Album Notes

After listening to John Lumpkin's "Clue Paradise" my immediate thoughts were that the piece exhibited a boundless energy, freshness, and sense of creativity. All of the participants made essential contributions to the whole of the project; however, John Lumpkin is at the helm of the ship and he navigates at the highest musical level. Harmonic and rhythmic sophistication are apparent throughout his compositions and the general tonality deviates wonderfully from standard Eighteenth Century harmony. A tune each from Mica and Jon underscores fresh tonality and mixes brilliantly with John's approach. The bottomline is that John Lumpkin is a musical tour de force and an exceptional musician that will lead us into the future of Jazz Music.
Bunky Green, Professor, Reeds University North Florida

You are in for a treat when you listen to percussionist Doc Handy quintet "Clue Paradise" album. the song writing compositions by John Lumpkin and his musicianship are outstanding! the high caliber musicianship of each player & singer served the music Well!

-Marcus Baylor, Percussionist, Legendary Yellowjackets

CLUE PARADISE has a diverse program that is powerful, energetic, engaging, and possesses great clarity. All of the musicians play beautifully and are all world-class and truly sank their teeth into all of the compositions. John Lumpkin’s powerful playing and compositions truly shine in this setting with Doc Handy's high energy percussion playing! BRAVO!
-Rufus Reid/jazz Bassist/Composer

What do Filipinos, Afro-Americans, Vietnamese, Colombians and Italians have in common? Give up? JAZZ with a capital J. Doc Handy has assembled an international, multi-cultural line-up of stellar musicians for his second self-produced album that demonstrates the universal impact of jazz across all cultural boundaries. Handy is a superb and innovative Congo drummer/instrumentalist whose musical tastes run to blues and the modernist movement in the Afro-American created art form. Obviously, he name Handy conjures up the bluesman, W. C. Handy who was as Alabamian as is Doc. There is no known relationship but with Doc, it is not a settled question, as he searches the genealogical links and threads to see if there is a connection. Be that as it may, Doc’s talent stands on its own.


“Clue Paradise” is the album and the other artist are John Lumpkin Jr. on drums who also provides a number of compositions; most notably “Dub Dubose”, a slow tempo, reflective meditation on the blues. It seems almost modal in its execution with a display of ensemble cohesiveness that has Jack Glottman’s piano carrying the improvisational burden. It is easily the flower of the album. Saxophonist and composer Jon Iragabon contributes “Joy Secrets”, a swinging vehicle that allows Doc Handy to stretch out. The rhythmic collaboration of the drummer John Lumpkin and Handy provide the tune with a hard driving, and swinging trumpeter who contributes an elegant solo. Iragabon solos as does pianist Glottman and then he does a call and response with trumpeter Nguyen. Doc has a lot space on this tune and fills it beautifully. “Joy Secret” is arguably the swing ingest tune here.


Composer Mica Bethea contributes “Birth Rite” a most inventive tune that takes full advantage of the talents of the entire ensemble. It begins with the harmonic and rhythmic trio of Handy, Iragabon and Nguyen, then bass and congo, followed by piano, sax, and interspersed with appropriate rim shots from Lumpkin but always with the main rhythmic pulse provided by Handy. It is here we get to hear the artistry of bassist Marco Panascia who takes a solo, again, with Handy providing percussive drive.


“Nations Prayer” is a mournful dirge with vocal artist Lisa McClendon providing the vocal artistry. The composer is again, the prolific John Lumpkin. Iragabon’s sax, Glottman’s piano, Lumpkin’s tasteful bell work and Handy’s innovative use of glissando provides the creative background for what is obviously the composers lament for social ills.

The musical canvas that provides the talent of Handy the broadest expression is the classical Coltrane standard “Naima”. It is arranged up-tempo and becomes under the creativity and artistry of the assembled musicians. A delightful “tour de force”.

All in All, Clue Paradise is an enjoyable listening experience but with the cross cultural and ethnic composition of the musicians, this album demonstrates the universality of the jazz experience. This music created out of the social existence and experience of the African American people has become all-inclusive. Towit: Handy, Lumpkin and McClendon are Afro-American; Iragabon is of Filipino descent; Nguyen is of Vietnamese extraction; Panascia is Italian; and Glottman is a Jewish Colombian; an extraordinary assemblage….. And all speaking the same language of jazz. YEAH.!!!

Donald P. Stone
Author/ Educator