New York, NY-Trumpeter, composer, educator Eddie Gale returns to New York City and his hometown of Brooklyn, NY with a very special 'homecoming' appearance at the Brooklyn Jazz Festival, Saturday, April 12th, 2003 (two sets at 9:00 and 10:15). Eddie's appearance at the Brooklyn Jazz Festival will take place at Sista's Place, 456 Nostrand Avenue (off Jefferson Avenue) 718-398-1766.
Born in 1941 Eddie Gale's musical career began in Brooklyn, NY where at an early age he listened to gospel and blues and marched in parades playing bugle for his local Boy Scout troop. His serious jazz education started with trumpet legend Kenny Dorham who introduced him to the after hour jam sessions and wood-shedding where he had the opportunity to sit in with many jazz masters like Cedar Walton, Wilbur Ware, Art Taylor, Art Blakely, Max Roach, Jackie McLean, Illinois Jacquet, Sonny Stitt, Cecil Payne, Scoby Stroman, Wynton Kelly, and Randy Weston, to name a few. Eddie quickly absorbed the lessons of the masters and his trumpet heroes; Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge, Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Art Farmer, Webster Young and Booker Little, and developed a fondness for Harry James, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Chet Baker and Bill Hardman. Then came the 'New Thing' by John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler, Eric Dolphy, Charles Mingus, and Archie Shepp. Gale was introduced to Sun Ra by drummer Scoby Stroman. Eddie found Sun Ra very intriguing and he spent many hours exposed to Sun Ra's philosophy about music and life. Eddie went on to record and tour with Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor and Larry Young as well as sitting in with John Coltrane on many occasions. Coltrane had a profound impact on Eddie both spiritually and musically. Eddie missed the opportunity to be on the legendary 'Ascensions' recording, due to his family commitments at the time. Eddie was working the proverbial 'day job' and gigging at night which put a big strain on him and his family, but was encouraged by John Gilmore to 'stick with it'.
Eddie did, and had the opportunity of a lifetime at the Half Note club where Gale and John Gilmore played with Coltrane on a set that featured Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner and Jimmy Garrison.
In 1968 legendary producer Francis Wolff heard Eddie and signed him to Blue Note Records. The result was 'Ghetto Music' and 'Black Rhythm Happening' two landmark recordings (that will be reissued for the first time on CD in the summer of 2003 on the Water Records label and on deluxe 180 gram vinyl on the 4 Men With Beards label). Eddie's signature use of the vocal ensemble in a jazz context were featured on both 'Ghetto Music' and 'Black Rhythm Happening' and continues to be an important part of his music today. In the early 1970's Eddie moved to California where he became an artist-in-residence at Stanford University. He then moved to San Jose where he began a Liberal Arts program with an emphasis on music at San Jose State University and received the honorary title San Jose's Ambassador of Jazz.
Currently, Eddie is Artist in Residence at San Jos
For more information contact All About Jazz.
