T. K. Blue

Talib Kibwe, also TK Blue ( * 1953 in New York City ) is an American musician (saxophone, flute, clarinet, composition ) of the Modern Creative Jazz.

Life and work

His parents came from Jamaica and Trinidad, and he processed later their Afro-Caribbean music in his personal style. Kibwe played at the age of eight in his home town of Lakeview on Long Iceland trumpet, then switched to drums. At age 17, he opted for the flute as the main instrument. From 1971 to 1975 he studied in New York music and psychology, and then focused on the saxophone. He then studied at the Jazz Mobile program at Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Ernie Wilkins and Billy Mitchell. During this time he played under the name TK Blue in the avant-garde jazz scene of New York's East Village, including with Don Cherry, but also with the Apollo Stompers Jaki Byard of. In 1979 he completed his master's degree in music education at Columbia University.

From 1977 to 1980 he performed with Abdullah Ibrahim ( Dollar Brand ) on, then pulled the end of 1981 to Paris, where he settled until 1989 and, inter alia, worked with the Brotherhood of Breath Chris McGregor and performing with Archie Shepp. During this time he worked intensively with African music culture. In 1982 he was involved in Sam Rivers ' album " Colors ". In 1986 his first album, Egyptian Oasis arose; followed by the U.S. State Department organized tours, which led by 20 African countries. After 1990 he held himself back in the U.S. and worked with his own bands, and the quartet Taja (together with James Weidman ). His second album, "Introducing Talib Kibwe ", was released in 1996 on the Evidence label; on his work with guest musicians such as Randy Weston and Benny Powell. For Weston and his Spirit of Life Orchestra Kibwe had previously worked as musical director ( The Spirit of Our Anchstors, 1991, Volcano Blues in 1993 and Khepera, 1998). 1998 was written for the jazz label Arkadia Jazz Album "Another Blue", in 2000 " Eyes of the Elders " with musicians such as Randy Brecker, Joanne Brackeen, Lonnie Plaxico and Jeff Tain Watts.

Kibwe passes as a university teacher, the jazz program of Long Iceland University and also teaches jazz history at Montclair State University.