Julian Dash

Julian Dash

Source: Charleston Jazz Initiative

Julian Dash began his career playing alto sax but would quickly switch to tenor. Dash is an illustration of a swing musician transitioning to R&B. Born on 9 April 1916 in Charleston, South Carolina, Dash is assumed to have been a student at Alabama State Teachers College from '34 to '36, during which period he played with the Charleston Nighthawks ('35), the Revellers and the Bama State Collegians. (It was 1936 when Erskine Hawkins replaced the Collegians' leader, Shims.) Dash apparently studied embalming in New York after that, then ran his own band until he joined the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra in 1938, replacing Paul Bascomb. (It was 1938 when Hawkins changed the Collegians' name to His Orchestra. Tenor saxophonist, Paul Bascomb, an original member of the Collegians, made that transition.) Dash would make his name with the Hawkins Orchestra, his first session thought to have been on September 12 of 1938 for such as 'Rockin' Rollers' Jubilee' and 'King Porter Stomp'. Dash remained with Erskine's swing operation for years to come, Lord's disco showing a last session per February 9, 1956, for such as 'The Yurt' and 'Waltz in Blue' with Ace Harris at piano. He is featured on tenor sax below per 'Swingin' On Lenox Avenue'.

Dash began releasing his own name titles in 1951, orienting toward R&B. On December 12 of 1950 Dash recorded Mello-Roll 5001 ('My Silent Love' and 'Creamin'') and Mello-Roll 5002 ('Going Along' and 'Long Moan'). ('My Silent Love' / 'Creamin'' may have been released as early as that year by Mello-Roll.) 'Creamin'' / 'Going Along' was issued by Coral (65094) in 1952. On February 7 of '51 Dash recorded four tracks for the Sittin' In With label: 'Coolin' With Dash', 'Dashin' In', 'Preachin'' and 'Somebody's Gone'. He would begin recording for the Vee-Jay label in 1954. Same-date sessions missing matrix numbers below are stacked per Tom Lord. All are the same sextet excepting Leroy Kirkland replacing Everett Barksdale on guitar at 'Hot Rod'. I've labeled them all as Julian Dash's Sextet to reflect what might be printed on record labels:

Another operation with which Dash became familiar in the fifties was Buck Clayton's in 1953-54, '56 and '67. Dash had joined Clayton for such as 'Moten Swing' and 'Sentimental Journey' in December of '53. Their last occasion of recording together in 1967 was in support of Jimmy Rushing's 'Gee Baby, 'Ain't I Good to You' and 'Who Was It Sang That Song?' on October 30. Concerning titles on 13 August of 1954 below, those were recorded by a combo of five including Dash at tenor sax. I've listed such as by Julian Dash & His Orchestra per what may be printed on labels.

In May of 1970 Dash recorded his LP, 'A Portrait of Julian'. March 6 of 1972 found him backing Jay McShann on 'Going to Kansas City'. Dash died on February 15 of 1974 in New York City. Composing credits include 'Tuxedo Junction' along with Erskine Hawkins, Bill Johnson and Buddy Feyne in 1939, and 'House Party' with Louis Jordan, et al, in 1953.

Sources & References:

Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (Leonard Feather & Ira Gitler / Oxford U Press 1999/07)

VF History

Wikipedia

Discographies: Discogs   RYM

Filmography: IMDb

Sessionographies:

JazzDisco

Tom Lord: leading 11 of 84 sessions