M’BOOM Jazz Radio Show

M’BOOM Jazz Radio Show

September 4, 2o14 – Jazz @ Noon every Thursday (starts at 12:07 after the satellite news) Host MARK WEBER – KUNM Albuquerque, USA – 89.9 FM (Mountain Standard Time) also streaming on the web > KUNM.org Current time zone offset: UTC*/GMT -6 hours (*Coordinated Universal Time)/Greenwich Mean Time)

M’BOOM pronounced uM’Boom

I was in NYC last week to attend Connie Crothers Residency at The Stone (12 individual sets over 6 nights) in the East Village. On Wednesday evening a trio of CC + Henry Grimes + Jameel Moondoc performed and sitting behind the piano with Henry after their set tinkering with my cameras I overheard a fellow catching up with Jameel Moondoc relating that he had just moved back to town and they should get together, “Give me a call ‘Doc,” handing him a business card. My antennae went up and I asked if I could have a card, and I admit the name didn’t immediately spring to mind but he said something about M’Boom and my tail started wagging. Eli Fountain was a member of this great jazz percussion nonet formed by Max Roach in the late 70s. M’Boom was one of Max’s great achievements.

I asked if he’d be interested in doing Live telephone interview, and that’s what’s going to happen today on the Thursday Jazz Show.

Eli Fountain was the tour manager for M’Boom and understudy of all the parts, tympani, vibraphone, bass drum, cow bell . . . . He could sub in any position as needed. When Freddie Waits passed away unexpectedly in November of 1989, Mr Fountain became a full-time member (although he appears on record with M’Boom from 1984-1992).

His jazz credits include recordings with Thurman Barker, James Carter, Ebony Brass Quintet, Lena Horne, Terence Blanchard (soundtrack to Malcolm X), Geri Allen, Charli Percip, Butch Morris, Sam Rivers Studio Rivbea Orchestra, a wide spectrum.

He presents percussion clinics at universities all across the U.S., as well as music director for tap dancer Savion Glover and for theatrical productions on Broadway and Yale’s Repertory Theater. As well, performing with The Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, and so on.

His present groups are Percussion Discussion (Tribute to Max Roach) and Eli Fountain & the Organizers. Today I want to focus our discussion on his work with M’Boom.

Max Roach during his solo concert piece "South Africa '76" --- January 8, 1977 -- photo by Mark Weber ---- I remember this solo being something like ten-minutes long and something you never forget

Max Roach during his solo concert piece “South Africa ’76” — January 8, 1977 — photo by Mark Weber —- I remember this solo being something like ten-minutes long and something you never forget

Max Roach ----- January 8, 1977 at Concerts By The Sea, Redondo Beach, California ---- photo by Mark Weber ---- (the tenor saxophonist is Billy Harper)

Max Roach —– January 8, 1977 at Concerts By The Sea, Redondo Beach, California —- photo by Mark Weber —- (the tenor saxophonist is Billy Harper)

3 Comments

  1. Connie Crothers

    Just great, Mark!
    On Friday, I went to a concert at Marcus Garvey Park, a tribute concert for Max, organized and led by Eli. It was a percussion ensemble, with various percussion instruments, like M’Boom. Warren Smith, another original M’Boom musician was in the concert. The place was packed with deliriously happy people. The music was very reminiscent of M’Boom, a great tribute to Max. All the musicians played in the spirit. Eli played a beautiful solo on the kit during the concert, strongly evoking Max’s playing, with wonderfully performed Max Roach phrases, while retaining his own way of playing and spirit. Altogether, a great evening.
    Connie

  2. Mark Weber

    ———–playlist——————
    M’BOOM JAZZ RADIO SHOW
    Sept. 4, 2o14
    Host MARK WEBER

    1. M’Boom “Gazelle” (Joe Chambers) cd LIVE AT S.O.B.s — February 1992
    2. M’Boom “Circles” (Joe Chambers) as previous
    3. M’Boom “Kujichaglia” –July 1979 (Columbia)
    4. Live telephone interview with ELI FOUNTAIN
    5. M’Boom “Blue Monk” LIVE AT S.O.B.s
    6. M’Boom “That’s It” (Eli Fountain) S.O.B.s
    7. M’Boom “A Quiet Place” (Max Roach) cd COLLAGE –October 1984
    8. M’Boom “Onomatopoeia” (Omar Clay) — July 1979 (Columbia)

  3. ellen Johnson

    Hi Mark,

    I wanted to thank you for mentioning about the book I wrote, Jazz Child: A Portrait of Sheila Jordan, on your show back in September. I really appreciate your support!

    http://www.jazzchildthebook.com

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© 2024 Mark Weber

Theme by Anders Noren adapted for M.etropolis by RavanHUp ↑