T.K. Blue

T. K. Blue, widely known as Talib Kibwe, is one of the most exciting alto-saxophonists on the jazz scene today. A versatile artist, T.K. also performs on multiple saxophones, flutes, Kalimba, percussion and is an accomplished composer-arranger, bandleader, recording artist, and artist-educator. T.K. merges his Caribbean heritage, Parisian influence, African experiences and American roots to create a uniquely swinging brand of jazz expression.

T.K. Blue’s multi-cultural jazz odyssey began in earnest with a 1977 European tour with South African pianist, Abdullah Ibrahim. After traveling and recording extensively with Ibrahim, T.K. moved to Paris in 1981. There he founded the brilliant ensemble T.K. Odyssey and recorded his first CD as a leader in 1986 entitled Egyptian Oasis. The band toured throughout the decade and was rewarded with three U.S. State Department Tours to East Africa, West Africa and Morocco.

Since returning to the U.S. in 1990, T.K. has worked constantly with his most noted tenure as the musical director and lead alto saxophonist for the great jazz master composer-pianist, Randy Weston. In addition, T.K.’s rich career has found him on bandstands and in recording studios with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Dewey Redman, Pharoah Sanders, Charlie Persip, Billy Higgins, Jaki Byard, Chico Hamilton, Sam Rivers, Melba Liston, Wallace Roney and Bobby Watson to name a few.

T.K. also co-leads the group Taja with his compatriot, pianist, James Weidman and is musical director and soloist with the acclaimed Spirit Of Life Ensemble which appears weekly at New York’s Sweet Basil Jazz Club.

T.K.Blue’s newest release, Another Blue, on Arkadia Jazz is a fiery and imaginative all-acoustic session presenting original compositions and reinterpretative arrangements of iconic standards. The recording features T.K.’s primary rhythm section of pianist, James Weidman, bassist, Santi Dibriano and drummer, Cecil Brooks, III. Other colorful jazz stars appearing on this record include pianists Randy Weston and Onaje Allen Gumbs, trumpeter, Eddie Henderson, percussionist, Guillerme Franco, and a sextet featuring members from the Spirit Of Life Orchestra. Another Blue is expanding the boundaries of T.K.’s musicianship which was celebrated on his first major U.S. release as a leader in 1996 entitled, Introducing Talib Kibwe, on Evidence Records.

In addition to T.K.’s vast talents as a performing artist, he is among the new breed of artist-educators fully prepared to carry the message of jazz to students of all ages. He has been in residence under the auspices of New York’s International Art of Jazz, participated in The Cultural Awareness Series, an arts education effort of the Jersey City Library System, conducted workshops in the New York City school system and has served as an artist-educator at the IACP School of Jazz (Paris) and the University of Paris.