Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble

[relyles]

Last night I caught Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble at Wesleyan University. I have not been out of the bed much for the past four days and there was a snow storm threatened, but I was determined to go. She did not say anything, but I could tell that my wife felt like I should stay home also. I am glad I made the trip.

Despite disappointing attendance (the theater was less than half full) EHE played an enjoyable concert. With Dawkins were long time member Steve Berry on trombone, trumpeter Maurice Brown, bassist Darius Savage and Isaiah Spencer on drums. The group played a very representative set showcasing all the things they could do - freebop, Art Blakey type hard bop, all out energy free jazz, New Orleans style marching music (complete with a walk around the room by the hornsa couple of other pieces. Everyone was impressive. I believe Spencer and Savage are relatively new to the group, but you can tell they play together often in various Chicago groups as they seemed to lock in with each other very well. The solos by all the horns were very impressive - Brown with his youthful exuberance played a lot of crowd pleasing stuff, but for me the mature solos of trombonist Berry may have stolen the show. Of course Dawkins soloed well also, but he seemed to be disadvantaged at times by the acoustics of the room.

After the show I got to talk to Dawkins a little. I bought two of his self released CDs and he signed one of them. I spoke to him a little about the chi-creates.tv website and I was surprised that after he new my name was Ronald he asked if my last name was Lyles? Since he runs the site he knows who purchases anything. Still, I was surprised that he would remember my name. He was very appreciative of the support. By the way, I asked him about Edward Wilkerson and he told me that he is working on getting some Wilkerson on the site. Talking to Dawkins alone and the warmth I felt made all the risks I took more than worth it.

I started to feel a little uncomfortable later in the show after sitting for a couple of hours, but never anything that distracted me from the music. I got home before it even started to snow (and right now we are in the midst of a full storm). Overall, I am glad I took the risks because it was a show well worth seeing.

[brownie]

The French TV cable music channel will have a full jazz evening program tomorrow with a special show of Dawkins music being sung by schoolchildren of suburban Clichy-sous-Bois at the Banlieues Bleues festival in 2003.

19:55 - Watch Me ! Les actions musicales de Banlieues Bleues

Documentaire (2003, 52mn), réalisation : Xavier Baudoin / La Huit Production

Des élèves du collège Louise Michel de Clichy-sous-Bois chantent la musique composée pour eux par Ernest Dawkins.

Le saxophoniste américain a laissé à des lycéens de la Seine-Saint-Denis le soin d'écrire les textes. Ceux-ci parlent de la cité et de la vie. La musique de Dawkins se fraie petit à petit un chemin dans le quotidien de ces jeunes de banlieue.

Will be interesting to watch it!

Clichy-sous-Bois was the city where the riots that rocked the French suburbs last November started!

Edited February 12, 2006 by brownie

[sheldonm]

I've seen Dawkins a few times and Spencer has been with him each time....powerful drummer!

m~!

Edited February 12, 2006 by sheldonm

[sal]

Great group! Glad you got the chance to see them.

I highly recommend the CD "Mean Ameen" on Delmark, which is an excellent document of this band.

[robviti]

The Boston Creative Music Alliance is bringing Ernest Dawkins and the New Horizons Ensemble to the Institute of Contemporary Art on Friday, April 28. I'm really looking forward to this show. I think it could be the first time the Ensemble has played in this city, as they are touting it as their "Boston premiere."

While we're on the subject, the BCMA is also featuring the Makanda Ken McIntyre Project with Oliver Lake at the same venue on Saturday, March 4. From the ICA's website: Saxophonist McIntyre left behind an enormous legacy of compositions, most of them never recorded, when he died in 2001. Boston-area pianist John Kordelewski and an all-star nine piece ensemble with special guest Oliver Lake honor the man and composer in this unique program of McIntyre's music. Another show I don't plan to miss!