VICTOR "RED" ATKINS

Instruments: Piano
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth: Selma, Alabama

Selma native and pianist Victor "Red" Atkins' style of piano has been described as "infectious, unconditional, tasteful and powerful" all at the same time. Hailing from Selma, Alabama, he began playing with Delfeayo Marsalis in 1989 and was an integral part of the seminal work  "Pontius Pilate's Decision," 

After receiving a B.A. from Berklee College of Music in Boston and an M.F.A. from Manhattan School of Music, Atkins has toured and performed with an impressive list of artists including Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Aaron Neville, Nnenna Freelon, Brian Blade, Lalah Hathaway and Nicholas Payton.

In Addition to being a part of the Jazz Studies faculty at the University of New Orleans, he still travels extensively with Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.

Some of his most creative work was produced during his time with the New Orleans based Los Hombres Calientes, which produced an innovative brand of Latin jazz that can be heard on their Volumes 1-5. In every musical situation, Atkins executes improvisational passages with great dexterity, combined with superior creative artistry. 

Atkins has been documented on CDs with Joshua Redman along with Wynton and Bradford Marsalis. Atkins has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Good Morning America" and Black Entertainment Television's " and Jazz Notes." .

He was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1998.