Atkinson played with Betty Carter from 1969 to 1971, and in the 1970s worked with Kenny Burrell, George Coleman, Andrew Cyrille, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, John Gordon, Jon Hendricks, Helen Humes, Hank Jones, Wynton Kelly, Howard McGhee, Horace Parlan, Hazel Scott, Norman Simmons, Frank Strozier, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, and Richard Wyands.
In 1983, Atkinson formed his own group, the Neo-Bass Ensemble, which included five bassists, together with Paul H. Brown, a pianist, and Al Harewood on drums.
In the 1980s Atkinson also played with Benny Carter, Lee Konitz, Grover Mitchell, Joe Newman, Dakota Staton, and Ernie Wilkins.
Among his associations in the 1990s and 2000s were Barry Harris, Leroy Williams, Jeanne Lee, and Sir Charles Thompson.
[1] With Roni Ben-Hur With Joshua Breakstone With Kenny Burrell With Benny Carter With Betty Carter With George Coleman With Andrew Cyrille With Albert Dailey With Walt Dickerson With Keno Duke With Ryo Fukui With John Gordon With Helen Humes With Jeanne Lee With Shigeo Maruyama With Howard McGhee With Danny Mixon With The National Jazz Ensemble With The New York Bass Violin Choir With Horace Parlan With Norman Simmons With Nina Simone With Frank Strozier With Richard Wyands