Giants to join legends in Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Published On: 12.10.15 |

By: John Herr

Giants to join legends in Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

2015 inductee Daniel Jose Carr featured

Above: Jazz Hall of Fame inductee Daniel Jose Carr

America’s unique art form, jazz, has deep roots in the Deep South. A museum in Birmingham honors its unique performers.

On Saturday, Dec. 12 at the historic Carver Theatre, 17 artists will be inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame for their lasting contributions to this musical legacy.

Each was born and raised in Alabama, or has strong ties to the state that gave the world W.C. Handy, Dinah Washington and Nat King Cole.

“We’re bringing another grade of jazz talent to the public eye,” said executive director Leah Tucker. “We want to expose people to certain artists they may not have heard of but are vital to the jazz scene.”

Indeed, the honorees span a vast array of styles and sounds:

Trombonist Fred Wesley Jr., raised in Mobile, was the bandleader for James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul.”
Goodwater-born Marion Evans has arranged over 100 albums, working with artists from Glenn Miller to Lady Gaga.
Brothers Ward and Eb Swingle from Mobile interpreted classical music through jazz, earning Grammy Awards and France’s Order of Arts and Letters.

Mart Avant (left) stands with Blue Lou Marini (right). Avant is a trumpeter and bandleader whose group – the Tuscaloosa Horns – plays with acts such as the Temptations, Four Tops and O’Jays.

The Swingle brothers are among nine musicians being inducted posthumously by the Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1978. Its museum, located in Birmingham’s Civil Rights District, was opened in 1993.

One thing the artists have in common is a mastery of multiple aspects of music, from composing to arranging to performing.

“Alabama jazz musicians learned how to read music and were able to incorporate themselves into big bands like Tommy Dorsey’s and Count Basie’s,” said Tucker. “It made them much more viable as jazz players.”

Carrying on that tradition is inductee Mart Avant, a trumpeter and bandleader whose Tuscaloosa Horns continue to play with acts such as the Temptations, Four Tops and O’Jays.

“The word got out: These guys can read music and play,” said Avant, who grew up in Fayette. “We scare ‘em to death when they come to the South.”

Another triple threat is Anniston’s Gary Motley, a pianist, composer and arranger who at age 7 started practicing for his music-loving family.

“My parents insisted that I either play or sing, so I elected to keep my mouth shut,” he recounted.

Jazz Hall of Fame inductee Gary Motley

Since then Motley has played with legends such as Dave Brubeck, Benny Golson and Jon Hendricks. Recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, he remains prolific. “My last record made it to top 26 percent of airplay for JazzWeek,” he said.

Both Motley and Avant said they are honored to be recognized.

“It’s a very humbling idea for me to be inducted, because I’ve been able to associate myself with many, many players greater than me,” said Avant.

The mission of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is “to foster, encourage, educate and cultivate a general appreciation” of jazz. The “Fun With Jazz Educational Program” sends professional musicians to local schools. Every Saturday morning free jazz classes are open to any Alabama resident.

The 2015 inductees reflect this emphasis on teaching. Motley, director of Jazz Studies at Emory University, recently returned from Colombia on a jazz outreach mission. In January, he will travel to Cuba as part of the Horns to Havana Education Exchange Project.

“Our jazz musicians try to give back, which makes them even more distinct,” said Tucker.

In recognition, the Alabama Power Foundation has awarded more than $30,000 since 1992 to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. “We are so grateful for the support,” said Tucker.

The induction ceremony Saturday will start at 7 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Joey Alexander Trio, led by a 12-year-old jazz piano prodigy whose song “Giant Steps” and album “My Favorite Things” were nominated for Grammy Awards.