Onaje Allan Gumbs R.I.P.

[Hardbopjazz]

It was reported on several Facebook pages. 

I enjoyed the sessions he played on with Woody Shaw.

Edited April 7, 2020 by Hardbopjazz

[kh1958]

I saw play as a leader a couple of times; he was excellent.

[jazzbo]

Gosh I was just listening to a cd with him on it today. Sad news

[Late]

Damnit. I first heard Gumbs on The Betty Carter Album. After that, I purchased his album Onaje on Steeplechase. A fine pianist still deserving of wider recognition. 

[felser]

He did some good work as a sideman in the 70's with a bunch of people such as Shaw, Nat Adderly, Norman Connors, Carlos Garnett, and was on a couple of choice Strata-East albums by Charles Sullivan and Cecil McBee.  His solo piano album on Steeplechase is a gem.  RIP.

[Pim]

RIP  a pianist I have always enjoyed. One of the pillars of Shaw’s band. And as Felser stated: one of those Strata East pianists.

[soulpope]

R.I.P ....

BTW Laurie Pepper offered Art Pepper live performances at the Village Vanguard (recorded a couple of weeks before the Contemporary release) with Onaje Allan Gumbs (p) + Gene Perla (b) + Joe LaBarbera (dr) .... testament to the art of Onaje Allan Gumbs, this group melts even better than the famed Contemporary crew .... warmly recommended .....

Edited April 7, 2020 by soulpope

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I was just thinking about Gumbs last week, wondering if I would get to see him again. It had been so long since I last saw him perform that I had forgotten where I saw him.

I know he's been having severe health problems for many years. In fact, I have not heard that his death was virus-related, so I was thinking maybe he had another stroke.

[sambrasa]

I was also listening to an album he participated on just recently. A nostalgic favourite from late 1980's when I was starting to like "jazz."

[HutchFan]

R.I.P.

Terrible news.   

[kh1958]

The best sources of his playing in his later years are his recordings as pianist of the Avery Sharpe Trio

[Justin V]

I am sorry to hear this.  I saw him once with Avery Sharpe's group, which also included Craig Handy, Duane Eubanks and Yoron Israel.  Besides being a compelling soloist, Gumbs knocked me out with his comping, which was so unselfishly right; he was so supportive that he took the music to another level.

After the gig, I bought a CD and he signed it, taking a few seconds to blow on it to ensure that the ink wouldn't smear.  I remember shaking his hand and my hand being (gently) engulfed by this large mitt of a hand.

From the way he performed with the band, my brief interaction with him and the messages behind his songs, he gave me the firm impression that he was a man with a kind and generous spirit.  Thank you for the music, Mr. Gumbs, and rest in peace.

[mikeweil]

Thanks for sharing this. 

I only know some of his music, but it was all warm and grounded. R.I.P.

[DMP]

The only time I heard him live was at the Vanguard, either late June/early July, 1977, with Art Pepper. (It was the group referenced above - Gene Perla and Joe LaBabera.) This was Pepper’s first appearance as a leader in a NYC club (he played a few weeks earlier in NY as part of the Newport Festival.) Gumbs was apparently a last minute replacement for a pianist that wasn’t fitting in (probably Jaki Byard). Of course, the place was packed, the atmosphere was almost electric, the group was terrific, really playing for the leader, and Pepper was knocked out by them.  Gumbs was a revelation!  The recordings from the club a few weeks later have the better reputation (and what a lineup!), but I’ve always thought what  I heard was superior, the group more simpatico.  

[Kevin Bresnahan]

No idea where I was when I last saw Onaje, but he was a great player.