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| Onaje Allan Gumbs Performs at The Kitano Jazz Club Pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs performs at The Kitano Jazz Club in New York on December 2 and December 3. Sets begin at 8:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Harlem-born, Queens-raised, Onaje Allan Gumbs has enjoyed a career as first-call sideman, valued arranger and composer, producer, and most importantly, bandleader and recording artist. Many will remember him for his vital contributions to such Woody Shaw classics as Moontrane, and Rosewood, to which he lent his exceptional composing and arranging skills. Still others will recall his work as producer/arranger for vocal dates led by Downing, Rubin, and Marlena Shaw; or perhaps his sideman contributions to dates with an impressive range of artists – from NEA Jazz Master Kenny Burrell and Nat Adderley, to the cutting edge with Ronald Shannon Jackson, to the crossover dreams of Jonathan Butler. Onaje's soundtrack writing includes Danny Glover's Showtime film Override, and his song Dare to Dream was a theme for a Panasonic awards presentation. Onaje has staked out a territory that is equal parts originality, straight ahead jazz, R&B, Brazilian, contemporary jazz, and beyond. As Duke Ellington would say, he is "beyond category." Most recently, Onaje celebrated the completion of his album Remember Their Innocence, a recording that aptly mirrors the extraordinarily broad-based pallet of experiences he has enjoyed and enhanced with his presence. To date, the album has received high praise amongst critics and fans; Jerry D'Souza, from All About Jazz, writes "Onaje Allan Gumbs took his wide experiences as a musician into the studio for his latest recording and came up with a winning combination in Remember Their Innocence." The Kitano performance also features the premiere of the vocal version of Onaje's original piece Collage, with lyrics by Al Jarreau, featuring vocalist Dennis Collins. In addition to Dennis, Onaje is joined by Roger Byam on soprano and tenor saxophone, Kenny Davis on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |