Rahmat Shabazz

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

RAHMAT SHABAZZ: JAZZ NEWS and VIEWS

NOVEMBER 2020 

 

New Music Release: ‘Charles Rahmat Woods   Tarika Blue Notebook’ (Rahmat Shabazz label #ASR 28). Available Now as CD and download at Amazon, itunes, and many other platforms. Flute/saxophonist Charles Rahmat Woods began the study of Eastern mysticism at the tender age of 13 years old in Buffalo NY. As a young musician at Syracuse University in the early 1970’s he co-founded with pianist Phil Clendeninn, multi-reed player Bruce Robinson, bassist Barry Coleman, and drummer Kevin Atkins, the eclectic and popular Jazz band “Tarika Blue” (The Blue Path). Now, fifty years later, Rahmat has opened a ‘well-worn’ notebook of original music and reflections to present his latest release “Tarika Blue Notebook”. It was recorded with his DMV working band (Peter Frassrand – keyboard/piano, Emory Diggs – bass, Gus Johnson -drums, Tarea Anderson – guest vocal) at Allyn Johnson’s Divine Order Studios. Nine tracks include “Be Soft and Let it Laugh Slowly”, “Barack”, “Margie”, “Orange Outrage”, “Hamiet”, “The Unidentified Sound”, “12:01”, “The Language of Birds” and  also a beautiful and rarely done work composed by Jazz Master  Ahmad Jamal, “After Fajr”.

Sunday, November 8, 2020, 1PM. Adventures with Wilson presents its online “Pajama Brunch: Jazz and Spoken Word”. This month featuring noted poets Aquil Mizan, Colie Aziza, Serena Wills, and solo musicians George Kenyatta Dudley, and Charles Rahmat Woods. Event will be streamed on Zoom and Facebook live via the Adventures with Wilson page. (donations accepted)

Thursday November 12 thru Saturday November 14, 2020. 7:30pm shows. With three days of live and live stream performances, not only Baltimore MD, but the entire global network is offered a rare treat as legendary vocalist Freda Payne (“Band of Gold”, “Bring the Boys Home”) celebrates Ella Fitzgerald at Keystone Korner Baltimore [1350 Lancaster St, Baltimore MD] Live seating with Covid-19 protocols in effect ($35-$45) and livestream ($10).  Call (410) 946 6726

Thursday November 19. 4pm. ‘My Father’s Keeper: Paint and Sip’ presents Bliss Ananda and his Blue Violin.  Limited seating, pandemic protocols in place. Busboys and Poets (Marion Barry Room), 2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington DC. Reservations Only. Call Ms. Wise 202-867-0958 (Free)

REVIEW:  Woodwind Fest 2020, a five day online festival that celebrates all aspects of ‘woodwind’ music, presented The Greg Osby Trio (Osby – alto sax, John Chin – piano, Lonnie Plaxico – bass). Performing in a live studio setting, the trio presented selections from Osby’s new album “Reflections of the Eternal” and also performed Thelonious Monk’s “Reflections”, a swinging blues tribute to Charlie Parker, and an entertaining take on Benny Golson’s “Stablemates”. It all added up to a fitting demonstration of Jazz saxophone during this festival of woodwinds utilized in all genres of music.

REVIEW:  Arts for Art in New York City presented their “Vision: Healing Soul Fest” via live location and live streaming, and it featured a host of exciting progressive musicians and artist.  Online, we caught another powerful performance by The David Murray Trio this time with bassist Luke Stewart and drummer Ronnie Burrage. Online replays are available on the Arts for Art website.

…that’s it for now…stay safe…peace

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)