"Keeping our Music Alive"

The music known as Jazz, sometimes referred as African-American classical music, has suffered a setback lately as several veteran stars have died. It began with the death of Hank Jones who was immortalized by an interview with Gil Nobel on “Like it is”.  Hank Jones was the eldest member of the famous Jones brothers from Mississippi and Detroit, Michigan that set the Jazz world ablaze. His younger brothers were the late Thad Jones (trumpet player) .  His brother Elvin Jones (legendary drummer) played with John Coltrane’s renowned Band.   

Hank Jones

Hank’s presentation on “Like it is” presented a viewer’s glossary of jazz styles and how to recognize different styles of jazz. Somewhere around Sunday June 20th Bill Dixon a maverick force in free form jazz (he played trumpet) died in his home in Bennington Vermont.  He played at Cellar Café on 91st Street in Manhattan.  He was associated with Cecil Taylor.  Born in Massachusetts and rooted by living in Harlem during his early years he became a loud critic in the manner in which jazz musicians were mishandled by Club Owner.  Bill Dixon will be missed.

Last Thursday, June 25th he was supposed to appear at the Vision Festival on the Lower East Side of New York City.  On Wednesday the day before, Fred Anderson a respected Tenor saxophonist from Chicago, Illinois was dead.  Fred Anderson created a club in Chicago known as the Velvet Lounge as a place where Avant- grade musicians could express their art.  Mr. Anderson was among the founders of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, a collective active in promoting the musicians and composers of this experimental music.  Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium has invited several Chicago counterparts to speak about the life and work of Fred Anderson at a fall 2010 event.

This week June 26th-June 30th it was New York City and Brooklyn’s turn to absorb the hit Saturday June 26th, the word came that respected trombonist Bennie Powell had died.  We remember Mr. Powell as one of the first persons to support CBJC with a musicians supporting lifetime membership.  Bennie played with the Basie Band during the 1950 and 1960’s.  He established his instrument and sound during this era.

He later went on to work with Lionel Hampton and then the Road Band of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis.  Over the past 20 years Mr. Powell was a mainstay of Randy Weston’s African rhythms band.  

Montego Joe

We love and respect the life and legacy of Mr. Bennie Powell. Just as we were preparing to funeralize Mr. Powell word came on Monday June 28th that the respected percussionist Montego Joe (Roger Saunders) 81 had passed away. I remember Montego from the 1960’s when he was frequently playing the Village Gate with the late Herbie Mann and his band.  Montego went on to be the percussionist with Art Blakely, Nina Simone and other bands that played in the New York area.

 Montego was born in Jamaica and learned his drums before coming to New York in his teen years.  Montego began working and playing in Brooklyn since 1998 when he married the highly respected Prof. Dr. Mary Hardin Umolu of Medgar Evers College. Montego loved children and some of his best work of late was done with children of the Cultural group, Ifetayo.

The world is a better place today because of the work of these musical giants.

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