Babatunde Lea has summoned the spirit of rhythm in the company of Pharoah Sanders, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, Randy Weston, Van Morrison and many other jazz and world music luminaries. He now leads a new team of all-star talent through Soul Pools, his diverse debut album on Motema Music.
Scheduled for release in early 2003, Soul Pools is Babatunde Lea's newest offering about which JAZZIZ said, "Listeners will be waiting at the door with warm anticipation." That was written in 2001, when Lea's March of the Jazz Guerillas was marshalling unanimous praise: "Not since Mingus and Blakey has music bristled with a sense of message like this." (Down Beat); "It's music as fresh as the first album you ever bought" (Schwann Inside Jazz); "clicks like magic" (JazzTimes); "harks back to the sixties Impulse sound, where heroes like Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders made some of the most soulful, searching music ever" (The Beat).
Jazz fans and performers alike share an indelible impression of Babatunde Lea as an inspirational player who pushes limits and brings out the best in his bands, his music and himself. The line-up on Soul Pools --- Hilton Ruiz, Frank Lacy, Mario Rivera, John
Benîtez and Kevin Jones --- can testify to this leader's talent, as can producer Suzi Reynolds, known for her work with Jerome Richardson, Teri Thornton, Lynne Arriale and Howard Johnson. The commitment that drives the talent, and the inspiration for the
leader's adopted moniker dates back to when Lea, at age 11, first witnessed Nigerian percussionist Babatunde Olatunji and his Drums of Passion. "The drums were speaking straight to my heart," recalls Lea, "and they've never stopped since."
As a teen in New York, Lea learned congas, made music in church, caught soul acts at the Apollo Theater and secured his first recording gig. Crossing the continent to late sixties San Francisco, he continued working on African, Latin and Caribbean rhythms
during sun-kissed drum sessions in Golden Gate Park. In the fertile Northern California music scene, he joined Bill Summers' Bata Koto in the seventies and recorded with Pharoah Sanders, Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison and others. Lea also recorded
his own albums, first Levels of Consciousness in 1979 and then Level of Intent in 1995, on which his afro-influenced signature sound came into focus, with Kenny Barron, Jon Faddis, Frank Lacy, Charnett Moffett and Hilton Ruiz. He also employed his visual charisma on stage, movie and TV screens in Leonard Part VI, Partners in Crime and in the opera, Mother of Three Sons at Lincoln Center.
While Babatunde's fan base widens, (Soul Pools marks his fourth record as a leader), he remains a percussionist of choice in the Bay Area and beyond, hopping from straightahead club gigs to guest appearances with Latin and Brazilian ensembles, always
generating heart-pumping heat. The new century has seen Lea performing at The Kennedy Center with Mary Stallings, at the Blue Note with Hilton Ruiz and as a member of Bill Cosby's All-Stars at The Playboy Jazz Festival (2001 and 2002), where he met Ernie Watts, who now performs in Lea's ensemble. Lea has led his group at many world- class venues including Yoshi's and The Jazz Bakery as well as the Atlanta Jazz, Bumbershoot and Monterey Jazz Festivals.
As a musician, teacher and activist, Lea has been influenced by his work with Sanders, Tyner, Weston and Leon Thomas, each of whom share his interest in the power of jazz to connect with African roots and transcendent sources. "Music is conversation," says Lea. "It's a listening matter. When I'm surrounded by great players, I learn new and valuable things every time I play." Harmonious integration of life, philosophy and music is key. "Music is a visceral expression of the spiritual glue that connects us to each other and to ourselves," says Lea, "and it's a powerful tool for transformation."
Soul Pools is his latest excursion toward that end. "I want this music to be an oasis for this traumatized world," he explains. Lea's wife and education professor, Dr. Virginia Lea, shares his passion to be an agent of change. Together they formed the Educultural
Foundation in 1993, turning music and other arts into a source of inspiration for crosscultural problem solving. 'Educultural' workshops by Lea's ensemble will be featured as part of the international tour for Soul Pools, now being booked by J. Chriss & Co. in the U.S. and Canada, and GKP Promotions in Europe.
As arranger for Soul Pools and personifying the album's eclectic sensibility, Frank Lacy contributes several tunes, plays trombone, flugelhorn, trumpet, and sings. Lacy has collaborated on record with a wide range of artists, from Art Blakey and McCoy Tyner to
D'Angelo and Elvis Costello. "What's special about this music," explains Lacy, "is the blending of cultures." Prominent in the mix is Hilton Ruiz, long-time Lea cohort and Grammy nominee who has also contributed his Latin-flavored piano to Charles Mingus, Freddie Hubbard and Tito Puente. Reedman Mario Rivera, an eleven-time Grammy winner, has worked with Puente, Machito and Dizzy Gillespie. Bassist John Benîtez has credits ranging from Wynton Marsalis to Madonna. Adding African percussion lines is
Kevin Jones, who has recorded with Archie Shepp and Whitney Houston. Guest artist, Raul Midon, contributes two compositions, plays guitar and mouth trumpet. And songwriter Jana Herzen, founder of the Motéma label, also adds a vocal composition to
the mix.
The Soul Pools "oasis" provides those thirsty for excitement with Babatunde's solid foundation and shimmering highlights, ably underscored by Ruiz and the rest of the rhythm section, and brightened by the dynamic horn and reed arrangements. Listeners
partake of a propulsive ensemble sound with episodes of blithe elegance interspersed with surprise changes in tempo and meter. Lea's trademark virtuosity reaches new heights here, as he performs simultaneously on drum set and congas, a crowd-pleasing technique that can also be heard to great effect on the bonus CD that comes free with the first pressing of Soul Pools. The bonus CD offers an unusual, unique rhythmic arrangement of Wayne Shorter's "Footprints", captured live at a performance of The Babatunde Lea Quartet in San Francisco on August 4th, 2002. Lea's touring band, featuring Ruiz, bassist Geoff Brennan and sax-legend Ernie Watts electrified the audience and may just be one of the hottest acts now available on the international jazz circuit.
See video interviews and performance clips at www.motema.com.
Discography:
Soul Pools Motéma, 2003
March of the Jazz Guerrillas Ubiquity, 2000
Level of Intent Diaspora, 1995
Levels of Consciousness Theresa, 1979
Educultural Foundation
Through workshops, clinics, master classes and residencies, Babatunde shares his passion for jazz, life and African rhythms. He developed his innovative teaching style through The Educultural Foundation, a non-profit organization formed in 1993 in collaboration with his wife, educational activist, Dr. Virginia Lea. 'Educultural' programs promote effective critical thinking about social and cultural issues through the exploration of arts
and culture.
Visit www.motema.com/educultural
for more information and to request a brochure and promotional video.
Press Highlights:
"Not since Mingus and Blakey has music bristled with a sense of message like this."
- DOWN BEAT
The Babatunde Lea Quartet weaves magic ...
- JAZZ STEPS
Harkens back to the classic late-1960's Impulse label sound where hero's like Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders made some of the most soulful, searching music ever ... simply beautiful.
- THE BEAT
It's music as fresh and wonderful as the first album you ever bought ... It's 60's Blue Note vintage hard-bop-funk refracted through an Afro-Latino spirit-cosmic jazz-tinted looking glass. This music will make a believer outta you!
- SCHWANN INSIDE JAZZ
A wonderful tapestry of richly woven textures held together by the woof and warp of drums and percussion. The band clicks like magic with an impressive level of communication and understanding.
- JAZZ TIMES
The festive feel of a percussionists reunion and a thorough respect for the spiritual roots of Afro-Cuban music ... well arranged ... brilliant solos ... tight horn section. Listeners will be waiting at the door with warm anticipation the next time Lea hangs out his shingle.
- JAZZIZ
Babatunde rendered his audience stunned witnesses to the unity of man, drum and music.
- VALLEJO TIMES-HERALD
Eclectic, yet rambunctiously rhythmic as his dynamic performances ... Lea reminds us that jazz can still be about real musicians laying down tracks that speak from their hearts, not the bottom line.
- BRE
Babatunde Lea makes a good case for the drums being jazz's most important instrument.
- PROVIDENCE PHOENIX
At the heart of his sound are simple repetitive riffs, growing waves of rhythm and inspired ensemble soloing, creating a surge of visceral exuberance. It is this passionate earthiness that distinguishes Lea's accessible arrangements.
- MODERN DRUMMER
Explosive energy!
- THE ATLANTA SIGNAL
Lea brings a heady and propulsive sense of soul to jazz, along with something deeper - an authentication of the music to African culture. Fans of everything from '70's progressive funk to '90's neo-soul will appreciate his style.
- THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
It's been a while since I've felt the kind of passionate heat and burning sense of message generated by drummer Babatunde Lea. He's one of the hottest jazz/world music attractions on the festival scene.
- THE SEATTLE TIMES
TESTIMONIALS:
Babatunde is a very exciting percussionist, a brilliant soloist and a composer of meaningful musical works. He is one of todays best drummers. It is a pleasure to be part of his musical experience.
- Hilton Ruiz
This is Grammy winning material, and after 11 Grammy's I ought to know.
- Mario Rivera
Playing music with Babatunde Lea is a surreal and gratifying experience. I'd be honored and pleased to share in music with him again whenever he wishes.
- McCoy Tyner
The Soul Pools Recording Features:
BABATUNDE LEA (drums, percussion)
KU-UMBA FRANK LACY (arranger, brass and vocals)
HILTON RUIZ (piano)
JOHN BENÃŽTEZ (bass)
MARIO RIVERA (sax & flute)
KEVIN JONES (percussion)
with guest artists
JANA HERZEN (vocals)
and RAUL MIDON (guitar, mouth trumpet)
Bonus CD:
The first pressing of Soul Pools includes an electrifying Bonus CD, recorded live and featuring Babatunde's touring quartet: Hilton Ruiz, Geoff Brennan and Ernie Watts.
With "Soul Pools", drummer/percussionist Lea leads an all-star cast of musicians to create an album of uncommon passion, depth and musicality.
"Soul Pools" marks the debut of Motéma Music, a new label promoting artists of passion and uncompromising artistry in jazz, .
See a promotional video filmed during the recording session at
www.motema.com/babatunde/video.
Workshops and Clinics
Drum, percussion and other 'Educultural' workshops available for schools and community centers. For more information, or to request an Educultural brochure and video, please
call Jennifer Plantz at (212) 679-6664
or visit www.motema.com/educultural
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.motema.comTrack List:
1. Confrontation
2. Jackie and the Beanstalk
3. Isabella
4. Round the World
5. Whoa Baba!
6. 1055
7. Ejercito Moreno
8. Yerba Buena
9. Outlyer
10. Soul Pools
11. Carolyn's Dance
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