Olu Dara’s eclectic music is as varied as the all-star cast of friends and musicians who will pay tribute to him on Feb. 2, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black History (135th Street and Lenox Avenue) at 7:30 p.m.
Some of the many performers who have worked with the multi-talented Dara over the years include actor-singer Avery Brooks (host for the evening), vocalist Cassandra Wilson, the Olu Dara Band with Lady Catrese, Sounds in Motion, Melba Joyce, the Brawner Brothers, Amiri Baraka, Omar Edwards, the Tony Terrell Caribbean Jazz Quartet, Makane Kouyate with Dembaya, and musical director Kwatei Jones-Quartey.
Dara will not be performing, but he will be in attendance. “I’m honored that my good friends and musicians are coming out for me. In life, you do as much as you can and don’t get in anybody’s way,” stated Dara during our telephone interview. “I did what I had to do. Now I listen to others.”
Following his Navy tour (1963), Dara made his home in New York City, first in Brooklyn and later moving to Harlem, where he has remained. “My goal was never to be a great trumpet player, I just wanted to be a great contributor to the mix,” says Dara.
The multi-instrumentalist forged a different musical journey from the beginning, giving him a distinctive sound on coronet and trumpet. During the late 1960s, he was eventually invited by saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett to join the avant-garde loft scene on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, along with Sam Rivers, David Murray and Henry Threadgill.
“That was a good experience for me,” said Dara. “They liked something in my music.” He later noted during his stint with Art Blakey that he was one of the bandleaders that gave him the freedom to stretch out.
Many people have called Dara a jazz musician. However, his two bands, the seven-piece Okra Orchestra or the four-piece Natchezsippi Dance Band, made it clear his music is beyond categorization. “I think of myself as musician. I never put myself in a category, especially jazz since I’m from Mississippi, which is blues, rhythm and blues and more blues,” noted Dara. “My music is accessible.”
Dara’s music bag consists of African roots, Mississippi blues, jazz, a vivid canvas of storytelling, reggae and Caribbean music. “Storytelling has to do with my personality. There is always a story in life no matter what,” said Dara. “And there’s a life and story to every song, and I try to bring it together so it means something to me and the listeners. I had to add more of my culture to the music to make it right.” He adds, “During the later stages of my singing career, I was greatly influenced by Bill Withers. His voice is humble with no frills, he let me know it was all right to come out in public and just talk to people.”
On performing with his son, rapper Nas (Nasir Jones), Dara noted, “When we come together, it’s totally intuitive. The music just puts things together, showing the world it’s all one music.” On Nas’ CD “Street Disciple,” Dara’s vocals and trumpet are featured on the single “Bridging the Gap.” Dara explains, “We were actually bridging the gap between the music, which is what we did on most of the tunes we recorded together.”
Among his many credits, Dara wrote the music and performed in Aishah Rahman’s “A Tale of Madame Zora,” (which earned him one of his two AUDELCO Awards for Outstanding Musical Creator) and the PBS American Playhouse production of “Zora is My Name,” conceived by and featuring Ruby Dee.
His musical melodrama, “From Natchez to New York,” was aired on National Public Radio and performed live with Diane McIntyre and cast at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. In 1999, his theater work was honored with the prestigious AUDELCO Lifetime Achievement Award. During that same year, he received France’s esteemed award the Django d’Or for “In the World…”
Tickets are $30 general admission and $60 for VIP tickets, which include a reception with the Reggie Quinerly Trio. Call 888-718-4253.
When one reflects on the arts in Harlem and its jazz concerts associated with Harlem Week and in Mount Vernon, the name Dillard Boone quickly comes to mind. He was also a man of many talents particularly in city government. Unfortunately, Boone passed away Thursday, Jan. 10. He will truly be missed. His thoughtful words of wisdom that he shared with me will now become treasured moments of thought when he briefly crossed my path and we had time for a brief conversation. Our prayers and condolences go out to his family.