Yusef Lateef, 1920 - 2013

Early in the week (December 23, 2013), legendary jazz saxophonist and flutist Yusef Lateef sadly passed away at the age of 93. Mr. Lateef played a major role in incorporating non-Western musical elements from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa into jazz. Of deep Islamic faith, much of his recordings like "Love Theme from Spartacus", "Like It Is", "Sister Mamie", and "The Plum Blossom" have very spiritual tone and feel, while other tracks like "Eastern Market", "Brother", "Jungle Plum", and "Live Humble" embraced the soulful roots of his hometown of Detroit, MI. He began recording as a leader in the late 50s for Savoy Records before moving on and recording with other notable labels like Impluse!, Atlantic, Prestige, Riverside and more. He also made a number of contributions to other artist's recordings like Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, Art Blakey, Paul Chambers, Curtis Fuller, Donald Byrd and many others. Lateef's sound, and how he was able to blend Eastern elements into his music, became a major source of inspiration on other jazz musicians, most notably John Coltrane, Randy Weston, and others. He received the NEA Jazz Master lifetime achievement award in 2010, which is considered the highest honor given in jazz today. Overall, Yusef Lateef is a great among jazz greats, opening the doors for Eastern and African influences to be incorporated and play a strong role in the music that today's younger generations of musicians now compose throughout the world. He will forever be missed however his powerful spirit will forever live on through his music and those lives that he touched.

Rest in peace, Yusef Lateef.

Yusef Lateef - Like It Is

The Loss of Two Giants

Here is a post I did yesterday for the SFJAZZ Blog, and I thought I would also share it on this site. Enjoy!

This month has turned into a heart-breaking time for the jazz community, as we've sadly lost two greats over a span of a few weeks, with first the passing of George Duke earlier in the month, and most recently Cedar Walton, who died early yesterday morning at the age of 79. Even though the two were vastly different in their style and approach, both left a tremendous footprint in jazz.

After getting his start with Don Ellis and Jean-Luc Ponty in the sixties, George Duke went on to make a name for himself as a leader in the seventies with a number of well-respected fusion recordings including 1970's Save the Country, 1974's Faces in Reflection and 1975's The Aura Will Prevail, as well as his collaborative efforts with other notable musicians like drummer Billy Cobham, saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, Brazilian percussionist Airto, bassist Stanley Clarke, Frank Zappa and many others. The innovative keyboardist, composer and producer was always breaking down boundaries with his music, incorporating jazz, funk, fusion, and soul elements into his recordings, which therefore led to a wide and highly diverse following. Overtime, Duke became a sought-out producer working with artists like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Smokey Robinson, the Pointer Sisters, Gladys Knight, his cousin Dianne Reeves and many others. His ties to the Bay Area were also very strong, as he was born in San Rafael, California and went on to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Cedar Walton, on the other hand followed a much different path, making his mark earlier in the hard-bop scene during the fifties and sixties, most notably with Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers. Before stepping out as a leader in the seventies, the legendary pianist was featured on many notable recordings led by jazz heavy-weights like Clifford Jordan, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Dorham, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Abbey Lincoln, Lee Morgan and many others. Interestingly enough, Walton also recorded with John Coltrane in 1959 during the Giant Steps sessions, even though the alternative takes weren't released until much later on a CD-reissue. During the seventies the pianist released many solid recordings as a leader, including a few under the Eastern Rebellion name, which included collaborations with other jazz greats like bassist Sam Jones, drummer Billy Higgins, saxophonist Clifford Jordan, Bob Berg, and George Coleman. Walton was inducted as a member of the NEA Jazz Masters in 2010, and remained active all the way up until his passing, consistently recording and touring. Fellow NEA Jazz Master and legendary vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson calls Walton, "one of the most prolific composers and improvisors of the post bop-era." Over the years, SFJAZZ is proud to have presented the pianist several times.

Both George Duke and Cedar Walton leave behind strong legacies in both the jazz world and beyond, and will sadly be missed.

Recommended Reads
George Duke Is Dead at 67 by JazzTimes' Jeff Tamarkin
George Duke, Legendary Jazz Keyboardist, Dies by NPR's Eyder Peralta
Jazz Pianist Cedar Walton Dies by NPR's Mark Memmott

George Duke, 1946-2013

Saluting the life and music of jazz keyboard great George Duke, who sadly passed away yesterday (8/5/13) at the age of 67 after a battle with lymphocytic leukemia. The innovative musician, composer and producer crossed many musical boundaries including jazz, funk, fusion, disco and R&B. The keyboardist was always pushing the envelope, never settling to be boxed in by one particular genre which therefore led to a wide and diverse following. Definitely one of the more innovative and forward-thinking musicians of his time. He will certainly be missed.

George Duke - Soul Watcher



George Duke - Come Together



George Duke - Floop De Loop



Recommended Reads
George Duke Is Dead at 67 by JazzTimes' Jeff Tamarkin
George Duke, Legendary Jazz Keyboardist, Dies by NPR's Eyder Peralta

Mulgrew Miller, 1955 - 2013

Here is the blog post I did yesterday for the SFJAZZ Blog as a result of the unfortunate news of Mulgrew Miller's passing. I thought this was an important post to also share with the readers of this site. I highly recommend taking some time this week to listen to some of Miller's music. He was a great artist that deserves much praise for his important and inspiring contributions to jazz.

POST FROM MAY 29, 2013
-------------------------------------------
We were saddened to learn that jazz pianist great Mulgrew Miller passed away today at the age of 57. Miller suffered a stroke this past Friday and had been in critical condition ever since. Over the last 30+ years, Miller was a widely accomplished artist, leading both his trio and his Wingspan band, as well as playing alongside some of jazz's most notable names like Art Blakey, Woody Shaw, Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Barron, Tony Williams and many others. Younger generations of jazz musicians were also heavily inspired by the pianist including Robert Glasper, who recorded in 2007 an original ballad titled “One for ’Grew,” as a tribute to his primary influence. SFJAZZ is proud to have presented the dynamic pianist several times over the years. He leaves behind an incredible legacy and will truly be missed.

Here is a great photo of Mulgrew Miller when he performed alongside Javon Jackson, Jimmy Cobb and Nat Reeves during the 2011 San Francisco Jazz Festival.

Photo by Greg Toland

Cedric "Im" Brooks, 1943-2013

Last week, we sadly lost a true music pioneer in Cedric "Im" Brooks, who passed away at the age of 70. The Jamaican native, who mostly played tenor saxophone and flute, was one of the more well-regarded musicians to have bridged the gap between reggae, funk, Afro-Caribbean roots and jazz. Brooks first made a name for himself as part of a duo with trumpeter David Madden in the late sixties, releasing a series of instrumental singles on the legendary Studio One label. During the seventies, Brooks recorded and released a number of albums and singles as both a solo artist and with groups like The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari and Divine Light (later called The Light of Saba), as well as playing as a regular studio musician on many recording sessions. Overall, Brooks was one of Jamaica's most talented and adventuresome musicians, who constantly was exploring and incorporating new sounds and elements into his music. He surely will be missed.

Here is one of my favorite selections, in "Africa", off of The Light Of Saba's 1979 album Sabebe.

The Light Of Saba - Africa

Donald Byrd, 1932-2013

After a few days of speculation, I was sad to hear that the rumors were true and jazz great Donald Byrd had passed away this past Monday at the age of 80. The trumpeter originally made his mark in the jazz world as a rising heavy-weight within the hard-bop scene during the fifties and sixties, getting his start playing in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and shortly thereafter performing and recording with other jazz legends including John Coltrane, Jackie Maclean, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, and Pepper Adams to name just a few. During this period, Byrd released a number of classic records including Fuego, Byrd in Flight, At the Half Note Cafe, Free Form, A New Perspective and many others.

During the late sixties and seventies, the trumpeter moved away from the hard-bop sound and delved into fusion and soul-jazz, hooking up with legendary jazz-funk production tag-team the Mizell brothers (Larry & Fonce Mizell) to release some of the best recordings of that sub-genre including Electric Byrd, Ethiopian Knights, Street Lady, Places and Spaces, Black Byrd (which became the biggest seller in Blue Note history) and more. Some of his notable groundbreaking gems from that era include "Lansana's Priestess", "(Fallin' Like) Dominoes", "Black Byrd", "Think Twice" and "Love Has Come Around".

Overall, the trumpeter/composer has not only left his mark on jazz, but on music in general. From his hailed days on the hard-bop scene, to shifting course and becoming one of the most notable pioneering musicians of the seventies soul-jazz movement, Donald Byrd is definitely one of legendary status and his contributions to music are absolutely monumental on so many levels. He will certainly be missed.

Rest in peace, Donald Byrd.

Donald Byrd - Lansana's Priestess



Donald Byrd - Ghana



Donald Byrd - The Emperor

Fontella Bass, 1940-2012

I was very sad to hear that singer Fontella Bass passed away at the age of 72 yesterday. Mostly known for her 1965 soul hit "Rescue Me", she also contributed on a number of Lester Bowie, who she was married to until 1978, and Art Ensemble of Chicago recordings during the seventies and eighties. One of the more notable collaborations that took place between Bowie, his group AEOC, and the soul singer took place in 1970 on the motion picture soundtrack album Les Stances A Sophie. The record's opening track "Theme De Yoyo" blends together AEOC's typical avant-garde free jazz explorations with Fontella's soul-inspired vocals resulting in, what many consider, one of the group's most praised tracks. After her short-lived time with AEOC ended, she continued to guest appear on many of Bowie's albums including The Great Pretender in 1981 and All The Magic! two years later in 1983. Even though she will probably also be remembered for her chart-topping "Rescue Me", I will always be moved more by some of her collaborative work she did with Lester Bowie and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

Rest in Peace, Fontella Bass.

Art Ensemble of Chicago feat. Fontella Bass - Theme De Yoyo

Ravi Shankar, 1920-2012

For the second time in two weeks, we sadly lost a true music legend and icon when Ravi Shankar passed away at the age of 92 yesterday. Lauded as the 'godfather of world music', there probably wasn't another artist who did more for bringing Indian classical music to the western world, influencing many great musicians like John & Alice Coltrane (who named their son, Ravi Coltrane, after the sitar master), The Beatles (especially George Harrison), Arthur Russell, David Crosby, John McLaughlin, Don Cherry, and others.

He was a great spirit who will be deeply missed.

Dave Brubeck, 1920 - 2012

I was saddened to find out that legendary jazz pianist/ composer Dave Brubeck passed away this morning just a day shy of his 92nd birthday. The jazz giant was known for many classics like "Take Five", "The Duke", "I'm In a Dancing Mood", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "Blue Rondo à la Turk" and many others. Brubeck was probably best known for consistently experimenting with unusual time signatures in his music, along with superimposing contrasting rhythms and tones. It's safe to say that today the jazz world lost one it's greatest iconic and accomplished musicians. Fortunately for all of us and future generations, we have his brilliant music to enjoy and remember him by.

Rest in peace, Dave Brubeck.

Dave Brubeck Quartet - Blue Rondo à la Turk

Jef Gilson, 1926 - 2012

I woke up today to the very unfortunate and sad news that French jazz pianist, producer and composer Jef Gilson had past away yesterday (02/05/12). Gilson was the brilliant mind behind a number of incredible, yet over-looked recordings during the late sixties and early seventies. His music spanned from big band and large led ensemble work to his later explorations with African influenced spiritual jazz. Some of his notable recordings included the early seventies Malagasy, Soul of Africa and Malagasy At Newport-Paris albums that brought together a mixture of both French and African based musicians, as well the modal free jazz masterpiece Œil Vision and the hard-to-find early sixties european jazz record Enfin!. Throughout the pianists many recordings, he collaborated with a number of jazz legends including Hal Singer, Lloyd Miller, Sahib Shihab, Bill Coleman, Philly Joe Jones, Jean-Luc Ponty and many others. Some of my favorite tracks from Gilson included the Afro-jazz gem "Chant Inca", his mind-blowing version of Pharaoh Sanders' cult classic "The Creator has a Masterplan" and the percussive-heavy "Valiha Del" from 1973. For those that have encountered Gilson's music will agree that his name deserves to be mentioned in the same breathe as many other jazz legends, however due to the fact that many of his records were released by very small independent labels, the Parisian pianist hasn't received the kind of attention that he truly deserves. At this point, it's pretty shocking to know that there isn't even an English written Wikipedia entry for him. Hopefully in time, the world will begin to take notice of all the amazing recordings and music this brilliant artist left us to enjoy.

Rest in peace, Jef Gilson.

Jef Gilson Et Malagasy - The Creator Has a Master Plan


Jef Gilson & Hal Singer - Chant Inca


Jef Gilson Et Malagasy - Valiha Del