Candid Records was founded as a subsidiary of Archie Bleyer's Cadence label in New York City in 1960. The jazz writer and civil rights activist, Nat Hentoff, worked as the label's A&R director, aiming to create a representative catalog of the jazz of the day. Hentoff worked with designer and photographer Frank Gauna to create many memorable album covers.^[1]

History[link]

Although there are classic dates led by Clark Terry and Coleman Hawkins with Pee Wee Russell, it is mainly recordings of the emergent avant-garde and recordings celebrating the Civil Rights movement that stand out amongst the original Candid catalog. Recordings by Cecil Taylor and Steve Lacy belong to the first group, and those by Charles Mingus and Max Roach belong to the second, but there is not a strict differentiation. In particular, Roach's We Insist! Freedom Now suite is a classic political statement.

The label had a brief existence in its New York incarnation, however, and recording ceased during 1961. The catalog passed into the hands of the popular singer Andy Williams, who reissued some of the catalog on his Barnaby label. In 1988, the British record producer, Alan Bates, purchased the catalog outright, and reissued all of it, as well as previously unissued material.

Since the revival of the label, it's jazz releases have grown to over 300 titles as Bates launched a new recording program, which continues to the present time, including albums by David Liebman, Toots Thielemans, Bob Dorough and others. Stacey Kent, the American expatriate singer based in London, was among those who have recorded for the revitalised label—which led to furthering her recording career with Blue Note/EMI; as are Clare Teal, who has since moved to Sony with the biggest ever recording-deal by a British jazz singer; and singer-pianist Jamie Cullum – whose debut album (funded by a student loan) was taken on by the label – and eventually saw him land a million pound record deal with Verve Records. Candid's current artist roster includes Mina Agossi^(fr), Kyle Eastwood, Cormac Kenevey, Geoff Gascoyne, Robin McKelle^(fr), The Blessing, Paul Jayasinha, and latest signing, the singer/pianist Joe Stilgoe.

Bates' wife, Nieves Pascua-Bates, further expanded the operations of Candid Records in the Asia-Pacific by setting up a subsidiary in the Philippines. The most notable recording artists of the fledgling Asian jazz label, Candid Records Philippines, are the Filipino-British singer-songwriter, Mishka Adams, who had since been migrated to the mainstream Candid U.K. label; the guitarist-composer, Johnny Alegre with his jazz group, AFFINITY (whose album was launched in London's PizzaExpress Jazz Club in 2005); and Mon David, who won the London International Jazz (Singers') Competition in 2006.

Discography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Candid Records official website
• Candid Records Philippines
• The Candid Records Artist Roster

Johnny Alegre
Background information
Birth name	Juan B.H. Alegre III
Also known as	Johnny Alegre
Born	(1955-06-04) June 4, 1955 (age 57)
Origin	Philippines
Genres	Jazz, world fusion
Instruments	Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Labels	Candid, MCA Music
Associated acts	Johnny Alegre Affinity, Humanfolk, Absolute Zero, U.P. Jazz Ensemble
Website	www.alegre.com.ph

Juan Bautista H. Alegre (III) (born June 4, 1955),^[1] widely known as Johnny Alegre, is a jazz guitarist and composer^[2] from Manila, Philippines. He leads the jazz group Johnny Alegre AFFINITY whose founding members include bassist Colby de la Calzada, drummer Koko Bermejo, pianist Elhmir Saison and saxophonist Tots Tolentino.

Biography[link]

Career[link]

Johnny Alegre attended the University of the Philippines College of Music in the latter 1970s, where he studied composition and was a founding member of the U.P. Jazz Ensemble.^[3] He studied with the jazz educator Dr. Joseph Howard and pianist Fred Robles, and participated in creative workshops by musicologist-composer Erhard Karkoschka, guitarist Ike Isaacs and composer-scholar Chou Wen-chung.

Alegre is an jazz journeyman whose involvement in bands and studio recording sessions, both as a musician and record producer, spans more than thirty years of Philippine jazz and popular music history and discography. In May 2002, Johnny Alegre formed Manila's premier jazz group, the Johnny Alegre AFFINITY, with bassist Colby de la Calzada, drummer Koko Bermejo, pianist Elhmir Saison and saxophonist Tots Tolentino. Their first recorded work, "Stones Of Intramuros", written by Alegre, was included in the limited edition Philippine jazz anthology CD, Adobo Jazz Vol.1, which caught the attention of the U.K.-based jazz record company, Candid Records. Subsequently, the self-titled album, Johnny Alegre AFFINITY was released in the Philippines in mid-2005 and was re-released in England for global distribution as Jazzhound,^[4] capped by two sold-out engagements in London's PizzaExpress Jazz Club with guest saxophonist, Dimitri Vassilakis.^[5]

Johnny Alegre (center) with bassist Ron McClure (left) and drummer Billy Hart (right). This photo was taken in New York City when they recorded "Johnny Alegre 3" for MCA Music.

As part of the ever-evolving cultural landscape in Asia-Pacific, Johnny Alegre’s musical projects contribute greatly to an emerging and vibrant jazz milieu. The greater part of 2006 and early 2007 engaged Alegre and AFFINITY before a large and ambitious work, Eastern Skies, an album of original compositions set to the symphonic backdrop of the Global Studio Orchestra conducted by Gerard Salonga.^[6][7] The project was released in 2008 by Candid Records (Philippines) as the long-awaited response to the clamor from fans for even more innovative music from the Manila jazz "superband".^[8]

In 2009, a breakthrough trio recording, in which the guitarist-composer is joined by world-renowned American jazz musicians, Billy Hart (drums) and Ron McClure (bass), was released by MCA Music (Universal Music Group), entitled Johnny Alegre 3. The album also marked Alegre's induction into the MCA roster as its first jazz artist from the Philippines.^[9]

Johnny Alegre currently completed "Humanfolk", a suite of his world music compositions and the subsequent concept band he undertook with the New York based avant-garde percussionist, Susie Ibarra, together with her husband, drummer Roberto Juan Rodriguez, and Philippine-based musical artists Cynthia Alexander, Malek Lopez and Abby Clutario. The eponymous, collaborative undertaking was released by MCA Music in May, 2011.

Affiliations[link]

Johnny Alegre is a member of the Jazz Society of the Philippines and FILSCAP. Other than his activities in jazz, world and Philippine music, Johnny Alegre is a member of Wikimedia Philippines, the national chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation in the Philippines.

Discography[link]

• 2002 - Adobo Jazz Vol. 1 - one track ("Stones of Intramuros")
• 2003 - The Concert At Remedios Circle
• 2005 - Johnny Alegre AFFINITY (CAN-KC-5001) aka Jazzhound (CCD 79842) (in the UK)
• 2006 - Environmentally Sound [World Wildlife Fund benefit album] (ALI) - one track ("Jazzhound" [radio edit])
• 2008 - Eastern Skies (CAN-KC-5006)
• 2009 - Johnny Alegre 3 (MCA-Universal, UPC: 00600753200070)
• 2011 - HUMANFOLK (MCA-Universal, UPC: 00600753330432)

Awards[link]

In 1974, he won second place in the one-act play category of the Don Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature.^[10]

Notes and references[link]

External links[link]

• Everything JOHNNY ALEGRE
• The Community Page about Johnny Alegre on Facebook
• Johnny Alegre in Candid Records
• Johnny Alegre on Twitter
• Johnny Alegre on ReverbNation
• Johnny Alegre on Bandzoogle

Archival links[link]

• The original Johnny Alegre AFFINITY home page
• Johnny Alegre & AFFINITY on Multiply
• Johnny Alegre AFFINITY at Yahoogroups

Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins by Jules Grandgagnage
Background information
Birth name	Sam John Hopkins
Born	(1912-03-15)March 15, 1912 Centerville, Texas, United States
Died	January 30, 1982(1982-01-30) (aged 69) Houston, Texas, United States
Genres	Electric blues, country blues
Occupations	Guitarist, singer-songwriter
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1946–1981
Labels	Alladin, Modern/RPM, Gold Star, Sittin' in With/Jax, Mercury, Decca, Herald, Folkways, World Pacific, Vee-Jay, Arhoolie, Bluesville, Fire, Candid, Imperial, Prestige, Verve, Jewel

Sam John Hopkins (March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982)^[1] better known as Lightnin’ Hopkins, was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Houston, Texas. Rolling Stone magazine included Hopkins at number 71 on their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.^[2]

Robert "Mack" McCormick stated, "Hopkins is the embodiment of the jazz-and-poetry spirit, representing its ancient form in the single creator whose words and music are one act".^[3]

Life[link]

Born Sam John Hopkins in Centerville, Texas,^[4] Hopkins' childhood was immersed in the sounds of the blues and he developed a deeper appreciation at the age of 8 when he met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic in Buffalo, Texas.^[1] That day, Hopkins felt the blues was "in him" and went on to learn from his older (somewhat distant) cousin, country blues singer Alger "Texas" Alexander.^[1] Hopkins had another cousin, the Texas electric blues guitarist, Frankie Lee Sims, with whom he later recorded.^[5] Hopkins began accompanying Blind Lemon Jefferson on guitar in informal church gatherings. Jefferson supposedly never let anyone play with him except for young Hopkins, who learned much from and was influenced greatly by Blind Lemon Jefferson thanks to these gatherings. In the mid 1930s, Hopkins was sent to Houston County Prison Farm for an unknown offense.^[1] In the late 1930s Hopkins moved to Houston with Alexander in an unsuccessful attempt to break into the music scene there. By the early 1940s he was back in Centerville working as a farm hand.

Hopkins took a second shot at Houston in 1946. While singing on Dowling St. in Houston's Third Ward (which would become his home base) he was discovered by Lola Anne Cullum from the Los Angeles based record label, Aladdin Records.^[1] She convinced Hopkins to travel to Los Angeles where he accompanied pianist Wilson Smith. The duo recorded twelve tracks in their first sessions in 1946. An Aladdin Records executive decided the pair needed more dynamism in their names and dubbed Hopkins "Lightnin'" and Wilson "Thunder".

Hopkins recorded more sides for Aladdin in 1947. He returned to Houston and began recording for the Gold Star Records label. During the late 1940s and 1950s Hopkins rarely performed outside Texas. However, he recorded prolifically. Occasionally traveling to the Mid-West and Eastern United States for recording sessions and concert appearances. It has been estimated that he recorded between 800 and 1000 songs during his career. He performed regularly at clubs in and around Houston, particularly in Dowling St. where he had first been discovered. He recorded his hits "T-Model Blues" and "Tim Moore's Farm" at SugarHill Recording Studios in Houston. By the mid to late 1950s his prodigious output of quality recordings had gained him a following among African Americans and blues music aficionados.

In 1959 Hopkins was contacted by folklorist Mack McCormick who hoped to bring him to the attention of the broader musical audience which was caught up in the folk revival.^[1] McCormack presented Hopkins to integrated audiences first in Houston and then in California. Hopkins debuted at Carnegie Hall on October 14, 1960 appearing alongside Joan Baez and Pete Seeger performing the spiritual "Mary Don't You Weep." In 1960, he signed to Tradition Records. The recordings which followed included his song "Mojo Hand" in 1960.

In 1968, Hopkins recorded the album Free Form Patterns backed by the rhythm section of psychedelic rock band the 13th Floor Elevators. Through the 1960s and into the 1970s Hopkins released one or sometimes two albums a year and toured, playing at major folk festivals and at folk clubs and on college campuses in the U.S. and internationally. He travelled widely in the United States, and overcame his fear of flying to join the 1964 American Folk Blues Festival; visit Germany and the Netherlands 13 years later;^[3] and play a six-city tour of Japan in 1978. Lightnin' also influenced the great Townes Van Zandt and his music.

Filmmaker Les Blank captured the Texas troubadour's informal lifestyle most vividly in his 1967 documentary, The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins.^[1]

Houston's poet-in-residence for 35 years, Hopkins recorded more albums than any other bluesman.^[3]

Hopkins died of esophageal cancer in Houston January 30, 1982, at the age of 69. His New York Times^{[citation needed]} obituary named him as "one of the great country blues and perhaps the greatest single influence on rock guitar players."

A statue of Hopkins sits in Crockett, Texas.^[3]

Hopkins is referenced in Erykah Badu's 2010 "Window Seat" ... "I don't want to time-travel no more, I want to be here. On this porch I'm rockin', back and forth like Lightnin' Hopkins."

Style[link]

Hopkins' style was born from spending many hours playing informally without a backing band. His distinctive fingerstyle playing often included playing, in effect, bass, rhythm, lead, percussion, and vocals, all at the same time. He played both "alternating" and "monotonic" bass styles incorporating imaginative, often chromatic turnarounds and single note lead lines. Tapping or slapping the body of his guitar added rhythmic accompaniment.

Much of Hopkins' music follows the standard 12-bar blues template but his phrasing was very free and loose. Many of his songs were in the talking blues style, but he was a powerful and confident singer. Lyrically his songs chronicled the problems of life in the segregated south, bad luck in love and other usual subjects of the blues idiom. He did however deal with these subjects with humor and good nature. Many of his songs are filled with double entendres and he was known for his humorous introductions.

Statue of Lightnin' Hopkins in Texas

Some of his songs were of warning and sour prediction such as "Fast Life Woman":

"You may see a fast life woman sittin' round a whiskey joint,

Yes, you know, she'll be sittin' there smilin',

'Cause she knows some man gonna buy her half a pint,

Take it easy, fast life woman, 'cause you ain't gon' live always..."^[3]

Selected discography[link]

• 1959 - Lightnin' Hopkins Strums the Blues (Score)
• 1959 - Lightnin' Hopkins (Folkways)
• 1959 - Lightnin' and the Blues (Herald)
• 1960 - Country Blues (Tradition Records)
• 1960 - Last Night Blues (Bluesville Records)
• 1960 - Mojo Hand (Fire Records)
• 1960 - Lightnin' (Bluesville)
• 1960 - Lightnin' In New York (Candid Records)
• 1961 - Autobiography in Blues (Tradition)
• 1961 - Blues in My Bottle (Bluesville)
• 1962 - Walkin' This Road By Myself (Bluesville)
• 1962 - Lightnin' and Co. (Bluesville)
• 1962 - Lightnin' Strikes (Vee-Jay Records)
• 1963 - Blues Hoot (Vee-Jay Records; live at The Ash Grove 1961 with Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, and Big Joe Williams)
• 1963 - Smokes Like Lightnin' (Bluesville)
• 1963 - Goin' Away (Bluesville)
• 1964 - Down Home Blues (Bluesville)
• 1965 - Hootin' the Blues (Bluesville)
• 1965 - Lightnin' Strikes (Tradition)
• 1965 - The Roots of Lightnin' Hopkins (Verve Folkways)
• 1966 - Soul Blues (Bluesville)
• 1967 - My Life in the Blues (Bluesville)
• 1967 - Original Folk Blues (Kent Records)
• 1967 - Lightnin'! (Arhoolie Records)
• 1968 - Freeform Patterns (International Artists)
• 1969 - California Mudslide (and Earthquake)
• 1991 - Swarthmore Concert Live, 1964
• 1991 - Sittin' in with Lightnin' Hopkins (Mainstream Records)
• 1991 - The Hopkins Bros. (Arhoolie Records, with his brothers Joel and John Henry)
• 1992 - Lonesome Life (Home Cooking/Collectables)
• 1992 - It's a Sin to Be Rich (Gitanes Jazz Productions)
• 1993 - Mojo Hand: The Lightnin' Hopkins Anthology (Rhino Records)
• 1995 - Po' Lightning
• 1999 - The Very Best of Lightnin' Hopkins(Rhino Records)

Films[link]

• The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins (1969). Directed by Les Blank and Skip Gerson (Flower Films & Video).
• The Sun's Gonna Shine (1969). Directed by Les Blank with Skip Gerson (Flower Films & Video)
• Sounder (1972). Directed by Martin Ritt, offers Hopkins singing "Jesus Will You Come By Here".
• As of 2010^[update], a film documentary on Hopkins was in production with Fastcut Films of Houston, entitled "Where Lightnin' Strikes".
• His song "Once a Gambler" was featured on the soundtrack of the 2009 film Crazy Heart.

Books[link]

• Lightnin’ Hopkins: Blues Guitar Legend by Dan Bowden
• Deep Down Hard Blues: Tribute to Lightnin by Sarah Ann West
• Lightnin' Hopkins: His Life and Blues by Alan Govenar (Chicago Review Press)

See also[link]

• List of blues musicians
• Texas blues
• Six Strings Down

References[link]

• The Encyclopedia of Folk, Country & Western Music by Irwin Stambler and Grellun Landon, second edition. St. Martin's Press 1983. ISBN 0-312-24818-0
• Liner notes to the CD Country Blues Ryko/Tradition Records

External links[link]

• Blues Foundation Hall of Fame Induction, 1980
• Houston Chronicle story about dedication of Lightnin' Hopkins statue
• Hopkins feature on Big Road Blues
• Campstreetcafe.com - accessed December 25 2007
• Activeguitar.com - accessed December 25 2007
• "Where Lightnin Strikes" Documentary Film
• New York Times obituary

Abbey Lincoln
Abbey Lincoln in concert, 1992
Background information
Birth name	Anna Marie Wooldridge
Born	(1930-08-06)August 6, 1930 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 14, 2010(2010-08-14) (aged 80) Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actress, civil rights activist
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1956–2007
Labels	Riverside, Verve

Anna Marie Wooldridge (August 6, 1930 – August 14, 2010),^[1] better known by her stage name Abbey Lincoln, was a jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress. Lincoln was unusual in that she wrote and performed her own compositions, expanding the expectations of jazz audiences.

Musician[link]

Lincoln was one of many singers influenced by Billie Holiday. She often visited the Blue Note jazz club in New York City.^[2] Her debut album, Abbey Lincoln’s Affair – A Story of a Girl in Love, was followed by a series of albums for Riverside Records. In 1960 she sang on Max Roach's landmark civil rights-themed recording, We Insist! – Freedom Now Suite.^[3] Lincoln’s lyrics were often connected to the civil rights movement in America.

During the 1980s, Lincoln’s creative output was lesser and she released only a few albums during that decade. During the 1990s and until her death, however, she fulfilled a 10-album contract with Verve Records. These albums are highly regarded and represent a crowning achievement in Lincoln’s career. Devil’s Got Your Tongue (1992) featured Rodney Kendrick, Grady Tate, J. J. Johnson, Stanley Turrentine, Babatunde Olatunji and The Staple Singers, among others.

In 2003, Lincoln received a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Award.^[4][5]

Actress[link]

With Ivan Dixon, she co-starred in Nothing But a Man, an independent film written and directed by Michael Roemer. In 1968 she also co-starred with Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in For Love of Ivy,^[6] and received a 1969 Golden Globe nomination for her appearance in the film.

Lincoln also appeared in 1956 in The Girl Can’t Help It, for which she wore a dress which had been worn by Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blondes, and interpreted the theme song, working with Benny Carter.^[6]

In the 1990 Spike Lee movie Mo’ Better Blues, she played young Bleek Gilliams’ mother.^[7]

Personal life[link]

Lincoln was married to drummer Max Roach from 1962 to 1970. Roach’s daughter from a previous marriage, Maxine, has appeared on several of Lincoln’s albums. She was mentioned in Maya Angelou's autobiography The Heart of a Woman as a close friend.

Lincoln died on August 14, 2010 in Manhattan at the age of 80. Her death was announced by her brother, David Wooldridge, who told the New York Times that Lincoln had died in her Manhattan nursing home after suffering deteriorating health for years following open heart surgery in 2007. No cause of death was officially given. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered.^[8]

Discography[link]

• 1956: Abbey Lincoln’s Affair – A Story of a Girl in Love (Liberty Records) with Benny Carter Orchestra, Marty Paich Orchestra, Jack Montrose
• 1957: That’s Him (Riverside Records) with Paul Chambers, Max Roach, Wynton Kelly, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Dorham
• 1958: It’s Magic (Riverside Records) with Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson, Sahib Shihab
• 1959: Abbey Is Blue (Riverside Records) with Kenny Dorham, Wynton Kelly, Les Spann, Sam Jones, Philly Joe Jones
• 1960: We Insist! – Freedom Now with Max Roach
• 1961: Straight Ahead (Candid Records) with Coleman Hawkins, Eric Dolphy, Booker Little, Mal Waldron, Max Roach^[9]
• 1973: People in Me (Polygram) with Kunimitsu Inaba, James Mtume, Al Foster, Hiromasa Suzuki, Dave Liebman
• 1980: Golden Lady (a.k.a. Painted Lady; Inner City Records/Marge Records) with Archie Shepp
• 1983: Talking to the Sun (Enja Records)
• 1987: Abbey Sings Billie, Vol. 1 & 2 (Enja Records) with Harold Vick (tenor), James Widman (piano), Tarik Shah (bass), Mark Johnson (drums).
• 1990: The World Is Falling Down (Verve Records)
• 1991: You Gotta Pay the Band (Verve Records) with Stan Getz, Hank Jones, Charlie Haden, Mark Johnson, Maxine Roach
• 1992: Devil’s Got Your Tongue (Verve Records)
• 1992: When There is Love (Verve Records) with Hank Jones
• 1993: The Music is the Magic (Recorded live at Sweet Basil Jazz Club, New York City; ITM Records) with Rodney Kendrick, Michael Bowie, Yoron Israel
• 1994: A Turtle’s Dream (Verve Records) with Roy Hargrove, Kenny Barron, Pat Metheny
• 1996: Who Used to Dance (Verve Records) with Graham Haynes, Steve Coleman, Oliver Lake
• 1998: Wholly Earth (Verve Records) with Nicholas Payton, Bobby Hutcherson
• 2000: Over the Years (Verve Records)
• 2003: It’s Me (Verve Records)
• 2007: Abbey Sings Abbey (Verve Records)

References[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Abbey Lincoln at the Internet Movie Database
• Bio at Verve Records
• Abbey Lincoln Discography at www.JazzDiscography.com
• Abbey Lincoln at NPR Music
• Abbey Lincoln Tribute and image.
• "Remembering Jazz Singer and Activist Abbey Lincoln" at NPR Music: Music News

Ford and Mercer Ellington (right), 1975

Ricky Ford (born March 4, 1954) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Ford was born in Boston and studied at the New England Conservatory.^[1] In 1974 he recorded with Gunther Schuller and then played in the Duke Ellington Orchestra under Mercer Ellington from 1974 to 1976. After this he played with Charles Mingus (1976-77), Dannie Richmond (1978-1981), Lionel Hampton, and then in the Mingus Dynasty (1982). In 1985 he played with Abdullah Ibrahim. He has recorded extensively as a leader for Muse and Candid.

He had taught at Istanbul Bilgi University from 2001 to 2006.

He founded in 2009 the Toucy Jazz Festival^[2] in Yonne (France), and invited musician like Rhoda Scott(2009) and Ravi Coltrane (2011).

Discography[link]

As leader[link]

New World Records

• 1977: Loxodonta Africana with Oliver Beener, Charles Sullivan, Bob Neloms, Richard Davis, Dannie Richmond

Muse Records

• 1978: Manhattan Plaza with Oliver Beener, Jaki Byard, David Friesen, Dannie Richond
• 1980: Flying Colors with John Hicks, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb
• 1981: Tenor of the Times with Albert Dailey, Rufus Reid, Jimmy Cobb
• 1982: Interpretations with John Hicks, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb
• 1983: Future's Gold with Albert Dailey, Larry Coryell, Ray Drummond, Jimmy Cobb
• 1984: Shorter Ideas with Jimmy Knepper, James Spaulding, Kirk Lightsey, Rufus Reid, Jimmy Cobb
• 1986: Looking Ahead
• 1987: Saxotic Stomp with James Spaulding, Charles Davis, Kirk Lightsey, Ray Drummond, Jimmy Cobb
• 1989: Hard Groovin' with Roy Hargrove, Geoff Keezer, Robert Hurst, Jeff "Tain" Watts
• 1992: Tenor Madness Too with Antoine Roney, Donald Brown, Peter Washington, Louis Hayes

Candid Records

• 1989: Manhattan Blues with Jaki Byard, Milt Hinton, Ben Riley
• 1990: Ebony Rhapsody U.S. Jazz #13^[3]
• 1991: Hot Brass with Lew Soloff, Claudio Roditi, Steve Turre, Danilo Pérez, Christian McBride, Carl Allen
• 1991: American African Blues with Jaki Byard, Milt Hinton, Ben Riley

Other labels

• 1994: Tenors of Yusef Lateef & Ricky Ford with Yusef Lateef, Avery Sharpe, Kamal Sabir
• 1999: Balaena with George Cables, Cecil McBee, Ed Thigpen
• 2002: Song for My Mother
• 2003: Reeds and Keys with Kirk Lightsey

As sideman[link]

With Ran Blake

• Short Life of Barbara Monk (Soul Note, 1986)

With Mal Waldron

• Crowd Scene (Soul Note, 1989)
• Where Are You? (Soul Note, 1989)

With Steve Lacy

• Vespers (Soul Note, 1993)

References[link]