German-Nigerian jazz bassist and composer
Ugonna Okegwo
Born (1962-03-15 ) March 15, 1962 (age 62)
London , EnglandOrigin
Münster , Germany Genres
Jazz Occupation(s) Musician, composer Instrument(s)
Bass Years active 1986–present Website
ugonnaokegwo .com
Musical artist
Ugonna Okegwo at the 2017 Oslo Jazz Festival
Ugonna Okegwo 2019 Aarhus Jazz Festival
Ugonna Okegwo (born March 15, 1962) is a German-Nigerian
jazz
bassist and composer based in
New York City .
[1]
[2]
Biography
Born in London, Okegwo is the son of Christel Katharina Lulf and Madueke Benedict Okegwo. In 1963 the family moved to
Münster ,
Germany , where Okegwo grew up.
[3]
[4] As a youngster he enjoyed working with his hands and played the electric bass. At age 21, he took a class in violin-making and started playing the
upright bass .
[4]
In 1986 Okegwo moved to
Berlin and studied with bassist Jay Oliver and pianist
Walter Norris . He then joined trombonist
Lou Blackburn 's group for a tour in Europe and played with
Joe Newman ,
Oliver Jackson and
Major Holley .
[1]
In 1989 Okegwo moved to New York City and worked with saxophonists
Big Nick Nicholas ,
Junior Cook and
James Spaulding . He worked with vocalist
Jon Hendricks on a regular basis. He earned a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from
Long Island University , graduating summa cum laude in 1994. In the early 1990s Okegwo formed a trio with pianist
Jacky Terrasson and drummer
Leon Parker .
[1]
[3] In 1997 he started to perform regularly in
Tom Harrell ensembles.
[4] He is a member of the Tom Harrell Quintet and the
Mingus Big Band .
[5]
[6]
In 2002, Okegwo released his first album as a leader titled
Uoniverse . About creating music Okegwo said, producing a note is human and personal and "in a rhythm section, the bass is the center, creating something constantly."
[4]
Okegwo has worked with a wide range of artists, including
Kenny Barron ,
Michael Brecker ,
Benny Carter ,
Johnny Griffin ,
Wynton Marsalis ,
James Moody ,
Clark Terry ,
Pharoah Sanders ,
[3]
Steve Wilson ,
Michael Wolff ,
[4]
Bruce Barth ,
Steve Davis ,
Dario Chiazzolino ,
Lionel Hampton ,
Sam Newsome ,
Kurt Rosenwinkel and others.
[7]
Discography
As leader
As sideman
Credits partly adapted from
AllMusic .
[7] This list is incomplete.
With
Tom Harrell
Moving Picture (
HighNote , 2017)
Something Gold, Something Blue (HighNote, 2016)
First Impressions (HighNote, 2015)
TRIP (HighNote, 2014)
Colors of a Dream (HighNote, 2013)
Number Five (HighNote, 2012)
The Time of the Sun (HighNote, 2011)
Roman Nights (HighNote, 2010)
Prana Dance (HighNote, 2009)
Light On (HighNote, 2007)
The Art of Rhythm (
RCA Victor , 1998)
With LaVerne Butler
Love Lost and Found Again (HighNote, 2012)
With
Peter Zak
The Decider (SteepleChase, 2009)
With
Dan Faulk
Dan Faulk Songbook, Vol.1 (Ugli Fruit, 2002)
With
Jacky Terrasson
With
Sam Newsome
Global Unity (
Palmetto , 2001)
The Tender Side of Sammy Straighthor (
SteepleChase , 2000)
This Masquerade (SteepleChase, 2000)
With
Jon Hendricks
Boppin' at the Blue Note (
Telarc , 1994)
References
^
a
b
c
"Musician Profile – Ugonna Okegwo" . All About Jazz.
Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014 .
^
"Can Ron Blake Retake Jazz's 21st Century Groove With Millennials?" . Huffington Post. February 25, 2014.
Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014 .
^
a
b
c
"Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians – Okegwo, Ugonna" . jazz.com.
Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
"Ugonna Okegwo builds jazz from the ground up" . NJ.com. November 19, 2009.
Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014 .
^
"Trumpeter Tom Harrell's quintet hits hard from the outset" . Chicago Tribune. November 30, 2012.
Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014 .
^
"Charles Mingus – Mingus Big Band" . mingusmingusmingus.com.
Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014 .
^
a
b
"Allmusic: Ugonna Okegwo - credits" . Allmusic.com.
Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2014 .
External links
International National Artists