Apr 12, 2019
Detroit-area jazz drummer and drum educator Sean Dobbins has
been
playing since he was a very young man. As a student in the
Ann Arbor, Michigan school system, he was fortunate to study
under Louis Smith, an amazing trumpet player and long time Blue
Note
recording artist.
Influenced by jazz greats like Ed Thigpen, Elvin Jones and his
favorite drummer – Art Blakey - Sean has performed with an
amazing number of artist over the years, including Bennie
Golson, Frank Morgan, Tad Weed and Mose Allison, to name just
a few. Interestingly, Sean is our third interview with a
person whose played with Mose Allison!
While Sean keeps busy with numerous gigs and recording sessions,
he
also excels as a drum educator, a career move that came as a bit of
a
surprise for Sean who, early on, never dreamt he would teach.
He’s
not only an Applied Professor of Jazz Percussion at Wayne State
University, but also the Director of the Ann Arbor Public
School’s
Summer Jazz Program. It was great talking to Sean about
his
approach to drums and in our interview he offers a great deal
of
insight for the new and returning drummer.