T.K. Blue biography for short Media Bio, click here
T.K.
Blue, also known as Talib Kibwe, was born in New York City of a Trinidadian
mother and Jamaican father. T.K. began playing music at the age of 8
years old on trumpet. After two years his interest shifted to academic
and athletic endeavors... He returned to his musical studies in High
School while playing the flute.
He took lessons from Billy Mitchell, the legendary tenor saxophonist
with Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie, eventually pursuing music as a
career after receiving a full academic scholarship to New York University,
where he began playing soprano & alto saxophone. He earned a bachelor's
degree in both music and psychology. T.K. Blue went on to earn a master's
degree in music education from Teacher's College at Columbia University.
"Coming
to Jazzmobile in NYC is what did it for me. I got involved with Jazzmobile,
where we studied jazz theory, harmony, sight- reading, rhythmic training,
improvisation and big-band performance. It was just like going to school.
I studied with Jimmy Heath, Chris Woods, Ernie Wilkins, Frank Foster,
Sonny Red and Jimmy Owens. Thad Jones and Billy Taylor would come by from
time to time to give their knowledge and support."
T.K. also studied at Jazz Interactions with Rashaan Roland Kirk, Yusef
Lateef and Joe Newman. He also studied at The Henry Street Settlement
with Billy Mitchell and Paul West and at The Muse with world-renowned
bassist Reggie Workman.
While
living in the East Village of NYC during his undergraduate studies, T.K.
took lessons from many elders. An early highlight in his career was when
he played with Don Cherry at the famous "5 Spot" jazz club in Greenwich
Village. T.K. also studied with Nadi Qamar and learned how to play the
African hand piano or kalimba. Jaki Byard hired T.K. to play in a band
called The Apollo Stompers.
Abdullah Ibrahim, the great South African pianist formerly known as Dollar
Brand hired T.K. " I was able to develop when I was in Abdullah’s
band because he didn’t put any restraints on me in soloing. It’s an honor
and privilege to be in the company of masters when they let you stretch
out." Working in this band offered the opportunity for Kibwe to travel
to many nations and deliver performances via many media forms, while absorbing
the music and culture of people around the world.
The Paris Years
After traveling with Abdullah Ibrahim’s ensemble from 1977 until 1980,
T.K. moved to Paris in 1981 to quench his cultural thirsts. He lived in
Paris until 1989 making numerous trips to various regions in Africa.
In 1982, T.K. was asked to join an 11 piece saxophone choir led by Sam
Rivers. This group known as the Winds of Manhattan toured Europe and recorded
an LP on Black Saint Records in Milan, Italy.. From 1982 until 1985 much
time was spent playing with African musicians including the notable Manu
Dibango and the Senegalese group Xalam.
In 1985, T.K. went on to develop his first first group T.K. Odyssey and
in the following year recorded his first release as leader entitled, Egyptian
Oasis. This record sparked a number of State Department tours including
a 1989 tour of ten East African countries, a 1990 tour of ten West African
countries, and a third State Department tour of Morocco in that same year.
With Randy Weston
T.K. Blue met the great pianist and composer Randy Weston during his stint
with Abdullah Ibrahim. He began working with Mr. Weston in 1980. Randy
Weston was living in France at that time. After moving to Paris in 1981,
T.K. re-established his working relationship with Randy, and has since
become his musical director. This union has lasted 30 years and has lead
to the fruition of countless tours, recordings, concerts, radio and television
appearances.
In 1988, T.K. toured with Chico Hamilton’s band and was a featured soloist
alongside Archie Shepp in pianist Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath
big band.
By the end of 1989 when he returned to the USA, T.K. had cemented an enduring,
essential friendship with the iconic pianist-composer Randy Weston. Weston
was to become the most influential person in T.K.’s professional career.
During the Weston recording, Spirit Of Our Ancestors, 1991, Verve, T.K.
debuted as musical director as well as recording alongside jazz greats
Dizzy Gillespie and Pharaoh Sanders.
Since
1990 T.K. has worked constantly in a wide range of musical setting. He
was musical director, arranger and composer with the Spirit of Life Ensemble
at the world famous jazz club called Sweet Basil in NYC. He also formed
a band with James Weidman called TaJa. They released their debut CD, Live
At Birdland in 1993.
In
1996, T.K.’s first stateside debut, Introducing Talib Kibwe was released
on the Evidence label. Coupled with his masterful facility on saxophones
and flutes, compositional insight and recording experiences, T.K. is among
the new breed of artist-educators fully prepared to carry the message
of jazz to students of all ages.
In 1998, T.K. began a long term relationship with the New York based Arkadia
Jazz label, with a third CD of ballads about to be released featuring
Grammy nominated vibraphonist Stefon Harris. Arkadia’s founder Bob Karcy
comments; “T.K. is a major talent in both his playing and compositional
ideas. I’m impressed by the lyricism in his soloing even when he’s playing
at a very high energy. I think he has a unique and very contemporary sound
that both comes from the past and looks to the future".
T.K. Blue was a featured soloist, conducter, and arranger for Randy Weston and the
BBC Radio Big Band in London, England.
T.K. Blue was also the arranger, conducter,
and soloist for a concert performance at City College in New York entitled Harlem
Stride--A tribute to James Reese Europe--featuring new compositions by Randy Weston. This tribute will continue on Feb 25,2012 at the Tribeca Performing
Arts Center in NYC. James Reese Europe was the first person to take jazz outside the
continental United States during WW1 while stationed in France with the 368th Harlem
Hellfighter's Infantry.
T.K. Blue released his 8th CD as a leader entitled "Follow the North Star", which received rave reviews and critical acclaim. He received a commission from the NYSCA and Transart Inc. to compose a piece of music dedicated to the early African-American presence in the Hudson Valley area of upstate New York. T.K. chose to write a suite based on the life of Solomon Northup and his book Twelve Years a Slave. Mr. Blue takes us on a wordless but yet richly satisfying journey through Northup's life, from his ancestry to his return to his family, making all of the painful, harrowing, and joyous stops in between....I found the music to be most compelling when listened to from beginning to end, like a symphonic movement..."--Curtis Davenport, Jazz Improv NYC July 2008.
T.K. is a musician of the highest caliber who is at the peak of his creative output. Mr. Blue’s artistry is found on over seventy recordings and has performed with a long list of great international artists such as Don Cherry, Abdullah Ibrahim, Sam Rivers, Archie Shepp, Randy Weston, Dizzy Gillespie, Pharoah Sanders, Melba Liston, Johnny Copeland, Billy Higgins, Reggie Workman, Chico Hamilton, Stefon Harris, Eric Reed, Regina Carter, Bobby McFerrin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Benny Powell, James Moody, Paquito d’Rivera, and Jimmy Scott, just to name a few. Blue has a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Psychology from NYU as well as a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.
After several years as an adjunct professor at Suffolk Community College and Montclair State University, T.K. Blue is now the official fulltime professor and director of jazz studies at Long Island University-LIU-Post.
T.K. Blue was part of an historic photo session in Paris, France called "A Great Day in Paris", which featured close to sixty musicians from the USA who resided there. While residing in Paris Blue made his first recording as a leader entitled “Egyptian Oasis”. This recording sparked several state department tours in eastern, western, and northern Africa. These tours in Africa were extremely spiritual and deep-rooted in a cultural awareness. Blue was very fortunate to experience first-hand many cultures and various styles of traditional African music. T.K. is deeply indebted to various organizations such as Jazzmobile, Jazz-interactions, the Henry Street Settlement, and the Muse, for his jazz studies and performances. Despite his busy schedule, T.K. has found time to teach and mentor budding musicians. He has taught music education and performance on the pre-k level straight up to the university and graduate level. His passion for music and teaching is evident in his personal expression. LIU-Post has provided T.K. Blue with the perfect environment and opportunity to grow as a teacher and performer.
2010 was a stellar year for the career of Professor Blue. His C.W. Post Jazz Ensemble performed at the world-famous jazz venue in NYC called the Iridium. Then later on in the summer they performed four concerts in the south of France as part of the international jazz festival Juan les Pins-Antibe. T.K. also performed at Dizzy’s and the Iridium with his professional band and he recorded his 9th CD as a leader called Latin Bird, which was released on Motema Records in March 2011. T.K. Blue is featured in the new auto-biography by Randy Weston called African Rhythms and he was an associate producer for Randy’s latest CD called The Storyteller, released in November 2010 on Motema Records. T.K. Blue took his group to Dakar, Senegal in December 2010 to perform as part of the 3rd International Black Arts Festival. While in Dakar, he also did a workshop on the History of Jazz: From Africa to America.
2011 was a great year and Latin Bird on Motema Music recieved rave reviews. The CD had been on the jazz charts since the end of March and eventually made it into the top 10. A short documentary video produced by Brian Grady on the making of Latin Bird was nominated for best jazz video by the jazz journalist association
2011 closed with T.K. Blue performing on the soundtrack for a feature film entitled “Queen City” starring Vivica A. Fox. This soundtrack also features many internationally acclaimed artists.
Currently in 2012, Professor Blue has many performances scheduled, including a tour to Oman in the Middle East. He will also produce the first “Jazz Day” on the LIU-Post campus. This event will feature 5 area high school jazz ensembles and master clinicians such as Rufus Reid, Arturo O’Farrill, Earl Williams, and Steve Turre. The culmination of this event is an evening concert with Grammy award winner Herbie Hancock.
For more information on Professor T.K. Blue, please go to: http://www.tkblue.com