Dennis Irwin

Bassist Dennis Irwin was a fixture of New York City jazz for over three decades, playing on more than 500 LPs including sessions headlined by Art Blakey, John Scofield, and Joe Lovano. Born in Birmingham, AL on November 28, 1951, Irwin grew up in Atlanta and Knoxville -- his older brothers were jazz buffs, and with their encouragement he began playing clarinet. In the mid-'60s the family relocated to Houston, where the teenaged Irwin played alto sax in a series of local R&B band. While studying classical clarinet at North Texas State University he began playing upright bass in...