"Outstanding Jazz Artist" nominee for the 37th Annual NAACP Image Awards
Onaje Allan Gumbs, Jazz Pianist composer-arranger-songwriter-producer completes his NEW CD project called, "Sack Full Of Dreams" featuring, George Gray (Drums/Abdullah Ibrahim) and Marcus McLaurine (Bass/Clark Terry-Cleo Laine), Gary Fritz (percussionist /Roberta Flack-George Benson), Mark Shim (Tenor Sax/Elvin Jones), Bob Devos (Guitar/Gene Ludwig) AND special guest vocalist of Theater, TV & Film, Obba Babatunde.
Onaje Allan Gumbs has just completed his NEW CD called "Sack Full Of Dreams" for release on Showplace Records Productions(Allegro Distribution), at the beginning of 2007. Produced by Onaje and Grammy winning producer Jack Kreisberg, "Sack Full Of Dreams" was recorded by Grammy winning engineer Ben Elliott at Showplace Studios in Dover, New Jersey. The music features Brazilian, Straight-ahead Jazz, Funk & Ballads. The title track of the CD "Sack Full Of Dreams", features the guest vocal of *Obba Babatunde (*noted actor, singer and dancer). Mr. Babatunde reprised his role as Billy Flynn in the Broadway musical, CHICAGO from April to August 2006.
Here are some of Obba Babatunde's Film, Television & Theater credits:
(FILM) "Manchurian Candidate"/ "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge"/ "Miss Evers Boys"
(TV) "Half 'n' Half"/ "The Temptations" -NBC Docu-Drama
(Theater) "CHICAGO" / "DREAMGIRLS".
Some of the songs featured on "Sack Full of Dreams" are:
1."Cantaloupe Island" by Herbie Hancock
2."Up Jumped Spring" by Freddie Hubbard
3."The Fishing Hole(Theme from "The Andy Griffith Show")" by Everett Sloane, Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer
4."Try To Remember" by Tom Jones(from the off Broadway show,"The Fantastiks")
5. "Sack Full of Dreams"* by Gary McFarland(sung by singer/actor Obba Babatunde)
AND originals including, "Lament" & "People and Love".
Onaje was an NAACP Image Award 2006 Nominee for his CD "Remember Their Innocence." He's performed for Standing Room audiences at the Kitano, Lenox Lounge and St. Nick's Pub. Special guests for these shows have been percussionist Gary Fritz, Legendary drummers Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and Dennis Davis. Obba Babatunde was a wonderful special guest vocalist at Harlem's Lenox Lounge shows of the recent Memorial Day weekend.
Please get ready for a new music classic CD from a brilliant icon in Onaje Allan Gumbs.
Media Inquiries
Please contact:
MABILI kregg Ajamu for FUNKSHUNALENTERTAINMENT.COM
kajamu@funkshunalentertainment.com
718-690-6071 - Cell
S.M. Hawkins for JAZZANIA
jazzania@gmail.com
917-907-1200 - Cell
Onaje Allan Gumbs has agreed to provide the musical arrangements and scoring for "EVERY VOICE AND SING!", a new 5-part radio documentary series on the history and legacy of the Choral Music of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. To read a complete press release, please CLICK HERE
I appreciate all inquiries concerning the song,"Quiet Passion " from "That Special Part Of Me". I will forward all requests from now on to: cataloguedivision@vervemusicgroup.com
Feel free to e-mail them personally.Hopefully with enough requests,Verve or one of their divisions will re-release this project or perhaps a compilation of tracks from both"...Special..." and the followup project,"Dare To Dream".
Your continued support and e-mails have been most encouraging. I've been on a campaign to get "Quiet Passion" re-released,but I need your support in alerting the record company that you want to be able to purchase this title. When you e-mail me and/or the record company, please indicate the station call letters and city where you heard "Quiet Passion". Constantly request this song whether you are hearing it or not.This information gets back to the record company.
My independent studio project,"Remember Their Innocence" has been a long time coming but it will have its commercial bow in the near future. I appreciate your patience.
Another project, "Live at the Blue Note" will be released this year on Half Note Records. It features Payton Crossley on bass, Marcus McLaurine on bass,Gary Fritz on percussion and special guest,Rene McLean on tenor and soprano sax. In addition to originals, the set includes "Dreamsville" by Henry Mancini,"Daydream" by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn and a special version of "Equinox" by John Coltrane. I am very happy with this set whereas it presents me in some musical territories as a pianist not captured before on previous recordings.
Remember it's less about what the music is,moreover it's about what the music does.
Peace,
Onaje
"Healing Zone" "Remember Their Innocence" "All I Hear (Quiet Passion)" "Your Love" "Shadowlight" Onaje Allan Gumbs - piano
Kenny Davis - bass
Marcus McClaurine - bass
Miriam Sullivan - bass
Billy Kilson - drums
George Gray - drums
Vince Ector - drums
Café - percussion
Romero Lubambo - guitar
Lenny Argese - guitar
Roger Byam - tenor/soprano saxophones
Sadao Watanabe - alto saxophone
Eddie Allen - trumpet
Gregoire Maret - harmonica
Dennis Collins - vocals
Branice McKenzie - vocals
Sharrif Simmons - spoken word
BOOKING ONAJE MUSIC
T: 718-320-1462
F: 718-320-9187
SPECIAL PROJECTS Onaje has been actively involved with the Songs of Love Foundation as a composer of music written specifically for and about specific children who are critically ill. So far there are 2 completed songs that have been sent out. "Emilee Ann" cowritten by Onaje Allan Gumbs and Michael Mugrage and "Tere Walker" written by Onaje. Profiles are provided to the composers with the information in the profile being used as the basis for the lyric. The styles of music range from jazz to rap to country to R&B. Onaje and his wife are currently working on a third song called "Amani."
THIS IS A NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE ENDEAVOR
ENDORSEMENTS AND AWARDS
- Onaje is a Steinway Artist
- 3M Visionary Award for production for Will Downing's Moods
RECORDINGS
- Current Solo release: Return To Form, Live at the Blue Note - Half Note Records
- Upcoming solo release: Remember Their Innocence, (studio date) collectively featuring Romero Lubambo, Eddie Allen, Billy Kilson, Kenny Davis, Cafe, Roger Byam, Sadao Watanabe, Marcus McLaurine, Gregoire Maret, Miriam Sullivan, George Gray, Dennis Collins, Branice McKenzie,Vince Ector and poet Sharrif Simmons, independent label, ejano music.
- As producer/arranger: It Doesn't Matter - Lou Watson - VillageNotz Music
FILM
- Song,"Three Words", vocal jazz ballad, co-written with vocalist Connie James, nominated in the Best Score/Song Category, 3rd Annual Pixie Awards (Internet equivalent to the Oscars)
- Three originals included as part of an upcoming 7 part independent documentary, XX1Century.
