Tag Archives: black music
RIP Barrett Strong (1941 – 2023)
RIP Pharoah Sanders (1940 – 2022)
Pharoah Sanders was een Afro-Amerikaans componist en saxofonist. Tot zijn bekendste composities behoren “The Creator Has a Master Plan” (1969) en “Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah (Prince of Peace)” (1969).
Zelf vind ik vooral die “Hum Allah” van belang omdat ik daar voor het eerst het haast buitenaards gejodel van Leon Thomas hoorde.
Als mijn herinneringen mij niet in de steek laten maakte ik met Sanders kennis toen ik “You Got to Have Freedom” (1980) via een Jazz Juice compilatie te horen kreeg. De uithalen op die plaat behoren tot de meest energieke luchtstoten die iemand ooit uit een saxofoon liet opstijgen. Je zou het perfect na “Space is the Place” (1973) van Sun Ra kunnen draaien.
Er is niet zo heel veel jazz waar ik van hou (net genoeg eigenlijk), maar die van Sanders is er wel bij.
Hij speelde uiteraard met Bill Laswell samen.
Het afgelopen jaar trakteerde YouTube mij heel vaak op “Harvest Time” van zijn elpee Pharoah (1977), een trancy plaat die doet denken aan het werk van hedendaagse sax-furore Colin Stetson en tevens Sanders’ laatste werk met Floating Points voorafschaduwt.
Verder is mij nog naar aanleiding van dit schielijk overlijden opgevallen dat het ‘New Age’-religieuze aspect dat Sanders in zijn muziek binnenbracht zich niet alleen in het Verre Oosten (Karma, 1969) afspeelde maar ook in het Nabije Oosten (Tauid, 1967). Achteraf gezien is dat niet onlogisch, want Sanders is slechts een van de vele jazzmuzikanten die zich in die tijd tot de islam bekeerden, een religie die zich in de jaren negentig in Europa nog niet op de kaart had gezet.
RIP Pharoah Sanders
RIP Bernard Belle (1964 – 2022)
Bernard Belle was an American composer, producer, and musician known for writing and co-writing such songs as “Remember the Time” (1992).
He was, with Teddy Riley, a pioneer of the new jack swing era of music which erupted in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
RIP James Mtume (1947 – 2022)
James Mtume was an American musician and songwriter best-known for his composition “Juicy Fruit” (1983).
RIP Joe Simon (1936 – 2021)
Joe Simon was an American singer who worked in the soul and R&B idioms. Well-known recordings are “The Chokin’ Kind” (1967) and “Drowning in the Sea of Love” (1971).
But I give you “Love Vibration” (1978) because Larry Levan used to played it at the Paradise Garage.
Be sure to also check “The Chokin’ Kind” for its interesting percussion. Morevoer, that song was written by Harlan Howard, the same songwriter who gave us country music favorite “No Charge”.
RIP Greg Tate (1957 – 2021)
Greg Tate was was an American writer, musician, and producer.
A long-time critic for The Village Voice, Tate focused particularly on African-American music and culture.
Also a musician himself, he was a founding member of the Black Rock Coalition and the leader of Burnt Sugar.
He is known for such pieces as “Yo! Hermeneutics!” (1985) and was interviewed by Mark Dery in “Black to the Future” (1994), making Tate a key figure in the protohistory of black science fiction.
Some have called a rogue scholar and when one reads “Yo! Hermeneutics!”, one does get the feeling of having landed in an African-American version of the Sokal affair.
RIP Pee Wee Ellis (1941 – 2021)
Pee Wee Ellis was an American composer, musician and saxophonist, best-known for co-writing “Cold Sweat” (1967) and “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” (1968) with James Brown and writing “The Chicken” (1969).
RIP MF Doom (1971 – 2020)
MF Doom was a British-born American rapper. He died two months ago, but news came out only recently.
Like Sun Ra, who he sampled more than once, MF Doom builds his own universe. It is not difficult to see how he influenced Tyler, the Creator, another voice in hip hop I appreciate.
Like Buckethead, MF Doom wore a mask during concerts.
RIP Johnny Nash (1940 – 2020)
Johnny Nash was an African-American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1972 hit “I Can See Clearly Now“.
On the Belgian popcorn scene, popular recordings of Nash included “Some of Your Lovin'”, “Old Man River”, “Moment of Weakness”, “Kisses”, “I’m Leaving”, “I’m Counting On You” and “Don’t Take Away Your Love”.