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ABOUT FOSTINA DIXON

Instrumentalist, Vocalist, Composer, Arranger, Lyricist, Actress, & Educator

Fostina Dixon is a composer, vocalist and jazz soloist who plays soprano, alto and baritone saxes; flute; and clarinet. Ms. Dixon has been guest soloist with Abbey Lincoln, Barry Harris, Earl May and the Big Apple Jazzwomen. She has also played with Gil Evans, Roy Ayers, Tom Browne, Charlie Persip, Melba Liston, Cab Calloway, Slide Hampton, Frank Foster, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Vinton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Prince, and Marvin Gaye, with whom she toured for four years. She was a member of the Gerald Wilson, Jimmy Cleveland and Leslie Drayton big bands.

Fostina Dixon is a native of Wilmington, Delaware where she studied with the late Robert "Boysie" Lowery. As a young woodwind instrumentalist, she played for the Delaware All-State Band and was selected for the American Young Symphonic Orchestra which toured Europe. She went on to study with such great musicians as Frank Foster, Buddy Collette, Vic Morosco, Joe Viola, Andy McGhee and William Bowie.

As a professional musician, she has performed at numerous clubs, colleges, libraries, churches, community art centers, New York's Jazzmobile concert series, theaters and toured abroad. In 2019 Ms. Dixon and group “Winds of Change” were recipients of a grant from the South Arts Road Jazz Tour. Other performances in 2019 include the Medgar Evers College Jazz Series, Delaware State University, Clements Place presented by the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, Harlem Jazz Series, Twins Jazz Club in D.C., Warmdaddy’s in Philadelphia, Sista’s Place in Brooklyn New York, the 75 Club and Restaurant in NYC and the list goes on. Fostina Dixon & Winds of Change has appeared at the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival, New York's Annual Afrikan Street Carnival, the Annual New York Women's Jazz Festival, the Annual Black Women's History Conference, the Kool Jazz Festival, Greenwich Village Jazz Festival, and the Annual Jackie Robinson Festival in Norwalk, CT. Fostina has also toured Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands several times.

Ms. Dixon has worked with and made television appearances on shows such as the popular "NY Undercover Cop" series, WNYC Channel 31s "Perspective in Jazz," NBCs "Today in New York" with Dr. Billy Taylor and a special TV presentation "Salute to Bobby Vinton." Fostina's extensive career has carried her into theatrical performances of the Musical Theatre Works production of "All Girl Band" and Playwrights Horizon production of "Jazz is a Lady." She has performed at the Women's International Film Festival in New York City and "Sisterfire," a festival in celebration of women artists sponsored by the Flamboyant Ladies Theatre Company.

Fostina Dixon founded the Wilmington Youth Jazz Band in 2004. The Wilmington Youth Jazz Band (www.wyjb.org), is a non- profit organization for youth.

Fostina received a Christi Award for her contributions to promoting the arts in the community, an Outstanding Arts Educator award from the Delaware Board of Education, and an Outstanding Contributor award from the Council of Jazz Advocates for her work as an arts educator and the Founder and longtime Executive Director of the Wilmington Youth Jazz Band.

ABOUT THE MUSIC

On Ms. Dixon’s “New Beginnings” CD, she co- produced her original materials with producers Bill Jolly and Gail Jhonson.

Soul Tracks Review! "The combination of sax player supreme Fostina Dixon and legendary vocalist Ty Causey is a pairing made in heaven for fans of smooth love songs with a jazzy twist." Chris Rizik Publisher, SoulTracks.com

“I believe Fostina Dixon will truly take her place amongst the stars of the Jazz world.””

Lloyd Z. Remick, Esq. www.zanemanagement.com

Fostina Dixon’s soulful, jazzy, funky, gospel sound is as unique as it is mesmerizing. One of the few female jazz instrumentalists to front her own band, Winds of Change, the saxophonist, composer, vocalist and educator’s comeback album in 2016, “Here We Go Again” garnered complimentary reviews. Fostina released the Vertical Alignment CD in 2019. The Vertical Alignment CD got numerous reviews and did well on charts including Billboard, SmoothJazz.com and SoulTracks. Fostina continued to release the single, “Get on the Floor” featuring Larry Blackmon and then “Leave the Door Open” displaying her unique improvisational style.

Some artists Fostina has recorded with are James Blood Ulmer, Frank Foster, Roy Ayers, The Fat Boys, Major Holley, and Leslie Drayton's Big Band. She has worked as a studio musician for HEA Productions, Inc. and done many radio and TV commercials. Frequently, Ms. Dixon has taught music for elementary and high school in the New York, Los Angeles and Wilmington areas, as well as, several cultural centers, churches, the New School and New York University.

After a storied early career that included playing alongside such Jazz greats as Abbey Lincoln, Melba Liston, Frank Foster, James “Blood” Ulmer, Tom Browne, Roy Ayers, playing in the Gerald Wilson Big Band, touring with Marvin Gaye and many other experiences too vast to mention, Fostina has made significant contributions to the arts and education scenes.

Press and Reviews

Soul Tracks Review! "Sax player supreme Fostina Dixon takes on the Grammy-winning Silk Sonic song “Leave The Door Open,” and makes it her own, balancing the gritty with the sweet. Dixon builds a smooth, laid-back foundation for the ballad, and then delivers a series of gritty, nighttime riffs on top, all resulting in a fresh new look at a not-so-old favorite." – Chris Rizik Publisher, SoulTracks.com

“I enjoyed the nice melodic interplay between the saxophone and vocal group. It was also a pleasure to listen to a recent instrumental that didn’t drown the soloist in octave doubles, chorus, and other trendy effects, opting instead to allow the soloist to create the musical textures that match the character of the song through interpretive technique. Nicely done.” – Tom Browne

“The primary thing Fostina projects through her playing is Power…the power of soul, the power of being whole…it’s all there” – Dick Metcalf -Contemporary Fusion, , https://contemporaryfusionreviews.com/stunning-soulful-sounds/

“Fostina is proof she knows more about Smooth Jazz than many have forgotten (or never learned). A solid outing that gets right to heart of things…” – MIDWESTRECORD, http://midwestrecord.com/MWR1585.html

“Music That Sticks To My Soul” - Jonathan Widran- JW Vibe, https://www.jwvibe.com/post/2019/10/14/fostina-dixon-vertical-alignment

“This latest album release is pure joy and big fun! Fostina knows how to combine straight-ahead jazz and funk in a way that immediately engages the listener” -By Dee Dee McNeil - Musicalmemoirs's blog - A Jazz WordPress.com weblog, https://musicalmemoirs.wordpress.com/2019/10/15/sexy-horns-blow-across-continents-tribute-jazz-legends/

“She is a player of impeccable control and skills with highly independent ideas.” – AMERICAN WOMEN IN JAZZ

“Dixon adeptly showcases her virtuosic flair juxtaposing melody and improvisation…” – ALL ABOUT JAZZ

“It’s my honor to represent Fostina on this CD. She should take her place among jazz superstars. Love the sax interplay on the two vocals, “Best Is Yet To Come,” and “I’ll Always Remember.” Reminds me of the great jazz legend Grover Washington Jr.” - Lloyd Z. Remick Esq.

AWARDS:

Delaware Division of the Arts Recipient for 2021 Established Fellow, Jazz Performance

Delaware Division of the Arts Recipient for Established Professional Jazz Composition 2012

Recipient of Christi Awards, 2009

Honored by Christina School District as Outstanding Arts Educator, 2009

Masters in Educational Leadership, 2008 Wilmington University

Featured in book Black Women and Music

INTERVIEW:

Interview with Brenda Moss : A Music Journey with Jazz Saxophonist Fostina Dixon- https://www.blogtalkradio.com/_allaboutthatjazz2014/2020/01/28/a-music-journey-with-jazz-saxophonist-fostina-dixon

SOCIAL MEDIA: