#59 "Doc" Gibbs- Percussionist for Grover Washington Jr., Emeril, Al Jarreau & More!
This episode comes out on "Fat Tuesday" which is also the celebration of Mardi Gras. Our featured guest is the great Leonard "Doc" Gibbs who has recorded on several recordings.
The interview took place at the Grain Vegan in Los Angeles and the product mentioned is Beyond Meat, which are 100% plant based.
The comedian Kylie Kinane has a skit about Trader Joe's.
There is an Africa recap with Weedie Braimah before the interview with Doc, and if you are interested in seeing Weedie's group in NYC, he will be at the Blue Note in March. More details to come with regard to the next trip to Africa with Weedie, but you can mark your calendars for now.....
The music video featuring Marcos Lopez and Bobby Allende was produced by Sergio George for Lin Manuel Miranda to benefit: The Hispanic Federation's Unidos Disaster Relief Fund for Puerto Rico. You can click HERE or HERE to support and watch the video below.....
Upcoming festivals to check out: The Lockn Festival, The NYU Broadway Percussion Seminar, and the Sandbox Percussion Seminar.
The Music News segements for this week.....
Here are some tax tips for you musicians out there. If you tour a bunch, there is a section in this blog post explaining how to deal with money coming in from multiple states. If you have been following the most recent bills passed in congress, this blog post talks about the newest changes made to deductions that you should definitely read if you are about to do your taxes.
If you need to insure your instruments outside of your home, Music Pro Insurance and Clarion Musical Instrument Insurance come recommended to us by other musicians who already use them.
Here are some tips on how to use Facebook Live to your advantage and possibly make money from it. I got this information from the CD Baby DIY Musician Conference which we highly recommend.
Weedie mentions in Ghana studying some Ga music as well as students learning the balafon, Djembe and more. Instructors from The National Dance Company of Ghana was also part of the trip. You can follow Weedie on Facebook or Instagram and be notified with more details about the next trip to Africa.
The song featured between Weedie and Doc Gibbs is called 'Sausalito' from the Grover Washington Album "Live at the Bijou"
After spending two years at the Pennsylvania Academy for the Fine Arts, Doc studied with the late Robert "Baba" Crowder. Kulu Mele was the African Drum and Dance ensemble that "Baba" was involved with. Some of the Hatian Music mentioned was Voodoo, Kompa, & Banda or Yambol. Then he mentioned the Babatunde Olatunji album "Drums of Passion"
Doc talks about the Yoruba religion he is part of and the Bata drums and the Oro Secu that is performed for the Orishas.
This is just one performance of Airto Moreira with Miles Davis. Doc mentions his friendship with Ralph Macdonald and the iconic percussion playing on "Just the Two of Us" as well as recording at Rudy Van Gelder's studio. He talks about learning how to operate in the studio from watching and studying Ralph and learning how to play live shows from Mongo Santamaria.
When Doc met Grover Washington Jr. he was playing with George Benson as well as the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band (now the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra). He also played with Freddie Hubbard who used to get Doc confused with Johnny Griggs who used to play percussion with James Brown.
Noel Pointer, the violinist is who Doc performed with before meeting Bob James. After that, there were tons of artists he's worked with and you can read about some of them HERE.
Here are some of the Yoruba initiation restrictions Doc had to go through (like wearing white). Some of the instruments Doc incorporates into his set up are the Hang Drums or the Kamale Ngoni especially as he focuses more on sound healing and music therapy.
You can see Doc leading the band on the Emeril show below (the band is featured starting about 25.45). You can also learn some great recipes from an award winning chef.
After Doc got diagnosed with prostate cancer, he beat it by moving to California (partially to check out new doctors), changing his diet (he's now vegan) and practicing Qigong.
You can follow Doc on Facebook, and Instagram and his new healing site, Baba Doc.
He has an album called "Bam" which you can listen to HERE.
