T. K. Blue
T. K. Blue | |
---|---|
Birth name | Eugene Rhynie |
Also known as | Talib Kibwe; Talib Qadir Kibwe (variations: Talib Qadr, Talib Abdul Kadr, Talib Abdul Qadr, Talib Qadir) |
Born | musical director, composer, educator | February 7, 1953
Instrument(s) | Saxophone, flute |
Years active | 1977–present |
Labels | Motéma Music |
Website | tkblue |
T. K. Blue (also known as Talib Kibwe, born Eugene Rhynie, February 7, 1953)
Blue has also taught at professorial level at of jazz studies at educational institutions including
Biography
Early years and education
He was born in the
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
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
His 2019 album The Rhythms Continue is a tribute to
Augmenting his long-term relationships as musical director with Weston, as well as with the
T.K. was part of the June 2008 photo session called "A Great Day In Paris" — in homage to
For several years an adjunct professor at
Discography
As leader
- 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 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 (Motéma 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
With
- 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
- ^ Jenkins, Willard, "T.K. Blue", JazzTimes, December 1999.
- ^ a b TK Blue Artist Profile, Motéma 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.
- 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.
- 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.