Leon Lee Dorsey

Leon Lee Dorsey (born March 12, 1958) is an American jazz bassist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator known for his well-received debut for Landmark Records. He teaches at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
Raised by a family plugged into Pittsburgh’s jazz lineage, Dorsey began playing instruments at an early age. He picked up the piano and cello first, soon after joining the Pittsburgh Symphony at the famed Center for the Musically Talented.
He began his undergraduate studies at Oberlin College, where he was the first to receive a B.M in classical Double Bass and Jazz Performance. Dorsey also graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory and was one of several jazz luminaries at the opening of their new jazz facility, the Bertram and Judith Kohl building.
He released his debut album The Watcher in 1995 and followed it up with 1999’s Song of Songs. In 2003, he founded Leon Lee Dorsey Studios in New York City.
Dorsey has performed alongside many jazz icons, from Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, John Lewis, Kenny Clarke, Jon Hendricks, Gloria Lynn, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Dorothy Donegan, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Ellis Marsalis, Nnenna Freelon, Terumasa Hino to GRAMMY-winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson, performing with Frank Sinatra at Carnegie Hall, and with conducting legends Lukas Foss and Robert Fountain.
Education
Classical Double Bass / Jazz Performance - Double Degree in Music (Oberlin College) - 1981
Classical Double Bass - Master's Degree (University of Wisconsin-Madison) - 1983
Artist Diploma Program (Hartt School of Music) - 1984
Music Performance (Double Bass) - Master's Degree (Manhattan School of Music) - 1986
Double Bass Performance - Doctor of Music (DMA) (Stony Brook University Graduate School) - 2016
Discography
As leader
As sideman
I Get a Kick Out of Bu - Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
Feel the Wind - Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers w/ Freddie Hubbard
Cookin in the Kitchen - Lionel Hampton Orchestra
Today's Love Songs Tomorrow's Blues - Arthur Prysock
(Classical Chamber Music) - Manchester Festival Orchestra
From my Heart to your Heart - Gloria Lynne w/ David "Fathead" Newman
Darling Please Save your Love for Me - Dakota Stanton
Gemini - Archie Schepp Quartet w/ John Hicks, Charlie Persip
Otherside - Oliver Lake Big Band w/ John Stubblefield, Frank Lacy
New York Story - Hilton Ruiz w/ George Coleman, Grady Tate
Steppin’ with T.P. - Hilton Ruiz w/ Dave Valentin, Antonio Hart
Swing ‘em Gates - Jay Hoggard w/ Dr. Billy Taylor, Winard Harper
Twilight Blues - Roy Meriwether w/ Houston Pearson
Song for my Sister - Roscoe Mitchell
Renewal of the Spirit - Vincent Ector w/ Bobby Watson
Lovecentric - Gerry Eastman w/ Joe Ford, Newman Baker
Vignettes in the Spirit of Ellington - James 'Jabbo' Ware
Something is Coming - James 'Jabbo' Ware
Gilly’s Caper - Sue Terry w/ Saul Reuben, Vince Ector
The Standard Session - Stephen Zinnato w/ Frank Wess, Charlie Persip
The 5 A.M. Strut - Ezra Weiss w/ Billy Hart, Antonio Hart, Mike Mossman
Persephone - Ezra Weiss w/ Billy Hart, Antonio Hart, Mike Mossman
Miles Away…Wayne in Heavy - Eric Gould
Who Sez - Eric Gould
Great Spirit - Jim Finn
Sax and the Single Girl - Gail Allen
What is This Thing Called Jazz - Laura Theodore
For Four Orchestras - Anthony Braxton (Oberlin Orchestra)
Head Music - The Daou (Underground Dance-Rock)
External links
Dorsey's homepage from University of Pittsburgh
Dorsey's personal website
References
Landmark Records artists
Living people
1958 births
American jazz double-bassists
Male double-bassists
Oberlin College alumni
University of Pittsburgh faculty
21st-century double-bassists
21st-century American male musicians
American male jazz musicians