BAJABA COLLECTIVE STORE
Check out the uplifting music and books from our esteemed BAJABA Collective.
Your support of these musicians and authors is deeply appreciated.
Music
Clifford Coulter’s CD, “All By Myself,” from LifeForce Jazz Records, is now available here in the BAJABA Collective Store for $17.95 (including shipping). To order, please send a check to the JaZzLine INSTITUTE at P.O. Box 23622 San Jose, CA 95153.
Recent work from keyboard legend Clifford Coulter – an artist that some folks know for his wild early funk records on Impulse, and his later soul albums in the 70s! Coulter's one of those cats who came on strong at the start, and never stopped burning – so that even on this later album, it's clear that he's still got plenty to offer. Coulter passed away before the album was finally issued – but it's clear he's having a great time here in a mix of funky instrumentals and jazz – delivered with some help from saxophonist Danny Hull and drummer Ron E Beck. Titles include "All Blues," "Shawn's Groove," "Coast To Coast David," "Monica's Smile," "Clifford's Mood," and "So In Love With You."
© 1996-2023, Dusty Groove, Inc.
The following recordings are also available on LifeForce Jazz. To purchase a CD, click on a CD cover below and you’ll be redirected to the Lifeforce Jazz site, where you can complete your purchase.
Soulful genius from reedman Dawan Muhammad -- a player who's been working on the West Coast scene for years, but hardly ever gets the recognition he deserves! Part of that might be because Dawan is a very self-sufficient musician -- recording on his own LifeForce Jazz label, and even putting together the festival in which this performance was a highlight! Muhammad plays tenor and flute on the date -- and has this way of stretching out on long solos that evokes the best currents of that hip mid-60s generation on Blue Note -- that time when modern and modal were coming into play with nascent spirituality, but not with the farther reaches of Coltrane. Other group members here include Spencer Allen on piano, Dan Robbins on bass, and Terrell Otis on drums -- and titles are a very well-chosen batch of tunes that includes "Jean De Fleur," "Corcovado," "Step Lightly," "Eye Of The Hurricane," and "Bajaban Groove."
© 1996-2023, Dusty Groove, Inc.
“In February of 2014, the musicians appearing on this CD premiered several original compositions as part of African American History Celebrations and during the same time period, some selections were also recorded in studio. Although a variety of jazz styles were presented in the live concerts, the studio recordings focus was on emulating the post-bop sound exemplified during the “high tide” of revolutionary spirit in the 1960s. Interpretations of jazz traditions have always varied in concept, depending on orientation, however, it is generally accepted that “true” jazz is a spontaneous art form, NOT necessarily created for purposes of commercial success. As a result, listeners with more than casual interests in jazz appreciate fresh approaches to music styles from different eras. At the grassroots community level, Dawan Muhammad is among many unsung heroes committed to passing jazz traditions on and one listen to the tracks on this disc, will reveal why I have dubbed him a “GATEKEEPER.” He exemplifies all that the "African American Musical Diaspora" stands for, Giant Steps!”
Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs
JaZzLine INSTITUTE, Home of
JaZzLine Radio/TV, BAJABA ShowCase
KKUP 91.5fm/KPFA 94.1fm
The following recordings are from percussionist Ian Dogole and can be purchased as noted below.
Quinta Essentia (Latin for Fifth Essence or Quintessence) evokes the presence of an element that transcends the four common physical elements of earth, water, air and fire and exists in its purest form – aether.
Quinta Essentia presents a panoramic view, featuring music that stretches beyond traditional categories. While much of the recording draws inspiration from the innovators of what is conveniently called Jazz (Randy Weston, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Ed Blackwell and Leon Thomas), cross-cultural influences and instruments from Africa, South America and Europe spice up the proceedings throughout. Quinta Essentia offers a cornucopia of sonic delights that are sure to uplift and expand aural horizons.
Sound samples and physical copies of this title are available here.
Outside the Box – Jazz Journeys & Worlds Beyond, a double CD from percussionist, composer and bandleader Ian Dogole, ventures into a musical universe that knows no boundaries. On this recording, listeners will experience an epic musical odyssey that traverses an ever-changing aural landscape – from original compositions inspired by the ancient Silk Road, the trance-inducing rhythms of the Sahara Desert and the passionate flamenco music of Andalusia … to new interpretations of timeless compositions by legendary musicians/composers Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, Alice Coltrane and Milton Nascimento … to improvisational treks into the shamanic realms of the Peruvian high Andes and beyond. It’s out of this world!
Sound samples and physical copies of this title are available here.
The name Hemispheres reflects the wide range of musical styles and disparate indigenous influences that shape our music. While the wide-ranging music on this recording can be conveniently classified as Jazz, due to the preponderance of improvisation and Jazz-based song forms, the listener will quickly note the infusions of African, South American, Middle Eastern and Asian flavors and instruments that permeate the proceedings.
The title Convergence dovetails with the group name Hemispheres to convey the myriad intersections that enable us to superimpose our Jazz sensibilities over traditional pieces from Turkey (Hijaz Oyun Havasi) and Brazil (Mistura e Manda), as well as to present the steel pan-inspired, melodic percussion instrument, the hang, as the cornerstone of a multi-episodic composition (Smiles for Billy) dedicated to the late, legendary drummer Billy Higgins.
Physical copies of this title are available here.
Books
Click on an image below to access a site where you can purchase the title.
“No Bedtime Stories of Soil is steeped in a rich lineage of urgency, candor, and weight. It is a love letter and an elegy, a plea and a call to order. The poems courageously examine the inheritance of grief, struggle, hope, and survival against oppression. Filled with unflinching fight, this collection is determined to see itself in the future, to press toward the possibility of sky when the soil is crumbling beneath our feet.”
—Suzi Q Smith, Author of A Gospel of Bones; Poems for the End of the World
A journey in music from childhood to now as a senior man.
From discovering attraction to playing an instrument to actually performing.
Life experiences and lessons learned along this fabulous journey.
The Legacy History Book, Collector's Edition, is an illuminating and captivating educational resource packed with knowledge. This collector's edition takes the reader through a fraction of the Odyssey and illustrates bits and pieces of the stories of African Ancestry. It gives you "food for thought" and information to "chew on" when looking at where African Americans came from, what they have endured, where they are now, and what the future could hold for African Americans as a people. There are layers of information that guide you through important moments in history.
It is visually stunning, with images and timelines that complete the powerful and fascinating stories. It provides material that helps to tell the narrative of the journey from Africa, experiences in the Americas, stories of the United States, migrations to California, and finally, the untold stories of the Silicon Valley.
It will transform your view of African American History in Silicon Valley as it looks at the development and progress from all angles. It explores key events, important dates, and pivotal individuals. It shows how African Americans and people of African Ancestry were instrumental in building and helping create many breakthroughs that have shaped the Silicon Valley story and the country.
Legacy, Collector's Edition, has layers of information and graphics that guide you through crucial moments from ancient history to modern times. It is visually stunning, with images and timelines that complete the powerful and fascinating stories. This landmark book is a founding work in the historical studies of African Americans and a vivid depiction of their influences in the Northern California Silicon Valley area.
The Art and Business of Songwriting
Larry D. Batiste
Written by a veteran songwriter, producer, arranger, and vocalist with over 40 years of experience
Offers step-by-step methods, tips, and practical exercises for melody and lyric writing, building a fanbase, marketing and monetizing one's work, and networking
Helps readers tap into their own skillsets, motivations, and creativity through self-assessments and prompts
Includes information applicable to every genre of popular music