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David Fathead Newman and the Henry Johnson Organ Express to Close the Jazz Showcase |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Sunday, 17 December 2006 |
 Dave Fathead Newman © Andrea Canter
David 'Fathead' Newman was born
in Corsicana, Texas on February 24, 1933. After high school, David
found gigs in local bands. He received a scholarship to Jarvis
Christian College where he studied theology and music. After two years
of college, David decided to go on the road full time with Buster Smith
(Charlie Parker's mentor). On one of those tours, David met Ray
Charles. They immediately bonded, both musically and as friends. When
Ray started his own band, he called on David to be part of his group.
In 1954, David began a twelve year association with the Ray Charles
Band. David began as the baritone player and soon became the star tenor
soloist.
In 1959, David recorded his first album as a leader titled, "Fathead: Ray Charles Presents 'Fathead'"
on Atlantic records. It included Newman's dramatic and now famous
rendition of Hard Times. He returned to Dallas for a short time and led
his own bands. Then he moved to New York City where his career took off
in many directions, recording many albums for Atlantic records, as well
as Warner Brothers and Prestige, and gigging with Lee Morgan,
Kenny Drew Sr., Billy Higgins, Kenny Dorham and so many other of the
great jazz musicians hanging out on the New York scene.
In 1980, Newman recorded several mainstream jazz albums for the Muse
label. Artists such as Cedar Walton, Jimmy Cobb, Buster Williams, Louis
Hayes, and other fine NY musicians, helped round out the rhythm
sections. David returned to Atlantic Records in the late eighties to
record several albums. Newman's next recordings were on the Kokopelli
label, owned by Herbie Mann. David recorded a beautiful CD in tribute
to Duke Ellington, titled Mr.
Gentle, Mr. Cool. David produced the next one on Kokopelli,
titled Under A Woodstock Moon.
The late nineties brought David to the High Note label where he
recorded I Remember Brother Ray,
was released in 2005 and became the #1 Most Played Jazz Album
nationwide.
David Newman has appeared on many television shows including Saturday
Night Live, David Sanborn's Night Music, David Letterman, and various
featured news segments. David appeared in Robert Altman's film Kansas City and did a national
tour with the Kansas City Orchestra, for Verve Records.
 Henry Johnson © Andera Canter
Organist Chris Foreman's "insistently
swinging, blues-drenched solo lines are dripping with churchified soul
and show a fertile imagination. Foreman stands to advance to the front
ranks of the elite B3 burners on today's scene" -JazzTimes.
Chris Foreman is a
masterful musician and heir to the throne occupied by the soulful,
bluesy jazz organ legends who were once his influence. Blind at birth,
Foreman started playing piano at age five and began formal training at
seven. As a teenager he was attracted to the organ sounds of Jack
McDuff, Groove Holmes, Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff. This attraction
led Chris to pursue playing jazz on the organ, which he undertook
through intensive study of recordings. Unlike many African-American
musicians whose musical knowledge begins and is established through the
church, Chris didn't start his apprenticeship as a church organist
until he was almost twenty years old - well after his jazz roots were
established. He has arrived at a most exciting blend of blues-gospel
and jazz and has developed a stunning command and range on the
instrument. The blend of his sound is evident in his professional
experience, which has included work with Hank Crawford, Albert Collins,
Bernard Purdie and The Mighty Blue Kings.
"Rockingham again proves to be one of
the steadiest and most reliably swinging drummers around" -JazzTimes.
Drummer Greg Rockingham began
playing when he was just three years old and debuted as a professional
musician at age five in his father's jazz ensemble. An alumnus of the
famed Interlochen Arts Academy and Northeastern University, Greg has
performed or recorded with a wide range of famous names, including the
orchestras of Glenn Miller and Guy Lombardo, vocalists Freddie Cole,
Patty Page and Jerry Vale and instrumentalists Nat Adderley, Kenny
Burrell, Charles Earland and Ellis Marsalis.
Catch David Fathead Newman and the Henry Johnson Organ Express and say
farewell to the current Jazz Showcase on December 26th through the 31st.
The Jazz SHowcase is located at 59 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago, but not
for long.
(312)670-2473
www.jazzshowcase.com |
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 Tuesday, 02 December 2008
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