After the Diane Reeves, George Duke and Billy Childs gig at the Disney Complex on Saturday night, I took a stroll to the park, Lemeirt Park! More jazz music is what I was in search of. When I go there, it was not like it used to be. I remember when the Vision Theater was happening, Richard always had something happening at 5th Street Dicks and people were in the streets talking about jazz music.
I drove around a couple of times and almost left. Ken of the former coffeehouse Howling Monk had told me to come on down and check out his venue called Jazz@ten. The Taumbu International Ensemble was playing at the Villiage theater and if you have seen Tambu, you know the night was going to be full of history and jazz music.
I did not see a theater or any people. I know I was late but, I did not think that everyone would just leave after the gig. I asked the twins at the coffeehouse on the corner and they pointed me toward the back of the complex, Suite 101. I did not hear anything until I got right up on the door but, when I opened it, BAM! Tambu was in one of his thick latin grooves and every seat in house was filled with jazz lovers, couples and those who love, appreciate and understand the music!
Before each piece of music, Tambu would tell a story of what the song was all about. He told one story of a great black warrior called El Tarik, who was sent to go and conquer. When he did he got all the accolades. Those who had sent him felt that El Tarik was stealing their thunder so they arrested the great one and imprisoned him. Damn, you go and to a great job to serve your people and look what happens!
He also told of the power of the drum. How it came from Africa and it was the one thing that the powers that be could not tolerate because it was a symbol of African power. He says this is why you don't hear the bongo drums in much music.
When he played with the other cats in the band, you certainly could hear the power of the drum. Tambu with Micheal Sessions on the alto, Steve Smith on trumpet, Phil Ranelin on Trombone, Jeff Littleton on bass and two other cats I have not heard before.
David on piano and I did not get the other name. Check out the pictures, if you know, let me know!
LeRoy Downs
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Article comments
1 - godoggo
Some time ago I read a passage from Dizzy's book in which he said that in America the slaves were not allowed to own drums because they would use them to communicate. This was in contrast to the Carribean and Latin America, where the slaves were controlled not so much by limitations on their speech (and were even allowed, or, one might say, forced into a certain level of independence, through sustenance farming â€" this is no longer from Dizzy incidentally), but, rather through much more brutal physical coercion. Hence the greater prevalence of African-like instruments and rhythms. American jazz, as I understand, is derived from parade band music, and its syncopation is an elaboration of that music's simple two-step rhythm, which in some way allows a greater degree of freedom than the more complex but rigid clave. On the other hand, I've also heard that jazz was born in New Orleans because it was a drum town, so who knows? I remember a while back that there was a collaboration between musicians from New Orleans and Cuba, who found a great deal of common ground rhythmically, which would make some sense.
It's a shame about Leimert Park, though, as you say, it's heart is still very much pumping. Some time ago they were having protests because of rent increases that have been driving local businesses out. I understand that another culprit is competition from Magic Johnson's Mall.