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“Music is the silence between the notes.” - Claude Debussy

Friday, 09 January 2009

The Roy Ayers Quartet Celebrates Lionel Hampton, January 23-28 at Dizzy's

Written by Ronaldo Oregano

Tuesday, 16 January 2007

Vibraphoist Roy Ayers and his quartet will be paying tribute to vibraphone pioneer Lionel Hampton at Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center in January 23rd through the 28th.

Roy Ayers was five years old when his parents took him to hear the legendary vibes player Lionel Hampton in concert. After the performance 'Hamp strolled up and down the aisles thanking his audience for attending, and in the corner of his eye spotted a very excited little boy. Lionel wandered over to Roy and gave him the present of a lifetime - a pair of vibe mallets. Eventually his parents bought him a set of vibes at 17. Roy began teaching himself, and then he heard that living just a couple of blocks away was an up-and-coming vibesman Bobby Hutcherson. The two immediately became friends.

By the age of 21, in 1961 Roy Ayers had become a professional musician and worked for some of the biggest artists of the day including Chico Hamilton, Teddy Edwards, Jack Wilson, Phineas Newborn and Gerald Wilson. Roy began writing his own material and putting it onto tape, when along came the World's leading author and producer Leonard Feather. One thing led to another, and Roy was signed to his first record label - United Artists.Roy's debut album,"West Coast Vibes", was produced by Leonard, and the line-up was pretty impressive - Roy on vibes; Curtis Amy, tenor sax; Jack Wilson, piano, Bill Plummer, bass; Victor Gaskin, bass; and Kenny Dennis plus Tony Bazley on drums. The album was given much praise within jazz circles, and in fact popular big band leader Louie Bellson heard one of the tracks, liked it, re- recorded it, and re-named it "I Remember Duke".

One day the World's number one jazz flautist, Herbie Mann, called Roy urgently requiring a replacement to fill a last minute cancellation from a band member, at The Lighthouse Club in Los Angeles. Roy made himself available, the crowd loved it, and he remained in the band for six years touring the West Coast and appearing on several of Mann's albums for Atlantic Records. During this period Roy still found time to write his own material, and eventually struck a another deal for himself with Atlantic. For the next three years the same amount of albums were released - "Virgo Vibes", 1967; "Stoned Soul Picnic", 1968, and "Daddy Bug" in 1969. All were produced with the help of long time friend, Harry Whitaker.

In the mid 1970's, a new and different kind of sound was brewing called fusion.. Roy's mix of fluent improvisation, dance floor friendly rhythms, and incredible showmanship quickly established Roy as a leader of the scene, and for the next ten years he recorded his best work, including: "Virgo Red", "Change Up The Groove", "Mystic Voyage", "Everybody Loves The Sunshine", "Vibrations", "You Send Me", "Lifeline", and "Fever". At the tail end of 1979 he visited Africa, and was accompanied by the now late great percussionist, and beleagured figure-head, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The tour was a huge success which spawned a popular album "Africa Centre Of The World".

In 1983 Roy formed his own label Uno Melodic and released "Lots Of Love". Many of the artists featured within his camp later became top artists in their own right, including Bobbi Humphrey and Justo Almario. Roy was also synonymous in producing some now much sought after rare groove classics from The Eighties Ladies, Ethel Beatty, and Sylvia Striplin.

With the emerging worldwide Acid Jazz movement and sample-happy hip hop DJ's Roy Ayers enjoyed a worldwide renaissance in the early 90's. Dozens of groups began sampling his work including, A Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian, X-Clan, Big Daddy Kane, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, The Notorious BIG, and Puff Daddy. The U.K. based Galliano recorded with him, Gang Starr's Guru recorded and toured with him on 1993's Jazzmatazz project, and pop diva Vanessa Williams featured him as a special quest on 1994's "The Sweetest Days".

Catch the Roy Ayers Quartet Celebrating Lionel Hampton at Dizzy's Tuesday-Sunday, January 23-28 -7:30 & 9:30pm, Friday and Saturday - 11:30pm show. For more details, visit: www.jalc.org/dccc/

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