UGONNA OKEGWO - contrabbasso

è uno dei più caratteristici e ricercati jazz bassists nel mondo. Critics across the globe have praised him for his rich tone, supple sense of swing, stylistic range and inventiveness. I critici di tutto il mondo lo hanno elogiato per la sua ricca gamma stilistica e inventiva nonché per il suo morbido senso di swing. These qualities have not only earned him a place on the bandstand with jazz legends as diverse as Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Pharoah Sanders and Joseph Jarman – they have established him as one of the leading lights of a younger generation redefining jazz for the new century. Queste qualità gli hanno fatto guadagnare il posto sul bandstand con leggende del jazz come Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Pharoah Sanders e Joseph Barman. Hanno detto di lui “…..una generazione più giovane nella ridefinizione del jazz per il nuovo secolo”. "He is very individualistic, both in his soloing and accompanying. I love the way he plays in the ensemble,” says Tom Harrell, with whom Okegwo has worked for several years. “Ugonna does some really creative things that I haven't heard anyone do with his articulation and timing." "È molto individualista, sia nei suoi assolo che in accompagnamento. Amo il modo in cui egli suona in ensemble" spiega Tom Harrell, con il quale Okegwo ha lavorato per diversi anni. "Ugonna fa alcune cose veramente creative che non ho sentito chiunque che fare con la sua articolazione e la tempistica". Born March 15, 1962 in London to a German mother and Nigerian father, Okegwo was raised in Germany and grew up listening to African-American music -- James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, and, eventually, the great Charles Mingus. Nato nel 1962 a Londra, è cresciuto ascoltando musica afro-americana: James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, e, infine, il grande Charles Mingus. "What I always heard first in funk and rock 'n roll were the bass lines, the ostinato, and later, in jazz, the walking bass," he recalls. "Quello che ho sempre sentito prima in funk e rock 'n roll sono state le linee di basso, l'ostinato, e più tardi, nel jazz, i basso", egli ricorda. "That's what first got me playing bass.” The fusing of funk and jazz bass conceptions is a foundation of Okegwo’s unique approach, making his sound instantly recognizable. "Questo è ciò che prima di me ha ottenuto la riproduzione dei bassi." La fusione di funk e jazz bass è una novità di Okegwo, approccio unico, rendendo il suo suono immediatamen-te riconoscibile. In 1986, he moved to Berlin to study with the American expatriate bassist Jay Oliver, and with the American pianist Walter Norris. Nel 1986, si trasferì a Berlino per studiare con il bassista americano espatriato Jay Oliver, e con il pianista americano Walter Norris. There Okegwo caught the attention of many prominent jazz musicians, most notably the trombonist and Mingus alum, Lou Blackburn, who invited Okegwo to tour Europe with his Afro-Jazz group “Mombasa”. Okegwo ha catturato l'attenzione di molti fra i musicisti jazz, incontrato e suonato con il trombettista Joe Newman, batterista Oliver Jackson,  il bassista Major Holley, il sassofonista leggenda Big Nick Nicholas, Junior Cook, e James Spaulding.In 1992, a call from legendary vocalist Jon Hendricks led to steady work as a sideman - on stage and in recording studios. Recently, Okegwo expanded his horizons and became a bandleader. Di recente, Okegwo ha ampli-ato il proprio orizzonte diventando un bandleader. In 2002 he took his quartet to Europe and documented the group with a recording entitled "UOniverse" [Satchmo Jazz].

Ugonna Okegwo is one of the most distinctive and sought-after jazz bassists in the world. Critics across the globe have praised him for his rich tone, supple sense of swing, stylistic range and inventiveness. These qualities have not only earned him a place on the bandstand with jazz legends as diverse as Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Pharoah Sanders and Joseph Jarman – they have established him as one of the leading lights of a younger generation redefining jazz for the new century.

"He is very individualistic, both in his soloing and accompanying. I love the way he plays in the ensemble,” says Tom Harrell, with whom Okegwo has worked for several years. “Ugonna does some really creative things that I haven't heard anyone do with his articulation and timing."

Born March 15, 1962 in London to a German mother and Nigerian father, Okegwo was raised in Germany and grew up listening to African-American music -- James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, and, eventually, the great Charles Mingus.

"What I always heard first in funk and rock 'n roll were the bass lines, the ostinato, and later, in jazz, the walking bass," he recalls. "That's what first got me playing bass.” The fusing of funk and jazz bass conceptions is a foundation of Okegwo’s unique approach, making his sound instantly recognizable.

In 1986, he moved to Berlin to study with the American expatriate bassist Jay Oliver, and with the American pianist Walter Norris. There Okegwo caught the attention of many prominent jazz musicians, most notably the trombonist and Mingus alum, Lou Blackburn, who invited Okegwo to tour Europe with his Afro-Jazz group “Mombasa”. While working with Blackburn, Okegwo met and played with trumpeter Joe Newman, drummer Oliver Jackson, and the bassist Major Holley, who encouraged him to move to New York.

In 1989, Okegwo made the leap to Manhattan and began playing with musicians like saxophone legends Big Nick Nicholas, Junior Cook, and James Spaulding. In 1992, a call from legendary vocalist Jon Hendricks led to steady work as a sideman - on stage and in recording studios. In 1994 Hendricks even took Okegwo to the White House to perform for the President. During this time, Okegwo’s artistry attracted two other gifted young musicians -- pianist Jacky Terrason and drummer Leon Parker. The trio joined forces and at famous clubs like the Village Gate and Bradley’s, developing one of the most creative and explosive group sounds of the nineties.

Recently, Okegwo expanded his horizons and became a bandleader. In 2002 he took his quartet to Europe and documented the group with a recording entitled "UOniverse" [Satchmo Jazz]. The material, which consists of his compositions and brilliantly arranged standards, draws from a wide range of influences, including jazz, African, funk, and classical music.

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WORKED WITH

Kenny Barron
Lou Blackburn
Cindy Blackman
JoAnne Brackeen
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Junior Cook
Monte Croft
Kenwood Dennard
Lou Donaldson
Tom Harrell
Roy Hargrove
Jon Hendricks
Javon Jackson
Joseph Jarman
Geoff Keezer
Peter Leitch
Charles McPherson
Mingus Big Band
Mingus Dynasty
Mombasa
Big Nick Nicholas
Leon Parker
Joshua Redman
Dizzy Reece
Wallace Roney
David Sanchez
Pharoah Sanders
Marlena Shaw
Carrie Smith
James Spaulding
Grady Tate
Jacky Terrasson
Charles Tolliver