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Crosstown Arts presents Curtis Lundy Umoja Ensemble in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Doors at 7 p.m. | Show at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 | $20 in advance |$10 students
World-renowned and widely acclaimed jazz virtuoso Curtis Lundy (bass) performs with Phareed Malulih (saxophone), Michael Cruise (trumpet), Terreon Gully (drums), and Louis Heriveaux (piano).
The performance of Curtis Lundy Umoja Ensemble presented in collaboration with Crosstown Arts, and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is supported by Chamber Music America’s Presenter Consortium for Jazz program, funded through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
CURTIS LUNDY
Born in 1955, Curtis Lundy is a double bassist, composer, producer, choir director, and arranger. Lundy began his musical career in the All Miami Youth Jazz Band and was classically trained at the University of Miami under the tutelage of renowned bassist Dr. Lucas Drew. He has studied privately with Cecil McBee, Linda McKnight, Jaco Pastorius, and Ron Carter.
Best-known for his work as part of jazz vocalist Betty Carter’s band, Lundy made his debut on the New York jazz scene in 1978. Over the years, he has performed with an impressive list of musicians, including: Art Blakely, John Griffin, Freddie Hubbard, Paroah Sanders, John Hicks, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, George Coleman, Clark Terry, Sam Rivers, the Savoy Sultans, Bobby Watson, Stanley Turnetine, Idris Mohamed, Steve Nelson Quintet, Mulgrew Miller, Hammiet Bluiet, Don Pullen, Elvin Jones, Hank Jones, Sonny Stitt, Jon Faddis, Hilton Ruiz, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Phyllis Hyman, Lionel Hampton, Phineas Newborn, Johnny Hartman, Charlie Persip, Louis Hayes, Bobby Hutcherson, Barry Harris, and Frank Morgan.
In the late 1980s, he issued Just Be Yourself (1989), and a decade later, with Justin Time Records, he released Against All Odds (1999), followed by Purpose (2002). Lundy remains one of the most spiritually uplifting bassists on the jazz scene today. He is featured on the G-Three recording SWIFT with Billy Robinson on sax, Stacie McGregor on piano, and Billy Hart on drums. Lundy’s arrangement on “Walk With Me,” recorded by the ARC Gospel Choir, was sampled by rapper Kanye West and became the Grammy Award-winning hit “Jesus Walks.” This arrangement was also sampled in “This is Why I’m Hot” by Shawn Mims.
