allison howard

I love jazz because...it's independent; it allows you to think & feel freely. It's mellow. It represents such a creative process. I was first exposed to jazz...by my Daddy. He & my mother played all types of music from show-tunes to B.B King & Sam Cooke. I met pianist & musician extraordinaire Onaje Allan Gumbs...through my son, Jua, who is also a jazz vocalist. The best show I ever attended was...that's SO difficult to say. Each live jazz show I attend tends to become my favorite. The latest show I attended was in Durham at The Broad Cafe where drummer Kobie Watkins was featured with 3 other fabulous local musicians Brian Horton, John Brown & Lavelle Bradford. It was heart-stopping! Still feeling it! The first jazz record I bought was...the album by Donald Byrd & the Blackbyrds that featured the song "Dominoes" (I forget the album title) My advice to new listeners...take your time with Jazz. Don't have preconceived expectations about it. Don't expect to "get it" right away. Enjoy the journey to its discovery.