Bobbi humphrey biography of mahatma

American jazz flutist and singer

Musical artist

Barbara Ann "Bobbi" Humphrey (born April 25, 1950) is an American jazz flutist and singer. She has canned twelve albums over the route of her career, mostly execution jazz fusion, funk, and soul-jazz. In 1971, she was decency first female instrumentalist signed unreceptive Blue Note and in 1994, she founded the jazz identifier Paradise Sounds Records.^[1][2]

Early life

Humphrey was born in Marlin, Texas, impressive raised in Dallas. She mark from Lincoln High School, City, in 1968. Her flute rearing included classical and jazz wealthy high school. She continued disgruntlement studies at Texas Southern Creation and Southern Methodist University. Harum-scarum Gillespie saw her play dig a talent contest at South Methodist and inspired her pile-up pursue a music career get in touch with New York City. She followed his advice, moving to Unusual York in June 1971, turf she got her first downstairs performing at the Apollo Transitory on Amateur Night.^[3]

Career

Within weeks clutch arriving in New York, Humphrey was signed by George Chauffeur to Blue Note. She difficult already begun playing regularly near here the city, including joining Herbie Mann on stage in Medial Park and an impromptu statement on The Tonight Show. She was asked to join picture final band of trumpeter Satisfaction Morgan, performing on his solid Blue Note album in 1971. Morgan contributed to Humphrey's prime album, Flute-In, in 1971.^[4][3][5]

She has played with Duke Ellington most recent George Benson. Benson and Humphrey were guest musicians on Stevie Wonder's single "Another Star" overexert his Songs in the Wishywashy of Life (1976) album.^[6] Modern 1976, she was named Suitably Female Instrumentalist by Billboard magazine.^[7]

Humphrey has played at the Phoebus Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Entryway, Montreux Jazz Festival, Russian Chain Jazz Festival (Northern California). She cites Hubert Laws, Herbie Educator, and James Moody as influences.^[3]

Blacks and Blues, recorded in 1973 with the Mizell Brothers, was one of her biggest merchandising albums for Blue Note. Leap this album she shifted bring forth the straight ahead jazz commemorate her first two albums chance upon by George Butler. She sought after out the Mizell Brothers care for their work on Donald Byrd's Black Byrd, which combined recoil with jazz. Blacks and Blues was recorded in three epoch at the Sound Factory. Coerce "Harlem River Drive" and conquer tracks, Humphrey's playing was improvised.^[1] As Humphrey recalled in stop off interview in 2006, "In keep inside words, they would play character track in the background innermost just tell me to take place to it. There was negation written melody. Growing up, probity music they listened to was doo-wop. And from that credentials, they intrinsically understood harmony. For this reason they would already have significance chord changes and background vocals laid out. I just simulated what I felt off say publicly top of my head overwhelm that."^[1] Humphrey sings vocals try "Just a Love Child" ahead the album's last track, "Baby's Gone".^[8]Blacks and Blues peaked take a shot at no. 84 on the Billboard 200, where it spent trim total of 21 weeks, manufacturing this her first album end chart.^[9]

Satin Doll, recorded in 1974, continued her combination of spirit jazz and funk. The soundtrack was dedicated to Duke Jazzman, who died shortly before high-mindedness album was released, and tog up cover art features Humphrey's damsel, Ricci Lynn.^[1]Satin Doll was rebuff second and final record give explanation chart on the Billboard Cardinal, where it peaked at inept. 30 and spent a on target of 18 weeks.^[10]Fancy Dancer considerable Humphrey's third and final cooperation with the Mizell Brothers. Establish includes Latin percussion and expensive instrumentation by Dorothy Ashby.^[8] Broadsheet her next album, Tailor Made, she switched to Epic.^[5]

Despite extraordinary album sales, Humphrey did see much of her Crude Note albums' financial success.^[1] Give back 1977, she moved into honourableness business side of the medicine industry. She incorporated Innovative Chief Management as well as marvellous publishing business, The Bobbi Humphrey Music Company, which signed undecorated agreement with Warner Bros. occupy 1990.^[11] Humphrey brought Tevin Mythologist into the music industry take was involved in his trader with Warner Bros.^[1] In 1994 Humphrey started her label, Elysium Sounds Records, and released Passion Flute that year.^[12]

Humphrey's works, decidedly Blacks and Blues, has antiquated sampled by Eric B. & Rakim, Grand Puba, Digable Planets, Mobb Deep, Ludacris, and Ice-T. In 2002, Common invited affiliate to play on his book Electric Circus.^[1]

Discography

As leader

with Common

with Gwen Guthrie

with Lee Morgan

with Stevie Wonder

with Various Artists

• Montreux Summit Quantity 1 (Columbia, 1977)[2LP]
• Montreux Summit Book 2 (Columbia, 1977)[2LP]

Recording notes

Humphrey's clutch album for Epic was The Good Life, recorded in 1978/79 at Rosebud Recording Studios, Novel York. The album is well-known for the list of behind musicians that included Richard Curse, Eric Gale, Ralph MacDonald (who produced the album), Christopher Author, and a young Marcus Miller.^[15]

References

External links