ABIAH @ THE BLUE NOTE, NYC (2/11/2013)
What a great way to spend a wintry Monday evening in the Big Apple! Singer/songwriter ABIAH did two sets at the Blue Note, each one to a packed house. Performing tunes from his latest release, LIFE IS A BALLAD, Abiah fronted a five-piece acoustic band and three solid background singers. His voice…what can I say? Abiah’s tenor is soft yet strong and sonic (think a male version of Minnie Riperton, folks…yes he’s that good!). With great tunes such as “Scent Of A Woman” (new song), “Foolish Heart” and “Doves” (his take on the Prince classic), Abiah had the audience within his spell.
Abiah’s music is a moody yet soft blend of jazz, classical, soul, pop and even folk, all helmed by his classically-trained voice. In the middle of the show, Abiah welcomed Jean Baylor of the duo Zhane to perform “Goodbye”, and their voices more than complimented each other. She even joined him on the encore as well. Abiah is, to this writer, carrying on the tradition of the gentle music that has emerged from the Upstate New York area (he, like me, is from Rochester, NY) and Canada over the past 50 years, from Gordon Lightfoot to the team of Don Potter & Bat McGrath (who worked with Chuck Mangione in the early 1970s).
When I met Abiah backstage, he and I discovered we shared common ground being that we are both from Rochester NY - we graduated from the city’s public school district, shared the same high school voice teacher (Patricia Alexander, mother of famed opera star Renee Fleming) and were raised by mothers who were classically driven (his mom accompanied the great William Warfield, mine studied opera at Canegie Mellon University prior to marrying my Dad).
Now, if only our hometown can have Abiah as part of the Rochester International Jazz Festival next year (and yes, this is a not-so-subtle message to my friends back home to help get the word out!!). Check out Abiah's reworking of the Prince classic:
BILLY VERA GETS THE GRAMMY (finally!)
Composer/artist BILLY VERA is best remembered by fans for his #1 hit from 1987, “At This Moment” (used in the TV series, “Family Ties”) as well as the 1967 classic, “Storybook Children” with the late Judy Clay. But to many in the recording industry, Billy is a rock and soul music historian who has put his knowledge and personal recollections to great use as a liner note writer and researcher for CD compilations as well as reissues.
I was first knocked out by his authorship when Billy penned the notes for the Rhino Records collection, “The R&B Box”. Actually, these weren’t just notes, Billy practically wrote a BOOK filled with anecdotes, information and first-hand accounts of seeing these legends in action.
Through the years, Billy earned four Grammy nominations for Best Liner Notes and this time, he finally got the prize for his work on the Ray Charles anthology, “Singular Genius - the Complete ABC Singles Collection”, released on the Concord Music label. I cheered when fellow writer A. Scott Galloway posted this info on his Facebook page and I had to put it on mine as well. Very inspiring to see a colleague earn such an honor. And I gotta say this - when I started writing liner notes in the late 1990s, Billy was one of the folks I’d call to get information and even guidance.
Congratulations, Billy. An honor well earned and deserved. Let's go back in time for a tune he had written which was a hit for Bobby Goldsboro - "With Pen In Hand".
CARL DAVIS REMEMBERED
On the evening of the Grammy Awards, during their In Memoriam segment, I let out a big “hell, yeah!” when I saw the picture of one of my music biz mentors on the TV screen. The late CARL DAVIS has been called The Dean Of Chicago Soul and for great reasons. Record producer, label executive and owner, publisher, Carl was responsible for hits such as “Duke Of Earl” (Gene Chandler), “Monkey Time” (Major Lance), “Dear Lover” (Mary Wells), “Whispers [Getting Louder]” and “Higher & Higher” (Jackie Wilson), as well as “Love Makes A Woman” (Barbara Acklin) when he was the A&R chief for Okeh Records and the Brunswick label. Towards the early 1970s, Carl had his own labels (Dakar/Bashie) and was promoted to VP of Brunswick Records. That’s when the fun really kicked in thanks to hits he released by Tyrone Davis (“Can I Change My Mind”, “Turn Back The Hands Of Time”) and the Chi-lites (“Have You Seen Her”, “Oh Girl”). The mid to late 1970s, he launched two other labels - Innovation II and Chi-Sound.
But what I remember of Mr. Davis was the great help he had given me when I was hired at Brunswick Records in 1995. From the first phone call we had to meeting him in person to our final conversation months before he passed, Carl was always willing to talk about the work he helped create, set the record straight on many issues (for instance, Young/Holt Unlimited did NOT play on “Soulful Strut” - the hit that bore their name - and yes, Motown’s Funk Brothers DID play on Jackie’s “Higher & Higher”), the artists he produced and even about his family, which he named his many companies after (Julio-Brian Music - his sons, Jalynne Productions and Pam Records - his daughters). The purpose of these conversations was simple - to help me navigate the sometimes choppy waters of the recording industry.
Carl was always in good spirits when we talked and during my business trips to Chicago, stopping by his house for a visit was imperative. This was at a time when many Windy City music legends opened their doors for this travelin’ man who was (and still is) yearning for knowledge. Carl Davis, Eddie Thomas, Willie Henderson, Richard Pegue, Thomas “Tom Tom” Washington, Simtec Simmons, Cicero Blake, Andre Williams, William “Sonny” Sanders, Joshie Armstead, Wesley Wells of the Steelers, Chuck Colbert (American Breed, Rufus, Daylighters), George “Paco” Patterson (Midnight Movers Unlimited).
When I needed to speak with Carl in January of last year for liner note research, legendary arranger/composer William “Sonny” Sanders forewarned me that he was ill. The moment I heard Mr. Davis’ voice on the phone, the oxygen tank he used was in full operation. Yet, he spent whatever time was needed to discuss the music he produced for the late Mary Wells (his recollections can be found in the liner notes for the SoulMusic Records collection of Mary’s 20th Century Fox recordings). Carl had asked me if I was still living in Wisconsin and after explaining to him that I was moving back to New York City in the spring, he responded, “Good! Get out of Wisconsin, Kev. You belong back in the big city. The (music) industry needs guys like you to help tell the stories about us music makers”. Weeks after I made my transition back to the Big Apple, Carl passed away at the age of 77.
I had originally written an obit for SoulMusic Records when he died but always wanted to write something more personal. Carl’s recognition by the Grammy folks provided that opportunity. As I say on my Facebook page - rest in peace, Mr. Davis, and thank you for the music and your contributions to the industry. You will be remembered and missed. Here's one that Carl produced for his dear friend and buddy (his words), the late WALTER JACKSON. From 1965 - released on Okeh Records (which they re-recorded in '75 on Chi-Sound), "WELCOME HOME".
GIGS, GIGS AND MORE GIGS!!
If you’re going to be in the NYC area within the next few days, check out these shows….
SOUL FACTORY PRESENTS, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23RD, DROM NYC
Another SOUL FACTORY PRESENTS event this weekend, held the last Saturday of each month at Drom in NYC’s Village. Presented by folks such as Purpose Music Group and State Farm Insurance. Featuring KIM HILL, GENO YOUNG and BRIANNA COLLETTE. Call for reservations.
COLLETTE, FRIDAY MARCH 1ST, BLUE NOTE NYC
Look folks, I’ve been talkin’ ‘bout COLLETTE for a couple of months, based on gigs she performed at Drom as well as BB King’s. On Friday, March 1st, she’ll be leading a midnight soul/jazz jam at the Blue Note here in the Big Apple. Tickets are only ten bucks - that’s right, ten dollars (as in two fives, ten singles, a five-four singles-four quarters….get the picture??). So, do yourself a favor, get a ticket - hell, get two tickets (for your and your honey/friend/life partner/bind date), hire a babysitter for the kids and make plans to be at the Blue Note at the midnight hour that first Friday in March. (And yes, Collette, you’re welcome!!!)
THAT’S ALL, FOLKS!!
Thanks again for reading, gang! Tune in next time for features spotlighting the rock act, STREET KING HEROS, a young man of soul named DENNIS “YOUNGBLOOD” TAYLOR and more commentary from yours truly about the industry. Comments and feedback are always appreciated (follow me on Twitter - kevingoins1 - or friend me on Facebook). Take care, be well and keep listening to great music!
Regards,
Kevin
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