In A Mellow Tone
Wednesday April 16th, 2025 with Heavy Ben
David Lee Jr. - spiritual jazz meets the New Orleans second line march
In a lineage of incredible New Orleans drummers that includes James Black, Idris Muhammed, Zigaboo Modeliste of The Meters, and stretching back to Earl Palmer and Baby Dodds - David Lee Jr. stands out for his fire, experimentalism and an "out-there-ness" like no other.
David Lee Jr was born in New Orleans in 1941, and the deep experimental drum-compositions featured on his 1974 solo LP "Evolution" are as rooted in this southern city rhythmically as they are in the spiritual and metaphysical musical ideas of Afro-Futurist pioneers like John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders and Idris Ackamoor & the Pyramids.
Dizzy Gillespie brought Lee into his band in 1969. In the early 1970s, Lee went to New York, played in Roy Ayers’ Ubiquity, contributed to a "Bitches Brew" off-shoot with Joe Zawinul et al., recorded three albums with Sonny Rollins, and immersed himself in the thriving loft deep jazz scene playing with Leon Thomas, Lonnie Liston Smith, Harold Alexander, and Charles Rouse. Lee recorded for a host of seminal deep jazz labels including Strata-East, India Navigation, Baystate, and Flying Dutchman.
David Lee Jr. died in New Orleans in 2021, aged 80.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/285181-David-Lee-2
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| Second Line March David Lee Jr. - Evolution - Supernal, Universal Sound - 1974, 2010 |
| In New Orleans, a "second line" refers to a parade where anyone can join in behind the main group, the "first line" (which typically includes the parade organizers, a brass band, and sometimes a hearse), to dance and celebrate. It's a tradition often associated with jazz funerals but has expanded to include weddings, birthdays, and other events. The second line is characterized by its lively atmosphere and open participation, with people dancing and singing along as they follow the brass band. |
| Alligator John Birks 'Dizzy' Gillespie - The Real Thing - Perception - 1970 |
| Keep On Moving On Sir Edward (Harold Vick) - The Power Of Feeling - Encounter - 1973 |
| Watermelon Man Harold Alexander [orig. Herbie Hancock] - Are You Ready? - Flying Dutchman - 1972 |
| Requiem For Some Richard Landry - 4 Cuts Placed In "A First Quarter" - Chatham Square Productions - 1973 |
| Two Is One (Charlie) Charles Rouse - Two Is One - Strata-East - 1974 |
| Fire Weaver Roy Ayers Ubiquity - He's Coming - Polydor - 1972 |
| Free Me! (Pat Your Head, Rub Your Stomach) Albert Dailey - The Day After The Dawn - Columbia - 1972 |
| Anyone familiar with Yesterdays New Quintet and Madlib's warped jazz excursions? Might this 1972 record be the genesis of this sound? |
| Doctor Honoris Causa (Joe) Zawinul - Zawinul - Atlantic - 1971 |
| Side A of "Evolution" where David Lee is credited with: Cowbell, Bells [Hand Bells, Orchestral Bells], Percussion [Beads], Chimes, Congas, Cymbal, Drums, Gong, Organ, Piano, Vibraphone, Timpani, Tambourine, Voice, Composed By, Arranged By, Producer |
| Revelation David Lee Jr. - Evolution - Supernal, Universal Sound - 1974, 2010 |
| Spirit Voice David Lee Jr. - Evolution - Supernal, Universal Sound - 1974, 2010 |
| Cosmic Vision David Lee Jr. - Evolution - Supernal, Universal Sound - 1974, 2010 |
| Wymbo-Ngoma David Lee Jr. - Evolution - Supernal, Universal Sound - 1974, 2010 |
| Regeneration David Lee Jr. - Evolution - Supernal, Universal Sound - 1974, 2010 |
| Freedom Bells David Lee Jr. - Evolution - Supernal, Universal Sound - 1974, 2010 |
| Acknowledgement David Lee Jr. - Evolution - Supernal, Universal Sound - 1974, 2010 |
| Love Parable David Lee Jr. - Evolution - Supernal, Universal Sound - 1974, 2010 |
| Tojo Pete Yellin - It's The Right Thing - Mainstream - 1973 |
| Poinciana Sonny Rollins - Next Album - Milestone - 1972 |
| To Search The Inner World Hannibal And The Sunrise Orchestra - The Light - Baystate - 1978 |
| Cousin Mary Leon Thomas [orig. John Coltrane] - Gold Sunrise On Magic Mountain - Mega, Flying Dutchman - 1971 |
| Thankfulness Alan Braufman - Valley Of Search - India Navigation - 1975 |
| In Search Of Truth Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes - Astral Traveling - Flying Dutchman - 1973 |
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Looking forward to the program. Thank you.
8:27 PM, April 16th, 2025