DJYQ Biography
The Dozier-Jarvis-Young Quartet has been performing together since l998. They all live and work in the Moscow, Idaho/Pullman, Washington area.
Dick Dozier’s academic training was almost exclusively in imaginative literature, and it’s only recently that Dick retired from the Department of English at the University of Idaho. But music was always an important part of Dick’s life, and from the time he entered school until his appointment to a professorship, he performed as a vocalist, either alone or with one of several vocal groups. Not until his early thirties did Dick take up the acoustic bass, and then largely because of his wife’s growing interest in jazz piano. He has since added a 5-string bass guitar to his equipment, Dick sees himself primarily as a support player, and the bassists he admires most are those like Buster Williams who have achieved a deep and distinctive bass sound.
Dody Dozier grew up playing the violin and did not begin playing jazz piano until she married Dick. When a drummer called to offer them their first gig, Dody recalls “We had a lot of nerve taking that job. It was five nights a week, at a dinner club. I knew seven tunes. Oddly enough, when we started getting better - more professional you might say - we were fired!” Dody has been playing in trios and quartets ever since, as well as maintaining a private studio in jazz piano. In l984-85, she taught at the Aula de Musica in Barcelona, Spain. In the late 80’s, the trio with Dave Jarvis began to explore the use of electronic instruments, which greatly increased the group’s repertoire. “My first loves are Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson and grand pianos,” Dody says. “But after that, there’s a huge amount of music you can get at with synthesizers. It’s all good!”
David Jarvis is Associate Professor and Director to Percussion Studies at Washington State University in Pullman. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in music education from the University of Nebraska, and his Master’s Degree from Washington State University. Dave specializes in literature written for percussion and electronic sound, and has performed solo concerts around the country featuring his style of literature. He performs regularly with Cameradschaft, a trumpet/percussion duo; the WSU Faculty Jazz Septet; and is Principal Timpanist with the Washington-Idaho Symphony. He has been Principal Percussionist with the Oregon Coast Music Festival Orchestra for over ten years.
Horace Alexander Young has appeared on 54 significant recordings and performed on several international tours and in concert with such noted artists as B.B. King, Bill Withers, The Manhattans, Regina Bell, Johnny Kemp, Lionel Hampton, and many more jazz greats. His saxophone, flute, and jazz vocals have been heard in l8 countries and at jazz festivals around the world. Horace is currently a member of the music faculty at Washington State University and also leads his own recording group in support of his solo releases “Heart’s Desire” (1996) and “In a Very Special Way” (2004).
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