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David 'Fathead' Newman and the Dr Lonnie Smith Trio at Dizzy's December 19-24 |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Sunday, 17 December 2006 |
Before he heads to Chicago to close the Jazz Showcase, David Fathead
Newman joined by the Dr. Lonnie Smith trio featuring guitarist Peter
Bernstein at will play a week at Dizzy's in Manhattan, December 19th
through the 24th.
David 'Fathead' Newman, who
plays both tenor and flute, is a solid mainstream jazz player who is
best known for his long association with Ray Charles. 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 b
egan 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.
 Dr. Lonnie Smith © John Whiting
Dr. Lonnie Smith performs with passion and skill, and has been
thrilling audiences since the 1960's. Smith's 1968 debut with Bluenote,
Think is solid soulful jazz. His long association with Lou Donaldson
resulted in some of the most iconic soul-jazz statements of the era
(including Alligator Boogaloo). Dr. Lonnie Smith was born in Buffalo,
N.Y. into a musical family. His family had a singing group and a radio
show. Smith credits his mother as a major influence in his musical
career, introducing him to gospel, classical and jazz music.
"I can take it anywhere it goes,
right? I love to play inside, outside...but the organ swings best when
it swings, doesn't it? That's what that organ is good for. You could
try to play hip all you want, but when you swing that thing, there's no
other feeling like it." - Doctor Lonnie Smith
Dr. Smith also has a Jack McDuff connection. He sat in with Jack's
group in th early 60's and met George Benson, and shorty after that
formed a successful group with Benson. After recording several
albums with George Benson, Lonnie became a solo recording artist and
developed a career that has produced over 30 albums under his own name.
Several legendary jazz artists have joined Dr. Lonnie Smith on his
albums, including Lee Morgan, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis,
Blue Mitchell, and Joe Lavano among others. Lonnie has performed at the
major world jazz festivals with Dizzy Gillespie, Grover Washington,
Jr., Ron Carter, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy McGriff, Frank Foster, Leon
Thomas, Willis Jackson and other prominent jazz artists. His
extraordinary range has also included performances with the rhythm and
blues greats Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Etta James, Esther
Phillips, the Impressions and the Coasters.
 Peter Bernstein
Peter has joined ranks with many Jazz notables, both in live and
recorded sessions. As a sideman Peter's discography surpasses 30
recordings. He has worked with Joshua Redman, Lou Donaldson, Jim Hall,
Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, Roy Hargrove, Larry Goldings, Maceo Parker,
Javon Jackson, Lee Konitz, Walt Weiskopf, Jack McDuff, Charles Earland,
Dr. Lonnie Smith and Eric Alexander among others. To date, Peter has
recorded four CD's as a leader for the Criss Cross label. His 1993
debut was Somethin’s Burning,
featuring legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb, followed by Sings of Life (1995), (starring
the formidable cast of Christian McBride, Greg Hutchinson and Brad
Mehldau) then Brain Dance
(1997), featuring Larry Goldings, Blly Drummond, Steve Davis and Eric
Alexander; and finally, the critically acclaimed trio romp, Earth
Tones, featuring Larry Goldings and Bill Stewart. Peter’s Quartet was
also one of five groups featured on RCA Victor’s CD Live at Birdland (1999).
Peter Bernstein has become known for his melodic, bluesy tact and
warm-tone. His personal style is influenced by Jazz greats Wes
Montgomery, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Charlie Christian, and Jim
Hall. Peter can currently be spotted in a number of settings: he is
simultaneously a member of Jimmy Cobb’s Mob, the Lou Donaldson Quartet,
The Melvin Rhyne Trio, and a trio featuring Larry Goldings and Bill
Stewart. Having toured as a member of Joshua Redman’s Band for two
years (1995-1997) he has been seen at all the popular New York Jazz
venues and Jazz Festivals worldwide, including the Newport Jazz
Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Mount Fuji Festival, Montreux Jazz
Festival, and Umbria Jazz Festival. In January 1999, Peter performed as
a leader of his own Trio at the Blue Note,
Join David Fathead
Newman with the Dr. Lonnie Smith trio featuring guitarist Peter
Bernstein at Dizzy's in Manhattan, December 19th
through the 24th. www.jalc.org/dccc
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 Tuesday, 02 December 2008
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