A saxophonist distinguished by his kinetic technique and luminous tone, Dick Oatts has remained a sought-after session musician, sideman, and bandleader since arriving in New York during the 1970s. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1953, he was raised in a musical household as the son of the respected jazz saxophonist and educator Jack Oatts. Displaying prodigious talent early on, he performed throughout his high-school years and refined his abilities at Drake University in Iowa. Following graduation, he spent several years active in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region before moving to New York City in 1972. There he promptly secured a place in the renowned Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, contributing to recordings such as the 1978 release It Only Happens Every Time with Monica Zetterlund, 1979’s Naturally, and 1981’s Mellifluous.
Leading his own projects, Oatts has issued a steady stream of recordings on the SteepleChase imprint, among them 1997’s All of Three, 2000’s Simone’s Dance, and 2002’s South Paw. He also collaborated frequently with pianist Garry Dial across multiple albums. Subsequent releases include 2008’s Gratitude, 2009’s Saxology, and 2011’s Bridging the Gap alongside trumpeter Terell Stafford. In 2012 he presented the quintet album Lookin’ Up, and two years later he recorded Sweet Nowhere with pianist Harold Danko. The 2016 project A Tribute to Herbie + 1 found him working with Mats Holmquist in homage to Herbie Hancock, while the following year he joined trumpeter Joe Magnarelli for Use Your Imagination on SteepleChase.
Throughout his career Oatts has performed and recorded with an array of distinguished artists including Joe Lovano, Red Rodney, Fred Hersch, Jerry Bergonzi, Eddie Gomez, and Jon Faddis. He has also appeared in large-ensemble settings with Tito Puente, Lester Bowie, Kenny Wheeler, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the WDR Big Band, and the Norrbotten Big Band. Committed to education, he has conducted clinics internationally, taught in the jazz studies department at Temple University in Philadelphia, and served as Artist in Residence at the Amsterdam Conservatory.
