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A pianist, bandleader, composer, and alumnus of both Essentially Ellington and the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship, Isaiah J. Thompson is no stranger to #BlackExcellence. So, we asked him to share some figures and works of art that have inspired his music.
“What I have listed is by no means all encompassing of all Black influence upon my artistry," he says. "There are truly so many to name. Greats such as Charles Mingus, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday are not included on this list, but their impact is felt deeply. What I’ve written has been personalized for this given moment in my life.”
1. Cedar Walton: First Set
One of the first albums of Cedar Walton’s that I fell in love with was First Set, his live recording from Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen, Denmark. In that same year when I first listened to it, I was lucky enough to be invited to play at Montmartre and meet the late, great pianist Horace Parlan. Through this cultural exchange, I learned about the rich history Black jazz musicians had with moving to Europe, and specifically Denmark—one of the main reasons being racism in America.
2. Sam Cooke: Sam Cooke at the Copa
Sam Cooke was maybe most known for “A Change Is Gonna Come,” a song that poetically helped to fuel the Civil Rights Movement. Whether it was soul, R&B, jazz, folk, or gospel, the timbre of his voice brought—and to this day still brings—feelings of encouragement, relaxation, power, and grace. For me, his sound and his voice—like Louis Armstrong's—are timeless, and his identity was so powerful that no matter what he was singing he always sounded like himself. That’s all any musician should strive to do.
3. Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life
Stevie Wonder is one of the first artists who taught me the importance of melody. It’s rare to find a musician where every aspect of their artistry is profound: delivery style, rhythm, melody, lyrics, harmony, and so much more. Some of the first songs I ever played were written by the great Stevie Wonder.
4. Mary Lou Williams
The entire continuum is on display in her music. She sometimes even reminds me of Ellington not only in how much influence she had on jazz but in that she was always willing to let the newest discoveries in the music influence her in turn.
Listen to both versions of "Night (Nite) Life”:
5. Malcolm X
Malcolm X stood for so many things in his lifetime, but what resonates with me most is the evolution of his ideas. He was someone who lived multiple lives in one lifetime; a wild man, a man of faith, a man of unapologetic individuality. His passion in all stages of his life are so inspiring. Malcolm was always striving to be more; to grow and to evolve. In each stage of life and with your musicianship, you get better and better, which should equate to becoming and sounding more and more like yourself. The goal is the journey, not what you perceive to be the end.
6. John Coltrane: A Love Supreme
John Coltrane teaches you to reach for something beyond yourself. From the first note to the end, Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones are on a mission to serenity through the eyes of faith, oppression, excellence, and adversity.
7. Oscar Peterson: Night Train
The first time I heard Oscar Peterson play "Hymn To Freedom," my understanding of music was transformed. I didn’t grow up playing in church, but I went. There’s something for everybody encompassed in OP’s sound and feeling. He’s joyful, compassionate, hopeful, and soul-searching.
8. Duke Ellington: Sacred Music Concerts
Duke Ellington’s music is one of the greatest examples of excellence that the world has ever seen. I remember having the opportunity to play some of the music from his Sacred Music Concerts with a jazz orchestra and choir and it was truly a transformative experience. In more ways than one, his music shows us what it means to be selfless. As Ellington stated, "Every man prays in his own language, and I believe there is no language that God does not understand."
9. The Black Lives Matter Movement
BLM has been a much-needed reminder that the work is not done. It’s important that we remember to lean on each other. Not everybody is good at everything so celebrate differences. The way you go about doing “the work” might not look the same as someone else’s, but that’s okay as long as it’s getting done. As musicians and artists, we should use our artistry to affect change and to inspire. "I’m Black and I’m Proud" – James Brown.
10. Nina Simone: Wild Is The Wind
The late great Nina Simone is a force that is still being felt to this day. The song "Four Women" deals with minstrelsy and, ultimately, the suffering and stereotypical iconography that black people, and more specifically black women, have been forced to endure.
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