We are delighted to announce TK Blue as our latest featured artist.
Growing up in Lakeview, Long Island, Talib Kibwe, otherwise known as TK Blue was born to Caribbean parents from Jamaica and Trinidad respectively. Whereas nobody else in his family plays an instrument, he learned a lot in his youth, starting on the trumpet at age 8.
"I got exposed to the Caribbean musical heritage as well as some jazz. My mom loved Horace Silver and Louis Armstrong. And whilst there is not a huge jazz scene in Long Island, NYC was 45 mins away. It should be noted though that I grew up down the street from saxonist Billy Mitchell and tap dancer Conrad "Little Buck" Buckner. I met Eddie Jefferson through "Little Buck" and all three of these artists helped shape my musical growth."
"My main influences growing up were the entire Motown sound: James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone; then later in my high school years it was Gene Ammons, Pharoah Sanders and the CTI sound with Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson and the like"
When High School was finishing, TK had aspirations to attend Boston University.
"I received a full scholarship, but racism derailed this choice and luckily I had applied to NYU and also received a full scholarship. It was a blessing in disguise as in NYC I was able to attend the Jazzmobile Saturday workshop, studying with Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Ernie Wikins, Billy Taylor, Jimmy Owens and a host of jazz royalty. I also studied with Joe Newman, Yuself Lateef, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk at Jazz interactions. At Henry st Settlement I studied with Paul West and Billy Mitchell."
After touring with South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim for 3 years, TK moved to Paris.
"Living in France was wonderful and I had a chance to perform with many groups from across the globe. On top of that I was able to learn French and to perform and travel extensively through Africa."
These USIA state department tours were in large part to the first LP that TK produced in Paris as band leader, entitled "Egyptian Oasis".
In a career littered with highlights, TK mentions getting to play with the who's who of big names over the years.
"One particular highlight was being musical director for a record date with Randy Weston in 1991 called 'The Spirit of our Ancestors' on Verve records. Also, on "African Sunset", I had to solo after jazz master and royalty Dizzy Gillespie!"
Like all of us however, TK is in hibernation until all is safe and quarantine is over.
"I have been practicing lots and composing new music. It keeps you loose but nothing beats live performance for an audience. I always try and check out what's on the current jazz charts and Joey Alexander's #1 album is a masterpiece! All my gigs from March 17th (tour in France) through the end of June have been cancelled. July and August are up in the air. Like many musicians I have lost a lot of money during this time, but that's not my focus. My main focus is to play live for people, not so much for monetary gain, but to spread love, joy and happiness. Music is a healing force for the universe and we need live music now more than ever."
"What KEYEDUP! are doing is wonderful. I am a huge fan of the JFA and they are doing extraordinary things to help artists. They are angels on earth helping as many musicians as possible. May God bless their hard work and commitment to keep jazz alive and well.