bjazz

Index

2010-02-14T23:36:00.033+01:00

Horace Tapscott: Biography

2010-02-14T23:34:00.010+01:00

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Horace Tapscott, 1934-1999

"Our music is contributive, rather than competitive"

C’est lors d’un concert au festival du Fort Napoléon à la Seyne-sur-Mer en août 1995 que j’ai découvert le pianiste Horace Tapscott. A vrai dire, ce n’était pas pour lui que je m’étais rendu à ce concert, mais pour écouter le saxophoniste Sonny Simmons qui venait de réapparaître après une dizaine d’années de silence et avec qui il co-dirigeait un quartet pour cette tournée.
Etait-ce prévu ou était-ce dû au degré d’éthylisme de Sonny Simmons ? Le fait est que ce soir-là, c’est Tapscott qui débute et qui fera une grande partie du concert en trio accompagné par le contrebassiste James Lewis et John Betsch à la batterie.
Ce fut une grande découverte qui allait se transformer par la suite en véritable passion pour ce musicien "meneur d’hommes", tellement impliqué dans la vie de sa "communauté" qu’il ne fut connu du "grand public" qu’à la fin de sa vie…
Voici donc, avec la seule prétention d’une sérieuse biblio/discographie, les grandes lignes de la vie d’Horace Tapscott.
Cette biographie est complétée d’une discographie et de deux interviews et sera suivie prochainement d’autres informations…

Né le 6 avril 1934 à Houston au Texas, Horace Tapscott est le fils de Mary Lou Malone, pianiste qui dirigeait son propre groupe de jazz. Il grandit donc bercé par le blues, le boogie-woogie et les spirituals entendus à l'église.

A neuf ans, sa famille quitte le Texas pour s'installer en Californie à Los Angeles. A peine débarqué du train, sa mère se rend sur Central Avenue afin de présenter Horace à Harry Southard qui deviendra son professeur de trombone. En effet, en plus des cours de piano que lui donne Mary Lou, Horace pratique aussi le trombone et le tuba, deux instruments qu'il considère comme étant plus "virils".

En 1948, il intègre la Jefferson High School où il suit les cours du Docteur Samuel R. Browne et où, au sein de l'orchestre, il côtoie entre autre Don Cherry, Sonny Criss, Frank Morgan, Eric Dolphy… Il se consacre alors essentiellement à l'étude du trombone et l'année suivante, le pianiste Monroe Tucker lui offre son premier engagement dans un club sur Central Avenue, l'équivalent de la 52nd rue à New York, où il se rend régulièrement pour écouter Art Tatum, Charlie Parker…
En 1950, en compagnie d'Eric Dolphy, il intègre le big band de Gérard Wilson et, deux ans plus tard, passe son diplôme malgré un accident de voiture qui lui rendra difficile le jeu du trombone.
De 1953 à 1957, Tapscott intègre l'orchestre de l'Armée de l'Air et il est envoyé à la Fort Warren Air Force Base de Cheyenne dans le Wyoming. C'est à cette époque qu'il abandonne le trombone pour le piano et forme son premier groupe The Nu-Tones avec le saxophoniste Robbie Robertson, le contrebassiste Herbert Baker et le batteur Billy James.
Son service militaire achevé, il retourne à Los Angeles et ressort son trombone une dernière fois pour s'engager dans l'orchestre de Lionel Hampton avec lequel il sillonnera les Etats-Unis. Mais au début de l'année 1961, après un concert, il décide de ne pas remonter dans le car et quitte l'orchestre. "Je voulais faire autre chose. Je voulais faire mon propre truc, écrire et aider à préserver la musique. C'est à cette période que j'ai commencé à penser à former l'Arkestra pour préserver la Black Music. Je voulais préserver, enseigner, montrer et jouer la musique des noirs américains ainsi que la musique panafricaine à notre communauté. Tout le propos était là : faire partie de la communauté. Ce sont les raisons pour lesquelles j'ai quitté l'orchestre d'Hampton ce soir là."
C'est ainsi qu'en 1961, de retour à Los Angeles, il se consacre dorénavant uniquement au piano, il forme dans le quartier de Watts, le Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, un orchestre dont le but est de préserver et de développer la Black culture dans la communauté. Les premiers membres en sont la pianiste Linda Hill, le tromboniste Lester Robertson, les contrebassistes David Bryant et Alan Hines et les saxophonistes Jimmy Woods et Guido Sinclair. La même année est créée l'U.G.M.A. (Underground Musicians Association), qui deviendra quelques années plus tard l'U.G.M.A.A. (Union of God's Musicians and Artists Ascension), une organisation s'étendant aux autres domaines artistiques et dont l'Arkestra n'est qu'un élément.
Au fil des ans, l'U.G.M.A.A. s'implique de plus en plus dans la communauté de Watts. Mis à part la musique, toutes sortes d'activités se développent : des cours sur l'histoire et la musique Black pour les enfants, des ateliers d'écriture, de poésie, de danse, de théâtre, d'arts martiaux…

Durant l'été 1965, le quartier de Watts est le théâtre de sinistres émeutes entre la communauté noire et la police. "Le premier jour de l'insurrection, la fusillade a débuté au Will Rogers Park près de la 103rd rue et Central Avenue. Nous étions, comme d'habitude, en train de répéter plus bas sur la 103rd. La police a débarqué, a encerclé l'orchestre et nous a ordonné d'arrêter de jouer car selon eux nous incitions à la révolte. L'instant d'après le quartier était plein d'ambulances et de policiers."

Le 8 mai 1968, le saxophoniste Sonny Criss entre en studio avec Tapscott pour l'enregistrement de son album Sonny's Dream (Birth Of The New Cool) publié par Prestige. Pour cet album, composé et arrangé par le pianiste, Sonny Criss devait être accompagné d'un orchestre composé de membres du Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. Mais, à leur grande surprise, ils découvrirent à leur arrivée en studio qu'un autre orchestre avait également été convoqué par le producteur Don Schlitten. Furieux, Criss et Tapscott quittent le studio avant de se raviser et de céder aux conditions de Schlitten. Seul rescapé de l'Arkestra, le batteur Everett Brown, Jr.
L'année suivante, sur les conseils de musiciens comme Stanley Crouch et John Carter, Bob Thiele propose à Tapscott d'enregistrer pour son nouveau label Flying Dutchman. "Je n'étais pas intéressé par cet enregistrement, mais j'en ai parlé aux gars du groupe – Arthur Blythe, David Bryant, Walter Savage, Jr. et Everett Brown, Jr. – et leur ai dit que nous devions voter. Si ils votaient contre moi nous ferions l'enregistrement. Ils ont voté contre moi." Tapscott et son groupe entrent donc en studio pour l'enregistrement de The Giant Is Awakened son premier album en leader, à une seule condition cependant, qu'il puisse participer en studio à la finalisation du disque. Cette promesse ne sera pas tenue se qui le mettra hors de lui.
Après ces expériences avec Prestige et Flying Dutchman, il traînera une mauvaise réputation de musicien difficile qu'il vaut mieux éviter.

Depuis sa création jusqu'au milieu des années 70, le Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra a accueilli un grand nombre de très bons musiciens comme Azar Lawrence, David Murray, Lawrence "Butch" Morris et son frère Wilber, Sabir Mateen, Vinny Golia, Alex Cline… constituant ainsi un répertoire riche de centaine de compositions originales.
Au début des années 70 Tapscott collabore avec Elaine Brown, écrivaine et leader des Black Panther, avec qui il grave deux albums : Seize The Time et Elaine Brown.

En 1978 débute sa collaboration avec Toshiya Taenaka qui produira trois disques du pianiste pour les labels Interplay et Bopland dont un trio In New York avec Art Davis et Roy Haynes. C'est à cette même date qu'il rencontre Tom Albach, "Il avait l'habitude de venir dans le quartier. Il était là à chaque concert mais ne m'adressait pas la parole. Il est venu à chaque concert pendant cinq ou six ans sans rien dire, juste pour écouter. Puis un jour il a suggéré de nous enregistrer à l'Immanuel United Church of Christ et de fonder le label Nimbus". Deux enregistrement du Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra sont rapidement gravés – Flight 17 et The Call – ainsi qu'un troisième enregistré donc Live At The I.U.C.C..
Albach participe également à faire connaître Tapscott en Europe en y organisant différentes tournées. Suivront d'autres albums : At The Crossroads en duo avec Everett Brown, Jr., Dial "B" For Barbra en sextet et les 2 volumes Live At Lobero en trio avec Roberto Miranda et Sonship Theus.

De 1982 à 1984, Albach se consacre essentiellement à l'enregistrement d'une série de piano solo les Tapscott Sessions, dont dix volumes ont été publiés à ce jour.
Parallèlement, Nimbus enregistre d'autres membres de l'Arkestra – Roberto Miranda, Adele Sebastian, Linda Hill, Dadisi Komolafe, Nate Morgan… - jusqu'en 1985, date à laquelle Tom Albach quitte Los Angeles pour s'installer à Amsterdam.

En 1989, le label suisse Hat Art enregistre Tapscott accompagné de John Carter, Cecil McBee et Andrew Cyrille et, en 1993, il se rend à Paris pour enregistrer aux côtés de la saxophoniste Nelly Pouget. A cette époque il collabore également avec la scène hip-hop de Los Angeles, les Watts Prophets, Freestyle Fellowship…

En 1995 et 1996 il grave deux albums pour Arabesque, Aiee! The Phantom avec Marcus Belgrave, Abraham Burton, Reggie Workman et Andrew Cyrille et Thoughts Of Dar Es Salaam avec Ray Drummond et Billy Hart.

Avant de disparaître, le 27 février 1999 des suites d'un cancer, Horace Tapscott s'était longuement entretenu avec Steven Isoardi. Ce témoignage indispensable a depuis été publié sous le titre de Songs Of The Unsung - The Musical anAd Social Journey of Horace Tapscott.

Songs of the Unsung - The Musical and Social Journey of Horace Tapscott
par Horace Tapscott et Steven Isoardi
Duke University Press, 2001

Horace Tapscott Discography (Leader) - Update

2010-02-14T23:33:00.043+01:00

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The Giant Is Awakened
Flying Dutchman (FDS-107)

CD reissue: West Coast Hot – RCA Novus Series '70 (3107-2-N)
Los Angeles, April 1, 1969
Horace Tapscott piano
Black Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
David Bryant bass
Walter Savage, Jr. bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
- The Giant Is Awakened (H.Tapscott)
- For Fats (A.Blythe)
- The Dark Tree (H.Tapscott)
- Niger’s Theme (H.Tapscott)

Songs Of The Unsung
Interplay (IP-7714)

CD reissue: Absord Music Japan (ABCJ-573)
Hollywood, February 18, 1978
Horace Tapscott piano
- Songs Of The Unsung (H.Tapscott)
- Blue Essence (S.Browne)
- Bakai (C.Massey)
- In Times Like These (L.Robertson)
- Mary On Sunday (H.Tapscott)
- Lush Life (B.Strayhorn)
- The Goat And Ram Jam (J.Sharps)
- Something For Kenny (E.Hope)

Flight 17
Nimbus (NIMBUS-135)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 135 C),
* unissued tracks (from the Live at the I.U.C.C. sessions)
Los Angeles, 1978
Horace Tapscott piano
Jesse Sharps soprano and tenor saxophones, flute
Linda Hill piano
Adele Sebastian vocal, flute
James Andrews tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Michael Session alto saxophone
Kafi Larry Roberts flute
Herbert Callies alto clarinet
Red Callendar tuba
Archie Johnson trombone
Lester Robertson trombone
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
William Madison percussions, drums
Louis Spears cello
David Bryant bass
Kamonta Lawrence Polk bass
- Flight 17 First Movement (H.Baker)
- Breeze (H.Baker)
- Horacio (R.Miranda)
- Clarisse (J.Sharps)
- Maui (Kamonta)
- Coltrane Medley (J.Coltrane) *
- Village Dance Revisited (S.Mateen) *

The Call
Nimbus (NIMBUS 246)

LP only
Los Angeles, April 8, 1978
Horace Tapscott piano
Jesse Sharps soprano and tenor saxophones, flute
Linda Hill piano
Adele Sebastian vocal, flute
Lester Robertson trombone
David Bryant bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
Herbert Callies alto clarinet
James Andrews tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Michael Session alto saxophone
Kafi Larry Roberts flute, soprano saxophone
Archie Johnson trombone
Red Callendar tuba, bass
William Madison percussions, drums
Louis Spears cello, bass
Kamonta Lawrence Polk bass
- The Call (L.Robertson)
- Quagmire Manor At Five A.M. (M.Session)
- Nakatini Suite (C.Masey)
- Peyote Song No. III (J.Sharps)

In New York
Interplay (IP-7724)

CD reissue: Interplay (MYCJ-30369)
New York, January 5, 1979
Horace Tapscott piano
Art Davis bass
Roy Haynes drums
- Akirfa (L.Robertson)
- Lino’s Pad (H.Tapscott)
- Sketches Of Drunken Mary (H.Tapscott)
- If You Could See Me Now (T.Dameron)

Live At The I.U.C.C.
Nimbus (No. 357)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 357 C),
* previously unissued track
Los Angeles, February-June 1979
Horace Tapscott piano
Jesse Sharps soprano saxophone
Sabir Mateen tenor saxophone
James Andrews tenor saxophone
Michael Session alto saxophone
Kafi Roberts flute
Herbert Callies alto clarinet
David Bryant bass
Alan Hines bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
Adele Sebastian flute
Billy Harris soprano and tenor saxophones
Daa’oud Woods percussions
Red Callendar tuba
Lester Robertson trombone
John Williams baritone saxophone
Aubrey Hart flute
Roberto Miranda bass
Billy Hinton drums
Linda Hill piano
Desta Walker tenor saxophone
Mike Daniels percussions
Louis Spears cello
- Macrame (J.Sharps)
- Future Sally’s Time (A.Blythe/S.Crouch)
- Noissessprahs (S.Mateen)
- McKowsky’s First Fifth (J.Sharps) *
- Village Dance (S.Mateen)
- L.T.T. (H.Tapscott)
- Desert Fairy Princess (J.Sharps)
- Lift Every Voice (J.W.Johnson/J.R.Johnson)

Lighthouse 79 - vol.1
Nimbus West (NS 4035 C)

CD only
Hermosa Beach, October 10, 1979
Horace Tapscott piano
Regie Bullen trumpet
Gary Bias alto saxophone
Roberto Miranda bass
David Bryant bass
George Goldsmith drums
- Akirfa (L.Robertson)
- Dem' Folks (L.Hill)
- I Remember Clifford (B.Golson)
- Leland's Song (L.Hill)
- Acirfa (L.Robertson)

Lighthouse 79 - vol.2
Nimbus West (NS 4146 C)

CD only
Hermosa Beach, October 11, 1979
Horace Tapscott piano
Regie Bullen trumpet
Gary Bias alto saxophone
Roberto Miranda bass
David Bryant bass
George Goldsmith drums
- Akirfa (L.Robertson)
- Niger's Theme (H.Tapscott)
- Stella by Starlight (V.Young/N.Washington)
- Lush Life (B.Strayhorn)
- Inspiration Of Silence (E.Straughter)

Autumn Colors
Bopland (K26P 6311)

LP reissue: Interplay (CEJC00268)
CD reissues: Venus Records (TKCZ-79072)
Absord Music Japan (ABCJ-577)
Hollywood, May 3, 1980
Horace Tapscott piano
David Bryant bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
- Blues For Dee II (H.Tapscott)
- Dee Bee's Dance (H.Tapscott)
- Autumn Colors (H.Tapscott)
- J.O.B. (H.Tapscott)

At The Crossroads
Nimbus (NS 579)

LP only
Los Angeles, 1980
Horace Tapscott piano
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
- At The Cross Roads (H.Tapscott)
- Middle Age Madness (H.Tapscott)
- Ballad For Window Lee Black (H.Tapscott)
- Marcellus III (E.Brown)

Dial “B” For Barbra
Nimbus (NS 1147)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 1147 C)
Los Angeles, 1981
Horace Tapscott piano
Reggie Bullen trumpet
Gary Bias alto and soprano saxophones
Sabir Mateen tenor saxophone
Roberto Miranda bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums, percussions
- Lately’s Solo (H.Tapscott)
- Dial “B” For Barbra (H.Tapscott)
- Dem’ Folks (L.Hill)

Live At Lobero
Nimbus (1369)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 2370 C),
* previously unissued track
Santa Barbara, November 12, 1981
Horace Tapscott piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Sonship Theus drums
- Inception (H.Tapscott) *
- Sketches Of Drunken Mary (H.Tapscott)
- Raisha’s New-Hip Dance (H.Tapscott)
- The Dark Tree (H.Tapscott)

Live At Lobero – vol. II
Nimbus (1258)

LP only
Santa Barbara, November 12, 1981
Horace Tapscott piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Sonship Theus drums
- Lino’s Pad (H.Tapscott)
- Close To Freedom (C.Crunk)
- St. Michael (R.Miranda)

Dissent Or Descent
Nimbus West (NS 509 C)

CD only
New York and Santa Barbara, 1982-1984
Horace Tapscott piano
Fred Hopkins bass
Ben Riley drums
- As A Child (H.Tapscott)
- Sandy And Niles (H.Tapscott)
- To The Great House (H.Tapscott)
- Spellbound (C.Jordan)
- Ballad For Samuel (H.Tapscott)
- Ruby, My Dear (T.Monk)
- Chico’s Back In Town (H.Tapscott)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 1
Nimbus (NS-1581)

LP only
Santa Barbara, June, 1982
Horace Tapscott piano
- Jenny’s Spirit’s Waltz (H.Tapscott)
- Speedy Mike (A.Hines)
- Mother Ship (H.Tapscott)
- This Is For Benny (H.Tapscott)
- Alone Together (H.Dietz/A.Schwartz)
- Haunted (M.Swan)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 4
Nimbus (NS-1814)

LP only
Santa Barbara, September, 1982
Horace Tapscott piano
- A Dress For Renee (H.Tapscott)
- The Hero’s Last Dance (H.Tapscott)
- Shades Of Soweto (H.Tapscott)
- Whit (L.Spears)
- First Call Of The Humming Bird (H.Tapscott)
- Toward The Sunset (H.Tapscott)
- As Of Yet (A.Blythe)
- Forgiving (H.Tapscott)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 2
Nimbus (NS-1692)

LP only
Santa Barbara, November, 1982
Horace Tapscott piano
- Struggle X An Afro-American Dream (H.Tapscott)
- Many Nights Ago (C.Crunk)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 7
Nimbus (NS-2147)

LP only
Santa Barbara, February, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
- Riding The San Andreas (H.Tapscott)
- Amanda’s Tone Poem (H.Tapscott)
- Southwestern Avenue Shuffle (H.Tapscott)
- Yesterday’s Dream (H.Tapscott)
- ‘Round Midnight (T.Monk)
- On The Nile (C.Tolliver)
- Sonnet Of Butterfly McQueen (H.Tapscott)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 3
Nimbus (NS-1703)

LP only
Santa Barbara, April, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
- The Tuus (H.Tapscott)
- Lately’s Light-Green Blues (H.Tapscott)
- Reflections Of Self (H.Tapscott)
- Kopkee’s Blues (H.Tapscott)
- After The Storm (H.Tapscott)

Modern Jazz Piano Forum
Interplay Special Volume 1
Interplay (ART-CD-30)

Various Artists
CD only
Los Angeles, August 12, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
- Sketches Of Drunken Mary (H.Tapscott)

Little Afrika
Absord Music Japan (ABCJ-607)

CD only
Hollywood, August 16, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
- Swing On A Limb (H.Tapscott)
- Little Afrika (L.Hill)
- Niger's Theme (H.Tapscott)
- Tapscott's Thoughts (H.Tapscott)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 6
Nimbus (NS-2036)

LP only
Santa Barbara, October, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
- Ancestral Echoes (H.Tapscott)
- Jessica (R.Porter)
- Restless Nights (R.King)
- Chartreuse Blues (H.Tapscott)
- The Golden Pearl (H.Tapscott)
- New Horizon (K.Ruzadun)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 9
Nimbus West (NS 2369 C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
- It Never Happened Before (H.Tapscott)
- Fleurette Africaine (D.Ellington)
- Afro-Blue (M.Santamaria)
- Love In Bloom (H.Tapscott)
- Strollin’ (H.Silver)
- Whisper Not (B.Golson)
- Fair-To-Middlin’ (H.Tapscott)
- Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (S.Romberg)
- Anwar (H.Tapscott)

Faith
Absord Music Japan (ABCJ-580)

CD only
1983
Horace Tapscott piano
Melvin Moore violin
Louis Spears cello
Roberto Miranda bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
- Sketches Of Drunken Mary (H.Tapscott)
- Faith (R.Miranda / H.Tapscott)
- Yesterday's Sunset (H.Tapscott)
- As A Child (H.Tapscott)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 5
Nimbus (NS-1925)

LP only
Santa Barbara, January, 1984
Horace Tapscott piano
- Stringeurisms (H.Tapscott)
- I’ll Have One When It’s Over (H.Tapscott)
- Blues In Pirouette (H.Tapscott)
- Perfumes In The Night (H.Tapscott)
- Hi-Pockets’ Swan Song (H.Tapscott)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 8
Nimbus West (NS2258C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, 1982-1984
Horace Tapscott piano
- Fire Waltz (M.Waldron)
- Little Niles (R.Weston)
- Crepuscule With Nellie (T.Monk)
- As A Child (H.Tapscott)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 10
Nimbus West (NS2370C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, 1982-1984
Horace Tapscott piano
- Miguel (H.Tapscott)
- Roses In Bloom (H.Tapscott)
- Ballad For Samuel (H.Tapscott)
- First Love (H.Tapscott)
- Searching (H.Tapscott)
- Afternoon In Paris (J.Lewis)
- Upside Down (H.Tapscott)
- Getting Ready (H.Tapscott)
- Maya And Me (H.Tapscott)

The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 11
Nimbus West (NS2581C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, 1982-1984
Horace Tapscott piano
- Nica’s Dream (H.Silver)
- Besame Mucho (C.Velazquez)
- For Patrice (H.Tapscott)
- A Call for All Demons (Sun Ra)
- Full House (H.Tapscott)
- Long Ago (H.Tapscott)
- Straight Street (J.Coltrane)
- Vigilance (H.Tapscott)
- Sabroso (H.Tapscott)
- This is for Kenny (E.Hope)
- Wistful Vista (H.Tapscott)
- Vox Populi (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott Octet Live
Americana (AMC-3002)

CD only
Los Angeles, September 17, 1987
Horace Tapscott piano
Gary Bias alto saxophone
Rastine Calhoun tenor saxophone
Thurman Green trombone
Roberto Miranda bass
David Bryant bass
Donald Dean drums
Sonship Theus drums
- Dem Folks (L.Hill)
- One For Lately (T.Green)
- Little Africa (L.Hill)

The Dark Tree Vol. 1
Hat Hut (hat ART CD 6053)

CD reissues: The Dark Tree 1 & 2
2nd edition: Hat Hut (hatOLOGY 2-540)
3rd edition: Hat Hut (hatOLOGY 2-630)
Hollywood, December 14-17, 1989
Horace Tapscott piano
John Carter clarinet
Cecil McBee bass
Andrew Cyrille drums
- The Dark Tree (H.Tapscott)
- Sketches Of Drunken Mary (H.Tapscott)
- Lino’s Pad (H.Tapscott)
- One For Lately (T.Green)

The Dark Tree Vol. 2
Hat Hut (hat ART CD 6083)

CD reissues: The Dark Tree 1 & 2
2nd edition: Hat Hut (hatOLOGY 2-540)
3rd edition: Hat Hut (hatOLOGY 2-630)
Hollywood, December 14-17, 1989
Horace Tapscott piano
John Carter clarinet
Cecil McBee bass
Andrew Cyrille drums
- Sandy And Niles (H.Tapscott)
- Bavarian Mist Mary (M.Session)
- The Dark Tree (H.Tapscott)
- A Dress For Renee (H.Tapscott)
- Nyja’s Theme (H.Tapscott)

Kimus #4
Hat Hut (hat ART CD 16004)

Various Artists
CD only
Featuring a third version of The Dark Tree
Hollywood, December 15, 1989
Horace Tapscott piano
John Carter clarinet
Cecil McBee bass
Andrew Cyrille drums
- The Dark Tree (H.Tapscott)

Aiee! The Phantom
Arabesque Jazz (AJ0119)

CD only
New York, June 1995
Horace Tapscott piano
Marcus Belgrave trumpet
Abraham Burton alto saxophone
Reggie Workman bass
Andrew Cyrille drums
- To The Great House (H.Tapscott)
- The Goat And Ram Jam (J.Sharps)
- Aiee! The Phantom (H.Tapscott)
- Drunken Mary / Mary On Sunday (H.Tapscott)
- Inspiration Of Silence (E.Straughter)
- Mothership (H.Tapscott)

Among Friends
Jazz Friends Productions (JFP 004)

Horace Tapscott / Sonny Simmons Quartet
CD only
Longwy, July 28, 1995
Horace Tapscott piano
Sonny Simmons alto saxophone
James Lewis bass
John Betsch drums
- Milestones (M.Davis)
- Body And Soul (J.Green/R.Sour/E.Heyman/F.Eyton)
- So What (M.Davis)
- Caravan (D.Ellington/J.Tizol/I.Mills)

What is Jazz? Festival 1996
Knitting Factory Works (KFW 195)

Various Artists
CD only
New York, June 1996
Horace Tapscott piano
Ray Drummond bass
Billy Hart drums
- Caravan (D.Ellington/I.Mills/J.Tizol)

Thoughts Of Dar Es Salaam
Arabesque Jazz (AJ0128)

CD only
New York, June 30 & July 1, 1996
Horace Tapscott piano
Ray Drummond bass
Billy Hart drums
- As A Child (H.Tapscott)
- Bibi Mkuu : The Great Black Lady (A.Hines)
- Lullaby In Black (T.Greene)
- Sandy And Niles (H.Tapscott)
- Wiletta’s Walk (H.Tapscott)
- Social Call (B.Qusim)
- Oleo (S.Rollins)
- Thoughts Of Dar Es Salaam (H.Tapscott)
- Now’s The Time (C.Parker)

The Dark Tree
Jazz And Community Arts In Los Angeles
University of California Press

CD included with the book
Horace Tapscott piano, conductor
William Marshall lead vocal
The Voice of UGMAA vocals
(Cynthia, Vernetta, Landern, Pat K, Linda Hill, Will Connell, Willie L, Scratch, Charles, Oscar)
Los Angeles, December 2, 1969
- Tell God All Of My Troubles (From the For My People suite) (Traditional)

Horace Tapscott piano, conductor
Edwin Pleasant flute
Chico Roberson flute
Ernest Straughter flute
Black Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
Will Connell alto saxophone
Cerion Middleton III tenor saxophone
Ray Straughter tenor saxophone
Butch Morris cornet
Robert S trombone
David Bryant bass
Walter Savage, Jr. bass
Jimmy Hoskins drums
Brother Eddie conga
Marcus Hill pot
Los Angeles, May 3, 1970
- Carnival (From music from King Christophe) (H.Tapscott)
- Waltz Time (From music from King Christophe) (H.Tapscott)
- Funeral (Later titled “Warriors All”, From music from King Christophe) (H.Tapscott)

Aubrey Hart piccolo
Adele Sebastian flute
Jesse Sharps soprano saxophone
Gary Bias alto saxophone
Michael Session alto saxophone
Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq tenor saxophone
Charles Chandler tenor saxophone
Steve Smith trumpet
Lester Robertson trombone
Wendell C. Williams french horn
Red Callender tuba
Horace Tapscott piano
Linda Hill piano
David Bryant bass
Marcus McLaurine bass
Ricky Simmons drums
Moises Obligacion conga
Los Angeles, January 24, 1976
- Eternal Egypt Suite, part 4 (F.Abdul-Khaliq)

Dwight Trible vocal
Michael Session soprano, alto and tenor saxophones
Thurman Green trombone
Horace Tapscott piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Fritz Wise drums
Hollywood, December 19, 20, 1995
- Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (Traditional)
- Ballad For Deadwood Dick (H.Tapscott)
- Little Africa (L.Hill)

Horace Tapscott Discography (Sideman) - Update

2010-02-14T23:32:00.010+01:00

-> INDEX

Peppy Prince
Dance Party
Dooto (DL 240)

LP only
Los Angeles, 1956
George Orendorff trumpet
Dud Stone trumpet
Joe Kelly trumpet
Parker Berry trombone, arranger
Horace Tapscott trombone
Alfred Caspar trombone
Chuck Waller alto saxophone
Milton Hall alto saxophone
Bill Ellis tenor saxophone
Jimmie Evans tenor saxophone
Doug Finis piano
Russ Weathers bass
Peppy Prince drums, vocals
Stan Jamerson bongo
- It Must Have Been A Dream (Lawrence/Johnson/Hite/Silverman)
- Peppy’s Idea (L.Lovett)
- Medley:
Solitude (D.Ellington/E.DeLange/I.Mills)
I Cried For You (A.Freed/G.Arnheim/A.Lyman)
Penthouse Serenade (W.Jason/V.Burton)
- Sir Galahad (J.Stanford)
- Mean-Po-Gal (F.Smith)
- Ghost Of A Chance (F.Waxman)
- Dance Party (F.Smith)
- Diane (L.Pollack)
- Jack Pot (F.Smith)

Lou Blackburn
Jazz Frontier
Imperial (LP-9228)

CD reissues: Toshiba EMI (TOCJ-9644),
The Complete Imperial Sessions - Blue Note ((58294),
Perception – Fresh Sounds (FSR-CD 307),
NB: The Complete Imperial Sessions contains the previously unissued track: Ode To Taras (Unknown)
Hollywood, January 25 & 31, 1963
Lou Blackburn trombone
Freddie Hill trumpet
Horace Tapscott piano
John Duke bass
Leroy Henderson drums
- Harlem Bossa-Nova (L.Blackburn)
- New Frontier (L.Blackburn)
- Perception (L.Blackburn)
- Luze Bluze (L.Blackburn)
- I Cover The Waterfront (Green/Heyman)
- 17 Richmond Park (L.Blackburn)
- The Clan (C.Fuller)
- Scorpio (L.Blackburn)
- Jazz-A-Nova (L.Blackburn)
- Stella By Starlight (V.Young/N.Washington)

Lou Blackburn
Two Note Samba
Imperial (LP-9242)

CD reissues: The Complete Imperial Sessions - Blue Note ((58294),
Perception – Fresh Sounds (FSR-CD 307),
NB: The Complete Imperial Sessions contains the previously unissued track: Ode To Taras (Unknown)
Hollywood, January 31, March 12 & 18, 1963
Lou Blackburn trombone
Freddie Hill trumpet
Horace Tapscott piano
John Duke bass
Leroy Henderson drums
- Manha De Carnaval (L.Bonfa)
- Jean-Bleu (L.Blackburn)
- Blues For Eurydice (L.Blackburn)
- Grand Prix (L.Blackburn)
- Two-Note Samba (L.Blackburn)
- Song Of Delilah (J.Livingston/R.Evans)
- Dear Old Stockholm (Traditional)
- Secret Love (S.Fain/P.F.Webster)

Lou Rawls
Tobacco Road
Capitol (T 2042)

CD reissue: Capitol Jazz (B2-54957),
also contains the album Black and Blue
Los Angeles, July-August 1963
Lou Rawls vocals
Bobby Bryant trumpet
Bud Brisbois trumpet
Bob Rolfe trumpet
James Dalton Smith trumpet
Freddie Hill trumpet
Ollie Mitchell trumpet
Horace Tapscott trombone
Lou Blackburn trombone
Richard Hyde trombone
Ronald Smith trombone
Clifford Scott alto saxophone
Sonny Criss alto saxophone
Curtis Amy tenor saxophone
Clifford Solomon tenor saxophone
Teddy Edwards tenor saxophone
Jay Migliori baritone saxophone
Onzy Matthews piano, arranger
Rene Hall guitar
Ray Crawford guitar
Jim Crutcher bass
Charles “Chiz” Harris drums
- Tobacco Road (J.D.Loudermilk)
- Cotton Fields (H.Ledbetter)
- Rockin’ Chair (H.Carmichael)
- Stormy Weather (H.Arlen/T.Koehler)
- Ol’ Man River (J.Kern/O.Hammerstein II)
- Blues For A Four String Guitar (M.David/E.Bernstein)
- St. Louis Blues (W.C.Handy)
- Georgia On My Mind (H.Carmichael/S.Gorrell)
- Sentimental Journey (Brown/Homer/Green)
- Summertime (G.Gershwin)

Onzy Matthews
Blues with a Touch of Elegance
Capitol (ST 2099)

CD reissue: Mosaic Select (MS-029),
also contains the album Sounds for the ‘60’s!,
plus previously unissued tracks
Los Angeles, January 2 & 3, 1964
Bud Brisbois trumpet
Bobby Bryant trumpet
Freddie Hill trumpet
Bob Rolfe trumpet
James Dalton Smith trumpet
Lou Blackburn trombone
Dick Hyde trombone
Horace Tapscott trombone
Ronald Smith bass trombone
Clifford Scott alto saxophone
Sid Miller alto saxophone
Curtis Amy tenor saxophone
Clifford Solomon tenor saxophone
Jay Migliori baritone saxophone
Onzy Matthews piano, arranger
Ray Crawford guitar
Jim Crutcher bass
Charles “Chiz” Harris drums
- Satin Doll (D.Ellington/B.Strayhorn)
- Blues Non-Stop (O.Matthews)
- Somethin's Cookin' (O.Matthews)
- Flamingo (T.Grouya/E.Anderson)
- Pensive (O.Matthews)
- Dallas Blues (O.Matthews)
- I Should Care (A.Stordhal/P.Weston/S.Cahn)
- I Cover The Waterfront (J.Green/E.Heyman)
- Feels Like I've Got The Blues (O.Matthews)
- Blues With A Touch Of Elegance (O.Matthews)

Curtis Amy
The Sounds Of Broadway / The Sounds Of Hollywood
Palomar (G 2400)

LP only
Hollywood, 1965
Curtis Amy soprano and tenor saxophones
Warren Gale, Jr. trumpet
Lester Robertson trombone
Horace Tapscott piano
Eddie Mathias bass
Mel Lee drums
Onzy Matthews arranger
- Goldfinger (Barry/Bricusse/Newley)
- Get Me To The Church On Time (Lerner/Loewe)
- Dear Heart (Mancini/Livingston/Evans)
- Spoonful Of Sugar (R.&R.Sherman)
- Love Line (Marks)
- Fiddler On The Roof (Bock/Harnick)
- Now I Have Everything (Bock/Harnick)
- Of Human Bondage (Goodwin)
- Sunrise, Sunset (Bock/Harnick)
- Guess Who I Saw Today (Boyd/Grand)

The Sonny Criss Orchestra
Sonny’s Dream (Birth Of The New Cool)
Prestige (PR 7576)

CD reissue: Prestige/OJC (OJCCD-707-2),
* alternate takes
Los Angeles, May 8, 1968
Sonny Criss alto and soprano saxophones
David Sherr alto saxophone
Teddy Edwards tenor saxophone
Pete Christlieb baritone saxophone
Conte Candoli trumpet
Dick Nash trombone
Ray Draper tuba
Tommy Flanagan piano
Al McKibbon bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
Horace Tapscott conductor, arranger
- Sonny’s Dream (H.Tapscott)
- Ballad For Samuel (H.Tapscott)
- The Black Apostles (H.Tapscott)
- The Golden Pearl (H.Tapscott)
- Daughter Of Cochise (H.Tapscott)
- Sandy And Niles (H.Tapscott)
- The Golden Pearl (H.Tapscott) *
- Sonny’s Dream (H.Tapscott) *

Bob Thiele Emergency
Head Start
Flying Dutchman (FDS-104)

LP only
Los Angeles, 1969
Buddy Childers trumpet
Paul Hubinon trumpet
Gary Barone trumpet
Bob Brookmeyer trombone
Mike Barone trombone
George Bohanon trombone
Ernie Tack bass trombone
Bob Henderson french horn
Tom Scott clarinet, alto saxophone
Bill Perkins alto saxophone, flutes
Pete Christlieb tenor saxophone, flutes
Jim Horn baritone saxophone, oboe, flute, clarinet
Roger Kellaway piano, organ, harpsychord, celesta
Howard Roberts guitars
Chuck Domanico fender bass, bass
Jimmy Gordon drums, timbales
John Guerin drums, timbales
Gary Coleman percussions
George “Harmonica” Smith vocals
Joe Pass guitar
Bernard Carrere trumpet
Joe Darensbourg clarinet
John Ewing trombone
Alton Purnell piano
Joe Passalaque bass
Alton Redd drums
John Carter tenor saxophone
Bobby Bradford trumpet
Horace Tapscott piano
Tom Williamson bass
Buzz Freeman drums
Elvin Jones drums
Joe Farrell flute
Wilbur Little bass
Rosko vocals
Ornette Coleman alto saxophone
Charles Moffett drums
David Izenzon bass
Charlie Haden bass
Bob Thiele vocals
- Head Start (T.Scott)
- Freaky Zeke (T.Scott)
- Beatle Ballads (J.Lennon/P.McCartney)
- Lanoola Goes Limp (J.Chaikin/M.Hardy/E.Sander)
The Jazz Story
- Part 1.Pickin’ Taters Blues (E.Marrow/J.R.Rein)
- Part 2.Oh Didn’t He Ramble (Traditional)
- High Society (P.Steele/W.Melrose)
- Part 3.Jungle Sound (T.Scott)
- Part 4.Swing Era (T.Scott)
- Part 5.Be Bop (T.Scott)
- Part 6.In The Vineyard (T.Scott)
- Avant Garde (J.Carter)
Dedication To John Coltrane
- A.Lament For John Coltrane (E.Jones/J.Farrell/W.Little)
- B.A Love Supreme (J.Coltrane)
- C.Holiday For A Graveyard (O.Coleman)
-A few Thoughts For The Day (Biafra, King, John and Robert, The American Indian) (T.Scott/J.Appleton/B.Thiele)

David T. Walker
Going Up!
Revue (RS 7211)

CD reissue: P-Vine (PCD-1324),
* previously unissued track
Los Angeles, mai 1969
David T. Walker guitar
Joe Sample piano
Horace Tapscott piano
Tracy Wright bass
Panama Francis percussions, drums
Richard Waters drums
Melvin Jernigan arranger
David Blumberg arranger
- Can I Change My Mind (Despense/Wolfolk)
- My Baby Loves Me (Hunter/Moy/Stevenson)
- Since You’ve Been Gone (Baby, Baby, Sweet Baby) (Franklin/White)
- I’m Going To Make You Love Me (Gamble/Ross/Williams)
- Medley : You Don’t Know What Love Is (DePaul/Raye)
This Guy’s In Love With You (Bacharach/David)
- Stormy (Buie/Cobb)
- Bad Bad Whiskey (Davis/Dayhs)
- Going Up (Walker)
- Tip Toe Through The Tulips With Me (Burke/Dubin)
- Watch Out, Dynamite (Walker)
- Baby I Need Your Loving (Dozier/Holland) *

Elaine Brown
Seize The Time
Vault (131)

CD reissue: Water (water183)
Hollywood, early 70s
Elaine Brown vocals
Horace Tapscott piano, arranger
- Seize The Time (E.Brown)
- The Panther (E.Brown)
- And All Stood By (E.Brown)
- The End Of Silence (E.Brown)
- The Meeting (The Black Panther Party National Anthem) (E.Brown)
- Very Black Man (E.Brown)
- Take It Away (E.Brown)
- One Time (E.Brown)
- Assassination (E.Brown)
- Poppa’s Come Home (E.Brown)

Elaine Brown
Elaine Brown
Black Forum (BF 458L)

LP only
Hollywood, 1973
Elaine Brown vocals
Horace Tapscott arranger
- No Time (E.Brown)
- Jonathan (E.Brown)
- Can’t Go Back (E.Brown)
- All The Young And Fine Men (E.Brown)
- Until We’re Free (E.Brown)
- I Know Who You Are (E.Brown)
- Child In The World (E.Brown)
- A Little Baby (E.Brown)
- And We Shall Meet Again (E.Brown)

Billie Harris
I Want Some Water
Nimbus West (NS 510 C)

CD only,
* & ** previously unissued tracks:
* by the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (from the Live at the I.U.C.C. sessions),
** solo piano by Horace Tapscott (probably from The Tapscott Sessions)
Los Angeles, 1983
Billie Harris reeds
Horace Tapscott piano
David Bryant bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
Daa’oud Woods percussions
Lorelei vocals
- Prayer Of Happiness (B.Harris)
- I Want Some Water (B.Harris)
- The Advocate (B.Harris)
- Blues For Lupé (B.Harris)
- Many Nights Ago (C.Crunk) *
- Why Don’t You Listen? (H.Tapscott) **

Jesse Sharps
Sharps And Flats
Nimbus West (NS 3702 C)

CD only,
* previously unreleased track by the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (from the Live at the I.U.C.C. sessions)
Los Angeles, 1985
Jesse Sharps reeds
Steve Smith trumpet
Nate Morgan piano
Horace Tapscott piano
Joel Ector bass
Carl Burnett drums
- The Goat And Ram Jam (J.Sharps)
- Question (J.Sharps)
- Macramé (J.Sharps)
- Mike’s Tune (J.Sharps)
- As A Child (H.Tapscott)
- Carnival (J.Sharps)
- McKowsky’s First Fifth (J.Sharps) *

Michael Session
‘N Session
ITM Pacific (ITMP 970074)

CD only
Hollywood, March 24, 1990
Michael Session saxophones, vocals
Steve Smith trumpet
Jon Williams trumpet
Nate Morgan piano
Horace Tapscott piano
Henry Franklin bass
Sunship Theus drums
- Quagmire Manor At Five A.M. (M.Session)
- Bavarian Mist (M.Session)
- Short Stop (M.Session)
- UMATU (M.Session)
- No Cash (M.Session)
- Lately’s Solo (Milestones) (H.Tapscott)
- Maud’s Mood (H.Tapscott)

Nelly Pouget
Le Vivre
Minuit Regards (LH 27292)

CD & LP
* CD only
Paris, November 18 & 19, 1993
Nelly Pouget soprano and tenor saxophones
Horace Tapscott piano
Kent Carter bass
Andrew Cyrille drums
Michel Godard tuba, snake
Jean-François Jenny-Clark bass
Gérard Siracusa percussions
- Le Vivre (N.Pouget)
- Minuit Regards (N.Pouget)
- Bébé Ange (N.Pouget) *
- Les Poissons (N.Pouget)
- Douceur (N.Pouget) *
- Humoristique (N.Pouget) *
- Amour Ange Ange Amour (N.Pouget)
- Nina Bébé (N.Pouget)
- Variations De Clartés (N.Pouget) *

Project Blowed
Project Blowed
A-Team/Afterlife

CD & LP
Los Angeles, 1994
Aceyalone vocals
Self Jupiter vocals
Mikah Nine vocals
Peace vocals
Michael Hunter trumpet
Michael Rubin saxophones
Randall Willis tenor saxophone
Horace Tapscott piano
Nedra Wheeler bass
JMD drums
Abstract Rude voix
A.C. voix
B voix
Ganjah K vocals
Nefertiti vocals
T-Love vocals
- Jurassick (Aceyalone/Spoon Iodine)
- Who's There (Self Jupiter)
- Strenght of A.T.U. (Abstract Rude)
- What A Pity (C.V.E.)
- Don't Get It Twisted (Figures Of Speech)
- Hot (Freestyle Fellowship)
- Once Upon A Freak (Tray Loc)
- Beautiful Day In The Neighborood (Dolla Holla)
- Solo Is So Low (DK Toon/B/Cartoon)
- This Evening
- Heavyweights Round 2 (Peace/T-Love/A.C./Nefertiti/BJ)
- Funky Commercial Break (Funky Trend)
- Second Chance
- I Don't Know (Abstract Rude/Aceyalone)
- Yeh Man (Abstract Rude)
- Narcolepsy (C.V.E.)
- I Think (Aceyalone)
- Maskaraid Part, Pts. 1-2 (Abstract Rude/Aceyalone)
- Treble And Bass (Aceyalone/Abstract Rude)

Mikah 9
Timetable
Meanstreet (0535)

Los Angeles, 90s
Mikah 9 vocals
Randall Willis tenor saxophone
Tom Ralls trombone
Onaje Murray vibes
Horace Tapscott piano
Marvin McDaniel guitar
Nedra Wheeler bass
Don Littleton percussions
Kevin O’Neal arranger
Aceyalone vocals
Self Jupiter vocals
Peace vocals
- Let's Fly
- Breath Control
- Black Man Swing
- Ultra Bap
- Darkleaf/U.N.I.T.Y. Committee Party, Pt. 1
- Danger
- Way Cool Acapella
- Free Energy
- We Came From Beyond, Pt. 1
- Life Or Death
- Island Acapella, Pt. 1
- Park Bench People (Alternate Version)
- Speechless
- Darkleaf/U.N.I.T.Y. Committee Party, Pt. 2
- What You See Is What You Get
- American Nightmare
- Wake Up Show Freestyle
- Said To The Beach
- Darkleaf/U.N.I.T.Y. Committee Party, Pt. 3
- We Came From Beyond, Pt. 2
- Fruit Don't Fall...
- Island Acapella, Pt. 2
- First Things Last

Watts Prophets
When The 90’s Came
Payday/FFRR/AcidJazz (JAZID CD 166)

Los Angeles, 1996
Richard Dedeaux vocals
Anthony “Amde” Hamilton vocals
Otis O’Solomon vocals
Damu Vucha flute
Horace Tapscott piano
Rob Bacon guitar, bass, piano
DJ Quick drums
Damu harmonica
- When The 90’s Came (A.Hamilton)
- Hey World (O.O’Solomon/G.E.Bradshaw)
- The Law / Doin Everyday The Hard Way (A.Hamilton/O.O’Solomon/X.Mosley)
- Me Today You Tomorrow (A.Hamilton/R.Michael/B.Marley)
- Everybody Watches (R.Dedeaux/Stan B.)
- Breed What You Need (A.Hamilton/H.Tapscott)
- Trippin (A.Hamilton/DJ Quick)
- Searchin (A.Hamilton/G.Wilkinson/J.Hawkins)
- Nothin New (R.Dedeaux/Stan B.)
- I Remember Watts (R.Dedeaux)
- Family Nest (A.Hamilton/H.Tapscott)
- Free Geronimo (R.Dedeaux/A.Hamilton/O.O’Solomon/D.Vusha)
- Public Enemy Number One (O.O’Solomon)
- I’ll Stop Callin You Niggaz (A.Hamilton)
- While Growing Up (O.O’Solomon)
- Freedom Flame (R.Dedeaux)
- Hongry For Your Love (O.O’Solomon)
- In Pain I View (O.O’Solomon)
- Vanity (O.O’Solomon)
- When The 90’s Came (Acapella) (A.Hamilton)

Kamau Daaood
Leimert Park
MAMA Foundation (MMF 1019)

CD only
Los Angeles, February-April, 1997
Kamau Daaood vocals, poetry
Michael Session alto and soprano saxophones
Phil Vieux tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Randall Willis soprano and tenor saxophones
James Newton flute
Rodney Lee piano, organ, rhodes
Nate Morgan piano
Horace Tapscott piano
Karen Briggs violin
Osama Afifi bass
Art Davis bass
Roberto Miranda bass
Herb Graham, Jr. drums, percussions
Billy Higgins drums, guitar, gambri, vocals
Willie Jones III drums
Munyungo Jackson percussions
Carmen Bradford vocals
Dwight Trible vocals
- Leimert Park (K.Daaood/H.Graham, Jr.)
- Tears ((K.Daaood)
- Her (For My Wife, Baadia) (K.Daaood/B.Higgins)
- Deep River In Her Voice (For Billie Holiday) (K.Daaood)
- Balm Of Gilead (For Billie Holiday & Lester Young) (K.Daaood)
- Sunbathing In My Tears (K.Daaood/M.Jackson)
- The Men (K.Daaood/R.Carter)
- Liberator Of The Spirit (For John Coltrane) (K.Daaood/B.Higgins)
- World Music (K.Daaood/B.Higgins)
- Ancestral Echoes ((K.Daaood/H.Tapscott)
- Army Of Healers (K.Daaood/H.Tapscott)
- Art Blakey’s Drumsticks (K.Daaood/N.Morgan)

Horace Tapscott Discography (Audience/FM/Soundboard/Video Recordings)

2010-02-14T23:31:00.007+01:00

-> INDEX

Horace Tapscott with the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra
Century City Playhouse
FM recording
Los Angeles, CA, September 9, 1979
Horace Tapscott piano
Sabir Mateen tenor saxophone
others unknown
- unknown title
- Noissessprahs (S.Mateen)
- Raisha's New-Hip Dance (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott Quartet
Jazz Festival Willisau

FM recording
Willisau, Switzerland, August 27, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
Dadisi Komolafe alto saxophone, flute
Roberto Miranda bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
- Lino’s Pad (H.Tapscott)
- The Call (L.Robertson)
- Oleo (S.Rollins)
- The Dark Tree (incomplete) (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott Trio
Live in Karlsruhe
FM recording
Karlsruhe, Germany, September 7, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
- unknown title
- Lino’s Pad (H.Tapscott)
- Lush Life (B.Strayhorn)

John Carter / Horace Tapscott Together Again Ensemble
Live In Freiburg
Audience recording
Freiburg, Germany, July 8, 1987
John Carter clarinet
Horace Tapscott piano
Bobby Bradford cornet
Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
Roberto Miranda bass
Donald Dean drums
- The Dark Tree (H.tapscott)
- With Respect To Monk (R.Miranda)
- Sketches Of Drunken Mary (H.Tapscott)
- unknown title
- Woman (B.Bradford)
- unknown title
- unknown title

John Carter / Horace Tapscott Together Again Ensemble
Konfrontationen 1987

Audience recording
Nickelsdorf, Austria, July 10, 1987
John Carter clarinet
Horace Tapscott piano
Bobby Bradford cornet
Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
Roberto Miranda bass
Donald Dean drums
- The Dark Tree (H.Tapscott)
- With Respect To Monk (R.Miranda)
- unknown title

Horace Tapscott / Roberto Miranda
New Langton Arts
Audience recording
San Francisco, CA, November 9, 1990
Horace Tapscott piano
Roberto Miranda bass
- Medley:
Bright Moments (R.Kirk)
Straight Street (J.Coltrane)
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (Traditional)
- Like Someone In Love (J.Van Heusen/J.Burke)
- Black And Tan Fantasy (D.Ellington/B.Miley)
- One For Lately (incomplete) (T.Green)

Horace Tapscott Solo
National Art Gallery
Video recording
Ottawa, Canada, July 20, 1991
Horace Tapscott piano
- Ancestral Echoes (H.Tapscott)
- Ballad For Samuel (H.Tapscott)
- Mary On Sunday (H.Tapscott)
- Mothership (H.Tapscott)
- Medley:
This Is For Kenny (E.Hope)
Straight Street (J.Coltrane)
Hi-Fly (R.Weston)
Little Africa (L.Hill)
- unknown title

Horace Tapscott / Arthur Blythe
Koncepts Cultural Gallery
Audience recording
Oakland,CA , August 16, 1991
Horace Tapscott piano
Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
- At The Crossroads (H.Tapscott)
- Sketches Of Drunken Mary (H.Tapscott)
- Hip Dripper (A.Blythe)
- unknown title
- The Dark Tree (H.Tapscott)
- unknown title
- The Jitterburg Waltz (F.Waller)
- In A Sentimental Moods (D.Ellington)

Horace Tapscott / Michael Session
Heidelberg Café
Audience recording
Loppem, Belgium, October 29, 1991
Horace Tapscott piano
Michael Session soprano, alto and tenor saxophones
- Retribution, Reparation (N.Morgan)
- Mothership (H.Tapscott)
- Bavarian Mist (M.Session)
- Ballad For Samuel (H.Tapscott)
- One For Lately (T.Green)
- Autumn Colors (H.Tapscott)
- Many Nights Ago (C.Crunk)
- The Jitterburg Waltz (F.Waller)

Horace Tapscott Trio
Four Queens Hotel,
French Quarter Room
FM recording
Las Vegas, NV, February 1992
Horace Tapscott piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Fritz Wise drums
- Lino’s Pad (H.Tapscott)
- Oleo (S.Rollins)
- Akirfa (L.Robertson)
- One For Lately (T.Green)
- Little Africa (L.Hill)

Horace Tapscott Quartet
21 Internationales New Jazz Moers Festival
Soundboard (?) recording
Moers, Germany, June 8, 1992
Horace Tapscott piano
Michael Session soprano, alto and tenor saxophone
Roberto Miranda electric bass
Fritz Wise drums
- The Giant Is Awakened (H.Tapscott)
- One For Lately (T.Green)
- UMATU (M.Session)
- The Dark Tree (H.Tapscott)
- Little Africa (L.Hill)

Steve Lacy / Horace Tapscott
8th du Maurier International Jazz Festival,
The Western Front
Audience recording
Vancouver, Canada, June 28, 1993
Steve Lacy soprano saxophone
Horace Tapscott piano
- unknown title
- Art (S.Lacy/H.Melville)
- Well You Needn’t (T.Monk)
- Bone (S.Lacy)

Horace Tapscott Arkestra
15th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival
FM recording
Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park
Chicago, IL, September 12, 1993
Horace Tapscott piano
Oscar Brasheer trumpet
Thurman Green trombone
Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
Teddy Edwards tenor saxophone
Michael Session baritone saxophone
Roberto Miranda bass
Fritz Wise drums
- One For Lately (T.Green)
- The Black Apostles (H.Tapscott)
- Sandy And Niles (H.Tapscott)
- Tapscott Interview with Neil Tesser (incomplete)

Horace Tapscott Solo
James Moore Theatre
Audience recording
Oakland, CA, October 16, 1993
Horace Tapscott piano
- Ancestral Echoes (H.Tapscott)
- Sketches Of Drunken Mary (H.Tapscott)
- Ballad For Samuel (H.Tapscott)
- Medley:
Nyja's Theme (H.Tapscott)
Sandy And Niles (H.tapscott)
- Lush Life (B.Strayhorn)
- Hi-Fly (R.Weston)
- Little Africa (L.Hill)
- Closing Medley:
Oleo (S.Rollins)
Rhythm-A-Ning (T.Monk)
The Theme (M.Davis)

Horace Tapscott with the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra
24 Internationales New Jazz Moers Festival

Soundboard (?) & Video recordings
Moers, Germany, June 3, 1995
Horace Tapscott piano
Steve Smith trumpet
Thurman Green trombone
Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
Charles Owens reeds
Michael Session reeds
Jesse Sharps reeds
Fundi Legohn french horn
Roger Williams tuba
Nate Morgan piano
Roberto Miranda bass
David Bryant bass
Sonship Theus drums
Fritz Wise drums
Dwight Trible vocal
- The Black Apostles (H.Tapscott)
- Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (Traditional)
- Dem Folks (L.Hill)
- Ballad For Deadwood Dick (H.Tapscott)
- Little Africa (L.Hill)

Horace Tapscott / Sonny Simmons Quartet
X Festival de Jazz du Fort Napoléon
Audience & Video recordings
La Seyne-sur-Mer, France, August 3, 1995
Horace Tapscott piano
Sonny Simmons alto saxophone, english horn
James Lewis bass
John Betsch drums
- Medley:
unknown title
So What (M.Davis)
unknown title
- Medley:
On Green Dolphin Street (B.Kaper/N.Washington)
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (Traditional)
- Drunken Mary / Mary On Sunday (H.Tapscott)
- Medley:
unknown title
Milestones (M.Davis)
- All Blues (M.Davis)
- Aiee! The Phantom (H.Tapscott)
- Caravan (D.Ellington/J.Tizol/I.Mills)
- Oleo (S.Rollins)

Nimbus Records: Label's Discography - Update

2010-02-14T23:30:00.005+01:00

-> INDEX

Le label Nimbus fut fondé en 1978 à Los Angeles par Tom Albach afin d’enregistrer la musique du Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, d’Horace Tapscott et des membres de l'U.G.M.A.A. (Adele Sebastian, Roberto Miranda, Nate Morgan, Dadisi Komolafe…). Il compte à ce jour 48 références.

L'histoire et l’itinéraire du label peuvent se résumer en quelques mots.
• De 1978 à 1985, Nimbus enregistre essentiellement des musiciens membres de l’U.G.M.A.A. (Union of God’s Musicians and Artists Ascension) fondée en 1961 par Horace Tapscott.
• A la fin des années 80, Tom Albach quitte Los Angeles pour s’installer en Europe à Amsterdam. Là, il enregistre des artistes européens (Ernst Reijseger, Daniele D’Agaro…) ou installés aux Pays-Bas (Curtis Clark, Sean Bergin…) et ce jusqu’à son retour aux Etats-Unis au milieu des années 90.
La discographie du label se divise donc en deux périodes qui se "chevauchent" : Los Angeles de 1978 à 1987 et Amsterdam de 1984 à 1993.
Aujourd’hui, Tom Albach réédite petit à petit son catalogue en CD et publie occasionnellement des enregistrements inédits.

La discographie ci-dessous est ordonnée en fonction des numéros de catalogue des différentes publications.
Notons par ailleurs qu'il existe deux séries de références au sein du catalogue :
• de la référence 135 (Horace Tapscott & P.A.P.A., Flight 17 à la référence 4146 (Horace Tapscott, Lighthouse 79 - vol.2).
• de la référence 501 (Curtis Clark, Letter to South Africa) à la référence 511 (Various Artists, L.A.'s Unsung - Nimbus West Compilation).

Horace Tapscott
with the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra
Flight 17
Nimbus (NIMBUS-135)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 135 C),
* previously unissued tracks (from the Live at the I.U.C.C. sessions)
Los Angeles, 1978
Horace Tapscott piano
Jesse Sharps soprano and tenor saxophones, flute
Linda Hill piano
Adele Sebastian vocal, flute
James Andrews tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Michael Session alto saxophone
Kafi Larry Roberts flute
Herbert Callies alto clarinet
Red Callendar tuba
Archie Johnson trombone
Lester Robertson trombone
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
William Madison percussions, drums
Louis Spears cello
David Bryant bass
Kamonta Lawrence Polk bass
- Flight 17 First Movement (H.Baker)
- Breeze (H.Baker)
- Horacio (R.Miranda)
- Clarisse (J.Sharps)
- Maui (Kamonta)
- Coltrane Medley (J.Coltrane) *
- Village Dance Revisited (S.Mateen) *

Horace Tapscott
with the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra
The Call
Nimbus (NIMBUS 246)

LP only
Los Angeles, April 8, 1978
Horace Tapscott piano
Jesse Sharps soprano and tenor saxophones, flute
Linda Hill piano
Adele Sebastian vocal, flute
Lester Robertson trombone
David Bryant bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
Herbert Callies alto clarinet
James Andrews tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Michael Session alto saxophone
Kafi Larry Roberts flute, soprano saxophone
Archie Johnson trombone
Red Callendar tuba, bass
William Madison percussions, drums
Louis Spears cello, bass
Kamonta Lawrence Polk bass
- The Call (L.Robertson)
- Quagmire Manor At Five A.M. (M.Session)
- Nakatini Suite (C.Masey)
- Peyote Song No. III (J.Sharps)

Horace Tapscott
with the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra
Live At The I.U.C.C.
Nimbus (No. 357)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 357 C),
* previously unissued track
Los Angeles, February-June 1979
Horace Tapscott piano
Jesse Sharps soprano saxophone
Sabir Mateen tenor saxophone
James Andrews tenor saxophone
Michael Session alto saxophone
Kafi Roberts flute
Herbert Callies alto clarinet
David Bryant bass
Alan Hines bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
Adele Sebastian flute
Billy Harris soprano and tenor saxophones
Daa’oud Woods percussions
Red Callendar tuba
Lester Robertson trombone
John Williams baritone saxophone
Aubrey Hart flute
Roberto Miranda bass
Billy Hinton drums
Linda Hill piano
Desta Walker tenor saxophone
Mike Daniels percussions
Louis Spears cello
- Macrame (J.Sharps)
- Future Sally’s Time (A.Blythe/S.Crouch)
- Noissessprahs (S.Mateen)
- McKowsky’s First Fifth (J.Sharps) *
- Village Dance (S.Mateen)
- L.T.T. (H.Tapscott)
- Desert Fairy Princess (J.Sharps)
- Lift Every Voice (J.W.Johnson/J.R.Johnson)

Roberto Miguel Miranda
The Creator’s Musician
Nimbus (468)

LP only
Los Angeles, 1980
Roberto Miranda bass
- Evolution On The Life Of Moses (R.Miranda)
I. Nile River Chile
II. Prayer For The People (When He Walked Amongst His People)
III. Ten Commandments, 12 Tribes
IV. Wandering
V. Prayer Is Essential
- Saint Michael Servant Of The Lord (R.Miranda)
- Interpolations (R.Miranda)
- Imagined Dance For Solo Bass (R.Miranda)
- Song For String Bass (R.Miranda)

Horace Tapscott / Everett Brown, Jr.
At The Crossroads
Nimbus (NS 579)

LP only
Los Angeles, 1980
Horace Tapscott piano
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
- At The Cross Roads (H.Tapscott)
- Middle Age Madness (H.Tapscott)
- Ballad For Window Lee Black (H.Tapscott)
- Marcellus III (E.Brown)

Adele Sebastian
Desert Fairy Princess
Nimbus (NS-680)

CD reissues: Nimbus West (NS 680 C),
Céleste (LXCY-6237)
Los Angeles, 1981
Adele Sebastian flute, vocals
Bobby West piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Billy Higgins drums, gembreh
Rickey Kelly marimbas
Daoude Woods percussions
- Desert Fairy Princess (J.Sharps)
- Belize (R.Kelly)
- I Felt Spring (E.Straughter)
- Man From Tanganyika (M.Tyner)
- Day Dreamer (K.L.Polk)
- Prayer For The People (R.Miranda)

Linda Hill
Lullaby For Linda
Nimbus (#791)

LP only
Los Angeles, 1981
Linda Hill piano, vocals
Adele Sebastian flute, vocals
Jugegr Juan Grey vocals
Aubrey Hart flute
Sabir Mateen tenor saxophone, clarinet
Virjilio Figueroa percussions
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
Roberto Miranda bass
Fundi Legohn french horn
- Leland’s Song (L.Hill)
- The Creator’s Musician (R.Miranda)
- Lullaby For Linda (L.Hill)
- Children (L.Hill)

Gary Bias
East 101
Nimbus (NS-802)

LP only
Los Angeles, 1981
Gary Bias soprano and alto saxophones, flute
David “Eric” Tillman piano
Rickey Kelly vibes
Fritz Wise drums
John Heard bass
Roberto Miranda bass
Rickey Minor electric bass
- Asiki (G.Bias)
- Dear Violet (G.Bias)
- Arthur’s Vamp (G.Bias)
- East 101 (G.Bias)
- As Children Play (G.Bias)

Creative Arts Ensemble
One Step Out
Nimbus (#913)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 913 C)
Los Angeles, 1981
Kaeef Ruzadun piano
B.J. Crowley “Shaleethia” vocals
“Jiggs” Wilbert Hemsley tenor saxophone
Gary Bias soprano and alto saxophones
Dadisi Komolafe flute
George Bohannon trombone
Jeff Clayton baritone saxophone
Al White trumpet
“The Skipper” Henry Franklin bass
Sonship Theus drums
- One Step Out (K.Ruzadun)
- Flashback Of Time (K.Ruzadun)
- All Praises Due (K.Ruzadun)
- Stars In Lightyear Time (K.Ruzadun)

Roberto Miguel Miranda
Raphael
Nimbus (NS-1024)

LP only
Hollywood, July-August, 1980
Roberto Miranda bass, vocals
Virgilio Figueroa percussions, vocals
Wynell Montgomery soprano and tenor saxophones, flute
Vinny Golia tenor and baritone saxophones
Nels Cline guitar
Vanessa Burch piano
Ben Rosenbloom piano
Hansonia Caldwell piano
Wayne Peet piano
Jeff Littleton bass and electric bass
Alex Cline drums, percussions
Louis Raphael Miranda, Jr. drums, percussions
George Andujar-Seguidor percussions, vocals
Raul Travieso Rodriguez-Hablador percussions, vocals
Andrew Acosta-Guataca percussions, vocals
Aviva Rosenbloom vocals
Deborah Miranda vocals
- Bembe (Traditional)
- A Case In Point (W.Montgomery)
- Bata (Traditional)
- Raphael (R.Miranda)
- Faith (R.Miranda)
- Piano Sonata #1 (R.Miranda)
- The Creator’s Musicians (R.Miranda)
- Prayer #1 (R.Miranda)
- Columbia (Traditional)

Horace Tapscott
Dial “B” For Barbra
Nimbus (NS 1147)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 1147 C)
Los Angeles, 1981
Horace Tapscott piano
Reggie Bullen trumpet
Gary Bias alto and soprano saxophones
Sabir Mateen tenor saxophone
Roberto Miranda bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums, percussions
- Lately’s Solo (H.Tapscott)
- Dial “B” For Barbra (H.Tapscott)
- Dem’ Folks (L.Hill)

Horace Tapscott
Live At Lobero – vol. II
Nimbus (1258)

LP only
Santa Barbara, November 12, 1981
Horace Tapscott piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Sonship Theus drums
- Lino’s Pad (H.Tapscott)
- Close To Freedom (C.Crunk)
- St. Michael (R.Miranda)

Horace Tapscott
Live At Lobero
Nimbus (1369)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 2370 C),
* previously unissued track
Santa Barbara, November 12, 1981
Horace Tapscott piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Sonship Theus drums
- Inception (H.Tapscott) *
- Sketches Of Drunken Mary (H.Tapscott)
- Raisha’s New-Hip Dance (H.Tapscott)
- The Dark Tree (H.Tapscott)

Thomas Tedesco
Thomas Tedesco And Ocean
Nimbus (NS-1470)

LP only
Hollywood, June 17,1981
Thomas Tedesco guitar
Bobby Bradford trumpet
Roberto Miranda bass
Onaje Sherman Ferguson drums
Sartuse percussions
- Number 26 (Free Disco) (T.Tedesco)
- The Doubleness Of Three (T.Tedesco)
- The Azzier The Izz (T.Tedesco)
- Morning Tide (T.Tedesco)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 1
Nimbus (NS-1581)

LP only
Santa Barbara, June, 1982
Horace Tapscott piano
- Jenny’s Spirit’s Waltz (H.Tapscott)
- Speedy Mike (A.Hines)
- Mother Ship (H.Tapscott)
- This Is For Benny (H.Tapscott)
- Alone Together (H.Dietz/A.Schwartz)
- Haunted (M.Swan)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 2
Nimbus (NS-1692)

LP only
Santa Barbara, November, 1982
Horace Tapscott piano
- Struggle X An Afro-American Dream (H.Tapscott)
- Many Nights Ago (C.Crunk)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 3
Nimbus (NS-1703)

LP only
Santa Barbara, April, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
- The Tuus (H.Tapscott)
- Lately’s Light-Green Blues (H.Tapscott)
- Reflections Of Self (H.Tapscott)
- Kopkee’s Blues (H.Tapscott)
- After The Storm (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 4
Nimbus (NS-1814)

LP only
Santa Barbara, September, 1982
Horace Tapscott piano
- A Dress For Renee (H.Tapscott)
- The Hero’s Last Dance (H.Tapscott)
- Shades Of Soweto (H.Tapscott)
- Whit (L.Spears)
- First Call Of The Humming Bird (H.Tapscott)
- Toward The Sunset (H.Tapscott)
- As Of Yet (A.Blythe)
- Forgiving (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 5
Nimbus (NS-1925)

LP only
Santa Barbara, January, 1984
Horace Tapscott piano
- Stringeurisms (H.Tapscott)
- I’ll Have One When It’s Over (H.Tapscott)
- Blues In Pirouette (H.Tapscott)
- Perfumes In The Night (H.Tapscott)
- Hi-Pockets’ Swan Song (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 6
Nimbus (NS-2036)

LP only
Santa Barbara, October, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
- Ancestral Echoes (H.Tapscott)
- Jessica (R.Porter)
- Restless Nights (R.King)
- Chartreuse Blues (H.Tapscott)
- The Golden Pearl (H.Tapscott)
- New Horizon (K.Ruzadun)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 7
Nimbus (NS-2147)

LP only
Santa Barbara, February, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
- Riding The San Andreas (H.Tapscott)
- Amanda’s Tone Poem (H.Tapscott)
- Southwestern Avenue Shuffle (H.Tapscott)
- Yesterday’s Dream (H.Tapscott)
- ‘Round Midnight (T.Monk)
- On The Nile (C.Tolliver)
- Sonnet Of Butterfly McQueen (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 8
Nimbus West (NS2258C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, 1982-1984
Horace Tapscott piano
- Fire Waltz (M.Waldron)
- Little Niles (R.Weston)
- Crepuscule With Nellie (T.Monk)
- As A Child (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 9
Nimbus West (NS 2369 C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, 1983
Horace Tapscott piano
- It Never Happened Before (H.Tapscott)
- Fleurette Africaine (D.Ellington)
- Afro-Blue (M.Santamaria)
- Love In Bloom (H.Tapscott)
- Strollin’ (H.Silver)
- Whisper Not (B.Golson)
- Fair-To-Middlin’ (H.Tapscott)
- Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (S.Romberg)
- Anwar (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 10
Nimbus West (NS2370C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, 1982-1984
Horace Tapscott piano
- Miguel (H.Tapscott)
- Roses In Bloom (H.Tapscott)
- Ballad For Samuel (H.Tapscott)
- First Love (H.Tapscott)
- Searching (H.Tapscott)
- Afternoon In Paris (J.Lewis)
- Upside Down (H.Tapscott)
- Getting Ready (H.Tapscott)
- Maya And Me (H.Tapscott)

Horace Tapscott
The Tapscott Sessions Vol. 11
Nimbus West (NS2581C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, 1982-1984
Horace Tapscott piano
- Nica’s Dream (H.Silver)
- Besame Mucho (C.Velazquez)
- For Patrice (H.Tapscott)
- A Call for All Demons (Sun Ra)
- Full House (H.Tapscott)
- Long Ago (H.Tapscott)
- Straight Street (J.Coltrane)
- Vigilance (H.Tapscott)
- Sabroso (H.Tapscott)
- This is for Kenny (E.Hope)
- Wistful Vista (H.Tapscott)
- Vox Populi (H.Tapscott)

Dadisi Komolafe
Hassan’s Walk
Nimbus (NS-3035)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 3035 C)
Los Angeles, October, 1983
Dadisi Komolafe alto saxophone, flute
Rickey Kelly vibes
Eric Tillman piano
Roberto Miranda bass
Sonship Theus drums
- Hassan’s Walk (D.Komolafe)
- Speak No Evil (W.Shorter)
- Calvary (Traditional)
- ‘Round Midnight (T.Monk)

Rickey Kelly
Limited Stops Only
Nimbus (NS-3146)

LP only
Los Angeles, October, 1983
Rickey Kelly vibes
Dadisi Komolafe flute
David E. Tillman piano
James Leary, III bass
Sherman Ferguson drums
- Distant Vibes (R.Kelly)
- Flying Colors (R.Ford)
- Yesterdays (J.Kern)
- Same Shame (B.Hutcherson)
- Dolphin Dance (H.Hancock)
- Lush Life (B.Strayhorn)

Nate Morgan
Journey Into Nigritia
Nimbus (NS 3257)

CD reissue: Céleste (CMYK-6211)
Los Angeles, 1983
Nate Morgan piano
Dadisi Komolafe alto saxophone
Jeff Littleton bass
Fritz Wise drums
- Mrafu (N.Morgan)
- Morning Prayer (N.Morgan)
- Mother (N.Morgan)
- Journey Into Nigritia (N.Morgan)
- He Left Us A Song (N.Morgan)
- Study In C.T. (N.Morgan)

Curtis Clark
Phantasmagoria
Nimbus (3368)

LP only
Los Angeles, January, 1984
Curtis Clark piano, clarinet
Roberto Miranda bass
Sonship Theus drums
- Phantasmagoria (C.Clark)
- Bouquet (For Dorien Van Stokkom) (C.Clark)
- Missing Persons (C.Clark)
- Thought Of One (C.Clark)

Nate Morgan
Retribution, Reparation
Nimbus (3479)

CD reissue: Nimbus West (NS 3479 C)
Los Angeles, 1984
Nate Morgan piano
Danny Cortez trumpet
Jesse Sharps reeds
Joel Ector bass
Fritz Wise drums
- U.G.M.A.A.GER (N.Morgan)
- Impulse (N.Morgan)
- Mass Madness (N.Morgan)
- Retribution, Reparation (N.Morgan)
- One Finger Snap (H.Hancock)
- Come Sunday (D.Ellington)

Curtis Clark
Deep Sea Diver
Nimbus (3580)

LP only
Los Angeles, March, 1985
Curtis Clark piano
Merlene Holsey vocals *
- Rainbow Over Harlem (C.Clark)
- Cosmic Minstrels (C.Clark)
- Deep Sea Diver (C.Clark)
- Farewell Gentle Spirit (For Rev. Frank J. Harper) (C.Clark)
- Broken Mirror Reflections (C.Clark) *
- Amy Yvonne (C.Clark)
- Rainbow Over Harlem (C.Clark)

Curtis Clark
Amsterdam Sunshine
Nimbus (3691)

LP only
Amsterdam, November, 1984
Curtis Clark piano
Michael Moore alto saxophone
Ernst Reijseger cello
Ernst Glerum bass
Dom Mumford drums
- Daniel/Amsterdam Sunshine (For Daniel Halifee) (C.Clark)
- Peu De Sentiment (For Joe Clark) (C.Clark)
- Thought Of One (C.Clark)
- Twinkle In The Old Man’s Eyes (For Daniel Clark) (C.Clark)
- Portrait Of Judy (For Judy Sneed) (C.Clark)
- Flore (For Hilde Van Stokkum) (C.Clark)
- Thought Of One (2nd Version) (C.Clark)

Jesse Sharps
Sharps And Flats
Nimbus West (NS 3702 C)

CD only,
* previously unissued track by the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (from the Live at the I.U.C.C. sessions)
Los Angeles, 1985
Jesse Sharps reeds
Steve Smith trumpet
Nate Morgan piano
Horace Tapscott piano
Joel Ector bass
Carl Burnett drums
- The Goat And Ram Jam (J.Sharps)
- Question (J.Sharps)
- Macramé (J.Sharps)
- Mike’s Tune (J.Sharps)
- As A Child (H.Tapscott)
- Carnival (J.Sharps)
- McKowsky’s First Fifth (J.Sharps) *

Curtis Clark
Dreams Deferred
Nimbus (NS 3813 C)

CD only
Amsterdam, 1993
Curtis Clark piano
Wayne Dockery bass
Louis Moholo drums
Sean Bergin soprano and tenor saxophones
Tobias Delius tenor saxophone
Felicity Provan trumpet, vocals
Tristan Honsinger cello
- Light Blue (T.Monk)
- Worry Later / San Francisco Holiday (T.Monk)
- Well You Needn't (T.Monk)
- Monk's Mood (T.Monk)
- Misterioso (T.Monk)
- Two Shadows In The Mist (C.Clark)
- Scratched (C.Clark)
- Sean (C.Clark)
- Diaphane (C.Clark)
- Nelson (C.Clark)
- All The Things You Are (J.Kern)

Curtis Clark
Reach, Believe It & Play
Nimbus (NS 3924 C)

CD only
Los Angeles, probably 1984-1985
Curtis Clark piano
- Boogie Stomp (C.Clark)
- Monk Me (C.Clark)
- Renuphee (C.Clark)
- Everlasting Love (C.Clark)
- Reach (C.Clark)
- Believe It (C.Clark)
- Play (C.Clark)

Horace Tapscott
Lighthouse 79 - vol.1
Nimbus West (NS 4035 C)

CD only
Hermosa Beach, October 10, 1979
Horace Tapscott piano
Regie Bullen trumpet
Gary Bias alto saxophone
Roberto Miranda bass
David Bryant bass
George Goldsmith drums
- Akirfa (L.Robertson)
- Dem' Folks (L.Hill)
- I Remember Clifford (B.Golson)
- Leland's Song (L.Hill)
- Acirfa (L.Robertson)

Horace Tapscott
Lighthouse 79 - vol.2
Nimbus West (NS 4146 C)

CD only
Hermosa Beach, October 11, 1979
Horace Tapscott piano
Regie Bullen trumpet
Gary Bias alto saxophone
Roberto Miranda bass
David Bryant bass
George Goldsmith drums
- Akirfa (L.Robertson)
- Niger's Theme (H.Tapscott)
- Stella by Starlight (V.Young/N.Washington)
- Lush Life (B.Strayhorn)
- Inspiration Of Silence (E.Straughter)

The Nimbus Collective
Live In Lotusland
Nimbus West (NS 4257 C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, July, 1987
Dany Cortez trumpet
Jesse Sharps reeds
Rickey Kelly vibes
Nate Morgan piano
Joel Ector bass
Derek Roberts drums
- Retribution, Reparation (N.Morgan)
- Big Spliff (J.Ector)
- Well You Needn't (T.Monk)
- A bientôt (B.Taylor)
- The Goat And The Ram Jam (J.Sharps)
- Distant Vibes (R.Kelly)
- Mrafu (N.Morgan)
- Mfaconi (R.Kelly)
- Journey Into Nigritia (N.Morgan)

Curtis Clark
Letter To South Africa
Nimbus (NS501C)

CD only
Amsterdam, late 80s
Curtis Clark piano
John Tchicai tenor saxophone
Ernst Reijseger cello
Ernst Glerum bass
Louis Moholo drums
- Serious Wishing (For Winnie Mandela) (C.Clark)
- Letter To South Africa (C.Clark)
- Twilight Union (C.Clark)
- What Price Freedom (C.Clark)
- Admission Of Guilt (C.Clark)
- Circumstancial Blues (C.Clark)
- Cape Town 2048 (C.Clark)

Sean Bergin and M.O.B.
Kids Mysteries
Nimbus (NS 502 C)

CD only
Amsterdam, late 80s
Sean Bergin alto and tenor saxophones
Michael Moore alto saxophone and clarinet
Jan Willem Van Der Ham alto saxophone, bassoon
Alex Maguire piano
Ernst Reijseger cello
Tristan Honsinger cello
Wolter Wierbos trombone
Eric Boeren trumpet
Ernst Glerum bass
Han Bennink drums
- Purtles (S.Bergin)
- Ice Cream Man (S.Bergin)
- Poor Poise (S.Bergin)
- Tea And Scones (S.Bergin)
- Monkey Woman (S.Bergin)
- Thoko’s Tune (S.Bergin)
- Beach Balls (S.Bergin)
- Kids – Trainride (S.Bergin)

Ernst Reijseger & Alan Purves
TA
Nimbus (NS 503 C)

CD only
Los Angeles, April 12, 1987
Ernst Reijseger cello
Alan Purves drums, percussions
- Where Is The Light? (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- Spinal Chord (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- Raspberry (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- Sweating In The Rain (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- Time’s Sake (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- How Great Thow Art (M.Moore)
- Once Upon A Time In A Wee (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- Green House (A.Purves)
- Rin Tin Tin (E.Reijseger)
- Walkabout (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- Professor Picardi (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- Titled (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- Untitled (E.Reijseger/A.Purves)
- Off The Ca (Traditional)

Narada Burton Greene
Solo Orchestra In Real Time
Nimbus (NS 504 C)

CD only
Amsterdam, May 9 & June 7, 1989
Narada Burton Greene keyboards and electronics
- I The Horny Orch. Suite… For Bob Graettinger (N.B.Greene)
1 Introduction
2 Wind Chorus Plus Green Horns
3 The Horny Orch.
- II Night Music For A Summer Afternoon... For Bela Bartok (N.B.Greene)
- III Toy-Mita Orchestral Variations... For Charles Ives (N.B.Greene)

Curtis Clark
Live At The Bimhuis
Nimbus (NS 505 C)

CD only
Amsterdam, October, 1988
Curtis Clark piano
Andy Sheppard reeds
Ernst Reijseger cello
Ernst Glerum bass
Louis Moholo drums
Jan Piet Visser harmonica
- Reincarnation Of Biggar Thomas (C.Clark)
- With A Little Help Of My Friends (J.Lennon/P.McCartney)
- Boo-Related (C.Clark)
- Deep Sea Diver (C.Clark)
- As Time Goes By (H.Hupfeld)
- Special Delivery (C.Clark)
- Strings Of Ecstasy (For Django Reinhardt) (C.Clark)
- Boogie Stomp (For Amos & Andy) (C.Clark)
- Cosmic Minstrels (C.Clark)

Amsterdam String Trio
Wild West – Live At Santa Barbara
Nimbus (NS 506 C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, December 2, 1988
Maurice Horsthuis viola
Ernst Reijseger cello
Ernst Glerum bass
- Tripot (M.Horsthuis)
- ...Vnl. Uit Muziek & Kartonnen Dozen... (M.Horsthuis)
- La Tour Qui Chante (M.Horsthuis)
- Footie Waltz (M.Horsthuis)
- Sint & Piet (J.Horsthuis)
- Trench Muzak (M.Horsthuis)
- Ghemoeielijk & Makkelijk (M.Horsthuis)
- Pontius (M.Horsthuis)
- Arrivo (M.Horsthuis)

Daniele D’Agaro
Lingua Franca
Nimbus (NS 507 C)

CD only
Amsterdam, June 28, 1989
Daniele D’Agaro clarinet
Tristan Honsinger cello
Ernst Glerum bass
- Flo-Walsje (D.D’Agaro)
- Qualche Volta / Polka / Zachila (D.D’Agaro/Traditional/T.Delius)
- Il Nonno / Jack The Knife / Couples (T.Honsinger)
- Real World Cut-Out (T.Honsinger)
- Wee-Wee / Bouja / Semaforo (D.D’Agaro/T.Honsinger/D.D’Agaro)
- Sotto Bicchiere (D.D’Agaro)
- Lights Off (T.Honsinger)
- Ever Never (T.Honsinger)
- Proprio Cosi (D.D’Agaro)

Nate Morgan
Live In Santa Barbara
Nimbus (NS 508 C)

CD only
Santa Barbara, 1987
Nate Morgan piano
Jeff Littleton bass
Fritz Wise drums
- All Blues (M.Davis)
- Forest Flower (C.Lloyd)
- In A Sentimental Mood (D.Ellington)
- Night In Tunisia (D.GillespieF.Paparelli)
- Darius The Bold (N.Morgan)
- Trench Muzak (Wash/Kapper)

Horace Tapscott
Dissent Or Descent
Nimbus West (NS 509 C)

CD only
New York and Santa Barbara, 1982-1984
Horace Tapscott piano
Fred Hopkins bass
Ben Riley drums
- As A Child (H.Tapscott)
- Sandy And Niles (H.Tapscott)
- To The Great House (H.Tapscott)
- Spellbound (C.Jordan)
- Ballad For Samuel (H.Tapscott)
- Ruby, My Dear (T.Monk)
- Chico’s Back In Town (H.Tapscott)

Billie Harris
I Want Some Water
Nimbus (NS 510 C)

CD only,
* & ** previously unissued tracks:
* by the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (from the Live at the I.U.C.C. sessions),
** solo piano by Horace Tapscott (probably from The Tapscott Sessions)
Los Angeles, 1983
Billie Harris reeds
Horace Tapscott piano
David Bryant bass
Everett Brown, Jr. drums
Daaood Woods percussions
Lorelei vocals
- Prayer Of Happiness (B.Harris)
- I Want Some Water (B.Harris)
- The Advocate (B.Harris)
- Blues For Lupé (B.Harris)
- Many Nights Ago (C.Crunk) *
- Why Don't You Listen? (H.Tapscott) **

Various Artists
L.A.'s Unsung - Nimbus West Compilation
Nimbus (NS 511 C)

CD only
Los Angeles, 1980-1985
Featuring:
Adele Sebastian flute, vocals
Nate Morgan piano
Jesse Sharps reeds
Billie Harris reeds
Kaeef Ruzadun piano
B.J. Crowley “Shaleethia” vocals
Dadisi Komolafe flute, alto saxophone
Rickey Kelly vibes, marimbas
Roberto Miranda bass
- Desert Fairy Princess (J.Sharps) / Adele Sebastian
- U.G.M.A.A.GER (N.Morgan) / Nate Morgan
- Question (J.Sharps) / Jesse Sharps
- Prayer Of Happiness (B.Harris) / Billie Harris
- Stars In Light Year Time (K.Ruzadun) / Creative Arts Ensemble
- Mrafu (N.Morgan) / Nate Morgan
- Calvary (Traditional) / Dadisi Komolafe
- Same Shame (B.Hutcherson) / Rickey Kelly
- Raphael (R.Miranda) / Roberto Miranda

Horace Tapscott / Steven L. Isoardi: The Dark Tree - Jazz and the Community Arts in Los Angeles

2010-02-14T23:29:00.009+01:00

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The Dark Tree – Jazz and the Community Arts in Los Angeles
De Steven L. Isoardi
University of California Press, 2006

Le hasard faisant bien les choses, voilà que vient de paraître aux Etats-Unis le complément indispensable à mes précédents articles "The Dark Tree – Jazz and the Community Arts in Los Angeles" nouvel ouvrage du sociologue Steven Isoardi. Après la biographie d’Horace Tapscott "Songs of the Unsung", Steven Isoardi s’intéresse ici aux quelques trois cents artistes – musiciens, vocalistes, poètes, auteurs, peintres, sculpteurs, graphistes – qui ont côtoyé à Los Angeles pendant près de quarante ans le Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra et l’U.G.M.A.A. (Union of God’s Musicians and Artists Ascension).
Cerise sur le gâteau et petit évènement, le livre inclut un CD contenant près de 70 minutes de musique inédite provenant des archives d’Horace Tapscott. On y découvre entre autres et pour la première fois sur disque des enregistrements du Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra allant de 1969 à 1976 avec notamment les saxophonistes Arthur Blythe et Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq, le cornettiste Butch Morris et The Voice of U.G.M.A.A.…

Horace Tapscott & the U.G.M.A.A.gers: Photos

2010-02-14T23:28:00.016+01:00

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Horace Tapscott by David Keller

2010-02-14T23:27:00.002+01:00

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Published in JazzTimes (JT 60908), october 1982.

“I remember seing Art Tatum on the streets of Los Angeles. He was playing at the Clark Hotel on Washington and Central. His driver stopped the car for this 16 year old kid to cross the street. And then I felt the blind eye of Art Tatum’s staring into my face all the way across the crosswalk”.
Horace Tapscott is reminiscing, something his breakneck schedule doesn’t usually allow. Tapscott is a trombone player turned pianist and is considered by some to be one of the most innovative pianists playing today. Since 1961 he has led the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, an orchestra ranging in size from 13-35 players. For its work and style it has been compared to the Art Ensemble of Chicago and to Charles Mingus’ big bands. But while such former Arkestra alumni as Arthur Blythe and Azar Lawrence have gone on to national recognition, Tapscott himself remains in the shadows. To appreciate his story, it’s best to start at the beginning.
Born in Houston, Texas on April 4, 1934, Tapscott grew up in a segregated part of the city in a long narrow “shotgun” house, “where the piano was always in the middle of the floorand had to be played”. His mother, Mary Lou Malone, a jazz pianist and tuba player in the local Church orchestra, took him to high school band concerts featuring classical and blues material on the weekends.
In 1945 the family moved to Los Angeles, settling into the South Central section of town. It was there his musical training commenced. During his ninth grade year at Lafeyette Junior High, Dr. Samuel Browne visited the school picking out students for his Jefferson High swing band.
Browne taught the young boy during his developing years from 1949-52 at Jeffersons. It was an impressive learning experience. Over the years Browne’s swing band included Don Cherry, Eric Dolphy, Troy Brown, and Joe Villereal among others. Earlier bands of Browne’s nurtured the talents of Sonny Criss, Dexter Gordon and Art and Addison Farmer.
If young students worked hard at their musical studies in Dr. Browne’s arranging and harmony classes, the teacher recommended them for lessons with Lloyd Reese. Reese was a legendary instructor who’d taught greats like Wardell Gray, Big Jay McNeely and many others. Since Reese was also charging “big time dough”, Tapscott, Dolphy, Frank Morgan and other young students were allowed to pay for their lessons by cleaning Reese’s yard and house.
The backdrop of all of the academic training was a flourishing music culture – the Central Avenue Scene. Caught in the economic upswing of World War II, Central Avenue spawned a thriving night life where all types of music could be heard. Prominent musicians ranging from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Jay McShann to Bird and Howard McGhee all played the city on a regular basis, creating a musical renaissance.
These heady days influenced the young Tapscott immensely. He recalls, “The musicians unions were segregated then. The Black Union was local 767 and was located about ten minutes from where I lived. So I spent a lot of time there with men who taught me like Buddy Collette, Percy MacDavid and Gerald Wilson.
“But there were all sorts of great local orchestras around too. Chick Touchstone, Peppe Prince, Jeep Smith all had great bands. Sammy Franklin too. Sammy was the father of Henry “The Skipper” Franklin, the bassist. I’d watch all these guys.
“I’d spend all my time down at the union. All my time. I’d be sitting out on a stool in front of the place because the union was nothing but a big old three story house like you see now on Adams Boulevard. All the bands rehearsed at the same time. A band on each of the three floors. The dors would be jumping! Big Jay McNeely, with that big sound would be blowing on top. Down below him would be another orchestra rehearsing. But somehow it all worked.”
Tapscott went on to join the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, working with this unit from 1950 through 1951. In the brass section playing trombone, Tapscott became aware of some of the intricacies of Wilson’s arrangements and began contemplating his own future as an arranger.
In the 1950’s Tapscott also did some R&B work with Chuck Higgins and performed with Higgins on “Pachuco Hop”, a song that became a hit throughout the South.
But these successes were the exception to the rule. Confronting a bleak job market, the 19 year-old decided to accept the counseling of older musicians like Buddy Collette and join the service. From 1953-57 he was a member of the U.S. Air Force Military Band. In the Air Force he studied three instruments; trombone, baritone and piano. But piano was the one that fascinated him and he began devoting long hours of practice toward mastering the instrument.
Returning to Los Angeles he worked occasional gigs until he began leading his own group the following year. This unit featured Lester Robertson, David Bryant, Jimmy Woods, Guido Sinclair, Everett Brown Jr. or Leroy Brooks. The band performed a répertoire of “free-type music” at local clubs which did not catch on.
Deciding to go out on the road, Tapscott fulfilled a childhood dream by working with Lionel Hampton from 1959-61. Having seen Hamp on more than one occasion during his early years, Tapscott eventually joined Hampton. Lester Robertson also joined the band at this time and the two became closer friends in Hamp’s band. Leaving Hampton in 1961, the two decided to try freelancing in New York. But after a period of little work and when Dolphy and other members of ‘Trane’s Village Vanguard band could only loan them less than $15, Tapscott and Robertson rejoined Hampton and traveled back to Los Angeles with him.
Arriving home Tapscott began organizing a group of musicians into an organization that became the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. Originally named the Community Cultural Arkestra, those instrumental in maintaining the group were Lester Robertson, trombone; Linda Hill, vocals, piano; David Bryant, Alan Hines, bass; Jimmy Woods, Arthur Blythe, Guido Sinclair, reeds; and Everett Brown Jr. or Leroy Brooks, drums.
The Arkestra promptly became a full time activity and the group was soon practicing “24 hours a day”. According to Tapscott, the “Ark” was founded to promote the band’s non-commercial music, showing some of the resources and talents that the community could develop. The group also sought to counter the negative image associated with modern jazz by presenting music in a positive, drug-free atmosphere which did not belittle the listener’s intelligence. The group also encouraged young would-be musicians to attend workshops sponsored by the Ark’s organizational wing, the Union of Gods Musicians and Artists Ascension Foundation (UGMAA).
The conductor explains, “As we began playing we found that there were a lot of people within the community who wanted to be part of our organization. Not necessarily musicians, but artists of all sorts. So a unification of the community began. And after a few years people began to realize who we were and then those same people tried to listen to our music.
“Black composers had been virtually excluded from the media and sot hey were hidden from people. Except for a few of us who were lucky enough to study musical history most of us had no idea about the history of the Black contribution to American music; the music that is the first art form that originated in America.
“Through the feeling of music we tried to get over as well as enlighten, at the same time learning to live with other people. Those were our original goals and we are still working on them”.
Today, the Arkestra is composed of 13 members. While some of the group’s more illustrious members have long since gone their own way, other members continue to work with the band on a regular basis. In addition, Red Callender sits in frequently and newcomers like Sabir Mateen and Roberto Miguel Miranda add a fresh breeze of creative ideas to the orchestra.
The Ark divides its time between performing concerts locally and recording new material for the Nimbus Records label. State and national tours are in the planning stages, but to date nothing has been finalized.
Tapscott himself is also planning a fuller schedule of concert and club dates with a small group in and around California. For those interested in his music all of the Nimbus records are recommended. The current album, “Dial “B” For Barbra”, features Tapscott on piano in a sextet format. The personnel includes Gary Bias on reeds, Reggie Bullen on trumpet, Sabir Mateen on tenor sax, Everett Brown Jr. on drums and Roberto Miguel Miranda on bass.
Tapscott’s angular piano pyrotechnics place him somewhere beside Thelonious Monk, a man he reveres, and McCoy Tyner, although his music and style are distinctly his own. His albums sell moderately in the United States with sales heavier in the Scandinavian countries, Western Europe and Japan.
The bandleader seems to understand the uphill battle of the uncompromising artist. Still, he is optimistic about the future. With musicians like Don Cherry, Arthur Blythe and James Newton mentioning his name during their European tours and with an improving club scene for free music developing in Los Angeles, he feels that things are changing. (In 1981 on separate occasions Tapscott played with his trio at festivals in Verona and Padova, Italy).
The gifted pianist could probably gig more locally and internationally, but he seems resolutely unwilling to do so. Having suffered a pair of neurysms in 1978 he, of course, can’t be on the road constantly. But Tapscott is a person who seems dedicated to building his own community’s awareness and appréciation for the Arkestra’s bold, free style music, even if his own career languishes in the procès.
One of his dream is to be able to lead different groups playing his music “without any drawbacks”. It is this qualification that has made him pull tapes from record company executives who wanted to make his sound more commercial.
Speaking with the intense, middle-aged musician you get the feeling that if someone offered him a tour along the college circuit (a ready-made market for this music) he’d accept the gig somewhat indifferently.
Perhaps Tapscott himself sums up best what he’s trying to do. “I’m after the people on the street. When they think about music they don’t think about my material because they aren’t exposed to it. Most of those you talk with about music will mention someone commercial. That’s who they’ve heard of. But because we’re into a different type of music we don’t get in the media. Maybe in something special, but certainly not enough to catch their attention. The only way for us to get their attention is to go where they are, take it to them”.
It’s a tall order and one that keeps Tapscott continually working. But for someone who believes so strongly in this vision, this is the only way to live.