T.K. BLUE: Another Blue

In every context, T.K Blue asserts himself as one of the brightest talents in jazz today.” – Geoffrey Hines, The Washington Post

Arkadia Records recording artist, saxophonist and composer T.K. Blue (Talib Kibwe) leads this exhilarating ensemble of 14 Jazz notables, such as Randy Weston & Eddie Henderson, in a special album, entitled T.K. Blue: Another Blue. Full of superb originals and classic standards, the album showcases both Blue’s extraordinary musical chops and the sounds of his impressive band, that includes pianists James Weidman & Michael Cochrane, bassists Santi Debriano & Calvin Hill, drummers Cecil Brooks III & Greg Bufford, percussion master Guilherme Franco, trumpeter Tony Branker, Bob Ferrel on trombone, Lenny Argese on guitar, and special guests pianists Randy Weston and Onaje Allan Gumbs, as well as Eddie Henderson on trumpet

“Blue’s voice on alto is highly distinctive. Whether on his main horn, soprano or flute, he inflects everything he plays with ebullience.” – James Hale, Downbeat Magazine

In this all-acoustic session by the accomplished saxophonist, flutist, composer, and arranger, T.K. Blue presents an exciting program of five of his original compositions, five re-interpretative arrangements of iconic standards, plus a tune by Tony Branker from the Spirit of Life Orchestra. T.K. plays with fire and imagination on his full arsenal of instruments, joined by an impressive collection of Jazz stars with whom he has intersected during his twenty-plus years as an active, vital performer and Musical Director for pianist Randy Weston.

“Saxophone virtuoso T.K. Blue, imbues his playing with so much elation that even classics come to life with new vitality… He has developed an emotional immediacy in his playing that utterly transports an audience…T.K. Blue’s tone is both muscular and malleable.  When he improvises, his contoured passages obtain the logic of a Slinky stretched to full length…The saxophonist also has a delightful rhythmic agility that enables his solos to dance.” – John Murph, The Washington Post

Whether playing compositions from Miles Davis, Bud Powell, or Dizzy Gillespie, or TK Blue’s originals that reflect on his West Indian heritage and the longstanding influences of his travels around the world, “T.K. Blue: Another Blue” showcases the impressive young reed player reflecting on the history and future of Jazz music.

“Saxophonist/Flutist/Composer T.K. Blue’s musical exploits, on the bandstand and in the recording studio, shout and scream ‘artist deserving wider recognition’.” – Willard Jenkins, Jazz Times

Song Selection:

1. Chant for Peace Eternal	Tony Branker	6:16
2. This is for Albert	Wayne Shorter	5:17
3. Evening Prayer	Talib Kibwe	7:11
4. Hallucinations	Bud Powell	3:25
5. Another Blue	Talib Kibwe	5:19
6. You Go to My Head	Fred J. Coots and Haven Gillespie	7:09
7. It’s Really All About Love4:27	Talib Kibwe	4:27
8. Night In Tunisia	Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli	5:21
9. Crossings	Talib Kibwe	5:34
10. Pileau	Talib Kibwe	3:54
11. Solar	Miles Davis	4:35

T.K. Blue: Saxophones, flutes, and kalimbas
James Weidman: Piano
Santi DeBriano: Bass
Cecil Brooks III: Drums
Guillermo Franco: Percussion
Onaje Allen Gumbs: Piano
Michael Cochrane: Piano
Calvin Hill: Bass
Greg Bufford: Drums
Tony Branker: Trumpet
Bob Ferrel: Trombone
Lenny Argese : Guitar
With special guests:
Eddie Henderson: Trumpet
Randy Weston: Piano

Produced by: T.K. Blue and Bob Karcy
Total Time: About 60 minutes

What the Critics Say:

“Saxophone virtuoso T.K. Blue, imbues his playing with so much elation that even classics come to life with new vitality… Blue has developed an emotional immediacy in his playing that utterly transports an audience… T.K. Blue’s tone is both muscular and malleable. When he improvises, his contoured passages obtain the logic of a Slinky stretched to full length… The saxophonist also has a delightful rhythmic agility that enables his solos to dance.” – John Murph, The Washington Post

“In every context, T.K Blue asserts himself as one of the brightest talents in jazz today.” – Geoffrey Himes, The Washington Post

“On Another Blue, Kibwe (T.K. Blue) takes what he’s learned from his mentor-friends and crafts it into a truly inspiring and individual vision of jazz.” – James Lien, CMJ

“Saxophone virtuoso Talib Kibwe, now known as T.K. Blue, imbues his playing with so much elation that even classics come to life with new vitality.” – John Murph, The Washington Post

“Here (on Another Blue), Blue puts all of his savvy and years of shedding to fruition with this release on Bob Karcy’s burgeoning Arkadia record label. Blue displays extraordinary flair and technical acumen and his soaring and engagingly melodic alto sax work speaks volumes. Despite his proficient technical gifts, Blue is a stickler for nuance and detail, and performs as if he were walking on water. No frills or hidden agendas here, this is… good jazz the way it’s meant to be.” – Glenn Astarita, AllAboutJazz

“…Kibwe’s composition is a free-jazz hymn full of rumbling rhythms and ecstatic wailing.” – Geoffrey Himes, City Paper

“Ebullient saxophonic expositions in the pursuit of passionate jazz truth aptly summarizes the artistry of… T.K. Blue.” – Willard Jenkins, JazzTimes

“(T.K. Blue) blossoms on Another Blue from itinerant side man to brilliant leader. What a pleasant surprise.” – S.D. Sweeney, Face Magazine

“T.K. plays with fire and imagination on his full arsenal of instruments.” – JazzUSA

“Saxophonist/Flutist/Composer T.K. Blue’s musical exploits, on the bandstand and in the recording studio, shout and scream ‘artist deserving wider recognition’.” – Willard Jenkins

“4/4+ STARS!…T.K. is masterful on sax and flute… The recording is crisp and really swings… This will appeal to a broad audience…” – D. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place- Vol.6, No.1

“The best bits include Bud Powell’s “Hallucinations” played strongly on flute, “Another Blue”, a sexy, wailing blues with overtones of “Harlem Nocturne”, a muscular uptempo version of “You Go To My Head’ with Blue and James Weidman both taking it out, and a duet with the great Mr. Weston himself on “Night In Tunisia” with Blue’s mellow alto meshing perfectly with Weston’s craggy piano… An excellent musician… very promising stuff from a great sideman just now coming into his own…” – Jerome Wilson, Cadence

“T.K. Blue is the musical director of two of New York’s finest bands, Randy Weston’s African Rhythms and the Spirit of Life big band… Though he also plays flute, Kibwe’s chief weapon is the alto sax, and when he tilted it upward for a climactic cascade of piercing high notes, he sounded like a testifying preacher and a tomcat in heat… Cast in the spirit of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, Kibwe’s composition is a free-jazz hymn full of rumbling rhythms and ecstatic wailing.” – Geoffrey Himes, City Paper

“…the thing that strikes you the most about Kibwe is his strong sense of inner peace… a sensibility that comes across in his music as well…On “Chant for Peace Eternal”, Kibwe offers alto calls of impassioned yearning that seem to emerge from a reservoir of positivity.” – Jeff Hall, Courier-Post

“…on his two latest recordings, T.K. Blue (aka Talib Kibwe) shows that he deserves more recognition… on his second domestic CD, “Another Blue” (Arkadia)… the saxophonist/flautist delivers a nicely varied mix of his own compositions and jazz standards – and does so with a soulful and resourceful creative intelligence…By either name, Blue is someone who should be heard.” – Russell Woessner, Philadelphia Weekly, 01/12/00

“Ebullient saxophonic expositions in the pursuit of passionate jazz truth aptly summarizes the artistry of alto and soprano saxophonist-flutist T.K. Blue.” – Willard Jenkins, JazzTimes

“I’ve always thought of the city boy with the Caribbean genealogy as Carlos Ward junior –plenty of pep in his alto lines, plenty of spice in his swing. His lines often have a skittishness to them, which tacitly implies a mischievousness, too.” – Macnie, The Village Voice

“…Blue’s voice on alto is highly distinctive. He differentiates himself from peers like Gary Bartz and Oliver Lake with a light, keening tone, so high-pitched at times that it sounds like he’s playing a soprano.  Whether on his main horn, soprano or flute, he inflects everything he plays with ebullience.” – James Hale, Downbeat

“…T.K. plays with fire and imagination on his full arsenal of instruments, joined by an impressive collection of jazz stars – Randy Weston, Onaje Allen Gumbs, Eddie Henderson, Guillerme Franco, James Weidman, Santi Debriano, Cecil Brooks III – who have intersected with the leader during his twenty-plus years as performer.” – JazzUSA

“…an impressive array of jazz talent…. Kibwe takes what he’s learned from his mentor-friends and crafts it into a truly inspiring and individual vision of jazz.”–  CMJ

“Like his mentor (Randy) Weston, Kibwe cross-fertilizes jazz with borrowings from African, Arabic and Caribbean music… In every context, Kibwe asserts himself as one of the brightest talents in jazz today.” – Geoffrey Hines, The Washington Post, 08/20/99

“…Blue delivers the goods… (his) performances are laced with fire and imagination.” – Bob Morello, Post-Gazette

“…Blue displays extraordinary flair and technical acumen on trumpeter Tony Branker’s composition titled “Chant For Peace Eternal”… Blue’s soaring and engagingly melodic alto sax work speaks volumes… On “Evening Prayer”, Blue reaches for the heavens through a delicate, light-as-a-feather touch demonstrating his keen utilization of vibrato and tremolo techniques… (he) performs as if he were walking on water, sans the overly saccharine smooth jazz stereotypes… Another Blue is a first class production… No frills or hidden agendas here, this is… good jazz the way it’s meant to be.” – Glenn Astarita, allaboutjazz.com

About T.K. Blue:

Of West Indian parentage, T.K. Blue began his life in music from his Lakeview, Long Island, hometown by playing trumpet from ages 8 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, Blue threw himself headlong into music, concentrating on the saxophone. He took lessons (as part of the Jazzmobile program) with Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster and Ernie Wilkins, as well as from tenor legend Billy Mitchell. During these undergraduate years, T.K. lived in the East Village, partaking the full range of the scene, from lessons with elders to deep involvement in the avant-garde. In 1979 Blue received his Masters in Music Education from Columbia University.

After performing and traveling extensively with Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) from 1977 to 1980, T.K. moved to Paris in December, 1981, remaining 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 U.S. since 1990, T.K. has worked constantly, in a wide range of styles and situations, and recorded his second CD “Introducing Talib Kibwe”, released on Evidence in 1996. Augmenting his long-term relationships as Musical Director with Randy Weston and the Spirit of Life Orchestra, recent affiliations include: Odadaa, a group led by a renowned 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. His recent long-term signing to Arkadia Jazz and the release of his first CD with Arkadia (“Another Blue”) heralds! the start of a new turning point in T.K.’s blossoming career.

T.K. Blue recorded a second highly acclaimed album on Arkadia Records entitled “T.K. Blue: Eyes of the Elders” featuring Stefon Harris-vibraphone, Randy Brecker-trumpet, Jeff “Tain” Watts-drums, Eric Reed-piano, Joanne Brackeen-piano, Steve Kroon-percussion, Lonnie Plaxico-bass and James Weidman-piano.

In 2004 T.K. Blue had the extreme pleasure and privilege of joining The Jazz Expressions, which was the backup band for NEA JAZZ MASTER and vocal legend Little Jimmy Scott. Blue worked with Jimmy for close to 10 years until his passing. They made several tours and recordings. T.K. Blue is the arranger, conductor, and featured soloist for three significant projects concerning Dr. Randy Weston and his African Rhythms Orchestra.