Jazz for aficionados

The following music is proof enough to me, that centuries old African rythm is alive and well, in many different genre's of music in North America. It is an album by the son of the recently departed NEA Jazz Master, writer, composer, arranger and master saxophone player Jimmy Heath. R.I.P.

Jimmy's son James was born in Philadelphia in 1946. His father Jimmy had an addiction problem at the time which caused him to end up in prison and James was raised by his mother and stepfather, a jazz pianist named James "Hen Gates" Foreman. Young James took his stepfathers last name and was known as James Foreman.

In 1966 James Foreman, now 20 years old joined a black empowerment group and its leader, Maulana Karenga, gave James the name Mtume which means messenger in Swahili. Here is Mtume's live album release titled  Mtume Umoja Ensemble - Alkebu-Lan: Land of the Blacks

Listen to the whole album including the 4 plus minute spoken introduction if this subject interests any of you. I am posting it because there has been a lot of unnecessary debating creating a negative vibe on this thread for quite some time now about the subject of African rythmic influences transported to other continents. Every one is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts. Since I wont pretend to be an expert on deciphering rythm patterns this is just my humble opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8WmWaIn9kU

 

With respect, your first mistake is assuming that the first wave consisted only of “Batista’s”. Moreover, “enthralled” is rather demeaning of the very real and morally principled reasons that many joined the first wave; which were, in short, to escape the inevitable and resultant oppression and to seek freedom. TV? Again, with respect, the notion diminishes the values of a culture that believes in self reliance, hard work, family, God and freedom. TV has little to do with it. In fact, I would say that those values have been passed on to the younger generation IN SPITE OF television. Regards.

pjw, loved that intro.  Beautiful heartfelt words.  Thanks for sharing.  

@orpheus10

<< You read books and listen to records, since abstract modern jazz can not be put into words, you might have a problem if you can only understand words. >>

OK O-10, I'm outta here because this is downright insulting.  I began learning to read and play music in the early 60's.  If I can "only understand words" as you've concluded, all that training, hearing, listening and connecting means nothing.  Nice.

BTW, I've been a big fan of "modern abstract jazz" ever since.  You should get to know the members in the forum better.  I didn't bring up N.O. because that's my favorite jazz, I brought it up for historical value.