Biography
Dezron Douglas, recognized for his warm bass tone and hard-swinging grooves, performs across post-bop, soul-jazz, and avant-garde styles with notable versatility. As a protege of Jackie McLean, he first gained notice playing in Cyrus Chestnut's trio and later led his own ensembles on releases such as Live at Smalls in 2012 and Black Lion in 2018. In addition to his role teaching at NYU Steinhardt, Douglas has collaborated with Ravi Coltrane, Makaya McCraven, Duane Eubanks, Trey Anastasio, and many others. His partnership with harpist Brandee Younger produced the acclaimed 2020 duo recording Force Majeure, while his 2022 effort Atalaya highlighted his expanding vision within contemporary creative jazz.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1981, Douglas was raised in a religious household with strong musical ties as the son of a pastor and nephew of drummer and composer Walter Bolden. He began playing bass at age seven, performing gospel music in church, and turned professional by age twelve. Following high school, he attended The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, studying under his mentor, saxophonist Jackie McLean. During this period, he made his recording debut alongside drummer Michael Carvin and co-established The New Jazz Workshop of Hartford, earning an Evelyn Preston Grant and documenting the group on Underground. Subsequent releases appeared on Venus Records, several of which included pianist Cyrus Chestnut, with whom he also performed in a trio setting; these include Walkin' My Baby Back Home and Ganbare Nippon, both from 2012.
Douglas issued his first official leader date, Live at Smalls, in 2012, which featured trumpeter Josh Evans, saxophonist Stacy Dillard, pianist David Bryant, and drummer Willie Jones III. His resume includes work with Louis Hayes, Steve Davis, George Cables, Papo Vasquez, Enrico Rava, Eric Reed, Tomasz Stańko, and Makaya McCraven. He remains a core member of the Ravi Coltrane Quartet and has appeared with the Louis Hayes Jazz Communicators. In 2016, Douglas formed DE3 alongside trumpeter Duane Eubanks and drummer Charles McPherson, resulting in Live at Maxwell's. Venus Records put out a third album from him, Soul Jazz, in 2017. Independently, he followed with Black Lion the next year, a funky post-bop session again featuring Evans and Dillard among others.
He teamed with harpist Brandee Younger for the 2020 duo album Force Majeure. In 2021, Douglas replaced the late Tony Markellis in the Trey Anastasio Band. Outside of performing, he serves as an educator on the Jazz Studies faculty at NYU Steinhardt. His sophomore quintet album, Atalaya, came out in 2022 and included pianist George Burton, saxophonist Emilio Modeste, drummer Joe Dyson, Jr., and vocalist Melvis Santa.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1981, Douglas was raised in a religious household with strong musical ties as the son of a pastor and nephew of drummer and composer Walter Bolden. He began playing bass at age seven, performing gospel music in church, and turned professional by age twelve. Following high school, he attended The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, studying under his mentor, saxophonist Jackie McLean. During this period, he made his recording debut alongside drummer Michael Carvin and co-established The New Jazz Workshop of Hartford, earning an Evelyn Preston Grant and documenting the group on Underground. Subsequent releases appeared on Venus Records, several of which included pianist Cyrus Chestnut, with whom he also performed in a trio setting; these include Walkin' My Baby Back Home and Ganbare Nippon, both from 2012.
Douglas issued his first official leader date, Live at Smalls, in 2012, which featured trumpeter Josh Evans, saxophonist Stacy Dillard, pianist David Bryant, and drummer Willie Jones III. His resume includes work with Louis Hayes, Steve Davis, George Cables, Papo Vasquez, Enrico Rava, Eric Reed, Tomasz Stańko, and Makaya McCraven. He remains a core member of the Ravi Coltrane Quartet and has appeared with the Louis Hayes Jazz Communicators. In 2016, Douglas formed DE3 alongside trumpeter Duane Eubanks and drummer Charles McPherson, resulting in Live at Maxwell's. Venus Records put out a third album from him, Soul Jazz, in 2017. Independently, he followed with Black Lion the next year, a funky post-bop session again featuring Evans and Dillard among others.
He teamed with harpist Brandee Younger for the 2020 duo album Force Majeure. In 2021, Douglas replaced the late Tony Markellis in the Trey Anastasio Band. Outside of performing, he serves as an educator on the Jazz Studies faculty at NYU Steinhardt. His sophomore quintet album, Atalaya, came out in 2022 and included pianist George Burton, saxophonist Emilio Modeste, drummer Joe Dyson, Jr., and vocalist Melvis Santa.
Albums
