Dwayne Dolphin

Dwayne Dolphin is a jazz and funk bassist, composer, and educator who grew up and lives in Pittsburgh.

He's been an adjunct faculty member in Duquesne University's Jazz Performance Department and currently leads his own band, the Dwayne Dolphin Fo'Tet in addition to being a mainstay in Roger Humphries RH Factor.

Biography Dolphin plays acoustic bass, electric bass and piccolo bass. He first picked up the electric bass at age 10, switching from guitar because the sound of it was too high and it hurt his ears. By the age of 15, he was playing locally in Pittsburgh.

One Friday during high school, one of his teachers gave him Miles Davis's album Kind of Blue, telling him to go home and learn it. He came back to school on Monday and played one of Davis' solos. The teacher asked, "What is that? I wanted you to learn the bass parts." "No, you told me to learn the record."

He says that "My job is to make people feel good. Play and try to make the instrument communicate to the point where it connects to human beings from soul to soul as opposed to ear to ear."

Discography

As leader/co-leader Portrait of Adrian (Minor Music, 1993) Three Of A Kind, Madsen - Dolphin - Cox, (Minor Music, 1994) Meets Mister T., Three Of A Kind, (Minor Music 1994) Drip Some Grease, Three Of A Kind, (Minor Music 1996) 4 Robin (AAM, 2004) Ming (Bonedog, 2006) Pretty Girl (Bonedog, 2008) Essence of an Angel (Corona, 2012) Indigenous (2018) Let The Music Play (Imani Records, 2025)

As sideman With Geri Allen Maroons (Blue Note, 1992)

With Bill Heid Air Mobile (Doodlin’ Records, 2006)

With Arthur Blythe Blythe Byte (Savant, 2001) With Pee Wee Ellis Twelve and More Blues (Minor Music, 1993)

With John Hicks Something to Live For: A Billy Strayhorn Songbook (HighNote, 1997) Nightwind: An Erroll Garner Songbook (HighNote, 1997) Impressions of Mary Lou (HighNote, 1998) Music in the Key of Clark (HighNote, 2001) Fatha's Day: An Earl Hines Songbook (HighNote, 2003) With Jimmy Ponder James Street (HighNote, 1997) With Stanley Turrentine T Time (MusicMasters, 1995)

With Fred Wesley Swing & Be Funky (Minor Music, 1993) Amalgamation (Minor Music, 1994)

With Nancy Wilson R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) (MCG Jazz, 2004)