Rahmat Shabazz

Charles Rahmat Woods  with master drummer Roy Haynes at the Blues Alley (DC)

RAHMAT SHABAZZ: JAZZ NEWS and VIEWS

FEBRUARY 2021

Livestreaming from NYC, SmallsLive presents drummer E.J. Strickland Quintet (Christopher McBride – sax, Marcus Strickland – sax and reeds, Luis Perdomo – piano, Manuel Olatuja – bass). February 5, 5pm-8pm. (sponsored/donations welcome) Info (646) 476-4346

Blues Alley, DC, continues their live virtual concert broadcasts from the National Press Club in downtown Washington.  Vocalist Rochelle Rice appears on Monday, February 8, with a pre-performance interview at 7:30m and concert at 8pm ($15-$20). Info (202) 337-4141

Among Baltimore’s An Die Muzik Live stream stage offerings are two celebrated solo piano concerts: Friday February 6, 7pm, Jose’ Andre ($10) and on Thursday February 11, 7pm, Lafayette Gilchrist ($10). On February 15, 7pm, vocalist Imani-Grace Cooper and her ensemble will perform ($10). Baltimore MD. Info: (410) 385-2638

The popular Mid-Atlantic Jazz Fesitval, usually held in Rockville MD, will be an all virtual event this year, broadcast over three days 2/12-2/14 (Friday and Saturday at 7pm. Sunday at 6pm).  Access tickets are $20 per evening session (3 acts per session), or an entire weekend ‘passport’ to all sessions for $55. Featured artist include drummer Nasar Abadey and Super Nova, trumpeter DeAndrey Howard and the Collectors Edition, Christie Dashiell with Allison Crockett, saxophonist Paul Carr with vocalist Dick Smith, vibraphonist Warren Wolf’s History of the Vibes, and more.  Info: 888-909-6330.

Adventures With Wilson presents “Jazz and Spoken Word Brunch” livestream via Zoom and Facebook on Sunday February 14, 1pm EST. (donations welcome)

Keystone Korner Baltimore presents drummer Ronnie Burrage and his Holographic Principle ensemble (Nimrod Speaks – bass, Alex Collins – keyboards, Camille Thurman - reeds) on Thursday February 18, 7pm. (livestream $10, limited in person club seating - $20). Info:  410-946-6726

REVIEW:  On Saturday January 16, 2021, it seemed as if musical ‘jewels’ were dropping out of the virtual sky. First, Keystone Korner Baltimore streamed a wonderful filmed live concert dedicated to the late great pianist/composer Stanley Cowell.  With a horn section of saxophonist Bruce Williams, trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, and trumpeter Sean Jones, and a rhythm section of pianist Alex Brown, bassist Tom DiCarlo, and drummer Vince Ector, the ensemble passionately played Cowell’s compositions including “Effie”, “Banana Pudding”, and “Cal Massey”. Cowell’s daughter and vocalist Sunny joined the group for stirring renditions of “Equipoise” and “Here With Me”.

UCLA’S Center for Performing Arts livestreamed an amazing concert featuring saxophonist/composer and NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd and his Kindred Spiritsensemble (Gerald Clayton – piano, Anthony Wilson – guitar, Reuben Rogers – bass, Justin Brown – drums). For over two solid hours Lloyd weaved musical magic, opening with an ethereal rendition of the Mingus classic “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”, followed by James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, and then taking the virtual audience on a ‘journey within’ with tunes like “Zoltan”, “The Dirge”, and “CL Blue”. His spoken word commentary on “Illumin” included ‘Go Forward!’, ‘Don’t Go For The Okee Dohk!’, and ‘Those Covid Fools…We Didn’t Have To Have That You Know!’

...That's it for now...Peace and Safety...

NEWS: Charles Rahmat Woods new CD and download release ‘TARIKA BLUE NOTEBOOK’is available on Amazon, itunes, Spotify, Tidal, and on a number of your popular platforms.

With master saxophonist, composer, and educator Gary Bartz, after his stellar  performance at An Die Muzik in Baltimore

With NEA Jazz Master Archie Shepp at the pre-ceremony NPR listening session

With NEA Jazz Master Pharoah Sanders and Shimiya Woods at NEA Awards DC

Charles Rahmat Woods with Carolyn Goodridge director of Art Impact USA at gallery opening, Washington, DC

International guitarist Jean Paul Bourelly conducts ensemble at RhizomeDC, featuring Charles Rahmat Woods-sax, Thomas Stanley-electronics, and Tom Teasley-perc

With drummer/bandleader  Cindy Blackman Santana after her stunning performance at Bethesda Blues Jazz

Rahmat Shabazz Band featuring vocalist Quiniece and Aziza performed at 80th Anniversary of the City of District Heights Md 

Charles Rahmat Woods visits the great saxophonist Billy Pierce during the Kevin Eubanks band appearance in DC





With Jazz Foundation of America Executive Director Wendy Oxenhorn, Trombonist Roswell Rudd, and friends at NEA Jazz Masters Awards

Rahmat Shabazz Trio with award winning journalist Askia Muhammad

With multi-instrumentalist improvisational composer Bill Cole during DC Jazz Fest 2016

Charles Rahmat Woods Quartet performed during Asbury Methodist's Church annual breakfast for the homeless.

Rahmat Shabazz Trio Plus cd release party at Record Theater, Buffalo NY featured Charles Rahmat Woods with Derek Gasque and Abdul-Rahman Qadir.

The Rahmat Shabazz Band performed for Syracuse University CBT 2017 reunion, and featured  Kevin Atkins, Kevin Bruce Harris, Derek Gasque, and shown here...vocalist Colie Aziza and Valencia Yearwood.

Charles Rahmat Woods with NEA Jazz Master Abdullah Ibrahim at NPR Studio

Photographer Ron St Clair and Charles Rahmat Woods

With drummer Ronnie Burrage and bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma during their performance at Keystone Korner Baltimore

1989: Hanging out with the late great pianist/composer McCoy Tyner (Sulieman Saud)