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T. K. Blue

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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, New York, U.S.
OriginNew York City
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, musical director, composer, educator
Instrument(s)Saxophone, flute
Years active1977–present
LabelsMotéma Music
Websitetkblue.com

Eugene Rhynie (born February 7, 1953),[1][2][3] known professionally as T. K. Blue (or Talib Kibwe and other variants), 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.

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

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Early years and education

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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

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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. Blue 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]

The 2023 release of The Tide of Love earned Blue acclaim from such outlets as All About Jazz, where the reviewer hailed it as "a striking album ... that offers a diverse and engaging musical journey through various genres of the jazz spectrum", and concluded: "The album shows T.K. Blue's skill, passion, and commitment to musical diversity."[20]

Blue's most recent album, Planet Bluu, was released in October 2024 to further positive reviews, described by The Arts Fuse as "multigenerational affair...a fun and engaging listen as the seasoned pros pass the tradition to the next generation."[21] DownBeat magazine's reviewer called Planet Bluu "so special", giving it a four-star rating,[22] while The Toledo Blade praised it by noting: "It includes a wonderful mix of musicians and a diverse array of instruments while maintaining its tight, jazz combo feel....DownBeat magazine once wrote that Blue 'exudes armloads of dexterity and guileless charm' and that he 'is a craftsman so in love with his work that it doesn’t even feel like work.' That's a pretty apt description for this album, which is complex in arrangements, filled with fascinating solos, and yet flows effortlessly."[23]

Discography

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As leader

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As sideman

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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)
  • Nextep (2008)

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

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  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. ^ Giroux, Pierre (December 15, 2023). "T.K. Blue: The Tide of Love". All About Jazz. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  21. ^ Michie, Allen (November 10, 2024). "Review of 'Planet Bluu' by T.K. Blue". Retrieved November 30, 2024 – via Medium.
  22. ^ West, Michael J. (November 2024). "Reviews | T.K. Blue, Planet Bluu (Jaja)". DownBeat. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  23. ^ "Review: T.K. Blue's latest, Planet Bluu, strives for a utopian vibe". Toledo Blade. October 10, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i Discography, T.K.Blue.
  25. ^ "Another Blue". tkblue.com. 4 November 1999.
  26. ^ "Eyes of the Elders". tkblue.com. 4 November 2000.
  27. ^ Edelstein, Paula. "Eyes of the Elders | Overview". AllMusic.
  28. ^ "Rhythm in Blue". tkblue.com. 4 November 2003.
  29. ^ "Follow the North Star". tkblue.com. 18 December 2013.
  30. ^ "C.W. Post Jazz". tkblue.com. 4 November 2010.
  31. ^ "T.K. Blue CD Release LATINBIRD", YouTube.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ "T.K. BLUE: The Tide of Love". Arkadia Records. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  34. ^ "NEW RELEASE: T.K. Blue's 'Planet Bluu' is out October 25, 2024 via JAJA Records". lydialiebman.com (Press release). Liebman Enterprise. August 20, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  35. ^ De Clemensat, Thierry (September 19, 2024). "T.K. Blue – PLANET BLUU (ENG review)". Paris-Move. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
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