Ernest Dawkins
Ernest Dawkins is an American jazz saxophonist, principally active in free jazz and post-bop.
Ernest Khabeer Dawkins was a neighbor of Anthony Braxton as a child. He played bass and drums early in life before switching to saxophone in 1973. During that decade he began studying with members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, such as Joseph Jarman and Chico Freeman, as well as at the Vandercook College of Music. He worked with Ed Wilkerson and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Douglas Ewart before founding his own New Horizons Ensemble, which played regularly in Chicago into the 2000s, as well as at jazz festivals and on tour in Europe.
Discography
As leader
- After the Dawn Has Risen
- South Side Street Songs
- Chicago Now Vol. 1
- Chicago Now Vol. 2
- Mother's Blue Velvet Shoes
- Jo'burg Jump
- Cape Town Shuffle
- Misconception of a Delusion Shades of a Charade
- Mean Ameen
- The Messenger
- A Black Op'Era: Dedicated to Chairman Fred Hampton recorded live at Sons d'hiver Festival 2006 in Paris
- Un-Till Emmett Till
- The Prairie Prophet
- Velvet Songs
- Afro Straight
- ''Memory in the Center''
As unofficial leader/co-leader
with The Great Black Music EnsembleSparx of Love, Sparx of Fire! A Tribute to Martin Sparx Alexander At Umbria Jazz 2009- ''Live @ The Currency Exchange Cafe, Vol. 1''
As guest
With Hamid DrakeBinduwith Ethnic Heritage EnsembleThe Continuum Papa's Bounce