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Dick Oatts

Richard Dennis Oatts 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 graduating from Jefferson High School, which is now known as Greene County High School, in 1971 at Jefferson, Iowa, 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, which later became the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Oatts moved to New York City to join the band, and began playing Monday nights with Jones and Lewis at the Village Vanguard, as well as touring in Europe with them. Oatts played with Vanguard Jazz Orchestra for 48 years before retiring in November 2025. 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, Jerry Bergonzi, Eddie Gómez, Bob Brookmeyer, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Joe Lovano and others, working extensively with Steeplechase Records. He has also accompanied Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Tormé, and Ella Fitzgerald. Oatts has taught at the Manhattan School of Music and has been artist-in-residence at the Amsterdam Conservatory. In 2006, he became a professor and artistic director of the jazz studies department at Temple University in Philadelphia. ==Discography==
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 Jerry Bergonzi • 2010: Two Hearts (Steeplechase) • 2010: The Clouds Above (Audial) with Soren Moller • 2011: Bridging the Gap (Planet Arts) with Terell Stafford • 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) 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 (Gatemouth) - Mel Lewis Quintet • 1981: Live in Montreux • 1982: Make Me Smile & Other New Works by Bob Brookmeyer • 1985: 20 Years at the Village Vanguard • 1988: Live at the Village Vanguard • 1988: Definitive Thad Jones, Vol. 2: Live from the Village Vanguard • 1988: Soft Lights and Hot Music • 1989: Lost Art • 1991: To You: A Tribute to Mel Lewis • 1993: Body and Soul • 2008: Definitive Thad Jones: Live from the Village Vanguard With Vanguard Jazz Orchestra • 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 • 2011: Forever Lasting: Live in Tokyo With Flim & the BBs • 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 • 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 • 1991: Worldwide • 1992: Acoustic • 2013: The Language of Life With Armen Donelian • 1988: Secrets • 1990: Wayfarer With Susannah McCorkle • 1993: From Bessie to Brazil • 1994: From Broadway to Bebop • 1999: From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies • 2000: Hearts and Minds With Joe Lovano • 1995: Rush Hour • 1996: Celebrating Sinatra • 2002: Viva Caruso With Nnenna Freelon • 1998: Maiden Voyage • 1994: Listen With Ted Rosenthal • 1992: Images of Monk • 2003: Expressions With Eddie Gómez • 1988: Power Play • 2008: Street Smart With Gary Smulyan • 1993: Saxophone Mosaic • 2009: High Noon: The Jazz Soul of Frankie Laine With others • 1981: Through a Looking GlassBob Brookmeyer • 1983: Impressions of Charles MingusTeo Macero • 1987: Initial Thrill – Kenia • 1989: KaleidoscopeBill Mays • 1989: Code Red – Code Red • 1989: Wilderness – Bob Thompson • 1991: So IntenseLisa Fischer • 1991: The Road Not Taken – Stefan Karlsson • 1991: Ricky Peterson – Smile Blue • 1992: Still in Love With YouMeli'sa Morgan • 1992: AwakeningBud Shank • 1992: The Moment – Yoshio Suzuki • 1992: Uh–OhDavid Byrne • 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 ChristmasLuther Vandross • 1995: Manhattan MoodsMary Stallings • 1995: Annette Lowman – Annette Lowman • 1995: I Was Born In Love With YouDenise Jannah • 1996: Portraits of CubaPaquito D'Rivera • 1996: Big BandJoe Henderson • 1997: Ruben GomezRubén Gómez • 1997: This Is Living!Tom Talbert Orchestra • 1998: Tropic Heat – Dave Valentin • 1999: Souvenir – Ricky Peterson • 2001: Group TherapyJim McNeely • 2002: Leaving HomeDavid Berkman • 2002: Pasajes – Jim Brock • 2003: New BeginningsTerell Stafford • 2004: Start Here... Finish There – David Berkman • 2004: Mean What You Say – Temple University Jazz Band • 2005: Echoes in the NightEarl MacDonald • 2006: Oatts & PerryHarold Danko • 2004: Let Yourself GoJudi Silvano • 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 AirLinda Baker • 2010: Oatts and Perry, Vol. 2Harold Danko • 2010: Homage – Stockholm Jazz Orchestra • 2010: Canopus – JazzNord Ensemble • 2011: At This Time – Norman David • 2011: ''Don't Look Back'' – Jane Stuart • 2011: Jazzing Vol. 3 – Sant Andreu Jazz Band • 2011: Legacy – Gerald Wilson Orchestra • 2014: We See Stars – Jim Olsen Ensemble • 2014: Intersecting LinesJerry Bergonzi • 2015: Jazzing Vol. 5 – Sant Andreu Jazz Band • 2017: Life Changes -- Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra ==References==
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