Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ernest Dawkins was born November 2, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois. As a child he 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 Joseph Jarman and Chico Freeman, members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. He also studied at Vandercook College of Music.

He worked with Ed Wilkerson and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Douglas Ewart before founding his own New Horizons Ensemble. The ensemble played regularly in Chicago into the new century, as well as at jazz festivals and on tour in Europe.

As a leader he recorded sixteen albums, three as an unofficial leader/co-leader of The (AACM) Great Black Music Ensemble and as a guest with the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble.

Saxophonist Ernest Dawkins, who is principally active in free jazz and post-bop, continues to perform, record and tour.

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