma qui non suona) e compositore Ernest Dawkins. Sedici elementi, alcuni già conosciuti al pubblico italiano come il trombettista Corey Wilkes, il trombonista Steve Berry o la cantante Dee Alexander, altri magari il cui nome non dirà molto, ma coesi per una musica che parla prima di tutto allo ...

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Album Review

Ernest Dawkins: Afro Straight

Read "Afro Straight" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


Ernest Dawkins is a multifaceted giant of the saxophone. He was part of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), a groove into which he perfectly fit, blowing fresh winds of change into the comfort zone of improvisation. The sum of his parts included commissioned works for the Black Metropolis Research Consortium and the Banliues Bleues Festival. He moves into another compact area this time, playing eight standards and two originals, and once again invests his individualism into ...

2
Album Review

Ernest Dawkins: Afro Straight

Read "Afro Straight" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Afro Straight is Saturday music. That day following a work week where you take off your suit and tie or uniform, and put on that favorite sweatshirt and pair of jeans to kick back and relax in the familiar confines of your home. The familiar is your solace, and saxophonist Ernest Dawkins delivering time-honored standards is the equivalent of comfort food for the ears.Dawkins, a member of Chicago's AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), is a ...

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Album Review

Chicago Trio: Velvet Songs to Baba Fred Anderson

Read "Velvet Songs to Baba Fred Anderson" reviewed by John Sharpe


Drawn from two nights at Chicago's legendary Velvet Lounge, this double-disc set by three of the Windy City's finest provides fitting tribute to that establishment's late proprietor. Tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson was held in high esteem for his support for young musicians, non-judgmental direction, and provision of a space to experiment and perform. That the music was recorded two years prior to Anderson's passing lessens neither the saxophonist's influence nor the depth of feeling behind the dedication.Going under ...

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Album Review

Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble: The Prairie Prophet

Read "The Prairie Prophet" reviewed by Nic Jones


The Prairie Prophet is the fifth release on Delmark from reed player Ernest Dawkins and his band. It's clear that over the course of that association both leader and band have evolved to the point where they can be considered as one of the more vibrant, most urgently alive outfits on the scene. This album pays homage to the late and lamented tenor saxophonist and fixture on the Chicago scene, Fred Anderson, in whose Velvet Lounge these guys have also ...

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Film Review

Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble: Live At The Original Velvet Lounge

Read "Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble: Live At The Original Velvet Lounge" reviewed by Troy Collins


Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble Live At The Original Velvet Lounge: The Messenger Delmark 2006

Live At The Original Velvet Lounge: The Messenger is the second DVD in a series documenting live performances at saxophonist Fred Anderson's renowned Chicago club. Filmed the day after Timeless, Anderson's own trio concert recording, The Messenger features AACM saxophonist Ernest Dawkins' flagship band, the New Horizons Ensemble, providing a full house with a liberal dose of, as Dawkins ...

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Contest

Enter the “Ernest Dawkins - Afro Straight” Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Enter the “Ernest Dawkins - Afro Straight”  Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Delmark Records “Ernest Dawkins - Afro Straight“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on March 10th. Click here to enter the contest

(Becoming a fan of Ernest Dawkins at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at Delmark Records About Ernest Dawkins

One of the life goals of Ernest Dawkins is for his music and compositions to ...

Performance / Tour

Ernest Dawkins' Delmark CD Release Party For "Afro Straight!"

Ernest Dawkins' Delmark CD Release Party For "Afro Straight!"

Source: Kevin Johnson

Come celebrate the official CD release of Afro Straight (Delmark) this weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Friday and Saturday (December 7 and 8) at Andy’s Jazz Club (11 East Hubbard) First set starts at 9:30pm Sunday (December 9) Normans Bistro (1001 E 43rd Street as part of Dawkins’ weekly jam session Session starts at 9:00pm After five Delmark albums with his New Horizons Ensemble and three as co-leader of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, saxophonist, composer, arranger Ernest Dawkins leads this ...

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Recording

Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble Comes Through with "The Prairie Prophet"

Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble Comes Through with "The Prairie Prophet"

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards

Chicago's Ernest Dawkins has been making some very goodly music for some time now (11 CDs so far). His New Horizons Ensemble has been a big part of the scene since 1978! On The Prairie Prophet (Delmark 598) Dawkins runs the mid-sized, seven-artist cast through in-jazz to out-jazz compositions that have plenty of latitude for the considerable improvising abilities of the players while emblazoning a distinctive stamp on the sound and thrust of the music. This is a well-paced set, ...

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Performance / Tour

Saxophonist Ernest Dawkins Comes to Redstone Room

Saxophonist Ernest Dawkins Comes to Redstone Room

Source: All About Jazz

Jazz alto saxophonist Ernest “Khabeer" Dawkins will bring his “Straight Ahead" Quartet with special guest pianist and jazz educator Willie Pickens to the River Music Experience's Redstone Room in downtown Davenport for Polyrhythms' Third Sunday Jazz Matine & Workshop on August 17. The workshop begins at 3 p.m., with admission $3 for students and $5 for adults. The concert begins at 6 p.m., with general admission $15 and reserve seating $20. Dawkins began practicing the electric bass while attending Chicago ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Afro Straight

Delmark Records
2013

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Afro Straight

Delmark Records
2012

buy

The Prairie Prophet

Delmark Records
2011

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The Messenger - Live...

Delmark Records
2007

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