Bobbi Humphrey a Jazz Fusion legend
Miss Humphrey Queen Of Seventies Jazz Flute Captivates New Audience
In the 70’s Bobbi Humphrey dominated the R&B, Jazz and Pop charts with her fusion of soul and jazz albums. Working mainly with producer/ composer Larry Mizell she recorded for the biggest label in jazz at the time, The Blue Note label.
Bobbi Humphrey was born Barbara Ann Humphrey in Marlin Texas on April 25 1950, but grew up in Dallas. She fell in love with the flute after seeing a performance of Peter and The Wolf performed by the Dallas Symphony. She played throughout high school and studied privately with Hubert Laws. She was then spotted as a talent deserving wider attention by the great trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie who encouraged her to go to New York. She did after being invited to play at the famed Apollo Theatre.
Playing With Duke Ellington.
She was in New York only three days when she got a chance to play with jazz great Duke Ellington and by the end of her first two weeks in the city she was signed to the Blue Note label, becoming the first woman ever to be signed by the legendary Label. Her first album ‘Flute In’ was released in 1971, ‘Dig This’ her second was released in 1972; they both received high critical acclaim. In 1973 she released ‘Blacks & Blues’ and it became an instant hit, with the critics and the general music buying public, crossing over to the R&B and Pop charts.
Throughout her career she has won many awards, appeared on television shows and at Jazz festivals including the Montreux festival. She has also worked with many other musicians including the great Stevie Wonder appearing on ‘His Songs In The Key Of Life Album.’
After leaving Blue Note she recorded for the Epic, CBS and Malaco labels before creating her own music company, the Bobbi Humphrey Music Company and Innovative Artist Management in 1977. In 1994 she created her own label Paradise Sound Records.
The Toronto Jam
Bobbi was last seen in Toronto On November 16th 2007 playing the Phoenix Concert Theatre with Roy Ayers and the Original Superstars of Jazz fusion. It was a monster show and a grateful Toronto audience lapped up every minute of it. Highlights of the show for most people was the encore performance of Roy Ayers hit “Everybody loves the Sunshine,”
It was great to see on stage at the same time: Ronnie Laws, Lonnie Smith, Jean Carne, Wayne Henderson, Jon Lucien Roy Ayers of course, the lady of the flute Bobbi Humphrey.
This concert was much talked about and discussed on every office coffee break and water cooler time out for many days after.
Remixing Bobbi’s Classic Soul
These days the music Bobbi made in the 70’s can be heard in the remixes of many DJ’s and rappers that now dominate the charts.
Recently Blue Note/EMI re issued Fancy Dancer. It was the last record she made for the label and universally recognized as a classic.
She continues to make music, teach and through her management help young musicians get a start in the business.
Bobbi Humphrey Blacks & Blues
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Bobbi Humphrey PAssion Flute
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