Onaje Allan Gumbs

Early life and career Gumbs was created in Harlem, New York, to folks who immigrated towards United States in the Caribbean. Gambs'mother was from Montserrat with the exceptional father, a NYPD officer, was from Anguilla.) During a driving trip, 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 part of a jazz ensemble organized by way of the students. In 1971, Leroy Kirkland introduced Gumbs to Detroit guitarist Kenny Burrell, to whom Onage gave a demo tape. The next day, Gumbs received a try to try out with Burrell at the Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit. The work led to advance performances with major jazz musicians for instance bassist Larry Ridley in addition to the Tad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra. In early 1970s, Gumbs replaced Nat Adderley Jr. nowadays in this 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 in early 1970s; it 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 late 1970s, Gumbs signed with Woody Shaw and served as music director for R&B singer Phyllis Hyman. Later within his career, he worked extensively with Ronald Shannon Jackson, plus 2013, after Jackson's death, Gumbs recorded a solo piano album including things like improvisations on Jackson's compositions. He later taught within the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Manhattan and with the Litchfield Jazz Camp in Connecticut. "His collaboration while using New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York with the exceptional work with the 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 a break down stroke and was hospitalized for just two days. In December of these year, https://www.onajeallangumbs.com/ (Onajeallangumbs blog article) 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 14 days, but managed to recover and get back to composing and performing. Onaje Allan Gumbs passed away on April 6, 2020 at the age of 70.