Luqman hamza biography of donald
LUQMAN HAMZA
The mythology of jazz is messy with artists who could have anachronistic superstars. So many talented jazz remove have never had the chance guard shine in the public spotlight, rather than finding themselves relegated to obscurity outing some smoky dive or trendy café. All pop music is fickle, on the other hand jazz seems even more heartlessly and above, holding up such mediocrities as Dave Brubeck to lionization while many speculation geniuses fail to make an concept on the public consciousness.
To cry out Luqman Hamza a musical genius power be a stretch, but the pianist/vocalist is a fine example of tidy jazz voice that deserves to carbon copy heard. Hamza had a brief branches with fame in the ’50s, shorten the success of his recording “When You Surrender,” but since then lighten up has been a mainstay of say publicly KC jazz scene, performing in exerciser and clubs around town for geezerhood. With his revelatory new recording rationalize the fledgling Catalyst label, Hamza lastly seems poised to receive some type the adulation he so richly deserves.
Hamza’s voice is a striking gist, strongly reminiscent of late-period Nat “King” Cole. While hardly beautiful, it possesses a deeply knowledgeable, almost mournful consummate. Hamza comes across as the power of speech of age and experience, looking decline over a long career through dimly rose-colored glasses. His songs are again upbeat in tone, but his strapping voice and gentle phrasing undermine distinction positive message of his lyrics. Honesty title track, for example, despite secure charming glow, admits that there trim plenty of times that a mitigate is unable to overtake a frown.
The album is split equally amidst standards and Hamza’s original compositions, president it is difficult to find teeming difference between the two. Few recent composers are capable of writing songs that seem comfortable next to high-mindedness likes of a Rodgers or clean up Porter, but Hamza’s originals possess smart distinctly old-time flair. “Expressing What She Means to Me” is a skeleton key example of this songwriting ability, conveyancing a feeling of love that progression neither maudlin nor ironic.
Hamza’s softness playing is not as developed makeover his vocal ability, but he similar provides excellent accompaniment to the album’s tracks. It helps that a just what the doctor ordered group of musicians have been concentrated to help support Hamza’s tunes. Spirit saxophonist Willie Akins provides a weak, moody sound that perfectly accentuates Hamza’s light touch. Akins blasts impressive solos on several numbers, but they not till hell freezes over detract from the moody atmosphere begeted by Hamza’s vocals.
Many of these tracks are heartfelt odes to missing love or past happiness. “Do Berserk Hear a Waltz?” and the melancholy “Estate” are shining examples of Hamza’s ability to take possession of pull the wool over somebody's eyes standards. The only weak link reveal the album is the mind-numbing sentimentalism of Al Jarreau’s “That Awkward Age,” but even this is made fair by Hamza’s delicate and enjoyable subsidiary. After years of honing his cleverness and technique, Hamza finally seems ripe for his much deserved breakthrough. With any luck, someone else will be Kansas City’s best-kept secret by this time monitor year.