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T. K. Blue

April 18, 2024

T. K. Blue (also known as Talib Kibwe, born Eugene Rhynie, February 7, 1953)[1][2][3] is an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer and educator from New York City. His parents were Jamaican and Trinidadian, and he has used their Afro-Caribbean musical styles in his own work. He has worked with, among others, Don Cherry, Jayne Cortez, the South African pianist Dollar Brand (now Abdullah Ibrahim), and Randy Weston, for whom he was musical director.

T. K. Blue
Birth nameEugene Rhynie
Also known asTalib Kibwe; Talib Qadir Kibwe (variations: Talib Qadr, Talib Abdul Kadr, Talib Abdul Qadr, Talib Qadir)
Born (1953-02-07) February 7, 1953 (age 71)
Bronx, NY, U.S.
OriginNew York City
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, musical director, composer, educator
Instrument(s)Saxophone, flute
Years active1977–present
LabelsMotéma Music
Websitetkblue.com

Blue has also taught at professorial level at of jazz studies at educational institutions including Suffolk Community College, Montclair State University, and Long Island University.

Biography edit

Early years and education edit

He was born in the Bronx, NY, to a Trinidadian mother and Jamaican father, and grew up on Long Island, NY.[2] T.K. Blue began his life in music from his Lakeview hometown by playing trumpet from the ages of eight to 10, and then switching to drums for a year. After a hiatus, at the age of 17 he dedicated himself to music by learning flute. While attending New York University between 1971 and 1975 with a double major in Music and Psychology,[4] Blue threw himself headlong into music, concentrating on the saxophone.

During these undergraduate years, he lived in the East Village, partaking in the full range of the scene, from lessons with elders to deep involvement in the avant-garde. He participated in the Jazzmobile program, studying jazz theory, harmony, sight-reading, rhythmic training, improvisation and big-band performance, with Jimmy Heath, Chris Woods, Sonny Red, Frank Foster, Jimmy Owens, Ernie Wilkins, Thad Jones and Billy Taylor.[5] At Jazz Interactions, Blue studied with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Yusef Lateef and Joe Newman, and at the Henry Street Settlement with Billy Mitchell and bassist Paul West.[5] In 1979 Blue received his Master's in Music Education from Teachers College at Columbia University.[5]

Career edit

After performing and traveling extensively with Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) from 1977 to 1980 – variously billed during this period as Talib Qadr, Talib Qadir Kibwe and Talib Abdul Kadr[6][7][8] – Blue moved to Paris in December 1981, remaining there until 1989. In 1986 he recorded Egyptian Oasis, his first record as a leader, and that sparked a number of State Department tours to some 20 countries in Africa.

Back in the USA since 1990, he has worked constantly, in a wide range of styles and situations, and recorded his second CD, Introducing Talib Kibwe, released on Evidence in 1996. His more recent recordings as leader include 2008's Follow the North Star, a suite inspired by the life of Solomon Northup (commissioned by the New York State Council on the Arts), Latin Bird (2011 – "Highly recommended" by AllMusic's reviewer Ken Dryden),[9] and in 2014 A Warm Embrace,[10] about which Don Bilawsky on All About Jazz has written: "Blue's skills as an arranger, perhaps more than anything else, are responsible for the success of this project, as he's able to create beauty from simplicity at times.... A Warm Embrace is simply a beautiful work of art."[11]

His 2019 album The Rhythms Continue is a tribute to Randy Weston,[12] with whose group T. K. Blue worked from the 1980s, taking on the role of music director and arranger in 1989.[13] The New York City Jazz Record characterized the CD as "possibly his most heartfelt, a dedication to the memory of his longtime employer and mentor. ... Blue performed in Weston's African Rhythms band for 38 years, his life deeply affected by his relationship with the legendary pianist."[14] Described by the New York Amsterdam News as "a memorable suite of 19 enthralling compositions by Weston, Melba Liston and Blue", it features other members of Weston's band – bassist Alex Blake, tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, and percussionist Neil Clarke – with guest pianists Sharp Radway, Mike King, Keith Brown and Kelly Green, as well as Min Xiao Fen on pipa.[15]

Augmenting his long-term relationships as musical director with Weston, as well as with the Spirit of Life Ensemble at New York's Sweet Basil jazzclub,[16] Blue's other recent affiliations include: Odadaa, a group led by a drummer from Ghana, Yacub Addy; percussionist Norman Hedman's pan-African band Tropique; tap dancer Joseph's Tap and Rap, to jazz tunes by Charlie Parker and John Coltrane; and emerging singer Jeffrey Smith.

T.K. was part of the June 2008 photo session called "A Great Day In Paris" — in homage to Art Kane's historic 1958 photograph A Great Day in Harlem — that featured more than 50 musicians from the USA who resided there.[17]

For several years an adjunct professor at Suffolk Community College and Montclair State University, Blue was also a full-time professor and director of jazz studies at Long Island University-LIU-Post.[18][19]

Discography edit

As leader edit

As sideman edit

With Arkadia Jazz All-Stars

  • Thank You, Duke! Our Tribute To Duke Ellington (1998)

With Jayne Cortez and The Firespitters

  • Cheerful And Optimistic (1995)
  • Taking The Blues Back Home (1996)
  • Borders Of Disorderly Time (2003)

With Abdullah Ibrahim

  • The Journey (1977)
  • African Tears and Laughter (1977)
  • South African Liberation Songs (1979)

With Benny Powell

  • Why Don’t You Say Yes Sometime (1991)
  • The Gift Of Love (2003)

With Sam Rivers

With Jimmy Scott

  • All Of Me: Live In Tokyo (2004)

With The Spirit of Life Ensemble

  • Inspiration (1992)
  • Feel The Spirit (1994)
  • Live At The Pori Jazz Festival (1996)
  • Collage (1998)
  • 25 Twenty-Five (2000)

With Randy Weston

References edit

  1. ^ Jenkins, Willard, "T.K. Blue", JazzTimes, December 1999.
  2. ^ a b TK Blue Artist Profile, Motéma Music.
  3. ^ Feather, Leonard, and Ira Gitler, "Kibwe, Talib aka T. K. Blue (Eugene Ludovic Rhynie)", The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, Oxford University Press, 2007.
  4. ^ Kelsey, Chris. "T.K. Blue: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c "Biography", T.K. Blue website.
  6. ^ "Talib Qadr" at Discogs.
  7. ^ "Abdullah Ibrahim – Africa: Tears and Laughter" Credits, AllMusic.
  8. ^ Palmer, Robert, "Jazz: Abdullah Ibrahim and Band", The New York Times, June 4, 1979.
  9. ^ Dryden, Ken. "Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  10. ^ T.K. Blue talks about A Warm Embrace on YouTube, Jazz Legacy Films, January 2014.
  11. ^ Bilawsky, Dan, "T.K. Blue: A Warm Embrace (2014)", All About Jazz, December 16, 2013.
  12. ^ "The Rhythms Continue". Lydia Liebman Promotions. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  13. ^ Ham, Robert (January 2020). "The Beat | T.K. Blue Explores Legacy of Randy Weston" (PDF). DownBeat. Vol. 87, no. 1. p. 13. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  14. ^ Steegmann, Anna (October 2019). "The Rhythms Continue TK Blue (JAJA)" (PDF). The New York City Jazz Record. p. 32. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  15. ^ Scott, Ron (November 21, 2019). "NYC Readers Jazz Awards, T.K. Blue". New York Amsterdam News.
  16. ^ tourtigerdevel (July 24, 2017). "Jazzmobile – TK Blue – 32nd Precinct". Harlem Jazz Boxx. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  17. ^ "A Great Day in Paris - Trailer" on YouTube.
  18. ^ "Biography", T.K.Blue.
  19. ^ "T. K. Blue - Director, Jazz Studies; Director, C.W. Post Jazz Ensemble", Department of Music, Long Island University.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i Discography, T.K.Blue.
  21. ^ "Another Blue". tkblue.com. 4 November 1999.
  22. ^ "Eyes of the Elders". tkblue.com. 4 November 2000.
  23. ^ Edelstein, Paula. "Eyes of the Elders | Overview". AllMusic.
  24. ^ "Rhythm in Blue". tkblue.com. 4 November 2003.
  25. ^ "Follow the North Star". tkblue.com. 18 December 2013.
  26. ^ "C.W. Post Jazz". tkblue.com. 4 November 2010.
  27. ^ "T.K. Blue CD Release LATINBIRD", YouTube.
  28. ^ Consideine, J. D., "T.K. Blue: The Rhythms Continue (JAJA) | A review of the alto saxophonist's tribute album to Randy Weston", JazzTimes, November 18, 2019.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Verve on T. Kibwe

April 18, 2024
blue, also, known, talib, kibwe, born, eugene, rhynie, february, 1953, american, jazz, saxophonist, flautist, composer, educator, from, york, city, parents, were, jamaican, trinidadian, used, their, afro, caribbean, musical, styles, work, worked, with, among, . T K Blue also known as Talib Kibwe born Eugene Rhynie February 7 1953 1 2 3 is an American jazz saxophonist flautist composer and educator from New York City His parents were Jamaican and Trinidadian and he has used their Afro Caribbean musical styles in his own work He has worked with among others Don Cherry Jayne Cortez the South African pianist Dollar Brand now Abdullah Ibrahim and Randy Weston for whom he was musical director T K BlueBirth nameEugene RhynieAlso known asTalib Kibwe Talib Qadir Kibwe variations Talib Qadr Talib Abdul Kadr Talib Abdul Qadr Talib Qadir Born 1953 02 07 February 7 1953 age 71 Bronx NY U S OriginNew York CityGenresJazzOccupation s Musician musical director composer educatorInstrument s Saxophone fluteYears active1977 presentLabelsMotema MusicWebsitetkblue wbr com Blue has also taught at professorial level at of jazz studies at educational institutions including Suffolk Community College Montclair State University and Long Island University Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early years and education 1 2 Career 2 Discography 2 1 As leader 2 2 As sideman 3 References 4 External linksBiography editEarly years and education edit He was born in the Bronx NY to a Trinidadian mother and Jamaican father and grew up on Long Island NY 2 T K Blue began his life in music from his Lakeview hometown by playing trumpet from the ages of eight to 10 and then switching to drums for a year After a hiatus at the age of 17 he dedicated himself to music by learning flute While attending New York University between 1971 and 1975 with a double major in Music and Psychology 4 Blue threw himself headlong into music concentrating on the saxophone During these undergraduate years he lived in the East Village partaking in the full range of the scene from lessons with elders to deep involvement in the avant garde He participated in the Jazzmobile program studying jazz theory harmony sight reading rhythmic training improvisation and big band performance with Jimmy Heath Chris Woods Sonny Red Frank Foster Jimmy Owens Ernie Wilkins Thad Jones and Billy Taylor 5 At Jazz Interactions Blue studied with Rahsaan Roland Kirk Yusef Lateef and Joe Newman and at the Henry Street Settlement with Billy Mitchell and bassist Paul West 5 In 1979 Blue received his Master s in Music Education from Teachers College at Columbia University 5 Career edit After performing and traveling extensively with Abdullah Ibrahim Dollar Brand from 1977 to 1980 variously billed during this period as Talib Qadr Talib Qadir Kibwe and Talib Abdul Kadr 6 7 8 Blue moved to Paris in December 1981 remaining there until 1989 In 1986 he recorded Egyptian Oasis his first record as a leader and that sparked a number of State Department tours to some 20 countries in Africa Back in the USA since 1990 he has worked constantly in a wide range of styles and situations and recorded his second CD Introducing Talib Kibwe released on Evidence in 1996 His more recent recordings as leader include 2008 s Follow the North Star a suite inspired by the life of Solomon Northup commissioned by the New York State Council on the Arts Latin Bird 2011 Highly recommended by AllMusic s reviewer Ken Dryden 9 and in 2014 A Warm Embrace 10 about which Don Bilawsky on All About Jazz has written Blue s skills as an arranger perhaps more than anything else are responsible for the success of this project as he s able to create beauty from simplicity at times A Warm Embrace is simply a beautiful work of art 11 His 2019 album The Rhythms Continue is a tribute to Randy Weston 12 with whose group T K Blue worked from the 1980s taking on the role of music director and arranger in 1989 13 The New York City Jazz Record characterized the CD as possibly his most heartfelt a dedication to the memory of his longtime employer and mentor Blue performed in Weston s African Rhythms band for 38 years his life deeply affected by his relationship with the legendary pianist 14 Described by the New York Amsterdam News as a memorable suite of 19 enthralling compositions by Weston Melba Liston and Blue it features other members of Weston s band bassist Alex Blake tenor saxophonist Billy Harper and percussionist Neil Clarke with guest pianists Sharp Radway Mike King Keith Brown and Kelly Green as well as Min Xiao Fen on pipa 15 Augmenting his long term relationships as musical director with Weston as well as with the Spirit of Life Ensemble at New York s Sweet Basil jazzclub 16 Blue s other recent affiliations include Odadaa a group led by a drummer from Ghana Yacub Addy percussionist Norman Hedman s pan African band Tropique tap dancer Joseph s Tap and Rap to jazz tunes by Charlie Parker and John Coltrane and emerging singer Jeffrey Smith T K was part of the June 2008 photo session called A Great Day In Paris in homage to Art Kane s historic 1958 photograph A Great Day in Harlem that featured more than 50 musicians from the USA who resided there 17 For several years an adjunct professor at Suffolk Community College and Montclair State University Blue was also a full time professor and director of jazz studies at Long Island University LIU Post 18 19 Discography editAs leader edit 1986 Egyptian Oasis Anais Records 20 1993 Taja A Night at Birdland Rise Up B000005R1G 20 1996 Introducing Talib Kibwe Evidence 20 1999 Another Blue Arkadia Jazz 21 2001 Eyes of the Elders with Randy Brecker Joanne Brackeen Lonnie Plaxico and Jeff Tain Watts Arkadia Jazz 22 23 2003 Rhythm in Blue Jaja Records 24 2007 In a Sentimental Mood A Jazz Tribute to Dr Chris Culver T K Blue 20 2008 Follow the North Star with Steve Turre James Weidman Onaje Allan Gumbs Essiet Okon Essiet Willie Martinez and Kevin Jones a musical retelling of the story of Solomon Northup Jaja Records 25 2010 C W Post Jazz 26 2011 Latin Bird Motema Music 27 20 2013 Live at Hillwood Recital Hall 20 2014 A Warm Embrace Jaja Records 20 2017 Amour Dot Time Records 20 2019 The Rhythms Continue Jaja Records 20 28 As sideman edit With Arkadia Jazz All Stars Thank You Duke Our Tribute To Duke Ellington 1998 With Jayne Cortez and The Firespitters Cheerful And Optimistic 1995 Taking The Blues Back Home 1996 Borders Of Disorderly Time 2003 With Abdullah Ibrahim The Journey 1977 African Tears and Laughter 1977 South African Liberation Songs 1979 With Benny Powell Why Don t You Say Yes Sometime 1991 The Gift Of Love 2003 With Sam Rivers Colours Black Saint 1982 With Jimmy Scott All Of Me Live In Tokyo 2004 With The Spirit of Life Ensemble Inspiration 1992 Feel The Spirit 1994 Live At The Pori Jazz Festival 1996 Collage 1998 25 Twenty Five 2000 With Randy Weston The Spirits of Our Ancestors 1991 Volcano Blues 1993 Saga 1995 Khepera 1998 Spirit The Power Of Music 2000 The African Nubian Suite 2016 References edit Jenkins Willard T K Blue JazzTimes December 1999 a b TK Blue Artist Profile Motema Music Feather Leonard and Ira Gitler Kibwe Talib aka T K Blue Eugene Ludovic Rhynie The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz Oxford University Press 2007 Kelsey Chris T K Blue Biography Allmusic Retrieved December 25 2010 a b c Biography T K Blue website Talib Qadr at Discogs Abdullah Ibrahim Africa Tears and Laughter Credits AllMusic Palmer Robert Jazz Abdullah Ibrahim and Band The New York Times June 4 1979 Dryden Ken Overview AllMusic Retrieved August 29 2021 T K Blue talks about A Warm Embrace on YouTube Jazz Legacy Films January 2014 Bilawsky Dan T K Blue A Warm Embrace 2014 All About Jazz December 16 2013 The Rhythms Continue Lydia Liebman Promotions Retrieved August 29 2021 Ham Robert January 2020 The Beat T K Blue Explores Legacy of Randy Weston PDF DownBeat Vol 87 no 1 p 13 Retrieved August 29 2021 Steegmann Anna October 2019 The Rhythms Continue TK Blue JAJA PDF The New York City Jazz Record p 32 Retrieved August 29 2021 Scott Ron November 21 2019 NYC Readers Jazz Awards T K Blue New York Amsterdam News tourtigerdevel July 24 2017 Jazzmobile TK Blue 32nd Precinct Harlem Jazz Boxx Retrieved August 29 2021 A Great Day in Paris Trailer on YouTube Biography T K Blue T K Blue Director Jazz Studies Director C W Post Jazz Ensemble Department of Music Long Island University a b c d e f g h i Discography T K Blue Another Blue tkblue com 4 November 1999 Eyes of the Elders tkblue com 4 November 2000 Edelstein Paula Eyes of the Elders Overview AllMusic Rhythm in Blue tkblue com 4 November 2003 Follow the North Star tkblue com 18 December 2013 C W Post Jazz tkblue com 4 November 2010 T K Blue CD Release LATINBIRD YouTube Consideine J D T K Blue The Rhythms Continue JAJA A review of the alto saxophonist s tribute album to Randy Weston JazzTimes November 18 2019 External links editOfficial website Verve on T Kibwe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title T K Blue amp oldid 1214999519, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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