Technical Sergeant John B. Dawson

Technical Sergeant John B. Dawson, saxophone, is a native of Springfield, VA.   During his high school years he studied with Marty Nau and gained a position in the renowned Grammy High School Jazz Ensemble, performing with Bobby Sanabria and Dave Koz.  As a high school senior he was honored as a Downbeat Magazine outstanding instrumentalist. TSgt Dawson began studies at Arizona State University in 2002 with Chuck Marohnic, Mike Kocour, Joseph Wytko, and Mike Crotty.  He graduated magna cum laude with a B.Mus. in Jazz Performance, and played with guest artists such as Gary Foster, Jerry Bergonzi, Greg Abate, Seamus Blake, Scott Wendholt, and Rich Perry.
    Some of his public performances and recordings have been with Doc Severinsen, the Temptations, the Four Tops, John Jennings (producer for Mary Chapin Carpenter), multi-Grammy nominee John McCutcheon, multi-Grammy winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, and Willie Nelson.  He has played at such notable venues as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Barns at Wolf Trap, the Smithsonian Jazz Café, Phoenix Symphony Hall, the Dodge Theater, and D.C.’s Blues Alley. 
    TSgt Dawson joined the U.S. Air Force in June of 2006, graduating as Outstanding Airman, Honor Graduate, and Expert Marksman. He now plays alto sax with the Falconaires and Marching Band, and clarinet with the Concert Band.