Hobart Dotson

Hobart Dotson (January 13, 1922—January 1, 1971) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger of modern jazz. He played with many famed jazz musicians of the time, including Gerald Wilson, Wilbert Baranco, William Russo, Charles Mingus, Billy Eckstine, Horace Henderson, and Sun Ra.

Hobart Dotson was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, on January 13, 1922.

He made his debut in 1945 when he appeared on four of Gerald Wilson's big band dates for Excelsior Records. In 1945-1947, he worked with Gerald Wilson And His Orchestra's album Cruisin' With Gerald (Sounds of Swing – LP-121). He played trumpet on two tracks—"Puerto Rican Breakdown" and "Come Sunday", sharing the stage with Bob Rudd (bass); Henry Tucker Green (drums); Bill Edwards and Benny Sexton (guitar); Jimmy Bunn (piano); Floyd Turnham, Maurice James Simon, and Olif West (saxophone); Alton Moore, Melba Liston, Vic Dickenson (trombone); and Emmett Berry and Snooky Young (trumpet).

Dotson then joined the last edition of Billy Eckstine And His Orchestra for the album 1946-1947 (Classics Records – CLASSICS1022) and played trumpet on 8 tracks (13 to 20) alongside Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone); Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone); Tommy Potter (bass); Art Blakey (drums); Connie Wainwright (guitar); Linton Garner (piano); Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone); Walter Knox (trombone); and King Kolax, Leonard Hawkins, and Miles Davis (trumpet).

In 1946, Dotson was heard on Wilbert Baranco And His Orchestra's Presents Jubileewith Buddy Collette (alto saxophone), Gene Porter (baritone saxophone), Charles Mingus (bass), Earl Watkins (drums), Buddy Harper (guitar), Lucky Thompson (tenor saxophone), Britt Woodman, Melba Liston (trombone), and Snooky Young (trumpet).

In 1948, Dotson moved from Los Angeles to Chicago, where he collaborated with bassist Eugene Wright And His Dukes Of Swing to record "Pork'n Beans" (written by Leonard Chess) and "Dawn Mist" (Aristocrat Records - 11001), accompanied by John Avant (trombone); Roy Grant and Frank Robinson (alto saxophone); Yusef Lateef and Melvin Scott (tenor saxophone); Sun Ra (piano and arranger); Robert Henderson (drums); and Gail Brockman (trumpet).

Next, in 1949, Dotson's trumpet can be heard on "Got Good News For Ya, Baby" and "J.P. Boogie" recordings (Rondo Records, R-1557) for pianist Johnny Perry's Orchestra with H. Morton (alto saxophone), Wilbur Ware (bass), Chuck Williams (drums), Ernest Ashley (guitar), and E. Parker McDougal (tenor saxophone).

Dotson then played in Jay Burkhart's bebop orchestra with vocalist Joe Williams and vibraphonist Hal Russell. In the early 1950s, he made several records with a big band led by alto and tenor saxophonist Danny Belloc. In 1954, he played in Horace Henderson's Trianon Ballroom in Chicago with Porter Kilbert and Laurdine "Pat" Patrick.

In 1956, Dotson recorded with guitarist Billy Butler for the Verro label with saxophonist Charles Davis and trombonist Julian Priester.

In 1957, he did the arrangements for Porter Kilbert And Orchestra on "Swinging with a Mombo" and "Lee's Bounce" (Ping Records) with Johnny Avant (trombone); Eddie Williams; McKinley "Mac" Easton (saxophone); Billy Wallace (piano); Eddie Calhoun (double bass); and Vernel Fournier (drums).

In the following years, Dotson worked with Sun Ra and His Arkestra on albums Jazz in Silhouette (Evidence, 1959) and The Nubians of Plutonia (Saturn Records).

In 1961, Dotson was at the recording of trombonist Slide Hampton's album Two Sides Of Slide with Jay Cameron (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet), Eddie Khan (bass), Lex Humphries (drums), George Coleman (tenor saxophone, clarinet), and Benjamin Jacobs-El (trombone).

In the 1960s, Dotson played with Charles Mingus' production of album Pre-bird with Dannie Richmond (drums); Robert Di Domenica (flute); Sticks Evans (percussions); Danny Bank, Eric Dolphy, Joe Farrell, John LaPorta, Yusef Lateef (saxophone); Charles Greenlee, Eddie Bert, Jimmy Knepper (trombone); Clark Terry, Marcus Belgrave, and Ted Curson (trumpet); and Don Butterfield (tuba).

On September 18, 1965, Dotson performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, in Monterey, California with Charles Mingus octet alongside Jimmy Owens (fluegelhorn), Julius Watkins (French horn), Lonnie Hillyer (trumpet), Garnett Brown (trombone), Howard Johnson (tuba), Charles McPherson (alto sax), and Dannie Richmond (drums).

Dotson died in Brooklyn, New York, on January 1, 1971, at age 49.

• Richard Cook, Brian Morton: The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. 6th edition. Penguin, London 2002, ISBN 0-14-051521-6.