Dennis Irwin


Dennis Irwin was an American jazz double bassist. He toured and recorded with John Scofield and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra among others, and played on over 500 albums.

Biography

Irwin attended North Texas State University with Norman Wisdom, studying classical music. Although he started out playing alto sax and clarinet he soon switched to the bass and joined the university's "Two O'Clock Lab Band."
After working with pianist Red Garland in Dallas, Irwin moved to New York. There he played with Charles Brackeen, and later landed his first steady gig in trumpeter Ted Curson's group in 1975. He accompanied such vocalists as Jackie Paris, Betty Carter, Annie Ross, Ann Hampton Callaway, Tania Maria and Mose Allison.
Influences include bassists Al Jackson Sr. and Eddie Jones. Irwin's first major recording session was in New York City on May 20 & 21, 1976, with Brazilian pianist Dom Salvador, My Family. Beginning in 1977, Irwin played with Art Blakey for three years.
The Jazz Messengers recorded several of Irwin’s compositions including "Kamal." Irwin also worked with Chet Baker, Mel Lewis, Joe Lovano, Stan Getz, Johnny Griffin and Horace Silver as well as with Brazilian musicians Duduca Fonseca and Portinho. From 1992 to 1995, Irwin played with guitarist John Scofield. He can be heard on his Blue Note recordings What We Do, Hand Jive and Groove Elation.
His battle with liver cancer, which was ultimately fatal, raised awareness of jazz musicians without medical insurance. The Jazz Foundation of America and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center created the Dennis Irwin Memorial Fund to pay for cancer screenings for uninsured jazz and blues musicians.
Irwin died in Manhattan on March 10, 2008, the same day as a Jazz at Lincoln Center benefit concert in his honor featuring performances by Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, and Jon Hendricks, in addition to Lovano and Scofield.
His partner was singer Aria Hendricks, daughter of Jon Hendricks. His son, Michael Irwin, is a trumpet player in New York City.

Selected discography

With Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers
With Joshua Breakstone
  • Echoes
  • Self-Portrait in Swing
  • 9 by 3
  • Walk Don't Run
  • Let's Call This Monk!
With Curtis Fuller
  • Four on the Outside
With Johnny Griffin
  • Take My Hand
  • Woe Is Me
  • The Cat
With Scott Hamilton
  • Radio City
  • Organic Duke
  • My Romance
  • Blues Bop & Ballads
  • Ballad Essentials
With Joe Lovano
  • Tones, Shapes & Colors
  • 52nd Street Themes
  • On This Day...Live at the Vanguard
  • Streams of Expression
With Tisziji Munoz
  • Visiting This Planet
  • Hearing Voices
With Valery Ponomarev
  • Means of Identification
  • Trip to Moscow
With John Scofield'