Difference between revisions of "Onaje Allan Gumbs"

Early life and career Gumbs came into this world in Harlem, New York, to folks who immigrated on the United States from the Caribbean. Gambs'mother was from Montserrat with his fantastic father, a NYPD officer, was from Anguilla.) Since a child, Gumbs was partial to Henry Mancini's music from films and television. Gumbs graduated with the State University of New York at Fredonia and during his studies was a member of a jazz ensemble organized because of the students. In 1971, Leroy Kirkland introduced Gumbs to Detroit guitarist Kenny Burrell, to whom Onage gave a demo tape. The very next day, Gumbs received a telephone call to experience with Burrell at the Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit. This work led to help performances with major jazz musicians for instance bassist Larry Ridley along with the Tad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra. During the early 1970s, Gumbs replaced Nat Adderley Jr. in the modern jazz ensemble Natural Essence, which included Buddy Williams and T.S. Monk (drums and percussion), bassist Alex Blake and trombonist Earl McIntyre. Gumbs adopted the name Onaje during the early 1970s; this means sensitive. He met his future wife, Sandra Wright, in 1971 on a short teaching job in Buffalo, New York. They married later that decade and remained married until Gumbs'death in 2020. Inside the late 1970s, Gumbs signed with Woody Shaw and served as music director for R&B singer Phyllis Hyman. Later in his career, he worked extensively with Ronald Shannon Jackson, as well as in 2013, after Jackson's death, Gumbs recorded a solo piano album composing of improvisations on Jackson's compositions. He later taught at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Manhattan and within the Litchfield Jazz Camp in Connecticut. "His collaboration while using the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York brilliant work while using Litchfield Jazz Camp in New Milford, Connecticut have allowed him to broaden his vision and shape young minds."

Later life On January 24, 2010, Gumbs suffered a stroke and was hospitalized for two main days. In December of this year, https://www.onajeallangumbs.com/ (www.onajeallangumbs.com) he released an album in Japan titled Just Like Yesterday. He was accompanied on the album by Omar Hakim, Victor Bailey, Marcus McLaurin, William S. Patterson and Chuggy Carter. Since then, all visible signs of a stroke have disappeared. In February 2015, he was hospitalized for fourteen days, but surely could recover and get back to composing and performing. Onaje Allan Gumbs passed on on April 6, 2020 at the era of 70.