SWAC Black History Month Spotlight: Jazz Music
SWAC.org
Music has become an intricate part of sporting events. Ranging from pregame warm-up, halftime, to enhancing highlights, music is an intricate part of creating the athletic experience.
Around the Southwestern Athletic Conference, music has become synonymous with the league's brand as a result of the marching bands and orchestras.
In recognition of Black History Month, the SWAC recognized graduates from its member institutions that helped develop and carry the legacy of America's original art form - Jazz Music.
Alabama State
Erskine Ramsay Hawkins was an American trumpet player and big band leader dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel".He is most remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" (1939) with saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson.
The song became a popular hit during World War II, rising to No. 7 nationally and to No. 1 nationally. Vocalists who were featured with Erskine's orchestra include Ida James, Delores Brown and Della Reese. Hawkins was named after Alabama industrialist Erskine Ramsay.
LISTEN - TUXEDO JUNCTION
Alabama A&M
Sun Ra, born Herman Poole Blount, was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player. He was also known as a poet and philosopher as a result of his cosmic philosophy, musical compositions and performances. He is a 1979 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
One of the most controversial musicians, Sun Ra was criticized due to his eclectic music and unorthodox lifestyle. Claiming that he was of the "Angel Race" and not from Earth, but from Saturn, Sun Ra developed a complex persona using "cosmic" philosophies and lyrical poetry that made him a pioneer of afrofuturism.
LISTEN - SPACE IS THE PLACE
Grambling State
Lovett Hines, a saxophone player, music educator, and pianist started lessons at the age of six. He was considered a child prodigy at the age of 12 years old. Lovett's mother exposed him to many of the great performers that came into Philadelphia. He played in the 76th Army Band with Maceo Parker and Leonard Houston. Toured with Heem, was a member of the House Band at Atlantic City, Wonder Gardens, performed with Stax recording artists, and played a Motown Revue with the O'Jays, Martha and the Vandellas. Lovett has performed with US Barnes, BB King, and Lionel Hampton.
While attending Grambling State University, Lovett met his future wife, Carla Washington, Jazz Dancer, Choreographer and Dance Educator. She has done touring with Sun RA Arkestra, and has worked with Philly Joe Jones, Shirley Scott, Ruth Brown and Dakota Staton.
Lovett served as Musical Director/Creator of "The Roots of Music Show" (1979) and was the Director of The Heavenly Horns that performed with the Grammy Nominated Dixie Hummingbirds, "Music In The Air" 70th Anniversary Celebration (1999).
Michael A. Thomas was a multi-faceted performer. He studied French Horn under Conrad Hutchinson and trumpet under Dr. Joseph Miller. He also performed with Frank Foster, who was then directing the Count Basie Orchestra. Thomas' work has also been nomimnated for a Grammy.
LISTEN - MICHAEL THOMAS QUINTET (LIVE)
Robert "Bob" French was a jazz drummer and radio show host at WWOZ. He led The Tuxedo Jazz Band from 1977 until his death in 2012. (The Tuxedo Jazz Band was formerly led by Oscar "Papa" Celestin and later by French's father, Albert "Papa" French from 1958 to 1977.)
As a child French took drumming lessons from Louis Barbarin. He organized an R&B band in high school that included James Booker, Art Neville, Charles Neville (of The Neville Brothers), and Kidd Jordan, and Alvin Batiste.
In the 1960s he recorded with Earl King, Snooks Eaglin and Fats Domino. French's best-known gig was the long-running Monday night jam session at Donna's, across from Louis Armstrong Park.
LISTEN - WHEN ITS SLEEPY TIME DOWN SOUTH
Jackson State
Cassandra Wilson is an American jazz musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer described by as a singer blessed with an unmistakable timbre and attack. She expanded the playing field" by incorporating country, blues and folk music into her work.
Wilson has won two Grammy Awards. Wilson wove herself into the fabric of these settings with wordless improv and lyrics. She can be heard on Coleman's debut as a leader Motherland Pulse (1985), then as member of his Five Elements on On the Edge of Tomorrow (1986), World Expansion (1986), Sine Die (1987) and on M-Base Collective's sole recording as a large ensemble Anatomy of a Groove (1992).
LISTEN - BEST OF CASSANDRA WILSON COMPILATION
Prairie View A&M
Walter Dewey Redman was an American jazz saxophonist, known for performing free jazz as a bandleader.
Redman played mainly tenor saxophone, though he occasionally doubled on alto saxophone, played the Chinese suona (which he called a musette) and on rare occasions played the clarinet.
He is best known for his collaborations with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. Redman also performed and recorded as an accompanying musician with jazz musicians who performed in varying styles within the post-1950s jazz idiom, including drummer Paul Motian and guitarist Pat Metheny. In 1981 he performed at the Woodstock Jazz Festival, held in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Creative Music Studio.
LISTEN - BODY
Southern
Alvin Batiste was an avant garde jazz clarinetist. He taught at his own jazz institute at Southern University. His final album was a tribute produced by Branford Marsalis and also features Russell Malone and Herlin Riley.
Several well-known musicians studied under Batiste while at Southern University. They include Bradford Marsalis, Randy Jackson (American Idol), his brother Herman, Donald Harrison, Henry Butler, Charlie Singleton (Cameo), Ronald Myers and Woodie Douglas (Spirit).
LISTEN - MUSIQUE D'AFRIQUE NOUVELL ORLEANS
Maurice Brown, one of the brightest stars on the contemporary jazz scene, showed a remarkable affinity for the trumpet. He performed with Ramsey Lewis at the Symphony Center in Chicago while still a student at Hillcrest High School.
In 2001, he won first place in the National Miles Davis Trumpet Competition and in 2003 he released his first album as a bandleader, heading his Maurice Brown Quintet for Hip to Bop, which showed an amazing affinity for bop-inflected jazz, along with a willingness to expand the genre's lexicon through innovative techniques like playing trumpet solos through a wah-wah pedal.
LISTEN - THE CYCLE OF LOVE
Thaddeus "Fabulous" Ford, II was born into a family of Jazz musicians. Thaddeus began playing the trumpet at age of eight under the demanding instruction of his father, Thaddeus Ford, Sr., a professional trumpeter with the U.S Marine Corp Band for 15 years.
Thaddeus got an invitation to join the Brass-Hop group Coolbone. He spent five years with them performing and recording on an international scale. It was with Coolbone that he aquired his personable stage presence, thus the nickname "Fabulous".
LISTEN - THE CONTIUUM feat. THE DIVA
Branford Marsalis an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque. Marsalis, with his father and brothers, were group recipients of the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award.
In 2012, Marsalis and his tight-knit working band delivered Four MFs Playin' Tunes on deluxe 180-gram high definition vinyl, just in time for Record Store Day 2012 on April 21, 2012. In June 2012, Marsalis, alongside friend and fellow New Orleans native Harry Connick, Jr., was honored by the Jefferson Awards for Public Service for his work in the Musicians' Village of New Orleans.
Texas Southern
Kirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years and soloed in her single "I Will Always Love You", the best-selling single by a female artist in music history. He has recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz. Kirk’s musical accomplishments have brought him a total of 12 Grammy nominations.
Kirk won his first Grammy award in 2011 for Best Gospel Song (“It’s What I Do”-featuring Lalah Hathaway).
LISTEN - IT'S WHAT I DO
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Jamil Nasser is an American jazz musician. He played double bass, electric bass, and tuba.
Nasser learned piano from his mother as a child and started playing bass at age 16. He led the school band and played bass and tuba in bands while stationed in Korea as a member of the U.S. Army. Following his discharge he played with B.B. King in 1955 and 1956.
He moved to New York City in 1956, and played with Phineas Newborn and Sonny Rollins before the decade was over. He went on tour in Europe and North Africa with Idrees Sulieman in 1959, then went to Paris and recorded with Lester Young. Nasser moved to Italy briefly from 1961 to 1962; after returning to New York he formed his own trio, playing with the ensemble until 1964. He notably was featured on bass during several forms by Ahmad Jamal Trio
LISTEN - SPANISH INTERLUDE
John Stubblefield was an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, and oboist. Stubblefield was an adaptable musician. He was stationed with the World Saxophone Quartet (?86-?88), Reggie Workman (?89-?93), McCoy Tyner (?84 Clark), Freddie Hubbard (?85), and George Russell (?85).
LISTEN - BUSHMAN SONG
James H. Leary is a double bass player and arranger/composer, who played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Nancy Wilson Earl Hines, Bobby Hutcherson Eddie Harris, Dizzy Gillespie with San Francisco Pops, and the Oakland Symphony Bass Section. He has won two Grammy Awards.
LISTEN - IN THE LITTLE CHAPEL? | SOLO (VIDEO) | LEGACY