Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Lenny White was born Leonard White III on December 19, 1949 in New York City. Self-taught left-handed drummer, he played in local groups but basically started his career at the top of the ladder playing regularly with Jackie McLean in 1968, recording “Bitches Brew” with Miles Davis in 1969 and Freddie Hubbard’s Red Clay in 1970.

White was soon working with some of the who’s who of jazz including Geri Allen, Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Gato Barbieri, Gil Evans, Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorious and Stan Getz among others. He joined the short-lived group Azteca, and then as a member of Return To Forever from 1973-76, he gained a huge reputation as one of the top fusion drummers, but he remained versatile to play in many settings.

After the breakup of Return To Forever, Lenny White headed several fusion projects but none of the Nemperor and Elektra recordings found much traction in popularity, even amongst the funk crowd. In 1979 he formed the group “Twentynine” that achieved some notoriety. However, his work with the Echoes Of An Era and Griffith Park all-star groups have been received with acclaim and success.

Lenny has led fifteen albums as a leader and another two-dozen as a valuable sideman for a wide variety of projects. He continues to perform, record and tour.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Alphonse Mouzon was born November 21, 1948 of African-American, French and Blackfoot descent in Charleston, South Carolina. He received his first musical training at Bonds-Wilson High School and moved to New York City upon graduation. He studied drama and music at the City College of New York as well as medicine at Manhattan Medical School.

Mouzon continued receiving drum lessons from Bobby Thomas, the drummer for jazz pianist Billy Taylor. He played percussion in the Broadway show “Promises, Promises” and then went to work with McCoy Tyner. He ventured into jazz-fusion spending a year as a member of Weather Report but gained greater visibility during his tenure with guitarist Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House fusion band from 1973 to 1975. His power, style and speed helped propel the band to notoriety, producing such albums as Introducing the Eleventh House, Level One, Mind Transplant and Back Together Again.

From the early 70s into the Eighties he would record a series of R&B dance style albums for Blue Note Records with Tommy Bolin, Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Seawind Horns and Freddie Hubbard supporting as sidemen on the sessions. Staying predominately in jazz-fusion he would go on to perform with Miles Davis on the soundtrack to “Dingo”, composing the song “The Blue Spot” for the jazz club scene, appeared in the film That Thing You Do, played the lead role as “Miles” in the film The High Life, played “Ray” in the movie The Dukes, as well as appearances in the movie First Daughter.

Outside of jazz-fusion Mouzon has played with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Patrick Moraz, Betty Davis, Chubby Checker, Robert Plant among others. He formed Tenacious Records in 1992 releasing his top 10 album The Survivor followed by several more that landed in the top twenty category. Drummer Alphonse Mouzon passed away on December 26, 2016 of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, a rare form of cancer just two months after doctors discovered the severity of his illness. He was 68.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Idris Muhammad was born Leo Morris on November 13, 1939 In New Orleans, Louisiana. Learning to play drums in his youth, at fifteen he played on Fats Domino’s 1956 hit “Blueberry Hill” and by sixteen he turned professional, playing primarily soul and R&B during the early sixties. In 1965 he was a member of Lou Donaldson’s band, then went on to become the house drummer for Prestige Records from 1970-72.

As a sideman Idris would play with Johnny Griffin, Nat Adderley, George Benson, Paul Desmond, Pharoah Sanders, George Coleman and the Paris Reunion Band and record with Ahmad Jamal, Grant Green, Grover Washington, Jr., Hank Crawford, Benjamin Herman, Andrew Hill, Freddie Hubbard, Bobbi Humphrey, Gene Ammons, Rodney Jones and Houston Person among others.

Known for his funky playing style, as a leader he has recorded everything from post-bop to dance music for such labels as Prestige, Kudu, Fantasy, Theresa, and Lipstick. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam and is endorsed by Istanbul Agop cymbals. Drummer Idris Muhammad continues to compose, record and perform.

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Requisites

We Insist! Freedom Now Suite: This classic piece of art stands at the intersection of politics and music. It was recorded at a time when the civil rights movement was starting to heat up and drummer Max Roach composed and performed the seven-part suite dealing with black history, particularly slavery and racism.

Driva’ Man has a powerful statement by veteran tenor Coleman Hawkins and there is valuable solo space elsewhere for trumpeter Booker Little and trombonist Julian Priester, but it is the overall performance of Abbey Lincoln that is most notable. Formerly a nightclub singer, Lincoln really came into her own under Roach’s tutelage and she is a strong force throughout this intense set. On Triptych: Prayer / Protest / Peace, Lincoln is heard in duets with the drummer and her wrenching screams of rage are quite memorable.

Personnel: Max Roach – drums, Coleman Hawkins – tenor saxophone, Booker Little – trumpet, Julian Priester – trombone, Walter Benton – tenor saxophone, James Schenk – bass, Olantunji / Ray Mantilla – percussion, Abbey Lincoln / Oscar Brown Jr. – vocal

Record Date: Nola Penthouse Sound Studio, New York / August 31, 1960 & September 6, 1960 / Candid Records

Producer: Nat Hentoff

Songs: Driva’man, Freedom Day, Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace, All Africa, Tears For Johannesburg

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Requisites

The Last Concert: The Modern Jazz Quartet broke up after this concert documented on this two-fer, double LP recording. After a glorious 22-year career, it would be nearly seven years before the group would come back together but it certainly went out on top. Mostly revisiting their greatest hits, MJQ is heard playing inspired versions of Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, Bag’s Groove, Skating In Central Park, Confirmation, The Golden Striker and Django. This set is a real gem and an essential addition for all serious jazz collections.

Personnel: Milt Jackson – vibraphone, John Lewis – piano, Percy Heath – bass and Connie Kay – drums

Record Date: November 25, 1974

Songs:  Disc 1 – Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise, The Cylinder, Summertime, Really True Blues, What’s New?, Blues in a Minor, Confirmation, ‘Round Midnight, A Night in Tunisia, Tears from the Children, Blues in H (B), England’s Carol

Disc 2 – The Golden Striker, One Never Knows, Trav’lin’, Skating in Central Park, The Legendary Profile, Adagio from the Guitar Concerto: Concerto de Aranjuez, The Jasmine Tree, In Memoriam, Django, Bag’s Groove

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