Donald Byrd | Free Form

Tags

African American, Blue Note Records, Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, Jazz, Trumpet

Donald Byrd | Free Form [Blue Note, 1961]

Donald Byrd, Free Form

As the story goes Herbie Hancock entered the ‘room’ the big leagues through Donald Byrd. He knew of Herbie when he was going to college (U.of Chicago?), and they needed a fill in, in Chicago one night, and the rest is history. Donald has four originals, and Herbie contributes two of his own.

This is classic stuff. With Herbie, Butch Warren, and the ‘house’ Blue Note regular Billy Higgins, and Shorter and Byrd. featuring! Higgins is on fire,  poppin. There is a nice balance throughout the set. Byrd plays superbly on Herbie Hancock’s ‘Night Flower‘. On ‘French Spice‘ Wayne puts down one of the finest solos I can think of during his tenure at Blue Note.And ‘NAI NAI’a tune written by Byrd you should reserve for when you want to pick your spirits up. Yeh,life is good! All this and more welcome you in the room for some vintage music. Enjoy folks! — Brian D. Fitzpatrick

Source: Amazon.com/

Michael Brown | Echoes of Eden

Tags

African American, Art, Culture, Michael Brown

We’re into the first full week of January, as always it’s our pleasure to introduce and upcoming African American artists. On today we showcasing an innovative, astounding and visually challenging piece of art by internationally known artist Michael Brown.

A native of Washington, DC Michael is a graduate of what is now the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and Maryland Institute College of Art. His works have been featured in major museums and galleries nationally and internationally, including Manchester, England; Port au Prince Haiti and Bahia, Brazil.~ Source: Grandpasart.com

Michael Brown | Echoes of Eden [Lithograph | Limited Edition]

There are 15 hidden animals in this painting along with the continent of Africa.

Michael Brown, Echoes of Eden

Nicholas Payton | Eye of The Hurricane

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African American, Nicholas Payton, Trumpet

Jazz trumpet great Nicholas Payton performs “Eye of The Hurricane,” at Jazzbaltica (Germany) 1999

Discover new music with Putumayo World Music

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Putumayo World Music, World Music

Like you, we occasionally take a dip into other music genres to hear and savor the tasty sounds of uninhabited music by artists that’s not normally heard my neighborhood. With that said, a few years ago I was introduced by a friend to an album titled “Global Soul” on a refreshing music label with an international vibe called Putumayo World Music . Recently, I was re-introduced to the label with a recording titled “Latin Jazz.” If you haven’t yet, expand your borders and check out the true diversity that lies within the vast international terrain of Putumayo Music and discover a whole new world of music. ~ The Urban Flux

Background: Putumayo World Music was established to introduce people to the music of the world’s cultures. The label grew out of Putumayo clothing company, founded by Dan Storper in 1975 and sold in 1997. Co-founder Michael Kraus joined Storper to help launch Putumayo World Music in 1993. In the past fifteen years, the label has become known primarily for its upbeat and melodic compilations of great international music characterized by the company’s motto: “guaranteed to make you feel good!” ~ Putumayo.com

Putumayo World Music – EPK from Putumayo World Music on Vimeo.

Gemini Soul | Dark Skin Babies: The Movement

Tags

African American, Andre Ajamu Akinyele, Bassist, Funk

Gemini Soul | Dark Skin Babies: The Movement [Pearl Jazz Recording Label, 2009]

Gemini Soul, Dark Skin

Gemini Soul’s double CD Dark Skin Babies: The Movement is a mind-blowing mixture of experimental jazz funk-fusion. Gemini Soul delivers a brand new sound with this double CD. Musically influenced by the 70’s jazz fusion explosion and inspired by artists such as Herbie Hancock, Return To Forever, MeShell Ndegeocello and Parliament-Funkadelic.

Dark Skin Babies: The Movement from Gemini Soul is a two CD set, which contains 20 tracks of non-stoppable experimental jazz funk-fusion at its best. Dark Skin Babies : The Movement is the follow-up to their 2008 release The Nefertiti Xperience. With all songs produced, arranged and composed by Andre Ajamu Akinyele, bandleader and bassist, this marks as their fifth album. This is Gemini Soul’s most political and social conscience collection to date.