Sean Dobbins
Drum Set
Jazz drummer Sean Dobbins got his start as a sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. As Sean's career progressed, he found himself the recipient of many awards and accolades including the "Woody Herman Jazz Award," an award for outstanding musicianship, as well as the Louis Armstrong Scholarship.
Sean has performed, toured and recorded with an impressive lists of artists, including with Johnny Basset, Benny Golson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Frank Morgan, Joey DeFrancesco, George Cables, James "Blood" Ulmer, Marcus Belgrave, Larry Willis, Rodney Whittaker, Claude Black, Johnny O'Neal, Paul Keller, Tad Weed, Kurt Krahnke, Jon Hendricks, David "Fathead" Newman, Donald Walden, Cyrus Chesnut, Barry Harris, David Baker, Randy Johnston, Marion Hayden, Mose Allison, and a host of other great musicians.
His sound can best be described as hard-driving, solid rhythm with refreshing melodic sensibility. Some of Sean's influences include Detroit-area greats Gerald Cleaver and Elvin Jones, as well as masters such as Art Blakey, Jeff Hamilton, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Ed Thigpen and Sonny Payne.
A product of the Ann Arbor Public Schools, Sean has stayed devoted to education throughout his life. Early mentor Louis Smith, an Ann Arbor Public School band teacher, impressed the importance of a good education upon Sean at an early age. Sean is known in his community as a band director, drum teacher and positive influence for many.