Jesse Sharps (center, on soprano sax) leads The Gathering at the Angel City Jazz Festival (9/05/09)
Anyone who has been reading Da Beast for the past couple of years is familiar with our friend Jesse Sharps, Horace Tapscott's former right-hand and current shaman in charge of The Gathering ensemble who released the critically acclaimed CD Leimert Park: The Roots and Branches of L.A. Jazz back in 2008.
In honor of President Barack Obama and Black History Month, Jesse and Gathering producer Tom Paige contacted me recently to let me know they are digitally releasing two new Gathering songs: a version of Abdu Salim's "Justice" recorded live at the old Jazz Bakery space back in November '08 and featuring a spoken-word intro by J.J. Kabasa and vocals by Dwight Trible.
The other song, "Warriors All," is a shout-out of sorts to Haiti. it was the final tune recorded at the original Gathering sessions back in 2005 but never released till now. Originally titled “Funeral,” it's from a musical based on the play La Tragédie du Roi Christophe by poet Aimé Césare about the life of Haitian revolutionary Henri Christophe and, according to Mimi Melnick's liner notes, "Horace [Tapscott] composed with Linda Hill and dedicated to all members of the community who struggle for civil rights and fight oppression." All proceeds from the sale of this song will go to UGMAA (Union of God's Musicians and Artists Ascension) and the Tapscott Family.
The Gathering blows the roof off the mutha at the Jazz Bakery (2 parts)
According to Tom, "The correct mixes are up and the best link to the music is actually www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheGathering1 where all of the singles and albums can be viewed. We have the original Leimert Park album up there for digital download now too!"
Mimi!
In fact, Ms. Melnick's next installment of her gold-standard Double M Jazz Salon is this Sunday, February 21 and will be a tribute to Horace Tapscott with Jesse Sharps (woodwinds), Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (viola), Kenneth Crouch (piano), Nick Rosen (bass) and Zach Harmon (drums). Admission is $20 for two sets, and 100% of the door goes to the musicians -- now THAT'S justice!
Greg Burk’s Live Picks of the Week (Feb. 12-18)
Don Heckman’s Live Picks of the Week (Feb 16-21)
Brick Wahl’s Live Picks of the Week (Feb. 18-24)
Los Angeles New Music Schedule
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Gene Chenault
Robert "Chilly B" Crafton
Sir John Dankworth
Richard Delvy
Bobby Espinosa
Doug Fieger
Lee Freeman
Jake Hanna
Dale Hawkins
John Mayer’s career
Territory BBQ + Records
Tom "T-Bone" Wolk
Yabby You
