Pittsburgh Jazz… Dwayne Dolphin is Indigenous

Local jazz legend Dwayne Dolphin has released his latest record, Indigenous.    As stated in the press release, Dolphin spans Smooth, Funk, Traditional Jazz, World, Brazilian, Cool Jazz,

Dwayne Dolphin is a mainstay in the jazz scene, working with Pittsburgh greats such as Roger Humphries, Pete Henderson and Carl Arter. Dolphin is a virtuoso on both acoustic and electric bass.  During a typical show he will play both and play them both well. He also traverses many genres sometimes in the same song.

Indigenous is Dwayne’s 8th release as a solo artist.   The record features both instrumental and vocal songs. Of particular note is 25-8.  Anita Levels’ vocals soar over an angelic hymn.

The track sure to garner the most attention is Time Keeps on Slippin’.’ It closes the record and put the record to bed with a funky take on Steve Miller.  Of particular note is the presence of local legend Sean Jones on trumpet and the great Fred Wesley on trombone.

Dolphin has had the opportunity to play and record with the “Who’s Who” of music, such as Nancy Wilson,  Stanley Turrentine, Melba Moore, the aforementioned Fred Wesley, John Hicks, Pee Wee Ellis, Geri Allen, and Abby Lincoln, among others over the years.  Dolphin started playing at fifteen with local legend Roger Humphries (with whom he still plays) which led to a gig in Wynton and Branford Marsalis’s band as a teenager.

Not willing rest on his laurels, (he’s already a member of the Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of fame), Dwayne still tours all over the world both as a solo artist and as a sideman.  Most notably he is the bassist in the New JB’s (the band that backed James Brown). Dolphin also mentored current star Sean Jones.

Whether it is funk, jazz, smooth, easy listening, traditional jazz, or almost any other genre, Dwayne plays it on his electric bass, piccolo bass, and acoustic bass.

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