Pianist Harold Mabern is one of the true treasures of improvisational music. Born in Memphis, Tennessee and self taught as a pianist, he and his peers (George Coleman, Frank Strozier, Booker Little) developed rapidly. As he discusses in our chat, Mr. Mabern’s move to the city of Chicago after high school graduation further enhanced his pedigree. As the pianist for the MJT +3, his harmonic and rhythmic ideas were the ideal compliment to Walter Perkins and Bob Cranshaw. In this interview, Mabern speaks about these beginnings and his move to New York where he has remained a first call pianist for the last 50 years holding the piano chair with fellow luminaries such as Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis, J.J. Johnson, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard and George Coleman. He began recording as a leader for Prestige Records in 1968, and his newest recording, “Afro Blue,” on the Smoke Sessions Label pairs his group with all-star vocalists Gregory Porter, Alexis Cole, Kurt Elling, Norah Jones and Jane Monheit. This CD promises to be a unique addition to his body of work and will help to further introduce him to a greater addition of listeners. Play on, Mr. Mabern!
JazzWatch #38 | Harold Mabern
by jazzwatch in JazzWatch Blog Posts, JazzWatch Podcast and tagged afro blue, Ahmad Jamal, album, bam, band, black american music, Booker Little, California, cannonball adderley, CD, cd release show, chicago, concert, conversation, discussion, douglas high school, Eddie Harris, Frank Strozier, George Coleman, Hard Bop, illinois, improv, improvisation, Indie, interview, jazz, label, Lee Morgan Death, long form, LP, manager, manassas high school, memphis, music, nashville, national music scene, new york, new york city, npr, Phineas Newborn Jr., pianist, piano, podcast, Post Bop, Prestige Records, quartet, Sideman, Smalls, Smoke, Smoke Jazz Club, smoke sessions, Soul Jazz, tennessee, trio, usc, web series, webisode
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