Lummie Spann Jr
LIVE & DIRECT
Lummie Spann shows a display of powerful soul and diverse style in this recent live recording, Live & Direct. The Hartford, Connecticut born and raised, alto and soprano saxophonist and protege of legendary jazz saxophonist, Jackie McLean, compells and keeps the listener with his own original brand of jazz composition as well as his relaxed and groove-filled approach to performing the music.
"When I was putting the songs for this project together, I wanted to put music to the listener's ear that was jazz in a more traditional style, but also implimenting grooves and sounds in music that I experienced growing up, because as a teenager when I was in high school in music class studying Duke Ellington, Igor Stravinsky, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, historically important figures in music...I still went home and listened to Grover Washington, David Sanborn, Prince, and Michael Jackson. It was all important to me, and with this album, I want the listener to hear a style of music that was inspired by that experience."
And an experience it is. The majority of the compositions on the album are original, either by Lummie or the album's bassist, Dezron Douglas. In addition, there are three songs, remade and arranged by Spann to fit the bands instrumentation and style, Jackie McLean's, "Little Melonae", John Coltrane's,"Naima", and Stevie Wonder's, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."
But, what definitely gives this album energy, are the individual personalities of the musicians. In addition to Lummie Spann's soulful and fiery approach, keyboardist Zaccai Curtis brings beautiful rhythmic and colorful harmony, while trumpeter, Marlin McKay, paints soulful melodies and solos over powerful pulsating rhythmic groundwork done by bassist Dezron Douglas and interchanging drummers, Ben Bilello and Curtis Torian. "With all of the compositions on the album, I didn't have any of the musicians in mind on any of the tunes. I wanted them to bring their points-of-view on the music to the table and have us all come to get to make one statement." Overall, the album has a perfect variety and balance of swing, groove, intimacy, all making a great listen.
Lummie Spann Jr.
Biography
Alto and soprano saxophonist Composer Educator Since birth, alto saxophonist Lummie Spann has been fascinated with the art of music. Over the years of his musical study, through the saxophone, he has taken his interest and transformed it into a creative style of electrifying passion and power.
Born on February 1, 1979 in Hartford, Ct, to two musically inclined parents, a mother who sang in one of the choirs at their church, the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in Hartford, a father who was a DJ in the local party scenes in Hartford and New York in the 70’s and 80’s. From the very beginning, Lummie found himself engulfed in multiple facets of music. From artists such as, Rev. James Clevland and Mahalia Jackson, to Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky, to Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, to James Brown and Michael Jackson, he was open and appreciative of all styles.
At the age of ten, Lummie, studied saxophone at the Artist's Collective, a community based performing arts school in Hartford, founded by master jazz musician, Jackie McLean. In high school he enrolled at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, where he studied with bassist Dave Santoro. Dave was one of Lummie’s favorite teachers because studying with him was the most challenging. But the most encouraging teacher was always his mentor, Jackie McLean, who also encouraged his talents as a composer in addition to his performance. In 2001, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, at University of Hartford, where he taught later on. In 2006, based on his composition and performance level, he was selected among an international pool of musicians to the Betty Carter Jazz Residency Program at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Lummie has developed into a soulful and fiery saxophonist who has an original style and sound. His musical endeavors have led him to performing for important figures such as Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, Jesse Jackson, Merly Evers and Ray Charles. He currently performs locally, nationally and internationally and has performed with Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Rene McLean, Winard Harper, Eric McPherson, Billy Johnson, Steve Davis, Jimmy Greene, Warren Byrd, Abraham Burton, Dezron Douglas, Marc Cary, James Burton, Zaccai and Luques Curtis, and Donvonte McCoy.
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