Category Archives: Musicians

Homegoing: Roy Campbell & Amiri Baraka

Photo courtesy of Arts for Art, Inc.

Photo courtesy of Arts for Art, Inc.

Roy Campbell was a warrior and hero in our New York City music community. He carried his armament (the trumpet, flugelhorn, flutes) wherever he went, and he went wherever he was needed. He was for the music, he was for his brothers and sisters. He was concerned about the next generation. But he didn’t want his peers to be forgotten. He didn’t want the History of this music, which was born out of struggle, to be forgotten. His music was not born in a university, but came from the struggle that he endured every day as a black man and as a human being trying to rise up and raise up.

Valerie Campbell-Morris, Roy Campbell’s sister, requested that at this time in lieu of flowers they would ask that any donations be submitted to Arts for Art in memory of Roy S. Campbell, Jr.

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ROY CAMPBELL, Jr, 1952-2014

Just as we are about to transmit this newsletter, we learned of sad passing of Downtown trumpet giant Roy Campbell, Jr. Mr. Campbell was born in LA in 1952 but raised in New York. Besides trumpet, Mr. Campbell played flugelhorn, pocket trumpet and flutes. Roy was a longtime friend and collaborator with William Parker, both are founding members of Other Dimensions in Music as well as members of Mr. Parker’s Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra.
Mr. Campbell led several bands of his own including the Akhenaten Ensemble, who were always a highlight of the Vision Festival. Other high points for Mr. Campbell’s playing include his work with Matt Shipp, Jemeel Moondoc, Charles Tyler, Whit Dickey and Dave Douglas’ Triple Trumpet Band. More recently, Mr. Campbell soared with work in Marc Ribot’s Spiritual Unity and a co-led band with Burton Greene. My favorite group that Roy Campbell has long worked with is the Nu Band with Mark Whitecage, Joe Fonda and Lou Grassi. Each of their half dozen discs are extraordinary.
One of the things I dug most about Roy is when he would emcee at the Vision Fest or even at his own gigs. He had a wonderful sense of humor and his occasional political rants were always charming. I am shocked at hearing of his passing since I just saw him a couple of months ago and he looked the picture of health. I would like to raise a toast to Mr. Roy Campbell, Jr., one of Downtown’s most distinguished musicians and sweetest spirits.

– Bruce Lee Gallanter, Manny ‘Lunch’ Maris, Chuck Bettis, Mike Panico

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

I still can’t believe it that Roy passed away last Thursday. Because last Monday I jammed with him at Michael Wimberly’s event at the “Evolving Music” concert series. I enjoyed his trumpet playing.

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Recommended Event: “Evolving Music” invites Michael Wimberly to bring his music world into their space…

wimberly_bk_bgDate: Monday, January 6, 2013
Time: 7:30pm to 11pm
Venue: Clemente Soto Velez Center (107 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002)
Tickets: $15 per set – $20 for 2 / $5 for Jam // students & seniors: $8 / $15 for 2 / $5 JamSession
Genre: jazz/improv

Featuring drummer Michael Wimberly residency in the first 2 weeks of January with honored guest Charles Gayle.

Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Michael Wimberly set off for New York in 1982, quickly carving out a niche for himself. It was there he performed in duets, quartets and larger ensembles with unique or experimental instrumentation. For example, with Steve Coleman he collaborated on many projects, live and in the studio. And  he played, toured and recorded with The Five Elements (including David Gilmore and Don Byron). He’s been also a member of the SoSaLa music collective in New York.

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10 ALBUMS THAT HAVE STAYED WITH ME OVER THE YEARS

995223_10202084992143963_346864460_nText by John Pietaro

When posed with the challenge of listing 10 albums that have moved me on a personal level, those that have hit me viscerally, regardless of critical acclaim, I thought, let me try to reflect a bit. I am 51 and have carefully been listening to different genres of music for much of that time. I hope those I tag in this will also go that route and list the records that hit you deep and avoid trying to just wow everyone else here on DooBeeDoo. This challenge is more about what records were important as we developed as musicians/music listeners. So now in NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

1. Out To Lunch – Eric Dolphy (not only an amazing classic of challenging, melodic, creative jazz led by one of the super visionaries of our time but also a great demonstration of the how the vibraphone can become as much a part of this new music as any other instrument!)

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Saluti A Tutti! This is Kultur Shock, we’re a Seattle-based gypsy punk band…culture shock…?!

unnamedText by Amy Denio (Kultur Shock member)

We all survived the Kultur Shock: Heaven and Hell Tour of November/December 2013 with limps, scrapes, a mashed fingertip, various pitched coughs (depending on size of chest cavity), enduring lots of ice & cold and Saso guiding us through dicey driving conditions (thanks Santa Marta for all you do for us).
But more importantly every concert was amazing, we met the next young generation of music lovers, orgonite was in positive evidence.  Other high points:  security guards surrounded me when I filmed a CPR video in the foyer of a Health Clinic waiting to meet my friends (no arrest), plus I inadvertently broke and entered a man’s apartment in Mostar looking for a toilet ~ he kindly offered me coffee (no arrest).
This short tour created more beautiful memories than one could ever imagine.  18 concerts in 21 days, spanning France, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary and Romania. See photos & videos to the right…

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